| … you’re probably 9 percent more productive than your co-workers — unless you’re an internet addict. That’s according to new research out of the University of Melbourne, which found that Workplace Internet Leisure Browsing (WILB) improves productivity by giving internet-centric workers a chance to refocus their minds between tasks. The increase is startling; workers who spend as much as 20 percent of their office time leisure browsing actually get more work done than workers who don’t. How can you tell if you’re edging up to that 20 percent threshold? Rescue Time, for one. [%comments]
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Awesome. The justification I’ve been looking for.
The results of this study seem very similar to the results of any sort of break; the classic “smoke break” comes to mind. As long as the smoker knows they’ll have time to smoke every hour or so they’ll work diligently the remainder of the hour.
Yes! Justification. Thanks, Freakonomics, for improving my day and my productivity.
Does the study account for variance in technical competence? I have to believe computers make people more productive. Computer savvy people would be more likely to use the computer for personal activity as well. I think this study is just saying that people that are comfortable with computers are more productive.
It’s like michael scott says, they work more efficiently after [browsing/movie hour] because they need to in order to get their work done by the end of the day! (just joking)
my goal is for 80/20- i promise to be REAL productive during the 20
Can I get a signed note to give to my boss?
20% is quite a bit of time though. 1 out of every 5 days being spent on the internet can’t be increasing productivity that much.