Future of work newsletter free subscription Future of work newsletter free subscription Future of work newsletter free subscription
  • Marketplace
  • Resources
  • Business Directory
  • Events
  • Advertise
  • Brand Pulse
  • Publish a Press Release
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Contact
  • About Us
The FUTURE OF WORK® since 2003
Allwork.Space
No Result
View All Result
Subscribe
  • More
    • Columnists
      • Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
      • Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
      • Angela Howard – Culture Expert
      • Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
      • Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
    • Get the Newsletter
    • Events
    • Advertise With Us
    • Publish a Press Release
    • Brand PulseNew
    • Partner Portal
  • Latest News
  • Business
  • Leadership
  • Work-life
  • Career Growth
  • Tech
  • Design
  • Workforce
  • Coworking
  • CRE
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Columnists
      • Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
      • Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
      • Angela Howard – Culture Expert
      • Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
      • Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
    • Get the Newsletter
    • Events
    • Advertise With Us
    • Publish a Press Release
    • Brand PulseNew
    • Partner Portal
  • Latest News
  • Business
  • Leadership
  • Work-life
  • Career Growth
  • Tech
  • Design
  • Workforce
  • Coworking
  • CRE
  • Podcast
No Result
View All Result
Subscribe
Allwork.Space
No Result
View All Result
Home Workforce

Work, Work, Work? Here’s How To Achieve More By Doing Less

According to productivity coach and time management expert Donna McGeorge, workers who go “all in” all the time are headed straight for burnout.

Emma AscottbyEmma Ascott
April 1, 2022
in Workforce
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
Here How To Achieve More By Doing Less
  • Rather than operating flat out at 100% capacity all the time, workers should perform below their peak capacity. 
  • Time management expert Donna McGeorge says workers need some breathing room to relax. 
  • She recommends knowledge workers to protect the first 2 hours of their day for their most intense and/or impactful work and to leave the routine stuff for the afternoon. 

The four-day workweek is considered one of the leading trends in the future of work as more companies take part in the growing movement.  

For some, that means jamming everything into a shorter amount of time—working at 100% capacity nonstop. But according to productivity coach and time management expert Donna McGeorge, going “all in” all the time has the opposite effect. 

“You’ll do far better if, rather than operating flat out at 100% capacity all the time, you perform below your peak capacity, thereby giving yourself some breathing room to relax as well as some capacity to surge when necessary,” says McGeorge in her upcoming book, The 1-Day Refund.  

In a Q&A with Donna McGeorge, she explains what would happen if our goal was to enjoy what we did, rather than perform at full throttle all the time.  

Allwork.Space: When do people perform at their best? 

Donna McGeorge: It’s different for everyone, of course, but our body clocks are designed for mental agility in the morning and physical dexterity in the afternoon. 

I generally recommend for knowledge workers to protect the first 2 hours of their day for their most intense and/or impactful work. Leave the routine stuff for the afternoon. 

Allwork.Space: How can workers find time to avoid burnout and care for themselves?  

They have to protect it in their diary, it’s not just about self-care. They should be protecting “thinking and breathing time” at the very least.  

So no meetings before 10am and after 4pm, for example, which not only creates space to get stuff done, but you get to set the tone and control the book ends of your day.  

I think some people use the term “self-care” when they really mean space to think and/or breathe. Do they have the time to just stop and take stock and make decisions about the best way to spend their time? That means time for yourself.  

Caring for yourself is about prioritizing yourself and what’s important to you. This can be anything from getting out for a massage to making sure you focus on your KPIs above other things. 

More stories for you

Nearly 60% Of U.S. Workers Suffering From PTO Anxiety, Skipping Vacations

Nearly 60% Of U.S. Workers Suffering From PTO Anxiety, Skipping Vacations

2 days ago
The Hidden Costs Of Poor Time Management What Leaders Must Know

The Hidden Costs Of Poor Time Management: What Leaders Must Know

3 days ago
Midwest Cities Dominate As Best U.S. Places For Work-Life Balance In 2025

Midwest Cities Dominate As Best U.S. Places For Work-Life Balance In 2025

7 days ago
The Real Reason Coworking And Flex Spaces Struggle To Make Money

The Real Reason Coworking And Flex Spaces Struggle To Make Money

1 week ago

Allwork.Space: What activities have a positive impact? 

