65% of workers are intrigued by 'microshifting' — a new method that could offer more work-life balance. But it's not for everyone

If it sounds familiar, that’s because the practice (though not the label) grew to popularity during the pandemic, when people weren’t bound by daily commutes and time clocks. Today, a growing number of workers are intrigued by the concept: a survey by Owl Labs found 65% of workers were interested in the concept of microshifting, with managers being three times as likely to try it than individual contributors.

Microshifting is a workstyle that has pros and cons. Here’s a look at both.

The case for microshifting

By breaking your work day into shorter chunks, that lets you squeeze in some personal business as well, which can give you more time to relax and enjoy your days off (rather than spend them running errands). It also lets you work when you’re most focused and productive, which means companies get the most of your time with them.

The focus becomes less aimed at schedules and more on output. If you're able to lock in and finish a project in five or six hours rather than stretching it out to eight, that's a win for both the company and the worker.

It’s a workstyle that’s especially beneficial for caregivers (both children or other relatives) who are more than three times as likely to try microshifting than non-caregivers.

The downsides of microshifting

As nice as it is to be able to pick up your kids from school or grab groceries at a time where the store isn’t packed with other shoppers, there are some pitfalls that come with microshifting.

First and foremost, it’s a workstyle that requires a tremendous amount of self-discipline. If you’re not a motivated worker (or are someone who is easily distracted), getting things done in those work blocks could be challenging. You’ll have to train yourself to ignore attention vampires like email, pings from your phone or the siren song of social media as you concentrate on work.