Creative Cubicles

Ok so this might not be the most inspirational blog but I had to talk about these fun, creative and zen-like cubicles. Heck yeah I would love my cubicle to be a tropical oasis with a trickling waterfall to the left of my desk. You have to see this:

People are actually blinging out their cubicles. It’s like “Pimp My Ride” but for the workplace! You might as well deck out the place if you are spending at least eight hours a day there. Nowadays you can find numerous online companies that will cater to your vision of what you want your cubicle to look like. Say goodbye to gray boring walls!

Keep Your Personal Time Hush Hush at Work

Away from the office you can pretty much do what you want, right? Wrong. Eating a super-sized McDonald’s meal for dinner or polishing off that bottle of wine might be career threatening moves nowadays. Here are a handful of lifestyle activities that might be putting your job in jeopardy:

1. Anything in the realm of overeating, drinking alcohol, or smoking cigarettes can make an employer wary. This kind of lifestyle ups health insurance costs and is seen as a threat to have you working for the company.
2. The next problem is risky behavior. You might love to skydive or go bungee jumping but employers see it as a liability.
3. Another aspect to be careful of is speech. Keep your blogging skills and choice words about your company to a minimum.
4. This next issue has been a problem for decades: relationships. Companies scrutinize employees about same-sex relationships, dating someone at a competitor’s company, or sexual harassment in the office.
5. Finally, a personal issue to keep to yourself is politics. Your conservative boss is not going to like seeing your huge Obama poster hanging over your desk. Keep politics out of the office.

All five of these lifestyle activities can get you fired from the workplace. Make sure you read your employee handbook and understand the rules and procedures. Don’t assume that they are illegally firing you because they might have the justification to do so. Remember to always think before you act. Will your employer find your actions harmful or destructive to your company? Finally, keep your personal life to yourself. You are in no way forced to disclose what happened on your weekend or if you went out for drinks with co-workers the night before. Be cautious about your actions and keep your mouth closed tightly when it comes to your personal life.

Beat Procrastination Before It Beats You

We have all experienced the evil that is procrastination. The type of procrastination that makes you chat with co-workers for hours on end about anything but work (gossipy conversations about American Idol sound familiar?). Anything in order to avoid that looming work assignment. But how do we combat this evil? How do we motivate ourselves to rid the procrastination before it costs us our job? Well it’s like starting a new diet because you have bad eating habits. Bottom line is that you make the wrong choices. You have bad habits when it comes to making decisions and it may be affecting your performance in the workplace.

Try considering the buddy system. Yes, I am talking about having a buddy like you had in kindergarten for when you walked to the cafeteria. The point is that you shouldn’t try to conquer procrastination alone. See if you can do an assignment at work with someone or schedule specific times that you must work because you can’t reschedule. If you can find someone at work to constantly push you and work with you then you won’t feel so defeated by procrastination.

Reflect on your lifestyle and make sure nothing is a mistake. If you job or your home life is making you depressed then maybe you made a mistake with your choices. Maybe your procrastination at work is signaling you that you went down the wrong career path. If procrastination has always been a part of your nature then that’s fine, but seriously consider if you hate what you do. You could be faking your detestation for your job by heaping on the procrastination.

You have to realize that some things you love to do, some things you are good at doing, and some things should be left for your co-workers to do. Ask yourself if the assignment even needs to be done at all and then ask yourself if it needs to be done by you. See if you can delegate instead of procrastinate. If you can throw all of your passion and creativity into an assignment then the results will be brilliant. If you know that you are going to procrastinate and that you just aren’t a good fit for a certain task then ask to have someone else work on it instead.

Don’t try to hide procrastination in the workplace. You don’t need it to be the invisible elephant in the room when you can do something about it. Have a friend or co-worker help you, change your lifestyle, and delegate assignments. And don’t forget to reward yourself! If you finish something three days before its due instead of the night before then give yourself a pat on the back or eat that illicit chocolate chunk of cake. Make the necessary changes and don't let procrastination get the best of you!

The Ugly Side of Office Romances

Most work places have a strict policy about dating coworkers. There are numerous problems that can arise from having a relationship with someone you are supposed to be working with on a daily basis. Here are some things to consider before you jump into the cyclone that mixes work and dating.

First of all, it can interfere with your work. When you are dating a coworker you will be consumed by that person instead of your work. You will try to sneak off together or find time to meet in the break room. You will spend your time flirting instead of working. If you happen to break up with this person then you will spend your time avoiding him or her. The situation might jeopardize your work because you might have to be relocated in order to not work with that person or see them every day.

Secondly, can we say favoritism? If you are dating someone either a notch above or below you on the work ladder then favoritism will definitely arise. You could unfairly rise in the work ladder or be put on a special assignment that you don’t qualify for. Your coworkers will resent you if you or the person you are dating is unjustly receiving preferential treatment in the office.

The worst circumstance that could arise is sexual harassment. This is usually due to a breakup and harsh feelings towards the person you were dating. Your ex could cry sexual harassment just to be vindictive and this could ultimately threaten your job.

Just be careful with combining work and pleasure. Dating at work can be extremely uncomfortable when mixing your personal and professional life. Remember that coworkers will gossip and create animosity towards you if they think what you are doing is hindering your work. It is best to respect your company’s policy on dating and avoid any relationships other than friendship at work. Remember that this is your job, your career and your future. Take pride in what you do and try to find your soul mate in your off hours.

The Positive Side of Office Romances

Not all office romances have to go sour. You just have to know how to maintain a good relationship with your significant other, coworkers and boss. It’s a juggling act that may be well worth it to you if you find that special person. Making your relationship work in an office of judgmental and chatty coworkers is a test to see if your career and personal life can coexist in the office.

