Category Archives: Office Tips

How to get your creative juices flowing

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We’ve all been there: stuck in a creative rut. And the more pressure we put on ourselves — whether for work or hobby — the tougher it is to get those creative juices flowing. When your imagination gas tank is running on empty, don’t force the process. Instead, turn to one of these strategies to reignite your creativity.

How to get creative juices flowing light bulb

Spend time in the kitchen. When you lack creative ideas for that marketing campaign or watercolour painting, turn to a low-pressure, familiar form of creative work. Cooking is both therapeutic and creative, allowing you to unwind while improvising, and unlocking the creative side of your brain.

Keep a notebook. Often, we expect creative ideas to present themselves the moment we sit down to work. But creativity isn’t a switch you can flick on at will. Instead, keep a notebook for when creative ideas strike. If you jot down ideas as they come to you, you’ll have pages of creative kindling to help start the fire under your next project.

Meditate. A clear mind is open to ideas. When we feel stressed, we zero in on small details and miss the big picture. You know the saying, can’t see the forest for the trees.

Doodle. It’s not just for kids. Doodling unlocks the creative side of your brain through relaxed, intuitive movement. Put pen to paper without the pressure of forming a thought, and feel the creative juices flow.

Get moving. The mind-body connection is a powerful thing. Get your blood pumping, and your brain will thank you for the chemical reaction that triggers creative thought.

What’s your favourite way to shake a creative block? Let us know in the comments.

Health and Happiness Matter at the Workplace

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Organizations are catching onto the fact that healthy and happy employees are more productive! According to a recent study done by the popular fitness tracker brand Fitbit, 80% of CEOs see corporate wellness programs playing a key role in reducing stress at work (even more than social events).

The workplace is shifting towards a more active environment where employees are expected to be less sedentary and more active. This means that it may be time for your company to start thinking about ways in which to implement wellness into every workday.

However, this is no easy task. Getting leadership to invest into workplace wellness usually requires stone-cold facts to support the investment. Luckily Fitbit Wellness put together a helpful infographic full of such findings:

Workplace Wellness Survey

Why you should personalize your workspace

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For most of us, work is a second home. We’re there at least forty hours each week, often in a very small space that we call ‘our own’. Whether your space is a cubicle, an open-concept desk or an office, it can be optimized with simple office decor. So you can enhance your performance, without changing a thing about your work habits.

Workspace Personalization

The privacy factor

When your office lacks privacy, you’re forced to divert energy away from your tasks to avoid distraction. That creates a mental drain and leads to poor productivity.

But research shows that personalizing your space can mitigate those negative effects. To reduce emotional stress and exhaustion associated with low-privacy work areas, bring in family photos, your favourite throw pillow and an office plant. The more ‘you’ the space feels, the more productive you’ll be.

A better attitude

Researchers in the UK learned that simply allowing an employee to decorate her own office led to a 30 percent increase in productivity. Why? When a worker feels like she has control over her work environment, her attitude dramatically improves.

The benefits of colour

Most offices are decorated in neutrals. Grey walls, beige carpets and black office chairs might look professional, but they sure lack personality. Back in the 1960s, researchers found that factory workers’ productivity increased when they took the workers out of neutral workspaces and into factories with colourful elements. If you’re a creative type, consider bright colours. And if your job is high-stress, try soothing pastels.