10 Things You’ll Only Know if You Work in an Office

Ah, office life. It can feel like a little weird but wonderful world of it’s own at times. Sitting at the same desk every day five days a week, swivelling on your swivel chair for eight hours a day…

Sounds boring? If you work in an office, you’ll know it’s not that bad. You may even come to love it, quirks and all!

Here are ten things you’ll only know if you work in an office.

Monday morning weekend pleasantries

“Did you have a good weekend?”

“Yeah it was good thanks. How was your weekend?”

No one hardly ever elaborates into what they actually did. It was just a good weekend and that’s that.

Happy birthday to you, bring your cake in too

How outrageous is it that on your day of birth you have to bring in your own cake and treats? Well you don’t have to but you’ll probably be death-stared at the next time to reach for someone else’s birthday treats. Who actually started this tradition? Surely on your birthday the rest of the office should provide the treats?

Signing birthday cards

You will get birthday cards to sign and sometimes you won’t even know who the person is. But you still write a little message wishing them well because you’re a good person… right?

Awkward toilet encounters

Why is it so cringe bumping into your colleague in a toilet? If it’s someone you talk to quite a lot then it’s not bad as you can have a little gossip. But if it’s Silent Sally who you only spoke to once at the Christmas party last year, the conversation will probably go: “Oh, hi.”

“Oh, hi.”

“You alright.”

“Yes thanks, you?”

“Good thanks.”

And then one of you will scuttle out.

Tea and coffee rounds

There’s no such thing as getting up to make a drink just for you. You have to ask everyone within hearing vicinity. You’ve probably also noticed that one colleague always gets drinks made but never offers themselves. The cheek of it!

Dozing off at your desk

After lunchtime if you look around the office you’ll notice how most of your colleagues look ready for a nap. The afternoon slump feeling is common and curable by more tea and coffee.

Fridge police

If you move someone’s lunch in the fridge or if someone is missing a piece of fruit or a Cheesestring, you will know about it. The fridge police are real and if you even think about touching their food they will be onto you.

Air con wars

Like yin and yang, darkness and light, there will inevitably be a person in an office who’s always cold and one who is always hot. Just look out for the fellow sat with their coat and scarf on or the lady with a sweaty upper lip and a desk fan.

If you’re either one of these people, you should know that compromise is key and you can’t have the air con on or off all the time.

There’re only so many times you can say bless you

When someone sneezes, you say bless you like a good colleague. But then they go on to sneeze sixteen times… After the third time, you decide they are cursed and try to ignore them.

The Friday feeling is real

On Fridays, you’ll feel the good vibes floating around the office. Everyone is in a good mood and ready to start the weekend. You might have your own office traditions such as going to the chippy or you might all bring in sweet treats. Whatever the tradition, it’s usually food related!

Joking aside, at the end of the day office life is what you make of it. You can make it fun for yourself or make it dull. But ,seeing as you spend most of your time there, it’s best to make it enjoyable as possible.

Haleema Khokhar also known as Kimi (a college nickname that stuck) is a journalism graduate working in the world of marketing and freelance writing. She loves animals, dance and a strong cup of tea. Check out her website and Twitter at @MyImpression_ you can also check out her personal Twitter at @KimiKhokhar 

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