Many people work in cubicles, but few take time to customize them.

"It's natural to want to adapt to your surroundings, but sometimes you need to take a stand and adapt your environment to you," said Sherry Browne, ergonomics specialist, 3M Canada. "Many people spend as much time at work as they do at home. Making both places feel more personal and functional are logical wants and needs."

Before transforming your workspace into something fabulous, consider the following:

- Simplify: Get rid of clutter; it overwhelms you and decreases your productivity. Instead of piling, be systematic and begin filing your work. A clear desk space is more inviting and less stressful.

- Observe others: Take a look around and align your personalization plans with what is appropriate for your company. While some offices are quite conservative, others are more casual.

- Be functional: Ensure everything is accessible and convenient. Items like a colourful Post-it dispenser keep the memo must-haves at your fingertips while decorating your desk. Also, put items you frequently use in various places such as placing pens in a drawer and in a penholder on your desk.

- Be expressive: Your decor should reflect who you are and what is important to you. Do you have a green thumb? Bring in plants. Do you have kids? Hang up art they drew. Do you love animals? Put a fishbowl on your desk. Add decorative pieces like souvenirs, awards and photos.

- All surfaces are opportunities: Make your cubicle more elegant with a throw rug. Add colour with a framed print, pin up wallpaper or drape a piece of fabric over a wall. Your desktop also has room for accessories like a Scotch Shoe Tape Dispenser.

- Printing: Avoid having a hard copy of everything by saving documents directly on your hard drive. This is more environmentally friendly and ensures you have fewer papers to deal with.

- Lighting: The better you see, the more productive you will be. You may not have a window for natural light, but a bright desk lamp prevents headaches from straining your eyes and helps you focus on your work.

- Ergonomics: Having an ergonomically correct office space improves posture and productivity. Beyond your chair and foot stool, try an ergonomic mouse. Also, an adjustable keyboard tray and monitor arm from 3M help align your posture and arrange the items you use most in comfortable positions.

Slight changes like these add individual touches to workspaces while making your surroundings more functional and comfortable.

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For more information:

Jacqui Newell
Public Relations Coordinator
3M Canada
519-451-2500 ext. 2564
jnewell@mmm.com

Miranda Kasubeck
Public Relations Coordinator
Consumer and Office Business
3M Canada
519-451-2500 ext. 2734
mkasubeck@mmm.com