Open offices can be immensely distracting when you are doing a job that needs intense concentration. The noise of telephones and of people talking can significantly undermine performance in these jobs. Besides, these offices also lack privacy. This is important because it forces people constantly to “maintain appearances”, and to be constantly sociable when they may be more efficient focusing on the job in hand.

Use of improper & uncomfortable furniture

Bad furniture, or bad use of good furniture, may cause pains, aches and stress.

Make sure you use a properly designed, properly adjusted chair – otherwise, you’re very likely to end up with backache. This sounds simple but if you check with any Orthopedic surgeon you will find out that more than ¾ of the patients coming for backache are stress related.

• If you spend a large part of each day working at a computer, then make sure that the monitor and keyboard are comfortably placed, and that you are well positioned when using both.
• If you find that your eyes get sore when looking at a monitor, or that you start to get headaches, then try taking breaks periodically, and get your eyes tested. Wear glasses if you have them.
• If you find that tendons in your hands get sore when you type for sustained periods, it may be worth experimenting with a ergonomic keyboard.
• Wherever your environment causes you pain look at what you can do to relieve it. Take the time to arrange your working environment so that it is comfortable.
• Take break every hour for 2 minutes to get-up, stretch, do deep breathing or lay back and meditate.

To Be Continued …