Declutter
It is suggested that physical clutter overloads your senses. The impact? Sensation of stress. Limitations on your ability to think creatively.

• Establish limits for how much clutter accumulates. This includes things on your desk and the number of tabs open on your computer. Real or virtual clutter has a similar impact.
• Reduce storage space. Less room = less space for clutter.
• Review your space regularly. Take time to clean, sort, and discard things in your space every month.
• Set up a daily declutter routine. Clear your desktop at the end of each workday to start with a clean slate the following day.

Work in inspiring places.
New environments can quite lead to new ideas. Some people in “hot-desking” situations get to choose a new work spot every day. Not so, for those with set desks/offices. However, there are always opportunities to work in different spots at different times of day. Things to do:

• Choose a spot with natural light eg from a window or skylight.
• Take a walk outside when you feel stuck.
• Explore a new location.

Work in different places for different tasks.
Set up multiple workspaces for different tasks to move your mind into a certain flow.

Work smarter.
Focus on the things you need to do, by removing distractions.

• Lock away distracting items like phones and gaming devices.
• Close tabs at the end of the day.

Look after your senses.
Sounds around you and music can have a huge impact on your productivity. If you can’t find quiet, try noise cancelling headphones or music to drown out speech and help you regain focus.

Plus one more  … Know thyself
How well do you know your own habits and needs? Are there times of day when your energy flags and you need to do different work?

• Plan your day for more focused, higher-level thinking when energy is high (usually in the morning)
• Allocate more “active” work – moving around, physical tasks – when your energy is low.
• Take frequent breaks to refresh between bouts of intensive work.

What works for you?