manage day

We have been talking in this blog recently about the generation gap in the workplace, and the different work habits that each age group brings to the office – particularly the tendency of Millennials to multitask. So it’s timely to run across a recent study that demonstrates the effects of multitasking and distractions on information retention.

In fact, a national survey conducted by The Trending Machine shows that Millennials between the ages of 18-34 are more likely than seniors to forget what day it is (15% vs. 7%), where they put their keys (14% vs. 8%), forget to bring their lunch (9% vs. 3%) or even to take a bath or shower (6% vs. 2%).

A therapist quoted in the study report attributes this forgetfulness to being “a population that has grown up multitasking using technology, often compounded by lack of sleep, all of which results in high levels of forgetfulness.”

This ‘always connected’, distracted lifestyle and forgetfulness can lead to lost productivity in the workplace. One solution to help solve this dilemma is an effective training program to teach time management skills, leading to better organization and effectiveness. A good training workshop can help workers understand how their own behavior contributes to poor time management, and teach them how to set goals and work smarter, while balancing personal objectives for success.

John Males is Founder and President of Fathom Corporate Training. With more than 20 years of experience in management, sales and negotiations, he helps clients increase employee satisfaction, lower turnover, increase revenue and raise profit margins.