Could flexible hours and hybrid working increase happiness and productivity?

While some rushed back to the office after lockdown, many of our team have embraced hybrid working. Together we’ve developed a more flexible culture that enables us all to deliver great results, in our own way. Sara Lock shares the positive impact it has had on her activity levels, energy and productivity.

Working for Energise Me, I’ve always felt slightly awkward about the fact that I don’t enjoy physical activity. Being active is low on my list of things I want to do. I know I feel happier and healthier when I do it, and I passionately believe it’s important. But it comes at the cost of a million and one things I would rather be doing.

Revelations of remote working

When the pandemic forced us into remote working, I discovered there were 40 minutes of my day that I didn’t resent giving to physical activity!

My short commute had always made me slightly grumpy in the mornings. During lockdown I replaced it with yoga, dance and spinning. I felt my energy levels increase. I was achieving more with my mornings than sitting in traffic for 20 minutes. It started my day on a more positive note, and I was more confident and productive as a result.

The quiet of home also had a positive impact on my work. I’m an introvert. I love chatting to people and being in an office, but it drains my battery fast. Working from home enabled me to recharge. My colleagues commented on new strengths they’d not observed before. I was assimilating complex information and ideas and helping to resolve issues in a way I’d not been able to do from our busy office. ?

Finding the right balance

When people started returning to the office, I began experimenting with new working patterns. Working from home all the time meant missing the full team experience and the spontaneous ideas sharing while making tea. But being in the office all the time took away the deep work zone I’d discovered at home.

Gradually, I settled into a new pattern of working every other day from home. I split my work into home-based strategy, problem-solving and writing tasks and office-based collaboration and meetings. For me, it’s the best of both worlds and makes me happier and more productive at work. It also gives me 3 days to trade my commute for physical activity so I can practise what we preach.

Benefits to Energise Me

I’ve read a lot about the pros and cons of hybrid working over the last couple of years. We’ve had open conversations about it at work too. My take is that the benefits go both ways:

• The flexibility I’m enjoying means I talk positively about Energise Me as a flexible employer that enables individuals to do their best work. This kind of positive word of mouth is invaluable to an employer in the current recruitment climate.
• The quiet time that recharges my introvert battery means I have much more energy to bring to conversations, collaborations and problem-solving.
• The increased control over my time has made it easier for me to be active. As a result, my employer is now reaping the rewards of a happier, healthier, and more energised employee.

My advice

If you would love to trade your daily commute to improve your health and wellbeing, start a conversation with your employer. We’ve got plenty of evidence to help you build a business case on our website.

If you’re an employer who is on the fence about hybrid working and flexible hours, try it! If there’s a chance your employees will be happier, healthier and more productive then isn’t it worth the risk? You never know what strengths you might uncover until you give individuals the freedom to shine.