No matter if you are a struggling taxpayer (who’s seriously considering claiming your chihuahua as a dependent), a new accountant, or a veteran of the industry, below you’ll find the taxes memes and accounting memes to make you laugh… and cry at the same time!

Top Taxes Memes In 2023

We think you’ll agree with us when we say: for accountants and taxpayers alike, taxes are a painful subject. With that in mind, we’ve gone and done an epic scouring of the interwebs to find hilarious memes to cheer you up and get you through the day!

Everhour is the top choice for small businesses and small to mid-size teams of 5 to 50 members, including professionals like software developers, marketers, designers, consultants, lawyers, you name it!

Seamlessly integrating with popular project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Jira, its user-friendly interface and customizable reports make it the ultimate time tracking solution for small and mid-size teams.

With dedicated support ensuring you receive timely assistance, our team is here to help you promptly and with a smile!

Tax Return Memes

Dreaming about the moment you open your mailbox and see your tax return? You’re not alone! Below is your one-stop tax return memes collection!

Tax Season Memes

When the tax season rolls around, you know you’re in for a hard time. We hope that these epic tax season memes will cheer you up during the busy season!

Accounting Memes

Shoutout to all the tired accountants out there! If it hasn’t been your day, or week, or month, or even your year… The pics below will at least make you giggle!

Ahem, while we’re at it – check out our list of the best small business accounting software. We made you laugh, it’s only fair! 😏

Pickup Lines for Accountants Memes

Last but not least, who said that romance was dead in the accounting department?! When it comes to the art of flirting, there are some solid accounting pickup lines you’ve got to try!

In Closing

How can we help? Everhour is a time management software that will help you know where your personal time and time of your team is going, keep projects on budget, reduce your business costs and increase transparency.

We hope that this roundup of the funniest tax memes & accounting memes has brightened your day! And thanks for checking.

The post Laugh Your Way Through Tax Season: The Funniest Taxes Memes Online appeared first on Everhour Blog.

Everhour is the top choice for small businesses and small to mid-size teams of 5 to 50 members, including professionals like software developers, marketers, designers, consultants, lawyers, you name it!

Seamlessly integrating with popular project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Jira, its user-friendly interface and customizable reports make it the ultimate time tracking solution for small and mid-size teams.

With dedicated support ensuring you receive timely assistance, our team is here to help you promptly and with a smile!

What for Do You Need Timesheet Meme?

Sending a meme is a nice way to lighten up the working atmosphere and get the timesheet without being bossy. Spruce up a working routine with the collection of timesheet memes to remind your staff about the deadline coming.

1. Gentle Timesheet Reminders

Lets call it the stage of early-warning timesheet reminders.

2. Five-Second Reminders to Submit a Timesheet

Then you get several other reminders, when the time is pressing.

3. Harsh Timesheet Reminder

And now… That moment when boss is running out of patience.

4. Timesheets Due: Employee Lame Excuses

That time when an employee delays filling out timesheet.

5. When You Finally Do Your Timesheet

Oh, that feeling when you finally submitted your timesheet.

6. And Now… Timesheet Approval

When you are waiting for the verdict from your boss.

Next Level

If you see that delay in reporting is a tendency rather than a rare occasion, then the relevant time management software maybe not the least important factor. The best timesheets apps can greatly empower your team, and employing the best time tracking practices will make your work flawless.

At Everhour we are constantly working on a time management system that helps you to track your working hours effectively and improve time management. Everhour integrates seamlessly with such project management systems as Asana, Basecamp, Trello, Github, Jira. That’s why you will see the timer near each task you are working with, which makes time tracking simple to use and convenient.

Try Everhour free for 14 days, and see the benefits are obvious. 🙂

The post Laugh at the Clock: Best Timesheet Memes for Your Daily Dose of Humor appeared first on Everhour Blog.

Yet, amidst these difficulties, there’s a silver lining: the camaraderie and shared laughter that come from relatable night shift memes. Night shift workers have discovered a comedic outlet that helps them find humor in the nocturnal hours. 

In this blog post, we delve into the world of night shift memes and uncover the laughter that bonds those who toil through the night.

Night Shift Nurse Memes

Nurses, the unsung heroes of the night, face a range of unique situations during their shifts. Night shift nurse memes capture these experiences with a blend of humor and understanding. 

These memes shed light on the trials and triumphs of working as a nurse when the world is fast asleep. From dealing with peculiar patient requests to battling the endless struggle for a decent cup of coffee, night shift nurse memes depict the hilarious moments that only those in the same shoes can truly appreciate.

Here are some examples of night shift nurse memes that will have you nodding your head in agreement and laughing out loud:

Shifts by Everhour provides an intuitive solution for managing employee schedules with ease. From flexible scheduling options to mobile accessibility, it’s the ideal solution for optimizing workforce management in any industry.

Welcome to the Night Shift Memes

Stepping into the night shift realm is like entering a whole new world, where darkness becomes your companion and sleep becomes a distant memory. The “Welcome to the Night Shift” memes perfectly capture the rollercoaster of emotions that come with embracing this nocturnal lifestyle.

These memes playfully depict the initial experiences and adjustments of individuals starting their night shift journeys. From the disorientation of flipping your sleep schedule upside down to navigating the world of nocturnal creatures, these memes strike a chord with anyone who has embarked on the night shift adventure.

Here are a few examples of “Welcome to the Night Shift” memes that will make you smile and nod knowingly:

Night Shift Isn’t That Bad Memes

Working the night shift often comes with its fair share of challenges, but there’s a silver lining hidden in the darkness. The “Night Shift Isn’t That Bad” memes celebrate the unexpected perks and humorous moments that make the nocturnal journey a little more bearable.

These memes playfully showcase the unique advantages and joys of working during the night. From having the workplace all to yourself to enjoying a quieter and more peaceful environment, these memes remind us that there’s a bright side to the night shift.

Here are a few examples of “Night Shift Isn’t That Bad” memes that will put a smile on your face:

Day Shift vs. Night Shift Memes

The eternal debate between day shift and night shift workers has sparked a treasure trove of hilarious memes. These memes playfully compare the experiences of those working during the day and those burning the midnight oil. Let’s dive into the world of day shift vs. night shift memes and explore the humorous contrasts between the two.

These memes highlight the quirks, challenges, and perks of each shift. From contrasting sleep patterns and caffeine dependencies to contrasting work environments and social lives, day shift vs. night shift memes provide a light-hearted glimpse into the unique worlds of both schedules.

Here are a few examples of day shift vs. night shift memes that will have you chuckling and nodding along:

Night Shift Meme: Conclusion

Night shift work may have its challenges, but the world of night shift memes brings laughter and camaraderie to those who embrace the nocturnal lifestyle. From night shift nurses to newbies adjusting to the darkness, from finding humor in the challenges to celebrating the perks, these memes serve as a reminder that we’re all in this together.

As you continue your night shift journey, remember to find solace and amusement in the relatable experiences captured by these memes. Let the laughter fuel your resilience and make those late-night hours a little brighter.

Keep the humor alive in the nocturnal world!

The post Hilarious Night Shift Memes to Brighten Your Graveyard Hours appeared first on Everhour Blog.

What Are Time Management Games?

If you notice the first signs of poor time management in your company – missed deadlines, lateness to meetings, poor performance – it’s time to take action! But, having your employees sit through another lecture on the ‘importance of timekeeping’ might not be the best idea.

Instead, why not switch up the game a little and turn learning discipline into fun time management activities? But before that, here are some basic tips:

• Make time tracking easy. The system should be easy enough for the average employee who has to fill the thing in every day.
• Everyone should be tracking hours.
• Do not force billing 8 hours a day. If you want a real picture of efficiency, make sure you create an environment where people are free to report honestly.
• Fill in hours regularly.
• Discuss the results, and give feedback.
• Track everything, not only project hours.

Completing timesheets takes involvement from the entire team. It is a journey, not a destination.

Everhour is the top choice for small businesses and small to mid-size teams of 5 to 50 members, including professionals like software developers, marketers, designers, consultants, lawyers, you name it!

Seamlessly integrating with popular project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Jira, its user-friendly interface and customizable reports make it the ultimate time tracking solution for small and mid-size teams.

With dedicated support ensuring you receive timely assistance, our team is here to help you promptly and with a smile!

So, what are the best time management activities? Here are some examples:

• Offline games (Time Squared, solving jigsaw puzzles, The Big Picture Challenge, time jar)
• Online games (Overcooked, using Pomodoro timer, etc)

Benefits of Time Management Games

Self-education to improve time management skills after a hectic and task-packed day can help your employees learn useful new skills. And these time management games can be a perfect solution to unwind.

Did you know that time management games are an excellent tool for training the sensory nervous system, improving concentration, and critical thinking?

You can use them as:

• Team-building exercises
• Warm-up activities
• Ice-breakers
• Or, simply, as part of training

A range of time management games and techniques are freely available on the internet. They can be online and offline, group, or individual.

But to help you sort the wheat from the chaff and know which games genuinely work, we’ve gathered the best time management games and activities for you and your staff.

Why Do Games Work?

‘Gamification’ isn’t just a recent trend; it’s an innovative way of learning that has caught teachers’ and students’ attention. 

Using interactive and fun ways of learning has numerous benefits. But these are our top favorites:

• Improves problem-solving skills – Taking on new challenges at a different level helps your brain grow and develop, allowing you to get more for your experiences.
• Relieves stress – Let’s face it, no matter how fantastic work is, it also involves a level of stress. While stress is an excellent motivator at times, knowing how to manage it is key to long-term success. 
• Builds teamwork skills – Get to know your team better and have some fun. This creates better working relationships allowing your team to be more productive.
• Playing games is fun – All work and no play makes Jack a dull (and unproductive) boy. 65% of Americans play video games, so why not use this popularity and give it purpose.
• Improves learning retention – By actively engaging your employees in your time management games, you’re enhancing their capabilities for learning retention. Studies show active participation in learning improves how much information and skill a person retains from the training. 

Offline Time Management Games 

Traditional offline time management games are best played in an office environment. They are designed for individual and team play and involve lots of human interaction – the more people, the more fun.

These games are great for understanding how to boost daily productivity and make better use of working time. And if you are looking for some extra tips on how to make yourself highly productive, follow the link.

The Big Picture Challenge

Teach your team to look beyond the immediate horizon in their work and plan for the future with the “Big Picture Challenge.” Inspired by Orangeworks.

• Divide your co-workers into small groups, each responsible for painting a small segment of The Big Picture
• With no idea what the final image will be, teams must work together to ensure that all lines meet and colors match up.
• The painted image can be a representation of a company’s brand, conference theme, values, goals, or even a recreation of a famous work of art.
• Upon completion, the final masterpiece is unveiled for the first time to the inevitable sound of thundering applause and enthusiastic cheers.
• The completed work can be proudly displayed in the office as a constant reminder of what can be achieved through teamwork.

Teams must adopt a ‘big picture’ approach to ensure that the final result is a success. This creative team bonding exercise requires effective color coordination and collaborative teamwork is required for each canvas to fit perfectly.

And BTW, here is the best software tools to help your colleagues plan effectively.

Circadian Rhythm

Teach your team to synchronize their work with their body clock with the “Circadian Rhythm” game. 

• Ask each player to jot down their daily routine in hours. Starting from waking up to going to bed
• Each participant should label each block with the following features: ‘on fire,’ ‘vibrant,’ ‘cruise control,’ ‘at 70%’, ‘distracted,’ ‘slowing down,’ ‘tired,’ ‘hungry’ indicating how they felt during the activity they were doing.
• Ask the participants to connect their hourly blocks to time management at the workplace and discuss the following points.

Points to discuss:

• What is the most active part of your day ‘on fire’?
• What is the most ‘distracted’ part of the day?
• During which part of the day is it better to complete the hardest/most manageable tasks?
• When is it best to take a break?
• Who has similar working/ relaxing rhythms in your team?

Wrap-up:

If the participants share their rhythms with each other, they could build an efficient working schedule for the whole team. It’s also an excellent opportunity to get to know teammates better and boost communication skills at the same time. 

Another effective way for your colleagues to control their working time and breaks is to use the Pomodoro technique. It’ll help avoid overburdening and quick-burning out with time work periods and relaxation intervals.

Time Squared

Show your colleagues how they allocate their time throughout the day by playing the “Time Squared” game.

• Print 3 pages with 24 squares that represent the 24 hours of a day.
• Share the 1st page with the participants 
• Explain that each square represents one hour of a day
• Ask them to fill out the squares with their routine activities. E.g. eating 4 hours = 4 squares, sleeping 7 hours = 7 squares, etc.
• Share the 2nd page with the participants
• Ask them to fill out the squares on the second page with the non-working time they spend at their workplace. E.g., coffee breaks, talk shops, calls to mom, checking social networks, etc.
• Share the 3rd page with the participants
• Ask them to summarize the data from the 1st and 2nd pages on the 3rd page. Use different colors to tell them apart. e.g., green for the 1st page, blue for the 2nd, red for the 3rd.
• Explain to your colleagues that the uncolored squares = ‘productive time.’

The task can be done throughout the day, so that your co-workers have more precise results on their papers, allowing them to evaluate time efficiently.

Points to discuss:

• How could you re-evaluate your time?
• Would you change anything in your statistics?
• Are there any steps you could take to increase your productive time?
• How would you rearrange your time to have some extra time for rest?

Wrap-up:

This game is a convenient way to actually see on paper how time is spent throughout the day. Afterward, ask your colleagues to find new ways to improve their time management. One great place to start is with some time management literature.

Delegation Skill Practice

Teach your colleagues to delegate tasks effectively with the “Delegation Skill Practice” exercise.

