Many Americans around the country are bound to their desks in their professional work environments, and this can cause an unwanted amount of extra stress on top of daily duties. One of the best ways that you can add some calming and relaxing features to your office is to create your very own zen garden, and you will find that not only will you feel a load lifted off your shoulders but others will flock to your desk to hang out as well.

There are a few essential things that are key to starting up a zen garden in your workplace, but no matter which route you choose to go be sure that it’s something that instills a sense of tranquility for you. After all, if you have to spend at least 40 hours somewhere, you might as well make it as close to a sanctuary as you possibly can.

Here are some tips you can use as a guide for building a peaceful and exciting garden at your desk in your office.

1. Potted plants that don’t need much maintenance are the best way to go when adding foliage to your office. Many work environments don’t have a lot of natural sunlight, so you will need something that can sustain itself over a long period of time indoors.

2. A desk water fountain is probably the best purchase you will make all year, because the sound of the trickling water all day long is extremely soothing. Many of these kinds of mini fountains are beautifully made, so not only will it encourage a peaceful atmosphere but it is aesthetically pleasing too.

3. Sand zen gardens that come in the little box compartments are often found in doctors, dentists, and psychologists offices, but that is for a good reason. Taking a few minutes a day to move the rake through the grains of sand around whatever decorations come with it is a fun to spend a few minutes taking a mental break to gather your thoughts.

4. Lastly, bringing any decorative pieces from home to place in your office or on your desk are a fantastic way to create a happy environment while you are busy working hard. Momentos of things that you love or care for serve as great tools to lift the mood when things seem a bit overbearing or out of control.

Putting together a zen garden for your work space is one of the ways to make the weekdays pass by a little less slowly, so if you are feeling like you need a little pick-me-up during office hours this is one of the avenues you can use to bring that uplifting energy around.