Office Design Tips to Increase Productivity

PJ’s Business Basics

Office Design Tips to Increase Productivity

As a working professional, your livelihood depends on your ability to produce high quality
work within a reasonable timeframe. Therefore, maintaining a high level of
productivity is essential to both your professional and personal success.

But sitting in an ugly, cramped office is the easiest way to send you running to your favorite
websites to waste time. This lack of productivity allows your valuable creative juices to
escape. Luckily, you can adapt the design of your office in a painless and inexpensive way
that’ll increase your productivity.

Follow these tips to easily turn your office into a space that encourages a productive
workflow.

Comfort is Essential

Your chances of churning out high quality work rise substantially if you’re comfortable in
your own office. Ensure that your office space is well ventilated. A window is ideal.
However, if your office lacks a window, use plants to promote airflow. Leave your office
open to keep it from feeling like a stuffy cage.

In addition, ergonomics should be a high priority. Invest in an ergonomic office chair,
keyboard and mouse. Good lighting is also essential to avoid eyestrain while sitting in front
of a computer. Get both a desk lamp and an overhead light for a well-lit office.

Color Therapy

Choose a subdued, cool color for your office that promotes tranquility and focus. Colors
such as light blue, fern green, or white tend to encourage effectiveness.
Therefore,
they’re ideal color selections for your office.

Stay away from warm and dark colors. Avoid colors such as orange, red, and magenta.
These colors are very distracting and heavy on the eyes.

Aesthetics

Though most professionals hate to admit it, the aesthetic appeal of your office space is an
important factor in determining your level of efficiency and happiness on the job. You should
have an office you’re proud to show off. Create a space that makes you feel like an executive,
no matter what position you hold.

Wall colors, plants, the finish of furniture, lighting and window treatments all play a vital
role in the aesthetics of your office space. However, you’re the only person that can
determine the right aesthetic direction for your workspace.

Efficiency

If you must get up from your seat and walk across the room, you’ll interrupt your work
focus and return to your desk with a blank mind and a confused expression. Items that
you must access regularly during the day should be just a desk chair roll away.

Make it a point to keep the following items within arm’s reach:
• Printer
• Fax machine
• Scanner
• Phone
• File cabinet
• Other commonly used tools or documents

The strategic placement of these items maintains an uninterrupted work focus that’ll shave
valuable time off of your routine each day.

A Touch of Personality

You spend a great amount of time in your office every week. Therefore, it’s important that
you feel as if the space is “yours.” Personalize your office by hanging artwork that you find
enchanting, placing photos of your family on your desk, and bringing along a snazzy throw
pillow which accents your office’s overall color scheme.

These simple injections of personality will create a feeling that you’re spending time at your
home away from home. After all, you’ll be spending at least 40 hours a week here! Make it
an inviting work environment by incorporating your favorite colors, beautiful plants and
pictures of the people you love the most.

Whether you’re self-employed or working for a boss, a comfortable office is an essential
factor in your potential for success and advancement. Optimize the design of your
workspace to promote effectiveness. When you do, you’ll be surprised how quickly you
begin to experience the success you deserve and a sense of control over your work life.

A Timely Guide to Planning Your Week

PJ’s Business Basics

A Timely Guide to Planning Your Week

Most of us attack the week one day at a time. We get to the office on Monday, track
down a cup of coffee, and then try to figure out what all is going on.
Consider how things could work out better if you have a weekly plan for your life
before you wake up on Monday morning. And don’t just plan your work-related
items, plan everything else too. Figure out what needs to be done and prioritize those
items.
For your best results, avoid living life as it unfolds. By taking control, you’ll increase
your confidence, stay ahead of your work, and actually find more free time to do
whatever you like.
Give it a try for a month and see if you enjoy the benefits.

