Both employers and employees have struggled to adapt to a “work from home” lifestyle due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus, causing a sudden shift to remote working arrangements. Working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic has presented workers with many challenges, such as how they can maintain their productivity while working from home. For some, it was simply a matter of getting used to it; however, this has also brought many people to the realization that their homes are not a conducive work environment.
The current state of the economy isn’t very sympathetic right now, putting intense pressure on employees and employers to deliver and to increase their productivity. Many states continue to struggle rebounding from the effects of lockdowns making the competition fierce in the workforce. Slacking off isn’t an option despite the shift in working arrangements.
Simple changes from using dedicated workspaces to minimizing distractions in your home, the great part about a home office is that you’re able customize it according to what suits your needs best. Taking that into account, here are several interior decorating suggestions that can help improve your productivity:
Colors can stimulate moods
The color green is associated with nature, and has calming effects. Rather than going all out by painting your room green or surrounding yourself with green items, consider having a live plant in your work environment. Forbes suggests that plants can help lower stress. According to a study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, active interaction with indoor plants (like touching and smelling) can reduce physiological and psychological stress. What’s more, even the potting soil can help you keep a handle on daily stress and anxiety. This is because soil contains microbes dubbed “outdoorphins” (M. vaccae) which work as natural antidepressants. “It boosts your mood by releasing cytokines, which then leads your brain to produce more serotonin. So, just by being around soil, these outdoorphins flood your body and boost your mood,” writes Joey Doherty, a Certified Wellness Counselor.
Incorporate natural light
Tired of the eye strains resulting from staring at a screen all day? Natural light helps keep your eyes healthy, decreasing the chances of straining your eyes. Healthline explains the many benefits of natural light and how it can boost your mood and morale. “The more time you spend in a source of natural light, the less time you’ll likely spend in the unnatural light of fluorescent bulbs. Though compact fluorescent lamps are generally recognized as safe, for some people, exposure to fluorescent light appears to elicit an elevated stress response. With CFLs (compact florescent light bulbs) as your main light source day in and day out, this could increase your risk for migraines and eye strain.” Natural light is also proven to improve your quality of sleep, thus increasing your productivity. Also, when exposed to sunlight, the skin absorbs vitamin D, a critical nutrient that prevents bone loss and reduces the risk of heart disease, weight gain, and various cancers. In a nutshell, having natural light contributes to your health, and good health is essential when it comes to concentrating.
Having proper storage space
So, remember that we need to minimize distractions, and a cluttered desk and workspace will only serve as counterproductive. An organized work workspace can help you feel more comfortable and decrease your chances of frustration from having to search for items, therefore maximizing your work time. A good starting point is to organize your work things according to how often you use them, and part with the things you’ve hoarded that you no longer use on a daily basis. Organization improves your focus, because an organized environment makes you feel in control. A clean workspace is a healthy workspace, thus decreasing your chances of becoming sick.
Many people are likely to continue working remotely well into 2021, or even if your remote work is nearing an end, it’s still better to improve your home productivity sooner than later. It’s important to give yourself a fighting chance. If you would like some assistance decorating your workspace or overall home, then contact Details Commercial for some fun and productive inspiration.
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