Berlin and other stories

Concentration in a Busy Environment

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Concentration at work

Concentration at work 
 
 
As you know, in my day job I work at a PR agency. That in itself can be quite the hectic environment. Telephones ringing, people talking to journalists day in, day out and running around, trying to make deadlines. Additionally, the agency has grown quite a bit in the last 6 months. We are now up to almost 40 people, trying to fit into an open plan office that is honestly much too small to hold everyone comfortably. You can imagine how that can affect everybody’s concentration for the worse. 
 
Due to the situation, I had to find different ways to help me get into my zone and keep my productivity on fleek. In this post, I want to share some of these methods, to hopefully keep you concentrated as well. 
 

 

Clean your Desk

 
In all honesty, I have to admit that I am quite messy and scattered when it comes to my desk at the office. (To my co-workers reading this, trying to mend my ways guys. Promise!). However, whenever I have a hard time concentrating on a task, cleaning my desk is the first step I take. Here is why: 
 
The Princeton Neuroscience Institut has found that clutter can be a cause for distraction. According to the study, having various visual impulses within your field of vision will cause the impulses to compete against each other for the attention of your brain. This will lead to unnecessary distraction. Therefore, having a clean desk can help clear your mind and focus on the important tasks at hand. 
 

 

Organize + Prioritize

 
Often when I get distracted from work, I just have too much on my mind. I attempt to do three things at once and end up not accomplishing anything at all. To overcome this problem I try to get a structured mind, before jumping into a task. I do this with these two steps:
 
  • To Do List
    I dump out everything that I have to do, keep in mind and think about on a piece o paper. This clears up space in my head and gives my brain back some breathing room. Without having to constantly keep these To Do’s in the back of my mind, I can focus on the actual assignments. 
  • Order
    To make sure that deadlines are met and every task is finished when needed, it is now time to prioritize. The most time sensitive or crucial assignment should be your number one on that list. Following with the second important task and so on and so on. 
 

 

Limit Distractions

 
As mentioned in the beginning of the post, my work environment is temporarily pretty chaotic. That said, it is tough to always drown out every distraction completely. There are however a few things, that can be done so spike your concentration. Here is a list of examples: 
 
  • Turn your Skype on “Do not Disturb”
  • Switch your phone to silent. If you are not expecting an important phone call, you can call them back.
  • And now put it away. You don’t need to see the flashy light of an incoming notification. Your Instagram followers will survive a few hours without you. 
  • Turn off your e-mail notifications. That way all mail will still be coming in. You can then check and respond after you have finished your task.
 

 

Turn on the Music

 
The last step before jumping into the first assignment is to zone out from the rest of the world. For me, it sometimes even helps to just put on my headphones. Why? My co-workers will be under the impression that I am busy and therefore far less tempted to disturb me for meaningless chatter.  
 
If I really need to get into my headspace though, I put on a playlist. Usually, I turn to classical film tracks. To learn more about my favorite tracks for concentration and follow my work playlists, check out my post on “The best Playlists for every Girlboss”. 
 
 
I hope these tips can help you with your concentration to stay on top of your productivity. Let me know if you have any other techniques or tips for staying focused. Be it in a noisy office or at home in your workspace. I would love to hear about them!
 
xx
Nico
 
 

Why you Need an Office BFF

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Why you need an office bff

Why you need an office bff

 

Your job, just like every other aspect of your life, get’s way better when you don’t have to go through it alone. So it’s crucial that you have somebody on a day to day basis that can brighten your life at the office. 

 

Before we jump in, let me tell you a little bit about my office BFF and why I adore her so much. Her name is Melli and she makes my days at work just so much more enjoyable. She looks like the sweetest girl on the block, so on first glance, you would never know how fierce and passionate she actually is. And the best thing about her? She can put up with me. 
 
 
Now, I know what you are thinking. You already have a bestie outside of work. You like your co-workers but… do you really need a special office BFF? The answer is YES! I am going to share four reasons with you why it is so crucial to have an office bestie.
 
 
Why you need an office bff
 

 

Why you Need an Office BFF

 

 

1 Spend your time wisely. 

 
On a normal 9 to 5 job, you spend about 40 hours a week with your co-workers. That is about 160 hours a month and 2.080 hours a year. Holy shit, right? Well, my job often requires overtime so you could imagine how the hours add up. Now think about spending all of that time there without anyone you can stand? There is just no way, no matter how great your job is. Having an office BFF means you don’t have to get along with everybody at work. You know you have one person who’s got your back. A friend to get you through the day. And that’s all that matters. 
 
 

2 Bad days happen to everyone. 

 
I think we can agree that here are good and bad days in every job. You might have just gotten a mouth full from you boss because you didn’t turn in the brief they wanted in time. Your client might just have fired you for no apparent reason. Or maybe you just spilled tomato juice over your white blazer at lunch. Whatever the reason may be. When that day comes you need somebody in your corner. And there is no one better for the job than your office BFF.
 
