5 Essentials for Your Office Space

5 office essentialsIs your Office Furniture working for you?

The furnishings and accessories in your office space can have an impact on your productivity, efficiency, and even your physical well-being. It’s important to understand the functions you require from these essentials — and to invest in items that are both designed to meet these functions and built to last. Here are some things to look for as you decide if your office furniture is helping — or hindering — your workplace productivity and happiness.

Is your Desk working for you?

There are endless amounts of options when it comes to office desk sizes, shapes and features. The style you would like (e.g. traditional, contemporary, solid wood, etc) along with your budget are important factors in making your choice. But equally, if not more important is to consider how you will be using the desk. Does it need to fit only a computer or will other types of work like drafting blueprints or sorting and organizing paperwork require more space? The height of the desk is also an important element when considering comfort and usability. Are there options that need to be included like drawers, hutches, shelves or extensions? Will the desk fit in the office space and allow room for other necessary furnishings?

How about your Seating?

An adjustable chair is best for use at the desk — allowing the user to change its features for maximum comfort. Adjustable features may include: height, tilt, back angle, seat angle, and lumbar support; along with options like arms, castors, and the variety of upholstery material. When choosing an office chair, it is important to keep in mind which features you will need in order to keep you working hard all day, while maximizing comfort.

Is your Storage Space Organized?

Even in our computer focused era, almost every office is still going to require some system for organizing and storing papers and files. Piles of unorganized paperwork can waste your time and increase your frustration level. Options for organization could range from large lateral filing cabinets to more simple desktop organizing trays. Don’t forget a wastebasket and recycling bin as key components of paper management.

Is your Workspace Ergonomic?

As desk height and an adjustable chair are important for workplace comfort, certain computer accessories can also increase productivity. Ergonomic options such as an adjustable keyboard drawer, a wrist rest in front of a desktop keyboard, or a riser to place the monitor at proper viewing level can all contribute to a more comfortable and efficient work area.

Does your Office have Proper Lighting?

Both comfortable ambient lighting and appropriate task lighting are essential to a comfortable office space. Poor lighting can lead to eyestrain, vision problems, and reduced work performance. Computer work can be particularly visually demanding under improper lighting situations. Overhead lighting should be low or glare free. Task lighting lamps should be adjustable, low-glare and located in a convenient position appropriate for your tasks.

Workspace Solutions has all the Office Essentials

At Workspace Solutions in Fort Wayne, we can help you select and prioritize your office furniture based on our years of experience helping a wide-range of businesses design and furnish their workspaces. We offer only products from manufacturers that we know offer the best quality and value. Let us help you design your office space for maximum efficiency, usability and comfort.

Is Your Office Desk Breaking Your Back?

desk causing back painYour Workspace Should be Pain-free

Many of us work at jobs that require spending a large part of the day in a sedentary position in a chair, in front of a computer. This actually places a lot of stress on our bodies and can even lead to the development of physical pain and ailments. OSHA (The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration) defines working environment ergonomics as: “The Science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working population.” If your desk was set up without any consideration to ergonomics, it may be contributing to — or causing — a range of aches, pains, and even injury.

Dr. Richard Busch of Busch Chiropractic in Fort Wayne, who has treated thousands of patients who suffer with neck and back pain states, “Some of these injuries could have been avoided. Years, even months, of using poor quality office furniture, furniture that has not been set up properly for the user, or bad posture, may lead to early wear and tear, chronic back pain or neck pain including disc degeneration or herniated discs causing back pain and/or neck pain.”

Below are guidelines for workspace use that will reduce physical strain and increase comfort and productivity:

Proper Seating

  • maximize the options of an adjustable chair to find the best fit for you
  • keep a couple of inches between the front of the seat and the back of your knees
  • support your lower back with the chair’s lumbar support or add a small cushion
  • sit reclining slightly away from your desk — a stiff-backed posture is stressful for the spine
  • keep your feet flat on the floor, about hip-width apart, and don’t cross your legs
  • adjust the seat height so that knees are at a 90 degree angle — or lower — from the hips

Upper Body Relaxed

  • the alphabetical part of the keyboard should be centered in front of you
  • with hands on the keyboard, wrists should be in a neutral position or supported by a wrist rest
  • elbows should be at a 90 degree angle when hands are on the keyboard
  • keep the mouse as close to the keyboard as possible
  • use keyboard shortcuts instead of the mouse — when using the mouse move it from your elbow rather than your wrist
  • consider an adjustable keyboard tray attached to your desk for proper wrist and arm positioning
  • keep shoulders relaxed when holding the phone — consider a headset if you are on the phone for long periods
  • don’t crane your neck towards your computer — its weight should be supported by the neck and spine

Limit Eye Strain

  • keep the monitor at arm’s length from your eyes; raise it so that the top of the screen is about eye-level
  • tilt your monitor 10-20 degrees away from you
  • avoid glare on the screen from windows or other light sources
  • give your eyes frequent breaks by looking at a far away objects for a few seconds
  • if you reference paperwork while typing, use an attachable holder to place documents as close to the screen as possible

Get up!

  • take frequent small stretching breaks for hands and fingers, legs and ankles, neck and shoulders — you can even do these while seated
  • throughout the day, take occasional longer breaks to move your whole body — stand, stretch, walk, and climb stairs

A note on laptops:

Laptop use at the office is on the rise. Unfortunately, the ergonomics in laptop design are poor — if the screen is at an appropriate height and distance, the keyboard is impossible to use, and vice versa. If you work at a laptop for a significant amount of time, add an external keyboard or monitor so that less stress is placed on your body and eyes. Keep in mind your office chair and desktop height, as described above, for the least stress possible.

