Ever heard the phrase ‘tidy room, tidy mind’? The same goes for your office. The tidier, cleaner, and generally more pleasant your office is, the more you’ll enjoy using the space.
And the more comfortable it is, the less you’ll feel like you have to take regular breaks to get away from a stiff chair or non-adjustable desk. When we’re comfortable, we’re more productive. In fact, employees who have a clean desk are able to work for 7.5 minutes longer at a time without getting distracted.
Not to mention that having the right furniture for work is crucial to your long-term physical health, and vital for avoiding back problems.
With that in mind, here are our top tips for creating an office space guaranteed to make you more productive in 2023.
1. Get the Right Chair
You’ll hear spinal health experts wax lyrical about getting the right type of chair for work, but it really is crucial. Sitting in a chair that’s uncomfortable or non-ergonomic is not only not conducive to working well, but it can also cause ongoing back pain.
The right chair should be comfortable, ergonomic, and easily adjusted to the perfect height for you. Pair it with an adjustable desk for maximum results.
2. Try Adjustable Furniture
If you’ve ever sat at a desk that isn’t the right height for you, you’ll know that it’s not only uncomfortable, but it can actually impact your work, too. Plus, if multiple members of your household or members of staff at your workplace use the desk, how will you know how short or tall it needs to be?
The solution is to invest in a height adjustable desk. That way, the desk can be at the correct height and angle for whoever is using it at that time, and you’ll save the money you may have spent on getting multiple desks.
If you’re looking to incorporate more exercise into your day to benefit your physical and mental wellbeing, consider a standing desk. An office desk that you can stand (or walk on a treadmill) while using helps you to keep fit without having to take any extra time out of your day.
3. Get the Temperature Right
If you’ve ever experienced a boiling hot summer without air conditioning, or a winter without heating, you’ll know how uncomfortable it is to feel too warm or too cold. Working in a room that’s one extreme or the other can affect your ability to concentrate and, therefore, your productivity.
Make sure you keep the temperature right throughout all seasons by investing in heaters, hot water bottles, and blankets for the winter seasons. During summer, keep curtains and blinds closed during the day to avoid excessive heat from sunlight, and open windows at night to allow a cool breeze in.
If you manage an office for employees, invest in heating and air conditioning to keep the air at a comfortable temperature for staff members.
4. Maximise the Lighting
If your office or home office is too dark, it’s not particularly conducive to being productive. Not to mention that a lack of light can make you feel sleepy, which is the last thing you want when you’re supposed to be hard at work.
Where possible, introduce natural light into your office by keeping curtains and blinds open. If natural light isn’t an option, consider investing in lamps that are specially designed to mimic natural light.
5. Keep The Space Tidy
Having a tidy office really does help you to be more productive. Plus, keeping your desk neat and organised allows you to find items more quickly. If you have to search through thousands of pieces of paper before you find the invoice or spreadsheet you’re looking for, it will slowly down your work day and harm productivity.
If you work from a home office, prioritise tidying and cleaning your desk for five minutes every morning before starting work. Those five minutes will save you significant time in the long run.
If you manage a workspace, consider investing in the services of a cleaner. The money you spend promises a huge return on investment, with employees being more productive and enjoying enhanced wellbeing when their workspace is clear.
Final Thoughts
If you can sense that you (or your colleagues or employees) are feeling sluggish at work, consider that a poor office set-up might be to blame. Creating a more comfortable, tidier office space is an excellent way to increase productivity.
If you’re short on ideas, consider swapping out uncomfortable furniture for ergonomics and adjustable options and make sure the lighting and temperature help to create a suitable environment for work.
