The Power of Having a Private Office Space

Traditionally, private offices were associated with the C-suite. In light of the workplace revolution sparked, in part, by the pandemic, this is no longer the case.

As your company evolves to accommodate the demands of hybrid work, you’ll likely find that private office space is a critical component in your new plans.

Whether you work for a major enterprise or you’re a solo entrepreneur,  you must find ways to meaningfully improve your work environment and your work-life balance, and you’ll need private office space to make this happen.

The good news is that by limiting distractions, a private office protects your physical and mental health and helps increase workplace productivity.

Privacy Benefits Your Physical and Mental Health

Having a private office space is no longer a “nice to have” but a “need to have.”

Consider that your physical health depends on having a safe workspace. This may seem especially apparent amid new COVID-19 variants and shifting mandates, which can make it difficult for you to know how or if you’re safe in a shared workplace. This is particularly important for select groups. 

Even before COVID-19, immunosuppressed or immunocompromised employees might have had specific needs to meet in communal settings. In these cases, a private office space may very well be the only way they can complete work safely outside of their home.

But pathogens aren’t the only challenge to a professional’s health. There is also a well-documented mental toll associated with working in loud, open spaces. Quieter work environments help eliminate work-related stress.

These noise concerns may resonate strongly for working parents who, during the pandemic, have largely been forced to balance the duties of being a parent and being an employee, often in their living rooms or at their kitchen tables. For caretakers, a private office space offers an opportunity to complete work, free of distractions.

Private Office Space Sets the Stage for Greater Focus and Deep Work

Much of the appeal of an office space, like speaking with coworkers or going on impromptu coffee runs, can also be a drawback for maintaining focus. This challenge, though, also extends to the home, where 40 percent of professionals find a lack of focus to be the biggest issue with remote work.

Simply stated, you can’t work effectively when you’re distracted. When your work is negatively affected by your environment, mental health is often the next thing to be impacted. If professionals feel their work is unsatisfactory, this creates workplace stress which can often lead to higher rates of absenteeism and turnover.

One clear benefit of a private office space, however, is the potential for deep work. Deep work refers to a state of distraction-free concentration, which can boost your productivity.

One way to optimize this sort of work is by committing to a routine. Find deadlines for projects that you know will require greater concentration and schedule time to complete your deep work then. Once your working hours are over, you can simply leave your private office space, which helps create a greater work-life balance.

Workplace Productivity Increases with Office Privacy

When your workspace is free of distractions and you feel safe, your workplace productivity increases. So, why aren’t more businesses investing in ways to eliminate distractions? The answer is: many are, but everyone isn’t investing their resources in the right way.

Take, for instance, open floor plans, which were once heralded for their capacity to foster collaboration and create more company-wide transparency. After some time, however, it became apparent that open floor plans actually erode productivity and collaboration. Now we understand features that create privacy, like sound-dampening walls and doors that lock, improve the professional experience and outcomes.

More than any of these features, though, professionals want the freedom to choose their ideal workspace. In fact, 65 percent of respondents in a 2021 Ipsos survey say they are more productive with a flexible work schedule. This aligns with many professionals’ desire to work, free of distractions. The takeaway: you know what you need to be successful, and if you think a dedicated, private office might help, you’re not alone.

Your Health and Output Is Tied to Where You Work

Research shows that when you prioritize psychological health, costs related to mental health issues decrease by up to 30 percent. However, when you fail to value health and safety at work, turnover costs balloon. 

On average, 33 percent of a departed employee’s annual salary is paid to replace them with a new employee. These costs are significant for larger organizations but they can be life-altering if you lead a small organization.

Identifying and using a private office space isn’t just a way to maximize workplace productivity, it’s a way to improve and sustain your mental and emotional stability.

If you’re in need of some office privacy, or want an opportunity to complete work in a distraction-free environment, book a tour to see how well your local proworking space fits your needs.

Or, if there’s a professional in your life that needs some peace of mind, check out our gift cards for day office passes.