Increase Productivity with these Office Design Hacks
Where you work has impact on how you work, your ability to focus and your overall ability to be productive. This means that the design of your office in boosting productivity is important.
According to studies on workplace and productivity, a significant factor in determining an employee’s ability to focus is their physical environment. Well-designed offices can increase productivity about 20%.
These office design hacks show that a little change in office design can produce a lot of impact on productivity:
Lighting
Lighting is key in staying focused and feeling inspired to create, yet it’s often overlooked. Bad lighting can cause tiredness, eyestrain, headaches and just overall irritability.
Company office:
You may have no control over your general lighting so bring in your own if need be!
Home office:
Open the windows and doors and let natural light in. Use lamps in various of areas of the room, combatting darkness for cloudy days.
Chair and Table
Moving about to get focused is common, have a correctly fitted table and chair is great for productivity. The workplace has many employees sitting for most of the day, it is essential that your throne is comfortable.
Lets have a look at these 2 checks:
- Feet should be on a rest or on the floor.
- A slightly reclined chair posture is best to reduce lower back pain.
Company office:
Ask for an adjustable chair. Add pillows for your lower back or bottom.
Home office:
Invest in a decent chair, it will be worth it to boost your productivity or use a few pillows to make yourself more comfortable.
Clutter
Clutter may help the creative mind, but it isn’t necessarily helpful for focus and productivity.
Company office: Keep your own environment clean. Spend 10 minutes every morning or evening making sure things are organised so you’re not distracted by it later.
Home office: The entire home is potential for distraction. Try schedule a specific day and time to clean your home. Spend 10 minutes every day making sure your office is organised.
Room Colour
Colours effect our moods and brain functions, they evoke both a physical and emotional response. Good design with colour has the ability to affect your productivity.
Company office:
Bring in items from home that are a certain colour that inspire you and keep you focused.
Home office: Working from home means having much more control over the design and colours around you. Try repainting a wall or hanging some pictures.
Room Temperature
Warm rooms can boost productivity!
Company office: Most offices are regulated by somebody else, so bring a heater, jumpers and blankets to your workspace.
Home office: Depending on the season, open the windows or adjust the heat or a/c so that you’re more comfortable. Jumpers in the winter or heater at your feet.
Room Scents
Our sense of smell can powerfully affect our mood, mindset and thus our productivity. Adding scents to your workspace can encourage your brain to focus and stop fatigue.
Try these scents:
- Pine – Alertness
- Cinnamon – Focus
- Lavender – Destress
- Peppermint – Lifts Mood
- Citrus – Alertness
Company office: Most people will not appreciate scents, keep it subtle. Keep essential oils in your drawer and when you’re in need of a boost put some drops on a handkerchief.
Home office: Try candles or essential oils.
Noise Level
The noise level in a work environment can vary greatly depending on the office design and size. The noise around you affects your ability to stay on task. Noise can be distracting and also raise stress levels making productivity a difficult ask.
Company office: Try noise cancellation headphones and listen to calming music.
Home office: Complete quiet can be as distracting as noise. Try listening to some music.
Different Spaces
If possible, give yourself more than one space to work from. Putting yourself in a new space with different qualities shifts your brain and helps you stay focused.
Company office: Many offices offer a variety of environments to work from: personal space, conference rooms etc. Use all these spaces to vary routine. Let your supervisor know though, so they don’t think you’re slacking off and know that you’re actually boosting productivity!
Home office: If you work at a desk, add a comfortable couch to the room. If your space is less flexible, try creative ways to change your space like rotating the pictures on your walls every couple of days. Try working at a café, the library or in a park.
