The clock strikes 8 in the morning, daily objectives are set, unread emails are sorted – it’s time to hunker down and begin the workday. You start off strong for the first hour and a half, fresh from a good night’s sleep. But as the day progresses into the 11 o’clock hour, you feel yourself starting to wind down. You chalk it up to caffeine withdrawal, but have you ever considered that your body is trying to tell you something?
When you work in an environment that’s focused on creativity and production, you might just find yourself continuously forging ahead despite your body’s signals, never leaving your desk or looking away from your monitor until lunch or closing time. However, more and more studies show that, within reason, spending more time doing less may be the key to getting more done, as paradoxical as it may seem. Here are some tips to improve your productivity throughout the workday.
Take Small Breaks
Remembering to recharge your batteries is one of the best ways to avoid on-the-job burnout. Consider your cellphone – it wakes up every morning with 100% battery life, but as the day goes on, that percentage naturally decreases. However, playing games, having too many apps open or forgetting to shut off the screen speeds up this process, draining your battery to critical levels.
Our brains function much the same way. While at work, you may find yourself going and going without any breaks. And when writer’s block hits, it may be time to take a much-needed rest instead of pressing on. Enjoy a walk around the office, fill up your water bottle or practice deep breathing. With a restored state of mind, you’ll find it much easier to dive back into the day’s work.
Listen To Music
Sound moves people. From psychological to physiological responses, music stimulates the human mind and body, engaging various regions of the brain. It’s no surprise that listening to music at work may deliver a hearty jolt to your mood. Among triggering happy emotions, picking songs from your favorite artists can even encourage creativity.
While you may enjoy listening to show tunes, your coworker in the next cubicle over may feel inspired when pampering their ears with classic rock. And some colleagues may prefer not to listen to music at all. By wearing headphones on the clock, you can work how you function best without disrupting your coworkers.
What tips do you have for creating a relaxed work environment that maximizes creative power? Let us know what you think, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram to stay up to date.
