5 Must-Haves Your Office Needs for Productivity…From an Expert
Time is money.
Results from the 4-day workweek study are continuing to be reported on, with most if not all companies participating sharing productivity has increased.
As employees place an emphasis on spending time with family and friends, personal wellness, and travel, being productive when working is more important than ever.
Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Laura Athey-Lloyd, PsyD, agrees and says “surveys now show that the majority of workers prefer a hybrid home/office work schedule and that it is possible to maintain efficiency while improving morale and quality of life.”
According to Dr. Athey-Lloyd, productivity, and focus can vary widely based on setting, due to differences in sensory input. That includes sounds, textures of chairs and tables, and brightness of lights. Dr. Athey-Lloyd shared she’s most productive in a busy coffee shop, away from all of her other (unpaid) to-dos at home.
While many are still enjoying working from home, Dr. Athey-Lloyd says there is a benefit of being in a shared office space - the social influence of observing others at work. She says we’re wired to mirror what others around us are doing, so a distracting or efficient office culture has a strong effect on our own ability to produce.
Whether you’re working from a commercial office or a home office, there are five must-haves Dr. Athey-Lloyd says are needed to successfully stay productive:
A surface and view relatively clear of visual clutter
A timer to set flow state goals and scheduled breaks
A list broken up into daily, weekly, and longer-term action items
A window (studies show that access to the natural world improves both mood and productivity)
A phone on “do not disturb” mode
For her work-from-home-only clients, she suggests creating a routine that mimics going into the office.
Start with a ‘commute’ from your breakfast spot to your workspace even if it’s only a few feet away. Try to incorporate movement, or a few minutes of mindfulness, before transitioning into your ‘work self.’
Dr. Athey-Lloyd suggests that many people also find the Pomodoro Method helpful- setting a timer to mark 25-minute work intervals, each followed by a planned five-minute break. Similar to sprint intervals when running, this method allows for faster and more efficient transitions into a flow state, and the motivation to keep going without indulging distractions because the planned rest periods are so frequent.
Little changes can come through in a big way when it comes to productivity and being able to create more ‘me-time,’
Dr. Laura Athey-Lloyd, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist in New York City. She is the founder of Reflection Psychological Services, a group psychotherapy practice treating adults in Midtown.