Most people rely on a desk in their home office to better perform and manage their work and possibly look more professional in a video chat. But does your choice of desk have an impact on your bottom-line productivity?
The Process of Choosing a Desk
When working in an office, you may not have much flexibility when choosing a desk. You may be assigned to a specific cubicle, or if you’re lucky, get your own office – but the desk you’re going to use will already be there in most cases.
If you’re working from home, you’ll have total control over your domain. Depending on where you work, you may have a fixed budget to work with if you’re using the company card – but even then, you can spend your own money if you want something better.
According to Better Business Bureau, no matter what, you’ll want to choose the right office furniture store. Even if your choice in office desk had minimal impact on your productivity, you’d still need some kind of desk to stay organized – and the right office furniture store can help you save money while finding the best fit.
That said, your choice in office desk probably has a bigger impact than you think.
Desk Type
There are various types of desks that can be used in office settings. The traditional desk is a rectangular surface supported by four legs, while a computer desk is designed specifically for computer use with space for a keyboard, mouse, and monitor. L-shaped and U-shaped desks offer more surface area and storage options, and executive desks are larger and more elaborate.
One of the newer additions to the office furniture world is the standing desk, which allows users to stand while working, promoting better posture and reducing the negative health effects of sitting for prolonged periods. Standing office desk come in a variety of styles, including adjustable-height desks that can be easily converted between sitting and standing positions.
Desk Size
Let’s start by taking a look at the impact of desk size. As you’re well aware, home office desks come in many shapes and sizes.
Here are just a few ways those dimensions can affect the quality and efficiency of your work:
- Height. How high does that desk sit off the ground? You may not realize that your posture has a significant impact on your productivity; if you’re hunched over or if you’re reaching, you’re going to be uncomfortable, which means you’re not going to be able to focus on your work as well. And over time, poor posture can lead to the development of chronic pain and other physical conditions, making work feel downright impossible in extreme cases. If your desk is too tall or too short, you’ll find it difficult to maintain appropriate posture.
- Surface area. You’ll also need to think about the surface area of your desk. How much space do you have to work with? Depending on the nature of your job, you may need nothing more than a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse – but even these items require ample space if you want to work effectively. If you have lots of paperwork to manage, or if you like to keep things visible, you’ll need much more space to be effective.
- Storage. Certain desks come with efficient storage already built in. For example, you might have drawers located under the desk. Depending on the nature of your job, the absence of these quick-access storage features could be debilitating – though you could always substitute a filing cabinet or something similar to get the same functionality.
- Fit. How your desk fits in the room can also be impactful. If it’s physically difficult for you to get to your office chair, you may start the day with a bit of stress or annoyance – which isn’t good for building productive momentum.
Desk Quality
We also need to think about the overall quality of your desk.
- Scratch resistance. Good desks are scratch-resistant and more durable over time, meaning you can feel free to write on them without worry. If your desk is shoddy or cheap, you might be reluctant to work on it, or you might stress when it takes damage.
- Functionality. A well-made desk is also highly functional. The drawers pull out. The desktop is smooth. Everything just works. And when everything works the way it’s supposed to, you can focus on your job.
- Feel. Desks made from high-quality materials tend to feel subjectively better than their counterparts. Depending on the type of work you’re doing and your personality, this could help you destress.
Appearance and Satisfaction
It should come as no surprise to learn that happy workers are more productive. If you’re satisfied with your life and happy with your home office, you’re going to get more done every day. That’s why the appearance of your desk matters; if you’re happy with it, and you love it (for any reason), you’re going to be more productive. If you don’t like it, for any reason, it could be holding you back.
Other Important Ways to Boost Your Productivity at Home
Here are some other ways you can boost your productivity when working in a home office – it’s not just about the desk, after all:
- Invest in better lighting. First, make sure you invest in the right lighting. A solid desk may help you stay organized and keep your work in order, but without good lighting, it will be hard to focus (and in some cases, read).
- Play enjoyable background music. Most people work better with a little bit of background noise. Your music should be loud enough to hear without being so loud that it makes it hard to think. Any genre works, so long as you personally enjoy it; however, you should avoid music with clear lyrics at the forefront, since they might be distracting more than helpful.
- Fill the room with a pleasant aroma. Some people are more productive with certain scents, such as lavender or peppermint.
- Give yourself something to look at while working from your home office. If you can situate your workspace next to a window that overlooks greenery and the great outdoors, do it. This can not only improve your mood but also encourage you to take breaks and engage in physical activities, such as visiting your local sports physiotherapists to maintain your overall well-being.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line here is that your home office desk does impact your productivity, even if you don’t feel the effects immediately. A better-quality desk that’s the perfect size can give you more space to work with, allow you to do more while you’re at work, and can even make you feel happier and more satisfied every time you walk into your office.