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Tips for Being Less Distracted {& More Productive} at Work

November 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Tips for Being Less Distracted at Work

If you find yourself distracted at work, you are sadly not alone.  The average worker loses more than 2 hours every day because of distractions.  There are so many distractions, both internal and external.  Yes, you are to blame for some of your distraction levels.  On the other hand, many distractions come in the form of office noise, of which you are not exactly in charge.  All that being said, here are some tips to deal with distractions so you can improve your productivity at work.

Prioritize your day.  It’s tempting to sit down and open up email and Facebook and all that junk, which unfortunately are quite a time suck.  Rather than waste your time, start every morning by working on a high priority task while you are still fresh and motivated.  Once you really need a break, move onto your less important tasks such as e-mail.

Eliminate self-inflicted distractions! Since you distract yourself, why not try turning off your self-distractions, such as email or phones, and turn on a personal sound machine to block the noise around you. Then apply the same principle as above by spending 30 to 60 minutes focusing solely on a high priority task. Then, take a break to check email and then get back to your distraction-free work.

You can also use white noise to block excessive office noise, instead of wasting time and energy trying to block the extra conversations around us. If you have never used white noise, try out this free white noise generator to see you find it helpful at work.  With white noise, the interruptive sounds and distracting discussions fade into the background.

Stand up and walk around when you start to feel stiff or struggle with concentration. A little movement can relieve muscle strain and increase blood circulation to the brain. A study at USC recently found that standing can increase brain function by 5% to 20%. Dehydration can also decrease your productivity by more than 20 percent, so have a drink of water on your break.

When distracted at work, use a white noise machine to block removing the time-consuming distractions and office conversations so you will feel less stressed, more productive, and also able to leave on time for a relaxing evening.

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White Noise Helps Recover Wasted Energy

October 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you are like me, you feel drained at the end of the day and struggle to finish your work on time. While you should look into medical reasons for decreased energy, upgrading to ergonomic tools and eliminating distraction can help prevent energy wasted muscle strain and poor concentration. Here are some tips to reduce the amount of wasted energy and recover some of your lost productivity.

Try Using White Noise – It takes a great deal of energy and effort to concentrate in the midst of distractions and noise.  Most people lose up to two hours a day from interruptions and distractions at work. But a personal sound machine can help by covering unrelated conversations and surrounding office noise. Try establishing a distraction-free time of 30 to 60 minutes; turn off all your self-distractions, such as e-mail or phone calls, and turn on a white noise machine to block out office noise and conversations. This will allow you to work with focused energy.

Drink More Water.  If you wait until you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Even slight dehydration can decrease your energy and productivity by more than 20%.  Although the necessary water varies by weight and activity level, a general rule of eight full glasses of water each day is a good place to start.

Upgrade to Ergonomic Tools.  Ergonomic products are designed to help you maintain a a neutral typing posture where your muscles are at their lowest strain and even relaxed. Good posture prevents you from wasting energy on strained muscles and a sore back. Start with a well-adjusted, ergonomic chair to encourage good posture for long periods of time. And make sure your back is well supported and add more lumbar support if your chair doesn’t provide enough. You should also try an ergonomic keyboard to help improve your hand and wrist posture; it will reduce the energy and muscle movement required for each key stroke.

Be Aware of Your Energy-Draining Tasks. Do you find that certain tasks or dealing with certain people drain you faster than your normal work? We all have things we don’t like to do and personalities that challenge us.  Think about what or who these are for you and be deliberate about how you deal with them. Find a good time of day for you, when you are not hungry or tired, and spend only 10 or 15 minutes on this work. If necessary, come back to finish the task a little later in the day. When you finished, work on something that energizes you.

We all encounter distractions and physical discomfort that drains us of our energy and concentration. Try using white noise to cover the constant office noise around you. And upgrade to a good ergonomic chair or an ergonomic keyboard to help relieve some of the physical pain. Changing a few habits can significantly impact your energy and help you regain your productivity.

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Tips for Being More Productive at Work

September 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It’s probably not a big leap to say that you feel dead at the end of the day.  However, if you’re like me, you feel drained even before the end of the day.  It’s frustrating to feel behind before you even get started and to watch your productivity leave you {or never even join you in the first place}.  If you’d like to recover your wasted energy, check out these tips.

