Most of us have experienced one of those days where time seems to pass excruciatingly slow. We feel uninspired and distracted from our work, our minds wandering far and wide, despite the mounting deadlines. As the responsible adults that we are, we try to snap ourselves out of our daydreams and recharge our focus and energy levels, often with stimulants such as energy drinks or caffeine.
Instead of relying on these artificial boosts in energy, there are some simple and healthy lifestyle hacks that do not involve excessive stimulants to give you that kickstart you need. These are our six favourite productivity hacks to get you into gear!
1. Change Up Your Environment
Give your mind a little break by changing your surroundings. Since most of us are working from home at the moment, maybe try shifting your area out to the living room instead of working in your study.
If there isn’t any spare rooms to move about in, sometimes simply re-arranging your desk or adding some ornaments (such as a potted plant) can make a whole lot of difference.
2. Sweat It Out
One great way to improve focus and mental energy is to put physical stress on your body!
Exercise triggers the release of endorphins which improves your mood. It also suppresses the release of stress hormones, improving your mental wellness and sleep quality. Consider scheduling a quick exercise break during lunch for a midday pick-me-up! For an added boost to your workout, consider asking a partner to join you.
3. Get Inspired
Reading or watching short motivational articles and videos before starting your workday can give you a boost of inspiration and put you in a positive mood for the entire day. This change of mindset can go a long way in enabling you to better handle daunting tasks and stressful situations. You can even pen down inspirational quotes and thoughts and hang them around your desk as a reminder to stay positive throughout the day.
4. Don’t forget to fuel up (healthily)
Sometimes, work can get so stressful that we may lose track of the time and start to skip meals. Other times, stress and anxiety may either cause us to lose our appetite or go on a binge-eating spree. While your mind may be pre-occupied by work, make sure you get proper meals. Eating regular, nutritious meals during the week ensures that your brain has the proper nutrition to function well.
5. Take More Breaks
Working for long periods of time without any breaks can lower our productivity by affecting our ability to focus. Regular breaks give your brain a quick breather, improving your attention span and leaving you more refreshed to take in new information. Some examples of breaks can include tidying up your desk, taking a short walk outside or simply resting your eyes for a few minutes.
6. Declutter And Organise
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work to complete, break down your workload into smaller segments. Start with making a simple checklist or timetable and cross out each small segment once you’ve completed it.
You’ll feel a lot better when you’ve crossed out a few segments. Seeing your progress can make you feel more accomplished, which can help you cope with heavy deliverables. A tidier table also helps you to feel calmer, more focused and less stressed. If you have more time to spare, you can even spend a few days to clean up your home.
Beyond these lifestyle hacks, optimal nutrition is important to keep your brain going when you’re hard at work. Supplements that contain magnesium, vitamin B, omega 3 and other antioxidants, vitamins and minerals can help to reduce stress, improve focus and mental energy levels. You can find supplements that contain these ingredients on our specially curated in-app wellness Marketplace.
