LSJ.com

October 28, 2007

Workplace zen

How to rise above work's rigors and lighten up

Jessica Peralta
MCT News Service

Work is a big part of our lives. Our financial stability, and sometimes even sense of self, depend on it.

Unfortunately, the day-to-day tedium of paperwork, deadline stress, and office drama can take their toll on health and happiness.

"If you work eight hours a day, that equates to a third of your total life," said Pedram Shojai, a licensed acupuncturist and president of Vitality Health & Wellness in Irvine, Calif. which offers a corporate wellness program to employers.

"That's too much time to blunder away by being unhealthy, unhappy and unfit."

There are several aspects of a typical work environment that can be adjusted for an improved day and job life. We've compiled expert advice in four areas related to work life: ergonomics, employee nutrition and fitness, workstation organization and design, and relaxation amid stress.

Hopefully, these tips can help your work hours come a bit closer to what your free time is like.

BREATHE AND BOND

Your neck and shoulders are knotted and painful. You're losing sleep over your latest project. And you're desperate for a vacation.

In about six seconds, you'll be bursting from all the stress.

"As we know from science and research, stress-related disorders account for about 60-90 percent of office visits to physicians," said Ryan Seay, clinical psychologist at The Center for Optimal Health in Irvine.

So relax ... with these tips.

» Get chummy with co-workers through social activities outside work, Seay says. Recent research has shown people with strong family and friendship ties are generally happier, he said.

» If you're having trouble with someone at work, try communicating with that person, said Gena Kadar, corporate wellness director for Orange County Heart Institute and Research Center in Orange, Calif.

» Having a positive attitude about life and self is a great way to create luck and opportunity.

» Breathe yourself into a meditative state. When feeling stressed, take five minutes to sit up straight and breathe down into your lower abdomen. When you catch your mind wandering, acknowledge it and return to the breathing.

» Let go of perfectionism, Kadar said. For many of us, everything has to be done flawlessly, but sometimes flawless isn't necessary.

FIGHT UNHEALTHY WORK HABITS

It's 4 p.m. and you've hardly moved except to reach for the in-basket on your desk. Your stomach aches from "sampling" the cheesecake someone left on the snack table, and your legs feel cramped.

"Today many employees are expected to work at a computer most of the day and are under a lot of pressure to produce under stress and deadlines," said registered dietitian Sharon Hardy, who runs a nutrition-based corporate wellness business, Focus Wellness Group.

"Often there is not enough time for workers to eat balanced lunches and snacks, as well as no time to get the physical exercise needed to stave off chronic disease such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease."

While it may not always be easy to eat well and be fit, here are some tips and information about classes and meal delivery services that can help.

» Find a buddy at your workplace whom you will join you in eating healthy and keeping fit, Hardy said. It's easier to stick to a fitness routine with a like-minded friend.

» Avoid eating the entire meal when having lunch at a restaurant; most meals are two to three times larger than what you need, Hardy said. If you have to eat at restaurants frequently for your job, educate yourself on ordering healthy meals.

» Eat every three to four hours to keep your blood sugar stable and prevent energy-level fluctuations, said Gena Kadar, licensed chiropractor, certified nutrition specialist and corporate wellness director for Orange County Heart Institute and Research Center in Orange.

» Keep healthy snacks like protein bars, almonds and low-fat string cheese around your desk, Kadar said. Bring snacks that don't spoil easily and that contain protein and healthy carbs to help with blood sugar stability and energy.

» If you have a sweet tooth, swap out the Snickers and cupcakes for sweet fruits like cherries, grapes and strawberries, said San Clemente personal fitness trainer Elaine Reeves Gjonovich.

» Use smaller bowls to reduce the amount of snacks you eat, Gjonovich said. Keep snacks far away from your desk out of sight, out of mind.

» Bring comfortable walking shoes to work so you can take short walks during breaks, Gjonovich said.

» Choose exercise over convenience as much as possible. Instead of sending an e-mail to a colleague upstairs, walk up the stairs and talk to her in person, Kadar said. Park in a distant spot in the garage rather than one closer to the door. Walking a little here and there adds up.

LESS MESS, MORE BLISS

Piles of paperwork litter your desk. Yesterday's lunch is stuck to the bottom of the report due to your boss in 10 minutes. You can't find your desk planner to reschedule an appointment you're already late for.

"Good organizational habits are extremely important in the work environment," said Nancy McGivney, professional organizing coach in Orange County, Calif.

"If you can't find what you need when you need it, your work suffers, your reputation as a professional suffers, and your stress level can increase. If you are organized, you will be efficient, have good self-esteem, be respected by your peers and managers, and are more likely to be successful."

Organization and overall design of your work area should not be ignored in your quest for a happy job life. Here are some tips from an interior designer and a couple of organizing pros.

» Keep things on your desk that you use daily, said California State University-Fullerton instructor Manny Fernandez Jr., who teaches a class called "Using 5S to Organize the Workplace." Things you need occasionally (once a week, perhaps) should be off your desk but stored in an easy-access place. If you have things that are rarely or never used, get rid of them or store them where they're not taking up space.

» Get a notebook specifically for keeping a daily dated log of telephone notes, numbers and other important information for future reference and to verify details, McGivney said.

» Take 15 minutes at the end of each day to clear your desk and prioritize your to-do list for the next day, McGivney said. Refill any office supplies, and if you're a Post-it Notes user, staple all of the notes to one piece of paper (in order of importance) and place the paper in your "hot file."

» Use color strategically in your work area to counteract stress and induce creativity, said Rachel Hulan, owner of Path Design in Santa Ana, Calif., an interior design firm with a focus on "green" design. Light blue and pink can help relieve anxiety, and purple may help stimulate creativity. Greens, particularly softer blue-greens like moss and sage, can make time seem to pass more quickly, as well as remind you of the outdoors.

» Add pictures to your work area, Hulan said not just the standard photos of your spouse, kids and/or pets, but also large images of where you would most like to be: a favorite vacation spot or an exotic place you'd like to visit one day. Hang the image where you can easily see it when you need some mental and physical relief from staring at a computer screen all day.

» Get a few air-purifying plants like dracaena, bromeliad, orchids and gerbera daisies for your work area, Hulan said. These plants can help brighten up a work space and help remove common air pollutants like formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene.