Is Your Workplace Like Office Space? Tips for Dealing

by Kevin Faber

Before The Office and Severance were hits, Office Space was the comedic emblem of the average person’s experience of modern corporate culture. This much-loved 90s comedy classic resonated so strongly with people because they could identify with the protagonist’s discontent, and the movie’s depiction of corporate bureaucracy hit all the right notes. If you feel like you’ve got a chronic “case of the Mondays”, you don’t need to go the same lengths as Peter, Michael Bolton, or Milton. Here are some simple ways to re-engage yourself, stay motivated, and do good work that you find gratifying.

Let Go of Work Stress at the End of Your Day

At the beginning of Office Space, Peter is consumed by stress about his work. His job at Innotek updating code for Y2K doesn’t really strike you as being really stressful or difficult. Nevertheless, he hates it so much that he seems to carry around a continuous sense of dread about it, even when he isn’t working. It’s only when he enters a deep hypnotic state and receives a suggestion to relax and let go of his worries that he can finally shake work stress. 

To reclaim your sense of calm, you need to resolve to put some space between you and your work in your thoughts. A post-work relaxation ritual can help you unwind and make a smooth transition from a work mode to a happy mode. 

Take a few minutes for meditation geared towards neutral thinking. Follow it up with moderate physical activity to adjust your attitude and amp up your energy levels. Going for a run or doing exercises with your own bodyweight can reroute your train of thought. Swimming is another great post-work exercise option because it’s low impact, and getting in the water can tend to have a very calming effect. To optimize the stress relief that you get from swimming, you’re probably going to need your own pool. A company that designs custom pools Austin can help you create your own private swimming sanctuary. 

Try to be conscientious about your stress levels. Over time, reducing stress will make it easier to control your internal dialog and keep work-related anxiety at bay.

Stop “Spacing Out”

Peter candidly admits to starting his workday by “spacing out.” You don’t get the sense that spacing out makes a tedious workday any more bearable or makes the time go by any faster. In fact, you’d have to assume that doing literally nothing for an hour would make each minute seem like an eternity. 

While you may not be kicking off your day “spacing out,” you may be making an all too common mistake of starting your day with the least challenging job tasks on your to-do list. It feels good to check things off your list at the start of the day, but doing all the easiest stuff first can also be kind of like an excuse to forestall the substantive work that you have. The most productive people typically tend to tackle the tough stuff at the start of the day. 

Explore Professional Development Opportunities

A big part of Peter’s problem with his work seems to be that he feels stuck. He has seven bosses, and he certainly doesn’t appear to want their jobs. Without any motivation or medium for advancement, he has nothing to strive for. 

If you’re bumming out about the prospect of your work staying the same forever, you need to find ways to pursue growth. Consider continuing your education or networking within your professional community to advance your career.

Ultimately, much of the humor and messaging in Office Space still rings true after more than two decades. Anyone who can identify with Peter’s plight can appreciate what he learns in his empowering reevaluation of working life and personal fulfillment. You obviously don’t want to follow every page out of his playbook, but you need to resolve to take meaningful action to change your situation.