Environmental Causes of Stress – The Quick-Seat Chair Stress Management Program Part : 6

By Khadi Madama Quick-Seat Chair Wellness Coordinator

Read on and see if you can track down where your stress is coming from.

LET’s DISCUSS WHAT CAUSES ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS

• Sitting in front of the computer creates a “fight or flight” response to the body’s adrenal system.
• •Noise triggers stress as well as hearing loss.
• The lack of windows creates a sense of being closed in. There’s more

MORE ENVIRONMENT TRIGGERS

• Working in too small of a space or not having any personal space at all.
• Poor ventilation is caused by problematic heating and cooling systems.
• •Low or improper lighting.
• Long traffic commutes
• Difficult co-workers.

THE MOST IMPORTANT TRIGGER

• Not being able to take lunch, rest breaks, or eligible time off.
• Too many employees are working through lunch, not able to eat lunch at all, or eating with complaining co-workers.
• Rest periods are legitimate, healthy requirements for optimum well-being and performance on the job.

Recognizing Stress Yourself

• What symptoms do you have?
• Awareness is the key to relief.
• Take a few minutes to make a list of symptoms right now.
• •Later on you will have time to journal some possible solutions.

Save your responses in a new blank journal, one with tabs if possible.

We’ll have more to think about next time, so stay tuned.

Keep Your Spine Healthy By Learning How To Do, The “S” Curve Slide

Sitting at your work desk in a standard desk chair places your spine at a compromising angle with your hips and sacral area, which over time can start to show up in compressed discs, low back pain, and fatigue, as crimping internal organs deprives them of proper circulation.  The solution is a fairly easy one, which may look silly, but once you master it, you’ll be glad you did. If you get caught slinking around in your chair, let them laugh, but not before you tell them this great secret and invite them to join you in slinking around in their chairs, too.

Remember when you were a kid and the teacher would catch you slumping down in your chair? Well, you were doing your back a favor but back then a lot of people just didn’t know.

Move to the front edge of your chair so that you are firmly planted on the seat, but then roll yourself backward and down until your hips and your spine form an arc. That’s it. Now hold for about 3 long slow breaths. Tuck your chin into your chest and do this slight curl to get yourself back up. Great for helping to strengthen your abs as well. That’s it.

Don’t overdo it. It’s not an exercise. There is no goal except just to do it one or two times per day.

See you next month for Part 7.

Quick-Seat Chair. Temporary Seating That Closes Itself