The top 10 ways to boost productivity in your office

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1. Power hour 

A power hour is an hour-long session of focused work that has been shown to improve productivity. In a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology. Generally, participants who participated in a power hour performed better on cognitive tasks than those who didn't participate.


The benefits of performing a power hour extend beyond simply improving your productivity. According to the researchers, power hours also have psychological effects - such as reducing stress and increasing feelings of vigour and alertness. So, why is it so beneficial?


When you're asked to do something for an extended period without breaks, your prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for higher-order cognitive functions) starts to fatigue eventually. This can lead to mistakes being made, longer amounts of time needed to complete tasks, and even reduced creativity due to decreased focus and concentration. 


By taking just 30 minutes out of your day for focused work - whether it's studying for exams or working on complex projects - you can prevent these negative consequences from happening!


2. Recess

Having a few minutes of recess every day can help you stay productive throughout the rest of the workday. Studies have shown that taking short breaks helps to refresh your mind and body, which in turn leads to better productivity. Some experts believe that extended periods of sitting are hazardous to your health, leading to increased risk for heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and even certain forms of cancer.

So how long should a break last?

Typically speaking, a 30-minute break is ideal. This will give you enough time to relax and stretch without feeling too overwhelmed or stressed. Remember: take it easy - don't try too hard during your recess!


3. Time chunking

Time chunking is a cognitive strategy that helps you manage time more effectively. It involves dividing your day or week into small, manageable units of time and focusing on completing tasks within those units.

Studies have shown that people who use time chunking techniques are more productive than those who don't. They're able to complete tasks faster and with less effort overall. Time chunking can also help you stay organized and focused throughout the day, which can make life a lot easier. 


Here's how to apply time chunking in your workday: 

  • Set realistic goals for each unit of TIME Chunking slots (30 minutes? 1 hour?) and stick to them no matter what happens. If you find yourself exceeding your allotted timeframe at any point during the day, set new goals for the next unit of TIME Chunking slots and get back to work! 
  • Break down larger projects into smaller pieces that you can complete successfully within one unit of time chunking slots. For example, if you've been trying to write an article all afternoon but haven't made much progress, break up the project into small sections such as "write 500 words today" or "finish researching this topic".


4. Rock the clock

If you're looking for an easy way to boost your productivity, rock the clock. This simple trick can help increase your alertness and concentration by forcing you to work on a more flexible schedule. By working on different tasks at different times of day, you'll be able to maximize your efficiency and get more done in less time.


There are several benefits to rocking the clock: 

  • It helps break up the monotony and minimize distractions.
  • It allows you to better focus on the tasks because there is always something new waiting for you when you switch gears.
  • You'll become more efficient because it's easier to stay organized when everything is spread out over time instead of confined within one specific timeframe.


5. Organize your email

Email is one of the most important tools that you have in your office. But if it's not organized and managed properly, it can be a huge waste of time. Here are some tips to help you organize and manage your email effectively:

  • Set up folders for specific tasks or projects. This will make it easier to find emails related to those topics, and you'll be able to avoid cluttering up your inbox with unrelated messages.
  • Use filters on your mailbox so that only relevant messages reach your inbox. This will reduce the number of distractions (and potential mistakes) while you're working, and it will also save you time since you won't need to check all of your emails multiple times each day.
  • Flag important emails as "read" or "unread" so that you don't forget about them later on. This way, they'll stay at the top of your list until either you decide to deal with them or they're automatically dealt with by the system (for example, through automatic replies). 
  • Automate tedious tasks such as sending out newsletters or responding to solutions proposals using rules/scripts. This will automates repetitive actions so that you can focus on more important things in your workday."


6. Listen to music

Listening to music can have a positive impact on your productivity. A recent study showed that people who listened to upbeat music while working were more productive than those who listened to calming or sad music. This is likely because happy and uplifting songs tend not to make you feel as overwhelmed or stressed, which in turn allows you to focus better on your work.


