Give Your Future Self a Reason to Thank You for Making These Simple Changes

Do you work 8, 9 even 10 hours a day in an office? I do and have been for 20 years and then a couple years ago, my doctor said half of the issues I complained about could be improved if I focused on doing little things to help myself during the hours I spent working. With the help of my beautiful wife Kathy, my daughter Nurse Megan and a friend who is a physical therapist, we went to my office and put this plan into place. I can tell you that while all of my problems are not gone, a number of them are better and a few have left the building.

So what were my problems? High cholesterol, overweight, lower back pain, daily headache, constipation (sorry), sciatic nerve issues and too tired to enjoy myself after work. I know, isn't this all about getting older? That's what I thought, but if making some changes could help any of these issues, I was on board. With 6 months behind me now, I have lost 16 pounds and am still a little overweight, my cholesterol is better, not great, I still have some lower back pain but it is better and the headaches and sciatic nerve issues are gone. Here is a list of the recommendations my "Team" came up with and how effective I think they were.
The Goal - Increase my water intake to 32 ounces per day at work.The Plan - Kathy sends a 32 ounce jug of our filtered water from home and a paper Dixie cup to work with me.The Result - Pretty good. I allowed myself one cup of coffee in the morning instead of the three I was used to and I cut out the "soda pop" after lunch that had become a habit. The lack of caffeine took a few days to get used to and I now make more trips to the mens room than ever before, but the end result is definitely positive.The Goal - Get off my butt and on my feet.The Plan - Bring in my laptop from home and set it up on a file cabinet so I can work standing up part of the day while I continue to work on my computer and stand when I am on the phone.The Result - I love it!! Working with two computers was a pain, but I have since added an adjustable height desk unit that allows me to sit or stand. I believe that standing part of the day helps my sciatic nerve issues. Try standing for an hour and then sit for 15 minutes. No more tired feeling after lunch. Standing while talking on the phone has resulted in me now pacing the floor which in my mind is like walking on a treadmill all on company time.The Goal - For goodness sake, Take a Break!The Plan - Set a daily reminder on my computer to get away from my work for 5 minutes every 2 hours.The Result - This was the hardest thing for me to get used to. At first I just ignored the reminders but when questioned by my wife I had to admit that this wasn't happening. So 3 or 4 times a day I now take a 5 minute walk around the building. You can't get too far but it is now part of my day and I am more focused when I return to my desk.The Goal - Get to know your coworkers.The Plan - When feasible, communicate directly with others in your office as opposed to sending an email.The Result - I now know much more about my coworkers and the direct communication is appreciated by most. It gets me on my feet and moving more which like most of these changes is helping my overall wellness. I do suggest following up with a reminder email on issues that may require verification that the conversation took place. Even though my sciatic nerve issues are better, you still want to cover your butt.

In summary, I am keeping with the program because it has helped me. If you decide to try these changes, give yourself a couple weeks to get used to them. Don't beat yourself up if you fall back to your old habits, today is a new day and believe me, your future self will thank you for the effort.

Ergo Desktop is an American Made Product that allow the user to alternate between standing and sitting while they work at a computer. When coupled with other healthy changes to your work day, you can improve your wellness level while you work.

http://www.ergodesktop.com/

Original article

Making the Right Choice When Buying Office Chairs

A poor office chair can jeopardize your performance at work. Among all other office furniture, you should have a chair which will provide you comfort and full functionality as well. Some neglect the idea of finding the right chair thinking that it is just the stress which causes them to commit mistakes in their work and cause their body pains. But I tell you, if you often experience body pains, then your chair may not be providing you the right support. Having the right office chair will contribute to improving your work efficiency.

Your chair should not just be any kind of chair. It should be designed ergonomically. When you speak of ergonomic office chairs, it means that they are specifically made to fit the needs of your body like having the proper parts to aid your movements and positions. Being comfortable is not enough, it should provide the right support to prevent you from having body aches to make you functional and efficient.

Points to Consider when Buying Office Chairs

1. It should fit perfectly with your sitting height. Take into consideration the height of your office table so that your hands are leveled with the top of your desk. A good office chair will not require you to stoop or push yourself up just to reach the top of the table and be able to write properly. Your feet should also be able to lie flat on the floor. Usually 16-21 inches is the perfect height for a n office chair. Modern furniture offers chairs that can be adjusted in height so they may work well with other tables of various types.

2. It will be more convenient for you if it has armrests so you can relax those tired arms better.

3. An adjustable back rest which can be moved backward will help you recline better when you want to rest for a while from all your work. The back rest of the chair is a foremost consideration among all other parts of the chair. It is advisable that it is 12-19 inches in height. Some back rests come with an upper support for the head and nape.

4. A chair with wheels and swivel feature will make it easier for you to move around. Make sure that your back really fits the chair so you would not experience back pains.

5. There are also office chairs with footrests which make them more comfortable just like the recliner sofa you have at home.

6. If you want optimum comfort and durability go for leather office chairs. However, you may need a larger budget if you are to buy leather chairs. You can still go for fabric chairs if you are short of money. They prove to be comfortable as well and you can have them upholstered. Do not buy cushions that are too soft as they will give you back pains. Test the cushions and make sure that they are made of materials that can support heavy weights.

7. Your chair should fit perfectly in your office so you can still place other furniture in the room.

A good office chair will be your best buddy at work. It will help you to be relaxed and at ease despite the heavy work you have and will equally help you function at your best so you may meet your deadlines and finish all your tasks expertly.

