Working from home? Increase your productivity with these 5 tips

Is your productivity lacking now that you’re back to working from home? Nutritional therapist Clarissa Lenherr reveals 5 top tips to help you stay focused

Feeling a little loco now that your back to working from home again? Fed up with spending another Groundhog Day at home?

On Tuesday evening, Boris Johnson addressed the nation, warning us against the rising cases of coronavirus.

These measures included office staff once again working from home

The Prime Minister set out a new and updated package of measures for England, that he said could continue well beyond Christmas and new year unless there was progress in controlling the spread of the virus.

These measures included office staff once again working from home, the wider use of face masks and a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants, as well as bigger fines for those who flout these rules.

Not only that, Johnson also indicated that tougher restrictions could be imposed if this new series of measures fail to lessen the Covid-19 cases – this has people concerned that we are facing lockdown number two.

For those who have been working from home (WFH) since the initial virus breakout, the novelty of home comforts whilst working has already begun to wear off, and now many more are having to work from home since returning to the office.

Many are noticing a dip in their energy levels and motivation, which in turn is negatively impacting their work productivity – do you agree?

To lend a helping hand, Healthista caught up with Clarissa Lenherr, a Nutritional Therapist from personalised healthcare service bioniq.

Lenherr shares her five top tips on how to help you breathe some life back into your day and keep you physically and mentally bright-eyed.

5 tips to increase your productivity when WFH:

#1 Stick to a daily routine

It can be easy to feel a loss of control when you are in lockdown or self isolating. To counteract this, try implementing a new routine that suits your environment and way of working.

During the working week, aim to wake up at the same time every day, get dressed, keep your mealtimes consistent and commit to getting out of the house at least once a day.

try implementing a new routine that suits your environment

On the weekends, make sure to differentiate from your weekday habits so that you break up the week and create recovery time.

#2 Don’t over-do the caffeine

It can be easy to reach for another cup of coffee when you are feeling low in energy. However, consuming too much caffeine can disrupt our natural energy cycles and potentially leave us feeling even more fatigued.

Try to stick to under the recommended 400mg of caffeine. That’s about four espresso shots or eight cups of medium stewed black or green tea.

It’s also worth noting that many fizzy drinks, dark chocolate and energy drinks contain caffeine..

#3 Take advantage of your circadian rhythm

Our circadian rhythm is the cycle that governs our wake and sleep cycles and contributes to our energy levels, mood and wellbeing.

When we commute into work, we have the opportunity to expose our eyes into direct light. This direct light triggers our circadian rhythm, prompting cortisol to be released which gives us energy, particularly in the morning.

get at least ten minutes of fresh air and natural light in the morning

Take advantage of this natural source of energy by getting at least ten minutes of fresh air and natural light in the morning, and once again in the afternoon for an energising pick me up.

#4 Aim to eat well balanced meals, especially for breakfast

Eating well-balanced meals composed of protein, complex carbohydrates, good quality fats and lots of fruit and veg will provide you with a slow and consistent release of energy throughout the day.

This stable energy release can help to boost your mood and keep you energised and productive. This in turn will positively impact your work.

Aim for breakfasts such as yogurt topped with oats or nuts and berries, lunches such as hearty salads with chicken and quinoa and dinners such as roasted salmon served with dark green veggies, or butternut squash and olive oil.

#5 Take a supplement to avoid a nutritional deficiency

If you have noticed that your energy, mood or concentration has been lagging for a while, it may be worth ruling out nutritional deficiencies, and potentially considering taking a supplement.

Here are a few key nutrients you may wish to consider:

Vitamin D – Low Vitamin D levels can lead to low energy levels. Vitamin D acts as a neurosteroid and enhances the nervous system, which can contribute to mood, memory, attention and working capacity. Those at increased risk of low vitamin D include individuals who do not get sun exposure regularly or follow diets low in animal food sources, such as eggs, fatty fish and dairy.

Low Vitamin D levels can lead to low energy levels

Magnesium – The mineral magnesium contributes to a reduction in tiredness and fatigue. But its most well-known function is fighting stress as it decreases our sensitivity to adverse external influences and contributes to muscle relaxation.