You probably know that your office setup plays a considerable part in your productivity. Poorly lit offices, for example, can have a negative impact on your memory. Those of you who work in open offices probably have a gripe (or two) about your coworker’s loud chewing noise or your inability to make calls in private.
But your office influences your brain in more ways than you think. And since you probably spend plenty of your waking hours there, you might not realize all the effects that it’s having on your mind. Here are five unexpected ways that your workplace can change your behavior—and what you can do when that shift isn’t for the better.
YOU “CATCH” YOUR COLLEAGUES’ NEGATIVE MOODS
Behavioral “contagion” is a phenomenon we all experience. Think about your friend who has taken on the opinions of his new partner, or the way that memes spread among teenagers like wildfire. Our brains are primed to seek out a “tribe” and to fit in, often by mimicking, or adjusting our thinking to align ourselves with other people–even if many of us don’t think that we do that.
Studies show that everything from divorce to obesity could be “contagious.” This is a habit with deep, evolutionary roots. In the past, if we break away from our tribe, we might face life-threatening consequences. As a result, we developed a strong drive to prevent that outcome, and that defense mechanism has stayed with us. From a neuroscience point of view, 0ur sense of belonging is probably the single most crucial element to our being.
Of course, when your colleague’s behavior inspires you to do your best work and be a better person, mirroring their actions can be beneficial. However, when it feels like your colleagues are constantly locking you into negative conversations, it can drain your energy.
If your office is filled with chronic complainers, create a “tribe” inside and outside work who are optimistic, motivated, and engaged. Do your best to limit your interactions with those who leave you feeling worse and defeated. You can’t always avoid your office Debbie Downer, but you can minimize the amount of time that you spend with him or her.
YOU’VE JUST SWITCHED TO HOT-DESKING
Having some degree of autonomy over your work space can boost productivity and mood. Psychologists who ran randomized trials of office spaces found that those who were given the freedom to decorate their workspaces were the most productive. The least productive were volunteers who were initially allowed to customize their workspaces, then had the privilege taken away. This final group was less productive than another group who were forced to work in an impersonal office from day one.