Productivity and motivation go hand in hand. When you're inspired, work flows out of you like water out of a spring; when you're uninspired, it's like taking blood from a stone. You can't be motivated all the time, of course, but it sure does help when you are.

What can you do when motivation is elusive? You have two options. The first is to wait and hope it strikes, which could take weeks or months. The second is to somehow force inspiration to strike. How do you do that? By injecting a bit of freshness and novelty into your workspace. It really works! Here are some ways to do that.

1. Use Different Fonts

google fonts

Fonts absolutely matter. Whether you're working on project reports, thesis papers, short stories and novels, or programming projects, you must read the onscreen text. Text is displayed with fonts. Some fonts are easier on the eyes than others, and some fonts can even read faster.

Did you know that changing fonts can inspire new motivation? If you've been using Arial, Times New Roman, or Courier New for years, you may feel like work has grown stale. Try changing to Roboto, Georgia, or Source Code Pro. Try switching serif to sans-serif, or vice versa. Such a tiny change can breathe in new life into your work.

2. Change Desktop Wallpapers

We all know that the paint color of walls can have subtle but real influences on our attitudes, mindsets, and psychology. Why don't we treat our desktop wallpapers the same way? If you feel like a room is stale, you paint it something fresh. Why not give your desktop a makeover?

You can use desktop wallpapers to inspire your work, but you don't need a "productivity wallpaper" per se. Just the simple act of switching to something new can be mentally refreshing enough to inspire you. Try changing your wallpaper every few months, at minimum, or let your wallpapers cycle automatically.

3. Change System Themes

windows 10 colors

You probably don't take much notice of window borders, colors, or the taskbar, but your mind certainly does. These things sit in your periphery and subtly influence you, much in the same way as paint on walls. For example, the default blue of Windows is pleasant, but is it best to keep it?

Again, any color is fine as long as it's different. You could try these Windows 10 dark themes or use third-party apps to fully customize Windows 11.

4. Clean Up Your Desk

Have you heard of cognitive clutter? The act of seeing or hearing clutter, even only in our periphery, requires our brains to continually process that visual and audio information. This subconscious processing adds to the cognitive load and consumes brain energy. Even so-called harmless clutter can speed up mental fatigue.

Fortunately, addressing it is relatively easy: clean your desk! Not just what's on it, but everything around it and below it—especially clean the clutter under your desk.

5. Rearrange Your Desk

clean and tidy desk

Once your desk is clean and decluttered, you may want to consider shifting things around. Some things have to stay put of course, such as computer monitors, keyboards, and mice. But anything else that can be moved around should be moved around.

Is your computer tower on your desk? Move it to the other side, or move it to the ground (slightly elevated to protect against dust). Got photos of your family? Shift them around or hang them on a wall. Relocate paper inboxes, desk organizers, printers, and so on. Something as simple as this can stave off that feeling of "same old, same old" that creeps up on you after a while.

6. Move Your Desk

Not everyone can do this, but if you can, it's well worthwhile: move your desk to a spot with as much natural light as possible. Humans thrive much more in natural light environments than in artificial light environments. Find a window and relocate.

Furthermore, aim for a spot that minimizes distractions. The ideal spot is a comfortable (i.e., neither too small nor too large) room where you can be alone and is solely dedicated to work. You enter, you work, and you leave when you need breaks or when you're done with the day.

But even if you can't do any of the above, the simple act of moving your desk anywhere else can jumpstart the part of your brain that loves novelty, and this alone can inspire you with a boost to motivation and productivity.

7. Add a Light Therapy Lamp

light on desk

Does your workspace lack natural light? Are you cooped up for hours on end, only getting outdoor exposure when you travel between indoor locations? Do you often feel tired, listless, anxious, or fatigued? Does it get worse in winter?

If you answered yes, then you may suffer from a kind of environmental depression, and this can severely impact your productivity. It's not the same as clinical depression. It's a state of mind that comes from spending too much of your time in artificial and unnatural conditions.

Light therapy lamps aim to replicate the benefits of natural light. Just 30 minutes of exposure per day can work wonders, and you can keep it tucked away by your desk. Here are some recommended light therapy lamps to get started.

8. Add or Repot Plants

According to a 2014 study by Cardiff University's School of Psychology, researchers found that plants in an office workspace can increase productivity by up to 15%. Not just productivity either, but also workplace satisfaction, self-reported levels of concentration, and perceived air quality.

Our research suggests that investing in landscaping the office with plants will pay off through an increase in office workers' quality of life and productivity.

Previous studies have also shown that plants can reduce stress, increase attention spans, and improve overall mental health. Is your desk spartan and greenless? Consider buying a few plants—desk-sized ones aren't too expensive—and see how they impact your work.

9. Adjust Room Temperature

Woman using smart wall home control system
Image Credit: goodluz/Shutterstock

According to a 2006 study by a researcher at the Helsinki University of Technology, the optimal temperature for office productivity is between 70 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit (approx. 21 °C). Every additional degree results in reduced performance, with a 9% decrease in overall productivity at 86 degrees (90 °C). Presumably, colder temperatures are also worse.

Obviously, not everyone has the same optimal working temperature, and maintaining a 70-72 F range can be expensive during hot summer months, but use it as a guideline. Aim for a temperature that's slightly colder than comfortable.

10. Exercise and Stay Active

According to a 2008 study by a researcher at the University of Bristol, exercising during the workday improves performance and mood for the rest of the day. On days without exercise, performance and mood may not change, but a "sense of calm" decreases over time.

Exercise-related improvements include better time management, better mental sharpness, more tolerance of self, and more forgiving attitudes toward colleagues. So if you feel a slump coming on during the workday, or if you feel a mental haze and lack of motivation, then a few minutes of physical activity may help. There are plenty of exercise apps to keep you fit at your desk.

11. Take a Power Nap

Woman Sleeping at Work Desk

As you go about your day completing one task after another, it will inevitably take a toll on your mental alertness, which may lead to missing important deadlines, not paying attention in team meetings, and becoming short-tempered and irritable towards your coworkers.

Luckily, oftentimes, something as simple as a quick power nap can help you rejuvenate yourself. But before you go ahead and rest your head on your desk, make sure that taking naps at your workplace is actually considered appropriate.

Once you get the green light from your boss or manager, set a timer for 10 to 20 minutes, or ask Google Assistant, "wake me up in 20 minutes". If you're the kind of person who needs music to fall asleep, consider checking out these noise-canceling headphones to block out office chatter.

How Do You Renew Work Productivity?

These tips and tricks may help boost motivation and productivity in the short run, but don't look to them as permanent solutions. You may have drains in your life that are weighing you down and sapping your energy. If so, you have to tackle the root issue, whatever it may be.