Work Smarter, Not Longer

Hello there,

We hope this blog finds you in good spirits and ready for some eye-opening revelations about the nature of work.

There was a point in history when the workday was super duper long, stretching from dawn till dusk. Well, thank goodness for Robert Owen, the visionary who decided it was time to balance work, play, and beauty sleep. His genius idea was “EIGHT HOURS LABOUR, EIGHT HOURS RECREATION, EIGHT HOURS REST.”

Fast forward to 1914, when the Ford Motor Company decided to change things up. They slashed the daily hours to eight while doubling wages. The result was:

INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY!   (and frankly, It left everyone elated).

Now current research makes things even more interesting. It has been revealed that in an eight-hour workday, we’re only productive for about three hours. WHAT !?! THREE measly hours of actual productivity??

So, the million-dollar question is why we are pretending to work the other five hours?

Truth be told, we’re all masters of the art of deception. We’re professionals at looking busy when, in reality, we’re just scrolling through Insta. Most people are caught in this productivity limbo, even if they feel like they have the largest to-do list in the world. Now, it’s time to unveil some of the culprits behind our “productive” charades:

Reading news websites: 1 hour and 5 minutes.

(Hey, staying informed is essential, right? )

Checking social media: 44 minutes (Those videos of kids falling are irresistible, we know!)

Discussing non-work-related things with co-workers: 40 minutes (Who can resist talking about the newest restaurants in town?)

Searching for new jobs: 26 minutes (The grass is always greener on the other side, or so they say!)

Taking smoke breaks: 23 minutes (Quick puffs, big distractions!)

Making calls to partners or friends: 18 minutes (Gotta keep those personal relationships alive!)

Making hot drinks: 17 minutes (Caffeine, my beloved companion!)

Texting or instant messaging: 14 minutes (Emojis are essential tools!)

Eating snacks: 8 minutes (Snack breaks are vital fuel stops)

Making food in the office: 7 minutes (Microwaves are the MVPs of the workplace!)

Fear not, my work-from-home friend or dear freelancer! We’ve got a silver lining for you. With this newfound knowledge, you can use it to your advantage. Just three hours of genuine productivity are enough to match the output of someone in the office for a full eight hours.

Now imagine a workday that lasts just six hours! Picture a schedule from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. where people are well-rested, super-focused, and bursting with productivity. Sounds like paradise, doesn’t it?

Life is far too short to spend it pretending to work!

You’ve got this!

Team Outsight