10 Ways to Trick Out Your Cubicle for Maximum Productivity

Colors

Sayeh Pezeshki, CEO of Sorting with Style and a designer who specializes in workplace design, says that one of the most important things to consider in an office to increase employee happiness and productivity is the color.

“Colors like blue boost creativity and green brings in tranquility,” said Pezeshki. The Westinghouse Hawthorne Study is one of the studies that back up these findings. While painting large surfaces such as walls, pastels are recommended. If employees have their own spaces in the office, they should be allowed to choose the colors that inspire them, said Pezeshki.

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Better Office Supplies

If it’s not possible to decorate your own space in the colors you desire, Eileen Roth, author of “Organizing for Dummies” suggests adding a little color with office supplies that make you happy. “Purchase a colored stapler, in/out boxes, pencil holder, or magazine holder,” she suggests.

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Plants

Experts say there is a reason we’re conditioned to bring plants and flowers to people who are sick or in the hospital recovering from an illness. “Plants promote productivity, health and stress relief so they are another great thing to add to a workspace. According to an article in Psychology Today that quotes several studies, plants can help increase productivity and attentiveness, reduce stress and improve workers’ impressions of their workspace.

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Awards and Recognition

“Some people hang their awards or their degrees on their walls,” said Robert A. Giacalone, a professor of human resource management at the business school at Temple University in Philadelphia. “These are good for image management, but they also remind the person of previous success and that helps bolster them throughout the day.”

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Photos of Family, Pets

Experts agree that personal photos are good for the soul. “Put up a picture of your spouse and kids, and when the boss comes in with a ridiculous request, you look up at the pictures and you remember what's really important, you transcend the moment and the ridiculous request,” Giacalone said.

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Pets

While pets aren’t really office accessories, many productivity experts and business owners swear that pets in the office not only make employees happier, but having pets keeps them in the office longer, which makes them more productive.

Sander Daniels, co-founder of the expert matching website thumbtack.com, has 12 employees in San Francisco who are allowed to bring their pets to work. “We initially thought allowing employees to bring pets to work would be a drain on productivity,” said Daniels. “I’d estimate that we stay at the office 10% to 20% longer with pets in the office.” A study conducted by Central Michigan University backs up Daniel’s assertion that happier pet parents are more productive pet parents if their pets accompany them to work.

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Passion

Marlene Caroselli, an author and corporate trainer, says that when choosing art for your workspace, you could put up a classical painting or you could put up a photo or painting that shows passion for your field of work. “If you’re a property manager or a building manager, maybe a photograph of the skyline would be good,” said Caroselli. “This reminds you and others of the passion for the industry in which you work.”

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Quartz Crystals

Many people, particularly Europeans, believe that quartz crystals placed in front of computer monitors can help absorb some of the electronic energy that drains workers of productivity. Edel O’Mahony, an expert in energetic communications in the U.K., said that she always advises her teams to have a quartz crystal on their desk. While there aren’t any scientific data that prove that this does anything, experts agree that having things that are pretty or you believe will help should be a part of your office. The placebo effect has been proven to work in many other situations, at least.

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Noise-Canceling Headphones

If you work in a busy, noisy office, many experts suggest noise-canceling earphones both to quiet the noise around you and to listen to your music in peace. One study from the journal Brain Research conducted at the University of Medical Science at the University of Tsukuba in Japan, suggests that music helps lower blood pressure and stress. “Music is the fastest way to change your attitude,” says Monica Scalf, founder of the Playground Group, a company that helps employees reduce stress and improve productivity.

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Goal Reminders

Having a place to jot down goals and tasks at your desk is a great way to stay on-topic, and it can also be satisfying too. It could be a white board that allows you to jot your daily goals and erase them, a small vision (goal) board, or a drawing by a child or other family member. “This reminds you that you were once a kid and helps you focus on your goals,” said Scalf.

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