How to Set Up an Efficient and Productive Workspace

Employee productivity often comes down to the workspace. Healthy and positive surroundings will boost your employees’ productivity, make them creative and, perhaps most important of all, happier!

If you are thinking of revamping your workspace to promote productivity, you are in the right place. Keep reading for handy tips for setting up an efficient workspace.

Focus on Employee’s Happiness

An office full of distractions and a lack of privacy can never be productive. Employee productivity doesn’t only depend on the physical layout, but the space each employee has and the level of flexibility they have to perform their routine tasks are also important considerations when it comes to an efficient workspace. Usually, employers have two options — individual spaces like an office or cubicle or an open workspace. The latter is a good option if your plan is to promote employee interaction. However, open spaces also involve a lack of privacy and visual distractions, which may hurt productivity. There is no one-size-fits-all physical office layout. Any layout is good as long as it satisfies your employees’ needs.

Get Ergonomic Desks

Ergonomic desks allow your employees to change positions and keep moving throughout their workday. The goal is to promote movement so that people don’t spend all day sitting in the same position. You can achieve this with office layout hacks like water coolers and a coffee machine in strategic locations to encourage employees to walk around. You can also consider investing in mobile training tables to redefine your workspace and deliver a better way of working. Productivity has nothing to do with the number of hours you work. Instead, it depends on how efficiently you can perform a task. If you can’t focus, the task that could be completed in 30 minutes will take you hours. Help your staff focus with a productive environment. This may also mean offering your employees a flexible work schedule so they can work from the comfort of their homes. You can also let your employees sit outside or go for a coffee break after working for for a few hours to refocus their energy.

Move Your Office

Productivity can also come down to your location. If your office is located in areas that receive high amounts of traffic throughout the workday, you may want to consider moving your office. Select a location with low to no noise and visual distractions. Cluttered spaces can also bring productivity levels down. Moving your office to a new place doesn’t have to be a big deal. Just grab a few large moving boxes , fill them with your office essentials, and transport them to the new location. Number each box or label them  so that it’s easy to recognize which box contains what, so you can prioritize your unpacking.

Add Plants and Greenery

Beautiful plants are not only for our backyards. A bit of greenery can make just about any space feel more alive. Having plants in your office will promote productivity and improve your employees’ well being. This also helps create cleaner air and encourages your workforce to stay energetic and positive throughout the day. Besides, plants also add a touch of warmth to your office, making it more inviting. Try to put at least one pot on each employee’s desk and a handful of them in the reception area.

Keep Your Office Clean

It may sound like a no-brainer, but you will be surprised to know how people have the habit of leaving their desks messy. They think it’s best to declutter the desk before leaving. While you may clean your work desk before going home, is it really helping you with your productivity? Nothing is as distracting as a cluttered space and keeping it tidy is easier than you think. Have your employees take a few minutes before work every day to clean their desk and the general office space. Think of it as writing on a blank paper vs. a paper filled with random words and characters. You can easily write on blank paper, as there is no clutter to distract you. But can you write on a messy, cluttered piece of paper? The same goes for your workplace. Focusing on tasks that require concentration is virtually impossible when you work in a cluttered space.

Provide Adequate Light

Lighting will affects your employees’ mood and can greatly impact their productivity. Employees who work somewhere with enough natural light will generally work more efficiently and suffer from less issues like eye strain. If you can’t provide enough natural light, consider installing LEDs. These energy-efficient bulbs minimize eye strain.

Key Takeaways

A productive workspace isn’t only about the location, but the overall office layout, furniture, decoration, cleaning, open space, and the space between employees’ individual work spaces are all essential factors that can have a big impact on your employees’ productivity level. If you make the effort to provide a healthy, positive working environment for your staff, they’ll be sure to repay you with excellent productivity!