5 Ways To Optimise Your Work Space
Whether you work from home or in an office, a separate place for you to focus on your educational or career needs is very important. Many people believe that the learning environment is no less important than the work you are doing. So how can you optimise your work space to make the most of your learning time?
Natural Light
Even something as simple as the type of lighting present in your learning environment could enhance or hinder your performance. Whilst the brilliance of technology has made it much more convenient to learn online, it’s not good to be around the artificial lighting of computer screens every day.
There’s an easy answer to that; natural lighting! Natural lighting enhances our mood by making us happier and is a great source of vitamin D. If it’s possible, try and put your desk near a large window! It has also been suggested that a naturally well-lit room encourages critical and analytical thought processes. Not only that, but poor lighting can cause eye strain and headaches, so make sure you have sufficient light over your work area.
Tidy Environment
If your desk space is a mess, it won’t help you to focus. A clear desk represents a clear mind. If your space is free of unnecessary distractions, you can remain focused on what you are doing. Have an easily accessible bin and use it! People at messy desks become frustrated and weary quicker than those at neat desks.
A study by Harvard researchers proved that when people had been in a neat environment they were more determined when taking on a challenging task, as opposed to those who had been in a messy space. The messy space takes over your mind because it keeps so many things on the brain. All it takes is a glance a the stacks and stacks of papers on your desk that you need to look through, and you instantly feel pressured. Tidy this away, and you’ll feel less overwhelmed,
Colour Psychology
Colour can, surprisingly, have a massive effect on your learning space. Did you know that colour can improve learning from 55% to 78% percent? By that statistic, you should definitely be implementing colours into your workspace! In general, colour psychology studies (and there are many) reveal changes in the body and brain when people view certain colors. These changes influence productivity, creativity, health, stress levels, focus, communication, and emotions. Did you know…
- Red is a powerful colour
- Blue is a calming colour
- Yellow is an emotional colour
- Green is a refreshing colour
So try and implement some of these colours into your workspace!
Music
Now, this one may not apply to everyone, but some say music helps to build your concentration. Some prefer a bit of background noise, whilst others prefer silence. Whichever you prefer, headphones may be useful either to block out background noise or provide the music to keep productivity levels high. It’s true that even silence distracts our attention from the main attraction – your work. You will be noticing everything around you except for what you really need to focus on!
Nature
People who have indoor plants may already know this, but plants are a great way to increase concentration levels and lower the feeling of stress. There are so many studies that support the theory that indoor plants in the workplace provide better air quality and have many psychological benefits. Perhaps a low-maintenance plant such as a succulent would be perfect for your desk!
Let us know if you there’s something that you feel optimises your learning that we haven’t included!