Office Organization Tips to Increase Productivity

As a working professional, your livelihood depends on your ability to produce high-quality work within a reasonable timeframe. Therefore, maintaining a high level of productivity is essential to both your professional and personal success. 

But sitting in an ugly, cramped office is the easiest way to send you running to your favorite websites to waste time. This lack of productivity allows your valuable creative juices to escape. Luckily, you can adapt the design of your office painlessly and inexpensively which increases your productivity. 

Follow these tips to easily turn your office into a space that encourages a productive workflow:

1. Comfort is Essential. Your chances of churning out high quality work rise substantially if you’re comfortable in your own office. Ensure that your office space is well ventilated. A window is ideal. However, if your office lacks a window, use plants to promote airflow. Leave your office open to keep it from feeling like a stuffy cage. In my office, I don’t have a lot of space but I make sure that I am getting the most out of it by strategically organizing to maximize the space. Getting the most out of your office organization really helps boost your productivity.

2. Color Therapy. Choose a subdued, cool color for your office that promotes tranquility and focus. Colors such as light blue, fern green, or white tend to encourage effectiveness. Therefore, they’re the ideal color selections for your office. 

Stay away from warm and dark colors. Avoid colors such as orange, red, and magenta. These colors are very distracting and heavy on the eyes.

3. Aesthetics. Though most professionals hate to admit it, the aesthetic appeal of your office space is an important factor in determining your level of efficiency and happiness on the job. You should have an office you’re proud to show off. Create a space that makes you feel like an executive, no matter what position you hold. 

Wall colors, plants, the finish of furniture, lighting and window treatments all play a vital role in the aesthetics of your office space. However, you’re the only person that can determine the right aesthetic direction for your workspace. 

4. Efficiency. If you must get up from your seat and walk across the room, you’ll interrupt your work focus and return to your desk with a blank mind and a confused expression. Items that you must access regularly during the day should be just a desk chair roll away. Make it a point to keep the following items within arm’s reach:

• Printer
• Fax Machine
• Scanner
• Phone
• File Cabinet
• Other commonly used tools or documents

The strategic placement of these items maintains an uninterrupted work focus that’ll shave valuable time off of your routine each day. I also make sure that I don’t run out of my favorite office supplies.

5. A Touch of Personality. You spend a great amount of time in your office every week. Therefore, it’s important that you feel as if the space is “yours.” Personalize your office by hanging artwork that you find enchanting, placing photos of your family on your desk, and bringing along a snazzy throw pillow which accents your office’s overall color scheme. 

These simple injections of personality will create a feeling that you’re spending time at your home away from home. After all, you’ll be spending at least 40 hours a week here! Make it an inviting work environment by incorporating your favorite colors, beautiful plants, and pictures of the people you love the most.

Whether you’re self-employed or working for a boss, a comfortable office is an essential factor in your potential for success and advancement. Optimize the design of your workspace to promote effectiveness. When you do, you’ll be surprised how quickly you begin to experience the success you deserve and a sense of control over your work life. Check out At Work With Nikki on Youtube, Instagram, and Facebook where I share the tips that have helped me grow my business and survive the struggles of being a small business owner.

Hugs and Love, Nikki.