Strategies for Enhanced Time Management
Balancing Time: Strategies for Effective Time Management in the Post-Pandemic Workplace
Since the onset of the pandemic, the pressure on individual and collective time management has intensified. Despite the flexibility offered by working from home, the blurring of boundaries between work and personal life has resulted in an overwhelming sense of constant availability. Even as the world returned to normalcy, these habits persisted, altering the workplace dynamic and the importance assigned to work-life balance.
Three Harvard professors provide insights from their research to help individuals better manage their time.
Embrace deliberate location choices, according to Leslie Perlow, Professor of Leadership in Organizational Behavior
The evolution of working patterns has led to a reconsideration of how time is allocated, both for individuals and teams. While there are beneficial changes, it has become crucial to exercise thoughtfulness when distributing time between work and personal activities. The location where work takes place matters, as both personal and team productivity are significantly influenced by the presence or absence of colleagues in shared spaces.
A six-month study conducted at a research institution investigated this issue by tracking employee attendance patterns and measuring learning, productivity, and well-being through surveys. The results demonstrated the strong interdependence between colleagues' work locations, suggesting that teams must coordinate their presence in the office and remote work schedules, focusing on mutual dependence for not just task completion but also the choice of workspace.
Reduce meetings, advises Arthur Brooks, Professor of Management Practice
The shift to hybrid and remote work has unfortunately resulted in increased meeting times, with a significant portion of the average workweek now dedicated to meetings that many employees view as unproductive and draining. This perception negatively impacts job satisfaction and overall happiness, ultimately leading to feelings of fatigue and work overload.
Research reveals that back-to-back meetings create stress and add emotional exhaustion, contributing to the desire to leave the job. Short breaks between meetings can reduce stress levels and enhance engagement, while axing meetings altogether can maximize productivity and overall well-being. Aiming for brief, small meetings keeps focus and individual effort levels high, thereby improving time management.
Embrace sabbaticals, suggests DJ DiDonna, Senior Lecturer of Business Administration
The pandemic acted as an unexpected pause in everyday life, a chance to reflect on the balance between work and personal life. The period taught us valuable lessons about time, including the flexibility of work hours, the impact of changing environments, and the necessity of extended breaks.
Considering a sabbatical can contribute to a healthy work-life balance, enabling individuals to prioritize personal time, learn, and grow in ways that can enhance both career and life satisfaction. With careful planning and clear boundaries, sabbaticals can be a powerful tool for refreshing perspectives and experiencing personal growth.
In conclusion, the choice of work location, meeting scheduling, and embracing time away from work are key strategies for effective time management. Balancing productivity and well-being in the ever-changing workplace is a complex task, but by being mindful of these strategies, individuals can create a more balanced and fulfilling work-life experience.
- Leslie Perlow, a Professor of Leadership in Organizational Behavior, suggests that thoughtfulness is crucial when distributing time between work and personal activities, as location choices significantly impact both personal and team productivity.
- Arthur Brooks, Professor of Management Practice, advises reducing the number of meetings as they often lead to excessive stress, draining employee energy and productivity, and negatively impacting job satisfaction.
- DJ DiDonna, Senior Lecturer of Business Administration, proposes embracing sabbaticals in order to prioritize personal time, learn, and grow, leading to enhanced career and life satisfaction.
- In the post-pandemic workplace, balancing productivity and well-being requires a focus on location, meeting scheduling, and personal time away from work, in order to create a more balanced and fulfilling work-life experience that integrates elements of education-and-self-development, finance, leadership, business, and personal-growth.
