How to Work Less than 40 Hours a Week // by Violette de Ayala
How to Work Less than 40 Hours a Week
by Violette de Ayala
How to Work Less than 40 Hours a Week
I was recently quoted in an article for Fast Company along with other CEOs all on the theme of working less than 40 hours a week. When I first created FemCity, I was working way more than 40 hours a week. Why? Because I thought that’s what it took. I convinced myself that if I was really committed to creating a global movement for women, I would work the 80 hours a week that seemed to be set by industry entrepreneur standards.
A few years in, and my body cried out for help. I was fatigued, anemic, pre-diabetic and had some blood pressure fluctuations. My stress level was through the roof. I made drastic changes, and even though I am still anemic, the other symptoms are all gone, and I am a lot healthier and happier. How did I made the changes?
Today, I am sharing three ways to make the needed change for you to grow your business and be a healthier version of you. You will find more clarity, your hours will be productive, and oh yeah, you will be a more joyous human too!
1. What are you really working on? I often find the working busy bees are really not that productive. They spend a lot of wasted time on trying to multitask and not focusing on the bigger picture. I use time blocks for everything in my life. Time blocks are brackets of time in my schedule on a 15, 30 or 60 min. chunk that are dedicated to only one task at a time. I may finish early and use that time to create another time block, or go to my to-do list and add in a small task that can be done with what time is left on that clock. I don’t take calls unless they are scheduled, I also don’t meet up with friends unless it’s in my calendar. It’s the only way I am able to do so much in few hours. We have a class on time blocks and a worksheet on the subject as well.
2. What can be delegated or removed? We tend to work on tasks that are not aligned with our big goal. We get bogged down in the workings of the little details and therefore lose the steps in action that make a big difference in our growth. When I feel stuck and I am not seeing growth, I review my calendar to see what I am spending time on that can be delegated or removed. Is there an action step that you are doing that no longer makes sense? Is there some task that no longer brings in the growth? What can be delegated to someone else? Here is another great resource from our classroom that will help you further.
3. What can you add in daily to make your heart smile and joy increase? I have addressed the time blocks of productivity, the delegation or removal of what no longer serves us, and now it’s time to add more happiness into your life. Create brackets of time that are filled with activities that lift you up, inspire and get your creative mind pumping with ideas. When you are happier, those around you feel the happiness. You are also focused, recharged and energized to take your life to the next level. Here is another resource from our library to help you get the last few months of 2019 ready for your biggest success!
In gratitude,
Violette de Ayala // Founder of FemCity
PS. I recommend this class on Productivity with Time Blocks, How to Be Productive in Life, and How to Work from Home.