Too Many Meetings? What Workplace Surveys Reveal About Focus Time

The findings

In the report, 68% of respondents said they don't have enough uninterrupted focus time during the workday, and inefficient meetings were named as the top productivity disruptor.

Microsoft's data also showed that the average employee spends a large share of the week communicating — in meetings, email and chat — leaving less time for creating.

Back-to-back meetings and stress

A separate Microsoft Human Factors Lab study measured brain activity with EEG. Participants who sat through back-to-back video meetings showed rising stress-related activity, while short breaks between meetings let that activity reset.

The study was small, but the message matches common experience: transitions need space.

Defending your focus blocks

Block two or three Pomodoros in your calendar each morning and treat them like meetings. Leave five minutes between calls whenever you can, and batch chat replies into your breaks.

At the end of the day, Tabula's Daily Log shows how many focused hours actually survived your calendar — a useful number to bring to a conversation about meeting load.

Sources

1. Microsoft, Work Trend Index 2023: Will AI fix work?
2. Microsoft WorkLab, Research proves your brain needs breaks (2021)

Tabula is an independent timer app. Study findings are summarised for general information and are not medical or professional advice.