This is a guest post by Oscar Del Ben .
I know a guy who’s often traveling around the world, carrying his laptop and enjoying the places he visits.
I once asked him how he could live that way. He said that his secret was to work very hard on his tasks for a few hours, and then enjoy the rest of the day doing what he wants.
At that moment I decided for the first time to analyze where I was spending my time and figure out if I could do the same myself.
After a few days of tracking, I discovered the following:
* I was spending 45 minutes a day on twitter, email and distractions.
* I was spending 1 hour browsing websites, blogs, etc.
* I was spending 1 hour doing nothing.
* I was eventually spending 2 or 3 hours doing real work.
And this was a productive day! I know it sounds ridiculous, but this is how I used to work and it’s not that far from the average worker.
From that moment, I decided to limit all my time consuming activities and try to do only what matters. I stopped using Facebook (I check it only once every 1-2 months) and I uncluttered my workspace and computer to include only the necessary and I focused on the real stuff.
Since then, I’ve cultivated a high passion for productivity, cleanliness and minimalism. My philosophy is to do less, and do it well.
Tips to stop working long hours and start enjoying life.
1 – Know what you’re doing.
Try this for a few days and list all what you do doing during the day. Try to be as precise as possible. At the end of the day, calculate the total time spent on high value activities.
2 – Cut down your working hours.
If you have the possibility, try to limit your working hours as much as possible. If, based on what you know from point one, you are spending only 3 hours a day doing real work. Try to limit your working day to just 4 hours, and see what happens.
3 – Go out.
When you’ve finished your work, it’s time to go outside for a walk, or to visit a museum. It doesn’t really matter what you do, as long as you do something that excites you in some way.
4 – Upgrade your work.
Now that you work only four hours per day, think how you can automate your work even more. Outsource what you can and focus on those high quality activities that provides the most revenues and satisfactions. If you can, limit your working time even more.
But I’m an employee!
Ok, what I said is cool, but what if you’re an employee? I admit it’s not easy to tell your boss that you’re going to work only 4 hours per day and get the same salary.
The best thing you can do if you are an employee, is to try to negotiate a remote working position. For example you may ask to work for home only one day per week. Tell your boss that you want to try this for a period of time (no permanent decision) because you think you can be more productive.
If that didn’t work out, keep your eyes opened for alternative jobs where you can have the freedom to work from home or at least work fewer hours. I’m not saying that you should leave your job today, but sooner or later an opportunity will come if you’re looking for it.
Redefining productivity.
Productivity is creating more by working less. The best way to work less is to physically cut your working time, and then you’re forced to focus only on important things, and leave procrastination for later.
So many times we spend all our time on social networks or reading emails, when we could be outside enjoying life. Now you know what to do.
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G'day! I'm Gordie, founder and editor-in-chief of Lifestyle Design For You. I want to welcome you to the center of the universe when it comes to lifestyle design and personal development blogs. We're a team of ten writers providing you with articles to help nourish your mind and improve your life. Lifestyle design is about designing your life so you can do what you want when you want. 
{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m a big fan of minimalism, but I haven’t got around tracking where my time actually goes. I’m pretty sure the results would not be great and there’s a lot of room for improvement, so thanks Oscar for the tips. I like what you said about working less (but still creating more)
Antti Kokkonen’s last blog ..Create Free Images For Your Blog With Wordle
Oscar, is a great guy to get to know. Through email and chatting he gave me some great tips for this blog, and as a result my readership is starting to increase again after a long plateau. Everyone should make friends with Oscar.
Thanks Gordie for publishing my post!
Oscar – freestyle mind’s last blog ..Analysis Of A Typical Working Day
My pleasure, Oscar. Thank you for taking the time to write such a great post for my blog.
Thanks for these tips, Oscar.
Productivity has got to be my biggest single challenge at the moment. I like the idea of limiting your working time to, say, four hours. I might give that a try. I too can spend ages on social media stuff and then realise that I’ve done nothing concrete in my own regard!
Hi Christine,
I’m also trying to increase productivity at the moment. I’m studying Brian Tracy’s “Eat That Frog”. It’s great so far. It’s about improving productivity.
Thanks, Gordie. I haven’t heard of it, but I’m going to check it out!!
Christine Livingston’s last blog ..How to kick workplace stress in the butt: part one
My pleasure, Christine.
I’m listening to the audio-book version. I find lately I’m much better at pausing and taking notes than I am at stopping reading. It could be partly due to me being a very slow reader. In future I’ll buy audio-versions over books where possible.
