The hybrid and flexible work arrangements accelerated by the pandemic have their pros and cons. Of course, many people enjoy the flexibility of working from home, but according to a new report, more than half of our workweek (23 hours out of 40) is lost to menial and repetitive tasks.

The Asana Inc. Anatomy of Work Index, which analyzes how people spend time at work, shows that, in 2022, 58 percent of work is about work coordination, searching for information, and managing shifting priorities—essentially, not much actual work. A third of people's time is spent on skilled work, and only 9 percent is spent on strategic work—a stunning 36 percent decrease from last year, which, according to the report, reflects the challenges organizations have in getting distributed teams on the same page.

Other findings in the report show:

• Managers spend the most time everyday on work coordination (62%) followed by the C-suite (60%).
• As an organization grows, so does work about work. Employees at midsize and large companies spend 59 percent of their day on it. That's 5 percent more time than in small businesses.
• Too many meetings (24%) and uncertainty over what to prioritize (22%) are leading to missed deadlines.

Overall, workers are using slightly fewer apps per day (nine) than last year (10), but they still feel overwhelmed by them. Compared with one year ago:

• 42 percent are spending more time on email.
• 40 percent are spending more time on video calls.
• 52 percent are multitasking more during virtual meetings.
• 56 percent feel they need to respond immediately to notifications.
• Although nearly half of employees (47%) find it easier to concentrate at home, 41 percent feel more isolated when working remotely.

"The unprecedented disruption of the pandemic has fundamentally shifted the way we live, including rethinking work and our relationship with it," said Anne Raimondi, COO, Asana. "As we transition into the new era of agile work, it's crucial for organizations to connect their teams around clarity of purpose and a shared sense of accomplishment to ensure employees feel seen, heard, and valued."