Is your cubicle feeling a little drab lately? (if so, you must not have gotten your cubicles from us) But at times, we can always control the work environment that has been chosen for us. We can, however, change the little things that personalize our space to meet our specific work needs. There are some things every workstation should have for the person inside to be productive, energized, organized and happy. Whatever the reason you’re feeling a tad “blah” in your workspace, maybe our short list of cubicle “must haves” will help!
Paper Management. For many cubicle systems like Ethospace, this is as simple as popping in a rail tile with a paper tray, diagonal tray, or triple arch organizer. Maybe your cubicle just needs a little tidying up. These options help you get the organization you need without wasting desk or floor space in your cubicle. Such a simple solution!
Exercise Furniture. A big trend in the modern office is incorporating exercise into the workday. A sedentary lifestyle is harmful to your health, causing weight gain, muscle deterioration, posture defects and more. Treadmill desks, Bike desks and Bosu ball chairs are among a few of the new workspace solutions that have helped get people moving while they work. Some of these workstation additions are also great as communal work areas that are shared with multiple employees throughout the day, if all you’re looking for is a break from your normal routine and not a full time switch. Research shows that even the simple motion of standing up during the course of the day will get the blood flowing to combat risks of sitting, so perhaps a standing desk is the way to go. There are also adjustable height desk units that enable you to change from seated to standing height without rearranging your whole workstation. Explore which exercise option is best for you and your workspace.
Music. Having a little trouble focusing? If you’re in an open office or share a workstation with other employees, sometimes there’s a few too many distractions for you to do your best work. The best part is, most online radio is free! There are tons of music sites that can help you get the exact tunes you need to really get to work. Pandora will choose your playlist based on a specific artist, where Songza will choose your songs based on the time of day and your current mood. Music has been proven to release dopamine which is a pleasure chemical that makes us happy, and as a result, we enjoy what we are doing as we listen and actually complete the task faster.
For other good music sites, check out this list to see which is best for your work style.
Better Lighting. If your workstation is feeling a little dim or dreary, maybe your lighting is the problem. And lucky for you, it’s easy to fix! The benefits of LED lights are endless: low-voltage, ecologically-friendly, energy efficient, long lifespan and design flexibility. Add a task light to your work surface to brighten up your space and your mood. You can control the dimness, the direction and often even the color of your lighting arrangement. Another alternative is glass tiles, that can help let in some natural light or at least open up your space without allowing excess noise to enter. Depending on where your cubicle is located, maybe this is a better solution for you.
*EthoSource has an entire inventory of Ethospace parts available to meet your office needs. If you are looking to buy various tiles or parts in bulk, EthoSource can help complete and customize any workspace.
Ergonomic Chair. Office ergonomics aren’t even a trend anymore, they’ve become a normality in offices everywhere. There are countless numbers of ergonomic seating options available for all different body types and work styles: Steelcase Leap, Haworth Improv, Humanscale Freedom and Herman Miller Aeron, just to name a few. If you’re feeling tired or unproductive during the day or even after you get home, it could be caused by your chair. Even if it is ergonomic, it may not be the right one for you. Make sure you have a seat that is helps you keep an upright posture, your elbows at 90 degree angles and your feet flat on the floor. If you’re comfortable, you’re happy, which means you’ll be more productive.
Monitor Arm. You may not know it, but there are ergonomics for your computer as well! Flexible monitor arms enable the user to situate their computer screen in a wide range of positions that are compatible to your height and posture. With the opportunity to move your monitor freely, you can make alterations throughout the day that will give your body a break from sitting the same way for long periods of time. Not to mention, these accessories enable you to share information easily with surrounding coworkers or on the contrary, position your screen for more privacy. This simple adjustment could be exactly what your cubicle needs!
