Do you sleep with your smartphone on your nightstand? 
Do you feel you have to respond to an email any time of the day or night?
You are not alone.
Most of us find it difficult to get off of the work treadmill and feel that we are on call 24/7. The key question is: How can you cut back on your hours and still get the same amount of work done?
Here’s what some savvy business owners figured out:
- You are doing tasks that can be delegated – especially those that you do not like to do or do not do well.
- You are more productive if you are not checking email 6 times an hour. Instead, figure out how you check your email (phone) once in the morning, once before lunch, and once before you finish your day. Going from 50 times a day to 3 times a day seems drastic, but doable with intention.
- You spend time each day to plan, rather than just jumping in and getting started. Instead, figure out what matters most right now. Figure out the steps to accomplish the total task. By taking time upfront, you actually can spend less time overall.
- You control your environment when you want to focus and concentrate. Close your door. Let others know you are unavailable for 30 or 60 minutes, so that you can get that intensive task done.
Challenge yourself to find ways each day to minimize time spent on tasks.
To avoid the temptation to check email right before you go to sleep or first thing in the morning, put your phone away from the nightstand. Buy an alarm clock.
Shift your thinking on responding to emails after hours. When you do that, then you are creating the expectation you are on call 24/7. Determine your time boundaries.
Be intentional with your time. You matter.