The typical home office is usually the smallest room in the house. It is often used for different activities, which means there is just lots of stuff laying around, much of it you don’t even know what it is anymore. Messy desk makes doing any job that has to be done much harder that in should be. Studies prove a huge influence of workspace layout on your creative output and productivity. However, if you work from home you face distractions and challenges that traditional office workers don’t, and it may be harder to keep your desk and office space nice and organized. With these 4 simple steps you will be able to design a workplace that works for you.
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Make it your own
If you work from your home your work area should feel like home. We are not saying you should wallpaper the area floor to ceiling with cute cat posters, but couple of photographs, a plant or few playful accessories will not only make work feel less lie a chore, it will also boost your productivity. A study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology in 2000, revealed that people who personalize work space enjoy work more, work harder and they have a better sense of all-round wellbeing.
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Declutter
When we said add few accessories, we meant just a few. The collection of travel snow globes should remain in the closet. But how to rescue yourself from clutter? Firstly, go cordless. With Wi-Fi technology advancing it is now easier than ever to use wireless functions on your appliances, from connecting a printer to your PC, to charging your phone. Any cords that you do use should be kept neatly coiled. Plastic zip ties and rubber bands are great for this. Next, for every item on your desk you should ask yourself: “How often do I use this?” Desk space is limited, so you want to save it for objects that you use daily. Anything else should go in drawers or labeled boxes. If you have problem dealing with all the papers and files on your desk, try left to right method for desk workflow. Keep an “IN” box on the right of your desk, and an “OUT” box on the left. As you work your way through what you have to do for the day, transfer the documents to the left side. This will keep the middle of your desk clear and will also give you a visual status report.
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Spend more on your chair that on your desk
Think of your chair as a health investment, especially if you are spending many hours of the day at your desk. A bad chair and bad posture can wreak havoc on your spine. Me sure that chair that you buy has adjustable height and lumbar support. You need support to maintain that curve and relieve stress from your spine. Your eye line should be about three inches above the top of your monitor. Place your keyboard directly in front of you. Your elbows should band at roughly 90 degrees while typing
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Pay attention to your lighting
Fluorescent lights are a thing of the past. Studies have shown that a lot of artificial or harsh light in a work place can cause intense feelings of annoyance and stress. Aim for as much natural light as you can get. It will lower you anxiety and sun light will give you that dose of daily vitamin D requirement. If this is not an option, for example, if you home office is in you basement, you can take advantage of the sunlight desk lamps that are available. It’s not natural light but it’s the closest thing to it.
To recap, if you want to optimize your workspace and get more productive and creative you need personalize to raise moral and get creative juices flowing, declutter your desk space to keep stress levels low and invest in a good chair for good ergonomics. Finally, pay special attention to your desk lighting and get rid of fluorescent light bulbs.
