How to Personalize Your Office Work Space

For most people, work is their home away from home, whether they like it or not. But trying to work in an area that's not conducive with your personality can inhibit both desire and determination to get the job done. Rather than suffering through eight hours in a space you don't like, why not turn your desk or cubicle into a personal sanctuary? Here's a few tips to help you out!

Bring Home to the Office 

Your office is your home away from home, so go ahead and make it look like one! Surrounding yourself with the things you like from home, like your favorite coffee mug, your kid's crazy school art projects, and photos of loved ones is a great way to turn your workspace into one you won't mind working in. You may even be able to get your boss to allow a desk-buddy like a bowl fish to keep you company. The more a cubicle or desk space resembles your home, the more inclined you are to feel "at-home"in your office. Studies show that when employees are comfortable and relaxed, as if they were at home, work tends to be faster and more productive, so don't be afraid to get comfy!

Get Rid of Your Walls

No, we don't mean knock them down (you're not looking to get fired.) But boring walls can be pretty conducive to sleep rather than working. Instead of sticking it out in cubicle layouts with modular design, where staying awake is a challenge, dress up your walls with things that keep your eyes interested! Adding some stylish wall art, or nature and animal photos can easily turn boring cubicle walls into windows. You may even decide to go with a destination theme to decorate around, like Hawaii, Asia, or Africa. Adding low-maintenance desk plants like spider plants, golden pothos, or lemon balm gives desks new life by bringing the outside in. By acting like natural air cleaners for office use, they're perfect for the elderly, anyone with breathing problems, and those that work in the city. (They also smell nice!)

Get Your Own Chair

Any ergonomist will tell you that comfort is the key to successful employees. However, many workplaces issue standard cubicle chairs that aren't very comfortable, and can actually end up causing health problems over time. People are individuals, which means they need individual comfort. Instead of relying on a cheap company chair, go shopping for some cozy fabric ergonomic office seating for sale features. These chairs will allow for some personalization by way of adjustable features. It's an excellent solution for those that have pre-existing problems like neck, muscle, and back pain, or even joint issues and poor blood circulation. Many chairs are specifically designed to relieve these symptoms and promote superior comfort as well as health!

*(Worried about someone stealing your fancy new chair? Simply attach it to a desk support or drawer with a bike-lock to deter any office pirates.)

Go Ergonomic

If you're already shopping for an ergonomic chair, why not go all out? Adjustable features aren't just limited to office seating, there are plenty of excellent ergonomic workplace products to improve health, comfort, and productivity in the office drastically. Items like monitor arms can attach to computer screens, allowing users to tilt, stretch, and retract them for optimal viewing (known to relieve neck and upper back pain). Retractable keyboard trays alleviate joint problems and lower risk of carpal tunnel syndrome by putting the computer's keyboard in a reasonable, comfortable space for typing rather than forcing users to reach on top of their desk.

Accessories and Dual Purpose Items

And finally, go ahead and trick out your workspace with anything else that speaks to you. Try to choose things that will make your work experience more comfortable and won't take up a ton of space. Back supports like the 7153BL Mesh Back Rest by Safco greatly reduce back pain. They come in super affordable packs of five, so you may even convince the boss to get some for the whole office. Some items like the Solstice desk lamp by ESI even have dual purposes to function effectively without eating up all your desk room. This fancy lamp lets you charge cellphones, mp3 players, and other handheld devices at the same time as it lights up your cubicle. Whatever you choose to go with, rest assured that you've made your place your own, and you'll never dread the visit to your home away from home again!