3 Reasons You Work Too Much and How to Stop- The Muse

3 Reasons You Work Too Much and How to Stop- The Muse3 Reasons You Work Too Much and How to Stop- The MuseDo me a favor and read these questionsDo you frequently opt to work through lunch, declining opportunities to eat with friends? Do you have no idea when you will find the time to do everything that is asked of you (even though you work way more than 40 hours per week)?Do you get a feeling of anxiety in your gut every time your boss swings by to give you anotlageher assignment?Any (or all) of these sound like you? Congratulations, you win And by win, I mean you officially work too much.Now, heres the good news If you struggle with work-life balance, it means youre smart, competent, and valued at your company. Indeed, its the curse of being good at your job that youre getting more work thrown at you that you can handle. This happens to the best of them- in fact, it happens most often to the best. From my experience, there are three primary reasons why people overwork. Heres an expl anation (and a solution) for each one. 1. SurvivalThis motivation centers on a fear of loss loss of a job, loss of a promotion, loss of status or reputation, loss of dignity. You may feel like youre just trying to keep your head above water and believe that the extra hours are the best way to make sure your company never lets you go. So, what if it comes at the expense of your relationships and sanity- at least youll have your job, right?How to Overcome ItThe first question to ask yourself is whether or not this feeling is being driven by something occurring at your company (think layoffs, budget cuts, new management). Or, alternatively, if everything is pretty much status quo, but you feel nervous all the time anyhow. If its the former, youre right to step your game up at work. However, time outside of the office is also important, because youre going to want to update your resume and reach out to your network in case your job isnt as secure as youd hope. (Caveat If the threat is s imply a cutthroat workplace culture, question if its something you enjoy, or if youd be happier at a company where your co-workers werent waiting to snatch your accounts.)But what if youre in the second category? Theres no imminent threat, but you feel nervous anyhow. First, accept that some level of preparing for anything to happen is a good thing, because it motivates you to keep your eyes open and your skills fresh. But then, remember that continuing to fear that no one will think youre good enough unless you work 80 hours a week is probably adding a lot of stress to your life, and not leaving you very much time for friends, family, and sleep. So, try this experiment Next week, try to go home an hour earlier each day. Not only that, but spend that hour exercising, calling a friend, or doing something just for you. After the week is over, see if you still have your job, status, and your dignity. Ill bet you do- and that you were a lot more pleasant to work with to boot.2. Personal GainAs you probably guessed, this motivation centers on money. You have your eye on the financial prize, and if working crazy hours is what it takes to pad your bank account, youre in. You dont have time to eat out, shop, or make it to the gym but hey, you can afford all of the above.How to Overcome ItThere is nothing wrong with getting a piece of the action, but working around the clock just for financial gain can lead to burnout. To increase your salary without increasing your workload, there are two things you can do. The first is to ask for a raise- not a promotion with more responsibility, but a raise. Put together some talking points on why you deserve one based on your skills, your experience, what youve accomplished recently, and the competitive marketplace. You might get shut down, but if you dont, then you will have increased your personal gain without adding more hours to your workdayThe second thing you can do is get really specific about what your financial goals are. Maybe youre saving up for your wedding, to move to a bigger place, or to go on a trip. Those goal lines can get you through the months of working overtime or doing your side gig all weekend. Just remember that when you meet your goal, youre allowed to pull back. Alternatively, if its just to have money, take a moment and examine not just whats coming in, but whats going out. Yes, youve heard this advice before- but thats because it works. Packing lunch versus buying lunch, eating in instead of out, examining how much you spend on clothes, gifts, gym memberships- whatever it is, see where cutting down on expenses can translate to you being able to work less (or even take a lower-paying job).3. PassionIf this is your core motivation, youre one of the lucky ones. Youve found what you love to do and are doing it every day (OK, and night). Your enthusiasm for your job causes you to get lost in your work such that you lose track of time- and sleep. But who needs sleep anyhow? Answer You d o. How to Overcome ItFar be it from me to tell you to do less of what you love, but I can share that increasing balance in your life increases passion as well. Seriously, youll get some much-needed distance to make sure youre coming to your work with a fresh- and rested- perspective.So, branch out a little by experimenting with activities outside of work. For example, you may find that you have a huge passion for developing confidence in kids by coaching an athletic team. Or, you may find meaningful work in volunteering at a homeless shelter. Hey, you may even find a passion for rest and renewal by reading and sleeping more Struggling to find the time to do anything after hours? Muse Master Coach Melody Wilding suggests, schedule your day creatively by using enjoyable personal or social activities to sandwich your to-do list. For example, make plans to attend an art class or meet a friend after work to put a hard stop on the time you leave the office.By introducing variety into your life, youll use different parts of your brain and body, which will in turn make you more passionate and productive at work.Dont get me wrong, hard work makes the world go round. But when youre at your desk at 8 PM on a Wednesday, you should know why youre there, and that its where you want to be.Photo of woman working late courtesy of Shutterstock.

