5 Dangerous Creative Productivity Myths Busted

Productivity is a major concern in any workplace. However, the idea of being productive has created many myths, which can negatively impact productivity levels. The AtTask infographic highlights some of the most dangerous and prevalent productivity myths that circulate in any office. This article takes a closer look at these five productivity myths and explains why they’re not true.

1. Multitasking is a Productivity Win

One of the most pernicious productivity myths that have caught on in the workplace is the notion that multitasking is a good way to get things done. Multitasking may seem like a productive way to complete several tasks simultaneously. However, multiple studies have shown that multitasking is, in fact, a productivity disaster.

When you try to tackle multiple tasks, your brain is constantly shifting attention between them, which creates a cognitive switch cost. This impairs your ability to complete any of the tasks efficiently. In addition, dividing your attention reduces creativity, innovative thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Consequently, it’s always better to focus on one task at a time to increase productivity and improve the quality of your work.

2. The More Hours You Spend in the Office, the More Productive You Are

Many people believe that the more hours they work, the more they can get done. However, overworking yourself in pursuit of productivity can have severe consequences. Research shows that employees who work excessively long hours each day are likely to experience:

• Burnout
• Decreased productivity
• Health problems
• Decreased work satisfaction
• High-level stress

Overworking yourself may give the impression that you’re being productive. In reality, it leads to poor quality work, declining health, and reduces overall productivity. Therefore, it’s essential to maintain a healthy work-life balance by setting boundaries and taking breaks when necessary.

3. You Need to be Busy to be Productive

Many professionals believe that staying busy and cramming every minute with tasks and activities is what makes them productive. However, keeping oneself overly busy can be counterproductive to achieving actual productivity.

Being busy for the sake of staying busy often leads to rushing through tasks, making mistakes or overlooking important details. The constant sense of urgency also leads to stress and makes it difficult to prioritize tasks by importance. Being productive means spending time on tasks that matter most.

Therefore, professionals should aim for better time management techniques versus busying themselves with tasks that don’t add value to their work.

4. Creativity Flows Best When You’re Free-Styling

Some people believe that creativity is best fostered when employees are given unlimited freedom to work at whatever pace and rhythm suits them. However, this is another productivity myth that doesn’t hold up well in practice.

Structured workflows help employees allocate enough time for creative thinking and brainstorming, without overwhelming them with too much freedom or too many choices. Structured workflows allow a team to share timelines, project expectations and explicitly track progress.

In other words, creating structure and boundaries can help individuals focus on their creative process and improve productivity.

5. Faster is Always Better

The idea that speed is critical for productivity has led many employees to believe that they need to rush through everything to complete their tasks. Many employees associate speed with higher productivity levels since they expect to get more done quickly.

However, rushing through tasks leads to making more mistakes, reducing the quality of work output. Instead, slowing down helps employees focus on quality control, and quality always trumps quantity.

So, while quick work may result in briefly satisfying results, it will ultimately lead to rework and a slowed-down production cycle overall.

Conclusion

The five productivity myths busted in this article are prevalent in many offices worldwide. Contrary to popular belief, the more time we spend working on a task or multitasking does not guarantee higher productivity levels. It’s important for employees to focus on quality work over the quantity of tasks they complete in a working day.

Structured workflows and taking breaks are also essential to foster creativity and contribute to productivity. With these myths debunked, it’s time to recalibrate our approach to productivity and maximize our effectiveness in the workplace.