Life In The Cube: A Guide To Cubicle Comfort

Stuck in a cubicle all day? Not to worry! In today's post we've outlined the tips, products, and advice needed to get you working effectively. From using your office chair properly to adding the right ergonomic accessories, the days of discomfort in the workplace are about to be a thing of the past!

Use Your Office Chair Properly

All too often office employees are stuck dealing with an inherited office chair that just doesn't cut it. That being said, if a new chair is out of the question, simple steps can be taken to boost your comfort. Start by determining the type, model, or style of chair you have. Take a quick pic if possible as a reference. Next, contact a reputable seating manufacturer and provide them with the best info you can on your specific chair. Ask about the adjustable features and obtaining instructions on proper use if available. Educating yourself on the benefits your chair offers and how to use them properly will help you find easily achieved support in a hurry. In most cases, simply adjusting your chairs height, arms, and back angle will make life in the cube much easier!

Get Organized

Take a look around your office. You'll no doubt notice a variety of clean and cluttered cubicles. During your visual scan take a look at the workers of each associated cubicle. Upon inspection you should notice that those with clean work spaces are working far more productively than those covered in clutter. Take the time to create a plan of attack for your own space and get started. Start by clearing your worksurface of unnecessary items, removing trash, and doing some basic cleaning. Next organize your file cabinets and office storage components using a system that works for you. Remember, getting organized is helpful, but keeping it that way provides long term benefits that lead to office success and comfortable work days.

Deskercise

Feeling a bit cramped in your cubicle? Don't hesitate to stand up and stretch every now and then. A variety of simple and easy deskercise activities are widely available online that will help you improve blood flow, motivation, and work day comfort. While simply stretching will do in most cases, taking a short walk might also be a good idea to help relieve some stress and anxiety generated from long days in your cubicle.

Eat Healthy

The power of a healthy lunch should not be under estimated. Eating fresh fruits, vegetables, and energy boosting foods will no doubt keep you working more efficiently than you would be after chomping down that double bacon burger. As fatigue is a common problem in the workplace that greatly relates to discomfort, foods packed with vitamins and nutritious benefits are a must. Try looking up some simple recipes and healthy eateries in close proximity to your office. Go healthy for one week and there will be no turning back!

Go Ergo

When all else fails, go ergo! The right combination of ergonomic office accessories will help you maximize your functionality and effectiveness in the workplace. Products like ergonomic monitor arms, foot rests, and adjustable workstations are all highly recommended my heath care professionals and provide excellent benefits that will no doubt be appreciated by any user. Basic ergonomic accessories like retractable keyboard trays cost under $200 and will improve your computing posture and blood flow while simultaneously helping you type faster throughout the day. The helpful ergonomic products available on the market today are simply to long. Try contacting an ergonomic products specialist or physician to help determine what products will work right for you. In the end, it's all about meeting your specific needs to achieve your peak comfort levels!

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Have You Evaluated Your Office Needs Lately?

Evaluating your office needs on a yearly basis is supremely important. To maintain a productive and efficient work environment, several key areas must be regularly assessed. The 5 step process highlighted in today's post will hep you to properly asses your space and effectively identify your office needs.

Step 1: Evaluate Crowding

When evaluating your space, you'll first want to check for crowding. If you're limited on floor space and worksurface, you may be working in an overcrowded an unproductive area. While a simple clean up is sure to free up some usable area, it might be time to go modular! Selecting a new workstation built around your current needs will greatly improve your work rate and overall effectiveness. Modular workstations provide excellent space saving benefits and will allow you to create stylish desking configurations designed to grow around your future needs. Brands like Cherryman Industries, Mayline, and Global Total Office all offer best selling furniture collections to fit your needs.

Step 2: Evaluate Clutter

Office clutter will no doubt slow down your work rate. If you find yourself searching for items regularly, it's time for a simple cleaning session. Start by getting organized! Grab a couple boxes and remove the unnecessary items from your desk top and work area. A good rule of thumb is that if you aren't planning to use the item that day, it shouldn't be on your desk top. Once you've removed the general clutter from your area, create an office organizing system that works for you. Keeping stationary supplies like pens, sticky notes, calculators, and staplers in one general area is a great place to start. Simple desk top organizers are inexpensive and will help you maintain a more efficient office place. When everything has a place (and you know where it is) you'll have a much better chance to beat the clutter bug!

