Struggle To Stay Focused On Friday Afternoon? You Wouldn't Be Alone, Study Finds

Modern life demands our focus and productivity, and on a good day, we're able to tackle our responsibilities and deadlines with ease.

For the study, researchers wanted to study worker productivity throughout the week, using computer usage as a metric for assessing productivity. They studied just under 800 office workers at a large company for two years, keeping track of things like typing speed, typos, mouse clicks, scrolling, etc.

Then, they compared those usage patterns based on time of day, and day of the week, looking for any notable patterns.

And sure enough, if you've ever felt like your productivity drops off on Friday, this study found that to be true. Namely, computer usage tended to increase during the week, then showed a significant drop-off on Friday. There also tended to be more mistakes made on Fridays and in the afternoon on any given day.

This research provides useful findings both employees and employers alike, with the study authors noting they hope flexible work arrangements can not only improve productivity, but also improve worker's wellbeing—and even the wellbeing of the planet through reduced electricity and carbon dioxide emissions.

"Flexible work arrangements, such as hybrid work or a four-day workweek, may help mitigate the negative effects of long workweeks and promote better employee well-being and productivity," the study authors add.