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In this episode of the She’s Making an Impact podcast, Rachel shares her secrets to skyrocketing productivity in a four-day work week. She dives in to her own experience of working just 20 hours a week and the importance of self-care and mental health. If you’re looking to boost productivity and achieve a better work-life balance, this episode is a game-changer! 🚀
The One Where They Already Tried It…:
We love a ‘Friends’ related title over here!
Rachel tells us about this cool trial that went down in the UK who tried the Four Day work week with 33 companies and a thousand employees. And guess what? The results were mind-blowing! People’s mental health got a major boost, and productivity levels shot through the roof. Can you believe it?
Rachel is all about spreading the love, so she’s encouraging all you listeners to seriously think about giving the four-day work week a shot. Not just for yourselves, but for your whole team too. Imagine having more time for yourself, enjoying life, and still kicking butt at work. It’s like having your cake and eating it too!🎂
Have you ever considered implementing a four-day work week for yourself or your team? What are your thoughts on the idea of having more time for yourself while still maintaining high productivity?
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Want to know how we’ve built a million dollar business while I work 20 hours/week? Check out my free video here.
Fun Day🤪:
Taking care of your mental health as a female entrepreneur should be a high priority!
Picture this: you’re a busy woman, hustling and juggling a million things at once, from running your own business to taking care of your family and everything in between. It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos and forget about yourself in the process. But here’s where Rachel’s advice comes in handy.
She understands the importance of giving yourself some breathing room, which she cleverly refers to as “white space.” This concept is all about setting aside dedicated time for yourself, without any specific plans or obligations. It’s a time when you can relax, rejuvenate, and do whatever brings you joy 🧘
Rachel practices what she preaches by using Fridays as her “fun day.” On this day, she puts work on the back burner and focuses solely on herself. It could be anything from indulging in a hobby she loves, catching up on her favorite TV shows, going for a spa day, or simply spending quality time with her kiddos.
As an entrepreneur, you’re constantly wearing multiple hats and putting in countless hours to make your dreams a reality. But if you neglect your mental health and well-being in the process, it’s like running on an empty tank.
By creating dedicated time for self-care activities, you’re essentially recharging your batteries. It allows you to step back, unwind, and give your mind the much-needed break it deserves. This time for yourself can help reduce stress, increase productivity, and even spark new ideas and creativity.
The key here is to be intentional and protective of this time. Make sure to schedule it in advance and ensure that nothing else fills up that space. Treat it as a non-negotiable appointment with yourself, just as you would with an important meeting or commitment.
Rachel’s personal examples serve as a reminder that self-care and mental health should never take a backseat.
So, go ahead and carve out that “white space” in your schedule, whether it’s Fridays or any other day that works for you. Take care of yourself, recharge, and embrace the joy and fun that comes with it. After all, you deserve it!
What are some self-care activities or hobbies that bring you joy and help you unwind? How can you incorporate more of these activities into your schedule to prioritize your mental health?
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Parkinson’s and Pareto:
Next Rachel discusses Parkinson’s Law and the Pareto Principle. These little nuggets of wisdom can work wonders in helping you increase your productivity . So, let’s break them down in a casual and conversational way.
First up, we have Parkinson’s Law. Picture this: you have a project that needs to be completed by Friday. You give yourself the entire week to finish it, thinking that you’ll use all that time efficiently. But what happens? Somehow, the work magically expands to fill the entire week! You find yourself procrastinating, getting distracted, and not making the most of your time.
That’s where Parkinson’s Law comes into play. It basically says that work will expand to fill the time you allocate for its completion. So, if you give yourself five days, you’ll probably end up taking all five days to finish the task, even if it could have been done in less time.
Rachel suggests challenging this law by giving yourself a shorter time frame. Instead of five days, try allocating four days for the same task. By doing this, you create a sense of urgency and focus. You’re more likely to eliminate distractions, stay on track, and get the work done within the allotted time.
Now, let’s talk about the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule. This principle states that roughly 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts or causes. In simpler terms, there are certain tasks or activities that have a disproportionate impact on your overall success.
As a female entrepreneur, you have a million things on your plate. But not all tasks hold the same weight. Some tasks are super important and contribute significantly to your business’s growth and progress, while others might be less impactful or even unnecessary.
The key is to identify and focus on that vital 20%—the tasks that yield the most significant results. By honing in on these high-impact activities and prioritizing them, you can maximize your productivity and make the most of your time and energy.
Rachel encourages you to evaluate your to-do list and ask yourself, “Which tasks will move the needle the most?” Once you’ve identified those tasks, make them your top priority. By doing so, you can avoid getting caught up in busywork and instead focus on the activities that truly propel your business forward.🚀
It’s all about working smarter, not harder, and making the most of your precious time and energy.
How can you apply Parkinson’s Law and the Pareto Principle in your daily work? Are there specific tasks or projects where you can give yourself shorter deadlines to increase focus and productivity?
Need more clarification and help?
Come and talk it through with one of our coaches.
Take action!/Next steps
Action items:
- Consider implementing a four-day work week: After learning about the positive results achieved by companies and employees in the UK trial, take a moment to reflect on whether a four-day work week could be beneficial for you and your team. Think about the potential impact on mental health and productivity, and explore how you can create a schedule that allows for more personal time while still maintaining high productivity.
- Prioritize self-care activities and hobbies: Take a moment to identify self-care activities and hobbies that bring you joy and help you unwind. Whether it’s practicing yoga, reading a book, going for a walk in nature, or spending time with loved ones, find activities that help you recharge and prioritize incorporating them into your schedule.
- Schedule dedicated “white space” time: Following Rachel’s advice, be intentional about creating dedicated time for yourself without any specific plans or obligations. Treat this time as a non-negotiable appointment with yourself and schedule it in advance. Whether it’s Fridays or any other day that works for you, ensure that nothing else fills up that space so you can truly focus on self-care and mental well-being.
- Challenge Parkinson’s Law: Experiment with allocating shorter time frames for tasks and projects. Instead of giving yourself a whole week to complete a task, try giving yourself a tighter deadline, such as four days. This approach creates a sense of urgency and focus, helping you eliminate distractions and stay on track, ultimately increasing your productivity.
- Embrace the Pareto Principle: Take a closer look at your to-do list and identify the tasks that have the most significant impact on your business’s success. Focus on the vital 20% of tasks that yield 80% of the results. By prioritizing these high-impact activities and avoiding getting caught up in busywork, you can maximize your productivity and make the most of your time and energy.
- Remember, implementing these steps requires intentionality and commitment. Reflect on how you can incorporate them into your routine and start small. Over time, you’ll find a balance that works for you, allowing you to achieve greater productivity and a healthier work-life balance.
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Merci Beaucoup🤩
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