It’s time to transition your office into a productive workspace
Usually when we think of strategies to boost workplace productivity, we think of reducing hours, introducing hybrid work models, or other proven techniques. However, one thing that is often forgotten about is the fact that your office itself can also be a powerful tool in fostering success for yourself and your team. In today’s blog, we’re going to be breaking down everything you need to know to build the perfect workspace. Let’s get into it.
Comfort is Key
We’ve all heard the famous saying that “we spend one third of our entire lifetime working.” With that in mind, it is incredibly important that you put comfort at the highest priority when building your office space. Using ergonomic furniture, like height adjustable tables, has proven to benefit our health by reducing stress and lessening muscle fatigue, thus immediately improving our productivity.
Another way to start building a comfortable office is by providing your team with “silent spaces” to get work done in some peace and quiet, or offering a functional kitchen with tasty snacks and treats.
Last but not least, cleanliness and temperature are crucial to comfort. Maintaining focus is necessary to get tasks done, and nobody can do that if they’re cluttered or freezing! If you’re looking to make your office more comfortable for your team, contact us today and we can help you get started. We have all of the tools and solutions you need to bring your office design ideas to life.
Improve The Lighting, Air, and Movement
Improper lighting is a major cause of headaches and eye strain in the workplace, and these things can lead to stress, anxiety, and a host of other issues that can reduce your teams productivity. One of the easiest and simple ways to improve your office lighting is to provide access to natural light. Natural lighting is bright, provides vitamin D, and it’s free - so roll those curtains up!
Speaking of windows, open them up while you’re at it! Fresh air is another great way to reduce stress, and it helps circulate air throughout your workplace improving cleanliness. However, we know that everyone is not able to live in weather conditions that provide bright lighting and fresh air all the time. So, on top of making sure your screen isn't too bright to place a strain in your eyes, here are some other ways you can improve the lighting and air in your workplace:
Bring in some fresh plants and spread them around the room
Install air filtration and cleaning systems
Develop green protocols and encourage active cleaning and recycling
Introduce a no-smoking policy, provide fresh air breaks to everyone
Lastly, don’t forget to encourage movement between your team members. When you provide a workspace that allows your team to frequently stand-up and walk around interacting with each other, you will find it will immensely improve your team’s productivity. Even go so far to encourage 5-minute stretching periods throughout the day. Nobody wants to sit down all day staring at a screen, we are humans - not robots!
Introduce Creativity and Personality
Apart from the physical strategies that we have discussed to improve productivity, it’s also very important to remember the mental and emotional tools we have to increase the success of your office as well. Personal and creative touches like family photos, beautiful paintings, or fun accessories can be beneficial to our mental health, as they provide a small escape and emotional connection to the things that matter to us outside of the workplace.
Finally, did you know that you should never paint your office walls white? In a recent study done by the University of Texas, analysts found that out of 3 groups of people working in different coloured rooms, the group working in the white room made the most errors. Not only that, but some colours inspire certain moods, with blue helping creativity and green encouraging innovation. So, if your office is covered in plain white and grey walls, then it’s time to consider cracking open the paint cans!
If you need help transitioning your office into a productive workspace - we are here for you. Contact Transitions today and let’s bring your vision to life and build the workspace of your dreams.
"How Your Office Design Can Boost Productivity" by Andrew Madera-Silva, powered by the Transitions Team.