5 Ways To Create A Productive Workspace In 2017

When you're feeling good and working smart, productivity levels skyrocket! Today on the blog we'll provide you with the tips and tricks needed to take office performance to the next level. From eating healthy to taking short breaks, the advice in today's post is a must read.

1.) Eat Healthy

If you wake up in the morning and go heavy on the french toast and syrup, you'll likely be feeling groggy before lunch time. We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It lays the foundation and provides us with the energy needed to tackle our morning tasks. By eating healthy in the morning with some fresh fruit and yogurt you'll replace that groggy feeling with motivation. The same strategy applies to lunch time. Don't sit at your desk eating fast food and expect to finish the day without needing a power nap. Pack a healthy lunch, take it outside, and eat while enjoying some fresh air. You'll return to your office workstation refreshed, ready, and productive!

2.) Type Smart

Computing at correct and healthy angles will help you remain productive throughout the work day. It will also help you reduce the risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This means, the days of typing with your keyboard tray on your work surface have got to come to an end. It reduces your words per minute while simultaneously allowing strain to creep in. Invest in an articling keyboard platform in 2017. It will help you create more usable desk space while encouraging healthy typing angles. You'l be performing more efficiently in no time!

3.) Use A Dual Screen System

Two screens are better than one! Think about how much time you spend clicking between tabs to handle your daily tasks. Now think about how nice it would be to cut that time in half. A dual screen mount is one of those products that once installed, you'll wonder how you ever lived without. We recommend checking out the dual computer monitor mounts from Systematix, Symmtery Office, and ESI Ergonomic Solutions. They're cost effective, easy to install, and incredibly versatile.

4.) Practice Good Posture

Even the most advanced ergonomic swivel chair will leave you feeling dissatisfied if you don't practice the good posture habits needed to maximize comfort. You'll want to start by raising your chair to the correct height. Make sure you're feet are able to rest flat on the ground and facing forward. Make it a point to avoid using your chair base as a foot rest. This reduces blood flow that can lead to cramping. In addition, make sure to keep your back in contact with your chair at all times. Sit as upright as possible to maximize spine support while working at your desk. Last but not least, you'll want to keep your head properly aligned with your computer screens. If you've invested in a dual screen mount, it will be super easy to raise your screens to eye level.

5.) Take Short Breaks

When you sit for long periods of time, posture tends to suffer as fatigue sets in. That's why it's absolutely essential to take at least one 10 minute break every hour. If back pain and strain are issues you deal with regularly, take a 5 minute break every 30 minutes. When you stand up and walk away from your office desk, your muscles are stretching out and visual strain is reduced. Needless to say, looking at your computer screen for hours on end is unhealthy. To be at your best and improve productivity, you need to force yourself into a smart break schedule. Powering through your work day  stressed and fatigued can no longer be your daily routine. If there's no realistic way you can take short breaks, consider making the switch to a sit to stand workstation that promotes continuous movement. Affordable sit to stand desktop risers are now available for less than $300.00 from brands like OFM. They attach to almost any work surface in minutes. You'll be avoiding those unhealthy extended sits that kill productivity in no time!

5 Ways To Kick Off The Summer In Comfort

Today marks the official start of Summer! That being said, it's time to take action and start getting comfortable. Don't settle for workplace fatigue, muscle cramps, and poor blood flow in the second half of 2016. We've got you covered. Today on the OfficeAnything.com blog we're highlighting 5 ways to kick comfort into high gear. Enjoy!

1.) Smart Chair

Smart chairs are the latest ergonomic craze. The ability to achieve top notch comfort with minimal level pulling and adjusting is incredibly appealing to chair shoppers. To make a long story short, smart chairs minimize the ergonomic learning curve. If you're looking for ways to improve your posture without the headache, a smart chair is the way to go. 

Popular Smart Chairs:

• Global Total Office G20 Chair
• Mayline Living Chair
• RFM Preferred Seating Verte Chair
• Eurotech Seating iOO Chair

2.) Sit To Stand Workstation

As the song says, "you gotta get up to get down". Sit to stand workstations promote continuous movement in the workplace and improve blood flow. The ability to quickly switch from sitting to standing positions at the touch of a button will make you incredibly versatile. Sit to stand workstations are great for private office, training room, and classroom applications. Brands like Mayline, ESI Ergonomic Solutions, and Global Total Office offer best selling sit to stand workstations that should be considered by furniture shoppers looking to boost comfort this summer.

