Even the smallest details of your workspace can have a huge impact on your productivity, and even your overall health. Here are the facts from science about how to best set up an office for productivity and ergonomics.
You shouldn’t let your workspace drag you down all day. However, poor lighting, uncomfortable chairs and messy desks can make it worse. You can make small changes to improve your work environment so that your desk doesn’t become a burden.
This illustration shows you a bird’s-eye view of the most critical elements of a productive and healthy office. Continue reading for additional details, research and suggestions. Feel free to share the graphic on your website or social medi
Here’s a quick overview of the essentials of an ergonomic and productive workspace
The Essential Elements for an Ideal Workspace
Small changes to your desk can make a huge difference in productivity and overall well-being.
Your environment can have a significant impact on your productivity. One study by Herman Miller found that workplace design had “a small but consistent and real influence” on workers’ performance–increasing productivity as much as 16% and job satisfaction by 9%. To get more done in a day, consider the five components of your desk.
Lighting
Your mood and well-being can be affected by the quality of your office lighting. Low lighting can cause fatigue, eye strain, stress and fatigue. Natural light is the best type of light for your office.
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Since 1979, scientists have known that natural light and views can reduce stress, increase mood, morale, and improve concentration. Researchers from Northwestern Medicine and University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign discovered that workers who were exposed to more sunlight at work slept longer and better at night. Workers who had windows in their offices were also more likely to engage in physical activity than those without them.
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Why is it so important to have regular exposure to sunlight? Sunlight helps to maintain our bodies’ internal rhythms or circadian rhythms. This affects our sleep, energy, and brains’ release serotonin.
You can choose a room that has a window if you have control over where it is located. If your workplace lighting is not controlled and you aren’t fortunate enough to have a desk next to a window, or a corner office with windows, you might consider getting outside for more light and a desk lamp that simulates daylight.
Lighting is also important. While you want to be able to work comfortably with enough light, it is important that the lighting doesn’t cause glare on your monitor. If you don’t have the ability to shade a window, it’s best not to sit directly in front of a window. This will make it difficult for your monitor to read. This Old House suggests that you place a task lamp at the desk so the shade is about the same height as your chin.
You also know the Edison lightbulbs, which are very popular these days. You might find it helpful to look at a lightbulb like this (or any other type of lightbulbs).
Plants
Are plants able to help you with your work? Although it may sound absurd, having a few plants in your office can help you be more productive and happier. Scientists have found that indoor plants can reduce fatigue from attention-demanding work. Even a simple window view of greenery can help us stay focused and restorative. According to psychologists from Exeter University, if you don’t have a view of a plant, you could be missing out on a 15% productivity boost.
Nature is great for you. But what if your skills are not up to the task of caring for plants? You don’t have to worry, I am in the same boat as you and have managed to keep plants alive. The key is to buy a peace lily. The plant is very adaptable and requires little sunlight to thrive. You only need to water it once the soil has dried. The best thing about this plant? It will shame you into giving it water when it isn’t needed. After it dries out, it will then swell up again. You might feel a little bit of achievement by giving your plant a fresh start every week.
NASA says peace lilies, like many other plants are great for cleaning the air. This allows you to work in a clean environment while also getting a productivity boost. Other low-maintenance plants you should consider are aloe and cacti. Any plant can be used to improve your workspace if you are a good gardener.
Temperature
In some offices, employees often fight for temperature control. Here are some tips to end workplace battles – at least if it isn’t too cold. Cornell University researchers discovered that workers were more able to type by raising the temperature in their offices from 68 to77 degrees Fahreinheit (20deg Celcius to 25deg Celcius) by 44%.
This could be why people feel less productive during the summer. Could it be the cold air conditioning?
The temperature study does not take into account personal preferences. However, you might be able to experiment with the office temperature and see what happens. You can always wear a sweater or get a fan to cool off if the office is too hot.
Sound
While working, there are two types of sounds: good and bad. We often deal with the former. In open offices, conversations and keyboard clicks can distract you from your work. You might be disturbed by the barking of neighbors’ dogs, noises from construction workers and landscapers, or traffic outside your home. There are also notifications that your mobile phone might send you that could interrupt your work. Checkout ihomepet if you have a pet yourself.
