Whether in an office or working from home, the space you inhabit directly impacts how you feel and think. A cluttered or unorganized office can make it next to impossible to be productive at work, while the right surroundings can make it easy to cross items off your to-do list. Learn more about how design impacts productivity to best use your time at work.
Organization
An organized space makes it easy to find exactly what you need when you need it, so you can spend your time taking care of business instead of searching for a file or notebook. Working in an organized space makes it easy to find items, keep up with tasks, and make the best use of time. From stacking letter trays to rolling organizers, there are all sorts of ways to organize your workspace and eliminate the stress and chaos that come from working in an unorganized office.
Storage is more than filing cabinets and physical folders. Extend organization to your digital files. Unsubscribe from unwanted emails, delete anything unnecessary and create digital folders for important messages. Archive anything that isn’t urgent but may be handy to keep. Go digital whenever possible and store electronic copies on a cloud storage service.
Avoid Distractions
Open office environments increase communication and collaboration, which is conducive to a constructive work atmosphere. A lack of walls can make it hard to focus, especially in a bustling environment. When possible, position your monitor or laptop screen so you are not facing a busy area. Constantly seeing people walk by can be distracting, and coworkers passing by may stop to chat if they happen to make eye contact. Dividers are another option to define individual work areas while maintaining an open space. Eliminating visual distractions can help you focus on your work.
Find a quiet space when working from home. Working at a kitchen or dining room table will likely put you in the middle of all the household activity. While a separate home office with a door may not be possible, consider using a guest room or bedroom as a work area so you can have dedicated, uninterrupted time to work.
Decorate Your Space
Decorating your workspace will help you relax, focus, and take care of your work. Selecting a decorative cup to hold pens or a trash can may not seem like a big deal, but you routinely look at these items, so make sure you enjoy them. Choose lamps or organization products that match your style while providing function for a cohesive look. Hang art prints or photos you love. Add a few small trinkets so you can introduce your aesthetic.
Plants are a great way to decorate an office space while introducing a calming vibe and greenery. Sansevieria are excellent office plants since they are undemanding and adaptable. Also known as snake plants, Sansevieria come in all shapes and sizes; they can live in just about any amount of sunlight and prefer to go for extended periods before getting water. Snake plants are office-friendly, but research your options and select a plant that can handle the available sunlight and humidity in your space, and make sure you are up to the challenge of maintaining a plant.
Get to Work
A thoughtful and well-designed office space will eliminate stress and help you focus on the task at hand. There may be limitations to the actual space, whether working in a busy office or from home, but find creative solutions to eliminate distractions. Creating an organized space with curated items that function or express your aesthetic allows you to be productive.