2000 New Opportunities

A year has 8760 hours. Of those hours, about 2920 are spent sleeping, between 2000 and 2500 working, and the rest are part of our free time.

These 2000-2500 hours of annual work come from a simple calculation in which we count the average 8 hours of work per day - 40 hours of work per week - and multiply it by 52 weeks of work per year.

Now, just because the average workday is 8 hours doesn't mean that all 8 are put to good use. In fact, it has been shown that, out of an 8-hour workday, the average worker is only productive for 2 hours and 53 minutes. And you may wonder, but where do the other 5 hours go?

The same study involving around 2,000 full-time office workers revealed that workers do not work the entire time they are in the office. These are the activities they do most while not working:

Reading the news - 1 hour and 5 minutes
Checking social media - 44 minutes
Talking about non-work issues with colleagues - 40 minutes
Looking for other jobs - 26 minutes
Taking smoke or lunch breaks - 23 minutes
Calling partners or friends - 18 minutes
Preparing hot beverages such as coffee or tea - 17 minutes
Texting - 14 minutes
Eating snacks - 8 minutes
Preparing food - 7 minutes

Do you realize how much could be accomplished if those 5 hours of distractions and procrastination were utilized?

We've just started the year and, like every year, there are at least 2000 new opportunities opening up for us to shine, to enjoy ourselves, to really make the most of what we're doing, to strive for something we care about, and to achieve the goals we have in mind.

Here are some tips to learn how to make the most of those hours:

Make a list of what you would like to accomplish in the day, but prioritize according to importance and urgency.
Get ahead. Throughout the day, we make a lot of calls and perform a variety of tasks. Whenever you can, gather all the information you may need, and have it at hand so you don't have to pause or postpone the activity in question.
Listen carefully. This will help you understand things much better and you won't have to waste time asking questions or researching on your own.
Learn to share or delegate tasks. One of the most important factors in the growth of companies and startups is knowing how to delegate work to the right people.
Eliminate your "time thieves". Identify your distractions and create a plan to eliminate them.
Take advantage of technology. We live in a technological era in which we have hundreds of shortcuts to reach our destination. Learn to use it to your advantage.

All these tips will only be useful if a balance is maintained between all areas of our life. Do not give up one or several, learn to manage your agenda.

If you are looking for a certified coach to help you make the most of these 2000 new opportunities, you are in the right place. Call today for a personalized consultation.

Ana Maria Ortega

Certified Flourishing Workplace Coach