This time of year it always feels like there is more to do than there are hours in the day. There are so many fun things going on it can be hard to focus on work. This isn’t the time to ignore your business though. Improving your productivity can actually accomplish both goals. When you can get things done faster and more effectively you will have more time to focus on the things that you’d rather be doing. Stockpile, the online inventory management tool from Canvus, is a great way to become more productive at work. Use it for free - now and always.
A recent post from Clarity Creative Group offered six tips for improving productivity:
- Edit Your Sleep Schedule
- Eat Right
- Create A Comfortable Environment
- Stay On Schedule
- Involve Your Senses
- Take A Break
The first four seem like common sense. If you arrive at work tired you aren’t going as productive throughout the day. Clearly, being well rested will give you more energy to tackle any task. Similarly, eating right provides the energy you need to focus on whatever comes your way. A growling stomach can drown out almost any other thought as your body demands to be fed. Staying on schedule and working in a comfortable environment can obviously impact your effectiveness as well. The last two are perhaps the most interesting suggestions as they are the less obvious ones.
Clarity Group suggests using color, scents and sounds to positively affect your mind. If you have the option to paint your work area choose a color that makes you happy. Just as many restaurants use red or other bright colors to encourage customers to eat more, you can use color to encourage yourself to produce more results during the workday. If painting is out of the question, decorate your workspace with objects that are pleasing to the eye or that remind you of places, people or events that make you happy. You may be limited as to the ways that you can introduce scents into your work environment as well. Many people are sensitive to strong scents and you need to be respectful of the tastes and needs of others. You may be able to add some subtly scented items such as a reed diffuser or a cotton ball dipped in essential oil to your workspace. If even that isn’t allowed you can always begin and end your day with pleasing scents to improve your mood before and after work. When considering music, again be respectful of your co-workers and try not to choose tunes that are distracting for you.
Taking a break can be a great way to improve productivity. Sometimes we can be our own biggest stumbling block. Taking a minute or two to talk someone else about anything else can clear your mind and allow you to approach the problem with a fresh perspective. When Albert Einstein faced a perplexing problem, he played the violin. Often after just a few minutes he was able to clearly see what was preventing him from finding the solution he was looking for. If Einstein used two of the suggestions above to improve his productivity that’s a pretty compelling argument that they really work.
Of course, another way to improve your productivity is to use Stockpile for your inventory management needs. Our free, online inventory management solution allows you to quickly and easily track your inventory anytime from anywhere. Being able to access the information that you need, when you need it is a surefire way to increase productivity. Don’t waste any more time, try Stockpile today!
