Three Quality of Lifehacks to Spruce up Your Workspace

This past Monday was National Clean Off Your Desk Day. Although this “holiday” might feel a little made-up, it’s still a good excuse to begin the New Year with a clean and organized workspace. Whether or not you buy into this observance, research shows that your workspace impacts your job satisfaction as well as your quality of life.

With this in mind, here are three Quality of Lifehacks to spruce up your workspace.

1: File or recycle any documents that you’re no longer working on. Use National Clean Off Your Desk Day, as an excuse to rid your desk of office clutter by filing or recycling old documents. If you have not done so already, set-up a process or system to manage filing for all future documents—and stick to it! Check out Pinterest for inspiration and ideas for organizing your desk and documents.

2: Inject color into your office. University of Texas study that found office wall colors can impact employee moods and productivity, Entrepreneur magazine reports. For example, blue helps employees focus, while yellow can inspire creativity. If you’re not happy with your office wall color (and if painting it is not an option), consider adding office accessories, such as picture frames, office supplies (e.g., staplers, binders), or other decorations in your favorite color.

3: Lighten up your workspace.  The American Society of Interior Design reports that 68 percent of employees complain about the lighting in their offices. Further, the University of North Carolina reports that office lighting can impact mood and productivity, with cooler-colored lighting better for getting things done. If you’re in an office all day, access to natural light can improve your mood. If you’re not satisfied with your workspace lighting, consider bringing in a small lamp so that you can find the light-level that’s best for you.

Share in the comments section below your tips to spruce up an office.