Office Advice

This category contains all articles related to or specifically talking about topics on office spaces, office rentals, and more.

One of the minimalist desk setup ideas that will boost Productivity.

March 7 2023

Best Minimalist Desk Setup Ideas To Boost Your Productivity

Publisher Office Advice, Productivity 0

Published March 7, 2023

Designing your workspace or desk is usually rather simple and even easy, especially if you’re working at home. Not only do you have a room on your own, but you can also design or set it up in any way you want.

Unfortunately, that’s often not the case with desk setups in an office.

After all, you don’t have the room all to yourself—you have to share it with your coworkers. And as such, you need to be mindful not to make your desk setup too intrusive or distracting. In short, there are limitations.

That’s why a minimalist desk setup is often the go-to option of most office workers—it’s not intrusive and distracting, but most importantly, this type of desk setup can also incite the productivity of a worker.

If you want to make the most out of your minimalist desk setup, the following ideas might help.

1. Position the Desk According to Your Preferences

The desk is, of course, the main part of a setup, so it would be a good idea to make sure it’s set up the way you want. You can start by deciding on its position, and it’s best if you do it according to your preference.

There are generally two types of preferences when it comes to desk position:

If you’re prone to distractions, position your desk against a wall. For optimal results, you may also want the wall to be empty—no picture frame, artwork, or even a calendar, as those can potentially serve as distractions. In doing so, you can really focus on your work.
If you don’t mind distractions, position your desk so it faces a window. This position allows you to glance out your window from time to time and enjoy the view while taking quick breaks.

If you’re not that prone to distractions, but you also don’t want to always be glancing out the window, you can position the desk at the side of the window instead. Admittedly, this would only be applicable if there’s a window in the office. If you’re looking for those kinds of offices, check out our office space in Boca Raton.

2. Place Your Monitor Properly

Unlike your desk, there’s an optimal position or placement for monitors, regardless of preference.

For starters, the top of the screen must be at eye level. That would ensure you don’t have to bend your neck to look at your monitor properly. It will also be ideal if you refrain from tilting the monitor.

3. Go Wireless

One of the many things office workers have to deal with on a day-to-day basis is the annoying wires and their tendency to get tangled all over the place. If you have money to splurge, one of the best minimalist desk setup ideas would be to go wireless to get rid of that kind of annoying instance.

It’s as simple as buying a wireless keyboard and mouse. If you want to go further, you can also get a laptop instead of a desktop computer. It’s wireless and portable—perfect for a minimalist desk setup.

4. Consider Buying an Ergonomic Chair

The chair is the second most important part of a desk setup. And unlike desks, there’s a noticeable distinction between a good and bad chair. Ergonomic chairs, in particular, are the best you can get.

One of the minimalist desk setup ideas provides comfort and boosts Productivity.

You can adjust their height, there’s an armrest in the perfect spot, and it’s often very comfortable.

Needless to say, if you can afford it, get an ergonomic chair rather than a regular chair. It’ll do wonders not only for your productivity but also for your comfort while working in your office.

5. Invest in Desk Organizers

A desk organizer is a box or tray with several compartments, each of which can store all kinds of stuff like pens, pencils, staplers, books, and even a pot of plants.

They’re essentially just cabinets, except they’re portable and small enough to put on top of a desk.

Getting one of these is the perfect way to declutter your desk or workspace. Not to mention you’d immediately know where to find your things, saving you time and maximizing your productivity.

Going Forward

A minimalist desk setup will almost always only have a few decor, accessories, and furniture. Hence, it makes sense that you can’t figure out how to optimize the setup further. Hopefully, with these minimalist desk setup ideas, your productivity and work efficiency can reach newer heights.

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About The Author

Lenard Arceo is an experienced writer who enjoys learning to coding as a hobby. He has spent many years blogging about a vast array of topics and has helped many reputable websites grow their audience over the years.

A productivity planner that helps you be more responsible and boost productivity.

February 22 2023

The 4 Best Productivity Planners You Should Get in 2023

Publisher Office Advice, Productivity

Published February 22, 2023

Office work is relatively simple for most employees. That’s particularly true for those assigned only a few tasks. However, there are office workers with much more responsibilities than regular employees.

If you’re one of these workers, you must know how easy it is to get lost in your work due to the vast number of tasks you must complete by the end of the day. Normally, you’d just rely on your memory when going through these tasks one by one, but nowadays, that may not be the most effective approach.

Productivity planners are apps and programs that allow you to boost productivity by offering features that essentially serve as shortcuts to menial tasks. An excellent example of this is to-do list apps.

Needless to say, productivity planners can potentially solve your issues at work relating to productivity.

With that in mind, today, we’ll take a look at four of the best productivity planners you should get in 2023.

1. Asana

Asana is, at its core, a project management tool, but many people have found great success in using it as a productivity planner. It does, after all, allow you to list your tasks, schedule them in a calendar, and even track how much time it takes to complete specific tasks. It also has a Gantt feature that allows you to see how much progress you’ve made for each task and on which day.

Asana has a Free Plan, so you can use most of its features for yourself. But if you’re part of the team or want more advanced features, you may also get a premium account for $10.99 monthly.

Of course, it’s not without issues.

Some of the main problems of the platform are the occasional bugs, an unoptimized mobile app, and poor customer service. Other than that, it’s an overall great app to boost work performance and productivity.

2. ClickUp

ClickUp is, like Asana, a project management platform and is the best alternative to Asana. Some may even argue it’s the better platform. It has most of the features Asana has and a couple more of its own that isn’t present in Asana. These include mind maps, activity charts, workload tables, and more.

It’s also more affordable as it has a free plan like Asana, and its cheapest plan costs $5 per month. Though admittedly, the free plan is already enough if you’re using them as productivity planners.

3. Bullet Journal

A bullet journal is a unique productivity planner in that it’s not a digital product. It’s a physical notebook with pages or sections designed specifically to help with and improve your productivity.

