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What if you could achieve your goals with minimal effort? Does that sound like an impossible objective?
Although changing your working methods is a process, there are several very strong arguments for doing so.
These are strong arguments for concentrating on less. Additionally, the same idea holds true in the workplace:
Reduced Work = Increased Output
It’s hard to lean into less! Advertising, social media, and our own fears all make it very evident that you must accomplish more, more, and more!
Unfortunately, it’s not a cheerful or gratifying place to be when you are attempting to balance too much and your plate is overflowing! Additionally, it causes fatigue instead of the achievement you are hoping for from all your fervent efforts!
However, what if you could achieve better outcomes while working less and enjoying life more? It sounds quite good, doesn’t it? Take into account these other compelling arguments for working less:
- Enhanced Originality
Spending less time working frees up more time for reading, socializing, taking in the scenery, and letting your thoughts roam. Time is available to engage in hobbies and take in novel experiences. All of those things allow you to take a step back and see things from a different angle. Additionally, they foster your creativity in ways that inspire you to approach your task with new and creative thoughts.
On the other side, working nonstop makes it difficult to see fresh ideas and prevents you from taking a step back and evaluating more effective and/or better approaches to tackle the problems you face.
Furthermore, setting limits for your job is a limitation that benefits you! In their book REWORK, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier discuss restrictions as follows:
“In disguise, constraints can be advantages. When resources are scarce, you are forced to make due with what you have. Waste has no place here. And that compels you to use your imagination.
- Reduced Tension
A small amount of stress is beneficial. You tend to do less when there are no constraints, such as deadlines or limitations. However, excessive stress also hinders productivity!
Working nonstop puts you under more stress than you should be under. Additionally, it leaves out vital activities that naturally lower stress, such as working out, cooking nutritious meals, getting adequate sleep, taking time to think and process life, and spending time with God and the people you care about.
When you are under stress, you don’t perform at your best. Your ability to recognize the possibilities is limited; you make more mistakes, and all that extra work always ends up creating more work! In the end, increasing work is a vicious and ineffective circle.
- Better Decision-Making
We rarely make great decisions when we are frazzled and overworked. When you are calm when making decisions, your judgment is better and your choices are more intelligent.
You don’t want your exhausted, stressed, and consumed self to influence your decisions at work or at home!
- Improved Interactions
Meaningful relationships depend on a variety of characteristics, all of which take time to develop. You were made to connect with others, and when you neglect your relationships, not only do you suffer, but also the people around you and your job suffer.
Put in less effort
You’ll have more time for God, your family, and your friends if you work fewer hours!
- Enhances Your Interest
When you put too much effort into your work, you become one-dimensional and don’t care about anything else. This implies that you have little to offer the people in your life and your job, and that it lacks the excitement that comes from trying new things.
Living a rich and fulfilling life outside of work inspires and improves your work! And you are capable of accomplishing a great deal more in a short amount of time when you are motivated!
- Makes You More Likeable
Although employment plays a significant role in life, it is not the only aspect. Work is frequently exhausting, and when it takes up most of your time, you have little time for activities that are essential to your survival. You are therefore functioning on empty, and regrettably, you are not very enjoyable to be around when you are in that position.
Working hard and getting enough sleep on a regular basis prepares you to work at your best! as well as to be more amiable. You’ll get into difficulty if you rely too much on either side—too much work or too much sleep!
- Strengthens Your Faith
Making the decision to work less is a leap of faith. It is the conviction that God may multiply your modest but devoted labors into something greater.
It’s wonderful to have greater faith in God!
- Promotes Improved Stewardship
Your remaining capacity is limited when you devote the majority of your energy to work.
Conversely, working less on purpose means managing your time well at work to free up more time for other crucial obligations.
Making the most of everything that God has given you and entrusted to your care is the essence of stewardship. It’s about looking after yourself, investing in the people in your life, and taking care of everything that God has given you, including your home, money, and other possessions.
- Gets You Out of Your Comfort Zone
The fact that it’s the only place you feel successful is one of the reasons you work so hard. Because of this, labor is comfortable.
Reducing your workload pushes you to venture outside of your comfort zone and develop in areas you’ve been ignoring. I want to urge you to do it, but I don’t want to downplay how hard it is to go into the unknown. Your work benefits from what you learn and how you develop as well! Have courage!
- Improved Health
Healthy eating, exercise, and sleep are all things that are frequently compromised when working long hours. Your decisions therefore have a significant impact on your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. That often results in health problems that could require you to take time from work.
Working less gives you the chance to develop life-sustaining and health-promoting habits that will not only improve your well-being but also infuse your work with fresh energy! Win, win!
Have I convinced you to examine how much time you spend working objectively? I hope so!
What will you do next to reduce the amount of time you spend at work?
