Some top tips on how to improve your workplace productivity levels

One of a manager’s key tasks is to ensure that the office environment is conducive to high levels of productivity and that is what this blog post is all about. The Fruit People have worked in all sorts of offices over the years and through our experience, as well as reading various studies on office productivity, we have laid out 5 key factors that will help employees work better and more effectively throughout the day.

Give it a read, choose what you think will add to your workplace and start looking at ways to implement some of these office productivity tips! Why not share this blog with some colleagues in an email and ask for some more recommendations from them?

1. Office Layout

While the open-plan office gained a lot of popularity in the last decade, a study by Gensley showed that 53% of workers felt disturbed by others’ activities while 69% were unhappy with noise levels in these types of spaces.

Although collaborative spaces can be beneficial to certain employees, some workers are at their most productive when working alone and without distractions, so perhaps a mixture of both designs would be best suited for offices. How can you learn about what suits your employees best? Ask them!

2. Lighting

A study by the American Society of Interior Design showed that 68% of employees complain about the lighting in their offices. Between dim and harsh lighting, employees often suffer from headaches, eye strain and drowsiness as a result of poor lighting which can then lead to lower productivity levels. Switching to softer and more natural-toned bulbs is one idea, while the ideal form of lighting will always be natural and by a window.

3. Go for a Walk

Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to be seated beside a window where you will benefit from the sun’s rays but with this this next tip, you can kill two birds with one stone! Sitting at a desk for 8+ hours a day is widely-known to have a very negative affect on your body. Taking a stroll around the block will not only allow you to take in some sunshine and get some fresh air, but it will can also improve productivity.

One of the more well-known break methods, the Pomodoro technique advises employees to focus for 25 minutes at a time followed by a 5 minute break or alternatively, working for 50 minutes straight followed by a 10 minute break. These mini-breaks allow you to clear out any mental distractions you may have have and return to your desk with a new lease of energy.

4. Add Some Greenery

Researchers from the American Psychological Association found that workers in spaces with plants showed 15 percent higher productivity. Plants also have the added benefit of improving air quality, reducing the amount of VOC (volatile organic compounds) often found in furniture, cleaning equipment and painted walls which can also lead to a more productive workforce.

5. Less Treats and Coffee…More Fruit!

When you’re running low on energy, it’s all too common to reach for a biscuit or run out to grab a coffee. Although the sugar and caffeine will temporarily give you a boost of energy and allow you to finish that task, the oncoming crash will not be worth it!

Fruits like apples, bananas, oranges and peaches are great sources of sustained energy that won’t leave you craving more sugar after the initial sugar-rush dies down.

As a fruit-delivery service, we would love to help your office become more productive! The Fruit People offer free delivery to offices nationwide and you can even claim a free trial of one of our fruit boxes right HERE.