Ways to Improve Your Workspace to Promote Health and Wellness

In their Indoor Air Quality Report, the United States Environmental Protection Agency reported that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors. It’s no secret that lawyers and law students spend a great deal of time indoors in their offices and at their desks. However, the amount of time we spend indoors does not correspond with the amount of time and energy we put into our workspaces. Here are a few small but impactful tips to make your physical workspace more conducive to both your mental and physical health and wellness. 

1. Increase the amount of natural light in your workspace. A Cornell University research study found that an increase in natural light in the workplace significantly improves health and overall wellness of employees and students. The study also found that when working in environments with more natural light, workers reported a 51% drop in the incidence of eyestrain, a 63% drop in the incidence of headaches and a 56% reduction in drowsiness.
2. Incorporate Movement. Studies have shown that getting up and taking a movement break during the work day can be incredibly beneficial for mental health. These breaks are also proven to improve focus and promote a healthy work life balance. Experts recommend setting a timer to remind yourself to take a 5-10 minute movement break every hour, or try an adjustable desk or treadmill.
3. Make your workspace enjoyable. If working from home or in an office, personalizing your space can be incredibly important. Adding photos of family and friends or your favorite artwork to your space can make a huge difference in the way you feel while working or studying, and may even improve your productivity.

Other small things you can do to improve your workspace include upgrading your seat, reducing noise and improving the air quality in your space. What will you try?