Unless you work alone, I know you’ve heard this. Some co-worker bragging that they always stay at work late, come in early, or both. Oh, and probably shaming you if you don’t.
I saw this during my time working in restaurants, the military, and various roles in corporate America, so I think it’s a human thing (at least in the U.S.) rather than it being vocation specific.
This has always bothered me. I didn’t know why for a while, but I figured it out. It’s because in their professional lives, for some reason, people seem to admire longer work hours over efficient work hours.
One quick caveat: I’m aware that what I’m about to type doesn’t apply to everyone. I know that some jobs actually DO require constant, continuous work for long hours. But if you’re someone who feels like you should probably work more because your co-workers do, breathe easy.
They reason that most people work longer is because they use their time incredibly inefficiently.
I’m convinced that this is the VAST majority because I’ve consistently seen it in play out this way.
Most people don’t have a time-blocked schedule of any sort, so they just take on tasks at random.
They answer emails, messages, and calls all throughout the day as they come in rather than having focused times to do that.
They allow themselves to be distracted by co-workers interrupting about things that can wait.
They sit in the bathroom on social media for 20-30 minutes at a time, turning the volume down when other people come in.
They create hour-long meetings that could be two-minute emails.
They go back and forth trying to schedule times for things rather than having a simple calendar link with their availability already selected.
This list could go on forever with examples, but you get the point. People are incredibly inefficient, and then they brag about working late or coming in early like it’s some badge of honor.
It’s not admirable, it’s inefficient.
But it doesn’t have to stay that way! Whether you’re the person working the long hours, or someone who just wants to make the hours they do work more efficient, there are answers here.
If you want free help, just check out my site (thetimecoach.net) and read the stuff I put out. If you want a complete system by which to do this, let me know. I have that!
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