Office Environments – 5 Ways Your Office Space Affects Your Productivity

Being healthy, comfortable, and happy in your workspace is essential to your performance. That’s why office space design should be a major concern for any organization – it impacts productivity. It is also something you should be mindful of when setting up an office space at home as well.

Small differences in the design of an office can impact the health and wellbeing of its occupants as well, so it’s important to be aware of the different ways in which office space can affect productivity. Here are a few examples: 

Combating Isolation 

Private offices have long been a staple feature in the modern workplace. However, they can lead to a certain level of isolation that prohibits collaboration and productivity.  

That’s why coworking has become so popular among entrepreneurs and large enterprises alike. Even university students are looking into it as there are many benefits to having individuals from different organizations share a working space. 

With serviced offices, companies get to share the administration services, use of equipment, utilities, and even parcel acceptance services. 

A lot of coworking spaces have both common areas and private offices, and their month-by-month contracts offer great flexibility. Plus, you have regular opportunities to sit in a professional environment and network and collaborate with others. 

Dealing with Distractions

The modern, open-plan office is great for collaboration and breaking down hierarchies that can otherwise stop the flow of ideas in a workplace. However, this design can also make it difficult to concentrate and be productive. 

You simply can’t concentrate and get things done if there are constant interruptions from people stopping by to chat or engaging in conversations a few desks away. 

That’s why it’s important to provide spaces for quiet work so that employees can do deep, creative complex tasks with complete focus and no interruptions. This sense of solitude can improve productivity by allowing the person to get into a flow state. This highly productive state is not easy to access under normal conditions.

Improving Air Quality 

There’s a difference between office environments that simply avoid being harmful and those that actively encourage health and wellbeing while stimulating productivity.  Air quality plays a huge role in this, and studies show that better air quality can result in an 8 to 10% increase in productivity. 

Proximity to windows can significantly improve productivity, especially if the view offers a connection to nature. Aroma diffusers with refreshing scents like mint and pine can also promote clarity and focus. 

Upgrading Ergonomics

Ergonomics is the science and study of fitting the workplace to the individual, making workers more comfortable on the job. There are ways to tailor any office space for better ergonomics, curtailing injuries that develop from long-term low-grade strain. 

If the first thing that came to your mind was ergonomic chairs, unfortunately, this is not enough to prevent injuries like back and neck pain. Movement and exercise are essential to office ergonomics, and additions such as laptop stands, sit-stand desks, and adjustable chairs can help with that. 

Also, a spacious layout and an open floor plan can significantly improve activity levels compared to a cubicle and a private office. This leads to lower psychological stress and more activity because, in an open plan layout, workers have little choice but to move around more to reach the areas, tools, and resources they need.

Clearing Clutter 

A cluttered office can make it difficult to focus and be productive. Luckily, all it takes to keep your working environment clean and minimal is to make sure that everything has its own place. Books, cables, mics – everything should have a designated spot to keep things from getting cluttered. 

A good environment can do wonders for focus and morale, helping to optimize your team’s potential through better productivity.  

Photo by Mimi Thian on Unsplash

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