20 Ways to be more Productive at Work

Life gets hectic sometimes and you may think that you never have enough time to do everything or you just become overwhelmed. Work may suffer, and you may feel under severe pressure.

Many people have succumbed to this kind of pressure and left jobs they were more than capable of being successful in.

The following are a few tips based on a lot of research from various Universities to help you deal with the pressures of work and become more productive:

• Work from home more: Research from Stanford University found that call center workers made 13.5% more calls per week from home rather than at the office.

• Work standing up: People who work using stand up desks are 46% more productive than those with a sitting desk – this is a quite a high percentage and a lot healthier! Definitely something to consider.

• Surround yourself with natural light: If you are working in a place where there are big windows with lots of natural light, you will have better quality sleep. This ensures proper rest and productivity increases.

• Have a few plants around: Having a few plants around your desk looks good, but also increases work productivity by 15%.

• Go easy on the air conditioning: Being colder than normal impacts overall productivity – having the temperature at 22 Celsius is just right for maximum work productivity.

• Avoid noise: Workers exposed to even low levels of office noise are slightly more stressed than those in a quiet working environment resulting in not as much work being completed.

• Listen to nature sounds: Nature sounds increase ability to concentrate.

• Check emails less: Checking emails for most of the day wastes too much time and reduces productivity. Deal with the urgent emails first thing and then get on with your other duties.

• Play music if bored: If you listen to music while carrying out monotonous tasks, you will actually get more done.

• Family photo’s: If you have some positive pictures or photographs around you at your desk, your productivity could increase by over 40%.

• Take a walk: Taking a walk gets the blood flowing, which means more oxygen is delivered to each organ and the brain. This results in clearer thinking, more energy and higher productivity.

• Try not to multitask: Try go do one thing at a time and prioritize – multi tasking results in confusion which leads to low productivity.

• Get the hard tasks out of the way first: Most of us have more energy in the morning time. The afternoon brings with it the dreaded slump – energy and willpower decreases which is why you are better off completing the harder tasks in the morning.

• Afternoon nap: If you can – take a small nap in the afternoon. This refreshes the brain and productivity is increased. No more than 30 minutes will do.

• Talk and have the craic with co-workers: Workers who communicate well and go to lunch together are less stressed and are more productive as they have a laugh and talk about their problems.

• Have short regular breaks: Make sure to take short breaks regularly. Stretch your legs and get your blood flowing. You will automatically feel tired if you sit at the same place for lengthy periods which has an effect on productivity.

• Meditate: The benefits of meditation are endless – it clears your brain and helps you focus on what’s happening now. This will help with prioritizing, communication, tiredness and being more alert.

• Breath: Don’t forget to breath properly – most of us feel tense and only slightly breath in which leaves our bodies and brains deprived of oxygen. Breath in more deeply than you normally would and if you can, breath out for longer. Do this for at least 4 breaths. This triggers the parasympathetic system in your body which ensures you get enough oxygen and remain relaxed at your job. Set reminders for yourself to check your breathing throughout the day.

• Visualizing: Instead of visualizing scenarios going wrong in your head – picture them going right for a change. If you have a presentation to do at work and you are very nervous, this is because you are expecting the worst. Instead, think about the best-case scenario. Replay the presentation going really well in your head. Visualize yourself giving a confident presentation and your audience really enjoying it – you can re-train your brain to think like this if you practice it every day.

• And relax …… don’t forget to take time out every day to relax and reflect. Don’t forget to do what you enjoy doing. Catch up with friends, spend some quality time with family or just have some time alone to chill. This helps with everything in life.