Throw Away Your Resolutions
We’re all looking for tricks to be more productive. Some people drink an entire bottle of seltzer water first thing in the morning, convinced it will jump-start their body. Others create an algorithm to identify their peak working hours and aim to get the most done in that time. But last summer, the Japanese division of Microsoft found that working less might actually help us get more done. Microsoft Japan gave the region’s 2280 employees Fridays off during the month of August. The company didn’t increase the hours employees were expected to work Monday through Thursday, and everyone’s salaries remained unchanged. They also capped meetings at 30 minutes, with no more than five employees in attendance. MONDAY–THURSDAY Is Working Less the Key to Being More Productive?
And Set Alternative Goals for the New Year
The results were remarkable. During the experiment, Microsoft Japan saw profitable changes, including:
At the start of each new year, about half of all Americans set at least one New Year’s resolution, a promise to themselves that they will thrive in the coming year. Unfortunately, research from YouGov Omnibus, an international market research firm, found that only 1 in 5 Americans stuck to their resolutions. The fallibility of New Year’s resolutions is why few successful CEOs or leaders bother making them. Around this time of year, plenty of articles pop up with hot takes like, “Don’t set New Year’s resolutions; make goals instead!” Unfortunately, if you haven’t been making goals already, you’ve likely been setting yourself up for failure. Setting goals, achieving them, and making new ones should be a habit all year long, not just something you do on Jan. 1. The start of a new year is still a great time to reflect and strategize, but rather than fall on an old cliche, take a page from two of the most successful people in business. For decades, entrepreneur and best-selling author Tim Ferriss made New Year’s resolutions every year. Then, he developed a better strategy. “I have found ‘past year reviews’ (PYR) more informed, valuable, and actionable than half-blindly looking forward with broad resolutions,” Ferriss said in a 2018 blog post. At the start of each year, Ferriss spends an hour going through his calendar from the past 12 months and making a note of every person, activity, or commitment that sparked the strongest emotions, both positive and negative. The most positive events get rescheduled immediately for the new year. Meanwhile, the negative ones get put on a “Not-To-Do List” and hung up where Ferriss can see them. “I do believe in starting the new year with new resolve,” says Melinda Gates, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, “but instead of adopting a resolution, I choose a word of the year — a word that encapsulates my aspirations for the 12 months ahead.” Gates says that words like “spacious” or “grace” have helped her center herself and serve as a reminder about what she really wants to focus on. In 2019, Gates chose the word “shine,” stating that, “It’s a reminder for all of us to turn on the lights inside of us, lift each other up, and shine together.” Reflect on 2019 with Tim Ferriss. Pick a word of the year with Melinda Gates.
•
40% increase in average employee sales
•
23% decline in electricity expenses
•
59% decline in paper printing
Microsoft Japan isn’t the first company to shorten the workweek and see great results. Perpetual Guardian, a finance management company in New Zealand, began testing a four-day workweek for its 240 employees in March of 2018. Researchers from the University of Auckland and Auckland University of Technology studied the firm and saw a 20% increase in productivity. Perpetual Guardian employees also reported feeling 7% less stressed and a 24% improvement in work-life balance. After the successful trial, Perpetual Guardian opted to stick with the four-day workweek permanently. The success of the four-day workweeks isn’t a sign that people don’t want to work. Rather, it shows that most people are capable of being more productive when given an appropriate work-life balance. Burnout is a serious problem for employees, especially in places like Japan, where the drive to overwork can have deadly consequences.
These experiments show that the four-day workweek isn’t just a trend for start-ups; it could be the future of the workplace.
Windows 7 is reaching its end of life phase on Jan. 14, 2020. Will your systems still be protected from ransomware attacks? Call 804-730-2628 to find out!
Made with FlippingBook Online document