The best thing you can do with an office romance is to conduct yourself in a formal, professional and efficient manner in the workplace. Make sure that when you are at work that you actually work. It is a professional environment and you need to save squabbles, drama, baby talk and flirting for your off hours. No one wants to see PDA when they are trying to finish an assignment.

Make sure you talk with your fellow coworker and significant other about how you are going to act towards each other at work. Agree to keep it strictly platonic at the office and save the kisses and hand holding for another time. As long as you are both on the same page then there should be no drama in the workplace.

For the sake of your relationship don’t bring work home! In order for your relationship to thrive you need to discuss other things besides work. Talking about a meeting from that day at work is no substitute for pillow talk. Learn to separate your personal life and your professional life. Talking about work all the time will lead to headaches and arguments.

Office romances can work as long as you take the time to set boundaries. Make sure everyone at work is comfortable with the situation and they can come to you if they have a problem. You can let Cupid enter the workplace as long as you understand that you are still there to get a job done.

“I haven’t had my coffee yet” and Other Excuses for Grogginess

Now let me set this up for you; I’m not a small-talker. I don’t like to make small talk to random strangers that I’ll presumably never see again. And even worse than small talk, I dislike silly little clichéd phrases, like “Well, the early bird gets the worm”. That said, can’t we all put cream and sugar into our coffee in silence? Apparently not, because those words actually came out of my mouth one day.

Over the condiments table, I had an early morning chit chat with this guy about how early it was. And that’s when I said it, the dreaded “Yeah, I haven’t had my coffee yet.” Dun Dun Dun…

So the point is, that coffee really does start to muddle your brain when you haven’t had it yet. And if you are one of those people that need their coffee, I might have a solution. In the morning, instead of sleeping in until the last possible second and trying to condense all of your morning activities, try getting up a half hour earlier. Yes, I said earlier.

Here’s why. Sometimes our bodies need to get a running start, especially in those first morning hours. This means that all of that groggy, slow time before we’ve had our coffee needs to happen at home, and you need the time to do that. By gaining this extra time, you can make a little something to eat and relax. You’ll be calm and ready for the day. It also means that you won’t be in a rush on your way to work.

When you finally do get in to the office you wouldn’t have felt pressured to have gotten there by nine, and you’ll be in a far better mood. Then, because you ate, you’ll jump right into the work for the day and you’ll be surprised at how much and how fast you get things done. Your productivity will soar. By the time you look up, it could be lunch time!

Know your Role

“Sometimes a player’s greatest challenge is coming to grips with his role on the team.”— Scottie Pippen

We have all felt at one time or another that maybe we are not as important or advantageous to our company as we think we are. Unless you’re in an industry that boasts instant results, such as stock brokering or sales, there is no way to really know how what we do affects the bottom line. And it would be nice to know that we truly are contributing to it.

When you come into the office and do the same thing, day after day, the work can certainly become tedious. More so than that, you may start to wonder how your daily toils actually contribute to the company. Would anyone even notice if you stopped?

The answer is yes. Bosses don’t give out “busywork”; they assign work that needs to get done for the betterment of the company, even if it’s in small ways.

Not the office superstar? We can’t all be, and chances are if you’re not by now, there’s probably a reason for it (of course I could be mistaken and if you’re offended, then by all means prove me wrong). The only thing to do, then, is the work that’s put in front of you. Do it well. Make the company or whomever receives your work, proud. And don’t be bitter if the superstar gets all of the praise. Know that they wouldn’t have gotten there if it weren’t for the work you did.

Are you the assistant? The go-through girl? The make-sure-this-gets-done guy? Know your role in the company and embrace it. If and only if you excel at that position will you move up in the company. Don’t get frustrated or discouraged; keep up the positive attitude and the hard work -- even if it is a monotonous task.

Spice up that Job!

Have you ever felt that corporate America just isn’t for you? Men and women living in a concrete jungle filled with suits, ties, conferences, monotonous voices and a set in stone nine to five schedule. Boring! Where is the pizzazz in the workforce today?

I personally am not a fan of this tedious and lackluster lifestyle. For the people who walk off the beaten path– the people who have bright purple hair and who can’t sit still at a desk for more than five minutes without doodling pictures of their cat – I suggest finding creative jobs. You don’t have to be a carbon copy of the rest of the corporate world for you to go far in your career. Some of the most successful people I have met have had a unique flair that sets them apart from the rest of their industry.

Research from the Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine suggests that boring work could be deadly work. Yikes! Do you really want to keel over one day because your job literally bores you to death? I sure don’t want to be included in those statistics.

I think that most people today take their brain for granted. If you want to break free of the monotony then you need to learn how to utilize the innovative chamber of your brain. I always think of everything I love and how it can be transformed into a job. How can I make my love of vegan food successful? Can I sell my knitting to people online? Funky jobs and lateral thinking can be the saving grace to a mundane lifestyle. Give it a try because the rewards can be immeasurable. Who knows, maybe you will be the next big thing.

Even if you are settled into a career, try and think of ways to improve or modify your everyday routine. Whether it’s adding some flavor to your wardrobe or decorating the office for a holiday. And who says adults can’t dress up for Halloween? Or have a secret Santa gift exchange with only presents bought from the dollar store. Mix things up a little!

Stop staring blankly at your computer monitor and start using your brain. It could lead to an improved lifestyle, or better yet, a promotion. If you haven’t had a frontal lobotomy then stop acting like it and get those wheels turning in your head.