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Returning to Work After an Injury

After my recent research into physical therapy and occupational therapy, one theme that came up was going back to work after an injury. You’ve had your time off, you’ve seen the docs, you’ve recovered from surgery and done the therapy… now it’s time to start getting back to your old life. Transitional work may be part of that plan. This is the space between recovery and fully recovered, where you may be able to do part (but not all) of your job tasks. During this transitional period, there is often a danger of further injury. Your health care professionals (including … Continue reading →

Burning Calories at Your Desk

While most of us pack on the calories while working at our desks (the occasional cookie, donut, or an entire BLT sandwich) there are some companies that are actually helping employees burn calories while on the job. A few weeks back I saw a report on ABC News about a Minneapolis law firm that has done away with traditional oak wood desk and leather chair combos and replaced them with treadmills and raised computer stands so employees can type and workout without leaving their cubicles. The report also profiled a guy from Illinois who has adopted the same concept in … Continue reading →

Lally’s Separation Anxiety

My poor little girl dog. Lally is my “Velcro dog” — she’s the one who’s usually at my side. When I’m home, she’s almost always in the room with me. (I’m doing my writing in my office today, and she’s in her spot between the desk and the wall. Meanwhile, Moose is out in the living room, watching the world through the patio door.) My fuzzy baby girl got quite spoiled when we lived with my grandmother — someone was almost always home. It was rare that both my grandmother and I were out of the house for too long. … Continue reading →

Beating the Mid-Afternoon Slump

I recently had the opportunity to do some temp work for a friend of mine in an office setting. As a freelancer, I’m used to setting my own schedule. I love having the freedom to work for a few hours, take a break to walk the dogs or do something else, and then going back to the keyboard for another few hours. I’m out of the habit of working an eight hour day! One thing I noticed was the mid-afternoon slump — an hour or two after lunch, I found myself tired and unfocused. I’ll admit that I went for … Continue reading →

Ergonomics in Action

A good friend of mine needed some help with data entry at her workplace, so she asked if I wanted to pitch in. It’s been a long time since I put on my business clothes and went to work in an office, but I’m happy to help. As I settled into my borrowed desk and computer at the office, I made sure my arms and wrists were happy with the ergonomic set up. I’ve had problems with RSI (repetitive strain injury) in my wrists in the past, and didn’t want to aggravate any old injuries. It turns out that I … Continue reading →

Ergonomics: Dos and Don’ts

Are you experiencing pain sitting at your computer? Maybe it’s your back that aches after a day at the office. Maybe your elbows, wrists, and shoulders are throbbing. Maybe your hips hurt. A proper ergonomic set-up can alleviate a lot of that pain! Ergonomics is personal. What works for you may not work for someone else. Experiment until you find a pain-free set-up. Here are some hints to help you find the best possible position for computer, chair, and body. Don’t settle! Ask for a different desk or chair that may be more comfortable. Try swapping workstations with a coworker … Continue reading →

More Computer Fitness Tips

We’ve been talking about maintaining our fitness even as we work at home or in the office sitting behind desks and looking at computers all day. It may be great to type a 180 words per minute, but if your health is suffering and your overall sense of well being and fitness are declining – then let’s focus on something a little more proactive than typing fast. More Computer Fitness Tips Let’s talk about getting healthier in your daily habits whether you sit in front of the computer screen or not. This is important, especially if you spend a large … Continue reading →

Coping With Home Office Clutter

It’s spring cleaning time! And, that includes your home office or home business work space too—now that you can swing open those windows and doors and see all the dust and crud that’s been accumulating all winter, how about taking an afternoon to deal with some of the home office clutter? Take a look at your space and start by figuring out what can go and what can stay—maybe you’ve been living with an inefficient space or uncomfortable furniture. My own cleaning and de-cluttering style is to remove everything, sort and then toss, file or put back items as I … Continue reading →

Do You Have an Ergonomic Home Office?

It’s not uncommon for those of us who work from home to “make do” with a make-shift office or work space–a hard, uncomfortable chair, a desk that is not the right height, a cramped work area. We may also work for long stretches without a break, trying to squeeze in as much work as possible before the kids wake up or we have to move on to some other task. There are some things we can do, however, to make and keep our home work space safer and more “ergonomic.” Your furniture and equipment should be set up to fit … Continue reading →

Ten Steps…Step 7

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Step 7. Yes folks, we’re almost through all ten steps! Now you need to purchase necessary equipment that you may not already have! I’m not talking about equipment that is specific to your business type, but the basic business equipment needed to run a home based business. First, obviously, a computer. You simply cannot function effectively or efficiently in today’s business world without a computer. See my blog post specifically addressing how to purchase the right computer for your business needs here: http://home-business.families.com/blog/purchasing-a-computer-for-your-home- business-needs You will also need a printer. But do you also need a copier and a fax … Continue reading →