Nice post. The trouble is with limiting your working hours is that unless you change your habits, you’ll simply end up doing what you’re doing now, for a shorter time. I really believe in the power of having clearly defined goals, even down to a to do list each day that is derived from those annual goals. And it works.
Some days, you’ll see me all over Twitter, and that means I’m comfortably heading towards achieving all my goals for the day in whatever time I’ve allocated them. Other days, you won’t here from me at all, and you can be sure that means I’m struggling to do what I promised I would on the day.
Mike CJ’s last blog ..How to make money from blog advertising – Part two
I think it’s cool to give yourself some flexibility sometimes if you’re able to handle it. I probably give myself too much flexibility so I need more discipline to stick to a strict schedule.
Hi Gordie! Congratulations for being feature as blogger of the week by George. You definitely rock.
Hi Walter,
Sorry, I’m not sure who you’re referring to. Could you please send the link. Cheers!
I am lazy by nature. Love anything that requires less work. How ever blogging seems to throw me into the deep end of more work.
Like you I spend a huge amount of time on Twitter, reading other blogs, and a certain amount of wasted time during the day.
Reading other blog posts is an essential I think, I put this down to blog research, but it does give you that feeling of being unproductive.
Robert Bravery’s last blog ..Are you motivated? What motivates you?
I think an hour a day reading blogs is okay if they’re helping you to get ideas for blog topics and you’re learning.
Ah, procrastination! I know it well.
In fact every morning I pull out a second cup from the kitchen cabinet because I know it will drop in for breakfast.
Sometimes it’s still here at dinnertime!
Thank you Oscar for sharing your tips.
And thank you Gordie for sharing your blog with Oscar today. Like you, increasing productivity will be a goal.
Though I think that I will let that frog live
Marisa Birns’s last blog ..Not a Platonic Dialogue
Hi Marisa,
Also, it brings a fresh perspective for my readers.
I’m happy to have guest posters on this blog. It helps me share the love.
I have a list of actions that I want to accomplish on any given day, but outside of that I don’t track my time. It has to be spent somewhere, and it isn’t going to be on the couch watching TV.
Nathan Hangen’s last blog ..The Howard Roark Guide to Business
Hi Nathan,
How strict are you about training for triathlons? Do you have a strict plan or timetable for that?
The most productive time of day for me is in the morning, right when I get up and before my family is there to bug me. I mean, talk with me and make me feel loved.
I do my best thinking then, and I get a lot done.
It’s also nice to sit by the fire and be warm.
Then, when everyone’s up and I’m done with computer work, it feels good to do some physical work: firewood, working on the painting and sanding upstairs in the house we’re renovating.
Separating my day like this helps me be more productive and get more done in every area.
Daniel’s last blog ..I got big fishy!
Hi Daniel,
I find leaving the most enjoyable thing until the end of the day helps keep me going through the more difficult tasks earlier on in the day. It’s a kind of reward for accomplishing what needed to be done.
So important that you mention going out Oscar. The time spent away from work is where all real creation happens.
Sure, when you’re working, you’re creating. But the mind is usually divided; I have this to do now, that to do later. Did I do what I should have done before?
There’s too much thinking going on when most people work. Being free from work allows creative ideas to flow to you freely. The more creative actions put into action the more productive you will be.
Ryan’s last blog ..How To Rid Yourself Of A Competitive Mindset
Hey Ryan,
Play is vital to creativity. So is rest. This is often forgotten.
Very nice post. It points to the resounding issue with bloggers and entrepreneurs from all walks of life, time management. Until we somehow get a handle on that, valuable time will always be wasted and your progress will be much slower than it should be.
I’ve done a couple of those “time and motion” studies and each time, I find something that has crept in that I can do without. It’s a constant battle, but necessary for success.
Jimi Jones’s last blog ..Looking Ahead 鈥?Blogging in 2010
Hi Jimi,
I think you’re right that we have to be on guard to prevent time-wasting activities to creep into our lives.
If you could see me this morning, you’d be proud.
I’m working away, printing labels for a client. I get several batches loaded and work on something else while they’re printing. Then I load up the queue with some more.
I find that the days I have a list made to keep me on track are the days I’m most productive. And, these days, I’m making my list in the morning, in the shower thanks to a cool invention called AquaNotes! Then I tear off my sheet when I get out and I’m ready to start the day.
Erica Mueller’s last blog ..The Ultimate Editorial Calender Plugin for Post Scheduling
It sounds like you’re a production chain in one of Henry Ford’s factories. Lol!
Excellent post. I like this quote: “Productivity is creating more by working less.” That is the truth. But so many people define productivity as getting more done by working more. It’s the looking and feeling busy feeling that people mistake with productivity when if fact that is the opposite of productivity.
