Whether you’re working at the company office or working from home, your workspace can make or break your efficiency and productivity. Studies even show that one of the most important factors to an employee’s productivity is their physical surroundings, and a well-designed space can increase that productivity to up to 20%. From your chair to the lighting you use, each aspect of your workspace is important in helping you get your work done as efficiently as possible.
If you’re working at home or the office and want to improve your work efficiency and productivity, here are a few tips to help you do just that.
Find a Dedicated Space
As most offices usually have a dedicated space for their employees, having a dedicated space to do your work isn’t a problem. For remote workers, on the other hand, finding a space that separates work from home life can be tough, especially if you don’t have much space to begin with. However, creating a dedicated space where you can focus on the task at hand is not as hard as it seems.
First, you need to evaluate the factors that help you work best. For instance, some people work better in a quiet environment, while others like to work with background noise. Once you figure out which one you prefer, you’ll have an easier time deciding where you can set up your space. If you like a quiet environment, find an unused area in your house like a spare room or any space or any room that is quiet enough to help you focus on your tasks. If you like working with a little noise in the background, on the other hand, you might prefer to work in areas that receive a bit of traffic, like by the kitchen or in the living room.
Whether or not you have a lot of room in your home, keep in mind that your work area should allow you to separate your work from your home life. It’s also important to set boundaries for the people around you, especially if you live in a household with many people or children. This will let them know not to make too much noise and disturb you when you need to work.
Get Comfortable
If you find yourself moving around to get into a comfortable position while you’re working and end the day feeling sore, it can affect your productivity as well as your health. Consider investing in at least one kind of ergonomic furniture that allows you to spend more time at your workspace without feeling any discomfort. With more people working from home, ergonomic chairs and desks have risen in popularity and can help you improve your posture and keep you feeling comfortable even when you spend hours on end at your workspace.
Ergonomic items aren’t only limited to furniture- you can even get ergonomic keyboards and mice, which helps you avoid repetitive strain injury (RSI) or carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
Keep Your Workspace Clean
A cluttered workspace equals a cluttered mind. If you have many things scattered around your desk while you work, the mess will compete with your work for attention. This will lead to a more stressful and less productive workday. Keeping your desk clean and organized, on the other hand, makes things easier to find, helps you focus, and increases your productivity. Remember to clean your desk, organize your office supplies, and keep your workspace as neat as possible, and you’ll thank yourself for doing so.
Lighting is Key
Your desk setup is an important part of your workspace, but another aspect of a productive workspace that is just as important is your lighting. It can not only impact your productivity, but it can affect your health as well. For instance, harsh fluorescent lighting can tire out your eyes and cause migraines, while dim lighting can strain your eyes and trigger headaches.
Depending on where you’re doing your work, different types of lights can help you work more efficiently without being harmful to your health. In the office, commercial lights or suspended office lights are great for productivity. On the other hand, if you’re working at home, it’s important to get in as much natural light as possible. Once the sun starts to go down, however, you can avoid straining your eyes by using a desk lamp that helps you focus on your workspace, along with an ambient light that helps soften the harsh light coming from your desk lamp.
At the end of the day, it all depends on what works for you and what you’re comfortable with. Getting work done will always be stressful in one way or another, but with the right workspace and a healthy amount of breaks, you’ll be speeding through your to-do list before you even realize it.
