How Much Does Your Workspace Affect Productivity? | Business

A workspace can make a world of difference. However, according to a new study, it could take up to two years to get your workspace just perfect.

A poll of 2,000 United States office workers found only 40% are “very satisfied” with their current workspace, be it from home or from an office. Of those unhappy with their office, 48% were unsatisfied and blamed the lack of space, 34% blamed back pain from their chair, and another 32% claimed their area was too messy.

Overall, 79% of people take pride in their workspace setup, and 86% believe their workspace has a “huge” or “moderate” impact on their happiness.

Functioning Workspace

Commissioned by  Mind Reader  and conducted by OnePoll, the study found 83% feel more productive if their workspace is organized and — if it were more organized — believe they could increase their productivity by 38%.

Over half (58%) said they were “professionally organized” but admitted they felt personally chaotic. In fact, people felt the most organized in their workspace, and that was enough so that 47% believed their loved ones would be surprised to see just how organized their workspace was. However, people said they felt the least organized when it came to their mental health.

Respondents also shared the trends they’ve tried in the past five years to help keep them organized, including decluttering their digital space, minimalism, and using space-saving or multi-functional products (27%). As a result, 83% swear the trends they’ve tried have effectively improved their organizational skills.

“It’s natural for us to feel more productive when we’re in an environment that is comfortable and organized,” said Glenn Goldberg, Head of Marketing at Mind Reader. “Our goal is to offer simple solutions to daily workspace problems that will have a big impact on organization, creativity, and productivity.”

Having a messy office space could impact productivity as well. People who have cluttered and unorganized desks often lose documents and work, making it a challenge to find information that might be needed quickly for a project at work. 

But that messy desk can affect more than just productivity. Researchers in 2019 examined how stress and workplace clutter often causes stress and emotional exhaustion. The cycle continues as workers put off making decisions, and leave their desks and workspaces more cluttered.

Even when working in an at-home office, away from the judgemental eyes of coworkers and supervisors, it’s beneficial to have a clean workspace. Overwhelming feelings and stress might start to melt away once the space is tidier and free of any unnecessary items not needed. 

Remote Offices

The survey also found where one works matters, especially for the 47% of respondents who said they work remotely at least part of the time in their careers.

If they’re working from home, 59% say they still prefer to work from a desk, while others change spots throughout the day and sometimes work from their dining room or exclusively from bed.

About half of remote workers said the best part of working from home was not having to commute to the office every day. Others stressed they loved dressing how they wanted to and feeling more productive and organized in their own space.

“I’ve now been working from home for more than four years and can’t imagine returning to an office gig,” said Catherine Xu of Day Trip Nomad. “Unconventionally, I only spent six months in an office before everything shifted to remote work. Since then, my workspace has been a mix of van life, Airbnb’s, and co-working cafes. While I do miss my standing desk and dual monitors for comfort and efficiency, almost everything is digital now, so it’s worth it for the increase in freedom.”

More than a quarter said they work in a hybrid environment, splitting their time between their home and an office for their job. However, when comparing the cleanliness of the two locations, 40% said their in-office workspace is more organized, while 29% said their home workspace is more organized. However, hybrid workers said they spend more time customizing their at-home workspace than their office workspace.

For those who do split their time between their home office and their professional one, they say the best parts of working in person or in an office setting are talking and engaging with their coworkers, feeling more productive, and feeling more organized overall.

“No matter if your workspace is at home or in an office, it’s important for it to meet your needs and feel like your individual space,” continued Goldberg. “By implementing trending, ergonomic, or organizational accessories into your workday, we hope it will increase efficiency and create an environment that makes you feel your best.”