Design Solutions to Support Focus and Productivity
Combating workplace distraction is the latest challenge for employers and designers alike. With the ever-evolving mobile technology, and its widespread accessibility, workers are more distracted than ever, whether by choice or obligation. According to a recent study from Careerbuilder, the top distractors that cause employees to waste the most time in the workplace are:
- Cell phone use (texting)
- Workplace gossip
- Surfing the internet
- Social Media
All of the above distractors are easily accessible and unpredictable. From an article share on social media that workers must read, to a fellow employee stopping by on the way to the water cooler, these little interruptions are costing businesses time and money in employee productivity.
But what if it’s possible to provide an environment in which employees are so incredibly immersed in a “state of flow”, that seeking out distractions is the last thing on their minds?
Being in a state of flow is a mental state of performance where a person can feel fully occupied with energized focus while completing an activity or task. Providing office occupants with the proper environment to allow them to enter a flow-like state is a proven and practical remedy to the distractions affecting workforces worldwide. Luckily, there are innovative ways to combat those distractions through design.
Providing a space within the office where employees can enter a state of deep focus aids in increasing productivity and reducing disturbance. This may come in the form of adding a few private offices for common use, or full privacy workstations for offices with an open layout. When a worker is removed from passersby, office noise, and any sense of objects in their peripherals, their ability to work in a state of flow is greatly supported.
Another solution is to provide a productive “getaway space” for workers to take their computer and materials with them to work in a space with new surroundings. Offering comfortable, convenient seating and table space in a different area of the office, for work-related activities, can kickstart creativity and support focus.
Finally, there is proven evidence that taking breaks throughout the workday can boost productivity. Common areas are another great way to alleviate the effects of distraction. By offering a space for individuals to use for checking mobile devices or socializing with coworkers, allows a distinction to be made in the office between social space and focus space.
For more information on how to design your workplace to combat distractions, contact Rightsize for more information. Our expert team of designers is on hand to help make your business more productive.
