10 Life Hacks To Be More Productive At The Office

Do you ever wish your employees could get more done in your office? You’re not alone. The thousands of productivity tools on the market prove that today’s companies are always looking for ways to be more efficient. But, you don’t necessarily need to crack the whip at your employees to get them back on track. Here are 10 simple, low-tech ways to jumpstart your productivity right away.

Streamline your space. Before you do anything else, take a few moments at the start of each day to organize and de-clutter your workspace. Having a clutter-free environment helps you think more clearly and produce better results. By cleaning up and organizing your workspace and your desktop, you will greatly increase your productivity and limit the time you spend searching for items or files. Tools such as business-grade file sharing programs can help keep your desktop clutter-free and the files are stored in the cloud!

Add pops of color or live plants. Color can have a major effect on your mood and productivity throughout the day. Blue creates the feeling of calmness and helps you focus, while red is great for work that requires accuracy and attention to detail. Plants can also help people focus by reducing headaches and fatigue. A study from Texas A&M University found that plants increase workplace productivity and creative performance by up to 30 percent.

Decorate your workspace. In addition to color and plant life, a few personal knick-knacks in your workspace can make you feel more comfortable and relaxed, which can ultimately boost your productivity. We suggest adding meaningful career memorabilia, such as diplomas and awards, and other decorative items that make you feel successful, appreciated and driven. Let’s see some swag!

Get your most dreaded task out of the way. Everyone has at least one task on their to-do list that keeps getting pushed back simply because the thought of actually doing it seems so awful. That task is actually the one you should try to complete first. Instead of waiting until the last minute to finish a assignment, get it off your plate as soon as possible. Your other responsibilities will seem less daunting by comparison, and you’ll stop stressing about that one task all day, making you more productive overall.

Ignore your messages (at least for a little while). Constant email alerts or chat messages popping up on your phone or desktop can really break your focus. Instead of reading every email as it lands in your inbox, try setting your status to busy and only check messages at set intervals. When you’re working on a tight deadline, set up an automatic reply for a few hours or an afternoon, informing the sender that you will be unavailable to respond for a short time. You’ll be amazed at how much quicker you can get things done.

Go mobile. Don’t limit yourself to your primary desk chair. Take your devices with you and go mobile! Spending portions of the workday standing or working at height-adjusted work surfaces can help your energy levels stay up. Using devices that are preloaded with Windows 10 and all of your critical programs allow you be flexible. You can also make a habit of having walking meetings and conference calls. A little extra exercise is good for you!

Prioritize tasks that take less time. It’s easy to procrastinate on short, easy to-do list items and tell yourself you’ll get to them after you’ve tackled your big project for the day. But what if that project takes longer than expected? To avoid scrambling at the end of the workday to complete a bunch of quick tasks (which can really add up, time-wise), get them done earlier. The general rule of thumb for completing tasks is that if it takes less than two minutes to do, tackle it right away.

Take short breaks. Whether it’s a walk around the block, a run to the nearby coffee shop, reading a magazine, or visiting with a colleague, taking short breaks — about 10 to 15 minutes every two hours — helps improve circulation while reducing eyestrain and build-up of muscle tension. Stepping away from something you’re working on can also provide you with a new perspective when you return.

Jam to some music. Wearing headphones doesn’t always mean you’re anti-social. When working, listening to your favorite tunes can help you get into the zone and knock out your to-do list. It also sends a subtle signal to your co-workers that you’d prefer not to be disturbed.

Switch locations. If your employer allows it, take one day a week to work from a different environment, like a coffee shop or a co-working space. The change of scenery and the chance to interact with other people may give you a sense of renewed energy. If you can’t work outside of the office, try finding a quiet space away from other distractions where you can fully focus.

Use one tip or try them all. The amount of effort you put into creating and maintaining an efficient work area will pay off in a big way. Instead of spending time looking for things and shuffling piles, you’ll be able to spend your time…well…working and being happy.

If you are in need of some tools to help you achieve some of these top 10 tips, CTI Technology has got you covered. Reach out to us with your concerns and we can help you become the king…or queen of productivity.