It’s so beautiful this time of year. One of our favorite things about fall is the ‘fall back’ Saturday in November. We all love that extra hour of sleep, right? That extra hour is going to be so nice on November 5^th, but what do we do the rest of the fall/winter season, when it gets dark at 6pm and our productivity levels hit an all-time low? It’s difficult to stay productive during this time of year, when all you want to do is stay warm by the fire and watch time fly by. We have a few tricks up our sleeve to share with you to help find your productivity again after the time change.

1. Do Not Disturb: Let’s be honest for a moment, most of us couldn’t live without our cell phones. We have the entire world at our fingertips. We can communicate with friends, respond to emails, listen to music, the list goes on. We essentially have a mini laptop in our pocket at all times. Here’s our advice, put it down! Even better, iPhones and Androids both have a ‘do not disturb’ option. Turn that on, just for a few hours a day.  You will be amazed at the items you will cross off of your to-do list.

2. Listen to uplifting music: “Gonna put the world away for a minute” That is our goal! Zone out the rest of the world, or the chaos around you and get to work! Music has a way to turn anyone’s day around. It will make you happier and feel pumped for the day ahead. We have compiled a few of our favorite uplifting work day songs to add to your playlist!

• Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
• Sing, Sing, Sing by Chris Tomlin
• Good to be Alive by Andy Grammer
• Hall of Fame by The Script
• Good Morning by Mandisa

3. Don’t Overcaffinate Yourself: We love coffee here at Cornerstone, especially this time of year. The colder the weather, the hotter the coffee, right? Although we don’t want to believe it, there is a saying that goes ‘you can have too much of a good thing.’ Drinking too much coffee, soda, redbull, etc can cause a lot of damage to your body and your mind. Caffeine takes a toll on your body, and while we aren’t suggesting cutting out caffeine from your diet completely, maybe try swapping out your afternoon caffeine fix for a Gatorade, or even better, a huge glass of water. You will stay better hydrated and your body will thank you!

4. Work in Intervals There is nothing more draining that staring at your laptop screen all day long. Take a break and reward yourself. Go for a walk, enjoy some fresh air. Maybe even go grab a cupcake from Blue Rooster. You deserve it! Also take into consideration that with the time change, it gets dark earlier. Vitamin D boosts your energy levels and it’s great for you skin, in small doses of course. Go refresh yourself. You will come back to your computer with new ideas and a restored mind that’s ready to jump back into work.

5. Play Musical Chairs Here at Cornerstone, there are a variety of places to work, all shapes and sizes. Much like taking intervals and taking walks throughout the day, it also helps to change up your work space. It’s difficult to focus on work when your body is stiff from sitting in the same spot for 4 hours. Get up, stretch your legs, maybe switch to one of our cool leather chairs in the lobby, or stand up at one of our high-top tables on the mezzanine. The options are endless!

While this time of year is always filled with good food, pumpkin patches and family, the work doesn’t stop. Try out these tips to make sure you are as focused and productive as possible while working. But don’t forget, when you’re with family, be with your family. Check out this article by our own Charity Estes about how to balance work and home life, especially when work gets busy towards the end of the year.