Adjust Your Meeting Schedule for a Boost in Energy Levels
Balancing meetings and individual work for optimal energy and productivity: Research insights
Many employees struggle with managing their time effectively, especially with meetings. While strategies for making meetings shorter or more efficient are common, a new study suggests that the timing and distribution of meetings in one's daily schedule can significantly impact energy levels and productivity.
Researchers found that the balance between meeting time and individual work time is crucial for maintaining energy levels throughout the day. Overloading one's schedule with meetings can lead to a decrease in the frequency of short breaks, which are essential for recharging and maintaining high energy levels.
Skipping these short breaks can result in lower energy levels, affecting overall performance, creativity, and job satisfaction. On the other hand, pairing high-pressure tasks with low-pressure meetings or vice versa can help balance the workload and prevent extreme energy drain. This balancing act is particularly effective in the morning.
Packing all meetings into one day can lead to a disrupted energy balance and make it harder to take rejuvenating breaks. A more evenly distributed meeting schedule might be more beneficial. Likewise, attempting to tackle a challenging project and a high-pressure meeting on the same day could be too demanding. It might be more effective to pair a demanding task with a less demanding meeting, followed by a relaxing task, before challenging oneself again on another day.
When arranging the workday, especially meetings alongside individual tasks, consider the following:
- Balance Meeting Time and Individual Work Time:
Think of your workday as an energy battery. Meetings, while necessary, can drain some energy, while individual tasks can replenish it, depending on their nature. Short breaks, like grabbing a coffee or chatting with a colleague, are mini-boosts to the battery. If one spends too much time in meetings, even with the intention of being efficient, there may not be enough time left for these energizing moments, leading to a depleted battery.
- Design the Workday to Create Complements Between Meetings and Individual Tasks:
Instead of grouping all stressful tasks together, try mixing them up. If you have a demanding meeting, follow it up with a less taxing task. Similarly, if you're facing a challenging project, schedule a less demanding meeting on that day. This approach helps maintain energy levels and focus, leading to better results.
- Adopt a Holistic Approach to Workday Scheduling:
Don't just fit things into your schedule wherever they might fit. Think about how each meeting or task affects the rest of your day. A seemingly small scheduling choice can have a significant impact on your overall energy and productivity. So, plan your day carefully, keeping in mind how everything fits together.
In a world where information work is increasingly prevalent, meetings should no longer be seen solely as a way to exchange information. Considering when, as well as how, to schedule meetings can help avoid hidden energy drains and contribute to a more successful workday. Smart scheduling can make the difference between high performance and burnout.
- The balance between allotted time for remote work and individual tasks is crucial for maintaining optimal energy and productivity levels, as per a recent study on workplace-wellness.
- Science has shown that a disrupted balance between meetings and individual work can cause decreased energy levels, negatively impacting performance, creativity, and job satisfaction.
- To prevent extreme energy drain and ensure personal-growth, employees should consider pairing high-pressure tasks with less demanding meetings or vice versa, particularly in the morning.
- In the realm of business and education-and-self-development, smart scheduling can make the difference between high performance and burnout, transforming meetings from mere information exchanges to strategic tools for enhancing productivity.
