Optimizing the productivity of your work space is not only conducive to a better working environment, but it is also likely to improve your personal outlook on all aspects of your daily life. After all, the majority of working individuals spend the largest portion of their waking day inside of their office. The following tips will help you maximize your time at work while also reducing your level of stress.

1.) If Possible, Space Out your Breaks – It used to be a common practice for people to take a thirty minute lunch and to also have two 15 minute breaks during the course of an eight hour workday. In most business environments a shift has occurred that has led to employees taking one longer break during the day, typically an hour, without any short breaks. This actually reduces productivity as it causes employees to become burned out much more quickly. To avoid this issue, it is best to return to a 15, 30, 15 minute break schedule. Those who eat lunch at their desk everyday may even benefit from more frequent but smaller breaks such as four breaks lasting 15 minutes each.

2.) Use Technology to your Advantage – Larger monitors will make it easier for you to deal with the potential effects of eyestrain. If you spend a lot of time working simultaneously with multiple documents, get your IT department to set up two monitors and make sure that the system is setup to allow you to drag and drop files between them. Utilize all of the time saving functionality that your computer and smartphone have to offer by setting up reminders on your calendar and syncing the data between your work computer and your phone.

3.) Shake Out the Mental Cobwebs – Even if you’re able to space out your breaks, you’ll occasionally feel like you’ve hit a mental wall. Rather than continue to struggle, take five minutes to do some very simplistic exercises and stretches. This can range from a walk around the building to doing some lunges or sit ups inside your office. Once you’ve done this you’ll find yourself feeling more energized and much more capable of dealing with the work in front of you.

4.) Ergonomic isn’t Just a Buzz Word – Every year countless hours of productivity are lost due to back and wrist issues. In order to make sure that this doesn’t happen to you, make sure that your office is ergonomically friendly. It is important to note, however, that what suits one person’s body will not necessarily be a good fit for anyone else. Due to this, it is imperative to avoid a one size fits all approach to furniture options.

5.) Filing isn’t Fun, but it is Necessary – If your office is overflowing with old paperwork that needs to be filed away it will become impossible for you to relax. Even if the work has been completed for months, the clutter that surrounds you will invariably have a negative impact on both your performance and your general outlook. No one enjoys filing, but make sure to keep up with it to ensure a happier work place.

Once you implement the tips listed above you’re certain to see an increase in your productivity. Don’t be afraid to try new ideas, especially during times of extreme workplace stress. It won’t only make your work day more pleasant but it will have a positive impact on your personal life, too.

Nicole Rodgers has been blogging in the business, technology, and finance industries for three years. When Nicole was running her small business she made sure to have good employee benefits to keep her employees happy. She also saw it was important to provide other benefits as well. She made sure to provide her employees with good health insurance in order to keep her employees healthy.

Cancer survivors, cancer patients, and their loved ones appreciate an ocean of pink ribbons worn to support their cause and cancer research. If your little pink ribbon has seen better days, replace it with one of these more durable items:

1. Clothing

With a pink-ribbon embellished t-shirt, baseball cap, or fitted vest, you won’t have to worry about safety-pins or stickers. These quality items include embroidered or screen-printed designs that often have a slogan along with the pink ribbon.

You can even find the pink ribbon on a cute pair of argyle socks!

2. Jewelry

Instead of a fragile ribbon made of satin, why not use one of the more durable cancer pins? Affordable versions are made in gold with sparkling pink crystals, while higher end pieces use genuine pink sapphires.

Pink ribbons are also available as earrings, pendants, and charms. If you have a proud cancer survivor in your circle of friends, either choice makes a perfect gift for any occasion.

3. Water Bottles

Cool off after you support the cause at a local walking or running event with your pink ribbon decorated water bottle. If you have a team of walkers, order one for each member to show your appreciation for their efforts.

4. Kitchen Items

Fill the kitchen of your favorite cancer survivor with baking items decorated with the cheerful pink ribbon. Choose from measuring spoons to make sure your special treats come out just right!

If you’d like to recruit a few new supporters, handing out cookies shaped like pink ribbons complete with a coating of pink frosting would definitely get your message across. Cupcakes presented in pink-ribbon-covered baking cups will also be an instant hit.

5. Rubber Stamps

Although regular mail is grinding slowly to what may eventually be an actual halt, many offices and homes still place a few random envelopes in the mailbox. Why not make filling in the return address easy and show your support for the cause at the same time?

Rubber stamps are available for home or office use with your return address and the pink cancer ribbon. If you have a stockpile of pre-printed envelopes, you can always order a stamp with just the pink ribbon icon and one of the popular cancer fighting logos. Don’t forget some bright pink ink while you’re at it!

