Working in an office environment means spending the majority of your days at a desk, so why not make it the most enjoyable experience possible? There are so many ways to improve your work environment and transform it into your happy place, and we have just the tips you need to get started!

Tips for Office Productivity

Keep your workspace organized.

The first step to increasing your productivity is to get things organized. Develop a system for where you will keep certain documents, files, supplies, and other odds and ends. A great place to start on your journey to organization is decluttering. Anything that doesn’t serve a purpose in one way or another should go, leaving room for just the essentials. Once you’re finished decluttering, begin organizing your workspace based on how often you use each item. This will give you quicker access to things you may need in a pinch, while allowing you to focus on your tasks easier with everything else put neatly away. (Oh hi promotion, is that you??)

Reduce distractions

Nobody knows you better than you do, so if you’re aware of a distraction that keeps you from meeting your goals in a timely manner, do what you can to avoid it. Whether you work in an office with others or at home, try to carve out a space where you can work without others passing in and out of your area. If your assigned desk happens to be in a high-traffic area that conflicts with your working habits, consider speaking with your supervisor about your needs for a quieter space, or at the very least, placing a cheeky sign on your desk that alerts colleagues of your busy status so they won’t stop for a chat.

Keep a calendar and use to-do lists.

With the internet and cell phones zapping even the best memories of their short-term retention, keeping a calendar has never been so important. Whether you are often attending meetings, have obligations both inside and outside of work, or are working for multiple companies at a time on a contract basis, the help a printed planner can provide is endless. Consider keeping a desk calendar for big meetings and a pocket planner that you can keep with you as new appointments arise. Additionally, end each day by creating a to-do list in order of importance for the following day, so that you may begin each day with a complete plan of action. Goodbye missed deadlines and delayed meetings!

Tips for Office Health

Maintain correct posture.

The human body wasn’t designed to sit all day, but for those of us who work at a desk, sitting is part of the job. For that reason, it is so important to maintain correct posture each day. This will keep you feeling your best. Consider requesting an ergonomically correct chair from your supervisor, or even using a fitness ball to sit on for a portion of the day. Using a desk that raises and lowers is also a great way to keep from sitting all day. 

Take regular breaks.

Give your body and your eyes regular breaks throughout the day to keep them in tip-top shape. To avoid eye strain from prolonged screen time, adopt the 20-20-20 habit. That is, every 20 minutes, look at something that is 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will allow your eyes a break from focusing up close for so long and give you an excuse to look out of a nearby window! For your body, it’s good to get up from your desk every hour or so and stretch. Whether that means stretching in place or walking to the water cooler or a coworker for a quick chat, it will get your blood circulating and keep you from maintaining a hunched, seated position.