We all know that there are ways to improve the design of an office for all the employees, but what about your own personal workspace?

Your desk area is where you’ll get most of your work done, which means you need the space to be productive and positive to ensure you’ll be bursting with motivation to finish every task. Furthermore, an efficient workspace can improve your job productivity and satisfaction, so why settle for anything less than perfect?

A bit of time and effort to make your workspace the best it can be will pay off in the future, so we’ll provide a few pieces of advice for an amazing desk setup you can find.

Place the desk close to a window

It’s thought that natural lighting helps to promote attentiveness, decrease stress and tension, and overall improve your mood and workflow. As well, looking out of a window will help to adjust your eyes from staring at the computer screen all day. Remember the 20/20/20 rule (looking at something 20 metres away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes) when it comes to eye care, as this lessens eyestrain over the course of the day.

If a window spot is impossible, then there are light bulbs that can actually mimic natural lighting, which when combined with a floor or desk lamp, is better for your eyes than harsh overhead lighting. Glare from fluorescent lights above you also contributes to eyestrain.

Don’t forget a plant or two

Plants aren’t just for the home or garden, as a nice desk plant has many benefits on your mood, alertness, output, and even purifies the air too. Succulents are the easiest plant to take care of because they don’t require much watering, can handle dry climates, and will still be okay if you’re on holiday for a week or so.

There are many types of these pretty and wonderful plants, such as Aloe, Echeveria, Snake, Jade, ZZ, and Gasteria. Check out this Ask Team Clean guide regarding tips about caring for a succulent plant. You won’t believe how you managed without a plant before!

Consider a standing desk

Nowadays, there are desks that convert from sitting to standing versions at the press of a button. This is useful because the best thing you can do when working at a computer is to adjust your body position to avoid back or neck pain.

A good posture is important for office life, so your body will thank you if you can sit for a while and then stand later, then adjust this setup throughout the day. A standing desk also reduces fatigue and blood pressure, so even if you just stand up for around an hour or two over a whole day, this is still better than sitting at a desk for the entire time.

Don’t skimp on a good chair

Just like a great desk that can move up and down, a quality, ergonomic chair is paramount for good health. You’ll need something that supports your back, as physical pain is so distracting and will actually divert your attention from your work tasks. Every person is different, so choose a chair that feels right to you and ensure you sit in it for 10 minutes to get a solid measure of the comfort.

Choose an ergonomic mouse and keyboard

As useful as laptops are for working on the go, they really aren’t built for long periods of use. If your desk setup is where you’ll get most of your tasks done, then it needs to be with an ergonomic mouse and keyboard to avert wrist and elbow pain. As well, you should have a bigger screen at your eye height to avoid neck strain from looking downward.

A messy desk isn’t necessarily bad

Many office guides suggest that your desk must be neat and tidy at all times, but this depends on what kind of person you are. Many people have messy workstations with notes everywhere and coffee cups strewn about, but if their work is great and delivered on time… then who cares?

Conversely, some people simply can’t work a second until everything is clean and orderly, with all files placed neatly in drawers. Whatever desk setup you prefer is up to you, so work the way that feels natural. Of course, you shouldn’t let your desk get out of hand so that you might find wild animals or lost treasure under all the confusion! However, a bit of mess is alright for your desk.

Don’t forget breaks

A great desk setup is all well and good, but you shouldn’t feel chained to it. Give yourself the freedom to move around and stretch your limbs. Focusing on one task too intently isn’t good for the body and mind, so adding a few 10-minute breaks over the working day is helpful in the long run. Chat with colleagues, take a walk outside, sip a coffee, or do whatever you do to unwind.