How to increase productivity in 40 seconds

Folks in the garden center industry have heard it before -- time in nature makes us happier and more productive. But an article on Inc.com included information from a recent study that revealed the amount of time you need to spend outside to get an energy boost is surprisingly brief. Here's an excerpt from the article: 

Taking lots of breaks might not sound like the route to incredible productivity, but according to tons of research, giving yourself regular breathers is a sure-fire way to get more done. One study showed 20 minutes of yoga could significantly improve brain functioning, another that a quick nap would seriously boost memory, while a third suggested that just shy of an hour of work followed by around a 15-minute pause was the ideal work pattern.

But what if you don't have 40 minutes to nap or even 15 minutes to kick back and reset? If that sounds like you, don't worry. Science has an alternative that even the most maniacally busy entrepreneur can take advantage of. According to a recent study out of Australia, even 40 seconds is enough to refresh your brain, as long as you do the right thing with those seconds.

So what's this magic 40-second intervention? Something so simple you don't even have to get out of your chair to do it--just look out the window at something green.

That's one recent insight from a study looking at the impact of so-called green roofs--such as the nine-acre one Facebook is installing at its headquarters--not on the environment (which they definitely benefit) but on workers in the vicinity. To test the effects of having a green roof in your line of sight, the research team showed study participants pictures of either your average concrete roof or a plant-covered one and then tested their ability to complete a boring, attention-sapping task.

Just a quick glimpse of a green landscape, the team found, had a measurable impact on productivity.

Keep reading this article on Inc.com.