Energize Your Office

You spend a lot of time at work. Make sure it's a place that energizes you rather than drains you. You'll be more upbeat and productive, and you'll finish your day stronger with energy to spare.

Yet energizing your office might not be as easy as painting the walls a vibrant color—although that will help! Your office environment is affected by sights, sounds, the moods of others, stress levels and more. Forcibly taking control of that environment might get you fired, or at least earn the ire of your coworkers. But little changes to the ambiance and your attitude are within your control and can add up to a big change in how you feel when the day is done. Because sometimes all you can energize is you.

To take that first step towards energizing your office and yourself, try one of these ideas:

Liven up: Paint a wall, hang some artwork on the walls, invest in some colorful furniture, get some plants or put some flowers on your desk.

Lighten up: Sometimes the way you feel when you walk through the door in the morning can determine whether it will be a good day or bad. A little attitude adjustment never hurt anyone, so put on your happy face and see if that ups your energy.

Take a break: Working for hours on end might feel productive, but if it saps you, it's counterproductive in the end. Take a break every hour to step away from the task at hand. And definitely get out of the office at lunch. A change of scenery and quick walk around the block can do wonders for your mood.

Shake things up: Ask your manager if you can arrange for a masseuse, yoga instructor or motivational speaker to make a visit to the office. If it goes over well, maybe such energizing events can become commonplace.

You're starting with you, but who knows? That energizing might just be contagious and spread throughout your office, brightening your days even more.