Follow these steps to create a plan for the week:

  1. Have a weekly planning session. Sunday is the logical choice. You’ve decompressed
    from the previous week, but it’s still fresh in your mind. The workweek starts in just one day.
    • Make a list of tasks for each area of your life. The areas might include work,
      personal items, and family. Your items will vary with your unique life.
    • An example: WORK
    • complete marketing project with George
    • interview applicants for marketing supervisor position
    • contact packaging vendor to discuss printing issues
    • find contractor to repair floor on production area
  1. Assign priorities to all of the tasks. Assume that you can’t get it all done. Which
    items must be done and which can slide until the following week?
    • Assign one of three levels of priority to each task. You might use 1, 2, 3,
      or A, B, C, or Red, Yellow, Green.
    • Start with your number 1 priorities and complete all of them before moving
      on to the number 2 and 3 priorities.
  1. Schedule these tasks into your calendar. Begin this process no later than
    Sunday evening. You should know how you’re going to spend your Monday
    morning. Don’t wait until your alarm clock wakes you up.
    • Avoid over-scheduling. Once you fall behind, it becomes impossible to catch up.
      Leave room for the inevitable emergencies and requests from the boss. Schedule
      50% of your time and leave the rest available.
    • Using a planner will allow you to move all these obligations out of your head.
      Put them down on paper as soon as possible.
  1. Get busy as soon as you can on Monday morning. If you can work ahead, great!
    Keep your plans fluid. What you’ve put in your planner is your best guess, but
    you have to start somewhere. Things will change as the week progresses.
  2. Review each evening. Spend just a few minutes each night making necessary
    adjustments. As tasks are completed, you’ll have the flexibility to move things
    around. Perfect your new plan of attack each night. Make this a habit. You can
    do it before leaving the office or do it in the comfort of your living room. Just
    ensure it gets done.
  3. Have a weekly review. What did you do well? What could have been better? How well
    did your weekly plan work? What improvements can you make to the process?
    • Reviewing your week and making adjustments is one of the most powerful ways to improve.
      Address your mistakes and recognize your successes.

By planning and prioritizing, you can hit the ground running. You’re also assured of
getting the most important things accomplished
.
Start next week by making a plan and
following it religiously. Your life will change for the better.

6 Easy Ways to Incorporate Short Breaks into Your Work Day

PJ’s Business Basics

6 Easy Ways to Incorporate Short Breaks into Your Work Day

While you’re at work, it’s common to feel overwhelmed with all the projects you’re juggling. Concentrating for a long period of time can be taxing both emotionally and physically. This often results in a tired mind, aching muscles, and a complete lack of energy.What can you do to rest and revive yourself for short periods of time during your workday while still being productive?

Check out these suggestions for incorporating short breaks into your daily work
routine:

  1. Close your eyes and listen to three songs on your MP3. Most people have their favorite music easily accessible on their phone, MP3 player, or other electronic device. Choose music that relaxes you, put your head down on your desk, and
    listen to a few songs.
    • Let your stress float away and clear your mind as you let the music flow in.
    • Music soothes the body and soul. After three songs, you’ll be surprised at how
      relaxed you feel. You’ll regain the strength necessary to make it through the rest
      of the day.Let your stress float away and clear your mind as you let the music flow in.
    • Let your stress float away and clear your mind as you let the music flow in.
  2. Shut your office door, prop your feet, and lean back. Close your eyes, take deep breaths, and count backwards from 50 to 1. You’ll be comforted by the sound and feel of your own ability to inhale and exhale. Then, open your eyes and you’ll feel refreshed.
  3. Take a brisk 10-minute walk. No matter how big or small your office, you can always take a stroll around the building. If you need some fresh air, go outside and walk around the block. Getting your blood pumping at an optimum level will make you feel revitalized!
  4. Splash cool water on your face. Go to the restroom, splash cool water on your face and wrists, and then dry them off. Sometimes, cool stimulation to those areas is not only refreshing, but it can also wake you up if you’re feeling sleepy.
    • It’s amazing how much this little break can perk you up and allow your positive energy to flow again.
    • If you prefer, wet a paper towel with cool water. Then you can continually blot your face, neck,
      arms, and wrists to stimulate your senses.
  5. Relax and rejuvenate with a power nap. If your employer allows you a 15-minute break in the afternoon, use it to take a nap. Even if you don’t usually take naps, give it a try.
  6. Go for a change of scenery. You might break out of your rut when you’re able to change your view.
    • If you work in a large office, try working in the conference room. You can even trying
      sitting in a different chair or on the couch in your office.
    • If you work from home, take your laptop outside and sit on the porch to work. Or try
      working in the living room today if you’re the only one home.

