Personalise your workspace

First of all, it’s a productivity booster, paving the way for employees to work more efficiently and without interruption. The option for a personalised workspace design is also a powerful tool for retention and recruiting, as potential hires and existing employees will consider it a perk to get their work done in ease and comfort.

It’s surprisingly simple to start customising employee’s workspaces. It mostly comes down to allowing for flexibility in factors like layout, furniture, equipment, privacy, and even light and temperature. Here are a few specific ways that employees and employers can both reap the benefits of a personalised workspace.

Personal Effects

As employees return to work amid a time of significant stress, employers at companies large and small would be wise to let them set up, decorate and customise their own workspaces with whatever they choose to encourage stronger place identity in the office. This could include family photos, children’s drawings and other personal effects, which can increase engagement and communication, in addition to fostering positive attitudes and a greater connection to the company.

Allowing employees to introduce their own taste with their decor ideas can have a ton of benefits. This often happens naturally if it’s encouraged by managers, and it can lead to more colourful, playful workspaces that employees feel a stronger connection with. In a case study of one large company, researchers found that when people have a work area that aligns with their self-image and improves their sense of belonging, they feel more comfortable in the space, more collaborative with others, and more enthusiastic about their work.

Ergonomic Furniture

Ensuring that each employee has the furniture and equipment that they need to be most comfortable to get their work done is another step towards stellar individual workplace design. The main goal of ergonomics is to fit the workplace to the employee, and not the other way around. It aims to prevent stress and strain injuries that can come as a result of repetitive work done in an inefficient workplace setup.

Let’s start with the chair and work our way through the whole workspace. For a chair to support you and fit you properly there are some key features you need to consider: height adjustment, good seat depth, lockable back with lumbar support, adjustable armrests and dynamic chair adjustment allowing you to move in the chair whilst being supported.

If this sounds good to you then why not try the Shelby chair from Dams. Shelby is at the forefront of the healthy workplace campaign and makes activity a part of the working routine. The ergonomically designed Shelby chair ingeniously embraces a 3D dynamic dual-back allowing each user to personalise their lumbar comfort and relieve the pressure felt by the lower back, with a headrest to comfortably accommodate people of different body shapes and help them maintain the right sitting posture for long hours.

The desk space

You then want to consider your desk or worktable. The standard desk height is 725mm and this correlates to the seated elbow height of a 6’2’’ male. Due to this, you’d want to make sure that you can set yourself up so that when your hands are in your lap, the worktop meets your natural elbow position. You can do this by adjusting your chair height and using a footrest for additional support or adjusting the table height.

Furthermore, the person’s feet should always have a place to rest when they’re working, whether they’re flat on the floor or resting on a footrest. The desktop should be at around elbow height in a seated and standing position and employees who work at computers should be able to sit in such a way that their elbows stay at a 90-degree angle when they’re typing.

Lastly, positioning your laptop or monitor at eye level or just below is recommended. If you are only using a laptop, then sourcing a height and angle adjustable laptop stand is important. This will encourage a better head and neck posture and also encourage you to sit right back in the chair gaining the full support of the backrest. Laptop screens are pretty small these days and so attaching an external monitor which is larger in size might be of more benefit.

If you have 1 or even 2 monitor screens, you may want to consider the Triton monitor arm from Dams. Triton monitor arms provide smooth and effortless adjustments which can be tailored to the user’s exact needs, allowing you to sit more comfortably in the office whilst reducing lower neck pain, eye, and back strain due to incorrect monitor positions.

Temperature and Lighting

We all know from personal experience that the wrong type of lighting or an uncomfortable temperature can make it difficult to concentrate on our work or stay energised. Some modern offices are adopting tools that make it easier for employees to choose settings that are optimal for them with ‘smart’ heating systems that can change temperatures in individual rooms or areas within a building. Administrators can also access all of the data and insights about energy use with building automation systems to help reduce a company’s carbon footprint.

Then there’s the issue of lighting. Few people would choose a workspace under a flickering fluorescent ceiling light over natural light filtering through a nearby window. However, more natural light isn’t always better, as too much direct sunlight can cause eye strain or make it difficult for employees to see their computer screens. When you allow employees flexibility in where they arrange their office furniture, they can choose the best angles relative to their nearest light sources.

Space Matters

There is tremendous success in the personalised workspace approach and companies recognise the impact it can have on employee productivity, loyalty and attracting new talent. This is how workplace design is evolving in the modern age. It is far more personal than it has ever been, engaging with individuals and asking them what they want from their workspace is how companies should be approaching their offices.

There’s a fine line between a personalised and an untidy desk, however, don’t let this hold you back in getting creative with ways to spruce up your workspace. It may determine your motivation, efficiency, sense of control, and well-being. A workspace personal to you can maximise productivity and enhance your ability to complete your work faster, leaving more time to enjoy the rest of your life.