By Bhumika Ramesh

We all want to be more productive and get more out of the hours we put in. Most of us feel we should to put in more hours and way more work to get desired results. Nevertheless, we still exhaust ourselves trying to reach such goals or deadlines. Working hard is an important factor, but it does not count for everything – working smarter is a finer option. Be effective, it is beneficial in the long run rather than just putting in long hours. In this article, I’ll be going through a few tips that can help optimize your workload and make it a much more efficient process.

  • Don’t romanticize the hustle.

A lot of people have the idea that working long hours and functioning in a high-pressure environment is an achievement. This has evolved into what is now ‘hustle culture’. We need to stop romanticizing this hustle. It doesn’t bid well to anyone who is a part of it. Working all the time, being available 24/7 isn’t the answer – it just creates an illusion of productivity in the beholder. Quality work in short time periods has proven to be much more effective than a long drawn out hustle.

  • It’s okay to take a break!

Pushing yourself to the edge of burnout is never a good thing. It takes a huge toll on your physical and mental health. Making sure you get breaks between tasks to revitalize is extremely crucial. Rejuvenation and a vacation can do wonders. Get smart about how you organise yourself.

  • Don’t compete with people who have a huge team behind them.

Taking on the workload of an entire team is no easy feat and it isn’t feasible in the long run. Do not push yourself by doing so. Work at your own pace and you’ll get there in time. You can hire people later to help you with the rest of your goals!

  • Watch out for the Law of Diminishing Results!

It is proven that productivity falls sharply after a 50-hour-workweek and drops down almost completely after 55 hours. It isn’t going to mean a lot if you overexert yourself – the quality of your work can diminish. 

  • Build a business that works for you.

When you work for a business that favors you and your time, the quality of your work and your output will definitely see an increase. Make sure the businesses you get into don’t work against you, otherwise it becomes easy for exertion to take over.

Working smarter can save us a lot of energy, increase motivation, and develop passion deep inside. It can make you an extremely valuable asset to your company. It can also create a quality work-life balance and help to cultivate relationships in and out of the workspace. Hoping this article brought some new insight!

Read this article on Digital organization here.

For more tips on approaching work smarter, we love this article on Inc.com