The working Chameleon: Changing with the times.

There are two sides to every story.  Many of us are up to our necks in work and simply don’t have enough hours in the day. We get up, graft and then work overtime, often forcing our minds to focus when they’re not always working in their prime. And then there’s the other side. Some of us may not need to do the overtime, but we do however, compel to the norms of society, and go to work for the hours that others deem to be best for them.

Calling all the night owls.

It’s no surprise that technology really is shaping society and the way in which we work. A common trade off though is the battle between staying globally connected to your consumer but not being close enough to your colleagues. At what point do we make this decision, and more importantly who calls the shots? For some of us, night time makes our brains tick. If you’re anything like me, it takes you a good while to shut off. It’s at exactly this point when I get the fuel for most of my plans and ideas. Having a brain that is so active at night, does of course have its draw backs. I’m slightly slow in a morning and I’m ready for a recharge after lunch. Alas, I am saved by ensuring all my ideas that are born in the evening, are jotted down in my notes on my phone.  Not only does this feed my motivation and inspiration in the day, it also preps you for any meetings or phone calls you’re required to have in the day.

For those that do it by the book.

Working 8 hours a day was first introduced in the name of productivity and health.  We came to realise that working more hours, doesn’t always lead to productivity, especially if you’re head’s in the clouds, or checking e-mails for most of the day. That said, for some people 8 hours between the hours of 9-5 is just right. It means that should we need to hop across the hall to ask our colleague a question, we can get an answer there and then, instead of it being pushed the the bottom of their to-do list on Hive or Fuse. After all, we all know what it’s like to be waiting on other people’s information or feedback for days, to be then dumped with it all at once, leaving you in an unmaintainable and unmanageable load of work to crack on with. The thought that the 9-5 hours may slowly become a thing of the past may seem quite daunting for many, but ultimately it’s about how you manage your time.  If you are someone that likes to do things by the book that society encourages us to read, then make sure you’re accessible when others that you rely on are.

3 hours past 5.

A race against time and a race against pressure. Should we be grateful that technology allows us to work for even longer?  Some jobs do require us to put in the extra hours on a regular basis, be it a law suit, or an extra push to get your commission, sometimes there’s no getting away from working after hours. Who’s to say you have to be in the same space to put in the extra graft? Just like the times are changing (pardon the pun) your workspace can too. Change it up a bit, where you can, and it may actually break your day up and give you the illusion that you’ve haven’t been stuck in the office for 10 hours straight.

Whatever your feeling is towards the changing way of work, just take 5 to remember to disconnect from work, and make sure you plan your time to make the most of everyone else’s  working preferences (and you own, of course).