All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy'. Now, nobody wants to be Jack, but invariably at some point during work you find that Jack's shoes fit just fine. It's almost as though the whole office is tuned into the same frequency.
The hum of the systems, clicking of the keys, shuffling of feet coupled with the idle banter can have you lost, waiting to stick your head out for a breath of fresh air.
Unwind, it's easy! You have the controls and the choice is yours to switch channels. The first step is to want to tune out. Once your mind is open to variables at work, possibilities start to pop out of the walls. And this does not include converting cubicles into a little feng shui showroom or involve chimes, bells and nodding dolls that every office already has.
Headphone help
Music is the easiest way to tune out and headphones are as private as you can get. Tune into a personal space that is devoid of the office sounds. If your PC doesn't have a sound chip, speak to the IT department.
Speakers are like a concert in office with everyone on for the gig especially the lip syncers and sing-along-aloud-out-of-tune ones. So turn on the music and have your office tapping to a new groove.
Start with a seed
You can't take a pet to office unless you work at the zoo, leaving plants as the next best living thing to introduce to the office environment. Studies have shown that plants around the office help. But we won't go around watering every plant in the office and put the janitor out of a job.
Simple, plant a seed, watch it grow, this will give you time to take a break, water the plant and just maybe a conversation with the little tree may help.
Meeting meditation
The head honchos know it, Art of Living talks about it and yet we spend five minutes on wondering how to change the future rather than doing the now. Take five minutes out of office time, get to a quiet place -- the terrace, a balcony, the fire escape, the bylane -- wherever, but it should be quiet.
Now this won't give you nirvana but it sure as hell will help you recharge your batteries. Your mind can take you places, it's a magic carpet ride and if you haven't tried it, you should.
Busy with balls
If sitting in one place is your biggest problem, what you need is a ball. Stress balls, the ones with the smiley face are the best. Bounce them of walls, play an innings of cubicle cricket, toss a quick game of catch on the way to the board room or hit some dodge ball when you work late. If this doesn't get your mind racing, it surely will give you an adrenaline shot better than any office coffee.
The dream pillow
If all else fails, and you are really in need for your mind to shut down and reboot. Do just that. Take a nap.
Spend less time chatting at the water cooler and rest your mind and body. It helps. It increases your efficiency and you can be one of the privileged few who still dream while at work.
All you need to do is buy a comfortable little pillow. Keep it tucked away in a drawer and when you need to, instead of trying new and exaggerated methods to find some self-time while at the office, you can do what nature has us do no matter how much we avoid it. Try it, a 15-minute nap can and has changed how people work. Bear in mind, though, that this is not your chance to catch up on the hours of beauty sleep you missed out on thanks to the party last night. This is just to rest your eyes and freshen your mind for 10 to 15 minutes.
There are as many ways as there are workplaces. We can all find what helps us tune out. The best suggestion I can make -- have a talent, take that to work. If you draw, you can tune out on a white board. Musicians can leave a suitable musical instrument in the office for a quick tune and back to work.
Maybe even a boxing bag, pool table, a pinball machine, the possibilities are infinite. It is up to you to take that time out and go play!
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