Tag: Health in the Workplace

Tips for Spring Cleaning the Office

Last week was the first official day of Spring, a sign of new beginnings and blossoming possibilities. It is also a time to rid yourself of clutter throughout your workspace. Just like spring cleaning your home, start this spring season by eliminating disorder, disinfecting and re-organizing the office.

Don’t know where to start? Here are some suggestions to make the most out of your spring cleaning.

Work Zones

Start by figuring out what you want and need out of your workspace on a daily basis. Create zones accordingly, such as a storage area for supplies, a library area for research and your computer space. These don’t have to be large zones, but rather spaces to prioritize each of your jobs.

Tip: Keep only what you really need at arm’s length. Rid yourself of visual clutter.

All That Paper Work

Despite efforts to go paperless, a lot of business still deal with piles and piles of paperwork weekly. This can not only clutter your workspace but it can also make your workload look overwhelming. Opt for creating folders or bins that are labeled by project or by a daily task. Color coding can also help if the project is especially lengthy. Knowing what needs your immediate attention and what you need to accomplish every day can help you feel less stressed as well.

Desk Drawers

We all have that drawer that someone become the “junk drawer” over time. Most of the time this drawer is the catcher for things you don’t want to deal with or have cluttering your desk. Invest in an organizer that compartmentalizes all these bits and pieces like pens, paper clips, elastics, and tape. Go back every few months and keep it neat.

Email and Desktop Clutter

Email pile up for everyone and so do desktop icons on your computer. When you are in a rush to make a deadline, you aren’t too concerned about the organization of your files and emails. During spring cleaning, take the time to delete unneeded emails. Create folders in your Outlook by client or task. Clean up your desktop so that every time you turn on your computer, the first thing you see isn’t a sea of icons. This might take a little bit of time, but when you are done, you will be so happy you did.

Disinfect

They say that one of the dirtiest surfaces is your work keyboard. Dirt, fingerprints, and dust can build up over time on your mouse, phone, and monitor. Use disinfectant wipes to clean these areas weekly. According to Forbes.com, “three-quarters of workers say a clean office makes them more productive.”

Healthy Habits in the Workplace

rju_xd3tgyc-breather   Here are some of the ways we at Media Partners Worldwide bring healthy habits to the workplace:

Snack Choices

We all like to snack throughout the day. However, donuts, soda and other types of junk food are strongly discouraged. Instead, we stock up on Pop chips, healthy granola nut bars, and fresh fruit. We have plenty of organic teas in our kitchen cabinets and we encourage everyone to stay hydrated with plenty of water.

Essential Oils

We frequently use Doterra Essential Oils to promote better health.  Essential oils can make a huge difference in the energy of the workplace environment.  We have a couple diffusers in the office and we frequently will diffuse oils for balance such as peppermint, lemon, rosemary and ginger. These oils provide stimulation to the senses resulting in mental clarity. If we need an extra boost, oils like grapefruit, lime, and lemon promote inspiration. I will also diffuse OnGuard oil when people are sick. With an emphasis on healing naturally through essential oils, tempers can be soothed, clarity can replace confusion and sick days lessen. download

Music

We are fortunate to have Wholetones as our client. Wholetones: The Healing Frequency Music Project believes in the power of healing through the vibrations of music. By playing these CDs, we can increase the energy flow in the office and create a relaxing, yet creative environment. If you want to learn more about the using music to promote healing, relieve stress and break negative cycles, visit wholetones.com.

Sitting on Yoga Balls/Ball Chairs

Recently, I bought my staff yoga ball chairs as an alternative to sitting in an office chair all day. A stability ball can help burn more calories and tone core muscles. It can also help you elevate back pain since sitting this way requires you to maintain good posture.  According to the American Fitness Professionals and Associates, “For best results, switch back and forth between using a chair and a stability ball. And, don’t forget to stand up throughout the work day to mitigate any possible health concerns associated with sitting for a long period of time.” We find that by having an option to switch to the stability ball throughout the day increases our productivity. pg-weight-exercise-at-work-05-full

Take Short Walks

I also encourage everyone to take short walks and leave the office. Fresh air is so critical to maintaining overall health. A regular supply of fresh air is very important. “Fresh air provides you with a steady supply of oxygen which is needed by your brain and every single cell of your body…Every function carried on by the body is directly related to the life of the cells. Cells need four things to live and function properly such as oxygen, water, nutrition, and cleansing. Without oxygen, the cells die in three minutes as it is one chemical essential for the cells to create energy,” according to Your Standard Life. Fresh air can provide energy and increase productivity.]]>