Top 10 Studies That Will Break All the Productivity Myths You Ever Knew

Productivity has always been a significant problem in the constantly changing world. Sometimes, we need a little push in the right direction to get started. By learning and applying the right studies conducted by researchers, you’ll have a better chance of increasing your productivity. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of the best productivity studies to help you get the most out of your day.

Lack of sleep leads to decreased work productivity.

Poor sleep and work performance are strongly associated, yet many of us still try to push ourselves above our limits by subtracting from our sleeping time. Without a night of sufficient sleep, some processes in the body cannot function right, especially the cognitive abilities. You quickly become overworked, which can further impact your concentration, decision-making, and focus. It’s always better to avoid unhealthy sleep habits that keep you from realizing your full potential.

Link to the study

Working alone may be the key to better performance.

When you are working alone, you may find it much easier to focus and work. A study shows that individuals given a specific task display a decreased performance witnessing someone else performing a different task, suggesting that you can get more performance working on it alone. Blocking out all distractions and working on a single thing can help you put more effort into your assignment, resulting in improved productivity and better results.

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Workplace stress significantly affects your productivity.

Higher stress in a workspace is associated with lower productivity. Although stress can sometimes be beneficial, it can also be a great disadvantage, especially in the matter of productivity. There are many things you can do to reduce the amount of stress for example: try taking more breaks and taking a few minutes for yourself to focus on your breathing. It might help to slow your heart rate and lower blood pressure.

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Multi-tasking is fiction, we can only focus on one thing.

Common logic often assumes that multitasking is a good thing. But numerous studies have found the exact opposite. It’s proven that people who jumped between multiple tasks were less productive than those who focused on a single task at a time. Essentially, not only switching tasks takes time, but the cognitive process of adjusting to new tasks is where productivity suffers the most. Remember that it’s always better to focus on just one task at a time.

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Increasing autonomy leads to greater productivity.

Productivity is directly related to the physiologic effort put into the task, researchers found. Employees that have been given increased autonomy had 5.2% greater average productivity and 31% higher positive mood. The findings indicate that increased perceived autonomy can significantly improve individual and group productivity and that this can have a beneficial impact on mood.

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Work in natural light to be more focused and concentrated.

Research shows that cold temperature light, of at least 4,600K, is much better for focus, concentration, and productivity than the other spectrum. It resembles the natural lighting during the day because the shades of cyan and blue give us a cold tone. According to the study, employees who worked in natural light slept on average 46 more minutes per night, slept more efficiently, and reported a higher quality of life than those who did not.

Link to the study

Setting the right temperature may increase your productivity

Temperature between 69.8 and 71.6 (21 degrees to 22 degrees Celsius) in your office has been proven to affect office productivity. With some attention to temperatures across your office, you can increase work output while reducing energy costs. When it gets hotter, it’s easy to get sleepy and it’s not the best state of mind for being productive. Also having low temperatures are linked to slower work rates and increased errors. So you need to find the balance.

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Napping makes you a more effective problem solver.

A lack of light affects the body and can greatly reduce your productivity and energy. Researchers say that napping makes people more effective problem solvers. It’s proven that a short, 26-minute nap enhances performance by 34 percent and overall alertness by 54 percent. That could lead to a significant productivity improvement. If you don’t work in a place with good lighting, you can buy a natural light lamp that simulates natural light or find a new spot for work.

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Plants in the office can boost productivity by 15 percent.

Putting plants in the office does more than just decorate the space, it also makes employees happier and more productive, researchers have found. Having a plant on your desk increases productivity by up to 15 percent. They’ve shown plants in the office significantly increased workplace satisfaction, self-reported levels of concentration, and perceived air quality.

Essentially they couldn’t determine the reason behind the results, it might be because of extra oxygen, or maybe because greenery induces relaxation. Further investigation is required, but 15 percent is hard to disagree with especially when houseplants are so easy to maintain.

Link to the study

Music can improve mood and concentration in most employees.

Music doesn’t just motivate you. It can also help get rid of stress, promote a more positive mindset, and increase concentration. There are a few conditions to this. People tend to perform better when the music they enjoy is playing, better without lyrics since it can get between your thoughts and above a certain volume threshold, and any sound can become distracting.

Link to the study

There are countless studies on productivity however, I find the studies above exceptionally useful, Many of them worked for me, and I hope they will help you become more organized and productive as well.

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