12 Ways To Optimize Your Space for Maximum Productivity
Most of us are pretty busy, and we want to get more done. We don’t have time for distractions and want our workspace to be as efficient as possible.
Often, the most overlooked aspects of our environment have the biggest impact on our everyday lives. When it comes to productivity, the way you decorate your office can have a considerable impact on your success. For example, the arrangement of your furniture is something you should consider if you want to get things done and feel comfortable in your space.
According to studies, people who have control over their workspaces are 32 percent happier, healthier, and more productive overall.
This article is for you if you’re looking for a few practical hacks to improve your productivity. We’ll look at some strategies to help your space work better for you – and give you a boost of motivation in the process so that you get more done without getting distracted.
1. Have Multiple Workspace Options
Studies have shown that people who use standing desks were 46 percent more productive than those who use regular desks. The reason? When you stand, your body is naturally in a more upright position. This allows your brain to work faster and more efficiently, which is why most people who stand at work are able to get more done in less time than their sit-down counterparts.
The same is true for when you’re working from home. Sitting down all day can lead to serious health problems and make it harder to focus on your work, no matter how productive you may be sitting down all day.
If you have a large office space, the best way to maximize your workspace is by having multiple standing desks in different places. This means more than one person can be working at a time.
This will also allow for more productivity, because people can take breaks when needed and get back into the groove of things faster. In addition, these desks are usually adjustable and can be used in a variety of configurations.
We recommend Fitnest Sierra Electric Standing Desk because of its high adjustability, stability, and easy setup. It is also very durable and comes with a USB port for charging devices.
2. Invest in a Good Office Chair
Your chair is the most important piece of equipment in your office. It should be comfortable and durable enough to last through years of use.
Look for an ergonomic chair that allows you to move around easily while in it. Some chairs have extra padding on the seat or backrests, so they’re more comfortable than others. However, if you spend hours sitting at a desk every day, you’ll want something that doesn’t feel like wearing diapers; otherwise, there will be pain and fatigue associated with using said chair after hours.
Avoid recliners or rockers because these types tend to put pressure on various body parts without providing much support from the base of one’s neck down through one’s lower back area.
A chair should also be adjustable so that you can customize its height, tilt angle, and lumbar support level.
In addition to helping with pain relief, an ergonomically designed seat provides adequate space for your legs to fit under any desk without feeling cramped or too close together.
The seat should be able to swivel around while still maintaining support for your spine.
It should also have a backrest that can be adjusted to support the natural curvature of your lower back.
We recommend testing a chair for at least 30 minutes in an environment comparable to how you’d use it, such as sitting in front of a desk and using a keyboard.
3. Clean and Declutter Your Workspace Frequently
One of the most important things you can do to optimize your workspace is to keep it clean and decluttered.
Having clutter is not just unpleasant. It can hinder growth and productivity while increasing feelings of demotivation and stagnation. According to a large amount of evidence, it is also distracting, stressful, and inhibits creativity.
The key to keeping your workspace organized is always keeping your desk clean by having only the things you need on your desk. That might be anything from one or two items down to zero and then keeping those items in their proper places so that there are no distractions from what needs attention.
Keep the clutter out by clearing off any items that don’t belong anywhere else in the room but should go into storage somewhere else (like under another drawer). You can also use baskets for easy access when needed!
Finally, use a filing system for each of your projects, and keep it organized with separate folders for different types of papers.
4. Organize Your Cords
Cords can be a pain, but they’re also a necessity.
Organizing your cables and cords is one of the easiest ways to keep your space neat, but it’s also important if you want to maximize productivity.
It’s easy to forget that you have a cord running from your computer monitor and keyboard to the power outlet on your desk. However, when you’re trying to work efficiently, these cords can get in the way, causing you to lose focus or even give up altogether. If this sounds familiar, don’t worry; we’ve covered you! Keep these tips in mind when using your workspace:
- Ensure all of your cables are in their proper place (and not tangled)
- Keep all cords hidden behind furniture or under tables so that they aren’t easily accessible or visible from across the room
- Hide the cables under furniture, behind furniture and shelving, behind curtains, or even on the floor!
- Get rid of your charging clutter by plugging everything into one handy power strip
5. Include Calming Décor
For the most part, a space should be free of distractions. For example, if you’re in an office and have to work on the phone, it’s best not to have anything distracting—no pictures or ornaments on your desk or wall art in the break room.
But what about when you need some alone time? What if there isn’t enough space for everything? How do we ensure that our workspace is as still and relaxing as possible without losing focus?
Calming décor can help with this. However, you don’t want bright colors or loud patterns; instead, look for soft pastels like sage green or sea foam blue that will keep things peaceful while still being visually pleasing (you want something soothing).
The colors needn’t match exactly; they just need not be too distracting either way! In fact, there are few things more frustrating than seeing someone else’s office painted all over their walls with neon colors. It makes them feel trapped under those lights instead of somehow working productively away from them.
When choosing calming décor items like lamps and vases, remember: less is more! Don’t fill up every corner of your space so much that no air gets through into other parts where people might actually want privacy zones.
If you’re unsure what kind of décor would be best for office space, try talking with some people who work in similar environments and ask what they think would help calm down the atmosphere. Chances are they’ll have some good ideas to make things more relaxing!
6. Add Plants and Flowers
According to the study on the Global Impact of Biophilic Design in the workplace, employees who work in environments with natural characteristics expressed 15% greater overall well-being. In addition, the respondents said they felt 15% more creative and 6% more productive at work.
