Article by Wilson Hailey

Being productive is very different from being busy. The average person takes 16 days to complete a project, while those perceived as busy take an average of 19.4 days, and those perceived as productive take 12.2 days. That’s upwards of 40% faster completion!
有效率的忙工作与庸庸碌碌的忙工作有很大的不同。通常一般人完成一个项目可能需要用16天，庸庸碌碌的繁忙人需要用19.4天，而效率高的人只需要用12.2天。这相当于节省了接近40%的工作效率！

Just a short while ago, the perception was that successful people led luxurious lives, and they were free to enjoy themselves without working long stressful days. That perception has changed in recent years. Now, we tend to imagine successful people as incredibly busy and overworked. Research suggests hectic lifestyles are seen as a status symbol, and that extra free time is for lazy people.
以前很长的一段时间，大家都认为成功人士都是过着很休闲的生活，并没有花很多时间参与长时间的高压力压力工作。而近些年大家的看法有一定的变化。如今，成功人士普遍被视为超级忙人。研究表示忙碌生活已成为身份的象征，而有很多自由时间则成为懒惰的象征。

Why?
为什么这么说呢？

Seeing “Busy”
看着“忙”

Within the past 20 years, we have begun to prioritize work over everything else in our lives. We assume the more hours spent working, the more someone earns.
在过去的20年里，我们始终把工作放在第一位。我们认为花更多的时间在工作上就可以获得更多的金钱。

One of the weirdest things (see study above), is that people want to be perceived as earning money by working hard -- even if that isn’t true. This is similar to people buying fake name brand products to improve their status. This is slowly changing everyone’s perceptions, and now, instead of assuming you can afford free time, people just assume you’re lazy.
奇怪的是（参考以上的研究调查）人们都希望用看起来在工作上花很长的时间，来换取同等的高工资--即使这样做很虚伪。这类现象相当于用假冒高档品牌物品来提高身份一样。而且，这个现象逐渐的改变了人们的潜意识认知，现在过休闲的生活不再意味着你能很好安排时间，只意味着你很懒惰。

Just reflect briefly and you’ll likely realize you are working long, tiring hours for no reason.
当你简单反省一下自己的情况，可能会发现你工作的时间又长又累，却不知道原因。

In reality though, working hard for long hours everyday does not correlate with success. In fact, it usually points to a lack of progress due to a lack of focus. Just ask any single mother with multiple children and multiple jobs if she feels “rich”, “successful”, or “powerful”.
事实上，每天工作很长时间并不与成功度相关联。其实，它通常代表缺乏集中率而导致进展缓慢。比如随便问任何一位有多份工作的多个孩子的单身妈妈，她是否认为自己“富有”，“成功”，或者“有能力”？

The phrase “jack-of-all-trades, master of none” exists for a reason. Multitasking can actually lower your IQ, lower your productivity, and increase stress -- all of which are factors in actual success.
“万金油”这个词的存在是有原因的。“多任务处理”其实会妨碍智力的提升，影响工作效率，同时增加压力 -- 而这些都是阻碍成功的因素。

Are you addicted to work?
你工作上瘾吗？

Information overflow is addicting. The brain wants more, but has a difficult time processing it all.
过多的信息需求会上瘾。大脑想要获取更多的信息，但是处理起这些信息是很吃力的。

Don’t try to fill your time with extra work and tasks that have no value. Oftentimes, it’s better to rest, reflect, and let your brain process the information it’s gathered than seek out the next thing to do. After all, not every action moves you in the right direction.
不要把你宝贵的时间用在多余的，没有价值的工作任务上。通常情况下，更好的工作方法是——让大脑充分得到休息，让其有时间反省和处理过往的信息。毕竟不是每一个冲动的缺乏深思熟虑的行为都能引领你去正确的方向。

• Here’s what we suggest 以下是我们的建议：
  
  1.Prioritize 优先化任务

Try to determine what brings you or your organization the most value. Rigorously schedule and defend your time around these things. Learn to say no to pointless tasks that do not generate value for you.
判断什么事情给你或你的组织带来最多的价值。严谨的遵守你做这些任务的时间。学会拒绝完成那些作用不大的任务。

Time is not infinite. Use it wisely.
时间是有限的。要有效的利用时间。

2.Minimize 最小化任务

Look at all the things you do at work. Separate them into tasks that reflect your personal goals and create value, and those that don’t. Schedule the important ones on your calendar first. Try to delegate or trade the other tasks with coworkers, or even consider hiring a virtual assistant.
全观你的所有工作任务。将那些符合你设定的目标有创造价值的工作，和其他的工作进行区别对待。先为最重要的任务安排好时间。其他的事项可以使者和同事分担或者交换，甚至可以考虑雇一个虚拟助理。

If you still have tasks you have to complete that don’t lead to your goals, set a time limit on your schedule for those and don’t spend any more time than that.
如果你有那些不符合你目标的但是必须要完成的任务，限定它完成的时间，定时完成！

3.Eliminate 消除不必要的任务

This is the most difficult and most important step.
此步骤是最难也是最重要的。

When you review your daily tasks and projects, always ask yourself “What would happen if I didn’t do this?”
当你预览每天需要完成的任务项目时，问自己“如果我不做，后果会是什么？”

If the answer is “nothing” then simply stop doing that task. If the answer is more complicated, you can start prioritizing tasks based on the severity of the consequences.
如果答案是“不会发生什么”，那么立刻停止这个任务！如果答案很复杂，你可以根据每件任务未完成的后果大小，来开始优先化。

You’ll soon find your day has a lot more time, productivity is higher with fewer hours, and you are much more fulfilled at work.
很快你就会发现，一天里可以利用的时间多了起来了，效率提高了却不需要用太多的时间，而且工作更有成就感。

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