How do you like to start your working day? Even if it’s with 20 laps at the pool or a 5-mile run, there’s a good chance the rest of your schedule looks pretty sedentary. 

The average US adult spends around 6.5 hours a day sitting, although this could be as high as 10 hours every day now that more people are working from home. But before you think that a morning workout makes you exempt from expert warnings to move more, an hour of even the most intense activity isn’t sufficient to override this so-called “sitting disease.”

Instead, it’s vital to find ways to add movement during the day, but especially while you’re working. Let’s take a look at some ideas to help you achieve this. 

1. Stretch It Out

A long day of sitting at a desk can cause more aches, pains, and strains to your body than the average gym session. Since you wouldn’t consider hitting the weights or the treadmill without a good stretch, why not start your working day with some energizing morning stretches too?

Pay particular attention to your lower back, shoulders, and hip flexors as these areas often pay the price for bad posture and excessive sitting. Then, if you can, stretch at regular intervals throughout the day to build flexibility and get your blood flowing. 

2. Take a Stand

The best way to avoid sitting all day is by working at an adjustable sit-to-stand desk. While a standing desk might not be the most comfortable choice for a long day at the office, desks that you can sit or stand at mean that you can get the best of both worlds!

3. Set Reminders

You might start off with good intentions to stretch first thing and move at the office. But once you get in the flow of working, you might not notice that you haven’t moved from your seat for hours on end. 

A great way to remind yourself to move more is by setting reminders on your phone, smartwatch, or laptop. Or, there are even apps available that encourage you to get up and take screen breaks at regular intervals.   

4. Go Out of Your Way

You’ve likely read advice to park your car farther from the entrance and take the stairs as ways to add movement during the day.

But while you’re at work, make sure to continue this habit. Walk to restrooms on a different floor, go to speak to colleagues rather than sending emails, and use the farthest water cooler from your desk. You might even make new work friends at the same time!

5. Take an Active Lunch Break

Five minutes of activity here and there is an ideal way to get in some movement while you’re working. But you should also strive to carve out a longer period of activity while you’re on your lunch break. This might involve walking to get your lunch out or taking a walk around the parking lot after a quick sandwich. 

Ways to Move More at Work

As these tips show, there are plenty of ways to move more while you’re working. 

In fact, regular breaks are great for your productivity and creativity levels, as well as your health. You never know, your workplace policy might even insist on regular movement breaks in the future!

Want more information about creating a working environment that encourages employees to move more? Feel free to contact us with any questions or queries!

Team building activities are important at work since it helps build communication, instill trust between colleagues, and improve communication. All this leads to better productivity and success for the business.

Are you looking to find some great team building games that you can incorporate at the office to help your employees build strong working relationships? Then, you’ve come to the right place! 

Here, we’ll give you five of the top games for team building you can add to your workplace environment for the benefit of all. Keep reading to learn more.

1. Trivia

With Trivia, you’ll have your team be asked and answer questions. This works best when you ask employees questions about work-related activities. That way, you can help them learn more about the company itself, what’s new that’s coming to the business, and what projects are currently underway. Lots of questions can be asked here to test their knowledge.

The name of the game is whoever answers the most questions correctly wins!

2. Charades

For charades, a word or phrase has to be acted in front of the other teams. First, you pick your teams and your team leader, then begin! It’s a fun game where the other team has to take a guess at choosing the right action being played out.

You can write the prompts on paper, put them in an envelope, and give them to your opposing team. Topics can relate to movies, characters, or anything business-related too. 

Guess more right than the other team and you’ve won! 

3. Scavenger Hunts

Want to find out how competitive your employees are? A scavenger hunt is a great idea. Here, you hide items around the office and teams have to find them.

There are different ways to win the game. For example, the team to find the most object might come up victorious. Also, you can play it where the team that finds a chosen object first wins. You can put a time limit on it to make the game more interesting and competitive.

4. Fantasy Soccer

With this game, split your employees into workplace teams individually. Have them create a fantasy soccer team each and start a league. It’s based on how the players play in real life, how their statistics weigh up, the goals scored, and any cautions they receive.

The winner is the person whose fantasy team ends up at the top of the league once it finishes.

It’s a fun team builder and can improve employee satisfaction!

5. Get Fit Team Building Games

Want to help your employees get to know each other better while staying active at the same time? Get Fit is perfect! 

Give your employees watches to track their activity levels and for timing. Split them into work teams and watch their mood improve while they boost their energy levels.

You can learn more about fun and friendly ideas for the office in this blog here.

Learn More About Improving Workplace Environment

Team building games are fun. Plus they help your employees get to know one another better and improve relationships within the office. Now, that’s a win-win situation.

Want to find out more about how to improve your work environment? Read some more of our blogs here! We’ve got plenty of information for you.

It’s safe to say that the future of work is digital. In the wake of the pandemic, more companies than ever are offering remote and hybrid workplace solutions. Almost three-quarters of all U.S. companies are using or plan to use a hybrid work model in 2022 and beyond.

