I just read this great article about what separates the busy and productive from the stressed and overworked. You know the type – the ones who manage to swan around the office catching up with colleagues and have a lunch break but who still get through an outstanding amount of work while you really struggle. How do they do it?
This article I read said it’s down to the Rule of 52 and 17. Work 52 minutes, take 17 minutes off. Do short sprints of work then rest, rather than going all marathon on it and slowing your production pace.
Our bodies (and attention spans) are not made to sit in one place and focus for long stretches. You’ll be far more productive if you work hard, hard, hard then go and chill – and really chill i.e. no social media, no work calls.
The other day, a client was telling me they had an usually low workload. Things had been manic for her prior to Christmas and stayed a bit slow in January as people slowly eased back into work. One day she sat in her office and struggled to get through the same amount of work in 8 hours that she would have blasted through in an hour pre Christmas. “Wish I’d spent the day painting my fence and then come into the office to nail my work in an hour,” she told me, ruefully. And I agree with her.
Work hard. Take a break. Work hard. Take a break. Do not sit down at 8.30am or 9am and stay put till 5. Go hard for 52, break for 17. Try it. And let me know how your productivity is as a result.
To read the full article (it’s a goodie), check out this link here.
For some outside advice on how to be more productive and – more importantly – focus on the right things in your business, get in touch for some business coaching advice or business strategy planning: zac@businesschanging.com
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