By Tessa Bowman
Certified Nutrition & Health Coach

The third Monday of every month, Current Design Studio features a small business owner in the wellness and healthy lifestyle industry’s blog post. We do this to give variety to our readers and spread knowledge amongst the entrepreneur community. If you’re interested in contributing please email olivia@currentdesignstudio.com. 

Many of us are looking for ways to stay motivated in the office throughout the day. We spend (what feels like) the majority of our week at a desk, so why not turn our workplace environment into a haven of productivity!

Aside from the common recommendations of drinking water and taking mini breaks, here are some ways to optimize your environment and boost your productivity:

Work in Natural Light. Harvard Business Review reported that 47% of employees admit they feel tired or very tired from the absence of natural light or a window at their office, and 43% report feeling gloomy because of the lack of light (2018). Whenever possible, turn off artificial lights and open up blinds and curtains so you can work in natural light. Working in natural light supports your circadian rhythm, which leads to better sleep which creates better energy for you during the day, and one study even suggested quality of life was greater when employees worked in natural light! No window? No problem. Just get up and walk around even if just for 3-5 minutes. Weather permitting, take short breaks outside to get some Vitamin D!

Wear Blue Light Blockers. If you’re burning the midnight oil on your phone or computer, blue light blocking glasses are for you. They help block artificial light, which has been proven to negatively affect our circadian rhythm and can prevent us from falling asleep and staying asleep. Artificial light has also been shown to reduce melatonin levels, the sleep-regulating hormone. Fashion-conscious? I admit… when these first debuted, they were only available in an orange tint lens and decidedly NOT attractive. Never fear! After (rightfully) gaining popularity, blue light blocking glasses are now widely available in trendy frames and clear lenses. Check out a few of my faves at  Knockarounds, Felix Gray and Eye Buy Direct.

Run a Diffuser. Adding an essential oil diffuser to your workspace can provide tons of benefits. From improving mental clarity, boosting energy and lowering anxiety, essential oils can help boost your productivity and mood. Plus, specific blends also cleanse the air of irritating pollutants and germs, which are great to run during cold season (assuming everyone in your office is on board!). There are many essential oils brands and blends to choose from. I currently use Young Living and some of my favorite blends are Brain Power, Citrus Fresh (any citrus oil is energizing, Envision, and Stress Away. For cleansing the air, diffuse Thieves and Purification.

Invest in an Air Purifier. Dust, mold and other allergens in an office can be irritating and cause respiratory issues and immune response in many people, with side effects and reactions like congestion,  fatigue and sickness. Investing in a quality air purifier is key because it filters more than 99% of dust, allergens, airborne bacteria, viruses, germs and mold spores. I use this one and move it from room to room in our home.

These are just a few tricks to help you check off those to-do’s at work every day. Do you have any tricks to boost productivity at work? Share below!

Meet Tessa

Tessa is  a Certified Nutrition Consultant and a Certified Health Coach who runs a blog, balanced-t0-a-t.com where she share tips and inspiration to help you and your family live your healthiest and happiest non-toxic life! She has a true passion for all things health and wellness, especially for mom’s and children, so any questions you have about leading a healthier life for your family – she’s your girl. Stay connected with Tessa on Instagram or visit her website!