The Productivity Guide: Using the Environment to Make the Most Out of Your Workday
“Don’t confuse activity with productivity. Many people are simply busy being busy.”
– Robin Sharma
Have you ever considered that your productivity might be closely tied to the environment you work in?
Beyond gadgets and strategies, your surroundings have a profound impact on your ability to stay focused, creative, and efficient. Some of these strategies seem woo-woo (grounding?), some seem boring (mitigating noise), and some are more obvious (stand up) but they all come with research to back up their claims. Let’s look at how making intentional changes to your environment can unlock your hidden potential and improve your productivity.
Modify Environments, Improve Productivity
1. Be Near Natural Light
Sunlight's impact on our well-being is widely acknowledged, with the research shedding light on its effects on mood, alertness, bone health, strength, testosterone levels, and sleep quality. Yet, how much of a role can sunlight play in our productivity?
The Research
Researchers analyzing the effect on various modalities in the workplace conclude that of all of the office-based elements they assessed, “lighting seems to have the most impacts on the human body.” They go on to say “Among different sources of lighting, it seems that sunlight is the most crucial one and cannot be easily replaced by electric light because of its dynamic quality as well as spectral features.”
A study on workers who got natural light exposure compared to those who did not found some compelling results. The employees with natural light exposure had “longer sleep duration, better sleep quality, more physical activity and better quality of life.” Those who had windows in the workplace had 173% more white light, slept 46 minutes more, and tended to be more active.
More research found that natural light decreased eye strain, headaches, and blurred vision by 84%, decreased drowsiness by 10%, improved productivity by 2%, and an 80% higher overall satisfaction during the day.
Do This
Get out of the house or office and expose yourself to sunlight often (don’t wear sunglasses and you can still get sun through clouds).
Spend much of your day by a window.
If these are difficult to do then use a happy lamp for about 30 minutes in the morning.
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2. Be Near Plants
The allure of greenery transcends mere aesthetics; it extends to our happiness, well-being, and yes, productivity. And you don’t need to bring that laptop to the Amazon to reap the rewards either.
The Research
In an analysis of 10 UK studies on plants, all of them found a positive correlation between self-esteem and mood (with a greater effect in the presence of water).
Another study found that workers had less stress and a 12% productivity boost when there was greenery present.
This study found that having plants in the office improved the quality of life and gave a 15% boost in productivity.
Do This
Grab some plants for the home and office for benefits you don’t even know you’re getting.
Knock out two birds with one stone by using this guide from NASA to pick ones that make your surroundings healthier by filtering the air.
3. Mitigate The Noise
Noise may be one of the most undervalued environmental influences that impact our bodies. Research has shown that noise has the power to increase your risk of depression, anxiety, weight gain, learning, sleep disorders, stroke, and heart disease. Things are not looking good for its impact on your productivity….
The Research
Noise has been shown to decrease productivity by as much as 66%. And it’s not limited to conversations and loud noises. Seemingly innocent noise like air conditioners, traffic, and general office noise count as micro stressors impacting our health and our productivity. Maybe most concerning is that there is no evidence that we can habituate or adapt to these sounds.
That said, there are intentional ways to use noise to your advantage. One way is through music. One study found that background music enhanced concentration but it was important to choose music that the participants didn’t hate or love. Those extremes will likely make it more distracting and defeat the purpose.
Another type of noise that can help with focus is binaural beats. Binaural beats require the use of headphones so that each side can stimulate the brain through the use of specific frequencies. These frequencies correlate with different waves of the brain to trigger the desired response. For example, delta waves are for relaxation and sleep, and theta waves are for creativity. Using binaural beats for beta 2 waves (18.5 Hz) is thought to be ideal for productivity. This is the range that this study used to find that binaural beats improved atter productivity through attention and arousal.
Do This
Use things that absorb sound: heavy curtains, rugs, acoustic panels, and plants
Be careful using noise-canceling headphones due to the EMF exposure (consider ear plugs instead).
Work in areas with plenty of furniture and away from things like vents, fans, and the refrigerator.
Find background music with a decent tempo that you like (but don’t love) and trial binaural beats which can be easily found through most music apps.
4. Use A Standing Desk
We’ve all heard that sitting is the new smoking but how much does it impact productivity?
The Research
Research shows that:
Those who sat all day instead of a combination of standing or sitting reported more fatigue at the end of the day.
Mental processing time is quicker in those who stand.
Workers in a call center who used standing desks were 45% more productive than those who sat
Over a 6 month period, productivity increased 23% in the first month and 53% in the remaining months with those who stood.
We definitely weren’t made to sit all day but we weren’t made to stand either. The sweet spot is somewhere in between but make sure you switch it up frequently. The best position is the one you’re not in.
Do This
There are so many affordable options for standing desks nowadays. At the very least just prop your monitor on a stack of books or a box at your desk and stand every once in a while. Take it to the other end by ordering an electronic height-adjustable standing desk.
At work I use this standing desk converter to allow me to alternate between sitting and standing.
When I’m at home writing I alternate between a standing desk and a desk bike. Yes, as weird but great as it sounds.
5. Raise (Or Lower) The Roof
It turns out that the height of our ceilings impacts how much work we do.
The Research
Our brains work congruently with our environment. The “cathedral effect” is a great example of this. Those who work under high ceilings tend to have to think in more open and larger ways (improved creativity and abstract thinking). Those working under low ceilings have more closed and smaller thinking styles (analytical and detailed work). Even a height difference of an 8-foot ceiling to a 10-foot ceiling made a difference.
Do This
Use your environment to support your desired thinking style. If you have periods of the day where you need to be creative then go for the high ceiling (or just go outside and work) and for periods of more concrete work choose a smaller environment (or put on a hat as a form of blinders).
6. Start Grounding
Grounding (a.k.a. earthing) is making an electrical connection with the earth, most commonly by walking barefoot in the grass, sand, or dirt. Through earthing, negative ions of the earth neutralize the positively charged destructive free radicals of the human body. I thought it sounded a bit folky too when I first learned about it but the research is strong.
The Research
Research supports the idea that grounding “Reduces inflammation, pain, and stress; improves blood flow, sleep, and vitality.”
More studies conclude that it reduces pain, and improves the immune system, sleep, HRV, facial blood flow, and blood viscosity (for decreased risk of cardiovascular disease). (Evidence here, here, here, here, and here.) If it’s not obvious enough, using a grounding mat can have a huge impact on your productivity with little downside.
Do This
Aim for 20 minutes of outdoor grounding a day.
If you’re unable to get outside then use a grounding mat under your desk or on the bed.
I use these Earth Runner sandals (when it’s less socially appropriate to be barefoot).
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Takeaway
Your environment wields a remarkable influence over your productivity. From harnessing natural light to introducing greenery, mitigating noise, and embracing grounding practices, these simple adjustments can significantly enhance your daily output. As you optimize your workspace, remember that the key to productivity often lies in the very surroundings you create. So, take charge of your environment, and let it become the catalyst for your success.
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