Whatever It Takes

One of the Time management Principles that has been widely talked about in managing time effectively topics is that when you have too much to do for the time available, working harder or longer is not always a good choice.

Working harder or longer can lead to decreased productivity because we are not machines.  When we are constantly overloaded with too much work, our productivity can quickly begin to suffer.

This is particularly true in knowledge work, where creativity, concentration, ingenuity, and problem solving are essential parts of the job.

Some studies have suggested that performance can decrease by as much as 25% when knowledge workers work excess of 60 hours per week for prolonged periods of time.  This performance dreadful condition can often negate almost all the benefits of the extra time spent at the office.

The cause of the decreased productivity is often physical and mental fatigue, which leads to slower work, more mistakes, and more wasted time.

Another common problem is the so called “presenteeism” according to one author, where people are physically present at work but distracted and unfocused.

Since presenteeism prevents workers from concentrating and becoming fully engaged in their work, they may be putting in the long hours but not really accomplishing much during that extra time.

While it is sometimes necessary to put in extra hours at work to complete a critical project or meet an important deadline, you need to ensure that it is an exemption and not your normal way of working.

With this study, we can now fully understand and appreciate work habits and its output.  Awareness isour tool in achieving a harmonious work attitude between workers and management.