Unfortunately, we live in a time where it’s almost impossible to avoid distractions. There are so many things you can do just using a device that you keep in your pocket, from checking emails and responding to text messages to spending time on social media platforms. These distractions may seem harmless at first, but if you closely observe how much time you spend on your smartphone at work, you’ll instantly see that this habit is causing you to underperform at work. Of course, the problem isn’t just in smartphones – there are a number of other things that can harm your productivity as well.

It’s worth noting that although a lack of productivity may not seem like a big deal at first, it can ultimately cause a number of problems. First of all, you’ll start feeling overwhelmed and stressed out throughout most of the day. This amount of negativity may cause damage to your personal relationships and even your physical and mental health. Keep in mind that excess stress is linked to some of the leading causes of death. Thankfully, you won’t have to worry about problems like that if you just learn some discipline and work on increasing your productivity.

Exercise at Work

According to a study published by the American Psychological Association Center for Organizational Excellence, exercising at the office can boost your productivity. Ideally, you should aim to work out at least 30 minutes per day. However, if you can’t fit that into your schedule, then just exercise as much as you can. After all, it’s better to do a 15-minute workout than do nothing at all. The great thing about doing a workout at the office is that you’ll no longer have to sacrifice personal time to stay physically active. Aside from making you more productive, regular exercise will help you reduce the risk of both physical and mental health problems.

Learn Something New

Taking the time to learn something new when you’re already on a busy schedule probably doesn’t sound like a good idea. Nevertheless, it’s an excellent way of rewiring your brain to become more productive. In order for this to work, you’ll need to avoid distractions and use your free time to learn something new. For example, you can download an app that’ll help you learn a foreign language. Each time you find yourself grabbing your smartphone to do something that would be distracting you from your work just open the app and take a few minutes to learn some new words.

Get Better Equipment

If you can explain to your boss how better equipment would increase the employees’ productivity, they will gladly invest in it. Similarly, if you’re a small business owner with your plate constantly full, then you should do some research to see if any piece of equipment could make you and your employees more productive. For instance, Plantronics headphones are a great option if you spend a lot of your phone. Being stuck to a desk because you have to talk over the phone when you could be doing other tasks at the same time can have a negative effect on your efficiency.

Take Breaks

Many people underestimate the power of taking regular breaks. If you force yourself to work on a task for hours at a time without taking a single break, your productivity will ultimately plummet. It’s a good idea to take a 5-minute break for every 55 minutes of work. However, you shouldn’t spend these five minutes on social media or texting. Instead, take this time to relax and cool down.

Learn to Say No

If you already have your plate full, you certainly don’t need to be doing other people’s work as well. It’s definitely a good thing if you want to help your coworkers, but you should do this only if you have the time. Don’t feel obligated to say “yes” just because someone asked for your help. In case you don’t have time, simply say that you’re busy at the moment and that you’ll be able to provide assistance once you’re done with your work. In most cases, the coworkers who ask you for help will solve the problem before you finish your tasks.