Step 3: Evaluate Discomfort

Once you've assessed your crowding an clutter, it's time to evaluate your current discomfort. While addressing discomfort in the workplace is of the utmost importance, it's far easier to note your problem areas in a clean and well organized space. Most office discomfort stems from the office chair. Poor sitting posture can result in back problems and blood flow issues. Before jumping online to shop for ergonomic chairs, try adjusting your current seating solution for better results. If work discomfort is severe, you might also consider meeting with a physician to determine additional ways and ideas to help your specific situation. Purchasing a new chair is definitely a great start if your current model isn't cutting it, but it's not your only defense! New and helpful ergonomic products like monitor arms, articulating keyboard trays, and adjustable foot rests will all help alleviate common workplace comfort issues.

Step 4: Evaluate Your Layout

Is your current office furniture layout based on aesthetic value or productivity? Your answer should be both! A stylish and effective furniture configuration will help you to maintain a happy work life while keeping you operating at peak levels of performance. If for example your desk is setup to face a wall, you probably aren't feeling much inspiration. Consider alternative ways to setup your space that will help your corporate appeal, visitor experience, and personal productivity. New, affordable, and custom modular furniture sets are available (if needed) to create a space you can be proud and work your best in. A well rounded furniture layout is sure to improve your comfort, style, and effectiveness.

Step 5: Evaluate Fatigue

Believe it or not, fatigue is a major factor to consider when evaluating your office needs. If you find yourself tired throughout the work day, it's time to make a change. As your office needs revolve around your personal health and wellness, a good nights sleep is the first place to start. If you don't already, try eating a healthy breakfast to help jump start your day. In addition to these common practices, you may be experiencing fatigue due to a lack of inspiration and overall comfort. While steps 3 and 4 of today's article will help these areas, you can save energy by limiting the times you have to get up for various things needed throughout the workday. Try creating a list of things you commonly get up for. Consider moving these essential items to a location within arms reach to prevent unnecessary (and often frustrating) trips around the office. As evaluating your office needs stems specifically around your personal needs, maintaining good structure and practicing the simple tips mentioned above will surely improve your day.

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7 Cool Life Hacks for the Office

Tired of the old office routine? Maybe it's time to change things up! Life hacks are fun, inexpensive ways to turn your day into one filled with productivity, efficiency, and self fulfillment. If you work in the office, here are some great office life hacks to get go ergo without really going anywhere!

Wake Up

Most people can relate to a certain cartoon cat when they hear the phrase, "I hate mondays." However, getting ready for the day can be much easier than you thought. Most phones have alarms built in, even the ones that aren't very "smart." If you're prone to missing wake up calls, try amplifying the sound of your phone's alarm by plopping it in an empty container (preferably one made of plastic or metal). Then later, if you notice your shoes are beat up or scuffed, give them new life by drawing over the marks with a sharpie of the same color. And ladies, since you've probably already got the flat iron out, why not spruce up that shirt with a few swipes to iron out the wrinkles? Now, you're ready for the day!

Let There Be Light

Dull office? A lack of light can be damaging to the eyes over time. Brighten things up in the workspace by opting for modern office desks with metal and glass accents, or if you can't afford a new one, pin up some mirrors. Not only will these things look beautiful and futuristic in the workplace, but they'll also catch and reflect existing light so you have more to work by. If the opposite is your problem, and your workplace is too sunny for you, an equally bright computer screen can also cause eye strain. Fix the brightness intensity in your computer's settings to dull things down.

Desk Hacks

The internet is filled with amazing desk hacks to improve work experience and efficiency. Hang a basket from the underside of your desk to keep cords, power strips, and other miscellaneous objects of the floor. If you still have room, CPU holders prevent accidents by mounting under desks too. They're simple, affordable devices to keep computer hard drives off the floor and out of the splash zone if you're prone to spilling coffee. (Bonus: Monitor arms and keyboard trays are also inexpensive ergonomic products for sale to improve health and reduce office-related pain by preventing overexertion.)

Lunch Time

Ah finally, the best time of the day. One great thing about office hacks is that there are plenty of tips for the paper baggers! Anyone that wants to fancy up their lunch needs only to dig through their drawers for an old CD spindle. They make the perfect holders for bagels, donuts, and round sandwiches. Keep it cool until you get to the desk by wetting a sponge, freezing it, and tossing it in a plastic baggie for a lunch-cooler that won't leak everywhere. On the other hand, for those of you in the office who don't like to make lunch a hassle, never fear. Modern college kids have revolutionized laziness by concocting all sorts of excellent recipes to cook right in your coffee mug! From egg, oatmeal, and yogurt breakfasts to yummy deserts - they're just as good for work as they are for the dorm room. Take a moment to search out a few mug recipes and find your new favorite office snack!

