Long story short: 4 ways to improve productivity

February 3, 2023 10:18 AM

It's February — which means all the good habits we swore we'd stick to in January have likely already fallen off our ever-expanding to-do list.

Maintaining and growing productivity is no small feat, and it takes conscious efforts to build better habits and better work environments to start getting more work done — without extending your working hours.

This week, EBN's reporting delivered the path to greater productivity. Starting with the outline of a Kickstarter employee's workweek, which has permanently shifted to a 4-day, 32-hour schedule, we capture her tips and tricks for packing more productivity into less time.

"I'm working fewer hours than I was before," says Terry VanDuyn, director of product management at Kickstarter. "But the intensity of the days that I work has increased. Still, having Fridays completely off has been a great trade-off for that."

In other stories, we serve up architect-approved tips to give your office an easy (and affordable) makeover that will actually inspire employees to return to work. From there, read up on the apps and music to help you increase output.

What productivity-boosting change can you make today?

A Kickstarter employee chronicles her four-day workweek

Global fundraising resource Kickstarter is among 200 companies in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand that have joined 4 Day Week Global, a nonprofit dedicated to helping companies reduce their workweeks down to 32 hours. Kickstarter launched its four-day workweek pilot in April of 2022, and nine months later, it has decided to permanently embrace the abbreviated schedule.

Yes, this means that Kickstarter's employees now enjoy a three-day weekend every weekend — but their entire structure of working has transformed as well.

"The impetus for having Friday off keeps me more focused," VanDuyn tells associate editor Deanna Cuadra. "Knowing that I can get it done by Thursday is a helpful motivator for sure.

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A Kickstarter employee chronicles her four-day workweek

7 workspace updates to maximize productivity

Ninety percent of employers plan on requiring employees to return to the office for at least part of the week in 2023, according to a recent survey by HR Dive. But as workers have grown accustomed to their home offices — and as a focus on well-being and work-life balance continues to take center state among today's workforce — it's likely those employers will face some resistance.

To ease that friction, employers may want to reconsider exactly what they're asking employees to return to. A hybrid work arrangement will likely be the most common for those heading back to the office this year, but the days of settling for harsh lighting and bad coffee are over. Still, offices may not need to undergo an HGTV-level renovation to create some added comfort and function.

"There may be functional aspects like amenities that you want, but there could be another aspect around how you want people to feel when they come into an office," Julia Leahy, principal and design director at IA Interior Architects, tells editor Lee Hafner. "What's the first impression as you come in, and how do you want to feel when you're leaving? So many of those things are about the culture or the organization."

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7 workspace updates to maximize productivity

5 apps to boost focus and output

Eighty-two percent of people don't use any kind of time management or productivity system outside of simple to-do lists to manage their work, according to 2021 data from time tracking software platform Clockify. The idea of adding tech tools into their workflow may intimidate employees, but it can be as simple as downloading a few new apps.

Associate editor Paola Peralta compiled a few of the best rated apps for employees looking to stay focused and boost productivity at work.

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5 apps to boost focus and output

Boost productivity by playing these top songs

Listening to the right music can set the tone for your day, and even improve your mental health. A survey by audio brand company Sound United found that listening to music improves productivity and well-being, and academic research has shown that listening to music releases dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin, feel-good brain chemicals that improve mood and help people feel more connected to each other.

At jukebox company and platform TouchTunes, 2022 data revealed that there's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to the tracks that get listeners amped up. Executive editor Alyssa Place breaks down the genres and songs that helped workforces get work done.

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Boost productivity by playing these top songs