It’s natural for there to be days when you feel unproductive and unmotivated. You might sit staring at your computer screen for hours on end or find yourself repeatedly getting up to eat food out of pure boredom. If you are finding that you fit this description more often than not and you’re not feeling as productive as you know you could be, then here are five ways to kick your procrastination to the curb and start supporting your productivity in your home office.
Take Regular Breaks
It may seem like some of your colleagues and employees are able to work non-stop for hours on end without a break, but the truth is that this is one of the least productive methods of getting work done. Research has shown that taking regular short breaks helps to give your mind some space to recharge and regroup, and will make your next working session even more productive.
Reduce Distractions
A big cause of procrastination and lack of productivity in the workplace is distractions. We live in a very heavily connected world, where our phones are constantly alerting us to messages from friends and breaking news from the rest of the world. Naturally, this is very distracting, so it’s best to at least put your phone on silent if you really want to get some work done. Many people opt to leave their phone charging and switched off on the other side of the room while they work so that they have no chance of being distracted. Desktop productivity programs such as ColdTurkey can also help you to stay focused by blocking distracting websites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Start Getting Healthy
An unhealthy diet leads to an unhealthy body, particularly an unhealthy mind and digestive system. This can have surprisingly debilitating effects on our productivity. To more easily reach your goals and feel your best, it can be useful to start taking supplements such as beta-glucan. These supplements can help to restore balance to your digestive system, calm any issues you might have and leave your brain free to work more efficiently for the rest of the day.
Use Your Time Away from Work to Relax
Make sure to use your time wisely. If you are productive and complete all your work while you’re in the office, you’ll be able to spend your time away from work relaxing and looking after yourself, instead of stressing about the work you didn’t do. This is important because it provides some balance in your life, and means you get a chance to recharge, which is essential if you want to be productive for longer.
Start Meditating
Meditation is the art of being present in the moment and becoming truly aware of your body and surroundings. Many incredibly successful professionals such as Rupert Murdoch and Oprah Winfrey meditate daily, and for good reason. Meditation has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety and alleviate physical pain.
If you struggle to remain focused and productive at work, meditation can provide a few minutes of peace to recharge and restart your brain.