How to be More Productive Working from Home
/
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko
By: Lindsay Taylor
Since working from home has solidified its place as the “new normal,” we’re chockablock with tips for work-from-home productivity: have a morning routine, maintain a consistent schedule, dress in real clothes (maybe not hard pants, but not pajamas either). We also know all about taking frequent work breaks, utilizing a sit-stand desk, and incorporating microworkouts.
Those things are all important, to be sure, but routines or work breaks aren’t the only keys to being more productive. Your physical environment also affects productivity for better or worse. One of the big advantages of working from home is having total control over your workspace. Even if you’re taking over half the dining table or squeezing into a closet (which can be nicer than it sounds!), you can spruce up your workspace and tailor it to your preferences. After all, it’s part of your home, so you want to like being there.
Most of us probably aren’t paying enough attention to the sensory environment—what we see, hear, and smell while we work. Easy, inexpensive touches can increase both happiness and productivity. Here’s where to start.
The Eyes Have It
You might feel like you spend all day looking at a computer screen, but that’s not really the case. The rest of your visual field can significantly impact productivity and stress levels. Consider the following.
Lighting
It’s hard to get good work done in a dark, dreary space. Stanford neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman stresses the importance of getting bright light in the first nine hours after waking. Specifically, he recommends strong overhead lighting and having lights directly in front of you. These stimulate the release of dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine to increase alertness and focus. Morning light is also a powerful zeitgeber—a cue that regulates circadian rhythm, which promotes optimal daytime energy and nighttime sleepiness.
Ideally, the sun provides this morning light, so set up your desk by a window if possible. Research shows that people who work in windowless offices get poorer sleep than their colleagues who get daylight in their workspaces. You can also use artificial white lights overhead and/or supplement with lamps if your workspace isn’t well lit naturally. Don’t make it so bright that you have to squint or get headaches or eyestrain, but otherwise, turn up those lights.
Read the rest of the article here:
