Roundup

Take a seat

OFFICE CHAIRS THAT COMMAND ATTENTION

BY LESLIE T. SNADOWSKY

Office chairs of yesteryear were big, O bulky, heavy and noisy. The colors were funky and the material, chintzy. Even if you liked the retro look, you probably traded in comfort for aesthetics when taking an old chair for a spin.

So what should you look for in a modern-day office chair where you make your phone calls, type your emails and take your meetings for (more than) eight hours a day?

When striving to maintain a healthy work/ life balance, a great place to start is choosing a desk chair that supports your back, enables mobility and productivity and is comfortable. Whether looking to lounge, recline or sit upright, the bench is deep – from lumbar-supported X-Chairs, to sleek Steelcases, to deluxe Herman Millers.

“Physical and visual comfort inspire an efficient work environment,” said Brittani Anderson, Allied ASID designer for J. Banks Design in Hilton Head. “Most often you spend more time in a work environment than you do at home. Investing in style and comfort is the key to success.”

TALL ORDER

When you start shopping for office chairs, make sure there’s a pneumatic adjustment lever to adjust its height. Your thighs are supposed to be horizontal to the floor and level with your hips so your feet stay grounded. This will limit back strain and encourage good posture. Plus, your eyes should line up with the top of your monitor or laptop to minimize any pressure on your neck and spine. The Amia Chair by Steelcase boasts comfort and easy height adjustments. smartfurniture.com. $899

TROUBLESHOOTING TILT

Adjustable backrests enable you to sit up straight or gently recline. The angle of your seat may provide support for your spine, and a locking mechanism safeguards against any jarring back and forth. Aim to adjust your backrest at a 100- or 110-degree angle to your seat, and allow for two to four inches between the back of your knees and the seat of the office chair for ultimate comfort. The FlexFit Hyken Mesh Task Chair offers recline options. staples.com. $220

LUMBAR SUPPORT

In addition to backrests being able to tilt, they should also contour to the shape of your lower back. A lumbar support that can move forward and backward should keep your back slightly arched the whole day so you don’t start slumping and cause pressure on your lumbar discs in your spine located between your hips and chest. The X-Chair X2 K-Sport Mgmt. chair’s lumbar support feels like a cushion and adjusts as you move your seat. xchair.com. $880

ARM WRESTLING

Adjustable armrests are some of the most important components of a comfortable office chair because they help mitigate strain on your neck and shoulders. Armrests should keep you upright and prevent opportunities to slouch. If they are placed too low, you could experience discomfort in your forearms and wrists, which should be level with your keyboard. If your palms rest directly on your desk, it could cause nerve pressure and carpal tunnel syndrome. The Steelcase Gesture Chair has adjustable arms built to support the use of various devices including tablets or smartphones. smartfurniture.com. $1,330

TAKE A BREATH

When sitting for a long period of time, it’s best to consider buying a chair with breathable fabric. Mesh-back chairs have become very popular as they provide ventilation. Leather and faux leather chairs look luxurious, but they can be too firm or too soft. But no matter what material you choose, it’s recommended that you don’t sit on an office chair for too long as being sedentary increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. The AmazonBasics Mesh chair is economical and offers breathable mesh backing. amazon.com. $60

ERGONOMIC EGO

The Rolls-Royce of office chairs are souped-up ergonomic ones The Rolls-Royce of office chairs are souped-up ergonomic ones that are synonymous with Herman Miller designs. They mimic the that are synonymous with Herman Miller designs. They mimic the movements of a user’s body and offer support throughout the entire movements of a user’s body and offer support throughout the entire design. The popular Aeron model offers three sizes to accommodate model offers three sizes to accommodate a wide range of body types, smarter weight distribution through 8Z Pellicle, adjustable PostureFit SL for total spinal support and balanced recline and natural movement, thanks to Harmonic 2 Tilt. balanced recline and natural movement, thanks to Harmonic 2 Tilt. The chair also has gone green, as it features ocean-bound plastic in The chair also has gone green, as it features ocean-bound plastic in the body of the chair. hermanmiller.com. $1,600+

