How to Create a Productive Workspace
Whether you’re in school, university, or the workplace, creating a productive workspace can be crucial to achieving the results you’re striving for. In the UK, procrastination costs businesses approximately £76 billion each year. I am the queen of procrastination and very easily distracted, so I have to be honest and say I am not surprised at this.
When I am blogging at home, I have tried to minimise this by creating a productive workspace. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to learn new skills or use old ones; being in the right environment can go a long way towards completing your objective.
Here, we look at some different ways of creating a productive workspace.
Make It Personal
A few home comforts and personal touches can go a long way toward increasing your productivity. Family photos and postcards of your favourite quotes are great visuals that can help get your creative juices flowing. If you have wall space, maybe hang a pinboard so these items don’t clutter up your desk.
Add Greenery When Creating a Productive Workspace
Photo by Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash
Studies have shown that garden plants in your workspace can offer a host of benefits. Flowering plants are great ways to increase concentration levels and lower the sensation of stress. Ferns clean our air space, while the snake plant also removes toxins. Succulents such as cactus are also useful additions to your space for decoration purposes as they don’t take a lot of care.
Let There Be Light
Nowadays, a lot of our work or studies are conducted on a computer. Natural light is a fantastic way to counteract any effects of sitting in front of an artificially-lit computer screen. It is also known to enhance our mood by increasing our happiness. This is because natural sunlight is a great source of vitamin D. Without this, some people experience seasonal affective disorder. By being exposed to natural sunlight, you will also have a sense of contentment thanks to vitamin D production.
It is suggested that a brightly lit room can encourage a critical and analytical thought process.
Stay Organised
Clutter is a major downfall if you’re trying to be productive. It’s not a coincidence that a clear desk can represent a clear mind. By ensuring that your workspace is free of unnecessary distractions, you are more likely to remain focused on the task at hand. You can do this by having a bin within reach, setting up a physical inbox for your papers, and scheduling regular cleaning times.
Be Colourful When Creating a Productive Workspace
Photo by Emma Matthews on Unsplash
Did you know the colour of your workspace can make a big difference? Apparently, red has been linked to boosting alertness. Blue can help us develop ideas and keep us focused, while green helps us avoid eye fatigue and stay efficient. If you want to keep stress levels to a minimum, you should look to include white or beige, as this can have a calming effect.
Choose Sounds To Suit You
I prefer to work in silence at home, but I know other people like some background noise. Everyone benefits in their own way. Either way, a good set of headphones could be the ideal solution as they can either block out the tones around you or provide the tunes/podcasts best suited to keeping you productive.
Why not try classical music? Italian researchers found that this genre can significantly enhance your working memory performance. Simultaneously, research in the Journal of Consumer Research also found that a moderate level of ambient noise can benefit our creative senses.
Of course, there isn’t just one solution to an optimum workspace. In the end, each of us learns differently, but by following the above steps, you will set yourself up nicely to succeed in your end goal and boost your productivity levels.
Comments
Really good points and ideas, thank you. Getting the lighting right is often overlooked, but I find it’s really important.
Very interesting, having worked from a home office you can be easily distracted, but routine and a dedicated working space is a must.