• Ask your colleagues to think of the most unpleasant task that they have to do in their work. Tell them that today they’ll have the chance to delegate it to someone else
• Ask them to think about how they would explain their unpleasant tasks to their personal assistants, how they would check that the task is done, and how they would encourage their personal assistants to complete the task
• Divide your colleagues into teams of 3: delegator, employee, observer
• Share the delegation observer sheet with delegators to help check how well the delegator explains the task
• Share notes sheet with employees to make notes while the delegator explains the task
• After the delegator explains the task, the employee jots the task down, and the observer checks the points in the delegation observer sheet. Allow some time for the team to discuss the results
• Change the roles in teams and repeat the task. The game has 3 rounds so that every participant tries every role
• Discuss the activity with your team.

Points to discuss:

• Which task is the most unpleasant in the team? What was the most challenging/easiest part of the task?
• Who is the best delegator on the team?
• Who is the ‘best employee’ in the team?
• Which part of the game was the most difficult?
• Which role was the most difficult?
• What could you do to improve the delegators/employees’ performance for each participant?

Wrap-up:

Knowing how to delegate tasks is an essential skill for any manager. It optimizes time spent and helps ensure the best person for the job is assigned to it, whenever possible.

To help better manage your team, and allocate time more efficiently, check out the techniques and strategies we’ve come up with here.

What I Did Yesterday

Teach your team how to find patterns in everyday working activities with the “What I did yesterday” game. 

• Ask participants to note down 10 things they did at work yesterday on one piece of paper
• On the second piece of paper ask the participants to note down 5 things they expect to discuss at their next performance review
• Now, have them look at the two lists together and mark in some way on the first list all the things which have a direct link to the second list. 

Wrap-up:

The ‘light bulb’ moment is the recognition that we spend time on things that have little or no consequence on our performance. Using this activity, participants can adjust the expectations of their daily schedule and become more efficient. This will help them accept an appropriate amount of work, prioritize, and be able to give a clearer deadline. Leading to a more prosperous, efficient company.

The Mayo Jar Lesson

The mayo jar activity demonstrates the importance of doing the most important tasks first.

As the story goes a professor stands before his philosophy class with an empty jar, fills it to the top with golf balls, and asks if it’s full. The group says “yes.” Yet he still manages to fill the jar with more stuff — first pebbles, then sand, even a beer or two!

It’s a powerful lesson. Depending on which objects you put in first determines how many other items you can put in afterward. If you put sand in first, nothing else will fit (except some water), but if you start with the big rocks (our most important tasks) and go down, you can fit some of everything in.

This jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your work – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter – your house, your car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff.

How will you manage your time jar?

If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. There will always be time to clean the house, throw a dinner party, or fix the disposal.

$86,400

Emphasize the importance of time and you are in control of how you spend it. Time is about making the right choices.

Imagine there is a bank account that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course?

The Bank of TIME

Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it is written off as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest. It carries over no balance from the day before. It allows no overdrafts. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns what remains of the day.

• To realize the value of ONE YEAR. ask a student who failed a grade.
• To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
• To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.
• To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
• To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who just missed a train.
• To realize the value of ONE SECOND. ask someone who narrowly avoided an accident.

Credit to The Coaching Toolbox.

Ribbon of Life

For this time management exercise, you need a ribbon with a length of 100cm (1 meter) and a pair of scissors.

Ask your team: What is the estimated lifespan of an individual?

The normal response will be between 75 and 85 years. Let’s say it’s 79. So you need to cut 21cm off your ribbon. It is now 79cm long, meaning we have 79 years left.

What is the average age of the participants?

This depends on the group you’re doing this exercise with. But let’s say the number you get is 29, so you chop another 29cm of your ribbon. These years are what you would call “sunk costs”, you can’t do anything about them. The ribbon now has 50cm.

So we have 50 years left? The actual answer is no.

You still need to factor in a lot of variables: weekends, public holidays, casual/sick leave, and annual holidays. Every year has 52 weeks, so that’s 52 Sundays per year. Multiply that by 50 years (the current length of our ribbon) and you get 7.14. Reduce the ribbon by 7cm. The same logic applies to Saturdays. Reduce another 7cm. The ribbon now has 36cm.

36 cm minus holidays and leave

There are 10 Public/National holidays per year, which gives us 1.5 years when multiplied by 50. Reduce the ribbon by 1.5 cm. Plus we spend approximately 40 days a year on casual leave, sick leave, and annual holidays. That’s around 5 years, so you cut off another 5 cm. The ribbon now has 29.5cm.

29 cm and counting…

But we still need to take into account sleeping, eating, and commuting. We spend a third of our day (and so a third of our year) sleeping. Considering an average of 8 hours of sleep per day, we get 122 * 50 = almost 17 years. Cut off another 17 cm. The ribbon now has 12.5 cm.

You need around 2 hours per day to eat lunch, breakfast, snacks, and dinner. 30 days a year X 50 years= 4 years or so. Cut off another 4 cm. The ribbon now has 8.5cm.

Lastly, let’s factor in commuting and time spent traveling from one place to another for activities. If we average one hour a day, that’s 2 more years. The ribbon now has 6.5cm.

In fact, when all is said and done, there are ONLY 6 years of life to make it or break it!

Credit to Daniel Silvestre.

How Long is a Minute?

In this simple yet effective game, participants are invited into a room devoid of visible clocks, and are instructed to set aside their phones and watches. With their eyes closed, everyone stands up and attempts to gauge when exactly 60 seconds have passed. Some may open their eyes too early, others too late, revealing individual differences in time perception.

The game serves a dual purpose: it’s both a fun challenge and a learning opportunity. By experiencing firsthand how differently each person perceives the passage of time, participants gain insights into their own time management skills. Understanding these differences can lead to more accurate project planning and task estimation in professional settings.

Great for:

• Recognizing the importance of time and comparing personal time perception with that of colleagues.
• Enhancing self-awareness about task time estimation.

Desert Island

Imagine being stranded on a desert island with limited resources and having to prioritize what items are essential for survival. In this game, participants are tasked with quickly jotting down the items they would bring to a desert island within a time limit. Afterward, the group discusses each item and collectively assigns points based on its perceived importance and usefulness in a survival scenario.

This game not only tests participants’ ability to think critically and make decisions under pressure but also highlights the importance of prioritization and resource management. It encourages teams to consider different perspectives and negotiate priorities, fostering teamwork and mutual understanding.

Great for:

• Teaching the team how to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Encouraging quick and efficient decision-making skills.
• Highlighting the importance of focusing on essential tasks and avoiding distractions.

Online Time Management Games

Time is an essential and widely-used value in any video game. If you’ve ever played against the clock, you’ll know that even in the game environment, it can be stressful.

But there is an upside. Playing games with timers means you’re already on the way to developing essential time perception skills. But instead of ‘wasting’ your time with a shoot-’em-up, why not try out the specific category of games designed especially for time management skills improvement  – time management games? And make playtime productivity time?

Let’s take a look at some popular online time management games.

Overcooked!

Overcooked! is a restaurant time management game. The idea behind the game is to serve various food to your customers, try to keep them happy, and cook everything in absurdly stressful conditions – like a hot air balloon or in the middle of the street. Sounds like a normal day at the office, right? The game offers lots of obstacles to overcome, a diversity of cooking recipes, and lots of fun, especially in multiplayer mode.

Time management skills trained:

• Delegation and team-coordination skills by ordering and organizing the cooking process
• Rapid decision-making by dealing with portals, fires, moving floors, and changes in settings
• Dealing with time-pressure skills as every level is time-limited
• Team-work in multiplayer mode

What to discuss with your team:

• How did it feel to be under pressure in the kitchen?
• How did you learn to manage the process?
• What would you do differently?

Game Dev Story

You play as a video game developer making hit video games and brand-new consoles in start-up projects. To be a success and keep things afloat, you need to hire and manage your own team, control the process of game development, and deal with the critics.

Time management skills trained:

• Leadership skills, which you learn by controlling your workers’ speed and quality development as well as hiring the right people
• Business skills of money-making by selling and advertising the products

What to discuss with your team:

• What are the best strategies for making more money in the game?
• What professionals should you hire first of all to manage your company effectively?
• How to better allocate the company’s budget in the game?

Farm Frenzy 3

Farm Frenzy 3 immerses players in the role of a farmer managing a bustling farm. It’s a time management game that involves animal care, crop cultivation, and business development.

Time management skills trained:

• Crop and animal management
• Production optimization and supply chain logistics
• Financial planning and investment in farm upgrades
• Risk management and resilience against challenges

What to discuss with your team:

• Strategies for maximizing crop yield and animal productivity
• Approaches to handling seasonal fluctuations and market demands
• Lessons learned in prioritizing tasks and managing farm resources

Theme Hotel

Theme Hotel challenges players to build and manage a 5-star hotel from the ground up. It emphasizes strategic planning, customer service, and business expansion in a competitive market.

Time management skills trained:

• Facility layout and design optimization
• Staff recruitment and management
• Financial planning and budgeting
• Customer satisfaction and retention strategies

What to discuss with your team:

• Techniques for designing an efficient hotel layout
• Insights on maintaining high customer ratings and occupancy
• Challenges and solutions in managing staff and resources

Farmerama

In Farmerama, you have your own farm where you grow your harvest, take care of the animals, and come under fire from alien attacks that happen out of the blue.

Time management skills trained:

• Planning skills by planting and caring about your harvest
• Marketing skills by selling and buying plants and animals
• Teamwork skills by participating in various farming communities

What to discuss with your team:

• Which steps should you take to develop your farm effectively?
• What should you do to gather the largest crop?
• Did you communicate with other players? Why/why not?
• Did you have similar objectives with other players? Did you collaborate with them? Why/why not?

12 labors of Hercules

You’ll play as Hercules, who has to complete his 12 Labours in order to rescue his wife from Hades’ Underworld. The game has a definite time limit, so you’ll have to find ways to stop it while completing various tasks.

Time management skills trained:

• Timing skills, as you’ll have to meet deadlines to collect all the stars
• Critical thinking and logic as you’ll need to think about in which order and how complete the tasks
• Rapid decision-making through dealing with ghosts, lava pits, and monsters.
• Organization skills by using the skills of companions, such as Medusa, Pegasus, Cerberus, and others

What to discuss with your team:

• How did you feel when completing tasks in a limited time?
• Were the game tasks easy or challenging to do?
• Have you tried all the modes of the game? Which mode suits you best?

Diner Dash Adventures

Diner Dash Adventures puts you in the shoes of Flo, managing a bustling restaurant in DinerTown. It’s a classic time management game where you seat customers, take orders, and serve food to keep your restaurant thriving.

Time management skills trained:

• Customer service and satisfaction
• Task prioritization and efficiency
• Resource management (such as tables, food supplies)
• Speed and accuracy in multitasking

What to discuss with your team:

• Strategies for optimizing customer flow and satisfaction
• Techniques for handling peak times and difficult customers
• How to balance speed and accuracy in completing tasks

Sally’s Spa

In Sally’s Spa, you manage a spa business by providing various treatments to customers, hiring staff, and expanding services. It’s a time management game that focuses on customer satisfaction and business growth.

Time management skills trained:

• Service coordination and efficiency
• Staff management and delegation
• Inventory management and purchasing decisions
• Adaptability to varying customer demands and personalities

What to discuss with your team:

• Methods for improving service quality and customer satisfaction scores
• Challenges and solutions in managing multiple spa stations
• Insights on hiring and training staff effectively

Fabulous — Angela’s Fashion Fever

Fabulous — Angela’s Fashion Fever follows Angela’s journey in the fashion industry, where players manage a boutique. It’s a time management game focused on fashion design, customer service, and business success.

Time management skills trained:

• Customer relationship management
• Inventory management and product placement
• Time-sensitive task completion for score optimization
• Creative problem-solving in a fast-paced environment

What to discuss with your team:

• Techniques for enhancing customer shopping experiences
• Strategies for improving boutique performance and profitability
• Insights on managing fashion trends and seasonal demands

Plague Inc.

In this popular strategy game, you’ll join the dark side and play for the team of viruses and diseases, trying to contaminate as much territory as possible. The world scientific community will oppose you, developing effective medicine against you. Will you succeed in your evil task?

Time management skills trained:

• Timekeeping skills through fighting with scientists in the attempts to contaminate vast territories of the Earth
• Critical thinking, logic, and decision making as you’ll have to choose the most effective suffer viruses in line with the points earned

What to discuss with your team:

• How did you feel playing for the dark side?
• Did you develop any particular strategies for contamination to win the game?
• What do you think about the game’s timing?
• What was the hardest part of the game?

Remember! Be careful not to lose too much time while playing games.

Time Management Games Wrap-up

Time management games are a truly great way to train those important organizational skills. They use non-formal education methods to train your brain to react to time differently. 

Available both online and offline and as individual and team activities, you’ll be sure to find one that suits you. To help you decide quickly which to try first. Here’s a breakdown:

Offline Games

Best suited for playing in the office. They help learn your strong and weak points as well as get to know your colleagues better and strengthen relationships with them.

Online Games

Great for improving your cognitive functions, such as attention, reaction, prioritizing, logic, and critical thinking. Besides, online games are excellent tools for developing time-tracking, organizational, and general business skills.

Bonus: From Games to Real Life: Time Management With Everhour

Now that you’ve had some fun trying out these time management games and activities, it’s time to get down to business. 

Are you looking to improve time management practices in your company? We’d like to help you choose the best timesheet app, tailored for your business needs and corporate culture.

