Five Simple Ways to Beat the Afternoon Blues
ShareIs there any way to change the atmosphere in your office and beat the afternoon blues? Yes. Fortunately, by making just a few changes, you can boost employee productivity levels and enhance motivation.
Reduce the Noise
Cornell University published an interesting study related to noise and worker productivity. The main finding was that workers who are exposed to lower levels of noise enjoy higher levels of epinephrine, which is vital to energy and motivation.
Keeping this in mind, as a manager or supervisor, remember to keep noise levels to a minimum in the office. You could even suggest noise-cancelling headphones, and if your business has the funds, it would be great for you to provide such headphones to your workers.
Get Rid of the Artificial Light
Mirjam Muench published a study in 2012 that concluded people who work day in, day out in artificial light tend to have more episodes of sleepiness during their workdays than those who work under natural light conditions.
The findings of the study don't imply that you can't have any type of artificial lighting in the office, but you should promote natural lighting as much as possible. This means that during the daytime, any and all windows should have the curtains pulled to the side and the blinds opened. If you work in an office that has no windows, at least provide your workers with a 10-minute break every hour and a half and allow them to walk outside.
Invest In Good Office Furniture
No one likes to sit in an uncomfortable office chair. Not only does this lead to poor productivity, especially during the afternoon, it can also lead to major health problems. Your office furniture in El Monte CA, like DandROfficeWorks.com, should be made of high-quality materials and should be arranged ergonomically. When arranged in this manner, your workers will be able to work both easily and safely, which will boost productivity levels. Just remember, comfort is very important, and it's your responsibility to provide your employees with office furniture that maximizes their productivity potential.
Provide a Fruit Snack Bar
Eating fruit all throughout the day can go a long way in increasing worker energy levels. Both mid-day and afternoon fruit snacks will ensure your workers aren't dragging around come three o'clock. And no, this doesn't mean gummy fruit snacks are going to make the cut. You should be providing a daily fruit snack bar to your employees. This fruit snack bar should include the following fruits:
- Limes
- Dates
- Apricots
- Passion fruit
- Peaches
- Lemons
- Bananas
- Cherries
- Plums
Each of the fruits listed above will help stabilize blood sugar levels, which will greatly readuce episodes of sleepiness.
Keep It Warm In the Office
Cornell University published a study in 2004 that concluded that workers are less likely to make errors when working in an office that has a temperature range of 68 to 77 degrees. The Men's Health website released a research study report that concluded almost the same thing, with workers making fewer errors when working in temperatures ranging from 71 to 77 degrees.
What exactly does this mean? It means that regardless of the time of year, the thermostat in the office should be set above 68 degrees, preferably above 71 degrees, and no warmer than 77 degrees. (Which can be understandable, as anything lower would make it cold enough that people would complain and anything higher would just fuel the sleepiness.)
The Take Away
Don't let three o'clock be a time of day when your workers drag their feet and lower their levels of productivity. This time of day deserves just as much attention as the rest of the day, and by making the small changes listed above, you can be well on your way to enhancing the overall atmosphere and productivity found in your office.