SIT AND SPIN

An office chair should be so comfy, you’ll want to stay seated when reaching for something from across the room. That’s what the wheels, or casters, are for. You should be able to swivel and glide across your office floor to access your file cabinets, garbage can, bookshelf or to consult with a co-worker. And if it looks like the casters could cause damage to your floor, you can buy a see-through plastic floor mat to absorb the shocks, or replace them. Enso Casters are versatile, colorful and based on Zen minimalism. ensomotion.com. $75 for set of five

FORM AND FUNCTION

Anderson recommends office chairs with ergonomic features and credits the Via Seating line with a striking balance between form and function. “I love working with clients to truly understand how they live in their spaces,” she said. “As their designer, I want to design spaces that are beautiful yet functional and improve the way of life of those who use them.” viaseating.com. $500+

Brittani Anderson

specializes in high-end specializes in high-end residential and hospitality residential and hospitality interiors, from conception interiors, from conception to completion, at J. Banks to completion, at J. Banks Design in Hilton Head Design in Hilton Head

Your call is important to us

GET YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS, ON HOLD

BY LESLIE T. SNADOWSKY

B

Business assistance, reduced-cost insurance options, power-hour tele-town hall meetings: You can learn about all these opportunities and more when calling the Hilton Head Island–Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, and being placed on hold.

“In today’s tech savvy world, we’re all communicating on multiple platforms,” said Chamber Vice President of Communications Charlie Clark. “We’ve had people attend networking events because they heard about them via our on-hold messaging. We utilize every opportunity to get the word out on helping businesses thrive.”

What used to be an empty void filled by Muzak and old Barry Manilow melodies has now become a sacred space for captive audiences and marketing enterprise to ring true.

Mike Tucker, owner of Tucker MarCom, a Hilton Head marketing and branding agency that helps connect small business clients with customers and results, said this “soft touch marketing opportunity” can get your brand message buzz directly into the ear of your customers.

Charlie Clark, the vice president of communications at the Hilton Head Island – Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, said callers learn a lot about the Chamber when placed on hold. They even attend events publicized on the looped advertisement.

HOLDING PATTERN

According to the On Hold Messaging Association, executives spend 15 minutes a day, or 68 hours a year, on hold: 94 percent of all marketing budgets are spent on inducing a customer to call, while only 6 percent is spent on handling the call once it’s received.

“If a client or potential customer is going to be on hold for a minute, you might as well fill that minute with something meaningful,” Tucker said. “Give them some information, a tip that they didn’t know or something to engage them. If you don’t, it’s just dead air, and nobody likes dead air. It’s another opportunity to capitalize on.”

A study by North American Telecom found that callers listening to music on hold will stay on the line 30 seconds longer than callers experiencing silence, and callers hearing commercials on hold will stay on the line for up to 3 minutes longer.

“I would opt for meaningful dialogue over music when possible,” Tucker said. “If you’re in a business where you have an opportunity to educate your customer or your prospective client during that time when they’re waiting on hold, it could be a golden opportunity to share with them details about your company that they didn't know about. It will also help them improve their experience while they’re waiting.”

Mike Tucker, the owner of Tucker MarCom, said you don’t need to hire a big PR firm to create effective on-hold messaging for your business. If you already have a marketing partner, Tucker said they can come up with a plan to target your audience before you even get to speak with them.

Deliver your message Instead of playing lame music, use on-hold messaging to promote and advertise your company’s products, services, special offers, promotions and more.

BRAND IDENTITY

Spectrio and Mood Media are just a few of the major companies that create effective and memorable hold-time messages for national businesses, but Mike Tucker of Tucker MarCom said if you’re already working with a marketing agency, get on the horn and touch base with them.

“There’s an entire industry for this,” Tucker said. “But reach out to your marketing company first, and chances are they already have resources on staff that do this. They’ll make sure your branding stays consistent. It’s easy for us to use voiceover that typically is featured in our client’s commercials, and it’s a familiar voice. If not, we come up with a script and tailor it to our client’s needs. You don’t need to work with a big studio. We produce four or five of these a year.” ■

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Five ways to balance your office with feng shui

MAKE YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT MORE INVITING AND PRODUCTIVE

BY CAROL M. OLMSTEAD

1. SIT (OR STAND) IN “COMMAND” POSITION.

Sit facing toward the room entrance door, and avoid sitting with your back to the door. This “command” position assures nothing happens behind your back, whether actually or symbolically. If you can’t move the furniture, place a mirror where you can glance up and see what’s happening behind you so you won’t be caught off guard. Hybrid working arrangements are here H to stay. Whether you work at home in a separate room, at your dining room table, or in a corner of your bedroom, and whether you visit a workplace daily, occasionally or never, feng shui changes can help bring balance and harmony.