It contains sections where you can log your to-do list, jot down notes, or set up a calendar.

A bullet journal is probably the best physical representation of productivity planners.

A bullet journal is perhaps the best physical representation of productivity planners. Some of the things we liked about it are the simple or minimalistic style of the pages. There’s also a plethora of designs, so there will always be a specific page that you can use no matter how you want to plan your tasks.

Bullet journals may cost from $8 to $19, so there’s no free plan or the sort, but compared to the cheapest plans of other productivity planners, it’s quite affordable. It is, after all, a one-time payment.

4. Google Calendar

If you’re an avid user of Google products like Google Docs and Google Sheets, you’ll most likely love Google Calendar as a productivity planner. As the name implies, it’s a calendar application with an interface similar to most Google apps. As such, you’ll find it easy to familiarize the application.

One of the features we liked is the different views. You can change the view to day, week, and month, or you can specify a time range. It’s also possible to color-code every task you add to the calendar.

The platform also allows you to create calendars for different purposes. So, you can have a calendar for administrative tasks, for example, and have a separate one for meetings or other unrelated tasks.

One thing we didn’t like, however, is the fact that you cannot make a checklist out of all the tasks you included in the calendar and mark them one by one every time you complete them.

The Bottom Line

There are countless other worthwhile productivity planners out there, while some are not designed specifically to serve as one. These four, however, are what many people found the most success in, not to mention they are free, except for Bullet Journals. But of course, don’t stop yourself from looking for other productivity planners outside of these four.

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A sample design of an open-plan office layout.

February 16 2023

The Pros and Cons of an Open-Plan Office Layout

Publisher Office Advice

Published February 16, 2023

The open-plan office layout has been a popular office design for the longest time.

The idea behind the layout is to promote communication among employees by eliminating walls, dividers, and other obstacles separating the working spaces. It’s essentially the opposite of cubicles.

At first glance, it sounds like a noble concept. But upon further deliberation, one can conclude that it’s actually counterproductive. After all, if employees keep talking with each other, no work will get done.

Needless to say, an open-plan office layout offers several advantages but also drawbacks. In this article, we’ll take a look at those and determine if this layout is suitable for your office. Let’s start with the pros.

4 Pros of an Open-Plan Office Layout

An open-plan office layout can be beneficial in many ways, especially if the layout is compatible with your team members. However, there are four advantages that stand out the most.

1. Interactions Are Frequent

An open-plan office layout allows for more interactions to occur between your colleagues. And those interactions can lead to more positive effects, most of which have to do with your colleagues’ well-being.

Examples of the positive effects that may stem from more frequent interactions include:

lower chances of absenteeism,
lower staff turnover (percentage of employees that leave the company),
higher employee loyalty,
more seamless onboarding,
lower chances of conflicts of interest, and
alleviating boredom.

Most of these positive effects are self-explanatory. It essentially goes like this: if the team members interact more frequently, they become more attached to each other and, subsequently, to the company.

The frequent interactions may also contribute to the team’s onboarding efforts as new workers will be more at ease to talk to their seniors, so to speak. Of course, interactions won’t always be positive.

Some interactions may lead to arguments. But at the very least, employees can resolve these arguments immediately rather than letting the frustration build up and allowing such frustrations to affect their work and collaboration. And let’s not forget the apparent benefit of frequent interactions—it alleviates boredom.

2. Rearrangements Are More Seamless

Changes in seating arrangements are by no means welcomed by all workers.

A company with an open-plan office layout design.

Granted, it offers several benefits, such as newer types of interactions and experiences, but you’ll often hear arguments against rearrangements as employees fear a change would disrupt their performance.

That’s particularly true for offices with cubicles.

Moving from one cubicle to another can be pretty tedious. You have to gather your things, which may take a while, and move to a cubicle that likely has a different atmosphere. In other words, it generally sucks.

Though it’s still tedious if the rearrangement is taking place in an office that has an open-plan office layout, it’s to a lower degree, and for two main reasons:

In an open-plan layout, employees don’t leave a lot of their stuff in a specific area, no matter how frequently they use that spot. As such, the packing will be less of a hassle and time-consuming.
Unlike cubicles, the atmosphere throughout an open-plan office is roughly the same. As such, when a colleague moves to a different spot, they won’t have to deal with a change in atmosphere.

In summary, changes in seating arrangements in an open-plan office layout generally go more smoothly and faster than rearrangements in a cubicle-based office. Since the rearrangement would go faster, the team would also benefit since there would be lower downtime during the moving process.

3. The Overall Design Is Visually Aesthetic

Not everyone would admit it, but the main reason why most managers consider the open-plan office layout is the prospect of having a better-looking office. It allows workers to showcase their creativity when setting up their workspaces, which often leads to an office with several areas featuring diverse aesthetics.

And while it sounds superficial, the benefits of an aesthetically pleasing office go far beyond just looking great. An aesthetic office can also lead to an improvement in KPIs, and here are several reasons why:

It minimizes absenteeism and tardiness as workers are more willing to go to work at earlier times.
It reduces stress and improves workers’ mental health.
It can make the company look better to shareholders and prospective investors.
It encourages workers to put more effort into their work.

These benefits are precisely why managers of established companies often take steps to improve their office’s design. While it’s not the only way, adapting an open-plan office layout is one way to go about it.

4. Renovations Will Be Cheaper

Apart from changes in the seating arrangements, it’s also common for office managers to change the workplace’s overall layout. And both have the same purpose—to provide employees with new experiences.

Like seating rearrangements, renovating an office can be tedious, time-consuming, but, most importantly, costly. That’s particularly true for workplaces with cubicles and separate working areas for each worker.

That’s because to renovate a cubicle-based workplace, there is a need to restructure the walls, dividers, and other parts of the office, and that can be costly. On the other hand, to renovate an open-plan office layout, there’s no need to restructure walls or dividers because there aren’t any, so it’s much cheaper.

To conclude, an open-plan office layout not only contributes to the well-being of your colleagues but can also contribute to the company’s bottomline, so it’s a win-win for everyone. But is it?

