Posted by Marilyn Lawrence on April 02, 1998 at 06:08:09:
Question #1. Two things recently have served as stress relievers without even planning them that way. First, I received a bird feeder for Christmas that we put up outside of our Florida room window. My desk where I do the majority of my school work is in the Florida room, and I find myself as the sun comes up waiting and watching for "my" birds to come to breakfast. It's very peaceful and I like to see who gets there first. Second, I recently got some flowereing plants in hanging pots. I wanted to play in the dirt and watch them bloom, but knew I didn't have time to tend a whole flower bed but this is close.
Question #2. The week before the "Stress Relief" week, there would be a memo in the hospital newsletter anouncing the upcoming event.
Day 1:This would be a department vs. department contest. A huge piece of "drawing" paper would be put up in each area for each department to draw or write happy or silly things in the most creative manner with the colored markers provided. These posters will be judged at the end of the week with a prize rewarded for the most creative one.
Day 2:Each department head would be required to hold a staff meeting whether it was time for one or not. Staff meetings can be a place for employees to vent frustration and hear the latest on what administration and the boeard directors have going on. It can help the employees feel a "part of the team".
Day 3:Each staff member would get a "squishy stress releif toy" that are so popular to play with and relieve stress when their day gets tough.
Day 4:The chaplain of the hospital will make visits on an impromptu basis just to say Hi and talk. Our chaplain sometimes just "checks in" to see how we're doing and offer support not in a religious way but I guess you'd call it a spiritual way and we always enjoy his visits.
Day 5:In each department will be 20 pictures of a little, goofy cartoon character with a big smile hidden different places. Two of them will be red, the others green. They will be hidden in places where employees always go (or should go) during their work day. The utility room, the storage closet etc. The people who find the red ones will receive a $10 gift certificate from a casual restaurant.
Day 6:The judging of the department posters. The winning department will get a 6 foot submarine sandwich, each employee of the remaining departments will get a coupon for a home made cookie from the cafeteria so that there are no loosers, only winners.
Day 7:Each member will receive from their manager something that is useful in their everyday work in appreciation for their work. For example, anyone working in a patient care area always needs scissors. They will receive a small pair of bandage scissors on a key chain with the company logo and a note attached saying "Your a cut above the rest" that they can carry in their pocket and use everyday.