Seamless time management solution by Everhour

Everhour’s online time management solution is a simple, efficient, and handy tool. With Everhour’s Chrome time tracking you’ll be able to:

• Track project deadlines and monitor budgets
• Keep tracking of working time for teams and employees via employee time tracking tools
• Track employees’ workloads and assignments via an attendance tracker and a time clock app
• Plan your resources by viewing project portfolios and teams
• Send timely invoices based on time tracked and expenses

Everhour provides a seamless time-tracking experience as it is one of the best time and attendance software out there. It can be easily integrated into other project-management apps, such as Asana, Trello, Basecamp, Jira, and more, allowing you to manage your projects and time without switching back and forth between tabs. It uses the best time tracking practices to ensure not a single minute gets lost.

Pros of Everhour for your business

With Everhour you can forget about:

• Manual project setup – automatically important your projects and track time
• Switching between apps for logging time – it’s all integrated into one seamless system
• Wrong data, faulty timesheets – maintain accuracy and get real statistics about how you’re spending your time.

Try our demo for free to explore how our time tracking software can optimize your business, or get in touch with our team who’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

The post 21 Best Time Management Games: Fun and Engaging Ways to Improve Productivity appeared first on Everhour Blog.

You can get much more out of boredom than just checking your emails. Below you will find an extensive list of productive things to do when bored at work that will help you boost your career and make time at work really worth it.

Productive Things To Do When Bored

Reflect On Your Routine & Think Ahead

1. Check Your Daily Tasks

What are you doing every day? If you examine your daily work routine, you may find some activities that add up to very little and that you can replace with more productive ones. Also, periodically changing some habits will make the workday less repetitive and boring.

2. Review Your Schedule

Let nothing take you by surprise. Check your schedule to stay on top of upcoming projects and activities at work. It will improve your performance, and you will avoid hasty planning and improvisation. There are currently plenty of mobile applications to help you in this work, such as Everhour or Asana (and its alternatives).

3. List Your Last Month’s Achievements

This has a dual purpose. First of all, when we’re aware of what we’ve achieved, we can feel proud, motivate ourselves to keep going and set more ambitious career goals. It also serves as a reminder if there’s something you want to be working on, but aren’t.

4. Plan Ahead

Plan your tasks, deliveries, and projects well in advance. Take a look at your schedule and calendar, see what’s coming up next week or next month and start planning. Proactivity makes a difference between a regular employee and an excellent one. Besides, being proactive will also help you reduce work stress as you will be ahead, not behind, your schedule.

5. Create A New Challenge

You can set yourself any challenge at work. This includes being on time for the entire month, getting out of backlogs, getting recognition from your boss, or even finishing your tasks in record time while maintaining quality. Challenges are excellent stimuli, and they’re a fantastic trick to be more motivated. Therefore, if there are things to do at work when bored that make you grow, this is one of them.

6. Reconsider Your Tools

Some tools were useful and worked for you for a while, but no longer. Don’t be afraid and get rid of what you’re not using or not really working for you. Research the tool you could use for better teamwork, collaboration, and communication, such as a new project management tool or time tracker.

Everhour is the top choice for small businesses and small to mid-size teams of 5 to 50 members, including professionals like software developers, marketers, designers, consultants, lawyers, you name it!

Seamlessly integrating with popular project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Jira, its user-friendly interface and customizable reports make it the ultimate time tracking solution for small and mid-size teams.

With dedicated support ensuring you receive timely assistance, our team is here to help you promptly and with a smile!

Declutter Your Workspace

7. Clean Your Desk

When was the last time you cleaned your desk? You spend a lot of time there, and little by little dirt accumulates, both visible residues, such as food wrappers, as well as tiny residues like stains, dirt, dust, germs, among others. Get rid of all the garbage first. Then take a cloth to clean and disinfect your desk, keyboard, mouse, screen, and any other object you handle daily.

8. Organize Your Space

Once everything is clean, it’s time to put things in better order and, if necessary, find the right place for them in case they don’t already have it. By this, I mean all kinds of stationery materials, documents, decorative objects, electronic devices, etc. Now there will be better harmony in your work area, and you will leave everything at your fingertips.

9. Tidy Up Your Desktop

It’s the turn of the intangible, which can be even more chaotic than your physical desk. The accumulation of unnecessary documents is inevitable, and there are always things to get rid of. A cluttered desktop also creates unnecessary stress, wastes your time, and makes you feel bad about yourself. Organizing helps ease your mind and keep your essentials within a click of a button.

10. (If You’re Really Bored!) Organize Your Files

If you want to go further and enjoy a genuinely tidy digital workspace, the best thing to do is organize and move your files to the cloud. This would help you access your files from anywhere, anytime, and free up plenty of space in your storage for day-to-day work.

Organize Your Email

11. Clean Out Your Inbox

Indeed dozens or perhaps hundreds of emails have already accumulated, mostly spam. You have to decide what stays and what goes. Sorting between what’s important and what’s junk in the email takes some time, but you need to do it before it gets out of hand.

12. Make Sure You Left No Threads Unanswered

When checking your inbox, you will surely discover a couple of emails that went under your radar earlier. Now that you have some time on your hands, it could be the right moment to catch up!

13. Follow Up If You’re Waiting On Replies From Colleagues

It seems that it wasn’t only you who left a thread hanging. Now that you’re bored at work it’s the best time to follow up with those colleagues or clients from whom you’ve been waiting for days (or maybe weeks) for a response.

14. Go Through Your Starred Emails

Once again, they either stay, or they go. Finally, delete them or take action! It’s not the idea to have a long list of starred emails. Keep the most important ones, take action where needed, and relocate the rest to another folder or delete what you no longer need.

Improve Your Professional Skills

15. Find Your Next Useful Read

In reading, there are endless learning and growth opportunities, both in the personal and professional landscapes. Maybe you just need a little inspiration? If you don’t know what to do when you’re bored at work, find and purchase your next good read. For the managers and business owners among us, this list of project management books could be of help!

16. Listen To A Productivity/Industry Podcast

If reading is not your thing because you would still be bored, you still have other options, so there are no excuses. There are hundreds of free podcasts on the internet, and they have multiplied since the start of the pandemic. Do a little search on the leading platforms, such as Spotify, SoundCloud, or Apple Podcasts, and you will find fascinating content to grow professionally. Managers and business owners among us will appreciate this helpful roundup of the best PM podcasts out there!

17. Watch A Motivational Video

A third option is videos, specifically motivational videos. YouTube and Ted.com are bottomless sources of empowering content. Boredom or apathy at work often comes from a lack of motivation and little reason to make an effort. Sometimes it’s necessary to hear words that motivate, energize and nudge us to move forward.

18. Develop New Skills

Leisure moments are an excellent opportunity to take advantage and make the most of your time. What better than to develop new professional or complementary skills? Nowadays you can learn practically anything with minimal investment thanks to platforms like Udemy or Domestica.

19. Offer Your Help to Your Colleagues

Collaboration skills are essential to workplace success. Strengthen yours by reaching out to your peers and offering your help and advice! Besides being a nice thing to do, helping your coworkers is also a way to learn from them. It’s also an opportunity to strengthen ties and build a more solid and well-connected team. Surely later, when you’re not bored, you might also need their help!

20. Organize Team Building Activities

If it’s not just you who has some free time at work, some productive things to do when bored can be a lot of fun, like team building activities. These brilliant time management games can be enjoyed by your whole team!

21. Connect With Professionals You Admire

We all have someone we admire for their performance as a professional. There could be many things you can learn from him or her. Try connecting with them on a deeper level: follow them on LinkedIn or Twitter if they are active on the platform. Engage with their public posts, share your opinions and insights, get a conversation started! For the introverts among us: you could simply take this opportunity to catch up on the newest articles or posts they published, or listen to their recent public talks. Get inspired by the best!

22. Update Your CV

When was the last time you updated your CV? Perhaps it’s come time to take it to the next level so that you do not miss out on the next amazing opportunity? Add your new work experience and freshly developed skills, polish your summary text, or simply upgrade your CV design. Thankfully, there are loads of helpful templates and tools out there to take your resume to the next level!

23. Upgrade Your LinkedIn Profile

In most industries, a complete profile on LinkedIn is just as important as your CV. However, it takes time and energy to maintain. Since you’re bored and you feel like doing something productive, take the time to make your LinkedIn profile look as complete as that of the industry leader you admire!

24. Start Preparing Your Ask For A Raise

If you’ve set yourself the goal of getting a raise, you need a lot of prep work and research to make it happen. Spend your free time doing some market research and analysis to make sure your ask is reasonable, sensible, and timely. Besides, it never hurts to see what other opportunities are out there!

25. Take A Walk Or Do Some Stretching

While walking or a little stretching may not sound like productive things to do when bored, the truth is that physical activities are actually very productive. Pumping some extra oxygen into your brain cells will help you improve concentration, have a better mood, and even boost your creativity. And of course, we already know the advantages of being active in terms of health and physical well-being. So if you get bored, go for a walk, even if it’s just in the hallways!

26. Go Through Those Long Reads You’ve Been Saving For Later

Those articles and videos you saved into Pocket to “watch/read later” have been there for quite a while. There should be hours of reading and playing in your backlog, so why not start now? And if you don’t use Pocket or a similar application, perhaps it’s come time to become a user. Start saving interesting content in there to read later when you don’t know what to do when you’re bored at work!

27. Meditate

Meditation doesn’t have to take hours; even a few minutes of deep relaxation and peace will bring many physical and mental benefits. Meditation will help you develop patience and a positive outlook, which in turn will improve the relationship between you and your coworkers, help with concentration, reduce tension, eliminate negative emotions, increase your energy, relieve stress, and more. Make an effort to incorporate a short meditation routine into your work, and you will see big results!

28. Do Some Journaling

One thing that many successful people have in common is they have a journaling habit. Journaling is a great tool to capture your goals, write ideas and thoughts that come to your mind, leave a record of your success and how much you’ve grown professionally. Similar to meditation, journaling is essentially a mindfulness practice that helps you minimize stress, stay productive, break bad habits, and better observe what’s going on around you.

29. Practice Gratitude

There’s a lot to be grateful for, and gratitude is a skill. There are different ways to exercise it, and one of them is expressing it to someone directly. But you can also reflect and write down the positive things that have happened to you in life, pay more attention to the little things that you have going for you, or do something noble for someone. The most significant benefit of practicing gratitude at work or anywhere is the positive mindset that benefits your performance and your mental health.

In Closing…

We hope that this list of 30+ ideas on what to do when you’re bored at work has been helpful and you have found just the right activity to fill in those empty hours. Unless, of course, you actually do have tasks to do, but you can’t get yourself to actually do them, in which case our last idea will be most helpful…

30. Have A Brain Food Snack And Get To Work!

Sometimes our brain just needs an adequate stimulus, like food. However, some snacks don’t provide us with any nutrients, despite being delicious. If you really want things to do at work when bored, we can get it with a good brain food snack! Now you will be more concentrated, focused and your brain will function better. But first, you have to know what are the best brain food snacks out there!

The post 30 Productive Things to Do When Bored: Boredom Busters appeared first on Everhour Blog.

Today vs. 100 Years Ago: How Many Work Hours in a Year?

Back in hunter-gatherer societies, the average working day was around three to five hours (but up to eight if you include food prep). And that’s just as well, as the average lifespan at the time was between 21 and 37 years of age.

Since then a lot has changed. Lifestyles have shifted and we’ve become a more modern society. And that seems to mean working more. But why? And is it effective? For starters, let’s take a look at how working life has changed throughout history.

What are the average hours worked per week?

Nowadays, according to US labor law, a full-time working week is equal to 40 hours. If you work full time, to calculate your working hours in a year you need to multiply the number of weekly hours—40 by the number of weeks a year—52. In total, this gives us 2,080 working hours a year. But do most people really work that much? No.

So, how many hours does the average person work? In general in the world, the average work hours per week is around 35, shrinking the 2023 average to 1,820 hours per year. The average working hours per month is around 176.

And part-time employees may work even less. But throughout history, employees haven’t always worked the same hours. Historical events and life circumstances largely determined the working schedule. So how did we get to where we are today?

Let’s take a look at the average working hours over the last 70 years.

100 years ago, during World War I in 1914, the number of working hours averaged around 55 hours per week. To keep up with the demand for military equipment, some workers even clocked in a massive 72 hours of work!

However, productivity dropped! Statistics show that the peak productivity level averaged around 40 hours per week. Anything more and quality went downhill. Enter the 9 to 5 working weeks. 

Made main-stream by Henry Ford of Ford Motors in 1926, the 9 to 5 working week became the new normal. However, many manufacturers continued to overwork their employees throughout the Great Depression with 46-50 hour working weeks. 

After World War II, the 40-hour working week became enshrined in society as a whole. Until today. Now modern employers are testing out a variety of working hour schemes to boost productivity including the 9/80 working schedule and 4-day working weeks. 

Everhour is the top choice for small businesses and small to mid-size teams of 5 to 50 members, including professionals like software developers, marketers, designers, consultants, lawyers, you name it!

Seamlessly integrating with popular project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Jira, its user-friendly interface and customizable reports make it the ultimate time tracking solution for small and mid-size teams.

With dedicated support ensuring you receive timely assistance, our team is here to help you promptly and with a smile!

What Is the Average Working Year?

It might seem that the work never ends, but how much are we working really? Let’s take a look at the average working year as it stands today.

Number of hours in a year vs. how many you spend working

It might seem those working hours are adding up. But what about your free time? How many hours are you working in comparison to hours in the year? First off, here’s a quick breakdown of how many hours each one of us has to allocate to work and leisure in a year:

But wait! Every 4 years is a leap year. That means that there are 29 days in February instead of the usual 28. That gives us an extra 24 hours that year, making a total number of hours 8,784 on a leap year.

What does this mean for your working vs rest time? If we assumed that you worked average hours in 2023, which is 1,820 hours, then about 20.78% of your life was spent working that year. Something to think about!

How many full-time hours per year are there?

