Do you ever feel like you have too many tasks to handle at once, like managing people, resources, and deadlines all at the same time? As a project manager, you're the leader of your team, making sure projects are finished on time and within budget. But with so much to do, it's easy to feel stressed and overworked.
This guide will introduce you to the 9/80 work schedule. This is a special way of planning your workweek that can help project managers like you be more in control and achieve their best results. It's time to stop feeling overwhelmed and finally win your work week!
Project Management serves as the foundation for ensuring projects achieve their intended scope, are completed within the designated timeline, and stay on track with the allocated budget. Ultimately, strong project management contributes directly to the realization of key organizational objectives.
Here's how effective project management benefits project managers:
Enhanced Project Delivery: Project management provides a structured framework for project execution. This minimizes potential risks and increases the likelihood of completing projects on time and within budget.
Improved Resource Utilization: Effective project management techniques promote optimal allocation of resources, both human and material, throughout the project lifecycle. This leads to cost savings and increased project team productivity.
By implementing these principles, project managers can experience greater success in leading and delivering projects, ultimately enhancing their professional standing within the organization.
We talked about how important project management is, but being a project manager can be a very busy job! They have a lot to do all at once, such as:
Managing a lot of tasks: This includes many small jobs with connections to each other and deadlines that can change often.
Keeping everyone on the same page: They need to talk clearly with their team members, clients (people who pay for the project), and other important people involved in the project.
Making meetings efficient: They need to have meetings that are short and focused, and that don't waste your time.
Staying on top of emails: There are always new emails and messages to answer, and it can be hard to keep up!
Because of all these things to manage, project managers can easily feel stressed and overworked. They might miss deadlines or make mistakes, and the people they work with might get frustrated.
The 9/80 work schedule is a special way of planning your workweek that can help project managers be more in control and do their jobs better.
The 9/80 work schedule is a special way of organizing your workweek across two weeks. It allows you to work a total of 80 hours, but in a way that gives you more control over your time. Here's how it works:
Week 1: Four 9-hour days + one 8-hour day + two-day off
Week 2: Four 9-hour days + three-day off
This approach gives you an extra day off every other week, allowing you to recharge and avoid feeling burnt out. But the benefits go beyond just a longer weekend. Let's explore how the 9/80 schedule can specifically help project managers be more successful.
The 9/80 work schedule offers several advantages for project managers:
Enhanced Focus: With longer, uninterrupted workdays (within reason!), you can concentrate more deeply on important project tasks.
Boosted Productivity: By minimizing time spent switching between tasks and attending unnecessary meetings, you can accomplish more in a shorter amount of time.
Improved Work-Life Balance: An extra day off every other week allows you to create a healthier balance between your work and personal life. This can lead to increased energy and sharper focus when you are at work.
Reduced Stress Levels: By strategically scheduling tasks during focused workdays, you can lessen the feeling of being overwhelmed – a major source of stress for project managers.
To make the 9/80 work schedule work for you, a little planning and clear communication are key:
Smart Planning: Take a close look at your current workload and identify tasks that would benefit most from longer periods of focused work.
Clear Communication: Discuss the 9/80 approach with your team and stakeholders. This helps ensure projects keep moving forward smoothly and that someone is available to cover your tasks on your off days.
Technology to the Rescue: Use Rework.com to simplify tasks, track progress, and collaborate effectively with your team, even on your days off. Rework can be your partner in 9/80 success, but we'll talk more about that in a later section.
By following these steps, you can implement the 9/80 schedule and experience the benefits firsthand. Remember, the 9/80 schedule isn't a magic solution, but it can be a powerful tool for busy project managers. With careful planning and the right approach, you can take control of your workweek and achieve peak performance.
We know managing a project can involve a lot of work! The 9/80 work schedule can help you be more productive and take control of your time. But how do you actually use it?
We've created a free downloadable template that you can use to easily set up your 9/80 work schedule. This template will help you:
Plan your workdays: See which days you will work for nine hours and which days will be shorter. You'll also be able to see the week you get a full day off and the week you get a three-day weekend.
Track your hours: Keep a record of the hours you work each day so you can stay on track with the 9/80 schedule.
Stay organized: Having a clear schedule can help you feel less stressed and more in control of your workload.
Ready to unlock the full potential of the 9/80 work schedule? Download your free template and book a demo with us today!
The 9/80 schedule is a powerful tool, but it's not a magic solution. By using careful planning, clear communication, and the right project management tools - Rework.com, you can transform your workweek and achieve peak performance as a project manager!