3 Surprising Things Impacting Your Productivity at Home

Whether you’re tackling a DIY home project, taking care of family business or working from home; productivity is essential. The faster you can complete tasks; the more free time you have to spend doing what you love most. However, your home may have some surprising things that negatively impact your productivity. If you struggle to stay on schedule or complete tasks by a deadline; check your home for the following items before the frustration sets in.

Image via Flickr by schrierc

Clutter Around Your Home

Clutter is one reason why your productivity suffers at home. It causes undue stress from a visual standpoint. In addition, clutter makes finding what you need difficult, increases stress levels, and costs you valuable time. According to a Princeton University study, clutter has a profound impact on your ability to process information and focus, leading to a decrease in productivity. Remember that clutter isn’t simply papers strewn about your desk. It’s also having disorganized folders on your computer or your Facebook page constantly open.

To combat clutter you don’t have to go wild, but small adjustments can provide some serenity. By finding your level of clutter tolerance, creating storage spaces, and clearing your desktop daily; you can relieve stress and improve productivity.

Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality

Poor indoor air quality is one of the more unexpected and unknown causes of an inferior productivity because it doesn’t immediately impact your senses. Yet lackluster indoor air quality can cause a plethora of productivity and health problems if left untreated. In one recent study by the Harvard Business Review, workers were up to 0.35 percent less productive in poor air quality and 5 to 6 percent more efficient when indoor air quality was at or above acceptable U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) levels.

How do you know if you have poor indoor air quality, and how do you fix the problem? Start by contacting NATE-certified (North American Technician Excellence) technicians. These experts can test your indoor air quality to determine if a problem exists. If poor indoor air quality is a problem, they can offer ways to fix it. Installing an air purifier, changing your air filter every 30 to 90 days, and maintaining your HVAC system are all ways to get your indoor air quality back on track, improve your health, and enhance your productivity.

Colors Inside Your Home

Another source of poor productivity at home is color, although gender plays a role in which shades are detrimental to your effectiveness and efficiency. A University of Texas study revealed that women felt sadness and depression in gray, beige, and white workspaces, while men had feelings of despair and gloom in orange or purple offices. When morale plunges, your productivity can suffer immensely.

If you notice any of these colors in rooms you frequent for work, family affairs, or home projects, grab a paintbrush and fix the problem. Blue and green hues improve efficiency and focus, while red can invoke passion and intensity. Yellow is somewhere in between; creating energy and innovation, making it an excellent color selection for creatives.

Whatever the reasons for your lack of productivity; knowing that you have a solution to the problem can give you peace of mind. With cleaning, painting, and proper HVAC system maintenance, you may be surprised at how much you can accomplish.