Not all needlewomen and generally creative people immediately earn enough money to leave the office. And someone doesn't want to, considering the combination to be a reasonable option. But let's be honest — in this case, we lead a double life :) It is particularly hard given the routine and rules, we are cramped in typical offices and spaces, our thoughts are somewhere far away, and we do not have enough opportunities to see the sky. But at the same time, eight, nine, ten hours a day is too much time to afford to separate the office and the "real life". Life should always feel real here and now, right?
Watching myself and looking for moments that help me feel this authenticity, I made a small list.
1. Brew a good tea (not tea bags!)
Everyday life is full of fast food, even in a figurative sense. But brewing tea in a French press, I won't ask for more than that — not much longer than to pour boiling water over a tea bag. Why do many of us drink good tea only at home or in a cafe? Why the office shoul be worse? I also feel like we're domesticating the place a little bit if we drink real tea.
2. Find a special handmade mug
We continue to talk about tea parties – small office rescues :) You could be offered coffee in an ordinary cup during the interview, many of the same cute mugs happen to live in the office kitchen, but with long-term work plans, I strongly advise you to choose your own, unique, pleasant to the touch author's mug with some romantic name. Such things do not allow you to forget about yourself — you have chosen it for your personality. Do you know what my mug is called? "Mist dragon egg." I think about it, and every day begins with the feeling of a fairy tale.
3. Watch your posture
That's when we really lose ourselves! When we even forget what we look like. In a sense, we even lose our dignity by sitting hunched over. And, of course, health — yes, we all know this since childhood. Please take care of yourself, set the monitor to the desired height, try to find a comfortable chair, set a timer that will remind you to straighten your back, arrange with colleagues to photograph each other – this, I think, is especially effective.
4. Wear comfortable clothes
Yes, the degree of dress code will vary in severity. Positions are also different, someone has a lot of representative functions. But in any situation — use every opportunity to make your day more comfortable. It is not necessary to aggravate this line between work and real life, pulling off uncomfortable clothes at home as a mask, as a second skin. I agree, there are days when especially tight pants inspire us to great things, but the rest of the time — a little softer, a little freer and even more pleasant to the body. And something to easily hold your back :)
5. Make little getaways with your favorite scent
It is the smells that evoke the most vivid images, transfer to the past or create a feeling of almost a dream come true. A simple and unobtrusive option for your colleagues will be solid perfumes. Among these perfumes there are many natural, atmospheric and romantic scents – it can be "Autumn forest " or "Forest lake". My solid perfume is called "Wind for blind birds", it smells of a burning prairie. Sometimes I open it and for a few seconds I'm transported to a completely different world.
6. Wear talismans, jewelry and any items to communicate with what we love in the outside world
I think we all do it since childhood, but just in case, if forgotten in the bustle — let me remind you. Carry with you, on yourself or put on your desktop (if the situation allows) reminders of your hobbies and interests. I like to wear jewelry with dry herbs, I like to see any thematic pendants or brooches on colleagues. It is all the tips for yourself and for others that we all remain characters with huge worlds in our heads, even if we are called at work with some strange titles.
7. Keep flowers in the workplace
And again, not everything is allowed in the situation, but if possible – let's not be limited to the typical office cacti and green leaves (I do not know what they are called). You can grow on your desk or on the windowsill something very special, fabulous, important to you — I'm gonna have heather here in the near future. Someone likes small shrub roses. I also love bouquets in the workplace, and in between of presented flowers I do not hesitate to buy them myself, unless, of course, you do not mind cut flowers.
8. Take walks in the surroundings
Sometimes we are lazy to do it. Sometimes it seems that we do not have time on for a walk. But with a few exceptions, I decided to take myself out regularly — it works like a spleen. To finally see the sky (remember, we talked that without it it is especially hard?), warm up, make a random interesting picture, walk to the cafe for a cup of coffee (if possible, do not be greedy, even if the office has a good coffee machine — I insist that the effect is completely different :) ), find the nearest streets of the place that you will remember at different times of the year and that you can love. Do not be afraid of a complete switch — almost always it will only benefit.
9. Not to skip anything
"While we are in the office, life passes by" - a familiar feeling? Yes, sometimes I am also sad that you can not even see the day light — especially if you do not follow the previous paragraph. But when the first snow fell last year, almost all of our employees went out into the yard to have a look and take pictures — we were like children and did not miss anything! Be involved in what is happening around, do not dismiss it.
What is close to you from these points that also helps? Or maybe you have your own proven secrets — let's tell each other how not to forget yourself in everyday life.