Category: Office Health and Wellness

How to Avoid Feeling “Burnt Out”

Burn out in the workplace is almost inevitable during busy periods throughout the year or when you’ve been at the same job for many years. Stress can sneak up on you so the best thing you can try to do is get ahead of it. Here are a few tips to keep yourself going:

  • SLEEP: Sleep is crucial because it allows your body to recharge. It is tempting to go, go, go until you can’t anymore, but this only sets you back. Just think of what happens if you leave your computer constantly running – starts to overheat, slows down and eventually crashes. Just like your computer, you need to shut off for a while as well. It is suggested that adults get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. If you can keep to a consistent routine and turn off your phone, computer and TV at night this will help you to feel more energized each morning when you get to work.
  • EAT: There are two things that can happen when you are stressed out at work – you either forget to eat or you reach for the unhealthy snacks. Both are equally bad for you! Food is what fuels your body and you want to opt for nutritious snacks that will not cause you to eventually crash. Stay far, far away from energy drinks and limit sugar. You can get healthy, natural energy from snacks like almonds, Greek yogurt or fresh fruit and you should make sure to drink water throughout the day to remain hydrated.
  • TAKE BREAKS: Though it might be tempting to eat at your desk and cram in as much work as possible, your eyes need a break from staring at a monitor all day and your mind needs a break as well. Step away from your desk to recharge. If your office is near a park or has an outdoor area, go for a walk or sit outside and get some sunshine and fresh air.
  • SAY NO: Sometimes you just have to learn to say no when asked to help out with a project or take on additional work. If you already see that you are starting to get overwhelmed then no one will fault you with being honest and saying you are too busy. If you stretch yourself too thin you run the risk of seeing a decline in the quality of your work because there just isn’t enough time to devote to each task.
  • TIME OFF: There are sick days and vacation days for a reason. If you are sick use your sick days and take care of yourself, rather than further push your body by coming into work. Allow yourself the time to recover or you will only feel worse for a longer period of time. Take advantage of vacation days as well. Even if you can’t take yourself away to a tropical island for a week, a short staycation can still work wonders. Visit friends or family or do something you love. Take a day to focus on you!
  • LEAVE WORK AT WORK: Try not to take work home with you every night. You need time for yourself and if home becomes a second office you increase your stress and lose that precious personal time. Finding a work/life balance is key.
  • TALK TO YOUR BOSS: If you are feeling burnt out due to job boredom or overwhelmed by the amount of work on your plate, see what your boss can do for you. Most managers will want happy employees because that just leads to better work. Whether you feel you need some new projects to challenge you and break up the monotony or you need help with the ones you already have, you’ll never know until you ask.

If you can adhere to these tips you should be feeling better in no time!

Groundhog Day Advice: 3 Business Mistakes You Should Avoid Repeating

What are the Finger Lakes?”  If you recognize this question, you may have watched the movie “Groundhog Day.”  Maybe more than once.  Maybe so many times that it feels like you’ve been watching it in a never-ending and repeating day.  In the film, Bill Murray’s jaded meteorologist character Phil lives out February 2nd in seeming perpetuity in the heart of Punxsutawney, PA, the home of the illustrious prognosticating groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil.  Stuck reliving the same day over and over again, he continually encounters the same people, events, and happenings of the day.  He has watched that day’s episode of “Jeopardy!” so many times that he is able to divine “What are the Finger Lakes?” before the answer is even read aloud to the amazement of others watching the show with him. 

In the real world, this sort of anticipatory behavior may at first seem to be advantageous for a business.  There could be a benefit from predictability for sure.  However, predictability is bred from static behavior and practices, which can hinder creativity, growth, and new ideas.  Repetition is not necessarily a good thing.  In this vein, here’s some pertinent Groundhog Day advice: 3 common business mistakes you don’t want to repeat.

  1. Overpromising Customers – It is always better to be realistic in what you can offer customers rather than promising the world.  Customers will respond much more positively to the exact same result if that result is presented honestly from the outset as the best you could provide rather than as a missed deadline, poor measure of quality, etc. that was promised to be sooner or better but not quite met.
  2. Undervaluing Employees – Unless your business is a one-person show, you must acknowledge that your business is nothing without your employees.  It is essential to not overlook the contributions they make every day to help continue the business itself.
  3. Complacency – Even though your business may be at the pinnacle of your industry today, it is never a good idea to assume things will never change.  Even through no fault of your own, it’s possible that your industry itself may become obsolete as newer and better technology comes along.  Periodically looking for innovations or improvements is an important part of maintaining the health of any business.

Handling Change in the Workplace

Many of us hear the word “Change” and immediately get anxious.  Why do we have to change?  What’s wrong with the way we are doing things now?  From now on when you hear the word “Change”, you should imagine the word chance in your mind.  A change in the workplace is a chance to make your workplace better.  Stay optimistic and change will be a good thing.  Here are ten tips for you to follow:

  1. Stay positive. 
  2. Remember that the entire workforce family is facing the same changes.
  3. Know that change is constant and that without change neither your business nor you can move forward.
  4. Take this opportunity to learn new skills.  We recently made a change in my office on how we are going to train new hires.  I was able to enrich my portfolio by learning how to use a new training system.
  5. Talk, Talk, Talk.  Keep everyone in the loop on what is going on.  Ask questions if you do not know the answer.  Communication is the key to success.

When a change is coming down the pike in your workplace, accept the change and celebrate the positives!

Cure for the Office Winter Blues

We all know that summer time is fun time.  The weather is beautiful, many people go on vacations during this time and pretty much enjoy not having to deal with shoveling, snow and freezing temperatures any longer!

Once the summer is over, however, we seem to somehow skip through Fall and head straight to Winter, both physically and mentally!  Many people feel an emotional shift during the months of January through March, after the Holidays are over, which can change people’s moods in the office.  One way to cure the office Winter Blues is to have a “Winter Celebration” party!

Just think how excited you and your coworkers would be to have a themed-lunch or breakfast party to bring some life to the mundane winter day.  It will break up the winter months and add some excitement to employees and their tastebuds!  If it can’t be lovely warm weather outside the office, why not just pretend it is inside the office?!  Go ahead and party away those cold weather blues!

Bringing Summer Into the Office

Summer has sprung. You’re sitting at your desk daydreaming about sunshine instead of fluorescent lighting beating down on you. Here are a few tips on how to make those summer days spent inside working less mundane.  

  • Friday Sundae Funday – Every Friday coworker’s each bring a different topping and ice cream.
  • Go for a walk – Even if it’s a 15 minute break, get up and walk outside. Soak up the Vitamin D.
  • Take Lunch Outside
  • Have an ugly/tacky Hawaiian shirt day.
  • Go bowl Fishing – Everyone’s name get put into a glass bowl. The name chosen gets to leave an hour early.
  • Make lemonade and frozen drinks with tiny umbrellas.
  • Play summer music in the lunchroom and invite coworkers to dance it out.
  • Go outside, throw down a blanket and just relax.
  • Play a sport, indulge in yoga or simply stretch out.
  • Plan an after work get together.

Don’t forget the long days of summer don’t end when you get out of the office. It’s light out until 9 so get outdoors and enjoy after your day is done.

Celebrating Halloween can Make for Happier Employees

Seriously, who doesn’t love Halloween? There’s something for everyone whther it is costumes, games, scares, and of course tricks and treats! It’s definitely no longer a holiday just for children so getting your office in on the fun is a win-win.

Remember the saying about all work and no play? Multiple studies have proven that making sure employee morale is a priority is good for your bottom line . Happy employees are more productive; they are more willing to foster teamwork and are more loyal to their company. And really, who says work has to be boring anyway?
It really doesn’t take much effort to celebrate.

Most everyone in our office already decorates their cubicles and work areas. Add a few decorations and some music in the breakroom (think Thriller, Sympathy for the Devil, Zombie, Werewolves of London and of course Monster Mash) and you’re all set. If you have a TV in a common area you could stream some scary movies (stick to the old classics like Frankenstein and Dracula rather than newer ones like Halloween and Friday the 13th which might not be for everyone due to their gore, violence and adult themes).

Spring for lunch that day or have a pot luck so everyone can bring in their best Halloween themed dish. Candy is of course a MUST! Make sure there’s something for everyone so keep in mind any dietary restrictions your employees might have.

Everyone loves some healthy competition. Have a contest for the most creative costume, best Halloween dessert or scariest decorations and give the winners a prize. If you have some employees that aren’t comfortable dressing up or just want to give everyone a chance at a prize, you can always put everyone’s name into a raffle and give away some gift cards or a coupon for a free lunch from one of the local take-out places.

Whatever you do to celebrate in your office, “don’t be scared” to have fun.

Working Remotely – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

When the subject of working from the comforts of my home was suggested to me, I couldn’t be more excited.  I thought about rolling out of bed, pulling out my laptop and moving to my enclosed deck still in my pajamas with a cup of coffee in my hand.  I even thought I was going to be able to keep my favorite talk shows on in the background.  After about a week, I realized I was not productive and working remotely was not all that I expected.

Being as I am not one to fail, I changed my attitude.  I realized that the first step was to put on real clothes…maybe not the suit, but jeans and decent shirt.  This helped me get my mind in the business state of mind.  I also set up a work area designated just for use during work hours.  Besides that bottle of water that I always have at my desk, all eating and drinking is done during my break and lunch times in a different room.  Work was back on track but then came the loneliness.

