New Year, New Office: We Share Our Tips for Creating a Fun and Productive Workspace

It’s the New Year, you have new resolutions, new goals to accomplish. You return to work after the holiday season greeted by your same boring desk. Immediately you are reminded of previous deadlines, stress from many years past. You’re creativity and positive energy instantly drop and it seems that all of the self-care you practiced over the holiday season has vanished. Here at M E Clarke Consulting we understand this feeling all too well. We’ve created a list of easy additions and renovations you can use to transform your office cubicle into a workplace oasis.

Bring new life into the office. A potted plant can brighten even the plainest workspace. A plant not only adds color and fresher air, but it can also create an added sense of purpose because it depends on you. There are plenty of varieties that thrive indoors no matter if you sit by a window or are surrounded only by fluorescents. Check out this article by the Huffington Post to find the perfect plant for your cubicle.

Try a standing desk. Standing desks have created a lot of buzz lately. Many articles have come out claiming the health risks of sitting all day. While we are not experts on the matter, I have noticed that I feel more focused and energized when I do my work standing instead of sitting. It is also a great tool in the morning when I am not fully awake, but I do not want another cup of coffee. There are many options available for standing desks; it is only a matter of finding out what is right for you, and your workspace. If you cannot splurge on a desk that can be raised and lowered at will, try a desktop version that will lift your computer to a comfortable standing position. This is a great way to see if standing while working is right for you. Our recommendation is to find something that allows you to both sit and stand at your desk. Here are some of highly rated options.

Customize your computer desktop. You’re real desktop is cluttered enough, why sentence your virtual desktop to the same fate. Hide your desktop folders or create one overarching folder to house the network of folders you are currently using. This will give you extra real estate to show off pictures of your kids, pets, or current motivational quotes. A clean desktop will also prevent your noisy neighbors from seeing personal documents you have on your work computer because, lets face it, your desk is your home away from home. If you do not want to create your own there are plenty of free wallpapers to download so you don’t have to rely on the default options on the computer.

Be your own interior decorator. It can be draining on your creativity to work in a cubicle that is exactly like everyone else’s. There are so many quick and easy ways to add color and texture to your area, no matter what your surrounding is. Decorating your space is an easy and inexpensive way to show off your unique personality and take back your creativity. Here are some decorating ideas we have found.

Try these gold office supplies and create a workspace King Midas would envy.

If you want to create a cozy office space try adding a lamp and some corky picture frames.

Cover unsightly filing cabinets with contact paper to add flair to function.

Let your inner barista shine. Not a fan of the free coffee at work? Do you often have meetings in your office and wish to offer refreshments? Keep a French press in your office and have fresh coffee whenever you like. If you have the space try an electric kettle to heat the water or set up a tray with mugs and sugar. Don’t be surprised if you are suddenly everybody’s favorite office-mate.

We would love to hear about any office-redesigns you have tried.