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30 Foolproof Ways To Be More Productive At Work

Photo by Bose

May 11, 2017

Productivity is tricky. Maybe in the morning you bang out quite a bit of work as you sip your latte, but by 3 p.m. there are distractions everywhere—your co-workers, that bar of chocolate you have in your desk drawer, the list goes on.

At mbg, one of our favorite ways to fuel productivity is by keeping a pair of comfortable wireless headphones handy—it’s a great way to get five minutes of much-needed quiet time no matter where you are, and wireless means you’re tangle-free.

Of course, there are tons of other ways to up your productivity, from choosing the right foods to taking a few minutes to breathe. Here are 30 of our favorites, inspired by Miranda Hammer, R.D., and Y7 yoga instructor Hillary Wright:

Get enough sleep. Seven to eight hours per night is ideal.
Eat breakfast. Starting your day off with a meal packed with protein and minimal sugar is a great way to fuel all-day productivity.
Prep your meals in advance. This way, you don’t have to rely on heavy restaurant foods that are bound to lead to a sugar crash.
Skip the elevator and take the stairs. This will get your heart pumping, increasing energy.
Drink kombucha at your office happy hour. Alcohol is a surefire way to destroy your productivity!
Snack on the right foods. That box of doughnuts is not your friend, no matter how good it looks.
Take three minutes to do yoga. Even if it’s just a few poses at your desk.
Drink water.
Breathe deeply. It reduces anxiety and improves focus.
Take a few twists and forward folds. Mobilizing your spine is super important for productivity and focus.
When you go out for lunch, choose wisely. Go heavy on the veggies, protein, and healthy fat and light on the sugar.
Watch out for emotional or bored snacking. Try going for a walk instead.
Stay organized. A cluttered desk will definitely impair your productivity.
Take three minutes to meditate. If you want a little guidance (this is highly recommended!) try using apps like Headspace, Calm, and Breathe.
Got an office celebration? Make your own healthy snacks and share them with the group!
Practice portion control. Food comas don’t exactly make you more productive.
Take a walk. It will provide a burst of energy and help you focus.
Speaking of walks, use that time to catch up with co-workers. It's more effective than chatting at your desk when you need to focus.
Set a timer to remind you to breathe. Try pausing once an hour for a moment of grounding breath.
Make a to-do list every morning or evening. You'll head into the day knowing what’s on your plate.
Designate a time to answer emails. Unless they’re urgent, answering them as they come in makes productivity difficult.
Try to integrate yoga into your daily life. It’s good for your mental and physical health, and when you’re mentally and physically healthy you’ll feel a lot better. Look for local studios to get started!
Stand up for at least five minutes every hour. Your body and mind will thank you.
Smile. It’s good for your mood, which is good for your focus.
Eliminate distractions. Set a goal to minimize the amount of workday time you spend on Facebook, Instagram, or any other app that takes away from your productivity. Make it specific and give yourself a time limit that works for you.
Do your most difficult tasks first. If you find that you’re more creative and productive in the morning, knock the tough stuff out first thing.
Avoid caffeine in the afternoon, especially if it's messing with your sleep. It might give you a boost of energy in the moment, but your energy levels will be a lot lower overall if you’re not sleeping.
Treat yourself to a pair of Bose QuietControl 30 wireless noise-cancelling headphones. Especially if you work in an open floor plan, they'll bring mindful peace and quiet to your day.
Use nights and weekends to rest and recharge. You won’t exactly be productive if you spent the entire weekend inside scrolling through your Facebook feed.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. We’ll have days that aren’t as productive as we’d like them to be. Remember, there’s always tomorrow!