When it comes to working productively, it isn’t just the type of work and the equipment you have that can help you into success. It’s also WHERE you work that creates the impact, helping you to stay focused and productive the whole time. This means that what your workspace looks like is crucial to the way you work, whether it’s at home or in co-working space’s meeting rooms.
No, this isn’t about luck or Feng Shui, it’s just about how what you look or what surrounds you motivates the way you put in effort. So if you want to improve your productivity at work, check out these office design changes to follow!
Nine Office Design Changes to Improve Work Productivity
Many studies now show the importance of workplaces and productivity. The most important factor that affects one’s productivity is the physical environment! With a well-designed office, it can increase one’s productivity by up to 20%!
For some productivity hacks for better focus, here are nine changes you can do to your area:
The Lighting
Lighting is a crucial factor for you to stay focus, though not many people invest in it! With bad lighting, it can cause headaches, eye strain, and even irritability or depression, especially when working in dark spaces.
If you don’t have control of lighting in your office, try using natural light bulbs or light therapy devices as desk lamps. Or when working from home, let natural light in from windows and doors, and use natural light lamps when it’s dark out.
Your Chair and Desk
If you have to adjust, move, or stretch when working on a desk, then it may not be the right fit for you. Make sure that you have a chair and desk that follows these tips:
- Your eyes need to be around 36 inches away from the monitor screen, with the top of your monitor being below or eye-leveled
- Your feet should be on the floor or on foot rests
- It’s best to have a SLIGHTLY reclaimed chair position to reduce spine pressure and back pain
Reduce the Clutter
You need to clean up your work area for focus and productivity. It won’t be possible to clean the entire office, but make sure that the environment around you is clean. Spend ten minutes a day ensuring that everything is organized and all mess is gone.
If you work at home, you can clean the entire house once a week and reduce clutter in your home office.
Change the Room Color
Even the colors around us can affect our brain function and overall moods, evoking both physical and emotional responses. Choose the right colors for your room or desk, such as the color blue, known to illicit productivity.
When working in an office, bring items with colors which help you stay inspired and focused. At home, you have more control, maybe even painting walls or hanging photos in specific colors.
What’s the Temperature?
The typical temperature for offices is about 65 degrees Fahrenheit, but this might not be good for one’s productivity. In fact, studies show that warmer rooms can help you become even more productive!
You can stay warm by bringing space heaters, blankets, or a sweater to your office. OR when at home, adjust your heating or air conditioner to keep you warm and comfortable.
Room Scents and Air Quality
Simile to the color and cleanliness of your space, your sense of smell can affect your mindset and productivity. Consider adding good scents to your work area, such as pine, cinnamon, lavender, peppermint, and any citrus scents, which help lift the mood, relax, or increase focus.
Besides this, make sure you have good air quality around you, letting in fresh air or having a plant near you.
Is It Noisy?
Even your sense of hearing creates a significant impact on your productivity! It can distract you and may raise stress levels, making it difficult to work properly.
In the office, consider using noise-cancellation headphones, playing relaxing music known to boost concentration. If you work at home, consider playing white noise or playlists that mimic noises of cafes, which is known to help boost concentration.
Different Spaces and Purposes
It’s best to have more than one space to work in to prevent getting bored and distracted. When you place yourself in a new area with a slightly different environment, it can help you stay focus since it shifts your brain.
When working in an office, you can choose to work in your personal desk, lobbies, the break or conference rooms, as well as lounge areas! When working at home, consider changing your space every now and then.
Refreshments
You need to stay nourished if you want to stay focused and work harder! That’s why you need to have a good supply of healthy snacks and drinks to keep you going.
If you work in an office, have remade snacks for the week, such as fruits, nuts, and yogurt. When working at home, control how many times you enter the kitchen and have premade snacks ready instead.
Wrapping It Up
I hope my office design change ideas gave you an idea of what you can do for your own space. So try out any of these tips now and see what it can do for your workflow.
Do you have any questions or want to share your tips on office design? Share it in the comments section below, your thoughts are much appreciated!
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