Many productivity hacks exist, but this one works with your subconscious and can be easily paired with other techniques. By using your five senses to boost remote productivity, you’ll associate certain sounds, smells, sights, touches, and tastes with productive and focused work hours.
Have you ever noticed how certain sights, smells, or noises make you feel? Some bring back nostalgic feelings of childhood, while others make you hyper and excited… but which boost creativity and productivity?
Classical conditioning, discovered and studied by Ivan Pavlov in the early 1900s, shows how we can learn, focus, or elicit a specific feeling by association—typically a neutral stimulus with a positive stimulus. The most common example is Pavlov’s study of ringing a bell and dogs salivating. During the study, he rang the bell just before feeding the dogs. Therefore, the dogs began to connect the bell with food and would salivate at the sound of the bell.
This same science works on humans. By getting into a remote work routine with specific sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches, you can train your brain to go into workmode.
Keep in mind that everyone is different. What works for a majority of people might not work for you. It’s essential to take time to experiment and find which items induce which feelings.
Sight
Which makes you feel more prepared to work: a minimalistic, organized space or a cluttered, disorganized space? A clean, organized room works best for me because it reduces distractions. However, some people feel comforted by piles of books and papers nearby.
The color of your walls can also affect your mood. The ideal color for your walls depends on your career and personal preference. Many decorators agree that blue is a great color for an office as it reduces stress and improves focus.
Purposely creating a place for your eyes to rest is essential. Avoid eye strain by following the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes spent looking at your computer screen, let your eyes rest on something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Most remote workers enjoy gazing out the window at animals and nature.
Finally, ensure you’re setting yourself up for success. Adjust the font on your computer, the angle of your screen, and the brightness. Keep your phone or other distracting items out of sight.
Sound
Think about how some sounds make you feel—a crying baby, construction, running water, a buzzing AC unit. Some sounds may induce a feeling of calm, stress, anticipation, or focus.
Discover which sounds help you feel focused. Brazilian lo-fi helps me tune out other distractions and focus on work. I’ve trained my mind to associate this music with work and productivity.
However, sound doesn’t need to be music. Some remote workers enjoy a low buzz, ASMR sounds, coffee shop noises, or complete silence.
Once you find a noise you like, listen to it each time you work to help your mind associate the two.
Smell
We’ve all smelled something and had it remind us of a place or person. We can harness this subconscious connection we make to help us focus. Use aromatherapy in the form of roll-on applicators, herbal teas, candles, or incense as you work to get your mind in the groove.
Like all of these categories, it’s not one-scent-fits-all. Generally, lavender, jasmine, ylang-ylang, peppermint, rosemary, bergamot, rose, sandalwood, and lemon are great work companions.
Taste
The foods and drinks you enjoy while working can significantly affect your energy levels throughout the day. Do your best to choose foods that nourish your brain, such as nuts, berries, salmon, dark leafy greens, and avocados.
However, who doesn’t love a sweet treat? If you have the willpower to not eat it all at once, try using your favorite sweet to reward yourself after small daily achievements. But keep in mind that sugary foods often cause an energy crash.
When it comes to drinks, water is always a great choice. As psychology comes into play, many of us associate coffee’s taste (and smell) with alertness and productivity. If this is true for you, drink coffee (regular or decaf) throughout the day. If you don’t want to consume a lot of coffee, you can try tricking your brain by drinking a different refreshment from a coffee cup.
Touch
Do you find yourself tapping your fingers or shaking your leg as you work? Oddly enough, these fidgeting movements may actually help you concentrate and/or reduce anxiety. Keep a few items that occupy your hands near your desk, such as pens, stress balls, or fidget spinners.
You touch many different surfaces with much more than just your hands. Think of the texture of the desk under your forearms and wrists, the softness of the chair you sit on, and the back support it provides. Touch even goes as far as how comfortably your clothing feels on your body.
