There’s a delicate balance that needs to be maintained in your office or work space between personality and functionality. On one hand, your workspace should be comfortable and inspiring, however it shouldn’t distract you from your work. Here are four ways you can brighten up your cubicle to boost your mood and productivity.

Color. There’s a lot of psychological research about the effect color has on our mood. Grey, blank walls can be uninspiring and even reduce motivation to get your work done. For cubicles, add splashes of color with swatches of wallpaper. For a home office, you have more freedom to paint and accessorize. Choose your colors with care. Blues and greens are calming, while yellows and oranges are energetic and promote activity. Dark colors make spaces feel smaller while lighter shades help open up a space.

Comfort. Personality in the workplace isn’t just aesthetic, but comfort as well. If you aren’t comfortable, you won’t be productive. Change out your work chair and, if appropriate, add a small pillow or lap blanket. Maybe add a comfortable reading chair or sofa for breaks and casual meetings.

Nature. Can’t get out in nature on your lunch? Bring nature to your office. Spider plants and aloe are hard to kill and do well even with little available sunlight. Plants not only make your office space feel more lively, but they also help circulate air and can improve your mood throughout the day.

Layout. Cubicles are hard to change around, but if your office has an open floor plan or if you have your own space, change up your layout to focus on organization and preference. Place what’s most important to you near the entrance of your space. Need a caffeine jolt first thing? Keep the coffee maker up front. Like to set your things down and take a moment to relax? Move your chair near the door. Also take into account which way you face in an office. Don’t like people sneaking up on you? Turn your desk so you’re facing the entrance instead of away from it.

It’s not news that millennials have become the most influential generation when it comes to evolving the workplace. In fact, it is estimated that they will make up 75 percent of the workforce in less than a decade. Millennials bring a whole new set of attitudes and expectations for employers and this is affecting massive change in the workplace.

Millennials are the first generation to grow up with technology playing an integral role in their lives, with most having no memory of life before the Internet. As a result, 93 percent of millennials expect up-to-date technology in the workplace and believe it is one of the most important aspects of an office.

What millennials expect from their employers is also much different than previous generations. They want flexible work environments with employers that care about their professional and personal needs. Employers are beginning to cater to these needs with voluntary benefits and benefits package education.

Voluntary benefits such as pet insurance, extended leave and financial counseling are becoming more common. The way benefits are presented to employees is also changing to get millennials more involved. Digital communication and offering engagement is key to millennial involvement. This means that benefits are often communicated via email or text message rather than a paper on a bulletin board. Additionally, employers are engaging millennials with surveys or offering them positions on committees so they work with HR and communicate what is most important to them.

Employers are also starting to be more flexible when it comes to where and when millennials work. Giving employees the option to customize their work schedule boosts productivity and satisfaction in a position. An employee can choose to take a nap after lunch to replenish their energy or take a break to spend time with their children after school. In fact, it is predicted that the 9-5 schedule will disappear by 2030.

Next Step Academy already operates on a flex schedule, with many of our employees working remotely rather than from an office. The flexibility of when and where we work allows our employees to work around college classes and busy family schedules.  

As the younger end of the millennial generation hits the workforce, more changes and adaptations to benefits policies and workplace culture can be expected. The ability to appeal to this generation is going to be crucial to control costs and increase the utilization and engagement of millennial employees.