What is the role of productivity in life? Why is it so important? And why is it so hard to be productive sometimes?
Well, productivity is the ability to do more outputs using the same number of inputs during a specified time period. It is the measurement of an organization or individual’s performance. Productivity simply reflects the effectiveness of workers while doing their jobs.
Productivity is essential to the growth of an individual or company in order to attain success. Who doesn’t want to be successful in life? However, there are factors that can affect it. Worker productivity is influenced easily by the surroundings in a negative or positive way.
Here are some creative ways you can utilize these environmental elements to your advantage.
Music: Power Up Your Productivity With Song Magic
“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.”
Albert Einstein
It has been observed that listening to music affects the brain in various ways. A study from the University of Birmingham, England and research from Teresa Lesiuk stated that listening to music while working is an effective way to improve mood and work productivity.
Did you know that listening to music can stimulate productivity?
This is because music enhances the brain by stimulating brain chemicals which increase neurotransmitters called dopamine. Dopamine is the pleasure, happiness and feeling-good chemical that our brain produces. It also plays a role in neurocognitive functions such as memory, attention and problem-solving.
What should you listen to?
Listen to natural sounds to sharpen focus, boost concentration and relax at the same time.
Research shows that people who work while listening to the sounds of nature gained a better mood and an increase in productivity compared to silence or to machine-made white noise.
Furthermore, natural sounds were automatically associated with ‘green’ and nature by our brain. Our brain, in turn, prompts our body to relax, thus reducing the causes of stress. Despite that, bird calls and animal noises were omitted because of its distracting qualities which can disrupt concentration.
Reminisce with classical music to crack mathematical problems and be a spelling wizard.
Researchers found out by studying radiologists at work that listening to classical music promotes a better mood and sharpens memory as well as improving brain power from the so-called “Mozart Effect”.
Moreover, it was also discovered that listening to classical music helps lower blood pressure and influences emotional availability. Classical music promotes better social interactions with other people and helps reduce stress.
Bob to the beats of pop music to work faster and accurately while chasing those deadlines.
Mindlab International did a research commissioned by MusicWorks about human brain behavior when working while listening to pop music.
Pop music influenced 58% of the workers by making them work faster and, with a 14% decrease in errors, more accurately. This shows that workers enjoy listening to pop music while doing repetitive data entries and working to deadlines.
Color: Paint A Masterpiece with Your Productivity
“Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways. ”
Oscar Wilde
Color is abundant around us. It is everywhere from our bodies to our surroundings. But did you know that colors can also affect us in various ways?
Colors have the ability to influence our mood, behavior and, yes, productivity. This is known as Color Psychology. However, there is no firm evidence yet that a certain color has a certain and consistent effect on an individual. For example, if the color red affects you negatively, the color gives a Japanese person a positive effect due because of their culture.
Even though research hasn’t established the effect of color on all of our brain functions yet, there are still findings that color influences us in some other ways. Here are the examples of main colors that affect office productivity:
Incorporate warmth and alertness with furniture, decors and/or paintings accented with red.
According to research from the University of British Columbia, the color red prompts us to become alert and is the most effective in enhancing attention to detail. Tasks such as memory retrieval and proofreading improve by 31% compared to blue and other colors.
Red is also a good color to place where you mostly work at night since the color keeps you active, awake and alert. It is also a great accent color for rooms where you do negotiations.
Warning! Too much red can evoke anger or hostility so use it as an accent color or offset it with the color gray.
Combine some creativity and zen while working with blue walls, furniture and/or decors.
From the same research from the University of British Columbia, blue promoted creativity. The blue-colored environment prompted participants to produce twice as many creative ideas compared to them being in a red-themed environment.
This color is also known to lower heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. In addition, it promotes trust and better communication so it is a great color for group study and meeting rooms.
Warning! Too many dark shades of blue can bring the feeling sadness so it is better to choose lighter tones of blue.
Include nature while working with green on walls, furniture and/or decor along with plants.
The color green gives out the feeling of balance and relaxation due to its association with nature. Application of green is not limited to the usage of green paint. According to a study, living greens such as plants contribute a lot more which benefits the productivity and well-being of workers.
Green should be placed where you mostly use your computer, phone or any electronic devices. Looking at it from time to time will give your eyes some rest and can help reduce anxiety as well as eye strain.
Warning! Too much of the wrong shade of green can leave people feeling sick, bored or sluggish.
Add confidence with a touch of sunshine yellow as accents to furniture, decors, and walls.
For people needing a lot of creativity, the color blue won’t be enough for that. The color yellow is found to improve creativity much further. It gives off a happy, positive and energizing vibe.
Yellow is the color that lifts your spirits and self-esteem. It is associated with confidence, optimism, and everything fun. Furthermore, this welcoming color encourages focus, direction, and innovation.
Warning! Overuse of yellow or the use of the wrong shade as an accent can increase anxiety, appetite, and fear.
Natural Light: Let Productivity Shine On You
“Ô, Sunlight! The most precious gold to be found on Earth.”
Roman Payne
Other than music and color, it is vital to learn about the importance of natural light and its benefits to your health and productivity. If you are working with artificial light or with poor lighting conditions there is a greater chance that your productivity will decrease.
Research from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and from Mirjam Münch’s study shows the effects of workplace daylight exposure to workers to their sleep, activity, and quality of life.
Artificial Vs. Natural Light Effects On Workers Productivity
Artificial light can cause glare or flickers on visual display units that can cause eye strain, blurred vision, headaches and dry eyes.
However, these can be avoided by providing better lighting. And not just any common lighting, but natural sunlight, which improves alertness, mood and reduces eye strain.
It also promotes better sleep quality to workers, lessens the chances of getting ill thus reducing absenteeism. A healthy, happy worker is a productive and creative worker.
The Conclusion
Motivation levels within the workplace have a direct impact on employee’s productivity. Having a positive mental attitude and the right motivational influences around you will raise productivity, creativity and work performance.
Productivity at work can easily be influenced by internal and external factors. Whether it is from your fellow workers or your environment, you have to wield them to your advantage.
Author’s Bio: Kristine Ramos is an editor at scoopfed.com. She loves reading and writing. Her business-minded parents influenced her while growing up and she learned how to manage simple business dealings when she was young. If she is not reading, writing or managing her Aunt’s store, she draws or plays video games. She mostly spends time with her pets or with a book in hand.