Research from Microsoft Office has today revealed that British workers are most productive at 10.01am on Mondays. 34 per cent of people identify their productivity power hour as being between 10.01am and 11.00am. This is followed by 9.01am to 10.00am and 11.01am to 12.00pm. In contrast, the nation is at its least productive between 16.01pm and 17.00pm on Tuesdays. In home life, 22 per cent of people claim they get most of their weekly tasks completed on a Saturday between 10.01-11.00am.
The research found that despite the pressures of the working day, 56 per cent of people will keep a to-do list at home compared to only 49 per cent at work.
At work
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On average British workers have one to five actions on their to-do list. The top priorities are:
- 75 per cent prioritise organising emails
- 59 per cent prioritise arranging their to-do list
- 50 per cent prioritise filling in timesheets
Interestingly, these are also the top three tasks that workers always struggle to get done.
The lowest prioritised tasks at work are personal tasks like:
- 13 per cent prioritise cleaning away your coffee cup
- 12 per cent prioritise going to the toilet
- 4 per cent prioritise remembering Tupperware
At home
At home, 74 per cent of Brits are most likely to keep a to-do list if they are busy. 64 percent keep a to-do list at home at Christmas, 50 per cent for holidays or 36 per cent for birthdays.
The most important priorities in the home life are:
- 75 per cent prioritise weekly food shopping
- 71 per cent prioritise cleaning
- 60 per cent prioritise buying birthday presents or card
The lowest prioritised tasks at home are:
- 13 per cent prioritise updating Facebook photos and albums
- 11 per cent prioritise completing exercise videos
- 13 per cent prioritise taking clothes to the dry cleaners
More than half (58 per cent) of the nation do not have enough time to complete their to-do lists and almost a quarter (24 per cent) said they put off tasks they disliked. Being unable to complete actions on to-do lists can leave conscious Brits feeling down with 51 per cent of women admitting to feeling stressed if they do not complete tasks. In contrast, men have a laidback stance with just over a third (34 per cent) claiming it doesn’t bother them if they do or don’t complete their to-do list.
The research found that nearly eight out of ten (78 per cent) people use technology and software such as laptops, spreadsheet tools, word processing tools and creative programs to complete tasks both at work and in the home. With this is in mind, the nation is being encouraged to work more efficiently and use software tools such as Office 365 designed to help increase productivity.
Psychologist, Linda Blair said: “Working efficiently and completing tasks to a deadline are challenges that many of us struggle with in today’s demanding world. Keeping a to-do list is not just a method of staying organised. Completing a task well and on time leaves us with a sense of accomplishment. The research has revealed that many of us do not know how to find the time to get things done, either at work or in the home. This suggests that we’re unaware of the secrets of efficiency – choosing the right tools and prioritising effectively. For example, if you adopt the right attitude and utilise the best tools, both at work and at home, you will find that you’re able to get more done, and to accomplish what you need to accomplish in the best way possible.”
Abigail Rappoport, Microsoft Office Division Director said: “The research indicates that there is a great divide between the tasks people need to get done and what they are able to complete. The demands of our contemporary work and home lives means we rarely have the time to get things done. Productivity tools such as Office 365 are designed to provide a simple and effective solution so you can work and play more from anywhere at any time.”
Regionally, the research found that Wales (75 per cent) and the East Midlands (73 per cent) are the most likely to complete items on their to-do list at work and East Anglia (75 per cent) and East Midlands (74 per cent) are most likely to complete to-do lists at home.
