The Benefits of Reduced Work Hours on Work Performance
Have you ever felt like your life is a beach house that could crumble at any moment? The pillars that support your life, such as work, relationships, health, spirituality, hobbies, and legacy, are crucial for stability. However, many people focus solely on their careers and neglect the other pillars, leaving their lives unbalanced and vulnerable to adversity.
In their book, Learned Excellence, clinical and performance psychologist Eric Potterat and executive communications consultant Alan Eagle explore the importance of balance in all aspects of life. They argue that the best performers in various fields, including military, sports, first responders, and business, prioritize all six pillars of life. These individuals understand that maintaining balance not only helps them navigate challenges but also enhances their performance.
Contrary to common belief, taking time away from work can actually improve job performance. By investing in other pillars of life, individuals can relieve the pressure and stress associated with their careers. This allows for recovery and replenishment of the body and soul. The best performers understand this and make it a priority to continuously feed and water all six pillars.
Finding balance is a personal journey, and there is no one-size-fits-all formula. It requires periodically evaluating how much attention and time you are devoting to each pillar. Setting goals is a powerful tool for ensuring that you invest in all areas of your life. Just as you set professional goals, you should also set goals for your relationships, health, spirituality, hobbies, and legacy.
Potterat and Eagle emphasize the importance of SMART goals – specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timebound. Writing down these goals and sharing them with someone increases accountability. Additionally, managing your time effectively is essential for balancing your pillars. By reviewing your calendar regularly and color-coding your time slots according to each pillar, you can ensure that you are dedicating adequate time to each area of your life.
Of course, life can throw unexpected challenges our way, causing certain pillars to take precedence temporarily. However, it is crucial not to let yourself off the hook too easily. Awareness of the imbalance is the first step. Once you recognize that certain pillars are being neglected, formulate a plan to address it. Block off time in your calendar for those neglected pillars and make it a priority to invest in them. The best performers always have a plan to rebalance their lives.
The good news is that once you establish these practices and achieve greater balance, it becomes a habit. The busiest and most successful individuals understand the value of investing time and energy in all areas of their lives. They find joy and relief in activities where they don’t have to be the best, such as new hobbies or friendships. This newfound balance ultimately enhances their performance in their careers as well.
In conclusion, maintaining balance across all aspects of life is crucial for overall well-being and work performance. By investing in all six pillars – work, relationships, health, spirituality, hobbies, and legacy – individuals can navigate challenges more effectively and perform better in their careers. Setting SMART goals, managing time wisely, and having a plan to address imbalances are key practices utilized by the best performers. So, take a step back from your work and start tending to the other important pillars of your life – the benefits will be worth it.
Eric Potterat and Alan Eagle’s book, Learned Excellence: Mental Disciplines for Leading and Winning from the World’s Top Performers, offers further insights into achieving balance and maximizing performance across all areas of life.
