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Working Long Hours? 5 Ways to Survive

Work-life balance is crucial to prevent burnout over the long term, but there are often peak busy times in which working long hours is necessary and expected. Check out these five ways to survive and maintain your productivity and wellbeing when you’re working long hours:

1. Make Your Time Count

Working long hours is already challenging enough without the added realization at the end of the day that you were constantly busy, but yet feel like you didn’t accomplish anything of true importance. Empower yourself and make your time count.

First, identify your most common time wasters, and come up with solutions to reduce or eliminate them (i.e., if a chatty colleague tends to interrupt and distract you, have an explanation ready or if you’re working from home, only respond to chat messages at designated times). Then, narrow down what tasks/projects matter most and ensure they make up the majority of your working hours. Having your priorities clarified makes it easier to not get mindlessly drawn into seemingly urgent, nonconsequential tasks.

2. Develop an Intentional, Tailored Schedule

Once you have a sense of what work is most critical, make it happen in the most seamless, efficient way possible. Develop an intentional, tailored schedule that takes into the account the realities of your day, along with your own natural tendencies for focus and energy. This is especially important if you’re working remotely and your work and personal environments blend together.

Set up time blocks, such as hour-long windows, to devote to specific types of work tasks. For example, if you are at your most motivated in the morning, schedule in time to tackle your work that requires more concentrated effort. Then, during the times of day when your energy tends to slump, like the mid-afternoon, schedule a time block to do administrative tasks that don’t necessarily require much focus such as returning email messages, making phone calls, filing documents etc.

3. Take Care of Your Body

Your mind and your body are connected, so in order for you to be able to complete your work and maximize your mental capacity, your body needs to be running optimally. Schedule in time to get adequate sleep each night – if you can’t fit in a full eight hours, try to fit in a 20-minute power nap during the day to give you a burst of energy.

Also, as tempting as it may be to skip meals or eat the quickest option, being intentional about your nutrition will put you in a better position to survive long work hours. You’ll have more energy and be less prone to headaches and upset stomach that can distract you, along with simply feeling unpleasant.

4. Build Self-Care Strategically Into Your Day

Taking time for things that bring you joy, such as socializing, hobbies, and entertainment, can help you make it through a grueling work schedule by reducing stress, boosting your immune system, and improving mood regulation – all of which make you more productive. However, when you don’t have a lot of time to spare, it’s crucial to take advantage of pockets of time, like your commute or lunch time, in which you can practice self-care. Be creative and commit to fitting it in, even if it’s just a few minutes, and you’ll recharge yourself and prevent burnout.

5. Reflect on the Big Picture

On a regular basis, set aside some time to look at your overall professional life, how much impact your day-to-day activities are having, and if you are satisfied with the payoff of your effort. Reflect on the big picture – are your long hours spent on tasks that are getting you closer to accomplishing a goal or is there no end in sight? This can help you get out of your short-term mindset and see if changes need to be made, such as looking for a new job.

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