A nonlinear workday could help employees get more done while achieving a better work-life balance.
Key Details
- One form of the nonlinear workday includes adding longer breaks throughout the workday aside from the typical lunch or coffee time.
- Aligning a person’s schedule with the natural ebb and flow of energy throughout the day can increase a worker’s productivity.
- Early birds and night owls are common categories people assign to themselves, but these labels can help workers understand when they will be the most productive.
- In fact, working against these natural energy flows can be detrimental to a person’s overall health, Fast Company reports.
Why it’s news
Understanding how best to harness the natural times of energy throughout the day can help a person be more productive than he would be in the typical nine-to-five workday. A nonlinear workday may play out better for some people who find their best times of productivity are later in the day.
The nonlinear workday includes dedicated periods, but these time slots may be outside the standard nine to five. Some workers may find that starting in the morning fits their schedule better, while others find that late nights benefit them.
Finding appropriate times to build breaks into the workday can protect an employee’s mental health and help them capitalize on times of high energy throughout the day. Built-in breaks can look like walking, socializing with coworkers, or meditating.
One of the most critical aspects of these breaks is to step away from the computer screen. One form of a break, such as socializing with coworkers, can have the added benefit of strengthening company culture.
Employees can still find ways to incorporate these ideas into their daily schedule when a manager may not support the nonlinear workday. Taking five-minute breaks away from the computer or scheduling less challenging tasks during times of low energy can give employees similar benefits.
