Over half of executives report regularly experiencing intense stress at work. The blame is often put on the environment: the noise of open spaces, the sometimes tense discussions between colleagues, the sometimes arduous commutes… And yet, the rise of remote working has not helped to make things any better.

Canadian neuroscientist Sonia Lupien explains that, far more than the work environment, what stresses us is our way of working. With the advent of new technologies, our attention has become dangerously fragmented: we are constantly receiving notifications, and the new norm is to show near-immediate responsiveness. All neuroscientific research shows that this runs counter to our brain’s optimal functioning. For one thing, every interruption requires an intense effort to restore concentration; for another, the feeling of making progress is necessary for our equilibrium. Indeed, a state of deep concentration has been found to significantly reduce stress hormones.

So, what if we took the lessons of neuroscience into account to organize our work? The researcher recommends sequencing our week in such a way as to alternate surface level work—meetings, replying to e-mails, etc.—with in-depth work, which requires concentration. The former is best suited to the workplace, where we can effectively exchange with our colleagues. The latter is more easily done from home, free of any interruptions.

Source: « L’antidote au stress au travail, ce n’est pas la relaxation, c’est la concentration » (“The antidote to stress at work isn’t relaxation, it’s concentration”), interview of Sonia Lupien by Natacha Czerwinski, Le Point, March 2024.