Working from home is a goal many office employees strive to achieve. After all, who wouldn’t want the comfort and convenience of never having to leave the house? Unfortunately, a home office environment can prove to be a challenge when it comes to employee productivity and comfort. Space constraints may lead to a lack of dedicated workspace or budget restrictions may cause office furniture options to be limited. All of these things accumulate to cause potential stress and anxiety in the modern-day home office employee, and productivity may suffer as a result.
If you’re finding yourself constantly distracted or stressed while working in your home office, the design of your workspace could be to blame. A recent Kelton Global study found that 92 percent of American workers say that when their physical workspace is lacking, their mental productivity can suffer.
Fortunately, the direct link between the physical workspace and the mental workspace can be connected and improved with a few simple steps.
Clear your clutter
Is your desk buried under a mound of paperwork and office supplies? The same workplace happiness study from Kelton Global found that nearly two-thirds of respondents believe having a cluttered work area would make them unhappy on the job. As the saying goes, a cluttered desk makes a cluttered mind. Take the time once a day or once a week to declutter your workspace. If you’re unsure how to solve your clutter problem, try incorporating filing cabinets for paperwork, and desktop organizers for sorting office supplies. You also can take steps to manage your digital clutter by organizing computer files into folders and deleting any documents you no longer need. When in doubt, think to yourself, “Will I ever need this again?” If the answer is no, throw it out or file it away. Making a habit of killing clutter will help keep both your workstation and your mind refreshed and ready to work.
Create designated workspaces
Sitting in the same place day in and day out poses a negative effect on your productivity when it’s time to get to work. While you may have a dedicated office to work from in your home, it’s best to create separate work areas throughout the house to maximize your efficiency. Try adding a sofa table behind your living room couch or a cozy reading nook in your bedroom. Wherever the breakout space may be, equipping your house with multiple workspaces will allow you to step away from the desk to re-energize and recharge without needing to interrupt your workday. You also may want to consider stepping outside of the home to work somewhere else from time to time. Whether it be outside on your patio or at your local public library, getting out of your comfort zone will bring a fresh perspective that you’ll surely benefit from.
Add active seating
You may have heard that sitting is the new smoking. While the appearance of your physical workspace is hugely important to mental well-being at work, never underestimate the value of an ergonomically-friendly workstation. Sitting in a traditional office chair all day is known to pose serious long-term health risks to office employees. While your kitchen chairs may be comfortable enough for eating meals with the family, we recommend opting for an active seating option when working for hours at a time. Leaning stools, ball chairs and standing desks are all excellent tools for bringing movement back into your work day. Alternatively, investing in a high-quality ergonomic office chair will give your body the support it needs for those times when you really need to sit at your computer and concentrate. Utilizing an ergonomic workstation in your home office will increase blood flow and prevent negative health consequences of a sedentary work life.
Keep your technology up-to-date
Kelton Global’s workplace happiness study also showed that more than one in four American employees find that having to work with outdated technology would lead to their discontent at work. If you’ve been holding off on purchasing that second monitor or putting up with an old version of your most-used computer program, remember that forcing yourself to use outdated technology could be costing you more than you think. If you’re feeling constantly frustrated by out-of-date programs or a lack of supportive workstation technology, make the splurge or nudge your manager to do it for you and back up your claim with the facts to make your argument. Technology that supports your day-to-day work will enable you to function more effectively on the job, saving time and money as a result.
Make your home office a reflection of yourself
Corporate offices are innovating to improve employee happiness and productivity, so shouldn’t your home office do the same? Keep your home workspace as fresh and innovative as you can. Whether you work from home or not, adding touches of your personality to your primary workstation is an ideal way to bring happiness into the space. Frame photos of your family. Add an inspirational quote. Decorate your desk in your favorite color. Whichever way you choose to breathe life into your workstation, make it a reflection of your own personal tastes and you’ll notice the difference. Remember, a happy workspace makes a productive employee. That’s something everyone in your business can enjoy.
Having the ability to work from home is a huge benefit in and of itself, but it comes with unique challenges unfound in a traditional office setting. No matter if you’re experiencing physical discomfort, creative barriers or mental fatigue in your home office, there are simple but ground-breaking changes you can make to change the tide. Increased happiness leads to increased productivity, which is good not only for the employee but for the business as a whole. Remember to switch up your workspace, stay organized, keep comfortable and let your true self shine through in every aspect of your work. A happier, more productive work attitude will follow.
