Cleaning services tips and advice to stay healthy and survive the work day in creative office spaces.

Open office spaces are, in equal measure, bastions for creativity, distractions, and germs.

To obtain the maximum benefit of the prior, the later must be navigated or avoided.

Where noise and distraction may be nearly impossible to avoid altogether, it is important to recognize how it impacts worker stress levels, and what effect that has on performance and personal health.

Germs, on the other hand, can be easily addressed on an individual level by arming ourselves with some basic knowledge, and a few inexpensive items.

Noise, Stress, Performance, and Worker Health

According to a study published by Cornell University, prolonged exposure to loud noises had the following adverse affect on workers:

• Decreased productivity, especially for difficult or complex tasks.
• Increased illness.
• Increased hormone levels.
• Stress.
• Lower job Satisfaction.
• Lower morale.
• Fatigue.
• Interference with speech.

For More Information:

• Noise in the Office Workplace

Additionally, the importance of minimizing stress levels cannot be dismissed.

According to a publication by Fairleigh Dickson University;

Sixty percent of lost workdays each year can be attributed to stress. In addition, an estimated 75 to 90 percent of visits to health care providers are due to stress-related conditions, costing employers in increased health care costs.

-Stress in the Workplace: A Costly Epidemic

Tips to Avoid Noise and Stress While Improving Health and Performance

• When possible, try wearing noise canceling headphones while playing your favorite relaxing music.
• Get your blood flowing while benefiting from fresh air and sunshine by taking a walk outside around the building.
• Find an empty conference room to focus on complicated tasks and avoid interruptions.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Pay attention to your health; Smart Watches and Bands can help you monitor your heart rate and blood pressure, and can double as your music source.

Avoiding Illness

Obviously, excessive stress is bad for workers and plays a significant role in how the immune system functions.

For creative industry workers, downturns in morale, motivation, and increased levels of fatigue are counter-intuitive to their primary job function.

To combat illness in the office, it is important to understand the most likely place you’ll come into contact with germs.

According to Dr. Charles Gerba, in an open office, that area is, most likely, the break room, specifically:

• Counter tops.
• Tabletops, and;
• Coffee pot handles.

Additional areas of concern are:

• Mice
• Keyboards, and;
• Computers.

For More Information:

• 5 Open Office Nightmares and How to Survive Them

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Survival Kit

To stay healthy and sane, your open and creative office survival kit should include the following:

Hand Sanitizer

• Use an alcohol-based sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol.
• Do not use as a substitute for soap.
• Use soap if hands are visibly dirty.
• Make sure to use enough to thoroughly cover your hands.
• Drying your hands with a towel will remove the sanitizer, so make sure to let it air dry naturally.

For More Information:

• Show Me the Science – When and How to Use Hand Sanitizer

Disinfectant Wipes

• Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting are three different things; disinfecting merely lowers the number of microbes on a surface, and nothing is a substitute for regular cleaning.
• Try to find EPA approved wipes that, both cleanandnbsp;and disinfect.
• Wipe down high-contact surfaces, such as electronic equipment, before using.
• Safety first–DO NOT mix with other cleaners.

For More Information:

• How To Clean and Disinfect Schools To Help Slow the Spread of Flu

Formaldehyde Absorbing Plant

While not exactly something you can carry around in a plastic baggy, a few formaldehyde absorbing plants around your office may be more necessary than you imagine.

A common chemical used in scented air fresheners and pine cleaners is limonene which, by itself, is relatively benign to humans.

However, when combined with ozone, which can range up to levels five times higher inside than out, studies have shown that every two molecules of limonene will turn into one molecule of formaldehyde.

Green cleaning consultants continually warn against using scented cleaners and air fresheners in homes and offices, in favor of eco-friendly, naturally scented chemicals, especially in poorly ventilated, or high-occupancy buildings.

For More Information:

• Variation in Formaldehyde Removal Efficiency among Indoor Plant Species
• The Top 10 Plants for Removing Indoor Toxins

Takeaway

In a busy open or creative office, distractions and stress are everywhere and often, no matter how hard you try, there is no escaping it.

Combined with the heightened risk of coming into contact with germs and infectious bacteria on a near constant basis; a stress compromised immune system will succumb more easily, resulting in reduced productivity.

To combat this, familiarize yourself with your work environment, research the chemicals used to clean, disinfect, and sanitize office, restroom, and kitchen areas.

Follow normal healthy best practices, and keep a small kit of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes on you to lower your risk of infection.

Look into natural ways your office can help improve the indoor air quality, such as eliminating the use of certain cleaners and chemicals, as well as introducing easy to maintain plants in the building.

TAKE ACTION

Ready to hire a new commercial cleaning company?

Vanguard Cleaning Systems of Minnesota can help you consider all your needs and options before you make a move. Download our free guide, “8 Steps to Hiring a Commercial Cleaning Company”