We believe your environment dictates your performance and studies have shown that dialing in your workspace has very real neurobiological consequences for productivity and creativity too.
Every distraction, whether it’s food, people, noise, your phone, or your smartwatch is a major productivity killer. In fact, preventing these distractions requires you to actively suppress impulses, and in doing so you’re sapping your cognitive resources.
So here are the Top 15 Steps to optimise your workspace at the office and when working from home. The more of these you can implement the more you’ll increase your output, productivity, and overall happiness.
Avoid working in environments that are not ‘fit for purpose’ such as coffee shops or restaurants - these environments are like a distraction superhighway!
Start as you mean to go on! If you can create a workspace that requires minimum ‘set up’ each day’ then you’ll slide into productivity much faster. Aim to use the same desk, the same computer, the same everything!
Get a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Not only will they eliminate the sound distractions at the office or home, but they’ll also signal to others that you do not want to be disturbed!
Just have one fast computer with a wireless keyboard and mouse, one monitor, and one phone. No other gadgets - you don’t need them, they kill productivity and creativity!
Ready? This can be really tough for many people but… Switch your phone to ‘Do Not Disturb mode and put it out of reach when you’re working. You can do it! In fact, create a schedule so you can batch checking your email and engaging with social media
Keep it simple...
A messy workspace messes with your subconscious… Keep your workspace clean and tidy to minimize cognitive distraction and make it easier to slip into productivity.
Get organised and ensure everything you need is easy to find. Like a messy workspace, clutter creates cognitive load so, no deep drawers full of ‘stuff’, make those noise-canceling headphones easy to find!
Of course, you’ve got to work with what you’ve got but, maximise whatever natural light you can. It increases energy, improves your mood, and helps to align with your circadian rhythm.
This can be tricky in a big office but, where you can, aim for around 18oC/64F) for optimal performance.
If you have control of what furniture you use in your workspace, treat yourself! Not only should it be ergonomic but you should ‘like it’, you should like the way it looks and feels.
Whether sitting is really the new ‘smoking’ or not we don’t know, but we do know that a standing desk is better for your physiology, promotes more movement, and stimulates creativity!
Be deliberate about adding more plants into your workspace. Not only do they help to purify and oxygenate the air you breathe, but they also have a calming effect too.
You can use your sense of smell to trigger productivity. Your brain associates certain smells with certain activities (e.g. your favourite food smells make you feel hungry) so use scented candles, for example, in your workspace to subconsciously slip into ‘work mode’.
All of the major music streaming platforms have options for background ‘focus’ music. You specifically do not want music that has too much complexity or lyrics as this elevates cognitive load.
Just stick some ‘white noise’ music on repeat and off you go…
Remember, an optomised workspace lowers cognitive load, reduces neural friction, and can help to eliminate distraction. I mean, who wouldn’t want that?
So work your way through the list and come back to it regularly as these things have a habit of creeping back in!
You can also download the checklist HERE.
