Stop working longer hours: It won’t solve your workload problems

When you’re constantly overworked and under pressure, it can feel impossible to stop working longer hours. As an academic, you convince yourself that extending your workday is just a temporary fix – just until you get over this hump. But the truth is, there’s always another hump and this way of thinking becomes a self-perpetuating cycle that’s hard to escape.

The core problem is not the number of hours you’re working, but rather an unsustainable workload or inefficient workflow. Simply piling on more hours doesn’t fix those underlying issues. In fact, it exacerbates the problem by normalising overwork as your default behaviour. The more you work extreme hours, the harder it becomes to break that unhealthy habit.

Stop working longer hours

Instead of resigning yourself to perpetual overwork, take an honest look at what’s really driving your time scarcity:

  • Are you taking on too many commitments and responsibilities? Prioritise ruthlessly.
  • Are there processes or tasks in your work that desperately need streamlining? Look for opportunities to increase efficiency.
  • Are you struggling with perfectionism, procrastination, or other productivity pitfalls? Identify and overcome those bad habits.
  • Do you have sufficient support resources? Explore options to build capacity.

If you’re not getting the results you want and you’re already working hard, then putting in more time and effort isn’t likely to be the answer. You may need to change what you’re doing, which may involve a change in identity. Are you the kind of person who works late to get things done, or works on the weekend to make sure you don’t start the week in some kind of productivity debt?

The solution isn’t in working harder – it’s working smarter. Commit to maintaining reasonable working hours, and use that constraint to prompt positive changes in how you approach your workload. Overwork leads to burnout, mistakes, and compromised personal well-being. Break the cycle and invest in calm productivity practices.


Want to make meaningful progress without sacrificing your personal life? Explore the Time Management for Academics course to develop sustainable routines that help you get more done in less time.


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