How Much Time Are You Spending At Work?

On March 22nd 2017 I published an article on LinkedIn titled:

“The life changing magic of spending more time with your children”

Today, on 25th January 2025, I am republishing the same article here on TOSCEO, but with some additional closing comments at the end.

Enjoy the story, and share it with whoever comes upon your heart.

The life changing magic of spending more time with your children

"So why did you used to get in to the office so early each morning?"

...my wife asked me on the evening of Friday 10th March 2017.

"It was just me, it was the pressure I put on myself that I must get in to the office earlier than anyone else with me leaving earlier than everyone each day."

...was my reply.

The Monday to Friday morning routine

Monday morning 5.50am and the default alarm goes off on my iPhone. I turn it off as quick as I can to not wake my wife up. I get up straight away, take my Fitbit off, pick up my clothes I prepared the night before, and on auto-pilot walk into our en-suite, turning the light on then almost closing the door.

A quick look in the mirror and I can see someone could have done with more sleep.

I get my shampoo and face wash out of the 2nd basket, turn the shower on, have a quick check to make sure there's a towel hung up ready for me to use, and step into the warming shower. Starting with a face wash, then washing my hair and then washing my body, I proceed to have a fairly quick routine shower.

Shower off, drying off, then I'm brushing my teeth ready for the day ahead. A spray of a deodorant then I'm efficiently getting changed. A quick tidy to leave the bathroom as I found it, and I'm back in our bedroom using my IPhone light so as not to need the big light on.

I give my blissfully sleeping wife three kisses on her forehead, whisper I love you, then I'm out of the bedroom, quietly down the hallway and down the stairs, ensuring I'm quiet so as not to wake our two daughters up.

I pick my laptop bag up from the hallway, head into the kitchen and turn the light on. I quietly open the door to the utility where Milo sees me and starts getting excited. I give him a quick stroke as he has a good stretch, then I open the back door to let Milo out. Guinness and Timmy are crying at the back door so I quickly get some cat food for their two bowls outside.

Back in the utility I open the cupboard door and get my hairdryer out. Three minutes later (unless it's been a while since I've had my haircut and it takes a bit longer) my hair is dry, and I'm back in the kitchen getting my wallet and keys together. I get my shoes and jacket on, have a quick look round to see if I've missed anything, then pick my laptop bag up and head back into the utility.

I open the back door and Milo comes running in, excited to get his breakfast. I give him another stroke, then I'm out of the back door and walking round the house to my car.

Never switching off from work

It's now 6.45am and I've been thinking about my business, what is going on, what I need to do, what questions I have, what new ideas I am formulating to share with my colleagues, for what feels like most of the last hour. They say men think about sex over 7000 times per day. I often feel like this statement applies to me thinking about my business, but that's a story for another day.

A 10 minute drive to the train station whilst listening to Smooth FM is when I start thinking about my big priorities for the day. I park up in one of my usual places on the side street, grab my laptop bag, lock my car and then expectantly get my IPhone out ready to start looking at my emails and any social notifications.

It's now 7am, I'm stood waiting on the platform, still not feeling fully awake, and this is the time that I told my team over 2 years earlier, after we had moved house, is when my daily working day starts.

Why did I tell my team what time I will be starting work each day?

It was at the same time I told them that in order for me to see my daughters each day, now that we have moved a lot further away from the office and my commute is now over twice as long, I will be leaving the office at 3.15am each day - but to compensate for this loss of time in the office I will be getting in at 8.15am each day.

I had not only set my "daily standard" for what hours I would be working each day, I had shared this with my whole team.

"Hi all. Now we have moved house, my working day starts at 7am when I'm stood at the train station checking my emails, and it finishes around 4.15pm when I get off my train home. Of course I will also continue working outside of these hours when I'm at home as and when necessary."

Sharing this with my team ensured I proved to myself that I was dedicated to my business and that I was being a responsible leader by working 7am - 4pm each day.

Tuesday morning comes round, my 5.50am alarm goes off, and my quiet, auto-pilot morning routine begins.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, my same morning routine, based on my 7am - 4pm daily standard I had set myself when we moved house.

Winding down at end of the working week

By around 9pm every Friday, our two girls fast asleep in bed, I'd be on the sofa with my wife relaxing, either about to watch a drama or get a film on. This was also the time when my daily 5.50am morning routine typically caught up with me and I'd become completely knackered. I was ready for my bed, and would often struggle to make it through the full drama or film. Not exactly a rock and roll Friday night.

I followed my daily standard I had set myself for over 2 years.

Start questioning why?

In February 2017 whilst spending quality family time with my wife, our two older daughters and our newborn daughter, I started thinking about my daily standard routine I followed every weekday.

I started asking myself why do I choose to miss seeing my daughters in a morning?

Why do I miss having an adult conversation with my wife before I go to work?

Why do I miss having breakfast with my family, talking about the day ahead?

Why do I get up at 5.50am every weekday morning?

It was all down to the pressure and guilt I placed on myself.

No-one else had ever suggested what my daily work routine should be when we moved house. No-one else said it would be irresponsible of me not to get in before the rest of my colleagues every morning.

For 2 years I had been living by my daily standard that I had set for myself.

We all have our own personal standards we work to each day. Whether its our daily routine, what time we get in to the office, how much time we make to spend time with our children. How we balance work and home life.

Until I watched Derek Mills deliver a truly inspirational talk in mid 2016, I have never thought twice about what daily standards I had set and were living by.

Raising our own Daily Standards

Thanks to Derek explaining the life changing impact of re-assessing and raising our own Daily Standards, in all areas of our lives, a few days before I was due to return back to my business after extended paternity leave, I decided to raise my standards.

I decided to no longer be held prisoner by my own mind, which for 2 years had emphasised how important it was that I get into my office before everyone else, to demonstrate my commitment and responsibilities.

I decided that I was going to see my wife and children in the morning. I decided I was going to help get the girls ready for school. I decided I was going to have breakfast with my family. I decided to set my alarm for 6.50am and look forward to some mornings, one of my daughters coming into our bedroom and climbing in to our bed for a cuddle being my morning alarm instead.

I decided to put some quality family time before an extra hour in my business each morning.

I created my new Daily Standard.

Writing this now, 10 days into following my new Daily Standard, I know what an almost life changing impact this is having and will continue to have.

I now have 1 less hour per day in my office, and you know what? Rather than this having a negative impact on my business and my team, if this 1st 2 weeks is any indication, my new Daily Standard is going to have a huge positive impact on my business and my colleagues.

I am confident that living by my new much higher Daily Standard is going to bring the best out of me, and for that magic I can thank Derek Mills.

What about you and your current Daily Standards?

Are they serving you well? Are you happy? Are they getting the best out of you? Are you seeing your children as much as you would like to do? Are you stuck in a routine with too much self pressure to change, like I was for 2 years?

Taking one step at a time, choose something important to you and consider setting yourself a new, higher Daily Standard to work to.

It could well be the start of something really special.

Closing Comments For 2025 & Beyond

My question to you today is, how much time are your spending with Jesus?

How much time are you spending with the one who surrendered His life to set you free from sin and death?

How much time are you spending with the one true living God, who created you and who sustains you?

How much time are you spending being led by the Holy Spirit versus being led by your flesh and sinful nature?

How much time are you spending hearing the Word of God compared to doing the Word of God?

How much time are you spending following God’s will for your life rather than your own will?

Is Jesus Your Lord & Saviour?

If you haven’t already, it is now time for you to be born-again by receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour!

Head over to the Become Born-Again website to read God’s purpose for your life.