As you might have heard, there is a global pandemic and we’re working from home. This means PJs all day long, pet cuddling for stress release and no morning commute. It also means way more sources of distraction that can impact your productivity.
While some people thrive in home office environments, recent studies show that almost 25% of employees experience a productivity drain. This is mostly due to inability to concentrate properly and constant distractions.
Some factors are fairly obvious, like sharing your work space with a spouse or your neighbour’s child throwing their third tantrum in a row. But hang in there, you’ll be surprised there are some things that are decreasing your productivity that you probably didn’t think about. Worry not, we got you covered. Let’s break down what you really need to boost that daily work routine and kick ass!
#1 turn the lights up
Brighter light is known to increase productivity whether it’s work or exercise, but turns out that’s not it! Our eyes are really good at adjusting and we don’t seem to notice when it gets darker, but our brain does. It’s not only important to keep the lights up when working from home, but it’s best when it’s direct daylight!
Looks like it’s time for a little furniture move-around. To achieve the best result, try to set up your desk immediately under a window. Bonus: you’ll probably get to enjoy the view.
#2 ice ice baby - too cold
Or too hot! Wrong temperature is the second most frequent factor to affect productivity. Research shows the right temperature differs for women and men, but the fact of the matter is that it actually differs from one individual to another.
Good news is: you’re the one in charge of your entire (improvised) office temperature setting. So make sure you listen to your body and do what works best for you.
#3 all the wrong tunes
Some people really work better with background sounds or white noise-and that’s great. However when it comes to songs, it can hurt your performance even if you don’t feel it. Human voice is so important to us that our brain tends to pay attention to lyrics while we’re trying to concentrate.
Studies show that people who work with just the music sounds perform better as compared to those who choose songs with lyrics. Sound affects our productivity significantly, and it’s something worth paying attention to.
So better close your Spotify account for some serious work sessions and go on YouTube (for white noise sequences) or Noisli for coffee house sounds.
Or, take your productivity to another level with brain.fm’s science-based approach to music. It directly affects your brain and can help you regain focus in just 15 minutes. And yep, it’s also the secret ingredient used at the female factor headquarters ;).
As science shows, we shouldn't underestimate environmental factors when it comes to productivity. So set up your workspace for success with the right tunes, light and temperature and you’re ready to go!