When calculating the full-time working hours, there are lots of things you need to consider, such as:

• Holidays
• Vacations
• Days-off

In other words, it’s important to deduct all non-working hours from your total work hours a year. Once you’ve figured out how many days off work you have in a year and multiplied those by the number of working hours in your day, the math is pretty straightforward. For example, if you had 12 days of vacation last year and 8 paid days off, you worked a total of 1920 hours that year:

Breaking it down: work hours in a year in North America, Europe, Asia

Work hours aren’t equal around the globe. In North America, Europe, and Asia employees’ working hours will differ from other regions. Let’s take a look at the most striking differences in these parts of the world. 

Country with the longest working hours: 🇲🇽 Mexico with 2,137 hours a year
Country with the shortest working hours: 🇩🇰 Denmark with 1,380 hours a year

But what about productivity? Unfortunately, as we know, more time at work doesn’t equal more productivity. By using GDP data we can tell you that Danes earned $55 more per hour than Mexicans. Proving time doesn’t always equal money!

How many hours did Everhour users work last year?

Everhour users are a productive bunch. It’s a fact! But have you ever wondered about the average work hours in a year logged by Everhour users? Wonder no more! Here’s just how productive we’ve been together. *

*No GDPR were breached making this infographic 😉

How many workweeks are there in a year?

Simple. All 52 weeks in the year are fair game for working. But does that mean everyone works all 52 weeks in the year? Of course, not. When we factor in holidays and weekends, this number becomes a lot less.

To calculate the number of weeks worked in a year, we minus the holidays and weekends and divide by the number of days in the week.

But the question here isn’t always how many hours or weeks are worked in total. It’s also if an employee is receiving paid holidays. Normally, such holiday payments are included in contracts so employees know if they are entitled to paid time off.

In the US, employers are not always required to compensate workers if federal holidays fall on a weekend. However, some companies choose to do so to gain loyalty and boost morale. 

How many weeks in a year overall vs time spent working?

The International Organization for Standardization states that a year is 52 weeks. But if we want to get technical about it, it’s a little more than that. If you multiply 52 weeks by 7 days you’ll get 364 days. But there are 365 days in a year, right? Correct!

That’s why, there’s actually, 52.143 weeks in a year or 52 weeks and one day. On a leap year that becomes 52.286 weeks in a year or 52 weeks and two days. So:

1 Year = 52 weeks and 1 day 
1 Leap Year = 52 weeks and 2 days

Now how does this compare to time spent working? Let’s take a look at the weeks spent working by country:

Now, who is picking up their French textbook and booking a ticket?!

What do workweeks in a year look like worldwide? Fast facts!

Think it’s Monday to Friday everywhere? Think again. Workweeks across the world don’t necessarily look alike. Check out these workweek facts:

• In many Muslim-majority countries, the workweek runs Sunday to Thursday
• Mexico, Singapore, and Thailand among others work 6 days a week
• New Zealand and some Asia countries are trailing a 4-day work week
• In Russia, Belarus, and other former Soviet Union countries, subbotniks (or working Saturdays) are scattered throughout the year where citizens do voluntary unpaid work.

How many workweeks in a year in North America, Europe & Asia?

Simple. All 52 weeks in the year are fair game for working, but not everyone works all 52 weeks. The median for working weeks per year is around the 36.3 mark.

To calculate the number of weeks worked in a year, we minus the holidays and weekends and divide by 7 (the number of days in the week).

• UK 256 working days = 36.6 weeks spent working
• US 261 working days = 37.3 weeks spent working
• Denmark 254 working days = 36.3 weeks spent working
• Australia 254 working days = 36.3 weeks spent working
• Ireland 252 working days = 36 weeks spent working
• Russia 249 working days = 35.6 weeks spent working
• France 212 working days = 30.3 weeks spent working
• South Africa 249 working days = 35.6 weeks spent working

But the question here isn’t always how many hours or weeks are worked in total. It’s if those holidays are paid for. Normally, such holiday payments are included in contracts, so employees know if they are entitled to paid time off.

In the US, employers are not always required to compensate workers if federal holidays fall on a weekend. However, some choose to do so to gain loyalty and boost morale. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics calculated that in 2019, 1/3 of workers could receive 10 to 14 days of PTO after 1 year of service.

What Does the Average Working Month Look Like?

Whether you’re paid 4-weekly or monthly, you’ll probably want to know how many hours you’re getting paid for. Here’s how that time spent working compares to the rest of the world.

How many work hours in a month today vs 100 years ago?

Assuming we’re counting full-time working on a ‘traditional’ schedule. Counting today’s work hours in a month looks like this:

40-hour workweek x 4 working weeks in a month = 160 hours per month

But that’s just a rough guide. Not every month has just four working weeks, not every country counts working weeks as full weeks. Instead, some may count days, and not everyone works 40 hours a week. You can count the number of average working hours in a month this way: 40 hours per week x 52 weeks per year / 12 months = 173.33 working hours a month.

However, let’s assume our calculation is roughly correct. How does this compare to the traditional working hours per month approximately 100 years ago?

The early 1900s were marked by rapid advances in technology, war, and peace. In 1919, the average working hours per week in manufacturing were equal to 50 or around 200 hours per month. Over the years, some regulations have been introduced, and nowadays, as of January 2023, the average work week hours number is much lower at 40.4 hours per week with the average work hours per month being 161.6. 

How many hours in a month are there overall?

Thirty days has September, April, June, and November, all the rest have thirty-one, except for February. You may remember this rhyme from your schooldays, but it is still helpful when figuring out how many days and hours there are in a month. 

So, let’s calculate:

How many work hours in a month in North America, Europe, and Asia in 2023?

When talking about work hours in a month, theoretically there are between 672 and 720 possible working hours in a month. But in reality, the number of hours people work is much less. After all, we’re not robots. 

When counting holidays, weekends, and rest hours, the average working hours in a month in North America, Europe, and Asia look a little like this:

Working 9 to 5? Here’s What the Average Working Week Looks Like Today

How many work hours there are in a week?

In 2022, full-time employees worked 41 hours per week.

How much time do we spend working on average?

Ever wondered just how much of your week you spend working? Let us break it down for you with some handy math.

7 days in a week x 24 hours in a day = 168 hours in a week

So, if we take the average working week of 40 hours per week and make it a percentage we get:

23.8% of our week spent working 

What is the average workweek in North America, Europe, and Asia?

We might have the impression that some nations are more laid-back than others, but is it really the case? Here are the true stats on the average working week in North America, Europe, and Asia. As you can see, the average work week hours in the US, for example, is under 40 hours.

What are the average work hours per week as logged by Everhour users?

Hard workers or slackers (NO WAY!)? We know our Everhour users are some of the most efficient out there. But how many hours do they log each week? Let’s find out.

What are working hours in North America, Europe, and Asia?

We know the average working week across the world can range from 29 hours to well over 40 hours per week. But when do people work? Across the world, the average business day varies. 

In the USA and much of Western Europe, the average working week is 9 am to 5 pm from Monday to Friday. Meanwhile, in Japan, the average business day runs from 8.30 am to 7 pm from Monday to Friday. However, in Saudi Arabia, the workweek starts on Sunday at 8 am. They work till noon, then take a 3-hour break before returning to work from 3 pm till 6 pm. Let’s take a look at some other daily routines around the world.

Who Works the Most? From Hong Kong to Washington

Discover which city and country work the most worldwide. And who has perfected the work-life balance?

Which city works the most? Working hours by city

New York is the city that never sleeps. Melbourne is the world’s most rested city. But have you ever wondered: which city works the most? Let’s find out.

Unlike popular misconception, New York is not the world’s hardest-working city. It’s not even close! That honor goes to both Mumbai in India and Hanoi in Vietnam who hold a joint first position as the world’s longest workers. They clock in at a massive 2,691 hours a year.

So, then, who’s the shortest worker? Will Melbourne steal the title? No, not quite. In fact, it’s Parisians who work the least with a total of 1,663 hours per year.

Top 5 longest workers (hours per year)

1. Mumbai and Hanoi 2,691 h
2. Mexico City 2,622 h
3. New Delhi 2,511 h
4. Bogota 2,358 h
5. Dubai 2,323 h

Top 5 shortest workers (hours per year)

1. Paris 1,663 h
2. Copenhagen 1,712 h
3. Moscow 1,720 h
4. Helsinki 1,750 h
5. Frankfurt 1,773 h

Working Laws — How Many Hours Can a Young Person Work?

From getting their first paper round to that first “proper” job, it’s vital young workers receive the support and protection they need. Here are the rules employers need to know today.

How many hours can a minor work? Today vs 100 years ago

In the UK the Factory and Workshops Act banned all children under 10 from working in factories or workshops. Can you guess what year it was issued? In 1878!

Until this time it was legal for those under 10 years of age to work in factories and workshops under the right conditions. But it was not until 2 years later in 1880, that the Education Act made it compulsory for children to attend school. But what about the US?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets out regulations that ban exploitative child labor and sets out rules for the safe employment of young people. What year was it issued? That’s right! In 1938.

So, what did the employment sphere look like back in the 1930s, just less than 100 years ago?

Back 100 years ago, children as young as 10 years old regularly worked. And not just for pocket money either. It might be hard to believe now, but children toiled long and hard days as:

• Cotton picker and miller
• Factory personnel
• Chimney sweeps
• Retail
• Newspaper sellers
• Farmers
• And more

Even 5-year-olds were expected to ‘help out’ on the farm and around the house. In fact, it was the norm. So, what changed? Society.

Pictures by famous photographer Lewis Hine, who was employed by the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC), starting in 1908 and finishing in 1924 documented child labor across the country. 

Society’s view on children working began to change. The richer classes started to believe that parents should work to support their children, not the other way around.

Then in 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Action (FLSA) was born. This piece of legislation limits the labor of children (among other things) and installs strict regulations on the dos and don’ts when children work.

What does the FLSA say exactly?

FLSA prohibits oppressive child labor and sets the following rules for non-exempt children:

• Minimum age of 18 years old for hazardous occupations
• Minimum age of 16 years old for employment in non-hazardous conditions
• Minimum age of 14 years old for selected occupations – includes restrictions on hours and work condition

Caught using oppressive child labor? The fine is $11,000 for every violation with up to $50,000 fine for death or serious injury of a minor. And this can be doubled for repeat offenders.

Think child labor is a thing of the past? It’s not! Since 2007, over 9,700 employers have been found guilty of violating these regulations – and that’s just the ones that were caught.

How many hours can a 17-year-old work in North America, Europe, and Asia? And what are the rules? 

USA

Under the FLSA, 17-year-olds in the USA can work unlimited hours in non-hazardous conditions. However, some states have implemented legislation that limits which hours they can work, how much money they should receive, and other conditions. 

For example, in California, 16 and 17-year-olds can only work until 10 pm at night on a school day and 12.30 am on a non-school day. In Massachusetts, they can only work between 6 am and 10 pm on days preceding a school day, and after 8 pm all minors should be supervised by an adult. In NYC, 16 and 17-year-olds can only work until 10 pm on days before school days.

By the way, the federal minimum wage for teenagers is $7.25 per hour (minimum wage by states may be different).

Canada

In Canada, child welfare is legalized under the Canadian Constitution. 17-year-olds can work almost the same as 18-year-old with some exceptions. These are:

• They should attend school if provincial law requires it
• Work is non-hazardous
• Work underground, in mines, and in other hazardous conditions are banned
• 17-year-olds should not work between 11 pm and 6 am EVER!

European Union

In the EU there are no specific regulations for 17-year-olds. Instead, regulations apply to workers aged between 15 to 18 years old. So, what are the rules?

• 15 to 18-year-olds who are no longer subject to full-time compulsory education can work 8 hours a day up to 40 hours per week. 
• They cannot work between 10 pm to 6 am (or) 11 pm to 7 am. Although some exceptions apply. 
• Teenagers must have a minimum rest period of 12 consecutive hours and 2 consecutive days minimum per week.

Asia

On the Asian continent, the following working rules apply to 17-year-old workers.

• China – on equal terms with adults
• India – no ‘hard’ (hazardous) work
• Japan – restricted occupations and working hours
• South Korea – restricted working hours and types of work
• Malaysia – unrestricted work for 17-year-olds
• Singapore – may work in industry, but must inform the Commissioner of Labour and have medical certification of fitness.

How many hours can a 16-year-old work in North America, Europe, and Asia?

16 going on 17? It might seem like your teen is all grown up, but that doesn’t mean employment law treats them the same. Here’s what it means for a 16-year-old to work across various jurisdictions. 

USA

Like their 17-year-old peers, in the USA 16-year-olds can work an unlimited number of hours in non-hazardous conditions. 

Canada

Canada classifies 16-year-olds as “Young Persons,” this category belongs to anyone who is 15 years old and over until the day of their 18th birthday.

A 16-year-old can work from 6 am to 12.01 am. However, between 9 pm and 12.01 am, they should be supervised by an adult in retail businesses that sell food or beverages, the goods industry, and the hospitality sector. In addition, no matter when and where they work, they should have the permission of a parent or guardian.

European Union

For 16-year-old workers in the EU, the following rules apply:

• 8 hours – maximum working day
• 10 hours – maximum working week
• 12 hours off consecutively after work
• 2 days off consecutively per week

Asia

• China – on equal conditions with adults
• India – cannot be involved in ‘hard’ (hazardous) work
• Japan –can work with restricted conditions
• South Korea – restricted working hours and types of work
• Malaysia – unrestricted work for 16-year-olds
• Singapore – may work in the industry but must inform the Commissioner of Labor and have medical certification of fitness. 

How many hours can a 15-year-old work in North America, Europe, and Asia?

In most countries, 15-year-olds are expected to attend school. So, this limits their labor activity. But by how much? How many hours can a 15-year-old work? Let’s find out.  