Nate’s last blog ..challenge everything
I loved the quote too. Get more done by doing less. That is the ideal form of increasing productivity.
Limiting the time you work is a great way to kick yourself into gear and put procrastination away where it belongs. Great post.
Ken Kurosawa’s last blog ..The Formula of Motivation | Motivation Series Part 4
What happens if we love our work so much, that we don’t want to stop? Should we limit ourselves in that case?
Good stuff Gordie. I’m the master of efficiency or so I think. If somebody told me you have 4 hours to get everything done I’d probably be even more productive. The eight hour work day is nonsense if you ask me.
It’s actually Oscar’s post.
The 8 hour work day is a remnant of the factories in the early industrial age. Let’s hope it changes.
Hey Boris, I can see your point. Fortunately, I do a job that I would do for free. For example I spent all saturday doing it for free to learn new stuff (we are talking about programming).
The problem with this is that after a while I fall in an highly unproductive state of mind. After many hours that I do the same thing my brain forces me to take a break by creating mental holes (I hope this term is correct) which I don’t notice at first.
That’s why I prefer to work less hours, but if you can maintain focus (and health) working 8 or more straight hours per day that’s awesome.
Oscar – freestyle mind’s last blog ..Analysis Of A Typical Working Day
Oscar,
It is great when you work in something that you would do it for free!
Your point is very valid as well! If you need a break after some hours of continuous work, it is smart to change the type of activity. And if you enjoy the work and the break.. it is even better
All the best!
Boris’s last blog ..The power of coherence
There are so many ways to waste time and so many times when we don’t even realize we’re wasting it! The phone is another time robber. It’s easy to blather on for ages about very little. Must try not to do that in my comments too:)
I rarely turn my cellphone before 2 pm anymore. It helps me to concentrate better in the mornings.
I agree totally with you (Oscar) on the position that we require to be aware of the way that we are spending our time.
At the same time, I disagree totally with a point in your post: When you say: “When you’ve finished your work, it’s time to go outside for a walk, or to visit a museum. It doesn’t really matter what you do, as long as you do something that excites you in some way.” What this statement implies is that your work doesn’t excite you!
For me, if your work doesn’t excite you, you shall quit your work! For me, work has to be done with passion and love! For me, actually, everything in life has to be done with love and passion, and then, you will enjoy every single minute of your life!
All the best!
Well said, Boris. I agree with you if you have a job that you love. What happens if one is forced to do a job that sucks, but it’s a matter of survival?
Gordie,
We are discussing a very interesting point: Even when we are working at a survival job, still we are making a decision! If we are aware of the different options that we have, we will be able to appreciate that we don’t “have” to do that job, but we are deciding to take that job to get closer to our goal(-s). Then, we can appreciate the job because is a path that bring us to our beloved goal(-s)
The next step will be to look for the way of enjoying it. The secret is “Be happy until being successful” what can be explained as “Love what you do and eventually you will do what you love”
Boris’s last blog ..The power of coherence
That’s a great point, Boris.
Gordie and Guest, thanks for this!
It reminds me of when I first read the 4HWW and Tim has just redone his book! How timely. There’s a certain efficiency or one level up view you need to take when approaching work before you can really analyze being productive…it’s usually opposite what people think…being productive doesn’t always mean doing more. Tips like I read here are gold, I only check e-mail a few times a day, banishing fbook, turning off your cell before 2pm. Brilliant. A book needs to be compiled of these gems. Gordie want to joint write it?
I have a unique situation so it’s challenging to find a balance on this topic of productivity. I’d like to know what you think. I work as IT support, across the street from where I live (literally)…employing tactics like ones mentioned here my actual job requirements only take me a few hours a day…and being next door…and a technical/digital/computer worker already…I have the ability to complete and take on several tasks for my personal business goals for passive and web design companies and ideas, ect. Two jobs in one at times….ideas? advice?
Anyway, what actually caught my eye Gordie, was your soda counter, I chucked to myself, as I just finished a 32 ouncer of coke zero. Kicking the habit eh? I’m working myself into coffee, and tea…and trying to figure out what the heck yerba mate is and if I want to try it…what are you doing to help kick it? Research usually helps me when I can understand why I shouldn’t do something and then train myself based on that…but surprisingly I couldn’t find anything that empirical that showed me by diet soda is bad…your thoughts?
Robert’s last blog ..The Workflow of Work | Momentum Building
“Productivity is creating more by working less.” Absolutely! Also, leave home before you find a reason to stay! So many true words… a great post, Oscar!
Fabian’s last blog ..Procrastinate on TASKS, not on your LIFE