Organising your personal desk space can be good fun. You have a workspace that’s entirely yours (unless you hotdesk, of course) and you can decorate it as you see fit. Obviously, this depends on your company’s policy… but usually, a photo or small painting from your child won’t breach the regulations.
While it is good fun, it’s really important to organise your workspace properly. The way your desk is laid out can directly affect your health, particularly if you experience bad posture and back problems. On top of this, a well-organised desk space can make you more productive and even happier at work.
These are our top tips on how to organise your desk space.
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Ergonomics are essential
Ergonomics refers to the science of creating a working environment that is conducive to good health. Most of us think about posture, chairs, and back injuries when we think of ergonomics in the office. And these are indeed the most common concerns, and the source of most of the average office workers’ health problems.
When you first set up your desk space, there are a few things you’ll need to consider to create a healthy working environment. The first is to ensure that the lumbar support on your chair (if applicable) is set properly. You should also set the height of your chair to ensure your feet are flat and your thighs are horizontal.
When sitting at your desk, your eye level should be at the top of your computer screen. This ensures your posture has the best chance of remaining upright and therefore healthy, while you work. Your health and safety officer should be able to help you organise your workspace accordingly, and most will schedule a session when you first arrive.
Ensure adequate lighting
Lighting is incredibly important in the workplace, for a number of reasons. Poor lighting can cause a host of health problems, such as eye strain and neck problems, and even contribute to accidents. On the other hand, lighting that is too harsh can be a distraction and also cause issues while working.
In a large office, it’s very difficult for an employee to have any control over the lighting. However, management and facilities should be receptive to feedback if the office is too bright or too dark. If you’d like to regulate the lighting in your personal space, a small desk lamp can work wonders, particularly if you work better with mood lighting!
Include some greenery
Plants in the office are simply a must. And a small desk plant or two can work wonders. The science behind plants and their impact on our well-being at work is immense. They can help reduce stress, improve creativity, and even boost productivity. If you’re searching for the perfect desk plant, something small but bushy is the best way to go. And the tougher, the better.
Don’t be afraid to decorate (within reason)
A little bit of colour never hurt anyone! People are on average, 17% more productive when there is art in the office. It’s common to draw inspiration from a favourite painting, image, or print, so why not place one on your desk partition? Pleasing images can also help fight stress and create a stronger sense of satisfaction at work.
Some offices will have policies to stop employees from cluttering their desks and workspaces. This is reasonable to a point, but we strongly recommend businesses consider the benefits of a few personal effects, images, and of course, plants. These items can go a long way toward making employees feel more comfortable, relaxed, and happy at work.
Remove distractions where possible
Anyone who has worked in an office environment knows the constant battle against distraction. Distractions can come in a wide range of forms, but the most common are visual and auditory. These can be incredibly disruptive to your employees, increasing the likelihood of mistakes, as well as stress and frustration.
When you’re optimising your desk space or reorganising a new working area, taking the time to remove distractions is important. This might mean requesting an additional partition to eliminate visual distractions, or perhaps using a good set of headphones while working, to avoid unwanted noise. Plants are also handy as natural acoustic solutions.
Keep stationary accessible
Even if your business aims to be paperless, there’s a good chance you’ll still use certain pieces of stationary throughout the day. Keeping this stationary organised and easily accessible makes life easier, so reorganising your drawers or storing stationary on your desk in open containers looks better, and increases efficiency throughout the day.
A neat, organised desk is a more productive, stress-free workspace!
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