Although work can be tedious, you have some choices in what you can do to relax and
revitalize throughout the day.

Use music, deep breathing techniques, walking, cool water splashes, power napping, and
scenery changes in order to keep yourself alert and focused.
These methods will help
you embrace that next big project with optimism and renewed energy.

The Power of a Positive Morning Routine

PJ’s Business Basics

The Power of a Positive Morning Routine

Does your morning routine consist of staying in bed as late as possible while barely
making it to work on time? Getting the day off on the wrong foot can negatively
impact your entire day.
Imagine how different your life would be if you had a morning routine that ensured a
good day, instead!
If you’re like most people, your morning probably goes something like this:

  1. Alarm goes off.
  2. Hit snooze (3 times, at least).
  3. Lie there and think about how much you don’t want to get up. Or maybe you
    think about how much you dislike your job.
  4. Shower.
  5. Get dressed.
  6. Run out the door with a granola bar (or nothing) in your hand.

How can you expect to have a great day when that’s your morning routine? A good
day requires preparation and a solid foundation.

Consider these ideas when developing your positive morning routine:

  1. Wake up earlier. Going to bed earlier makes this task easier. You’ll need some
    extra time in the morning to accommodate your constructive changes.
  2. Get up immediately. Avoid lying there and thinking negatively about your day, life,
    job, challenges, or anything else. It’s harder to think negative thoughts if you’re up
    and doing something.
    • The moment the alarm sounds is called the Heroic Moment. Be a hero and get your
      head up immediately before you convince yourself that five minutes won’t hurt.
  3. Drink a glass of water. You’ve likely gone 8+ hours without a drink. Have a big glass of water. Leave a bottle of water on the bathroom counter if that’s more convenient. Just be sure to get your water – you’ll feel 10 times better in 10 minutes.
  4. Enjoy a little exercise. Take a walk, jump on the treadmill, do some pushups. It doesn’t matter which exercise you do, but do something. Focus on positive thoughts and get your body moving.
  5. Shower. This is the perfect time to use affirmations. You’re not doing anything intellectually stimulating anyway. Use the time to tell yourself how great you are and how wonderful life is. It sounds silly, but try it and you’ll like it.
  6. Eat a good breakfast. Have some yogurt and fruit. Maybe a healthy cereal is more your style. But sit down and have at least a small meal. Again, focus on the positive affirmations. Enjoy telling yourself how wonderful you are while you’re savoring your food.
  7. Meditate or read something inspiring. Take 10 minutes to meditate or read. Inspiring reading material will motivate you and get your ready for the day.
  8. Review your goals. Take 5 minutes and review your goals. Goals that are reviewed regularly are far more likely to be met. Make your goals a priority.
  9. Attack the day. Now you’re ready to get out there and accomplish something. How could you not be successful? Continue thinking positively for as long as possible. You’ll find that you can make it a little longer each day.

This routine outlined above may take 90 minutes or more to complete. If that’s longer than you can spend, come up with an abbreviated version that works for you. The keys are to get your water, practice positive self-talk, and have time to eat in peace.

A well thought out morning routine can have a significant impact on your life, happiness, and success. Give it a try and see how it changes your day. Your boss will be thrilled too, guaranteed.