4 Colors That Give You an Unexpected Productivity Boost

If your workspace is awash with bright white or dull gray, it may be time for a change.

Colors have the power to affect us physically, intellectually and emotionally, some making us angry, confident, excited. In this post, I’ll explore how you can use different colors and their combinations to kickstart your motivation and be more efficient.

Colors have an effect on us. A few are even deemed to spark creativity and boost productivity. Click To Tweet

Colors that inspire and motivate

According to Color Psychologist Angela Wright, there are four primary psychological colors, being red, blue, yellow and green. They each have an effect on the mind, the body, the soul, and a balance between the three, respectively. Every other color and its associated effect are just a combination of two or more of these primary colors.

Red: Physical

Red is a stimulating color that gets your heart pumping and raises your pulse. It is a powerful color that can evoke a strong physical response, even activating the “fight or flight” instinct. This is great if you’re not easily phased being in high-stress situations. If you don’t, the color red may be overwhelming and actually hinder your work efforts.

Use red for a productivity boost if you’re:

In a physically-demanding job: Workers that require a lot of physical exertion such as tradespeople, personal trainers, and tree surgeons, may respond well to red.

Blue: Intellectual

Blue is a soothing color, helping calm the mind and aid concentration. It’s no wonder then that blue is a popular color to use in office spaces. It enhances wakefulness and supports clear communication. Blue is a great choice if you want to get straight to the point.

Use blue for a productivity boost if you’re:

An office worker: Blue is brilliant for completing administrative tasks or projects that require maximum focus. Add a splash of orange if you need extra inspiration.

Yellow: Emotional

Yellow is energizing and radiates positivity. It plays to our emotions and lifts confidence levels so is excellent for getting you into the right mood for producing great work. As the strongest psychological color, you might want to opt for yellow tones to stimulate your creativity.

Use yellow for a productivity boost if you’re:

An innovator or entrepreneur: If you’re stuck in an ideas rut, yellow can help get the creative juices flowing and make you more optimistic about the direction you’re taking.

Green: Balance

Green is harmonizing and, unlike red, does not strain the eyes. It strikes a nice balance between the other primary colors and creates a sense of calm and reassurance. This is particularly helpful if you feel overwhelmed by all the tasks you need to complete.

Use green for a productivity boost if you’re:

At your best in a calm working environment: If you like to start your day with yoga or a meditative practice, green is most likely the color for you.

Don’t Just Consider the Color

In an interview with a productivity guru, Angela Wright stated that a color’s ability to stimulate or soothe is based on its intensity or saturation. So, what does that really mean? You first have to select a color that will either affect your body, mind or emotions. The second step is to find the correct brightness that will help improve your individual productivity levels. As you can see, color choices and preferences are highly personal and varies from one person to the next. What works for you may not work for your co-workers, friends or family members.

The experts have spoken.

It is possible to boost productivity using color. BUT, you have to choose the right color based on the type of work you do. You also need to consider the brightness of the color. Nothing too bold or too dull.

All that’s left to do now is to grab a bunch of color charts and have fun picking out hues that will put a fire in your belly.

How are you using color to boost productivity? Share your strategy in the comments below!