8 Ways To Create a Calm and Peaceful Office

One of the best ways to enhance your productivity at work is to create a calm and peaceful office space for yourself. Being stressed at work has been linked to decreasing efficiency, so taking a moment to rethink your space will actually benefit you in the long run.

We here at Snif have come up with eight simple ways to create a comfortable atmosphere in your office.

1. Declutter Your Space

Over time, your office space can start to look a little cluttered and disorganized. Clearing out unnecessary items from your office can bring you mental clarity. 

With fewer distractions and a better understanding of where your office supplies are, you’ll be more productive. 

If you’re working in a shared space, a tidy office also helps evoke more positive energy for you and your coworkers. Keeping up morale is an absolute necessity in office spaces, especially when things get fast-paced and chaotic. Creating a comfortable and inviting space will foster creativity and collaboration. 

2. Let Some Natural Light In

When you spend long hours in the office, it can begin to feel like you’re stuck inside. Opening up the space to natural light will bring the outdoors to you. This can make a huge difference in improving your mental health. 

Exposure to natural light can actually increase the production of serotonin in your body. Serotonin is the hormone that helps to combat anxiety. A simple act like opening the blinds can make you feel calmer and more level-headed.

Sunlight is also important for receiving healthy levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D boosts your immune system and bone health, and it’s best received from direct exposure to the sun, so don’t forget to keep those windows clean and let the light shine through!

3. Incorporate Plants

Another way to include natural elements in your workspace is to add plants around the room. Plants improve air quality in a space by filtering out toxins and boosting oxygen. Building yourself a healthy environment with higher oxygen levels will provide you with more energy and will boost productivity.

Adding plants to your office is also a super easy way to elevate your decor. Greenery is visually impressive and will provide you with a space you’re proud of. You can add a hanging fern along the wall, a potted plant in the corner, some flowers in a vase, or a succulent on your office desk. 

4. Use an Essential Oil Diffuser

Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts used holistically for their calming and healing properties. Each essential oil is believed to come with its own set of beneficial qualities depending on the plant that they were derived from.

For example, lavender and chamomile essential oil is believed to have calming effects and reduce feelings of anxiety. Lemon and orange essential oils are considered mood boosters and can help with energy levels. Rosemary and peppermint essential oils are popular choices for improving concentration and productivity.

One of the most popular methods for making the most of these beneficial properties is through aromatherapy. 

An easy and safe way to practice aromatherapy is with an essential oil diffuser. A diffuser releases the fragrance into the air and spreads it all throughout the room. Put a diffuser in your office, load it up with the essential oil of your choice, and enjoy the fragrance.

5. Add Candles

The soft glow and pleasant scent of a soothing candle can help bring you peace, even in a hectic work environment. 

Light up a candle and practice some deep breathing. Here are three candle fragrances that can provide you with a sense of serenity:

• Sweet Ash: The candle version of one of our bestsellers, Sweet Ash is a smooth-burning, low-key sweet, and addictive vanilla candle featuring fir balsam, patchouli, white moss, and bergamot.

• Off the Grid: Off the Grid is a warm and calming candle with lily of the valley, cypress, tuberose, cedar, and cistus amber. This ambery, citrusy, and spicy scent will take you right to your happy place. 

• Birds and the Breeze: With mimosa petals, galbanum, jasmine, orchid, and musk, this light, airy candle helps keep you grounded while elevating your space. 

6. Choose a Warm-Toned Desk Lamp

Adding a warm-toned lamp to your desk can contribute to a cozy atmosphere. It’s an effective way to make your office feel more comfortable. Warm lights have been found to stimulate melatonin production, which regulates the body’s circadian rhythms.

Warm lights are also easier on the eyes. If you spend a large portion of the workday on your computer or staring at screens, minimizing stress on your eyesight is especially important. A warm-toned desk lamp is a simple fix.

7. Use White Noise

White noise is a constant humming sound that plays all audible sound frequencies at the same intensity. Using white noise while working, studying, and sleeping has become increasingly popular — due in large part to the fact that it helps mask background sounds and increase focus. 

If you have a home office or work in a busy building, quieting the noises outside your door can help to reduce distractions. Investing in a white noise machine or looking up white noise playlists is an easy way to cultivate a calm office space.

8. Organize Your To-Do List Visually

Having a physical to-do list in your office is a helpful way to stay on track. When writing out your to-do list, be sure to include daily tasks, high-priority tasks, appointments, deadlines, and long-term goals. Add personal wellness goals as a reminder to take a second to stand up and stretch, drink a glass of water, or do some deep breathing.

Invest in a planner that you keep on your desk, or write out your to-dos on a whiteboard or chalkboard. Physically checking things off of your to-do list can bring great satisfaction and encourage you to get these tasks done sooner rather than later.

Cool, Calm, Collected

Creating a peaceful office environment is worth the effort. Just lighting up some candles, bringing in some succulents, and opening up the windows can make a big difference. These minor changes will help you to become more positive and productive during your work week.

Sources:

Sunshine, Serotonin, and Skin: A Partial Explanation for Seasonal Patterns in Psychopathology? | PMC

Vitamin D - Health Professional Fact Sheet | NIH

Computer-Related Eye Fatigue - Ophthalmology | UCLA Health

Melatonin, Circadian Rhythms, and Sleep | PubMed