Ping Pong Anyone?
We’ve all had those stressful days — too many emails, too many phone calls, too many meetings, too many issues to resolve!
How do you de-compress when you find yourself in that stressful place? Do you…
- take a break?
- eat chocolate?
- take a walk?
- call someone who loves you?
- take a power nap?
- gut it out?
Some employers are creative about helping their employees handle stress. You’ve all read about innovative work environments at some of the up-and-coming dot.coms and other trendy companies. But there are well-established companies who offer creative outlets as well. Example: here at our headquarters we have ping-pong tables on every floor — so staff can get a bit of exercise, release some energy and channel their competitive tendencies. (But we’re not quite this good — see some real ping pong!)
What creative stress-relievers have you seen?
February 1st, 2008 at 8:56 am
Hi Melanie: I certainly enjoy the ping-pong. And de-compressing is important. I’m also becoming more aware that those listed things (ping-pong included) are usually used as distractions. When you come back, those problems are still looming, and the stress returns. I’m trying to tune into my feelings more, so that when I feel stress I ask “what is it that is making me feel stressed?” If it’s too many emails, I have to ask “why am I getting so many emails? And what productive action can I take to improve the situation for myself and for others?”
February 1st, 2008 at 4:23 pm
I have a talking Napoleon Dynamite statue on my desk. Whenever I get too stressed out I hit the button and he says one of 18 phrases from the movie. I also visit http://icanhascheezburger.com/ everyday to get a few laughs in - it helps keep the stress down.