‘Blue Monday’ – traditionally the third of each January – falls on the 20th in 2025. It’s known as the most depressing day of the year, and it’s not hard to see why. The weather has been Arctic and last month’s festivities are already rapidly vanishing from memory, while warmer weather and summer holidays seem somewhere in the distant future.
If you’re a business owner or manager, however, it’s a great time to encourage staff so that they remain motivated and focused. Doing so, and thinking about how you could create a positive working environment, can set the tone and trajectory for the entire year ahead.
Potential ideas for this include staging an employee awards ceremony, hiring a motivational speaker or talking to staff about their goals for the 12 months ahead.
But there are lower-key things you can do as well, and one surprisingly effective action is to stock up on all the office supplies you need for the new year. Here are some of the benefits you can look forward to, at a time when some people may need a little more inspiration than usual:
- Greater productivity: We all work more quickly and efficiently if we have the right tools to hand. And it can be really frustrating to have to scrabble about for something that you need but can’t find.
- Better organisation: Staff will be better placed to keep accurate records and notes if there are enough folders, binders, filing cabinets and so on in the office. Equally, they’ll be able to retrieve the information they need more quickly. Additionally, it’s not too late to encourage enthusiasm for the months ahead, and good organisation, with smart-looking office diaries and calendars. Equally, wallcharts can map holidays and indicate where people are if your teams are often out of the office.
- Enhanced creativity: Give your workforce every opportunity to jot down ideas and thoughts as they come up with them, with notepads, pens and so on. Meanwhile, sticky notes, flipcharts and markers allow for brainstorming and task prioritisation.
In short, if you invest in high-quality office stationery using reliable, long-lasting supplies, you’ll be going a long way to enhancing the overall workplace environment. (After all, the best stuff simply performs better, saving time, money and frustration in the long run.)
And if you want to take a fresh look to the things you use every day, perhaps incorporating a different look or embracing modern design trends, now is definitely the time of year to do it.
You might want to think, for example, about whether your business stationery, and the way you use it, currently demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability. After all, these products are all part of your brand image. And if you have rebranded or changed your company values, you could choose to incorporate these on personalised items.
New year, new stationery from Octopus Office – the local operator with national buying power
At Octopus Office, we’re a trusted supplier operating across the north-west. Deliveries are free anywhere in our area, or you can pick up your items yourself from our trade counter in Stockport.
Local orders arrive the same day. But our network of reliable courier partners UK-wide means we ship across the country for everything you need to keep your workplace running smoothly and efficiently, typically with next-day arrival.
We’re all about high-quality office essentials, impeccable customer service and outstanding value. Give us a call on 0161 429 8118 if you have any queries or can’t find what you’re looking for.