Take a break!
8 ways to be more productive, creative, & happy in your coworking space
By: Lesley Yates
I am SO busy. I don’t have time to eat, sleep, exercise, think, breathe, live, etc.
You’ve heard this groan a million times from your co-workers, your boss, and of course yourself. As urbanites in 2015 we have a lot going on and most of the time it can feel pretty overwhelming. Between pressing deadlines, a never ending inbox of abandoned correspondence, and desperately trying to commute to work without getting stuck on a frozen train, it can seem impossible as an entrepreneur to allow yourself to tear yourself away from the work that needs to get done at your coworking space.
You know there’s sometimes a better and more efficient way to complete the tasks on your mysterious self generating to-do list, but you don’t even have time to find it. In the ultra competitive world of startup business, every second counts and time is money. Research says that, “constant stimulation is registered by our brains as unimportant, to the point that the brain erases it from our awareness.” So all that “concentrating” you think you’re doing might not be as beneficial as you think. Allotting time structured breaks throughout the workday will help increase coworking office productivity, efficiency, and allow you to better utilize time your dedicate to a task.
TIP: Try scheduling two 15 minute breaks into your day and notice if you begin to feel more focused less easily distracted; one mid morning and the other mid afternoon. Studies show that 3pm is the least productive time of day (Remember waiting for that 3pm bell to ring in high school?), so make sure you don’t forget to take a break then!
Great! You’ve scheduled your breaks, but what are you going to do during them? Don’t think surfing Facebook or reading mind numbing BuzzFeed articles will help your raise your productivity. Remember, give your brain its’ well stimulation break and skip the screen time. Check out these easy break activities to keep your day at the coworking office fresh!
EXERCISE
Even taking a 20 minute walk can help increase blood flow to the brain which can help you be more creative! Give your brain a break by even doing a few jumping jacks to get your heart rate up above resting. If it’s Wednesday, it’s your lucky day- we offer heart pumping crossfit classes for our coworking members for free! Accidently scheduled a meeting during the session? No problem! Our fitness equipment is at your disposal any time. Borrow our box jump or use a yoga mat to stretch out by your desk!
SNACK
Your mom always told you to eat a good breakfast before school with a reason- Take a look at these great brain boosting snacks! And when you decide to eat lunch, step away from your desk. Our coworking kitchen is fully stocked with healthy and energizing snacks to keep you crushing goals and accomplishing what needs to get done during the day. Physically separate yourself from your to-do list and enjoy your meal as a way to recharge!
PLAY A GAME
We are all really still kids at heart here at NGIN. We’ve got your break time covered with ping-pong, Jenga, an awesome PS4, even poker chips!
GRAB A BOOK
Read a non-work related book (especially some fiction!). Studies show that people who read fiction are better at understanding people and have a stronger sense of empathy. Which titles are some of your most recent favorites that you bring to the office space?
GET A COFFEE
We have an awesome coffee set up for our entrepreneurs at our coworking office space! With never ending free coffee, it’s easy to take a coffee break at NGIN! You make sure to grab a coffee each morning, but did you know that there are optimal times to consume caffeine depending on what time you wake up in the morning? If you wake up between 6-8am, drinking a cup of coffee between 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and then again 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m is optimal!
DOODLE
Doodling can help stimulate our brain to create new ideas! We have whole walls at NGIN dedicated to brainstorming and doodling- that’s right, you can draw on the walls. Doodling can also help you stay focused in the coworking office space- let out your inner artist!
CHAT WITH YOUR COWORKING NEIGHBORS
That’s right! Even chatting with your coworking buddies can be just what your brain needs to reboot- plus, you’re networking at the same time! At NGIN, our shared space is intelligently designed for the purpose of coworking and collaboration. You won’t even have to leave your desk! You might find that one of your coworkers has the answer to the problem you’ve been trying to solve- only one of the many benefits of a shared space!
PLAN A WEEKEND ADVENTURE
Daydream about your next vacation or holiday getaway- research shows that looking forward to and planning a trip can bring more happiness than the actual trip itself! Especially since we’ve been bombarded with the most depressing weather here in Cambridge- pick up your spirits by picking a new destination! Thought of any new vacation spots lately? Have a special “stay-cation” go to? Let us know!
What break activities work the best for you? Encourage your coworking friends to take more breaks, too! Let us know in the comments below!
