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10 Ways to Relaxify Your Workspace

June 21st, 2006 by Steve Pavlina

Some people claim they work well in a high-stress environment. I’m not one of them. My productivity is
highest when I’m fully relaxed. With inspiring goals I still feel a positive urging to get my work done, but
the pressure to work stems from passion instead of fear.

Last year I made changes to my home office to better relaxify it (I know relaxify isn’t a word, but it
should be). I enjoy being in my workspace, and I can work productively for many hours without feeling
like I’ve lost my humanity.

When considering changes to your workspace, here’s rule #1: If it feels right to you, it is right. That rule
is primary; my specific suggestions are secondary.

With that in mind, here are 10 suggestions for creating a more relaxing workspace:

1. Make your workspace look attractive to you.

When I walk through a typical corporate office building, I see the most dreadfully sterile workspaces. It
doesn’t look remotely human. Do people get hired to work there… or assimilated?

Must a professional workspace be a sterile sea of beige and gray? Remember that where you work, you
also live. Given the amount of time you’ll be living in your workspace over the course of your lifetime, it
makes sense to add some visual appeal.

The first time you see your workspace each day, you should feel good about it. It should be attractive to
you. Really it should be your favorite place in the entire building, house, or campus. If you’re in your
workspace right now, please step outside for a minute, and then re-enter it while paying close attention to
your sense impressions. What’s the very first emotional response you can detect? Do you feel stressed?
Overwhelmed? Bored? Apathetic? Focused? Peaceful? Is this an emotion you experience often while
working?

Now choose the emotion you want to feel, and experiment with different visual elements to see how they
alter your feelings. Try new furniture, photos, posters, mirrors, flowers, knick knacks, toys, statues, rugs,
artwork, crystals, etc. If you have the necessary control, you can also tweak the lighting in your

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workspace to create the right type of mood. I know a programmer who works in a completely dark room
with no windows, he loves it.

2. Clear out the clutter.

One look at a cluttered workspace, and you get a sense that the person working there is stressed,
overwhelmed, and disorganized. Years ago I read about a study that concluded most managers will not
promote a person with a messy workspace into a position of responsibility. It’s assumed that if you
can’t organize your physical environment, you’re probably incompetent to a certain degree and can’t be
trusted. And if layoffs happen, you can imagine who the most obvious targets are.

But even more critical is the effect a cluttered workspace has on your focus. It’s difficult to feel centered
when you’re surrounded by unfinished tasks that constantly remind you of what you haven’t done
yet. Ideally the only paper items on your desk should be directly related to the current task at hand. Store
everything else in drawers, shelves, or cabinets. Many people notice a dramatic improvement to
their productivity when they try this.

For how-to tips on organizing your workspace, be sure to read Getting Organized.

3. Add plants.

Plants are a wonderful way to add life to a lifeless workspace. Use only living, oxygen-generating plants,
not lifeless fake ones. Water them as needed to keep them healthy. Over time you’ll find that your plants
begin to resonate with you and become a reflection of you. Dying plants = dead career. Fake plants =
appears successful but empty on the inside. Healthy plants = healthy career. Lots of plants = abundance.
Bring yourself back to nature by adding some plants to your workspace, and you’ll find yourself enjoying
the environment much more.

I currently have three plants in my office, and I’ll soon add more. Two are lucky bamboo plants. Are
they really lucky? Since I bought them last year, the income I receive from this site has increased
by about a factor of 100, so who knows? I added a small mirror behind them as well, which doubles their
visual presence without taking up extra space. Maybe that doubles my luck too.

4. Make it smell good.

Australian dentist Paddy Lund has his staff bake fresh muffins for his patients daily. Think about how a

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dentist’s office usually smells. Now imagine walking into one that smells of blueberry muffins. Along
with other changes, this reportedly helped Lund increase his income by a factor of 10. I’m not suggesting
you add a Holly Hobby Easy Bake Oven to your workspace, but there are plenty of practical ways to
make it smell better than cleaning supplies.

A while back I read that certain scents have a measurable effect on productivity. If I recall correctly,
lemon and lavender produced the most significant positive results.

Personally I love scented candles, especially the 3″x6″ pillars. They not only make my office smell good,
but the colorful candles and decorative candle holders add visual appeal as well. My favorites aromas are
vanilla and lemon. I have almost a dozen scented candles in my office at any one time. I find
it worthwhile to pay for good quality candles. I’m no candle expert, but I’ve noticed that the cheapest
ones tend to burn unevenly, become terribly misshapen as they burn down, and don’t produce a very rich
aroma.

Occasionally I’ll burn some Tahitian vanilla incense, but I use that very sparingly and wouldn’t
recommend it in a corporate environment because you’ll stink up the whole building. I burn it right next
to an open window, which dilutes the scent and keeps the room from becoming smoky.

