Financial Times columnist, Lucy Kellaway, offers solutions to the trials and tribulations of the workplace. Everything from workplace dating, to smelly coworkers, to email etiquette provides fodder for discussion, with Financial Times readers weighing in with their perspectives. The Financial Times is located in the United Kingdom, so a lot of crises are addressed with a healthy dose of British wit.
For artistic types: The design firm Harry Allen reinterprets the ordinary to create a stylish and witty desk set which plays on iconic forms of typical objects in an office setting (i.e. pencils, rubberband ball, business cards). The Reality Desk Set includes a pencil tray, a paperweight, and a business card holder made of a white resin cast from real objects.
As you strain your eyes beneath the flickering flourescent light above your cube and are hit by waves of Seasonal Affective Disorder, you might wonder if this is any way to live. Thankfully, there are products which simulate natural lighting and are scientifically designed to enhance vision and viewing comfort. Two popular products include the Ott Lite Vision Saver Plus designed by Dr. John Ott a photobiologist who discovered the remarkable effects that natural light has on living things while filming the Secrets of Life Series for Walt Disney and the Bright as Day Lamp which offers brilliant, glare-free, wide spectrum light. Now you can continue along happily with your work in the simulated light of a Caribbean island and not have to worry about sunburn.
Customize your cube with your favorite pictures. The various online photo shops (ofoto, shutterfly, etc.) offer customizable products such as mugs, mousepads, coasters, notecards, calendars, stickers, and magnets. Slap on that digital vacation picture of you and the family and have the best looking coffee mug in the office! Check out the magic tile mug at ofoto. The basic premise is while your mug may appear plain black, when you pour a warm beverage in, your picture “magically” appears…. wow!
The USB port to your computer is a source of power for fun techy gadgets. Everything from fragrance dispensers to heating pads to lava lamps are available to you via USB. The USB gadget industry is so evolved that there’s an entire blog at www.usbgadgets.org devoted to USB Gadgets. Here’s a list of the top 5 unique USB gadgets for your cube:
USB Mini Fridge:
The “coolest” way to keep your drink cold - this retro-styled USB powered mini fridge guarantees that you’ll never return to a warm soda after a long afternoon meeting. Now all of your coworkers will gaze at you thirstily as you drink your cold frosty beverage.
USB Heating Slippers:
A great resolution to the battle of the thermostat in the office for the perpetually cold person. The product boasts a cozy design for defrosting your feet. Related items include USB heating gloves and a USB “cafe pad” to keep your coffee mug warm.
USB Vacuum:
For the office neat freak, a USB powered vacuum cleaner designed to rid your keyboard, monitor and surrounding work area of dust and debris. This product features an easy to clean Filtration system to trap dust. Another related product found online is a USB Humidifier.
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Color psychology is a scientific field devoted to analyzing the effect of color on human behavior and feeling. Practitioners of color psychology or color consultants, claim there are a number of reactions to color which seem to be noted in most persons. Color consultants believe that the colors used in the design of environment can have a significant impact on the emotions and performance of people within that environment. So if you are feeling anxious and stressed at work, it may be worthwhile to decorate your cube blue to evoke a feeling of peace and tranquility or try the calming and relaxing effects of green. Here is a list of the emotional associations with the following colors:
Red: The most emotionally intense color, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. Since it is an extreme color, red clothing might not help people in negotiations or confrontations. In decorating, red is usually used as an accent. Red is often used in restaurant decorating schemes because it is an appetite stimulant.
Pink: The most romantic color, pink can have a tranquilizing effect. Sports teams sometimes paint the locker rooms used by opposing teams pink so their opponents will lose energy.
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For the environmentally conscious, going green can extend into your office. If your company doesn’t already have a recycling program, look into starting one. Try to reduce usage by bringing in a washable coffee mug or photocopying on both sides of the page. Try carpooling to work (Note: a friend of ours has started a carpooling website called rideamigos.com). Small steps like this can make a big environmental difference… plus it’s an easy way to show leadership and innovation around the office. Also, there is a company called The Green Office which specializes in green office products. Each of their products is rated according to a “Green Screen” Key, which denotes the products as recycled content, biodegradable or compostable, or reduced chemical content.
Trick or Treat! There are so many things to celebrate with regard to Halloween at the office… eating candy, dressing up in ridiculous costumes, and of course, scaring your co-workers! The first things that comes to mind when decorating your cube for Halloween are mini-pumpkins, faux spider webs, plastic candy cauldrons, and of course lots of orange and black. Or you could go with a theme, for example, if you and your fellow cube-mates were dressing as the Wizard of the Oz, why not make your adjacent cubicles into a mini-Oz city. Martha Stewart offers a Halloween decorating slide show which can easily be adapted for your office or cube on a smaller scale (tip: use an LED light to safely create the effect of a burning candle). Also, be sure to bring in treats, have an office costume contest, or a scariest cube decorating contesting. Remember, the more effort you put into Halloween, the more fun everyone will have! Happy Haunting!
For creative, cost-conscious, and nimble-fingered folks desk accessories can be created using the Japanese art of origami. The best part of creating your own origami desk accessories is that they are easily customizable depending on the color, size, pattern, and texture of paper you select. Now you can create cute paper clip boxes and adorable pencil boxes for the price of paper… and hopefully minimal blood, sweat, and tears (watch out for paper cuts!!). Visit the Origami Resource Center for directions on how to construct up to 50 different types of boxes. From the “Fancy Box” to the “Star Box” you’re sure to find a box to suit your tastes. Happy Paper Folding!
