B2 – Upper Intermediate
“Vampire tasks” or those repetitive, tedious tasks at work are slowly draining our productivity across workplaces these days. These distractions disrupt our focus and slow our progress.
From numerous emails to unnecessary meetings, these tasks can appear essential yet contribute nothing to our overall goals. As a result, we become locked in a loop busyness, attempting to complete important work within the turmoil.
Read this article to learn how to deal with vampire tasks and boost productivity.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “to get bogged down by something” mean? “Cecily Motley, the co-founder of Harriet, an AI-powered workplace assistant, calls these repetitive, tedious activities “vampire tasks” — and warns that getting bogged down by admin work is the number one thing that kills people’s productivity.” Give 1-2 similar expressions and use this phrase in a sentence.
- Define “timeboxing” in this sentence, “You can time yourself completing different tasks to figure out the duration of each one and build a confident framework for your timeboxing schedule from there.” Give 1-2 similar expressions and use this term in a sentence.
- What does “counterintuitive” mean? “It might seem counterintuitive, but saying “no” to unnecessary tasks or taking on more work doesn’t just prevent burnout — it can also help you build trust in the workplace.” Give 1-2 similar expression/s and use this word in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- How do “vampire tasks” affect your productivity at work?
- How do you deal with your administrative tasks?
- How do you communicate with your colleagues or supervisors about the challenges posed by vampire tasks in the workplace?
- Share your thoughts on this, “The smallest tasks on our to-do lists can often be the most draining.“
- What steps can individuals take to identify and mitigate the effects of vampire tasks on their productivity?