3 Cons of an Open-Plan Office Layout

As much as you’d like to adopt an open-plan office layout for your workplace, it’s not suitable for every office or team. There are firms, teams, or agencies that would benefit more from a cubicle-based layout, and that’s mostly because open-plan offices have their fair share of drawbacks. Here are some examples:

1. There Is a Lack of Privacy

Privacy is important to everyone, albeit in varying degrees, depending on the individual.

That’s especially true for specific firms. For example, employees of accounting firms would appreciate having a personal space since their work requires concentration, and concentration often requires quiet.

Granted, not everyone needs silence or privacy to concentrate their creativity, but the vast majority do. And if your team is mainly composed of these kinds of individuals, an open-plan office layout isn’t for you.

2. It Can Raise Anxiety among Employees

One of the benefits that upper management sees from open-plan office layouts is that it allows supervisors to monitor employees without restrictions. After all, they don’t need to enter your cubicle to check what you’re doing. They can simply look in your general direction from a couple of meters away.

Alas, most employees think of this as a bad thing since no one wants to be monitored or checked every few minutes. It can raise one’s anxiety, and that’s a detriment open-plan layouts can bring to the office.

3. Distractions Would Be Rampant

Interactions in an office are good and all, but they do have the caveat of potentially being a distraction.

Not everyone can work effectively while talking to someone, after all, and that’s the main disadvantage of an open-plan office layout. And it doesn’t only apply to actively talking to someone in the office, either.

Even if a worker is intently trying to focus on their work, distractions like background noises, clutter, and unpleasant odors can still disrupt their concentration. Put simply; these distractions reduce productivity.

Upon hearing these pros and cons, it’s safe to say that an open-plan office layout isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Not all workplaces will benefit from it, which begs the following question:

When Is an Open-Plan Office Layout Best?

Every workplace is unique in its own way, so there’s really no telling if your workplace would benefit from an open-plan office layout. However, we found that firms, teams, and agencies from specific industries or fields are the most likely to benefit from this kind of office layout. These include:

advertising and marketing companies,
graphic design,
software development, and
visual arts.

The main reason why these industries tend to benefit a lot from the open office concept is that the work involved in these fields often requires collaboration and teamwork.

Software development teams, for example, must keep in touch with one another to ensure a smooth sailing project, and an open-plan office layout promotes that kind of workflow.

The same applies to other industries and fields.

That being said, firms and agencies that are unlikely to benefit from an open-plan office layout are those that don’t require much collaboration but rather independence, like accounting firms and law firms.

Takeaways

The open-plan office layout concept is by no means a secret recipe for success. The only reason why people treat it as such is that it’s incredibly effective. The problem is it’s only effective for specific teams, and there’s no way of telling if your team will benefit from it unless you implement it yourself. With this guide, however, you should, at the very least, get a better understanding of the concept.

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Someone who makes Christmas cards for co-workers.

February 9 2023

20+ Greetings to Put in a Christmas Card for Coworkers

Publisher Office Advice

Published February 9, 2023

Gift exchange is one of the most popular activities in Christmas celebrations. Whether you work in an office, attend school, or live with your family, gift exchange will likely be part of your Christmas party.

And though it’s not part of gift exchange, it’s common to include a Christmas card when wrapping up gifts. After all, a Christmas card allows you to convey your sentiments to a coworker and show that you care.

Coming up with a greeting is usually relatively simple, but for those who have never made a Christmas card before, it can be particularly difficult as you may not know what a proper greeting looks like. If that’s the case, then read on as we round up 21 greetings you can put on your Christmas card for coworkers.

7 Funny Merry Christmas Coworkers Greetings

One of the main parts of Christmas is the festive cheer.

Whether you’re at home or in the office, adding a little bit of humor can go a long way. So, here are six greetings that should bring a smile, joy, and laughter to your coworkers’ faces this holiday season:

May your holiday season be filled with cookies, eggnog, and as few meetings as possible.
Here’s hoping Santa brings you an extra day off for the holidays and a raise.
I hope your holiday is brighter than the Christmas lights in our cubicle.
Merry Christmas to all! May our carols be so loud and our work phones silent.
Wishing you a holiday season that doesn’t involve any overtime.
Here’s to a holiday that’s cozier and warmer than your office chair.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year filled with all the office snacks you can eat.

8 Appreciative Merry Christmas Coworkers Greetings

Humor isn’t the only way to bring a smile to one’s face.

A self-made Christmas card for coworkers.

Another way is to say a few lines that show your appreciation and gratitude to your coworkers for their work throughout the year. These Christmas greetings should accomplish that:

The workplace will not be the same without you. Thank you for always showing up at work and helping others when needed. May you be blessed, especially this holiday season!
I couldn’t have asked for a better coworker! Thank you for the dedication you’ve shown at work, and I wish you another outstanding year.
Sending you my sincerest greetings to let you know that I enjoy working with and learning from you. I hope for another productive year with you.
You have been the most excellent coworker I’ve had over the last year. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Working with you has been one of the best parts of going to the office every day. Thank you for your hard work, and I wish you a wonderful Christmas season!
Thank you for your friendship, and I want you to know that I appreciate the connection we have at work. Merry Christmas, and here’s hoping you have the best holiday this season.
May the Christmas season bring you all the contentment, peace, and happiness you deserve, just as you have brought those things to our workplace every day.
I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year! Your efforts and unwavering commitment to the company are greatly appreciated.

6 Merry Christmas Greetings to Your Team

If rather than for a Christmas card, you want to send a greeting to all your coworkers, then the following Christmas greetings should be perfect:

Without the dedication, goodwill, and teamwork of everyone, we would not have achieved our objectives and goals this year. Here’s to another productive year for our team.
We’ve worked hard this year. Enjoy the time off, and all the more blessings to you and your family.
It’s been a real pleasure seeing the team develop. I look forward to the growth of our company next year and hopefully in the coming years as well.
There were many obstacles this year, but we were able to succeed in our initiatives mainly because of everyone’s help and commitment. I wish everyone a great Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
The commitment all of you have shown throughout the year was more than what I could ask for. I hope all of you have a joyous Christmas season, and let’s look forward to another year.
Our team was fortunate enough to have such a wonderful group of hardworking people. Thank you for everyone’s hard work, and have a wonderful holiday season!

