If you're one of those people who have difficulty saying 'no' to people you will definitely have major issues managing your workload.

Working in a noisy open plan office will also decrease your productivity.

My Former Life

Many years ago I had a stint working as a postie, starting work at 6.00 a.m. each day. It was a great job. In fact it was longest 'job' I had held - 3 years. I left when I was 6 months pregnant with my first child.

As a postie, quicker you worked, sooner you went home. As soon as mail was sorted you would go out on your round, do deliveries come back and go home. Now that was an incentive to work as quickly as possible.

In '9 - 5' workplace you have to be present and yet there's no incentive to actually work as quickly or productively as you can.

Solutions For The Employee

If work is getting too much for you to handle and hours are getting you down, speak to someone who'll listen, offer some realistic solutions. Do you need to learn how to get organised? Do you require assistance with workload? Do you need to learn different skills for your role? There's no harm in asking. If they won't listen it's up to you to choose what action you will take… whether to stay or go.

Solutions For The Employer

Ask your people how they really feel and work out a solution. Just because they haven't told you about their concerns doesn't mean that everything's fine. If you have people who consistently work long hours then you will definitely have a major problem.

You want your people to be 'on ball', alive and energised so they are valuable to your organisation. If they do not achieve a reasonable balance between their work and home life then at some stage they will break down. They may take extra time off work due to pressures they are constantly under or eventually leave.

The Final Word

Don't turn a blind eye. Get proactive with your people. Communicate regularly with them, find out how they are managing, listen to what they have to say and where required take action.

To retain your valuable employees you have to work at it, otherwise you run risk of not only losing them but all that time and money you've invested in them.

Lorraine Pirihi, principal of The Office Organiser is Australia's Personal Productivity Specialist. She is also a Business and Life Coach.

Take action today! Contact Lorraine to discuss how she can help you on (613) 9532 5497 or email lorraine@office-organiser.com.au

Before Adding, Look at Subtracting I suggested to Debbie that she needed to look at which activities and responsibilities she could defer, delete, delegate or outsource.

This is what she chose to do:

Defer her Computer Science Degree until following year. Organise a building company to project manage her home renovation. Up until that time she had been organising whole project on her own! Hire a babysitter with a car who could pick her kids up from school and run them around to their activities. The babysitter would also cook dinner and do other light domestic duties. Utilise her bookkeeper much more by delegating to her basic administration tasks, which she was very capable of doing. Her bookkeeper was only employed three days a week and was delighted to work an extra day assisting Debbie with other tasks. Attend her local gym at 6.00 a.m. three mornings a week and once on weekend. She also sought advice on her diet. Within four weeks you could see change in Debbie. She was more confident now that she has taken control of her situation. Her life was getting back on track!

The Final Word It's really easy not to invest money in yourself.

Do you spend money on your car, your computer, your business, your home and other 'things' in your life?

Are you not worthy enough to invest in yourself? Is price you pay for neglecting yourself really worth it?

What can you defer, delete, delegate or outsource so that you can have more time for living your life?

Lorraine Pirihi, principal of The Office Organiser is Australia's Personal Productivity Specialist. She is also a Business and Life Coach.

Take action today! Contact Lorraine to discuss how she can help you on (613) 9532 5497 or email lorraine@office-organiser.com.au