Easy Ways to Innovate in Business

Easy Ways to Innovate in BusinessEasy Ways to Innovate in BusinessWe all know how essential innovation is to business success. There are ways in which leaders encourage innovation. If Apple Corp. had notlage innovated, we would not have iPhones. If Microsoft had stopped innovating when they released DOS, we never would have seen Windows operating systems. If manufacturers had stopped innovating, we would all be driving Model Ts and calling each other on candlestick phones that need operator assistance there would be no television to watch and you wouldnt be reading this because the Internet would never have been created. Why neuerung Is Essential in Business So, if innovation is so important, why do so many companies spend all their time making tiny process improvements and watching their competitors steal their customers with innovative new products and services? Clearly, the problem is not that business owners and managers dont see the need for innovation. Many just dont know h ow to encourage innovation. Sometimes, that starts with developing effective work relationships. However, fruchtwein companies actively discourage innovation not on purpose, perhaps, but nonetheless it happens. Lets look at two small companies. One is an example of how to discourage innovation. The other is an example of how to encourage innovation. How to Discourage Innovation in Business Carol runs a small family business. She is very good. She knows what she is doing and is able to tell everyone else specifically what to do too. Unfortunately, Carols business has been going downhill. She has had to lower her prices, which reduces her profits. She keeps losing business to her competitors who come up with better products and cheaper ways to do things. Several long-time employees have left and it takes a lot of time and effort to train the new people in the right way to do things. She needs to learn how to reduce employee turnover. How can that happen? Carol is smart and works h ard. She pays her people well. She tries different things. People are happy in the office, but they dont talk amongst themselves much they just all stick to their own jobs and try to do them right. Carol believes in MBWA (Management By Walking Around). You see her walking all around the office watching what people are doing and when they do something wrong she steps in and shows them how to do it right. Often people call Carol to their workstation to ask how to do something new. They all remember how Carol reprimanded Jeff when he tried something new. She didnt even have time to listen to his explanation of why. She has to have a more adaptable management style. Carols approach works well when you are training toddlers or teaching math in grade school. It would also work on the battlefield. But it will not produce the innovation Carols company needs to survive and prosper. Carol is overlooking the greatest asset of her company, its employees. Each of them has unique experiences, edu cation, and background. They have different perspectives, different problem-solving skills, and techniques. There may not be a single one of them who is as smart as Carol, who knows the business as well as she does, or who is as good at innovating as Carol. But, as smart as Carol is, she is not smarter than everybody. How to Encourage Innovation in Business Valerie has her hands full. Her little company has been growing so quickly its hard to keep up. There are a lot of new employees who need to be trained in how the company does things. Without this training, her company would lose some of its product quality. Fortunately, Anna showed a real gift for explaining things and she handles most of the training these days. Valerie remembers the old days when it was just a handful of them. They would sit around an old picnic table out in the shop and have lunch together and talk about kids, movies - and the business. Lots of happy chatter and some crazy ideas came out of those lunches. Everyone seemed to enjoy it except Devon, the new guy. He was always the last one to show up and the first to leave. He would talk occasionally, but not often. Valerie smiles now when she thinks about how he has developed. Devon wasnt much of a big thinker like the rest of them, but when they came up with an idea, Devon was the one who could take it from a rough sketch to a finished product. Valeries day is frequently interrupted by phone calls from her team. This morning Eva called to let her know that the new packaging technique had failed - for the fourth time. Valerie suggested she talk with Alicia who had seen a similar problem yesterday in her efforts to streamline the IT operations. There was also the call from the head of sales who wanted Valerie to address the meeting they were having next month for several clients to discuss the industry and future needs. And her operations manager wants to talk about theSWOT analysisthey are doing in his department next week. TheRD group posted a note on the company intranet asking for volunteers to test a new product prototype. The company softball team posted this seasons schedule on the intranet as well. HR is recruiting volunteers to tutor students at the nearby elementary school in reading. Why Innovation in Business Works Its easy to see why Carols company is in trouble. There is no innovation because Carol unintentionally stifles it. She is so focused on doing things right that she does not give people the freedom to make mistakes by trying new things. Although she tries to think of new things herself, she has limited ability in that area and she doesnt let anyone else try. She micro-manages her employees and treats them like children. Pretty soon, they stop trying to improve things, or they just leave. Valeries company is doing great. Why? She has created acompany culturethat encourages innovation. Steps to Encourage Innovation in Business Try these steps for encouraging innovation. Encourage communi cation. Everyone can get together, at lunch, on the softball field, etc. and talk. This cross-functional conversation spurs the einbildungskraft of each person and lets them learn from the skills of the others. Allow failure. Eva is now on the fifth attempt to solve the packaging problem because the first four failed. How many times did Edison fail before he found the right filament for the electric light bulb? Find patterns. Alicias solution to the IT problem may be what Eva needs to solve the packaging problem. Look for similarities that can lead to discovery. Know your market. There is no point in developing an innovative way to make better buggy whips. Find out what your clients and your industry need and find innovative solutions to those problems. Use a SWOT analysis of your competitors, your own company, and your industry to highlight opportunities for innovation. Use everyones best skills. Devon wasnt the best innovator, but having him focus on engineering allowed other peop le in other areas to spend the time to be more creative. RD recruits their testers from across the company to get many different perspectives. Your company (or department, group, or team) has a lot of smart people. Encourage them to be imaginative, give them permission to make mistakes, and give them time to just sit and think. Build a culture that is flat and works across organizational lines easily. There are ways to be happy at work, so build the individuals into a team that enjoys being together at work. Do these things and you will get the innovation you need to succeed.

