Monday has come again and our long work week begins. As we head into our offices, we know that it will be a long week in a place we’d rather not be. In fact, most of us would rather be anywhere but our offices so how can we make that experience better? I thought about things that I do in my own office that really do brighten my days so I’d like to encourage each of you to bring a little more joy into your own work environment by using any of these ideas. You surely have your own routines and ideas that work for you at your job so please share them with the readers and me in the comments!

I’ll Have A Pint Of The Chunky Monkey

If your office has an employee refrigerator, pick yourself up a pint of your favorite ice cream next time you’re in the supermarket. Whenever I’m a little bored or just need a quick break, I’ll walk down to the kitchen and have just a few spoonfuls. In fact, I eat such a small amount each time that a pint will last me at least a month.

When other employees see me eating ice cream, they almost always ask me where I got it. I guess not many people have thought of ice cream at work but it really is a great time! Just be sure to label it so your coworkers don’t sneak some when you’re not looking!

You Don’t Need To Be Martha Stewart But Decorate A Bit

I’m always amazed at how many of my coworkers leave their offices or cubicle walls completely untouched. Ask if you can hang your own pictures as long as their appropriate. I also have a bamboo plant and some type of fern in my office. It’s not that I enjoy looking at them every day but what I do enjoy is taking care of them. When I need a quick break, I’ll head down to the kitchen (enjoy a bite of ice cream) and get some water for my plants. It breaks up the day a little and gets me out and walking around.

Don’t Eat Lunch At Your Desk If You Can Help It

I’m not encouraging you to go out to eat for lunch since we know how expensive that can be but just because you pack your lunch doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it elsewhere. I happen to work only a mile from my home so I like to venture back and watch a television show in the middle of the day. A 30 minute sitcom on the DVR easily fits into my lunch break. If you live far from home, consider heading out to a local park if the weather permits or anywhere else you might enjoy.

Listen To The Radio During The Day

We all listen to the radio in our cars to break up the monotony of driving so why not listen at work? I know that not all offices permit it but if yours does, do not pass up the opportunity! I mix up my radio quite a bit–ESPN Radio in the morning, Rush Limbaugh in the midday and some music in the afternoon. If you work in a cubicle, find out if you are allowed to use headphones with an iPod. A little later afternoon game of “Name That Tune” while doing your work will definitely make your time go by faster.

Plan A Charity Event And Get Others Involved

A coworker of mine organizes a monthly charity event to raise money for a variety of good causes. Here’s the catch though–she isn’t simply asking for our money. Instead, fun events are planned that get everyone involved. Last month our office had a pretty heated “Rock-em Sock-em Robots” tournament. Each day we would meet in the cafeteria and play our match. The entry fee was $10 and the total pot was split in half with the winner of the tournament getting a share and the charity getting the other. It really was a lot of fun and got a lot of people talking trash in the hallways!

Read A Book During Your Lunch And Other Breaks

If you like to read, which I assume you do since you are here, bring your book to work and enjoy it during your breaks. Too many people use their break to grab a snack or sit outside with a cigarette. The problem with both of these is that people tend to still think about their job while they’re supposed to be relaxing for a bit. Books will take your mind off of where you are and make your day a little more pleasant.

What Else Can We Do?

Those are a few ways that I enjoy my office a bit more than usual but it is not an exhaustive list by any means. Please share in the comments section the ways that you’ve made your life at work a little brighter. We have five more days this week to be behind our desks so let’s make some changes starting today!