Response Magic 
The World's Easiest Way to
Be More Productive
Got 40 seconds?
Then try this incredibly
easy activity to give yourself a productivity boost.
Taking lots of breaks might
not sound like the route to incredible productivity, but according to tons of
research, giving yourself regular breathers is a sure-fire way to get more
done.
One study showed 20
minutes of yoga could significantly improve brain functioning,
another that a quick nap would seriously boost memory, while a third
suggested that just shy of an hour of work followed by around a 15-minute pause
was the ideal work pattern.
But what if you don't have
40 minutes to nap or even 15 minutes to kick back and reset? If that sounds
like you, don't worry. Science has an alternative that even the most maniacally
busy entrepreneur can take advantage of.
According to a recent study out of Australia, even 40 seconds is
enough to refresh your brain, as long as you do the right thing with those
seconds.
The
incredible power of nature
So what's this magic
40-second intervention? Something so simple you don't even have to get out of
your chair to do it--just look out the window at something green.
That's one recent insight
from a study looking at the impact of so-called green roofs--such as the
nine-acre one Facebook is installing at its headquarters--not on the
environment (which they definitely benefit) but on workers in the
vicinity.
To test the effects of
having a green roof in your line of sight, the research team showed study
participants pictures of either your average concrete roof or a plant-covered
one and then tested their ability to complete a boring, attention-sapping task.
Just a quick glimpse of a
green landscape, the team found, had a measurable impact on productivity.
"This study showed us
that looking at an image of nature for less than a minute was all it took to
help people perform better on our task," explained lead researcher Kate
Lee.
"It's really
important to have micro-breaks. It's something that a lot of us do naturally
when we're stressed or mentally fatigued. There's a reason you look out the
window and seek nature; it can help you concentrate on your work and
maintain performance across the workday."
Time to hit
the garden center?
It's a simple finding (and
one that jives with lots of previous studies) that's obviously
useful for stressed office workers looking for an easy way to refresh, but it's
clearly actionable for business owners, too.
While it would be ideal if
the company next door got cracking on building a green roof, until that happens
bosses can help keep their teams' brains at their most productive by simply ensuring they can easily view naturein some form or
another.
Rethinking your office
layout, your view-blocking window coverings, your wall art, or the number of
potted plants in your space might just be enough to help your team get more
done and be happier doing it.
Even opting for natural materials like unpainted wood could help.
Isn't it time
you made a trip to the garden center?
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