At the end of the work day, do you feel like you’ve done the most you can with your time or that you’ve left precious minutes on the table thanks to distraction and discomfort? The number of windows in a space, the type of mouse you use, and even your office furniture and decor, can affect your day-to-day productivity. Luckily, numerous quick and easy ways exist to stop leaving time on the table!
Whether you work from home or are looking to boost the productivity of your employees in an office, these hacks will help ensure every day reaches its full potential.
- Add more sunlight to your day.
- Pop outside for a stroll or take a seat near a window. According to a study by Cornell University, employees who sat near windows were able to concentrate longer, thanks to a 56% decrease in drowsiness! P.S. Spending time outside also boosts productivity.
- Provide access to nature and greenery.
- Harvard Business Review found that when employees had access to nature—whether through a window, fake or real plants inside, or even just murals and depictions of greenery—they demonstrated higher task performance, increased helping, and enhanced creativity.
- Take or allow for regular movement breaks.
- Don’t allow yourself to be chained to your desk all day! We’re humans after all. Enjoy a stretch break, take a moment to get a coffee (and a big glass of water), or get outside to refresh your brain. Added movement throughout the day can help you refocus and reenergize.
- Prioritize one task at a time.
- We all love multitasking and think we are very good at it, too. The truth is, no human is 100% capable of multitasking, which means you’re sacrificing quality and productivity when you try. Instead, try starting your day by listing your tasks in terms of urgency so that you can prioritize them one at a time. Remove distractions, close unnecessary tabs and windows, and turn off phone notifications to maintain focus on the task at hand.
- Refine your office space for peak productivity.
- A lot of your office productivity comes down to whether you’re comfortable and whether your office is set up to allow easy flow and movement. An uncomfortable employee is a distracted one, whether they notice it or not! Consider upgrading your office furniture to more ergonomic pieces. This can include desks, chairs, keyboards, and a mouse. Streamline your desk with high-quality, useful supplies. You can also personalize your space and incorporate some of the other tips, such as adding a desk plant or a window.
Ready to Think Monk & Get Productive?
While we can’t always be functioning at peak productivity, we can do ourselves little favours that ensure we get a little more from our days. By following these office productivity hacks, you’ll feel better at the end of your day and have more to show for it!
Visit your local store today and get the office supplies that will make all the difference in your or your employees’ days.