Final Words

Expressing your holiday greetings to coworkers through a Christmas card is a thoughtful and meaningful gesture that can go a long way. Whether you prefer a heartfelt, simple, or funny message, these 22 greetings can be excellent references for when you want to make a Christmas card.

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A woman is being interviewed by the human resources of a company asking about work availability.

January 27 2023

How to Answer Interview Questions About Availability to Work

Publisher Office Advice

Published January 27, 2023

The purpose of interviews is to ensure a candidate is fit for the job. The evaluator may ask questions relating to your skills, to which you must provide an optimistic answer. For example, if they ask how well you can talk through the phone, answering “Very well” is much better than answering “Not so much.”

In other words, interview questions tend to have a “right” answer — one that the interviewer wants to hear. For these questions, an optimistic answer is often the right call, as dishonest as it may be.

However, there are questions that, despite there clearly being a right answer, are something you must answer with pure honesty. A prime example of this are questions about your availability to work.

What Are Interview Questions About Availability to Work?

Interview questions about your availability to work are questions aimed at finding out whether you can commit yourself to the job. Some are simple enough that you only need to answer yes or no:

Are you able to work different shifts?
Would you be willing to take work-related trips or travels if needed?
Are you willing to work on weekends or overtime if necessary?
Can you work on receiving a call during a day off?
Are you okay with

Some are so subtle you wouldn’t even know it’s about availability to work:

Do you have other commitments, and can you tell me about them?
What’s your current schedule prior to your application?
Have you taken work trips before?
Have you worked night shifts before?

And some are cookie-cutter that you can answer without putting in as much thought:

How many hours can you work per day?
How many hours can you commit to the job per week?
What are your ideal work hours?

When an interviewer asks these questions, they’re typically looking forward to an optimistic answer, but that doesn’t mean that’s the answer you should give.

What Should You Answer?

The answer will obviously depend on the question, whether it’s a yes-no question or a question that requires a paragraph’s worth of answer. Either way, the possible answers to these kinds of questions would be that you’re always available, not at all, or something in-between. So, what should you answer?

Ideally, you want to answer honestly.

Saying you’re available for this many hours and this many days per week when you’re clearly not would only hurt you in the long run. Unlike soft or hard skills, you cannot obtain more time very easily.

So, in short, be flexible but also reasonable.

Tips for Answering Interview Questions About Availability to Work

A company's human resources invite several people for an interview about work availability.

Apart from thinking of the perfect answer for interview questions, there are many other things or tips you need to do and not do when asked about your availability to work. Here are some of those tips:

Don’t negotiate the work hours. The position likely already has a set schedule, so there shouldn’t be any room for negotiation. Trying to negotiate would only ruin your chances.
Don’t change your mind. A change of mind during the interview would imply that you’re not certain whether you can commit to the work hours you previously agreed to. And, of course, that can give a bad impression to the interviewer and reduce your chances of landing the job.
Research the company. There are times when you’re not sure how to answer a question because you lack information about the company. For example, if they ask whether you’re willing to work overtime if needed, you may take a while to answer because you’re not sure if they offer overtime pay. If you research the company beforehand, however, you can answer more easily.
Don’t answer too optimistically. Even if you’re available most of the time and you have no other commitments, it’s not a good idea to answer too optimistically. For instance, even if you’re willing to work on holidays, it doesn’t mean you should say yes immediately when asked about it. Saying yes to all questions about your availability to work may come across as desperate.

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Two lovely co-workers share work friends' quotes as a gift.

January 19 2023

25+ Work Friends Quotes for Your Lovely Coworkers

Publisher Office Advice

Published January 19, 2023

Though it’s definitely not the best place to develop a friendship, it’s still possible to have a friend in the workplace. That’s especially true if you’ve been working in the same company for several years.

Work friends can be a lot of help. They can help you get over a slump at work, kill time, or combat boredom. As such, it makes sense if you want to give them a gift to show your appreciation. If that’s exactly what you plan to do, then there’s no harm in adding a quote that you think depicts your friendship.

Below are 27 work friends quotes for your lovely coworkers.

10 Funny Work Friends Quotes

Jokes will almost always be a part of a friendship. If you want to crack a joke while still delivering a sincere message of your appreciation, these quotes should work perfectly:

“Work friends are like the office plants. They bring life to the workplace, but require constant attention.”
“Work friends are like traffic lights. They make your workdays more bearable, but they would often make you late.”
“Work friends are like duct tape. They can help fix anything, but not the office coffee machine.”
“Work friends are the office equivalent of DJs. They would often keep the mood upbeat and light, but there’s a good chance they’ll play the same songs over and over.”
“Work friends are like portable vending machines. Every now and then, they would hand out snacks or drinks.”
“Work friends are a lot like personal nutritionists. They might keep you on track with your nutritional goals, but there are times when they’re the ones bringing in the donuts.”
“Work friends are pretty similar to weather forecasters and news anchors. They inform you of certain things, but sometimes, their updates are incorrect and may even share rumors.”
“A work friend is almost the same as a partner in crime, but instead of doing actual crime, you’re stealing office supplies.”
“Having a work friend is like hiring a personal therapist… but cheaper.”
“A work friend understands the meaning behind every raised eyebrows and eye rolls you make.”

