5 Surprising Ways to Boost Your Productivity
You might be surprised to read about some of these quick and simple ways to increase your productivity!
Remember when your mom used to tell you to make your bed in the morning? Well, there’s a good reason for this: it may improve your productivity levels. In his book titled “The Power of Habit,” Charles Duhhigg explains this phenomenon.
According to Duhhigg, making up your bed doesn’t necessarily improve productivity levels — not directly, at least. Instead, it creates a chain reaction in which you’ll find yourself doing other productive tasks. Try making up your bed in the morning for an entire week to see if it has a positive impact on your productivity.
If you have a job that requires you to work indoors, try opening the blinds to let in some natural sunlight. Aside from being an excellent source of vitamin D, sunlight can stimulate the brain to get the wheels of creativity turning. Some studies have even shown that people who work in areas that receive natural sunlight experience higher productivity levels than those who work in dim environments.
Far too many people today habitually eat fast food and other highly processed foods on a daily basis. While there’s nothing wrong with an occasional burger and fries from your local fast food joint, it shouldn’t become a routine. The problem with fast food is that it’s often devoid of any real nutritional value. So while you may feel full after eating it, it’s not going to supply your body with the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Subsequently, this can have a negative impact on your productivity — it can increase the risk of illness while bogging down your mind and cognitive function. It can also lead to weight gain, which can slow you down too.
Equally as important as a healthy diet is exercise. When you exercise, your body responds by producing and releasing “happy” hormones like endorphins, dopamine and serotonin. This is why some runners experience a “runner’s high” after performing a long run or jog. Consequently, with more of these hormones flowing through your body, you’ll have a greater desire to produce work. Besides, exercising will also reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and even cancer, so it really doesn’t make sense not to exercise.
If you haven’t been following a regular routine already and aren’t sure where to start, grab a pair of sneakers, download your favorite music, podcast, or audio book and go for a walk. Try to walk for at least 15 minutes, and then increase that amount each week. Many people find if they wear an activity tracker like a Fitbit, they feel more motivated to meet daily and weekly fitness goals.
Take a look around your workspace. Can you see your desk? Or is it covered in stacks of paper, empty Starbucks cups, dozens of sticky notes or 17 photos of your kids and pets? Research has shown that a cluttered work space can be distracting and reduce your productivity. Your eyes are constantly drawn to these objects, making harder for your brain to stay focused. Spend some time and tidy up your workspace. Invest in organizers to help manage paper, or better, file cabinets and shelves to get things off your desk.
Know of any other ways to improve productivity? We’d love to hear them in the comments section below!
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