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Original poster

If you only work your hours, how do you do it

47 replies

User9574 · 10/12/2020 01:27

By that I mean, if you work only your contracted hours and get your work done within those hours, what do you do to make sure that happens.

I am determined to change this next year. I am yet again playing catch up and I'm determined to make this the last time. Once I've caught up what do I need to sustain? If you stick to your hours, were you always like that? If you were in a job doing stupid long hours did you manage to change in that job? What tips do you have for someone who wants work/life balance? I really just want to hear as many tips and positive stories as possible so I can make the change.

OP posts:

MrsTerryPratchett · 10/12/2020 01:30

What do you do? Does everyone you work with clock off on time? Do you work consistently when you are at work? Are you organised in your personal life? Are you a perfectionist?

blueshoes · 10/12/2020 01:58

I am no help because I consistently work above my contracted hours.

What I noticed about DH, who seems to be able to finish faster than expected (i.e. opposite of me), is he does not faff, is very focused (I get up and walk around when it gets too intense in my head) and is not particularly perfectionist.

I go through my work a few times and let it steep in its juices and come back to it before sending it out. I do think I acheive a better quality result and might save time in the medium term but I don't keep to my hours and end up being more easily distracted and 'free range'.

I am expected to deliver to outcomes and not a 9-5 type of employee who is entitled to overtime.

Catsup · 10/12/2020 02:11

I fall into the category of often spending an extra hour or more to make sure everything is complete. However, I have started to make a conscious effort to step back from it. I priortise what definately needs done during my working day and leave some things that can wait until the next. I've become more active at distributing the load as I work in an environment where we have our own tasks, but also the general day to day ones. I've stopped feeling guilty about not making sure it's 'all done'. I do my bits and some of the extras, but now will confidently ask someone else to pick something up if I'm not there, and will equally return the favour for them. I no longer try and 'micromanage' my tasks ie. If I've highlighted something that needs to happen I'll now leave it at that (it's not up to me to ring and check it's happening on my days off).

grassisjeweled · 10/12/2020 02:16

Sounds like you have too much to do?

Or you're in need of helping speeding up processes?

What's your vague job title?

fallfallfall · 10/12/2020 02:24

Arrive on time, steady work during work hours, record calls taken, I’ve kept stats on clients seen etc. leave on time.

lovelemoncurd · 10/12/2020 02:42

I don't tend to work over my hours. DH does and says when he watches me he says I'm much more efficient. I don't let meetings run over. I don't procrastinate. I don't have meetings I don't need. I don't attend meetings that are not useful. In terms of activity I usually tackle harder aspects earlier in the day and leave less challenging to later. That way I'm not trying to get my head around a problem when I'm tired.

rottiemum88 · 10/12/2020 03:41

For the most part, it's just about being organised. I'm guilty of sometimes working through my lunch or logging back on for the odd hour in the evening, but that's more because I know it'll make the next day go smoother than because I need to.

I find having a solid list of tasks for the day and not allowing that to be detailed, along with declining meeting invites where I'm not an active participant (which is very much encouraged where I work), are both key to me being productive during my actual working hours.

I also try to make the most of any small slots of time that appear in my day for quick wins, so if I have a spare 5 minutes before a meeting then I'll scan my inbox to see if there's anything that just needs a couple of lines response and get it done. It's amazing how easily those small jobs can mount up and end up taking an hour at the end of your day to clear if you don't fit them in as and when.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 10/12/2020 06:00

I'm part time and I always just work my contracted hours. I'm on an hourly wage so my bosses would have to pay me more if I stayed longer though! It's just about being organised although to be honest the workload is pretty manageable to do within my contracted hours. If something isn't finished by the end of the week I don't stress about it, I just make time for it on Monday morning.

WalkingOnStarshine · 10/12/2020 06:41

I used to regularly go over my contracted hours but my workload was too big. I had a chat with my boss (on the basis that important work was being rushed as I crammed it all in) and got some of my work shared out between others who had less on.

Fressia123 · 10/12/2020 06:50

At the moment I'm only answering emails. (It's account management and there's a lot of troubleshooting). I don't think I reply to more than 15... I sometimes feel I'm not doing enough

ForTheLoveOfCatFood · 10/12/2020 16:43

Only work extra very occasionally if we have something big on.
The company i work in would question anyone routinely working extra to understand do they have to much on or are they not managing their work load. I am lucky my company really push flexible working and work life balance as they know they get more from their staff. I think the trend is moving towards that from what I can from other companies in our industry but it would depend what sector you work in I think.

On Friday afternoon I plan out my week to make sure I know what’s on each day and make sure ive written out what needs to be achieved/ deadlines etc
I log in on time or a little early manage my time and day to make sure I achieve what I need and log off pretty much on the dot

I have commitments after work so it wouldn’t be an option for me to routinely work late either even if I did work for a company that expected it.

SnuggyBuggy · 10/12/2020 16:47

A combination of being organised and trying to spend the last bit of the day on tasks that can wait until the next morning.

Psychologically by remembering that it's down to my employers to hire enough people to get all the work done. If they dont that's their decision and not my problem.

