The sleep time required for optimal functioning depends on individual needs – and these vary with season, mood, activity level and other factors.

8 hours of sleep as a must

Multitasking can be detrimental. Research shows it stresses and slows us down, increasing our potential for error. It also decreases information retention and focus.

The "power" of multitasking

We can be productive out of offices. Research shows that those who dislike office have increased productivity when working from home or on public spaces.

Productivity in offices

Some people say that the web is bad for our productivity because it floods our minds with useless information. In fact, ever since the internet has become a significant part of our lives, we began to consciously choose the knowledge we want to remember. Plus, we also rely on it for research.

Disconnecting for productivity

Clean workspaces don’t necessarily increase productivity. Studies show that lack of order may help some workers to be more efficient and creative, aiding in their decision-making process.

Clean workspaces

Idleness and daydreaming don’t necessarily harm productivity. They’re essential to our mental health, helping us order acquired information, recharge our brains and power our productivity.

Day-dreaming and productivity

Working longer hours doesn’t necessarily increase productivity. It’s been proven to lower productivity, lead to errors and generate stress.

More time and productivity

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<img src="https://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Screen-Shot-2015-03-11-at-10.40.29-PM.png">Productivity is a central issue in the life of every worker. As we strive to get more things done in shorter time periods, many of us may fall victim to some of the common productivity myths, many of which can actually negatively impact our work. To put these misconceptions to rest, we've compiled a list of 7 of the most common myths to help you make sure you're really getting the most out of your day.
Having at least 8 hours of solid sleep is supposed to make our bodies prepared for the daily rush. The truth is, the amount of sleep required for optimal functioning depends on individual needs - and these change as well!
Depending on the season, our mood or the previous day, we might need more or less sleep to be productive the next day. The 8-hour sleep rule is simply a myth. Sleep is something that cannot be bent to the uniform rules of productivity.
Until recently, multitasking was considered a top productivity hack. However, recent research reveals that multitasking actually slows us down, increasing our potential for error. But that's not all. Multitasking was also found to generate much more stress in workers.
<a href="http://news.stanford.edu/news/2009/august24/multitask-research-study-082409.html">This study</a> demonstrated that people who tend to multitask were less likely to retain information, experienced attention problems and found it difficult to switch from task to task in comparison to people who preferred to focus on one task at a time.
In today's professional culture, this is simply not true. Lots of <a href="http://web.stanford.edu/~nbloom/WFH.pdf">studies</a> have shown how working from home or public spaces, such as cafes, increases productivity. Essentially it's a matter of preferences - while some love to work outside the office, others find it difficult to focus when surrounded by people who aren't working.
Some people say that the web is bad for our productivity because it floods our minds with useless information. In fact, ever since the internet has become a significant part of our lives, we began to consciously choose the knowledge we want to remember.
This is backed up by research. In 2011, magazine published a study which demonstrated that today, some people simply prefer to research information instead of memorizing it.
A clean and organized space is something people think powers productivity. It all comes down to individual preferences again. <a href="http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/25720/0536A6A0d01.pdf">This study</a> showed that lack of order might help some workers to be more efficient and creative, aiding in their decision-making process. In short, organization is relative and depends on individual needs, rather than preconceived standards of order.
We all like to stay busy and seldom have time to spare for boredom or day-dreaming. In fact, all of these are essential to our mental health and help us organize the information acquired during the day. They recharge our brains and power our productivity. Have a look at <a href="http://www.jneurosci.org/content/29/23/7619.full.pdf+html">this study</a> to see that these moments of idleness can actually help us focus.
This is a classic productivity myth that impacts the international job market. If you believe that by working longer hours, you'll get more things done, think twice - it has actually been proven to lower productivity, lead to errors and generate stress.
A breakthrough <a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2013/09/working-hours">study</a> examining the issue was published by The Economist in 2013. The magazine compiled data from 1990 until 2012 in OECD countries, showing once and for all that long working hours does not equate to higher productivity.
With these popular productivity myths busted, you'll be able to avoid losing time applying them at your work and focus on what really matters - your individual preferences.
Nicole Davies works at <a href="http://www.shortcoursefinder.com.au/">ShortCourseFinder</a>, a website providing a simple way to find and sign up for online short courses from Australia's top providers. Main areas of her interest are the social media and the use of new technologies in everyday life. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/150116578X?tag=simonsayscom"><img src="https://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/cover2-HowToGetShitDone.jpg"></a>
Erin shows overscheduled, overwhelmed women how to do less so that they can achieve more. Traditional productivity books-written by men-barely touch the tangle of cultural pressures that women feel when facing down a to-do list. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/150116578X?tag=simonsayscom">How to Get Sh*t Done</a> will teach you how to zero in on the three areas of your life where you want to excel, and then it will show you how to off-load, outsource, or just stop giving a damn about the rest.
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Productivity is a central issue in the life of every worker. As we strive to get more things done in shorter time periods, many of us may fall victim to some of the common productivity myths, many of which can actually negatively impact our work.

7 Popular Productivity Myths Busted