9 Ways to Get Inspired from Your Desk

9 Ways to Get Inspired from Your Desk 9 Ways to Get Inspired from Your Desk Staying constantly motivated at work can be tough when you’re sitting in your office for eight (plus) hours a day. With all that intense and stationary work, it’s no wonder most of us leave the office feeling exhausted and depleted.But it turns out that a few small actions and habits can make all the difference in keeping your energy, creativity, and enthusiasm up. Here are nine ways to get inspired without even getting up from your desk (although, that helps a lot too!).1.  Tidy Up, Tool UpInspired work simply can’t be done in the midst of a mess, so give yourself the clean slate you need (and deserve!) by making sure that your workspace stays organized and uncluttered. Also make sure to invest in the tools you need- those favorite pens, that great planner. Give yourself permission to get anything that helps keep you excited and motivated to work.2. Enhance the ViewSurround your immediate workspace with simple, visual pleasures, like a small print or beautiful calendar. And sk ip the family vacation photos- instead display a picture or item that reminds you of ordinary, everyday happiness. This will help inspire you to make today a great day, rather than leaving you wistful for Spring Break.3.  Start with Something BeautifulBefore you open your email, kick-start your creativity by visiting a favorite website, blog, or Pinterest board (the more visual the better) that makes you feel happy and good. Of course, this is an easy way to get sucked in to the Internet rabbit hole- so limit yourself to no more than five minutes.4.  Stretch Your BrainIt’s important to engage with resources, news outlets, and people that challenge you to think differently. You don’t always need to agree with them- if fact, sometimes it’s more helpful if you don’t. Find a blog or website that lets your brain be a tourist in someone else’s point of view, and see if it shifts your thinking.5. Connect with Your StarsPick a few role models that you’d like learn from. Each day , commit to connecting with them by reading a little from their book, listening to them being interviewed, or checking in with their Twitter feed.6.  Make Time for Humor TherapyWhen you work for or by yourself, you can often go throughout an entire day without laughing. But this is a hazard to your creativity (not to mention your health)! Take a 10-minute humor break during the day by catching up on the latest clip of The Daily Show or reading something from The New Yorker Humor Archives.7. Pick a Theme SongMusic is a powerful influencer of your mood. Find a song that captures your current intentions or aspirations, and crank it up when you feel a motivation slump coming on.8. Keep Your Goals VisibleMany of us invest time to set goals for ourselves- only to leave them buried in our desk drawers or hard drives. Give your goals a fighting chance by posting them somewhere in your office where you can easily see them.9. Keep Your Best Feedback on HandThere’s nothing like great, unprom pted feedback to really make your day. The trouble is, there’s no guarantee that you’ll get it when you really feel like you need it! So, make your own day by recording the great feedback you receive in an easily accessible place (like a word doc or small journal), and reviewing it whenever you need a boost.What are your favorite ways to get inspired at your desk?Photo courtesy of  Stephanie Wesolowski.