 
Why you need an office bff 
 

3 Take all the help you can get. 

 
There comes a point in every job, every career, where you are overwhelmed. The presentation is due tomorrow, but your co-workers have left due to personal reasons, doctors appointments or other important meetings. That is when you call in your office BFF for help! And she will be there to help out because she knows you would do the same for her. Beats spending a night alone at the office until 2 a.m., right?
 
 

4 Bring your social life to work.

 
Naturally, we as humans are social beings. We need interaction with other people, a smile here and a good laugh there to help us through the day… or life for that matter. Especially at the office, while slaving away at your computer, your office BFF can be a life saver on that account. And yes, you might be laughing a little too loud for those around you, wasting a few minutes talking about meaningless stuff and comparing nail polish instead of report numbers sometimes. But overall you will be a lot happier at the office, which will reflect on your work. Trust me!
 
Do you guys have an office BFF that you just couldn’t live without? Give a shout out to them in the comments and let them know how much you appreciate them. 
 
xx
Nico
 

What every boss needs to know about millennial employees

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What every boss needs to know about millennial employees
What every boss needs to know about millennial employees
 
If you’ve been around for a while, you might know that this month I have made my one year mark as a graduate in the workforce (whoop whoop!). During that time I have made some observations about the discrepancy between millennials and their executives. 
 
Every generation works a little different they say. I get that. And I do understand that because of small inventions like the internet a few years back, everything got a little crazy there for awhile. But it is true when they say that our beliefs and the way we think and operate are entirely different from those generations before us. 
 
Back in the day, Wired published we would take over the workplace by 2015. It’s 2017 now, we’re here!
 
So for all of you executives and CEO’s it’s time to recognize that in order to work with your millennial employees, you need to change it up. I know you’ve all heard a lot about work-life balance and how we choose our employer based on a “sense of purpose”. I don’t think I need to talk about that anymore (hopefully).
 
But you do need to know these 3 things about us: 
 
 

We need mentors. 

 
If we have made it this far, it’s most likely that we had a long way to go. We went to college because it was expected if we wanted a good paying job. During and after college we did internships to gain as much work experience as possible because that was expected. After college we were told that we needed to get more work experience to get an entry-level job – so we got traineeships. 
 
After so many expectations and being told over and over again that we’re not there yet, we started to believe it. It being the experience, skill, and mindset we would need for the job of your dreams. 
 
So what we really need is a mentor. Someone to show and tell us that it is okay to make mistakes and how to best avoid them. Someone to guide us to success. Gently.
 
 

We take cell phone breaks. 

 
What the cigarette break was ten years ago is now the short encounter to our smartphones. And yes, we are on their way too often (pretty much all the time). But while some senior employees may think that we are wasting precious working time, don’t worry.
 
First and foremost those few moments are a way for us to get out of our heads and think about something else for a minute, before returning to our task with a clearer mind. Also, going on social media platforms inspires and strikes our creativity. 
 
So if your millennial employee isn’t taking a 15-minute break only to play Candycrush, relax. 
 
 

We want credit. 

 
We have pretty much grown up in a world where our Instagram likes mean more than a smile from a stranger. And while you could shake your head and feel bad for our generation, you could also use that time to realize how that transfers to our work environment. 
 
More than ever this generation of employees needs to feel seen and rewarded. If we complete a task to your liking, it is not enough to recognize it. We need your personal confirmation. Just go with it. 
 
 

Stop feeling overwhelmed at work

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How to stop feeling overwhelmed at work in four simple stepsHow to stop feeling overwhelmed at work in four simple steps

How to stop feeling overwhelmed at work in four simple steps

 

Last week was just one of those weeks. Because we had a holiday on Monday I was off from work. Which sounds nice and definitely was a hoot while it lasted, but getting back to work on Tuesday was brutal, I can tell you that much. The amount of E-Mails in my Mailbox led me to believe that other people either did not have a holiday or just simply like to work on their days off, which is a very preposterous idea if you ask me. Anyway, it got clear to me very quickly that it was not humanly possible to get all the work done that had piled up in the office and on my blogging schedule in only four short days.After I figured out how long I would need to work to manage every assignment, I did the only thing I knew to do: I panicked!

I know, this is probably not what you want to hear, but listen, sometimes having a 5-minute breakdown is actually very liberating and necessary before tackling the shedload of work that is sitting right in front of you.

So a few minutes and one coffee later I sat down and got my act together.

 

Here are a few tips, that helped me not to lose my mind on a very painful Monday morning. I hope they will help you too to stop feeling overwhelmed at work:

 

How to stop feeling overwhelmed at work in four simple steps

 

Step 1 Organize your desk

Yes, I realize this sounds silly. You’re probably thinkin ‘Why would I waste my time on cleaning up my desk, when there are so many things to do today?’, right? I know there are a ton of tasks lying in front of you, calling you or sitting in your E-Mail folder right now. Forget them! Organizing your desk will only take you a few minutes. Considering the time you will save during your workday because you don’t have to find your calculator, that really important paper, and your favorite pen, this is nothing. Also, organizing is a task that does not require any brain power. So after that short break down (I know, you did it too 😉 ) it’s a good way of calming your nerves and settling down.

