Setting up your workspace properly can have a huge impact on your productivity.
Luckily, there has been lots of research into how we can make the most of our workspace and set ourselves up for study-success!
Banish clutter!
As the clutter queen herself, Marie Kondo said, ‘tidying your physical space allows you to tend to your psychological space.’
There are a few ways to organise your desk space that will make it super easy to keep tidy. Having a tidy space will help keep your mind on the task at hand and eliminate distractions.
- Organise your computer cables and cords: If you’ve got some cash to splash, you can purchase a cable organiser which will do the hard work for you. If you’re on a budget, a quick trick is to get some tape, gather your cords together and secure them in a bundle so they’re not sprawled out on your desk.
- Get your office supplies in order: There’s something so satisfying about buying new stationery and office supplies. What starts off as shiny and new can quickly end up a pile of unorganised mess if you don’t take care. The best way to keep your office supplies and stationery in check is to purchase organisers. You can get trays for paper or books and jars for pens and pencils for the cost of a few coffees.
- Keep the décor to a minimum: We know decorating your space can be hard to resist. If beautifying your desk is a non-negotiable, aim to have no more than three items. We would recommend one of these being an indoor plant as there has been research showing that they can increase productivity, not to mention they’ll help purify your air.
Ergonomics
Ergonomic furniture is furniture design and set-up that reduces fatigue and physical strain.
Anything that reduces fatigue is definitely a winner in our books, especially after three hours of continuous essay writing or exam revision.
A quick Google search will give you endless information on how to ensure you’ve set up an ergonomic workspace, but our top tips are:
- Make sure your office chair has lumbar (back) support
- Invest in an angled keyboard. This will help to prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Make sure your desk and chair set up allows your forearms to be parallel to the floor when you’re typing
Light it up
Having adequate lighting in your workspace is super important for preventing eye strain.
Natural light from having your desk near a window is ideal, but if this isn’t possible make sure you have enough artificial light to balance out the glare from your computer screen.
