9 Ways to Create a Workspace That Enhances Your Productivity

Whether you’re working from home or in an office, it’s important to feel comfortable at your workspace. Space can be tight and distractions may be plentiful, but a comfortable and inviting office increases productivity and efficiency in addition to boosting your moral.

Here are seven comfort tips to help make your office space more comfortable and transform your workplace into a better place to work, and enhance your productivity.

1. Mind the furniture. 

Of course, the most important thing for being comfortable at the workplace is having a proper chair and a proper desk. There are a few things you should consider before purchasing these items.

A good chair should have armrests. The armrests should be low enough for your shoulders to stay relaxed, for your elbow to bend at a 90 degree angle and for your feet flat and firm on the floor.

The desk is just as important as the chair. So when you go shopping for a new desk or if you decide to make a custom one, you should ensure that the desk is the ideal height. You can, of course, adjust the height of your seat but it’s best to decide these things beforehand.

2. See the light.

Ideally, a workspace should have lots of windows and natural light. Why? The sun boosts your mood and makes you more productive. However, since that’s not always possible, you should get adequate artificial lighting in the workspace to facilitate reading, writing and other activities.

3. Take your temperature.

The temperature in your office is also very important. If it’s too hot, it will affect your concentration and if it’s too cold, it affects your productivity. You need to be able to regulate the temperature in your space in spite of the temperature outside.

There are ways to reduce the cost of running an air conditioner if that is a concern. You can also get a portable heater.

4. Pimp your space.

It’s difficult to say how the ideal office interior should look like. The general belief is that it should be somewhere between a home and an office, that it should feel cozy and inviting but it should also be functional and efficient.

This way it will feel more welcoming there and you’ll be more inspired when working. For that, you can try having an inspirational poster. It will boost your mood and productivity.

You can also display a few personal photos, perhaps ones that rouse great memories. Get a cork board on which to display both decorative and practical elements. Pick a rug that cheers up the room. Combine the coziness of a home with the functionality of a workspace. The possibilities are endless.

5. Stay organized.

There is nothing worse than a disorganized work space. This can obstruct your ability to get your work done, reduce your productivity, no matter the kind of business strategy you employ, and cut back on your overall level of comfort.

Only include on the desk the elements you really need and make sure they are easily reachable. Don’t clutter your workspace with decorative items. Instead, display them on the wall in front of your desk where you can see them.

6. Get those wires under control.

I think we can all agree that wires can get out of control fast and it’s so annoying. So try to find a way to organize them. A simple solution can be to tie them up under the desk.

Or you could just get rid of all the cables that might disturb you while working. You can tape them to the side of the desk or find a more creative way to organize them. You can turn your cords into artwork.

7. Use the right tools.

If you spend all of your time at the computer, then a quality keyboard and mouse designed to make you more comfortable is basically a necessity. Ergonomic and natural keyboards are designed to fit the natural position from which people normally type. It removes a lot of the strain on your wrists and fingers.

8. Create a break room.

Creating a break room is as simple as cleaning up an area and adding things such as a refrigerator, microwave, tables and seats. If you really want to get creative, put a television in the break room. As long as you (and your staff) don’t abuse the privilege, this is a great way to provide a more comfortable work space.

9. Listen to music.

Find out what type of music helps you work the best. When doing repetitive work like answering emails, voice messages and filing, a good mix of upbeat music (or slow music...whichever works best) is great.

You could use the music player on your phone, connect it to a speaker or earphones or get a music player. A little exploration on iTunes can help you out a great deal.

Nwazor, Toby. “9 Ways to Create a Workspace That Enhances Your Productivity.” Entrepreneur, 1 Aug. 2016, www.entrepreneur.com/article/279247.