HallFloor · 10/12/2020 16:51

I work in a role where "everyone" works excessive hours, but I never have. I won't say what it is because that will derail things. I think the things I do differently are:

I'm very good at doing what needs doing and not doing the stuff that's just for show.

-I'm very willing to do a favour because I think that's an investment that comes back. -I set expectations to under promise and over deliver and buy myself time.

I delegate but I am very aware you can only delegate the task, not the responsibility. My staff know I have their back so are happy to take on things above their pay grade, to help me out and for the development opportunity.

opportunity. -I don't spend a lot of time getting involved in things that don't concern me, I'm afraid colleagues around me can lose large parts if their day like that.

When it's time up, I go home. There's very rarely anything that can't wait until tomorrow if it needs to.

Covidnomore · 10/12/2020 16:54

Well since I've worked about 3 hours on my day off and constantly checked emails - I don't know

meringue33 · 10/12/2020 16:55

I am actually not bad at this. I only do about 2-3 hours overtime a week rather than working into the night as I did when younger.

Things that work:

turning down CPD that isn’t relevant to my role
turning down meeting invitations that aren’t relevant to my role or a colleague can go to instead
bullet journaling and moving tasks onto next week if needs be
turning down new projects if snowed under
being clear about time needed, I don’t compromise on quality but sometimes a new deadline has to be negotiated.

It helps that I work for reasonable human beings, I appreciate not all bosses are like that!

muddledmidget · 10/12/2020 16:56

My work isn't project based or client based so I don't know how much this will be of use to you. But I delegate what needs to be delegated early on in the day, check in with my team regularly (every couple of hours) to check they're on track, plan a list of priorities for me (legally required first, then customer required, then the nice to do if there's time) and prepare for a handover, whether that's to someone coming in after me to know where I'm up to, or if it's me coming in tomorrow, what is left over that needs to be a priority or checked on. Basically start the day with a list and a plan, and wrap up the day to tie up as many loose ends as possible. I also never faff at work. I try to do things once and do them well, and then move on. Never park something with no idea of when you're going to do it. If it doesn't need doing, make that decision and move on. If you need more info/to discuss it with someone, make a plan and follow through. I can't bear it when people just put stuff to the side because they don't know how to do it, or they don't want to make a mistake on it. It's OK not to know, it's not OK to ignore and hope it goes away, and I find faffers spend a lot do time dwelling on one problem, rather than asking for help and moving on.

meringue33 · 10/12/2020 16:57

working on one task at a time, until completion and only checking emails a couple of times a day
ringing colleagues for a chat if needed rather than having long email back and forths.

Ilikewinter · 10/12/2020 17:01

I used to work lots of extra hours then had a bit of a breakdown and I realised that work was absolutely not worth it. I stepped into a different role (same company) and vowed never to work a free minute again....and I dont.
Time management and delegation are the key for me, and the ability to say NO - once people realise you mean it suddenly they find someone else to do the work.
Its well known that 'yes people' and those eager to please or those that are actually very efficient get shit on whilst those who are crap at their job or do the job slowly get left alone.

HerBigChance · 10/12/2020 17:08

I've got better at this as time has gone on, but it's a learning process:

Not micromanaging staff and setting the expectation that they have the remit to tackle tasks without constant referral back to me;

Not getting involved in things I don't need to (mentioned above);

Quick wins (mentioned above) to get quick tasks done;

Setting the expectation to staff that you I work extra hours (except in emergencies) and that you don't expect them to either - this then becomes an all-round team ethos;

Answering emails in batches, then switching off and doing something else: absolutely no email notifications or sounds otherwise I find I'm purely reactive to email, rather than proactively getting on with other things;

Division of labour with meetings so that colleagues can go: I don't need to be at everything.

HerBigChance · 10/12/2020 17:10

Oh and the biggest one - already mentioned - is saying NO. Worrying less about what people think of you is also key.

Gwenhwyfar · 10/12/2020 17:15

I don't have a workload that goes over the allocated time on a regular basis. If I did (and I have at times in the past), I'd ask my boss what has to be prioritised and what will be done later or not at all or if they can re-allocate some of my work.
I'm not a manager so I have no qualms about not doing unpaid overtime unless there's an emergency / something turns up last minute.
I refuse to have my emails on my mobile phone so once the computer is switched off I don't see work that comes in after hours. Colleagues can still text me if there's something urgent.

CremeEggThief · 10/12/2020 17:17

Quite easy, when you're an agency worker on minimum wage.
I would begrudge even a minute or two over my time, even though I like my current job.

HerBigChance · 10/12/2020 17:20

I refuse to have my emails on my mobile phone so once the computer is switched off I don't see work that comes in after hours. Colleagues can still text me if there's something urgent.

This is critical as well. If I need to read emails, I have to log into my employer's portal on my work laptop. I have to actively seek them out. Absolutely none are on my phone or tablet. It's too difficult to separate things, particularly if you're also working at home.

Chimeraforce · 10/12/2020 17:21

I work my hours. I struggle hugely and worry alot and my work is never done.
The staffing to workload ratio is something I have no control over. Public sector.
I don't work for free.

SnuggyBuggy · 10/12/2020 17:23

The other thing, especially if you're part time, is good handovers in case something comes up outside of your working hours.

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