Keep It Clean

A clean office is important anywhere, and with the huge explosion of open plan offices and multi user desks to increase space, viruses are becoming more common. Instead of digging through clutter and passing germy notes between coworkers, why not eliminate the mess and the sickness with whiteboards? Whiteboard paint is a huge trend that lets employees work together brainstorming ideas right on the wall. Even desks are getting in on the action with models that offer dry-erase tabletops! Ramp up the clean even further by putting boxes in those desk pedestals for organization to divvy up the space inside.

Back Pain

Almost every office worker suffers from back pain at some point. The reason why is because the human spine is not made to support the entire weight of the torso with out the legs as aid. However, sitting at a desk all day promotes this practice, causing characteristic back pain. While discount executive chairs with lumbar support can help, the best hack for back pain is simply to stand up. There are plenty of discount height adjustable workstations that let users alternate between sitting and standing, providing them the best opportunity for office pain relief. Standing office workers swear by the method, saying it helps promote focus, health, and weight loss!

Tie Up Loose Ends

And lastly, if you don't have binder clips, head to the dollar store because these babies accomplish all sorts of office life hacks! Clip them to the edge of your desk, and thread electronic cords through the metal parts for DIY organization. They also work great as headphone holders when clipped to desk or pinned to walls. Save your bread ties and use them to amp things up even further by writing the name of each cord, then clipping the bread tie to it so you always know which is which. Tie up all the loose ends by preparing for Monday on Friday to live the office life easy. Who knew work was so awesome?

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Mr. Ergo Vs. Mr. Not: A Fun Guide To Proper Ergonomic Product Usage

We all know the importance of using high quality ergonomic products in the workplace. That being said, being an ergonomic guru goes far beyond adding the latest and greatest products. The proper useage of ergonomic items will no doubt help you achieve peak levels of performance in the workplace, while simply adding the latest and greatest devices without the proper knowledge will yield minimal results. In today's post we decided to have a bit of fun while comparing how Mr. Ergo would use products and how Mr. Not falls short. Enjoy!


Ergonomic Keyboard Tray

Mr. Ergo cares about improving his overall productivity in the workplace. He properly installs his new keyboard tray under his worksurface while following the instructions carefully. Upon installation, Mr. Ergo takes the time to research and review his products features in order to better educate himself. Mr. Ergo regularly adjusts his keyboard tray to meet his specific work style and enjoys a far more comfortable work day.

Unfortunately, Mr. Not breaks into the packaging and begins his installation process without following the much needed instructions. Once frustrated with his lack of progress, he hunts through the packaging materials in search of the instructions. Two hours later, Mr. Not's keyboard tray is installed and he goes about his work day. Eventually, Mr. Not figures out that his keyboard tray actually adjusts but never takes the time to figure out how the adjustments will benefit him. In the end, poor Mr. Not is left with a quality keyboard tray he doesn't understand and utilize properly, thus resulting in underachievement in the workplace.

Ergonomic Chair

Mr. Ergo is excited to browse the web for high quality ergonomic office chairs designed for his specific needs. He takes the time to research features that will actually improve his work day, sets a budget, and begins to shop. In all his wisdom, Mr. Ergo settles on a cost effective model and purchases it accordingly. He found a coupon for additional savings and a website offering free shipping as a bonus. Once his chair arrives, Mr. Ergo follows the instructions once again and assembles his new chair flawlessly. As Mr. Ergo has already taken the time to review his chair features, he begins testing the adjustments and finds himself working at a much higher level of comfort. In the future, Mr. Ergo isn't afraid to adjust his chair in any situation. He doesn't settle for one sit style as he values the versatility of his investment and maximizes it's potential.

Always in a rush, Mr. Not hops online and searches for the most expensive office chairs money can buy. He assumes that as the chair costs more, it must be better. Mr. Not overpays for a very high quality office chair he has absolutely no knowledge of and thinks he's ahead of the curve. Two weeks pass and Mr. Not is wondering why his chair hasn't arrived. He calls his dealer and discovers that his specialized ergo chair is a made to order product and takes two months to manufacturer. He decides to wait as he's convinced he's made an excellent decision. The chair finally arrives and Mr. Not assembles it instruction free with minimal headaches. He boasts loudly of his achievement and gathers a crowd around his workstation. Showing off his luxury chair, he begins pulling random levers to show it's "features". Caught up in all his glory, a poorly tightened screw gives way and Mr. Not is now flat on his back with a chair in pieces. Mr. Ergo remarks from over his cubicle wall... "Should of read those instructions".

