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Most of us high achievers would want to be able to work without having to take breaks or wasting time on ineffective activities. Personally, I always think about how much more I could get done if I was able to not sleep at all, but I know it's not possible. However, there are ways to get around this by making our workplace cleaner and more organized, which subconsciously improves our efficiency. For that reason, in this article we will be discussing the topic of 3 steps or methods to make an office more efficient.
One way to make an office more efficient is to implement enterprise imaging which is a niche strategy for healthcare providers, but can work with other industries as well. It is basically a set of workflows and strategies that make workplaces in the health industry more productive. The three steps we'll be describing below are adding plants to the work space, creating variety, force people to leave their desks for lunch.
Plants and Nature
When science says something is true, it is most likely true. One science-backed study on plants and nature states that adding real plants to an office or work space can not only create better air quality, but also improve employee efficiency. There's a 38% reduction in fatigue, a 44% reduction in hostility and anger, a 58% decrease in depression, and a 37% reduction in anxiety and tension. Some of the best plants to add to your office, and even to your desk are peace lilies, African violets, and Chinese evergreen. So add some plants to your office!
Variety
Some people like having the same habits, doing the same thing over and over again, but there are others who don't. Most people quit jobs because they end up doing the same thing over and over and they simply get bored. If your office is large and with multiple departments, it would be a good idea to create variety so that people can get up and walk around when they feel stuck. This will not only get your employees out of a creative rut, but will increase communication, and a bit of exercise. Variety can also include changing the environment every quarter or twice a year so that people come back to a "new" office. Remember when you first started a job? You gave it 110%, but as you get familiar with it, you started to slack off and productivity decreased. This is the same with other people, so make sure you change up your office so that it feels like you're at a new office, but you're doing the same work.
Forcing Lunch Breaks
It has also been proven that people who leave their desks, and even their offices entirely, for lunch, come back happier and ready to tackle the rest of the day. If you bring a lunch to your office you're doing three things: stressing out over what's still to do on your desk, being by yourself which increases depression, and won't allow your mind and body to recover. If you leave even to eat outside or to eat with a colleague, you will come back feeling better and will be ready to continue your day's work.
Conclusion
In conclusion, in this article we discussed the topic of how to make a more efficient office. These three steps include adding natural plants, NOT plastic ones. The plants have been proven to increase efficiency and will also make the air in the office cleaner. Having variety in the office instead of cubicles that all look the same also increases productivity. Nobody wants to work in an environment that feels like a school classroom or a jail. Finally, forcing your employees and yourself to leave the office for lunch is a great way to relax the mind from the morning's work, and to come back rejuvenated to finish the day strong. Now, go get some plants, change up your office, and stop bringing brown bags for lunch!
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