6. Tattoos

If you’ve just found out your cancer is in remission, why not celebrate with a permanent reminder of just how lucky you are and how important cancer research continues to be? Many cancer survivors and their loved ones consider a pink-ribbon tattoo to be the best way to show their lifelong commitment to fighting this terrible disease.

To make your tattoo even more special, why not add the remission date as well? If you’re not excited about another needle, there are several versions of pink-ribbon temporary tattoos to try on. Who knows? After wearing one of these, you might change your mind and get inked permanently.

Whether you choose one of these lovely items for yourself or someone special, it shows how much you care! What’s your favorite way to show your commitment to a worthy cause?

Annie is a creative blogger for Dobovo, the international travel company offering a wode range of Kiev apartments for budget travellers. 

It’s hard to believe that the holidays are upon us once again. It seems like just yesterday we were saying that for the previous season. Quite often it flies by so quickly and in a rush that it’s difficult to enjoy it all.

The decorating, shopping, school festivities, parties, wrapping, baking…what did I forget? Oh, yes, family meals. That’s because it can easily be one of the last things we focus on during the holiday season, with everything else that is going on.

However, eating well and balanced meals are a necessity, even in November and December. Our health should not be thrown to the wind, just because we are too busy. I often wonder if that is why there is so much sickness around the holidays.

So, a couple years ago I made sure to have a plan in place, assuring that we could eat fairly normal during this time. Of course it won’t be perfect, and the snacks and goodies, which we all bake, will get in our way of being completely balanced. But, my goal for our house is to not let it get out of hand.

I’m going to share some of my ideas, just in case you are just as tired as I was with the annual holiday weight gain, and sugar highs that were causing sleepless nights.

Be Well Equipped

Before the lights are strung, and the tree is up, I make sure that my kitchen is in good condition, as well as all the tools and equipment that I need for making the everyday meals, as well as the big day meals…and of course, the baking.

I check the oven, pots, cookie sheets, hand mixer, and especially my food processor because I would be lost without that gem. If you don’t have one, I highly recommend getting a good one. If you are unsure about what kind, size, and quality to get, simply Google food processor reviews.

Planning a Weekly Menu

Once I know everything is in working order, I grab a calendar to sit down and plan out a weekly menu. By doing this, it saves the time and frustration of having to come up with dinner plans at the last minute. It also saves money, if you can plan your menu based on the market’s sales for the upcoming week, along with the paper’s coupons.

I take the weekly ads from the paper to look what is on sale, as well as the coupons. I can then plan out the entire week’s menu, and save money. This frees up the family’s time, and the extra events that the holidays bring on are not as rushed.

Get the Family Involved

I also get help from the family when the menu is posted ahead of time. For example, if my husband finishes with work before I do, he can then get it started.

Even though my kids are young, they like to help out as well. We like to find little tasks for them to do, so they feel a part of the plans. They like to set the table, help with the coupons, and check off the daily menu when we are done with dinner. This can also double as a countdown calendar for Christmas.

Any little piece of help the family can provide helps to keep day feel less rushed.

Prepare and Cook what You can Ahead of Time

With many meals, there are things you can do ahead of time, either by hours, or even days.

There are some meals that can be made ahead, and then placed in the freezer until you are ready, such as lasagna, chili, and chicken pot pie. Simply take the items out of the freezer the night before and place it in the refrigerator, and cook when ready. If you take the time to make a pan of lasagna two weeks earlier, make two and freeze one.

Other ingredients can be prepared ahead of time, and either frozen for a week or two later, or for the next day. Here’s just a sample:

* Chopped Onion
* Bell Peppers
* Strawberries
* Chopped Nuts
* Shredded Cheese
* Corn off the Cob

This is just a small list to give you an idea of what you can do ahead of time and place in the freezer to save time. Place them in a plastic bag, and then label them with a marker.

It might not sound like much, but you will be surprised at how much time it can save you. After all, when we are rushing around, trying to get to the school play, or choir practice, we aren’t typically an hour late, but rather just a few minutes. Less time than it takes to chop all those ingredients, actually.

In Closing

I hope I have been able to help you with a few tips on cutting down on the rush of the holidays, allowing you time to enjoy the extra festivities with your family.

For me, since I have implemented these ideas, our home has felt less rushed and more joyous.

Happy Holidays to you all!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa Cameron lives in Texas with her husband and two young children. As a freelance writer, she enjoys writing about parenting and local history. After once seeing her enthusiastic purchase of a Cuisinart toaster, her husband thought she should add ‘finding the best buys’ to her topic list. So, she did.