One of the keys to being productive is to figure out how you do your best work. Some people do best in dead silence and in a given work area, while others (like myself) do well with background noise. I personally enjoy having something like Food Network or HGTV on in the background to spark my creativity while enjoying my morning cup of coffee.
I find that having an area where I can work, but don’t feel forced, works best for me. Quite frankly I work just as well sitting on my couch with my dog as I do sitting at the office, and when I need to write, I often work better in my own space at home. The important factor here is finding a space where you can be productive and not get distracted. In my case, I actually do better having a show on in the background because I can simultaneously listen while working, whereas when I am forced to sit silently and work, I feel the need to take a break every so often to check on emails, social media, etc. to give myself a break.
Giving myself the opportunity to listen to the end of that recipe or watch the home transformation actually enables me to work for longer periods of time, sustaining my creativity and productivity levels. This may sound crazy to some of you, but that’s okay. The goal is to find out what works best for YOU. Some office settings are stricter than others, however managers will often urge higher productivity, so if keeping a Pandora station softly crooning at your cubicle makes a big difference, talk to your boss and see if you can work something out. You may be able to use headphones or discuss options with your other office mates.
Listen to your inner voice and give yourself what you need; I promise that you will find it harder to procrastinate.