Workspace decor helps ease post-holiday blues

With the Spring Festival holiday over, many office workers grappling with "post-holiday blues" — a mix of low spirits and reduced productivity — have turned to quirky and auspicious items to shake off lethargy and boost morale.

They have decorated their workspaces with lucky cats, fortune-bringing toys, divine protectors, osmanthus-scented candles and lucky couplets. According to e-commerce platform Tmall, sales of such "fortune-attracting" office decorations have surged more than 50 percent recently, as young people look to add a sense of ceremonial luck to their return to work.

On social media, users are sharing their workspace makeovers, along with design plans and shopping guides. From decorative items to practical gadgets such as keyboards, mini fans and teapots, creativity in workspace decor appears limitless. Tools such as daydreaming timers have become essential for young workers looking to ease anxiety and transition smoothly back into work mode.

Zhu Xiaofan, who works in the gaming industry in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, recently added a special pair of couplets to her workstation that read "thriving and prosperous" and "wealth pouring in from all directions".

For her, the Chinese New Year's office decorations are more than just a ritual — they are a way to "remove the monotony of work".

"It gives me the illusion that I'm still celebrating the Chinese New Year," the 22-year-old said.

In the new year, Zhu hopes the couplets will bring her good fortune.

"Become rich overnight! Make a fortune daily! Win the five-million-yuan lottery! Or maybe my parents will suddenly tell me they're billionaires!" she joked.

While these wishes might seem far-fetched, she said optimism and humor are key to maintaining a positive attitude and high efficiency at work.

On Lu Siyu's desk, a set of blind-box figurines symbolizing "attracting good fortune" stands out. Next to them, she placed three toys representing the zodiac signs of her family of three.

For the 32-year-old office worker, preparing these items was a "must-do" for Chinese New Year, catering to her perfectionist tendencies.

"These decorations are full of ritual significance, representing my hopes for the new year. Every time I see them, it's like a shot in the arm," she said.

Her colleagues are also captivated by the decorations, which often become a topic of conversation and help create a lively office atmosphere.

On the first day of Chinese New Year, Li Xiaolu, a coach for the Hunan synchronized swimming team, had already switched to "preparation mode" for the national games.

To boost morale and bring good luck for the upcoming event, she purchased a set of Qing Dynasty Five Emperor Coins online, which are believed to attract good fortune and improve feng shui, and placed them on her workstation.

"Smooth work and a full wallet" is her simple yet heartfelt New Year's wish, the 32-year-old said.

The Five Emperor Coin pendants she chose are no ordinary items: each coin carries historical significance, she said. The gathering of the five emperors not only symbolizes wealth and prosperity, but also serves as a group of "guardian deities", warding off misfortune for her and her team.

For some young people, however, these New Year decoration items are mainly for fun.

Xiao Yuan, a 26-year-old office worker in Changsha, Hunan province, said his company gave each employee three cartoon snack figurines before Spring Festival. Xiao brought them home and placed them on his desk. "I put them there mostly because I think they're cute, not because I believe they will bring me luck or money," he said.

Xu Ziya and Qi Jinfei contributed to this story.

zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn