Feeling unproductive at work? We’ve all been there. We’ve brainstormed a list of items that can help you combat distraction, boost productivity, and leave work feeling more fulfilled.
1. Essential oils
We’ve researched which essential oils are best for boosting productivity. Here are the top 4 we’ve discovered:
- Lemon: increases concentration/alertness.
- Rosemary: has stimulating properties that fight exhaustion and mental fatigue.
- Cinnamon: helps fight mental fatigue and improve concentration/focus.
- Peppermint: invigorates the mind, promotes concentration, and stimulates clear thinking.
Get your whole team on board and invest in an essential oil diffuser for the office. Experiment with a few different oils to discover which ones work best for you.
2. Water bottle
According to neuroscientists, even mild dehydration can a make a significant impact on work capacity and productivity. Studies show that just a 1% drop in hydration can lead to a 12% drop in productivity.
Experts say we should be drinking 8 cups (2 liters) of water per day. Check out this DIY water bottle idea to help you stay on track with your water intake. Try setting a reminder on your laptop or phone to have a glass of water every hour. For optimal hydration (and productivity), remember to add a cup of water for every cup of coffee you drink. You may have a few extra trips to the bathroom, but your productivity boost should make up for that.
Check out this infographic for more info on how hydration affects our productivity.
3. Healthy snacks
There’s nothing worse than trying to focus on a project or assignment and being distracted by hunger. Dark chocolate, green tea, bananas, and nuts are the top 4 snacks we’ve researched that are easy to keep at your desk and are proven to increase productivity.
4. Noise-canceling headphones
The Momentum Dash team is a big fan of noise-canceling headphones for focus and productivity. Noise-canceling headphones allow you to drown out outside noise so you can better focus on the task at hand. Try combining them with an app that generates helpful background noise, like Brain.fm or Noisli.
We use a few different models, including the following:
- Bose QuietComfort 35.
- Beoplay H8i.
- SHURE SE112.
5. Light therapy lamp
Light therapy is a way to fight seasonal affective disorder (SAD) by using exposure to artificial light. There are plenty of lamps to choose from. The HappyLight is an example of a light designed to keep at your desk.
Start by using the lamp 10 minutes per day in the morning, then work your way up to 30 to 60 minutes. You should notice a boost in productivity and energy after using it.
Do you use a light therapy lamp? Thinking about trying one? Let us know what you think!
6. Inspirational photos and quotes
It’s easy to get distracted when we lose sight of what motivates us. Whatever it is that motivates you, keep a photo of it at your desk. Maybe it’s a quote, a photo of a role model or loved ones, or some ‘goal object’ you’re working towards. Sometimes all it takes is a quick glance at something that inspires us to get back into the mindset we need to be productive.
Did you know? With Momentum Plus, you can customize the photos and quotes displayed on your dashboard. Upload your favorite photos and quotes and you’ll see them on your Momentum dashboard as you work toward your goals.
7. Passion Planner
“Passion Planner helps people break down their long and short terms goals into more actionable steps and gives them a place to incorporate these steps into their daily lives.”
The Passion Planner is designed to encourage people to start thinking about their lifetime goals and take action towards those goals in their daily lives. It is as simple as it is revolutionary.
Above all, keep in mind that clutter never contributes to productivity. Try to reset your desk back to default at the end of the day, and get remove anything that isn’t helping your productivity. Be conscious of what is distracting you, and get rid of it!
What do you keep at your desk to stay productive? We’d love to hear what works for you. Share a photo of your office/desk setup and tag us @momentumdash on Instagram!