By Jessica Hupp
The environment in which you work can have a profound effect on your level of motivation. Everything from the color of your walls to the way you position your desk can make an impact. Follow these 50 tips to improve your workspace, and you’ll be taking steps toward more productivity and motivation.
Feng Shui
Follow this ancient Chinese practice of arranging objects to create harmony.
- Sit in a commanding position: In feng shui, the commanding position is one where you’re supported from behind and open from the front, so this means you’ll work facing the entrance to your work area.
- Incorporate water into your office: Water features will keep you in tune with your desires and help you better become motivated to meet your goals.
- Keep your doorway clear: Make sure you don’t obstruct your doorway, or you’ll block the flow of positive energy.
- Look to inspiration: Don’t arrange your workspace so that you’re looking at clutter or unnecessary objects.
- Define your personal area: Use a door or alert bell to make a clear definition of where your workspace begins and ends.
- Rearrange your office frequently: Frequent changes in your work environment will keep you alert and on the ball.
- Draw attention to your achievements: Place your diplomas and awards in a prominent area to remind yourself of what you’ve accomplished.
- Create a balance: Follow a balance of yin and yang, with light and dark colors, hard and soft surfaces, and more.
- Place symbols of goals in your area: Create something that is symbolic of your goal, and place it at a high level.
Decluttering
One sure-fire way to feel better in your work environment is to clear out junk. Follow these tips to de-clutter your way to a better workspace.
- Corral your gear: Make sure that all of your cords, devices, and tools all have a specific place.
- Create a calendar: Instead of using sticky notes and scribbled papers, keep all of your important dates together in a calendar.
- Adopt a to-do list notebook: Just like the calendar, a notebook can make it easy to cut down on having lots of different papers around.
- File: When you do have extraneous papers, make sure that there’s a home for them in your file cabinet.
- Create a system for paper: Decide what the process is for dealing with bills, letters, and more.
- Bulletin board: Use a bulletin board to corral important notices and keep them off of your desk.
- Create zones: If your work requires a few different tasks, create a station just for that task filled with all of the supplies you need. Good examples of work zones would be for shipping or reading.
- Throw away old magazines: Stop letting old magazines accumulate after you’ve read them. Instead, clip important pieces out, and scan or file them.
Comfort
A comfortable workplace is a productive one. Take these steps to make sure you feel good in your work area.
- Listen to music: Use music to create a relaxing atmosphere.
- Eliminate loud noises: Avoid interruptions by choosing a workspace that’s far away from neighbors, TVs, and other sources of noise.
- Add family photos: Add a touch of home and remind yourself what you’re working for with family photos.
- Make it smell good: Use aromatherapy to add a nice ambiance as well as motivate.
- Choose an area with good ventilation: Keep yourself from feeling stagnant by choosing an area that provides lots of air flow.
- Add a few pillows and blankets: In your reading area, keep a few pillows and blankets to make it cozy.
Equipment
Make these changes in your equipment to turn your workspace into the ultimate motivation zone.
- Get a nice chair: These days, a good chair is vitally important, especially if you spend a lot of time on the computer.
- Task lighting: Take it easy on your eyes by using lamps and other lighting to focus specifically on the task at hand.
- Ambient lighting: Use indirect ambient lighting to reduce glare on your eyes.
- Keep important items close: Make sure that you keep any frequently-used items, like a phone, close to your workspace.
- Reading chair: Use a separate, comfortable chair to create a zone made just for reading.
- Bookshelf with helpful references: Keep your knowledge close to you with a bookshelf filled with all of the references you need.
- Use a fan: Keep your temperature right where it needs to be so you don’t stagnate.
Environment
Take these tips into consideration when planning your work environment.
- Create a personal style: Your workspace needs to follow your own style, or you’ll feel like you’re working in someone else’s office.
- Use natural light: Stay in sync with day and night with a window for natural light.
- Add art: Introduce paintings or other pieces of art that make you feel great for added motivation.
- Choose a color: Adopt an inspiring color for your space. A popular color is green because it’s the color of money.
- Use a separate room: Get privacy and your own space to let your mind go into a work zone by choosing a room to be used solely as a workspace.
- Plants: Foster the growth of living, oxygen-generating plants so that you can grow with them.
