Studies have found that natural environments can promote positive emotions and heighten physical and mental energy. If you're feeling stressed in the office, try to go outside briefly, take a short walk, commune with the trees if you’re able, and get back to work. You just might feel reinvigorated.

People skilled in critical thinking are willing to accept new findings and evidence, even if it means reassessing previous beliefs. They aim to rely on reason rather than emotion in making decisions, and they seek to detect inconsistencies in reasoning, including their own. It's an important skill to have in software.

You've tried all the typical tips for increased productivity—scheduling, timeboxing, prioritizing—but you still find yourself distracted and wasting time. Maybe it's time to give one of these unconventional ideas for improving productivity a try. They're so crazy, they just might work.