12 Thoughtful Work Friends Quotes

If you already crack a lot of jokes with your work friend, you probably want to try a different approach. Giving the feels is one way to leave a memorable experience with your gift. In that case, the following work friends quotes might just be what you’re looking for:

“A work friend is a confidant, motivator, and mentor. They’re someone you can share secrets with, someone who pushes you to do your best, and someone who you can learn from.”
“Work friends can make tough days bearable, and good days even better.”
“A work friend understands the ups and downs of the job and is willing to go through with it all with you.”
“Work friends are the best time passers. They can make work days go by faster.”
“A good work friend can see you at your worst, but still choose to stick around.”
“A good friend at work is a friend in both your professional and personal life.”
“One of the best parts of going to work is seeing the friends you made.”
“A good work friend isn’t just someone who can laugh with you. They’re also a friend that can cry with you in tough times.”
“Job satisfaction will almost always be impossible to achieve without a friend at work.”
“A work friend makes work feel less like work, and more like a hobby.”
“Work friends can turn even the most mundane tasks into tasks that feel worthwhile.”
“The best work friends are those that you cannot imagine life without.”

5 Cute Work Friends Quotes

A company department team is sharing cute work friends quotes in the middle of their celebration.

Rather than making your work friend laugh, why not make them smile instead? The cute work friends quotes below should do just that:

“Amazing work friends are perhaps the only thing you’ll regret when calling in sick.”
“There’s only one thing better than a work friend—a work friend with a snack.”
“It’s most people’s dream to work with their friends. For me, that’s no longer a dream.”
“Work friends are just friends that you happen to work with.”
“They say unexpected friendships often turn out to be the best. They weren’t wrong. “

Final Words

A genuine friendship in a workplace is not something you see very often. That’s why it’s only fitting that you celebrate it every now and then, and one way to do so is with a gift and a quote that shows your appreciation.

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A man is standing on a hill shouting a positive affirmations for himself to start his day.

January 12 2023

40+ Positive Affirmations for Men To Start Your Day Right

Publisher Office Advice

Published January 12, 2023

You won’t always have a perfect start to your day. There will be times when you may have a lot of unnecessary or negative thoughts first thing in the morning. In those moments, it goes a long way to have affirmations to tell yourself so you can start your day right. Read on for 40+ positive affirmations for men.

45 Positive Affirmations for Men

I am worthy of love and respect.
I am strong and resilient, capable of overcoming any obstacle.
I am capable of accomplishing my goals.
I am capable of handling all the challenges that come my way.
I am proud of my accomplishments, and I will continue to set new goals.
I am proud of who I am becoming.
I am proud of who I am and what I have accomplished, and I will strive for more.
I am proud of my dedication and hardwork.
I am confident in my talents and skills.
I am confident in my ability to create the life I want.
I am confident in my ability to make decisions.
I am in control of my thoughts, and I will choose to focus on the positives.
I am in control of my destiny, and I will make sure it is a wonderful one.
I am in control of my emotions, and I will respond to situations with composure.
I am grateful for my talents and abilities, and I will strive to use them to benefit others.
I am grateful for all the opportunities in my life, and I look forward to more.
I am grateful for my relationships, and I will strive to strengthen them further.
I am grateful for my health and my well-being, and I will strive to maintain it.
I am grateful for the lessons I have learned, and I will strive to use them for my betterment
I am grateful for all that I have in my life.
I trust my intuition, and I will listen to my inner voice.
I trust the journey of my life, and I know it will lead me to success.
I trust my intuition which I use to make sound decisions.
I am surrounded by positive and supportive people.
I am surrounded by abundance and prosperity.
I am surrounded by love and positivity in every aspect of my life.
I am surrounded by people who support and believe in me and my dreams
I am surrounded by people who respect and support me.
I am open to new opportunities and experiences.
I am open to change and new possibilities.
I make a positive impact on the people around me.
I am successful in all areas of my life.
I am filled with inner peace and contentment.
I am successful and live a fulfilling life.
I choose to let go of fear and embrace new challenges.
I have the ability to create the life I desire.
I am filled with inner strength and determination.
I am able to let go of negative thoughts and feelings and focus on the present.
I am able to let go of the past and keep moving forward.
I am an open-minded person, and I will continue to grow and learn.
I am a positive influence on those around me.
I am a compassionate and kind person who treats others with respect.
I am successful in my career and personal life.
I attract good things into my life.
I radiate positivity and enthusiasm.

A person is happy to start his day with a positive affirmation.

Wrapping Up

Before you tell yourself these affirmations, you must remember that not all of these will work for you. It’s important that you believe in these things yourself. After all, nothing good will come out of adding stress and believing in things you have yet to believe. Most individuals find these affirmations most helpful when they repeat them as part of their daily routine in the morning and evening.

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A team is working in an average size of office space.

January 9 2023

What Is the Average Size of Office Spaces in the US?

Publisher Office Advice

Published January 09, 2023

Many business people would argue that setting up an office space in the United States is key to growing an organization’s global brand. That’s why it’s common for large companies to set up an office in the US.

Small and medium businesses, even small teams, are the same in that they will benefit from a US office space as well. However, unlike large companies, there’s a limit to the budget these organizations can invest in for office space. For that reason, choosing an office space takes a lot of consideration.

Unfortunately, that can be difficult if you have no idea how large office spaces in the US should be, but that’s why you’re here. Read on as this guide talks about the average size of office spaces in the US.

What Is the Average Size of an Office in the US?

The average size of office spaces in the US is 150 to 175 square feet per individual.

Yes, the ideal size of an office space generally depends on the number of employees in the team or organization. That’s typically the general rule of thumb. The reasoning behind such a rule is to ensure the office space won’t be cramped once everyone relocates into the office and goes on with their daily tasks.

However, you don’t necessarily have to include all employees in the agency. For instance, a service-oriented company may not include their field workers in the count as they are rarely in the office.

It’s also worth noting that the number of employees isn’t the only consideration you must take when deciding on the size of your office space. Just because there are six employees doesn’t mean you can settle for 900 to 1050 square feet of office space. You also have to take into account other workspaces.

Types of Workspaces To Include in Your Office

Most office spaces have several assigned workspaces for each employee.

