Staying Warm is Vital to Productivity

Temperature has a big impact on our productivity. If we aren't comfortable, we won't work at our best. The key is to ensure you stay warm and cozy while you're working.

A study from Cornell looked at how temperatures affected office workers and found that it had a huge impact on productivity.

“When temperatures were low (68 degrees or 20 degrees Celsius) employees made 44% more mistakes than at optimal room temperature (77 degrees or 25 degrees Celsius)."

Being cold doesn't just make you uncomfortable, it also keeps you distracted since much of your energy is concentrated on trying to stay warm.

On the flip side, when we are warm we aren't just more productive, but we are also happier.

“People were asked to rate the efficacy of heating pads or ice packs and then answer questions about their employer or a hypothetical company. Those who got their hands warm expressed higher job satisfaction and greater willingness to buy from and work at the made-up companies," the study reads.

The reason why this happens is because our brains aren't always able to tell the difference between physical and psychological sensations.

The solution, then, would be to keep a close eye on the thermostat. If you work in an office in which the thermostat is regulated, bring your own space heater with you. You'll not only be more comfortable, you'll be able to maximize your productivity and possibly even save yourself hours of work time.