10 Stress-Reducing Productivity Boosters You Must Try Today
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Don't want to be one of the unproductive? Try one of these 10 ways to lower your stress – for your sake and the sake of your coworkers.
1. Get Away From Your Desk
You can start reducing your stress and boosting your productivity by learning to walk away from your desk once in awhile. Going for a walk has been shown
To work some desk-free time into your day, consider following the "52-17 method
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AdvertisementBonus: Use the 17 minutes to exercise. Take a walking meeting, invest in a FitDesk
2. Surround Yourself With Productive People
Ever heard the phrase, "You become who you surround yourself with"? It's no different at work: If you surround yourself with productive people
Think of a few people whose productivity you admire and make it a point to interact with them regularly. Ask questions and start conversations. Before you know it, you'll find yourself picking up those positive habits you desire for yourself.
Bonus: Ask a person you admire to be your mentor. Be sure to give as much as you get in the relationship. Learn more about mentoring with these tips
3. Create Accountability
A few tips for increased accountability:
- Give someone permission to ask you what you've gotten done that day – and be honest with them.
- Institute a performance management system that keeps track of your goals and progress.
- Set tangible goals for yourself and keep to them.
Bonus: Plan your upcoming week out on Sunday nights so you have daily duties to accomplish. This will not only help with stress management, but also give you a clear focus for each and every day.
4. Decorate the Office
Adding a little color to your office could be the very thing you need to give you that extra boost: As it turns out, color has a major effect on mood and productivity
Bonus: Can't redecorate? Bring in a plant. One study
5. Try the '5 Before 11' Rule
It isn't unusual to come to work and find yourself overwhelmed by all that needs to get done. That's where the "5 before 11 rule
Bonus: Keep it going – set out five things you want to do after lunch as well.
6. Listen to Music
Bonus: The type of music you listen to can boost your productivity, depending on the type of work you're doing
7. Clear Away Distractions
The Internet is the main productivity killer for 44 percent of people
Bonus: Download a productivity app that blocks social networks for a set amount of time or set your phone to "do not disturb" mode during work hours.
8. Live Better Outside the Office
What you do outside the office may be to blame what happens in the office. Poor diet and exercise may be the culprits behind your high stress levels and lack of productivity. Remember to meditate, exercise, eat right, and sleep well!
Bonus: Even doing something as small as drinking a lot of water can increase productivity by 14 percent!
9. Take Naps
Did you hate being forced to nap as a child? Well, it turns out your mother was just setting you up for a more productive lifestyle. Taking a nap improves alertness and focus. In fact, NASA found that
Bonus: Google knows what's up: Its headquarters features nap pods for employee use
10. Feel Rewarded
Are you even interested in what you are doing? Do you feel your job benefits you? If not, this could spell disaster for your productivity.
Bonus: Hopefully a new gig at which you do feel rewarded.
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If you're feeling stressed out and disengaged at work, try some of these tips. You may find that you feel happier, more productive, and more accomplished. Heck, you may even start rocketing up that corporate ladder faster than ever before!
A version of this article originally appeared on the Reviewsnap blog
Chris Arringdale is the cofounder and president of Reviewsnap