3.) Compute Correctly

It's as simple as this, compute correctly and enjoy a more efficient work day. Those who compute and type at incorrect angles commonly suffer from joint pain in the hands that greatly reduces productivity. Purchasing an articulating keyboard tray will set you on the path to typing success. A high quality keyboard tray will offer you the ability to increase usable desk space while improving your typing posture.

In addition, consider integrating a dual screen monitor arm into your space. Dual monitor mounts will improve the rate at which you compute. They'll also help you get your screens to eye level. If you're looking down at your monitors when typing, you're neck is paying the price! A dual screen monitor mount is the professional solution.

4.) Avoid Extended Sits

Sitting for long periods of time can actually shorten your life span. You've gotta stand up at least once every couple of hours to stretch out those fatiguing muscles. Take a few minutes to walk around. Allow your eyes to adjust from staring at the computer scree. Get a drink of water to stay hydrated. In the long run, short breaks are they key to a comfortable work day. Even when you get busy and the tasks mount up, force yourself to take short breaks. They're an absolute must if you want to stay energized at work and operating at peak performance levels! 

5.) Posture Reminders

Studies have shown that placing a list of helpful posture reminders within eye sight of your computer screen will improve comfort levels. Let's be honest, it's hard to remember a long list of ways to sit correctly during busy work days. In most cases, posture is the last thing on our minds! The being said, simple reminders will go a long way towards improving comfort. Keeping helpful tips fresh will ensure you remain comfortable for longer periods of time.

Helpful Posture Tips:

• Keep Back In Contact With Chair
• Avoid Leaning Forward
• Don't Slouch
• Keep Feet Flat and Facing Forward
• Don't Use Chair Base As Foot Rest
• Take Short Breaks
• Stay Hydrated
• Raise Computer Screens To Eye Level

8 Ways To Stay Energized At Work

Unless you work at a power plant, work and energy aren't regularly mentioned in the same sentence. Silly jokes aside, it's really hard to stay energized in the office. With a long list of daily tasks and obligations that need completing, how do you keep your energy levels high? If you're grasping for answers, you're not alone! Luckily, we're here to help. Today on the blog, we're highlighting the tips and tricks you'll need to stay motivated and effective all day.

1.) Get Good Rest

It's hard to beat a good 8 hours of sleep. If you want to stay energized at work, you can't stay up all night in your recliner watching old movies and eating junk food. Be responsible! Commit to a reasonable bed time that ensures you wake up refreshed and ready to roll without rushing through your morning.

2.) Eat Healthy

Staring your day with a heaping pile of pancakes and bacon will have you feeling groggy before you even make it to the office! Start your day with fresh fruit, yogurt, granola, and energy packed foods. The same principles apply at lunch. Skip the double cheeseburger and fries. Instead, pack your lunch the night before work. Be sure to include some fresh veggies and protein packed goodies. You can't go wrong with foods like salmon, brown rice, salads, and even peanut butter when you need a quick snack!

3.) Stretch Regularly

It's very important to stretch regularly throughout the day. If you don't have time for a full deskercise routine, at least stand up once very hour to shake out those tightening muscles. Sitting for long periods of time is never a good idea! Avoid this bad habit by standing up from your office chair as often as possible to stretch. A few minutes of quality stretching will have you feeling energized in no time.

4.) Improve Blood Flow

To put it simply, poor blood flow causes fatigue. Fatigue causes energy levels to drop! To improve blood flow, use a task chair with a waterfall seat edge that takes the pressure off your knees. If blood flow is a big problem, you may consider making the switch to a sit to stand desk that promotes continuous movement in the workplace. Other free ways to improve blood flow include exercising, taking short walks, and propping your feet up.

