Science behind this
Water cooler breaks
Water cooler break is a method commonly used unconsciously in the workplaces that refers to informal social breaks that employees take to chat, network and relax. These breaks in traditional offices often happened near the water cooler, which is a location where employees often congregate for a quick drink or to catch up with each other.
These breaks are an important part of workplace culture and can help employees to build relationships, share ideas and recharge. They can be an excellent way for employees to unwind, which helps improve their overall productivity and well-being.
Example: Make sure you are regularly taking short breaks during your work. You will benefit from taking this time to talk to your colleagues, as this will help refresh your mind, build relationships and make the work environment more enjoyable.
Body Doubling Technique
Body-doubling technique is used to improve productivity by create a sense of presence in a remote work setting. It involves having another person present while you work, may it be physically or through video call. This is especially helpful for remote workers who may otherwise feel isolated or disconnected from the rest of the team.
The idea behind body-doubling technique is that having another person present can provide a sense of accountability, motivation and camaraderie. It reduces distractions and increases focus as both people target is to get work done.
Example: When working remotely, try this technique by renting a coworking space or video call a colleague for a work session. It is important to note that they should also work on something quietly so they do not distract you instead of helping!
Time framing
Time management is incredibly important for the success of project. It is just too easy to lose track of time and spend whole day on not so important tasks. Time framing solves this problem by breaking down a project or task into smaller, more manageable chunks of time that can be prioritised.
This makes the project less overwhelming and ensures that everybody knows what to do all the time. After breaking the project into smaller chunks, you can freely allocate the time for each task in your calendar.
Example: When starting a new project or task, use time framing to break it into smaller chunks. Assign specific deadlines for each task and allocate time for each task that need to be done this week. This will help you stay on track and ensure that the project is completed on time and to a high standard.
Pomodoro
Pomodoro is a fun time management technique that is widely used by individuals working on their tasks. It is a simple but effective way to manage time, increase productivity and reduce stress. The basic idea is to break work into short, focused sessions (typically 25 or 50 minutes in length) separated by short breaks. This helps to prevent burnout and maintain a high level of focus throughout the day without feeling overwhelmed by amount of work to do.
Example: Try using Pomodoro Technique when working on something. Set a timer for 25 minutes, and focus solely on the task at hand during that time. After the timer rings, you are allowed to take a short break and do whatever you wish. Come back for another session, and repeat the cycle until the work for today is done.
Accountability
Accountability is an important concept in all fields. It refers to the responsibility of an individual or team for the completion of assigned tasks, and the willingness to take ownership of the results.
When your team is accountable, they take responsibility for their actions, and they are not afraid to make quick decisions they believe are right. They want to be held responsible for the outcome of their work. This is especially affected by being recognised for completing their work in a excellent manner on public forum.
Example: When working on a project, make sure that everyone on the team is clear on their roles and responsibilities. Establish a culture of being open to feedback and make sure you are recognising other people for their achievements publicly, so they can feel satisfaction and be proud of their great work.
Flow state
Flow is particularly recognised by creatives. This concept describes a mental state where a person is completely absorbed in their work and experiences a heightened level of focus, creativity and productivity.
When in a flow state, person is able to tune out distractions and become fully immersed in the task at hand. The state of flow can be triggered by a variety of different factors, such as challenging task, clear goals and immediate feedback.
Example: Flow is the state of mind where you are in your best performance and complete a task efficiently. When working on a problem, try to set a goal and time, and really focus on working on this one thing undistracted by the pile of others things to do next.
Rubber duck
Rubber duck debugging is a method known to every software developer. When frustrated with no progress searching for the issue, the developer will explain their code, line-by-line, to a rubber duck (or their colleague!). The idea is that the process of explaining the code out loud can help to identify errors or logical issues that may not be immediately obvious.
Sometimes simply talking through a problem can help to clarify one’s own thinking and make it easier to identify the source of the problem. By verbally explaining we are forced to think about the issue in a different way and to express our thoughts in a clear and logical manner.
Example: When any issue arrises, it is always a good idea to talk about it with colleague. You will be surprised how fast you can catch your own mistake!
Pair programming
As they say, “two heads are better than one“.
Pair programming is a technique used by software development teams. It is strongly encouraged by Extreme Programming (XP) methodology. Two programmers work together at one computer, with one person typing and the other person reviewing the code as it is being written. Then, they exchange the role. They discuss the issue and come to conclusions together. The goal of pair programming is to improve the quality of the code and to catch mistakes early on, by having two people review the code as it is being written. Additionally, it helps promote knowledge sharing and communication among team members, who also develop stronger relationships and trust.
Example: You use second brain even if you are not a programmer! If you encounter an issue, you ask other people for their thoughts, often quickly tackling the problem together.
Schedule a free call with our remote productivity specialist
to learn even more techniques!
no credit card required