Five Flexible Job Ideas for Working Parents

Five Flexible Job Ideas for Working ParentsFive Flexible Job Ideas for Working ParentsFor many working parents like myself, flexibility rivals salary as the core quality we look for when it comes to job fit. Whenthe kids go back to school it frees up about seven hours of the day for work. The hardpart is that this block of time often gets interrupted by something kid-related, such as forgotten lunches, sick days, lice infestations and so on. Whatever the fiasco de jour, Ive staffed it, and Im sure some of you have, too. The unexpected demands that surface athome refines working parents savvy when it comes to prioritizing, troubleshooting, and creative problem-solving. Its not the only way to hone these skills, but on my craziest days its heartening to remind myself that these will be byproducts of my efforts. The good thing is, there area variety of flexible jobs out there that enable you to fully participate in the professional world and to be hands-on in your kids lives. But in ord er to meet the needs of both realities, you need a good plan. If you take a job that allows you to work from home, make sure you figure outa care plan for your kids. Dont try take on both. It wont work. Your kids think you are theirs when you are at home. They dont want to share your attention, and you cant have your colleagues or clients hearing your kids while you are on the phone. If you are going to telecommute, set yourself up for success by making sure you are properly staffed from day one. According to Simply Hired data, nearly 87,000 U.S. jobs accommodate work-from-home arrangements. This represents 1.85 percent of all open positions. These are some great flexible jobs abverkauf JobsAverage Salary $45,000 + bonusesThere are a wide range of sales jobs waiting for pros like you. It will take your best communication and organization skills to keep you customers up-to-date and in the loop. Some jobs may require local or out of town travel. Search Sales jobsCustomer ServiceAverag e Salary $37,000Be that service-oriented pro who can answer customers questions and clear the air. If you love working with people (from your own personal office), and you have a great phone presence, this could be the perfect role for you. Search Customer Service jobsAnimal CaretakerAverage Salary $23,000Give cuddly critters a boast while their pet parents are at work. In this role you get the chance to cash in on your love of animals. Take neighborhood pets for walks, give them treats and play with them. Add a bit of fun to their day and to yours. Additionally, most kids love animals and can serve as interns when it comes to play time.Search Animal Caregiver jobsDietitiansAverage Salary $56,0000 There are a variety of ways you can use your food expertise to create meaningful and flexible employment for yourself. Dietitians are always in demand as food writers, educators and counsellors. This position allows you to be creative in how you approach the job market.Search Dietitian job sTravel AgentsAverage Salary $35,000Help individual travelers and tour groups create amazing adventures. This exciting role gives you the chance to work closely with clients and to build relationship with vendors in the travel industry. Many positions offer travel benefits and discounts.Search Travel Agent jobsWith the right job, a good plan and a little creativity, working parents really can find the right balance for themselves and their families.On June 22, 2017, this article welches updated from its original form.