  • Maintain Good Posture. Surprisingly, bad posture can really drain you because slouching or sitting in an awkward position requires extra work by the major muscle groups in your back and arms.  In addition to how you sit, it’s critical to try to maintain a neutral typing posture where your muscles are at their lowest strain and are even relaxed.Ergonomic chairs are specifically designed to support good posture for long periods of time and have adjustable arm rests to help support your arms for good typing positioning.
  • Start Using White Noise. Distractions are massively draining- the average worker loses more than 2 hours a day to them!  Start by establishing a distraction-free time with no e-mail or phone calls – maybe even hang a sign indicating when you will next be available for interruptions — and turn on a white noise machine to block out office conversations and noise around you.
  • Upgrade Your Keyboard. In the same way that poor posture strains you back and arms, poor positioning of your hands and arms wastes energy and can strain muscles. Ergonomic keyboards are wonderfully designed to improve hand posture and reduce the energy and muscle movement required for typing. You should try the many different designs and sizes to find one that fits your hands and needs.

We all encounter distractions and interruptions that drain us of our energy and break our concentration. Set aside a distraction-free time and use a personal sound machine to help you focus and make the most of your time.

 

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Tips for Staying Productive

July 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Tips for Staying Productive

Do you struggle to stay on top of your day?  Do you find that you are sometimes you own enemy?  No one likes to be micromanaged, but at the same time, it’s hard to be self-disciplined all the time.  I find I am not the world’s best boss when I manage myself.  That said, here are some things I do to stay productive even when it seems the world is against me.

  1. Think ahead. I’m a planner, I’ll admit it.  Since I am tired at the end of the day, I like to spend the last 30 minutes or so organizing my desk or firing off some emails to get the information I need for the next day.
  2. To-Do List. Nothing feels as good as marking something off a to-do list.  I love my computer, but I prefer a physical list or calendar to mark off due dates.  This is a very motivating task for me.
  3. Stay ahead.  Some jobs cannot allow for working ahead, but I like knowing that if I were to get sick or one of my kids needed me, I would have some give and not lose money or time.  Thus, whenever possible, I like to stay a week ahead, or even just a few days, which also serves the purpose of keeping me motivated and on top of deadlines.
  4. Establish an ergonomically friendly space. I like an ergonomic work space.  Besides preventing injury and providing comfort, ergonomic products and tools allow for greater efficiency.  For example, using a mini keyboard means that I literally have less space to cover when typing and also allows for my mouse to come in alongside it.  Centralizing the keyboard and mouse leads to faster, more efficient typing in that there are fewer movements.  Plus, I am less likely to suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
  5. Turn on a sound machine.Working in an office is loud, and working from home can be pretty distracting, too.  Thus, a sound machine is a great investment- you can even try a free white noise generator to see if it’s for you.

Having a good plan, finding good ergonomic tools and fits, as well as taking advantage of a sound machine to reduce distractions, are essential in achieving efficiency and productivity at the work place.

 

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Tips & Tools for More Productivity

June 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Distracted Workers Are Unproductive, Disengaged, & Likely to Make Mistakes

Besides just being smarter, more creative, and just more brilliant every day, there are a few things you can do or use to increase your productivity.  Most of us lag at some point during the day, and it’s a documented fact that the average worker is distracted more than 2 hours every day.  Most of this is attributed to conversational distraction, but any interruption counts.  What’s more, highly distracted workers are usually disengaged workers who experience more stress and make more errors while simultaneously less making fewer ergonomic adjustments.  That said, here are some ergonomic tips that you can’t afford to ignore- hopefully, they’ll get you more productive and less stressed.

