Remember that time in the 90s when we were told that, through the power of moving our stuff around we could improve our wealth and our love lives? Well, this ain’t that. While feng shui might have its place (and everything in its place), today we’re talking about how tweaking your work environment can improve your motivation and productivity.
Even the items you have around you can play a big part in how you feel about your workspace. For example, having a few things that reflect your personality and values (take a look at
The Bookish Goods for some ideas) can help create an atmosphere that motivates and uplifts you.
The Hidden Connection Between Space and State of Mind
You may have heard the expression “tidy desk, tidy mind” and, according to the boffins at Princeton University and the Journal of Environmental Psychology, there’s actual honest-to-goodness evidence behind this. Our brains are constantly taking visual and audible cues from what’s around us and so, when we fail to clear out the clutter in the office, this can have a negative impact on our focus. When we’re tidy, we tend to be more organised and so it should go without saying that a chaotic environment is unlikely to be an inspiring one.
The Science Behind Your Space
Environmental psychology studies how people
interact with their surroundings. Our senses are constantly sending little messages to our brains and this has a knock-on effect on our mood. We’ll start with one of the biggies - lighting. Us humans are programmed to function during the day and to rest at night - this means that in order to be effective at work, we need as much natural light as possible. If you can, arrange your workspace so that your desk is close to a window and try to minimise harsh fluorescent lighting that can sap energy.
Next up is colour. While you might think an all white environment is the most professional, you’d be wrong (sorry about that). We tend to associate colours with feelings - for example; green and blue make us think of calm, clarity and renewal whereas a sunshiny yellow shouts optimism and energy. Although bold colours like red and orange can add zest to your space, if you overdo it this can actually trigger anxiety (as well as making your office look like the set of a children’s TV show).
Finally, even the air that we breathe can affect how we work - if your office is hotter than the fires of hell, too cold or too stuffy, it doesn't bode well for a dynamic work day, does it?
Designing for Motivation
Distraction is a natural and necessary part of life but when it’s constantly derailing your train of thought, it can become a problem. Because of this, it’s important to be mindful when designing your space - don’t worry, we’re not talking major renovation; more just focusing on small things that make a big difference. As we’ve mentioned, an uncluttered space with natural light is a great start and, by keeping everything you need within reach, you can help to keep the demon distraction at bay.
Your new workspace doesn’t have to be stark; houseplants can add colour and improve oxygen levels while a favourite picture or motivational quote brings a personal touch as well as inspiration and motivation. Ambience at work tends to be a really personal thing so have a think about how you work best - maybe you like to have the radio on while you’re working or prefer the sound of silence. The important thing is to tailor your environment to your personality (hey, you do you) as well as taking into account the practicalities of your day-to-day routine.
The Role of Personal Expression
Have a think about your home - there’s a good chance that you’ve spent time and money on making sure that it reflects your personality - so why wouldn’t you do the same for the place where you spend eight hours a day? Little touches like photographs, paintings and ornaments make your space feel like yours - just don’t get carried away; if the office starts to look like your nan’s living room, it’s time to reign things in.
Think about it like this. Your workspace
should tell your story. And when your surroundings reflect who you are, you’ll feel more grounded and confident. Which boosts your motivation and productivity.
Minimalism vs. Meaning
Minimalism is another term that was once the buzzword of its day - but should probably be sent straight back to the 90s where it belongs. While keeping the amount of stuff surrounding you down to a minimum is key, that’s not to say that your office should resemble a prison cell.
The idea here is to strike a balance between clear, uncluttered space and the warmth and personality needed for inspiration. This means being super-selective about what you want in your sacred space - and what you don’t.
How to Build a Workspace That Fuels You
Alrighty then, we’ve given you an idea of why you should reimagine your environment but, how’s it done? As we’ve said, there’s no need to spend a load of cash or start knocking down walls - this is all about thoughtful changes that make things work for you such as:
- Declutter with purpose - Take everything off your desk and surfaces and lay them out in front of you. Ask yourself which of these things you need and which you really want and replace only those things within your space. Everything else can be either packed away, relocated or even chucked on eBay.
- Maximize natural light - If you can move your desk to a window then great but, if not, invest in one of those fancy lamps that mimics natural daylight.
- Add nature - You can pick up potted plants for next to nothing in order to add life and oxygen to your environment (if you’re not Alan Titchmarsh, try to choose hardy specimens that don’t need a ton of maintenance).
- Choose your colour palette - As we’ve mentioned before, be mindful when choosing your colour scheme for a clean but warm work place.
- Personalize intentionally - Again, you need to be ruthless when choosing what stays and what goes; one or two personal items is more than enough.
- Refresh often - Just like your home, your office decor may become tired and stale over time and so get into the habit of switching things up every now and again.
All of these little things can make a big difference - and, it should go without saying (but we’ll say it anyway) that keeping your work environment clean and tidy is essential.
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Don’t Forget: Your Environment Is an Extension of You!
Most of us spend a huge amount of time at work and so decor and ambiance should never be an afterthought. Everything about your environment should have a purpose - whether that’s practicality, joy or inspiration - and should be designed to increase your energy and motivation.
Much more than just making things look nice, this is about building a temple to your creativity and productivity so chuck out the chintz, clear the clutter and reset your space for success.