Each assigned workspace is typically 90 square feet in size to accommodate the necessities of the employee. It’s the most common type of workspace in an office, so it makes sense to assume that 540 square feet of space will be sufficient if only six employees need an assigned workspace.

Unfortunately, that’s likely not going to be enough. After all, apart from assigned workspaces, there are other types of workspaces an office must have.

Other types include:

A breakout area where employees can have light conversations or quick chats.

Breakout areas are typically at least 100 square feet of space.

A meeting or conference room where the team or agency can conduct spontaneous meetings.

Most meeting or conference rooms are at least 150 square feet in size.

A creative space where employees can engage in activities unrelated to their job responsibilities in their free time. Examples of such activities include writing or drawing.

A space of 100 square feet is typically enough for these rooms.

A nap pod where employees can take a nap without having to endure the noise that normally comes from the work area.

Nap pods typically only take up 50 square feet of space.

A coworking space is different from the previously mentioned workspaces in that instead of taking up space, it allows you to reduce your needed office space. These spaces allow multiple employees to work closely together rather than in their separate assigned workspaces.

The space that was supposedly meant for only one employee can be shared by two or more. A coworking space may vary in size depending on the number of employees planning to share it.

In addition to workspaces, you must also allocate space for other amenities like coffee makers, tabletops, and a dining area. Of course, these don’t necessarily have to be in a separate space, as you can put them in the breakout space or the other workspaces. Nevertheless, this adds complexity to the calculation.

Since most people don’t want to think too much about the intricacies of this decision, at the end of the day, it’s best and simplest to rely on the standard rule of thumb, 150 to 175 square feet per individual.

Estimate Price for Different Office Space Sizes

You now know how much space you need to ensure your team is comfortable in the new office suite.

Now, it’s time to figure out how much you should expect to spend. This part is essential to your decision since you wouldn’t want to rent or buy an office space that’s too expensive for its worth.

Though the price may vary according to the market, a good estimate on the price of office spaces is $20 per month per square foot. That means if one individual is looking for an office space for themself with a size of 100 square feet, which is a reasonable size, they’re looking at a rent of $2,000 a month.

Keep in mind, however, that the price can vary vastly depending on the location and quality (class) of the office space. If you’re on a tight budget, you can find an office that costs $8 a month per square foot.

That comes to a monthly rent of just $800. Similarly, if you can afford to splurge a little, you can find office spaces that are as expensive as $50 a month per square foot—a whopping $50,000 monthly rent.

Learn more about this topic in our Cheapest Office Spaces in the US article.

So, if you were to rent an office space for six people, you’re looking at a monthly rent of $43,200.

Wrapping Up

It’s a nice trait for a team leader or business owner to ensure that their coworkers are comfortable with their office. However, there’s a limit to how much you can splurge into your office suite. That’s why before renting an office space, you must know not only the average size of office spaces in the US but also the reasonable price for different office spaces. Hopefully, this article can help in that regard.

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December 26 2022

6 Tips for Maximizing and Designing Small Office Space

Judy Ponio Office Advice

An example of an effective filing system in the office.

Published December 26, 2021

It’s common knowledge that the greater the office space, the higher its cost. That’s why many small companies can often only get small office spaces—any larger would get them over their budget.

Unfortunately, a small office space can only fit so many things before it feels and looks cramped.

When that happens, creating a nice vibe or atmosphere in such a workplace will be difficult, but it’s certainly not impossible. There are ways to design a small office space so it doesn’t look cramped.

Below are six tips for maximizing and designing a small office space.

1. Introduce Natural Light

This particular tip is not exclusive to designing a small office space. It works on any workspace, small or large. That’s because studies show that natural light has a considerable impact on a worker’s productivity.

A cramped workspace often leads to decreased productivity.

You can think of natural light as a way to do the opposite. It may not directly increase the usable space of your office, but it should reduce the sense of crampedness your team may feel.

There are several ways to introduce natural light to a small office space. Here are some examples:

Use Full-Spectrum Natural Light Bulbs

If you’re buying a light bulb anyway, why not go for light bulbs specifically designed to provide natural light? They might be costlier than regular light bulbs, but they’re often worth the additional costs.

Install More Windows

One way to directly increase the amount of natural light that enters the office space is by installing more windows. Again, it’ll cost money, but enjoying more natural light is highly beneficial.

Furthermore, it’s ideal for small office spaces because windows won’t take up any usable space. Alas, this isn’t applicable if you’re only renting the office space, but there’s a way to go around that.

Get Mirrors

If you can’t install glasses in your office, you can instead get mirrors.

The main purpose of a mirror is to reflect the natural light that goes into the room. Doing so essentially allows the natural light to reach nooks and crannies it usually wouldn’t reach.

Eliminate Obstructions

If you have a ton of equipment or materials in the office, there’s a good chance some are blocking the natural light before it gets to the workers. Again, this isn’t something you want to happen.

So, to resolve this issue, you should get rid of these obstructions.

An excellent example of such obstructions is containers placed right in front of windows.

Apart from those blocking natural light, there are other obstructions that might make your office space smaller than it actually is.

2. Purge the Office of Unnecessary Objects

It’s common for a team not to have the time to clean up their office thoroughly.

As a result, it’s common to find a lot of objects inside the office space that serve no purpose, like used paper, useless furniture, and such. These objects can make the office seem smaller than it already is.

For that reason, it’s advisable to get rid of these objects. It may take a bit of cleaning up, but you’ll notice a significant change in the atmosphere once you’re done.

3. Consider Installing Glass Office Partitions

A glass wall partition for a small office space.

If your team has several members, there’s a good chance you’d want to separate each member with dividers of some sort. If you’ve ever installed dividers or partitions, you’d know how they can make a room look cramped. After all, it creates even smaller spaces inside an already small office space.

However, not all partitions have that particular effect.

A glass partition, in particular, is an excellent way to divide a room without causing it to become cramped. For your reference, glass partitions are glass walls that separate a room into several parts.