Ergonomic Monitor Arm

While Mr. Ergo is working effectively with his new keyboard tray and ergonomic chair, he decides it's time to take his office adjustment capability to a whole new level. He calls his online ergonomic product specialist direct as a now repeat customer to discuss his needs. A helpful employee recommends a dual screen monitor arm and educates Mr. Ergo on the helpful features and benefits they have to offer. Mr. ergo browses the monitor mounts for two screens offered online and chooses a reputable model that fits his needs and budget. He's happy to report earning a repeat customer coupon for even greater savings and a smart buy he can be proud of. The monitor arm arrives and Mr. Ergo is pleased. He breaks out the the instructions and has his new ergo device up and running in no time. He properly mounts the screens once the arm is installed via a clamp mount on the back of his desk. He re checks the screws, routes his wires properly, and sets the movement tension to a desirable level. In the end, Mr. Ergo is not fully optimized for an efficient work day with his keyboard tray, ergonomic chair, and dual screen monitor arm.

Mr. Not sees that Mr. Ergo has added a fancy dual screen monitor arm. In attempt to regain ergonomic glory in the workplace he decides to one up Mr. Ergo and purchases a 4 screen monitor mounting system as more is always better, right? Wrong! With a lack of product knowledge, Mr. Not finds himself with a major headache on his hands. To proud to ask for help, he mounts his screens upside down but doesn't know. Once he's "finished" with his install he calls over to Mr. Ergo to take a look. Mr. Not then powers up his computer and notices the screens are upside down. He's also underestimated the size of the unit and now has an overly crowded desk space that's nearly unusable. Mr. Ergo takes pity on his underachieving friend and lends a hand with the do-over installation. It turns out, the two become friends during the process and Mr. Ergo takes a few minutes per day to educate his fellow coworker on the value of proper ergonomics in the workplace.

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Create the Office of Your Dreams in 7 Simple Steps

Are you ready to transform your office space in to the workplace of your dreams? Then you've come to the right place! Any interior designer will tell you that transforming spaces is hard, but it's also very rewarding. Whether you're looking to makeover the office in your home, cubicle, or office building, these seven steps will guide you along the path to a dazzling new workspace!

Step 1 - Assess Your Needs

The first thing anyone thinking about a space makeover should always do is assess their needs. Considering what you'll be doing in the space, and what you'll be using the space for over the next few years is crucial to preventing costly expenditures on things you don't need. Before you hit the stores, outline a set of goals that both you and your space need to accomplish. This will give you game plan, both to shop and decorate by. Planning out your decorating strategy, schedule, and budget is something most beginners forget to do. It's not the funnest part of the project, but it helps prevent regrets in the long run.

Step 2 - Measure Your Space

Measure is another part of decorating that's very important. Like budget planning, it's not the most enjoyable experience, but it is perhaps the most important part of decorating there is. Careful measurements of the space you want to re-do ensures that you won't make mistakes in the other steps. All too often, new decorators have a tendency to measure wrong, or not at all, and they end up buying over or undersized furniture, too much paint, too much flooring, or they end up with a terribly inefficient furniture layout. When measuring your space, be sure to use all the tools at your disposal. Always go back and recheck measurements, and sketch the layout on graph paper, making note of all distances, corners, entryways, power outlets, windows, and other permanent features.

Step 3 - Choose A Style

Now comes the fun part! This is the step where the decorator finally gets to search and decide on a style they want. There are all sorts of acceptable themes and color schemes to go with for an office. Some of the most popular styles for business offices today include modern, colorful, industrial with discount sleek glass office desks as the highlight, or traditional wood furniture for a classic look. As the decorator, go online and do a few searches on office interior styles for inspiration. Look at things you like and don't like and try to come up with a look for the place that you want. Once you have a style in mind, shopping becomes much easier.

