I don’t know how many of us clearly remember our first day at work. Some might remember it vividly as though it happened yesterday, while others could barely remember what happened to them an hour ago, let alone a day that seems like ages ago. Still, it might be safe to assume that such a First Day is generally exciting, because everything is new – the people, the environment, the work itself. Don’t we all miss the time when we used to look forward to going to work, when we would get there early and would not mind staying a few extra minutes (or even an hour) just to finish work and get ahead? But somewhere along the line, everything slows down. Work gets dull, we get dull, and every day we have to drag ourselves in and look at the ticking clock, itching to run out the minute we can. The lights are too bright, the chair too hard, your neck too stiff, and your cubicle seems to be closing in on you, making it hard to breathe. Is it just you, or is it the place you spend eight hours or more a day getting to you?

Most employers understand the importance of having a good working environment, and they do their best to provide what they can – widescreen monitors, nice office chairs, free flowing coffee, TV in the pantry. Sometimes though, we feel there’s something off. It’s important to remember that companies have budgets to work with. So here are some of the simpler things we can consider, when we think about what contributes to a good ambience at work.

1) What am I precisely doing?

What is it that you do? Because it’s important that the environment matches the type of work. If your work is more administrative in nature, or more routinely, you’d need a relaxing but not so distracting environment. If your work requires a lot of creative thinking, you’d need fun spaces to help you think and get your creative juices going. Most people know that Google has one of the fanciest offices ever, with cool slides, a pool, a bar and whatnot, but not everyone needs that kind of environment. For most companies, having that (if budget would even allow) might cause more distractions rather than boost productivity. So think about it, what would really sustain you and help you focus on your work? Is it a Wii room, or perhaps just a really good cup of coffee?

2) Lights, Camera, Action

If there aren’t enough lights in your office, your eyes could start to droop with all the strain. This is definitely a no-no. However, if you end up squinting because of too much light, that also won’t help. Maybe a change of light bulbs is needed, or maybe moving to a different spot might help. Or if all else fails, you might need to wear your shades, but that should really be the last option.

3) Sound Check

Let’s talk about music. Music can serve to soothe your frazzled nerves, or get you all worked up (in a good way). When you’re feeling lazy, put on a little music that will make you sit up and hum along as you work. Since people’s tastes on music vary, it is a nice option if employees are given headphones and are allowed to load some personal music in their personal computer. If it’s not workable because of security issues, you can always just bring an ipod. Make sure you don’t turn it up too loud and disturb other people with your singing, and also make sure you’re still able to respond when someone calls you.

4) Hot or Cold

Usually heat is not an issue. More often than not, the temperature’s usually really low inside the office, to make sure the machines don’t overheat. Sadly, this is at the expense of the people who have to sit in their chairs, trying to bundle up without restricting too much of their movement. It may help to take note of how to position work desks in such a way that the draft from the air-conditioning does not directly hit the person. It’s very hard to keep going when your fingers are stiff and you can barely type, and all you want to do is curl up and go to sleep.

5) My Personal Space

Most employees have their own desks, and some employers are usually lenient, giving people a free hand on how they want to decorate the desk (provided there are no permanent effects of course). Other times though, they are not fond of the idea of seeing work desks littered with much personal stuff, like potted plants or stuffed toys, because it might look rather unprofessional. However, many have begin to realize that allowing room for things like these will help, for a couple of reasons: people can show their identity through their décor, and this makes them feel more like a person and less like a corporate drone; the decors will make their workplace more personal and comfortable, and will help them stay longer and not want to bolt after many, many hours of working.

Another concern is having (or not having) ergonomic desks. A common occupational hazard for desk jobs is carpal tunnel syndrome. Another is back pain. These occupational hazards are caused by work desks and chairs not positioned at the right angles that will allow correct positioning of the arms and elbows and the neck. So maybe people don’t feel like working, because it is literally getting on their nerves (and muscles). This is a really important issue that has to be addressed, in order for people to stay long and stay on top of their work.

6) Gimme a Break

What are your break options? Eat, drink, go to the bathroom, talk to a colleague, watch TV, play games on your phone, do some stretches. It’s important to take breaks, and just the right amount of time off will help refresh you and get you going. Be sure not to abuse it – discipline is the key! But don’t forgo it just because there’s absolutely no time to spare. If you’re really busy, you can at least spare 10-15 seconds every 15 minutes or so, to move your eyes away from the computer screen and stare at something more soothing, like the leaves of a plant, or the blue sky.

This is when space matters, and windows too. If the office has wide windows or a balcony or wide spaces for you to walk around and stretch your legs, go for it, instead of checking your mail or doing random Internet surfing, which does’t really give the break your body deserves.

There are so many things to talk about when it comes to good working environment, but what is important to remember is both employers and employees have parts to play in contributing to a good ambience. So make sure not only to communicate your needs but also do your part in making ‘work’ a better place for you.