10 little steps to office inspiration

Here are a few simple, easy and quick steps you can take in your working day to help boost your inspiration levels.

Adopting these simple habits could help to keep you motivated and thinking clearly and creatively.

1. Tidy desk, tidy mind

A cluttered, messy desk can make you feel stressed and disorganised – which in turn can cause lapses in motivation and inspiration. Dedicate a morning every few weeks to tidying your workspace. Get rid of any unwanted paper and documents that you’ve been hoarding and organise necessary papers into files or an in-tray. Be ruthless and clear away all unnecessary items.

2. Words of wisdom

If there’s a quote or a saying that you find particularly inspiring, place it somewhere prominent in your eye-line. These few words might just spur you on through a difficult day in the office.

3. Change your view

If possible, try to change your view once in a while. Some offices make a regular re-shuffle a matter of course, to help aid more interaction between teams. Having a change of view could give you a fresh outlook.

4. Keep positive feedback to hand

Make sure you keep a record of positive feedback you’ve received. This could take several forms; perhaps it’s a letter from a satisfied client on an email of appreciation from a work colleague. Have this good feedback to hand, so you can have a quick read of it if you’re ever in need of a kick-start.

5. Take proper breaks

If you’re busy at work, it can be tempting to work through lunch. Although sometimes unavoidable, it can actually prove unproductive not to take a proper break. It can be easy to lose concentration or motivation if you don’t allow yourself time away from your desk to recharge. Where possible, get away from your computer screen and take a walk in the fresh air at lunchtime – you’ll hopefully come back to the office refreshed and perhaps with a new perspective on a troublesome task.

6. Keep hydrated

Dehydration can affect your concentration, so it’s wise to keep hydrated throughout your working day. If you struggle to remember to drink water, set yourself a regular reminder or start the day with a large bottle by your desk and aim to finish it by the end of the day.

7. Know when to switch tasks

Prioritising is essential for any role, but it’s also important to recognise when it’s productive to switch tasks. If you’re struggling for inspiration and getting nowhere with a particular project, know when to change your direction and shift your focus for a while. Time away from a problem or a creative block can often be the only way to overcome an obstacle.

8. Avoid naysayers

There may be certain individuals in your midst who promote negative energy and sap inspiration. Identify if there are any permanent pessimists in your office and try to avoid engaging in and contributing to their negativity.

9. Set clear goals

Whether it’s daily, weekly or overall career goals, a clear sense of direction is vital for keeping inspiration and motivation levels buyout. Challenge yourself but be realistic and set achievable milestones/timeframes for your work.

10. Seek out useful resources

Look for interesting websites, books, blogs and Twitter feeds that may be relevant and useful for your area of work. If inspiration isn’t immediate, you may need to seek it out and find helpful resources you can access when you need an ‘inspiration pick-me-up’. Reading personal accounts from people you admire and respect can give an injection of enthusiasm for your own career ambitions.

For more career advice visit our career centre.