09 Mar 6 Ways for Priming your Environment for Productivity and Success
Cornerstone Protection
836 Euclid Avenue Suite 16, Lexington
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Amazing assistance provided by Shannon today on my security system. I’m so grateful for your prompt, efficient, professional, and courteous service. Put me down as a customer for life!
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One of the most painless experiences I've had. They came on time and was over the moon professional with still keeping a level of personability to it. The gentleman also went out of his way to say that my husband and Mines business … More was appreciated. Which is actually rare to be appreciated by such a great company. So thank you and we look forward to continuing services with this company.
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I am so happy we decided to go with cornerstone. They were quick and efficient. Shannon and the installer we very friendly. We got a lot of equipment and it was still within our budget. 10/10 would definitely recommend! Thank you
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Love the customer service and Shanon and his team go above and beyond for my restaurant. Couldn't of asked for a better security system and level of service that his team provides.
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I have been using Cornerstone Protection service for over 5 years and I'm really happy with the service and state-of-the-art equipments and it's futures are so much in advance and friendly, I highly recommend Cornerstone Protection … More Service any and all business that need a security protection days and nights specially after business hours(Cornerstone Protection is perfect solution for your business). Owner of Cornerstone Protection is proactive with their customers and their equipments. Good experienced with Cornerstone Protection!!!
Kanu Patel -
We had a very positive experience with Alissa as a tutor for our pod of 5th grade boys from January - June 2020. She cared a lot about the boys and worked hard to create meaningful activities for them. The pod experience was invaluable … More for all of our families during a difficult year and we were so grateful to have found this partnership! We also want to appreciate Craig for helping to match us with a tutor on very short notice after we had cycled through a few folks who were not able to see the commitment through. Thanks for sticking with us!
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Dusty was the exact person we needed to help our child finish out the school year. So grateful to him for the way he steadily encouraged her and helped her stay on track and organized. He is flexible, responsive to our needs/schedule as … More a family, and a delight to be with. We are also thankful that Craig at Themba Tutors really "gets it" and partnered us with such a wonderful tutor who was a great fit for our girl.
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My child worked with Gillian D virtually for math enrichment. She is an excellent teacher. She took time to understand my child's specific learning style and provided tools that would be engaging. She was kind and empathetic- really … More made it her goal to connect with my child and build trust and rapport. My child started the school year with confidence and without the typically "brain-drain" that occurs over the summer, thanks to Gillian.
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I am going into my second year as a Themba tutor. I have met so many great individuals while working for this company. Craig and the rest of the Themba team do such an excellent job picking and choosing Themba tutors that suit each client's … More individual needs! I look forward to meeting new tutors and clients in the 2021-2022 school year!
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Our son started in a new high school, 100% remote, and was really struggling with Latin and Physics. I found Themba Tudors online and had an initial call with Craig, who was very knowledgeable, responsive, and found 2 amazing tutors for … More us. Both the Latin and the physics tutors were fantastic, connected with my son really well and helped him go from 'failing' grade to 'honors'! I will for sure continue using (and recommending!) Themba Tutors. Thank you, C, K, and W!
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Brian is a fantastic executive functioning coach. Super helpful, flexible with hours, and tailored the experience to our needs.
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Giulia Mercuri is a great Italian tutor! She was very responsive and accessible. Giulia put a ton of effort into preparing for each session and really helped our son with test preparation and projects. We are grateful that she was able … More to help, especially since our son did not receive any live teaching during COVID. We are happy that she was referred to us! -
As an adult student diagnosed with a learning disability during grad school, I knew I needed help dealing with my Master's program's demanding workload. I was seriously considering dropping out when I was referred to Themba Tutors. … More I was paired up with a wonderful tutor, Julie, who was a total lifesaver. I learned many techniques that I can utilize in the future as I embark on the next phase of my career.
I can wholeheartedly say after working with Themba for two years that I would not have finished my program without this organization. And I am so thankful I selected them. -
We were introduced to a wonderful tutor: Mcedwyn. He and our son, a freshman in college, worked well together. As a result, our son’s grades significantly improved. The tutor taught our son subject content and various methods to effectively … More study for quizzes and exams. Our son was also taught time management and organization. My son’s experience with the tutor made the first year of college a less intimidating experience. -
We have been with our tutor, Cailin Schiller, for two years, from 5th - 7th grade. She started as an executive functioning tutor with my daughter. From the start, she demonstrated a depth of expertise and a selective use of techniques skillfully … More adapted to my daughter’s ADHD and Math disability. Cailin made Math accessible and understandable to her in a way that even her teachers had not been able to do. She differentiated reading, writing and math tasks and assignments to tailor them to my daughter’s unique learning differences. Not only did it have an effect on her grades and her work efficiency, but she finally could do her work with less anxiety. Even my daughter’s teachers used Cailin’s guidance to modify their work with her. But most importantly, she became my daughter’s favorite resource. I can’t say how invaluable Cailin has been to my daughter’s progress and well-being. I’d recommend her a million times over. She is a gem. -
Victoria is a superb tutor. She helped my high school age daughter with her writing. Victoria's skills as a tutor, as well as her sense of humor and her engaging personality went a long way with my daughter. -
Themba Tutors provided a leaning specialist that was a perfect fit for my daughter. I told them what we were looking for and they delivered. Our tutor is responsive and flexible and makes it easy for my daughter to reach out to her own … More her own, which gives her an added sense of responsibility over her learning. As a therapist myself, I now regularly recommend Themba to my patients. A much needed and well provided service to the community!! -
The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them! -
I'm so glad we were referred to Themba Tutors. After a great initial conversation to learn our needs, we were connected with an excellent tutor, Felicia, who is helping our high school daughter learn better organizational and executive … More skills. Highly recommended. -
We had a wonderful experience with our tutor Micaela. She helped our son not only academically but at every level. We will be forever grateful to have her in our lives. -
The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
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Paul Smith at Themba has been an exceptional tutor for my son, both in terms of teaching the subject matter and teaching how best to approach the process of learning math and executing assignments. We feel very fortunate to be working with … More Paul. -
We were very lucky to have found Edwouine Swift, my son's therapist through Themba Tutors. Thomas is 12 years old, and it is extremely difficult to get him to write. Edwouine just works her magic with him, he adores her and is so … More eager to follow her guidance. I have no doubt she will be a positive driving force in his academic future.
