When it comes to working, ‘productivity’, ‘focus’ and ‘deep work’ are some terms that are thrown around a lot. These are what most people try to accomplish. And out of the plethora of tips and tricks out there, one of the most important ones is workspace optimization.

Whether you are a student or an office employee, a workspace that enhances your productivity is a crucial thing that you need. While productive desk setups may require some thought, time and effort, know that it is something that you will probably never have to regret.

To that end, here is all that you need to know about workspace optimization.

What Defines a ‘Workspace’?

The simplest definition of a workspace is the space used or required for one’s work, as in an office or at home.

It is not just a physical space for you to work in, but a mental space too.

Well, what does that mean?

A workspace makes it easier for you to enter the state of flow. Moreover, your desk setup does not just have a say in your productivity, it also affects your overall mood and mental health. Your workspace will be unique to you, even if by a small degree.

Following are some essentials for workspace optimization.

Choose A Suitable Location

The first and most basic workspace essential is finding the best spot to set up your workspace in. There isn’t much you can do here if you work in an assigned building space. However, if mobility is an available option, then opt for a spot with the least possible distractions.

A calm secluded corner with good lighting and a proper work surface is ideal as a workspace. If you are working from home, then this can even be a kitchen counter or your dining table.

Invest In Proper Furniture

Comfort is often overlooked while designing a workspace. However, this later leads to a decrease in overall productivity as awkward cramped furniture leaves you ill at ease and often unable to focus.

To prevent this, invest in appropriate reliable furniture that provides you with comfort alongside workability. A proper desk set up arranged for the right height and right eye-level supports your physical form and reduces chances of early fatigue. Keeping your body comfortable but alert helps maintain the state of flow for longer durations. You can also look into standing desks for increased chances of movement while working.

Get A Good Work Surface

A smooth and clean work surface adds to your ergonomics and improves your work experience. This is an easy to obtain feature for those who work in company offices. Those who work from home can opt for their dining tables or kitchen counters. Or, one can even invest in space-friendly fold-out desks which can be bought easily from furniture stores or even from online e-commerce sites.

Tip : If you are a student or a work from home employee, you can also buy a fold-out lap desk. These desks are quite space-friendly and can be folded and put away (under the bed, etc.) after every work session. If you already have a desk surface, but it is rough and uneven, or not up to your standards, then you can look into polished surface vinyl self adhesive countertops. These are easily available in online stores and are a handy substitute for having to invest in an entirely new desk.

Set Up Smart Lighting Schemes

The go-to advice for smart lighting schemes in workspace is to set up your desk close to a window. Natural light greatly affects alertness, mood and productivity. It also serves as a great way to give the eyes a break from any screens. If you don’t have any windows nearby, you can also use appropriate artificial lighting for a suitable vibe.

However, it is important that you first recognize your preferable lighting schemes to complement your productivity. Some people focus better in dim settings, others prefer bright white lights. Find out what works best for you, and customise your workspace to meet your requirements.

Arrange For A Power Strip Nearby

An ideal feature for a workspace is to have its own dedicated power strip nearby. Having a work-only power strip ensures that all your devices will be organised, charged and close by. It will also allow you to continue using them while they are charging, and thus save efforts on productivity as well as reduce the hassle involved in fighting with a roommate, partner, or family members for an outlet. Arranging for a dedicated power strip is certainly a tech-smart move.

Get A Steadfast Wi-Fi

This goes without saying, but the most vital item in your workspace is going to be a wi-fi router. Ensure that you have a stable internet connection with a good bandwidth for better work performance.

Declutter ASAP

Ensure that all gadgets being used on the work surface have a home to be returned to at the end of the work session. This could be a shelf, a cupboard or some drawers. If you have devices that almost never leave the desk, then give them specific places on the desk itself. Declutter whenever possible, at the end of every work session preferably.

This might sound like a tedious habit but it has many benefits, one of them is that you get to start with a clean workspace the next day, which is great for productivity.

Tip : Go DIY for essentials. Make storage spaces for pens, pins, rubber bands and other small accessories using shoe boxes or mason jars. Sort your documents into separate folders as per their category, or set up different sections in the same folder. There are many other useful budget-friendly things that you can create using spare household products, go all in!

Invest In Proper Headphones

Distractions are inevitable no matter where you work, there’s no doubt about it. A proper pair of headphones can go a long way in improving your overall focus and productivity. And there are a variety of focus-inducing music that one can choose out of — classical, synth-wave, lo-fi, binaural beats, white or brown noise, and more. One can also opt for a pair of noise-cancelling headphones that will help block out distractions and get you in the zone.

Fresh and Fragrant

Make sure that you start every work session with a clean and hygienic workspace, no matter how devastated it looks later on (let’s normalise messy desks after a deep work session). That will make it easier for you to slide into the state of flow.

Get into the habit of cleaning your workspace after every work session so that you can come back to a fresh desk afterwards. Utilise your breaks to re-organize the desk materials. Invest in herb scented candles as their rejuvenating smells have positive effects on our mood and productivity. Use these tips to make work something you look forward to.

Allow Space For Movement

The secret to staying productive for long hours is to acknowledge your need for breaks. To continue even after hitting a wall may lead to decreased work performance and decreased work output. To prevent this, make sure that you incorporate several quick short breaks throughout your entire work session.

There are numerous things that you can do during your breaks, and creating opportunities for movement is an important one among them. Take a coffee break to the coffee area, visit the refrigerator for some snacks, get up from your workspace to declutter and get ready for the next session or perform a few stretches by pushing aside the chair.

Keep Some Greenery

Before you roll your eyes, there are actually several advantages to keeping some greenery in your workspace (not just your workspace but your entire living space, in fact). A prominent benefit is

that the colour green helps one in keeping calm. The presence of plants has an overall positive effect on us. So why not spice up your workspace with some greenery?

Personalise Your Space

We have already established this before that a workspace is something more than a physical location to work in. It is a mental space for the individual as well. To that end, personalising our workspace is another step towards reaching a better work performance. Get personal on what colours you wish to see on your desk surface, on the lights used, on what motivational quotes you wish to see on the wall above your desk, on the music of your choice and more.

Remember to not clutter your desk surface, and to not choose items that will add to your distractions, and you’ll be good to go.