Be Productive on Friday? Shorter Work Weeks? Your Questions Answered

Are people less productive on Fridays? 

Yes. Workers in several studies indicated that they feel like they get less work done on Fridays. A study by Accountemps reports that people are most productive on Mondays and Tuesdays, with Mondays being slightly more productive than Tuesdays. 

Only 11% reported doing their best work on Fridays, the lowest of all the workdays.

Try using Friday for team check-ins and status updates, that's why we initially named this app Friday! This will help you cut down on unnecessary meetings while still allowing others to check in with what they're working on. See more in the video below:

Would employees be more productive with a 4-day workweek? 

So far, yes. A recent trial by Microsoft in Japan showed that workers were more productive when they had Friday off, with shorter meetings, less paper consumed, and less electricity used. 

Iceland famously ran years-long trials of shorter work weeks with the same pay, averaging 35 or 36 hours a week.The researchers said that productivity remained the same and that stress and burnout improved. 

Does that mean the 4-hour workweek should be adopted or just fewer hours each day? That’s currently in debate. Suggestions include shorter meeting times or no meetings after 3pm. In a remote work environment, the four day work week may make sense, though the flexibility could already be built in. 

Shorter workweeks are a shift in mentality: It goes from “how many hours are worked” to “how much value is created?”

How do you focus on a Friday?

You can focus on a Friday by being intentional, and reframing your thought process. If you look at Friday as the end of your work week, then it gets difficult to be productive. But if you look at it as just another day where you get the opportunity to work you then can see your productivity vastly improve. 

Other tips to be productive on a Friday: 

Do simple tasks and be quickly rewarded. These tasks are important but not “deep work.”

Review the week. Figure out what went well this week and start planning for the next. Friday check-ins (like automated status updates) and the Friday planner can help you reflect on what went well and set a course for the week ahead. You can do this with your team, too!

Make a to-do list for the next week. By having a weekly project list, or a to-do list app, you can begin to form better productivity practices by automating your day and naturally doing things as a response to the planning.

Schedule next week’s tasks for your team. If your team depends on you for direction, use Fridays to schedule and assign tasks for next week. You can also organize your daily schedule with time blocking. 

Do more creative work. It’s true that you’re paid for what your insights and strategies. Not necessarily the time behind the computer. Make this your advantage and free up Fridays for more creative work. This is different from number one. But personalities vary! 

Get organized. This includes not only organizing your physical space, but your mental space, too. Decluttering, eliminating communication inefficiencies, and focusing on one goal at a time will help you be more productive. 

How do you make Monday feel like Friday?

Make sure to take breaks throughout the day, and for that matter throughout the week. This would help you avoid the Monday blues that we often feel after a really fun weekend. Taking time to work on what you enjoy, and being intentional about the work you are doing is essential. 

What is the busiest day of the work week?

Usually Monday because there is work that needs to be “caught up” from the weekend. 29 percent of workers in the Accountemps survey said that Mondays were their most productive day of the week. People usually buckle down at the beginning of the week, and then may be less productive as the week continues.

How can I be productive on Friday afternoon?

Making sure to start your day on a high note through proper scheduling. Other tips include scheduling your Monday to-do list before the end of Friday, find smaller tasks to accomplish, and research for your next big initiative. 

Are Friday afternoon meetings productive?

They can be if adequate breaks are taken throughout the day. Usually people don’t schedule Friday afternoon work meetings because weekend plans start. If a person has had a hard week then it becomes difficult to stay productive especially on a Friday, when you just want the work week to end.

How do you get through work on a Friday? 

There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to get through work on a Friday depends on the individual. Some people may find that they need to take some time to themselves to relax and recharge in order to make it through the rest of the workday, while others may find that they need to focus on completing tasks and staying productive in order to make the most of their time. Ultimately, it's up to the individual to find what works best for them.

How Friday.app Helps You Be More Productive

Friday is your home for work.

Your team can see meetings and tasks in one place, pulled from tools you already use. Use widgets to customize your view, and better allocate your time to help you focus on the most important tasks.

At Friday, you’ll have a simple and automated way to share regular updates about what you are working on, enabling the regular flow of information without another meeting. Beyond a daily planner, you also get more to keep your team working together asynchronously -- like icebreakers, goals, employee milestones, a company handbook, and people profiles!

Best features:

• Centralize your work in one place with a digital HQ
• Try out Posts to take notes, ideas, meeting agendas, company announcements, and more.
• Integrate with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meetings, & many of the top project management tools.
• Create team profiles and employee directory to get to know coworkers.
• Add-ons make Friday simple at first, yet extendable over time.
• Start automatic team updates to reduce your time on Zoom
• Get the daily planner with your team to see a to-do list and schedule in one place

Pricing:

• Free Forever. To-Do List + Calendar Sync + Check-ins + Posts + Unlimited Users.
• Individual Pro: $4 per month. Planner View + Task/Calendar sync + Posts + Goals + Reporting
• Teams: $6/per person /month. Planner View + Posts + Task/Calendar sync + Check-Ins + Reporting + Kudos/Icebreakers.
• Company/Enterprise: A modern intranet & business communication tool customized to your business needs

Use Friday for free. No credit card required.