5 Tips For A Productive Workspace

So much of what you’ll achieve will come from what surrounds you while you work. From having a lucky plant on your desk right through to working in an open-plan with a gorgeous view and feel good vibes, it is so important to create something that puts you in a focused and fruitful mindset.

Whether you work from home or in an office with a team around you, there are a lot of things to consider when setting up this space.

Below are some tips that could come in useful when creating or adapting your work environment so that you can achieve your full potential every single day.

Clean and tidy usually wins

This doesn’t apply to everyone and some very messy workers create amazing things, predominantly artists.

However, in general, a tidy workplace results in a tidy mind and increased productivity. Even the act of tidying is mindful and puts you in a calm yet accomplished mood which is a great start before tackling your big list of tasks ahead.

Once your space is tidy, it becomes much easier to organise your things further and you’ll find that with the cleanliness of your office space, you’ll have cleansed your mind and be able to stay focused without worrying about the dust on the windowsill or the marks on the mirror.

Not only will a clean and tidy workspace lead to a calm and focused you, it’ll have health benefits too. If your desk is filled with dirty food packaging and your computer screen is thick with dust, then it takes no genius to realise that you’ll be more likely to suffer than your neighbour whose desk is immaculate.

Candles of the scented variety

Of course, it’s down to personal preference but often having scented candles around you can add to this focused mindset for work.

Different scents have been proven to help in different ways such as orange or lemon linking to alertness and jasmine calming your nerves. Find the areas in work that you struggle with the most and try out the scents which help this.

Not only do specific scents do various jobs to aid with the traits needed in work, but candles have been proven to improve concentration in general. There’s something about being in a warmed room with dimly lit candles flickering around you that sparks creativity and helps you concentrate.

As little distractions as possible

Keep your office space like a modern house design – spacious and scarce of clutter. This is how your mind should be in the best state to concentrate but it’ll also allow for less distraction.

On a physical level you can reduce distraction in your workspace by thinking carefully about your furniture, how spacious it is, the lighting, the colours of the walls and the comfort of your chair.

You can also think about reducing electronic distractors such as mobile phones. Put your phone away and give yourself breaks to check notifications. Organise your time in blocks in your diary so you’re clear about when you’re meant to be productive and when you can relax.

Eventually you’ll notice that the periods you spend working have become more productive and the free time that you’ve gained has increased and is more enjoyable.

Coffee

Many people feel that coffee is a necessity for getting up and doing anything every day let alone producing good work. In small measures there are a lot of great benefits of the caffeinated beverage. Caffeine is known to increase alertness and performance  and the speed at which you learn.

There is also a comforting and relaxing gain from consuming a warm beverage while you work or study so even if coffee isn’t your favourite, try tea or maybe even a hot vimto.

So, continue to set a space for your placemat and cuppa beside your computer as it does help in many ways.

An office with a view

An office with a view is always nice but has its enhancements to your work ethic too. Looking out of your window at a lovely open landscape, or if you’re lucky enough perhaps the sea, will spark new ideas and give you inspiration. It’ll also make you happy and more willing to work than if you were sat in a darker room staring at a wall.

Research has shown that not only does having greenery within your office space reduce stress, but having a natural landscape for a view has this effect too.

Some of us aren’t lucky enough to have a natural landscape for a view, but even a few seconds where your eyes glance away from the screen to the world outside can recharge your mind.

Harriet Mills is an English Literature and Creative Writing graduate based at her hometown near Cambridge. She is an aspiring writer interested in features and travel writing. She is keen to pursue copywriting as a career as well as maintaining her position as a freelance writer. For more of her story check out her personal website.

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