According to a new national survey from AI resume builder Resume Now, fewer than one-third (31%) of the 1,012 employed U.S. workers polled say they feel fully focused at work every day, while the vast majority report that their time is consumed by low-value tasks, constant interruptions, and pressure to stay connected beyond normal working hours.
The findings of Resume Now’s Fleeting Flow Report paint a picture of a fragmented workday where productivity is less about motivation and more about fighting distractions.
More than three-quarters of workers (77%) say busy work takes up a meaningful portion of their week, and nearly two-thirds report that only about half or fewer of their meetings are productive.
“Employees are finding it harder to achieve deep focus at work,” said Keith Spencer, career expert at Resume Now. “When workers are pulled into busy work, unproductive meetings, and constant digital interruptions, reaching a true flow state becomes the exception rather than the norm. Over time, that loss of focus affects productivity, morale, and burnout.”
Key findings
- Flow is fleeting: Only 31% of workers feel fully focused every day, while 23% rarely or never reach a true flow state. Nearly half (46%) say they feel deeply focused several times a week but not consistently.
- Busy work dominates the week: 77% say low-value, repetitive tasks take up a meaningful portion of their time, including 40% who spend a quarter or more of their week on such work.
- Distractions are constant: Fatigue or burnout tops the list of productivity killers (41%), followed by personal distractions (35%) and interruptions from coworkers (35%).
- Meetings often miss the mark: Nearly two-thirds of workers (64%) say only about half or fewer of their meetings are productive and 38% spend at least five hours per week in meetings.
- Work extends beyond the workday: 58% feel pressure to be available outside normal working hours, including 32% who feel this pressure often or constantly.
- Employees are stretched beyond the workday: 44% work outside normal hours due to unfinished workload, while 19% cite pressure from management or company culture.
- Burnout is nearly universal: Nearly eight in 10 workers (79%) report experiencing some level of Zoom fatigue.
Busy work and meetings crowd out deep focus
Survey data shows that much of the modern workday is consumed by low-value tasks and meetings that fail to support meaningful progress.
- 77% say busy work takes up a meaningful portion of their week.
- 40% spend a quarter or more of their time on low-value, repetitive tasks.
- 64% say only about half or fewer of their meetings are productive.
- 38% spend at least five hours per week in meetings.
Always “on” leaves little room for flow
Pressure to stay connected outside normal hours further erodes workers’ ability to recover and concentrate.
- 58% feel pressure to be available outside normal working hours, with 32% experiencing this pressure often or constantly.
- 44% work outside normal hours due to unfinished workload.
- 19% cite pressure from management or company culture.
Daily disruptions undermine productivity
Beyond workload structure, frequent interruptions and fatigue further erode employees’ ability to stay focused throughout the day.
- 41% cite fatigue or burnout as a top productivity disruptor.
- 35% cite personal distractions.
- 35% cite interruptions from coworkers.
- 25% cite social media.
- 21% cite too many meetings.
- 19% cite constant notifications or pings.
- 15% cite technical glitches.
Flow state remains out of reach for many
Many workers struggle to sustain deep focus long enough to reach a true flow state.
- 31% feel fully focused every day.
- 46% reach a flow state several times a week.
- 15% reach it only once in a while.
- 8% rarely or never experience deep focus.
Burnout is widespread
Constant digital communication and meeting overload are contributing to widespread burnout across the workforce. As digital demands grow, sustained focus becomes harder to maintain.
- 79% experience some level of Zoom fatigue.
- 8% experience Zoom fatigue every day.
- 19% experience it a few times a week.
- 32% experience it occasionally.
- 20% experience it but rarely.
Methodology: The findings in this report are based on a survey of 1,012 employed U.S. adults, conducted in December 2025. Respondents answered questions about workplace focus, productivity, meetings, busy work, digital communication, burnout, and expectations around availability outside normal working hours. Question formats included multiple-choice, frequency-based scale responses, and multi-select questions.
Survey respondents represented a broad cross-section of the U.S. workforce. Participants were 52% female and 48% male. Generational representation included 15% Gen Z (born 1997 or later), 27% millennials (born 1981-1996), 27% Gen X (born 1965-1980), and 30% baby boomers (born 1946-1964).
Photo credit: Cecilie_Arcurs/iStock
Thanks for reading CPA Practice Advisor!
Subscribe Already registered? Log In
Need more information? Read the FAQs
