Fun Office Tips

  • Bad Day, Be Gone!

    On: May 15, 2014
    In: Fun Office Tips
    Views: 1304
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    Stress

    We live in a fast paced world full of deadlines, appointments and too much stuff for one person to ever realistically get done in a single day. It’s no wonder everyone’s stressed out and crabby! That stress only builds if you’re having a bad day at work, so how do you fix it? Here are a few tips to get rid of that bad mood and bad day… give them a try before you take out your next crummy mood on your co-worker in the next office over.

    1. GET UP!
    Staying at your desk or even in your office is not going to put you in a better mood. Remove yourself from the situation… take a short walk outside, focus on something other than what has put you in a bad mood.

    2. INDULGE!
    Yes, we eat and drink every day but it’s usually so quick because we’re on a tight schedule that we don’t really enjoy it. So take a second to enjoy a piece of chocolate or a cup of tea… focus on that for a few minutes rather than what’s bothering you.

    3. BE NICE!
    It may be the last thing you want to do when you’re in a crummy mood, but doing something nice for someone else can actually help brighten you mood. Even if it’s soemthing as simple as thanking a co-worker for helping you with something, it may just do the trick.

    4. GET IT OUT!
    If you’ve tried everything else and you’re still having a bad day, try writing down what’s stressing you out. Use this as a way to get all the stressful thoughts out of your head, make a plan for attacking each one when the time is right, and then make the conscious choice to set those things aside and focus on the project at hand.

    If all else fails… woosah.

    Kristen Oaxaca, Graphic Designer

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  • De-Stress and Be Creative

    On: April 25, 2013
    In: Fun Office Tips
    Views: 1394
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    Pantone
    I don’t know about you, but when I’m stressed out I find it hard to be creative. In our line of work, we can’t afford to have these distractions because creativity is what being a designer is all about!

    I recently started taking steps in my own life to reduce stress… I found that things such as family life and health issues can be significant stressers, but so can the place where you spend most of your waking hours – your office. I began looking at my own office and thinking about the things I can do to help make my workspace a more relaxing and stress-free place.

    Here are a few tips to de-stressing your workspace:

    1. CHOOSE YOUR COLORS WISELY
    Studies show that colors in your surrounding can impact your mood, so whether
    you’re painting an accent wall in your office or choosing art to hang up, choose
    your colors wisely! Stick to brighter and more cheerful hues (such as yellows, oranges
    and lime greens) because they tend to make you feel more joyful. Shy away from
    darker colors (such as blue) because they tend to make you feel more somber
    or serious.

    2. PERSONALIZE
    The more your office feels like you, the happier you will be. Bring in photos of family,
    friends or even your pets! Create your own artwork for the space – you can even
    include inspirational sayings in your art. Another personal touch to add to your
    zen-like workspace is to hang artwork of places you’ve visited or places you’d
    like to go.

    3. WALK AMONGST THE LIVING
    Surround yourself with living object, such as live plants, flowers or fish. These items
    help create a peaceful and more energetic environment. (You can see the new
    addition to my office in the picture above – my new Crown Tail Betta Fish…
    his name is Pantone.)

    4. DITCH THE BAD
    We’ve all had that rocky relationship or the one that ended badly, but your desk
    shouldn’t be a place to remind you of that! Get rid of pictures of your ex… you don’t
    need the distraction! Also, keep items like fake or dead things (such as silk or dried
    flowers) to a minimum as the kill positive energy.

    5. CAN THE CLUTTER
    Piles of papers, stacks of files, and junk all over the place can knock out good
    energy and make a space feel chaotic. (I’m stressed out just thinking about it!)
    Keep your mess behind closed doors such as a file cabinet or make friends with
    your trash can and just get rid of the stuff that’s not necessary. Keeping clutter
    out of sight helps you think more positively and be more creative!

    Good luck in your mission to de-stress your workspace! Whether you try just one or all of these tips, I hope it helps you say goodbye to stress and hello to creativity!

    Kristen Oaxaca, Graphic Designer

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