It can be difficult to ignore all the noise when you are trying to do your job. You might find a pair of noise-canceling headphones that can help. You can pair it with relaxing background music like Jazz and Rain, YouTube’s favorite video game soundtrack playlist, or a coffeehouse atmosphere such as Coffitivity. This last one taps into research showing that ambient noise can boost creativity.
Color
The fascinating field of color psychology is an interesting one. McDonald’s uses yellow and red because they’re high energy colors that stimulate appetites. Starbucks uses green to encourage relaxation and to make you want to relax in their coffeeshop. Your workdays might be affected by the colors you use at work.
Angela Wright, a color psychologist, explains why colors affect how we feel, think and act.
Red can be seen as aggressive, warming and energizing.
Blue can stimulate thought, concentration, and communication. However, some may see it as cold or unemotional.
Yellow can be stimulating and lift spirits. However, if you use it in the wrong tone, it can cause anxiety.
While green is a soothing, balancing color that can be perceived as bland depending on its use, it can also be a comforting, calming color.
Violet is a color that encourages contemplation. However, too much could lead to too much introspection.
Orange can be stimulating and fun but it can also cause anxiety.
While pink is soothing, too much can drain.
Gray can be neutral psychologically and can cause depression if the tone is not used correctly
Black is sophisticated and serious, but it can also be very heavy.
White can give you a greater sense of space, but it can also be difficult to see.
Brown is a solid color that is supportive and solid, and it is considered a serious shade.
These meanings of color are important to keep in mind when you choose paint for your home office or when looking for desk accessories. Coordinating colors can help you focus and not be distracted at your desk.
How to Set Your Desk Up Ergonomically
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to ergonomics. As many offices such as the one shown above show,
Apart from the office design, ergonomics is another important consideration. This refers to how safe and efficient you can use your computer and desk. Your environment should be designed to prevent you from repetitive strain injury (RSI), back problems, and fatigue.
Many corporate offices hire ergonomic consultants to help set up workstations for employees to prevent injuries and keep them productive. What if your company doesn’t care about ergonomics? Or if you work remotely (like all of us at Zapier)? It’s up to you to think ergonomically. Here are some things you need to know.
The Ideal Desk Height
The ideal desk will allow you to type with your arms parallel to the ground, your hands flat on the floor and your legs comfortably under the desk. As an example:
Ergotron
To find the perfect desk size for you, visit Ergotron’s Workspace Planner (shown below) and enter your height.
You can adjust the height of your chair to support this position by purchasing a keyboard tray or footrest for your desk.
Many modern desks have height-adjustable legs. This is because not all sizes will fit. Peter Budnick, a certified professional ergonomist, says Ergoweb.com
Is 29 inches the right height for an office desk. You are not required to be tall, or you can add a footrest, adjustable keyboard surface, or any other modifications to make the workstation more comfortable for most users. […]
There is adjustable work surface technology. A work surface that is adjustable can eliminate the need to add a keyboard tray or footrest. It also eliminates the requirement for a local ergonomist to custom fit the user. There are also benefits in productivity, quality, and morale, as well as a reduction in pain, discomfort, and injury.
You can also switch between standing and sitting mode with some adjustable-height desks like the Jarvis Bamboo or IKEA’s stand/sit desk. This is a great benefit, as scientists have linked sitting for too long with everything from higher blood pressure, spine damage, and increased risk of death. Standing for long periods of time can have health risks, so it seems that alternating between standing and sitting is the best option. Standing while working is a better option than sitting. I, along with others, find that standing helps me think more clearly and makes me more active. However, it’s not right for everyone. Before you buy a standing desk for short person, make sure your keyboard and monitor are raised based on the recommended height in Ergotron’s Workspace Planner. You can use reams or sturdy boxes to get your gear up to the correct height.
Ergonomic chairs
Your chair is probably the most important piece in your office furniture, especially if it’s used for extended work hours. Shopping for the right office chair is not as simple as buying a mattress. There are so many choices, at so many price points and no one size fits all. Manufacturers can also add the “ergonomic” adjective to any product, even office chairs.
