It’s December - you know what that means! No, no, NO - not snow, ice and traffic accidents!

Christmas is coming!!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

With the kids jingle-belling

and everyone telling you be of good cheer.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Am I being a bit obvious? Yeah, I guess I am. Today’s topic is:

Christmas Trivia

A number of studies have been done on the issue of whether carpeting is good or bad as a floor surface. Proponents note that it reduces noise levels, especially on open floor plans, and that it is aesthetically pleasing. Opponents say that it has an adverse effect on air quality and collects dust, dirt and allergens which then make people sick. You can read an interesting article on the debate here on the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s website.

My dad struggles every fall and winter when the days start getting shorter. He’s seriously influenced by the lack of sunlight and it takes a heavy toll on him. This condition is called Seasonal Affective Disorder. People who have it may feel unusually tired or sad and have a lack of drive or energy during the short winter days. Extreme cases can result in depression.3

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can occur in your office as well. Employees may lack energy and lose focus, even fall asleep at their desks. You may be wondering what can be done to offset this or prevent it altogether. I’m glad you asked because there are some relatively simple changes that can be made to help keep your employees cheery and productive.

It never ceases to amaze me how I can have 2000 channels on my cable service and there’s nothing good on to watch. Kind of makes me wish for the good ‘ol days.

Sometimes.

I know, I know - there are lots of reboots on right now to fulfill my yearning, but honestly, those shows have had their days in the sun. I prefer something new and original.

Having said that, I am feeling a bit nostalgic right now, so we’re going to go back in time. Today’s topic is:

80’s TV Trivia

AARRGHHHH!!!!!!!

The paper is curling in my printer AGAIN!! WHY DOES IT DO THAT?????

If you saw yourself in those first sentences, take a deep breath and read on. I can help you. Paper curling is a fairly common problem and can usually be solved with a few simple steps.

Technology has made our lives easier in many ways. In recent years, DVR & cable providers have given us the ability to skip over commercials. Bet that really tees off the companies and their advertising agencies! So, how many commercials (and, therefore, product slogans) do you actually pay attention to now?

Today’s topic is:

Commercials Trivia

Ergonomics are frequently discussed in relation to workplace environments, as is productivity. Employers spend a significant amount of time and resources trying to revamp processes to make their employees more productive. For workers who spend a majority of their day on phone calls, a headset will address both issues. Working with your neck constantly tilted to the side, either on a shoulder rest or just cradling the phone between your neck and shoulder, is not good for you. And trying to take an order or type a message while on the phone without a headset results in a definite loss of speed and productivity.

Is your office space configured for maximum productivity? Do your employees have both the spaces and the tools necessary for creative collaboration? Is the space comfortable? Is it flexible? These are all questions to consider when evaluating your current work space. Companies spend time and money evaluating processes and procedures and trying to find best practices to move the company forward and make it the best it can be; the work environment also needs to be considered in those evaluations.

My favorite beverage when I was a kid was Coca-Cola.  I liked others too - Vernors, Faygo Red Pop, A & W Root Beer - but Coke was #1.  (Don't get me started on that whole new formula disaster.)  I recently received this question from one of my readers and thought it would be a good one, so here goes. The topic today is:

Coca-Cola Trivia

September is Productivity Month!  This month our weekly eblasts have focused on products to help you be productive in the office through innovation, technology and value.  Today, I'm going to walk you through how to choose the best laminator for your office.

Ordering supplies for your office - whether it be pens, paper, janitorial, breakroom or some other category - can be time consuming.  Especially if your company has a formal purchasing department and there are requisitions and purchase orders involved.

We are excited to announce a new function on our website that will save you time if you find yourself ordering the same items over and over again - Recurring Orders.  Recurring Orders allow you to create an order and schedule the frequency of the delivery - the order will be automatically sent to you on your schedule.  You can edit items and quantities or reschedule the delivery date as needed.  

Best of all, it's SIMPLE! 

People have asked me many times where I get the trivia questions that I use.  I get them from a variety of sources - books, online trivia sites, newspaper articles, submissions from readers, etc. Most I get from my own life - a song that was on the radio as I drove to work, a TV show I used to watch or that I recently watched, a vacation I took, etc. 

Recently, I was doing my grocery shopping at Meijer and the cashier who rang me up gave me an interesting trivia tidbit, which I will classify as

Miscellaneous Trivia

Every so often, I like to highlight an unusual item.  By that I mean an item that you normally wouldn't think to call your office supply dealer for when you need it.  I think a lot of companies still don't know that the office products industry supplies more than just paper, binder clips, ring binders and the like.  Another category that we can help you with is your janitorial and facility maintenance supplies. 

Keeping the air clean in the office is vital to the health of everyone in the office.  Mold, mildew, bacteria or other microorganisms can flourish without proper prevention and treatment.  Having quality air filters in place is essential.  Did you know that you can purchase air filters from us?

There are a lot of moving pieces in an office remodel.  The overall style is probably the first thing on the docket - do we want contemporary or traditional? Something else?  Once that's decided, the furniture can be chosen, then the flooring, the lighting..........the list goes on and on.  

Take time to consider the color of the rooms.  If you've ever redecorated your house, you probably spent a bit of time trying to decide on the paint colors. Perhaps you bought some sample-size cans and painted patches on your wall to see how it would look before you jumped in with both feet.  The same concept applies to the office environment.  Different colors have different effects on employee moods, feelings and thoughts and great care should be given to the new design.  

Are you ready for some trivia?  You are?  Excellent!  I just happen to have a trivia question in mind.  I like famous quotes.......and not-so-famous quotes.  And I like movies.  SO.......... today's topic is:

Movie Quotes

Today we're continuing our discussion on filing as a way to keep you organized and on task at work (or at home, for that matter).  What kind of file folders do you need?  Why do you choose the ones you use now?  Is there a better solution for your needs?

Let's talk some file folder basics.  There are 3 things to consider when choosing your file folders - style, size and tabs.  We'll begin with style.

This month our weekly eblasts will be focusing on items to help you stay organized and on task at work.  Since I know that's easier said than done for many of you, I'm going to start off the month with some handy file folders to aid you in your quest. 

Now, there are seemingly ZILLIONS of filing products out there - all made by very good companies - and a file folder is a file folder, right?  All the companies pretty much make them out of the same material, with similar features, so it usually comes down to the price.  Not so, my young Jedi.  Teach you the ways of the force, I will.

Welcome to the game where knowledge is king and the points don't matter! (Yeah, I was watching Whose Line is it Anyway?  That show cracks me up.)  I try to make the trivia questions both fun and educational, but every once in a while I feel the need to do some

Useless Trivia

Lots of companies have picnics for their employees during the warm summer months  - perhaps your company is one of these.  Some are held at local parks as a whole family event, others are held at the office after working hours.  But what if your employee base is really spread out in terms of where they live?  Maybe the staff likes the idea of a picnic but doesn't want to stay after working a long day, especially knowing that they have a long drive home.  Or maybe you just can't find a central location for a weekend picnic that makes everyone happy. You want to include everyone, but there just doesn't seem to be a good way to do it.

Can you believe we're halfway through the year? It's just flying by for me. It may be inventory time for your company now and if you have a supply stock room, you may be evaluating needs for that and stocking up on some of the essentials.  One such essential may be refill lead for mechanical pencils.

Really, an article about pencil lead? (How lame!)  Well, you might be surprised how many people have a difficult time choosing the right type of lead.  This won't be a novel by any means, but rather a quick "how to" guide to make your life easier.