You want to be more productive at work and at home, but the run-of-the-mill productivity hacks just aren't working for you. Perhaps you'll find success with some of these strange but effective productivity tips instead.
Plants In Your Office Increase Efficiency & Productivity
You wouldn't think that plants would boost your productivity. If anything, it would take you extra time to care for your office plants, right? Actually, studies show that a bit of nature can help you focus better. The studies also say that having plants in your office can even prevent fatigue while you're working, helping you get more accomplished at your desk. If you don't want to spend the time taking care of your plant, consider getting a low-maintenance option like a spider plant or a peace lily. Be sure to choose a plant appropriate for the amount of lighting that you get in your office.
The Cutest Animals Actually Make You More Productive
Remember the days when cute cat photos dominated the Internet? It turns out that workers may not have been as unproductive as you might think. Research shows that viewing cute photos can improve your mood and make you better at completing certain tasks. In a Japanese study by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI), researchers found in their study that participants actually performed various different exercises (like fine motor dexterity tasks) better after looking at pictures of really cute things like puppies and kittens, more so than after looking at (slightly) less cute things like regular dogs and cats.
The cuteness apparently elicits cautious behavioral inclinations in a myriad of different situations, making the participants perform the tasks with focused attention to be more careful and gentle after viewing the cute images. So break out the baby squirrel video, and then get back to work.
Let The Music Motivate
Your workplace might have a rule about listening to music at your desk and might consider it a distraction. If it does, just tell your boss about how one study says that noise at about 70 decibels can help boost productivity. That's about the volume of a coffee shop. In fact, the study suggests that if you need to boost productivity, you should visit a local coffee shop. That might be a great option for after work or if you work from home. But if you don't have that luxury in your office, consider starting up Pandora or Spotify on your new iPhone 6, popping in some ear buds and getting to work.
Yellow Keeps You Going
Yellow mimics the color of the sun and daylight. In turn, this decreases the production of melatonin, the chemical that makes you sleepy. So keeping your office bright with yellow tones can help you concentrate and reduce fatigue as you work. Incorporate this by painting your walls if possible, getting new furniture in bright yellow tones, or even placing a yellow plant like a sunflower on your desk. If you really like this idea, you might choose to brighten up your space with yellow folders, sticky notes, note pads, and other yellow office equipment.
Coffee Can Make You Crash
You may live by the belief that coffee is what gets you up and going in the morning and that it's the main ingredient to your productivity. But coffee actually leads a lot of people to crash during the day. Instead, ween yourself off coffee, and you might find that you're more productive all day long, not just in the morning. Be wary about skipping coffee on a cold turkey basis as this can cause headaches and caffeine withdrawal symptoms in individuals who drink caffeine daily.
Stand Up And Stay Alert
Sitting at your desk all day can get tiring. Yes, you know exactly how it is. A quick nap isn't always going to help you shake the fatigue. What could wake you up right now is a quick walk around the office or by simply standing at your desk. You'll get the blood flowing to your muscles, give them a nice stretch, and make them work harder, which can help you feel more awake and alert.
Your normal productivity routine may involve things like using various productivity apps on your phone or taking a five-minute break every now and then. When you incorporate those ideas with the ones mentioned above, you can get even more done at your office desk or at home. Which one of these strange productivity tips will you try first to keep you more awake and alert while working?
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