By Amy Applebaum
Work and relaxation are words that go together like Los Angeles and “easy commute”. But there are some simple ways to make your workplace a more pleasant place to be – a place that enriches you instead of drains you. Follow these tips and they’ll lead you to a place of workplace Zen:
Get up and move around. Headaches and stress come when we’ve stared at our monitors for too long. Lingering back and joint pain are the result of sitting at our desks for hours on end with little or no movement. Do some simple stretches at your desk. Take a 10 minute walk once or twice a day. Buy a pedometer and get yourself on the 10,000 step plan immediately! The improved clarity and circulation you get will reduce stress levels and enhance productivity. Finally, don’t just think about it, act on it! Buy that pedometer and get started tomorrow.
Take your lunch outside. A turkey sandwich consumed in the cramped confines of your desk does NOT taste as good as the same sandwich consumed at the park around the corner from your office. It’s a fact! So break up your day with a little sunshine. Even if it’s raining, get out there and experience something other than fluorescent lighting. The key is to hold yourself accountable and make sure that it actually happens! Write it in your schedule; invite a colleague, whatever has to be done to get you into the new environment.
Kill the clutter, clean up the cube. A messy, disorganized workspace is unmotivating. And searching endlessly for runaway paperwork and binder clips is a stressor in and of itself. You don’t have to knit a “Cube Sweet Cube” pillow, but your work space should be a place you want to be in. Make it powerful, motivating and meaningful to you, whatever that looks like. You spend 40 plus hours a week in that space –you should love it! The result will make your entire work experience more productive and less stressful.
Go home. No offense to your boss, but there’s almost nothing that can’t wait until morning. In fact, you’re not doing anyone any good by staying chained to your desk. Life is about balance. If you’re tired and feeling trapped, you won’t be as creative or productive and the quality of your work is going to suffer. Whether it’s going for a run or just spending time with your kids, go home and do the things that rejuvenate you. You’ll arrive at work the next day a happier, and more productive. (And if you work from home, get out of the house as much as you can!)
Now here’s the trick to make turn all these great ideas in ACTION: Don’t’ just read these suggestions…do them! You can’t get the results if you don’t take action. Don’t just SAY you’re going to take lunch in the park tomorrow, make plans with someone to meet in the park. This way, you won’t have nearly as many excuses for backing out. If you want to leave the office early, tell your family you’re going to be home by six. Tell a colleague that you’ll pay them a hundred dollars if you don’t leave by six. Plan your day around leaving at six. If you have to set an alarm at 5:45 to remind you to wrap things up…do it. Bottom line: Do whatever works for you and gets you to do it.
Now get to it!
To find out more about how to be successful, visit Amy at www.AmyApplebaum.com or www.ReleaseYourInnerMillionairess.com
Amy Applebaum, founder of Amy Applebaum, Inc.®, coaches female entrepreneurs all over the world. Her success has lead to appearances on ABC, CNN, TLC. Amy is an expert for the: NY Times, Herald Tribune, Cosmo, Figure, Diet.com and Woman’s World.
