Most of us spend at least eight hours a day at work, some even more. This actually means that, on some days, we spend most of our waking hours in our office. It’s precisely for this reason that our offices should be as comfortable as they can be. When they aren’t, we’re bound to feel stressed and unhappy, and we can sometimes even have physical problems due to inadequate or worn out furniture, all of which can affect our performance at work. Therefore, it’s essential that our offices are cozy and that we feel good while there, so that we can fully focus on what we went there to do. Here are some ways to achieve just that.
Choose quality furniture
First thing’s first. If you want to increase productivity and stay comfortable at work, you should invest in the furniture which will allow it. For instance, a good chair will encourage a healthy posture and provide you with both pelvic and lumbar support, so that your spine is always in a proper position. Similarly, the best desks are manufactured so that they prevent any back, neck or shoulder injury, which can happen due to sitting in an uncomfortable position. You can even get a standing or an adjustable desk, so that it suits you and all your needs perfectly. It should promote working efficiency by having enough space for everything you require in order to do your job well, be it a computer, large drawings or a bunch of office supplies.
Be well organized
A messy and cluttered office can make it quite difficult to do anything, and it can leave you feeling nervous, confused and with your thoughts as scattered as your stationary and your papers. On the other hand, if you maintain your office’s tidiness and if you organize everything well, you’ll always be prepared to do your best work. And let’s not forget that it can help you avoid the unnecessary stress of not being able to find something at a crucial moment, whether it’s an important document, or something as trivial as a pencil.
Take a break
Although you might have to spend eight hours in your office, it doesn’t mean that you should actually work all that time. In fact, if you force yourself to work for that long, you’ll definitely lose your calm after a while and you’ll find it extremely difficult to focus on anything. That’s why it’s important to take an occasional break or two. A break will allow you to stretch and jumpstart your circulation after hours of sitting. It will also give you the much-needed opportunity to take your mind off your current project for a while, so that you can gather the energy and enthusiasm you need to keep working. It doesn’t matter if you use it for a ten-minute nap, a fruit snack, a cup of coffee, or a chat with your co-workers. A break will help you refresh your mind and get your creative juices flowing again.
Create a working schedule
Having a schedule which encompasses all your tasks and obligation for each day, including your breaks, can be useful in many ways. Sticking to a schedule encourages you to be cost-effective and efficient, since you’ll be doing things in the best possible order and within an optimum time frame. A schedule will also prevent you from forgetting to do certain tasks and it will ensure you meet all your deadlines. When you tackle your assignments one at a time, and you can see that you’re reaching all your goals the way you planned it, you’ll be more relaxed and will work more easily. Finally, a good schedule will allow you to do all your work at the office, and not take any of it home.
Leave your problems at home
You can’t wait for your day at the office to end, so that you can enjoy your personal time? Well, just like you don’t want to take your work home, you should also avoid bringing any of your personal problems into the office. If you can resolve your issues before going to work, great, but if you can’t, you should find a way to get preoccupied with work and focus your thoughts on the tasks before you. If you know you have problems at home, log out of your social network accounts and switch your personal phone off while working. Better yet, hide it in your bag or a drawer, so that you don’t even see it. Not dwelling on your personal issues is easier said than done, but it is something you have to put some mental effort into if you want to do your job well.
Making sure your office space promotes comfort, serenity and good health is very important. Only then can you concentrate on your job and be fully productive every day.
