Focus Group: 4 Under-the-Radar Office Design Tweaks to Boost Your WFH Productivity

Published February 23rd, 2021

Are you catching yourself daydreaming during office hours or zoning out between Zoom calls? Stop and look around, LIV Fam—your surroundings can have a big impact on your quality of work. 

WFH culture continues to reign supreme, with many of us still working on laptops from any available surface, jumping on virtual team meetings, and shuffling children off to online school sessions. Juggling all this in one space can easily lead to distractions and make it difficult to focus.

Luckily we have some easy ways to organize your workspace for optimal productivity. You’ll be knocking tasks off your to-do list in no time—and your space will get a mini-makeover to boot.

1. Deliberate Decluttering 

The first tenet of a productive workspace: Keep it clean. Instead of spending hours on a major overhaul and reorganization of a messy home office once every month, make it a 2021 goal to hone in on your inner Marie Kondo and declutter your workspace daily. This means a quick and easy 10-minute sweep at the beginning and end of your day. Recycle any old papers and forgotten receipts, clear away any lunchtime debris, and stack everything in spots where you know you will be able to find them. Keep surface cleaner and towels on hand to do a quick polishing of your desk. Anything you can clear away and organize in your physical space will work wonders for your focus and productivity.

Decluttering also includes noise. When choosing an office space, designate a spot in your home that minimizes noise and foot traffic from family or roommates and reserve it for the sole purpose of working—no texting, watching Youtube videos, or eating dinner at your desk! That way when you are in this space, your mind will start to quickly associate it with getting your office tasks completed. 

2. Comfort Matters

This one might seem like a no-brainer, but picking out the right office furniture to ensure your body is comfortable and supported is essential to your mental and physical wellbeing. Think about it: many of us spend most of our day sitting at our desks, so we’d do well to make sure our bodies are aligned correctly to avoid strain or even injury. Let’s keep those wrists, back, and eyes at peak performance.

The Mayo Clinic states you should choose a padded chair that supports your back and allows your feet to rest flat on the ground. Keeping your computer level with your eyes and arm’s length away from your body is important to minimize curving your back and hunching your neck towards a screen. 

If you find yourself experiencing eye strain or excessive headaches from staring at a computer screen, try blue light glasses. These protective lenses block harmful UV lighting from screens and minimize eye strain.

3. Live Your Life in Full Color 

Studies show that color affects our actions, moods, decision-making processes, and even our performance. In fact, there’s a whole field of study called “color psychology”.

Look around your space and think about how the tones and hues make you feel, and then use these guidelines to see if you can switch up the color around you depending on what your goals are. There is extensive research on the subject, but to keep it short and sweet, here are some quick tips for adding color to your workspace:

• Blue works for clarity of mind and meditation
• Green creates a sense of calming and balance 
• Yellow boosts creativity and feelings of happiness and optimism
• White and cream tones can open up a space and promote an uplifting mood

 

4. Add a Natural Touch

We discussed the health benefits of bringing the outdoors inside in a previous article, and bringing the outdoors into your workspace is no exception. In fact, it can help you feel your best mentally and physically, supporting maximum productivity at work. 

It’s proven that artificial lighting can not only dampen your mood but also strain your eyes and increase stress—all very much the opposite of the ideal workspace for productivity. If you can, try moving your desk near a window or adding some warm light desk lamps instead of using overhead lighting. 

In addition, get some fresh air. Long periods of breathing stagnant air are proven to negatively impact your mood, oxygen quality, and energy levels. Fresh air actually helps send oxygen through your bloodstream and allows you to fully expand your lungs. 

Try bringing plants into your office space, not only for the aesthetic boost, but because they naturally produce oxygen. And, if you can’t open a window for fresh air, make it a point to take short five-minute breaks to walk around outside your home or office building. You’ll be happy you did.

If you’re looking for an inner boost to complement your workspace transformation, try Energy Multiplier to maximize your WFH energy without the ups and downs of coffee. 

By giving your workspace a makeover with these design ideas, and giving your brain a makeover with these new habits, you’ll be doing your WFH mentality a huge favor.  Keeping your office clutter-free with the right furniture and optimal aesthetics can support increased energy levels, better physical health, and a fresh outlook that is certain to supercharge your productivity and keep you performing at your best year-round.