Work smarter not harder
Erica Roiko • 6 October 2022
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Work smarter not Harder - meaningfully at work
The working life around us is changing and developing rapidly. New information is constantly available and the flow of information is endless. However, we humans are not able to renew ourselves at the same pace. Let alone renew our own ability to focus, share attention or constantly absorb new information. If we try to grasp everything that is offered around, our ability to concentrate weakens and we easily lose our sense of control. These reactions have a straight effect on stress symptoms and thus exhaustion symptoms.
We are also constantly looking for more efficient ways to work. Time is money –we have the pressure to use it sensibly and efficiently. This may mean that we move from one task and meeting to another without stopping. Several tasks or projects are ongoing and possibly overlapping each other. The pandemic and the increased number of remote meetings have brought a special phenomenon among us. The requirement to be present has decreased, and it is often enough to be present with initials alone. It would not have been accepted before that one is in the meeting but one does not make an eye contact or speak to anyone.
If we presume that we perform better by multitasking, we are wrong. You can hold many irons in the fire, but you should focus on one iron at a time. This is shown in multiple studies in terms of work performance, efficiency and creativity, but also in terms of brain ergonomics. Not to mention the experience of being present and truly meet your co- workers.
You may have experienced how everyday life has become easier, when you have focused your grocery shopping into ‘once a week’ instead of going to the local store every day to pick up the needed food supplies. Someone has even made a menu for the whole week thus making life even easier. In order to be able to act like this, we need to take some time to think what kind of food supplies we have and what should be picked up for the upcoming week from the store. Why wouldn't we transfer this habit into working life as well? When we stop, we have time to look around us. We have the ability and time to plan the work schedule, reserve enough time for tasks that require concentration, prioritize work tasks and evaluate our own working methods. Then we actually have the time and ability to notice even the smallest successes and identify meaningful ways to achieve them.
We are more efficient, more focused and waste less hours when we bravely take a moment to stop periodically at work. I encourage everyone to take moments of being present and stopping into their workdays. It's actually a skill that can be practiced everyday. For example, stop at lunch to observe how the food tastes, looks or smells. What could you observe on your way home from work? Do you hear birds singing or do you notice nature changing colours with the season?
When is the time to stop, observe and think during your working day?
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Work smarter not harder – mielekkäästi töissä
Työelämä ympärillämme uudistuu ja kehittyy vauhdilla. Uutta tietoa on jatkuvasti saatavilla ja tiedon virta on loputon. Me ihmiset emme kuitenkaan kykene samassa tahdissa uudistamaan itseämme saati omaa kykyämme keskittyä, jakaa huomioita tai omaksumaan jatkuvasti uutta tietoa. Mikäli yritämme tarttua kaikkeen ympärillämme meille tarjottuun, keskittymiskykymme heikkenee ja menetämme herkästi hallinnan tunteemme. Näillä on taas vaikutusta stressioireisiin ja sitä kautta uupumusoireisiin.
Haemme myös koko ajan tehokkaampia tapoja tehdä työtä. Kallis työaika on käytettävä järkevästi ja tehokkaasti. Tämä saattaa tarkoittaa, että siirrymme tehtävästä ja kohtaamisesta toiseen pysähtymättä. Mahdollisesti useampi tehtävä tai projekti on meneillään limittäin tai päällekkäin. Pandemian myötä lisääntyneet etätapaamiset ovat tuoneet mukaan erikoisen ilmiön: läsnäolon vaatimus on vähentynyt ja usein riittänee paikalla olo pelkästään nimikirjaimilla. Tuskin olisimme hyväksyneet aiemmin, että tapaamisessa joku on mukana, mutta ei ota keneenkään katsekontaktia tai sano sanaakaan.
Mikäli luulemme, että multitaskaamalla suoriudumme paremmin, olemme väärässä. Monta rautaa voi pitää tulessa, mutta yhteen rautaan kannattaa keskittyä kerrallaan. Tätä puoltavat myös tutkimukset niin työn suoritustason, tehokkuuden sekä luovuuden osalta, mutta myös aivoergonomian osalta. Puhumattakaan läsnäolon sekä kohtaamisen kokemuksesta työyhteisössä.
Olet ehkä itse kokenut, miten arki on helpottunut, kun on keskittänyt ruokaostokset kerran viikkoon sen sijaan, että joka päivä kävisi lähikaupasta hakemassa päivän purtavat. Joku on jopa tehnyt ruokalistan viikolle, ja elämä helpottuu entisestään. Jotta voimme näin toimia, meidän täytyy ennen kauppaan lähtöä käyttää hetki aikaa sen miettimiseen, millaisia ruokatarpeita on ja mitä kaupasta kannattaa tulevalle viikolle hankkia. Miksemme siirtäisi tätä tapaa myös työelämään? Kun pysähdymme, ennätämme katsoa ympärillemme. Ennätämme suunnitella työaikamme käyttöä, varata keskittymistä vaativille tehtäville riittävästi aikaa, priorisoida työtehtäviä sekä arvioida omia työskentelytapoja. Ehdimme havainnoida pienetkin onnistumiset ja tunnistaa merkitykselliset menestyksen avaimet.
Olemme tehokkaampia, keskittyneempiä ja hukkatunnit vähenevät, kun työajasta rohkeasti käytetään hetki pysähtymiseen. Kannustaisin jokaista lisäämään pysähtymisen ja läsnäolon kohtia päiviin. Se on itseasiassa taito, jota voi harjoitella hyvin arkisilla asioita. Pysähdy esimerkiksi lounaan äärelle havainnoimaan, miltä ruoka maistuu, näyttää tai tuoksuu. Entä mitä havaintoja voit tehdä ympäristöstäsi matkalla kotiin? Kuuletko esimerkiksi lintujen laulua tai huomaatko vuodenaikojen mukaan muuttuvan luonnon?
Missä kohtaa sinun työpäivääsi ovat ne hetket, kun pysähdyt havainnoimaan ja ajattelemaan?
Kirjoittaja:
Essi Korvela
Työterveyspsykologi
Mehiläinen Työelämäpalvelut
www.mehilainen.fi/yrityksille
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