According to layoffs.fyi over 142,000 U.S. employees lost their jobs so far in 2022 and it is climbing every day.  Cnchbase News estimates that over 85,000 of them are in the U.S. tech sector as of today (the links are updated - click through for current estimates).  This may be a first major downturn for some.  For others of us we look at each other and say, “here we go again.”  

As the impacts of layoffs hit, typically the workload of those remaining increases.  Many companies make efforts to prioritize, but as we saw from the whiplash of firing and hiring at Twitter (as a hyperbolic example), reality does not often match theory.  Layoffs are often tied to reorgs and uncertainty. Flush off a full employment economy, “the great resignation” and summer of “quiet quitting,” it may feel like the idea of a balanced life was a blip.  

This is the time to be ruthlessly efficient with your choices.  There’s no reason to pull late nights or eat at your desk.  You deserve a balanced life.  

CWTC's Top 5 time protectors

1) Ruthlessly Prioritize

Push back on your manager and their manager.  Push back on yourself (if you’re one of those people who find it difficult to say no).  I used to prepare for these types of talks with my manager by creating a list of my priorities and literally “drawing the line” of what I could and could not realistically accomplish in a given time period.  

Another way to prioritize is to make it practice to ask for input on whether something should be traded…not added when someone asks you to help them out.

This can be particularly difficult when you’re in a cross-functional role.  How frustrating can it be when you depend on someone who is not in your direct work group and they follow my advice?  This is the time to tie your needs to the strategy and priorities of the organization as whole. 

2) Be a Project Manager

We lifelong project managers joke that “life is a project.”  Right?!  Make the up front investment of time to plan out your deliverables so you have a realistic view of what it’s going to take.  Don’t stop at estimating how much of your time it may take, but also include people you will depend on from your team and other teams. 

What if you have unknowns?  Put placeholders in.  The goal is to have a sense of the big picture.  Across all of your priorities and not to get caught up in the minutia of planning. 

3) Eliminate Meetings

Be ruthless about your meeting choices.  If you’re asked to attend a meeting, ask yourself if you’re adding value?  If not, decline. Can someone else represent you?  If so, decline.  Can you provide feedback through an asynchronous document?  If so, propose it!  If live collaboration is critical, then keep the meeting.

If you are creating a meeting, keep the invitation to those who add value.  If someone wants to join you to stay in the know, record the meeting or take summary notes that you can share afterwards. 

4) Turn off those Notifications

It’s easy to get distracted by Slack, texts, emails and the like.  Block time for meeting free, heads down time to focus. I turn off all non-critical notifications and set aside time to scan and catch up later.  

You might even choose a channel for truly urgent requests.  For example, you could use Slack for everyday comms and train people to use your cell phone for urgent texts.  Let them know you’ll be out of pocket.

One last thing - I like to acknowledge receipt of information, but really. Do you need to? if there's action required, take and and don't file it for later. That helps you and reassures the requestor.

5) Take a Break

There's nothing better than taking a move break, even if it's a short walk around the block (or the office/house if the weather isn’t cooperative).  Fresh air does a body and a mind good.  You’ll be sharper when you return to your desk, I promise. 

I'm not making this up. Many studies have shown that walking boosts creativity.  Check out this one from Stanford University, which found that “A person's creative output increased by an average of 60 percent when walking.”  I’m a biker and I get all kinds of creative ideas when out on the road by myself. 

I love efficiency and could go on and on, but 5 seems like a nice round number.  Pick a one or two to try over the next week and see if it works for you.  Maybe even come up with a few of your own or chat with some co-workers about what they’re doing to stay sane. 

Bottom line?  Be strong!  Be careful with your commitments!  Protect that vibe of a balanced life.  You deserve it.  #worklifebalance #balancedlife