5.) Take Short Breaks

To stay energized, you've got to avoid boredom, stress, and fatigue. Taking short breaks will help you do just that. Take the time to walk around the office. If you can, walk outside to get some fresh air. You'll return to your workstation refreshed, rejuvenated, and energized. When you feel body cramps and strain setting in, stand up immediately and walk it off! Short breaks are the key to a successful and energized work day. If it feels like your days are never ending, you've likely been stuck at your desk all day long with no change of scenery. Take short breaks and enjoy the energizing benefits!

6.) Promote Collaboration

Collaborating with your coworkers is just plain smart! In fact, many businesses are making the switch from cubicle systems to open desking layouts for just this reason. Cubicles are closed off and private, while open desking layouts encourage teamwork and group engagement. When you're collaborating with your coworkers, you're being productive and avoiding down time that results in energy drops. Collaborate as much as possible to stay at peak performance levels.

7.) Avoid Bad Posture Habits

Bad posture habits are hard to break, but not impossible! Start by posting a list of good posture reminders within eye sight of your computer screen. Studies have shown that this simple practice yields big time results. Next, synchronize your office chair and workstation to achieve a better sit. Adjusting your chair regularly is a must. Be sure to keep your back in contact with the chair at all times when working. Each time you lean away from your chair, your posture suffers. Additionally, you'll want to keep your feet flat on the ground and facing forward. Avoid propping your feet up on the base of your chair or extended out in front of you. Simple practices like these go a long way. Before you know it, you'll be posture perfect and enjoying increased energy levels.

8.) Stay Hydrated

When you exercise, you hydrate. Why? Because you need fluids to stay energized! The same principles apply when working. If you grind through your work day without hydrating, your energy will levels will be quickly depleted. You should always have water at your desk. According to the experts, you should be drinking about 8 eight ounce glasses of water per day. Here's an idea, take a short break, stretch out those muscles while walking around. Visit the water cool to get a a quick drink and return to your desk. Now that's what we call energized multi tasking!

6 Ways To Boost Productivity In Your Workspace

It's tough to stay productive at work day-in and day-out. Luckily, our team is ready to share 6 awesome ways to keep you and your coworkers operating at your best. From promoting collaboration to eating healthy, these diverse tips and strategies will no doubt boost performance levels around your office!

1.) Promote Collaboration

When your locked up in your own private workspace, you're solely relying on yourself to remain productive. That being said, if you promote collaboration with your teammates you'll be far better suited for business success. Try hosting weekly strategy and planning sessions with your coworkers. Throw out ideas, ask for advice, and set goals. Doing so will take productivity to a whole new level! If your business is in need of a makeover, consider removing those old cubicles and replacing them with open desking configurations. While cubicles are great for privacy and noise reduction, open desking promotes collaboration and boosts productivity levels! Brands like Mayline and Global Total Office offer excellent open desking solutions that should be considered by any business looking for a performance boost.

2.) Reduce Fatigue

Fatigue is a real productivity killer! Commonly related to poor sleep the night before, if you're feeling fatigued and groggy at your desk, it's time to shake things up a bit. Commit to a good sleep schedule and ensure you get your full 8 hours. Make sure you eat breakfast every morning and avoid pounding multiple cups of coffee. To further fight fatigue, consider a deskercise routine. As one of the hottest workplace trends of 2015, deskercise involves using your desks, computer chairs and office surroundings to grab a few minutes of exercise right there in the office! Simple stretches and deskercise activities can be found online to help you conquer fatigue once and for all.

3.) Limit Distractions

If you're easily distracted around the office, the odds are you're not that productive. To be at your best and achieve your workplace goals, limiting distractions is a must. When you arrive at work each morning, create a list of daily tasks and assign them completion times. If you commit to staying on task and following your daily list, distractions will slowly fade away. Avoid those long chats at the water cooler and in the break room. Stay off the cell phone and away from productivity killing social media sites. Use your lunch break to catch up online and with your coworkers. By the end of the week, you'll have saved so much time by limiting distractions that you'll have accomplished all your goals. When this is the case, feel free to chat away!

