Jellies who work out of a cubicle: Any advice on how to keep from going stir crazy?

Try this.

I don’t work at an office, but my brother works evenings and late nights for a newspaper. I text him random shit throughout his shift trying to get him to burst out laughing (mostly to put him in a cheery mood, but partially to see whether he’ll get caught.)

You are describing my life for the last 5 years. It is not possible to avoid stir-craziness.

Some things that help:
– putting things in your cube you like to look at (pictures, plants, quotes)
– listening to music on headphones all day
– make the lighting a little better if you can (lamps, turn off florescent lighting)
– IM-ing with you co-workers (or outsiders, if you know for sure you won’t get caught)
– listening to movies/videos on youtube or your ipod
– go to the washroom and/or kitchen alot
– make friends with co-workers
– volunteer to do tasks that get you away from your desk
– go for a walk at lunch time

I had to have my headphones and my IPod or I would go nuts. Sometimes I would chair dance or just do chair exercises.

I sympathize. January 12–14, 2006

Seriously, I get up to drink coffee or water. Sometimes, if I really need to concentrate, I reserve a small conference room and go in there.

Are you bored? Do you have enough work to keep you busy?

I don’t like being in an office either. Is there a coworker you get along with who you can go to lunch with to break up the day and have some interaction with someone?

@JLeslie I’m not bored per se, it’s just not my normal work mode, and I feel really cooped up, which makes the day seem to drag on and on.

Thanks, everybody. I’ve been listening to music, but I think I’ll definitely do as @ftp901 suggested, and go outside for a walk during lunch.

Make a homemade still, then you can enjoy homemade martinis

@jeffgoldblumsprivatefacilities Is the cubicle gray? Maybe bring in something colorful to look at, kind of a Hawthorne effect, or a couple of personal photos. I agree going outside will help.

Are your cube walls low or high? Ours are 4 feet, and all day long the floor looks like Whack-a-Mole, with people randomly popping up to stretch, or just look around.

Get a cool screensaver, and lots of pictures, paintings and other wall adornments to spruce up your view. A really big coffee cup or water cup or both is essential. Get a goldfish or plastic flowers and or a mini dart board have been mind savers in my lifetime of confinement in my offices.

@JLeslie, @Cruiser Those are great ideas! I won’t be there for too long, but adding a bit of color/personality/flair even for a temporary amount of time should help. Thanks!

Something on your desk that other people will comment on will at least give you some personal interaction if you want it.

@jeffgoldblumsprivatefacilities I believe you have my stapler…
Seriously, some sort of distraction like a perpetual motion machinie, a magnetized base with bits of metal, a bobble head doll or tv show figure that says one liners when you push a button. I have a Stewie.

Oh, how terrible! Get pregnant and stay home with the kids?

sorry, I not helping much tonight. I feel your pain though. I really do.

@jonsblond If I were able to get pregnant, I could probably afford to quit working and live off the money provided by scientific institutions wanting to research me, or from my reality TV show.

A week or so, my God. I think you’re just going to have to be tough. I was ecstatic to bid cubicle life good-bye after 20 years. It’s hard for me to work up any tears over a few days.

One thing that always did help me was a poster of a landscape painting—something to give the illusion of distance in those confines. But nothing helped with the inane chitchat around me because I couldn’t work with music or talk playing in my ears either.

Just think like the short-timer that you are and you’ll get through it.

I like crystals on my desk. and a stress ball

I would surely put some personal items in my little space. Does the chair spin? I would spin it every once in awhile .. Get one of those chinese relaxing balls. Invest in gum

I’ve never worked in such a setting, but the first thing that came to mind when i read this question (and something that i would do myself should i be in a job like that) is to collect big pictures of beautiful sceneries (beach, forest, something you like) and stick them on the walls of the cubicles. Decorate the place with things that you like to have around you (photos, a few plants!).
Get a little radio or ipod thingy?
Bring reading books on whatever topic interests you (or puzzle books) when you want a break from the work/PC screen.