PUBLISHED May 13, 2022

by Kate Nelligan

3 min read time

4 Common Workplace Time-Wasters and How To Avoid Them

Time-wasters-at-work Time-wasters-at-work

Correct time management can help you accomplish all of your goals on time. But more often than not, we may struggle to stay productive and meet deadlines. If you feel like interruptions and distractions keep you from doing your best work, we’ve got just the tips. These four strategies can help you overcome time-wasters at work and better manage your time while on the job.

Phones and Social Media 

No surprises here. Did you know that according to a recent study by Deloitte, the average person checks their phones around 47 times per day? Let us do the math for you. If you check your phone 47 times a day and your workday is eight hours, you may be checking your phone almost six times an hour! This shows us that our phones (along with social media apps and their notifications) are among the biggest time wasters for workers in any industry. So, how can you avoid wasting time on social media? The answer is simple: By making it harder for yourself to get distracted.

Here are some tips:

  • Move your phone out of your arm’s reach so you won’t be tempted to take a quick look.
  • Like your smartphone usage and email, try to set specific timeframes or parameters when you check social media.
  • Ensure all notifications are turned off when you have to spend focused, productive time on a particular task or project.

Interruptions

Did you know that the average employee is interrupted about 4 to 12 times an hour? It isn’t always easy to stay focused on a task you’re working on while at work. It’s common to get caught up in an endless cycle of answering emails, taking calls and chatting with your coworkers to the point where it feels like you don’t get any real work done. While these interruptions may seem harmless on the surface, they can make it very difficult for you to get back to the task you were doing before you got interrupted. Consider blocking time on your calendar to entirely focus on the job you are doing. You can change your instant messenger status to ‘away’, put your phone on silent or just wear your headphones. If you’re finding it hard to focus on your work due to chatty coworkers, try being honest with them about how it affects your workday. 

Multitasking

Contrary to popular belief, multitasking or working on multiple tasks simultaneously does not save time. In fact, multitasking is often ‘task-switching’ where employees shift between tasks instead of performing them at once. This causes a lot of waste of valuable time as it usually takes about 23 minutes to get back to a task after an interruption. Time blocking is a great way to become more productive in your workday. When you work in blocks of time, you’re able to focus on one task and complete it. You can also try the Pomodoro Technique for better time management during the day. In this technique, you work in 25-minute blocks with a 5-minute break between them. 

Office Noise

Have you ever been working really hard on something mind-numbing, and a colleague interrupts you by talking loudly to another colleague across the office? Research done at the University of Sydney shows that around 25 per cent of employees are unable to concentrate at work due to the high noise levels. It is vital that employees are able to focus at work without distractions. If you are an employer, consider investing in acoustic solutions like acoustic pods and acoustic interior installations. These noise-cancelling solutions help absorb noise and allow employees to take calls and meetings without disturbing colleagues. Having the right office furniture for your needs is important for a productive work day.

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