Hi there,
I first became interested in flexible schedules when I didn't have one.
In my first job, I was expected to sit at my desk from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with an hour for lunch.
Oftentimes, I finished the bulk of my work by noon -- pumping out blog posts, whizzing through emails, responding to Slack requests.
After lunch, I'd hit a lull. I've always been a morning person, and I'm typically incredibly efficient anytime before the afternoon hits.
During these afternoon lulls, I'd think, If only I could have a 30-minute break to go for a run, stretch my legs, or grab a coffee, I'm sure I'd be more productive when I came back.
I know I'm not alone -- a study of nearly 2,000 full-time office workers revealed that most people aren't productive for most of the time they're in the office. In an eight hour workday, most people reported productively working for just 2 hours and 53 minutes.
That's right -- most of us work eight hour days, and we're only productive for three of them.
Let's explore where this rigid 9-to-5 schedule originated from, and why the science is against us.
The History of the 9-to-5
- In the 1800's, many Americans worked seventy hours or more per week.
- There were some advocates for shorter workdays as early as the 18th century -- such as Robert Owen, a Welsh mill owner, who coined the term "Eight hours labor, eight hours recreation, eight hours rest."
- While Owen's efforts didn't take hold in Europe, they made their way over to America, where American workers adopted a similar slogan in the years following the Civil War.
- In the late 1800's, President Ulysses S. Grant issued a proclamation that guaranteed an eight-hour workday without a decrease in pay ... but it only applied to government workers.
- In 1926, Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor's, made headlines when he issued the first five-day, 40-hour workweek for his workers.
- Following Ford Motor, corporate America slowly began adopting the eight-hour work week -- although, it's important to note, even today many employees work longer.
Why The Science Is Against Us
A few months ago I spoke with Josh Davis, Ph.D., author of the book, Two Awesome Hours: Science-Based Strategies to Harness Your Best Time and Get Your Most Important Work Done.
Davis told me -- "Staying on task without a break and working longer hours are wonderful solutions for a computer or machine. But … We are biological creatures. Continually demanding one kind of work -- and a consistent level of effectiveness -- from our brains is like continually demanding the same speed from a runner under any circumstances."
Ultimately, Davis's research suggests we can get the bulk of our most difficult work accomplished in as little as two hours -- something he calls our "peak productivity window". He urges employees to become incredibly protective of that time.
Josh Davis's Tips for Optimal Productivity
- Exercise for immediate, daily benefits.
- Eat and drink for increased productivity.
- Use mindfulness to assess your body's cognitive energy.
- Let your mind wander.
- Create an ideal physical environment.
To learn more about flexible schedules and perhaps enact them at your own company, take a look at Flexible Schedules: The Good, Bad, & the Surprising.
Alternatively, take a look at the full interview with Davis in The Key to Productivity Isn't Your Mind, It's Your Body.
Cheers,
Caroline Forsey
Staff Writer
HubSpot Marketing Blog
No comments:
Post a Comment