Think about this living foundational reality as it relates to our weekly lives – In a perfect world working, sleeping, getting ready and commuting to work and personal time we have 120 hours per five-day week. The hypothetical perfect world standard expectation with-in those hours is to work an expected 40 hours or more per week, while hoping to sleep 40 hours, and of the remaining 40 hours per week we spend thirty minutes to an hour getting ready for work, an estimated hour driving back and forth depending on your commute, hopefully doing something like exercise, which leaves some time for eating and fulfilling other needs.
The Reality of the 120-hour five-day work (24 hours per day x 5 days per week)
• Of those 120 hours a perfect world would include a life whereby we have work confidence, restful peaceful sleep, and personal time without the distractions of work. Today we are supposed to rest up for the next working week… why can’t we rest up for the next day.
The hypothetical reality of today and our 120 hour 5-day week
• 40 or more hours are spent working
• 40 hours are for sleeping and re-charging; however, we know we wake at night thinking about work
• 9 hours – are spent getting ready for work
• 6 hours are spent commuting to and from while thinking about work
• 25 hours of personal time for work life balance while still texting and checking email about work
The reality is 65% of the total week is occupied with work versus the 40 hours or 34% of the 120 Five Day Week Hours.
The Illustration Below is a view of the five “pieces of the pie” and a PERFECT WORLD to strive for versus the potential reality we live today.
SCENARIO – If the working 34% or 40 hours per week, is where we feel our leaders create an environment of inclusive trust where and a place where teams can leave work with confidence, the impact on productivity for their business work and the personal life will find the better balance for an improved overall life!
THE 120 HOURS ARE A FIVE-DAY WORK WEEK AND DOES NOT INCLUDE THE TWO-DAY WEEKEND
The point is that in the grand scheme of things our work week as a percentage of our waking hours potentially consumes as much as 65% or more of our total week. For those whom I have shared this information, 65% is generous. And with the world of advanced technology the reality is the percentage is most likely higher depending on the person. Shouldn’t we be happy, emotionally strong, confident, and cared for so when we are together, we can grow and vibrantly thrive together? The people we are privileged to serve during their daily lives are our responsibility, and if we do the work to proactively serve and care for them, the chances they will be in a positive state of mind at work and home, they will be more impactfully productive everywhere. When they feel and see we care for them, and we demonstrate how we embrace the privilege to serve them it encourages them to be in the best mental state they can be as productive human beings and team members. Team members can leave work and be at confident peace, and not be distracted with work. They can really be in with their families, exercise / workouts, and so important real uninterrupted sleep. When they attend their children’s events, they can be present and in those special moments making memories versus watching their phones for emails and text messages. This is reality and our awareness as leaders to care and be aware matters so much.
Activation Exercise – On a Monday following the weekend, ask a team member you serve directly if they were able to be present with their family for the weekend? No matter what their answer, let them know “It is important to me that you are not distracted with work during the valuable time you should have with your family. If there are distractions, please let me know and I will do all I can to help you.”
“When we assume happiness, we are also assuming productiveness”