We spend over 71% of our time awake in our office space. So it’s important that this space is optimised not just for our productivity, but also our health. Ultimately spending extended amounts of time in dark, closed off and unventilated spaces with little natural light isn’t good for us. But that’s what a lot of our office spaces (home office and company office) are like.
I’ve put together 9 useful tips for how to create an office space that’s good for your health. These can be applied to both a home office and in your company office building.
Elbow height work surface
Regardless of if you’re standing or sitting, your work surface should be at elbow height. This means it’s at the level most comfortable for your arms and therefore your posture. You won’t be over extending yourself or crouching over trying to.
Have somewhere solo to work
Working in the same space as someone else can be distracting. Especially when you have very different roles. Even if you don’t mind working in the same space as someone else, it’s important to have somewhere you know you can go when you need some alone time.
Regular movement
Aim to change your position every 50 – 60 minutes. And stand up and walk around once every 60 minutes at a minimum. It’s something you may need to make a conscious effort to do, but it’s really important for your body and posture.
Let in lots of natural light
Lots of company offices have bright lights that feel very clinical and unnatural. And lots of home offices are often not bright enough. It’s important to have lots of natural light coming into your office space. Being surrounded by windows or large glass doors is a way to achieve this.
Improve ventilation
Ensure you open windows regularly and consider getting an air purifier. Increasing the greenery and plants in your office space will help with this also – see next point.
Get a peace lily
There are a wide-variety of plants that are ideal for office spaces. One of them is a peace lily. Peace lilies have very wide, broad, deep green leaves and grow beautiful white flowers that have given them their common name. They are popular because they don’t need a lot of light, and are easy to maintain.
Peace lily plants are also known for cleaning up the air, helping to remove toxins and create a nicer environment to work in. It’s tolerant of low light and a vigorous grower too. These plants work well for focal interest and screening.
Maximise space
The saying goes “tidy house, tidy mind.” And the same goes for your office. Declutter everything from your office space that doesn’t need to be there. And ensure you have tidy and orderly storage facilities for the things that do.
Where possible choose sustainable materials
The selection of natural materials has long been associated with health and wellbeing. Furthermore, they’re good for the planet. Research by Planet Ark shows that employees who are surrounded by natural wooden surfaces reported higher productivity and personal concentration. So if you’re considering renovating your office, consider where sustainable and natural materials can be used.
Ensure boundaries between work space and personal space
This particularly applies if you work from home. It’s important to establish different spaces for your work and relaxation activities. Also remember that your brain will begin to associate these places with those things. While we all sometimes do a little work from the sofa in the evening, the bulk of your work should be done from your designated work space.