- Give every object a home: Things won’t pile up if there’s a specific place for each type of item.
Ergonomics
Carefully follow ergonomic guidelines to avoid injuring yourself.
- Ensure that you have adequate lumbar support: Reduce stress on your lower back with a good chair, and you’ll be more productive and healthy.
- Place your feet on the floor: Ensure that your feet rest on the floor, using a footrest if necessary.
- Protect your upper body: Ensure that your arms, elbows, neck, and shoulders are all in a comfortable position.
- Reduce glare: Make it easy on your eyes by eliminating or reducing glare.
House Rules
Set a few rules about your workspace to carefully preserve your motivation and productivity.
- Establish “Do Not Disturb” times: During specific times of the day, turn off everything and focus only on the task at hand.
- Avoid letting things pile up on the floor: Don’t let clutter take over your office, or you’ll find it to be a drain on your energy.
- Never use your workspace for storage: It’s tempting to use a secondary room for junk, but it will be distracting, especially if it’s not related to your work.
- Always turn off your computer: Symbolically turn off your day by turning off your computer when you’re done every evening.
- Make your office a sacred space: Make sure that friends, family and neighbors know that your workspace is for work only.
- Never eat at your desk: Avoid eating at your desk both for cleanliness and productivity.
- Never use your workspace for play: Train your mind to get into work mode whenever you sit at your desk by avoiding recreational activities while in your workspace.
- Always clear your desk: Never leave a messy desk, or you’ll leave the troubles of today piled up for tomorrow.
- If it doesn’t have a function, you don’t need it: Make sure that everything in your workspace serves a purpose, or you don’t need it.
译文:
重整效率：50个打造动力办公的方法
杰西卡.哈比
你的工作环境对你的工作动机程度有深远的影响。热河东西，无论从你墙壁的颜色还是你摆桌子的方式，都会对你有所影响。参考以下50个改善办公环境的建议，它们会使你的工作更加有效，更加有动力。
风水
消防中国古代放置物品以创造和谐氛围的实践。
1， 坐一个指挥性的位置。风水里所说的指挥性位置是指前有机会后由靠山的位置。所以这就意味着你要挑选一个面对工作区域进出口的位置。
2， 在办公室方些水。水的特质能够使你和你的理想保持一致，同时帮助你更好地朝目标作出积极性的工作。
3， 保持门口的清洁。保证办公室的门口畅通无阻，否则你的富有能量的，富有激情的思绪将会被阻碍。
