It would seem that while unemployment for folks looking to work in the traditional workplace is still at an all time high, there is an ever rising opportunity to transition to online work. As the world goes more digital than ever before, you may want to consider the suggestions provided in this article to prepare you for the new working environment – look Ma, no cubicles!

The University of California recently did a study on the workplace and found that forty percent of those who have their workflow interrupted do not resume the task they had been working on. It is being suggested by others that cubicles contribute to bad work performance because they provide an environment for interruptions and lack of continuity. On the other hand, offices that have a more open setup, tend to keep things rolling because employees can see who is busy more easily and do not interrupt as often.
What do you think about these theories? Do you feel interruptions at work derail you completely from the task at hand?

Do Not Disturb

This blog is primarily devoted to helping you beautify your cubicle. To make it your “home away from home” since you spend the majority of your waking hours in it. Yikes. If one thought about that long enough, you’d get a bit claustrophobic! Alas, we’d like to deviate for one post to focus on beautifying YOU!

[Okay, so GUYS, you will NOT appreciate this post but I'll make it up to you later. ]

A recent phenomena has taken place in the Northern VA region in the form of one inch squares. Yes, a glass shape in a one inch size has taken the place by storm! What is so special about this piece of one inch glass, you ask??? It is not so much about the piece of glass as it is about what is attached to the glass. Paper. Napkins. Ribbons. Stickers. You name it. If it is a piece of paper, it has been attached to a one inch square of glass recently. Check out this amazing item that will make you feel good about yourself because if the right one is chosen, it’s all about you! Very quickly though, it will become about the other amazing women in your life that you want to share the goodness with. Sooo… what are you waiting for?? Your personality is waiting for you on the other side…

Not only do I have to remove a gazillion staples from just as many documents, I then have to scan each of them. I first thought I would be standing at an industrial type of copier/scanner, mindlessly feeding paper as fast as the machine could thump it through while my feet slowly died a painful death. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I would be sitting in “my” cubicle doing this mindless task instead by using this amazing mini tool. I love it!

I am easily able to scan two 4-5 page documents in approx one minute. This includes spending some of that time entering some data into a Save As field once the document scans. I think that is a pretty fast turnaround for such a small little machine. Their price definitely reflects their power and not their size. They are quality machines though that are used relentessly in my particular office. Whether you need it for a business, corporation or home office, this packs a lot of punch and you will not be disappointed. I am personally looking into getting a scanner and am entertaining the thought of obtaining one of these little wonders to get the job done.

So, I am working part-time in an office and I don’t really have a cubicle to call my own. It’s quite okay though as I do not care to get too comfortable in the position. It is supposed to be a temporary situation so the less comfortable I am there, the more temporary it remains.

But what I wanted to tell you about are the cool tools I use in “the trade” that I have not used in other cubicle jobs.

My job requires a LOT of staple removal and then re-stapling. I think it has been awhile since this task has been in my job description because I had never seen this tool until a month ago. I was always subjected to using a crab-claw style staple remover. They were more effective in ripping the documents and creating a mess than actually getting the staples out of the paper. This new (to me) style is actually fun to use as you slide it onto the staple as far as it will go. As you continue with an upward pull, voila! the staple comes with it! Minimal document damage is incurred – unlike with the crab-claw one. The other beauty about this staple remover is the magnetic field on the body of it. The staples stick to it instead of flying all over the place.

If you are a true Cube Dweller, then you and your pet fish have more in common that you probably care to know. The most obvious likeness is that you both live in a fish bowl. Fish do not have the luxury of closets or doors to hide behind when needing privacy. Why a fish would need privacy is still up for explanation but the observation is still a valid one.

The 8-10 hours each day you are in your cubicle also do not permit you the same privacy you are allowed at home. Unfortunately, many people do not understand this and thus, often subject their co-workers to an unwanted screening of any number of variations on the theme of their Life.

Many people are able to focus completely on work and nothing else for the duration of the day. But the majority of folks need to take care of personal situations and issues while on the clock. Ideally, you will fall into the first category but should you find yourself needing to make doctor appointments, organize summer camp schedules, settle disputes between your children and arrange your hair appointment and mani-pedi for the weekend, be very mindful of your surroundings and thoughtful of your co-workers. They don’t want to know about your root canal problems or the growth on your neck any more than you want them to! 

Limit your communication about sensitive issues to email missives if at all possible.  While nothing transmitted via the internet is ever truly secure, using this method does keep your life to yourself and not a live script for your cubicle mates.  Another option (and preferred by your boss, you can be sure), is to make these calls while on your lunch break. This allows you to take a walk and have a somewhat private conversation. Additionally, using a common Instant Messenger (IM) service allows you to talk real time with someone by typing rather than speaking. Facebook also has this option via their Chat Box. If you have an iPhone or any other type of app phone, all of the above options are portably available to you and does not restrict you to handle life in your cubicle.

