For years, we assumed that working more hours was synonymous with working better, and even with being great professionals. If that were true, the solution to becoming a great professional would be far too simple. It’s not about working more, it’s about working better.
In fact, the data and experience show the opposite: the countries with the highest productivity per hour worked are precisely those that work the fewest hours. This is no coincidence. They stand out for their ability to prioritize, plan, and master their agenda under any circumstances.
On the other hand, in Mediterranean countries we have virtues we shouldn’t lose, such as the ability to build personal relationships that facilitate achieving results.
No extreme is the solution: neither the organized rigidity of the north nor the excessive flexibility of the south. Combining the best of both cultures isn’t free; it requires changing habits, questioning routines, and conducting honest self-analysis.
In Expansión we share the 10 commandments from our book “Work Like a Nordic, Live Like a Mediterranean” to achieve this balance. Thanks to Isabel Vilches Hernández and DIARIO EXPANSIÓN.