Whether you’re operating from your home in the suburbs, a high-rise in Sydney, or a coworking space in South East Melbourne, it’s easy to get dragged down by the daily grind. Thankfully, there are a few simple upgrades you can make to your workspace to boost your desire to be there and gain more fulfilment from your time at work. Below, you’ll find five of the most effective options. 

1. Remind yourself of your mission

Whether it’s a post-it on the wall of your cubicle or a vision board as your home screen, include reminders of your goals and aspirations in your office. This could be personal goals like retiring early or giving your kids a solid foundation in life. Or it could be work-related goals like getting a promotion or gaining more clients. If you see a visual cue reminding you of your goals every time you sit down to work, you’ll get a much-needed boost of motivation. Note that your visual cue can be subtle and discreet – something only you know the underlying meaning of. 

2. Upgrade your ergonomics

It’s hard to feel enthused about work if you know you always step away from your desk in pain. So, put some time and effort into perfecting the ergonomics of your workstation. For some people, this means investing in a good quality office chair and ergonomic accessories. For others, a laptop stand and a fitness ball or standing desk can eliminate neck and back pain. Find what works for you, and you’ll soon be wondering why you didn’t upgrade your ergonomics earlier. 

3. Treat yourself to helpful luxuries

Obviously, you don’t want to overstock your office with every gadget and accessory on the market. However, some seemingly indulgent items can transform your office experience. For example, a second screen can make it far easier to flick between tabs or write reports while referring to data. It may feel like an extravagant purchase, but if it improves your time in the office, it could pay for itself in terms of how much it improves your working life. 

4. Perfect the lighting

If you want to reduce your risk of eye strain and improve your stamina, consider adjusting your screen brightness and the lighting in your office. This could mean swapping harsh fluorescent white bulbs for warmer tones that are bright but less intense. If your office lighting is more on the dim end of the spectrum, it could mean adding a couple of lamps, installing a skylight, or otherwise brightening up the space. 

5. Give yourself a healthy dose of nature

This tip is twofold. First, if possible, bring a bit of nature into your office. If you work from home, this could be in the form of a collection of indoor plants. If you work in a corporate building or serviced office, it could be a small succulent that you keep on your desk.

The second part of the tip involves ensuring that you’re getting some kind of contact with the natural elements in or around your office. When you’re at your desk, this could be as simple as gazing out the window every 20-30 minutes to give your eyes a break from the screen. On breaks, try taking a quick stroll outside where you can get some fresh air and sunshine. You should soon see your energy and motivation levels increase. 

Put these tips into action in your office, and you’ll soon find yourself enjoying the prospect of settling in for the day’s work. At the very least, you won’t dread each new workday!