5 Factors in Your Office That Could Be Affecting Productivity

If you lack focus and feel unproductive when working in your office, it could be due to a number of factors surrounding you that typically wouldn't seem like a big deal. Keep reading to find out if any of the following could be affecting you.

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1) Furniture

This may seem like the factor you wouldn't necessarily need to worry about as much

as the rest. However, furniture is one of the most important when trying to improve productivity, especially as we tend to spend around 8 hours a day in the office. Firstly, chairs and desks need to be of a good quality, and they need to be comfortable, as when furniture isn’t comfortable, they can have many negative effects. Poorly designed furniture can cause injury which can lead to prolonged time out of work, and they can also cause a lack of concentration, leading to a stagnant workflow. Providing comfortable furniture, such as ergonomic chairs, comfortable desks, arm and wrist supports, and monitor/laptop risers is essential, as this will ensure staff are comfortable, which will benefit their physical health, and it will also benefit their mental well-being, as they will find it easier to concentrate on their work and enjoy sitting at their desks more – also boosting morale and productivity.

The shape and arrangement of your furniture can also improve or lower levels of productivity. Furniture with rounded edges has been linked to creating positive emotions, creativity, and productivity. Also, studies have shown that sitting in circles encourages greater levels of cohesion, encouraging teamwork – something to consider when holding meetings. Lastly, spacing furniture out can make the office look more organised and less cluttered, also making staff feel more relaxed.

2) Lighting

This is a major factor that needs to be correct in the office as different kinds of lighting has different psychological effects, and it is one of the easiest way to improve staff performance.

Dim lighting has been shown to lower productivity, and fluorescent lighting has been known to cause headaches. The best way is to try and incorporate some natural lighting and some artificial. Having a bright office helps to create a cheerful mood and facilitates productivity.

If you are able to, it’s worth installing a lighting system that enables you to control the hue and brightness of your room.

3) Colours This may sound like an odd factor, but in reality, different colours have been shown to

increase or decrease certain moods. According to Wrights theory, the colour blue stimulates the mind, yellow inspires

creativity and affects your emotions, red effects your body, and green creates a calming balance. Choose the colour that relates to how you want people to feel in the office, or have a nice mix, regardless what you choose, colour always improves happiness as it brightens up the work-space, whether it be on the walls, furniture, or both.

4) Temperature

This may sound like an odd factor, but in reality, different colours have been shown to increase or decrease certain moods.

According to Wrights theory, the colour blue stimulates the mind, yellow inspires creativity and affects your emotions, red effects your body, and green creates a calming balance.

Choose the colour that relates to how you want people to feel in the office, or have a nice mix. Regardless what you choose, colour always improves happiness as it brightens up the work-space, whether it be on the walls, furniture, or both. The perfect office temperature depends on two main factors, firstly, the male to female ratio as women have lower metabolic rates than men and tend to have more body fat, meaning women tend to be more susceptible to cold. Secondly, how the office is designed as large windows that let in a lot of sunlight may make the room feel warmer, high ceilings may create poor air distribution, meaning heaters and air conditioners have to work harder.There are also factors such as weight, age, and humidity to take into consideration when it comes to the perfect temperature, but always remember that not everyone is going to be happy.

5) Noise

This is probably the most obvious as it is known as one of the main distractions in the workplace and can be one of the biggest reasons why employees aren’t productive. There are some people who work better with some background noise, I tend to be one of them, but a lot of people prefer complete silence. It is good to make sure the office caters to both needs by having open space for the people who like noise, and a quiet secluded space for people who don’t.

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If you feel that any of these factors could be affecting yours or your colleagues’ productivity, make sure to raise your concerns to the relevant person, as taking action will definitely have a positive impact.

If you feel that your office needs some new furniture, you might find something you like in our brochure, contact us for more info sales@keelworkspace.com

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