If you’re feeling stuck, stressed and SO tired… Stop! Rest. Recover. Don’t work late. Turn off your email. Do something that feeds your soul.  The work will still be there tomorrow. 

That’s an instant solution to an immediate impact of longer term problem.

When things are stressful it’s often because there are lots of things happening that are all serious and complicated. So we find ourselves working longer hours to try to stay on top of things.

But the trouble is… That pushes us away from the things that keep us sane and feeling balanced. Gym. Reading. Music. Family game night. When work is stressful and complicated, the thing that makes you feel like you often gets pushed to the side.

And that makes us less able to deal with the stress!

But the solution is simple.

Here’s how to stop working long hours…

Stop working long hours!!

MAKE yourself go home at 5’o’clock. Go to the gym. Play Uno with this kids. Because… When you start putting a hard edge on that boundary, you’ll start prioritising properly. 

And prioritising properly is the real secret.

If you KNOW you’ve done the 20% of your work that creates 80% of your impact… it’s easier to go home on time. 

Start by taking two minutes at the end of every day to identify your MOST important thing to do tomorrow and specify when you’re going to do it (ideally first thing).

Or grab the 5-minute daily checklist from my Leadership Upgrade pack at the link below.

However you do it… The more stressful things are, the more important “prioritising” becomes. And the more time you need for the things that make you feel like you.