Have you ever sat at your desk and stared at your computer screen, desperately trying to get started on one of your assignments?  You may have done every simple, mindless task you can think of, and the only thing left requires your full concentration.  What do you do?

One suggestion that works for me is to take a break and get some exercise.  It might be a walk around the block or down to the park and back.  For others a bike ride does the trick. 

There is a well documented link between exercise and mental alertness.  In the October 22, 2007 Associated Content article, "How to Increase Your Mental Alertness", the author states:

"The simplest way to improve mental alertness is to exercise.  Exercise releases a chemical in your brain that helps you to be more alert, not only while you are doing the exercise but for the rest of the day."

Those of us who make the short "commute" from the bedroom to the office miss the exercise that others get by walking to the car or from a parking garage to the office building.  Although that is not a lot of exercise, it does help prepare the mind to focus on your work.  I am not suggesting that you take an hourly stroll around the neighborhood, but a half hour of exercise each day will do wonders for your productivity.

David Reed is President of Remote Office Consulting, LLC as well as an author and trainer.

By David Reed