As an entrepreneur that's trying to work wonders at making the business improve in regular increments, productivity can be the bane of your life. Some believe it's all about the right technology, others think it's about sheer hard work.

Productivity, in many ways, is about working smart as well as working hard. At the same time, when there are so many things to do, but not enough time to do it in, you've got to think about little ways to cut corners. Rather than having the big things dominate your thoughts, are there any productivity hacks that can be done in an office environment?

The Right Stimuli

It's not just about ensuring that the office furniture is comfortable, or the right colours and lighting, but it's about everything in the round. Providing stimuli for an office to increase productivity, is, surprisingly, very simple.

Plants are a very good example because they can reduce stress and noise levels. As well as this, think about the auditory stimulation. Music has been shown to increase the speed we work, as well as the overall mood of a space.

It all depends on the individual because if someone finds a certain type of music too distracting, ensure that each person has their own desired taste catered for. On the other hand, giving them headphones, and letting them choose their own music can make them work faster, and minimise distractions.

Encouraging Nap Time

It's not always feasible in a busy office, but there are many companies out there that actively encourage people to get some shut-eye. Productivity suffers when people have insufficient sleep. Sleep deprivation, unsurprisingly, causes a lack of motivation.

Encouraging your employees to get even 20 minutes during the working day can see their activity increase exponentially. Also, consider implementing the caffeine nap! Because caffeine takes 20 minutes to enter the system, having an espresso before a nap can mean they will wake up firing on all cylinders instead of groggy.

Encourage Singular Focus

We're all guilty of multitasking, especially when there's so much to do. But multitaskers are more susceptible to interference from the environment around them. You have to remember that switching tasks can increase distraction, but also reduce that flow state.

Doing one thing at a time, and prioritising tasks in order of difficulty, in correlation with how alert an employee is feeling, can make all the difference.

Encourage breaks

This could be anathema to the flow state, but in a working environment, it has been shown that regular breaks can improve performance and focus. One simple way to encourage consistent focus while still having a break would be the Pomodoro method. It's a time management tool that can help you to get a lot more done in less time.

We are all looking for tools to make life easier for us. And in many respects, it's about working smart instead of working hard. At the same time, in an office environment, where there are so many different environmental stimuli, it's about making it simple.

We are in an age where we are expected to multitask, but it has been shown that this is not the best way to get results. Think about the right hacks for the right office.