Not many of us want to overwork, but many of us do. So why do we feel it is just part of the deal?
In my corporate days I made it my business not to be Busy. I found the addiction to being Busy, well I guess boring. I avoided people who were endlessly Busy. They never had anything interesting to say. They always just talked about being Busy. I found it a bit embarrassing. As if everyone else didn’t have big to do lists. As if everyone else was less worthy of busyness.
I always had a big to do list. As Head of Communications there is always a very big thing you are working on, just worked on or about to work on. But a big to do list is different to Busy.
I read an article by HBR about our addition to Overwork, how we are wedded to the notion of overworking equalling success. How paranoid we feel if someone appears more busy than us. And what if you do not appear Busy? What if you aren’t overworking? What must people think of you.
The article shared that often we work harder on being overworked than on helping ourselves get more done in an easier way.
I always wanted to have a good day at work. So I worked hard on reducing stress, pressure, rushing - even though everything inside of me wanted to burst. Over time it got easier. I could relax into work. Even after the worst meeting, the biggest crisis, I was usually able to leave the room with relaxed shoulders, a small smile, and time - time to talk if someone needed it, time to think if I needed a moment. But I knew I was being judged.
I was talking to a HR colleague about project we were working on and they said ‘the problem is you are swan and that doesn’t work around here. People need to see sweat otherwise they wonder what you are doing’.
People need to see sweat. Why? It makes them feel better? It’s their version of success? Why don’t they just want to see good work being done? (And I knew, for a fact, my team were doing good work).
We know that being Busy makes us less productive. The pressure, the stress, the overwhelm from overwork blocks out all our good energy and focus.
And yet here we are, hooked on overwork.
Rushing from one meeting to the next 121, one Zoom to the next Teams. With barely a pause in-between to reset, gather thoughts, challenge if this work / meeting / project is really needed. So we just keep going. Getting through the day. Even if it goes on well into the evening.
So as we enter a new week maybe our work can include working on less overworking.
It takes effort, and focus, but imagine not being Busy and yet getting more done. Surely that’s a great a goal for the week ahead?
If you are feeling too busy, it’s not about the length of your to do list. It’s about working on reducing overworking.
Less really can be more.
eleanor
"the problem is you are swan and that doesn’t work around here. People need to see sweat otherwise they wonder what you are doing"
What a ridiculous thing to say!!!
🤬🤬🤬