There are many reasons you need to increase your productivity. Whether you work in an office building or a home office, aspire to make your space less dowdy because people who work in vibrant offices are more happy, motivated, productive, and creative.
Staffs who don’t enjoy their office space come to work less and give excuses like sickness and other related issues. They are also prone to making on-the-job mistakes.
A great working environment isn’t something that happens naturally. It is the result of both physical and mental changes that make a beautiful work environment.
15 Distinct Ways to be More Productive
1. Natural Lighting
Not only does sunlight improve a workplace, but there is a healthy association between natural light in the work environment and workers’ nature of rest and vitality. Specialists find that those who work in workplaces with windows get 173 percent natural light from the sun during work hours and sleep for an additional 46 minutes each night. They were notably more refreshed and, therefore, had better mental stability, ensuring their efficiency level.
2. Time Your Breaks
When working in an office, it’s easy to get into the routine of sitting and typing away on your computer for eight hours straight without even breaking for lunch. However, it would be best to try to schedule brief breaks throughout the day. Also, you can set the alarm on your phone for two to three hours consecutively and give yourself 10 to 15 minutes to be active. Walk to the kitchen or get some fresh air.
3. Help Your Back
Staring down at a computer screen for a long time can hurt your neck and back while sitting in an uncomfortable chair can hurt everything. But you have options! Are you working on a laptop? Get a laptop riser, so it’s eye-level. Also, if you notice that your wrists and hands hurt when typing, get a foam cushion to lean on. Does your back hurt from your chair? Get a back-support work chair or a footrest.
4. Stay Warm
Bring a big scarf or a sweatshirt, and leave it on your desk or compartment. You can even buy a mouse pad that acts as a glove, so your hands don’t get too cold when the weather turns. Your productivity level will increase and help you get through cold periods.
5. Stop Ignoring Your Emails
Attending numerous emails can be daunting, and it’s really easy to ignore them. But ignoring emails costs you more time than if you had just responded right away. Answer your emails when you get them instead of waiting. You will feel better and more productive.
6. Make a Daily To-Do List.
The first thing to do once you get to work is to make a to-do list. As you finish each task, tick it off the list. It’s very satisfying, and it makes you a lot more productive. It also helps you keep tabs on everything planned.
7. Make Your Breaks More Enjoyable.
Download music that makes you happy and blasts it (On your earphone if you share space) on your breaks. Not into that idea? Download your favorite authors’ audiotapes and listen to them. You can even tune into your regular podcasts.
8. Keep Your Desk Organized.
This may seem obvious, but it is very easy to let your desk get super messy. However, It is not easy to feel good about your day and yourself when sitting in a cluttered desk area. Buy fancy office supplies to keep your desk area looking beautiful and organized.
9. Take Vacation Time.
We all need vacations to stay sane. If you cannot afford a vacation or have nowhere to go, have a staycation! Just don’t let yourself go to waste by working round the yearly clock. Besides, looking forward to day-offs makes any day in the office more manageable.
9. Drink Water Often
There are lots of benefits to drinking water throughout the day: but one of those benefits is that it makes you pee a lot, so you’re forced to get up and walk to the bathroom (since sitting all day might is not advisable). Also, water is vital for replenishment and energizing.Â
10. Sit By a Window If Possible
Another way to increase your work productivity is location. Not everyone can choose where they sit, but if you can, sit by a window. Being near a natural light source is better than sitting under fluorescent lights.
11. Clean and Comfortable Space
When in a comfortable and pleasant area, the ambiance will immediately make you feel better. It applies to both the home and work environment. Clear away clutter and broken equipment, repair flickering light bulbs, and temperamental air conditioning or heating units. And though it may not seem like a big deal, invest in new furniture, organic plants, and updated equipment.
12. Limit Meetings
Studies have discovered that workers consistently report meetings as their biggest productivity killer. The average professional goes to 61.8 meetings per month; 63 percent of these meetings don’t have an agenda. Whenever possible, communicate through email, a centralized whiteboard, or other methods that don’t pull you away from your main projects.
13. Don’t Overload Yourself
To increase your productivity to the best level, you need to be realistic about the amount of work that you can handle. An excessive workload, which translates to burnout, is one of the top reasons that people leave jobs unfinished.
Also, when a person works more than 50hrs per week, their productivity level goes downhill fast. Alternatively, you could hire more people if you consistently have excessive workloads. It might cost you more, but you will see greater productivity in the long term.
14. Set Your Own Hours
You may have some commitments that take your time and would rather work longer hours on fewer days. Whenever possible, choose your own work schedule. That will inspire you to work smarter and waste less time.
Few Items to Make Your Office Look Vibrant:
- Desktop Refrigerator
- Washable keyboard
- Desk vacuum
- Foot desk hammock
- Fancy sticky notes
- A humidifier
- Artificial potted plants
- These items are sure to bring some spark to your office design.