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Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time by Joe Mastey High-tech culture is obsessed with managing time. In fact, if there’s one thing that we spend as much time on as actual work, it’s getting the most out of that work time. But here, like elsewhere, choosing the wrong optimization does more harm than good. Wringing every minute out of your day is more likely to burn you out than to turn you into a code-producing machine. Instead, we need to get better at managing our energy. Put down the kitchen timer, because in this talk you’ll learn about better research-driven approaches to get more out of work and life. Help us caption & translate this video! http://amara.org/v/H12q/
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In his talk "Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time" at RubyConf 2015, Joe Mastey addresses the pervasive issue of time management in high-tech culture and emphasizes the importance of effectively managing one's energy instead. Mastey shares personal anecdotes and statistics to illustrate how the obsession with productivity can lead to burnout and dissatisfaction. He highlights that many workers feel pressured to be constantly productive, often sacrificing their personal time and well-being. His talk is particularly focused on re-evaluating productivity metrics, arguing that optimizing for energy is more crucial than merely tracking time spent working. Key Points Discussed: - **Cultural Pressure for Productivity:** Mastey surveys the audience, noting how many worked over the weekend, exemplifying widespread societal norms that glorify constant productivity. - **Consequences of Overwork:** He cites statistics showing high percentages of workers logging excessive hours, leading to burnout and a lack of work-life balance. Over half of Americans have gone an entire year without taking vacation. - **Ineffective Productivity Advice:** Mastey critiques common productivity suggestions that promote a culture of overwork rather than rest, such as minimizing sleep or focusing on "time thieves." - **Quality Over Quantity:** He presents research indicating that effective work groups thrive when they feel valued, emphasizing energy management rather than merely increasing work hours. - **Tips for Managing Energy:** - **Increase Energy:** Encourage adequate sleep, good nutrition, and proper stress management. - **Use Energy Wisely:** Limit multitasking and prioritize focus on single tasks to enhance productivity. - **Recharge:** Emphasize the need for true rest, distinct from idle distractions. Significant Examples & Conclusions: - Mastey shares a compelling personal experience of feeling inadequate in a culture that glorifies productivity, questioning the validity of the mythical "10x programmer." - He stresses the importance of breaks and disconnecting, advocating for a cultural shift towards accepting that breaks are essential for sustainable productivity. In conclusion, Mastey encourages embracing a balanced life that prioritizes energy management. Rather than striving for the unattainable ideal of constant output, he argues that individuals can achieve true productivity through effective energy management and self-care. The key takeaways include recognizing the need for rest, prioritizing quality of work over sheer volume, and advocating for a healthier work culture that supports breaks as a vital component of productivity.
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