Ever wondered why top athletes can perform so consistently well over long periods? The answer: Rest. So why do we ask so much of others?

The above point was made during a forum in a recently held at the excellent Lainston House Hotel. Such a simple point. Top performers and athletes do build rest into their schedules.

Of course, work is today different but pre-pandemic, the levels of mental fatigue at work was at a reported high. It was evidenced that people had never worked harder and naturally enough, productivity fell year on year.
Interestingly the question leads onto whether productivity is higher again with the new hybrid models? There are many who argue that they are; and many who argue that they are not. Many leaders are arguing for the return to offices so that there is an intensity once again at work but why? Pre-pandemic most days were dominated by internal meetings, internal politics and agendas and sitting with a computers screen – so it is understandable why so many have no desire to return to those ways.

Of course, the economy does need a return to the office but there also does need to be a new thinking which comes to the fore. A number of points for consideration
• Did you know the most productive day of the week for most is a Tuesday
• Tuesday at 11am is the most productive time of the week
• The most productive month of the year is October followed by November and September.

Psychologists can provide deeper answers but the simple logic is that many feel refreshed after the summer and the final quarter is looking towards the end of the year and the start of a new one – so people feel refreshed and motivated.

This is where we come full cycle as the summer provides a time for all to get a break, sit in the sun, travel, refresh and rest. Rest is so important and determines how productive each person is and yet historically so few have built anytime for rest into their schedules. As with most things, people follow tradition. In the 1950s, 60s and 70s, people worked a basic 9 to 5 schedule, had secretaries and a one hour lunch break. There was, maybe accidently, rest built into the days schedule. By 2019, most executives worked with 70% less admin support, had an average 19 minute lunch break and worked longer hours. Most would say they were mentally switched on via either mobiles or laptops from 6am till 10pm. How many of us use our mobile phones for our alarms?

Did you know that, in theory, the 1980s were more productive than the last decade as more people felt able to generate wealth, felt empowered and free to socialise plus were more supported at work in both admin and development. The 1980s were a productive era and yet 2019 is seen to be almost a low ebb.

Given all the debate, perhaps the discussion is less about the need for the return to offices but far more about how work cultures can evolve and build rest into the schedules? As all debate the return to work, how often has rest been discussed? How often has productivity been truly discussed?