Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all the things you know you should be doing to get more productive at work?
Don’t feel bad, I have too – but I’ve learned a few things about how to get more productive at work that has helped me immensely! And sometimes it’s the out-of-the-box productivity ideas that can bring the most gain.
Here are 6 crazy things you can do to get more productive at work:
1) Get a dartboard
Darts is a fantastic game to play with friends and a dartboard at work is a great way to de-stress even when you’re on your own. It takes very little space but forces you to stand to play, which is great for improving your blood flow and keeping you moving. Darts doesn’t require a large time commitment, so you can take short breaks easily without feeling committed to long breaks that could make you feel guilty or anxious about the things you’re leaving undone.
As darts is a game of concentration, playing helps focus your conscious mind on one activity, allowing your subconscious to work away in the background at finding a solution to your latest challenge. Darts is also all about hand-eye coordination, so practicing it will help with your keyboard and other coordination skills. Finally, if you get good at darts, you can even show off to friends after work.
Note as darts are pointy, please take all necessary precautions to protect everyone nearby!
2) Add more yellow to your workspace
This may sound strange, but scientific studies have shown that humans associate yellow with happiness and the colour can even help with reducing depression. Having some yellow around you can lift your mood and help improve your focus. If you don’t have any yellow lights, paint, plants or décor at your workspace, there are apps you can download that provide a yellow filter if you’re looking for a quick and easy solution.
3) Leave your phone at home
This one is a big one for a lot of people, but if you can, put your phone in your bag or leave it at home. You can even leave your laptop at home too if you want to on days that you really don’t need it. This definitely sets you up for better work-life balance, and while you may not be checking your emails or messages as much, your phone is also not distracting you with notifications, social media, and so on.
If you’re not able to do this, at least consider having phone-free time, when you put your phone on plane mode, or at least put it away where it won’t distract you. Studies have shown that even having your phone sitting on the desk beside you is distracting as we’re trained to keep looking for messages, so putting it away in a bag or draw, where you can still hear it but it isn’t a constant brooding presence, can also help your work focus.
4) Bring your pet to work
Studies have shown that having a pet at work can reduce stress, improve concentration, and make you happier. You will also have built in breaks when your pet needs to go for a walk or potty break. This may need you to check that none of your colleagues or any visiting customers or suppliers have an allergy, and some pets aren’t as office friendly as others, but even an aquarium with fish can be relaxing to watch and help you be more productive at work.
5) Job-swap for a day
This one isn’t for everybody, but if you have a colleague who has a job that is completely different from yours and that you have always been curious about, this can be a great opportunity to get to know a new skill set or industry. If you can convince them to swap jobs with you for a day you both have an opportunity to try something new and apply your skills to solving different challenges and navigating new situations. You may find that it helps you to get a fresh perspective on things and could even find a new career or meet new people that you enjoy.
6) Make your child the boss
There is a lot that has been said about how powerful it is to take a step back and let our children take control. Children are very imaginative and creative and this approach can help you think of new ways to tackle old problems. You may also find that you have more empathy for your child’s perspective and be more understanding of their challenges. They might surprise you with their fresh ideas and perspectives on what you should be focused on at work, and it may set you up for a more productive workplace.
All of these tips are geared to help you get more productive at work, but may not be suitable for every person. However, one of these tips may just help you find a better way to balance your work and life.
