Working in a Co-shared Space? Maximise Productivity with These Tips
The terms “sharing economy” and “collaborative consumption” have become buzzwords in recent years. These have infiltrated various aspects of our daily lives, most prevalently in the aspects of ride-sharing and home-sharing. Unsurprisingly, land scarcity in Singapore has prompted many SMEs to also consider co-sharing spaces as their offices. The benefits are aplenty; perhaps near the top of the list for many companies is the cost-efficiency of such a workspace design.
But do co-share spaces breed higher levels of productivity? Not necessarily. The open concept office may not be suitable for all, as working styles differ across individuals. Employees need to adapt to this increasingly popular work environment; gone are the days where cubicles and near-total privacy in the office were the norms.
If you are someone having trouble adapting to your colleague’s habits, here are 5 things employees can do to maximise productivity in this modern workplace setting:
Ensure Good Lighting
Good lighting is essential for keeping brain functions at optimal levels and if possible, try to work in the presence of natural lighting. Sunlight is an excellent source of Vitamin D, which regulates your fatigue levels and overall mood. Conversely, if workplaces are dim, it increases eye fatigue, irritability, and lethargy – which makes it difficult to do work effectively.
When working in co-shared spaces, employees may not be able to control the lighting available, much less how much sunlight they can see from their desks. Therefore, to improve the quality of light you work in, it may help to request for a table lamp should you be tucked into a dim corner of the office.
Mitigate Noise Levels
Some people need music to stimulate productivity, while others prefer working in silence. For those who belong to the latter, noisy offices can lead to poorer moods, increased stress and reduced ability for co-creation. According to Oxford Economics, the ability to focus and work without interruptions rank at the top of what’s most important in a workplace, trumping perks such as free food or other amenities.
In a collaborative workplace, there are even fewer barriers to noise as a distraction. For individuals, investing in a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs can work wonders for productivity levels. Listen to your own music or try listening to mellow tunes, which can aid in improving concentration. Otherwise, use these headphones to create a space of quiet around your ears.
Minimise Clutter
Distraction is the adversary to productivity. As with the propensity for audio clutter in open plan offices, visual noise can be detrimental to productivity. Having a messy workstation can make workers feel stressed, disorganised and overwhelmed. Furthermore, it also affects your image as a professional. A tidy workspace gives you easy access to the required tools and information needed, helping you be more efficient and productive.
Not everything is essential to daily work. Reorganise what you really need for work, and store the rest away. Clutter is easy to accumulate and is highly visible, especially in shared spaces. Start by taming the straggling cables running along the table or the stray pieces of papers lying around your desk. By streamlining your workspace, you can focus more on the task at hand.
Work in a Natural Environment
Humans have an innate impulse to connect with natural environments – this is known as biophilia effect. In fact, satisfying this need can increase creativity by 15%. Biophilic design is picking up as a trend across all types of architecture: placing plants or situating offices near natural scenery can also help relieve stress, and keeps employees healthier too. An office space with elements of nature offers a more conducive space to work in. Furthermore, looking into greenery can ease eye fatigue, which is especially important for people who do a lot of near-proximity work on computer screens.
For individuals in shared spaces, consider adding a succulent to your desk. Succulents require very little attention and care to grow well do not impose on others working near you. Incorporating plants to boost your own mental and physical health adds to productivity in the long run, particularly if your office is located in a bustling cityscape.
Intermittent Break Times
It is essential that workers schedule break times into their workflow so as to carry out tasks well. A 2016 study revealed that one way to increase productivity is to focus on work for 52 minutes before taking a break for 17 minutes. Getting out of your chair and moving around has proven health benefits like reducing back pain, improving posture and boosting energy levels.
In open concept offices, employees still have the option to take a walk around the office before getting back to work. To avoid staying sedentary for too long, consider working while standing. Doing so occasionally promotes increased focus and blood circulation, especially in the legs.
The sharing economy is here to stay, and businesses should leverage its benefits for better work performances. However, in a collaborative space, there is a need to manage the different working styles of valued employees. Manage your productivity in your co-shared spaces with these tips in mind.
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