You donโt have to look hard to find YouTube tutorials on how to set up a beautiful home office. Many people feel that itโs absolutely necessary to make a home office as attractive as possible by buying high-end desks, chairs, keyboards, etc. In fact, some think itโll add to their productivity.
In this article, weโll tackle a common office setup myth. Weโll go over what it is and some of the things you can do to truly increase your productivity. Weโll also discuss other practical aspects of how to be productive in your home office.
Letโs get started!
Does An Attractive Workspace Mean More Productivity?
Although most people are inclined to think that a beautiful home office would lend itself to better productivity, this assumption may not be entirely true.
The closest correlation we could find wasnโt between the attractiveness of a home office and productivity but between health and the view from the window. According to one study, the more scenic and nature-oriented a personโs view is, the better health they will have.
If youโve got a great view from your home office, youโre already one step toward better health! While we canโt overlook the connection between health and productivity, it would be a stretch to say a nice interior workspace is the same as an attractive view from the window.
The Truth: Creatives Can Be Messy
Matcha Design CEO Chris Lo believes itโs a myth that beautifying an office space will automatically result in better productivity. He says, โIโve seen brilliant designersโ offices are quite cluttered in magazines. Perhaps itโs organized chaos.โ
(If weโve piqued your curiosity, check out some of the โimperfectโ workspaces in this article. Then check out this study from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management that shows the messier your desk is, the more creative you may be.)
The defining factor of productivity is not the beauty of your office, but its usefulness. If your desk is piled so high with papers that you canโt find anything, you wonโt be productive. That said, the design elements themselves can take away from your productivity.
โHaving an efficient workstation or office helps with focus. Decorations are nice, but if they become a distraction rather than an inspiration, thatโs counterproductive,โ Chris continues.
Match Your Workspace to Your Work
As awesome as it is to have a perfectly clean workspace, tastefully retrofitted with the perfect accents, you probably donโt need all of that. โUnless youโre making computer chips or sensitive elements/electronics, a dust-free office wonโt help you become a better designer,โ Chris says, โNot that I have anything against cleanliness or tidiness!โ
Clearly, a dusty workspace will only create problems for a person whoโs building electronics. Even after the electronics are built, dust can be problematic, leading to blockages, performance issues, and more. While a clean workspace is required if youโre building hardware or some other electrical component, most people donโt need to go that far in cleaning their workspace.
What Can You Do To Boost Productivity?
Research does suggest that indoor plants can boost productivity, so they would be a worthwhile (and relatively low-cost) inclusion to your home office if youโre looking for decorating tips. Be sure to allow plenty of natural light in and stop to enjoy the view every so often. A smaller office could potentially help too.
Thatโs all weโve got as far as design tips – so what is Chrisโ number one tip to boost productivity if itโs not to set up a flawless home office?
โThe bottom line is self-discipline. When I was young, I trained myself to be a disciplined designer no matter where I was – even in a noisy restaurant, with a group of people watching behind me. Then Iโd invest my money in getting the best tool I could afford to do my job. I didnโt need a thousand-dollar desk or state-of-the-art electronics. Those things are great, but they should be what you use to reward yourself after your big wins.โ
Become More Productive with Matcha Design
If youโre looking for ways to boost your productivity, Matcha Design is here to help! Many business owners fall into the trap of trying to do it all, but a wise leader knows when to delegate. Whether you need website design and development, professional video production, brand development, or one of the many other services we provide, weโre here to help!
Lighten your load and enjoy doing the parts of your job that you love best. We will take care of the rest. Contact us for more information, or check out our blog for other entrepreneur tips!