I feel that it is normally much more efficient to communicate with email, but since working remotely, I have adjusted my thinking.  In most recent weeks, I have picked up the phone to have that human contact and it has made a huge difference on my mental state.  I have also organized a lunch meeting monthly or bimonthly depending on the situation.

There are plusses and minuses to working from home.  It is all what you make of it!

Change of Scenery – Outdoor Business Meetings

Outdoor business meetings? Really!? That is such a crazy idea. Or at least that was my first thought. But just think about. With the weather beginning to turn, how great it would be to ditch the stuffy office and fluorescent lighting for fresh air and warmth from the sun?

Think about trying this for your next business meeting. A change of scenery may be the thing to shake out the cobwebs and get your employees to come up with some new and innovative ideas.   Changing scenery by going outdoors has the same effect as if you are recharging your battery. You will get out of that stuffy office and get your staff’s blood pumping.

I know when I go outside, I feel an immediate sense of relaxation and stress relief. The results of this make me more creative and more proactive. It makes it easier to concentrate and simply makes me happier. Why wouldn’t you want this for your employees?

If your staff is more relaxed, they may even feel a little more courageous about giving input or suggestions. They may talk more from their hearts and give you more effectual feedback. Outdoor business meetings will make your employees more energetic and more engaged.

The benefits of a change of scenery for your business meetings are abundant. Bring your staff outdoors for a productive business meeting.

Office Fun for Earth Day

 

Earth Day has arrived, and there’s plenty of ways to celebrate the day while working in the office. For example, go on a company walk or a hike. Whether it’s a quick break to stroll the surrounding scenery, a planned excursion to a wooded destination, or an optional day-off meeting — going on a walk or hike with coworkers is a great idea. Not only is it a relaxing and healthy way to spend some time, it will also allow employees to form stronger connections to each other and to nature. 

Another Earth Day option is to bring in seedlings, seeds, or full blown plants, soil, pots, and paint. Take a break from work to have a joined activity of decorating pots and planting some flowers, fruits or vegetables, or other plants! Try to pick something everyone will enjoy and is pet-friendly, just in case. Not enough time to host this workshop-esque atmosphere? Allow employees to take their plants home and either plant them outside or in a pot. Supplies can be found at your local Dollar Store, so don’t worry about a hefty price tag! Don’t forget to hang up decorations for Earth Day and place posters or flyers in high-traffic locations with fun facts. Try using facts relevant to your office or the people you employ. Include Earth-saving tips to encourage better global citizenship.

Have fun celebrating Earth Day 2018!

Spring Company Outing Ideas

 

We are quickly approaching my favorite season of the year – spring! Whatever is left of the snow is melting, the sun is staying out longer, and the temperatures are rising slowly but surely. After a couple months of frigid cold, it is no surprise that the majority of people want to take advantage of the spring by going outside as much as they can. Companies usually have an “outing” for their employees at least once a year, and to me, spring is the optimal time to have one of these. Here are three ideas that I think would work well for a potential spring outing.

Minor League Baseball Game – If your company is located in or around a major city, chances are there is at least one “minor league” baseball team around. They aren’t affiliated with any professional team, so the tickets should be very affordable. I have been to a few New Jersey Jackals games, so if you are in the Northern New Jersey area, this would be a fun option to explore. Teams like the Jackals allow companies to purchase group ticket packages, and this is a great idea for a spring outing. Most ballparks contain grass areas near the outfield, so coworkers can bring their kids, and toss a baseball around before the game starts. Being able to sit back as the sun sets, eating some food off the grill and sipping some beer with your family and coworkers after a long day at the office while watching “America’s Pastime” in person (even if it is a minor team) if a very fun experience.

Company Picnic – To continue with the theme of being outdoors, I’d suggest a company picnic as an option for a spring outing. A picnic could be scheduled for either Saturday or Sunday, so work shouldn’t be on anyone’s mind. Who doesn’t like sitting outside and eating? Everyone can bring a food item, almost like a pot luck lunch at the park. Some parks also allow grilling in certain areas, so the company “grill master” can show off his or her chops. Employees can relax by laying on the grass, or compete in some friendly Frisbee or whiffle ball competitions.

Mini Cruise – The spring weather also allows those with boats to take a nice ride out on the water. Another nice way to soak up the rays would be to take an afternoon excursion on a mini cruise. Boat services offer short “cruises to nowhere”, usually for a couple of hours. The boat stays out on the water, passes by different sites, and there isn’t a destination to reach. It allows passengers to feel the nice wavy breeze and relax in the sun. It also allows passengers to have a few drinks as well (almost all of these types of boats have a bar), without the responsibility of steering the boat back to shore. As the case with most group outings, you can take advantage of group discount prices.