We know that working many hours in front of computers gives us many bad and unhealthy habits, bad health conditions and so on, which in the long term decrease our productivity. Did you make any big changes in your lifestyle that made a big improvement in your health and productivity?
Please name one such activity - it could be change of diet, more sports, less coffee, change in your work environment.
Becoming a father reduced my productivity a lot. I hope this effect fades away over time.
Try to get some fresh air and exercise each day. Not necessarily strenuous exercise, but just having a walk in the open air helps me feel healthier. (This can still be a geeky time - I used to walk round a business park with a colleague every lunchtime, and we'd be discussing the project, or agile practices, or language features etc.)
Changing jobs. That can avoid burnout and stressful environments.
I slowed down on my daily coffee intake and I have started to walk to work and I must say that I feel a lot better since doing both things. At one stage I was doing Wii Fit in the morning at that really helped me to wake up before work.
Walking to work instead of taking the subway. Or if that isn't doable, getting off the subway a few stops before the closest one to the office.
I like being awake when I get to the office, instead of after the first cup of coffee.
One word : sleep.
From my experience, it is more important to your health than anything else and it will help you stay productive.
Cycling 4 miles each way between railway station and work, instead of taking the Underground.
Apart from the fitness benefits, it also wakes me up in the mornings - I arrive at the office on an endomophin high...
Exercising at lunchtime - I'm in a job where it's flexible enough to let me work a little later if I take an hour off at lunchtime. Combine that with a nice cheap gym nearby, and I've found myself sleeping better, eating better, losing weight, feeling good etc.
Combine that with a nice stress relief in the middle of the day and a glow throughout the afternoon, it's awesome.
However, I do get grumpy if I don't get to go to the gym at lunch nowadays, which can be bad :D
This may sound crazy but - getting married!
It's been a boon to my career in many ways, but here are a few off the top:
I find my alertness, stamina, productivity and general wellbeing are much better when I go swimming (or to the gym) BEFORE work in the mornings, and drink plenty of water throughout the work day ( at least 1.5 litres, but usually two ).
After this routine for a week or more, I find I need less sleep and am able to wake up much easier in the mornings, as well as stay alert longer and concentrate better during the day.
Working in the office instead of at home. I used to have a job that allowed me to work from home 4 days per week and it was a slow death. Work started when I woke and stopped when I went to bed. I didn't have the discipline to stick to an 8-9 hour day. Now I have a set routine, I work less but am much more productive and when I'm home, I'm home. Work and life don't mingle that much any more. That's probably a long way of saying that I dealt with the stress in my life.
Other changes would be, having real breakfast and lunch, drinking more water and taking longer walks with my dog to get fresh air and exercise.
Arranging to work from home a couple of days a week, providing a break from distractions in the work place and the commute.
The trick then is drawing the line between home and work.