As daylight hours decrease, many people experience sadness and fatigue. At work it may be difficult to concentrate, you may feel irritable, and your to-do list might feel more daunting than usual.  Winter blues, or seasonal affective disorder, affects up to 20 percent of us and there’s more to it than just feeling unmotivated. The winter blues can lower your resistance and leave you vulnerable to colds and flu.

So how can you stay healthy and energized at work when all you want to do is hibernate til spring? Here are some easy ways to beat the blues.

Move it. Just ten minutes of activity can do the trick. Take a stroll around the parking lot; walk up a few flights of stairs, even gently stretching your arms, neck and legs can revitalize your body.

Play outside. Physical activity releases endorphins that can boost mood and health. Since most of us spend the majority of your lives indoors inhaling stale air, it’s a good idea to take every opportunity to get outside despite the cold weather. It’s even better if the sun’s shining and you can soak up some mood-boosting Vitamin D.

Breathe. Sit in a chair and slowly count to four while inhaling through your nose. Visualize peace, energy and light filling your body. Hold it for a second then slowly count to four exhaling through your mouth while imagining tension and tiredness floating away. Repeat three to five times during the day.

Help out. Helping others less fortunate keeps your own life in perspective. Organize a group of co-workers to volunteer at a homeless shelter, for Meals on Wheels, or Habitat for Humanity. You’ll break up the monotony and see your co-workers in a new light while helping out your community.

Have some fun. What’s more fun than food? Plan a regular department potluck to liven things up. Consider adding a theme ? say Hawaiian ? and ask for tropical food and dress. Doing something different even for a few hours can boost your spirits and immune system.

Eat smart. Since most of us get sleepy in the afternoon, eat a healthy lunch that includes protein, non-starchy vegetables and fat for long-lasting energy. Good examples of balanced combinations include cooked chicken breast and carrot sticks, canned tuna and a lettuce salad, or fish with vegetables. Same principle applies for mid-afternoon snacks. Don’t expect to stay energized if you’re not eating right.

Set some goals. If you’re feeling like every day is the same, shake things up by setting goals for yourself.  Tackle your list of must-read books, finish a long-neglected project, brush up on your skills, attend a seminar or take a class outside your comfort zone.

Go fruity. Bananas, apples and grapes can give a much-needed lift because they contain natural sugars, vitamins and fiber. Bananas are one of the few fruits containing both simple carbohydrates, for instant energy, and complex carbohydrates, for endurance. Need something to keep at your desk? Try dates. They also include both simple and complex carbs and are loaded with essential nutrients and vitamins.

Keep it clean. A recent report states that the average desk has 400 times more germs on it than a toilet seat! And under the right condition, these germs can double every 15 minutes on shared equipment like copy machines, light switches, and coffee pots.  Think about all the items you touch on your desk alone – keyboard, mouse, phone, pens. They carry a surprising amount of bacteria. Always wash your hands after using the restroom, use hand sanitizer after touching shared equipment, and regularly wipe down your office area with antibacterial wipes. You also might consider upgrading your mousepad, keyboard, and other items to the new antimicrobial products that inhibit the spread of germs.

Don’t let Mother Nature wreak havoc on your mental and physical well being. Check with your local Office Supply Dealer for even more ways to keep you happy, healthy and energized all winter long.

Little Things That Work In A Big Way

Get a fresh start on growing your business. The new year is the perfect time to get organized and create materials with stopping power that will get you noticed. Look for fresh ideas from Avery that make it easy to keep your resolutions.

At-A-Glance and Post-it have partnered together through 3/31/12 with a Special Offer. When you purchase 1 At-A-Glance qualifying product and 1 Post-it qualifying product you will get a $5 McDonald’s gift certificate by mail. Complete details are available on this brochure.

Features:

• Requires less force and generates less noise than traditional power assist staplers.
• Flat clinch design reduces paper stacks by up to 40%.
• Non-skid base.
• Soft touch handle.

Only $18.98

Handsomely appointed and attractively priced for the fiscally discerning executive. Traditional “bankers” styling with brass nailhead trim. Deep cushioned vinyl upholstery. Genuine hardwood frame with a rich mahogany finish. Padded arms for comfort and support. Straight wood legs with or without brass hooded casters.

Quantities are limited and prices effective until 12/31/11.

