I am dimming my chances of joining Infosys and OYO (will I ever?) in the future by writing this piece but how can I not? In a world where countries are cozying up to the idea of working less and living more, some of our dear leaders appear to be carrying the flavor of slavery. They’re advising everyone to embrace the good ol’ 70-hour workweek and all of it in the name of increasing productivity – perhaps they missed the memo on the modern work-life balance trends. Let’s dive into the delightful absurdity of it all!

Picture this: In most progressive corners of the globe, there’s a shift towards shorter workdays and workweeks. The 6-hour workday and the 4-day workweek are becoming the new cool. It seems like the rest of the world is on a productivity picnic while some leaders are stuck at the office, counting their hours like they’re treasures. For some of them, it might be.

Productivity and well-being go hand in hand. Burning the midnight oil might have been cool in the time of horse-drawn carriages, but today, it’s more likely to leave you with a burnt-out candle and a trail of melted wax.

The 6-hour workday and the 4-day workweek have risen to prominence because they recognize that working smarter is the new norm. In shorter workdays, there’s no time for office politics, endless meetings, and coffee breaks that seem to drag on forever.

So, instead of preaching 70 hours a week ‘they’ should be advising on how to increase productivity in smart ways. But no, they want the hours to increase because guess who is going to get the benefit? You? Nah.

I really don’t intend to even start a discussion on this, none of us should. Instead, let’s talk about how to increase productivity without losing your mind:

• Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule): Identify the tasks or activities that contribute the most to your productivity and focus on those. In many cases, 20% of your efforts yield 80% of the results. Concentrate on the most impactful tasks.
• Use the “Eisenhower Matrix (read more https://t.ly/ky2uA)”: Categorize tasks into four quadrants: urgent and important, not urgent but important, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important. Focus on tasks in the important but not urgent quadrant to proactively manage your time.
• Reverse Alarm Clock: Set an alarm to go off one hour before your desired bedtime. When it rings, start winding down and preparing for sleep. This can improve the quality of your rest, leading to greater productivity the next day.
• The “Two Pizza” Rule: Keep team meetings small and efficient. Jeff Bezos coined the “Two Pizza” rule, suggesting that if you can’t feed a team with two pizzas, it’s too large. Smaller meetings tend to be more productive and focused.
• Batching Tasks: Group similar tasks together and tackle them in batches. For example, answer all your emails at specific times during the day rather than continuously checking your inbox.
• Say No to Distractions: You already know what this is, come on.
• Tech is Your Best Friend: Embrace productivity apps, like a trusted sidekick, to keep you organized and efficient.
• Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Encourage your coworkers to collaborate like an ‘Avengers’ or ‘Justice League’ and watch your productivity soar. I don’t know if we have any India superheroes bandwagon.
• Don’t Forget to Nap: Because, really, who can work for hours on end without a power nap?
• Of course, Practice Mindfulness and Meditation: These techniques can help reduce stress and improve focus. Regular mindfulness exercises can enhance your overall productivity by keeping your mind calm and attentive.

Let’s remember that life is not meant to be a never-ending toil. Working smarter and embracing modern work-life balances might just be the secret sauce to success, sprinkled with a touch of humor and a pinch of good old-fashioned common sense. So, next time someone suggests a 70-hour workweek, maybe hand them a calendar and a laugh track because, in the end, we’re all striving for that sweet spot where productivity, well-being, and the occasional chuckle coexist. Cheers to shorter workdays, longer weekends, and a future where we all get to savor the taste of freedom, productivity, and a good laugh – it’s the recipe for a life well-lived!