I’m Not Doing Laundry On The Clock—i’m ‘microshifting’

We’re more than half a decade removed from pandemic lockdowns—when remote work profoundly upended the 9-to-5—yet the preference for workday flexibility endures, a new report shows. 

According to the recently released ninth annual State of Hybrid Work report from Owl Labs, a video conference tech company, 65% of workers are interested in a concept the report refers to as “microshifting”: “structured flexibility with short, nonlinear work blocks matched to your energy, duties, or productivity.” In other words: breaking up your work shift into a bunch of tiny ones.

Perhaps you log on at 6 a.m. to get a head start, then take a break for a midmorning Pilates class before clocking back on to finish the day’s tasks. Or maybe you pause in the afternoon to do the school run or take the dog out, shifting your final work block into the evening, when the madness has settled down. Like similar methods, such as timeboxing or the Pomodoro technique, microshifting rethinks the flow of a traditional workday, zeroing in on when the individual feels most productive.

Rather than being chained to a desk for eight hours each day, microshifting breaks up the slog into short concentrated bursts of productivity. Blast through your inbox, or go head-down on a project, and around that balance personal responsibilities and life events that crop up without notice. 

The new report shows that microshifting has proven particularly popular among Gen Zers and millennials, with nearly 7 in 10 reporting that they would prefer such an approach at work.

It’s widely accepted that productivity cannot be measured simply by hours clocked. Research on attention spans and productivity has shown that using shorter, intentional work intervals helps sustain energy, prevents cognitive fatigue, and sharpens focus. “Workplaces aren’t as rigid and structured as they once were,” Kickresume cofounder and CEO Peter Duris told Fast Company. Flexibility is one of the most common and sought-after perks in a job, whether that’s having the option to work from home or working flexible hours.”

In fact, Owl Labs found that employees were prepared to give up 9% of their annual salary for flexible working hours (and 8% for a four-day workweek). “Microshifting is a great way for employees to balance their personal responsibilities alongside work,” Duris said. “If you have the option to work microshifts, it could be worth discussing with your manager. This may be especially game-changing for parents or carers.”

Rather than an opportunity to slack off, look at microshifts like mini work sprints. If you give it a try, digital scheduling tools and productivity apps like Focus Friend can stop you from feeling scatterbrained and keep you focused and on track while divvying up the day. 

Start by figuring out when you are most productive and tackle your high-priority tasks then. If you’re a morning person, get to work right away and schedule your low-priority tasks for when your productivity levels wane in the afternoon. If you’re a night owl, get your workout classes or errands out of the way first, then lock in for the evening grind. 

It’s always a good idea to get as acquainted as possible with your productivity style—at least until the next business buzzword gets coined and makes you rethink everything again.