Creative Solutions For A Hybrid Work Schedule: How To Boost Productivity In Unique Ways
While a hybrid schedule can feature many benefits such as increased flexibility, it can be a difficult adjustment so how can people stay productive which working a hybrid schedule?
A hybrid work schedule that features three days in the office is considered to be a “win-win-win,” highlights a study published in the science journal Nature. While a hybrid schedule can feature a number of benefits such as increased flexibility, it can be a difficult adjustment for those who are new to the arrangement — especially when it comes to the optimization of productivity. With creative ways to stay organized to the value that a bit of art or plant life can have in an at-home work environment, even physical activity can be implemented into a hybrid work routine with a unique twist.
An Elevated Planner
Organization is crucial to productivity at work, and arguably carries even more weight for those who wish to successfully adjust to a hybrid work schedule. The concept of remote work can be stressful for those who have never taken their work home before, especially with the consideration of challenges such as newfound distractions in the mix.
The injection of creativity into your typical planner may be able to help — a bullet journal, for instance, can be used as an organized hub for schedules, lists, and more, and can easily be transported to and from the office as needed. Zaidoon Barham highlights several key aspects of organization, such as the value of prioritization and the implementation of systematic methods (like the Pomodoro Technique). Both of these elements, however, can be executed in a bullet journal.
Bullet journals are particularly beneficial for those who consider themselves to be visual learners, as several different tasks, habits, schedules, and other ideas can be laid out in a visually attractive spread. With the added advantage of personalization (when starting with a blank notebook), employees can fill a bullet journal with categorized lists, tasks, and ideas that can serve as both inspiration and motivation to stay on track throughout the workday.
You Might Also Like: How To Bullet Journal: The Ultimate Guide To Getting Started
Creative techniques such as ‘junk journaling,’ or the incorporation of recycled materials into the journal process, can serve as a catalyst for productivity on a routine basis and can make a once mundane task much more enjoyable. Because a bullet journal is adaptable and is therefore able to be tailored to an individual’s unique needs, challenges associated with hybrid work — such as the adoption of good sleeping and eating habits and the completion of work tasks can all be tracked with ease.
The creation Of An Optimized Space
Remote or hybrid work practices have evolved to provide employees with greater flexibility, enabling anyone to put down roots where they see fit. Many millennials have chosen to relocate from big cities to the suburbs, while five of the most populous U.S. cities (which includes New York City and Los Angeles) have seen positive net migration for Generation Z.
The differences between two generations extends beyond location — research by the London School of Economics and Protiviti unveiled productivity levels among different generations. The survey of nearly 1,500 U.K. and U.S. office workers revealed that a quarter of employees self-reported low productivity in the workplace. “More than a third of Gen Z employees reported low productivity, while 30% of millennials described themselves as unproductive,” the Yahoo Finance article reports.
The optimization of an at-home work space can be a great way to adjust to the hybrid work lifestyle, whether you’ve just moved to a lively city or live in a quiet suburb. One Medium article by George J. Ziogas notes that various studies have demonstrated the positive impact of art in regard to employee engagement and performance — for example, looking at art can lead to decreased cortisol levels (the hormone associated with stress). Other additions, such as plant life, can further work to benefit productivity.
The presence of plants in the office can increase productivity by 15%, with added benefits such as the reduction of stress and positive impacts on health and wellbeing. In fact, one study revealed that a greener office could reduce sick days per person, per year by up to 1.6 days. With creative applications such as a plant wall, macramé plants that hang from the ceiling, or even a shelf of your favorites, there are no shortage of ways to inject plant life into your home office space.
You Might Also Like: Top 4 Plants To Spruce Up Your Office
Physical Activity In Creative Ways
Breaks are essential to a productive workday — even if it’s a work from home day. Skipping breaks, for example, can lead to faster burnout and higher stress levels, while even just a few minutes away from work can boast a slew of benefits. A break from work can not only increase productivity and job satisfaction, but can benefit mental health, too. One challenge that many may have with a hybrid work week involves distractions on remote work days — with distractions at home such as laundry and dishes, family, and the TV, there’s no question that a remote work day can be wildly different from a structured office environment. In addition to a designated home office space, creative solutions can make a short break even more worthwhile, and can be alternated each day for something interesting to keep the workday full of excitement.
You Might Also Like: Relieve Stress By Doing These 7 Easy Chair Exercises
On days that you’re not required to be at the office, a work from home atmosphere can be conducive to a ‘lazy day.’ One Harvard Business Review article discusses the link between physical activity and work performance — for example, it’s noted that across two studies, it was consistently found that employees’ daily physical activity throughout the day “generates resource caravans consisting of physical (sleep), affective (vigor), and cognitive (task focus) resources, which further contribute to next-day job performance and health outcomes in different ways.”
The integration of physical activity in creative ways in a consistent manner can not only provide an outlet for work-related stress, but can keep you motivated throughout the week both in and out of the office. One way to do this is to challenge yourself to get active in a different way each week, whether it be a hike, bike, or walk in various new locations.
A hybrid work schedule can be a major change for anyone who is used to in-office work. Creative solutions can be a great way to ease the adjustment with heightened productivity in mind, whether you’re invested in a new bullet journal or fun and different breaks to refocus the mind.