Photo credit: NATHAN RILEY VIA UNSPLASH

Five tips to create the best desk setup to boost productivity

Make yourself comfortable and maximise your productivity with these steps!

Meagan Goh
Meagan Goh

Afraid of cats, but learning to be brave. Would rather live in a fairytale.

Published: 23 November 2020, 5:32 PM

As most of us continue to work or study from home, getting restless and lethargic is definitely inevitable. 

How can we then ensure that we’re able to keep up our focus and productivity levels while doing so? The right home desk setup will do the trick. 

Here are five ways to create the best desk setup for maximum productivity: 

1. Green is good

We spend more than half of the day working indoors and poor air quality within your home office can be really detrimental to your health and productivity. 

Introducing plants into the space not only improves the air quality by filtering and reducing toxins, it also distributes clean oxygen for you to breathe. 

 

Effective stress relievers and mood boosters, plants are amazing productivity boosters. PHOTO CREDIT: VADIM KAIPOV VIA UNSPLASH

 

Besides, looking at greenery is good for your eyes because studies have shown that the colour green is very soothing for the eyes. 

So whenever your eyes need a break, you can just admire the plants on your desk.

2. Declutter your mess

This is honestly such a no brainer. A messy desk hinders your productivity and unnecessary clutter can also be accountable for contributing to your stress levels. 

The chaos of a messy desk can cause mental overload and make your habits of procrastination worse.

The key to a clean desk is organisation. All of your tools, stationary and books need a designated home. You may want to get a separate cabinet to store all of these things, preferably one with wheels for easy transportation. 

 

For items that you’ll have to use daily or more frequently, you can choose to get a stationary holder or a small storage container to go on your desk. PHOTO CREDIT: JEFF SHELDON VIS UNSPLASH

 

When it comes to keeping things clean and organised, your desktop display is just as important as your work desk. A messy desktop filled with hundreds of files is likely to cause just as much headache as a cluttered desk. 

Take the time to create folders and name them appropriately for easy searching in the future. This way, you’ll save yourself tons of time as you know exactly where to find what you’re looking for. 

3. Good lighting wins

No matter what time of the day, having good lighting to support your workflow at home is super important. 

Natural light helps to boost productivity and focus. It can also help you save on your electricity bill. Thus, it would be good if you can position your desk in the brightest area of your room or home. 

 

Both natural light and artificial light are crucial to building the best desk setup for productivity. PHOTO CREDIT: TATIANA LAPINA VIA UNSPLASH

 

Since different work and activity calls for different types of light, you can consider getting a LED desk lamp with multiple color modes, brightness levels and a moving hinged arm.

4. Get up and move

Sitting in the same position, for many hours, every day of the week, is enough to make anyone go bonkers. 

Avoid feeling restless and overcome mental blocks by taking quick breaks in between your work so as to freshen up your mind and promote blood flow. 

A great way to do so is to invest in an adjustable standing desk. Medical professionals advise that ideally we should be standing for 15 to 20 minutes after every hour of seated work. 

You can also perform some easy exercises at your standing desk while taking a break. 

 

Omni desk is having a Black Friday sale with up to $737 off their flagship Omnidesk Pro 2020. PHOTO CREDIT: INSTAGRAM/@THEOMNIDESK

 

Whilst physical activity is important, don’t forget to keep yourself hydrated as well. The slightest bit of dehydration can make us feel lethargic, resulting in low productivity levels. 

We suggest investing in a reusable water bottle or flask and always keep it topped up on your desk to encourage you to drink more water.

5. A comfortable office chair

A chair that causes discomfort to your back can lead to serious back problems and bad postures which will not only affect your productivity but also your health and wellbeing in the long run.  

A good chair is one that does not require you to hunch your head or bend forward while looking at the screen. The position of your knees should also be at a 90-degree angle such that your thighs are parallel to the ground. 

 

Don’t underestimate a good ergonomic office chair and its effect on productivity! PHOTO CREDIT: JONATHAN BORBA VIA UNSPLASH

 

Investing in an adjustable chair would be better than a non-adjustable one, so you can adjust accordingly to find your best posture while working at your desk.

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