Environment plays a role in productivity. There’s always the “Monday blues” where a person dreads going to work, but add in a dark, gloomy office, and Monday can quickly become the least productive day of the week.
But if the environment is brightly lit, inviting and has interior design concepts integrated that purposely focus on productivity, the worker may actually want to walk into the office every day.
A more productive workspace can start with these design tips:
1. Lighting Is the Key to Productivity
Walking into a dimly lit office is not conducive to a productive day. Brightly lit rooms have been shown to boost energy and reduce eye strain. Maximizing natural light is ideal, so if there are blinds, open them up and allow light to shine into the room.
Sheer window treatments are best.
Bright lightbulbs can be used when a person has no control over the natural light in the space. Lighting, especially natural light, has been found to increase energy in one study from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.
An additional study found that skylights helped to increase sales by 40%.
2. Add Nature to the Room
Work is intense, and for a lot of workers, stress is a major part of life. Adding nature into the office strategically can help increase productivity while also encouraging a stress-free environment.
Greenery, such as plants, will increase your mood, but don’t take my word for it.
Scientists have found that plants can help reduce stress and anxiety. One study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology confirms that plants impact stress and anxiety levels. The participants that smelled and touched plants found that psychological and physiological stress levels declined.
The reason?
“Outdoorphins.” These microbes are found in the soil, and they trigger the body to release cytokines which help the brain produce serotonin.
Plants also help:
- Improve air quality
- Enhance cognitive skills
- Help injuries heal faster
If you don’t have plants in the office, it’s time to add them to the space.
3. Lean Towards Minimalism in the Office
Walking into a surveyor’s office with clutter all over the floor and barely space for a person to sit down made me wonder how the owner was able to get any work done throughout the day. Minimalism is in, and it’s not just a trend.
Workspaces that are simple and minimalistic help the person get into the groove faster.
Clutter makes it more difficult to find paperwork, get the day started and stay organized. Offices should have ample storage space, but desks should have just the minimal number of items to get the job done properly.
Organizing a workspace will increase productivity.
Cabinets, drawers and other pieces of furniture can be used to store stationery and items that are not used frequently. You’ll also want to take a tip out of the offices of some of the world’s Fortune 500 companies.
One corner of the room can be a “happy corner” where there are bean bags, games or items that the employee can turn to when they have a mental block or need to take a break from work.
A little downtime can actually increase productivity for the rest of the day.
