Like many of my classmates, shortly after college, I joined the ranks of a top strategy and management consulting firm. I knew I was signing up for long hours, but the reality of that didn’t really sink until a few months in, when I asked for a vacation day to go to a friend’s wedding. My request was granted, sort of. My wife handled the long drive to the wedding, while I spent my “day off” in the passenger’s seat working furiously on my laptop, with occasional stops at cafes to recharge my computer and send emails via the free wifi. This pace continued for months – even on national holidays, I holed up in my apartment to work — and I began to wonder how long I could continue.
How to Be More Productive Without Burning Out
Don’t try to change all your habits at once.
December 11, 2017
Summary.
Overwork and burnout are rampant problems, and companies don’t really have solutions for them. That means it’s up to all of us to figure out how to take care of ourselves while still doing great work. Lots of productivity tips are helpful only for a week or two; then, old habits come roaring back. It’s a cycle of burnout and recovery that never really ends. But you can make lasting change by following five general principles: be strategic about what you want to accomplish; track metrics; focus on making one change at a time; actually change your behavior (of course); and find a partner to hold yourself accountable.
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New!
HBR Learning
Stress Management Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Stress Management. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to build resilience at work.