Feng shui (pronounced fung shway) is the art and science of arranging your indoor surroundings in balance and harmony with the natural world. While the roots of feng shui come from ancient China, the underlying principle is the same for contemporary feng shui: when the energy around you is blocked, your prosperity, relationships, health and well-being are affected; when the energy is balanced, good things naturally flow into your life.

In these troubled times, more people are asking how feng shui can help them feel comfortable in our new hybrid workplace. Here are five of my favorite tips to help restore balance, reduce stress and adjust to transition in any home office or workplace situation:

2. PICK THE RIGHT SIZE DESK OR WORKSTATION.

A desk that’s too small symbolizes not being up to the challenge, while a desk that’s too big makes you feel overwhelmed by your job. Think like Goldilocks and find the size that’s just right for the work you do.

3. KEEP WORK OUT OF YOUR BEDROOM.

When you work where you sleep, your personal and professional lives are too tightly connected, and that’s not healthy. If you must work in your bedroom, designate the work area using curtains, a floor screen, or décor so you don’t see your work from the bed.

4. DISPLAY ART THAT YOU LOVE.

Choose art that inspires and motivates, and avoid art that feels lonely, dark or depressing. If you don’t love it, don’t display it where you work.

5. ADD A LIVING PLANT.

Choose plants with rounded leaves to represent wealth, and avoid those with thorns or spiky leaves. If you can’t grow plants, use silk. Avoid dried or plastic plants because they represent dead energy. represent dead energy.

Carol Olmstead is a feng shui master practitioner, author and speaker. For almost 25 years she has helped clients, students and readers of her books rearrange spaces, shift energy and transform their lives. Learn more about Carol’s practical approach to feng shui at www. FengShuiForRealLife.com.

"I may be an anomaly, but I find balance by not separating my professional life from my personal life. I'm available for our business when we are on family time, and I'm available for my family when we're on business time. As of now, this approach hasn't been very intrusive, and I don't have to choose between one or the other." — Mike Trezza, Trezza Termite & Pest Control

“I balance work and life by having the mentality that work tasks will still be there tomorrow, but my daughter’s first basketball game won’t. A work-life balance does not come naturally. You must make the decision to be conscious of it and work each day toward accomplishing it.”

— Stacy Floyd, Memory Matters

“I’m a print and TV news reporter who also works as a communications coordinator for a nonprofit. I’m deadline driven, and things can get stressful when all my media worlds collide. But to unwind I like to shoot photos of rock stars and famous musicians onstage and backstage. The energy of a live music performance is infectious, and it recharges me. I currently have an exhibit of 38 of my favorite pictures I snapped on display in Las Vegas, including shots of Jimmy Buffett, Duran Duran, Nick Jonas, Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Chaka Khan, Kid Rock, Ed Sheeran, Gwen Stefani, Sting and Keith Urban.”

— Leslie Snadowsky, reporter

“The key to my achieving a good work-life balance is to create separate spaces and keep regularly scheduled times. I’ve found that being able to ‘leave work’ by walking out of the workspace and closing the door and walk into your home allows for me to transition to non-work life. I do this at a regular and consistent time so I can shift focus to home and family. Working with my husband, we also make it a practice to not talk shop at dinner, on weekends, vacations, etc. We fail at doing these things at times such as during the busy holiday season, but this is our goal, and we are not too hard on ourselves when work and life overlap, which brings in two other key points to find the balance — grace and forgiveness.” — Mandy Arnold, Eagle Creations

How do you balance business and your personal life?

