Offices have seen a great change in the past year, with the pandemic changing the definition of workspaces. Now with relaxed covid restrictions all around, two-thirds of all working Australians have chosen to work from home, according to a report by AIFS. Whether companies provide this option or not, it is important to have one’s workspace. It can be a home office setup or a desk at work, but workspaces need to be optimised to boost productivity and increase efficiency. This includes various factors, from lighting to layouts. The use of ergonomic office chairs in Australia has increased the comfortability of office desks. Here are some more tips on optimising workspaces both at the office and at home.
The layout isn’t that important
The physical dimensions or positioning of the space is not as significant as one may think. The idea is to focus on improving productivity. Being aware of the company culture and sharing collective excitement about it with one’s colleagues is a great way to do this. The workspace can be optimised to this effect. The technology and other equipment on the desk can only get work done if the person is motivated.
Allow movement
It is common to hit a productivity wall after working continuously for a long while. This cannot be solved by fixating on the issue and trying over and over again. Such situations require taking a break. Quick breaks at short intervals are recommended when tackling hard to do tasks or unsolvable issues. Having a short walk or being able to stretch one’s legs during this break is a bare necessity. Having a sit to stand desk has been a great way of improving movement. Movement can also be associated with tasks like getting water or using the copy machine.
Cleanliness
While this is a basic thing that most people would be aware of, it is overlooked very often. The number of messy office spaces and desks is more than one thinks. Time can even be lost thinking about cleaning the space up if it is messy. One should understand that cleaning the space or desk is not a one-time thing. It would have to be done daily. However, the upside is that daily cleaning and organisation ensure that it only takes a few minutes. Having clutter-free office furniture that suits the workflow is also important. The earlier mentioned use of ergonomic office chairs in Australia has also been effective in that manner.
Plants
Plants are proven to have a positive effect on workspaces. Other than providing aesthetic pictures for one’s social media feed, plants make the workspace feel alive. While this optimisation method is not that traditional, scientific studies have shown that plants can reduce stress, thereby increasing efficiency at work.
Restrict Gadgets
Tablets and other gadgets might help in organisation and efficiency in other spheres of life. However, they can be a very big distraction when one is trying to zone in on their work. With modern apps becoming more and more addictive, screens need to be categorised. A separation between “home” and “office” gadgets would be optimal. Keeping separate accounts and restricting content is the main idea behind doing this. “Home” devices can be kept in a drawer, preferably silent, to minimise distractions.
A workspace is meant to be one’s personal space to some extent. One should always optimise it to their taste.
