While working in an office can sometimes feel like being in a fishbowl, the upside is that can also be a motivating factor to help you stay focused and productive.
There are ways, however, to help yourself be just as productive at home as you might be in an office. Here are 5 “sensual” tips to help you stay motivated while telecommuting.
1. Hearing
When dogs smell or see food, they naturally begin to salivate. In 1902, a scientist by the name of Ian Pavlov discovered that if he rang a bell prior to feeding his dogs, eventually they would start salivating if he just simply rang the bell.
Over time, their brain associated the ringing of the bell with being fed and would produce the appropriate biological response – even when there was no food present. This concept is called classical conditioning and it actually works the same in humans.
You can use hearing to become more productive by learning to associate a certain sound with a certain state of mind. For instance, you can set an alarm to go off every day when it is time to go into “work mode”.
If you stop what you are doing every day and immediately start working when the alarm sounds, then over time you will begin to make that switch automatically. Eventually, you won’t even need the alarm to tell you when it’s time to start work.
Similarly, you can also set an alarm for when it is time to stop working and go back into leisure mode or any other time you need to switch gears to achieve maximum productivity.
2. Sight
What you see around you will have a direct impact on your productivity. If you tend to look out the window and daydream, or if a beautiful, sunny day is too much of a temptation, then you may want to face your desk or workspace away from the window.
Similarly, you can increase productivity by filling your frame of vision with things that inspire you. For instance, if you have certain goals you want to achieve, you can create charts or other reminders of your goals and place them where you can see them often.
It is also important to keep your workspace clean and neat and free from clutter. The chaos of clutter does not make it easy on the brain to focus and process information as it would in an organized environment.
3. Taste
Whether you are aware of it or not, what you eat will actually have a direct impact on your productivity throughout the day. Not only are certain foods and snacks proven to have a direct impact on brain function, but not eating can have a direct impact on your energy levels as well.
Eating the right foods can help keep your blood sugar levels stable, which can keep you from experiencing caffeine or sugar highs and crashes all day long.
Caffeine also works as an appetite suppressant so your morning cup of coffee may make it difficult for you to remember to eat something in the morning.
In addition to eating the right foods, staying hydrated is as important to good brain function as eating is. In fact, new research shows that driving while dehydrated can actually cause many of the same impairments as driving while drunk.
Mental focus, clarity and energy levels are all important components of productivity. Keep them all running smoothly by eating well and drinking regularly.
4. Touch
While you don’t necessarily have to wear a formal business dress at home, it also might not be such a great idea to spend all day in your pyjamas either.
Going back to the idea that we have certain “triggers,” pyjamas may well be associated in our brains with relaxation, so you may find yourself having a hard time staying focused in your pyjamas.
Room temperature will also have a significant impact on productivity as well. The great thing about working from home is you get to control the temperature, so find one that works for you.
Working from bed can also be tempting, but at the same time not good for either your productivity or your back. One of the best ways to be and stay productive is to have a designated work area and use it only for that. Save your bed for sleeping.
5. Smell
Scents can have a powerful effect on moods, emotions and even energy levels. In fact, retailers actually use scent as an incentive to get you to spend more money.
In the same way that certain scents and smells can actually put you more in a mood to spend money, certain scents and smells can also boost your energy levels, provide mental clarity and help you be more productive.
Telecommuting gives you almost unprecedented control over both your schedule and your work environment. That also means, however, that you are responsible for creating an environment that helps you be your most productive. You are the master of your workspace, so make it one that helps you do your very best work.
If you enjoyed these “sensual” tips, feel free to share them with your friends and colleagues. After all, sharing is caring!
Author: Sandra Moncada
Sandra Moncada is a cycling enthusiast, who frequently escapes to hang out with her literary and movie heroes. She is vitamin D’s biggest fan, who is passionate about meditation, Pilates and beating stress. When she’s not floating in the ocean or her outdoor pool, she loves to write about lifestyle improvements, self-development and stress-relief methods. You can connect with her here: @SandramoncadaOh
