How to Transform Your Office into a Productive Workplace

A stressful day at work can be minimized by re-organizing the workplace. As studies show, environment can affect the productivity of a person. Therefore, if you own a business and you want your employees to be more productive, or you are working in your own office and you want be released from stress, then what you need is to have your workplace revamped.

You do not need to spend much just to improve your office. Just make it comfortable and organized to refresh your mind from all the pressure at work. Here are some tips that you can follow in order to make your office productive.

1. De-clutter, de-clutter, de-clutter

This is the first step to achieving that stress-free office. First, check all your files and papers, drawers, and the whole office. Throw away or shred those that are completely trash or not needed anymore. You will feel better when you see more spaces in your office. Next, organize your files in a neat and systematic order. Put the oldest at the bottom or rear and the newest at the top or front. Separate the pending documents from the complete ones too and arrange them in separate drawers or envelopes. Then, make sure that small items will not be lying around. Put push-pins, clips, or sticky notes in containers or organizers. Clean your desktop and the whole place for that refreshing ambiance. At the end, your goal here is to have everything in order and all the mess gone.

2. Choose the right office color

Different colors have different effects on the mind. Therefore, you need to choose the right color if you plan your office to be repainted. Green and blue are the most advisable colors for an office if the business involves generating new ideas all the time. These colors give that calming effect, so they can lessen the stress in the environment. If you need your employees or yourself to be keener on details, then red is the perfect color for your workplace. This color is said to increase concentration and attention to details. For a more friendly or cheerful environment, yellow, peach, or light orange can be good options.

3. Bring nature in

Nature has its way of soothing people’s mind. Therefore, having plants inside the office can help relieve stress. Moreover, plants can help decrease the pollution, so having a plant or two in your working place can freshen up the atmosphere. You can put a small plant beside your desktop or in the corners. Placing a small vase with fresh flowers on your desk can also help you relax especially with their fragrance. If your office has a window, you better keep it open—or at least the blinds up—so that light can get in and you can see the sceneries outside. This is best if your window is facing a natural landscape.

4. Choose rounded or curved furniture

When choosing tables, desks, and other furniture for your office, go for those that are curved or rounded. Curves and rounds are associated with positive emotions. Researches also show that they can boost creativity and idea generation. Moreover, according to a 2011 study conducted on undergrad students, curvilinear (curved or rounded) furniture were found to be more comfortable and inviting than rectilinear (angled or straight-edged) ones which were considered boring.

5. Never allow piling up of files

Seeing high piles of papers is discouraging and can add to the stress of an employee—even the employer. Therefore, you better set a policy in your workplace about these towering piles of documents to file. To avoid them from growing, make it a habit to file papers at least once a week. While waiting to be filed, you can hide the piles of papers in a box, drawer, or cabinet, so you do not need to see them on your desk all the time.

6. Implement the 5S methodology

This office organization method can help you or your workers systematize your workplace and even the way you work too. The 5S stands for seiri (sort), seiton (systematic arrangement), seiso (spic and span), seiketsu (standardize), and shitsuke (sustain). This methodology teaches how to maintain the working area, organize items, and be efficient in utilizing the workplace and resources. By learning the 5S methodology or teaching this to your employees, you can keep your office organized and more conducive to productivity.

The kind of environment where you work can affect your productivity. Shabby, messy, and toxic offices could discourage you from giving your best. This is because instead of focusing on generating new ideas or getting all the data input right, you would end up overwhelmed by all the fixing and cleaning up to do. It is not easy to relax when seeing the mess reminds you of all the unfinished tasks. For this reason, you or your company needs to take time to set the atmosphere of your office right. A healthy environment develops healthy minds—resulting to healthy accomplishments.