Two-for-One Increasing Your Productivity With A Second Monitor

Posted: 3/28/2013

Image via Flickr by creecher94

Trying to convince your boss that having a second monitor will do more than make your work station the envy of every computer geek at work? It turns out that having a second monitor really does boost productivity, and no one has to spend a lot of money to take advantage of this benefit.

Hey Boss, Here's Some Research for You

At least four studies show that using a second monitor boosts productivity. When making a proposal for your boss, include these facts:

According to the New York Times, a study by Jon Peddie Research shows that adding a second monitor boosts productivity by 20 to 30 percent
A study by Microsoft Research says that productivity gets a 9 to 50 percent bump by adding an extra monitor
According to research done at the University of Utah, people who use dual monitors while editing text or using spreadsheets work 52 percent faster than those using one monitor (that saves about 2.5 hours every day)

Even if you're a lazy 9 percenter, buying a second monitor still benefits your employer.

Yeah, But We Have Budget Problems

Image via Flickr by charleschauvelmp

Your boss might refute your research with the word that has shutdown so many dreams: budget. Even if an extra monitor boosts your productivity, there's just no room in the budget. After all, when the other employees see your awesome workstation, they'll want upgrades, too.

Well, that makes sense. A lot of businesses just can't afford to spend thousands of pounds on extra monitors.

What if it only cost a couple hundred pounds, though? Instead of buying hulking monitors, you can get similar results from Android tablets that plug into your desktop's or laptop's USB port. Given the potential advantages, your boss would have to be crazy to reject that argument without some serious thought.

Your Boss's Boss: The Ultimate Shutdown

Image Flickr by Mark Turnauckas

If word comes from above that the company simply cannot afford to add monitors, you can probably bring your own to work. Given how mobile tablets are, you can just carry one to work with you in the morning and take it home at the end of the day.

Since you're using your own devices for work, you can also feel okay about adding a few minutes to your lunch break. If your boss tries to complain about a few minutes here and there, just ask her to check your numbers. What? You get more work done than everyone else in the department?

That sounds like room for flexibility.

Make the Play for Your Boss's Job

Image via Flickr by Dennis Vu Photography for Unleashed Media

As you become more efficient and accurate in your work, the higher-ups will take notice. It really stands out when a person's productivity jumps 50 percent within a week.

Now's the time to pay your boss back for not taking your proposal seriously. Concentrate on your work, keep those numbers up, and, eventually, you might move into her cushy office. Don't feel bad for her. After all, you're the one with a vision. And now you can have as many monitors as you want.

Have you tried using dual monitors before? What tasks became easier with the screen?

Author Bio
DJ Miller is a graduate student at the University of Tampa. He is an avid gadget geek who spends most his time writing on anything tech related. In his spare time he likes to travel, play soccer, and watch movies. You can follow him on twitter @MillerHeWrote