Whistle while you work: How to make your workplace a happy place

You spend a good portion of your week at your office, so why not make it an enjoyable place to be? Read these tips on making your workplace a happy place:

From the interior designer ...

Being clean and organized goes a long way toward improving your physical work environment, says Cindy Buchheit of Unique Ambiance.

"It helps you stay focused on the task at hand," she says.

Look for attractive shelves, baskets and other to corral the items in your office or at your desk, and don't let things pile up where they don't belong.

Buchheit also recommends bringing in domestic touches that will make your office feel more like home -- think paint tones in your favorite colors, wood tones that appeal to your style, and a plant to add oxygen to your space and bring the outside in.

If you work in a cubicle or aren't allowed to overhaul your office, you can still freshen up the decor. Use pins or Velcro to fasten pretty fabric to your cubicle walls, or cover a corkboard in fabric and lean it against the cubicle wall for a splash of personality. You may even be able to customize shelving units, either by picking out new styles or spray painting the ones you have.

"If you make the space fun and organized and bring in a touch of home, it won't seem like such a drab place to be -- you'll actually want to go to the office," says Buchheit.

Another tip: Let in as much sunlight as you can.

"Make sure the blinds aren't always shut in your office," says Buchheit. When it's time for lunch, try to leave the office and get some sunshine -- the light helps tell your body what time of day it is, she explains.

If you can't get away for lunch, try to create a comfortable space where you can take a break and not be tempted to work while you eat.

"Create a small area in your office, whether it's a section of the desk or a small table, where you can actually stop what you're doing and get away from your work," says Buchheit.

From the counselor ...

Some of Elizabeth Statler's favorite things in a happy office are random acts of kindness.

"We focus so much on the negatives, or what's wrong, that we forget to stop and look at the positive things," says Statler, a licensed clinical social worker and owner of One Accord Counseling in Cape Girardeau. "Something as simple as picking up a sweet tea for somebody and putting it on their desk at work can absolutely change the environment at work."

If you're at the printer and see an item that belongs to someone else, bring it to their desk for them. If a coworker helps you on a project, leave a friendly Post-It note on their computer monitor.

"Random acts of kindness can change the attitude at an office," says Statler.

She also advises reframing your mindset to look on the bright side and remember what you're thankful for.

"At the end of a bad day, instead of saying, 'Wow, that was awful,' you need to look at it like, 'Wow, I accomplished so much -- I didn't know I could do that. I had a lot of pressure on me, and I was able to accomplish all those things,'" says Statler.

Also remember to watch what you say, and practice the Golden Rule in what comes out of your mouth.

"At some point you have to be the person who says, 'Today I'm not going to say anything negative,' and that can change the environment from an office of negativity to one of positivity," says Statler.

As for your actual work space, Statler recommends filling your desk or office with things that bring back positive memories, such as drawings from your kids, family photos or souvenirs from your favorite vacation spot.

She also likes to keep a stress ball or some other hands-on item nearby.

"When you're having a really stressful day, it's helpful to do stuff with your hands," she says. "Play-Doh, a stress ball or even colored pencils to doodle with can help us refocus. When we get emotionally driven, it re-centers the brain."