Before broadcasting your next personal drama to all cubicles in a 20 yard radius, remember the nice policeman’s advice… anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. .. or the boss’ office, as the case may be.

Have you ever been privy to a conversation that you would rather not have overheard? Tell us about it via our comment or contact us link.

It is a proven fact that over 50 million Americans are obsessedwith their feline and canine family members to the tune of approximately $48 billion annually!!! So, the chance that you, my reader, own a furry creature is pretty high. Unfortunately, most poor pooches and cats are not allowed to accompany their devoted masters to most U.S. shops and public places (unlike their cute European counterparts) let alone the work place. Thus, they spend many hours at home wondering what in the world is so important to keep you away from them for the majority of the day.

One organization is making it their business to get the canine sort into the work place once a year. Their mission is for a higher purpose though than just letting your pooch visit and scope out your cubicle so they know where you spend all those hours away from them. Instead, it is to encourage adoption of these four-legged friends that so many of us count on for endless hours of companionship. The Take Your Dog to Work Day (TYDTWDay) is sponsored by Pet Sitters International.

Get involved in a great cause and win the opportunity to bring little Fido in for show-n-tell on June 25, 2010. You will also put his mind at ease knowing you are in a good place, bringing home the “doggie bacon” which benefits him in the long run.

One of the best ways to stay connected to your personal life while at work is to display photos in tasteful ways. Working in a cubicle can be space limiting so the challenge is to not feel crowded and claustrophobic. The following ideas can help you display the maximum amount of photos without using up valuable real estate with a museum gallery of photo frames.

1. If you have a color printer, making your own photo calendar is a cinch! Check out these kits that help you create the most amazing and meaningful calendars you will ever use. Who knows… you might end up making them as gifts for all your cubicle mates!

2. Photo cubes remind me of when I was a little girl visiting my grandparents. But they are timeless in their space-saving value. These square boxes allow you to feature 6 pictures of your choice. Turn the cube over daily for a new view of a loved one. Stack up several for a photo tower effect!

3. Photo magnets are a unique and fun way to showcase your favorite photos. Most of us have some metal surface (filing cabinets, metal shelving, metal handles, etc) on which we can display these gems.

4. Binders with transparent sleeves on the covers are an easy way to make photos easily accessible for your viewing pleasure. Make sure the binders you use for this purpose are not ones designated for professional meetings, etc. Instead, use the ones that stay at your desk for personal use such as a User Manual or one hosting procedural notes.

5. All of the above ideas will use printed pictures. In this age of digital images, we cannot forget about the amazing photo frames that use a memory card to hold literally hundreds (if not thousands) of your favorite photographs. Upload the pictures that make you smile and then watch them rotate throughout the day. Depending on how many you load, you may never see the same one twice throughout the day! This same idea can be used on your computer. Just set the pictures as a slide show/ screen saver.

Okay, I know all of my faithful readers diligently spent their evenings researching to find the answers to the five questions I asked yesterday. Here are the questions and the answers are bolded.

1. Which US city claims to have first planned to dye their river green in honor of St Pat? Savannah, GA
2. How long does the Chicago River stay green after 40 pounds of green dye are dumped in it every March
17th? Several hours
3. How long has the Irish government been using St Pat’s Day as a way to drive tourism to its country? Since 1995
4. Who was the first President to attend New York City’s St Patrick’s Day parade? Harry Truman
5. Is the term “green machine” an economical reference, a political reference or a social reference?
It is a political reference

Source

The first thing that comes to mind when I hear St Patrick’s Day is the color green. Oh, and I envision a little elf decked out in green shamrocks. Assuming there was more depth contributing to the popularity of this holiday, I did a little research on it.
Now, I am going to test your St Pat’s knowledge with the following questions. Give your best shot via the comment option and check back tomorrow to see how “green” you really are!

1. Which US city claims to have first planned to dye their river green in honor of St Pat?
2. How long does the Chicago River stay green after 40 pounds of green dye are dumped in it every March
17th?
3. How long has the Irish government been using St Pat’s Day as a way to drive tourism to its country?
4. Who was the first President to attend New York City’s St Patrick’s Day parade?
5. Is the term “green machine” an economical reference, a political reference or a social reference?

Enjoy reading up on the history of St Patrick’s Day and make your plans to visit its place of origin soon. Ireland is a beautiful place! If your wallet cannot afford the plane ticket, check out these that showcase this geographical gem.