Being distracted at work could make you more productive, so says new research out of Trinity College Business School.
The researchers found that workers who watched funny viral videos together were better able to manage stress as a team, making the strongest case for cat and dog videos being a vital part of your work day.
But why is this the case? Dr. Wladislaw Rivkin, Associate Professor at Trinity Business School, joined Drivetime to discuss the pros and cons of watching viral videos at your desk.
"Short productivity interventions", as the researchers call them, actually help our work by replenishing our cognitive abilities in the workplace, Rivkin explained.
"I like to compare it to a cup of coffee, a short boost of positivity helps us to exercise self-control throughout the day and thereby stabilise our performance throughout the day."
So what viral videos should you be watching to get this productivity bump? Anything that makes you laugh, Rivkin said. "I would be a little bit cautious about TikTok videos because the challenge with TikTok is that the app is designed to hook us up and consume more and more content. So with TikTok, it's maybe more difficult to draw your attention away."
If you're looking for an excuse to sneak away and watch the second half of a World Cup match, however, Rivkin dismissed that. Short videos are the way forward, with the team looking at stand-alone videos in particular.
"We're not saying that people should constantly distract themselves, we are more talking about a short break in our research so getting a little bit of respite and relief and little bit of positivity."
The ideal length is around three minutes, which depending on your TikTok algorithm could be one video or a dozen.
"We looked at very specific demands at work, and these are demands which require us to exercise self control. In a lot of professions people have to exercise self-control by dealing with difficult customers, when speaking in public, when providing service with a smile, and what we found was that these short positivity interventions particularly work for self control demands.
"This shows us that these interventions basically replenish our cognitive resources, which we also refer to as self-control resources. These interventions allow us to engage longer in self-control throughout the work day."
Rivkin added that this "release" helps us to control our temper better and to perform better in work. Not only that, but these releases can help with creativity in work as well.
To listen back to the full interview, click above.
