subject: Creating A Healthier Work Environment [print this page] If you have a typical 8-hour workday, then you spend a total of about 2,080 hours a year at work. The stress level is usually high but the nature of the job is sedentary. You know that it is time to make serious changes if you find yourself in a work situation where the morale is low and everyone is unmotivated. Your daily work environment is clearly toxic and sooner or later this will take a heavy toll on your health.
When we speak of pollution, it is easy to see how the environment affects our health. It works the same way with our work surroundings. Consider this, you spend more than half of your waking hours during weekdays in the workplace. If the atmosphere for the most part is unpleasant and stressful, then are exposing yourself to a lot of negativity. Don't expect to be emotionally and intellectually in your best form. Being constantly in such an environment will eventually push you over the edge, so to speak.
Workplace stress is to be taken seriously. People in such situations often suffer health conditions that cause them to miss workdays. From the standpoint of the company, it means high health care costs and loss of performance. Each time you feel stressed out at work, take a couple of deep breaths before continuing what you were doing.
There is no better stress reliever than physical activity. At work, try to squeeze in a few modified exercises such as 10-minute walk during your lunch break or getting up from your desk every hour to stretch your legs by taking a short walk down the hall. Believe it or not, these seemingly insignificant activities can actually do you much good. Move! Your body needs it!
Being nutritionally prepared is another way to positively respond to a toxic workplace. Make sure to bring healthy snacks to munch on to prevent you from grabbing a sugary treat from the vending machine. Drink plenty of pure water and cut down on caffeine-laced drinks.
Organize and de-clutter your workspace. Give it a make-over to make it more comfortable but functional and conducive to working. However, don't make it too cozy that you would be tempted to take short naps. Changing your outlook also helps. Smiling more often will lighten your demeanor.
Rather than being angry, take time to listen. Assertiveness has its virtues but always remember that you cannot have control over everything although you can control your reactions to people and situations. The best thing to do is to choose the people you mingle with. If you spend a lot of time with grumblers and scrooges, you will imbibe their negative aura. Hang around with happy, inspired and optimistic people. Not only will you catch their positive energy, you will likewise be inspired and motivated.
The stress level in the workplace is not the same for all types of jobs. There are actually jobs where the stress level is not destructive to the health. Excluded here are professional athletes although included are athletics-related careers and jobs where the workplace environment is balanced and wholesome. Below is our list of the Top 10 Healthiest Jobs.
