The work is piled up. Things are out of control. You’re way behind, and you’re on overload.

You’ve got a plan. You came in early, and you plan to stay late.

You’ll work 15 hours today, from 6 AM until 9 PM.

You’ll do it again tomorrow.

Then again the following day.

You’ll keep at it until you catch up.

You’re convinced that working that hard and that long is what it’s going to take to get back on track.

Will It Work?

Unfortunately, you’re wrong. It’s not going to work.

In fact, what’s going to happen is that your workday—post killing yourself by working like a maniac—is going to get longer, not shorter.

What you’re doing is going to backfire.

How do I know? The same way I know everything.

I’ve been there, done that, and suffered the consequences. I’m not sure that I’ve ever learned anything other than by screwing things up. I’ve done the “work like an insane person,” and I already know the outcome.

Why Doesn’t It Work?

I’m not sure exactly why this approach doesn’t work, but here are some thoughts:

• It might be that working long hours destroys your effectiveness and you get less done in more hours.
• It might be that working long hours helps you justify piddling around on the Internet or with other distractions.
• It might be that working long hours trains you to stop delegating and allows you to take on more by doing it yourself.
• It might be that you’re exhausted and make more mistakes and create even more work for yourself.

I’m truly not sure why working like a manic doesn’t work. However, I know with all of my being that it doesn’t work.

You won’t get caught up. You’ll end up doing the long hours indefinitely, and you’ll be right back where you started: way behind, only with more hours at the office.

How to Fix This Problem

So what are you to do? How can you dig out and get back on top?

The key isn’t longer hours. The key is being more effective at shorter hours. The key is getting the work done rather than letting it pile up.

That might involve delegation. It might involve systems. It might involve some education for you. It might involve better technology.

It’s difficult to say where you’re stuck without analyzing your situation in detail.

The starting point is a log. The log will reveal the problems.

Start keeping a log of your days. Just use a pad and pen and make a note—every 10 minutes—of what it is that you’re doing.

This is simple advice, but almost no one takes it. Why not? Maybe living with chaos is what people really want. Maybe they like to complain. Maybe being behind makes them feel important.

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You’re not that person with crazy reasons for wanting to live on overload, right? You’re going to take the advice and keep the log.

Here’s what to do:

• Keep the log for four weeks.
• Figure out where the time is going.
• Don’t skip days, and don’t fill it out at the end of the day.
• Log your time all day long.

This isn’t a timesheet, so don’t automatically resist: this is a project you’re doing for you. This is the way out.

Learning from Your Log

Just keeping the log will change your behavior: that’s part of the solution.

But the log will also provide answers. Go through the data once you’re done. Categorize it. Organize it. Analyze it.

• Are you negotiating conflict between staff members?
• Are you chatting in the hall?
• Are you playing Tetris on your phone?
• Are you in and out of email all day?
• Are you responding to crises instead of focusing on projects?
• Are you dealing with issues better left to your team?

Figure out where your time is going. Figure out what’s killing your productivity. I promise you that the log will contain answers. Don’t argue with me now, before you’ve kept the log. Just do it. It works.

Once you have the data, what are the possible solutions?

• Should you refocus your energy?
• Change your work environment?
• Reconfigure your team?
• Create new systems?
• Add new technology?
• Learn new things?

You’ll find the answers in the log. If they’re not obvious to you, then show the data to others and get feedback. The answers are right there in front of you.

The log is the starting point. See what you learn and take it from there. Soon you’ll be going home before dark. Soon you’ll be free from the deadlines, chaos, and overwhelm that plagues those without the facts they need to find solutions. The answers are in the log.