Talent
Always see it in English
Having an efficient work environment will undoubtedly help you to be more productive at work. We're sure you know the feeling of having been busy all day without having actually achieved anything. That is called an unproductive day and reveals an inefficient work organisation. What's the best way to solve it?
1. A tidy desk is a tidy mind
Are you tidy, or is your desk always full of papers, notes, and post-its, with no room for your coffee mug? This is exactly where you should start changing your work environment. Although it seems trivial, it isn't. A messy desk guarantees a messy schedule, a messy day... and a messy mind.
"A tidy desk will make you more comfortable and more efficient in the work that you do."
2. Sunlight helps ideas grow
The next issue relates to natural light. Your goal should be to work in an environment with the maximum possible amount of indirect sunlight. If this is difficult or impossible due to the orientation of your building, install a table lamp for when you need to focus on a document and a floor lamp for ambient light. To work efficiently, use energy-saving light bulbs.
For windows, install blinds or curtains that let light pass through while preventing uncomfortable glare, especially if you work with a computer or with screens.
You should also try to organise your day around the sun. Sound weird? Humanity has been doing it since the beginning of time with excellent results, making us the most productive species on earth. Work starts at dawn. And finishes when the sun goes down.
This way, you will be able to work to a schedule, something especially useful and healthy when working from home.
"Spending hours and hours in front of the computer is not productive. The efficient thing to do is to only spend the amount of hours necessary."
3. Not too cold, not too hot, more efficient
The temperature of your work environment is an important factor. If the heating is set too high, you will suffer from dry mucous membranes, irritable skin and even headaches, not to mention the wasted energy that will end up taking a heavy toll (literally). If you set the air conditioner too high you will also suffer negative consequences on your health and your pocket.
The solution is to get used to working at these temperatures:
- With the heating on: at 21 ºC at most, it is recommended that you put on a few more layers and turn it down to 20 ºC. Your wallet will thank you.
- With the air conditioning on: never below 25 ºC.
- With everything turned off: this is the ideal situation for energy efficiency and you should take advantage of the autumn and spring, when your house manages to keep itself between 19 ºC and 26 ºC, a temperature range in which you should be able to work comfortably, if you adapt your clothing to the conditions.
"The room you work in must be well insulated so that the energy is not wasted."
4. Less paper, more technology
Nowadays, there is no need to depend on a pen and paper. You can continue to use them for certain moments of inspiration or to address specific tasks, but the ideal is to go digital.
Cloud storage, the introduction of technology in all facets of working life, digitalisation, electronic document management... all this allows us to create more intelligent and more efficient workplaces, in the office or outside it.
Technology will also allow effective communication with your co-workers and your bosses. Your working life will only improve thanks to increasingly efficient applications that guarantee fluid discussions, remote meetings, working together on online documents... all resulting in more productivity.
"To take advantage of working from home, you need to be up to scratch with the communications and productivity software that makes your life easier. "
5. Your house is not your workplace
This the last commandment when working at home, but possibly the most important for your mental health. You can work from home, but you cannot live at work. It is essential that you differentiate your workspace from the rest of your home. Otherwise, your living space and your work space will begin to merge dangerously.
If you cannot dedicate an entire room to your work environment, choose a perfectly equipped corner and decorate it efficiently:
- Only install the furniture strictly necessary for your work.
- Cheerful but very simply decorated, nothing too loud.
- Minimise interruptions: if you live with someone, inform them that you are working and not to come and bother you for no good reason.
