Hack Your Space: Small Changes You Can Make to Increase Your Productivity
Consider all the ways we prepare for work in the morning: we dress, eat breakfast, pack a lunch or plan for meals on the go—all while taking into consideration our agenda for the day. We nourish and clothe ourselves in ways that we think are most likely to help us succeed—and that looks different for everyone. Some folks feel and perform their best when they’re dressed to the nines, even if that means being a touch uncomfortable; others can’t imagine dashing around the office in anything but sneakers.
We do all of this to be better at work, but then we do something strange: we complacently settle into our stifling cubicles or uncomfortable desk chairs without batting an eye. Just because your office space has a computer and is relatively quiet doesn’t mean it has the tools you need to perform well. Our workspace plays an integral role in how we mentally show up—the inspiration to produce out-of-the-box ideas, the capacity to contribute to tough conversations, and even the focus to grind out emails and format spreadsheets all depend on a comfortable and stimulating setting.
At Frontier, we’re passionate about space that’s functional and beautiful. That’s why we’re so eager to share our studio with groups near and far who need to shake things up. There’s nothing quite like watching one of our clients take in Academy’s open garage doors or the East Wing’s unique charm for the first time and sharing in their excitement over how our space can spark ideas for their team.
At just a year old, Frontier Spaces has so many repeat clients not because our coffee is better than hotel conference room coffee or because we have good snacks, but because clients have seen firsthand the effect our studio has on their team’s processes and collaboration, and they crave the flexibility our space allows.
But we understand that an out-of-office excursion can’t happen every day, so we want to share some of our secrets for reimagining your own space—even if you work from home or are cubicle-confined. The first step? Stop accepting your environment as is. Take charge, get in there, and make it your own.
After that, here are a few simple recommendations from Mila, our space coordinator, that you can put to use immediately.
Add textiles.
Starkness can masquerade as distraction-free cleanliness, but it can also suck the ideas and energy out of the room. Rugs in warm tones with interesting patterns, art, throw pillows—all of these contribute to an environment that stimulates creative thought and vivacity. Slip a rug under your desk or cushion your chair with a throw pillow—abstract patterns in similar tones add warmth and texture without being loud. Or, if you’re able to, suggest swapping out paper towels for bright cotton hand towels in the office restroom; they’re inexpensive, sustainable, and they make washing your hands a more luxurious experience.
Use smell to stimulate.
We’ve been told that Frontier has a scent—and we purposefully do. Studies have long shown that certain scents, like peppermint, lavender, and cinnamon, can sharpen mental clarity, improve memory, and even kill germs. Both our basil hand soap and earthy Apothec candles are soothing and consistent—they’ve become a layer of our identity, and we associate their smells with possibility and focus. In your own space, an essential oil diffuser or hand cream in a stimulating scent like lemon or rosemary can have the same effect.
Bring the outside in.
The benefits of natural light in the workplace are so numerous and well known that a battle has broken out within larger corporate offices over who gets the window seats. If you’re an unlucky interior shadow-dweller, tame that fluorescent overhead lighting with a desk lamp that isn’t as harsh on tired eyes. Look to plants to boost your mood and promote overall well-being. Fill an empty desk or office corner with green ferns or succulents to soften white walls, lower stress, and purify the air around your workspace.
Curate your walls.
A white board with your YTD sales numbers scrawled on it or a print of your company’s corporate headquarters is unlikely to inspire a stroke of genius, and it may be heightening your stress level. Choose a photograph of your favorite vacation landscape or an original print by a local artist you love to give your space color and intentionality.
Even if you have no control over the larger elements of your workspace, making tiny changes like these can incite a shift in the atmosphere and increase your productivity. Take ownership over your space and see what happens.
Of course, if you’d like to come use our space instead, here’s what you need to know now:
What’s this, you ask? Oh, just Mila (our spaces coordinator) taking a peek at our studio on the cover of Richmond Magazine’s latest issue. The mag used our space to photograph its roundup of People + Places to Watch in 2017.
Need a creative space for your next project or event? Let us know.
You might recognize more than the faces in Richmond Magazine’s upcoming “People & Places to Watch in 2017” feature (hint, hint, our studio played a supporting role).
We were happy to serve as the backdrop for this group of Richmond influencers. Be sure to pick up an issue, on newsstands soon!
Last night, our studio opened its doors to The Next Move Program, a nonprofit that partners with local businesses to create work opportunities for young adults with disabilities, for its annual scholarship fundraiser, The Pioneer Awards.
Here are a few pics from the evening’s festivities. We’re so happy to have been able to contribute our space so that this organization can continue to provide amazing support throughout our community.
Check out this energetic, funky video produced by our media crew to highlight the many ways our studio is perfect for any event, especially those pivotal to moving your company or organization forward.
Here’s why: Being in the same space every day leads to habitual thinking, ultimately stifling the creativity your organization needs to flourish. To combat this phenomenon, you’ve got to get out of your normal routine and put your team in a new environment.
Our shop gives you the space to think differently, illuminating the ideas that will grow your business. We’ve got everything you need to energize your team, spark bold conversations, and shake up your strategy. Whether you need an open, inviting space for a large corporate gathering, a stately executive lounge for strategy sessions, or welcoming informal lounges to boost your team’s creativity, we’ve got you covered.
What are you waiting for? Craft the meeting to end all meetings. Contact Mila Thomas to get started.
What do you get when you take our buzzing hive of productive creativity and dress it up for a wedding? An uber-chic spot worth of any Pinterest-inspired shindig.
Earlier this month, we were a featured stop on RVA’s Wedding Crashers tour, which brought nearly 160 people through our doors to see how our workspace could work as wedding central. (DIY mac and cheese bar or beer and chocolate pairings, anyone?)
On first thought, it may seem strange to envision our earthy, rustic office as the perfect spot for “I Do,” but these pictures prove it: our industrial vibe is the ideal backdrop for a soft, neutral ceremony and reception.
And a HUGE thanks to our girl Mila for pulling the event all together.