USA

In the US, Federal law says that 14-15-year-olds can’t work more than 8 hours a day. This is reduced to 3 hours on a school day. 

During term-time, when young people are in school, a 15-year-old can work up to 18 hours per week. 

And there’s a time restriction too. 14-15-year-olds can only work between the hours of 7 am to 7 pm. 

Canada

Under Canadian law, 15-year-olds can work up to 20 hours per week during the school term. During school vacations, they can work as much as an adult employee.

However, there are some restrictions on when they can work. A 15-year-old cannot work between 11 pm and 6 am. 

European Union

In the EU, 15-year-olds can work up to 8 hours a day for up to 40 hours a week.  This can be between the hours of 6 am and 10 pm / 7 am and 11 pm. BUT! This only applies when they are not subject to compulsory education. 

In European Union countries where the compulsory school age is higher than 15, it may not be possible to employ young people of 15 and under. There are some exceptions, such as sports and cultural activities, and training schemes. 

Asia

• China – a 15-year-old can work 0 hours in China as the minimum age is 16 years old.
• India – a 15-year-old can be employed on equal terms as an adult.
• Japan – young people of 15 years old can work for up to 8 hours a day (40 hours a week) in Japan. There are some restrictions on conditions, occupations, and employment hours.
• South Korea – the minimum age for employment is 15. A 15-year-old can work up to 7 hours a day or 40 hours a week. They cannot work between 10 pm and am or on holiday. 
• Malaysia – 15-year-olds in Malaysia can work on equal terms with adults.
• Singapore – 15-year-olds can work up to 7 hours a day, but after 4 hours of work they must have a 30-minute break.

How many hours can a 14-year-old work in North America, Europe, and Asia?

Learning how to work is an important skill for any young person. But when getting started in the employment world, it’s vital workers’ rights are protected. So, what are the rules of employment for a 14-year-old across the world?

USA

According to the FLSA, 14-year-olds can work:

• Up to 3 hours a day on a school day 
• Up to 18 hours a week on a school week
• Up to 8 hours a day on a non-school day
• Up to 40 hours a week on a non-school week

However, they should not work between the hours of 7 pm and 7 am.  

Canada

In Canada, a young person between the ages of 12 to 14 years old can work:

• During non-school hours
• Up to 4 hours on a school day
• Up to 7 hours on a non-school day
• Up to 20 hours on a school week
• Up to 35 hours during school vacation time 

European Union 

In the European Union, it is illegal to employ those under the age of 15 years old. There are some exceptions to this. For example, culture, sports, artistic, or advertising activities, as part of a work experience or training program, and for certain types of light work. 

Asia 

• China – a 14-year-old can work 0 hours in China legally.
• India – a 14-year-old can work up to 6 hours a day in India. However, they cannot work between 7 pm and 8 am. 
• Japan – a 14-year-old can work 0 hours in Japan. The minimum working age is 15 years old. 
• South Korea – a 14-year-old may work in South Korea with permission from the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL)
• Malaysia – 14 years old is the minimum employment age in Malaysia. From this age, young people can work on equal terms with adults with some extra restrictions to protect young workers. 
• Singapore – 14-year-old employees can work up to 6 hours a day and are entitled to a 30-minute break after 3 hours of work.

How many hours can a minor work in a week in North America, Europe, and Asia?

A minor is generally considered to be a person under the age of 18 years old. However, depending on the age of the minor and their location, different working rules apply. 

When employing a teenager consider carefully the legislation that applies to your locality and business. Exploitative child labor is illegal worldwide – don’t be a part of it. 

USA

• 18-year-olds – same as adults
• 17-year-olds – unlimited hours in non-hazardous conditions
• 16-year-olds – unlimited hours in non-hazardous conditions
• 15-year-olds – 3 hours per day on a school day, 8 hours on a non-school day. Up to 18 hours per week (term time) or 40 hours per week (vacation time).
• 14-year-olds – 3 hours per day on a school day, 8 hours on a non-school day. Up to 18 hours per week (term time) or 40 hours per week (vacation time).
• 13 and under – formal employment of those 13 years old and under is forbidden

Canada

• 18-year-olds – same as adults
• 17-year-olds – unlimited hours in non-hazardous conditions. Only between 6 am and 11 pm.
• 16-year-olds – unlimited hours in non-hazardous conditions. Only between 6 am and 12.01 am (9 pm to 12.01 am should be supervised).
• 15-year-olds – Up to 20 hours per week during the school term, unlimited during vacations. Only between 6 am and 11 pm.
• 12 to 14-year-olds – 4 hours on a school day, 7 hours on a non-school day. 20 hours on a school week, up to 35 hours during vacation time.
• 12 and under – formal employment of those 12 years old and under is forbidden

European Union

• 18-year-olds – same as adults
• 15-year-olds to 18-year-olds – those no longer subject to compulsory schooling can work up to 8 hours per day, up to 40 hours per week. Cannot work between 10 pm and 6 am / 11 pm and 7 am (depending on the country).
• 14-year-old and under – cannot be employed unless in cultural, artistic, sport, or advertising sector or in a work/training program.

Asia

• China – those under 16 cannot legally work in China
• India – 14-year-old can work 6 hours a day. 15to 18-year-old can work as an adult.
• Japan – 14-year-olds and under cannot work in Japan, those 15-year-olds and up can work up to 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week with restrictions
• South Korea – a 15-year-old can work 7 hours a day, or 40 hours a week. 16 years old and up can work the same hours as an adult.
• Malaysia – 14 years’ old and up can work the same hours as an adult with some restrictions on times and types of work.
• Singapore – a 14-year-old can work up to 6 hours a day, a 15-year-old can work up to 7 hours a day, a 16-year-old can work the same as an adult but may have to inform the Commissioner for Labor.

How Many Hours Can You Work on Unemployment in North America, Europe, and Asia?

Just because you are working doesn’t mean you aren’t eligible for unemployment benefits. Here’s the low-down of how many hours you can work while claiming unemployment. 

USA

The number of hours you work doesn’t necessarily reflect on your eligibility to receive unemployment benefits. If you work part-time, you may still be entitled to collect some benefits or apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI). Generally, this is based on your gross wage (total wage before tax).  

Canada

In Canada, if you are unemployed, you may receive Employment Insurance benefits (EI).  Like in the US, the amount of benefit you receive is tied to the wage you earn. You keep 50¢ of your EI for every dollar you earn. This applies up to 90% of weekly insurable earnings used to calculate this benefit.

European Union

In the European Union, how many hours you can or can’t work while on unemployment depends on the state you reside in. For example:

• In Denmark, once you are employed even part-time, you receive a supplementary benefit, not an unemployment benefit.
• Meanwhile, in Ireland, the Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme, allows a person employed part-time time (less than 24 hours) to receive a supplementary payment in addition to their wage.
• In France, it is possible to receive a “return-to-work” benefit while working, provided this does not exceed the daily reference salary. This is “salaire journalier de reference”/ SJR.
• German workers can work for less than 15 hours per week and still continue to receive their unemployment benefits. 

Asia

In Japan, it is legal for workers to be part-time employed while receiving benefits. However, this amount should not exceed certain limits as detailed in the Employment Insurance Law of Japan.

How Many Hours Can You Work on SSI?

SSI or Supplemental Security Income is a US benefit that aims to help those making little or no money. SSI helps aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income and are unable to work.

There is no limit to how many hours you can work and receive SSI. Instead, there is a limit on income you can make. In 2020, this amount is less than $794 per month and less than $2,000 in assets. The amount of SSI you could receive is tied to your income. In 2023, the benefits level for SSI is equal to $1,310 per month.

How many hours can you work if you are on disability?

Depending on where you are in the world, your eligibility for disability payments may vary. Here are some of the programs available worldwide. 

USA

In the US, you can work and still receive social security disability benefits. Generally, this is related to the income you receive, not how much you work. As of 2023, this amount is capped at $1,310 per month. However, if you are the head of a company or self-employed, your hours may be counted. Please contact your local office for further information as to how your circumstance will affect your benefits.  

UK

In the UK, you may be eligible for Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or attendance allowance and still be able to work. These benefits are not income testing and are not related to hours employed.

How Many Hours Can a Part-Time Employee Work Without Benefits?

Eligibility for employment benefits, such as paid time off, stock options, health insurance, and more may depend on how your staff is classified.

• Full-time employees are eligible for benefits
• Part-time employees are not always eligible for benefits
• Full-time is generally considered 40+ hours a week work
• Part-time employment is usually less than 30 hours a week

BUT! It’s not that simple. Calculating whether you have a full-time or part-time worker should be done using data given by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Should your employee receive benefits? If they are full-time – YES! If they are part-time, check your local laws. For example, in Hawaii, employees that work more than 20 hours per week are eligible.

In short, according to the Affordable Care Act, in 95% of cases, if your employee works more than 30 hours per week, they will be entitled to benefits.

How Many Hours Can You Work a Day in North American, Europe, and Asia? Maximum Working Hours per Day

There are 24 hours in a day, but what is the absolute maximum you can actually work? Time to find out.

• In the USA, there are no maximum working hours. However, according to FLSA, when you work over 40 hours per week, you should be eligible for overtime pay.
• For Canadian employers, the maximum amount of hours per week an employee can work is 48 hours per week. However, there may be some exceptions.
• Many European Union countries also impose a maximum 48-hour working week limitation. 
• The UK also has a 48-hour working week limitation for maximum working hours.
• Back in 2018, South Korea reduced its maximum working week from 68 hours to 52 hours. 
• In Japan, the country which has a name for the term “death by overwork” – Karoshi – there is no precise limit for working hours, but there is an overtime limit of 45 hours per month.
• What about China? Article 36 of the Constitution provides for a 44-hour maximum workweek in China. However, Regulation 97896 lowered this to 40 hours per week.

Average Working Hours: What’s Your Working Schedule?

Now you know more about the working world around you, why not get in touch and tell us more about how you work. Or better yet, let Everhour do the hard work of tracking your working time for you? We’re fanatics about time tracking, so we can tell you how many hours you and your team worked each day, week, month, and year, and see how you measure up in productivity with the world!

All-in-one time management system for your team

Estimate tasks, set budgets, customize reports – direct in your project management tool.

✔️ Asana time tracking
✔️ Trello time tracking
✔️ Basecamp time tracking
✔️ Jira time tracking
✔️ GitHub time tracking
✔️ ClickUp time tracking
✔️ Monday time tracking

 Resources:

• Child Labor Laws
• Employment Standards | Employment Standards | Young Employees
• Children and Youth at Work in India – Minimum Age for Work
• Youth Employment – Japan
• Malaysia Guide: Working in Malaysia, Hours, culture, working conditions: The Malaysian Employment Act defines
• Employment Standards – Hiring young people
• Japan tightens regulations on working hours and more
• Infographic: Who Works The Most Hours Every Year?
• What is the Average Hours Per Week Worked in the US?
• Hours worked – OECD Data
• GDP per hour worked – OECD Data
• Working Hours – Our World in Data
• Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job – OECD Stat
• Weekly average working hours – Statista
• Average weekly hours and overtime of all employees – US Department of Labour
• Why High Earners Work Longer Hours – National Bureau of Economic Research
• Trend in working hours – OECD Library
• List of minimum annual leave by country – Wikipedia
• Workweek and weekend – Wikipedia
• Full-Time Jobs With Shortest and Longest Hours – Monster
• Pre-industrial workers had a shorter workweek than today’s – MIT Edu
• Diminishing Returns at Work: The Consequences of Long Working Hours
• Are we working more than ever? – Our World in Data
• Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job – OECD Stat
• Hours worked – OECD Data
• Hours of work – annual statistics – Eurostat Statistics Explained
• Average weekly hours and overtime of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls by industry
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• GDP per hour worked – OECD Data
• Comparative review of unemployment and employment insurance experiences in Asia and worldwide
• Who receives paid vacation leave?
• The Protection of Young Workers in Canadian Employment Law
• Teenage workers in the EU: Age limits & working time
• All our charts on Child Labor 

The post Exploring Average Working Hours: Global Trends and Insights appeared first on Everhour Blog.

If you struggle to feel motivated in the mornings or find yourself lagging in the afternoon even with a help of a time tracker, incorporate a few of these snacks into your diet and prepare to feel a big difference.

Snacks For Work That Boost Your Productivity

Pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds are packed with a range of antioxidants and nutrients, including magnesium, copper, iron, and zinc, all of which are essential for healthy brain functioning, meaning you should notice an improvement in your productivity. Seeds generally are very filling, so are the perfect afternoon snack to get you through to the end of the day.

You can do so many exciting things with pumpkin seeds, but one of the simplest and best ways to eat them is by roasting them in olive oil, salt, and pepper, garlic, and paprika.

Bananas

When you consume refined sugars in foods like milk chocolate or sweets, your body quickly depletes the carbohydrate element which leads to your energy levels dipping after a quick sugar rush.

However, bananas contain fiber which helps to slow the absorption of sugar, ensuring your body has a consistent energy source. This will help you to maintain a good level of concentration and focus throughout the working day. To make things slightly more exciting, try chopping up the banana into slices and serve with a blob of peanut butter! 

Blueberries

Blueberries have many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, as well as being great for your brain. Studies have suggested that they are packed full of antioxidants that can improve your memory and reduce the aging of the brain, helping you to have a great working life and remain productive for years to come.

Try making some healthy oat blueberry muffins for the ultimate brain food snack at the start of the day. Another idea is to prep a smoothie before work, containing blueberries, spinach, greek yogurt, and mango for a refreshing and healthy afternoon snack. 

Leafy greens

Leafy, green vegetables, such as lettuce, spinach, broccoli, and kale, are full of vitamins and minerals that support healthy brain function. One of the most important minerals in leafy greens for the brain is magnesium, as it helps to promote improvements in memory, a positive attitude, and good sleep, all of which make you more productive.

