Planning for a home office isn’t a one-sense task. Sure, it’s vital to realize the way you arrange the layout of your home office is important – the value of how everything around you fits together and energizes you to do good work can’t be overstated. But an equally important aspect of office space planning is how everything you DON’T see functions. Smells, sounds, and the very air you breathe can affect your productivity. Good office designers take these elements into account when starting from scratch. Still, even if you’re “stuck” with an undesirable space, you can take action to maximize it aromatically and otherwise.
When life gives you lemons, repurpose those lemons into a scented candle or air freshener. Yes, the fresh lemon scent will make a difference in your work. Lemons contain antiviral and antibacterial properties, and the smell of a lemon has been proved to boost productivity in the workplace. If you – for some reason – abhor lemon, make sure to vivify your office with some scent that does work for you. Not only will you appreciate it, but any visitors you have will as well.
Clean the vents. This is more associated with the now infamous Sick-Building Syndrome (SBS), but poor ventilation in your home may cause you to get sick and throw a monkey wrench into your plans. Take some time out to wipe those dust bunnies away – your larynx will thank you later.
Freshen your bathrooms. To go along with the last point – kill air-born toxins at the source. Don’t let a filthy bathroom from down the hall derail your feng shui. Plus a dirty bathroom is just gross.
Eliminate unnecessary noise. If that means shutting your door, do so. If it means moving your office down the hall away from a busy area – definitely consider it. If it means buying noise-cancelling headphones and stowing yourself away in a silent dungeon – that might be a step too far, but you get the point. Distracting noises and chatter will only deter you from good work. Make your office a place of tranquility in which you can thrive.
Open up the windows. This should be an obvious one – natural light gives you a supercharge of energy. And opening a window has the added bonus of allowing for some fresh air to seep into your workspace. If your office doesn’t have a window, or if the cold precludes you from taking advantage of it – it may be wise to invest in some natural-light bulbs. It’s a small expense that could pay big dividends down the line.
