Many students and employees returning to school and work this week after their summer vacations may need a mighty jolt of energy after fun in the sun. Placing a plant in your office is among the simple tips that may increase worker productivity.

According to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, office productivity increased 15 percent in places that had leafy plants that were about three-feet tall on average, spaced about every 3.3-square feet. The plants in the office apparently increased "workplace satisfaction, self-reported levels of concentration and perceived air quality," according to the researchers from the University of Exeter, the University of Groningen in The Netherlands, and the University of Queensland, Australia.

"Being close to nature perks you up," said the author of "What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast," Laura Vanderkam.

Vanderkam, who was not involved in the plant study, said, "Even if you're stuck in a cube, you can bring a bit of nature inside. Just remember to water it. A dead plant is a morale killer."

Top Tips to Ease Back Into the Office After Vacation

Here are more tips to boost your productivity for students and workers: