The standard design of an office space has drastically changed over the years. What once was the norm for a myriad of offices can now be considered a rarity. These shifts in design standards go hand in hand with growing evidence of the connection between office design and workers’ productivity.
There are several design elements of your office that could be negatively affecting your productivity or overall well being at work. Simultaneously, there are also several design tips to keep in mind to improve your office’s impact on your work day.
Bring in natural light.
Office environments without sufficient natural light could harm workers’ productivity and overall health. Employees in offices with windows seem to sleep better and function more efficiently during their work as compared to their counterparts in windowless offices.
If you have no control over the amount of natural light in your work space, you could consider bringing in your own natural or soft light fixtures to offset the harsh, fluorescent office lighting.
Stand up as often as possible.
Sitting in one place for hours on end can be detrimental to your health, leading to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. Unfortunately, most office jobs do involve sitting down in front of a computer screen for up to eight hours a day.
If you do have a more stationary job, you should try to get up and take a walk for a few times during the day. You could take a walk during your lunch break or just make a point to walk around at certain points during your day.
Standing desks are also an increasingly popular way to avoid a sedentary office lifestyle. Standing desks come in various models to accommodate any size or shape office space.
Work from home.
If possible, you might consider working from home to combat the office design elements that slow your productivity. With full control over your home office environment, you can design it so it will be the best fit for your work habits.
Before deciding to work from home, be sure you have the space for a home office. You should consider a private space to maximize productivity. If you have a spare bedroom or other unused area of your home, even your garage, you could add a few finishing touches to create an ideal work environment at home.
If you plan on using your garage as your home office, you could consider adding windows to its door if they are not already present. Not only will more natural light aid your sleep habits and productivity, but your garage’s new windows could spruce up its look a bit too.
Brighten your color scheme.
The color of your office can have a significant impact on your overall mood and your productivity. Bland office colors such as gray or white can leave employees feeling depressed or sluggish. Blue, green and yellow, however, are colors shown to help employees focus and stimulate their creativity.
If you cannot control the color of your office space, consider bringing in some items of these colors to brighten up your work space. If you work from home, you could paint your home office in one of these colors or decorate it using a blue, green or yellow color scheme.
Have a spacial balance.
Striking a balance between open space and closed off offices may be best for employees’ productivity. Though many offices are designed with an open layout today, workers seem to find it more distracting and invasive than collaborative.
It can certainly be difficult to concentrate when you’re hearing your co-workers’ conversations throughout the day. What might be best is to have a balance between an open office layout and private space for employees to work in. If you work in an open office layout, try and create private space in conference rooms or lounges to balance your office design.
An office’s design has a much larger impact on your work day than you might think. Making slight adjustments to your space could improve your overall wellbeing and efficiency.
