Boost productivity by improving concentration conditions

BOOST PRODUCTIVITY BY IMPROVING CONCENTRATION CONDITIONS
A DOZEN WAYS TO MAKE A BIG LEAP IN PRODUCTIVITY

Improving the conditions for focused work holds massive potential for increasing productivity—by tens of percent, even.
Once aware of this, a company that cares about its people or a manager who understands the impact won’t ignore the opportunity.

Here is a list of powerful methods:

1. Turn off all notifications and alerts on all devices.
2. Check email only at scheduled times—e.g., once, twice, four, or six times a day. Keep email closed when not in use.
3. Put your personal phone on airplane mode—messages can be checked during lunch break.
4. In open-plan offices, provide high-quality noise-cancelling headphones and clear rules for their use.
5. Remove snacks and drinks that cause blood sugar spikes (like cookies, candy, etc.). Replace them with high-quality meals and snacks free of fast carbs. The company can provide a mix of nuts and seeds with a few raisins or dried berries, along with a bowl of fresh fruit.
6. Return to private offices with personal space or install high partitions between workstations in open-plan offices to block distracting movement. A commonly effective solution in large spaces is rows of individual “phone booths” with separate air controls. Minimize noise.
7. Allow stress-relief breaks (e.g., swimming if possible) outdoors, in nature, or at the company’s gym or wellness corner.
8. Use strong spam filters on email and actively unsubscribe from unnecessary mailing lists.
9. Develop a smart internal communication and meeting culture or policy that enhances communication while reducing interruptions, fragmentation, and distraction.
10. Allow a casual dress culture that lets employees wear comfortable, breathable, loose-fitting clothes of their own choosing. Clothes for client meetings can be kept ready.
11. Implement a company wellness program that combats mental and physical fatigue with essential supplements provided by the company (e.g., vitamin D, multivitamins, omega-3, magnesium) and fitness/wellness benefits such as gym or spa passes. Include regular health tips in the program.
12. Provide ergonomically sound furniture to prevent sitting-related discomfort—such as a rocking saddle chair with a center gap, a height-adjustable desk with a belly cutout or padded armrest, and multiple monitors so that all key information is visible at once.

Employees need guidance, instruction, and training in using these tools so they become habits and have maximum impact. Ultimately, everything depends on leadership’s understanding and attitude—because everyone wants the peace to focus