Page 63 - Print21 March-April 2020

Sustainability
Want to get more done in the office?
Ditch the laptop and pick up some paper
In all areas of brand marketing there is a solid argument for print. Whether it is direct mail, catalogues, or magazine and newspaper advertising, the
medium delivers consistently great ROI and engagement for brands in all sectors. But while it has a strong presence outside the office, its role inside has all but disappeared.
Businesses and organisations
have gone out of their way to
push their employees onto digital communication. Sit in any meeting
in any company and it is likely you’ll
be facing the back of a collection of laptops – or worse, downward cast eyes looking at a smartphone.
But paper is making a return to the office, and with it comes greater productivity, increased creativity and more valuable face-to-face communication.
A new survey has revealed
that 96 per cent of office workers prefer to work with paper copies of information as opposed to the digital version, with 60 per cent stating they specifically use paper to make themselves more productive. Titled the Workplace Productivity Report, the research collected insights from more than 1,000 Americans who work in an office environment,
and found that with the increase in digital technology, productivity has almost plateaued.
“There’s no question that digital tools have in many ways made the workplace more efficient,” explains productivity expert Holland Haiis. “But while digital tools have helped us to achieve more than we’ve ever
96%
imagined, we also realise it’s time for a little technological balance with the help of some non-technological tools.”
Those non-technological tools
are nothing more complex than a notebook and pen. With the average office worker staring at a screen
for seven hours a day, using paper
is a welcome antidote to digital fatigue – a modern phenomenon that can make simple tasks a lot more difficult and take a lot longer. More than half of office professionals
say they are suffering from digital overload, with 62 per cent stating that digital tools are making their teams unfocused and inefficient.
Take your time...
The value of paper is that it allows the brain to absorb and understand the information that’s being read. When reading from a screen, the mind tends to skim-read, picking out only selected words and phrases to get a quick surface-
level understanding of the subject. However, when reading in print, the mind becomes fully engaged, taking in every word and gaining a deeper insight into the information.
This deep-thought process also extends to writing on paper, with
the physical process concentrating the mind further, allowing it to become more engaged with the task, improving retention and providing solutions quicker. This is why 51 per cent of office workers still jot their ideas down in a notebook and 63 per cent prefer to use paper to collaborate with colleagues and spark creativity.
So how can you use paper to get more done in the office? Here are five of the best ways:
For more information on the Workplace Productivity Report, go to www. howlifeunfolds. com/workplace- productivity- report
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Make a daily to-do list.
When you start the day, don’t
go straight to the email inbox. Instead, write down the top three priorities you have for the day to focus and become energised.
Take a notebook to meetings. Meetings can be ruined by devices, everyone’s attention in different places and no one concentrating on the topic. So, grab a flipchart and create a technology-free zone, with note-taking on paper rather than laptops. People will be more engaged, to-dos remembered and meetings will be shorter.
Sticky notes for the big picture. With big projects, it’s impossible to gain an overview of every aspect on a screen. Instead, write down every aspect of the project on pieces of paper and pin them up
on a large wall to gain a deeper understanding of the task.
Use a traditional work diary
The good old paper work diary
is vital for planning your time
and keeping on top of your commitments. Simply the act of writing an entry will help retain that information and think
about what you need for the appointment.
Prepare for presentations on paper While PowerPoint is expected
at most presentations, writing your notes on paper will give you
a deeper understanding of your speech and help you remember more of it. 21
63%
PREFER TO USE PAPER TO COLLABORATE WITH COLLEAGUES
OFFICE WORKERS WHO PREFER TO
60%
51%
WORK WITH PAPER
USE PAPER TO MAKE THEMSELVES MORE
OFFICE WORKERS STILL JOT THEIR IDEAS DOWN IN
PRODUCTIVE
A NOTEBOOK
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