Going back to work in January can be a little uninspiring and, need we say it, dull. Bring a little lightness to your workplace with Kent de Pinto’s top tips

Does the thought of leaving the comforts of your duvet to face the bleak, cold sterility of cubicledom fill you with dread? If you’re happy in your job, but still finding things a drag it could be your actual work place that’s to blame. But there are plenty of things you can do to make your workplace –and thus your work day – just a little nicer.

Wall o' karma:
Materials: Several blank pieces of paper, marker, tape
Cost: Free to £ (depending on access to office supplies)
This works best if you're working in a fairly tight team. Find a blank wall whose drab existence will not be missed. Write each co-worker’s name on a piece of paper and tape them on the wall. Find a spare pen and tape it to the end of a string. If you've always appreciated Susie's impeccable taste, a quick anonymous note by her name might make her day that much better. You’ll find yourself looking forward to seeing what jokes, and other warm fuzzies you co-workers can dish out.

Candy is dandy
Materials: Whatever tickles your fancy
Cost: ££
And on the seventh day the lord made the 4pm chocolate break. If you can resist the constant temptation, an open box of sweeties on your desk will make you the prom queen of Accounting. Not only will you be able to tell when it’s your bosses “time of the month” but people will start to learn your name as they keep finding reasons to inexplicably stop by your desk.

Disengage
Materials: Nerves of steel
Cost: Free!
The world is full of beautiful, compassionate people, unfortunately none of them seem to work in your department. Ignore the temptation to spit back a cheeky remark to your patronizing superior and remind yourself that that sort of behaviour is below you. It will get easier to swallow your pride as you realize being the bigger person has its benefits, and it won’t go unnoticed. Other co-workers will appreciate your ability to handle difficult characters.

Heavy petting
Materials: Tank, food, aquatic critters
Cost: ££££
Nothing can feng shui a grey and grizzly workplace better than the harmonic sounds of a water filter gently invigorating a guppy habitat. Nothing breaks up an awkward work conversation better than “ Hey! Did anyone feed the fish yet?”

Toastess with the mostess
Materials: Jack, Johnnie, and Stella
Cost: ££-£££
If you like your co-workers enough to bring them home with you, scheduling a night out non-work related might be a good way to get to know people on a more personal level. You have an extra ticket for a pub crawl this weekend? Patsy from reception seems like she’s seen her share of bar top dancing. Maybe she’d like to go…

Tea caddy
Materials: Milk, sugar
Cost: Free – £ (depending on how cheap your office is)
Redundant? Perhaps, but you'd be surprised how a little caffeine lovin' goes a long way. Women's intuition is crucial here, if you know someone well enough to know how they take their brew, then you'll be able to tell if they're having a bad day.

Cheers!
Materials: Moderately deflated ego
Cost: Free!
Quite possibly the two most undervalued words in the English language. How many people go out of their way to say thank you in the course of the day? You couldn't hide from your boss in those toilets unless the custodial staff was kind enough to clean them. And don’t be stingy with your tone! It goes a long way. Say it often, say it sincerely.

Natural light
Cost: Free!
Materials: Windows
This may very well be beyond your control. Perhaps you work nights, or the possibility of sunlight entering your floor is architecturally impossible. However, if the only thing that keeping the blinds closed and the fluorescent lights on is the carpet of dust on the seventies era blinds, take some initiative. Your disposition will thank you. (See above.)

Public Puzzler:
Materials: Internet, printer
Cost: Free!
Su-Do-Ku addict? Online chess junkie? Stuck on a crossword clue? Go to www.puzzle-maker.com and create a work related crossword puzzle. Try to include office inside jokes, client names and other work related vocabulary (e.g. exclamation, uttered when email goes down, again. Four letters). Post it up near the break room and watch the hilarity ensue as it slowly fills in. Puzzle alternative: Weekly hangman post, starring you as the moderator. Artsy alternative for those in the media industry: Take a blank piece of paper and start with a drawing of a head. Label the paper “ The Definitive _” ( ex: the definitive bank employee, the definitive tube passenger) and watch the hilarity ensue.

Got any other great ways to send the bad vibes packing in your workplace? Send ideas to info@marmaladya.com.