Copyright Harriet Meyerson Center.com Employee Success Toolkit Tool #2: Increase Your Workplace Energy

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, You need to re-energize when your engine is running on empty. Energy is needed for motivation. Therefore…

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, “Motivation is a powerful tool for success and achievement, but it must be practiced on a daily basis. Many say that motivation wears off, which is true…but so does bathing, that is why you must do it daily,” says Willie Jolley, author of “It Only Takes a Minute to Change Your Life!”

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Read for Inspiration Even one story can lift your spirits.  Inspiring stories  Quotations  Poems

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Think Positively Transform your sadness into happiness.  Cancel your negative thinking.  Cancel your “pity party”.  Take two minutes to make a gratitude list.

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Vary Your Tasks  Switch from a tedious task to one that is more physical or creative.  Reward yourself for getting boring tasks accomplished.  Follow a boring task with one you enjoy.

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Listen to Music “I don’t sing because I am happy; I’m happy because I sing.” William James  Take a one-minute music break.  Sing out loud, if you have your own office.  Sing to yourself, if you work with others.  Take your iPod or radio to work and listen on your breaks.

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Play Games that Keep You Motivated  Beat the Clock  Workplace Bingo

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Beat the Clock  Count how many tasks you can accomplish in a certain time limit - in a half hour or an hour.  How many calls you made  How many entries you posted, etc.  Give yourself a penny for each one.  Save up your money and have some fun.

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Workplace Bingo  Make up your own bingo cards.  Use words related to your job, instead of numbers.  As you work, cross out the words for the tasks you accomplish.  When you get 5 across, down or diagonally, you win.  Reward yourself

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Take an Exercise Break Even a couple of minutes will re-energize you.  Stand up and stretch.  Do knee bends.  Jog in place.  Go up and down a flight of stairs.  Go outside for a breath of fresh air.

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, One-Minute Mini Massage  Scalp  Neck  Shoulders  Arms  Legs

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, People to People Energy It’s like plugging into an electrical socket.  Talk to someone who is upbeat.  Give everyone a cheery “Hello” and a compliment.  When you spread good cheer, you brighten your own day.

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Two-Minute Energy Cheer  Arrange with your co- workers that anyone who is feeling drained can ring a bell to call for an “Energy Cheer”.  Everyone then goes back to work feeling connected and energized.

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Make a Poster  People can’t read your mind. You have to let them know when you need cheering up.  If you’re feeling upset or unhappy, make a poster that says, “Please cheer me up!” and hang it on your office door or cubicle.

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Appoint an Energy Ambassador  Choose a new ambassador each week or month.  The ambassador is responsible for creating:  Energizing moments  Energizing activities

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Visualize Re-create a Memory of a High Energy Moment  Skiing down a mountain  Swimming in the ocean  Dancing

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Humor  Whenever you see a funny cartoon or joke, put it in a folder.  Create your own “Humor Notebook”, and enjoy a few minutes of fun and laughter on your break.

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Eat Healthy Snacks  Energy Bar  Peanut Butter on crackers  Hard boiled eggs  Raw vegetables  Fruits  Avoid a heavy lunch, as it will make you sleepy.

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Increase Your Workplace Energy Quiz & Discussion Questions

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Question 1 How can thinking positively help you stay energized at work?

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Question 2 What is the value of varying your tasks throughout the day?

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Question 3 What kinds of games can you play while on the job to keep your energy up?

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Question 4 What exercises can you do at work?

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, Question 5 Name three ways you can employ people-to-people energy.

Increase Your Workplace Energy © Harriet Meyerson, What are your three main goals for improving your workplace energy? Set Your Goals