Here are some things to look out for when choosing an ergonomic office chair.
Lumbar support: The back of the chair should support the lower spine and follow the natural curves of your lower back.
Seat depth: A chair that fits your body comfortably will allow you to rest your lower back against the support and leave an inch between your knees. As a rule of thumb, while sitting down, ensure that you have at least three to four fingers between your legs and where the seat edge is.
Chair height: The chair should be adjustable so that your feet rest flat on the ground or on a footrest.
Arm rests Shoulder support: Armrests must be at the right height so that your shoulders don’t slump and your arms are parallel to the ground.
Reclinability: It may be more beneficial for your spine to recline in your chair at around 135 degrees than sitting up straight up at 90 degrees.
Material: Some people prefer a mesh chair to avoid getting too hot in other types. A chair’s material should be strong and durable. Foam seats on cheap chairs often break down quickly.
These areas are more flexible, so the chair will be more comfortable and fit you better. High-end chairs allow you to adjust the firmness and position of the lumbar support, adjust the seat depth and much more.
The Wirecutter recommends that you test a chair for 30 minutes in a similar setting to where you would use it. For example, if you are using the chair at a desk while typing on a keyboard. The Steelcase Gesture ($994 Amazon) is their top choice for a desk chair. If you don’t have the budget for a $900+ chair, the IKEA Markus ($199 IKEA) is also a good option. You can find cheaper ergonomic chairs, but don’t forget to consider your health and well-being. Regardless of your budget, ensure that the chair you choose supports your entire body.
Proper Monitor Placement
Your monitor’s setup is important. Poor placement can lead to eye strain, poor posture, shoulder problems, or worse. These guidelines are from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration of the US Department of Labor (OSHA). They will help you stay safe in front of your monitor.
Make sure your laptop or monitor screen is between 20 and 40 inches from you. You might have to lean forward if the monitor is too far away. If the monitor is too close, your eyes will have to work harder for focus. It is important that you can read all text without straining your eyes and maintain a good posture. Zoom in if the text is too small.
Be sure that the top of the screen is not higher than your eye level. This will cause strain to your neck, back, and head. Your downward viewing angle should not exceed 60 degrees to be able to see the entire screen.
Do not tilt your monitor beyond 10 to 20 degrees. Objects on the screen may become difficult to read.
Position the monitor perpendicularly to windows. This will reduce eye strain and glare.
If you have eyestrain, dry eyes or headaches from staring at your computer for long periods of time, you might consider special tinted computer glasses such as Gunnars or an anti-reflective coating to prescription glasses if you use them. You should also remember to take breaks to protect your eyes: The 20-20-20 rule tells us to look 20 feet away for 20 second every 20 minutes.
You need help remembering when to take breaks. Use a Pomodoro Timer app to help you break down your work day into smaller chunks and remind you to take breaks whenever necessary.
Types and Keyboard
Let’s finally talk about your computer keyboard. They also need to be in the best possible place.
Your keyboard should be placed close to your body, so that your elbows are at your sides. This will prevent strain on your shoulders. Your keyboard should be low enough so that your elbows are parallel to the ground and your wrists are flat. Most keyboards aren’t ergonomically designed. The keyboards are angled so that the back is higher than its front. This causes our wrists and fingers to bend upwards when we type.
A keyboard tray or stand that tilts the keyboard downwards is one solution. You can also get a wrist rest, which is actually for your hands, and a wrist rest for the mouse to provide comfort and keep your wrists from bending upwards.
Use a laptop? It’s more difficult to achieve the perfect screen placement and keyboard placement with a fixed keyboard and screen. An external keyboard and a laptop stand could be a great combination to achieve the best ergonomic balance.
If you are looking for an ergonomic keyboard to replace your current one, or if you have already felt wrist strain or shoulder pain, the Microsoft Sculpt Ergo keyboard or the mechanical Matias Ergo Pro keyboards are my recommendations. These keyboards are designed to support the correct arm and wrist positions. They also keep your wrists straight and your arms at your sides. This helps reduce that forward hunch many office workers have. Ergonomic keyboards can also be separated or removed from many other keyboards. This allows you to keep your mouse closer to the keyboard, and not have to extend your arm too far to move it.