If you don’t like candles, there are other options for improving the smell of your office. You can get a
diffuser and fill it with essential oil, add some potpourri, or even try sliced lemons. Be careful when
considering chemical air fresheners though, as there are reports they can pose health risks.

5. Play relaxing music.

Experiment with different types of music to see what effect they have on your stress level and
productivity. Use headphones if you need to keep from disturbing others.

I prefer total silence when I do certain types of work, but for everyday tasks I like listening to music. I
use the free WinAmp player and listen to streaming music from Digitally Imported. After listening to
DI’s free streams for years, I finally bought a subscription ($60 for a year). The subscription streams are
higher quality, more reliable (no time-outs or disconnects so far), and commercial-free. My
favorite streams are Vocal Trance and New Age.

6. Get a decent chair.

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Most likely you’ll use your chair more than any other object in your workspace, so consider investing in a
good one. Today there’s an assortment of oddities you can sit on, including knee chairs, balls, and more.
Head to an office supply store and find something that suits you. If your company won’t get you a decent
chair, then consider buying your own.

I don’t own a super-expensive chair (I think it was $200 originally), but it works for me. It keeps my
spine straight, and I can sit for hours without pain or discomfort. I tested dozens of different chairs before
picking this one. It’s about 10 years old now though, so this would probably be a good time for me to
take another look to see if I can find an even better one. I’ve heard really good things about the Aeron
desk chairs. On the other hand, it might be more fun to upgrade to a throne.

7. Add a portable fan.

Even with good air conditioning, you might have periods where you just want to feel a little cooler, or
maybe you’d like a bit of air circulation. Use a small portable fan to keep your comfort level right where
you want it to be.

Today’s high in Las Vegas is 105 F, and later this week it’s supposed to hit 110. Mid-summer
temperatures can exceed 120 degrees. Even with the air conditioning on, it can still get a little warm in
my home office during the summer. A portable fan is a nice addition to my workspace. The Vornado
fans are really good. They’re a little more expensive but well worth it – they run quiet and circulate the
air nicely.

8. Add a fountain.

If you find the sounds of running water soothing, consider adding a small fountain to your workspace.
You can get a basic one for under $20.

Last year I added an illuminated rock garden fountain to the corner of my home office. I plugged the
power supply into the same power base I use for my PC equipment, so I can simply flip a switch in front
of me to turn it on. I probably run it about eight hours a day on average, and I add water about once every
three days. When I hear the fountain running low, I’m reminded to water my plants too.

9. Personalize your space.

Does your workspace look like an automaton works there, or does it include elements that are uniquely

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you? Remember that your workspace is your living space for much of your day, so make it livable and
not just workable. A good way to accomplish this is by adding items that hold emotional significance for
you.

Photographs are an easy way to personalize your space. I have some typical family photos in my office
and the requisite wedding picture, but there’s one particular photo from when my wife and I first met that
was taken by my (now deceased) grandfather that’s very special to me. I like being able to see it when I
work. It also reminds me that I’m not alone — my wife and I are sharing a wonderful path together, and
I’ve seen plenty of signs that my grandfather is watching over us.

10. Establish uninterruptible periods.

Negotiate a period of time each day where you turn off all outside communication, and encase yourself in
a cocoon of concentration. Put up a “Do Not Disturb” sign, turn off your phone, disable your instant
messenger, and don’t check email either. Use this time to work on the tasks that would cause you the
greatest stress or which require your utmost concentration. It’s easier to relax and focus when you know
you won’t be interrupted.

Some jobs obviously require more solo concentration time than others. A computer programmer may
need a lot, while a receptionist may need virtually none. Determine how much you need to be productive,
and do whatever is necessary to get it.

When I really need to concentrate, I usually lock my office door. My family sometimes objects to
these communication blackouts, but with two kids at home on summer vacation now, I find it necessary to
enforce some boundaries in order to get my work done. I’m not particularly friendly or compassionate
when I get interrupted while writing, so this is largely for their own safety.

Now go do it!

Take a moment to survey your workspace and jot down a few changes you’d like to make. How can you
make your workspace even more relaxing, livable, and attractive? If cash is tight, set a budget for how
much you’d like to spend on relaxifying your workspace. Maybe you can even get your employer to pay
for some of it, especially if it’s likely to boost your productivity.

What if your employer rejects the changes you’d like to make? Some changes are certainly negotiable
because of their side effects. Your coworkers may not appreciate the scent of jasmine wafting through

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their workspaces. But if your employer is downright ogre-like and won’t permit you a plant or a family
photo, well… I’d recommend getting a new employer. Your work should support your preferred lifestyle,
not squash it.

