Dash of Green

Do you have office plants? I have a few (mostly) living plants in mine: a Christmas cactus, a primrose and two orchids that only bloom when there is an alignment of at least three planets.

Courtesy of Daniella Witte. See more at her blog!

I envy the those with a jungle-y office, but also don't have time for the constant misting and repotting when they get scraggly. Data from from the EPA and NASA might change this lazy habit though: indoor plants are an effective, affordable solution to poor indoor air quality. Whether at home or in a large office building, a wide range of irritants can negatively affect the air while you're working, including off-gassing from plastics or furniture, toxins from printers, wall paint, mold and chemical cleaning agents.

Courtesy of Design*Sponge. See more of this plant-filled office on the D*S website!

Here are a few recommendations to spruce up your office and your oxygen intake: aloe vera, English ivy, money plant (couldn't hurt to add this one), peace lily (ditto), spider plant and rubber plant. For more air cleansing plants, check out Yoganonymous and Elephant Journal.

Courtesy of MindBodyGreen. They have indoor plant recommendations here!

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Yesterday was all about success, but today let's think about happiness. In my obsession with making lists, I like to jot down a few words of current things that make me happy.
Daffodils       
                Travel daydreaming
                                                Yoga workshops
                                                                            Date nights
                                                                                               Glass of wine
It's the small things, right? Well, positivity psychologist (what a job title!) Sonja Lyubomirsky has a good list of her own: 12 Things Happy People Do Differently. Here's a quick run-through: Happy people express gratitude, cultivate optimism, avoid over-thinking and social comparison(*guilty), practice acts of kindness, nurture their relationships, develop strategies for coping, learn to forgive, increase flow experiences (that state where everything slows down and you are solely focused on a task), savor joys, commit to goals, practice spirituality and take care of oneself.

What I like about Sonja's list is that each suggestion is DOABLE, i.e. not something that requires a particular situation to arise before achieving happiness is possible.

What are the small things that make you happy?  

Go to Bed

Look around your office.  How many co-workers would you guess need more sleep?  How many would have a better mood or more positive approach to projects (or even basic human interaction) if they got more sleep?  My guess is 90%, because let's face it: at least 10% of coworkers are simply ornery all the time. The US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention say that than more than 35% of Americans do not get enough sleep for optimum health and productivity.

Again and again, sleep experts note that there is no "magic number" when it comes to how many hours one needs per night.  Both quality of sleep and sleep debt are significant factors in the amount of shut-eye that each person needs. That said, there are serious benefits to be had from upping your hours each night: improved memory, weight management, better judgement, less anxiety, even a longer life! If you don't believe me, take it from Bob Pozen of Brookings Institution, Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School and MFS Investment Management fame.  He just published a book called "Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results, Improve Your Hours" and recently spoke about the importance of sleep, napping and productivity on MSNBC's Morning Joe.

If you're like me, you probably roll your eyes at "better sleep tips".  I follow a nighttime routine, my bed is pretty darn comfortable, I keep the bedroom a little cool and I don't sleep with my significant other iPhone anymore.  Done.  But here are some things I never considered before:

1. Go to sleep when you're truly tired.  If you find yourself lying awake thinking about work, kids, tomorrow's to-do list or the latest Homeland episode, you should get up (and out) of bed.  While this is certainly no time for Jazzercise, there are plenty of relaxing things you can do to ease into the night without tossing, turning and generally feeling pitiful about how wide awake you are.  Read a book, do a crossword, take a bath, even take the dog on short walk... all of these will make you feel better before crawling into bed.  Caveat: keep the screens off!  Once you open up your laptop and see that e-mail icon, it's all over.

2. Avoid alcohol.  That glass of wine will actually NOT help you sleep.  In fact, chances are that it will rudely awaken you a couple hours later.  Don't be fooled by the seduction of a nightcap as seen in old movies!

3. No big meals.  I know, I know. There is really nothing better than eating a huge feast and then passing out on the sofa to watch football.  However, if you really want to improve your sleep habits, you'll stop eating so late and stop eating so much.  Once again, the French have it right when they designate lunch as the biggest meal of the day.  Big meals force your body to spend energy digesting, not relaxing.  Give yourself three or four hours after mealtimes before hitting the sack.

Check out Harvard's Get Sleep program or the National Sleep Foundation if you want to learn more about becoming a better sleeper.