The myth of working a lot of hours
Less is more.
You don't need to work more hours to get better results.
That is a myth.
We have a limited amount of mental capacity, willpower, and focus available to us at any given time...
...and we have a limited amount of hours in the day.
More doesn't mean better.
Better means better... and it doesn't require more hours, it requires more focus.
The only time working a lot of hours makes sense is if you are paid by the hour.
Which isn't a good idea in the first place...
...but we can dive into that another time.
In an ideal world we would be working 4-6 hours per day max - and enjoying more freedom in our day to day.
A goal of mine is to reduce my working hours to 5 per day.
I've learned the hard way many times that working a lot of hours - although at times enjoyable or thought of as "good" - leads to burnout, and a lower quality of life.
We aren't here to work, we are here to live.
Work is a part of our lives, but it isn't our life.
The ideal lifestyle is one where our work is complimentary to our lifestyle...
...not a separate, needy, and time-sucking add-on.
Here's what I am doing to reduce my working hours - while increasing my results dramatically.
How to get 3 days worth of work done in 3 hours
There is one belief we need to adopt for this to work:
Hours worked ≠ results generated.
Why?
Because as I mentioned - we have a limited amount of juice.
Your quality of work goes down a gross amount the longer you work.
If we’re being honest - long work days involve a lot of unessential time suckers:
- Checking email, texts, or notifications.
- Talking with co-workers (if you have them).
- Scrolling on social media.
- Procrastinating big tasks to do little less important ones.
You get the idea.
Not every hour is created equal.
One focused, aggressive, and intentional hour is equal to 3-5+ regular hours of work.
Key word - focus(ed).
Something most people in today’s world cannot do - focus.
When I learned what I’ll be sharing with you today - I couldn’t believe how much I could get done in one sitting.
It also pissed me off:
“How much time have I wasted in my career?… I could’ve gotten 2-5x the results I used to if I only knew this sooner” - Me
Introducing Deep and Shallow Work - both coined by Cal Newport a highly successful Author, Professor, and Computer Scientist.
Deep Work according to Cal is:
“Professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit. These efforts create new value, improve your skill, and are hard to replicate.”
My simple definition is:
Deep Work is any focused (distraction free) time spent on high impact tasks that directly drive progress in your goals, business/career, or personal growth.
When is the last time you worked on something with an absence of distraction?
Shallow Work according to Cal is “Non-cognitively demanding, logistical-style tasks, often performed while distracted. These efforts tend to not create much new value and are easy to replicate.”
My simple definition is:
Shallow Work is any low-impact tasks that keep you busy but don’t always move the needle.
This is the type of work many people do daily.
- Multi-tasking.
- Low level tasks and effort.
- Short bursts of productivity followed by distraction.
“
To produce at your peak level you need to work for extended periods with full concentration on a single task free from distraction
— Cal Newport
Our goal is to increase the amount of Deep Work we do, while reducing or delegating our Shallow Work.
All in on what creates the most results.
This is how we can get 3 days work of work done, in 3 hours.
You already know how to do Shallow Work…
…let’s talk about how you can do more Deep Work.
(Short) Deep Work Guide
1st - Plan your Deep Work schedule, time, and location.
What time can you commit to working without distraction each day?
Mornings tend to be the best time for me personally.
- Tip - Make it apart of your daily routine.
Where are you going to do the work?
My home office (and occasionally a coffee shop) are my favorite.
- Tip - Choose somewhere you won’t be disturbed.
How long can you commit to working for?
I recommend starting with 45-60 minutes and increasing over time.
- Tip - Set a timer and use noise cancelling headphones while you work.
Focus and Deep Work are a muscle - and need proper training to grow.
2nd - Decide the highest impact task or project you can work on.
Task… not task(s). One thing only.
For me this is creating content, reaching out to potential clients, or building things for my business.
I do multiple Deep Work sessions per day - and choose one category to work on for each.
For you - What is the one thing you can work on or learn to move you towards your goals?
Is it working on a side hustle? Improving your skills? Researching for opportunity? Working on your business like me?
Pick one thing and go all in.
3rd - Reflect once you finish.
- What did you accomplish?
- What tried to (or did) distract you?
- How can you improve for next time?
4th - Take a break.
In between Deep Work sessions it’s important to give your mind a break.
Go for a walk, eat some food, or sit in silence for 10-15 minutes.
Try not to get on your phone, or start other work.
This way after your break you are recharged for your next objective.
I tried to keep this as short and sweet as possible, but if you’d like to hear more about topics like this you can always reply and let me know.
