Long work hours and the value you create to your organization

I have always seen myself wanting to be busy, to keep my mind thinking, solving problems...the bigger the better! Even if it meant having to work very long hours: 12, 16 even 21 hours I didn't really complain and was actually a validation of my worth to the company. Over time I realized and actually compared myself with other people and while they were nowhere close to the hours I was putting in, they are seen as a bigger contributor to the organization that I was. In fact, they come across as even more accomplished and in some cases, actually get promoted faster that I did. I never really took this seriously and continued to do what I was doing, and to be honest, it did help me move up the corporate ladder fairly quicker than others as well. At the same time, my market value grew bigger and bigger because I knew things and I had the skills beyond my title (and pay grade) that they were willing to give me a higher position if I joined them.

However, having spent years working long hours, solving huge business problems and getting paid for it (which you eventually realize, you are already getting way more than hours that other companies cannot afford you anymore) you get to a point where you ask yourself, "where is this all leading?", "after doing all this, then what?".

After moving from one company to another primarily because there's no longer any problems to fix (yes, it can happen), it eventually struck me. I can't be in this situation for the rest of my life. For one, I am not getting any younger. My health is not the same as it was that it can endure 1 year of 16 hours per day and perhaps 5-8 hours during Saturday and Sunday. Now, my body tells me to rest (ie. I get sick more frequently now) and if I don't follow it, it has it's another way of telling me to rest (ie. allergies). So now, I have made a conscious decision to listen to it more. 

At work, I am now more conscious of where I use my time and energy. If it is within my scope and responsibility, definitely all my energy will be put to it. But if there are just "noises" around me which seems to require my attention and involvement, I would opt to be an observer. Initially, I was thinking that this was not me at all. I was the savior, the guy who would jump in anytime to help anyone and I must admit it's hard at first to resist the temptation to help. But at the end of the day, you think of your job, what is expected of you and you do it to the best of your abilities. To be clear, this does not mean you should not extend help. However, you should go beyond your scope with a clear understanding as to why you are doing it (what's in it for you, does it do you good or bad, does it take you away from your main responsibility in a bad way, etc).

Another change I have seen from my working behavior is tracking time. I do this because of my own opportunities of losing track of time because I am so into what I am doing (and again, still going through those instances where I involve myself in these "noises" when I shouldn't be anymore).

I clearly define when I should stop working or at the bare minimum, when I should leave the office and continue working from home. I think that by doing this, it allows me to create a balance between my work and my life outside of work without risking any of my commitments in either one. Whether it be a presentation or analysis I need to provide, or a school event that I need to attend, this approach has been working for me.

In fact, as I seldom take breaks at work (or for the most part, do a working lunch) this actually allows me to be more efficient and productive making me complete my tasks sooner than later without any compromise on the quality of work. 

I have started this change about 2 years ago and while it was a difficult adjustment during the first 3 months, I do know for a fact that I am making a bigger contribution to the organization with how I am managing my tasks, clearly delineating which is/is not part of my job and putting all effort to do great in my job.

And in all this, I am no longer putting my personal life as secondary. It's really a conscious effort that you need to do these things as I tell the people I have talked to and will require a bit of unlearning and behave differently towards your job while keeping your work output very high, if not even higher. But it can be done. I have done it and my family (my wife, especially) has seen the difference with how I used to deal with work and our personal life in the past and how I am doing it now.