How does your office space affect your employees’ attitudes?
Does your office space need an attitude adjustment? Have you ever stopped to count how many hours a day your employees spend at the office versus their home? Most Americans spend a minimum of 40 hours a week doing the hustle and bustle of a full-time job. That means throughout the week our employees are spending 70% of their day in the office.
Ironically, we spend thousands of dollars to put our individual touches into our homes and next to nothing into our office spaces. The average American spends about 90,000 hours in a lifetime at work. That is an astounding number of hours!
That’s not even taking into consideration the amount of time we spend commuting to and from the office. Some may even dare to call the office their home away from home. Many employees inherit their office space and decor from their successor, giving off less reflection of the hardworking, committed employee that they really are.
So how can we help our employees make their “Home Away from home” a more positive space to work?
Here are some simple suggestions for doing just so:
Bring the outdoors in
Something as simple as adding your favorite plant or two to your office will immediately spruce up your space.
Succulents can make the perfect little companion to your workspace. Get creative in choosing a unique pot that expresses a touch of your character such as an antique teacup and saucer or a fun animal ceramic. These very little effort plants will provide your workspace with that homey feeling no matter what size office space you are working with.
Low light species work best in office spaces without natural light. In addition to the aesthetic benefits of greenery, there are many scientific health benefits to adding plants in our indoor spaces, such as the calming effect of the color green. Hanging a piece of art displaying a nature landscape is another way to boost our mood. Think of it as your own little window to the great outdoors.
Functional furniture
This is a big one! Having your office set up to provide optimal productivity is key. From l-shaped, u-shaped, double and single desks, Better Office Furniture offers many choices on how to get the most ideal workspace for your employees.
Considering the staggering increase in back related health issues among Americans, comfortable seating is a wise investment. In lieu of the standard seating arrangement, consider giving your employees the option to sit or stand throughout the day with our free fit height adjustable powered tables. These are gaining in popularity with office staff because of the versatility they offer.
Clean
This is by far the easiest, low cost way to improve the overall feel of the office environment. Springtime is the perfect time of year to dust off the shelves and evaluate how our office space makes us feel.
Most office spaces are lacking in the area of ventilation (another way a plant can help!). Dust can trigger allergies and a clean space helps you to breathe a little easier.
For starters, cleaning is a natural stress reliever. Additionally, cleaning can give you one heck of a mood boost! Like the de-stressor effect, having a clean and less
cluttered office environment tends to lead to a more relaxing and enjoyable day for you. I always feel a sense of relief after decluttering, don’t you? Why not give the cleaning task a go and see if it makes a difference in how you feel afterwards?
Organize
Have you ever just about lost your mind searching for your favorite pen buried under countless papers scattered on your desk? The quickest way to get organized is to utilize storage space. Creating organizational storage space can be a bit challenging if you are used to the “stacking everything in piles” method, but here are a few suggestions you might find helpful.
What about adding a storage cabinet to make use of wasted vertical space?
Better Office Furniture can help you design the perfect office setting based on your specific needs.
How about sectioning off your desk into different areas? An area for your personal items, an area for your pens, papers, etc. Consider a cute mason jar to hold those pens and small baskets or containers for odds and ends.
De-Stress
Essential oils provide a stimulating effect to the senses making you enjoy whatever you are doing. Using aromatherapy in the office to work on our emotions can prove to be a beneficial tool. You don’t need to buy an expensive diffuser to gain the benefits of using essential oils. Just simply carry your own personal roller ball of your favorite essential oil and equip yourself with an on-demand pick me up!
There is a plethora of essential oils to choose from including everything from mood changers, calming, focus and even clarity oils. One favorite is tangerine to uplift your mood because of its citrus smell, which gives a happy and calming effect. You might try a combination of eucalyptus, peppermint and rosemary, which will reduce fatigue. Keep in mind to use sparingly as some scents can be a nuisance to others.
Vision board
Keep your dreams visual by hanging an inspirational photo on the wall to help remind you what all this work is for anyway! Is it a family vacation to Disney? Or maybe a couples only retreat on the beach. Maybe it is brand new furniture in your home or a swimming pool in the back yard. It might be as simple as a photo of your loved ones you are providing for. Perhaps, it’s a combination of all the above. In that case try a photo collage!
Whatever the goal or dream, keep it front and center to help remind you where you are going. Once you’ve accomplished a goal, remove it and move on to the next one by hanging another visual.
Alas, the doom and gloom of winter is gone! Let’s enjoy the warmer weather that is upon us! Pack a picnic lunch and get outdoors during your break to soak up Mother Nature’s vitamin D. Then once break time is over, follow these simple tips to freshen up the vibe in your office!
Do you have ideas on how to make the work place a more positive space? Please share your ideas in the comments below, we’d love to hear what has worked for you!
