Nearly all workers today (87%) agree that technology makes it possible for them to always be available to their workplace, and a large majority (79%) say it’s necessary to their job for them to always be available.
Despite feeling like they’re always tethered to the office, nearly half of these workers (46%) say their constant availability doesn’t make them feel more or less productive at work. Nearly twice as many say their technology-enabled availability makes them feel more productive as say it makes them feel less productive (35% vs. 18%).
About a quarter of workers (26%) say they have a hard time “unplugging” from work. Those who make more money are more likely to have trouble unplugging: 78% of those making less than $15,000 have an easy time unplugging from work, though that drops down to 58% among those making more than $150,000 per year.
These findings come from a new Fast Company|SurveyMonkey poll. Other key stats:
- A majority of people (61%) say they feel the most productive in the morning, with 22% saying they feel most productive in the afternoon, 10% in the evening and just seven percent late at night.
- 28% of workers say they "always" feel as though they are being their most productive selves at work. 47% say they "often" feel that way, 21% "sometimes" and 3% "rarely." No one says they "never" feel they're being their most productive self at work.
- What helps to boost this feeling of productivity? Minimal sleep, frequent exercise, and regular meditation.
- People who get very little sleep (four hours or fewer per 24-hour period) are more likely than others to say they always feel like they’re being their most productive selves at work (37%).
- Similarly, four in 10 workers (40%) who exercise every day say they are always their most productive selves at work.
- But meditation is what really seems to do the trick: 46% of workers who meditate every day say they “always” feel like they’re being their most productive selves at work.
Read more about our polling methodology here.
Click through all the results in the interactive toplines below:
Question text:
What time of day do you feel most productive? Mornings / Afternoons / Evenings / Late at night
How often do you exercise?
How often do you meditate?
On average, how many hours of sleep do you get in a 24-hour period?
On average, how many hours per week do you work?
How frequently do you feel like you’re being your most productive self at work?
If you want to get in touch with a coworker quickly, how are you most likely to do so?
How easy is it for you to mentally “unplug” from work when you are not working?
How frequently do you feel stressed out by the amount of work you have?
How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Technology makes it possible for me to always be available to my workplace.
How necessary is it to your job for you to always be available?
Does the fact that you are always available make you feel more or less productive at work, or does it have no effect?
*employees
