mötesfria

Mötesfri (literally "meeting-free") is a workplace practice in which meetings are restricted or avoided during designated times or days to create blocks of uninterrupted work time. The term is commonly used in Swedish discussions of organizational culture and has gained broader international attention as a strategy to reduce meeting fatigue and improve focus and productivity.

Common implementations include a mötesfri day—a day with no internal meetings— or regular blocks of time (for example mornings) designated as meeting-free. Some organizations adopt a company-wide no-meetings week. In practice, teams are encouraged to use asynchronous communication, clear calendars, and well-defined agendas to maintain coordination without scheduling live meetings.

Rationale for mötesfri centers on reducing context switching, fragmentation of attention, and lengthy coordination efforts. By protecting deep-work periods, employees can plan, focus, and execute tasks more efficiently. It is often part of larger movements toward flexible work arrangements, better work-life balance, and more intentional use of time at work.

Implementation considerations include leadership support, explicit policy, and calendar governance. Effective mötesfri requires agreed rules, time-boxed meetings, and clear exceptions for emergencies, external commitments, or time-sensitive collaboration. Cultures vary in readiness, and not all roles can be fully mötesfri; some coordination needs may necessitate occasional meetings or hybrid approaches.

Limitations and reception vary by organization. Potential drawbacks include reduced spontaneous collaboration and perceived responsiveness. Success depends on consistent application, clear communication, and a culture that values asynchronous work and respect for designated meeting-free periods.