Craig and Marc Kielburger founded Free The Children and Me to We. Their biweekly Brain Storm column taps experts and readers for solutions to social issues.
Jullien Gordon is someone who many of us want to be. The self-described "recovering workaholic" is now a "high performer" with a successful career and a satisfying personal life.
"High performers work a lot smarter," reads a recent LinkedIn post by Gordon – a popular motivational speaker and work-performance guru in Brooklyn, N.Y. Meanwhile, he says, "workaholics just work a lot."
Neither of us can deny that we work a lot. Since our early 20s (or to be honest, our mid-teens) our passion for our work has often been all-consuming. And apparently we're not alone. Health Canada reports that almost two-thirds of Canadians work more than 45 hours a week, and over half of us bring work home for an extra seven hours a week.
We're both fortunate that our work gives us epic energy. But for others, being overloaded can mean less sleep, less energy and lower productivity. More hours working could also mean fewer hours with family and friends, and less time to be active and engaged citizens in our communities.
We've personally found that the growing trend toward "work-life integration" – creating social opportunities in the workplace like book clubs or yoga classes, and bringing family and friends along to help on work-related volunteer initiatives – has made us and our employees feel more balanced and happy.
Still, we're intrigued by the state of uber-productivity that Gordon says defines "high performers" and how we can all get there. Gordon suggests starting with clearly defined goals and working hard in short, focused chunks. Now, we turn the subject over to the experts and to you.
This week's question: What's your best tip to be more efficient at work?
THE EXPERTS
Linda Duxbury, professor at the Sprott School of Business in Ottawa
"Spend your 'peak' work hours (a.m. hours for morning people, p.m. hours for nighthawks) working on priority tasks. Schedule e-mail and other communication separately, and stick to this schedule. Try not to let someone else's priorities get in your way of getting work done."
Tim Pychyl, author of Solving the Procrastination Puzzle
"Procrastination is the thief of time and the enemy of a productive work day. Don't wait to be in the mood. Focus on doing, not feeling frustrated or afraid of the tasks ahead. Identify the next action for your highest priority project, then just get started for the next 10 minutes. Even a little progress fuels our motivation to continue, so you're priming the pump to success!"
Dr. Elaine Chin, founder and chief medical officer at the Executive Health Centre in Toronto
"Your brain is the computer powering your performance. It needs fuel and rest. Every day eat three balanced meals. Sleep at least seven to eight hours each day. Unplug 15 minutes during the work day for quiet time, meditation or deep breathing."
Have your say in the comments section.
Marc Kielburger