11 You cannot make up for time

Ryan
Thanks for your contribution on the ‘work-life’ balance issue.
I work full time (evenings) in a restaurant and also have a (work in progress) concierge and errands business based in Montclair, New Jersey. I have a hard time ‘balancing’all this.
Your post inspired me to stop procrastinating and start freeing up some time for rest and fresh thinking.
I wrote about your ‘piece’ on my blog ‘Serge the Concierge’ this morning and invited my readers to send you their comment.

I like ‘Vitamin’ as well.

It is not about more, it is about better.

Have a good day

SERGE
Blog: http://www.sergetheconcierge.com

posted at 04:04 pm on May 9, 2006 by Serge Lescouarnec

12 Monitor time to get more done

Hi, very good article!

A year ago I started feeling pain in my wrists, resulting from to many hours by my computer. I had to choose if I should continue with computers or find something else.

I choose to stay with computers and as a result from that I had to make a number of changes in my life. For example I now have a program (Workrave) which notifies me when to take a break, when to stop working, etc.

At first I was mad at it, but after a while I realized that by having a limit I actually manage to get all important things done at a shorter time than before. This gives me a better balance and I feel better.

I truly recommend anybody to set up some timer. It can, as a bonus, even save you from pain.

posted at 04:21 pm on May 9, 2006 by Ola Lindberg

13 I've been doing this for a year. Kinda.

Since March last year I’ve been working a 4 days/week contract, with Wednesdays off. On that extra day I can either attend to all the stuff that gets put off or do other freelance work. I’ve had a great time! Even if I work on Wednesdays it’s still a change from my usual job and the variety helps to keep me enthusiastic. I’ve recently signed away my Wednesdays too so I’ll see if I can go back to the 5 day week…

posted at 05:05 pm on May 9, 2006 by Mike Stenhouse

14

It’s great reading. I’ll make sure to check out the books you mentioned. Although I must confess that the first step for me is to go down to “only” 5 days/week. It will take some time, but I’ll get there

posted at 05:15 pm on May 9, 2006 by Niklas Bivald

15 Ta-Da?

I expected Ta-Da lists to be about how to make a list of those accomplishments you wish you could make if only you didn’t have so much work to do. The ones that make you say “Ta Da! Look what I did!” That’s not what they were. Too bad.

This article is right on about how working more doesn’t necessarily get more work done. Nor does it necessarily improve your life. I bicycle commute to work and I through it I discovered the paradox that when I slow down I have more time.

posted at 05:49 pm on May 9, 2006 by Diane Soini

16 Great Ideas

Like so many before me, I really enjoyed reading this article. Not just because it asks us to “challenge soceity” (an old favorite to designers), but because it is something that I recently began thinking about while I toil away my 9-5.

Unfortunately, I must stick with the 5 day work-week at the moment, because I’m paid hourly and not on salary (my boss revealed to me early on it was for that very reason – he wants dedicated people who will see projects through to completion, not just the end of the day). After months of hard work, however, I did realize I would find myself frustrated, stuck in creative ruts, and waking up at night with nightmares about clients’ websites when I wasn’t in the office.

Now I’ve implemented a different variation of some of your ideas in this article, and I’m finding myself far more productive during the day. I only work overtime if it’s ABSOLUTELY necessary in order to meet the deadline, and I tell clients I’ll call them back if I’m in the middle of time-restricted project. It definately takes some getting used to, but it clears your head so that you CAN focus on the work you need to do in less time, AND come up with the creative ideas you were hired to cook up.

posted at 05:50 pm on May 9, 2006 by jenn hoy

17 Why Can't We Telecommute?

An interesting thing happened in Atlanta in 1996. Because of the incoming Olympics, which took over a majority of the city, and would have caused incredible amounts of traffic had residents and visitors traveled the same roads. For the time that the Olympics took place, people who worked in the city worked from home. And why not? The technology is available for employees to get their work done, possibly even more work done without the distractions of colleagues, within the comfortable confines of their own homes.

So why are so many employers still skeptical about allowing telecommuting to happen on a more regular basis? One word – CONTROL. If the employer can’t see you doing the work, then you probably aren’t doing the work. At least in their minds. Personally, I have an arsenal of computers at home with multiple workstations all within reach, with more computing power than I have at work. Add a broadband connection, a telephone with a speaker phone, iChat, email and software packages my company would never purchase, but could definitely use. I could get more work done effectively at home than at work. One machine could be busy rendering some video for the next online demo, the other could be used for checking email, another could be used for business-related research, etc.

In my pajamas, I can get the companies website up-to-date, work on our latest marketing visuals, do some Flash banner animations while I listen to my iTunes library blasting as loud as I want to without worrying what others around me.

Yes, occasionally, I can understand a few face-to-face meetings and a trip to the office to gather and present materials. All of which could be done with other methods, but leave the employer feeling satisfied that things are getting done.

So, what do you think? Will corporate america start smartening up about the health and well being of their employees or do they like to keep their lab rats spinning away on the wheel?

posted at 08:21 pm on May 9, 2006 by Al Lemieux

19 Four day week

Been doing this since 1999. Working for the US Government has some advantages, and high on the list is an optional ‘maxiflex’ schedule that allows for 4×10 hr days. I live two miles from work so there is no commute to speak of. I get to ride bikes every Friday!

posted at 09:35 pm on May 9, 2006 by fixed gear

20 Mission Control

Ryan mentioned a very important realization in his article: there is always going to be more to do. I came to the same realization during the Productivity & Accomplishment Workshop offered by Mission Control.
For anyone interested in a simple, personal management system oriented around being powerful and productive in the face of the ever-increasing amount of what there is to do I strongly recommend the course.
Since I started using the Mission Control system, I spend less time on distractions, have noticed a skyrocket in my productivity, and a HUGE reduction in my stress level about everything I have to do.

posted at 09:50 pm on May 9, 2006 by Nathan Rosenberg

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