4.) Commit To Ergonomics

A proper education on the value of ergonomics in the workplace will greatly benefit you and your coworkers. We all hear the "E" word dropped daily around the office, but are we really putting what we hear into affect? A real commitment to ergonomics will boost your productivity, save you time, and keep you operating far more comfortably. Before you can fully commit to an ergonomic plan, you have to assess your personal workplace needs. Determine your areas of discomfort and move forward accordingly. As office comfort starts with the chair, consider an upgrade that will better support your key areas. Take things a step further by accessorizing your workspace. Ergonomic CPU holders and adjustable monitor arms will go a long way in your productivity quest. Once you've taken your work environment to the next level, spread the word. Help your teammates commit to ergonomics and your business will be all the better for it!

5.) Reduce Stress

Stress is another productivity killer that can be found around every corner if you're not careful. Stress at home can easily affect your work day and vice versa. So how do we combat such a ruthless foe? By staying focused on the tasks at hand and striving to create happy surroundings. Do your best to eliminate stress in the workplace by staying organized and ready to work. If you arrive at work each day to a messy workstation, it will be difficult to remain productive, but incredibly easy to get stressed out. In addition, take a few minutes each day to simply go outside and take a walk. Get some fresh air. You can't very well enjoy your work day if you're stressing behind the desk. Don't cram too many goals into a single day. Break up your week with effective planning and strategies designed to distribute the work load. If stress is still challenging you, consider talking to your family members, coworkers, or professionals about your issues. This mental and physical problem can be be beat. Stay positive, we know you can do it!

6.) Eat Healthy

The days of gorging on greasy burgers and fries at lunch are over. No more crawling back into your office chair groggy, over fed, and ready for an extended nap. It's time to start eating healthy! Plan your weekly meals with the help of the internet, coworkers, and friends, and family members. Ask for healthy meal ideas and find a wide variety of recipes you're actually interested in trying. The mental hurdles are the hardest part of committing to a healthy lunch routine. Don't convince yourself that the only healthy options are salads! There are simply too many tasty and healthy options out there that will have you feeling rejuvenated and energized when you return to work. A healthy eating routine will save you money, boost productivity, and have you feeling better about your self and your work day.

5 Ways To Better Survive The Holiday Hangover At Work

With the holiday season behind us, it's time to get back to the real world. That being said, many of us suffer from the dreaded holiday hangover and find it hard to focus at work. Luckily, in today's post we'll be sharing 5 awesome ways to help you transition smoothly back into the grind. Enjoy!

1.) Get A Good Nights Rest

A good work day starts with a good nights rest. Starting your first day back to work after the holidays feeling tired and groggy will no doubt set you off on the wrong track. Be sure to hit the sack at a reasonable hour and prepare for your day in advance. Pick out your clothes the night before, set the coffee timer, and minimize the morning tasks. These simple things combined with a good nights rest will help you enjoy a much better return to cubicle life.

2.) Eat A Nutritious Breakfast

A good hearty breakfast is sure to fill you up, but can also leave you feeling tired during your first days back to work after the holiday break. Plan in advance for your first days back with a trip to the grocery store. Pick up some nutritious fruits, yogurts, breakfast bars, and other tasty treats that will provide you with the energy you need to start your morning right. A nutritious breakfast will help you lay a strong foundation for your day and will no doubt put you in a better mood.

3.) Get A Breath of Fresh Air

All that quality time at home with your family will no doubt leave you feeling bummed to be stuck back in the office. Do yourself a favor and get outside for a breath of fresh air. Roll back the office chair, step away from the paper work, and get outside. It will really do you good! Consider taking a walk with a few coworkers to stretch your legs. You can even eat lunch outside. Rest assured, some sunlight and clouds is a far better holiday hangover remedy than your computer screen.

4.) Have Lunch With The Family

Eating a microwaveable meal at your office desk is lonely and no cure for the holiday hangover! Give the family a quick call and go out to lunch together. Remember when you are at lunch to order something healthy. After all the holiday feasting you've no doubt endured, it's time to start transitioning back into quality, healthy meals that don't leave you ready for a nap when you've finished them! A little family time at lunch will help you break up the work day and set your mind at ease.

5.) Plan A Relaxing Weekend

After all the holiday hoopla, going back to work can be mentally and physically exhausting. Give yourself something to look forward to like a relaxing weekend to rest and recover. A little reward for a solid week back at the office will have you motivated and operating far more efficiently the following week.