It’s The Little Things: Work & The Workspace
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels
When fostering a life of beauty, it’s all about the “little things”. Too often, we fail to recognize both how much agency we have and how much “the little things” matter. They add up. In fact, I think that they even compound.
Rather than focusing too much on the “big” things we perhaps cannot change, we would do well to give attention to the little things that we do have agency over. The little things are atomic in both senses of the word: they are small, yes, and they are powerful.
As much as the “big” things may take up our attention, even cause worries or frustration, it’s important to remember that it’s the little things that make a life. Simple habits, surroundings, and companions along the journey that form the textures, tastes, and soundscapes of our ordinary days.
Last time, we considered the power of the little things in all things food and table. Today, we focus on work and the workplace — primarily your own spaces over which you have direct agency. Whether you work in an office or at home, you’re sure to find some ideas here that can be tweaked and applied to fit your circumstances.
01 | BYOMug.
There’s something significant about having your own special mug for warm beverages — rather than picking up one of someone’s spring cleaning rejects from the break room cabinet. You might even consider treating yourself to a new mug just for such an occasion!
Let it be something that makes you smile, brings you delight, and perhaps even inspires you — even if in a small way — to live more beautifully, more grandly, more bravely. This might sound over the top, but the whole idea about “the little things” is that there truly are little, seemingly mundane, everyday things that can — and do — make a difference over the long haul.
Along with your mug, you might want to bring your own coffee or tea supplies, if making your own would bring you additional joy (as a tea drinker, I keep my own stash of a few favorites on hand at my cube).
Beyond warm beverages, you can also double up, keeping a favorite mug and water glass (or mason jar) on hand. Rather than drinking out of a water bottle all day, treat yourself to the class of a glass for your workday hydration.
02 | Add personal touches.
For those of us who have a space in a cubicle — or even a bland office, no matter how large — we know how far a few photographs and items of décor can go. Regardless of your workspace, think about how you might add some items that reflect your personality, your values, even “your people”.
Don’t feel an undue need to spend a lot of money to “redecorate”. Begin with what you already have. Are there extra frames lying around that you could fill with photos of a recent family trip, wildlife photography, or a card from a beloved friend? Maybe you have an art piece or two that you haven’t found a place for. What extraneous home décor could you repurpose in your office?
These personal touches will make your space feel like your space. This little step will bring a level of comfort and familiarity, and will help you settle in to do your work each day.
03 | Squirrel away a snack stash.
Sometimes we all just need a little something to snack on to get us over a hurdle in the day. Whether from a drop in blood sugar, a rush of hunger, or just the felt need for a bit of novelty, having a ready supply for healthy snack options is a good way to both attend to your needs and to avoid the less desirable alternatives (I’m talking to you, frappé).
My own stash tends to feature such staples as walnuts, dried fruits, dark chocolate, and occasionally something salty (e.g., pretzels or homemade crackers). I like having such a variety because there’s something satiating (nuts), something sweet that isn’t candy (dried fruit and chocolate) and something salty (without being junky).
If you know that daily snacks are a must for you, pack them fresh each day as you would a lunch. This is the case for me — I bring homemade muffins, snack bars, or hummuses to bridge the larger gaps between meals.
04 | Introduce life.
Indoor plants. Life. Color. Sigh. We fail to make a big enough deal about the power of bringing nature indoors. Not only are these beauties a refreshment to the eye (and the soul, I truly believe), but they also purify the air!
For those of us who spend the bulk of our days indoors — and some of us without a window in sight — a desk plant or two can make a huge difference. While all plants need light to survive, there are some that work well in office environments without windows.
Another option, if you can afford it, is purchasing a bouquet of fresh flowers from time to time. This can transform your work environment, too. Do be considerate about those working near you in case your choice is particularly fragrant (e.g., lilies and lilacs). And while I’m not sure how many workplaces allow pets, you might be able to get away with having a fish tank if you have the ambition (and the space).
05 | Enjoy work-friendly tunes.
I learned early on that I could only work to songs with lyrics when doing math homework. Since trigonometry days are largely over, I stick to instrumental music of all sorts, and recommend the same for all “knowledge workers”.
If you need to be thinking about complex concepts, reading, writing, strategizing, assessing, and the like, instrumental music should be a great fit for setting a musical background without distraction. In fact, I find the right album or playlist boosts my productivity and focus.
Work-friendly playlists include: classical, whether more stimulating (e.g., Vivaldi Strings), calm (Beethoven Relax), or even moody (Sad Classical or Dark Academia Classical); jazz (I particularly enjoy Jazz for Reading); ambient (give Hammock a try); cinematic scores; and acoustic, among others (e.g., Celtic).
Give some music a try. It can boost your mood as well as your productivity! Mix it up if you need to; find what works for you (and popping in the earbuds can be a helpful way to block out ambient noises such as phone calls, conversations, and the like).
06 | Take breaks & move (or rest).
One of the most powerful little habits to build into our workdays is the twofold movement and taking breaks. Many of us sit for most of the day, and even if we have a standing desk setup, we’re often on the computer for long stretches of time.
If your job has you screen-bound and moving very little — and especially if you’re inside with little natural light — get outside and take a walk. Leave that pocket-sized computer behind. Take in what sounds are around you naturally. If you typically work alone, gather with a coworker for a fifteen-minute fika, or coffee break (tea, of course, is highly encouraged as well). Snacks are also encouraged.
Alternatively, if your job has you highly active and on your feet constantly, then take the opposite approach: sit down, hydrate, calm down your whizzing mind and racing heart. The key here is to take a break from the typical pace and demands of your work, inserting a healthy counterbalance. A little goes a long way.
07 | Display inspirational visuals.
Lastly, as Kid President has said, at one time or another we all just need “a little pep talk”. Words and pictures are powerful. Frame a favorite inspirational quote in a conspicuous spot. Alternatively (or additionally), do you have hopes to travel somewhere, or some other tangible goal? Use a photo representing that goal as a source of motivation.
A quote I have at my desk is the motto of my favorite tearoom: “Duty bids us do things well, but Love compels us do them beautifully.” Let such words and images craft your character and shape your imagination as you go about the good work set before you.
