4 Tips for a Productive 2021

(Family Features) This year has taught many workers a thing or two about being productive when offices and homes blend into one.

As the calendar turns to 2021, consider these key products and processes to stay productive next year.

Find a system (and stick to it): Creating an organizing system is an easy way to ensure your at-home workspace is ready for optimal productivity. Designate space to house all your work items – a drawer, cabinet or box – and keep work items organized by type (pens, papers, computer gear, etc.) At the end of each day, transitioning to “offline hours” can be easier when you have a place to stow your work items.

Start your day clean: Studies have shown cleanliness has a direct impact on productivity. Yet, many people struggle to find the time and energy to clean, especially at the end of a busy day at home. An option like The DEEBOT T8 from Ecovacs provides a hands-free cleaning experience, complete with the time-saving benefits of an all-in-one robot vacuum and floor mop, along with TrueDetect technology to avoid tangling in small objects. Easily controlled via an app, just set it to clean before bed and wake up to a tidy workspace.

Break up your day: With so many hours at home in front of a computer, workdays can get a little monotonous. Break up the day to make working from home feel as “normal” as possible – shower in the morning, take a walk or drive to coffee then make time for at least two breaks throughout the day. Some people have found success with the Pomodoro Technique, which is breaking your day up into 25-minute chunks of work, with 5-minute rest periods. If you continue to work until you feellike taking a break, odds are you’ll overwork yourself until it’s too late to take the “big break” you had in mind.

Bookend your days with mindfulness: At the beginning and end of each workday, do a 3-5-minute mindfulness meditation. Before signing on to work for the day, allow your mind to fully focus on the day’s tasks at-hand. Signoff by doing another mediation to end the day and let go of any worries or stresses you might have. Incorporating this tactic into your daily routine can help create a natural boundary from work and home while also restoring peace of mind.

Find more solutions to help maintain productivity at ecovacs.com/us/blog/productivity-tips.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

5 Ways to Avoid an Energy Crash

(Family Features) If you start each day motivated but find your energy tends to fade throughout the day, a few simple and easy-to-implement changes to your routine could make all the difference. Minor adjustments to your eating habits, exercise routine and mental attitude can help boost energy levels so you can power through the day feeling fully charged.

Tune in. Take the silence out of a dull morning with some of your favorite music to help ensure you’re starting the day on a positive note. Turn on the radio while you’re showering, plug in headphones while preparing breakfast or set a “wake up and get ready” playlist on shuffle during your commute.

Start with breakfast. It’s fairly common to skip breakfast if you’re in a rush to get out the door, but those few minutes you save in the morning can end up costing you as the day wears on. That’s because breakfast quite literally breaks your overnight fast and sends signals to your body that it’s time to kick back into gear for the day. With a convenient option like the Nescafé Coffee Protein Smoothie, you can hack your morning routine so that you can get more out of your day. Made with real 100 percent Colombian Arabica coffee, oats and almond butter, this ready-to-drink smoothie contains 15 grams of plant-based protein and as much caffeine as one cup of coffee to help you prepare for the day ahead.

Get creative. If you typically spend your mornings focused on routine tasks, give your brain some creative freedom. Carving out time during the day for an activity you enjoy, such as sketching or coloring, watching inspirational videos, meditating or even brainstorming outside-the-box ideas for a fictional client, can help increase productivity when you turn your focus back to the task at hand.

Shake up your afternoon pick-me-up. Mornings can go by in the blink of an eye, but afternoons sometimes seem to drag. A little boost may be all you need to keep going. Reward your hard work with an option like a Nescafé Cold Whipped Latte and enjoy a perfectly indulgent afternoon treat. Give it a quick shake and the chilled blend of coffee, creamy milk and coffee or French vanilla flavors create layers of barista-inspired froth and foam to deliver a coffee-shop experience right at your desk.

Prep for the next day. If you’re apt to take your work home with you, consider jotting down any end-of-day work thoughts and tasks for the following day before you leave for the night. Keeping a physical to-do list or journal can provide a starting point for the next morning. This can help prevent forgetfulness, reduce stress and potentially aid in getting a better night’s sleep because your brain isn’t buzzing from trying to keep a mental checklist.

Find more inspiration to energize your morning and shake up the afternoon at Nescafe.com/us.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images (employees in meeting)