8-Hour Day Ignores Human Productivity Cycle

Posted By: Alex Kecskes In: Business Professional

For administrative professionals, the typical 8-hour workday will soon go the way of the typewriter. In the increasingly fast-paced information age, workers simply can't sustain an 8- to 12-hour run of mental energy. Hence, the rise in such energy boosters as "5-hour Energy," which address the body's inability to maintain a high concentration level for 8 hours.

Today's information workers draw on the their creative juices and thinking to get through the day. Answering countless emails and cellphone calls, being alert for meetings—even during lunch—can quickly sap one's energy. By the time 3 o'clock rolls around, most admin workers are ready to call it a day and head home—but they have to keep working. And that's where productivity and efficiency take a nosedive. An admin worker's productivity usually peaks at 10 a.m. after several cups of coffee and a donut or scone; then again, at 2 p.m. right after lunch. 

After they exceed their peak productivity hours, most admin workers simply go through the motions of appearing to be productive. They will shuffle papers, organize files, read non-action emails, call a friend on their cell, even surf the net. Estimates limit real productive time at about 4 hours with the rest being mostly unproductive. Admin workers simply run of gas. They are less creative in these waning hours, less apt to solve challenging problems, and less likely to tackle the difficult jobs. 

What some really creative companies have adopted is a work schedule that dovetails with a person's energy clock.  This can be done remotely or the workplace can provide the "space." When workers run out of "juice" they can temporarily take a break and re-energize themselves with relaxation routines—exercise, yoga, tail chi—whatever takes the mind completely away from the stresses and obligations of work. Once refreshed, workers go back on the clock and resume work with renewed energy. It's a win-win for employee and employer.