Your workspace arrangement may be putting more stress on your body than you realize. The knowledgeable professionals at Workspace Solutions in Fort Wayne can help you identify the best office furniture and designs for a more ergonomic office space and improved work flow. Our goal is to help you work better — more efficiently and more comfortably.

Organizing the Mess on your Desk

organizing deskIt has been said that a messy desk is a sure sign of a creative mind.  While that may be true, a messy desk is also a sign of disorganization, chaos, and stress.  If you find yourself feeling frequently overwhelmed and stressed, the chances are that a good old-fashioned desk cleaning will get  you back on the path to serenity.  Here are a few tips you can use in order to get rid of the mess on your desk  so you can maximize your productivity, efficiency, and even your attitude.

Purge your Papers

If your desk is cluttered with papers, the first and most important step is to go through these papers and find a place for them.  It helps to organize the papers into three different groups; “Current,” “Archives,” and “Recycle.”  If it is an item or project that you are currently working on, file it in the “Current” folder.  If it is a document that you don’t need to have on hand, but still need to keep on record, file it under “Archives.”  And thirdly, if there are papers that you never need to look at again, go ahead and get rid of them!  You will probably be surprised at what you don’t even need anymore.

Many times in a day, I find myself grabbing a sticky note, and jotting down a quick note or phone number.  It never fails, that by the end of the day, my desk is littered with sticky notes.  Rather than your desk becoming an ocean of sticky notes, grab your phone and take a picture of any notes or phone numbers you might need, and then throw the hard copies away!  Chances are, when it comes time to need those notes, you are more likely to have your phone on you anyway.

Rank your Office Supplies in Order of Importance

On every cluttered desk sits an army of unused office supplies.  Your desk should have a certain “hierarchy of needs.” Keep track of which supplies you use most.  If there is an item you use most, keep it in closest proximity, on the side of your dominant hand.

Likewise, if there are any that you hardly ever use; toss those babies back in the supply closet, like it’s the Island of Misfit Toys.

Keep a Wastebasket Nearby

If you have to get up from your desk to throw something away, chances are you probably won’t throw things away as often.  Because of this, simply having a trashcan within arm’s reach can severely diminish mess.

Get Organized With Workspace Solutions

The best defense is a good offense!  And by that I mean, if you don’t have a place for every single item that comes across your desk in a day, those things tend to just stay right there on your desk.

Without a doubt, the most important factor in maintaining an organized workspace is having plenty of storage, and keeping it well organized.  If you lack storage space, give Workspace Solutions a call.  They have a wide variety of storage solutions including under the desk storage systems, lateral files, storage towers, bookcases, large filing cabinets, and more.

Workspace Solutions has been helping people around the Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, South Bend and Warsaw areas get organized for  years.  To find out what we can do for you, give us a call today at (260) 422-8529.  

What’s New in Office Furniture?

What’s new in office furniture?

As time goes on, new ideas in technology and trends continue to develop. The same goes for office furniture.  Quality office furniture manufacturers are always coming up with product lines better than the last in order to improve office planning, design, and productivity.  In order to stay ahead of the curve, here is a quick guide to some new products and lines that can be found at Workspace Solutions.

HON Basyx

At the forefront of American-made office furniture, HON creates quality office furniture that is guaranteed to last. Their contemporary designs and superior workmanship have made them one of the leading office furniture manufacturers in the United States.

New to the HON line of products is the Basyx Collection; a collection of office furniture ranging in items from office chairs to tables and desks.  The idea behind the Basyx collection was to bring the highest quality and most modern look available at the lowest price possible.  The highly reputable HON company has now made high quality office furniture available for those on a budget.  Not only is this the best deal around, but the Basxy collection is guaranteed to bring a sleek, modern look to any contemporary office.

Allsteel’s Gather Collection

When it comes to office furniture, Allsteel is leading the way in its revolutionary designs.  Based in Iowa, Allsteel produces quality, American made office furniture in a new, creative way.  Allsteel’s new product line, the Gather Collection, transcends all other styles of furniture.  Their unique philosophy on the importance of office atmosphere and collaboration is revealed in the Gather Collection.  This line highlights the importance of comfort, while also creating a highly productive work environment.

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The unique design of the newScooch chair allows you to literally pull up a chair anywhere you might need it.  It is extremely lightweight and portable, and because of the unique design, there are multiple ways to sit in this chair, allowing for maximum comfort and versatility.

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The ingenious design of the Rise seating area  takes group projects to a whole new level.  Literally- the three tiered structure of the Rise allows multiple people to sit and chat, without taking up a whole room.

ABCO’s Z-Series Tables

Another leading office furniture manufacturer, ABCO creates unique product designs that help give modern office spaces a more contemporary, sleek aesthetic.  New from ABCO is the Z-Series; a line of all new tables designed to bring life to any classroom or conference room setting.  The lightweight yet sturdy tables are built on wheels so you can easily take your meeting anywhere you need to be.

ABCO’s philosophy is that office furniture is the basis of productivity and creativity in an office.  If the furniture reflects creativity, employees are more likely to carry that creativity with them in their projects. This philosophy certainly comes through in the Z-Series.

Workspace Solutions Has it All

For these new lines of products, and many more, visit Workspace Solutions.  Not only have we been helping businesses around the Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Warsaw, and South Bend areas furnish their offices, but we also have great office planners and designers on hand to help you maximize creativity and productivity!

Whether you are looking to add a more modern appeal to your waiting room, or you just need to update your space with more modern office furniture, Workspace Solutions can help you bring your business into the 21st century.