Tired of routine office work? Jiji.ng has compiled a list of tips on how to brighten up your office space and turn your cubicle into a personal sanctuary. Check it out and be sure to make your office environment look and feel a little more like home. Turn it into a place where you enjoy being.
Clean Desk Policy
Some multinational companies, including IBM, have this policy as a rule. It implies that by the end of the day all employee desks should be clean and all paperwork is to be removed from them. Even if your company doesn’t have such a policy it’s still a delightful feeling to start every day with a sight of a clean workspace.
Tip 1: Start with cleaning your table
What Does Your Clutter Hold?
Once you start cleaning your cubicle – pay attention to the clutter on your desk. You might find a stapler or two and some other small office supplies scattered around the perimeter. Be sure to remove them to secure more space.
Compile
If you’re hoarding your table with paperwork – start organizing it and put it into different piles. You will find that your work will get more productive once you’ve done. And if you don’t have an organizational system (be it in/out box or file cabinets) on your table yet – well, it’s about time to talk to your manager about buying one.
Tip 2: Create 4 separate piles for your paperwork: current items, completed items, archive and personal.
Let There Be Light
Numerous scientific studies revealed that lighting has strong impact on productivity. There are 2 common problems associated with this aspect of work in offices: the lights are either too harsh or too dim. In both cases, unbalanced lighting can lead to headaches and decreased productivity.
Tip 3: Buy a small lamp and a low-wattage bulb to create restful ambiance on your desk
Tip 4: Opt for warm-colored light, such as orange or red
Home at Work
If you want your office to feel at least a little like home – bring home to your office. Add something really meaningful to your desk, something that reminds you of the good times. The simplest way to go is a picture frame.
Tip 5: Add your favorite photo next to your computer and a few smaller ones on your desk shelves
Go Green
One of the best and simplest ways to turn your office into a personal sanctuary is to add some flora to it (fauna will probably not be allowed). Plants have not only been proved to have positive effect on productivity and mood, but also serve as a colorful addition to the strict office environment. And there are actually a number of plants that grow well in offices. But don’t forget to take care of them!
Tip 6: Here are some plants that grow well in office environment: Succulents, Peace lily, Aloe, Ivy, Cactus, Rubber plant, Spider plants
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Thinking outside the Cubicle
Add beautiful pictures to your cubicle. Be it pin up photos, prints or posters – images bring a sense of peace and harmony to your office environment. To decrease the tension of the environment – print a joke or two, a meme or a cartoon poster and pin them to your wall. Be sure to update the humorous pieces regularly to make you cubicle a place for your co-workers to visit. But don’t get too carried away – remember it’s still a workspace, not a stand-up stage.
Tip 7: Add inspirational quotes and humor.
Less Noise – More Work
Noise is one of the leading causes of headaches and a major distractor at work. To eliminate unwanted noise – wear headphones. Browse Jiji.ng to find the best deals. Another trick you can use is purchasing a small fountain providing a peaceful sound of running water or a small rotating fan.
Fish
While most offices don’t allow pets, some might allow placing a small desktop fish tank. If your employer is not against you hosting a small fish in your cubicle, it’s a great way to combat the stress and make your space feel more like home. But don’t forget to feed your pet fish and change the water.
Tip 8: Best fish for office environment: guppies, betta, red tail shark, goldfish
Add Something Unusual
Now that your personal sanctuary is almost ready – add something unusual to it. It can be an interesting USB-based device, or grass carpet – anything that you like and you think will be a good fit in your office environment.