Of course, changing to hybrid work is easier said than done. How do you ensure that your office doesn’t lose productivity during the switch?

If you’re not sure how to make the most of your new workspace, we’ve got you covered. Here’s what you should know about creating a productive hybrid workspace for your team.

Offer Tools and Support

If you plan to offer the option of remote work, it’s crucial to be prepared for the hybrid work challenges that may crop up. Make sure you’ve taken the time to vet and test the tools you’ll be using for both synchronous and asynchronous working. This may mean finding new equipment for your office space to support hybrid work.

In terms of remote employee support, consider providing essential portable equipment like laptops, dual monitors, or smartphones. Providing a stipend for high-speed internet is also a smart move.

Create a New Floorplan

A hybrid office layout can help support your team during both in-person and remote meetings. Though every workplace has different needs, you’ll want to start by reconsidering each area.

Do you have enough collaborative spaces with the right equipment for remote work? Do your employees need assigned seats, or would it be better to try hot desking? Think about how you can use the right ergonomic furniture, offer privacy, and help your team avoid distractions in each area.

Use Thoughtful Work Schedules

One of the challenges of hybrid working is finding the right balance between a fixed and flexible in-office schedule. Rather than requiring employees to be in the office for a set amount of days or times, be thoughtful about these requirements. 

Which of your meetings and activities work best in person? Which ones are just as easy to do remotely?

Brainstorming and problem-solving are often best done in-office, as is the case with engagement and team-building activities. It’s also a good idea to have staff make major decisions or learn challenging skills and strategies in person.

Rethink Processes

Processes that worked well in person may not be as effective during remote work.

Before you make the switch, reimagine your processes for a digital-first environment. This may involve finding ways to automate, streamline, or digitize your current tasks. Each process should be frictionless, meaning that it’s the same no matter where your employees are.

Focus on Engagement

When your team is scattered across the region or around the world, engagement becomes more important than ever. From boosting productivity to employee retention, there are plenty of reasons to focus on engagement. Here are a few key ways to get started:

• Offer helpful tools and support, as mentioned above
• Be transparent about your expectations 
• Make communication accessible
• Give workers the same opportunities for growth they would have in-office
• Make it clear that their experiences and opinions matter
• Be flexible about employees’ needs

These tactics aren’t always easy, but focusing on them can set your employees up for greater success.

Create Your Hybrid Workplace

Though any hybrid workplace will have its challenges, the benefits far outweigh the costs. The option for remote work can offer vast opportunities for your team, boosting their engagement and productivity fast.

As you work to create your new workspace, don’t forget that we’re here to help. For the office furniture and design you need, check out the spaces we create and contact us today.

On average, five to twenty percent of Americans get the flu every year. It happens more often than you’d think and is often very dangerous. Around 8,200 to 20,000 people in the U.S. die every year because of the flu. 

You shouldn’t want this to happen to any of your office workers. Therefore, when flu season rolls around, you need to keep them safe. Read on to get a healthy office guide you can use to prevent office outbreaks this year. 

Help Your Employees Get Flu Shots 

Even employees that want flu shots may struggle to find the time to get them. It can be hard to balance work and life as it is sometimes. Trying to find the extra time to get a flu shot can be nearly impossible when your schedule is already booked. 

You can make it easier for employees to get flu shots by setting up a flu shot clinic in the office. Some vendors can offer services such as these. However, you want to make sure that you screen any of these vendors for quality. 

You may also want to offer an informational flu guide to all of your employees. This may help convince any employees that may not want a flu shot or are on the fence to get a flu shot. 

Practice Flu Season Illness Prevention Measures 

Yes, keeping the office clean is usually the job of the janitorial services. However, germs can spread from person to person easily before the janitors have a chance to clean. You should encourage employees to wipe down the surfaces of office furniture once they’re done using it. 

Another thing you should do for the betterment of office health is to encourage employees to wash their hands. You can do this by posting infographics and having informative meetings about the situation. Providing free hand sanitizer for the employees to use may also make them more likely to keep their hands clean. 

Encourage Sick Employees to Stay Home 

It can be difficult for offices to function when there are fewer workers. You may feel tempted to ask employees to come in when they’re sick. However, if you do so, you may make your office even more short-handed. 

You need to encourage sick employees to stay home and recover. Make sure that your office has a reasonable sick policy. You should also stop other workers from bullying a sick worker into staying at the office. 

We Offer Office Furniture That Keeps Your Office Productive 

The flu season is full of dangers that can threaten your office’s productivity levels. However, with careful planning and teamwork, your office should be able to weather it well. Good luck! 

Also, if your office needs a new design and/or new furniture, consider our services. We solve the space and furniture challenges of all kinds of businesses every day. These will reflect your brand, increase productivity, and also do a whole lot more. 

Visit our physical location or contact us today to get started with filling your office space. 

Low office productivity contributes to a $7 trillion loss in the economy. This can occur for many reasons, but one of the most pervasive is poor workplace design.

If you’re a business owner, you need to invest in productive office design. Otherwise, you could risk wasting a lot of time and money.

But how do you achieve peak office productivity?