4， 注意鼓舞人心的东西。不要把办公室布置层废旧无用物品堆放处。
5， 划分出你的个人空间。用门或者警报器等作为一个明显的标记，说明你的办公范围。
6， 经常整理办公室。工作环境中的经常整理和改变会让你保持清醒的头脑和敏锐的思维。
7， 关注自己所取得的成就。在显著的位置摆放上自己的文凭，获奖证书等，提醒和鼓励自己已经取得了一些成就。
8， 打造平衡。遵循阴阳平衡：颜色的明暗，物品层面的软硬，等等。
9， 摆出目标象征物。选出一样能象征你自己的奋斗目标的东西来，并且高高地摆放。
收拾杂乱
在工作环境中使你感觉良好的一则良方就是清理废物。参考以下整理出宜人工作环境的建议。
10. 收拾整理所有物。确保你所有的绳绳线线，仪器设备，工具等都放在一个具体的位置。
11. 制作日程表。所有重要的日子放在一个日程表里面，而不是用粘贴便条或者速写本来写。
12. 用备忘录（活页笔记本）。和日程表有点类似，但是它易于从总所不同纸张中撕下。
13. 存档。确保你文件柜子上有一个地方用来存放那些无关紧要的文件。
14. 制作一个系统纸夹。挑选不同类别的文件或者纸张，然后进行归类存放：单据，发票，信件，等等。
15. 用（电子）公告牌。把重要的通知显示在桌子旁边的电子公告牌里，不让它们堆积在桌子上。
16. 划分区域。划分不同的区域来放置你要完成的不同任务。划分工作区域很好的例子就是航运区或者阅读区。
17. 处理旧杂志。旧的杂志，在看过之后就别堆积着了，把重要的篇页撕下来，用于快速阅览或者存档。
舒适
一个舒适的办公室才会是有效率的，学习下面的步骤，来使你工作起来更加舒适。
18. 听音乐。音乐可以营造一个轻松的氛围。
19. 消除大噪音。选择一个远离邻居，远离电视或者其他噪音源的地方作为办公室，尽量避免打搅。
20. 摆放家庭照。这样能够使自己时刻感觉和家人在一起，同时也提醒着自己为什么而工作的。
21. 洁净空气。使用芳香剂来创造一个工作的好环境和激发工作积极性。
22. 选择一个通风透气的地方。这样能够使自己远离污浊不流通的空气。
23. 放置一些枕头和毯子。在阅读区放置一些枕头和毯子使之温暖舒适。
设备
在办公的地方，改善一些设备，使你的办公室成为最好的激发工作动力的地方。
24. 一把好椅子。工作的时候有一把好椅子是非常重要的，特别是当你需要在电脑前工作很长一段时间的时候。
25. 工作聚光照明。在忙手头上的工作的时候，点上台灯或者其他照明灯来集中精力，同时不会给眼睛造成什么压力。
26. 环境照明。间接照明让工作环境处于明亮的条件下，以减少聚光对眼睛的伤害。
27. 保管相关重要物品。确保你工作所需要的常用物品，比如说，电话。
28. 阅读椅。摆放一张单独的，舒适的椅子来打造一个舒适的阅读空间。
29. 一个放置相关有用书籍的书架。这样的一个书架能够帮助你时刻与你的知识亲密接触。
30. 一个风扇。风扇能使空气流通，便于保持一个适宜的温度。
环境
策划布置办公环境的时候，把这些也考虑进去。
31. 打造个人风格。你的办公室应该具有你自己的风格特点，否则你会觉得你在别人的办公室里面工作。
32. 利用自然光。窗户外的自然光线能提醒自己时间，究竟是白天了还是夜晚了。
33. 增添艺术气氛。挂一些你感觉嫩够激发动力的油画作品或者其他艺术作品。
34. 选择一种颜色。选择一种激励人心的颜色来装扮你的工作空间。绿色是比较受欢迎的，因为和钱的颜色一样。
35. 使用一个单间。选择一个单间作为办公室，让自己拥有一个私人空间，能够忘情地投入工作的地方。
36. 植物.种植有生命力的绿色植物，这样你还可以与之一同成长。
37. 给每样物品一个空间。如果每个物品都妥当地放置在一个具体的地方，它们就不会堆积起来。
工效学
谨遵这些功效指导，以避免自我伤害。
38. 确保你拥有足够的腰部支撑。一把好的椅子能减少腰部的压力，也有利于健康，使你工作起来更加有效率。
39. 双脚是触地。保证工作的时候，把脚能够放在地板上休息，必要时可以用搁脚物。
40. 保护好上半身。让手臂，手肘，脖子，肩膀都处于一个轻松舒服的状态。
41. 减低眩光。消除或减少眩光，放松双眼。
房子规则
在办公处设立一些规则以保护你的动力和工作效率。
42. 挂上“不要打搅“的牌子。在一天中的特殊时段，避开一切东西，专注于手头工作。
43. 避免往地板上堆积东西。不要让杂物占据了你的办公室，否则你就会发现它们耗尽你的精力。
44. 永远不要把办公数变成储物室。人总是会有把次要房间当作储物室的倾向，但是，那些废旧什物会分散你的注意力，特别是那些与你工作无关的恭喜。
45. 习惯关机。当你什么事情都做完的时候，关闭电脑，借此来象征你一天的工作结束了。
46. 把办公室设置成令人生畏的地方，这样就能使你的朋友，家人，邻居们知道，你的这个地方只是用来工作的。
47. 不要在办公桌旁吃东西。为了卫生和工作效率，需要避免在办公桌旁吃东西。
48. 不要在办公室玩耍。办公室应该避免娱乐活动，训练自己养成这样的习惯：无论什么时候坐在办公桌前，就要进入工作状态。
49. 经常清理办公桌。不要留下乱糟糟的办公桌就离开，否则，你明天就得处理今天留下的这里麻烦事。
50. 如果东西没有用，就别留着了。保证办公室里面任何东西都各有所用，否则，就处理掉吧，不需要留着了。