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The Importance Of Downtime On Productivity by Cindy Stradling CSL, CPC

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The Importance Of Downtime On Productivity by Cindy Stradling CSL, CPC

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June 4, 2019

My favorite things in life don’t cost any money. It’s really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.

~Steve Jobs

One of the most common misunderstandings in the business world is about productivity and downtime. The focus in many businesses is to look for the employees that put in the longest hours for recognition and promotions. This is often the mindset of managers from supervisors up to CEOs, and with this mentality, the issue of “downtime” becomes a taboo and a sign of someone who is not production minded.

In reality, this is absolutely false. In fact, in studies in highly productive workplaces, downtime is not just a nice option; it is a regular, valued, and planned part of the business environment. In studies completed throughout the years, downtime also called breaks or diversions, increased not only focus but also productivity, error-free work, and attention to details. In a study published in 2011 in Cognition, researchers at the University of Illinois found that  in a 50 minute task, the group that was provided 2 short breaks maintained their accuracy while the groups that either took no breaks or did two tasks in the same period of time showed a dramatic decrease in accuracy over the same duration.

Building in Downtime

The good news is that the breaks are not just effective in our business life. They can also occur in our time spent with family and friends, and these types of “mental holidays” allow us to stay more focused on relationships and have a greater enjoyment of life in general.

The key is in finding ways to build in breaks or downtime in your life. There is no one size fits all approach, and everyone can develop his or her own approach to adding in some mental and physical relaxation into their life. To get started, here are some simple suggestions for how to create downtime in your busy day:

  • Use apps – there are several ways to use apps on your phone to take a little mental break. Play a game, challenge yourself to some type of puzzle, download a coloring app with your favorite design options, or just enjoy a feel-good online video. Remember, small breaks throughout the day are more effective than long breaks after work in maintaining mental energy and focus.
  • Get organized – a lot of the time spent at work as well as doing chores around the house is due to the inefficient use of time. By organizing your day, you can structure your tasks and chores and get them done in less time, giving you more time to spend doing the things you enjoy.
  • Prioritize downtime – just as you make specific tasks at work and at home a priority, start to think of downtime or breaks as a top priority, rather than something to fit in if and when you have time. By thinking ahead and planning breaks, you will find you have more time in the day.
  • Focus on things that make you smile – use your downtime to do things you enjoy. Take a walk, read a good book, call a friend or a loved one, and have a conversation. By making downtime meaningful to you on a personal level, you will find it is much easier to prioritize.

Creating downtime is not just for your productivity. It is for your mental and physical health, as well as for your emotional well-being.

downtime, focus, organization, productivity, taking breaks
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Cindy Stradling

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We have had the pleasure of working with Cindy Stradling to source several top notch consultants to assist us with the design and delivery of a variety of Learning and Development and HR Programs. This this successful collaboration we have truly appreciated Cindy's very high standards for members of her network, the drive and energy she brings to her work and most importantly her strong commitment to understanding and meeting the needs of her clients.

Deborah A. Fillippe, CHRL VP Human Resources Kenaidan Contracting Ltd.

Cindy has been a terrific resource to Metro! She met with us to clearly understand our needs then provided us with a shortlist of top-quality trainers for us to meet. The whole process was simple and seamless, and it saved us a lot of time in sourcing companies with specific skill sets. She's a pleasure to work with.

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Cindy provides a very progressive and engaging training environment. We have seen her successfully provide solutions to companies and individuals from all sectors, from the sophisticated to entry level. The integrity she applies to all aspects of her business is beyond reproach.

Al Diggins President and GM Excellence Manufacturing Consortium

Cindy has been engaged by Express Scripts Canada to provide Presentation Skills training to our management team. Cindy's expertise in this area has been invaluable in supporting our leaders with their leadership development in their presentation styles.

Anthea Gomez Director, Human Resources & Corporate Services Express Scripts Canada

Cindy is the epitome of positive energy! I didn't just work with Cindy at Duplium; I continue to keep in touch with Cindy because she is a wealth of knowledge and always a delight to catch up with. If you need something or someone, just ask her, she will get it done! She embodies the unique combinations of integrity, commitment and resourcefulness. Thank you Cindy for all the times you gave me just what I needed!

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We engaged Cindy to help us develop a leadership training program and provide our management with one on one coaching. Cindy's professionalism, ability to understand our challenges and develop an innovative, cost effective training program in a timely manner was truly impressive. I recommend and welcome the opportunity to work with Cindy.

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