Life is not only about work. We work to live, not the other way around. So you must set time aside for things in your life other than work that also need your attention. If you don’t, soon you won’t be able to concentrate or do well at work because of fires you’ll have to put out in non-work areas.

An unhappy wife doesn’t make a high-performing husband at work. An unhealthy body won’t keep going for too long before it goes sick on you. A stagnant, tired brain won’t produce many promotion-winning ideas. A neglected spiritual life won’t strengthen your values and self-confidence — two major requirements for your success at work.

That’s why you should set evenings aside for ‘you’ time — planned time to invest in your relationships, education, health, faith, leisure activities, and anything that makes you a better person.

Rather than making a list of what you could do at this time, try following a weekly schedule. For example, you may have one or two evenings a week set aside for church; one movie night with your partner or family; one evening to take a course or read up on some subject of your interest; one evening to review your goals and plans for the future; one evening for a hobby or sports; one evening to do absolutely nothing (keep it as free time); and so on.

You don’t have to fill up your schedule, but it helps if you define what you’ll do on which evenings — even if your decision is to do nothing. Planning how you’ll spend evenings will help you to keep a balanced and varied number of activities that will contribute to your self-improvement goals.

Then of course, there are those things you’ll probably want to do almost daily at evening time, such as sitting together for dinner, working out, or walking the dog. Make sure you know what they are and fit them in.

The idea is: get healthier, more relaxed, and smarter. If you dedicate your evenings to these non-work areas of your life, you will get more work done during the day than most people you know.

And one more thing: Don’t neglect your sleep. Sleep deprivation is one of the biggest thieves of productivity. Respect your in-bed and out-of-bed times.

What now?

Now you have a framework for a more productive life that is simple and easy enough to remember and abide by. Don’t dismiss it for its simplicity or just because your days and duties may not be as clear-cut as 1-2-3. Regardless of what your days are like, they’ll always have mornings, afternoons, and evenings — and your energy levels will be directly related to them. So you might as well use those facts to your advantage.

Granted, some days may be chaotic and force you to throw out your lists and schedules. But they are going to be the exception, and that’s fine. The important thing for you to know, at any given time, is whether what you’re doing is an “absolutely must”, a “would-be-nice-to-do”, or a “you-time” activity. And make sure that you keep these three as balanced as possible.

Finally, try this out for a while. Seven days are good, 21 days are better, and 40 days are best. See how it works for you.

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts and experiences while you do it. Please write them in the comments below.