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O P I N I O N
I t’s not that we’re bad people, or that we aren’t working hard. The problem is that what our minds and bodies need at a basic level is in conflict with our work style. We are so focused on work, on getting things done, that we’ve changed the way we eat, move, and sleep in a way that is actually counter-productive. Create a healthy workplace: Part one Over the years, we have developed work styles that are not good for our physical, mental, or emotional health, but that can be changed.
Leigh Stringer
It turns out that taking care of worker health and wellbeing is the most effective way to increase engagement and performance. Putting yourself and your health first isn’t selfish, it’s exactly what we all need to do to make our businesses thrive. So how can we improve the health of our work place? Here’s a comprehensive list: 1)Build flexibility into how, when, and where you work. ❚ ❚ Change where you work. Many people can work effectively and efficiently at home, in a satellite office, co-working facility, a park, or a coffee shop. Working this way requires good mobile technolo- gy and the right protocols to pull off (so everyone knows how to reach you), but can be incredibly empowering. ❚ ❚ Adopt a more flexible work schedule. Flexible
work schedules are an alternative to the tradi- tional 9 to 5, 40-hour work week. They allow you to vary your arrival and/or departure times and include programs like job sharing or a compressed work week. “It turns out that taking care of worker health and wellbeing is the most effective way to increase engagement and performance.” ❚ ❚ Move more. Take a look at how you work and explore alternatives to sitting in one position all day. Change your position often and move around frequently, e.g., stand at a table in the break room, walk during conference calls.
See LEIGH STRINGER, page 10
THE ZWEIG LETTER December 19, 2016, ISSUE 1180
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