There are hundreds of factors that can affect your productivity, but one of the most important to consider is your workspace, since you have significant control over it.
How exactly does your workspace affect your productivity and what steps can you take to make a workspace that better enables your true potential?
Article Contents
The Many Types Of Workspaces
There are many different types of workspaces, catering to different types of workers.
The most conventional workplace is probably an office building, warehouse, or other singular gathering area for workers to perform.
These spaces are designed for productivity, at least ostensibly, and they’re also designed to support many people for a specific business and a specific purpose.
It’s also increasingly common for people to create workspaces within their homes, often designating a room or portion of space to serve as a home office.
You could also work in a coworking space designed for remote workers, lean startups, and professionals in need of a temporary workplace.
Coworking spaces are often designed and structured similarly to conventional offices, but are available on a subscription basis to a wide variety of different people with different needs.
According to Lucas Seyhun, founder of The Farm SoHo, “coworking spaces aren’t just about giving people access to equipment and facilities that would be expensive to purchase or set up at home.
They’re about giving people an environment filled with other professionals who want to do productive work – so you can truly immerse yourself in what you’re doing.”
Regardless of what type of workspace you work in, there are multiple factors that will impact your productivity, both positively and negatively.
How Your Workspace Affects Your Productivity
These are just some of the ways that workspaces affect your productivity:
Visuals
First, you’ll need to think about the visuals and overall aesthetics of this space. Is this a bright, vibrant space with plenty of intellectually or creatively stimulating things to look at?
Are there windows available for you to enjoy sunshine on bright days? Or is this a drab, boring, dark place that you dread coming to?
Even if you’re not conscious of it, the visuals of your space are going to impact your mood and productivity.
Temperature
There are studies suggesting that there’s an “optimal” temperature for productivity, on average (21-22 degrees C, or around 70 degrees F).
However, as you might expect, different individuals have different preferences. Some people prefer working in environments that are several degrees colder, while others can’t focus unless they’re in a much warmer environment.
Amenities
Access to amenities also matters. If your workspace affords you luxuries like big meeting rooms, lounges, working kitchens, and hot coffee throughout the day, you’ll be much more likely to reach peak productivity.
Furniture and comfort
Hunching over a desk that’s too low for you and sitting on a wobbly bar stool are going to be terrible for your focus and productivity, not to mention your posture and comfort.
That’s why you also need to consider the shape, quality, and furniture placement in your space.
Distractions
Next, you’ll need to think about possible distractions in your workspace. If you’re new to remote working, you might consider sitting on your living room couch with a laptop, since this is a comfortable, familiar space.
But this might also be a highly distracting space, with the temptation of a TV and other people in your house constantly walking past you. Most people do much better in environments without distractions.
Presence Of Others
For many people, working alone is a challenge. When other people are present and working diligently, it inspires you to work diligently on your own tasks.
This is one reason why so many people prefer coworking spaces, cafés, and even libraries to working at home independently.
Key Takeaways For Better Workspace Productivity
If you’re looking for tips on how to improve your productivity by better designing your workspace, these are some of the most important takeaways:
Know Yourself
Some like it cold, while some like it hot. Some like plain walls, while others want them covered with art.
Each individual is different, so if you want to maximize your own productivity, you need to customize a workspace that works for you.
Don’t try to conform to someone else’s standards because it’s not going to work in your favor.
Prioritize Ergonomics And Comfort.
It’s important to keep ergonomics and your personal comfort as top priorities in designing your workspace.
If you’re uncomfortable for any reason, you’re not going to hit maximum productivity.
Aside from that, if you neglect ergonomics and comfort, you could end up with a debilitating injury or chronic pain, given enough time in this space.
Splurge When Possible
You often get what you pay for, so don’t be afraid to splurge when possible. Springing for a better chair or paying for a coworking space subscription that gives you more amenities could be exactly what you need.
Experiment
Finally, don’t hesitate to experiment. It’s hard to tell exactly what will boost your productivity until you give it a try, so try lots of things and see what sticks.
Designing a workspace to maximize your productivity isn’t exactly easy, but it is possible.
If you’re committed to building a better workspace, and getting more done as a result, you’ll eventually be able to reach your performance goals.
