Businesses need to do all they can to make the most of their workspaces. The office can be a stress-inducing place, especially when onboarding new employees. To avoid all the stress and chaos, it is important to focus on making your office run efficiently when easing into a new year. Whether you decide on making small or big changes to your office, rearranging or tossing unnecessary paperwork, you must plan to set aside time for brightening up your office space and making improvements. Having a chaotic office is only going to distract you and your colleagues. Employee environments can have a big impact on satisfaction as well as employee productivity. While enhancing your office space may not initially seem like it is worth the effort, you will realize how this investment can pay off in the long run. Here are some ways employees can appreciate their office more and run their areas more efficiently:

Declutter

Employees should aim to keep office spaces and communal areas clean. It is one thing to do a deep clean, but it takes a collective effort to keep them spotless throughout the year. It is a good idea to clear out all unnecessary belongings from communal spaces and desk drawers. As soon as things fall out of the process, it can be difficult to regain control over your work environment. If everyone does their part and leads by example, they will have an obligation to clean up and keep their space in mint condition. Depending on the office environment, managers should encourage everyone to do a deep clean every month or quarter. This will make coming to work every day more appealing and can prevent important documents from being misplaced.

Decorate With a Purpose

Businesses frequently have themes and color schemes throughout their offices. More often than not, offices will utilize colors that are included in their logo. Commercial design can frequently come off as cold and unwelcoming. Many companies will consult with an interior designer for office inspiration. It is also worth noting that one should not go overboard with regards to decorating offices. For example, if a logo involves a bright color, it might be best to include these colors as accent pieces. Think twice before placing blaring colors on desks. Doing so can distract the entire office. Sometimes, less is more. If you spend too much time decorating your workspace, it can take away from valuable work time.

Proper Lighting

Many outdated offices have similar lighting to old office buildings and hospitals. Offices can benefit from utilizing adequate lighting and changing up the lampshades. It is valuable to stick with a theme when changing the lighting. By sticking with the same theme, it can help add more flow to your office. Brightening your workplace will also make it more appealing to applicants and in-person client meetings.  Overhead lights along with computer screens can be extremely hard on the eyes. It can be fun to incorporate a funky lamp in social areas that can help people relax on intense workdays. The lighting can help draw people to certain areas and dress up the office.

Make It More Lovely

Offices should add subtle hints of green to their space. Be careful not to include fake plants, though. They only collect dust and have to be cleaned frequently. Fake plants filter the air the same way that real plants do, so it is much better to stick with the latter as this option is more beneficial to the health of the employees. Living plants placed in conference rooms, lounges, and personal offices can add more life to the entire workplace. A simple living wall design can be extremely welcoming in the entrance of an office as well.  

Collaborative Rooms

Recently, it has become popular to add glassed-in soundproof rooms at offices for meeting purposes. Depending on the office environment, it is crucial to weigh the pros and cons of having this type of conference rooms or not. While some people value their privacy and do not want to be seen or heard especially in important meetings, it is fine with others as it could mean like transparency is a big deal in the workplace. Yes, it has its perks of being more collaborative, however, there should be a variation of meeting rooms that are more professional and have an appropriate amount of privacy. Lounges and common areas can be perked up as well for quick and not-so-formal meetings. A cozy couch and several bean bags would really help in terms of the employees’ relaxation and comfort.

The Importance of Outdoor Space

Many new offices are incorporating more outdoor areas to their space. These areas are a great perk to have when trying to attract top talent. People who are looking for a job might be easily enticed to businesses with high employee retention rates because of said benefit. Having an outdoor area might help candidates select a job that offers a positive company culture and environment. Many employees will be placed through intense workdays and will need an area where they can check out and have a moment away from their desks. They can be more productive if they allow themselves to step away from demanding projects every once in a while, thus brightening their attitude towards work. 

Get creative and have fun decorating your office!

Author Bio:

Carolyn Krokus is a contributor for 365 Business Tips and can be found enhancing event blogs by writing lively and relevant content. When she is not blogging, she can be found at the beach running, or nannying on the side.

