“Work hard and you will succeed,” said our elders. But what happens when you work hard but are facing in the wrong direction. Today, research shows that working long hours, does not mean better work. Time to think, creates better ideas. Time to be still and be inspired is the secret of great work. Productivity reduces sharply after concentrated and sustained effort. Many writers do their best work in short, concentrated bursts. Charles Dickens worked for 5 hours a day from 8 am till 2 pm, with a break for lunch. Many focus on 3 hours a day. Antony Trollope published 47 novels writing between 5am and 8am.
Today many worship the 80 hour week. But does this really lead to true productivity? Research shows that the best work emerges in researchers, from working 20 hours a week. Over 60 hours were the least productive.
Many workers in Japan, work for 100 hours a week and some of them die due to over work. Some of them are driven to extreme measures like alcoholism, violent anti-social behaviour and even suicide. So the Government of Japan is trying to urge industry and business to restrict the number of hours. Someone can work up to 60 hours a week and also make the taking annual vacation compulsory, for everyone. No one is allowed to accumulate his leave and cash it. You cannot get reimbursed by cash for forgoing your leave. You have to compulsorily use your leave, go on holiday and not report for work. This is having a major statutory and sobering effect on Japanese society.
Practice is important. Practicing 10,000 hours can make you an expert in any field. But practice in a way that enables you to recover on a daily basis. Top performers rest and sleep better than others. Maybe the 10,000 hours of work should be taken gradually, allowing for at least 4 times the amount of rest and sleep. To be a real winner, practice silence and deep contentment, alternating with intense effort.
The writer is the author of Everyday Happiness Mantras