PRIMING YOUR ENVIRONMENT FOR PRODUCTIVITY AND SUCCESS
How Can Environment Design Boost Productivity For Students?
When fostering a productive learning environment, the design of a physical space can play an important role. From traditional classrooms to remote learning environments, understanding how environment design affects productivity is key to helping students reach their academic goals.
6 Ways for Priming your Environment for Productivity and Success
A well-designed environment has balanced positive and negative spaces, good use of natural lighting, appropriate colors, quality furniture, organization, and maximized storage spaces.
Following the above can help you stay consistent with new habits. When little to no time is spent looking for things, you can focus on tasks that matter.
1. Assess your Space
Every space is different and requires a subjective matter.
Your workspace is as crucial as your study habits. Assessing your space for productivity means making the most of your environment.
- How much room do you have? Work out the negative and positive spaces. Negative space is essential for the room to look and feel decluttered. It comprises a free area, which means the absence of stuff.
- Assure you have enough room to spread all your materials and store extra supplies.
- Use comfortable furniture like ergonomic chairs and desks.
This step is highly important. Take your time to work out which space is ideal. It should give you enough room to spread your legs while sitting. Position yourself by a window for maximum lighting and a more natural environment.
2. Utilize Natural Lighting
Natural lighting is a major mood booster.
Once this has been determined, look at the room’s lighting. Is there adequate light, or do you need additional lighting? Natural light has been proven to boost productivity and reduce fatigue. You can position your desk or work area near a window or skylights – all the better if it has a beautiful outdoor view.
Position desks or work areas near windows or skylights with unobstructed views of the outdoors. This will allow natural sunlight to penetrate the room, providing an atmosphere where people can better concentrate on the tasks at hand.
Additionally, you can place small mirrors to reflect the light into darker corners of the space.
3. Choose Appropriate Colors
Color psychology plays a huge role in shaping your environment for the better.
What type of atmosphere do you want to create? Cooler shades, such as blues and greens, create a calming effect. While warmer tones, such as reds or oranges, can help spark energy and creativity. Also, consider the lightness and darkness of the color. For instance, bright colors are more likely to attract attention than duller hues.
Remember to combine your personal preference with color psychology. You may prefer bright colors but like pastel purple more than pastel blue. Furthermore, selecting colors that fit with existing decor is important to ensure harmony throughout the entire space.
4. Declutter and Organize
Let go of unnecessary notes and books immediately.
School documents can pile up quite quickly. Also, add stationery items and digital files to the list. When less happens in your environment, you’re more likely to find the needed material. It also tones down distractions, which is key to productivity.
Here are some tips on how students should declutter and organize their workspace to boost productivity.
- Get rid of unnecessary papers, books, writing utensils, and objects unrelated to your school or college.
- Use organization tools like binders and folders.
- Placing sticky notes at eye level assures you won’t miss critical reminders.
Staying organized can reduce anxiety levels and the pressure and hassle of completing tasks.
5. Maximize Storage Solutions
Make the most of what is already available.
Have a look at storage options in your home. It doesn’t have to be a fancy closet or backpack. You could have portable drawers close to your workspace and utilize them to store important documents. Also, try out a few ideas below.
- Utilizing empty cups and mugs for putting in stationery items.
- Using containers or hanging pockets is also helpful for items such as notes or textbooks that must remain within reach during study sessions.
- Multipurpose furniture like an ottoman with internal storage will allow you to hide away unwanted items while also giving extra seating space.
6. Surround Yourself with Energizing Triggers or Cues
What keeps you going when studying gets tough?
Motivational cues act as environmental triggers. You may need help for a ‘push’ when studying difficult topics and subjects. So having something that boosts your mood and energizes you is the best way to keep things going. Check out the examples below.
- A poster with an inspiring or wise quote about knowledge
- Scented candles can serve your sense of smell
- Soothing music or white noise can serve as audio cues
- A stress ball to ease those nerves
Adding a few decorative elements like plants or artwork could also be beneficial to make it more inviting and aesthetically pleasing. It’s a good idea to assess what you like and include it in your environment. It’s even better to incorporate productive triggers for all your senses!
Conclusion: Set up Your Environment for Productivity Success
Environment design can be a powerful tool for boosting student productivity. Choose your study space and assess the positive and negative space. Think about natural light and how comfortable your seating arrangement is in the next step.
Don’t forget that color can greatly influence your mood – get visual triggers of your favorite color if making major changes is out of the question. Remembering your preferences will help create consistent study schedules and a motivational atmosphere.
References:
The case for finally cleaning your desk
https://hbr.org/2019/03/the-case-for-finally-cleaning-your-desk
How decluttering your space could make you healthier and happier
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/how-decluttering-your-space-could-make-you-healthier-and-happier/art-20390064
The relationship between mental health and cleaning
https://www.verywellmind.com/how-mental-health-and-cleaning-are-connected-5097496
Surprising benefits of staying organized
https://selecthealth.org/blog/2021/01/5-surprising-benefits-of-being-organized
Color psychology
https://www.colorpsychology.org
Craig Selinger
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