“The work-home life balance is something I am still working at balancing. With being in the service/construction industry, you are never ‘clocked out’ after 5 or on the weekends. Though we have an after-hours call center, I am available for my clients at all times to answer questions or assist with service emergencies. The downside to always being ’on call’ is that you are on your phone a lot or checking it often. With still being available to assist my customers and their needs, I make sure to make time to ‘be present’ with my family and disconnect for a bit. My clients know that our office number is always there for their emergency needs. My daughter, Stella, is 6 and won’t be a kid forever. My husband and I want to soak up these moments that we have as much as we can. I’m not perfect and definitely have moments where I spend a lot of time on my phone, whether it’s sending and checking emails or making or answering calls. On busy days I tend to think that if I keep it nearby and just check it ‘occasionally’ and still be in the moment, that’s OK. However, I know it’s not, but at times I have to be ’on call’ and work during family time, but I keep my daughter as my focus and keep work efficient and in moderation.”

— Victoria Marangio, Howell-Chase Heating & Air Conditioning

“Finding the perfect work-life balance is a never-ending balancing act. On my 40th birthday I decided to prioritize my personal and professional goals and how to achieve them ‘my way.’ To do so, I carved out a rigid schedule for work hours. I set expectations early and often with my clients and coworkers when I am available and when they should expect any deliverables. I do the same with the family, reminding them constantly to plan ahead for any out-of-the-ordinary requests. My secret tool is Google Calendar. I block time for work and play and schedule weeks ahead. By using a calendar to organize my days and weeks, I can be where I need to be and fully engaged at that time. It appears seamless to others who don’t know the amount of planning that goes on behind the scenes."

— Kathryn Drury, Drury Consulting

“As a cinematographer and photographer, managing my work and personal life can be challenging. There are so many moving parts with a single project such as preproduction, scouting, scripting, prep, filming, editing and more. My hours are at the mercy of the client: what type of imagery needs to be produced and the amount of editing time involved with the project. To ensure that I produce the best possible product while giving myself time to spend with my family requires planning, diligence to stay on task and communication between the client and myself. Proper planning and scheduling allow me to be as efficient as possible, keeping me on task and allowing me to prioritize my time to what is needed at that moment. This process not only allows me to produce exactly what my client expects but, more importantly, deliver that product on time. This leads to an efficient production process, allowing me to know my tasks each step of the process and allowing me to shut down work, both physically and mentally, to focus on my family. Family absolutely comes first, and properly managing that work-life balance not only enriches the relationships you have with others. It is essential to a healthy lifestyle.” — Ryan Greco, Moonlight Productions

“My wife, Lyn, and I own and staff Red Piano Art Gallery just about every day. After commuting to the island for 28 years, we consider it quite the blessing to be working in Bluffton, just a short drive from our home in Moss Creek. Our downtime is spent in our home enjoying the view of the marsh from our back deck. For fun we like to attend concerts. The year before COVID, we saw The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Segar, The Rolling Stones and Steve Miller, who had Peter Frampton open for him. So far this year, we saw America in concert in The Johnny Mercer Theatre in Savannah and Steely Dan in North Charleston. A big highlight for us this year will be Andrea Bocelli's Christmas Concert at the new Enmarket Arena in Savannah. So fine art, live music and some good wine certainly go a long way for us in regard to the things we love to do in achieving a work-life balance."

— J. Ben Whiteside, The Red Piano Art Gallery

“The million-dollar question, one of which I am not sure that I have really figured out just yet. I would love to be able to tell you that I have the answer and can help you achieve it too. In all reality, achieving work-life balance looks different for each person. What might work for me might not work for you, and vice versa. No matter the responsibility, I was raised to give 110 percent, or I would simply have to redo it. Since relocating to Bluffton, I have involved myself in my career at the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and throughout various leadership roles, organizations, committees and more in our community. It is important to me that I am wholeheartedly involved in and give back to my community, but with involvement comes great responsibility and hard work. Now work-life balance becomes complicated. The difference, in my opinion, is passion and the willingness to go above and beyond what is expected. Each day looks completely different for me, but it often consists of early mornings and late nights because I am involved in or working on something that I believe in and am passionate about. However, the early morning and late nights begin to consume my life and take away from work-life balance. With that being said, I find balance in protecting my weekends. Weekends, for me, are for family, exploring, re-energizing, and filling my cup; after all, you can't pour from an empty glass. There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to work-life balance, so find what works best for you and make it happen. Just be sure that it makes you happy and refills your cup.” — Natalie J. Osterman, Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce

POP QUIZ!

What’s Your Work-Life Balance Style?