Rest, Fuel and Movement will have the biggest impact on a sense of wellbeing and productivity. If you are not sleeping well, or eating poorly and not getting any exercise, that’s where I’d start. Caring for yourself will be to pick one, and make it a priority. 

Have a supportive network. Maintain positive relationships that energize you. 

I’m all about making space. So, protect your diary from others by blocking time for yourself. 

Keeping your job in perspective. For most people, jobs are a means to an end, and sometimes we lose sight of that; the job becomes the end. Be clear about why you’ve taken this job and what it allows you to do. 

Allwork.Space: How can workers respond positively to unexpected circumstances? 

Unexpected stuff will always happen. It’s about having the adaptive capacity to not just react, but to thoughtfully respond.  

By protecting as little as an hour a day, which means no meetings, you can have space to respond to a great (and unexpected) opportunity. 

I also recommend, where possible, “meeting free days.” Pick a day of the week that you try and keep free of meetings so that when the unexpected does happen, you have some room to move in your schedule.  

If the unexpected is somewhat predictable, pay attention to patterns and accommodate that. For example, “Every Friday at 3pm, the phones start ringing off the hook with last minute requests,” then I’d protect Friday afternoons for that. 

Best case scenario, the time isn’t needed so you can ease into the weekend, or worst case, (which is not really a worst case), you have prepared for that last minute onslaught and it won’t stress you so much.  

Allwork.Space: What are some specific strategies for achieving more by doing less? 

Protect time: Block your diary for your projects to create space to get them done. In many workplaces, empty space is an available space. 

Overestimate: Many of us suffer from the planning fallacy where we underestimate how long something will take. Estimate and double. 

Say no: It’s okay to say you don’t have the capacity to take on any more.  

Wipe the mind: Every morning before you start work, take 5 minutes to write down everything that’s on your mind, including personal admin or other thoughts. The human mind is for having ideas, not storing them. Getting things out of your head and onto paper or lists will free up thinking space. 

Minimize meetings: Find ways to not attend meetings, or at least shorten them.  

Tags: ProductivitySelf-careWork-life Balance
Share6Tweet4Share1
Emma Ascott

Emma Ascott

Emma Ascott is a contributing writer for Allwork.Space based in Phoenix, Arizona. She graduated from Walter Cronkite at Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication in 2021. Emma has written about a multitude of topics, such as the future of work, politics, social justice, money, tech, government meetings, breaking news and healthcare.

Other Stories Recommended For You

Nearly 60% Of U.S. Workers Suffering From PTO Anxiety, Skipping Vacations
News

Nearly 60% Of U.S. Workers Suffering From PTO Anxiety, Skipping Vacations

byAllwork.Space News Team
2 days ago

While summer signals vacation season, many U.S. workers are holding back from using their earned time off — not because...

Read more
The Hidden Costs Of Poor Time Management What Leaders Must Know

The Hidden Costs Of Poor Time Management: What Leaders Must Know

3 days ago
Midwest Cities Dominate As Best U.S. Places For Work-Life Balance In 2025

Midwest Cities Dominate As Best U.S. Places For Work-Life Balance In 2025

7 days ago
The Real Reason Coworking And Flex Spaces Struggle To Make Money

The Real Reason Coworking And Flex Spaces Struggle To Make Money

1 week ago
Advertisements
Maximize Flexible Space Revenue
Advertisements
Yardi Kube automates flex and coworking operations

Unlock your competitive edge in tomorrow's workplace.

Join a community of forward-thinking professionals who get exclusive access to the latest news, trends, and innovations that are shaping the future of work.

©2024 Allwork.Space News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Exploring the Future Of Work® since 2003.

Advertise   Newsletters   Privacy Policy   Terms Of Use   About Us   Contact   Submit a Press Release   Brand Pulse   Podcast   Events   

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Topics
    • Business
    • Leadership
    • Work-life
    • Workforce
    • Career Growth
    • Design
    • Tech
    • Coworking
    • Marketing
    • CRE
  • Podcast
  • Events
  • About Us
  • Solutions
    • Advertise | Media Kit
    • Publish a Press Release
    • Brand Pulse
Subscribe

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
-
00:00
00:00

Queue

Update Required Flash plugin
-
00:00
00:00