Like millions of people around the world, I’ve always admired Dolly Parton. She was actually on the campus of Tarkio College not long after I graduated, and I regret that I never had the opportunity to meet her.

After her recent death, a colleague and I were talking about her extraordinary life and accomplishments. He said, “I feel so sad that she left us this young. She was in the midst of doing so many amazing things. It feels like she worked until she dropped.”

A few hours later, I read something Dolly had said in a 2024 interview: “Work is everything to me. That’s all I know.”

That stopped me.

Are we working too hard?

For much of my life, I certainly did.

When Alfred was getting ready to retire, I was nervous. One of his favorite jokes is that the definition of a retired husband is “half the pay and twice the husband.” I wasn’t worried about the half the pay—but twice the husband? That was another story!

I’m happy to report that exactly the opposite of what I feared happened. He became far more fun to live with.

Why?

I’m convinced one major reason is that he was no longer sleep-deprived.

Research has repeatedly connected insufficient sleep with poorer health, impaired memory and concentration, reduced productivity, and more missed work. In other words, sleep isn’t just a personal issue. It affects productivity, profit, and peace of mind.

For years, I didn’t get enough sleep either. I convinced myself it didn’t make much difference. Besides, as a wife, mother, caretaker, and business owner, what choice did I have?

Then I read something that became a “wake-up” call:If you are getting enough sleep, you will wake up naturally.

I was a devoted snooze-button pusher!

So I decided to experiment. I asked my husband to remind me when it was time to stop working. I started my evening routine earlier, even when I wasn’t sleepy. I took time to read inspirational material or meditate. I experimented with lavender and other essential oils. When I woke during the night, I discovered that peaceful music often helped me return to sleep.

Eventually, something remarkable happened.

I stopped needing an alarm clock.

For several years now, I have awakened naturally most mornings between 6:00 and 6:30 feeling rested. And at this stage of my life, I’m enjoying my marriage and my business more than ever.

That brings me back to the question:Are you working too hard?

Maybe the solution to accomplishing more isn’t working more.

Since the beginning, our work at Productive Environment Institute has been based on a simple definition:A productive environment is an intentional setting in which everyone can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives.

Notice that it doesn’t say, “accomplish your workat the expense ofenjoying your life.”

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is stop working—and go to sleep.

P.S. I discovered something else along the way.Getting more sleep wasn't only about learning when to stop working. I also discovered thathaving more fun made it easier to sleep!

So I've become more intentional about making room for things that have absolutely nothing to do with productivity—including learning to use arm hoops in my garage!

That's another lesson I've learned after more than 40 years in the productivity business:Sometimes the best way to accomplish your work and enjoy your life is to stop trying to be productive and simply have some fun.