Let’s face it; working in a cubicle isn’t the most pleasant experience. In fact, a study by Harvard Business Review found cubicle workers the most miserable among the working population. Despite all this, working in a cubicle is something most people have to do to earn a living.
If you feel like cubicle work is slowly draining your spirit and sanity away, well, at least you’re not alone. Although the open-office concept is gaining traction with companies across the country, most still prefer traditional cubicles. Understandably, cubicles save these companies a lot of money because they occupy less physical space, which most companies lease.
Cubicles also help workers concentrate better compared to open office spaces. For such reasons, it’s easy to see why most companies have cubicle farms. It’s the most feasible office space design.
If your sanity is hanging by a thread because you work in a cubicle, then this one is just for you. In this post, we’ll be highlighting seven tips for working in a cubicle.
1. Glam It Up
If you want to make, your working space a bit more bearable, switch things up a little. Some minor changes to your cubicle can work wonders for your patience and comfort. This is especially true if you’ve been working in the same cubicle for a lot of years.
Decorations are a great place to start, maybe an action figure, a tiny vase, or the likes. You can also hang pictures of your loved ones to give you a bit of motivation while you get down to business. Make sure you switch things up every once in a while for the greatest effect and remember to be creative about the whole affair.
You can even get yourself a few cubicle accessories to brighten things up. Remember to get only the best cubicle accessories for them to make a difference.
2. Socialize
You can’t like everyone you work with, but you can have a conversation with at least one or two co-workers. Find someone with similar interests with you and chat away during one of your breaks. Even a five-minute conversation can brighten up your workday.
However, make sure that you talk to your workmates during breaks only. Also, don’t talk too much, or it may distract you from your work. Also, make sure you talk about interesting topics and not just complain about how much you hate your job.
One or two chats during the workday can help restore your sanity and make your day much better. However, if socializing during working hours breaches the company policy, then you’ll just have to wait for the break.
3. Move Around
It’s not a good idea to keep yourself planted on the chair the whole time. Every hour or so, get up and walk around, preferably outside, to break the monotony. A five-minute walk is enough to give you a new life so you can be at your level best.
Note that human beings aren’t sedentary creatures, and sitting around for too long can kill you. Take a five-minute walk, feel the outside breeze, then get back to work.
4. Turn to Social Media
It seems completely wrong, but sometimes visiting social media sites or apps can make cubicle jobs less life-stealing. Log in to your Facebook, and see what your family and friends have been up to. You can also visit Instagram and get the lowdown on all your favorite celebrities.
However, you should visit social media sites in moderation. Some people are consumed by social media so much that they forget that they have a job to do. As such, make sure you only use social media after completing a task so you can get things done.
If you’re extremely bored, then you can turn to YouTube and watch a few funny videos. Remember to share them with your co-workers during your breaks.
5. Play Hooky
If you’re feeling a bit mischievous, you can play hooky as long as you don’t have anything super important to do. A little absence from the absence never hurt anyone, but you have to be really careful. Alternatively, you can call in sick or find a special event to excuse yourself from work.
Remember, playing hooky is very risky and may backfire on you. For instance, if your boss also takes a break and catches you playing Frisbee in the park even though you called in sick. Although it’s a great way of surviving cubicle life, it’s best left to the bold and adventurous.
6. Listening to Music
When you can’t take any more work at the cubicle, then crank up some tunes and breathe new life into your cubicle. Music is the food of the soul, and jiving to some of your favorite tunes is what you need to rejuvenate your spirit at work. You can get a pair of good earbuds or headphones so that you don’t cause any disturbance at work.
If you’re good at multi-tasking, then you can listen to your favorite tunes while doing your work. If music distracts you from work, then listen to it during breaks or after specific time intervals. Also, do your best not to sing along, especially if you have a croaky voice.
7. Take Regular Breaks
A normal workday for most people involves working long hours, taking a lunch break, then working long hours again. Although this is the norm, it doesn’t work for most people. If you get out of work feeling super exhausted, maybe it’s because you don’t take enough breaks.
If this describes you, then you should consider taking short breaks. These breaks will prevent overexertion and help you work at your optimum during your work hours. Remember the breaks should be short, so you finish the tasks allocated to you
Working in a Cubicle Doesn’t Have to Be Torture
With the above tips, working in a cubicle won’t feel like endless hours of torture. However, ensure you do a bang-up job even if you don’t like working in a cubicle. If you can’t stand it anymore, you can always look for another job that won’t have you stuck in a cubicle.
There’s plenty more from where that came from. For more informative reads, be sure to check out the other pieces on the site.