With Castors – Order ALECE43CVY11MY      Only $111.99
Without Castors – Order ALECE43VY11MY   Only $101.99

Please fill out our New Customer Form located here and then return by Toll Free Fax (800-249-4524) or by email. Once we have your New Customer Form, we’ll promptly set up your account and one of our Customer Service Team Members will contact you by phone.

For Existing Customers – New Buyer

If you are an existing customer and just need to add another buyer to your account, please fill out this form and submit and one of our Customer Service Team Members will set up your Buyer and then contact you by email that you have been set up in our system.

Since 1990 the color pink has become synonymous with breast cancer awareness. It was during the Susan G. Komen Race for The Cure in Washington DC that organizers first distributed pink visors to some of the participants while others in the race wore pink ribbons. The following year, Komen gave pink ribbons to every participant in its New York City Race for the Cure and the pink movement began.

We are all at risk
About 12 percent (1 in of American women will develop invasive breast cancer during her life, second only to skin cancer. In 2010 an estimated 207,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed, along with 54,000 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer. Although the number has been decreasing since 1990, last year nearly 40,000 women in the US died from breast cancer. About 70-80 percent of breast cancer occurs in women with no family history but is due to the normal aging process and life in general. This means all women are at risk.

11 things you can do today
Donate your time and talents to this important cause and have fun while doing it. Here are a few ways to get started.

1. Donate. No need to go it alone. Start a friendly competition among departments at work. The group that collects the most can receive special recognition in a company email, newsletter, or at an upcoming meeting. While there are several breast cancer research foundations, the most well-known include the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (ww5.komen.org ), the National Breast Cancer Foundation (nationalbreastcancer.org), Pink Ribbon International (pinkribbon.org), and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (bcrfcure.org).
2. Hold a “Pink” fundraising party. Sell entry tickets, conduct a 50/50 raffle and play games. Get creative with pink lighting, decorations and desserts. Ask attendees to wear pink clothing or hats, and have fun with it!
3. Buy pink products. Many companies sell pink products and donate a portion of the profits to research. Support these businesses. You’ll find everything from the classic pink ribbon pins, to scarves, cell phones, pens, bracelets, luggage tags, and more.
4. Volunteer. Short on cash? Many organizations depend on volunteers to answer phones, organize fundraising, manage local events or give cancer patients a ride to their treatments.
5. Talk it up. Inform family, friends and co-workers about breast cancer by sending emails regarding screening guidelines and other helpful tips.
6. tart selling. Hold a neighborhood garage or bake sale and donate the proceeds.
7. Use your experience. If you’ve had breast cancer yourself you can be enormously helpful to those who are recently diagnosed through peer counseling, facilitating a breast cancer support group, or speaking to groups as a breast health educator. The American Cancer Society (cancer.org) has a range of volunteer opportunities for those who have been there and want to share.
8. Organize a breast cancer walk at your local park. Use it to raise awareness and raise donations.
9. Wear a pink ribbon. Widely available nationwide in various shapes, sizes and forms.
10.  Spread the word. If your local business is raising money contact the media to generate interest and participation. Positive local stories often capture big headlines.
11. Click for mammograms. Click daily at breastcancersite.com and 100 percent of sponsor money goes to mammograms.

While October is designated as National Breast Cancer Awareness month, education and prevention are year-round efforts.

How to: 
Set up a desktop filing system using time elements instead of subjects as your categorization.
- Start with an expanding file with at least 7 dividers or a daily desk sorter or a desk file with 8-10 folders
- Label the categories for each hour (or as needed for your typical schedule)

Review your calendar for appointments or meetings for the day.
- Print the agendas for each meeting and file in the appointed hour
- Collect any paperwork you need to take to the meeting and file in the appointed hour

Review and prioritize your to do list for the day 
- Estimate how much time your first task will take and identify unscheduled time on your calendar.  Mark your calendar to occupy that time with the assigned task
- Pull the paperwork that you will need to work on that task and file in the first unscheduled time in your file.
- Continue reviewing your to do list until you fill 75% of your available time for the day.

An hour before your workday ends, recycle or toss any papers that you do not need for documentation and that have been acted on. Replace any papers to their original files that need to be kept for documentation or future reference.

By organizing your paperwork to align with your calendar and your to do list, even if an urgent issue arises just before a scheduled meeting, your paperwork will be ready for you in your daily file.