We have all been there, those days where all you want to do is crawl under the desk and fall asleep, but the boss is ever watching, like a lion stalking prey. While you may love your job, you may have days where you feel you have left your brain in bed and you struggle to get any work done. Sometimes, coffee just isn’t enough. Fear not though, there are some things you can do to boost your energy to ensure that you keep up that level of productivity. To assist you on those sluggish office days, here are a couple of suggestions that can help give you the charge you need!
Prepare yourself
Try and get to the office at least 15 minutes early, this will give you time before you start to plan out the day ahead. You can prioritise your daily tasks, while getting yourself ready to start dead on time. Go get a coffee, have a quick chat, get it all out of the way. Doing so will make sure that you do not come up against any delays, or any distractions (like getting your coffee before you start). You can then work for a solid hour which will set the tone for the rest of the day.
Take regular Breaks
Break time isn’t just for kids, adults need it to. It’ll give you a chance to stop your brain from going into over load, digest all the work you’ve done and to help with focusing on certain tasks better. Taking regular breaks with a distraction allows the brain to relax to go back to the task with a clear mind. 15 minutes is enough to help you be more productive.
Plenty of Water
When the body is dehydrated, it has some negative effects on the brain; you start to feel sleepy and sluggish. Make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day either from a personal water bottle, or taking occasional trips to the water cooler. Having a water cooler installed is an excellent excuse to take a quick break to get a drink and chat with fellow colleagues.
Avoid distractions
If you need to respond or deal with a personal task, avoid doing it during the work hours. Do it on your lunch break, this way, it won’t distract you from the task assigned and can help you focus more. Use you break or lunch to use Facebook, answer personal calls or emails and be strict about keeping them to your own time.
Clear clutter
If your desk is filled with old paperwork, used mugs or empty crisp packets, it effects on your mind. Organising your desk and removing any of the unnecessary clutter will allow you to focus and manage the important things that are left.
Following these five tips should be enhance your work productivity and give you that boost to get through the day. Organising your time and your desk space is key to making sure that you are truly productive. Avoid sugary foods and caffeinated drinks (if possible) as this can lead to the body burning too much energy. Soon, you may be giving advice to your colleagues about how they too can increase their productivity!
Bill Turner is a writer and entrepreneur. He likes to walk his 2 Yorkies along the beachfront and hike mountains in the winter.
