An easy way to reduce the number of hours you work in a day: collect your fires and extinguish them at once.
I’ve learned this about so-called “emergencies.” Most are not and if you let those fires burn, they extinguish themselves.
Then there are fires that won’t go out.
What if there you separated those into two lists?
List one is pre-determined and written on a sticky note on your computer. “These types of emergencies can pull me away from my work today.” This list is intentionally small, five or fewer items.
List two is everything else. This list you collect and address not in real-time or on a daily basis, but at a weekly strategy meeting. Not only is this more efficient if you leverage the collective genius of your organization, you’ll also lower your stress and hours at work too.
