How to Optimize Your Workspace
Workspace Environment Hacks for Optimal Productivity
The Huberman Lab: “Optimizing Workspace for Productivity, Focus & Creativity”
Organizing our space produces opportunities for greater productivity. But, it’s not always just about organizing the physical stuff. How you organize your workflow, lifestyle routines, or arrange your environment can also be beneficial in optimizing your work.
I love anything about productivity, so I absolutely LOVED this episode by neuroscientist Andrew Huberman on his podcast, Huberman Lab. While I highly recommend you give it a full listen (1 hour 40 minutes) for all the golden nuggets and research explanations about how to help get your brain in the optimal state, I’m sharing what I personally found most impactful when I put into practice some of Huberman’s recommendations.
Best of all? These are easy things you can do! Read on to learn how simple actions of arranging your workspace environment and yourself in that environment, can enhance your own productivity and focus.
LIGHT
Huberman explains that there is a connection between our light exposure and alertness. In addition to promoting getting sunlight first thing in the morning, he suggests how to utilize light for increasing focus.
Tip: In the first 8 hours of being awake, you want as much exposure to overhead bright lights (sunlight and artificial light), as well as having light directly in front of you. During this time, your brain is primed for doing analytical and detailed work. In your next 9-16 hours after waking, you’ll want to start dimming or turning off the overhead lights (ok to keep the light directly in front of you shining) and during this time, your brain is primed for more creative, expansive thinking. Ideally, start reducing the amount of blue light you’re exposed to around 4pm or 5pm.
Huberman suggests using a lamp or bright ring light for the light directly facing you. Personally, I use a ring lamp and notice a big difference. Even just by looking at the ring light in front of me seems to ground my focus.
VISUAL FOCUS
Huberman says that where we direct our visual focus can also affect our level of alertness. When we look down or below the central region of our face, our alertness decreases. Conversely, when we gaze upwards or straight ahead, our alertness increases.
He also says that your field of vision should be narrow to what’s directly in front of you, and should not force your eyes to need to extend focus too far on either side. If your vision goes into “panoramic-mode” it reduces focus. A narrow tunnel of vision minimizes eye fatigue and distractions.
Tip: Place your computer (or whatever you’re focusing on) directly at eye level or slightly above it to optimize focus and make sure it’s not placed too far away from your direct field of vision. You can create a make-shift stand by using boxes or piles of books. (I utilize both a miniature stand and box to get my laptop to eye level).
Another great benefit to me has been that by raising my eye level sightline, I’ve also encouraged better posture (less curving of the back and neck strain). Win-win!
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Huberman explains how “The Cathedral Effect” influences people’s thinking depending on if they were in environments with high ceilings or low ceilings. In environments with higher ceilings, a study showed that there was an increase in creative, expansive thinking while people in environments with lower ceilings excelled at more detailed and analytical thinking.
Tip: If you’re looking to brainstorm or want to stimulate creativity, place yourself in a room with high ceilings (or even outside, where the sky is your “ceiling”!). And if you need to do challenging detailed work, place yourself in a room with lower ceilings or wear a hoodie or baseball cap to restrict your visual angle.
Personally, I’ve noticed that when I work in my living room with vaulted ceilings, it just FEELS less restrictive and like I can breathe easier…because honestly, sometimes I feel like I’ve emerged from a cave when I exit my home office with a standard ceiling (anyone else feel this way?)! I know I’m lucky to have a home with high ceilings, so I love his baseball cap trick and suggestion to take that brainstorm session outdoors.
Would you try any of these tips? I hope this has been helpful and I encourage you to listen to the Huberman Lab episode for the full explanations along with his suggestions for sound, controlling distractions, and incorporating movement and standing/sitting throughout the day.