Whether you run a software business and want to boost productivity, or you simply want to make sure that you get work done more quickly, efficiency is your friend. Unfortunately, efficiency isn’t always easy to come by. It’s easy to get distracted or hung up on something, which eats into your precious time. With that in mind, here are some ways to improve your efficiency in the office.

Reevaluate Your Desk Setup

Every programmer knows the importance of a good desk setup. At least, every programmer has likely suffered through a bad one. Even so, it may surprise you to learn just how much your desk setup can impact your efficiency. As well as making you uncomfortable, a poor desk setup can mess with your productivity and make you work more slowly.

With that being said, what do you need for a good desk setup? Everyone has different needs and preferences, so browse through a few setup ideas before settling on something that suits you. However, every good desk setup has a few things in common.

First, you need to consider your comfort. As a programmer, you likely spend hours at a time sitting in your desk chair. One good tip is to get up and stretch your legs now and then, but you should also make sure that your chair supports your back and neck well.

An ergonomic chair saves you from the back and neck pain that can plague an average programmer or office worker. The pain isn’t just unpleasant, but it’s distracting and takes your attention away from your work. Even worse, it could be a sign of damage to your back or neck, which can impact your life for years.

As well as making sure your chair is designed for your comfort, you should also have appropriate monitors. Ideally, your monitor should be at eye level so that you aren’t bending your neck to see what you’re doing. Use a laptop stand to bring your laptop screen to the right level if you have to.

We’ll also tackle the number of monitors. While some people can and do work well with one massive monitor, most programmers prefer at least two monitors or more. This makes it so that they can easily see all the important information in front of them, without wasting time scouring through tabs. Consider a vertical side monitor for programming as well.

Finally, your keyboard and mouse should be your best friends. Your basic laptop keyboard might work, but a dedicated quality keyboard will handle the work much better. A separate mouse is a necessity, the trackpad on your laptop just won’t cope. Finish up with some noise-canceling headphones and you’re ready to go.

Time Management

Sorting out your desk setup (or that of your employees) is a great starting point for improving productivity and efficiency, but it isn’t the end. You can have the best desk in the world, but if you don’t spend any time doing what needs to be done, then it won’t get done.

This is where time management comes in. Scheduling tasks is a fantastic way to make sure that you and your employees know what needs to be done that day. Knowing is sometimes half the battle. As well as scheduling work, make sure that you schedule breaks as well.

You can create a schedule that’s more or less flexible, it depends on you and your team. However, make sure that some time is put aside for breaks. While it seems counterintuitive, regular breaks can boost productivity and improve morale all at once.

When you spend a few minutes away from your monitor, you can let your brain reset and rest from all that thinking and staring at screens. Grab a drink and a snack, have a brief walk (preferably outside) and, after fifteen minutes, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to go.

Just don’t fall into the trap of having your break at your desk. Get moving, get your blood pumping, and you’ll thank yourself later. If you work from home, it might even be worth getting a quick chore done. It gets your body moving but rests your brain. Even better, that’s one less chore to tackle after work.

If you have a company, then a timesheet can help you to keep track of when your employees are working. This is especially important if you use a remote working setup. Different types of timesheets might suit different teams, so do some research and ask for opinions before implementing anything new.