Making Your Home Office Conducive to Work

Most of us know that we need to think carefully about office design if we’re going to work at home productively. But what many people don’t realize, is that it’s not just the furniture in the home office that can support or hinder your attempts to work hard. Factors that influence your physiology can also have a big effect.

Light

For instance, it's crucial that you keep your rooms light enough if you want to be able to see what you're doing and to feel like you have space and air in the room. There are few things that make you feel less productive than being in a claustrophobic room.

At the same time, this also has an impact on our mood. A dark room has the tendency to make us feel tired, whereas light helps stimulate cortisol and wakefulness hormones. One great investment for a home office therefore is a daylight lamp, which creates light with a similar wavelength to the sun. It can combat SAD and it also improves productivity.

Distractions

At the same time you need to remove distractions – but not to the point where the room is so bland that you completely lose inspiration. Plants and colors can help to keep you feeling creative, but something like a TV is just begging for you to not work. Remember to put anything else you buy for your home office on your expense account!

Separation

Treat this room in your house like a real office too. Don't go in there when you're not working and make sure you take regular breaks to sit outside with a cup of tea or to just grab lunch.

Doing this will help to create an association between work and the office space – thus walking into the office will put you in a more productive headspace that will help you work longer and better.

Temperature

Even the temperature of your room has an impact on productivity. Ideally, this space should be lightly cool. This will help you to feel more awake and avoid drowsiness. Did you know that many theaters maintain a cool ambient temperature in order to keep the audience engaged with the stage show?

Smell and More

Even the smell has an effect! The right essential oils can stimulate the production of positive hormones that stimulate creativity and productivity, conversely, a bad odor floating in from outside can have a very negative impact.

Air quality is important too.

In short, do everything you can to make your office a space that nurtures and protects your productive instincts!