Creating a productive workspace is essential for entrepreneurs in design, engineering, manufacturing, and creative industries. This simple consideration can dramatically affect the focus and quality of your work.
Here are six practical tips for creating a workspace that encourages productivity and focus.
Invest In Quality Tools
Ensuring you have what you need is a key consideration when setting up a workspace. It’s essential to understand the difference between cost and value as a business owner. Something that costs less isn’t always the best option. It’s essential to save money in some business areas, while still understanding when to invest in a high-quality tool.
“Poor planning and use of wrong equipment affects productivity, ” say the experts at Backsafe, manufacturers of some of the best industrial workbenches Australia has to offer. “Why take the chance to waste precious time and morale?”
Identify the high-priority tools in your workshop and take the time to find the best quality options.
Establish a Flow
Outline a floorplan for your workshop that feels intuitive and natural. Use this as your guide for organizing a streamlined flow that keeps you moving forward.
For example, an architect would benefit from having the drawing table and materials next to their computer monitor for better visualization. A potter might choose to set up the kiln next to the drying shelves to minimize the risk of breakage during transport.
Think about your projects and how one phase transitions into another. Then, set up your workshop around that framework.
Incorporate Functional Storage
Keeping your space clean and organized is a must for maintaining productivity. Make this effort foolproof by incorporating functional storage options.
For example, if you have a lot of paperwork or project files, having clearly labeled filing cabinets and drawers is a must. If you have a lot of different handheld tools, adding a pegboard wall simplifies organization and limits the time you spend trying to remember where you set your screwdriver down the last time you used it.
Consider the messiest parts of your workspace and find creative solutions to get organized.
Consider Ergonomics
Sometimes the body wears out before the mind. Incorporate ergonomic features into your workshop to help prevent muscle pain and fatigue. If you spend a lot of time standing, add soft mats to cushion against the concrete floor. If you often lean over your desk, get a monitor stand to ease the tension in your shoulders and an ergonomic chair to support your back.
The more ergonomically friendly your workshop is, the longer you’ll be able to focus on your work.
Add Creature Comforts
Add things to your workshop that bring you comfort and joy. These features could be anything from photos to music and are things that make it more enjoyable to be in that space.
It’s also important to consider how you can minimize trips out of your workspace during your working hours. A coffee machine or water jug can limit the time you spend going back and forth between the kitchen and your workshop. Adding a space heater or fan can help you stay comfortable during temperature fluctuations, especially if your workspace is in a repurposed shed or outbuilding.
Consider what features will keep you in your workspace for the longest possible uninterrupted period, and use them to your advantage.
Set Protocols and Ground Rules
Finally, set protocols and ground rules for yourself and anyone else who uses the workspace. Set a bare minimum requirement for tidying at the end of the day, and stick to the routine. A simple 10-minute clean-up to organize papers and wipe everything down will help you start fresh the next day while staying organized.
With these six simple tips, you can stay productive in your workspace, thus improving your work quality and profitability and overall enjoyment while hard at work.
