What Your Workspace Says About You

WHAT YOUR WORKSPACE SAYS ABOUT YOU The average American worker spends between 6 hours, 54 minutes and 8 hours, 16 minutes at work. A 2012 UK study shows that the average person spends about 5 hours, 41 minutes sitting at his or her desk. That's a lot of time spent at your desk, which becomes a reflection of who you are and how you work. What does your workspace say about you? THE HEALTH NUT, There's nothing more important than your personal health, and being in an office won't stop you from ensuring that your body operates like a well-oiled machine. Healthy snacks Snacking prevents overeating, keeps your blood sugar and energy up, and can give you many nutrients you might be missing out on-as long as you do it healthy. Some common snacks you keep at your desk include: Fresh and dried fruit Whole wheat crackers Nuts Stability ball You've ditched the uncomfortable desk chair for the stability ball, which: Improves Improves Builds balance stability stronger abs Hand sanitizer, tissues, disinfectant wipes While you're no germaphobe, you do know that the average desk is home to 400 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. One study found 549 different types of bacteria in the average office. Many of these bacteria came from human skin normally found in the mouth, nose, and intestinal cavities. Plants Your office plants add a dash of color, but plants at work have been shown to: • Reduce stress • Improve air quality by removing harmful pollutants and stabilizing humidity levels • Absorbing background noise Reusable water bottle Sipping from your water bottle throughout the day not only keeps you hydrated, but also prevents the stress caused by dehydration. THE OFFICE HOARDER 90% 77% of Americans believe believe clutter reduces clutter negatively impacts work and life productivity 50% 40% said clutter impairs motivation and state of mind said clutter damages professional image Previous studies suggest that executives waste up to six weeks a year looking for missing items and information. Stacks of paper Leftover food Memos, meeting notes, grocery lists, if it's not written down, you're not remembering it. Someday you'll also get around to eating those piles of furry, throbbing food. A large collection of files and folders Coffee cups It takes a lot of caffeine to focus when you aren't sure what just crawled over your foot. Someday you'll get around to organizing those stacks of paper. A complete wall of old Post-it notes One part reminder, one part extra insulation. THE CREATIVE You might feel like a bit of an odd duck in the corporate world, but you also know that creativity plays an important role in: Coming up with new ideas Solving problems Keeping office morale up Photos, paintings, and artwork Your workspace is super personalized, reminding you who and what you're working for, instead of working for work's sake. Numerous vinyl figurines One part artwork, one part action figure, all parts fun to look at. Colorful wallpaper Origami You decided to cover your Origami gives you the opportunity to decorate your space with cranes, frogs, butterflies, flowers, and more while also reducing your stress in what is a surprisingly meditative process. cubicle walls with some patterned wallpaper or colorful wrapping paper. Journal/sketchbook You need somewhere to jot down ideas for your next story or sketch out scenes during your lunch break. THE DOTECH NERD While your love of tech borders on obsession, there's no denying that technology improves efficiency and communication and gives workers the ability to stay connected wherever they are. Two monitors Phone Packed with all the latest apps so that you can post to all your social media accounts and stay on top of email. ou can never have too many high-resolution screens. Laptop. When you're on the go, you need to keep up with something that has almost as much power as your office rig. Power strip- You always have somewhere to plug in. Tablet - Countless chargers Perfect for presentations, browsing the net, and getting in some light reading when you're on the go. You've somehow collected a large number of chargers over the years, which is fine because your batteries could use all the help they can get. Daily planner THE ÖRGANIZER You are at the complete opposite spectrum of the hoarder. "A place for everything and everything in its place" is your motto. Calendar Complex filing system This is filled with reminders It may only make sense to you, but the few files and folders somehow house all of for upcoming events and helps you plan for the weeks ahead. your daily operations. Pomodoro timer The timer ensures that you get work done but give yourself enough time to stretch your legs and have a mental breather. The Pomodoro technique has been shown to improve productivity and allows you to get through your to-do list faster. Daily planner Your handy planner gives you somewhere to write out your extensive to-do lists. THE FAMILY MAN/WOMAN Despite a growing economy, the U.S. ranks low on work-life balance among other developed countries, thanks in part to long hours, few vacation days, and the lack of a nationwide paid leave policy for new moms and dads. But you make sure to surround yourself with thoughts of your family, making sure they are your number one priority all the time. Family photos Kids' art projects The veritable album of framed photos on your desk and hanging from your cubicle walls keeps you going during the tough days and reminds you who you're doing it for. From macaroni art to finger paintings, everything your kids do is truly amazing and worth showing off to your coworkers. Dog bowl Of course, there are those days where you bring Fluffy into the office with you. Research shows that bringing dogs to work: Pictures of pets A constant reminder that Fluffy is waiting for you back home. • Reduces stress • Improves morale for you and your officemates • Enhances workplace communication Resources: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/06/20/ten-maps-that-show-how-much-time-americans-spe nd-grooming-eating-thinking-and-praying/ http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Why-You-Should-Snacking-20131326 http://www.cookinglight.com/eating-smart/smart-choices/healthy-office-snacks http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/average-desk-harbors-400-times-more-bacteria-than-average-toilet-seat.html http://www.cbsnews.com/news/offices-may-be-contaminated-with-more-than-500-types-of-bacteria-mens-offices-dirti http://www.ambius.com/indoor-plants/office-plants/benefits/index.html http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/water-stress-reduction http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2011/01/31/is-office-clutter-costing-you-a-promotion-organize-hoard-eno ugh-already-peter-walsh-own/ http://paidtoexist.com/10-ways-to-relax-your-workspace/ http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/the-pomodoro-technique-is-it-right-for-you.html http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/U-S-work-life-balance-ranks-poorly-on-Better-5267525.php http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120330081235.htm Brought to you by San Diego Office and Modular Design | sd-office.com