The following simple tips should help you achieve a healthy office (or at least healthy-er) with the minimum of fuss.
It’s worth putting in this effort as it can aid productivity, help keep your stress levels under control and make working a little more enjoyable.
1. Ergonomic Chair and Desk Arrangement
As you spend long periods of time at your desk it is crucial that you get the desk and chair combo right. You don’t have to spend a massive amount of money just follow the basic ergonomic rules which allow you to avoid getting injured whilst you work.
Stand up desks are all the rage at the moment and you can replicate this with a few bits of off the shelf ikea furniture. Have a look here for further details.
2. Green Plants
Green plants do a fantastic job of converting your waste Co2 into really lovely and healthy Oxygen. They also can help to remove pollutants and add humidity to your office whilst looking lovely too. NASA have done a study on the humble houseplant and found that Ivy does an excellent job of cleaning air toxins, replacing them with harmless substances.
If you place a couple of green plants around your office space you can create a cocktail of air filtering machines which only require a small amount of water and food to keep going.
3. Natural Light
Natural light increases your productivity, reduces fatigue and can help with your stress levels. If at all possible you should seek to keep blinds / curtains open to make the most of any natural light making its way into your healthy office space. This probably means positioning computer screens as to avoid glare and opening windows if your room is getting warm.
If you are struggling with the amount and quality of natural light streaming into your office space then the best light fittings should provide a relatively even tone throughout the room lighting the ceiling too (darker ceilings can feel oppressive).
4. Natural Air
The best source of natural air is from the outside. Opening windows can provide much needed Oxygen to your space and airmovement to keep you cool. This helps to keep you awake throughout the day, thus improving performance.
You can lend a hand to the outside by purchasing a desktop Ioniser. You can even get USB powered Ionisers meaning you do not need to find another plug socket for this handy gadget
4. Keep your healthy office clean & tidy
By removing the clutter and keeping your healthy office clean you can focus on getting stuff done and not be distracted by the pile of stuff sitting around. Make sure that your desk is clean and that everything is put away at the end of each day. A well-organised, uncluttered desk leads to clear thinking and can reduce stress levels. You need to get into the habit of putting items back in their original place after you are finished using them.
Keep some anti-bacterial wipes in your desk drawer as these can really help you keep things nice and clean.
5. Take Regular breaks
You need to take at least two breaks a day as a a change of scenery can help with focus. The best type of break is to go outside for a ten minute walk as it eliminates stress and recharges the body. Whilst out and about focus on your surroundings and take deep breaths. This will make you feel better and also aid in the production of Vitamin D.
If you need to clear your thoughts walk by yourself – although walking with colleagues can be also prove beneficial, but make sure you talk about stuff other than work.
Getting your healthy office shouldn’t be too much of a hard ship and I hope that these tips have inspired you to make some tweaks to your working environment. If you have any top tips that you feel help to make a healthy office please add your comments below.
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