The reason it’s an excellent choice for small office spaces is that it creates the illusion that the office isn’t divided into smaller spaces. After all, you can still see behind the other side of the glass wall.

At the same time, it achieves the purpose of partitions, which is to create separate spaces. Note that this tip for designing a small office space is only relevant if you intend to partition your office space.

4. Incorporate Nature Features

This tip is similar to the first one regarding natural light in that it’s applicable in any office space.

It’s also similar in that research shows that nature can drastically decrease stress levels and increase workers’ productivity. Moreover, it’s handy in your case because they only take up a little space.

The best way to incorporate nature into the office is by simply buying greeneries like pots of plants. You can also consider getting an aquarium since water is an example of a relaxing nature feature.

But if you don’t have any remaining space, another way is to paint your office a specific color.

5. Go for Brighter Colors

Color theory suggests that brighter colors make rooms much larger than they actually are.

Interestingly, it works in any kind of room, including office spaces.

That’s why it’s a good idea to paint your office white or any other bright color. It may not actually increase your usable space, but it’s enough that it eliminates the feeling of crampedness inside the office space.

If you want to really go all in on the nature idea, you can also opt for colors associated with nature, like green or light blue. It may not seem impactful as you say it, but the result will speak for itself.

6. Install a Designated Space for Short Breaks

Sometimes, an office space only seems small because the workers cannot move freely. That doesn’t necessarily mean the room is small. It may just be because there’s no designated space for breaks.

The workers’ inability to move freely inside the office creates the illusion that it’s small. One way to break that illusion is by designating an area as a space for workers to go when they want to take short breaks.

The “break” space doesn’t have to be large, but it should be large enough for multiple individuals to enter while still having legroom.

Look for a Suitable Office Space

One thing you’ll notice about these tips to design and maximize small workspaces is that they’re not applicable to all office spaces. If you’re only renting an office suite, for instance, you probably aren’t allowed to make any significant changes to the building’s structure, like installing windows.

Moreover, certain office spaces are simply impossible to renovate, so they’d look more spacious. That’s why before anything else, you need to look for an office space suitable for these design adjustments.

If you’re looking for office space in Boca Raton, BocaExecuSpace may suit your needs.

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An example of plants for office with no windows.

December 12 2022

10 Best Plants for Office With No Windows

Judy Ponio Office Advice

Published December 12, 2021

Home plants have been a big thing recently. Most of them are low maintenance, allowing you to easily take care of them and bring life to the area. Some people prefer pets as their company, some prefer to take care of plants, and others, both. You may be working in a room or office that is enclosed; no windows or any way for sunlight to come in.

If you have a job that requires you to work in an enclosed space, or if you study in a room with no windows, you may want to come up with ways that can liven up your place. Believe it or not, there are certain plants for office with no windows. These plants are perfect for busy individuals as they require minimal supervision and maintenance. Let’s discuss each home plant briefly.

We offer some of the most beautiful office space in Boca Raton Florida with indoor plants in the office. Take a look at our online gallery and book a tour with us today!

Advantages Of Having An Indoor Plant For Windowless Office

It turns out a plant does have other benefits to office workers besides providing a continuous source of fresh air. Let’s look at some of the most significant benefits of indoor plants.

1. It May Reduce Feelings Of Negativity In The Workplace

A 2005 study shows that introducing plants in a workplace drastically reduced the tension levels of office workers. The research uses electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyography (EMG), and blood pressure tests to come to that conclusion. Questionnaires also point toward the same conclusion.

2. A Plant Can Potentially Reduce The Likelihood Of Absences

Absences at work occur due to illnesses and other health concerns. Interestingly enough, studies indicate that the presence of a plant may reduce physical discomfort and decrease the likelihood of diseases.

3. Plants Can Improve The Indoor Air Quality In The Office

If an office has no windows, there’s a good chance the only source of ventilation are air conditioners and similar systems. But unfortunately, these devices are often insufficient to eliminate all sorts of air pollution.

These include the following:

Benzene
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Carbon monoxide (CO)
Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Ozone
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

As you might already imagine, plants can also tackle this problem as they’re able to reduce the amount of these air pollutants. This is a particularly solid testament to the benefits of plants since there are several studies (refer to the links in the bullet points) that point towards this same conclusion.

4. An Indoor Plant Can Increase Productivity

It’s already a given that benefits like reduced stress and anxiety, lower chances of illnesses and physical discomfort, and better indoor air quality indirectly increases the productivity of people in a workplace.

However, a 2002 study shows that there’s a direct relationship between productivity and indoor air quality.

To be precise, the study found that for every 1% reduction in dissatisfaction with indoor air quality comes a 10% increase in productivity. The study comes to this conclusion by measuring:

the time it takes to finish editing and sorting tasks,
the time it takes to complete computer-related tasks,
the attention capacity of a worker, and
their performance in creative tasks.

In most studies, there’s a decent increase in these metrics, which goes to show that indoor plants can directly improve a person’s productivity.

5. The Presence Of Plants Might Improve Business Image

This one is not so much a proven benefit as an added advantage.

If you’re a business person, you can probably imagine how this works out. Basically, the presence of plants changes others’ perceptions of the company. It drives them to think of the business as:

well-run,
stable,
warm,
welcoming, and
trustworthy.

Of course, it doesn’t apply to everyone who sees the company, but the logic checks out. In fact, numerous studies point toward that conclusion, though further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Nevertheless, the fact that getting plants for room without windows provides this many benefit is enough reason to get at least one plant. If that’s your plan, the following section should be handy.

What characteristics define an excellent office plant?

The best office plants are ones that require little bright light. These are often the types that would be located at the base of a forest floor beneath a dense canopy if found in the wild. As a result of the limited amount of light they receive, they have evolved enormous, generally green leaves that capture whatever light situation they can and use it to grow.

Plants have a very different perception of the amount of light available indoors than humans do. Humans will believe that an area with numerous windows receives an abundance of light; however, this may not be the case if you’re a plant.