If you’re not a fan of greens, try making them more interesting by making crispy kale chips. Bake kale in the oven with paprika, garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil for 20 minutes and take it to work. For those of you who really can’t stand greens, magnesium supplements are a great alternative.

Hummus

Hummus is a Middle Eastern dip made from chickpeas and tahini that is full of flavor, and the added bonus of its health benefits makes it one of the best brain-good snacks out there. Research into chickpeas suggests that they can help the body to control blood sugar levels, which as mentioned earlier, will give your brain the consistent stream of energy it needs to function to the best of its ability.

The best thing about hummus is how amazing it tastes. Have it with toasted pitta, vegetable sticks, or in a delicious wrap. Your options are endless! 

Turmeric

Turmeric is a plant that has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries, but you’re most likely to have seen it in powder form in supermarkets. It has a distinctive yellow color, delicious flavor and is regularly used in curries or even teas.

Turmeric can benefit memory and help brain cells to grow. In the short term, it can help to improve someone’s mood as it boosts the production of dopamine and serotonin. If you’re feeling positive and ready for the day, you’re sure to be much more productive. 

Tuna

Any food rich in Omega-3, including tuna, is a great option for a snack at work. Studies have suggested that fatty fish has the ability to promote healthy brain cells, as well as reduce deterioration. Not to mention, it tastes amazing and contains plenty of protein!

Prep a tuna salad or wrap the night before work and you’ll be good to go. Alternatively, if you’ve had a tuna pasta bake the night before, box it up and enjoy it at work.

Mixed nuts

Handfuls of nuts are the perfect energy snacks for work. Almonds and walnuts have similar nutritional profiles and are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, which naturally help your brain to function properly. They also contain healthy fats which are a staple in any balanced diet.

If you have more time, why not try making homemade granola? Simply fill a baking tray with oats, chopped almonds and walnuts, cinnamon, coconut oil, dried fruit, and honey and bake in the oven at 180 degrees for around 20-25 minutes. Take a tub of greek or natural yogurt, with your granola separate to stop it from going soggy, and enjoy your afternoon snack!

Dark chocolate

Not only is dark chocolate delicious, but it can also improve cognitive function, making it one of the best snacks to keep at work. A study in 2016 suggested that a positive correlation exists between improved cognitive performance and eating dark chocolate regularly. If you have a sweet tooth, dark chocolate is a far better option than milk chocolate which contains substantially less cocoa and a lot more sugar.

A great option is to incorporate some chunks of 70% dark chocolate into the granola recipe above, as it’s delicious and will improve your productivity even more!

Green tea

Green tea may be more of a brain food drink than a brain food snack, but it is nevertheless a great option to give your brain a boost! When consumed with milk and a natural sweetener (matcha tea with almond milk is the crowd favorite), it also packs a powerful calorie punch that’ll take you through a few productive hours.

Most people have heard about the benefits of green tea for our digestive system, but according to research, it can also improve our brain functioning by combatting degenerative diseases and poor memory. Green tea also contains an amino acid called L-theanine that promotes relaxation without causing drowsiness, helping you to relax and make measured decisions without losing focus.

This is the best possible alternative to coffee if you’re in need of some caffeine to help with your productivity and assist you in managing your time effectively. 

Everhour’s Ultimate Productivity Snack (Chock-Full of Brain Foods!)

We’ve had a look at the best snacks that can help to boost your productivity throughout the day, but for the ultimate snack (that could easily substitute a lunch), try our fave falafel wrap recipe! It contains so many tasty foods that your body and brain will love. Enjoy with some kale chips, a handful of blueberries, and green tea.

Ingredients 

Method

1. Roughly chop the onion, garlic, and fresh herbs. Place in a food processor with the rest of the ingredients (minus the baking powder) and blend until the mixture is mostly smooth, stopping regularly to wipe down the sides. 
2. Place the mixture in a bowl and leave to rest in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight if possible. This helps to develop the flavor and will make forming the balls easier. 
3. Once chilled, mix in the baking powder and form into small to medium-sized balls. If you aren’t planning on eating it all within the next two days, freeze your falafel on a baking tray and then transfer it to a freezer bag. This can be stored for 3-6 months. Defrost fully before cooking. 
4. You can either fry your falafel in vegetable oil for around 4 minutes until golden brown and crispy or bake for 30 minutes at 190 degrees. 
5. Now, prepare your wrap. Generously spread hummus on the wrap and add your spinach, tomato, and carrot. Slightly squish three of your falafels and place them on top of the salad on your wrap. Wrap tightly and enjoy! 

Everhour is the top choice for small businesses and small to mid-size teams of 5 to 50 members, including professionals like software developers, marketers, designers, consultants, lawyers, you name it!

Seamlessly integrating with popular project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Jira, its user-friendly interface and customizable reports make it the ultimate time tracking solution for small and mid-size teams.

With dedicated support ensuring you receive timely assistance, our team is here to help you promptly and with a smile!

Best Brain Food Snacks: The Bottom Line

Wanting to snack whilst at work is natural, but why not plan ahead and take snacks that will improve your productivity and brain function? As seen above, these snacks don’t have to be boring at all! Encourage the whole team by enquiring about a ‘Brain Food Bake Off’ with your management team to enjoy plenty of different recipes containing foods that are great for you.

Be creative and try different recipes each week and your brain and body will thank you for it!

• Featured image credit: TijanaM / Shutterstock

The post Best Brain Food Snacks: 10 Good Snacks for Work appeared first on Everhour Blog.

At Everhour, we’re timekeeping fanatics, and we appreciate that time management can be one tough job. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of the best time management quotes out there to keep you inspired and away from procrastination.

Quotes on the Value of Time

“Fugit irreparable tempos”

Virgil
ancient Roman poet, wrote three of the most famous poems in Latin literature

This is one of those quotes about time that has stood the test of time. Chances are you’ve heard it, or its short version “tempus fugit” (time flies), before being batted about by someone lamenting how short time is. “Fugit irreparable tempos” is Latin and means “it escapes, irretrievable time.” And it’s true! So, whenever you’re in the middle of a tough meeting wishing it would end, or a particularly challenging week, just remember that soon it will be over. Instead of relishing in a bad mood, try to focus on productivity and make your flying time worthwhile.

“Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time”

Jim Rohn
American entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker

Of all the quotes about time management, this one holds a fundamental lesson. Time is a precious resource, and once it’s spent, it’s gone for good. While money can buy resources to increase your personal time, it’s still a finite resource. The bottom line is that managing your and your employees’ time correctly, not trying to acquire more of it, holds the key to both happiness and success.

“It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important”

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
French writer, best remembered for his novella “The Little Prince”

A favorite childhood story and moral tale, The Little Prince, has lots of wisdom to teach about the value of time and a little bit more. Like the good things in life we fail to appreciate, we also take for granted achievements that require very little time or effort. For example, perhaps you have a talent for programming. You do it well and have found very little need to improve. Soon you may feel undersatisfied with this gift that has been granted. But if you invest a little time, and develop your skills, you may find pleasure in your own ‘rose.’

“A man who dares to waste one hour of life has not discovered the value of life”

Charles Darwin
naturalist, geologist, and biologist; best known for his theories on evolution

Darwin was nothing if not direct. From “survival of the fittest” to “a scientific man ought to have no wishes, no affections, – a mere heart of stone,” some might suggest too straightforward. However, Darwin’s advice holds true. Time lost is time wasted. So that hour spent procrastinating over that fun new mobile game might’ve been better spent working towards something you care about – an exciting project, or even learning a new language. But that doesn’t mean all downtime is worthless. Learning to make the most of your working time means you can enjoy your free time and engage in meaningful, self-care activities.

Everhour is the top time tracker for SMB teams, including software developers, marketers, designers, consultants, lawyers, you name it! Seamlessly integrating with popular PM tools, its user-friendly interface and customizable reports make it the ultimate time tracking solution. With dedicated support, our team is here to help you promptly and with a smile!

Quotes on Procrastination and Productivity

“Never leave till tomorrow that which you can do today”

Benjamin Franklin
one of the Founding Fathers of the United States

We all know that procrastination isn’t great for our productivity, but that doesn’t stop us from doing it anyway. We fill our precious time with “productive” activities like coffee breaks, cleaning the office fridge, or searching for the perfect new notepad. But while you procrastinate, time slips away. This often means rushing to catch up later, resulting in jeopardized time with family or leisure activities. The first step to avoiding procrastination is knowing how much time you spend avoiding working. Use a time tracker for 7 days and be amazed at how you’re spending your time. Chances are change is on the horizon.

“Time is a created thing. To say, ‘I don’t have time’ is to say, ‘I don’t want to”

Lao Tzu
ancient Chinese philosopher and writer

Famous Chinese philosopher and writer, Lao Tzu, might’ve lived in the 6^th Century BC, but this advice is no less relevant now than it was then. We all want to please others, so while “I don’t have time” might sound nicer, it’s not always the truth. When it comes to managing your workload, sometimes it pays to be upfront and honest about your priorities. This can save a lot of procrastination, hardship, and inefficiency. By concentrating on work you love, it might even feel that you’ve never ‘worked’ a day in your life. But, take this with a pinch of salt. Sometimes you need to do those tough tasks too. 

“The best time to start was last year. Failing that, today will do”

Chris Guillebeau
American non-fiction author, best known for The Art of Non-Conformity blog and book

What are you doing right this second? Aside from reading this article, that is. Are you planning your next meeting, wondering whether to create a conference call for the project or even to get started with that startup idea you had? If you’re like most of us, you might be ‘planning’ these things, but there’s never a deadline. You might say to yourself, “I’ll start on Monday.” Then Monday will roll around, and it’ll be next week, then the next. Take matters into your own hands and get started on working on making the future a reality. When? Well, there’s no better time than the present. What are you waiting for?

“The common man is not concerned about the passage of time, the man of talent is driven by it”

Arthur Schopenhauer
German philosopher, best known for his 1818 work “The World as Will and Representation”

There are times in life when it may seem that we are coasting towards an inevitable end, where nothing can be done to stop the passage of time. If you’ve ever experienced a quarter or mid-life crisis, you’ll know this little voice too well. Don’t listen! Instead, be that other person, the one driven by success, spurred on by talent, and dependent on dedication. Use the time to your advantage and become the person you always wanted to be and help your staff to do the same. We’re not saying every step you take will be the right one, but keeping moving forward is vital. When you look back, you’ll be amazed at how much you’ve achieved. 

Quotes on Mindfulness and Present Moment Awareness

“For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity”

C.S. Lewis
British writer and lay theologian

C.S. Lewis alludes to the fact that what you’re doing right this second affects the future. That’s why Angela from Accounts is now the Financial Director, while Jack from Sales got the boot. Learn to hone your focus, and you might even find that productivity is much more interesting than what’s going on in your daydream. Try the Pomodoro technique to break down your day into efficient working periods with little breaks to boost your brainpower.

“I never think of the future. It comes soon enough”

Albert Einstein
German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity

A man with a lot to say about time, among other things, but this little gem has to be one of Einstein’s smartest quotes about time. Do you find yourself busy with the next big project and thinking only of what will happen at tomorrow’s meeting? Or, perhaps you’re reliving the last one. Either way, you’re missing the point. The only time is right now. We can’t change the past. And while our actions influence the future. What matters is what you’re doing this very second. Employing mindfulness techniques alongside proper time management can help you get back on track and focus on what really matters.

“One can find time for everything if one is never in a hurry”

Mikhail Bulgakov
Russian writer, medical doctor, and playwright active, best known for his novel “The Master and Margarita”

“If only there were 25 hours in a day or 8 days in a week.” If you’ve caught yourself muttering these phrases, perhaps after another Sunday working, then you may have a problem with time management. Of course, there is enough time for everything if you have no deadlines, but that’s not the reality. To be able to optimize your day and make the most out of the precise time you have, while having a little time to relax, it’s essential to get your timekeeping in order. By planning in advance, you’ll save yourself a massive headache and will be able to head to bed and not worry about what tomorrow will bring.

“The trouble is, you think you have time”

Jack Kornfield
bestselling American author and teacher in the vipassana movement in American Theravada Buddhism

From thinking you’ll finish that project by the next deadline to your passion project that’s sitting on the back burner (you’ll get there one day), thinking you have all the time in the world to do something is a dangerous game. By not making something a priority, you risk it never getting done. If you’re a manager, believing you have more time than you do could jeopardize your project (and client relationships). So before you begin, it’s vital you know how much time a task takes and how many people you need, before you start, not after. Using an integrated time tracker or free time card calculator, you can evaluate your team’s productivity and more accurately provide project quotes.

Quotes on Strategic Use of Time

“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time”

Leo Tolstoy
one of the greatest authors of all time, received multiple nominations for the Nobel Prize

Whether you’ve managed to make it through reading War and Peace or just watched the TV version, this inspirational quote about time has two powerful messages. (Find it in War and Peace. Book Thirteen: 1812. Chapter XVII). The first is time. Knowing how best to spend your time allows you to optimize your productivity and avoid procrastination. The second is patience. Sometimes it’s best to wait until an opportunity comes around, others you need to grab it while the iron is hot. In business, this might mean not rushing to send that late-night email to get it out of the way. Or conducting vital negotiations at 5 in the evening. Have patience and wait until the timing is right.

“We must use time as a tool, not as a couch”

John F. Kennedy
American politician, served as the 35th President of the United States

How do you think about time? As something that causes you to get up and go to work in the morning because it’s 8 am and you have to, or as an opportunity to do something great? If it’s the former, we get it; survival mode is necessary at times. But, instead, try to focus more on being in the latter category. Make every second count. Utilize the time that is given to your and your company’s advantage. Make plans and stick to them, and focus on getting the most out of the time that you do have.  

