How to Be More Productive at Work

Hey everyone!

Whether you work in an office building, outside, at home or somewhere in between, being your most productive self at work can be a challenge. For many of us, we spend the standard 40 hours [if not more] per week working, but not getting nearly enough done. 

Being more productive at work reduces stress, helps you stay more organized and improves your attitude. 

Who doesn't want a little more of that?

The idea of getting more done at work without stress or long hours sounds appealing; but how do you get there? Here are a few things you can do now to help you be more productive.

Curate Your Space. 

This is my #1 suggestion to immediately spruce up your desk or area, and make it more comfortable to be in for the whole day. Enhance your workspace with reminders of things you love, personalized accessories, or bring the outside in with plants and greenery (some studies show that more green-like space in the workplace boosts cognition by 26%.¹). Surrounding yourself with familiar things creates an extension of your home, family, and friends. 

Pack Healthy Snacks. 

The 3:00 afternoon slump is SO real and, in many cases, occurs more than once throughout the day. You already know that food gives you a boost of energy but healthy foods will keep you fuller, longer. Also, retrieving your snack from the kitchen will require you to get your body moving. Fueling and moving your body will help keep you more alert. 

Download Helpful Apps.

You may need a little help from technology to stay productive. There is no shame in my game, I use a variety of apps to collaborate with my team (i.e., Slack), help me stay on top of meetings, track my projects (i.e., ToDoist), and sketch out ideas (i.e., Evernote or Bamboo Paper). 

Take Your Lunch Break.

One of the biggest lessons I've learned this past summer is to take an actual legit lunch break. This hour belongs to me—and you—and I have forced myself to eat lunch away from my desk, go downstairs to the gym, or do important errands. I used to work through lunch or eat at my desk but that never works. You think you're getting more work done but what you're actually accomplishing is burnout. 

Eliminate Distractions. 

Gossip at the water cooler, chatty Cathy from accounting, social media notifications are all there pulling our attention and focus and threatening our productivity. Who hasn't gone down the rabbit hole every now and then? Distractions cause us to lose track of time and then work doubly hard to recover and pick up where we left off. Move to a focus room or wear headphones, if permitted. I usually wear headphones as a signal that I am unavailable for shooting the breeze. At the same time, listening to my favorite playlist or audiobook, not only helps me focus on the task(s) at hand, but makes the day go faster.


1. Frobes.com, https://www.forbes.com/sites/adigaskell/2017/02/15/a-green-office-equals-a-productive-office/#6458db397ca5

Work/Life Balance

WORK/LIFE BALANCE.

If you are like me, it can be tough to balance work, play and wellness. There are some weeks where I feel like my life is all business and others where fitness and experimenting with healthy recipes are the focus, and others still that I just want to “Netflix and chill”.

We all have obligations to family, friends as well as ourselves, so how do you do it all and still have balance? This is an on-going discovery for me, but the truth is it’s really not that hard and I have found a few strategies that help me stay organized and less stressed.

Pre-Plan Your Week

One of the BIGGEST strategies that has kept me organized recently is planning my week on Sunday nights. From preparing social media content and writing blog posts to packing my gym bag and meal prepping, I find that thinking about tasks/projects at the start of my week means the difference between success or stress. On the Sundays I do not plan—like last Sunday—I feel overwhelmed and often fail to follow through because I didn’t allot myself the time to organize.

Variety is the Spice of Life

Living a balanced lifestyle is not solely about time management, it is also about incorporating a range of activities that nourish the multi-faceted individual you are! Trips to the grocery store, doing laundry or driving the kids to practice are all necessary tasks but when do you make time for the things you enjoy or, more importantly, give you a mental break? It is vital to block out time to not only do but be—interests that reset your mind and rejuvenate your spirit. Take a 15-minute walk at lunch, get a mani/pedi or catch a movie. Otherwise you’ll quickly experience that thing called burnout! Burnout can lead to poor decisions, mistakes and mood changes. At the same time, you don’t want to be the person who is only motivated by pleasure. So, yes, have fun but also be sure to incorporate productive activities to keep your mind sharp, body healthy and soul fed.

Ask for Help

This one is MAJOR and something I myself struggle with. At times, we feel the need—or in some cases are forced—to pull out our cape and be everything to everyone. We bestow titles upon ourselves to get certain jobs done—mom, dad, daughter, son, employee, handyman, nurse, confidant, life coach, spiritual advisor, chef, therapist, and the list goes on. How can one be all those things at the same time? Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family, friends and, yes, even professionals! It doesn’t make you weak or incompetent, it actually makes you smart. You realize that you need to engage the assistance of others in order to be a more productive and saner you.

Is living a balanced life hard or easy for you? What are some of the ways you have found balance in your life?

5 Work From Home Tips

Hi everyone!

Working from home can sometimes be more challenging than going to “the office”. There are many things vying for your attention at home: television, kids, comfortable beds, a fridge full of food, personal phone calls.

I have recently been working from home and I absolutely LOVE it, but I quickly realized there were a few things I needed to do in order to help me feel my best and most productive self. I want to share my top 5 tips with you.

Tip #1: Claim Your Space.

Depending on the layout of your home, a room with a door or sitting upright at a table decreases distractions and signals to your family—as well as your own mind—that you are concentrating on work. Think about an extra bedroom you can convert into an office or setup shop at the far-end of your dining table. Avoid plopping down on that comfy couch in the living room or jumping into bed with your laptop—it’s too tempting to get lazy in these spots.

Tip #2: Get Dressed!

One of the perks of WFH is the dress code! You can grind away in your favorite robe and fuzzy slippers and while I have nothing against being cozy in your own home, I challenge that you may not be at your most productive in this attire. Listen, I DEFINITELY do not put on actual clothes every single day but when I do, I feel refreshed and ready to tackle my day. I choose a comfortable outfit that I can sit in all day and I usually decline footwear.

Tip #3: Pick the Right Time of Day.

Choosing the right time of day to begin your day is imperative to being as fruitful as possible. Although I am not a morning person—if you are like me—I need the bright, recharging, mood-boosting daylight to fuel my energy and disposition. However, I know musicians whose day doesn’t typically start until 9:00 in the evening. So, whatever your profession, select the time that encourages efficiency and creativity.

Tip #4: Surround Yourself with Inspiration.

So, you’ve claimed that great space, you got dressed and you are working at the optimal time of day, now it’s time to place things around you that inspire. For me, a candle is a must! There is something about that soft glowing light that calms and soothes me—perfect for those days with stressful deadlines. I also love having words of affirmation, to speak confidence to my abilities. Color plays a vital role in our mood and outlook. The color palette in my office is comprised of cool grays, soft earth tones and muted pastels—I am able to think clearly and spawn a lot of ideas here.

Tip #5: Type-Cast Your Ideal Space.

My final tip is to ensure your space is conducive to the type of business you are running or tasks you are performing. For me, it was important that I have an area to receive clients. I didn’t want to conduct a business meeting in my living room. So, I have a settee that seats two and is proportionate to the room. A private chef may want to consider bar seating and prep space for cooking demos, or a personal trainer would need an open area with high ceilings for fitness equipment and freedom of movement. Think about what you need to do, how you need to do it, and if anyone needs to do it with you. Let these inform the type of space you need.

Now that we’ve discussed some suggestions to help you be more productive, positive, practical and creative when working from home, let’s get to it!