A well-designed office can raise employee productivity by up to 20%. In spite of this fact, most employers and managers don’t consider workplace design a worthwhile investment.
Poorly designed workspaces are major contributors to workplace stress, which costs businesses a whopping $300 billion annually. What is more, poor working environments lead to higher stress levels and employee disengagement.
- Light ‘Em Up
Optimal lighting and ventilation can curb depression, improve alertness, and positively impact the overall mood of the workplace. Moreover, studies show that keeping your light and ventilation at optimal levels can curb absenteeism, improve employee productivity by up to 16%, and increase job satisfaction by over 24%.
Invest in lighting that’s easy on the eyes and let as much natural light as possible into the workplace. Need a better solution? Common Desk rents out coworking spaces with great lighting and a host of other amenities.
- Get Ergonomic
The average office worker spends about 55% of each day on a desk. Over the course of a typical work life, that compounds to over 5 years of sitting down. If you’re going to spend that much time on a desk, the least you can do is make it comfortable.
Ergonomic work furniture has been proven to reduce headaches, back pain, general discomfort, and stress. For starters, get a chair that allows you to recline slightly to keep pressure off your spine, and keep your computer two to three feet away from you and slightly below eye level. Your body will thank you later.
- Don’t Be A Clutterbug
A disorganized workspace can cost you over 4 hours a week in productivity according to the National Association of Professional Organizations.
Schedule a weekly cleanup to put your desk in order. Don’t let papers and folders pile up your desk and keep your garbage to a minimum. Also, keep all your loose belongings in one place.
Treat yourself to an organizer for all your paperwork and loose items. That way, everything you won’t need to waste precious man hours trying to locate misplaced items.
- Get Hooked On The Blues
Expert color psychologist (yes, that is a thing) Angela Wright says that the color blue encourages focus and productivity. If you can’t paint your office walls blue, try to surround yourself with blue accessories like lamps, paperweights, staplers. etc.
Not into blue? Green has calming effects that can improve productivity as well.
- Keep Things Cool
A study published in 2010 showed that employees’ computer activity peaks at 78F–any colder or warmer and productivity drops. While computer activity is a somewhat crude measure of productivity, the findings of the study are definitely worth considering.
Adjust your office temperature to maximize your productivity. But if you’re a victim of frigid central air conditioning, adjust your clothing accordingly.
Still too cold? Step out of the office and visit your neighborhood office rental space. These spaces are built to provide the ideal ambience for workers of all fields.
- Vincent Van Gogh For It
Artwork has been proven to stimulate creativity and create feelings of calmness. Up the ante in your workplace by installing interesting pieces of art. Bonus: it can serve as an interesting talking point as well.