Indoor plants, according to researchers, help workers who require a lot of concentration stay alert.
If you have the space, consider adding plants and flowers to your office. Plants help purify the air in your home or workspace, reducing stress and making it more inviting. They also reduce eye strain, making it easier to focus on work tasks.
If you’re not quite ready to plant an entire garden in the corner of your office (or if you’d rather get creative with indoor plants), try selecting some soft-looking potted plants that will fit in nicely with any decorating style—and don’t forget about buying some succulents! Succulents are great because they require very little maintenance—just water them frequently and keep them away from direct sunlight when possible.
7. Be Cognizant of Where You Place Your Computer Monitor and Keyboard
Your monitor and keyboard are the two biggest pieces of equipment you use most frequently. They’re also the most likely to cause problems if they’re not positioned correctly.
Here are some tips from The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has provided standards for monitor placement. Follow them to stay healthy when using a monitor:
- Do you have them right in front of you, or do they sit at an angle? The former is more comfortable, but if it’s too close to your eyes, it can make it hard to see what’s happening onscreen.
- Pay attention to whether there’s enough space between your computer monitor and the wall behind it. If there isn’t enough room, it’ll be hard to access certain controls when using a laptop or tablet.
- Place your computer monitor at eye level. If the screen is too high or too low, it will strain your eyes and cause fatigue.
- Place your keyboard at elbow level or slightly higher so you can sit comfortably while typing on the keyboard without bending over excessively.
- Place your mouse on hand level or slightly lower. If it’s out of reach or too high up off the desk surface, this could lead to fatigue over time!
8. Personalize Your Space
If your workplace is not personalized in any way, then there is no reason for you to stay there for long periods because it will become boring and repetitive after some time has passed.
Personalizing your space is a great way to make it feel like home. It also helps you feel more comfortable and relaxed, which will help you focus on your work and stay productive.
You need to add something unique and personal into your space to feel home away from home every time you walk there.
You can add a few personal touches, such as photos and other meaningful items.
9. Have a Good Chair and Desk Setup
Having a good chair and desk setup is essential for optimal productivity. A bad chair and desk setup can make you uncomfortable, which can lead to fatigue, back pain, and headaches.
According to one study, 25% of office workers claim that sitting at their desks makes them less productive, and 37% claim that working in an uncomfortable environment causes them to become overly preoccupied.
What is a means of avoiding the traps of discomfort? Invest in seating that provides a winning balance of support and comfort for the body.
A bad desk will also cause fatigue as well as other ailments like neck strain or pinched nerves in your hands—the exact opposite of what you want when you’re trying to get stuff done!
To find the right chair and desk setup combination of features for your needs, consider these questions:
- What type of seat should it be?
- Are there any modifications that need to be made?
- How high off the ground should the seat be?
- Is there room under it where I can put things like pens or pencils without having them fall out easily, or do I need any additional storage space such as drawers or cubbyholes, etc.?
- And lastly: How much space does this thing take up when fully assembled?
10. Utilize Natural Light
Lighting is one of the most important aspects of any workspace, and natural light is good for your productivity.
The more natural light you have in your space, the better it will be to work in. Natural light encourages people to be more productive and helps prevent burnout. It also helps to reduce stress by increasing productivity.
According to a recent Cornell study, problems including headaches, eyestrain, and blurred vision decreased by 84 percent for workers who were exposed to natural light. Workers exposed to less natural light were more vulnerable to various health problems since such symptoms can contribute to increased fatigue.
Studies have also shown that exposure to natural light increases alertness, energy, and motivation by increasing the production of melatonin, which helps you sleep better at night.
However, it might be challenging to find natural light, particularly at night. Ensuring you have enough light is important, but you should also consider how different forms of lighting affect productivity.
On the other hand, warmer lighting is perfect for inducing a feeling of comfort and relaxation in private spaces, while colder lighting boosts alertness, mood, and productivity. Even more so, it lessens tiredness by lowering melatonin levels.
To prevent eye strain, scientists also advise adding “layers of light.”
11. No Noise!
Noises that are distracting and annoying can be a sign of stress. If you feel like your office is too loud or noisy, it may be time to take a break.
If outside noise is causing problems for you in your workspace, try moving farther away from the sound source so that it doesn’t interfere with your work.
If there’s enough space in your home office environment and you still want some peace and quiet from outside noises, consider installing soundproofing materials such as rubber gaskets or foam insulation around doors and windows.
12. Check the Temperature
It turns out that there is a “just right” temperature for a room, at least when it comes to working.
After analyzing data from 24 separate workplace temperature productivity studies, researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory concluded that performance is at its peak at a precise 71 degrees Fahrenheit (21,67 degrees).
However, you should be fine if you stick with temperatures between 70 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 25 degrees).
Always keep an eye on the temperature to stay consistent throughout your day and not fluctuate too much from one hour to another.
In Conclusion
The way you feel while working can have a big impact on how much you get done.
Keeping your home office organized and attractive will help you stay productive and feel good. When you’re feeling comfortable, relaxed, and organized, your productivity levels will likely go up. But when you’re stressed and disorganized, things will likely be less productive for yourself and the people around you.
The key is to ensure that whatever environment is being used in the workplace has been designed with these ideas in mind from the start. This means considering factors like lighting, temperature control, and noise levels and adding new features such as wall organizers or ergonomic chairs.