We spend a huge chunk of our time in our workspaces – be it a traditional cubicle or a home office in the corner of our living room – and believe it or not, the way this area is designed has a significant influence on our mood and productivity. A cluttered, messy desk is just as bad as a sterile office with virtually no character. You have to find a balance between the two extremes and create a truly tranquil, relaxing space that will put you in just the right mindset to get the day’s job done. Here are a few ways in which you can ensure you get the most out of your workspace.
Designate a workspace
First of all, in case you’re telecommuting, you are probably familiar with the issue of not having a designated “office”. However, working from your couch, or even worse, your bed is not only bad for your productivity, but for your body as well. This is why it’s paramount that you designate an office space for yourself, where your household chores and responsibilities won’t be in your face and you can work in peace. Even if you don’t have a spare room to turn into a full-fledged office, a corner in a room is still better than nothing. This will help you have a routine and start each day on a productive note.
Decluttering
Regardless of whether you’re working from home or you have your own corporate office, clutter is a big no-no. Physical clutter creates mental clutter and makes you stressed. Besides clearing and cleaning your desk and other surfaces and putting all your supplies in order, you should also banish everything that you don’t really need. Make decluttering a part of your daily or weekly cleaning routine and you will be able to keep your workspace much more serene.
Pain-free working hours
As mentioned in the beginning, working from your couch or bed is less than ideal. A bad chair is better, but it still leaves something to desire. To take proper care of your body and thus avoid annoying back, neck and wrist pain, make sure you create an ergonomic office space. Starting from the basics, you’re going to need a comfortable, adjustable chair that supports your back. Since more and more people are starting to recognize the importance of proper posture during work, getting quality office furniture in Brisbane or any other city should not be a problem. Moreover, you can also consider an ergonomic mouse and a keyboard if you type a lot. You will notice that once your workspace has stylish and comfortable furnishing, your mood improves.
Ample lighting
For a nice, serene interior, you most definitely need as much natural light as you can possibly get. This is not such a big problem in sunny regions such as Australia, but in some other countries, it can be a real struggle to go without artificial lighting during the day. If that’s the case for you, make sure you at least get light bulbs that emulate natural light. Make sure the lights are not too harsh, so that they don’t hurt your eyes, but not too dim either as you will get sleepy easily. Lighting plays a vital role in creating the atmosphere of any room, so don’t skip this.
Nature is your best friend
It’s no news that nature has special powers that positively influence us humans. You can make use of the benefits of greenery by introducing plants into your office. They upgrade the look of any kind of office and they bring in that much-needed serenity in addition to cleaning your air! According to biophilia, even as little as pictures of natural sceneries can evoke a feeling of tranquility, so even if your tiny workspace cannot accommodate a whole ficus tree, something small is still better than nothing.
Music for a good mood
A lot of people like working while listening to music. If you find lyrics a bit distracting, try listening to some instrumental tunes: relaxing jazz or classical music will boost not only the atmosphere of any office, but it will even positively influence your ability to focus by lessening the chance that you’ll get distracted. You can make use of the power of music even if you’re working in a shared office; get a pair of noise-canceling headphones and reap the benefits!
A bit of decoration
While you should not overdo it, a little bit of decoration can make your workspace more homey and serene. Besides the aforementioned greenery, you can also incorporate a minimalist typography poster with one of your favorite motivational quotes, or you can bring some relaxing fragrances into the space with scented candles or a sleek-looking oil diffuser. When choosing your desk organizers, make sure you get something that fits your workspace’s color scheme, and your office will look more put-together!
If you have the chance to design your own workspace, you’re in luck, because then you can incorporate as many of these ideas as you want and create the most serene, personalized space possible! Once you make these changes, you will certainly notice a change in your mood when starting your day in your newly optimized workspace.