If you want to be more productive and see better results as a social media manager, you need to have the right work environment. A good environment will make you feel more comfortable, help you stay more focused, and might even relieve your stress.

So what does this environment look like, and how can you create it from scratch?

The Limitations of a Traditional Office

First, if you’re working in a traditional office, there may be strict limitations on what you can customize. Someone else may be in total control of the layout of the office (and your workspace), leaving you practically unable to make meaningful adjustments.

If this is the case, you’ll need to focus on making the changes you can – and potentially pushing for more flexibility, such as with a remote work arrangement.

Understanding Personal Differences

Much of the advice in this article will be universal, providing benefits to the majority of social media managers. However, it’s important to recognize that different people have different preferences; for example, some people want ambient music playing while working to achieve peak productivity, while others prefer total silence. If a certain feature of your work environment makes you feel better and helps you work more efficiently, don’t let anyone’s advice tell you to change it.

Positioning and Privacy

One of the most important elements of your work environment is going to be its general positioning and, by extension, the amount of privacy it affords you. For example, if you’re working in a café, you may not have much control over where you’re seated – and you’ll be surrounded by other people. For some, the gentle hum of background noise from other people can be comforting, boosting productivity. For others, it would be much better to be in a fully closed room of the house, completely separated from common traffic.

Organization and Cleanliness

You’ll also need to think about the organization and cleanliness of your work environment. When it comes to organization, it’s all about putting together a consistent system. You’ll need to invest in filing cabinets, drawers, folders, and other items that help you keep your physical materials organized – and you’ll need consistent rules to follow to ensure those materials never turn into a mess.

It’s also important to invest in reliable carpet cleaners and other cleaning supplies if you’re working from home. If your home office is dusty or dirty, it’s going to decrease your morale and make you more productive – even if you don’t realize it right away.

Furniture, Devices, and Accessories

Next, you’ll need to invest in furniture, devices, and accessories that have the power to shape your working experience. This includes things like your desk, your chair, and even your computer and extra monitors.

Personal preferences play a huge role in your selections here, but there are some high-level features you’ll need to keep in mind when making any of these decisions: