We’ve all been there, right? You’ve just wrapped up another dull, dreary day at your office desk, where you spent more time contemplating the hours ‘til you head home than the task at hand. Those spreadsheets? That’s a problem for tomorrow. Those reports? You’ll get to them eventually…right?
Businesses and workers alike need new ways to maximise performance, efficiency, and productivity, all while creating a happier, healthier workplace, but how?
Truth be told, sitting at your desk all day can be draining, but this doesn’t mean a productive day at the office should be difficult to come by. In fact, you can boost your productivity without breaking a sweat with a few of the tips we’re sharing today. Give them a look!
1. Bring a little of the outside in
It turns out adding a little greenery to your desk may be just what the office doctor ordered. How so? According to research published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, exposure to the colour green apparently makes you that much more productive.
Sure, it may not dance, but it also gives you the perfect excuse to annoy entertain your colleagues with the odd ‘I am groot!’. What’s not to love?
You don’t need a big plant, either. Small succulents or air plants make for the ideal office greenery. Not only are they great to look at, they also require minimal attention, which means less time watering and more time working on those spreadsheets.
2. Take regular breaks
Have you ever felt chained to your desk? All it takes is a busy day, week, or even month and the cabin fever can start to set in. Was there ever a time before you sat down at work this morning?
As we highlighted in our earlier post on office ergonomics, a short break of just five minutes can make for a happier, healthier, more productive you! It can also help stave off eye strain, get your blood circulating, and minimise the risks that come with a sedentary working life.
Best of all, it’s easy to do. Set a reminder, alarm, or use an app to help you make a habit of it. Get up and out of your chair, and stretch your legs every half hour. Wander around the office, grab a drink, and give your eyes a rest.
3. Make the switch to a sit / stand desk
We’ve talked at length about the ways a standing desk can benefit your health, but did you know that it can boost your productivity, too?
A stand up desk does more than just make you stand, it gets you moving and constantly shifting between a seated and standing position. This movement increases the flow of blood and oxygen around your body, leaving you feeling energised.
Don’t just take our word for it, either. According to Stuff.co.nz, some studies have shown a 46% increase in productivity as a result of using a standing desk, while others have shown a more conservative increase of around 10%.
4. Nullify office chatter with noise cancelling headphones
A 2001 study by Cornell University highlights that prolonged exposure to noise can seriously affect the health and, in turn, the productivity of office workers.
Time spent ‘round the watercooler for a little office gossip is all well and good, but no one wants to hear about what Garry did at the office party when there’s serious work to be done!
Passive aggressive Post-It notes will only get you so far, which is why a pair of noise-cancelling headphones may be your best option. Not only will you keep the hum of the office out of your head, you’ll be able to listen to some upbeat, productive tunes while you’re at it without interrupting your co-workers.
5. Fidget!
Fidget? We’re talking, of course, about stress balls, fidget cubes, and fidget spinners. And they’re far more than just an internet fad, too!Studies have found that fidget toys help to alleviate stress, which can improve your mood, increase your productivity, and help you stay focused.
The idea behind these things is pretty simple: stress builds up throughout the day, but rather than quite literally sitting with it and ruminating on how work has wronged you, these toys let you release all of that stress into spinning, twisting, or just straight up crushing the life out of a fidget toy. And it works!