When you hear the words’ downtime’ and ‘productivity’ in the same sentence, it might be that your initial reaction puts them at odds with one another. On the contrary, however, figuring out how to utilize downtime effectively can be advantageous – even giving way to a higher level of productivity.
Finding the right way to go about this can be difficult – sometimes it might be more about how your employees structure their time if your business operates remotely. However, there are steps that you can take within your business to have a beneficial result on productivity.
Taking Breaks Seriously
Breaks, in many parts of the world, are a mandated part of how you structure your business – you have to make sure that your employees have time away from their desks and time when they are not expected to work throughout the day. It’s easy to see these requirements as exactly that – something that you have to adhere to, meaning that you end up doing the bare minimum for your employees. However, putting the bare minimum in will usually lead to you getting little out of them.
Instead, if you structure breaks to properly give your employees a time without work, they might enjoy them more and properly disconnect for a period of time, coming back refreshed and able to maintain a higher level of productivity. That might mean supplying a comfortable break room so that they can spend the time how they want, perhaps a decent free internet connection so they can browse online or spend their downtime catching up with sports betting UK. A relaxed lounge-type environment with access to the internet (unfiltered and unmonitored) can help them feel a real disconnect from their responsibilities even if only briefly.
Another popular idea might be to provide a green space outside so that your staff members get time away from screens and are able to enjoy a break spent outside – some seating will encourage them to eat outside and not just pop out for a breath of fresh air.
Getting Enough Rest
When the demands of work start piling up, it’s natural to feel the weight of it all bearing down on you. Your mind becomes consumed with the tasks at hand, making it hard to unwind. Yet, it’s crucial to find ways to detach from work and prioritize proper sleep. Getting enough rest isn’t just about feeling refreshed; it’s about enhancing your focus and productivity. So, while tackling your workload is important, don’t underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep in maintaining a healthy balance in life. Of course, getting proper sleep is harder when you are more stressed, so try to have good sleep hygiene and talk to a doctor if you have difficulty falling asleep over a long period of time.
Building Bonds
It might also be valuable that you see friendships and connections between co-workers as a positive thing. It might be something that you worry will lead to procrastination, but one of the benefits of a physical work environment is the fact that staff members have a social outlet. You might even find that these connections lead to a stronger work ethic and a level of teamwork that improves their collaboration. In some instances, this might even be something that employers try to foster through the implementation of team days or work social events that take these bonds out of the workplace to simply relax.
