How do you get any work done when your desk is dirty and your workplace is chaotic? Here are some ideas for the office: how to turn your office into a place where you want to work and become more productive from Yaware time tracker.
#1 Use binder clips as temporary cable organizers.
Smart devices make our lives easier, but the cables do just the opposite – and as a result, our tables often turn out to be more like a wild jungle.
Clamps come in a variety of sizes, so you can purchase one that fits the thickness of your cables. Attach them to the table and thread the cable head, something like this:
#2 “Green” the room
While we try to decorate our drab offices with vibrant paintings and crafts, desperate DIY attempts often fail. Instead, try tending to your office florarium.
Even the usual prickly cactus is a nice addition to any workplace, and how can you say no to your personal little friend? Yes, even going to work every day becomes more interesting!
The University of Exeter conducted a study in 2013 at the Chelsea Flower Show and found some pretty interesting facts: office flowers increased overall staff well-being by 47%, improved creativity by 45% and increased productivity by 38%.
Another study by the University of Texas found that people surrounded by greenery generated 15% more ideas.
Still not sure whether to buy a plant right now? But did you know that they help reduce mental fatigue, increase alertness, and lower blood pressure?
The choice, of course, is yours, but we consider this idea as the simplest and most versatile way to improve the work environment.
#3 Set up a water dispenser nearby or bring a pitcher of water (because why not?)
Dehydration is a very serious health issue that has more of an impact than we think: if you don't get enough water, you may feel sleepy, lethargic, confused, irritable, and dizzy.
If you're an employer, keep the water running or think of other fun, easy ways to hydrate and energize your staff. Stock fresh fruit, refillable bottles, or even energy drinks in the fridge (if you're feeling generous). Even an office boiler (preferably filled) is already a big step towards improving the well-being of staff.
#4 Give them every comfort
The cheapest office chairs are usually a pain in the ass (literally and figuratively). Sometimes boosting productivity is as easy as swapping out cold, hard seats for more comfortable, upholstered chairs.
How often have you tried to focus only to find that you can't because you're just not comfortable ?
#5 Keep a rubber duck on your desk
For those who were looking for how to improve office work in an original way:
A popular method in the US to increase productivity is the rubber duck on the desktop. This is the trick many programmers use to solve problems: they explain every line of code they create to their duck. In the course of thinking aloud, they come across a problem that is preventing the program from working properly.
You may not be a developer – but a rubber duck on your desk can still be useful.
Not only does it make the desktop a little more fun, but in case you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or confused, you can pick it up and chat with it.
#6 Use Pringle jars as pen storage
Instead of losing your pens in one of your pathetic bottomless cabinet drawers, store them in a Pringles jar (rinse it with water first, of course).
Of course, you can use any other organizers that are convenient for you – the main thing is that everything is at hand.
#7 Don’t be afraid to decorate
Dr. Craig Knight has studied the psychology of the work environment for 12 years. Knight says: “If you enrich the space, people feel much happier and work better; one of the best ways to do that is through art.”
Deutsche Bank has over 900 offices spread across 40 countries around the world; they own 60,000 works of art. They even have a global art director!
You may not have the means to spend money on original Monet pieces, but choosing great art doesn't have to be expensive. Use color theory to emphasize a “positive vibe”—you can even have a fun company-wide drawing class and hang the results on the wall.
#8 Forget fancy boardrooms
Some offices have large conference rooms with fancy, reclining chairs. But did you know that meetings are actually a terrible waste of time and money?
More than $37 billion a year is spent on meetings, and about 15% of the company's collective time is spent in meetings. Managers—the people who often have to do most of the work—are locked into mandatory meetings most of their time.
Don't do this to your employees. Instead of trying to create a cozy atmosphere in meetings, keep them busy.
Give them time to do what you're paying them to do, and if you absolutely have to hold a meeting – do it quickly. That way you can share useful information with the team, and then let everyone get back to their work.
#9 Use bulletin boards to keep important information in the center
One company hung a whiteboard in the center of their office and allowed people to anonymously leave notes with questions and words of encouragement.
If you don’t like having paintings on the walls, then this option is a great way to add lots of color to a plain room.
You can use the bulletin board in your personal workspace to hang important receipts and keep track of orders or upcoming calls.
Or, if you use office tools a lot — like wire cutters, scissors, small rolls of tape, and staplers — you can hang them on hooks on a metal perforated board (Ikea sells this tool for just $9). This makes them easily accessible, and keeps them from taking up too much space on your desk.
#10 Hang a container outside your door and use it as storage
If you're a friendly, trusting employer who lets your employees borrow stuff from the office, you can always use it for those purposes.
If people at your office like to have fun or you work in a publishing company, you can also use the containers as a temporary library. Put books in a container and give your employees the freedom to grab them for inspiration or during a break. Be careful – just make sure they always return them when they're done!
#11 Keep a basket exclusively for clutter
If you have a tendency to pile up documents—even when they're not as important—keep them separate. Instead of forcing yourself to decide everything at once, you can throw it in the basket for later processing.
This would be ideal for storing unopened envelopes, handwritten notes, receipts, half-finished scribbles – at the end of each quarter (or each month, if you wish) you can sort through them and throw out all the unnecessary items.
#12 Stick to the tomato timer
The Pomodoro Technique is unique because it's one of the few productivity tactics that actually works. It was created by an Italian economist Francesco Cirillo (probably why the timer is almost always shaped like a tomato?) and basically claims that people naturally tend to have shorter attention spans.
Pretty simple, right?
People are terrible at concentrating on long projects, so instead focus on getting things done in 25-minute intervals. Set your clock to 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute break. Four of those sessions would equal to nearly 2 hours of productivity and a 20 minute break!.
#13 Use blue light
Blue light is a high-temperature lighting that has been used in Japan and led to major positive results – these simple lamps were first introduced in train stations, and have significantly reduced the suicide rate They also improve productivity and focus by up to 37%.
High temperature lighting doesn't always have to be blue – if you have a lot of windows in your office, then your problem is solved.
But if you don't, light bulbs that mimic daylight can help create a sense of well-being. In addition, they suppress melatonin, a neurochemical that helps you feel sleepy.
#14 Use fragrance wisely
Essential oils are still in vogue. And yes, it's true that limited aromatherapy has a positive effect on productivity, concentration, and well-being.
You can buy a small diffuser and place it on your desk if your neighbors don't mind. Some of the best scents to work with are mint, lemon, and jasmine.
#15 Use pop-it and simple dimple
The toy works in the same way bubble wrap, only you can “pop” it as many times as you like. When you press the hemisphere on the toy, itbends in the other direction, making a sound, then you can turn it over and continue the game.Pop-it can be found in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes, from the “classic” rainbow squares and circles to colorful flowers, hearts and even animals.
Simple dimple works through the same principle as pop-it. But it is smaller, and has more“bubbles”.