Step 4 - Contact the Pros

Once you've chosen a style and a few pieces of furniture you like, it's time to contact the pros! Contacting furniture dealers is a great way to ensure your office will be everything you want it to be. Dealers are highly educated on the products they sell, and most will be able to answer questions and make suggestions as to how your office space can work better. Some may even be able to recommend alternative options, like more affordable executive office furniture products for sale, as well as reputable brands and delivery services. Many dealers may even offer you special discounts and deals just for calling them up! It's a service that's free and always rewarding for anyone taking on an office makeover project.

Step 5 - Shop For Value

Rather than heading out to a big department store, why not shop from the comfort of your own home? The internet is bursting with great money-saving services, and many of them won't cost you a dime. Coupons, deals, sales closeout specials, clearance, and great office furniture with free shipping promotions are all available from most furniture dealers through deal apps, updates, and newsletters. Those that download or subscribe to these services will undoubtedly enjoy the benefits of doing so. In addition, comparison shopping engines, like Google Product Search, NexTag, PriceGrabber, and Shopzilla, all help to maximize your dollar by finding a specific product at the lowest price available online. It's certainly worth the extra effort when shopping pricier items like high end ergonomic office chairs for executive use.

Step 6 - Schedule Delivery

Congratulations! Your decorating job is almost complete. Now that you've measured your space, decided on a style, and picked out some new modern computer desks for sale at the lowest price, all you have left is to wait for it to be delivered. But wait! Setting a delivery date is a crucial part of your makeover project, if not the most important aspect. Whether you work at home or in an office building, knowing when your new office furniture will arrive is a great thing, because that way, you're prepared. Knowing when the delivery date is gives decorators time to paint walls, re-do flooring, rearrange, consider new furniture layouts, rewire electrics, install new lighting, clean out the old furniture, and most importantly, create a staging area for the new stuff. That last step is super valuable because setting aside a place where the delivery people can put the new stuff until they're ready to install it is much more convenient than leaving it to block the entrance of your office building.

Step 7 - Installation

The final step in decorating is the installation process. All too often, newbies have a tendency to turn this into a huge headache for themselves, but it doesn't have to be if you know what's coming. If you've ordered a lot of heavy case good furniture, perhaps for the whole marketing floor rather than just a single-person office, usually the deliverers will take care of the installation for you. However, if you've just ordered a desk, some shelving for easy office storage, and a chair, most likely you'll have to put it together yourself. Before the furniture arrives, try to familiarize yourself with common tools. Most furniture can be put together easily with a simple cordless drill, assorted screwdrivers, and a socket set.

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Simple Ways to Maximize Office Space with Modular Furniture

Making the most of your workplace square footage is essential. Thankfully, innovative new furniture solutions provide excellent space saving characteristics for improved functionality. Creative designs and office ingenuity has paved the way for several cutting edge ways to improve any small office area.

The use of modular office furniture is a must for any modern business. Modular products will save your business a bundle while allowing significant room for future growth. Top modular collections like the Zira furniture for sale from Global Total Office provide extensive options for areas of any size.

Making use of the modular workstations available in 2013 will help to improve your business potential now and in the future. In order to maximize square footage, modular office desks can be easily customized in a variety of sizes to meet specific office shapes and individual user needs. Take the new e5 collection of Mayline Desks for a prime example. These revolutionary products are not only stylish, they offer ample storage, finish options, and space saving features to make the most of your office interior.

The training room and meeting area of any business is an important space where square footage is always at a premium. Keeping these two essential areas separate is just plain silly! Awesome new tables for office applications are available that can be easily move and shift to form space saving configurations. Products like the Mayline Sync Table offer a flip top design that allows tables not in use to be nested efficiently along walls. Simply open these Mayline training tables when needed and remove them when not!

In addition to Mayline Tables, manufacturers like Global provide stylish pre configured sets designed to handle your meeting area needs in one simple package. The Junction line includes a V shaped conference table that offers a totally unique look that's sure to impress. The V shape design helps those spaces with limited length while still allowing you to accommodate a large number of guests. Talk about versatility!

In the long run, to make the most of your office space you'll need to remember a few simple principles. First, use modular products. From lobby seating to the hottest new furniture for executive office use, modular items are available designed specifically to improve your business while saving space. Secondly, build up not out. All too often consumers forget about the ability to build up with their furnishings. Wall mount storage options and other popular office items are available to help you make the most of your office footprint. Lastly, go mobile! If products you're considering for your meeting area and conference room are not available with wheels, consider another line! Mobilizing your conference tables and tables for training room use will ensure easy reconfiguring that provides excellent benefits in terms of space and time.

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