As the leaves begin to change and we settle our families back into the routine of a new school year, we may notice a few rooms in our homes starting to double as spaces for homework, studying, and catching up on work. However, it’s not always easy to motivate ourselves or our children to be productive in the comfort of our own homes.

Productivity can easily slip away when we’re trying to work in a space that’s uncomfortable or distracting. The best place to start when creating a space for productivity? Your air.

Many of us take for granted that the air we’re breathing is healthy, safe, and won’t have much effect on us since it’s not something we can typically see--but this isn’t the case, especially for air that’s indoors. In fact, indoor air can be 5x more polluted than outdoors, which can affect allergies, asthma, the quality of our sleep, and more--even our productivity.

How exactly do you create a space that has healthy and productive air? It’s easier than you think! To help you get started, we outlined a few reasons your air could be getting in the way of your productivity, along with some tips on how to make sure you’re creating the best space for you and your family to be productive.

Make Sure There’s Plenty of Fresh Air

Each person exhales about 2.3 pounds of carbon dioxide every day, and while it’s not necessarily a toxic gas, it can have a big impact on your ability to focus. This is because carbon dioxide is notorious for causing drowsiness, lack of concentration, and confusion.

If you or your children are going to be getting some work done in a common area (like a dining room or living room), make sure there is plenty of fresh air to help keep CO2 levels at bay. Opening a window to let in the crisp fall air can help!

Keep Dust at Bay

Dust can quickly accumulate around our homes and in our air, and can irritate our eyes, skin, and ability to breathe--in some cases, too much dust can also trigger allergies, asthma, and eczema.

Since dust plays a big role in comfort, a dusty room can easily distract you from the task at hand. To help you stay comfortable and focused, wipe down the room regularly with a damp cloth (try to avoid dry dusters, since they’ll spread dust into the air). Try not to vacuum right before homework time, since vacuuming spreads dust that was previously trapped in your carpet into the air.

The Temperature Should be Just Right

Temperature obviously plays a major role in our overall comfort, but it can also affect our productivity. Too high or low temperature can be a distraction, and it won't allow you to focus and function properly.

If you can, try to keep your room within the productivity sweet spot: between 70°F and  77°F.

Take Control of Your Indoor Environment

It's possible to be productive outside of classrooms, libraries, and offices--all it takes is creating the right conditions to help you get work done. One of the best ways to make sure your home has air that will help with your productivity is by understanding what's in your air with an indoor air quality monitor, like Awair. Awair tracks toxins and chemicals in your air and provides you with personalized recommendations to help you stay safe and healthy.