6 Office desk tricks to increase your productivity

Tabletop Tips: 6 Office desk tricks to increase your productivity

Lim Han

26 Apr 2017

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Organise
As the saying goes, a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind. Well, the reverse logic holds true – a tidy desk would lead to a clearer mind and heightened productivity. Set aside time every morning to arrange your table and put away unnecessary papers and files. With these distractions gone, you’ll be surprised by your efficiency at the end of the day.
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Tastefully incorporate colours
You may not believe this but colours possess the power to change how you feel and invoke certain emotions. For instance, blue has the ability to stimulate your mind while green has a calming and balancing effect. From brightened post-its and paper weights to polaroids and pen holders, there are a myriad of way you can lavish your desk in various colours. Even if they don’t seem to be working their magic, your spirit is bound to be lifted by the increased vibrancy of your desk.
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Display encouraging quotes
“When the going gets tough, the tough gets going” and “Failure is the mother of all success” – these are just a drop in the ocean of motivational quotes in the world today. As cheesy as they may be, it’s undeniably nice to look up from your screens and have a photo frame proclaim to you that “You are so much stronger than you think.”
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Add candles or diffuser oils
Eyes and hands aside, your sense of smell can actually impact your mindset and emotions. Don’t believe us? Try out a lavender-scented diffuser and feel your mind gradually slip into tranquility. Or, burn a cinnamon-scented candle and see if your ability to focus improves throughout the day. You’ll see that your nose plays a crucial role in your work as well.
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Add plants
Avid gardeners, rejoice! You now have a reason to bring your potted babies along with you to work. Not only is the colour green supposedly relaxing for the eyes, thus providing them with a relaxing respite from the glaring screens, plants are an impeccable air filter. Breathing in cleaner air will aid in more efficient thinking and thus, burgeoning productivity.
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Put up photo frames of loved ones
Having your family or pets or best friends smiling and staring at you incessantly while you do your work may sound borderline unsettling, but is actually an effectual way of keeping you going. Whenever exhaustion kicks in or the inclination to give up is overwhelming, you can look up at your loved ones and be reminded of the reason you’re working or the people you’re looking forward to see when you get off work. Now, if that doesn’t spur you on, we’re not sure what will.

You’d be surprised at how straightforward yet powerfully effective these are!

For many of us, the road to productivity is a long and winding one. Procrastination, lack of focus and fatigue – these are just a few of the obstacles that plague our already arduous journey and weigh us down. The end result? Late dismissals, irregular meals and sleep deficits – it’s anything but a pretty sight. Thankfully, there are a ton of ways you can bolster your productivity at work and complete your tasks with heightened efficiency!

No, we’re not referring to Red Bull or Power Bars here (although, they do grant you a short spurt of energy). This time, we’re seeking the help of your desk! Serving as the landscape and physical support of your work, your desk is a monumental actor in your daily work blockbuster. Little tweaks to your desk arrangements and décor can actually have a major impact on your brain and focus!

We’ve stashed away in the gallery 6 effective desk tricks that will turn your working life around. Kiss your mind-blocks and tiresome work weeks goodbye and say hello to prompt dismissals and a good night’s rest!

Lim Han

Photo: Getty Images

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