Do you long to create a work environment where you can easily check things off of your to-do list?

Are you looking for a workspace that not only helps you to work well, but helps you thrive in your career and job, every single day?

If so, then you should strongly consider giving your work environment a mini-makeover!

In this post, I offer find five simple ways for you to craft your very own productive work environment at home, the office, or beyond.

Whether you work from a home office, in a cubicle, or in a closed office, you’ll find these tips to be helpful, and quite comforting, literally!

Give your eyes a rest.

Are you sitting at your desk?

Take a moment to look straight ahead of you.

What do you see?

Perhaps you notice a sea of sticky notes, plans for that upcoming event, billing codes, invoices, postcards from work colleagues and…wow, that’s a lot of stuff!

Consider giving your eyes a rest from all of that miscellaneous stuff, and giving yourself a clear, clean space to gaze upon when you’re not busy typing away on your keyboard.

Declutter the area right in front of your workstation or computer by entering in data into a planner, or rounding up materials and placing them into a reference binder. Your eyes will thank you!

Get comfortable in your space.

We’ve all heard about how important it is to have proper chair, desk, and body alignment while working in an office. But how many of us actually take this information to heart? Working for hours on end in a seated, upright position isn’t all that forgiving.

For example, is your chair too high or low for your needs, or is the height of your desk less than perfect? Do you crane your neck to view your computer screen, or awkwardly twist your wrist to operate your computer mouse? It’s worth looking into all the ways you can correct ill posture. Take a look at this office ergonomics article from the Mayo Clinic for ways to properly set up your space.

Lighten things up.

If things are looking a bit dark at your workspace, and you’re constantly squinting into darkness, you may want to consider purchasing or locating a desk light. You’ll be amazed at how much more comfortable working will become. You can read notes and papers, view items on a computer screen, and actually see what you’re doing at any given time with ease. Besides, a workspace always looks a bit cheerier when there’s light flooding in.

Shape up your productivity levels with sound.

Sound is such a large part of one’s work environment, that you might not even think twice about it. For example, is it quiet or noisy where you work? If we take this thought a step further, do you know if you work well with the chatter of background noise, or do you perform your best work with the help of the sounds of silence? The only way to find out is through experimentation.

One easy way to boost your productivity is to try out a sound generator. For example, instead of listening to music, you can create your own playlists of customized sounds, inspired from nature. Chirping birds, the low rumble of a thunderstorm, or leaves blowing in the wind might just calm you down enough so you can get into a solid work rhythm. It’s worth a try.

Air out your workspace.

If you are lucky enough to work in a space where you can open windows, consider doing so on a regular basis. Open two windows for some cross ventilation and let fresh air cycle in. Fresh air does wonders for a groggy mind!

Can’t open windows in your workplace? Take a short break outdoors to grab some fresh air and clear your mind. You could take a short walk, but there’s great benefit to just stepping outdoors to grab several minutes’ worth of fresh, clean air.

How about you? What do you find to be the most helpful or useful to you in your immediate work environment? Is it something related to sight, touch, or sound? Which of these tips are you going to try out? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!