3 Instant Stress Busters for the Office.
It is Monday and you know you have a busy week ahead and that your team will be under pressure. If you have an important project or deadline looming then it is important that staff work hard but keep a cool head to minimise mistakes and avoid burnout.
Whilst stress is largely a personal reaction to a situation, and dependant on a number of factors, we have put together three mood-enhancing tips which you can implement immediately and provide a much needed boost to your team.
1 Lay on the Snacks.
When the heat is on, it is natural to reach for sugary and starchy snacks to power us through the workload. Whilst you may get a momentary boost from a sugar high, this is followed by a slump and reduced performance.
So if you are going to lay on snacks to help your staff power through the day, then choose from these healthy choices which provide sustained energy, an enhanced mood and are immune boosting such as dark chocolate, Fruit, including Oranges and blueberries, cashew and pistachio nuts, (watch for allergies) sugar-free smoothies or yogurts, flapjacks or porridge and salmon or turkey sandwiches (on wholemeal or seeded bread).
Whilst good quality coffee is a great pick-me-up, green tea can provide a boost and contains stress-busting antioxidants which help employees keep their focus.
2 Clear the Decks.
You may have heard a variation of the Chinese proverb that is akin to Tidy Desk, Tidy Mind.
Not only is a clean desk and workspace becoming popular due to health and safety rules and legal compliance; research has shown it is essential to the mental wellbeing of staff. Clutter can increase anxiety and reduce performance as well as potentially leading to important documents going missing.
So before they go home on a Friday, have everyone clear out the clutter, file unnecessary paperwork and give their desks a good clean for a positive start to the week.
If you want to boost everyone’s mood further, bring in some glossy green plants and artwork in calming colours. Both are proven to reduce blood pressure and enhance a sense of wellbeing in the office.
3 Treat them all to a Night Out.
Being able to laugh and chat with colleagues has been shown to increase emotional resilience, decrease stress and increase job satisfaction. What better way to motivate staff to smash a deadline than offering to treat them to a night out at the end of the week. You will also get the benefits of increased performance and loyalty by offering your staff recognition for their hard work. If you are stuck for ideas, check out our events calendar for fun nights out you can enjoy with staff as part of the Social Circle Wellbeing package.