14 Sep Life Hacks 101: Natural Ways to Increase Your Productivity
Sometimes we have days that just drag on, and we aren’t able to stay focused, for whatever the reason. All of us have these days, and it’s OK, it happens. However, that doesn’t mean that not being able to stay focused doesn’t have its fair share of downfalls. You lose focus, and your productivity goes down. It goes hand in hand. Luckily, there are some simple life hacks that you can implement into your office space that can help increase your focus and productivity.
Don’t you wish you could squeeze more hours into the day? Well unless you can warp time, that’s not happening, but there are ways to increase your productivity so you can make the most out of your day. Are you curious to learn some of these life hacks? If so, read on to learn some of the natural ways to increase your productivity.
Let There Be Light
When we say this, we don’t mean artificial light. Instead, we are speaking of natural light, the light that you receive from the sun. Even if you are not a sun worshipper, we all should take in more sunlight. Studies have shown that natural light helps elevate your mood, decreases your chances of a headache, increases your ability to concentrate, and can even contribute to improving your physical and mental health. So open up those windows and allow that natural light to flood in!
Get Some Shut Eye
One of the “laziest” ways to increase your productivity is to take a short nap. Taking a power nap can help you restore your energy, boost your cognitive ability, increase your memory, as well as enhance your overall performance. While the timing of this mid-afternoon power nap will vary depending on when you wake up in the morning, the best time is typically between the hours of 1:00 and 3:00 PM. Just make sure you keep your power naps short, keeping them at about 15 to 20 minutes.
The Psychology of Color
Since we are visual creatures, we are affected by what our senses take in on a daily basis. You may not realize this, but color does have an immense effect on the brain. There is a psychological aspect to color. Color can affect your responsiveness, emotions, and mood. For example, green is a calming color that is great for reducing anxiety. Blue is a calming color that can help lower the heart rate while increasing efficiency and communication. While orange is an energizing color that helps increase brain activity, so it is best for jobs that require endless energy.
Set the Ideal Temperature
If the room you are in is too hot or too cold, this can affect your overall performance. Even a few degrees can have a significant impact on your focus and engagement. While old research stated that the ideal temperature for an office is between 70 and 73 degrees Fahrenheit, more recent studies have taken into account that women are more susceptible to cold than men. Depending on who you listen to, some say the perfect temperature is around 77 degrees Fahrenheit. So what’s the end verdict? Use your best judgment and take the design of the building into account, but keep that thermostat somewhere between 70 and 77 degrees.
