On Purpose #6: A Beautiful Workspace Can Make Your Job More Joyful

Or...how beauty is essential to purpose

You’ve just landed your new job. You’re excited to meet new people, learn, grow, and do new things. But there’s one aspect you’re not enthused about: your workspace.

Maybe you’re in a sea of cubicles. Maybe you’re sitting at one desk among many on the floor, feeling like Jim or Dwight from The Office. Or maybe you’re stuck working remotely from your living room sofa. Not everyone can land a job at a fancy startup with floor-to-ceiling windows flooding natural light.

The truth is that most offices lack beauty. Sure, there might be a few pieces of art on the walls, but the majority of workspaces are designed for function (not form), reinforcing the perception that work has to be dull or sterile. Even those working from home are often crammed into unsightly basements or bedroom corners. Many of us have failed to consider the benefits even a little beauty can bring to our environments.

That’s a shame because, as I note in my book, the HBR Guide to Crafting Your Purpose, beauty is one of the six sources of purpose people should have in their lives. Though there are studies linking beauty to happiness, it’s hard to quantify how and why beautiful things imbue in us a sense of deeper meaning. Intuitively, it is just something we seem to grasp.

Think of it this way: Does life not feel more worthwhile when you are watching a sunset? Do you not feel more alive when roaming the halls of a museum or walking the cobblestone streets of an old city?

What I’m talking about is the inner and outer beauty of the deep and rich life around you (not “beauty” as it is standardized in magazines or the media). Incorporating more of this into your everyday surroundings is an easy way to bring extra meaning and joy to your work.

So how can you make your workspace more beautiful? Here are few tips:

Feature friends and family.

You have a life outside of work — and friends and family are a part of that. Deep, positive relationships are the most important sources of meaning. Reminding yourself of those relationships throughout the day can be profoundly impactful, particularly if those reminders recall experiences that brought you joy.

Did you enjoy a trip to Kilimanjaro with your college roommate? Travel to Kyoto to see the cherry blossoms with your mom? Attend your niece’s first birthday party? Hang reminders of these special experiences on your office wall or frame a picture to place on your desk.

On difficult days, these mementos can bring to mind brighter times, offer perspective that inspire aspirations for your future, and help you recall the depth and importance of your relationships. Research also shows that displaying photos of your loved can push you to behave more ethically.

Incorporate art.

Do you like paintings or sculptures? Or are you more inspired by interesting architecture or brilliant photography? One of the easiest and most effective ways to beautify a workspace is by incorporating art, which has been shown to increase productivity, lower stress, and improve well-being.

Looking at (or making) art stimulates our minds and increases blood flow to our brain by as much as 10%, the same amount as looking at someone you love.

Visit craft fairs in your community and find local artists you can support. Have a relative, child, or friend create something for you. Perhaps even take up some form of art as a hobby yourself. Art is an essential aesthetic for a meaningful workplace.

Bring the outside in.

A woman once told me that she sends herself fresh flowers at work once a week. The look and smell of the roses, orchids, and rhododendrons revives her sense of beauty and motivation. I’ve seen others enliven their space with plants or bonsai trees. At home, I’ve placed a hummingbird feeder outside my office window so that beautiful little birds regularly visit.

Natural environments help us to reduce stress, experience beauty, and gain perspective. We can mentally step away from our temporary stressors and see the bigger picture of life. Bringing the benefits of the outdoors into your workspace is an easy way to connect with nature. Even a small succulent can go a long way.

Meditate on music.

A recent survey noted that listening to music brings most people a great sense of fulfillment and purpose — more so than their occupations. Classical music has been shown time and again to reduce stress and increase focus. Each of us knows intuitively the power music has on our lives.

If you work in an open workspace, invest in a pair of noise-cancelling headphones that can immerse you in your favorite compositions. If you’re working from home, fire up the (Bluetooth) speaker instead.

While incorporating music into work can be a bit trickier than the other tips — your love of ’90s rock might not translate well to your professional focus — it’s worth giving a try. Creating a playlist specifically to enjoy while you work may very well stimulate an important sense of beauty in your life.

Activate your sense of smell.

This might not be the best advice for a corporate (or open) office, but one of the benefits of working from home is the ability to bring great scents into your work environment. Your olfactory senses are every bit as important as your auditory and visual ones. Lighting a candle, diffuser, or taking a whiff of those flowers you bought for yourself may inspire joy and allow you to more easily unwind.

Don’t settle for spending a third of your waking hours in a place that doesn’t inspire you. Workspaces don’t have to be featureless, drab, or dull. With just a little effort, they can be something beautiful — and why wouldn’t you want to experience that?

Originally published at HBR.