Microshifting - the new way to work smarter
How microshifting is changing working practices, board work and how tools like Reduca can help.
🌍 Background: From hybrid to microshifting
After the pandemic, remote and hybrid working quickly became the norm. But many felt that flexibility didn't really solve the root problem - the working day was still 8 hours long, full of meetings and fragmented attention.
Now comes the next step: microshifting.
According to Forbes (2025), it's about dividing the workday into short, focused blocks - adapted to energy, task and life situation - instead of following a rigid 9-to-5 model.
This means that work is moving from location flexibility to time and energy flexibility.
🕒 What matters is not where you work, but when you work at your best.
💡 What is microshifting - in practice?
Microshifting means working in several short, planned shifts (e.g. 2-4 hours) during the day, separated by microbreaks or private activities.
The focus is on results and energy, not attendance.
Example of a working day:
- 08.00-10.00 → Focus work (analysis, writing)
- 10.00-11.00 → Training or recovery
- 11.00-13.00 → Cooperation, meetings
- 14.30-16.00 → Strategic work or decision-making
Shifts can vary - the point is that you work when you are most efficient.
📊 The research that supports microshifting
Microshifting is not based on trend, but on established research:
| Area | What the research shows | Link to microshifting |
|---|---|---|
| Microbreaks | Shorter breaks increase focus, energy and performance. | Planned breaks between blocks improve endurance. |
| Meeting reduction | Fewer meetings mean +71% higher productivity. | Shorter, decision-making meetings replace long status meetings. |
| Crown types | People have different natural working hours. | Allowing everyone to work when they are most alert. |
| 4-day week | Shorter working weeks reduce stress and increase productivity. | Same principle - more focus, less wasted time. |
Sources: Forbes (2025), MIT Sloan Management Review, Microsoft Work Trend Index 2025, and studies on microbreaks and chronotypes.
⚙️ How to introduce microshifting in the workplace
1. start small
Introduce two focused blocks per day of 90-120 minutes. Protect them in your calendar - no meetings, no emails.
2. create clear "sync windows"
Have fixed times (e.g. 10-11 or 14-15) for meetings or quick decisions, so that everyone knows when they can reach each other.
3. reduce meetings
Introduce at least one meeting-free day a week. Focus on decisions, not information.
4. think energy, not hours
Plan your day according to when you are most alert. For some it is morning, for others late afternoon.
5. Measuring value
Monitor results, not working hours. How much got done? How quickly were decisions taken?
🧭 Microshifting in board work
Boards often have heavy documents and long meetings. Microshifting can make work smoother, faster and more strategic.
🔹 How the Board can work smarter:
- Shorter meetings, better decisions: 45-60 minutes focused meetings instead of half days.
- Asynchronous preparation: read and comment in advance - so meetings become decision-making sessions.
- Clear decision windows: Use digital signing and voting between meetings.
- Thematic blocks: Divide the work into topic areas - e.g. risk, strategy, sustainability - with their own time windows.
🧩 Example:
A board that previously had 6-hour meetings tested microshifting. After 3 months:
- Meeting time reduced by 45%
- Decisions taken 35% faster
- Members reported 30% better focus
💻 How Reduca Board Portal supports microshifting
Reduca can become the board's hub for microshifting - by digitizing, time-optimizing and visualizing board work.
| Function in Reduca | How it supports microshifting |
|---|---|
| Asynchronous decision flows | Circulate cases and e-sign digitally - decisions can be made between meetings. |
| Comments & agenda pack | Do the preparatory work in the portal - the meeting is only used for decisions. |
| Automatic deadlines and reminders | Helps board members plan their microshifts effectively. |
| Measurement & reports | View statistics on meeting time, decision time and efficiency. |
| Secure and accessible access | Allows you to work anywhere, anytime - perfect for microshifts. |
In other words, Reduca becomes the platform where microshifting becomes a reality - through structure, transparency and efficiency.
🚀 How to get started
- Map the current situation: How much time is spent on meetings, preparation and follow-up?
- Set rules: How do you communicate? What can be decided between meetings?
- Test a pilot: Two meeting-free weeks, implement decision flows in Reduca.
- Measure results: Focus time, decision-making speed, meeting time.
- Scale up: Make it standard - and communicate the success.
✨ Conclusion
Microshifting is not just a trend - it's a new way of thinking about work and time.
It combines research on performance, health and efficiency with new technologies and digital tools.
For boards and management teams, the potential is particularly great:
fewer meetings, better decisions, higher focus and lower stress.
With the Reduca Board Portal, you can move from hybrid working to microshifting -
and create a more sustainable, efficient and humane working day.
