4 Simple
Changes You Can Make to Boost Workspace Productivity
Forget the aesthetics. Forget the newest design trends buzzing around.
Forget the fancy workplaces in countdown lists.
If you
run your own business or work remotely, chances are your workspace isn’t going
to look like those you see in glossy magazine pages. Besides, do you really
want a full playground in your room?
Well,
maybe you do. Regardless, the point is that you don’t have to turn your office
upside down to improve your workspace. With a few tweaks, you can create an
environment that helps you become happier, healthier, and perform optimally.
Here
are four simple tweaks you can make:
1. Play music to set the right ambience.
What
you listen to affects your mood. When people chat nearby or there are jarring
construction noises outside, it can be difficult to focus on cognitive tasks.
On the other hand, listening to the right types of music not only drowns out
distracting noises, but improves how you feel and gives you a much-needed
boost.
According
to research, productive music
doesn’t contain lyrics and has a simple structure. When the listener is in
control of their music selection, the person’s productivity increases overall.
If
you’re not sure where to begin, try classical music or nature sounds for a
calming effect. If you need that energy buzz, lift yourself up with some epic
music or video game music. I write about music and productivity in greater
detail.
2. Let nature into your workspace.
One study found that natural lighting
leads to greater energy, creativity, and productivity. The reverse is also
true: workers in windowless places have more headaches, faintness, and sickness
than those in places with windows.
Design
your office so that the places where you spend the most time are also the
places closest to the windows. Since you probably spend most hours working,
it’s a good idea to put desks and tables near natural lighting. If you’re stuck
in a windowless room, it’s better to have indirect light that gently reflects
off walls than direct lighting shining straight at you.
Whether
or not you have windows, you can also let nature in by putting plants in your
presence. Nearby plants help people to focus on
cognitive tasks, feel rejuvenated, and breathe cleaner air since plants act as
filters.
3. Add appropriate colors to your room.
Colors
affect both your mood and how well you work. According to color psychologist Angela Wright’s The Color
Affects System, different colors
affect us in various ways. Here’s what she found:
·
Red is a physical
color that denotes strength, warmth, and courage, but is also aggressive. Red
is suitable for places with physical labor.
·
Blue is an intellectual
color which shows intelligence, logic, and trust, making blue a suitable choice
for cognitive tasks.
·
Yellow is an emotional
color associated with creativity and confidence. It’s good for creative and
innovative workspaces.
·
Green is a balanced color
that suggests harmony, and equilibrium, but can also be perceived as bland.
Green is suitable for places involving monetary transactions.
Besides
the color itself, you also need to consider intensity levels. A highly
saturated, bright color will have a stimulating effect, while a soft, faded
color soothes.
If
you’re starting from scratch, you can paint your wall certain colors to give
that desired effect. If that’s not possible, place items with certain colors in
your office. For instance, you might add blue décor in a corporate environment,
or yellow chairs in a creative workspace.
4. Provide some privacy for your workspace.
There’s
a lot of support for open offices because it’s associated with greater
communication, collaboration between coworkers, and overall happiness. But the
open concept comes with tradeoffs.
A study shows that, yes, open-plan office
layouts do result in enhanced ease of interaction between people. But the
benefit of easier communication is outweighed by the drawbacks of noise
disruption, lack of privacy, and lack of personal space — all of which create
dissatisfaction at work.
As
mentioned earlier, chatty neighbors and frequent interruptions can be mentally
draining and drastically cut into productivity levels. Besides, do you want
everyone listening in on your conversations? For these reasons, it’s better to
stick to the closed-design workplace. If possible, give yourself personal space
for some deep work focus.
Speaking
of space, it’s good to keep your personal desk clutter-free. Not only is a
clean desk visually appealing, but keeping everything organized in folders
saves you time and headaches when you need to access a file. That applies to
your computer desktop as well.
Design Your Setting for Optimal Work
Ultimately,
a productive workspace is about being in control. Like listening to waterfall
sounds? Great. Used to working in complete silence? That’s fine too.
It
only takes small adjustments to improve your office, whether that means
bringing in a succulent plant or re-organizing your files. Those simple,
one-time changes can go a long way in keeping you productive, healthier, and
happier in the long haul.
Melissa
Chu
https://medium.com/jumpstart-your-dream-life/4-simple-changes-you-can-make-to-boost-workspace-productivity-4f034a2ec637
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