How to Work Less, Earn More, and Spend More Time with Your Loved Ones

What we believe about the relationship between money and happiness may be misguided.Before you decide that you need to earn more money, ask yourself if what you really need is just more happiness. 

Maybe you shouldn’t be working harder and longer. Maybe you should just be working smarter. And the best way to work smarter is to delegate.

Trust others – even when it’s difficult.

Let go of control. This will free you up from the trivial duties to focus on more strategic activities that will increase your effectiveness.

And for the things you can’t delegate? You can get more things done by making them automatic.

Decisions slow us down.

Build routines and habits so that you’re not deciding about doing the next thing on your to-do list – you’re just doing. Think back to when you were first learning how to drive.

There were so many things to remember! Checking mirrors, remembering which way to turn the wheel when backing up, looking both ways before turning. And now? You don’t even think about it. It’s automatic.

How much quicker could you get through your workday if you delegated what you didn’t really have to do? 

How much less like work would it seem if you could make some aspects of your job as easy and automatic as driving a car?

Another way you can work less and find more satisfaction in your job is to use your signature strengths – find ways to use your best talents. They’ll be noticed. You’ll be called upon to use them. It’s where your passion lies.

You’ll be happier. And because you are doing what you do best, you’re likely to be rewarded for it with more money.

Working less and being happier about your job may be more beneficial than earning more money.

What does your family need most? Is it the extra money you’re working longer hours to earn? Your family needs your time. Isn’t that why you want to find ways to work less? Whether you make more time or not, you need to use it wisely.

Here are five tips to help you focus on family

1. Schedule family time on your calendar. You schedule important meetings at work to make sure there’s no time conflict – so why wouldn’t you give the same priority to time with your family? If you don’t plan for it, the time will get used up for other activities.
2. Focus fully on your family when you’re spending time with them. Shut off your electronic devices, your computer and cell phone. Be there with them, and in the moment, without distractions.
3. Have dinner together as often as possible. There’s a reason why some of the most memorable moments of television and motion pictures revolve around food: it’s often the most optimal opportunity to have the most rewarding time with the people who are important in your life. Take advantage of this time. And just because it wasn’t a meal full of happiness and laughter doesn’t mean it’s not important. Quality time with your loved ones has to encompass moments for serious discussions, as well.
4. Rearrange your work schedule. Start your day earlier in the morning once a week so you can spend time with your children after school. Stay an hour later Tuesday evening so you can enjoy an extended mid-week lunch with your wife. It doesn’t have to be drastic. The quality of your time and how you schedule it is more important.
5. Hire household help. You may think you can’t afford it. But stop for a moment and put a monetary value on a few hours of your time. What is your hourly wage at work? You may be surprised to find it’s roughly about the same as what it costs to hire someone to do your weekly household chores or yard work. The value of the time you regain to spend with your family is, of course, invaluable.

What you may discover as you work toward finding a balance between work, money, and time spent with loved ones is that the answer isn’t necessarily more of everything.

Sometimes, it’s less.