10 Ways to Celebrate Halloween at Work

Halloween is the thrilling October opener to the end of the year holiday season. Little expressions of autumn can really boost morale at work. Perhaps the most exciting holiday for young and old, Halloween makes everyone feel like a kid again. Take advantage of the Halloween tradition and get your coworkers in the mood for some startling celebration. Here are 10 tips for turning your workplace into a hallowed hall.

1. Decorate Your Work Station. Halloween decorations from Target like a stream of lights, a real pumpkin or spray cobwebs can instantly transform your work station. Some subtle touches will make people smile. You may even inspire others to decorate their desks. Just make sure you are aware of fire safety rules and don't leave lights on unattended.

2. Bake. Who doesn't love an afternoon sweet treat at work? Thanks to companies like Pillsbury, there are pre-made Halloween themed cookies that bake in about ten minutes. If you have time, go ahead and make your own hauntingly delicious dessert from scratch. For ideas and Halloween themed treats, check out Recipe Zaar.

3. Have A Costume Contest. People enjoy costume contests and the opportunity to take on a different character. Have coworkers dress up as simply or as intricately as they wish. Encourage originality. You can organize a costume contest where prizes are awarded for best costume, or have a costume theme that everyone should share. Costumes embody the spirit of Halloween. There is nothing better than seeing your boss decked out from head to toe. Get everyone involved and excited.

4. Throw A Halloween Party. Ask all of the people in your office to bring in food or dessert for a Halloween monster mash after your costume contest. Make a Halloween music mix with Thriller and other chilling classics and invite colleagues you do business with to come and join you.

5. Keep Candy On Your Desk. People often have candy stashed at work. Halloween is a great excuse to pull out all the stops. Buy unusual candy varieties and present them to colleagues in a plastic pumpkin or a festive bowl . If you're a prankster, check out this motion activated skeleton hand candy bowl at Sears that catches unsuspecting coworkers off guard by grabbing its candy back.

6. Download A Halloween Screensaver. Sure, you don't want eerie music scaring the heck out of your coworkers while you're in the bathroom, but a great screensaver can invoke the spirit of Halloween's instantly. There are many sites with Halloween screensavers but check out Fun Utilities or Screensaver.

7. Organize A Pumpkin Carving/ Painting Afternoon. Schedule a pumpkin-carving or painting event for late in the day. Most bosses won't begrudge their workers one hour at the end of the day. Provide small pumpkins that people can carve or paint and let parents know ahead of time so they can bring their kids after school. Make sure to follow proper safety precautions and be careful with knives. If you can schedule the carving close to Halloween, people can enjoy the jack-o-lanterns in the office for a few days and then take them home for the actual holiday. Pumpkin carving patterns and instructions can be found at Pumpkin Lady.

8. Wear Halloween Jewelry. Halloween accessories are a simple way of showing your Halloween spirit at work, especially if you are in a place that discourages decorations( a.k.a. happiness). Check out an accessory shop like Claire's.

9. Decorate The Conference Room. A prop like this head centerpiece from Costumes 4 Less is bound to keep everyone's attention. If that is a little too gruesome, find another Halloween prop or decoration that will make an impression and inspire thrills and or chuckles at your next meeting. Just be careful that Halloween surprises don't terrorize anyone. You can always stay festive but less frightening with corn stalks and an autumn motif.

10. Do a Halloween Costume Photo Shoot. After the winner of best costume is awarded, snap some photos of everyone in their costumes and post them in a common area. The fun will last long past all Hallow's Eve.

Celebrating Halloween at work is a great way to keep morale up and enjoy the month of October. Don't be a stiff!

Source List:

"Halloween Screensavers" Fun Utilities

"Halloween" Screensaver

"157 Spooktacular Halloween Recipes" Recipe Zaar

http://www.recipezaar.com/cookbook.php?bookid=89419

"Ed Head Bloody Centerpiece" Costumes 4 Less

"Pumpkin Carving Patterns" Pumpkin Lady

Target

Sears

Claire's