Advertisement
Struggle To Stay Focused On Friday Afternoon? You Wouldn't Be Alone, Study Finds
Modern life demands our focus and productivity, and on a good day, we're able to tackle our responsibilities and deadlines with ease.
There are other days, however, when we're not as on the ball, and according to research published in the journal PLOS ONE, we now know when those days (and times) tend to be. Here's what they found.
Studying productivity throughout the week
For the study, researchers wanted to study worker productivity throughout the week, using computer usage as a metric for assessing productivity. They studied just under 800 office workers at a large company for two years, keeping track of things like typing speed, typos, mouse clicks, scrolling, etc.
Then, they compared those usage patterns based on time of day, and day of the week, looking for any notable patterns.
And sure enough, if you've ever felt like your productivity drops off on Friday, this study found that to be true. Namely, computer usage tended to increase during the week, then showed a significant drop-off on Friday. There also tended to be more mistakes made on Fridays and in the afternoon on any given day.
As study co-author Taehyun Roh Ph.D. explains in a news release, "Employees were less active in the afternoons and made more typos in the afternoons—especially on Fridays," adding, "This aligns with similar findings that the number of tasks workers complete increases steadily from Monday through Wednesday, then decreases on Thursday and Friday."
What to do about it
This research provides useful findings both employees and employers alike, with the study authors noting they hope flexible work arrangements can not only improve productivity, but also improve worker's wellbeing—and even the wellbeing of the planet through reduced electricity and carbon dioxide emissions.
"Flexible work arrangements, such as hybrid work or a four-day workweek, may help mitigate the negative effects of long workweeks and promote better employee well-being and productivity," the study authors add.
But even if you aren't going to get a four-day workweek any time soon, you can apply these findings to your own workflow. For instance, if you, like the study participants, experience less productivity and more typos during afternoons and on Friday, perhaps you stack your work day to have less going on in the afternoons and toward the end of the week, leaving the bulk of your work for mornings and earlier in the week.
The takeaway
As more and more companies get on the four-day workweek train, these findings suggest that it may be a smart move for employers, employees, and the planet alike. But even beyond the four-day workweek, it's well worth understanding our daily/weekly dips versus peaks in productivity, so we can align our schedules accordingly.
Watch Next
Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes
Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes
What Is Meditation?
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins
Box Breathing
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar
What Breathwork Can Address
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar
The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?
Yoga | Caley Alyssa
Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips
Yoga | Caley Alyssa
How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance
Nutrition | Rich Roll
What to Eat Before a Workout
Nutrition | Rich Roll
How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life
Nutrition | Sahara Rose
Messages About Love & Relationships
Love & Relationships | Esther Perel
Love Languages
Love & Relationships | Esther Perel
What Is Meditation?
Box Breathing
What Breathwork Can Address
The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?
Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips
How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance
What to Eat Before a Workout
How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life
Messages About Love & Relationships
Love Languages
Advertisement
Can Vitamin C Actually Shorten A Cold? What's Fact vs. Fiction
Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN
The 8 Best Tests To Diagnose A Hormonal Disorder (That Most Docs Don't Order)
Romie Mushtaq, M.D., ABIHM
How To Nurture Your Gut-Brain Axis For Stellar Mental Health, From A PhD
Christine Tara Peterson, PhD, AHP, RYT
Can Vitamin C Actually Shorten A Cold? What's Fact vs. Fiction
Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN
The 8 Best Tests To Diagnose A Hormonal Disorder (That Most Docs Don't Order)
Romie Mushtaq, M.D., ABIHM
How To Nurture Your Gut-Brain Axis For Stellar Mental Health, From A PhD
Christine Tara Peterson, PhD, AHP, RYT
Can Vitamin C Actually Shorten A Cold? What's Fact vs. Fiction
Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN
The 8 Best Tests To Diagnose A Hormonal Disorder (That Most Docs Don't Order)
Romie Mushtaq, M.D., ABIHM
How To Nurture Your Gut-Brain Axis For Stellar Mental Health, From A PhD
Christine Tara Peterson, PhD, AHP, RYT
Study Shows This Is The Most Effective Way To Build Strength If You're 65+
Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN
Can Vitamin C Actually Shorten A Cold? What's Fact vs. Fiction
Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN
The 8 Best Tests To Diagnose A Hormonal Disorder (That Most Docs Don't Order)
Romie Mushtaq, M.D., ABIHM
How To Nurture Your Gut-Brain Axis For Stellar Mental Health, From A PhD
Christine Tara Peterson, PhD, AHP, RYT
Study Shows This Is The Most Effective Way To Build Strength If You're 65+
Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN