How to Design the Most Productive Office

by Michael D. small business marketing consultancy

Humans are fast becoming increasingly sedentary beings. Desk jobs are becoming the norm, and manual labor a thing of the past. With so many advancements in the world of technology, we have found hundreds of ways to make our lives easier, as well as more productive.

As we spend so much time in the office, most likely sitting, we have also started to hack office productivity, and have come up with the key features every office needs to have, if it hopes to foster motivation and inspire the people who work in it to achieve more. Here are the basic elements of a productive office:

Light

Lighting has a strong effect on how we feel, so working in a well-lit room is a must. Corporate offices don’t always offer natural light, in which case you can turn to quality light bulbs, or even a light therapy lamp. Working in the semi-dark can cause eye strain and headaches, and will not do much for your motivation levels, so keeping things bright is the first step to take.

Air

Poor air quality in the office is having a serious impact on the number of sick days employees are taking, which makes it vital to start focusing on it more. The best way to do it is to open windows often, but if there are no windows, or if they look out on a polluted street, the best choice is to invest in air filters. Having several plants around the office will also not only improve air quality, it will also lift the overall mood in the office.

Equipment

Since you are spending so much time glued to a screen, you need to make sure you are the most comfortable you can be. First of all, investing in a good quality chair is a must. The height of it should be adjusted to the desk. You can also use pillows and buy a feet rest if you feel you need one.

Your electronics also play a very important role. Find a screen that works well with the size of your desk and the distance of your chair. You will be surprised how much these seemingly little things help.

Clutter

A cluttered environment will not help your focus. It is true that some people work better in an “untidy” environment, but clutter in general is a killer for productivity. Set aside a few minutes each day to tidy up around your area of work – take out the trash, make sure you don’t leave any dirty dishes behind, get rid of used notes and do a bit of dusting.

Noise

Noise can be a huge distraction for some, while others can work no matter what is going on around them. If you are among the former, finding some noise cancelling headphones and playing some white noise in the background can do the trick. You can also play actual music, but don’t go for your favorite playlist – it will not help you concentrate.

Temperature

There are many different schools of thought when in come to the right temperature in an office. In reality, the best motto would be to find a temperature that helps all the occupants feel productive, whatever it may be. If you work with several people in the same space, try to organize the office distribution so that people with similar preferences share a space – not just when it comes to the temperature, but in terms of noise, lighting and colors as well.

Colors

Colors have a huge impact on our moods and productivity levels. While green is said to be calming, and red to inspire aggression, blue is a color often associated with productivity. That does not mean you should paint the entire office blue – details in blue tones can do the trick. Like with everything else, different people will have different preferences, so making sure you talk to the people you work with will help all of you find the best solution.

Refreshments

Finally, what you do when you are not working is equally important – so having healthy snacks and drinks readily available can do a lot for productivity levels in any office. Make sure these choices are not full of sugar and caffeine. They will provide an instant boost, but as it wears off, productivity levels will plummet.