Creating a productive environment

Summertime is when we prepare ourselves for the upcoming fall semester. Big plans are coming our way! The summer season may be challenging if you are dealing with a job and/or an internship, but nothing compares to a full workload of classes, work-study, another job, on-campus organizations, and maybe even an internship. Responsibilities can be a tough thing to handle. Living in a space that naturally forces you to stay on top of things makes life a bit easier. Whether you are moving into a new apartment or dorm room, or coming back to your previous apartment, you must make the most of your environment. Create a consistently constructive and fruitful home atmosphere to provoke productivity.

Source: Realistic Shots

Although the method of Feng-Shui discourages us from blending work-energy with our personal spaces, one must do so when on a budget. With that being said, keep your workspace as just that, your workspace. Make certain to keep any unneeded objects off of your desk, especially ones that may just take up space and add distractions.

Use blues. Blue is the color of productivity and stimulates efficiency and focus. You do not have to paint your walls blue, but you can bring in blue accents to your bedroom or make a calming blue your color scheme. If you already had other plans for your bedroom designs, place a few needed blue objects on your desk. Perhaps a glance at such a mind-stimulating color can be beneficial.

Of course, the most crucial part of optimizing your productivity is living clutter-free. When you stay organized and rid your environment of overwhelming extras, you eliminate distractions and allow your mind to flourish. Clutter is physical build-up, which leads to mental build-up, a.k.a. stress. Your workflow cannot proceed freely when you are stressed.

Use dry-erase boards! A dry-erase board is a To-Do List’s best friend. Keep one by the door in your bedroom to prioritize your daily responsibilities so you are reminded of your obligations every time you leave your bedroom. Talk to your roommates about putting a dry-erase board in the common area. This will not only help if anyone has a message to leave for each other but it can promote productivity within your entire home. Write down important dates on the board such as when rent is due or a cleaning schedule.

Keep a speaker in your room. Studies show that moderate noise levels can boost creativity and keep your work flowing. Why? Because soothing sounds make it easier for you to process difficulty. Remember that the volume should be moderate and the music should be ambient. You don’t want the noise to overwhelm your thinking.

Lastly, lighting is important. Worrying about the lighting in your bedroom may seem unnecessary. You may think, “Well I can see, what more do I have to do.” Lower and natural lighting is actually beneficial to coming up with creative ideas. On the other hand, a brighter environment helps you to maintain concentration. When decorating your bedroom, have at least two separate lights in which one is brighter than the other to create different settings for various stages of work.

There is a lot that goes into one’s productive mind. Creating a productive environment where you spend a great deal of time will only make getting your work done easier. 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Marlo Brooks

Stay Sharp over the Summer

Summer is the season to relax and enjoy your long-awaited free time. Even if you landed the internship of your dreams or just purchased your plane ticket to Cancun, you should still use these months to fine-tune your reputation as a soon-to-be pro. That way, when the new semester comes, you will be sharper than ever!

Polish you resume and LinkedIn profile.

What have you accomplished this year? Think of the new skills you have obtained, the rewarding experiences you’ve had, and the projects you have done. All of these things should be displayed for prospective employers to see.

The summer season is the time to work on the minute details of your resume and LinkedIn profile. Does your resume look a bit cramped and wordy? Reformatting it can be a tedious process, but it is essential to be a memorable job candidate. Use the extra details from your resume in your LinkedIn job descriptions, instead. Your profile is meant for people to get a more in-depth look at what you have accomplished thus far in your career. Use the summer months to focus on the specifics that will polish off your experiences. Contact a few people that you have worked with and built relationships with to endorse your skills and provide short recommendations for your profile. This kind of support confirms your capabilities and strong performance.

Stay in the know in your industry and career field.

With so many different news outlets, keeping up with the times is simple in the digital age. Stay up-to-date with your industry by following companies and professionals outside of your friends. Become familiar with a few relevant news websites, digital magazines, and  blogs to stay on top of the latest trends. Pay attention to how the public responds to things.

Going to events is a more exciting way to keep up with your industry. Aside from the networking benefits, events and conferences in your career field expose you to new trends, research studies, and knowledge in your industry. Use events as a learning tool to gain feedback from significant industry leaders about the challenges you face and how to handle them.

Having the knowledge and understanding in an evolving business helps you to grow your own expertise and begin to think ahead of the game.

Maintain your network.

Making connections and building relationships is important, especially in PR. How many times have you needed something and called a friend because you knew they had the resources or skills to help you? Upholding professional relationships makes it easier to ask for a favor when needed. This summer, concentrate on maintaining these relationships and make your network worthwhile. Look through your phone to find people you have met and send them a friendly email, just to follow up on any projects they have been working on and how they have been doing. Professionals love young, ambitious individuals who show an interest in what they do. If you’ve taken on a new venture or need help writing something for your internship, contact a professional who would be willing to provide their expertise.

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Marlo Brooks.