In a recent study, it was found that the average worker spent more time procrastinating than actually working.
Here’s a breakdown of a typical day:
- Checking social media – 44 minutes (spent doing this during working day)
- Reading news websites – 1 hour 5 minutes
- Discussing out of work activities with colleagues – 40 minutes
- Making hot drinks – 17 minutes
- Smoking breaks – 23 minutes
- Text/instant messaging – 14 minutes
- Eating snacks – 8 minutes
- Making food in office– 7 minutes
- Making calls to partner/ friends – 18 minutes
- Searching for new jobs- 26 minutes
In total, the average worker spends about two hours and 53 minutes working.
Now it’s easy to blame workers for this and insist that they stop procrastinating, but maybe instead of resisting this information, it’s time that we rethink the way we define what a productive workday is.
Maybe instead of enforcing an 8-hour workday, companies and legislators should begin to use this information to create workdays that are not only conducive for productivity but also for individual well-being and happiness.
When we consider all these things, it seems likely that restructuring how we work and when we work will only create a more efficient and beneficial work environment.