The Secret to Productivity – Give Me a Break!

For generations, the tried-and-true eight-hour workday was widely considered to be the gold standard of workplace productivity.

However, the eight-hour workday is gradually becoming a relic of the past. Before the advent of modern technology, workers were dependent on sunlight in order to complete tasks, whether it was harvesting citrus, hand-weaving cloth on a loom, or welding doors to a Model T. That being said, the concept of working 9-to-5 does not jive with how the human brain functions.

A 2014 study conducted by the Draugiem Group – a productivity consulting firm based in Latvia that works with Proctor & Gamble, Nokia, Samsung, Nestle, L’Oréal and Siemens – measured how much time workers spent on various tasks and compared this to their productivity levels. A computer application tracked both their work habits and outcomes.

The researchers discovered that the length of the workday was fairly inconsequential; rather, the main driver of productivity was how people structured their day.

People who worked longer hours were typically less productive than those who made a habit of taking short, regular breaks.

The most productive workers would spend an average of 52 minutes of concentrated work, followed by 17 minutes of rest. That formula allowed them to be 100% dedicated to the task they needed to accomplish without being distracted. When productive workers felt fatigued, they completely separated themselves from their work for a brief period of time. Then, they would dive back into their work – refreshed and ready for another hour of focused productivity.

The findings of the study indicate that the brain naturally functions in spurts of high energy followed by low-energy phases. In order to maximize your productivity, take a quick lap around the office, grab a snack or give yourself a brief reprieve from the daily grind!

Source:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2016/06/07/why-the-8-hour-workday-doesnt-work/#36ccbcf636cc

 Special thanks to Bob Veres for his commentary.