Easy Ways to Increase Office Productivity

by Editor

There’s a lot of advice out there on what to do when you’re moving into a new office, but what if you’re happy where you are?

You can still make a number of improvements to your current office space; here are seven inexpensive and simple ways to improve office productivity.

Keep It Clean

You probably grew up hearing your mother tell you to go and clean your room and the same rules still apply now that you’re working.

Keeping work and common areas clean will free your mind to focus on what you’re doing, rather than what you should be cleaning.

An easy way to tidy up the office is to get some kind of filing system, or if you have a lot of files to put away, use a document storage service.

You can also consider buying smaller computer equipment- laptops take up a lot less space.

Add Some Light To Your Day

Bringing in more natural light will lower your monthly utility bill, but it will also boost employee health and encourage customers to stay (and hopefully spend).

Try to arrange your office in a way that every employee can see a window, but if you can’t, try indirect lighting where a light source is reflected off of a wall or ceiling.

Try a Dash Of Color

The two biggest factors in the atmosphere of your office are lighting and color; most designers choose lighter paint colors to help light reflect better.

When choosing a color, remember that your choice can affect your workers’ mindset and their productivity.

Examples: Yellow works to encourage creativity, red is perfect for salespeople because it stimulates aggression, and blue-green is soothing.

Bring In Some Greenery

There are many studies that show how plants improve indoor air quality; they remove bacteria, mould and other airborne pollutants.

Having cleaner air helps to keep employees healthy and at work- plants also cool the air while they’re filtering it.

Depending on the number of plants and the size of your office, your room temperature can be lowered by up to ten degrees.

Improve The Acoustics

Office noise can be very distracting. Some employees counteract it with earphones, but this isn’t always possible.

If you can’t afford extensive re-modelling, consider buying acoustic screens, panels or sound-dampening systems.

Make It Comfortable

No two workers are alike, so it doesn’t make sense to install cubicles that are all the same. Ergonomics and worker comfort go hand in hand; poorly designed workspaces lead to eyestrain, headaches, back pain and neck pain.

You don’t need to spend a lot to make workspace more comfortable- simply keeping your upper arms at a 90 degree angle to the floor and your monitor at least two feet from your face will help.