Businesses are operating differently on many levels in the aftermath of the 2008 Great Recession. From simple cost-cutting measures to shifts in target demographics and marketing strategies, things have changed recently. One notable trend stands out—dramatic shifts in the ways businesses design and utilize their office space. Both out of a desire to stay competitive and to ensure efficient use of space and employee time, companies are shaking things up.
But change can create uncertainty and discomfort in the eyes of some employees, and there is an art to redesigning an office in a way that keeps your whole office content! As for individual employees—there are plenty of things you can do on your own behalf to keep focused and content at work! Here are some pointers, some of them via Forbes:
-Add personal touches. Having family photos, favorite works of art, books, or a special decoration by your desk can bridge the gap between an office that feels like work and a desk that feels like home!
-Keep your workspace tidy and organized. Even if you don’t see yourself as an obsessive neat freak, it’s much easier for us to focus when our desk or other workspace is free of clutter! When items are easier to find, and files are organized in a neat and aesthetically pleasing fashion, you’ll find it much easier to focus on your work.
-Learn to ignore or otherwise cope with interruptions. We all work best when uninterrupted, but interruptions happen, and we all need to deal with them! Self-control goes a long way, but keeping some form of noise protection between offices and avoiding placing cubicles near elevators and other loud machinery can go a long way!
-Add plants to your work area. This may sound abstract, but studies have suggested that the presence of plants can make many workers feel more comfortable at their desks. Some researchers have even suggested that plants in work spaces can lower the blood pressure and increase the positive feelings of workers. But you’ve surely heard enough to put one at your desk, right? Right.
-Keep some form of structured relaxation in your work routine. Maybe play calming music at intervals of your workday, or go for a walk on your lunch break. Whatever it takes to make work feel more like a regular life activity and not a grueling day in a stuffy office, it’s worth the effort!