1. WHAT TIME IS YOUR ALARM SET FOR?

A. 6:30 sharp, enough time for me to hit the gym before the emails start pouring in. B. 7:45, giving me time to scroll through

Instagram while I sip my latte. C. It depends on what time zone I’m in. D. 9:00, because what’s the rush? If I work from my bed anyway, then I can never really be late.

2. HOW DO YOU TAKE YOUR COFFEE?

A. Black, poured straight from my French press. I add ice when I’m feeling fancy. B. Three words: caramel mocha frappuccino (you can thank me later). C. A latte from my favorite local coffee shop. D. It doesn’t matter what the flavor is so long as the coffee’s hot and plentiful.

3. WE KNOW YOU’RE SWITCHING SCREENS. WHAT OTHER TABS DO YOU HAVE OPEN DURING YOUR 3 P.M. ZOOM MEETING?

A. Only the essentials: the meeting agenda, my team’s slide deck and a blank doc for notes.

B. Slack, WhatsApp and my email account in case anyone messages me. C. Do you mean all 72 tabs? All I know is that my laptop is hot enough to fry an egg, and 20 of them are about to crash.

D. The YouTube video or podcast I paused just in time for this meeting. What?! They keep me company!

4. WHAT DO YOU WEAR TO WORK?

A. Slacks, blazers and buttondowns – functional pieces that work with our dress code.

B. Bright colors and statement pieces that will get conversations going with our customers. C. Light, comfortable clothes that transition well between my inoffice and work-from-home days. D. You know the drill: all business on the top, elastic waistband on bottom.

5. WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU SIMPLY CANNOT GO TO WORK WITHOUT?

A. My agenda or calendar. It’s the only way I can keep everything straight. B. A fully charged phone battery. Does this thing ever stop ringing? C. My enormous tote bag. It holds my laptop, my Nikon and a spare change of clothes (for whatever adventures afterhours might bring). D. Earbuds. Enough said.

7. FINALLY, YOUR WORKDAY IS OVER!

HOW ARE YOU SPENDING YOUR

FREE TIME?

A. Free time? There’s still so much to do!

B. Catching up with friends over a bottle of pinot grigio on my patio. C. Exploring local shops and restaurants. D. I’ll be in the same place that I started my day: on the couch.

MOSTLY A’S: The Go-Getter One thing that makes you such an asset to your company, clients and coworkers is that they know they can count on you to get the job done. Your motivation to get up, get goin’ and get ‘er done is something the rest of us only aspire to – but remember to pencil in time for yourself as well. You can only move ahead with all-due speed for so long before you eventually run out of steam. MOSTLY B’S: The Comms Capitan Business is all about relationships, and that’s the reason why you love what you do. As you are a probable extrovert, the quality of your day largely depends on your interactions with other people – and so does your sense of work-life balance. You might be fatigued after a full day of staring at a screen, but catching up with friends and coworkers in the break room or after hours is all you need to feel inspired again.

6. HOW DO YOU BREAK UP YOUR

WORKDAY?

A. I like to break down my day into small chunks, sometimes in half-hour increments, to better focus and prioritize my tasks. B. I hold team meetings and client calls first, then everything else typically falls into place. C. I usually need a change of scenery sometime around lunch, so you’ll find me working anywhere from the beach to a café in the afternoon.

D. Morning, afternoon and night. Does it need to be more complicated than that?

HOW DID YOU DO?

Check your answers here.

MOSTLY C’S: The Digital Nomad Whether you’re on an official business trip overseas or “researching your audience” around town, you’re rarely in one place for long – which is exactly how you like it. As an outside-the-cubicle thinker, you draw your inspiration from the scenery and culture around you, which is why your idea of a healthy work-life balance involves a lot of day trips. If you haven’t already, consider asking for or instituting a flexible work program that allows you to log on from wherever the open road (or Yelp) takes you. MOSTLY D’S: The Laid-Back Boss You know what they say: all work and no play makes Jack burnt out. Some people live to work while others work to live, but let’s just say that you’re more interested in the balance side of work-life balance. There’s nothing wrong with taking one (OK – a few) social media breaks during the workday, but make sure you’re not watching the clock because you simply don’t like your job. If that’s the case, it’s time to move on to a career that has you excited to wake up early again.