Luckily, this article is here to help. It covers everything including personal workspaces, environmental design, and ergonomics. Read on to find out more!

Tackling Personal Workspaces

Employees without the right facilities end up feeling stressed and unproductive. To create organized personal workspaces, opt for furniture that has storage space. That way employees can keep clutter out of their main working space. 

Implementing a good office filing and storage system prevents paperwork from piling up. Make sure that you also have recycling and shredding facilities to dispose of waste.

Consider Ergonomics

To get the most out of your employees, it is important to consider their health and comfort. If someone is suffering from fatigue or strain, they are less likely to be productive. Health issues could also lead to costly absences for your company. 

Consider upgrading your office furniture to be more ergonomic. This could involve adjusting the height of chairs or desks to reduce neck strain. You could provide footrests and back-support chairs to allow more natural seating positions. 

Work Environments and Office Productivity

The office environment can profoundly alter the well-being and productivity of your employees. Here are some of the key concepts to consider.

Ventilation and Heating

There is nothing worse than a room that is too hot or too cold. Focus on adding good ventilation, through a good air conditioning or heating system.

Also, make sure to organize your furniture in a way that allows air to flow throughout the office. Placing desks near windows that open and adding office plants can also help with air quality.

Lighting

Increasing the light available in your office is vital to employees’ working abilities. Natural light can decrease eye strain, blurred vision, and headaches by over 80 percent. 

You should install different types of lighting throughout the workspace. Desk lamps and well-spaced ceiling lights are perfect for artificial lighting. Make sure you replace bulbs often to avoid any flickering.

Stress Management

Stressed employees are not productive. Using a biophilic design can be a great way to manage stress. Bringing natural elements into the workplace can boost creative thinking and improve focus.

You can also integrate group working spaces into your office plan. As humans, we love working together to complete tasks. Open-plan offices encourage collaboration and communication. You could also design some more private spaces for quiet small group work. 

Intuitive Workplace Design Solutions!

Creating a well-designed workplace is the root of office productivity. By making a few small changes, you can transform your employee’s quality of work and well-being. 

Workplace Solutions are experts in office furniture and office design productivity. With excellent customer service, they can help you to improve office productivity. They also offer a range of new and used furniture, suitable for all office budgets.

Looking to take your workplace to the next level? Get in contact today to find out more about intuitive workplace solutions!

Looking for ways to increase productivity? A drab and cramped office is no place for productive employees, but space and money are finite. So, how can you upgrade your office design while taking into account the limitations of your budget and space?

A good office space makes for happier, more motivated, and more productive employees, so you don’t want to neglect it. Our office design specialists want to offer some strategies for designing an office that your employees will love to spend time in. 

Keep reading for a few tips that can give your small space the productivity boost that it needs.

1. Lighting Matters

If your space has large windows be sure to utilize them to their maximum potential. A well-lit space is integral to an employee’s peak productivity. 

Natural light makes a difference. It’s shown to be more motivating and to improve the overall quality of life for your employees. 

The artificial lights that we surround ourselves with at work put a strain on our eyes. This comes from phones, computers, and harsh fluorescents. Reducing some of that artificial light (like keeping fluorescent lights to a minimum in exchange for natural light) is a great way to stop your employees from getting fatigued early in the day. 

Keeping your windows open and accessible will also make your space seem larger than it is. 

2. Don’t Neglect Storage

When you’re trying to make the most out of your space, help your employees avoid clutter. Clutter makes it harder for them to stay productive and it makes the space look messy.

To do this, opt for shelving units, desks with ample storage, or personal lockers. These storage areas should be accessible for all employees so that they can grab what they need without interrupting their workflow. 

Fuse from Hon takes storage to the next level and comes in your choice of color to match your workplace design. They also offer keyless digital technology to keep employees’ belongings secure. 

3. Flexible Seating Plans and Areas

If your workplace has different “departments”, don’t try to force everyone to sit with the other people in their section. This might seem counterproductive but think about it. 

Your employees are all working together for a singular goal regardless of their specific job. While sitting amongst other people doing the same job might seem helpful (so they can ask each other questions and stay on task), sitting with other people working on the same project in a different way can help aid collaboration and create new ideas.

Having flexible seating areas that are easy to shift around for “group work” can help your employees’ creativity blossom. 

4. Optional Standing Desks

It’s a fact: Americans sit too much. How can we help it when we spend a third of our time at work? 

Giving your employees the option for a standing desk can help keep them awake all day without the need for somewhere for them to go take a walk and stretch their legs. Not all workplaces have the room for a quick walkabout! 

Picking desks that have the option to be both sitting and standing is a great way to maximize a small space and have happy employees. 

How Is Your Workplace Design?

Is your workplace design set up for productivity and free space or are you setting up your employees for fatigue and failure? 

Happy employees need a calming and decluttered space to work to their best potential. A well-designed space doesn’t just help them, it helps you.

If you’re in the market for furniture to redesign for office space, we’ve got what you need. Visit our site or our Fort Wayne office furniture store to find the perfect furnishings for your business.