  • Try an ergonomic desk if possible.  They are designed to optimize the arrangement of your office tools, making every movement more efficient and increasing your productivity. These specially designed desks make ergonomics easy for any worker.
  • Raise your computer screen. The ideal set-up for your monitor is straight in front of you at eye level, about 20 inches away from your face. If your monitor is too low, you will strain your neck looking down all the time. Try installing a simple monitor or desk riser to provide additional height at an affordable price.
  • Use a document holder. Looking down to read from a paper or notepad when typing puts enormous strain on your neck and shoulders. This inexpensive tool will increase your productivity while typing and help relax your over-used muscles. Place your document holder as close to your monitor as possible and at the same distance from your face, to prevent eye strain and muscle tension.
  • Try a phone headset. Avoid trying to use your hands while on the phone by cradling the handset between your shoulder and . It may be tempting to gain the use of your hands, but this will very quickly stain your shoulders and neck. If frequent phone calls are impacting your productivity and increase your physical discomfort try using a headset for phone calls. A headset will comfortably free your hands for other tasks.
  • Move your keyboard and mouse. This is probably the most important adjustment for any work space. Add an adjustable keyboard tray to optimize the ergonomic placement of your keyboard and mouse. Your keyboard should sit a few inches above your lap, slightly below your elbow height. A gentle slope downward, away from your body helps you keep your hands and wrists in a relaxed,neutral position and eliminates over-reaching for top keys or the mouse. This ergonomic posture has the greatest impact on productivity, by reducing the wasted work exerted while typing.
  • Try a sound machine- you know how noisy and distracting offices can be.  Tuning it out will help you keep your focus and hopefully keep you from making extra errors.

Make the most of your workspace with these helpful tips. Adding an adjustable keyboard tray will significantly impact your productivity and other tools include a monitor riser, a document holder, an ergonomic desk, and even a sound machine.

 

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Tips to Increase Productivity {with White Noise}

May 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

We all want to make the most of our time at work.  But instead, we are constantly bombarded by distractions or discomfort at work. Here are some helpful tips to increase your productivity and efficiency.

1. Restore Good Posture – The goal while sitting at a computer is to maintain a neutral typing posture, where your muscles are almost completely relaxed. Improving your posture will make you more comfort and boost your productivity. Get a good, ergonomic chair that encourages good posture, and adjust it to specifically fit your body. Make sure you feet sit firmly on the ground and that your back is well supported; you can also add portable lumbar support if your backrest is not sufficient.

2.      Try white noise – Random office noise and interruptions consume about two hours a day for the average office worker. Most of us spend our day trying to concentrate through the conversations around us. White noise can help. Try out this free white noise generator to see if you could benefit from masking the miscellaneous noise at work.  White noise can help cover up interrupting noises and make surrounding conversations fade into the background.

3.      Set your priorities. Each morning, list out your most important tasks or projects and spend the first part of your day on a high priority task while you are fresh and motivated. Don’t default to checking e-mail or phone messages first thing. This will help lower your stress and make you feel productive.

4.       Eliminate distractions! A recent study found that people tend to distract themselves at work as often as others distract them. Set a period of time like a 30 to 60 minutes and turn off all your self-distractions, like your phone and e-mail, and turn on a personal sound machine to block conversations. Spend this time in focused concentration working on a high priority task. At the end of your time, take a short break and then get back to your distraction-free work mode.

5.      Take a break. If you are feeling stiff or are struggling with a project, stand up and stretch. This will relieve muscle strain and increase blood circulation to the brain. A study at USC recently found that standing can increase brain function by 5% to 20%. And drink water throughout the day; so even slight dehydration can decrease your productivity by more than 20 percent.

Increasing your productivity and efficiency can lower your stress and help you complete your work by the end of the day. Start by maintaining good posture with a good, ergonomic chair that is properly adjusted to support your body. Next, decrease the time-consuming distractions and office noise with a white noise sound machine. Working to make changes in your habits and environment can help you feel more productive and less stressed at the end of the day.

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Tips for How to Be More Productive at Work

March 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Just Another Manic Monday

Many of my work days are like my Sundays.  Let me explain.  On Sundays, I am full of energy and plans and all that I am going to do and accomplish when we get home from church- spend quality time with my kids, make a great meal, even get a little work done.  However, by the time I actually reach the afternoon, I feel lazy and unproductive, and wind up not getting that much out of my day.  {One could argue that Sunday is meant to be a day of rest…}

Tips for More Productivity

I find the same principle for work- I’m not a slacker by nature, but I usually falter without a good strategy.  It doesn’t matter how good my intentions are, I struggle to follow through without a plan of attack.  And since I thrive on efficiency, a plan of attack is a must.  Thus, I thought I’d share a few things I’ve found that help me stay focused and on top of my work that I hope will help you, too.

