28.03.08

Breaks, smoke breaks, tea breaks – these familiar ways to take one’s mind off the work process may be irritating for higher managers, but they shouldn’t be. According to professional psychologists, a lack of opportunities to unwind during the work day may cause stress, chronic fatigue build up, apathy, and professional burn-out. At the same time, multiple studies testify that a well-rested employee is a more effective employee.

Many western companies pay special attention to the psychological comfort of their employees and even attempt to develop systematic approach to this problem by creating special relaxation rooms where built-up negative emotions may be taken out on a dummy representing your boss, and soft couches for after-lunch naps which have become a common practice of corporate life in the USA and Japan.

Semco, a Brazilian company, offers its employees hammocks to take naps during the work day. And it is not just another quirk of company owners known for democratic innovations, but a scientifically confirmed fact – workers who allow themselves to take a short nap are more effective and productive than those who prefer to stay awake. Although, their sleep must be short – 10-15 minutes is sufficient. After that, a deep sleep phase follows and, if woken up in the middle of it, the person will feel weary.

What about Russia? Of course, comfortable beds for sleep have not become a part of the average Russian office yet, but some employers are very serious about their worker’s recreation, not limiting themselves to providing a refrigerator and a microwave oven. Besides standard lobbies with leather couches and traditional smoking rooms, some office centers designate rooms for de-stressing and recreation, and even small exercise gyms.

But these kinds of employers are very few in Russia. For the most part, business owners prefer to save on expensive office space and most will not allow cutting down working space for the sake of recreation. Many believe that work should not be interrupted for any reason, except maybe a lunch break.

In this sense high-technology companies compare favorably against the rest. Their main human capital – programmers and developers are unordinary people; to be productive in their work and reaching unconventional solutions they need comfortable conditions allowing free flow of technical thought process.

Google is the first company that comes to mind when care for employees and comfort at the work place. The best employer of the last two years already became a legend, and Russian branch office aims to stay in line with its western colleagues. Yandex is also known not only for its democratic attitude, but also very home-like work conditions. Red-orange-and-green interior, water pipe, cafeteria, library, game room, exercise equipment – everything to create comfortable atmosphere for employees.

If your company’s management does not seem to be so thoughtful and attentive, and references to Google’s innovations your boss waves aside as “useless foreign quirks”, you may have to satisfy with minimal relaxation techniques: aquarium fish, potted plants or, as the last resort, a view from a window. Strange as it may seem, even such simple office elements are able to distract and revive tired employees.

Fish and plants don’t excite you? There are more universal methods of psychological stress relief at the work place. You may try auto-training or certain eastern meditation techniques. Needless to say, the lotus position is hardly appropriate for an office environment, but acupuncture is just the thing you need. It helps most people to relieve built-up tiredness.

The easiest way to ‘freshen up’ is, perhaps, internet-surfing. It not only brings satisfaction and joy but also, strange as it may seem, increases productivity. Reading news, jokes, checking personal email, purchasing something in an online store, blogging and chatting on ICQ – for many office workers it became a daily habit providing an opportunity to take a short break during work hours. Just don’t allow this habit to become a malignant one, turning into dependence and harming effectiveness of your work.

Overall, our psychological health is in our hands. Few jokes with colleagues, a cup of tea, breathing exercise, hand massage or eye exercises – and after few minutes, without even leaving your chair, you will turn from tired and weary into someone full of strength and energy.  You should also not miss an opportunity to take a walk during lunch break. And don’t forget to air out your office. Fresh air is vital for brain activity and revitalization of nervous system.

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