Your mouse should be a size that is comfortable for you. You might find yourself bending your wrists in unnatural positions if it is too large or too small. There are many mouse options on the Wirecutter, including ergonomic and alternative input tools.
It is possible to reduce the amount of typing you do. This article will show you how to use text expansions to improve your productivity and prevent you from retyping the same phrases.
Proper Posture
No matter whether you sit or stand at your desk, or whether you use ergonomic gear, one of the best ways to keep your health at work is to get more movement and take stock of your posture. Regular breaks should include stretching and moving. To avoid back pain and keep your spine in the best possible shape, strengthen your core. Your mom taught you to roll your shoulders back, and then sit straight up and high. ).
How to organize your desk
Your workflow can be affected by what you put on your desk
Everybody has their preferred workspace. Some prefer a clutter-free, minimalist desk, while others thrive in a cluttered environment. According to a number of studies, tidy rooms are associated with good habits. However, clutter seems to increase creativity. No matter what environment you prefer, organizing your desk can help you manage your time better and save you hours searching for tape or files.
Imagine Your Desk as a Cockpit
The cockpit of an aircraft places all the controls and information panels within reach of the pilot. It also leaves out any extra information or tools that might be distracting. Your workspace should function in a similar way.
To make the most of your space and keep it clutter-free, use these tips:
Only keep the essentials you use every day within reach.
Keep everything else away from your desk. You can store paper files that you don’t use often in their own box or file cabinet, and paper files that you only use occasionally in a separate box or file cabinet.
Limit personal decorations. Photos, souvenirs from travel, and other items bring joy to our eyes. However, too many can interrupt your thoughts more than your coworkers and family members. Limit personal decorations to 3 or fewer items, and move any other items out of your direct view. You should make sure that everything on your desk is useful, necessary, or joyful. This is the key to clearing out any space.
Keep tools and supplies hidden behind your monitor or under the desk. This will allow you to keep everything in reach, but away from your eyes. Mounting an external hard drive to your monitor can be a good idea. You can also store stuff under your desk or around the edges. To mount a router or hard disk under your desk, use brackets. To hang your headphones, attach a 3M Command Hook on the desk. To keep your headphones from falling to the ground, mount a powertrip or your computer tower on the underside of the desk.
Remove cable clutter using ties and other tools. You’ll find everything from velcro ties to stick to your desk top to more complicated DIY projects, many of which involve pegboard.
You can take a few moments at the end each day to get rid of any items that may have gotten on your desk. Clearing your desk will allow you to start fresh the next day and help you keep the momentum going all day.
Clean desktops can help you be more productive. This guide will help you organize your files and folders on your computer.
Create a Workflow to Your Desk
You likely already have a good workflow in place for your apps and projects. If you have a desk, your workspace can be a tool to increase productivity.
Matt Perman’s How To Set Up Your Desk offers a simple method: Use the left side of your desk to move through projects. You should keep the right side of the desk clear and place most of your supplies and incoming paper on the left. You can move paperwork and other items to your right as you deal with them.
This system can be used on your desktop computer. Keep your “inbox”, which includes the email app, Twitter app and Slack apps, handy if you have multiple monitors or windows open. You can also keep tabs on articles that you need to refer to, etc. The left. The right half of the monitor should be reserved for tabs and apps that you are currently working on. To visually organize your projects, move things left to right. This is similar to Kanban boards but with paper on your desk and tabs in your browser.
Perman also offers a desk-optimizing tip. Set up your desk in the same manner at both home and work (if you frequently move between offices), to reduce friction when switching environments. This should include the same type and style of chair as well as the exact same location of your filing cabinet and accessories.
These ideas may seem extreme or too structured to some, but the idea behind them can be used to improve your work environment, no matter where it might be.
Your workspace should be specific to you. It’s where you do your life’s work (or at least the work that helps pay the bills). It should support both your well-being and how you work best. The tips above will hopefully help you optimize your desk setup so you have the best work days ever—and also have the energy to have a life after work too.
