We have all heard the famous saying “Your surroundings influence your productivity”. In today’s world, whether we are working from a cubicle, at home, or in an office, we are all looking at how to boost our productivity.

Productivity and being more efficient are what drive the work you do. If you want to enhance your productivity or the entire team’s productivity, it can sometimes come down to the most basic workplace setup.

There are statistics we have all known and heard about like the whole how open office space doesn’t work for most of the employees. In 2018 soundproof phone booth company ROOM commissioned YouGove PLC- a third-party research organization and found that “one in 8 U.S workers in an open office space said that the layout has made them consider leaving their job.”

So we know the workspace layout affects productivity and clearly employee morale. So what are those little things that can enhance your productivity at work? Keep reading for tips and advice on those resources that can come in handy when looking to boost your productivity level.

The physical layout is not the only important aspect

That’s right, physical layout is certainly important for boosting work productivity. There are other important things to consider. An employee should be excited about your company’s mission, it should be an integral part of the employee to achieve those goals.

Amazon for example has 14 leadership principles that the company values and follows through. It has put these principles in all of its office space at the entrance so that employees subconsciously follow them.

When working from home get those magnetic boards to jot down what you aim to achieve by working and place it at your work desk. Looking at it drives your values and ensures you have a clarified vision of your work.

Rightly said “An office is more than its building. It’s important for companies to reward progress, assure flexible working and encourage the key in their company: its employees”

Leave space for movement

A short break while working continuously on your system can have you break out of your exhaustion and give you that smooth break you need. A lot of employees even take coffee breaks or carry a small bottle of water to move around a little and get the blood flowing. 

When working at home, take a walk around your home or take those necessary breaks in the office to grab a coffee. The movement has a profound effect on your productivity. It makes you more alert and drives you to deliver efficient results.

Productivity is not just the sum of time spent doing a task but it also means refueling and recalibrating once in a while.

All of these things have a positive effect on work efficiency and productivity.

Get a Plant

Getting a plant just doesn’t mean that you can push these photos up your social media and feel good about them. Getting a plant also enhances your workspace.

The difference between the two is similar to something like “when you go to a gym and run and run outdoors. At a gym, the objective of working out is accomplished but you feel drained and exhausted while outdoors you feel rejuvenated. 

Getting a plant to your workspace adds that dose of freshness and leaves your employees feeling energetic. 

Get a plant, get an assortment of them, and place it around the workspace to create that feeling of freshness and avoid feeling fatigued and drained.

Have an exclusive space for your gadgets

That’s right! While it’s common knowledge we need gadgets for our work and we can’t function without them. But today with so many screens competing for our attention, our work sometimes gets sidelined and we are not able to be productive.

Have a dedicated space or as some might like to call it “Home” for your gadgets while you are designing a presentation or working on a code. This will ensure you get your job done faster.

If you see a phone around you it is most likely that between your phone you will be looking at social media content or browsing through your messages. All of this slows down your work and you think you have been at work for hours. 

We are not asking you to stash your phones away. What we suggest is just putting it away from your eyes while you are working. While work emails and messages are important to be looked at, what you can do is have an allotted time for them. For example, put your phone in your drawer and decide that in between every two hours you will check it. You will be more productive that way and get your job done faster.

Organize your workspace

Sometimes decluttering and having a space for everything at your workstation helps you be more productive. We spend hours looking for the file going through so many files which we may not need. It is important to keep your workspace clean so you are focused and more efficient.

In addition to keeping it clean, you can sit down and make a to-do list every morning. This helps you get a list down of the work you need to accomplish in the morning and be more driven to it. It gives you a clear understanding of what you need to accomplish and look forward to in the entire day.

Picture your thoughts like a blank document, it is far easier to plan a road map through it. Now picture it like a document filed with random words and numbers. It is hard to make sense of it. The best way to be more productive is to have an organized setup.

Add a personal touch

We all have that one thing that motivates us to work harder. It could be a picture of your kids or it could be you as a couple or your family. Have that personal touch on your desk that you look up to and it inspires you to push harder.

While personalizing your workspace is important, keep in mind “everything in moderation”. You do not want personal things to clutter your workspace and create a distraction. Adding some small touches like a framed photo or a personalized calendar might just get the job done.

Keep in mind, no employee is the same. There is no one standard approach to an office layout. While some might find a picture of their kids inspiring others might find a globe with places they would like to go on their next vacation inspiring. Giving yourself or your employees the flexibility to be more creative and express themselves better will in the end allow for a more productive and efficient workplace setup.