6 Tips to Increase Productivity and Improve Your Mood

productive

Want to increase productivity and improve your mood? Here are six simple, fun ways to stop being the grumpy office procrastinator.

Create a comfortable work space

Adults working full time spend a majority of the time they are awake in their work space. Whether you have a cubicle, office or shared workroom, take a few minutes to organize and personalize your work space. Removing clutter can greatly increase your productivity by limiting the time you spend searching for items. Decorate with items that represent your achievements. Diplomas, awards, even sports trophies can make you feel successful, driven, and remind you of times when you worked hard and it paid off. Use Color! Color can have a major effect on your mood. Blues create a feeling of calmness, while red is great for work that requires accuracy and attention to detail.

It can be difficult to keep track of everything you need to do each day. Take a little time each morning to write out your goals for the day. Use a post-it, dry-erase board, or something that is clearly visible from your desk. If you lose focus, or find yourself procrastinating, use this as a reminder of what you should be working on. 

Instead of reading every email as it lands in your inbox, try turning off your notifications and checking messages at set intervals. Why? Constant email alerts popping up on your phone or desktop can really break your focus. It can take up to 64 seconds for a person to recover from being interrupted by an email notification. Keep your attention on the task at hand! By checking your email less frequently, you can send and receive the same amount of emails in less time without taking away your concentration.

“Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”― Mark Twain

Everyone has at least one task they keep pushing off, simply because the thought of actually doing it seems about as enjoyable as swallowing a frog. That is the task you should try to complete first. Instead of waiting until the last minute, get it off your plate as soon as possible. You’ll stop stressing about that one task, make other tasks seem less daunting, and be able to be more productive the rest of the day.

Your productivity diminishes the longer you go without a break, because at a certain point, your mind and body simply cannot produce anymore. Try taking a walk around the block, making a quick run to a nearby coffee shop, reading a non-work related article, or visiting with a colleague. Taking short breaks that are unrelated to your work can make a huge difference in your performance. 

Music helps you focus and improves your mood. Whether you’re running, pumping weights, knocking out house work, or working, life can become one giant to do list. Get into the zone by listening to your favorite tunes and power through your workload. Headphones and earbuds also send a subtle signal that you’d prefer not to be disturbed.

 Source: Business News Daily, GoodReads