I am a remote worker and spend a stack of time when I work from home every week. It suits me perfectly, but the only problem that drives me crazy is that I can never get away from the disorder.
In contrast to an office at the end of every day, I do not have this option metaphorically the door to work. I was fascinated to discover the effects that can have an untidy home office in my head and the best ways to declare my home office in order to make myself more imaginative.
Here Johanna Constantinou, expert in interiors at Tapi Carpets & Floors, has the psychologist Dr. Eleanor Bryant, Associate Professor of Health Behavioral Psychology at the University of Bradford, together to investigate how the condition of your desk could cause you undesirable stress and the best opportunities for the survey.
Creation of a quiet work environment at home
A survey recently temporarily temporarily felt by Tapi Carpets & Floors that 84% of the respondents feel relaxed and concentrated when their surroundings are neat, but over a quarter of a lack of time as the greatest obstacle to maintain a clean work area.
I can achieve these results completely and know that if you “go, go” when you “go, go”, the desire what you feel tidy.
“A decent home office is not just about aesthetics,” says Konstantinou.
Dr. Eleanor explains: “For those who work from home where the boundaries between personal and professional life can blur this, this cargo can feel even more difficult. A well -organized space, on the other hand, offers a visual indication of calm and control and helps the brain to feel more firm and more productive.”
Disorder creates visual noise
“There is a strong psychological connection between the disorder and stress,” says Dr. Bryant. “It creates mental” noise “that competes for your attention and reduces her cognitive capacity.”
It is known that visual disorder can increase the cortisol level directly, influence the mood regulation and contribute to burnout.
“Disorder is exhausting,” says Konstantinou, “that's why design strategies such as hidden memory, soft lighting and zoning are essential. They calm the environment visually and create cognitive clarity.”
5 top tips to declare your office
1. Start small
You do not need complete office overhaul to experience psychological advantages. Simple, accessible changes in your physical space can change your mindset, improve the focus and reduce tiredness.
I always think that the small reduces the overwhelming and the process begins, since not all disorder needs to be deleted at once.
Dr. Bryant says: “Choose a small zone, only your desktop, a drawer or a cable area and set a timer for 10 minutes,” says Dr. Bryant before. “The most difficult part is the start. As soon as the swing builds up, you will often feel a feeling of relief and success that drives further measures.”
This reminds me of Pomodoro technology, a time management strategy based on work at 25-minute intervals and a 5-10-minute break. It was developed by Francesco Cirillo to make itself more focused and more productive during work. Now I'm thinking about trying the Pomodoro technology and using it for 10 minutes to clean up my desk!
“Even micro changes such as the introduction of a system, the management of cables or the increase in your monitor can lower the tension and sharpen the focus,” says Dr. Bryant. “These visual and physical tips reinforce calm and control.”
2. Keep the bare essentials nearby
A work area with too many objects can overwhelm the brain, especially if you are stuck at your desk for the largest part of the working day without taking regular breaks.
“An overcrowded desk constantly signals unfinished tasks, which can increase the stress without you realizing,” says Dr. Bryant. “Your brain lives in environments with fewer distractions.”
To organize the disorder, Dr. Bryant advanced to determine certain zones for the most necessary such as your laptop and simple stationery such as a notebook and a pen. Everything else she advises can be hidden.
And make sure that you clear out the articles that do not belong in your home office, such as unused cardboard boxes and gaming devices.
Constantinou agrees that the minimization of what is visible contributes to the breath and suggests: “Use drawer, cable feeling or desktop riser to keep your work area clean but functional.”
While it also adds: “Do not forget your floor, the disorder at floor level also contributes to mental noises. A soft, clean carpet under your feet can subtly increase a calm, grounded feeling.”
3 .. Use the memory to reduce visual noise
Investing in intelligent memory can be a game change if he tries to eliminate noise and to shorten the time that is used to maintain a good home office.
Use a closed memory such as boxes, drawers or baskets to put objects out of sight. “The reduction of the visual disorder helps to reduce cognitive stress,” says Dr. Bryant. “It's not about minimalism, it is about clarity. If your brain does not constantly scans random objects, it free to the range for focus and creativity.”
It's not about minimalism, it's about clarity
Konstantinou recommends: “Decide on a stylish memory that fits your aesthetics. Suitable containers or shelves create a clean, coherent look, and if your space feels” designed “, keep it.
You do not have to inject expensive solutions for the storage of Home Office storage. There are favorable ways to organize your desk and increase your work area.
4. Personalize your space
Decor can quickly only become a different distraction if there is no intention. And here this thoughtful design can help create a decent space. You don't have to fall back on a minimal design by removing it to make a decent home office.
The key is to limit yourself to one or two sensible objects, such as a framed photo, a motivating quote or a calming work of art. “These objects create emotional comfort without contributing to chaos,” says Dr. Bryant. “There is identity to your work area and at the same time keeps visual simplicity.”
Your work area should also be a zone that inspires you. Konstantinou says: “A few carefully selected touches make your desk personally and at the same time support mental clarity. Imagine this as curating your focus zone.”
It also suggests bringing color and texture into its work area, as this can have a strong impact on mood and productivity. “Soothing tones such as soft blue, steamed greens and warm neutral contribute to creating a feeling of calm, reduced stress and the support of mental clarity during the day. Additional these colors with natural textures such as wood, linen and stone adds and makes the environment feel more inviting,” she adds.
5. Make the discovery into a habit
Disorder has a cheeky habit of gradually accuracy. We tend not to notice until it gets out of control. Without routine, however, your desk can return to the chaos with too much technical and different disorder that stands in the way of a healthy working environment.
Dr. Bryant suggests: “Make a 5-minute part of your standstill at the end of the day. This little habit will reset a mental.”
For me it is the equivalent to what I mentioned at the beginning when you close the door when you leave the office for the night behind. “It tells her brain: the work is done, you can relax now. This is particularly important for many who work from home where borders are already blurred,” says Dr. Bryant.
Konstantinou suggests combining this with ambient stands: “Decide to switch off a desk lamp at the end of the day to signal downtime.
Your work area is not only functional, it is emotional, but emotional
“Your work area is not only functional, it's emotional,” says Dr. Bryant and adds: “It is not forgiving, it is a strategic opportunity to support your brain and mood.”
“Small changes can have a major influence,” concludes Constantinou. “From the floor below you to the objects in front of you, any element of your space can work with you or against you.”