Facing a productivity rut? Your office space might be the issue. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to change up your office space to improve productivity.
The productivity issue with your current office
Whether you’re facing remote work burnout or acclimatizing to a rowdy in-person office environment, it’s understandable that your office space is causing productivity issues.
If you’re still working from home, you might be facing work from home burnout. That’s because working from home can really take a toll on your productivity and mental health. The line between work and relaxation blurs, which leads to long-lingering sources of stress. To make matters worse, you might be struggling to balance work and home life as these two worlds collide — from cooking up lunch for the kids, to hopping on a Zoom meeting. This constant need to switch roles and multitask creates a high-stress high-distraction environment that could be awful for your productivity.
If you’re transitioning back to an in-person office, you might be facing a whole other set of issues. Gone are the days of morning meditations, post-lunch snoozes, and silent workspaces. Firstly, you’re likely acclimatizing to the loss of comfort associated with working from home. Instead of comfy casual wear, you might be back in a suit 24/7. Additionally, you’re no longer able to control your work environment like you were able to do at home. People might interrupt your work and rowdy chats could distract you. It’s a dynamic environment that could easily disrupt or overwhelm you.
Changing up your at-home office space to improve productivity
How can you change up your at-home workplace to reduce remote work burnout? Here are 3 tips to get you started:
- Set boundaries. Be disciplined in segregating work and relaxation time (yes, that means no checking emails over the weekend unless absolutely necessary.) Segregate your work environment as well — carve out a dedicated space to do work and don’t do it in an environment where you should relax — like your bed.
- Enjoy nature. When you work from home, you tend to spend more time staring at a screen, which increases your exhaustion and the likelihood of burnout. Carve out some time in your day to immerse yourself in nature, resting your eyes and mind.
- Meditate. Meditation is a great way to battle burnout as it promotes relaxation and a calmer state of mind.
Changing up your workplace office space to improve productivity
Here are some ways you can change up your office space to improve your productivity.
- Carve out focus-time for yourself. Whether it’s finding a quieter space/time to work, or having a little sign to inform your colleagues that you’re in a focus-zone, carve out some time for distraction-free work.
- Use technology to your advantage. Try using noise cancellation earphones to drown out office chatter. To boost productivity, try using a handy tool like a Timeqube. It’s a distraction-free timer that indicates the passing of time with a change in color. It’s a quick, convenient way to help you manage your time at work.
- Take a walk. Remember to take some time to clear your mind and relax even when you’re at the workplace.
At the end of the day, productivity is about suiting your needs best. Change up your office space however you need to boost your productivity — and why not get started today?
