effects of wasting time
7 things that waste your time at work
According to a survey, 89% of workers lose time at work every day. Discover the 7 causes of this waste of time and their solutions.
It's hard to be 100% productive at work. 5 minutes on Facebook, 10 minutes chatting with a colleague, your computer crashes for 15 minutes ...
Did you know that a normal person takes an average of 4 minutes to recover from an interruption and to resume where they left off in their work? Put together, these few minutes quickly turn into hours.
According to a survey carried out by salary.com in 2014, 89% of workers lose time at work every day. Of these, over 60% lose between 30 minutes and an hour each day, and 4% waste at least half of their working day on unrelated tasks. Scary, isn't it?
There are many reasons for wasting time at work, and contrary to popular belief, social media and personal internet use are not the only reasons. Here is the list of the different factors of the loss of time at work and the solutions to put an end to them.
Discussions with colleagues
Your 10-minute coffee breaks drag on because of a discussion between colleagues, often unrelated to your current tasks. It is one of the most common causes of lost time at work.
The solution
If a business discussion lasts for the coffee break, continue it by setting up a meeting with everyone interested. On the other hand, if your colleague is recounting their vacation in detail, gently cut the conversation short and offer to meet up for lunch.
It is essential to interact with colleagues to foster a good atmosphere at work, create team cohesion, find solutions and encourage creativity. Consider organizing a regular team lunch.
The problem of open spaces
Open spaces are open offices, supposed to facilitate communication between employees. However, the hubbub that constantly reigns there is a nuisance that prevents being productive. Ringing phones and cellphones, printer noise, music from some, conversations from others, not to mention the incessant interruptions ... In short, it becomes difficult to work effectively in these conditions.
An Actineo survey carried out in September 2015, revealed that 92% of people questioned believe that their workspace has an impact on their efficiency, and more than half (57%) say they are disturbed by noise pollution caused by conversations .
The solution
If possible, ask to return to an office with walls and a door. Otherwise, isolate yourself in a meeting room when you need concentration or wear earplugs.
Surfing the Internet for Personal Purposes
It is one of the most important causes of lost time at work. Facebook, Youtube and Wikipedia are among the most visited sites. Whether it's checking the weather forecast for the weekend, looking for a recipe for the evening meal or viewing movie times, it's easy to indulge yourself when all the information is just a click away. Not to mention personal communications (texting, Facebook and phone calls) on his cell phone.
The solution
Put your phone away and, if possible, turn off the wifi to avoid the temptation. Set limits on yourself and do your research and personal communications during your lunch break.
Failed computer hardware
Today, the computer and new technologies have become essential and indispensable work tools. The concern is that there are (too) often computer bugs, network failures and sluggishness. These technical problems can cost up to 30 minutes per day, which equates to 109 hours per year, or more than 2 weeks of work lost each year.
The solution
It is essential to have a recent and efficient network and IT equipment, regularly updated as well as a good IT department made up of efficient and responsive technicians.
Unnecessary meetings
In a meeting, do you tend to daydream, doze off or do something else? The problem is surely not with you, but with the meeting itself. Lack of objective, lack of agenda, length of time, participants not concerned by the subject: more than one meeting in two is a bad meeting. Useless for the participant as for the organizer, it generates a considerable waste of time.
The solution
The meeting is an essential communication and coordination tool in project management, but to be effective, it must be properly prepared, with a precise objective and a well-defined agenda. Avoid wasting your time and only attend meetings that are necessary to advance your work.
Too many emails to process
We've all become addicted to email to communicate at work. Easy, fast and practical, it eliminates the need to pick up the phone or move around, and allows you to keep a written record of the exchanges. The problem ? We receive an incredible amount of emails every day, most of which are irrelevant or related to our work. And above all, we systematically interrupt our work to consult an email that has just arrived. This is how we lose precious minutes throughout the day.
The solution
Check your emails at set times every day. Avoid lengthy email chats and prefer face-to-face or phone calls to resolve issues quickly. If necessary, send a brief summary email, avoiding copying the entire company.
A disorganized workspace
Your office is overrun with piles of files. Post-its and loose sheets are spread all over the place. And we're not even talking about the contents of your computer. Difficult to navigate and be productive in these conditions. In addition, you waste a lot of time finding a document.
The solution
Tidy and organize your desk, organize your files and print only when necessary. Use technology: There are many software programs and applications that allow you to efficiently organize your work documents so that they can be found easily.
In conclusion
At work, precious minutes are regularly lost, either on purpose (by surfing the Internet for personal purposes) or unintentionally (through endless meetings). These wasted time represent a financial loss for the company. They also promote the build-up of stress and unnecessary pressure for employees who lack the time to complete their tasks and achieve their goals. It is therefore essential to identify them and limit them.
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