Productivity is more important than it initially seems, even though it initially seems very important. It is one of the keys to running a successful business. If you have productive, well-organized employees, your company is likely to thrive. They will go after the customers, they will find a way to get everything they need to get done finished, and they will always write the thank you letters when something doesn’t work out. Productive employees will drive a company when nothing else will, and believe it or not, you’re an employee. Here are a couple of tips on how to maximize productivity without approaching burnout.

Clean, but Personal Workspace

Nothing is less appealing than an office space that has nothing personal in it. You should have a well-organized, streamlined space for working of course, but you also need a couple of personal touches. Employees at Google are encouraged to paint their desks and to bring pictures of friends and family to work. Some employees even display pricey collections of a precious object because they want to show off their hard work in collecting.

Turn Down the Noise

Ingmar Bergman, a famous filmmaker, hated noise so much that he required “no talking” signs to be posted on stage while he was working. He was particularly sensitive to unexpected noises, and would become distracted from the task at hand. It was so frustrating for him that he actually banned several members of his cast and crew from being around him while he was working. If you can’t limit the noise in your workplace, at least fill it with noise you like – bring headphones and listen to the music of your choice instead of tolerating other people’s noise instead.