Whether you are setting up an office in town or dedicating a part of your home to an office, your work environment will be crucial to your productivity, happiness and overall success. If you are setting up a new office, you can decorate your office over time, but it’s important to get the basics right from the start. And if your present current office consists of hand-me-downs and boring furniture dating from the previous millennium and is making you miserable, then you are due for a totally fresh start! Here’s how to make the most productive use of your office space and turn it into a functional and healthy environment.
Determine your needs and create a space that is right for you
Some people need complete silence and Zen-like serenity in order to concentrate on their work, while others work best in a vibrant atmosphere that exudes high energy. If you are easily distracted, make sure that you have some privacy at your work station. If you have to interact with colleagues while working, a screen or wall divider might be a good option. Make sure that your office furniture is adjustable to your height and body measurements. Have the right tools for the jobs you perform. For example, if you spend a lot of time on the telephone in your job function, invest in a hands-free headset. For a more personalised space, bring something in your favourite colour into your office space and maybe a special photo; remember not to overdo it as these items will end up cluttering your desk.
An ergonomically correct workspace
Ergonomics is the study of the relationship between humans and the equipment and devices they use in order to promote optimum health and wellbeing. Do your own ergonomic assessment by bearing the following points in mind:
Desk and chair
Both your desk and chair need to be adjusted to your body for optimum comfort. Invest in a high-back chair that supports both your lower back and your shoulders. Consider having a balance ball in addition to your office chair – it is great for a more dynamic posture and flexing your muscles while you are sitting, because your body responds to the instability of the ball to remain balanced. Make your office an active space: move from sitting to standing and back, and from the chair to the balance ball – this promotes greater circulation
Keyboard and monitor
Your keyboard should be positioned so that your wrists remain in a natural position, i.e., slightly lower than your elbows. Consider getting a mouse pad with gel cushioned wrist support for extra comfort and to relieve wrist strain. Your monitor should be level with your eyes or slightly lower, and at a comfortable reading distance, about arm’s length away.
Good lighting
Lighting in any office should aim to maintain alertness. Natural light is best – studies have shown that natural light can reduce stress and fatigue – but if this is not an option, choose lights for their brightness and the way it’s distributed around the room. Use a desk lamp or a task light to illuminate your work station to create a focal area of light. Position your monitor so as to minimise glare – the best position is at a right angle to light sources.
A sense of wellbeing
There are many ways in which you can make your office space a more creative and welcoming environment without spending a fortune. Plants are great, but it is important that they are flourishing and are not neglected; otherwise they will have the opposite effect. If you are not the type of person who can commit to long-term plant care, bring a few fresh flowers into your office space from time to time.
Some personal items, and objects that are playful or humorous, will inject energy and creativity into your work environment. What about white board or drawing board for drawing a mind map of what you are working on? Try to keep it fresh and change your setting frequently. Ideally, when you arrive at your office in the morning, whether it is after a commute across town or from across the hallway, you should be inspired. You should instinctively think: “Wow, what a cool place – I want to work here!”
Need Help?
If you would like to learn how to increase your personal and business productivity by working smarter not harder, then take action NOW! Contact Wendy on 0407 967715 Email; we***@or*************.au
About Wendy
Wendy helps business owners and their teams to implement high impact systems to supercharge their personal and business efficiency. With her experience in developing procedures and business process training, Wendy now applies strategies to clients’ individual situations, including systemising their business. By taking away the overwhelm and complexity, Wendy teaches a more practical and straight forward process adapted to the modern day workplace, achieving outstanding results.
