So I’ve decided to let you all in on my (not very shocking) secret in how I achieve everything I am able to, while still having time for my pets, social life, and travels.

So, here’s the secret:

Time is a finite thing – we all get 24 hours a day.  No matter what you do, you will not be able to change or control that fact.  What you do have control over is your energy and your personal drive.

Taking care of yourself both mentally and physically prepares you for being the most effective and efficient you.  It may seem counterproductive, but taking time to re-charge is vital in getting the most done with the time you do have.  Working 12+ hour days is simply not a productive way to get the most done – your brain and body cannot work/concentrate that long each day.  Instead, taking care of you yourself will result in being able to achieve more during 8 hours than the average person does, and much more than you would during the 12+ hour day.

It always annoyed me when I would see supervisors praising employees for their work weeks being well over 40 hours, as if that was a sign of accomplishment.  It is not.  Truly.  It is only a sign of inefficiency and the fast track for burnout.

To manage your time, you need to make sure you are eating well, working out, spending time with your loved ones, and getting a decent amount of sleep.  Because I take time to read, eat well, exercise every day, and make sure to sleep at least 6 hours a night, I am able to get my job successfully done at work in under 50 hours a week.  I am also able to be an active member of Kiwanis, volunteer for the Fort Collins Cat Rescue, be on the board for Animal House, sing with Larimer Chorale, and still have time for quality time with my pets and my friends.

So that’s it!  That’s the “secret”.  Take care of yourself and you won’t need to work more hours, you’ll just work better. 🙂