Fugitive from the Cubicle Police

This book is freedom for those who feel imprisoned in a cubicle. Called "the cartoon hero of the workplace" by the San Francisco Examiner, Dilbert is revered by technology and computer workers, engineers, white-collar types, scientists, and everyone who works these days (in cubicles or not).
— Amazon.com

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Thinking Outside the Cubicle: How to Change the Job You Have Into the Job You Want

Cubicle Warfare: Self-Defense Tactics for Today's Hypercompetitive Workplace

The Dilbert Principle: A Cubicle's-Eye View of Bosses, Meetings, Management Fads & Other Workplace Afflictions

Do you spend most of your waking hours staring at the drab walls of your corporate cubicle, planning a daring escape?

The average full-time employee does. It's usually beige, gray, or another equally bland color, with a standard desktop, a telephone, and if you're lucky, a set of file drawers.

To avoid becoming the office fugitive, first trash those stolen blueprints of the building. Next, realize that being stuck in cubeville isn't all that bad when you surround yourself with familiar items. Here are some tips that will help you personalize your work space, and calm that itch for flight.

• Eliminate non-essential clutter from your desktop. File excess papers, and put away corporate awards, extra coffee cups, and paperweights. Trash old memos and that generic calendar from your insurance agent.

• Search for cube decor in your home. Dig up souvenirs from past trips and display them on your desk. They make for interesting conversation during your lunch break.

• Raid your photo album for pictures of friends and family that you miss while at work. Candid shots work best because they remind you of why you're working — so you can afford to go out and party with your friends.

• Liven it up with plants and flowers. Greenery will add warmth and much needed oxygen to your work space. If you need more responsive company, get a fish. They require minimal upkeep and have interesting personalities.

• Warm up to a rug or welcome mat. Place a mat in your cube foyer, or a fuzzy rug under your desk. For those arctic days in the office, sling a small blanket on the back of your chair.

• Stimulate your walls with inexpensive art. Use posters, old calendars, and magazine-cut quotes to dress your cube's naked parts. Splurge on some funky frames.

• Don't decorate with distractions. TVs and bed cots do not mix well with business. Also, maintain a level of professionalism when choosing certain items. Avoid pinup calendars.

Written by Amanda Haas

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Our Readers Respond

It's been over a year and a half since a co-worker jokingly suggested I expand the motif that, at the time, sparingly decorated my cubicle at the Texas Workforce Commission. The attached picture will give you an idea of the directions I have taken since that inspirational comment. To date, co-workers interested in this sort of speculation estimate the count at 2000+. — Jim Moore