5 Business Productivity Tips

There are plenty of tools and apps out there that sell the promise of productivity and certainly, the right tools can be helpful. But productivity is usually about habits and being in the right mental and physical workspace. In this post, the productivity tips recommended are based on changes you can make both internally and externally. Just remember to be patient with yourself, old habits take time to break and new ones need time to build. With that said, below are five tips to help you make that adjustment.

Create a Productive Workspace

This can mean anything from an inspirational cat poster to pictures of your family to a beautiful landscape. The idea is that being in a space you personally find esthetically pleasing is both consciously and subconsciously conducive to being productive. If you’re allowed to play music in your space, especially your favourite songs, this can also help you stay productive.

Also if you’re able to, give yourself enough room to walk around in your workspace as sometimes pacing can help you think and when the ideas do come, your workstation is easily accessible. Having a whiteboard, calendar or a posted to-do list will ensure that no tasks are forgotten while also helping you manage your time. 

Finally, if you find that your workspace isn’t motivating you anymore, you can change it around by moving your desk to a new position and/or change the decor.

Get into a Routine

Productivity thrives on consistency and the brain needs a structured routine to tell it when to concentrate, when to rest, when to daydream and when to sleep. One of the first steps to productivity is to create a schedule and stick to it.

When creating your schedule, optimize the time that you’re naturally most productive by scheduling your most important tasks or heaviest workload at that time and keep it uninterrupted. For most people, that time is usually first thing in the morning and while you may need to decompress from a long commute, try not to spend too much time replying to emails and dive right into your most important tasks as quickly as possibly. The relief and sense of accomplishment you feel after you’ve completed them can also motivate you to cross even more tasks off your to-do list.

Once you have a schedule that works for you, stick to it as closely as possible, even if it means circling back to an uncompleted task. If you’re stuck on a task, don’t get bogged down in it and neglect your other work. Moving on to the next item on your schedule not only keeps you productive but the answer you were looking for may come to you when your brain is focused on something else. 

Change the Scenery

We all have those low-energy days when we don’t even feel like working, much less being productive. No matter where you are, you can always find distractions and excuses to procrastinate. A change of environment could give you the motivation you need.

A lot of these lists recommend working at a coffee shop and we’ve all seen people typing away on their laptops in the local cafe, but coffee shops can be noisy and provide plenty of their own distractions so if you’re having trouble getting motivated and staying focused, working in a coffee shop might not give you the push you need. 

On those low-energy days when you don’t feel like being productive, being around other working professionals can give you the boost you need. Look for a coworking space in your area and give it a try. Once there, you’ll find work from home professionals, new startups, entrepreneurs and other self-employed individuals hard at work holding team meetings and generating new ideas. Being in that kind of environment can get your own juices flowing. Even just the physical environment of a coworking office space is conducive to productivity. As an added bonus, you might even get some networking done. Just be mindful not to distract others from their work.

Exercise

One of the many benefits of getting regular exercise is increased energy and increased energy means increased productivity. When creating your schedule, be sure to schedule anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes a day for some type of exercise. We tend to have more energy in the morning so to help you avoid the infamous 2 p.m. lull, if you’re able to, get a quick workout in during the late morning/early afternoon. It can give you the energy you need to power through the rest of your day, get the blood and oxygen flowing through your brain and body and will give you the time away from that task that you’re stuck on. Getting exercise on the regular can also help you sleep better at night – another key to productivity.

A key to exercising consistently is to pick an activity you enjoy and that you know you’ll do consistently. Most people stop exercising when it starts to feel like a chore because they’ve guilted themselves into thinking they have to work out a certain way. If you enjoy going for walks, keep walking. If you want to see results, up the intensity and frequency of your walks. 

Socialize!

It’s a lot easier to take your work home with you these days thanks to smartphones and software that allows you to access your workstation remotely. But the productivity benefits of work-life balance are well documented. If you’re sticking to your schedule, once your day is done, it should be done. Leave your work completely until the next day and spend the time in between with family, friends and coworkers. If you have to, schedule your socializing as well!   

If you’re looking for a coworking space that inspires productivity, come visit us at Venture X. Our coworking spaces are specifically designed to fuel maximum productivity by providing the latest tech, vibrant decor and all the amenities you and your team need to achieve success.