  1. Think ahead.  I like to end the day by thinking what needs to be done tomorrow and planning as I can to ensure those tasks can and will get done.  It may be organizing my desk so that I can start fresh the next morning, or it may mean firing off some emails to get the information I need for tomorrow.  I’m usually shot at the end of the day anyway, so I might as well make the most of it by preparing for tomorrow.
  2. I find it incredibly satisfying to mark tasks or projects off as I complete them.  For me, actually drawing a clean line through a to-do item motivates me to keep going and keep marking things off.  I typically jot down due dates on a physical calendar that I keep at my desk.
  3. I try to never get behind.  I know that sounds impossible, and some jobs cannot allow for working ahead, but I like knowing that if I were to get sick or one of my kids needed me, I would have some give and not lose money or time.  Again, plotting my work out on a  calendar helps me be visually aware of where I am at all times.
  4. I like an ergonomic work space.  Besides preventing injury and providing comfort, ergonomic products and tools allow for greater efficiency.  For example, using a mini keyboard means that I literally have less space to cover when typing and also allows for my mouse to come in alongside it.  Centralizing the keyboard and mouse leads to faster, more efficient typing in that there are fewer movements.  Plus, I am less likely to suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
  5. I use white noise as needed.  Working in an office is loud, and working from home can be pretty distracting, too.  Thus, a sound machine is a great investment- you can even try a free white noise generator to see if it’s for you.

Having a good plan, finding good ergonomic tools and fits, as well as taking advantage of a sound machine to reduce distractions, are essential in achieving efficiency and productivity at the work place.

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Increasing Your Productivity {Remove Distractions with White Noise}

March 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I am always looking for ways to make the most of my work day. Here are some surprising, but effective tips to increase productivity and efficiency:

  • Prioritize your day – Always jump into the most important tasks first thing in the morning, before checking your email or answering phone calls. This guarantees that the priority tasks get done while you are freshest.
  • Use white noise – Random office noise, completely unrelated to you and your work consumes almost two hours a day for most people. Try out this free white noise generator to see if you could benefit from masking the miscellaneous noise at work.
  • Establish a ‘No-Interruption’ Mode – New studies have found that people distract themselves at work almost as often as they are distracted by other people. Designate a specific period of time to turn off all distractions (such as Facebook, Instant Messenger, Email and even your phone) in order to optimize your focus on the project at hand. At the end of your time, take a short break to check your phone and email, then go back to the ‘No-Interruption’ mode.
  • Take a break – Get up from you chair and walk around. About once an hour, stretch your muscles, look around and breathe deeply. This will help relieve stress, relax your muscles and increase blood flow to your brain.
  • Drink more water – Your brain is about 75% water. Getting even slightly dehydrated can decrease your productivity and energy by up to 20%. As a general rule aim for eight full glasses of water a day.
  • Sit up straight – Good posture one of the most important changes any computer user can make to improve comfort and productivity. The ultimate goal is to maintain a neutral typing posture while using your computer more productively.  Start with a good, ergonomic chair and adjust it to support your body. Move the back rest up or down to find the angle that best fits the curve of your back. Make sure your lower back has enough support, or add portable lumbar support. Lower your chair height so your feet rest firmly on the floor and adjust your arm rests to provide easy elbow and arm movement.
  • Get Organized – Clear off all the clutter on your desk and stop wasting time looking for things. Place the frequently used items, like your phone or stapler, within easy reach. Try using an adjustable keyboard tray to open more space on your desk, and to allow for better typing posture.
  • Upgrade your keyboard – Ergonomic keyboards are designed to help you type faster, more comfortably and more efficiently. Try out several different keyboards to find one that best fits your hands. Give yourself a few weeks to adjust to the new fit and style.

These simple tips can help you make the most of your time. Eliminate distractions by turning off your phone or email, and by adding a personal white noise generator to your work. Increasing your comfort with a well-designed, ergonomic chair or upgrading to an ergonomic keyboard can also help you remain productive all day long.

