How to Stay Inspired at Work This Winter

Frigid January days can make even the strongest winter warrior want to hibernate until March. (Or April. Or May.) With hardly the will to leave the house, it can be especially difficult to stay inspired at work. The sun just barely rises before the workday begins, and subsequently sets over the evening commute, making it difficult to stay energized in the hours between. And, unfortunately, snow days don’t generally apply. So to keep you going strong this winter, we’ve compiled five tips to keep your mind fresh and your work inspired through season’s end.

1. Make room for a view.
As much as possible, give yourself regular access to the outdoors. Being able to see and be outside throughout the day can keep your body’s day-to-night rhythms in order, ensuring you are alert at the office and sleepy at home — not the other way around. What’s more, access to sunlight can improve mood, in turn improving everything else.

Putting a plant at your side can offer a wealth of benefits as well. According to several studies, plants in the workplace help reduce stress, increase productivity, enhance employee attitudes, lower operating costs, improve air quality, and do your work for you. (Okay, so maybe they don’t do your work, but they sure do a lot!) Here is a handy list of plants that provide air-purifying effects for your environment.

2. Review your values.
On the darkest of winter days, it can be hard to remember why we’re here. To combat the why woes, integrate into your space artwork or branding that reiterates company values. Sharing a common purpose can be one of the best motivators for teams, and posting that purpose in a public space reminds us that your hard work represents something meaningful. For an inspirational video on integrating your company purpose into your brand, space, and strategy, view Simon Sinek’s excellent TED talk: Start With Why.

3. Change it up.
Create visual interest in your space and get those creative juices flowing by incorporating different textures and patterns into furniture, finishes, and architectural elements. Don’t have a lot of space to work with? Check out our tips for designing for small spaces, featured by XVentures.

4. Work where you’ll be at your best.
In order to do your best work, it’s important to have choice and control in your space. Utilizing different settings with varying levels of privacy allows you to choose where to work depending on the task at hand. Need to connect with your team? Step into a meeting room. Craving quiet? Settle down somewhere secluded. Ready for a break? Pop into the cafeteria to unwind with others. Having and utilizing a range of spaces ensures that you have the necessary support for whatever your day brings. Check out this interactive tool for ideas on developing an ecosystem of interconnected spaces.

5. Share work, ideas, and inspiration.
When applicable, providing a place to display employees’ work allows them to see what other teams are doing and get ideas for new projects. Utilizing AV displays throughout your work environment can provide an even wider range of ways to share inspiring information. Sharing daily celebrations, new babies, wedding announcements, or photos of everyone’s favorite vacation spot can create conversation starters, boost morale, and bring everyone together no matter the season.

We hope these tips help you work inspired this winter! What other ways are you preparing for the coming months? Join the conversation on Facebook & Twitter, or share in the comments below.