Take a minute to consider what your body is doing right at this moment. Are your legs crossed or stretched out? Are you smiling? Is your back hunched? Where are you resting your elbows? Are you looking at the screen with a dazed appearance on your face?

Whether you're aware or not, everything the body does will communicate something to the brain and to those around you. Although a few bodily gestures might send more obvious messages than other ones, even the most subtle positions may affect your mood and impression you make on friends, clients, and colleagues. Therefore, if you already are sending messages with your body all the time anyway, why not leverage body language to your advantage?

Even though most individuals understand how to influence other people with body language (yawning while in a meeting informs other people that you are bored; wimpy handshake will imply weakness; lack of eye contact will make you feel untrustworthy), fewer individuals are aware of how to utilize body language to influence their productivity level, their careers, or themselves.

Your physical movements may influence and shape your moods and thoughts, according to a theory referred to as 'embodied cognition'. By taking a minute to change your expression or posture, you may affect the way you feel; therefore the way in which you work.

Here are 7 ways to optimize your body language in order to get the most out of the work day.

Strike Power Pose for More Productive Day: A 'Power Pose' is a method of telling your body to start moving. Productivity is all about telling the brain: 'I am in charge, I feel good to go.' A 'power pose' actually can cause a burst of testosterone, that's responsible for feelings of dominance. Having a power pose in place for around 2 minutes may assist with confidence, decrease stress, and encourage a greater tolerance for risk.

Attempt one of the below body positions/gestures next time you want an increase in confidence:

Place Your Hands on Your Head with Elbows Out

This stance straightens and then opens the chest, improving the posture and helping when brainstorming or problem-solving.

Prop Your Legs Up or Extend Legs

This position is perfect for motivating you to do desk work, like making phone calls, answering email, or writing.

Rest your Arm on the Chair next To You

It will increase the quantity of space the body takes up, making you seem more powerful. Attempt this stance while having an important phone call or prior to approaching a difficult negotiation.

Stand with Outstretched Legs and Arms

It's an alternative to additional power poses. With newfound confidence, you'll enjoy the attention this position gets you within the office.

Talk with Hands:

When speaking, use the hands to accent and gesture what is being said. Making gestures with your hands will activate the part of the brain referred to as Broca's area; that plays a significant part in speech production. While debating, public speaking, or negotiating, utilize the hands and your voice to illustrate your point--your sentences and thoughts likely will sound more articulate.

Open the Body for Better Retention

According to a study, as a test audience at a lecture had its legs and arms crossed, audience members retained 38 percent less than the audience that had its legs and arms uncrossed.

Smiles are Contagious

Smiles make you feel happier! Forcing a smile as you are feeling upset or discouraged actually can improve your mood. But, smiles are also contagious! When more individuals 'catch' your smile, you'll directly affect the moods of the people around you. That is a lot to achieve with just a single facial expression!