We’re living in an era where people prize workaholism—for all the wrong reasons. Does working more actually make you more productive? This article busts one of the biggest productivity myths out there.
Workaholism and remote work
With so many companies prioritizing tangible results like turnovers and productivity margins, it’s easy for everyday employees to become workaholics. That’s because while companies want better efficiency, most management teams still measure your work using time spent on tasks instead of your productivity rate. This flawed system means that employees around the world have no choice but to work longer—even if that means wasting time on unnecessary tasks. With the rise of remote work, this trend has only gotten worse. As the boundaries between work and relaxation blur, it’s scarily easy for you to become a workaholic. But does this increased time spend on work actually make you more productive?
The impact of working longer: worsened productivity
Working longer does not actually make you more productive. Let’s take a look at the reasons why.
- Human beings have a fixed attention span. Even if you force yourself to work on the same task for hours, your attention will naturally start to wander as you stare at a blank screen.
- Your best ideas come with a fresh mind. Ever heard of the Pomodoro Technique? It’s a productivity technique based on the idea that you’re most productive when your brain gets ample breaks.
- Working longer often means spending time working for the sake of it. Do you actually have ten hours’ worth of tasks a day? Often, not. In order to fulfill this expectation of working longer, you’re likely to spend time on unnecessarily tedious tasks. That means you’re taking a huge hit to your productivity—on purpose!
- An unhappy worker is an unproductive worker. Spending more time at work means less time with family, friends, and hobbies. In the long term, this isolation could really impact your mental health. This would then affect your motivation to perform at work. To make matters worse, if you’re working longer just for the sake of filling hours, you could really start resenting what you do.
Myth busted! Being productive & Working Shorter Hours
As the saying goes, sometimes less is more. Here are some of our favorite tips to help you get more done in less time.
- The Rule of Three. This productivity method encourages you to prioritize your three most urgent tasks of the day. This way, you’re less likely to get distracted and stray off track. By accomplishing these three pressing tasks a day, you can get more done in less time.
- The Zen to Done Rule. This rule involves you collating your list of tasks, processing them, and planning the best way you can move forward. It’s a great technique to help you stay organized and efficient at work.
- The Pomodoro Technique. This renowned productivity practice encourages you to work hard for 25 minutes and then take a break. Using a Timeqube, you can get this done in the best way possible. Customize your work time according to your own productivity levels for the best results!