But how do you choose the right type of music for boosting productivity? There are several factors you should take into account, such as the tempo of the song, its lyrical content, and whether it's background noise or foreground noise (i.e. if it's playing loudly enough so that you can't hear what else is going on around you). Experiment with different types of songs until you find one that works well for YOU!


7. Drink up

Drinking fluids is essential for maintaining good health and preventing illness. However, many people don't drink enough water or other beverages to meet their needs. This can hurt their productivity at the office.


So, how do you make sure you're getting the hydration your body needs?

For starters, make sure you're drinking eight glasses of water per day.

That's about 2 litres (64 ounces). It's also important to try to drink more fruit juice, sports drinks, and tea than regular soda. These beverages are high in sugar and caffeine but contain nutrients that help improve performance and prevent fatigue. Finally, avoid sugary alcoholic drinks altogether - they will only cause further dehydration and headaches later on!


8. Leave your desk for lunch

Taking a break from your workday to eat lunch is an effective way to boost your productivity. Not only will you be more alert and focused when you return, but you'll also be less likely to make bad decisions when you're hungry.


There are many different types of lunch options available, so it's easy to find something that fits your taste and dietary restrictions. Remember, nutrition is just as important as the food itself - try not to overeat or skip meals altogether because eating on the go won't give you the best results.


Finally, don't forget to drink plenty of water while away from the desk. Dehydration can impact cognitive function in several ways, including making it harder for you to focus on the tasks at hand.

9. Keep it professional

Keeping your work desk and computer clean and organized can boost your productivity. 


By clearing away any unnecessary items, you'll have more room to focus on the task at hand. Here are some tips for keeping your office professional and productive:

  • Keep all papers neatly sorted into folders or notebooks. This will make it easier to locate what you're looking for when working on a project or writing an email.
  • Remove all extraneous decorative items from your desktop (e.g., plants, photos, etc.). These distractions can cause you to lose focus and waste time instead of completing tasks efficiently.
  • Make use of wall space by stacking up bookshelves or placing shelves in high-traffic areas near the window so that materials are easily accessible.
  • Use drawers and filing cabinets rather than cluttered desks to store paper files, pens, pencils, etc. This will keep them organized and easy to access while you're working. 

By following these simple tips, you'll be able to stay focused during busy periods at work and maintain a professional appearance while doing so!


10. Practice presence and meditation

Practice presence and meditation to boost your productivity at the office. Presence refers to being in the present moment, and meditation is a practice that can help you achieve this state. When you are in the present moment, you are more focused and alert, which gives you better concentration and the ability to think more clearly. Meditation also helps improve stress management skills, decreases anxiety levels, increases feelings of peace and well-being, reduces negative thoughts, and allows for deeper insight into whatever task or problem you're working on.

So how do these practices benefit your productivity?


Presence boosts your focus during work tasks by reducing distractions from outside stimuli. This increased concentration leads to improved accuracy when making decisions — as well as quicker completion times overall! In addition, since mindfulness training also teaches self-awareness (i.e., being aware of what's going on inside yourself), it can be a helpful tool for personal growth AND professional success!


Finally, meditation has been shown to reduce hostility (both emotional and physical aggression), increase compassion & kindness towards others - both within oneself and towards others in general - foster resilience against stress & setbacks; promote creativity; enhance decision-making processes; lower rates of mental illness among professionals through reduced rumination & increased wellbeing; help people learn faster; etc… So if increasing your productivity is one of your goals – whether it's due regularly reaching peak performance or just wanting to make life easier – practising presence/meditation may be an important part of the equation!


Conclusion

So, are you ready to take the next step and become a more productive person? Give these tips a try. You will find that they do not just boost your productivity but also help you stay focused throughout the day. In the end, it all boils down to how you can manage your time and organize your office tasks. The key lies in being organized and setting out goals for yourself.


Try out some of these tips that we’ve shared above and watch your work become more efficient!