How To Work Long Hours and Stay Motivated (With Benefits)

1. Keep your mental focus sharp.
2. Streamline your workflow.
3. Structure your day for maximum productivity.
4. Take periodic breaks.
5. Stick to a healthy diet.
6. Get enough sleep.
7. Reflect on the big picture.
8. Set healthy work-life boundaries.

These days, everyone’s busy. But for you, busy is an understatement. Maybe you’re in the thick of your industry’s peak season, working on a large project with a pressing deadline, or have a demanding job that necessitates long hours all year long. Whatever the cause, you spend a lot of time working 80-hour work weeks in addition to being busy.

It should come as no surprise that working long hours consistently can lead to burnout and mental fatigue. Therefore, it is not sufficient to simply hang on for dear life until your next vacation when things get difficult and the hours get long. Discover how to maintain your energy, focus, and—most importantly—sanity with these advice.

It’s simple to neglect daily needs when you’re overloaded with work. You choose takeout over a healthy meal, drink a lot of coffee instead of water, and skip the gym because you think that pacing around the hallway while on a conference call will serve as your daily dose of cardio.

Therefore, first things first: Be sure to look after yourself. Schedule exercise into your daily schedule (even if it’s just a 15-minute stretch session in the morning before work), keep a supply of healthy snacks at your desk, or opt for a 20-minute nap instead of another cup of coffee. Your mind, body, and boss will thank you.

However, you can also use that concept in other aspects of your daily activities. For instance, you could prepare all of your week’s lunches on Sunday afternoon so that you can simply grab and go each morning. Or perhaps you arrange a meal delivery service, like Blue Apron or Plated, to avoid having to plan a meal or go shopping for ingredients.

How to TRAIN Yourself to Work LONG Hours

Benefits of working long hours

You can gain a lot of advantages from working long hours. Although it may seem that working more will leave you with less time for recreation, there are ways to strike a balance. Here are some of the benefits of working more hours:

How to work long hours

These actions will help you work long hours while maintaining your health and motivation:

1. Take breaks

Throughout the day, taking breaks can help you maintain your focus and be productive. Consider taking short breaks every few hours to go for a walk or eat something while your mind is off of work. You could do this by reading a book, watching a video, or calling a friend. To feel motivated when you get back to work, you might plan longer breaks for meals and a few quick 15-minute breaks in between.

2. Create a schedule

You can allocate specific amounts of time to complete particular tasks by making a schedule. Consider making a list of your to-dos for the day and estimating how much time each one will take. From there, you can prioritize each and evaluate any potential dependencies. You can indicate when you intend to work on each task and when you might take breaks by making a schedule. Consider checking things off your list to demonstrate your success and maintain motivation.

3. Track your time

Consider keeping a record of the actual time it takes to complete tasks after estimating your schedule. You can make schedules for future days when you might work long hours by comparing these to your time estimates. You can identify tasks you might eliminate because they take too much time by keeping track of your time. With this knowledge, you could change your plans to allow enough time to finish your top priorities.

4. Make healthy choices

You can stay focused and get through long days with the aid of nutrition and wellness. Contrary to popular belief, foods like eggs, salads, and fruits can give you the energy and nutrition you require while also keeping you full. Similar to this, water consumption is crucial because it can help your brain function better. While drinking caffeinated beverages like coffee can help you feel more energized for brief periods of time, staying hydrated with water can help you stay alert and focused all day.

5. Get rest

Getting enough sleep at night can help you concentrate better during the workday. Even if you work longer hours or more days per week, think about planning to go to bed early or staying up later to get around eight hours each night. Establishing a schedule that involves going to bed and waking up at the same time each day can be beneficial. This consistency can enhance your focus throughout the days, even if you work a longer shift. A brief nap of 20 minutes can occasionally help you feel more energized. If you have a lengthy bus or train commute, you might consider doing this.

6. Optimize your tasks

You could make some of your tasks more efficient by automating or streamlining them. For instance, if you frequently sort through all of your emails to decide which ones are most important, you might set up filters to send specific emails to a priority folder and automatically respond to notes that are of lower priority. Similar to this, you could use the time you spend in meetings to convey crucial project information and spend time at your desk concentrating on the tasks you need to finish. Spend some time thinking about how you can streamline your process to be more productive.

7. Learn your preferences

Learning your preferences can help you perform better overall because some people perform better at night than in the morning. This might apply to specific tasks, too. For instance, you might test which gets you more motivated to work hard throughout the day—responding to emails first in the morning or finishing tasks first.

You could also work around your work schedule by using your preferences to complete home-related tasks. If, for instance, you prefer to work at night and have the option of working longer hours, you might clean, shop, or make to-do lists at night. This facilitates effective use of your most productive time.

8. Reduce distractions

Keeping yourself less distracted while putting in long hours can increase productivity. If you stay late at a place of business where everyone leaves at the same time, this might be simple. If you must work from home, make an effort to designate a workspace where you can go when you need to work. Place any distracting items, such as televisions or cell phones, in a different room.

FAQ

How can I work 12 hours a day?

1. Eat Healthy and Stick To a Schedule. You might just want to unwind with a soda and some junk food after a long shift.
2. Make Sure You Get Enough Sleep. Without enough sleep, your body won’t be able to function properly.
3. Make the Most of the Breaks That You Get.

How can I work longer hours without getting tired?

1. Go for a walk before work. …
2. Take a nap before work. …
3. Take activity breaks. …
4. Keep your workspace bright. …
5. Drink water. …
6. Drink caffeine early in your shift. …
7. Keep snacks handy. …
8. Get the easy stuff out of the way.

How do I survive a 60-hour work week?

1. Take breaks. While maintaining focus on your work is important, regular breaks from it are also crucial.
2. Get enough sleep. …
3. Prioritize tasks. …
4. Review your goals. …
5. Exercise regularly. …
6. Keep one full day work-free.

How can I work 100 hours?

1. Love Your Career. If you don’t truly enjoy what you do for a living, working 100 hours a week isn’t worth it.
2. Stay Organized. …
3. Get Enough Sleep. …
4. Have Healthy Habits. …
5. Create a Strict Schedule. …
6. Appreciate Early Morning Hours. …
7. Make Time for Family and Friends. …
8. Be Grateful.