The Hindu Business Line : Watch out for energy zappers

What is the most toxic thing at the workplace? A common answer of the staff, though in a hush, may be, ‘the boss’; as if to compensate, the vice-versa may equally be true, often in no muted terms.

Well, if you are prepared to get out of the blaming ping-pong and see how best you can minimise stress and maximise job satisfaction, here is Dawna Walter’s counsel in The Great Office Detox (www.crosswordbookstores.

-com).

First, detox the desk by clearing your space. “Don’t let your office become a dumping ground for personal items you never take home,” instructs the author.

“Things that sit around and collect dust create pockets of stale and stagnant energy, making your office a more stressful and lethargic environment.” So too, computer and equipment cables and wires that are tangled mean chaotic energy, says Walter. Which should probably explain all the PC malfunctioning you had to endure.

Look around; your e-mail inbox may need a detox routine. Retaining too many mails slows down your server and wastes your time.

“Create a new folder named ‘Waiting to be read’ that you can delete when you have finished.” Also, unsubscribe from mailing lists you don’t have time to read; always use the subject line as reference; and save all required attachments to the hard drive, before permanently deleting those space-consuming mails.

Work on your energy. It is a folly to think that only food and water are energy boosters. “One of the quickest ways to get a good dose of energy is to go for a walk or relax in a green space. Take off your shoes and feel the grass.” If there is no grass or green around, try laughter, singing, or music, or even a combo of all three. “Create a special playlist on your iPod or other MP3 device just for occasions when you need extra energy,” suggests Walter.

Importantly, watch out for energy zappers. “Dashing out of the house without breakfast and eating on the run are both unpleasant and dangerous to your well-being,” cautions the author. Cluttered space scatters your energy; “clearing your space helps you concentrate on one thing at a time without any distractions and allows all your energy to flow towards completing your intention.”

Other zappers include: procrastination (“putting things off means you can never relax as there is always something in the background consuming a bit of your mental energy”); holding on to grudges, failures or negative past experiences (let go of ‘emotional baggage’); and unfinished projects (“unfinished things in your personal life can impact on your professional life”).

Do you know that participating in office politics/gossip uses a lot of energy for no great gain? “Focus on your work, not your co-workers, and you will feel much more energetic at the end of the day.” Not a topic, this would be, to discuss at the water cooler!

“The knock-on effects of developing better work habits are enormous,” assures Walter. When you feel satisfaction with your job at the end of the day, you can leave your work behind and enjoy your personal time, she adds.

“To keep the momentum going, push yourself to stay challenged and interested in your job. The desire to advance your career and learn new things is a great catalyst to keep you working at peak performance.” A spike-buster of a read that can smoothen the energy flows.

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