You may not even know how much your workspace affects you.
The piles of paper almost poke you and tell you you’re behind on your work. The glare from your monitor doesn’t let your eyes relax even for a second. The chairs you’re sitting in squeak every single time you move, and it reminds you that you haven’t stretched at all this week. On its own, none of these is too extreme.
But put them all together and you have chaos you hardly even notice, but you definitely feel.
The way to turn all that noise down is mindful design. And while that might sound a bit vague, it also isn’t something you’ll find on Pinterest.
The whole idea of this is to design with intent; don’t make aesthetics your primary focus.
Let’s dive into what this actually means.
Design that Helps with Focus and Awareness
The room you’re using as your ‘office’ needs to be designed in such a way that you’re not distracted, but rather content and calm, as well as fully focused on your work, other than being distracted. And no, that doesn’t mean that your office should be designed as a concrete box. It can be beautiful, plus it can have a focal point (e.g., a massive window with a pristine view, a beautifully crafted staircase, a library, etc.); that’ll help with motivation.
But think about it – if the entire office space is messy/loud, then your brain has to work extra to retain your focus, which will wear you out and cause burnout.
Here’s how to go about it!
Clear the Clutter
An office that’s messy will rarely allow someone to fully relax and focus on what they’re doing. And that’s not what you want.
Every extra item in your line of sight means that there’s one extra thing your brain needs to process. This is why you get stressed out by a messy desktop screen and a crowded desk, even if you don’t notice it right away.
Keep only what you truly need and get rid of everything else. Do the same on your computer and delete old files, closed tabs you’re not using, and turn off unimportant notifications.
At the end of each day, take 5 minutes to tidy up, and your workspace should always be clean.
Boundaries
You shouldn’t work and relax in the same spot because your brain will always feel like it’s ‘on’.
In other words, if you don’t change the environment, your body doesn’t know when to slow down. The fix is easy. You want small cues that tell your mind the work is done, like turning the overhead light off or moving into a different room.
You can even go outside and reset.
If you have a deck or a patio, this is a perfect way to unwind.
Of course, your deck needs to be actually comfortable and usable; if you’re in Sarasota (FL), for instance, you’ll want a screen to keep the bugs away (especially in the evening).
If you’re in Yardley (PA), you’ll want a strong drainage system to handle the rain, and any deck contractor Yardley PA residents rely on for their services will tell you the same.
If you’re in Scottsdale (AZ), you’ll need a pergola to block the strong sunlight (the summers can be devastating).
You get the picture.
Calming Colors & Natural Textures
Colors and textures have a massive impact on the way you feel.
For example, blues help with focus. Greens make you calmer. You should also add small natural details, like a wooden organizer or a linen curtain. Natural materials (e.g., wood, stone, linen, marble/slate, etc.) or even those that mimic nature (e.g., laminate, porcelain, painted concrete with earthy textures, etc. ) are very grounding.
They affect you on an almost subconscious level, where they balance your thoughts and emotions and help you slow down.
Avoid Overstimulation
Your mind needs rest, and so do your eyes.
If there are too many patterns and shapes in the room, it doesn’t feel quiet, so keep it simple. Line up big pieces of furniture so they feel balanced and leave a bit of empty space on the wall.
As far as colors go, stick to a few that work together. If your eyes can move smoothly across the room, your brain doesn’t have to work overtime to block out distractions.
Natural Light
If your office doesn’t have good (natural) light, it’ll drain you. Sure, you might be able to focus on a task, but you’ll be drained on an emotional level. Sunlight increases your energy and keeps your sleep architecture and circadian rhythm on track.
Set up your workspace close to a window, but not in a place where you get direct glare. Looking at a computer screen with too much light in front of you will cause ambient glare (aka veiling glare), which will cause a high ambient light contrast, reducing screen visibility and contrast perception.
This won’t help you focus at all.
An extra tip is that if your office doesn’t have a (good) source of natural light, you can use large LED lights.
Keep the color temperature at around 5000 Kelvin, and try not to make the light too strong. Go for approx 10-15 W LED (800-1,200 lumens). Make sure the LED light is properly diffused so that you don’t see the LED diodes, but more of a uniform light coming to you.
Air Flow
Same as with daylight, you need good airflow to keep working optimally. If the airflow is poor, the office will get filled with stale air and CO2, which will cause you to get sleepy. That won’t help with motivation.
At least one window will do the trick. If you don’t, then ensure you have proper ventilation that’ll push the ‘old’ air from the office, which will cause negative pressure (new/fresh air will get sucked in). You won’t feel that negative pressure, but you also won’t get groggy thanks to the fresh air.
Just make sure that the ventilation unit isn’t too loud; otherwise, it’ll be distracting.
Conclusion
Mindful design isn’t some new (or fleeting) trend.
It doesn’t come and go. It’s always been there. And it always will be.
That’s because there’ll never be a time when people don’t want to work in spaces that are comfortable. The environment affects your headspace more than willpower ever could, so you really need to pay more attention to your surroundings.
We all should. Start small. Clear the mess and crack a window open.
You’ll see what a huge difference that makes.