“Take care of the minutes and the hours will take care of themselves”

Lord Chesterfield
British statesman, diplomat, a man of letters, and an acclaimed wit of his time

Time passes quickly, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the moment. Blink and a minute passes, another blink, and it’s an hour, another, a year. But it’s up to us what we do in between those blinks. Focus on the minutes of your day and plan your time well. Find time to work, time for relaxation, and time to simply do the things you love. By organizing your time efficiently, you’ll soon find “boredom” isn’t a word that features in your vocabulary, and we hope “stress” isn’t either. 

Quotes on Motivation and Self-Discipline

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life”

Steve Jobs
chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Apple Inc. (also Pixar & NeXT)

Steve Jobs was always one to march to the beat of his own drum. From dropping out of college to founding an innovative company known as Apple, Jobs put his ideas and priorities front and center. While this level of dedication to one’s ideas isn’t always conducive to a team environment, this is definitely one of those inspirational quotes about time management that you’ll want to pay attention to. Budding entrepreneurs, employees, and business owners alike take heed. You really do have a limited amount of time, so focus on what’s important, get the work done, and be yourself, as far as you can be (there’s no need for diva-like strops).

“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself”

Andy Warhol
American artist, film director, and producer who was a leading figure in the pop art

Time might pass and the day’s challenges with it, but if you want something to change in your life, then that’s down to you. If you’re content with how things are going, let time pass as it does. But if you have the desire for growth, and to push your company forward, then it’s time to get down to business. Make every moment count by actively engaging in activities that will make that happen. Start by monitoring what you currently do with your time (and what your team does), then adjust that to make it work more efficiently towards your goals. That way, you’ll soon become the pilot of your own success.

“Tough times never last, but tough people do”

Robert H. Schuller
American Christian televangelist, pastor, motivational speaker, and author

There isn’t a person on the planet who has experienced a life free of problems. But, if you happen to hear of a person like this, send him our way, we’d love to listen to his secrets. The fact is we all experience challenges, and when the going gets tough, it’s important to remember this little phrase by Mr. Schuller: “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” Think of the challenges that come your way as opportunities to grow, and soon you’ll see the other side. It doesn’t make those difficult times less stressful, but it makes the struggle worth every second.

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late”

Ralph Waldo Emerson
American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, and poet

Emerson had it right with this one; we don’t know a good thing until it has passed. Often, we take the positives in our lives for granted. Perhaps it’s a kind boss who approves your desired holiday requests on time or an employee who is always ready for their work. In the US alone, 65% of survey employees said they hadn’t received any recognition for their hard work. With lack of recognition listed as one of the top reasons for leaving a job, this could be risky business for companies looking to retain staff.  Showing recognition for a job well done can have tremendous results in your organization, and the costs are as low as a small ‘thank you.’

Humorous Quotes on Time Management

“It’s not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about?”

Henry David Thoreau
American essayist, poet, and philosopher, best known for his book “Walden”

Philosopher Henry David Thoreau is well-known for questioning what we think we know about society and the world around it. Drawing comparisons to the world all around, Thoreau questions why we are busy and what are we doing with our time. Are we busy like ants, trying to build a new nest, or are we merely keeping busy to fill the time? While it might be funny to think of humans as creatures scuttling about, look a little closer and consider if you’re productively using your day or simply keeping busy for busyness’ sake. Once you’ve done that, it might be time to make some changes to reinvigorate your routine. 

“There’s never enough time to do all the nothing you want”

Bill Watterson
American former cartoonist and the author of the comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes”

If it’s getting to the end of the day and you’re sitting and running through a list of all those tasks you need to reassign until tomorrow; you’re not alone. Trying to accomplish too much in one day is a fool’s game, no matter how admirable it may be. There’s simply never enough time to do it all – managing a family, work projects, house cleaning, hobbies, evening classes, etc. In fact, you’d have to be the Flash to get all that done, and he’d probably struggle too. So, if you’ve done your best work, and your team is satisfied, then it’s time to put down that computer or those tools, take a well-earned rest, and accept that those tasks will simply have to wait until tomorrow.

“Don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door”

Coco Chanel
French fashion designer, the founder, and namesake of the Chanel brand

Although Ms. Chanel might’ve warned against beating on a wall in the hope that it might become a door, her biography paints her as doing just that. Overcoming poverty to become a world-famous fashion designer is no easy feat, after all. Or maybe it’s best to interpret this phrase another way. If you see no solution to your problem – such as a missing door – try another solution, a window perhaps. You are the master of your own fate and timekeeping, so don’t waste it.

Philosophical Reflections on Time

“There is more to life than simply increasing its speed”

Mahatma Gandhi
Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist

Speeding towards the finish line with no plan insight isn’t a good idea. You can quickly lose track of where you’re going and run yourself off course entirely. The same goes for your working life. When you rush your tasks or activities, you may soon find that the results aren’t quite what you desired. Instead, take a step back, breathe, rethink, and replan. Start your next project by laying out the steps in front of you and including good timekeeping practices and planning from the very beginning. If you’ve got a team to lead, take into account that speed doesn’t equal quality. Adding more working hours to your schedule doesn’t always lead to higher productivity. Instead, re-evaluate. You might even find that an adjusted working schedule helps pace your team get you the results you deserve. 

“Time and the hour run through the roughest day”

William Shakespeare
the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s greatest dramatist

Love him or hate him; there’s no doubt that Shakespeare’s works contained some words of wisdom that have lasted the ages. “Time and the hour run through the roughest day” is undoubtedly one of Shakesphere’s prolific quotes about time. These short verses encourage those who are struggling with the minutes to see the bigger picture. Take these words in heed when embroiled in lengthy negotiations where it seems even the seconds are dragging on, each one of them is vital in reaching the overall result, no matter how rough it may be.

“Punctuality is the thief of time”

Oscar Wilde
Irish poet best remembered for his novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray”

We’re not suggesting being on time or meeting deadlines is overrated. After all, we are huge fans of making things happen on time…but they should be taken with a pinch of salt. Punctually is all well and good, but when you’re rushing around taking care of someone else’s priorities – meeting on their terms, their deadlines ­– something has got to give. Instead, take a step back a figure out what will work for you, set reasonable deadlines, and put you and your team’s health first. Keep these good timekeeping rules and optimize your work processes for the better.

“The way we spend our time defines who we are”

Jonathan Estrin
writer and TV producer, best known for his work on Cagney & Lacey

Focusing on what you do in your minutes, may define how your hours and days are filled, but what defines you? How you spend your time, both at home and the office, says a lot about where your priorities lie. Showing up on time for work each day indicates dedication, while taking an extra hour at lunch may suggest your priorities fall elsewhere. But, this isn’t about what others think, this is about you. By defining your goals and dividing your time accordingly, you’ll be able to unlock new potential within yourself and for your company. 

Time Management Quotes: Bonus

“Without Everhour, we would be unable to accurately track the hours associated with each individual project we are working on as a company”

Kelly Bonneau
Everhour client, Accounting Manager at 7shifts

Thanks, Kelly, for that fantastic quote! We can’t help but agree, and it’s not just our opinion.

Did you know?

Over 3,000+ teams of different sizes and industries choose Everhour to track time and expenses, properly bill their clients, and better understand how long specific jobs took for future quotes and estimates for a reason. Read what our clients actually had to say about us.

Or, if you’re ready to make a change in your timekeeping habits – Get in touch and see how Everhour can help you get to grips with timekeeping for you and your business.

The post Best Time Management Quotes to Find Inspiration and Motivation for Productivity appeared first on Everhour Blog.

At Everhour, a time tracking software company, we love to stay up to date. That’s why we’ve brought together a little bit on the history of podcasts, why they’re so popular, and – like any perfect 3-course meal – the best project management podcasts you need to listen to right now!

What Are Podcasts and Why Are They So Darn Popular?

Consider a podcast like an online radio show that you can download and listen to at any time. Unlike a regular radio broadcast, there’s no need to find the right station and tune in at a particular time. Just download and go.

The idea behind the podcast came about back in 2004. It was invented by Adam Curry, an MTV VJ, and Dave Winer, a software developer, got together to download Curry’s shows to his iPod (way before the days of the iPhone). And so the first podcast came to life.

For podcast creators, aside from the ease of distribution, there are some significant benefits over conventional media – especially legal ones. Podcasts don’t require the creator to buy a broadcasting license. They also don’t fall under broadcast decency regulations. This means their content can contain anything from swear words to explicit material – listeners beware! 

But this also means podcast fans get access to the freshest knowledge and information out there. No bureaucratic broadcasting approval process is required. For those seeking the latest trends, project management podcasts can be perfect to listen to. You’ll hear real-life examples that are happening now.

Plus, podcast creators still have all copyright privileges. This means their content remains just that – theirs.

Some Interesting Stats About Podcasts

Podcasts aren’t just a new trend that’ll fade away. Quite the opposite, in fact. Here are the top facts about this accessible media source. 

• 51% of Americans now listen to podcasts. In 2006, when podcasts were in their infancy, this number was just 11%.
• 26% of people listen to podcasts in their car. In 2017, this was 16%. 49% listen in at home. 
• 80% of the number of people who listen to an entire podcast.
• 100 is the number of languages podcasts are made in across the world.
• Smartphones are the #1 platform for podcast consumption.
• The majority of podcast listeners are aged between 35-54 years old (37%). The 18-37 years old category comes in 2^nd at 36%. Over 55’s make up just 11.6% of listeners.

Why Should You Listen to a PM Podcast?

You’ve got that MBA or years of experience, so what good is a project management podcast? These are the top reasons why it really pays to download and listen in:

• It’s available on the go.
  Unlike a book that you need to open, look at and read. A podcast can be listened to anytime, anywhere – in the car, while doing the cleaning, in the shower, at the office – giving the ultimate flexibility. 
• Many podcasts are absolutely FREE .
  That means you get access to the latest information, at no cost, right on your device. And who doesn’t love a freebie? There are lots of free project management podcasts to choose from. Imagine you want to know the best Asana integrations for your project or the most effective Jira plugins today. We’re sure you’ll find a project management podcast for just that. Meaning you’re able to select one that suits your particular PM interests at the time. 
• You’ll never be bored.
  Most podcasts adopt a casual conversation-like format, that connects with your brain and helps it retain information. Unlike an audiobook, for example, the conversation style keeps the listener (that’s you) engaged until the end.
• Boosts your project management knowledge.
  Any PM knows that the best tricks project management requires the right tools or knowledge of how best to track time. 
• Podcasters are industry professionals, like you.
  Most podcasters have worked in the industry for years and are looking to share their knowledge with the world. That means the information in their project management podcasts that they deliver is often based on their own experiences. And experience is nothing if not a teacher. 
• Quality content when you want it.
  There’s nothing quite like the ruthless world of the internet to separate quality from trash content. When it comes to podcasts others are quick to give their views, and pretenders quickly slide back into net Obscura. 
• A great way to make procrastination worthwhile.
  Let’s face it. We all procrastinate from time to time and need a little help with our time management strategies.

Everhour is the top choice for small businesses and small to mid-size teams of 5 to 50 members, including professionals like software developers, marketers, designers, consultants, lawyers, you name it!

Seamlessly integrating with popular project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Jira, its user-friendly interface and customizable reports make it the ultimate time tracking solution for small and mid-size teams.

With dedicated support ensuring you receive timely assistance, our team is here to help you promptly and with a smile!

What Is a Project Management Podcast PDU and Why Should You Care?

Have you set even one toe into the world of PM and project management podcasts? If so, you’ve likely heard the term PDU.

But what is a project management podcast PDU anyway?

PDU stands for a professional development unit. In many online courses, these PDUs are taken and added toward your professional development qualifications. 

PDUs can help you earn a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. For example, watching X amount of project management podcasts will get you X amount of credit in your PM accreditation. Listen, learn, and get qualified. 

Helpful hint! To get credit for listening to a podcast, you must check the podcast is accredited first.

Best Project Management Podcasts to Check Out Today

1) The Project Management Podcast (aka. The PM podcast)

400+ episodes and counting. The PM podcast is one of the biggest (and dare we say best) on the net today. It’s available in loads of listening formats. From Android to Apple, RSS to PlayFM, Google to Soundcloud, the Project Management Podcast is ready for your listening pleasure. The PM Podcast has free and paid podcasts subscriptions. The free project management podcasts offer up to 60 PDU credits. Premium PDUs, also known as PDUpodcast, allow subscribers to get measurable learning objectives, video webinars, automatic monthly webinars, and cover the 8/8/8/ minimum.

As a bonus, the platform also offers PM PrepCast. This is an exam preparation system allowing you to prep for your PMP exam. 

Listen to this podcast for: a comprehensive knowledge base of all things project management. For beginners, there’s everything from “How to become a project manager?” to “Interpersonal skills for success.” For the more experienced, “The Power of Project Leadership,” “Planning and Controlling Mega Projects,” and “Managing unknown risks.”

2) Projectified Podcast

The official podcast of the Project Management Institute, Projectified brings together the latest information on the project management world. It is specially created to help PMs lead strategic initiatives. It also increases collaborative teams’ ability to deliver solutions for their organizations.

Said by its listeners to be “first-hand information to be at the top of what the talk in the project management profession and in the economics.” Projected offers podcasts, such as “Career Development — Your Personal Project with guest Jacqueline Van Pelt, PMP” and “Transformation—Project Management Evolves.”

Listen to this podcast for: the official word on project management from project managers who are top of their game. 

3) Project Management Happy Hour

Hosted by Kim Essendrup and Kate Anderson, Project Management Happy Hour offers no-nonsense talk on all things PM across their range of project management podcasts. Each episode covers real-life issues in PM, while guests share practical tips and advice relevant to the industry today. 

