31 Days: go and chat to a colleague
Posted by kathryn in Uncategorized
We’re now up to day 10 of 31 Days to Better Energy. I’m going to post a summary of what’s happened so far tomorrow, but for now it’s on to today’s task – go and chat to a colleague.
Why?
This task has two benefits. For most people working in an office, your day is pretty sedentary – I know mine is. We have telephones, email, computers, printers and apart from exercising your fingers over the keyboards, you barely have to move a muscle all day.
Plus, it’s easy to become comfortably insulated in today’s office. You email people rather than calling them, phone them rather than popping round and saying “hi”. Even though you work surrounded by other people, you can easily spend the whole day isolated and unmoving . . . I can feel the energy being sucked from my body just thinking about it.
Inactivity, combined with isolation will make you feel lethargic. The less you do during the day and the more boring your day is, the more tired you will feel.
The task itself
So, today’s task is to break that cycle by walking round the office to have a chat with a colleague. Next time you pick up the phone, or start typing an email message to someone that works in your office, stop what you’re doing. Put down the phone, close the email message, get up out of your chair and go and talk to them instead. Move your muscles by walking the long way around the office and say hi to a couple of people along the way. Unless your colleague is super-busy they’ll almost certainly enjoy the human contact as well.
If you work by yourself, like I do, then go out for a couple of ten minute walks. Take some work up to a cafe and chat to the owners. Or at the very least, break up your day by phoning a friend for a quick catch-up chat.
This post is part of a series I’m writing over August – 31 Days to Better Energy. For more information and to view the other tasks, take a look at the introductory post.
10 August, 2007
Comments
I don’t work in an office but I did go to lunch with two very dear friends. We only manage to get to lunch about three times a year so once again your set task was very timely and appropriate Kathryn.
Sharing, laughing and offloading is so good for general well being. I noticed after lunch when I went to do the regular after school shopping, instead of racing and looking at the time I casually strolled through the isles contemplating what to get. And when on the way home I was stuck in particularly heavy traffic I realised I began to hum and felt quite unagitated whilst waiting. Socialising definitely impacted on my behaviour in a positive way for the rest of the day. Interesting.
I do seem to be timing my tips to match your schedule. Glad to hear you’re doing those important regular, daily things to keep you happy and healthy.
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