How to Create a More Productive Workspace, at Home or in the Office
A workspace should be more than just a workspace. Sure, technically all you really need is the basics - a desk, chair, and whatever materials your work requires. But doing your work is about more than just getting from point A to point B as fast as possible. Although it may sound cliche it’s about the journey. Studies have shown that a workspace which inspires you not only makes you happier and more creative, but also far more productive. When the quality of your workspace improves, so will the quality of your work.
It’s understandable that redesigning your workspace can feel like an overwhelming task. But it doesn’t have to be, nor does it have to be expensive and time consuming. There are many research-backed ways to enhance your workspace, whether at home or in a company office, to elicit increased productivity. Let’s discuss a few of them.
Let the light in
Let’s start with lighting, an often overlooked aspect of workspace design. Did you know that poor lighting can cause headaches, strained eyes, and even fatigue? Dark, poorly lit rooms can bring on general irritability and depression over time, whereas bright and natural colored bulbs can improve mood and productivity.
If you work from home, you may have more options when it comes to improving your lighting such as swapping light bulbs, opening blinds, or simply moving to a brighter space. But for those who work in a company office, do not be afraid to at least request these types of changes. Your employer may opt to switch light bulbs or move work spaces to brighter areas when they realize it’s proven to increase productivity. If this is not a possibility, experiment with your own supplemental lighting, whether that be a basic lamp or a therapy light device.
Task lighting is another trick you can try to help you stay focused throughout the day, and decrease the chance of straining your eyes. It involves having an additional, focused light source that will clearly separate your current task from distractions around you. An example of this would be using a small desk lamp pointed down towards the area of your desk in which you’re working, instead of illuminating your entire workspace.
Show your true colors
Color has been proven to have similar effects on brain function and overall mood as lighting. According to color psychologist Angela Wright, the four psychological primary colors - red, blue, yellow, and green - affect the body, mind, emotions, and the balance of all three, respectively. Interestingly, according to Wright, when you combine more than one color, you can obtain the effects of both of them. It should be noted that the mood-altering effects of a color may differ from person to person, as these effects are largely influenced by one’s personal relationship and mental associations to that color. Additionally, different cultures assign different meanings to colors.
The most important thing about your workspace is that it brings about feelings of happiness and productivity. So while you can look at color psychology charts online for inspiration, recognize that while red may make one person feel confident and motivated, it may not have the same effects for you. So have fun and don’t be afraid to experiment!
If you work from home, consider adding splashes of color around your work area - or even repainting a wall if you have the time. If you work in a company office, bring personal items of a certain color to keep displayed on your desk such as picture frames, postcards, or small pieces of art.
Step into your comfort zone
There are several studies that suggest a direct correlation between warmer interior temperatures and lower productivity, however, another study indicates that this correlation is more common in men and that women tend to be more productive in a warmer environment. At the end of the day, everyone is different and what’s important is you be comfortable. After all, whether you prefer it warm or cool, people tend to work better and more efficiently when they are comfortable. Since the temperature in most offices is controlled by someone else, have sweaters, a small blanket, a fan, or even a space heater to help you obtain maximum comfort.
Even with an ideal temperature, it’s hard to get work done if you find yourself constantly fidgeting and adjusting at your desk due to an uncomfortable chair and desk set-up. If you want to stay focused, then make sure to put some time into finding a comfortable chair and adjusting it to the proper height.
Consider the following tips; your face should be 24-46 inches from a computer screen to minimize strain on your eyes, and the top of the monitor should be at or below eye level, never above. Your feet should be on a footrest or resting on the floor, but not dangling from your chair. Lastly, a slightly reclined chair position is best to reduce spinal pressure and minimize pain in your lower book.
There must be something in the air
Did you ever consider that different smells can affect our mood just as lighting and colors can? Aromatherapy can be a powerful tool when it comes to improving memory and your overall emotional state. Studies have shown that certain scents can affect your ability to retain and recall information and concentrate for long periods of time.
For example, pine has been found to increase alertness, cinnamon improves focus, and peppermint lifts your mood. If you work from home, consider purchasing quality candles, incense, or essential oils. You can even simmer different herbs and spices on the stove to fill your home with a certain scent. However, in an office environment, odds are that most people would prefer you keep added scents to your own personal area. Consider keeping essential oils in a bag or drawer and applying it to a handkerchief of tissue for a quick boost of energy.
Scents aside, it’s a good idea to start paying attention to the air you breathe. Poor air quality is more common than you think in office buildings and even in your own home. This could lead to dizziness and a decreased ability to think clearly and focus. According to the EPA, there are three major reasons for poor air quality inside office buildings; the presence of indoor air pollution sources such as carpet or paints, poorly designed or under-maintained ventilation systems, and buildings being utilized for things other than what it was designed for.
If you work from a company office and suspect that your office has poor air quality, talk to your boss about installing air filters or leaving windows and doors open at least for a few hours a day. At the least consider purchasing a personal air filter that you can keep on your desk or nearby. Certain plants are known to also help with filtering air in smaller enclosed spaces.
Get your head out of the clutter
According to the Harvard Business Review, clutter tends to accumulate either when a person cannot make decisions about things or has no clear system in place for dealing with certain objects or tasks. Cluttered spaces have negative effects on stress and anxiety, especially in the workplace, so it’s important not only to regularly clear out clutter but to thoroughly understand how it accumulates in the first place.
There are different types of clutter, including supplies clutter, paper clutter, and often the most difficult to work through, memory clutter which involves objects that hold sentimental value. It’s important to have a system in place for approaching clutter before it becomes out of hand. If you find yourself dealing with the same type of clutter, such as a certain piece of paperwork that you have yet to determine what to do with, now is the time to brainstorm a course of action.
Just as physical clutter is a common problem that leads to negative effects on stress and anxiety, digital clutter is becoming just as detrimental to our mental health in the workplace. As more and more businesses move totally digital, it’s important to familiarize yourself with different organizational tools available for your devices. This involves folders and hard drives. Familiarizing yourself with creating and organizing folders on your devices will allow you to have a place for everything, so your devices stay as organized and free from clutter as possible.
But wait, there’s more!
Keeping plants in your workspace, healthy refreshments on hand, a place for jotting down thoughts and ideas that you can return to later, and a designated drawer to store electronic devices that may distract you from your work are just a few of the many more easy ways you can change up your workspace to increase productivity. It’s time to reevaluate your workspace and consider whether or not it’s an environment that elicits your maximum potential. If it doesn’t, do not put off implementing changes. Remember, it does not have to be a huge undertaking. Start with small changes, and figure out which ones work best for you. You got this!