Working from home provides many benefits. Being able to work in your own environment, being around to help the kids with school, and not having to commute to the office are all incredibly beneficial. However, you may have noticed that on some days you aren’t quite as productive when working from home, and this could be due to the temperature of your work environment.
The ideal room temperature for productivity can vary slightly based on your specific preference. However, most people find a temperature between 72-76-degrees Fahrenheit ideal for maintaining their productivity. While this might be perfect for your purposes, your kids and spouse may have different needs. In this article, we’ll suggest some ways to keep your workspace at a productive temperature while still meeting everyone else’s comfort needs.
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Ideal Temperature for Productivity
One of the benefits of working at the ideal temperature is that it trains your body to be ready to work. The best way to achieve this is to pick a comfortable temperature and stick with it. This way, when you sit down at your workspace, you know what to expect as your mind and body knows it’s time to start working.
Maintaining an optimal temperature is also beneficial for the simple fact that when we are comfortable physically, we can focus better on the important tasks at hand. A consistent workplace temperature allows you to set it and forget it. There is nothing more distracting than being too hot or too cold when you are trying to concentrate on work.
Most people agree that it is better for their concentration and alertness if the temperature is a little bit cooler. Warmer temperatures may be more comfortable, but they can easily make you sleepy and lethargic as the day wears on. Try keeping your workspace at 72 degrees at first and see how comfortable you are with that. As long as it isn’t too cold, you should be able to remain alert and focused without getting tired.
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What About Others – Spouses, Kids, Pets?
While temps in the low to mid 70’s might be good for you during the workday, it may not be ideal for the rest of the people in your house. If everyone isn’t working or trying to concentrate, it may be just a little bit too cold. Fortunately, there are solutions that you can implement to make everyone happy.
One of the things you can do to help meet everyone’s temperature needs is schedule specific work times. If there is a particular time of the day that you are the only one home, that would be a great time to set the thermostat to your preference and get some work done.
A programmable thermostat offers a lot of benefits, including helping you saving money on your energy bill. You can program your thermostat to lower the temperature during your peak working hours, or when everyone else is away to maximize your productivity. Not only can you keep the house at your ideal temperature, it will also be quiet enough to concentrate.
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Keeping Your Cool
The use of a ceiling or portable fan in your home office can really help cool things down. A ceiling or oscillating fan will help lower the temperature in your workspace by a few degrees, which can make a big difference in your comfort level and alertness. Even a few degrees can be significant when it comes to maintaining your productivity. And a fan, whether above or beside you, will also keep the air circulating, which is another added benefit. This option also allows you to regulate and control the temperature in your space without impacting everyone else in the house.
Keep Your System Running Efficiently
Our productivity is often directly related to our surroundings. The right lighting, the configuration of our home office, and certainly the right temperature can make all the difference. It might take a little experimenting to find the ideal temperature for your productivity, but once you figure it out, it can be a game-changer.
The warmer weather is just around the corner. It’s important to make sure your HVAC system is working properly so it can keep you cool during the warm months ahead. Call your local Aire Serv professional to schedule a complete system check to make sure your HVAC unit is working properly and efficiently so you can stay cool, and productive this summer.
