From Guest Blogger Emma Joyce: How to Create Your Sustainable Office

Setting up an office can be overwhelming especially if it’s your first time. It’s almost impossible to anticipate which office supplies you’ll need in the future. This can be frustrating and may lead to making wrong decisions. Another scenario is when you’ve been at your workplace for a while and your office somehow has become an unpleasant environment over the years and you need to make it functional again.

In any case what you need is to set your priorities straight and create a list of three categories ‒ very important, important and not that important. Start off this way and it will be much easier. We are here to give some suggestions and help you organize.

Essentials

First of all you should fill out your most important section. This includes electronic devices such as a computer, laptop, tablet, etc. and their follow-ups, like headsets, speakers, keyboards. You may even need two monitors for doing your job efficiently. Depending on the job itself, you may need notebooks, folders, pencils, a stapler and all sorts of similar supplies. Your desk and chair are the most important parts of your office. Your desk height and chair comfort are key to your future health and productivity. Another important issue is lighting. Sometimes people don’t even notice that their lighting is poor until it’s too late and their eyesight has already deteriorated. If you need to buy additional desk lamps or just change the bulb type do it as soon as possible.

Gadgets

There are so many gadgets that can make your life easier and others you don’t really need but think are very cool. When choosing your office supplies you should think about whether you really need them or not. You can always choose designer mirrors to create a decorative surrounding. However you don’t have to be that strict when it comes to choosing gadgets. Besides being functional your office should also be fun and a place where you feel happy and inspired. After all we spend a high percentage of our lives in our offices. We should feel good and safe in this environment. This is why you are free to get yourself that Harry Potter notebook set and a letter opener in the shape of Godric Gryffindor’s sword.

Less is more

It’s easy to get carried away during shopping for office supplies. This is why you should try and stay reasonable and keep coming back to that list of yours. Don’t clutter your desk or your office with a bunch of unnecessary things. You may think you won’t mind having too many things around you but you will. Studies show that a cluttered space decreases productivity and suffocates creativity. We may not even be aware of this but it’s true. Just think of how you feel when you clean your desk at home and get rid of all the papers and old documents you no longer need. You get a sense of relief and freedom don’t you?

There are many factors that affect the atmosphere at our workplace. Unfortunately we cannot change all of them but we should make sure to do everything in our power to make our office a place we’ll gladly come to. Of course an ideal work environment is different from one person to another. While some people prefer working alone others like the company of their colleagues and that busy vibe. All in all each and every one of us can find a way to make our office perfect according to our standards and we shouldn’t settle for less.