"Been busy?" is a question we're often asked. Sadly we're often far too busy and don't have time for the things we really want to do. We've made working our number one priority and are suffering the consequences.
But it doesn't have to be this way. Author Celeste Headlee explains the reasons work takes up too much of our lives and shows a way forward to being less busy, less overworked and more happy.
The title "Do Nothing" might put you off reading this book. I recommend you read it anyway. The subtitle "break away from overworking overdoing and underliving" is a better description of the book.
In a world of overworking we seem busier than ever. How is it that our grandparents had so much leisure time even without the assistance of robot vacuums, online shopping, microwaves and the internet?
Why do we feel so busy? 11 reasons
Given all our modern labour-saving devices, there must be a reason we're so busy all the time. Actually there's plenty. In reading the book I picked up at least 11.
We don't take our leave
In the US, 700 million leave days are earned but not taken. 200 million of these are lost forever. They're not saved for later. They're lost. We could have had the day off but chose to work instead (for no extra money). Meanwhile people who use their leave are found to be 56% happier.
We work too many hours
For the vast majority of human history we have worked less than now. The industrial revolution was the exception. It inspired workers to fight for a maximum of 8 hours a day, 5 day week etc). 100 years later, we're going the other way - doing unpaid overtime at work, checking emails on Sunday nights. At least those in the industrial revolution were paid for their insane hours.
We think time is money
When time is money (eg. hourly pay) we feel like time not working is wasted time. This is especially strong for high-income earners because each hour has a higher price tag.
We traded time for money and stuff
Sixty years ago it was forecast that by now we'd work 14-hour weeks with 2 months of annual holidays. Productivity gains mean we could work a 4-hour day. Or have a 6-month work year. Or take every second year off (with pay).
Instead we've chosen longer hours. This is less productive but we chose (or were forced to choose) the more-money less-free-time option.
Stuff created an upper class
As we spent our money buying more stuff, it grew the economy. But most of the gains went to the wealthy. From 1978 to 2016 worker pay went up 12%. For CEO's 800%.
Culture exulted the successful ones. For those in the World War 2 generation, "if they couldn't be successful they had to at least prove they tried. Success became less important that how hard you worked."
Polluted time
When we're doing work at home, or checking work emails, or thinking about work, we miss out on solid chunks of non-work time. It might only be a small amount of work, but a few minutes here and there throughout our free time means robs us of the opportunity to fully disconnect.
Also because we do personal stuff at work, and work stuff at home it feels like we're always in work mode. Workplaces also blur the line by creating "homey" environments (to make it more comfortable to stay longer).
Workplace inefficiency
Work is time-based so we're rewarded for taking 8 hours to do a 3 hour job rather that doing it efficiently. Open plan offices are less productive, so a given amount of work takes longer.
Social circle
The more time we spend at work, the smaller our external social life. To an extent we become dependent on the workplace for socialisation (even though work friends aren't the same as having real friends).
Bragging rights
Compared to 50 years ago, we save less and spend more. Goods have become cheaper and affordable for most. There's no longer any point bragging about a flat screen TV - everyone has one. So we've moved on to brag about how busy we are. Because that means we're successful and important, right?
We've flipped what success means
In 1899 personal success was equated with "abstention from labor". Imagine wealthy people being served lunch by a butler while the working class slaved away at a factory.
A century on, and we've flipped the script. Now, having free time is looked down upon and working like a maniac is held in high regard.
We forget to question whether it's worth it
Fewer people have hobbies now. People who work 50+ hours a week make only 6% more than people working normal hours.
Deep down we know that our time is more valuable but a trillion dollars per year of advertising brainwashes us.
We trade our privacy, community, hobbies and peace of mind for money. But is it worth it?
What do we need to learn?
Here are some lessons from the book that I think are worth holding on to.
Let's leave efficiency at work
Though home and office are blurring, we don't take home behaviour to work. "Equally it doesn't always serve us well to be so geared towards efficiency in our leisure time."
"Speed and efficiency are, by their very nature antithetical to introspection and intimacy".
Productivity is not an end in itself - just a means to a worthwhile goal.
Humans don't need work in order to be happy
That may be a subversive statement these days. But humans need six things - food, water, shelter, sleep, human connection and novelty.
Most of us need to work - at least for the first 3 of these. But must we work as long and hard as we do?
Leisure time is crucial to creativity
When our brain is idle (some might say daydreaming) the "default network" sorts new information, which feeds our learning, insight and imagination.
Sadly smartphones are killing our opportunity for boredom and hence our creativity.
Work is not a fundamental need. Leisure is.
Life backs
That's not a typo. These are life hacks to get life back. Here are some of my favourites from the book.
Do a time log
Sometimes we're think we're busier than we are (which is still stressful). A time log shows how much potential free time we actually have - and how we're currently using it.
Make a schedule
Work out how much time you want to allocate to things and make an "ideal" schedule. It won't be followed exactly but it gives you a plan to get what you want out of your days.
Less comparison
"Don't compare your work hours to others, your cooking to pinterest, or your life to others' social media photos." Other people overstate how much they work - and the bigger the number, the bigger the exaggeration. Also we overestimate how social people's lives are and how wealthy they are. The more TV we watch, the greater the overestimation of wealth - because we're comparing to elites (and fiction) rather than our peers.
Work fewer hours
Employers like to have metrics. Hours worked is the easiest - even if it's the most meaningless. Long hours decrease health, creative time and productivity and increase errors. In a study, most productive were those who put in 10-20 hours/wk or 2-5 hours/day.
Work on one thing at a time - a report gets done 40% faster when the inbox is closed and phone is silent. Work for about 50-57 minutes at at time (your time may vary) then have a break. You've earnt it by being more productive.
Have leisure time
There are two kinds of rest. Spare time is the little gap between work to recharge for more work. Leisure is completely separate - no email, calls or thoughts about work. It's you being you and doing what fulfills you and gives you joy.
In short
Basically we spend way to much time working jobs. We do this for reasons that often don't make sense or aren't worth the price we pay for it.
The extra work decreases our productivity, deteriorates our health, eats away at our free time and personal relationships.
We're better off when we realise the importance of leisure, work fewer hours (which is more productive) and live an enjoyable life.
Further reading
See my reviews of Time and How to Spend It and BS Jobs.
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