Office Case of the Mondays? Recognize Employees’ Work and Reap the Benefits!
Does your office space have a case of the Mondays?
Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us. In fact, a 2012 study out of Chicago’s Rush University found that the ubiquitous Monday-morning sluggishness is actually caused when your normal sleep schedule gets shifted around over the weekend. Whether you’re staying up a bit later for a girl’s night out or sleeping in for an extra hour on Sunday morning, these pattern changes may result in what researchers dub “social jet lag.”
Luckily, banishing those Monday blues and upping employee morale is simple. And the best part? Happy workers are more motivated, more productive, and provide more benefits to employers – it’s a win-win-win!
Catch Up
Want to really think outside the box and give your workers an extra energy boost that’s perfect on those gray Mondays? Create a nap room!
In lieu of the 15-minute break, which should really be named the “listless trudge to the snack machine to grab a candy bar and another cup of coffee,” your tired employees can get a few minutes of shut-eye in a quiet space – and really recharge those batteries.
The nap/breakroom idea has caught on at large and small businesses around the country in recent years, according to Inc. Magazine. Adherents laud the nap break’s ability to improve creativity and boost motivation.
Get Wacky
Let’s face it: Work can be boring. When you’re already feeling tired from a wild weekend, Mondays can feel like they’re dragging on forever. Break free of that dozy haze by adding a healthy dose of weird and wacky into the workplace.
Instead of casual Friday, have dress-up formal Monday. Teach everyone a new dance move or yoga pose at the staff meeting. Host a potluck where every food must be the same color. You get the picture!
When it comes from the boss, that bit of creativity and hint of the unexpected breaks through the blahs to keep workers feeling fresh and on their toes.
Say Thanks
Let’s not forget one of the simplest and most effective ways to brighten up Mondays: Telling your employees “thanks” for all the hard work they do.
Whether you hand write a personal note on a lovely card, create certificates of accomplishment and appreciation, or go whole hog and reward your workers with trophies, these expressions of gratitude for a job well done will go a long way toward improving morale and productivity.
With just a bit of planning and thoughtfulness, you can transform Monday from a dreaded day into an anticipated event!