Tips and Tricks for Staying Motivated at the Office

Oh no. Here it comes. The dreaded 3 p.m. slump. You’ve been sitting at your desk working since 9 and you just don’t know if you can make it till the end of the day. You’re tired, you’re groggy, and you just can’t find a single ounce of motivation. 

We’ve all been there, right? If you work in an office, you understand the fatigue that can happen throughout your day. The monotony of staring at a screen or the repetition of answering email after email can often cause you to lose your motivation. Even when you love your job, it’s natural to get tired and distracted at times. Luckily, there are some easy changes you can make to your routine to find the energy to get through your day. Here are a few simple tips and tricks for staying motivated at the office.

Liven Up Your Space

Your surroundings can often inspire your work. Whoever thought fluorescent lights, ugly chairs, and tiny cubicles would create a productive atmosphere was clearly a little crazy. Recent studies show humans need natural light and comfortable surroundings to stay motivated. 

Some companies are taking big steps forward in creating more open, inviting commercial spaces. Perhaps you can completely redo your design plan. Innovative interior designers for offices in New York are going above and beyond to create offices to foster cooperation, openness, and visibility. These offices are increasing productivity and motivation because these workers feel at home and comfortable in their workspace. 

Maybe you don’t have the luxury of working in the best office that can afford this kind of upgrade. Still, you don’t have to be an interior designer to liven up your space. Add some bright, lively colors to your decor, or even a small plant to connect you with nature while you work. Even adding background music to your workday can add an extra ounce of motivation to increase productivity. 

Give Yourself Brain Breaks 

The typical nine to five workday can be a bit more draining than the upbeat Dolly Parton song suggests. With only one break for lunch throughout the day, no wonder you feel drained by 5 pm. Give yourself brain breaks, especially if your work requires a lot of brainpower. 

Things like taking a short walk, or enjoying a mid-afternoon snack give your brain that essential break it needs. And if you can work in a brief change of scenery, that is even better. Maybe set goals for yourself, then take a ten-minute break after you’ve completed each task. This kind of work then reward system keeps you on track. Overworking yourself can quickly lead to burnout, so little breaks from the action keep you motivated.

Care for Your Health

As with any attempt for a happier routine, you can trace productivity back to your health. Simple things like drinking enough water and packing a healthy lunch will have beneficial effects in keeping your brain alert. Often times candy and soda seem to give us a momentary high while we sit at our desks, but we end up crashing within the hour. 

Beyond just watching your health, you may want to look into dietary supplements to help fight the anxiety and strain from your job. Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) is a newer supplement that benefits heart health and can reduce oxidative stress. Taking supplements such as NMN keeps your brain more alert and can calm work anxieties that may distract you from your work.

Health concerns at the office don’t end with your diet. There are also effects from sitting all day and staring at screens. Our screen usage can tire our eyes and cause drowsiness throughout our bodies. Maybe invest in some blue light glasses to prevent future issues with your retinas and allow you to stay focused on your computer for longer. 

You also may want to consider a standing desk or another way to exercise your body beyond sitting in the same chair for eight straight hours. Changing your physical position, as crazy as it sounds, can stimulate your brain. By changing up your blood flow, you’re staying motivated when you don’t even realize it.