If your company allows you to be flexible and work from home or a place where you can concentrate best, then do so. Many managers and workplaces are now embracing flexible working options for staff. A recent Regus study surveying 20,000 professionals from 95 countries, found that 75% of executives believe that flexible work improves productivity and fosters creative thinking. The study also showed that 72% of workers reported that productivity is a direct result of flexibility and enables better quality (65%) decision making.
Managers - schedule less meetings
Planning a one hour meeting involving 10 people is actually the same as planning a 10 hour meeting, and is likely to be a waste of company time, money and resources. When you announce a meeting, you're likely to be interrupting the creative process of many of your employees.
'Come up for air' and check your email periodically
Being engaged in a focused creative or practical task is very similar to the sensation of scuba diving. Many people experience a sound blockout while they're working in this state, where noises and distractions grow dim. But like scuba divers, whose oxygen tanks have a time limit, you have natural breaks in this focus - like a diver swimming up to the surface. While you're in a 'surface' period like this, use the time to connect with the world again. Check your emails, shoot through a few replies, and make that phone call.
Listen to music while you're working
Office banter can be distracting, so if you need to focus (and if your office allows it), plug in your earphones and listen to music. Some people prefer classical music because there is usually no singing or lyrics to distract, while others like mindless pop or rock with a strong back-beat. Whatever works for you!
Switch from active forms of communication to passive forms
Instead of walking across the office and interrupting someone's train of thought just to ask a question, consider emailing or instant messaging them if it's not urgent. That way they can respond in their own time, most likely during one of their 'surface' periods of reduced productivity.
Do the dreaded task first
There is nothing worse than having the thought of an unpleasant task hanging over your head all day.
If you have to sort out the filing cabinet or read over the pile of resumes on your desk, then do it first thing. You'll have the rest of the day to focus on other tasks, and will most likely find that you're more productive as a result.
Break it up
Some people have creative jobs that require huge blocks of time, but other jobs are different. If your job has the tendency to become monotonous, break up your day into 20 minute chunks, interspersed with a few minutes of physical activity like filling up your water bottle, going to the bathroom, or going for a quick walk to the park.
Sometimes today is not your day
There's nothing worse than headbutting a task until you pass out. If you're not getting anywhere with a project and you have time to spare, leave it until the next day. Rest, exercise and a full stomach can do wonders to change your outlook. Do it first thing the next day though, and make sure you leave yourself a post-it reminder.
Remember the good stuff
Keep a folder of positive feedback and comments received from your colleagues and superiors. Look over it when you're feeling discouraged or unappreciated to give yourself a confidence boost.
Sharpen your mind
Keep your mind fit and sharp by reading, watching or listening to something that challenges your ideas and beliefs everyday. Learning new things and practising divergent thinking is like doing push-ups for the brain.
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