 

Step 2 Prioritize

Again, this may seem like a total waste of time, when you could have already started tackling your To-Do list, but I urge you to do it anyway. Having set priorities will help keep your head straight and not get overwhelmed by tying to do everything at once.

Just recently I have read an article by Larry Kim, who states that our brain is actually not build to multitask. People who are supposedly multitasking are simply switching from one task to another in a very fast manner, because quite unlike common knowledge, our brain can only focus on one thing at a time. Multitasking therefore only leads to making the brain work slower.

So get out your calendar and To-Do list ready and figure out which tasks are the most urgent and what deadlines need to be met. That way you will do one assignment after another in a very brain friendly fashion.

If you want to read it, the article is called „Multitasking is killing your brain“. 

 Finally, an excuse why I can't multitask. Click To Tweet

 

Step 3 Get to work

Now this might not be what you want to hear, but after our prepping and planning, you will actually need to buckle down and do the work. I know the start is always the hardest part. But remember, once that first assignment is done, the others will follow so quick. There is nothing more I can tell you, but: Make it happen!

 

Step 4 Take breaks

Every few hours you really need to step away from the computer. A short break is not going to hurt your productivity but rather further. In order to get a quick recharge in and spruce up your brain cells the following things are vital: Get up, stretch and take a few steps. Open a window or take a quick walk outside. And most importantly, get something to drink. Really use this time (even if it is only five minutes) to think and do something totally unrelated to your work assignments. It will help gather your thoughts and refresh your body and mind.

 

Alright, that is it for my tips on how to stop feeling overwhelmed at work. This really helped me through my manic Monday last week and I hope it can help you too. Do you have anything that you do, whenever you are overwhelmed at work? Let’s chat about it in the comments.

xoxo

Nico

 

Plants as productivity boosters

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Green up your office with plants and increase productivity and creativity

Green up your office with plants and increase productivity and creativity

 

When you live in the city you are usually surrounded by huge skyscrapers or grey buildings. Working at the office or at your personal workspace from home can get really frustrating, if you are stuck in this dreary and dull environment. Many people who live in the city take the opportunity and leave their homes for a green weekend getaway to either the countryside or a place by the lake. But what if I told you there is a way to bring some of this nature feeling into your daily life? Something that can even improve your business productivity– plants!

Greening up your office has various, scientifically proven benefits, that will help you increase productivity and even creativity. I believe that plants are the absolute must-haves for every girlboss office. And to make you a part of my green club I have listed the four major reasons why greening up your place is a great idea:

 

1. Plants increase your business’s profitability

According to a recent study from the University of Exeter, office plants can boost your well-being by up to 47%. The results showed that making design decisions in your workspace enhanced with office plants can increase creativity by 45% and increase productivity by 38%. With an increase in these three areas your business profitability will rise and you’ll work more successfully. Once I read that I was already sold (and bought three new plants at Ikea 😉 ). What about you? Need more convincing? Here we go!

 

2. Plants clean the air

Another study from the Nursery and Garden Industry in Australia has proven that by introducing a ratio of 1 plant per 3 employees, air quality can be improved within the office. The effect is a reduction of CO2 by almost 50% as well as a reduction in the dust. What does that have to do with me, you ask? Well, the air is much fresher and therefore enhaling it is a lot healthier for you. Also the air in your office holds a certain amount of toxins produced by plastics, paint, furniture, carpets, and certain cleaning products. Our friend the plant will take care of that for you and which reduce those toxins significantly. How cool is that?!?

 

A ratio of 1 plant per 3 employees improves air quality in the office. Click To Tweet

 

3. Plants give you a healthy look

The same study has shown that having plants around you everyday can reduce dry skin by 20%. This means you will not only look better but also feel better. Sounds like the ultimate beauty hack, if you ask me. So really, what more is there to talk about huh? Hold on, I got one more reason for you. And it’s an important one. 

 

Plants reduce dry skin by 20%. Click To Tweet

 

4. Plants are the ultimate eye catcher

Above all the healthy and environmentally benefits office plants just look amazing and give your office that special, personal touch. It’s almost like they’re a business investment (and not a very expensive one either). If you treat them well they’ll last you a long time. Step by step you can collect various plants and constantly rearrange their locations at your office so it never gets boring around you.

 Green up your office with plants and increase productivity and creativity

 

For me plants are the perfect essentials every office should have. It just makes me happy to look at them and see them grow and develop. Need some more inspiration on how to decorate your room with plants? Check out the restaurant and café “House of Small Wonders” in Berlin. This place is just insane and makes you want to run to the garden center immediately.

 

So give it a try and discover your green thumb. Do you already have your own green workspace? Have you felt any change in your productive output? I’d love to hear about your experience. Let’s chat in the comments.

 

xoxo

Mona

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