Modern furniture for your office is also the concern of lafurntiurestore.com. Office chairs that are ergonomically designed can be found in their site along with other office furniture.

Original article

Top Tips for Making Your Office a Better Place to Work

If you find motivation is on the decline in your office and your employees are looking rather fed up then it could well be the environment they're working in which is affecting their mood. What the office looks like and their employer's policies and ethics can also impact on employees' wellbeing. Lists such as the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies and the company behind it, Best Companies, along with accreditations such as Investors in People prove that you care about your employees' working environment, wellbeing and happiness in the workplace. Below are some top tips for making your office a better place for your employees to work.

Invest in ergonomic design

Backcare.org states that "back pain is the second most common cause of sickness absence in Great Britain". A major contributing factor to back pain can be the way your employees' desks are set up. If the desks and chairs in your office are not able to be easily adjusted then your employees are likely to be slouching which can cause neck and back pain. Other issues which could affect your team's health are a lack of ergonomic design with computer monitors and other computer accessories such as mouse mats. By allowing team members to customise their desks to suit their height and the way they work, your team can benefit from a better ergonomic design in the workplace.

Make the office more attractive

A messy office full of paper, tea stained desks, wires and clutter won't do much to boost your team's moral. Instead of letting your employees' sit in a dull and uninspiring office, liven the place up and motive them with colours. Yellow, orange and green are all lively colours which could give your employees a creative spark and motivation boost. Hide wires away from view with a smart wire tidy which will also help prevent people tripping over the wires too. Decorative cable trunking can be used to mask wires on walls and you could even choose different colours to complement or contrast with the rest of the office.

Think about the environment

As people's awareness of environmental issues grow, you need to make sure that you're doing your part so your employees' see the company as a responsible and ethical place to work. One way to make your company more eco-friendly is to purchase recycled products. As well as the obvious choices such as paper and other stationary, items such as wire tidies, desks, chairs and other office equipment can all be bought from suppliers offering recycled products. Ensure your employees do their part and recycle paper, cans, plastics and other items such as printer cartridges. Switching off lights and equipment at the end of each day can also enhance your environmental credentials. The Energy Saving Trust has some startling statistics on energy wasted in offices, "almost a third of UK office workers frequently leave their PCs running overnight or over the weekend when they go home, resulting in carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions equivalent to the output of 120,000 4x4 cars."

For more information please visit CMD workplace ergonomic solutions

Original article

Making Jobs Safer for Nurses

When looking at the physical demands of different jobs and likelihood of being injured, the field in most urgent need of help is nursing. The nursing shortage isn't due to no one wanting to be a nurse. Professionals and students who want the job or have the job experience the risks, injuries, and burnout, and leave the field. Nurses incur work-related musculoskeletal disorders seven times more than all other occupations. Nursing aids, orderlies, and attendants lift a cumulative 1.8 tons in a single 8-hour shift. The physical demands of this job are astounding, and they only become more intense as health care facilities become short staffed. The good news is that safe handling equipment is immediately effective and cost-recoupable in about 5 years.

Take, for example, John Dempsey Hospital in Connecticut. Their patient handling program was designed with the goal of being the safest hospital in the state. Their latest lift was purchased with the specific goal of reducing the staff injuries resulting from lifting, moving, and repositioning patients. Patients in turn have a safer experience as they are less likely to incur bruising or skin tears in the move. The safest hospital in the state likely sees more patients and attracts more nurses than other hospitals. Let's look at some aspects of nursing safety:
Lifting patients - obviously, lifting people who weigh hundreds of pounds is what accumulates to that average 1.8 tons the fastest. There are a variety of mechanized solutions for lifting, turning, and transporting patients. This saves nurses from both accumulated and immediate trauma, especially to their low backs.
Lifting other objects - those in the nursing field have many job responsibilities, some of which include lifting/transporting equipment and containers as well as emptying receptacles. These activities recruit many other movements that increase the risk of injury, like twisting, bending, and repetitive movements. Motorized equipment also exists for lifting objects, which is not only safer on the back, but neck and shoulders as well.
Distance walked to obtain supplies - nurses are on their feet and on the move all day and night. They often are rotating their shifts, which mean getting enough sleep is a challenge. Lack of sleep and constant movement greatly add to fatigue, and fatigue can create a lot of other safety issues for both nurse and patient. Centralized or mobile workstations can help decrease unnecessary exhaustion and help health care workers save their energy for other job duties.
Pushing and pulling - other manual material handling jobs focus a lot of safety instruction on pushing and pulling properly because of the high incident of related injuries. People in the nursing field also have the task of pushing and pulling some pretty heavy objects. This places stress on the entire back, shoulders, neck, wrists, and knees. When other manual assistance is hard to come by, motorized carts and chairs can make a world of difference in safety.

Nurses like their jobs. We need nurses. Providing a safer way for everyone in the nursing field to do their jobs helps us all. Fortunately, this is a time where ergonomics is an integral part of our work culture.
Additionally, legislation continues to pass bills that require lifting equipment and patient handling safety training in hospitals. If health care facilities can support their staff with equipment to make their jobs as safe as possible, nurses will have career longevity, facilities will be staffed, and patients will be in the best care possible.

Jacob Cummings is the National Sales Manager for PHS West, Inc. He has been with the company for 11 years. PHS West Inc manufactures customized material handling solutions for a variety of industries and applications. Products include motorized platform carts, endoscopy carts, dialysis carts, patient transport systems and motorized linen carts. Jacob has written a number of articles on ergonomics for Nursing.

Original article