You’ve been having a fierce staring game with your laptop for about 30 minutes now and neither seems to want to back down. All you hear in the background is the clickety-clack of your colleague’s keyboard and the never-ending ticking of the clock that says two in the afternoon. Your low energy makes you want to just lie in bed and binge your favorite series at home without a care in the world.

Sounds familiar? Don’t worry because everyone else has had the same experience at work.

We’ve all had sluggish and lazy moments in the office. More often than not, a temporary lull in energy levels could be an aftereffect of a heavy workload or a dip in your circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is basically a 24-hour internal clock that is running in the background of your brain and cycles between sleepiness and alertness at regular intervals. Once this hits you at a time when deadlines are just around the corner, you’ll have to brace yourself for that imminent yawn. And you wouldn’t want that to happen during a meeting with your boss.

So how can you best recover from energy lulls without having to resort to too much caffeine and sugary snacks? Better steer away from being at a low ebb at work as it can affect your productivity and output.

1. Enjoy the sunshine

When you’re working the early morning shift, it’s best to take advantage of the sunlight, receive its warmth, and bathe in its pleasant goodness. A two-minute walk around the block is always a great idea to relax your mind and unwind from work. Listen to your favorite mellow music and soak in the morning breeze. In a fast-paced environment, meditating is another important thing often passed up on. Deep breaths also help improve blood flow, develop a good posture, and detoxify the body.

2. Get your body moving

Get up every once in a while and stretch those muscles to keep your energy flowing throughout the day. If you can squeeze in a little workout and break a sweat during your free time, it can help you stay at peak performance until the end of the day. Exercising in the office isn’t an entirely new idea, but regular physical activities have such positive impact to employees as they provide an opportunity for them to connect beyond the workplace. A study also showed the benefits of exercising aren’t just physical; it also enhances mental abilities and develops creativity and focus.

3. Keep your desk organized

Your workplace is your personal space, and it sort of defines your personality. If it’s too cluttered and your stuff is in disarray, it’s likely that your mind is clouded as well. Pens, highlighters, and scissors should be in a pencil cup or any used cylindrical cup. Important files, sticky notes, stamps, and printer paper should be stored in a filing cabinet or a paper tray. Remember: clearing your desk can help you clear your mind. It can energize your entire system and give you a fresh perspective. Plants can also boost your productivity and well-being. Surround yourself with lush greenery and you will find yourself in a friendly, breathing environment conducive to a positive and revitalized workplace.

4. Check your to-do list

Always take a minute to prioritize your tasks. Stress leads to fatigue and even mental breakdown. Once you’re done with a certain project, tick it off your list. And you will feel a slight tingling sensation after that small achievement. Imagine being able to accomplish everything down to the last item on your list. Feels like you’re ready to do more, right?

5. Munch on healthy snacks

Sitting at your desk all day can already lead to weight gain and loss of muscle tone, so going for junk food isn’t really a great option. Eating healthy snacks not only balances out blood sugar, it also affects overall performance by providing the fuel needed to perform daily tasks. A combo of protein and carbs like yogurt with fruits and nuts is one example. Breakfast shouldn’t be taken for granted either. It kickstarts metabolism to help burn calories around the clock.

6. Share a laugh

Indeed, laughter is the best medicine—even to lack of energy. Its benefits extend to better mental health and a sign of healthier overall well-being. Apart from boosting the immune system, the act of laughing releases endorphins into the brain, providing happiness and an amplified sense of comfort. So don’t shy away from the occasional laugh with your colleagues. After all, it isn’t merely an escape from work, but a way to help you be more productive and cultivate a positive work environment.

7. Go for tea instead of coffee

Tea and coffee are perhaps two of the most well-liked beverages in the world, especially on rainy days. But how does one go about choosing which one to drink whenever their energy hits a low point? While coffee can improve short term reaction times and protect the liver against cancer, it can also cause tooth discoloration and decrease blood flow to the heart. Tea, on the other hand, contains fluoride which protects the teeth and can reduce risk of stroke, neurological disorders, and a heart attack.

8. Keep a positive attitude

At the end of the day, how you handle stress and lack of energy is what matters most. Feed your mind with positive thoughts and only then can you approach things with an optimistic standpoint full of endless possibilities. Celebrate small wins to improve morale and inspire creativity and you’ll be surprised how this can also significantly influence the people around you.