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3 Ways to Be More Productive at Work

February 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

You may not love this late winter season (January & February), but unfortunately you still have to show up for work.  And since you’re there, you might as well make the most of it and give the beginning of the year a kick start.  Here are some pretty easy ways to waste less time on distraction and get more out of your day.

  1. Conversational distraction is not just a school problem; it literally eats away at your productivity almost anywhere.

    Deal with distraction head-on.  It’s a fact that the average employee is distracted more than 2 hours a day.  Most of that comes by way of conversational distraction.  Hopefully, your office has or is considering sound masking,a highly effective use of in-tile speakers to emit white noise for the masking of conversational distraction.  If not, there are some equally simple desktop sound machines, as well.  You can try nature sounds, or plain old white noise.  If you’re not sure if it’s for you, try out this free online white noise generator.

  2. Consider ergonomic products, such as an ergonomic keyboard (left-handed,mini, wireless, etc.), mouse, and/or chair.  being comfortable and using your equipment properly ensures that you will work most efficiently and simultaneously avoid work-related stress and injuries.  Ergo products may be an investment, but the long-term health benefits far outweigh the initial cost.
  3. Set up a “quiet time” as you see fit and as your boss permits.  Quiet time is not for kicking back, but rather a tech-free and/or sound-free chunk of time devoted to hands-on work, group collaboration, or personal organization.  Whether it’s once a week or 30 minutes a day, by taking advantage of some non-stressful, quiet time, you allow yourself a break from incessant ringing, buzzing, and beeping so you can focus on desk work or even staying on top of organization. Some workers find that the an ideal time for organization is 4-5pm on Fridays since it’s one of the least productive work times anyway…you might as well clean off your desk and get projects prepped for Monday.

Instead of dragging through these dreary months and just surviving, why not thrive?  It’s up to you to be proactive in dealing with whatever is dragging you down.

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Cheap & Free Tips for Improved Productivity

June 21, 2010 By 1 Comment

Going from 120 days of vacation…to 14

I remember being a sophomore in college and my borhter who was graduating made the horrifying connection that his reward for finishing his degree was going from 4 months of vacation to 2 weeks.  It was staggering indeed…and maybe prompted, or at least confirmed, my desire to be a teacher.  Who doesn’t love summers off?

Unfortunately, if you’re one of the millions of office workers, chances are you don’t have 3 months off in the summer.  Your boss doesn’t care if it’s a gorgeous 80-degree day, your deadlines are still looming over you.  All your pent-up desire to be outside should inspire you to work faster and more productively so you can get out of the office on time and enjoy your nights and weekends to the fullest!

So, how about some tips for being more productive?  And, while we’re at it, let’s make ‘em cheap or free solutions, so you can put your money towards your next vacation.

Cheap {or Free} Ways to be More Productive

  • Which desks motivates you to work?

    Mentally prepare yourself before you arrive at work.  Know where you left off and where you would like to start so you don’t feel overwhelmed.

  • Clean your desk.  Throw away any litter/trash, wipe it down, file papers, and organize your stuff.  A more organized desktop enables you to focus on what’s important rather than be discouraged by the mess.  It’s worth the time it takes to get it tidied, but try to keep it organized so you don;t have to sacrifice another day in a few weeks.
  • Try white noise- you can even use a free generator.  By blocking out your annoying or just distracting co-workers, you can get up to 2 more hours out of your work day.
  • If possible, adjust your chair and/or desk for a better, more productive fit so you can reach what you need without overextending.
  • Pull your mouse in so that’s it’s right next to the keyboard.  This will help you avoid RSI and keep you in top-notch form.
  • Avoid eye strain and unnecessary headaches by raising your monitor to eye level.  Any type of pain will keep you from performing at your best level.
  • Switch tasks- you’ll give your eyes a break and keep your mind sharp by alternating between computer work and desk work.
  • At the end of the day, jot down where you are so that you can jump right back in the next work day.  (see the first tip)
Here’s to you being more productive so that you can leave work behind you as you enjoy your summer!
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