Consider this: you wear sunglasses outside, but remove them when you enter the house. Why? Since there is far less light inside than there is outside. Plants share this sentiment and desire a location with plenty of light. If your working space lacks this, low light plants are an option.

Another factor to consider while choosing office plants is their rate of development. The majority of people prefer a slow-growing plant since fast-growing plants require a great deal of maintenance and pruning. Additionally, you must consider space, and plants that grow rapidly will encroach on adjacent cubicles, drag along the floor, or become a nuisance.

In general, plants that are easy to grow make excellent office plants, including those requiring little water from time to time.

Finally, consider appearance. While you want easy-to-care-for plants, you also want office plants that look beautiful and complement the office environment rather than distract or detract from it. Bear in mind that, while blooming plants are beautiful, they normally demand more sunlight and care and typically only bloom for a brief amount of time indoors.

Home Plants for Office with No Windows

1. Succulents

The most widely-known indoor plants that are loved by all are succulents. Some plants will last you a long time. There is no need to worry about keeping these plants alive as they will survive even after you forget to water them for a long time.

Though like most plants, they do need water but not nearly as much as others. Too much water might be the thing that kills them. Succulents are also perfect for indoors as they can survive with just a simple fluorescent lamp as a light source.

2. Zamioculcasi

The zamioculcasi plant, more commonly known as the ZZ plant, is a highly promoted indoor plant. They are perfect for offices with no windows as they do not require that much exposure to sunlight or any other light source.

In fact, these plants are too sensitive to light that maintaining their health will require you to minimize direct sunlight. However, unlike succulent plants, experts recommend you keep ZZ plants away from fluorescent light sources. These plants are easy to take care of, plus they help make your area look homier.

3. Sansevieria

Sansevieria is originally from Africa and goes by various names. People often refer to it as snake tongue/plant, bowstring hemp, devil’s tongue, and more. Unlike the other plants, you will need to water this plant just once in a while — not as much as ordinary plants.

You only need to water the sansevieria whenever the soil fully dries out and not a minute too soon. Otherwise, their roots will rot. These plants are perfect for any environment as they will survive either in areas with easy access to sunlight or a closed room, like your office.

4. Pothos

The Epipremnum aureum, also known as pothos plants, is perfect for bringing color and life to your enclosed space. These plants have long vines you can use to decorate the corners of your office or your desk.

These are low-maintenance plants and are perfect for indoor plants as they are flexible to their environment. They can grow in either a low-light or a high-light climate making it more convenient to transfer them. In addition, they require minimal supervision and are perfect for new plant parents.

Some of the most suitable plants for office with no windows.

5. Calathea Makoyana

Calathea makoyana is also known as a peacock plant. These are plants that consist of vivid leaves that resemble a peacock’s tail, thus the name. Their leaves have various colors, including green shades and a pattern similar to the peacock’s tails.

Their leaves’ design is unlike any other, making them a smart choice for an office decoration. Peacock plants fit better in areas that allow them to have little exposure to direct sunlight as they can change their overall aesthetic.

6. Peace Lily

One of the least popular plants on our list is the peace lily. The peace lily is also known as the spathiphyllum. This plant consists of vibrant green leaves surrounding a single white leaf bract that looks like a lone flower, giving it an elegant look. The actual flower in this plant is the yellow part in the middle that has a bristle-like figure.

This plant can grow in low-light areas, making them perfect for adding a touch of neutral colors in your closed space/office. However, too much sunlight exposure will make the peace lily turn dark. Besides being perfect indoor plants, the peace lily also benefits our health as they act as a natural air purifier.

7. Maidenhair Fern

Maidenhair ferns have unique features. Their leaves are smaller than other indoor plants that sprout in large numbers on a single branch/vine. Though this plant requires more attention than others, it still classifies as a great home office plant. You may need to filter your water before watering this plant as it is very sensitive.

Other than that, you may also need to keep the soil of this plant hydrated. Otherwise, the roots can rot. Although this plant requires more effort in maintaining, it is a perfect indoor plant, especially for closed rooms, as it should stay away from high-lit areas.

8. Dumb Cane

The dumb cane, or dieffenbachia, is one of our indoor plants perfect for offices without any windows. This plant includes beautiful, large leaves that have different reactions to its environment’s lighting.

While it is an indoor plant, you should keep the dumb cane away from pets as its leaves are toxic when ingested. There are different kinds of dumb cane plants. Some require high-lit environments, and others the opposite, so make sure you know which one you are getting for your room/office before decorating.

9. Cast Iron Plant

Cast-iron plants, or aspidistra elatior, are indestructible houseplants. That’s why they are named after the famous durable cooking pan. What may kill other plants easily will not have the same effect on this plant. Cast-iron plants have glossy, large leaves that usually grow up to 4 inches wide and 2 feet long.

While this plant is quite sturdy and does last a long time, the growing process will take some time. Therefore, you may need to be patient with the growth results of this plant. Since the leaves are glossy, you will need to manually clean them to avoid getting an infection or letting fungus grow. Experts recommend that you keep these plants in areas with less exposure to light for longer life, making them perfect indoor plants for your office.

10. Aglaonema

The aglaonema is also called a Chinese evergreen plant that is associated with a home-decorating plant. These plants also have a slow growth process but are perfect for giving your office/room a more neat look.

The aglaonema is not an outdoor plant as it does not grow well under the sun. Instead, the aglaonema is an ideal indoor houseplant popular among plant parents as it ranges from dark green and silver to red. These color variations allow you to pick a plant that is more suitable for your style.

Many plants, like snake plants or spider plants, can survive in enclosed spaces. We grew up being taught that the essential thing that plants need to survive is sunlight, but recently, indoor plants have shown that this is not always the case. People these days use plants to decorate their homes, inside and out. Whether you’re a newbie in plant decorating or not, you must research your desired plants before leaving them to grow in your office/room. Not all plants are made to be out in the sun. Moreover, plants for office with no windows allow you to enhance your style and home decor without buying products that may or may not be harmful to the environment.

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