Think about the most relaxing places you know of. What is it about those places that makes you feel
good? What are the sights, sounds, and smells? How can you modify your workspace to create a similar
feel? You might not be able to duplicate the feeling perfectly, but you can always get close. If you don’t
have time for a complete workspace makeover, then just make one little change each week. Add a photo.
Buy a plant. Clean up the junk pile. Relaxify and enjoy.

13 Responses to “10 Ways to Relaxify Your Workspace”

Are Lucky Bamboo Plants Really Lucky? Says:
June 21st, 2006 at 6:40 pm
[…] As part of Steve Pavlina’s recent post about 10 ways to make sure your workplace is a s
relaxing as possible, he points out the importance of plants. […]

10 Ways to Relaxify Your Workspace - lifehack.org Says:

June 22nd, 2006 at 4:51 am
[…] You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response,
or trackback from your own site. Share and Enjoy:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where
readers canshare and discover new web pages. […]

SkillZDesign.com » Blog Archive » Relaxification of Work Area Says:

June 22nd, 2006 at 10:02 am
[…] I’ve been motivated of late to clean up my workspace at my office. Unfortunately, since I do not
work from home, there are more limitations to what I can do to improve my surroundings, but doing
something is better than doing nothing. I have found that I can be much more productive and much
less stressed out if I’m not surrounded by clutter. This morning, I read this article, and I was inspired
to continue along this path of cleanliness and super-organization. […]

6 of 8 25.06.2006 19:30
10 Ways to Relaxify Your Workspace http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/06/10-ways-to-relaxify-your...

J M S I E F E R . C O M » Workspace Says:
June 23rd, 2006 at 7:48 am
[…] You know, I’m not one to really read these type of articles.. but I have to say that all of these
points are quite valid. […]

Meandering Passage » Blog Archive » Not so relaxed (but still working) Says:
June 23rd, 2006 at 8:45 am
[…] I was reading a post on Lifehacker, from stevepavlina.com. about 10 ways to turn your
workspace into a more relaxed environment so I decided to use these 10 ideas as a baseline to
evaluate my own work environment. […]

Who…What…Where…When…Why…How…????? » 10 Ways to Relaxify Your

Workspace Says:
June 23rd, 2006 at 1:49 pm
[…] Last year I made changes to my home office to better relaxify it (I know relaxify isn’t a word, but
it should be). I enjoy being in my workspace, and I can work productively for many hours without
feeling like I’ve lost my humanity. […]

Relax at work (and still be productive) - davecentral Planet David Central & Dave
Central Planet Says:
June 23rd, 2006 at 4:44 pm
[…] Of course, you have to work within your company’s policy on this sorta thing, and yeah, you
probably know this stuff already, but it’s worth a try and a reminder to give you more peace of mind.
— Wendy Boswell 10 Ways to Relaxify Your Workspace [StevePavlina.com] […]

Wege den eigenen Arbeitsplatz zu verschönern - surfgarden Says:

June 23rd, 2006 at 9:54 pm
[…] Steve Pavlina gibt in 10 Ways to Relaxify Your Workspace Tipps, wie man sich dir Arbeit durch
einen schönen Arbeitsplatz versüßen kann. Lesenswert allemal, obwohl Tipp 8. »Add a fountain«
meiner Produktivität extrem im Wege stehen würde . life , lifehack , webdesign […]

Vida en Digital» Blog Archive » 10 formas de hacer tu puesto de trabajo mas relajante
Says:
June 24th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
[…] According to the article, “relaxifying” your work space is crucial to productivity. There’s actually
quite a bit that you can do to make your workspace a soothing, happy place instead of just the building
you go to every day to kill eight or nine hours.read more | digg story Publicado por Jorge Yau Bajo
Cibercultura […]

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schestowitz.com Says:
June 24th, 2006 at 11:48 pm

Making Your Work More Pleasant

10 valuable tips from Steve Pavlina

Riggzy’s Blog » Blog Archive » Great Article - 10 Ways To Relaxify Your Workspace
Says:
June 25th, 2006 at 5:36 am
[…] 10 Ways to Relaxify Your Workspace […]

Sascha Goebels WebLog » Blog Archive » 10 Ways to Relaxify Your Workspace Says:
June 25th, 2006 at 5:47 am
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sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. […]

Rebecca Thomas Designs » Blog Archive » Create a relaxing work environment Says:
June 25th, 2006 at 7:04 am
[…] I’ve created my space with relaxation and motivation in mind becasue those are what keep me
moving. Consider what keeps you moving and design your work space around that. […]

Copyright © 2006 by Pavlina LLC, www.StevePavlina.com. All rights reserved.

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