What does it take for a flower to fully bloom? It needs an ideal environment, extra special
attention, and the proper nutrients – without these things it will wilt and eventually die. The same is true for you and your career! What does it take for you to fully blossom in your job – first you need the right environment (including your workplace and the people in it), you need to pay extra special attention to your personal and professional development (self-improvement), you need to be healthy and have a good balance between work and life. This month at LTAW we will talk about how you can fully bloom in your career.

If you’ve ever wandered into the office, only to hear half of your coworkers coughing up a lung, then you’re well aware that germs thrive in office environments. It turns out that yes, your job really can make you sick – and the culprits vary far beyond just the common cold.

1. Stress – Stress is probably the #1 cause of job-related sickness, because stress weakens your entire immune system and can even have far-reaching cardiovascular effects such as high blood pressure. Around 65% of people surveyed by Yahoo Health reported high stress levels with their work, so stress is the very first and foremost concern when it comes to work and your health. Handling this one thing will have ripple effects throughout many other areas of your health. At a time when overall worker job satisfaction has dropped roughly 12% since before the recession, this might be a challenge – but combating stress means combating a host of other health problems that could come from your job.
2. Coworkers – In a down market, employees can become downright competitive, and sometimes that means people who are too sick to be at work show up anyway. Keep antibacterial gel on your desk, and be sure to wash your hands often and (obviously) after every trip to the restroom or before eating. You can use antibacterial cleansing wipes to clean your desk top, mouse, keyboard, and phone handset – basically, all the parts of your workspace that soak up the most germs. Keep your distance from sickly coworkers, and if your cube mate just told you their kid has strep, you’d better stay clear of her, too – even if she appears well.
3. Allergies – Especially in regions prone to heavy allergy problems, high pollen levels, or mold, this can be a real problem. For starters, keep a good over-the-counter antihistamine or saline nasal spray in your desk in case you begin having bad allergy symptoms. If your office building feels humid or has a musty smell, there may be a mold problem and you should speak to your company’s health, safety, and environmental team or managers about the potential issue. Quick remediation of any preventable issues ensures that the workspace will be as pleasant as possible for you and your coworkers during these heavy allergy months.
4. Physical ailments – it’s very common to have a sore neck or bad back because of a less-than-ideal work station set-up. If your company has an ergonomics program, consult with them to make sure you have the best possible fit for your body’s needs. This may include adjusting your chair, computer screen, or both to get your body into proper alignment. You can also look into fitness ball chairs, lumbar support pillows, or risers for a too-low computer screen.

Blossom!