Aside from being a pleasure to listen to, Project Management Happy Hour also allows listeners to earn PDUs with a subscription that provides quizzes, templates, and premium content. 

Listen to this podcast for: the low-down on project management. Episodes include: “How to be a project manager,” “Who owns this baby when I’m done? Planning for deliverables handover,” “They told me I’m “too nice” how to deal with unactionable feedback.”

4) People and Projects Podcast

With 200+ episodes, People and Projects Podcast offers listeners monthly podcasts featuring insight into PM issues including people and projects, leadership, and management. Like other project management podcasts, People and Projects allows users to earn free PDUs which count toward project management qualifications. The website includes a free excel chart to help you keep track of what you’ve watched and learned. 

Here’s what listeners to the project management podcast say about it. “Great guests and it’s actually interesting,” “informative and entertaining,” and “great topics, awesome interviews.”

Listen to this podcast for: an easy-to-listen-to podcast that tackles realistic PM issues with accessible down-to-earth language. Episodes include “All you have to do is make the ask,” “Rescuing the project problem,” and “How to influence without authority.”

5) The Lazy Project Manager

This set of podcast episodes brings the best project management tips and tricks from Peter Taylor. He is a proclaimed change and transformation specialist with years of industry experience. Peter delivers easy-to-listen-to talks on everything from personal productivity to efficiency, how to assign tasks to be a young project manager. 

Like any seasoned professional, Peter is able to speak with authority and deliver actionable exercises for would-be and current project managers. He is frequently joined by equally qualified guests who provide an entertaining dialogue. 

Listen to this podcast for: answers to all those little project management problems you’ve always wanted to know the answer to. 

Putting Podcasts Into Action

Listening to podcasts is a great way to increase your knowledge about project management. It helps you to keep up to date on the latest industry trends, techniques, and more. Make sure your knowledge is tech-forward.

Another great way to keep up to date is to follow the project management section of our blog. Here you’ll find the latest tricks and tips for project management, and – our favorite – how best to manage project time.

Did we miss something? Write to us and let us know your best PM tips and podcasts.

The post Expert Advice and Trends from 5 Top Project Management Podcasts appeared first on Everhour Blog.

But where to begin? To save you the trouble of sorting out the wheat from the chaff, we’ve prepared the list of best PM books every project manager should get acquainted with. 

In this list, we’ve picked the best books on project management recommended by us, world-known PM specialists, and by Amazon readers. So, without further ado, here are our top 10 project management books!

Best Classic Project Management Books

“A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge” (PMBOK GUIDE)

✔️ An all-time classic; covers all the basics of PM knowledge
❌ Some claim that the materials are dry and rather packed
🔎 Amazon rating: 4.3 out of 5 (2,796 ratings)

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge has been released and updated by The Project Management Institute (PMI) six times! That says it all. The institute conducts research and sets the standards for project management. Most project managers around the globe recognize the PMBOK as an authoritative source in academic literature. That’s why this book is an absolute must-have for those who want to start their careers as project managers.

The PMBOK guide represents a baseline of PM work. It contains consistent and logically structured data with lots of visual aids in the form of schemes and tables. On the other hand, some readers claim that the materials are dry and rather packed in there. But we say, there’s nothing terribly wrong with that. PMBOK shows you the basics and helps you decide in which direction you should move, develop, and search for extra information.

Everhour is the top choice for small businesses and small to mid-size teams of 5 to 50 members, including professionals like software developers, marketers, designers, consultants, lawyers, you name it!

Seamlessly integrating with popular project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Jira, its user-friendly interface and customizable reports make it the ultimate time tracking solution for small and mid-size teams.

With dedicated support ensuring you receive timely assistance, our team is here to help you promptly and with a smile!

“The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management”

✔️ Links to downloadable materials and templates
❌ Could be a difficult-read for some
🔎 Amazon rating: 4.7 out of 5 (302 ratings)

The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management is a decent competitor to PMBOK with high academic standards. It’s a valuable source of detailed information for university students as well as an insightful reading for practitioners. 

Written by Eric Verzuh, the President of the Versatile Company. He has experience with top world names, such as Adobe Systems, Inc., The Boeing Company, EG Capital, Nordstrom, and others. This book is a great complement to any basic-structure guide. It equips its readers with the tools and techniques that ensure a successful project launch and management. Moreover, the author provides links to free downloadable materials that contain templates for creating a basic project structure. 

Some readers claim that it’s a challenging read. That’s why it’s the best choice for intermediate to advanced project managers. 

“The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done”

✔️ Deals not only with PM techniques but the habits of great managers
❌ Case studies may seem outdated to some
🔎 Amazon rating: 4.6 out of 5 (875 ratings)

The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done is a classic among project manager books. The author, Peter Drucker, is the creator of many of the critical strategies project managers use today. 

To some, the case studies presented in the book might seem outdated, yet, it represents valuable reading with clear explanations and effective frameworks for managing projects, teams, and yourself. It contains not only project management techniques but also teaches its readers how to develop the habits needed to be an effective manager.  

Best Project Management Books for Beginners

“Project Management Absolute Beginner’s Guide”

✔️ Essential reading for beginners
❌ Not for experienced Project Managers
🔎 Amazon rating: 4.4 out of 5 (121 ratings)

If you need to pick up the basics of project management, The Project Management Absolute Beginner’s Guide is a total catch for beginners. It is a practical guide for every project management task, starting from project budgeting to professional project closure. 

This project planning book has already helped lots of project management newcomers to start their careers successfully. It helps avoid the most common project management mistakes that even professionals make and share useful advice. It’s no wonder that the guide is so practical for many readers. Its author, Gregory M. Horine, is a certified PMP and CCP expert with more than 23 years of working as a PM in IT. He’s gleaned and processed every piece of his valuable experience that he’s put in his book. So you’re getting tips from one of the best.

It is an excellent start for beginners. Though to go deeper into details as a project manager, you might need to keep reading. 

“Project Management For Dummies”

✔️ Perfect for lovers of the “Everything for Dummies” series
❌ Some might find the tips too obvious
🔎 Amazon rating: 4.5 out of 5 (269 ratings)

From the famous set of “Everything for Dummies,” here comes project management. Written by an expert with 28 years of experience in the field, Stanley E. Portny, the book serves as a handy helper. Project Management For Dummies can help you to:

• Organize and manage your projects from their initiation to the end
• Gather and encourage your team to work productively
• Embrace the best practices as stated in PMBOK 
• Prepare for project management exams, such as a PMP certificate.

All the above is mixed with an effortless reading style, which breaks complex ideas down into digestible chunks. Although Project Management for Dummies might not be the ultimate choice for exam preparation, it is a decent one. It deserves its place among the best project management books for beginners.

Best Practical PM Books

“Project Management Case Studies”

✔️ Practical, insightful project management knowledge
❌ Lots of case studies, but they don’t go in-depth
🔎 Amazon rating: 4 out of 5 (20 ratings)

If you already know the basis of PM and what to get more practical, then Project Management Case Studies by Harold Kerzner is for you. Apart from having an MS, a Ph.D. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, and MBA, Dr. Kerzner applies his knowledge in practice running the International Institute of Learning, Inc. (IIL), a world-leading PM company that offers professional training and consulting services. 

The Project Management Case Studies has undergone 5 editions, each time gaining more case studies and practical solutions that can be applied in the real world. Essentially a handy way to hack PM problems. Now the downsizes, not all the case studies, can be helpful as they spread too thin among various industries. Therefore, you’ll find a lot of case studies in some fields but not many for others.

“Strategic Project Management Made Simple: Practical Tools for Leaders and Teams”

✔️ Step by step organization of a project’s activities
❌ Might be a difficult-read for some
🔎 Amazon rating: 4.4 out of 5 (155 ratings)

The Strategic Project Management Made Simple: Practical Tools for Leaders and Teams is a good choice for those who want to get into project management specifics. It explains step by step how to organize various activities within a project. Besides that, if your project starts lagging or deviates from the original plan, you’ll find practical and detailed steps on how to fix it. Consider this the lifehacks guide on project management.

There are barely any negative book reviews on Amazon. Its readers say that the book is easy to follow and insightful. That’s why they even re-read it and recommend it to colleagues. 

We are sure that this popularity is partly determined by the author’s unusual life story. Terry Schmidt has worked for NASA, the US Department of Transportation in Washington DC, World Bank, and USAID-funded projects. All this experience, the author has managed to evaluate and incorporate in his book, giving readers a wealth of interesting experiences, all packed into one little guide.

“Making Things Happen: Mastering Project Management (Theory in Practice)”

✔️ Perfect for those looking to broaden their PM knowledge
❌ Critics say there’s perhaps too much of Scott’s personal experience
🔎 Amazon rating: 4.3 out of 5 (130 ratings)

The Making Things Happen: Mastering Project Management doesn’t represent any systematic approach or step-by-step guide of ready-made solutions. It resembles more the essence of Scott Berkun’s personal experience, which doesn’t diminish the book’s value.  

Scott Berkun is an experienced project manager who has worked for nine years on one of the most significant projects in Microsoft. In his book, he explains with simplicity what it’s like to be in charge of major, critical projects. The author discusses the topics of scheduling, planning, how to keep records, time tracking, team management, and much more. 

This book suits those who have already grasped the basics and would like to broaden their knowledge in project management. 

Best Project Management Books for Light Reading

“Project Management for The Unofficial Project Manager”

✔️ Practical and straightforward for newbies and pros alike
❌ Challenging-to-read case studies
🔎 Amazon rating: 4.6 out of 5 (445 ratings)

The Unofficial Project Manager book is the guide for those who have to perform project management activities while not acting as a project manager. Often, employers expect their workers to perform project management tasks or take charge of various projects. That’s why this book will be especially helpful for those workers who want to pick up some project management skills for self-development or promotion.

The book is packed with sticky explanations, proverbs, and striking examples that a non-specialist will easily grasp and understand. The authors and there are three of them — Kory Kogon, Suzette Blakemore, and James Wood — tried their best to make this book practical and straightforward to read for anyone and everyone.

“Brilliant Project Management: What the Best Project Managers Know, Do and Say”

✔️ Avoids PM jargon and tells PM like it is. Pro tips included
❌ No terrible reviews for this gem
🔎 Amazon rating: 4.2 out of 5

The Brilliant Project Management: What the Best Project Managers Know, Do, and Say represents a practical guide through essentials in project management. It’s written by Stephen Barker, who’s been working as a project management consultant for more than 15 years.

Unlike most project management books, Brilliant Project Management covers the essential parts of project management while avoiding PM jargon. The book contains use cases and provides lots of tips on how to run a project successfully, communicate with stakeholders, and meet deadlines within the budget. It’s a compelling and entertaining read that will be useful both for beginners and advanced managers.

“Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business”

✔️ Project management from a different perspective
❌ Some feel the book is too “basic”
🔎 Amazon rating: 4.6 out of 5 (2,058 ratings)

Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman is an unconventional way for project managers to have a look at business processes from an entrepreneur’s point of view. At the same time, it’s a real helper for startups and those who want to set up their business from scratch. The book teaches how to handle various frustrating situations, resolve personal conflicts, make the right decisions, and much more. 

Get a Grip on Your Business has a minimum theory and isn’t very complicated for reading. It’s a good choice for those who aren’t professional project managers but still have to manage their work. A lot of entrepreneurs admire this book for its practical advice based on the author’s real-life experience, not just theory.

Gino Wickman started his career as a businessman at the age of 21 and by the age of 25 he had already taken over the family business. He managed to bail the father’s company out of deep crisis and successfully sell it after 7 years of its administration. Based on this experience, Gino developed his own practical method on how to help companies become effective, called Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). And this system Gino’s summarized in his Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business. 

Best IT Project Management Books

Apart from general theory, great project managers should know the specifics of how to manage projects and work with teams in their work. For those who want to know the peculiarities of running projects in IT, we’ve gathered the IT project management books that are worth your attention. 

Here is a shortlist of software project management books that you should explore next once you get to grips with general PM theory:

1. “Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time”
   by Jeff Sutherland (Amazon)
2. “Project Management for Humans: Helping People Get Things Done”
   by Brett Harned (Amazon)
3. “Project Management the Agile Way: Making it Work in the Enterprise”
   by John Goodpasture (Amazon)
4. “The Lean Product Playbook: How to Innovate with MVPs”
   by Dan Olsen (Amazon)
5. “The Lean Startup”
   by Eric Ries (Amazon)
6. “Agile Project Management for Dummies”
   by Mark C. Layton (Amazon)
7. “The Software Project Manager’s Bridge to Agility”
   by Michele Sliger and Stacia Broderick (Amazon)

In Closing…

We, at Everhour, hope that this article was helpful for you. If you’re a beginner, we expect that you now know what books to start a PM career with. If you’re a seasoned project manager, we hope that you’ve discovered what to read next!

P.S. You can even download these to your iPad or tablet, but we prefer the real thing. Either way, happy reading!

If you are ready to dive deeper into the topic of project management, be sure to check out the following essential guides:

Project Management Knowledge Areas — All You Need to Know

Learn about 10 PM knowledge areas (and 5 process groups), how they differ, and how to implement them in practice…

What Are the 5 Stages of a Project

By understanding what are the 5 phases of project management (and by applying them properly) you’ll achieve impressive and consistent results in any project whether you work in marketing, software development, or any other field.

10 Most Popular Project Managers Methodologies Compared

Learn the advantages and disadvantages of every project management methodology; get useful tips on how to put your project management methodology into action and get results…

5 Best Project Management Podcasts

No matter whether you’re just starting out on your project management journey or have been in the business a while and are seeking a refresher session, you’ll find the PM tips you need in these brilliant podcasts.

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