There are several factors that can affect your productivity, including your work environment. The space around you can be one of the most influential aspects of the way you feel about your work and the way you conduct yourself. You spend hours at your desk every day, so your workspace needs to be one that is comfortable and clean, while also being a space that inspires and motivates.

Creating a productive workspace is a practical exercise that is reflective of the individual. Here are some tips to help you prepare your personal space for the upcoming New Year.

Minimise The Clutter

Clutter doesn’t only disorganise your desk, it also affects your state of mind. Reducing unnecessary mess around you will help you focus and allow you to pay attention to tasks at hand. Keep the items you need in reach and store the rest in drawers or cupboards.

Create A Structured Filing System

Having a user-friendly and logical filing system not only prevents unnecessary downtime, but also helps you get your job done faster and more effectively. In high pressure situations, there is usually little time to spend searching for files. It should be easy to navigate to exactly what you need, when you need it.

A study conducted by IDC Information and Data on bridging the productivity gap in the IT industry found that employees lose up to 2 hours of work per week searching for documents or other items lost in the clutter of poorly structured filing systems.

Get Some Plants

Plants add some colour to your workspace and they naturally help lift your mood.

Psychologist, Dr Chris Knight conducted a study where employees were monitored in two different environments; one where the office was bare and one where it was filled with plants. The study showed that employees in the office filled with plants thrived and were 15% more productive than their counterparts.

At the same time as being natural mood enhancers, plants also clean the air, creating a fresh space around you. Get a selection of plants you like to liven up your desk and create a mini environment for your enjoyment.

Include Creature Comforts

Your workspace should not be a dreary, boring space. It needs to reflect you and your personality. Bring personal items into your desk area that make you feel happy and create a more relaxed and personalised space. Again, you are spending multiple hours in this space per day, you should feel comfortable – make it your own.

Your creature comforts should also include a comfortable chair. If you are working multiple hours behind the same desk, you need to feel at ease. If your chair isn’t comfortable, bring cushions or neck pillows to work to help create a space of comfort around you.

Resources: https://psycnet.apa.org/; https://www.entrepreneur.com/; https://www.theguardian.com/; https://hbr.org/