From the Desk of Janet Barclay

I am starting to think there are days for everything – for example, did you know that today is Repetitive Strain Injuries Awareness Day? If you are on your computer for several hours a day, you are susceptible to RSI, but there are a few things you can do to prevent it.

For starters, make sure that your workstation is set up properly so that you’re not putting undue stress on any part of your body. Experts generally recommend that you use a desk with a tray that is slightly lower for your keyboard and mouse. I am no expert, but it’s my opinion that a lot of damage is caused because users have a tendency to keep their hand positioned on the mouse while reading on screen. I certainly found that my wrist pain was reduced when I made a conscious effort to take my hand off the mouse when I wasn’t clicking or scrolling on anything. When I switched from a desktop computer to a notebook, I was worried that working on a higher surface would lead to physical problems, but I’m pleased to say that so far it has not been a problem. This may be in part due to the fact that I am more likely to sit back with my hands on my lap or armrests while reading on screen, now that I don’t have a mouse to cling to.

Of course, another habit that is so important is getting up from your desk and stretching on a regular basis. Unfortunately, it can be hard to remember to do this if you’re involved in a big job, especially a creative project like website design. But just as there are days for everything, there is software for everything, and I recently learned that there’s a program called PRSI Break which is a fully animated stretch break program for computer users. It not only shows you what to do, you can set it to remind you when it’s time for a break. What will they think of next?

If you don’t feel like adding more software to your system, you can always set Outlook or even your cell phone to remind you to take an hourly stretch. Instead of letting your technology hurt you, turn things around and make it help you prevent repetitive strain injury!

Today being Weedless Wednesday, I have been thinking about the effects of smoking, not on the smoker’s health, but on his or her productivity. A quick Google search on smoking productivity only brought up issues of lost productivity due to absenteeism caused by smoking-related health issues, but that’s not what I’m talking about.

When workplace policies and then legislation changed so that workers could no longer smoke in the office (or other working environments), it was to protect non-smokers from the dangers of secondhand smoke, and that was good.

However, most workplaces allow two coffee breaks and one lunch break per shift. How many smokers do you know who can get through the day with only three or four cigarettes? As a result, a situation evolved where smokers would take a number of "smoke breaks" in addition to their allotted breaks.

This was somewhat annoying to those of us who continued working during this time, and once I even heard a manager threaten to take up smoking so she could get more breaks. So while the non-smokers were working something like 7 hours a day, the smokers were probably only working 6 hours, by the time you take off all the smoke breaks (which, in large office towers, mean waiting for elevators going up and down as well).

On the other hand, a certain camaraderie formed amongst the smokers that didn’t exist among the non-smokers, contributing to team building, which can increase productivity in some cases, but I doubt it would save the equivalent of an hour per person per day.

Photo courtesy of: Marcello eM

I arrived home at 8:30 last night and was in my office bright and early this morning. At least the sun was bright, I am still a little slow, after two long days on the road. In the future I will need to remember to book one more day off at the end of a trip.

I decided to take my laptop, and was glad I did. One of my current projects is the redesign of a website for my favourite client, who happens to also be my sister, with whom I was vacationing. Having the computer allowed us to spend a morning going over and trying out some of our ideas in a way that would have been more complicated via email, telephone, or instant messenger. I’m happy to say this is the only work I did and I didn’t check my email, even on the two occasions when I was in a place with Internet access. However, bringing my laptop along also allowed me to download my digital photos from my camera every day or two and share them with my family members, and to keep a personal journal throughout the week.

While I was away, I was quoted in The Globe and Mail in an article entitled Too busy organizing to be productive.

This should be an interesting week, as I catch up on emails and work and prepare for a busy month ahead.

This will be my last entry until October, because I’m actually taking my own advice and taking a long overdue vacation - my first since before I started my business. I’ll be leaving in about 24 hours for the lovely spot pictured here, and all I have left to do is get the car washed and filled with gas, and pack my stuff.

I also need to decide whether to take my laptop. There is no Internet access where I’m going, so I don’t have to worry about being sucked into checking email or work-related websites, and there are a couple of projects that don’t require online access which I could work on if I feel like it. On one hand, it seems to contradict the point of being on vacation, but on the other hand, September has been a really busy month and it looks like October will be too, so it might actually be less stressful coming home if some of those things are out of the way. I’ll let you know what I decide and how it turns out when I get back.

I am completely stepping away from my usual themes of getting organized and operating a home-based business, but I feel justified for several reasons.

1. It’s the weekend.
2. Even business owners have a personal life.
3. It has to do with serving the community, which should always be relevant.

I came across a blog posting today from someone who is considering becoming a Big Sister and asking for comments from those who have done it. Unfortunately, that particular blog doesn’t allow comments from non-members, so I’m hoping pi-hole of Vancouver might find her way here as I would like to share my experience as a Big Sister with her.

The process to become a Big Sister is very extensive and takes several months. After attending an information session, I had to complete a very detailed and very personal questionnaire and supply three references and a medical form. They will also do a criminal reference check on you and everyone in your household. I think it took nearly nine months between the time of my initial contact and the time I was finally matched with my Little Sister. I understood the reason for all of these precautions - after all, you are going to be spending time with a child - but it felt fairly intrusive and it was definitely stressful waiting to find out whether I was approved.

They ask for a minimum time commitment - it was quite a while ago now, so my memory’s a little fuzzy, but I think they asked for you to commit to spend  4-6 hours a week with your Little Sister for at least 6 months (it might have been 18 months). I knew lots of Big Sisters who didn’t see their Little Sisters every week, but I think it’s important, especially at the beginning, so you can form a relationship.

One of pi_hole’s questions was "what sort of stuff would you do with a little sister, besides going to a movie and getting food or going shopping?" Those were definitely frequent activities for us! We also participated in a number of activities that were offered by the organization, including Christmas and Halloween parties, Bingo night, crafts nights, and field trips. One of the highlights was the day we went up in a small airplane and my Little Sister got to take a turn at the controls.

Sometimes she just came over to my house and we worked on crafts or played on the computer (which was still somewhat of a novelty at that time). We also went bowling, roller skating, and swimming, and once we went to a dollhouse show (we were working on a dollhouse at the time). I even brought her with me to family gatherings and family events put on by my employer. I usually covered any expenses but they did suggest that you could cost share with the parent(s) on occasion. We often received free tickets to events such as movies, ice shows, magic shows and the circus, which were sponsored by local businesses. (This is why, when I was recently contacted by the Lions Club to purchase tickets to a laser show, to be donated to children’s charities, I was happy to do so.)

The types of things you do will of course be determined by what you and your Little Sister enjoy, and they do try to match you with someone with whom they think you will be compatible.

Pi_hole also asked if you have to have a car, and the answer to that is no, but it certainly makes life easier!

One thing they don’t really tell you when you sign up is that once they have you as a volunteer, they will be asking you to support the organization in other ways as well, such as fundraising, representing them at mall displays, and being a Match Monitor. Of course, it is voluntary, but I think it’s important that you be aware of it, and that you be prepared to state how much time you are willing to commit, and what you are and are not willing to do.

All in all, although there were times I found it difficult to make time to see my Little Sister or to think of fun activities for us, it was a fantastic experience in my life. My Little Sister was even one of the bridesmaids at my wedding. Although we drifted away as she got older, we’ve recently re-established contact, and it’s great to see the wonderful adult she has become.