Tips for making your office inspirational

Tips for making your office inspirational
by: Marissa Anteby

If you have to work, you might as well enjoy it! Seriously though, whatever you do, if you do it with enthusiasm, it's that much better. So, how will you ensure a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment in all your work? It depends on how much you want it. I have compiled some simple directions to follow on your path to realizing this goal.

First, it's important that you set yourself up for success. Start by making your environment as conducive to being productive as possible. Limit the presence of things you know will distract you, or even downright bother you. Why have these types of items near you anyway? Second, do you have awards or plaques or articles that remind you of past achievements? What about things that will help ground you in the present, like photographs of friends, or a painting you are fond of. Third, looking ahead, what can you include as an aspiration for the future? Perhaps a framed quote about success, that really resonates with you.

Here's an easy way to figure out exactly what to put in your office:

- Trust yourself, you know what you like. Be on the lookout for anything and everything you could find that you deem appropriate for your office. The object here is to allow yourself the freedom to choose whatever you want. Don't worry about editing yourself, that will come later. For now, see if you can recognize a pattern to the items you gravitate towards. Include; paintings, poster prints, toy models, sculptures, photographs of loved ones, etc.

-Get 3 large boxes and sort your items accordingly:

Box #1 - Past - Things from a time in your life when you were confident, reminders of a job well done, etc.

Box #2 - Present - Photographs of you with friends and family, inspiring art, sculptures, etc.

Box #3 - Future - Items reflective of your goals; vacations you want to take, activities or adventures, your dream job or car.

-Now you can fine tune your collection by selecting a few items from each box. See how they look in your office. Sit with them for a while and listen to your own inner voice as to where items should be placed and which pieces should be grouped together. You can always go back to your boxes every few months and switch out items.

Once you have adorned your office, you don't have to end your search for inspiration. Use trips to museums, galleries, antique shops, yard sales, parks, etc. as fodder for filling the 3 boxes!

Marissa Anteby
marissa@embodyinc.com
www.embodyinc.com