So many of us work in a less-than-ideal workspace. You may be sitting in a sterile white, gray or beige cubicle. Or you have an office without windows and a lot of old-fashioned dark brown furniture. Maybe you don’t have the luxury of either and instead sit in an open floor plan. Let’s face it: if you don’t feel comfortable in your work area, you won’t produce your best work. Time to change that.
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There are a lot of easy hacks you can do to improve your workspace and make it more amenable to you and your work style.
Office supplies. Let’s start small. Is everything that you need on a daily or weekly basis easily accessible? If not, find a way to make it so. You might need a document holder or a file cabinet to hold what you need if they are taking up precious space on your desk. If you have Post-its, notepads, pens and a stapler among other things scattered around your desk, think about how you’d like to contain them. You can use a plastic supply holder or put them together in a drawer so you know where to easily find them. Pens and pencils or notepads that you use every day can stay on your desk but you should give them their own space.
Seating. It’s puzzling why not all office chairs are comfortable. After all, you typically sit in them for 40 or more hours per week! If yours is hurting your back or simply unbearable, talk with your office manager about getting a new one. Also consider the direction you’re facing. Most people are most comfortable sitting so their backs are not exposed to people walking by. Try to sit so that your side is facing the entry of your workspace rather than your back.
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Clean out. Before we go on, you must clean out your workspace. Toss and shred papers. Get rid of pens that haven’t worked since last year. Then wipe everything down so everything looks shiny and new. This will help you better visualize your ideal space. You may even want to take a look online for some office design ideas.
Take a color inventory. Maybe it feels like you’re in a hospital or in a cubicle from the movie “Office Space.” The time for color changes has come! What colors do you surround yourself in at home? What colors make you feel calm or productive? Strong shades of blue, yellow and green are stimulating, while pale shades of the same colors are said to increase creativity, productivity and produce a calming effect.
Photos, artwork and plants. Those who personalize their workspace are usually more satisfied with their jobs. Create a space that tells your story. Use paintings, photos or other artwork that inspires you in some way. Try using a plant or two in your space. Research shows that the presence of nature or even images of it can restore cognitive performance. Comfort levels with your colleagues may increase when you personalize your space in such a way, because humans are inherently more comfortable with others when they feel they understand them better.
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Lighting. Some of the worst lighting around can be found in offices. Asking for a lamp or even bringing in a nice-looking one of your own can make all the difference. Not only will it look pleasant, but the right bulb can really improve the visual appeal of your office space as well as visibility of your work!
Creature comforts. If you have a lot of activity going on around you during the day and you work best in a quiet environment, invest in noise-canceling headphones. If all types of music distract you while working, try listening to white noise. Is it always cold in your office? Don’t use your awful old pilling black cardigan to stay warm. Find a sweater or scarf that you absolutely love and is super comfortable and keep it at work. Alternatively, if it’s always warm, bring a small fan from home to cool off during the day.
While you cannot change everything about your workspace, you can make it more suited to you. Taking control of your environment will likely cause you to be more satisfied with your job, which will increase your performance. So what are you waiting for? Make your space your own.
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How to Enhance Your Workspace originally appeared on usnews.com
