None of us are as productive as we can be all the time. And although it’s fine to have ‘off days’, when productivity starts to become a drain on the business, or ‘slack days’ outweigh the more productive of days, it can spell disaster. Often down to a number of habits that you’re probably not aware you’re doing, it’s relatively simple to up productivity by snapping out of these bad habits.

So what are they?

Not taking regular breaks

This one is a killer for productivity. Sitting at a desk for eight hours a day can be incredibly bad for our bodies and mind. Affecting our mental capacity and performance and eyes, it also causes us to tense up and feel all together lethargic. Therefore it’s important you take regular breaks throughout the day. Even just walking to the kitchen to make a cup of tea or grab a glass of water a few times every day can help relax your muscles and ensure you are left feeling refreshed. Also helping to combat fatigue, it gets the oxygen pumping around the body, upping concentration levels tenfold.

Responding to emails as they come in

Productive people do not allow emails to be a constant interruption. If you find yourself stopping and starting pieces of work as a result of emails, then get out of that habit. There’s loads of things you can do to prioritize emails, such as setting up alerts for important senders. If you want to go the extra mile, why not think about checking emails once in a morning, once after lunch, and once before you leave? This will guarantee your time is used wisely and you can focus on each task in hand.

Eating at your desk

We’re all guilty of this one, but you must have a break during the day for lunch. Even if you have to stay at your desk to eat, keep your eyes away from the computer screen to enable your brain to be switched off completely and not distracted by incoming emails. Just like the first point, your brain needs time to recharge, while your body needs to relax too. You probably don’t notice it, but sitting at your desk tenses up your shoulders and back, resulting in aches and pains as time goes on. So take long, deep breathes between mouthfuls and enjoy your full lunch break.

Not getting out of the office

Offices are stuffy by nature. Air conditioning and heating plays havoc with our bodies. And although it may seem like a cliché, fresh air really can make a big difference to how you feel. If you can head outside for a bit of al fresco dining, or just go for a twenty-minute stroll. You’ll be amazed at how great you feel afterwards, and how recharged your batteries feel – ready to tackle the afternoon with ease!

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