“A Goal Without a Plan is Just a Wish” -Larry Elder

Larry Elder said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” That’s all it is, a wish. And how frustrating a wish or a dream is while sitting at work wishing we you were somewhere else doing something else. Take life by the balls and put a plan into motion. Decide your goals, and dreams and make a plan. Without one, those cubicle walls may surround you for longer than you think.

How To Be Happier in the Cubicle TIP #4

I was thinking about the studies that show people are 53% more likely to feel better and have a more productive day when they dress nice. Studies do show that we are more likely to succeed when we feel better about ourselves. And, for many of us, dressing nice helps us feel better. So I was thinking, instead of telling ourselves we are getting up and getting dressed for another day in a miserable cubicle, we should get dressed for the most important reason…ourselves! This means we would be more likely to endure the cubicle and continue to pursue our dreams outside of the cubicle. I have a friend who took a job in university enrollment sales, but is working on his dream-job part-time in the evenings and on week-ends. He is almost done writing his 2nd novel and it is possible he will be able to be a full-time writer within one or two years.

The bottom line is we need ways to keep us going day after day. Often, the  job we are getting dressed for isn’t the job we would like to be getting dressed for. But the better we feel about ourselves, the more likely we are to succeed at making a transition to a career we would love.  

How To Be Happier in the Cubicle – Tip #3

OK. We all know that one of the biggest proplems with spending a day in the cubicle is time.  I believe we, as humans, should not be watching time go by. Time is our most valuable comodity and I think anyone who watches it go by, while wishing it would go faster, is going to feel dissatisfied with life. It’s just not natural! But, I have found that  if you utilize each hour of the day, and make those hours productive, it will help.

1. You are there, right? So try and be the best you can be at your job since your time is spent there anyway. You are going to spend the same amount of precious hours sitting there, whether you try hard to succeed at your posistion, or whether you try hard at doing as little as possible. And it just may pay off with praise, or even a raise.

2. I like the idea of using any down-time to make plans or lists that help you life outside of the work-place seem easier. The hours you spend at home go much quicker than work hours. They are very valuable and if you are organized and have your time planned, it makes your home-time even more enjoyable. Here are some ideas that you can accomplish while spending time at work.

* Make a grocery list.

*Make a Christmas list.

*Jot down your new diet plan.

*Make a weekly dinner menu. (Maybe even look up some new recipes online if your position allows it without hurting your position at work)

*Jot down your goals. This also helps to know that your cubicle job, which you make not like very much, is just a temporary step to get you where you want to be.

We all have ways that we can utilize time in the day. I know it is tempting to sit and watch the clock like it’s your enemy. But, the fact is that you have to be there, so why not utilize the cubicle hours. Organizing and planning your time at home will make your life in and out of the cubilce even more enjoyable.

The Fight for Cubicle Freedom

The road to success is long and I’m not sure that this trip ever ends.  Along my journey I have experienced ups and downs and some days definitely more difficult than others. But, the most difficult days for me were the ones spent working in an office cubicle. I have fought and clawed my way out of the cubicle and I have reached my own personal success. I have worked with many students, office workers, corporate leaders, and entrepreneurs. I believe in our ability to overcome our own circumstances and find our dreams. I would like to share as much knowledge as I possibly can to help you on your plight to success and cubicle freedom. It isn’t easy, but with action, and a little humor, it will happen. If you plan and focus you will succeed. Because, even the master of the ship,  the ruler of the land and the king of the jungle gets kicked into the cubicle… sometimes.

Handling the Cubicle Next Door..

It’s always a good idea to try and be “neighborly” in the cubicle. But sometimes there are annoyances. And sometimes, you may be the guilty one.. such as this instance:

“Don’t you hate when someone yells at you over the cubicle wall to stop clicking your pen; so you stop, but then realize that you have to click it once more so that you can use it?”

How to be Happier in the Cubicle – TIP #2

One way to make even a day in the cubicle seem better is to focus on your health and happiness. If you feel your best the day definitely goes by a little easier. This means take control of your life. I believe starting small is the key. Here are some examples of ways to begin the new you.

1. Schedule some time to exercise. This can be as simple as taking a walk on your lunch hour 2 times per week, or finally stop and check out that gym membership you have been considering. There is something motivational about being around other people who are working out and feeling good about themselves as well.

2. Add 1 fruit or vegetable to each meal. Make a time to go shopping for some fresh food. Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that may help protect you from chronic diseases. Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic
diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.

3. Drink more water. Adequate water intake prevents dehydration, cleans out the body, and promotes healing processes. Substituting water for alcohol can also help control weight. Follow the steps below to make sure you’re getting enough of this most basic necessity. Each day I like to fill a large container with water, limes and lemons. I make a goal to drink all the water by the time the work day is over.

Feeling healthy can happen faster than you think. These are simple steps you can take to make sure you are in control of your own health. The cubicle is not always easy and the time has a tendency to drag. If you take some time to focus on yourself and your goals outside of the cubicle, then you will be a better you.

How To Be Happier In The Cubicle Tip #1 — Make a Long-Term Goal for Success

There is time, and then there is “cubicle time”. These hours on the clock do not move like regular hours. The hands on the clock creep and crawl forward on hands and knees. And just when you think they couldn’t possibly drag any slower, you’ll see the big hand hurl backwards as it laughs in your face. I know. I have seen it happen. But, there are ways to make your work day go by quicker and easier. I want to talk about ways to stop cubicle clock-watching.

First,  the day will go by quicker if you make a long-term goal for yourself. Stop and think about the reasons you show up to your job each day. Of course, the first reason is money.  But many of you are just going through the motions because that job is there and it’s easy. But how easy is it to watch hour after hour of your life tick by? Life is short and we all have dreams. So,  if you take time to make a plan to get yourself into a job that makes you happy, it will happen. And in the meantime, you will be happier at the position you are in because you have a purpose. Instead of your cubicle being the cell that surrounds your circumstance, it can be part of your plan. And THAT will make it a better day.

Your plan should begin with asking yourself, “who am I and what are my strengths?”.  I’m sure that you used to have an answer to the question “what do you want to be when you grow up?”. Well now is the time to put that answer in motion.  Decide what you want to do and make it happen. How long will it take? Do you need to go back to school? How much money do you need to save? There may be a possibility that the job you are in can help with those issues. Maybe you need a certain amount of money to begin a new internet-based business. Maybe you need to just pay rent while you go back to school.  You can plan a certain amount of time each night to making that happen as you save the money you need. The options are endless but only if you put your plan into action. And once you do, you will see that the “cubicle hours” seem to move a little quicker, because they are working for you and your dreams.

I will end with one of the many Henry Ford quotes that I love.

“Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of
success. ” — Henry Ford