Managing Your Business

Whether you are changing a home office or one at a large business, the elements you choose can facilitate or hinder productivity. Before you make a decision, there are a few elements you need to incorporate.

Aim For Ergonomics

When choosing office chairs, an ergonomically designed chair is essential for increasing productivity, but striking the right balance between ergonomics and comfort will prevent workers from becoming too comfortable in their chair. Generally, the chairs you choose should be wide enough to support people of varying sizes. It is generally more comfortable to have a chair with armrests, which can become a problem if you are not investing in larger chairs. Avoid large executive chairs, even for employees in executive positions. These chairs often allow people more freedom to recline in their chair, which is not the best for productivity. Chairs with a mid-back height can provide the appropriate balance of back support and comfort. If the chair has limited reclining capabilities, employees will have a better posture and less pain from sitting for an extended time.

Only Work At Your Desk

Utilizing your desk for other activities, such as entertainment on your computer or mobile device, eating lunch, or taking a nap can kill productivity. If you are in a home office, try to have a dedicated corner of your office where you have a small chair and table for other activities. In the standard office, encourage employees to eat their lunch in the break room and/or create an outdoor environment with awnings or large umbrellas so employees can take their lunch break comfortably. Keeping your work separate from other activities will prevent you associating your desk with leisurely activities or the after-lunch slump. Another component of keeping your desk work-related is to maintain a clutter-free environment. It is much easier to be productive and maintain this attitude when everything has a dedicated space and you are not always searching for items.

Bring In Natural Light

One of the downfalls of many office environments is artificial light. Since the human body has a natural tendency to associate natural light with wakefulness, you want to capitalize on this. Try to enhance the office environment by opening windows and allowing the sunlight to shine through. The addition of daylight bulbs for the office can also help, especially on days when it is overcast or if you have employees who work other shifts. Another advantage to the use of daylight bulbs is they are associated with an elevated mood. Days that are overcast and dreary or working in the late afternoon or overnight when the sun is not out can make some people feel more sluggish or depressed. Using daylight bulbs, especially ones with the full light spectrum can circumvent this problem.

Creating an office space that is made for productivity often requires major changes. Having a dedicated space and the right tools will minimize productivity problems.