Everyone needs, or wants, to miss work at some point. But, if you don’t have a real excuse, you’re going to need to make up a good one. Below are some excuses you can use. Some are classic excuses, others are creative, and some are questionable. Pick your favorite and try it out on your boss.

1. When I got up this morning I accidentally took two Ex-Lax in addition to my Prozac. I can’t get off the john, but I feel good about it.
2. The voices told me to clean all the guns today.
3. I threw my back out bowling.
4. My stigmata’s acting up again.
5. I’ll be stalking my previous boss, who fired me for not showing up for work.
6. I am stuck in the blood pressure machine down at the grocery store.
7. Yes, I seem to have contracted some attention-deficit disorder and, hey, how about them Dodgers, huh? So, I won’t be able to, yes, could I help you? No, no, I’ll be sticking with Sprint, but thank you for calling.
8. I just found out that I was switched at birth. Legally, I shouldn’t come to work knowing my employee records may now contain false information.
9. My psychiatrist me a jaw restraint so I won’t bite things when I am startled.
10. The dog ate my car keys. We’re going to hitchhike to the vet.
11. I prefer to remain an enigma.
12. The EPA has determined that my house is completely surrounded by wetlands and I have to arrange for helicopter transportation.
13. I am converting my calendar from Julian to Gregorian.
14. I refuse to travel to my job until there is a commuter tax. I insist on paying my fair share.
15. I’ve earned a day off.
16. I’m Playing Golf with a Client.
17. I have a Doctor’s appointment.
18. I have a Dentist appointment.
19. I have cramps.
20. I’m working from home.
21. There’s been a death in the family.
22. I’m too sleepy from working all day yesterday.
23. I have a personal emergency.
24. My fish is sick and I need to take it to the vet.
25. My daughter got a round hair brush stuck in her hair and I need to help her get it out.
26. I have come down with Spring Fever.
27. I fell off a ladder fixing the roof on my house and I injured by back.
28. I was attacked and need to recover.
29. I was mugged and the thief took my car keys and driver’s license.
30. I have a migraine.
31. My eyes are watering for some reason causing blurry vision.
32. I’m in the hospital.
33. I’m still drunk from last night.
34. I need a mental recovery day.
35. Last night I had a party and I woke up with a strange man in my bed and he won’t leave.
36. My car caught on fire on the way to work.
37. My car ran out of gas on the way to work so I pushed it to a gas station, but I got a stomach hernia and I have to go to the doctor’s.
38. My cat got ran over and I need to take it to the vet.
39. My boyfriend hit me and I’m kind of messed up.
40. I was stepping out of my trailer and I missed the step and landed on the ground injuring my back.
41. My shrink put me on a new depressant yesterday and I’m feeling weird.
42. Had to be rushed to hospital for coffee burns on my lap.
43. The city is paving my street and I can’t get out of my neighborhood.
44. The hazmat crew is here and won’t let me out of the house.
45. My wife is too sick to get out of bed and I have to stay home to take care of her.
46. My waterbed busted and my room is flooded.
47. My daughter ran away, so I should stay home to see if she comes back.
48. I won’t be in today….I’m calling in dead.
49. My home is flooded and I’m currently standing on my dresser in my second story bedroom.
50. I do not feel up to par today.
51. I tried to dye my hair blonde, but it came out blue.
52. I spent my paycheck on lottery tickets, and I’m out of gas until payday.
53. I got the end of a Q-tip stuck in my ear and have to go to the doctor’s to get it out.
54. My horse overate and needs to be walked so he doesn’t lay down and die.
55. I have the flu.
56. My wife’s breasts are sore after her breast enlargement so I need to stay home and massage her tits.
57. My husband had a vasectomy yesterday and his balls are enlarged, so I need to stay home and help him ice them.
58. A SWAT team closed off a part of a street after a disgruntled ex-employee shot several people.
59. My agoraphobia (fear of leaving the house) is kicking in and I am afraid to come in today.
60. The springs on my garage door broke and I can’t get my car out cause the door won’t open.
61. My spiritual guide said something bad will happen to me if I leave my house today.
62. My spiritual guide said there will be a fire at my work today so I’m staying home.
63. If I tell you why I can’t come in, I’d have to kill you.
64. You’re on a need to basis, but you don’t need to know.
65. You can’t handle the truth.
66. My dog is having puppies and I need to help her.
67. My cat is having kittens and I need to help her.
68. Someone smashed in my windows this morning with a large blunt object.
69. I sprained my wrist cooking breakfast in the microwave.
70. I slipped in the shower and injured my knee. I can’t walk on it at all.
71. I cut my self shaving and it hurts to walk.
72. I locked myself in the bathroom.
73. I locked my keys in my car.
74. I locked myself out of the house.
75. My dog died.
76. My street is flooded and I can’t drive out.
77. Someone dumped a truck-load of sand in front of my driveway and I can’t get out.
78. My cat was alarmed by my sleep-talking and jumped off the bed, knocked my alarm off the dresser, of which the batteries fell out; so I over slept.
79. I can’t find any clothes to wear.
80. My washing machine broke and I don’t have any clean clothes.
81. My water has been turned off.
82. I didn’t pay my electricity bill so I can’t see to get ready.
83. I am sick with the Lack. Lack of ambition.
84. Last night a friend I haven’t seen in a long time came over and gave me a bear hug and broke one of my ribs.
85. I was up all weekend with this new girl I met and I didn’t get any sleep…if you know what I mean.
86. My asthma is really bad.
87. I tried lifting my daughter out of her crib and twisted my back.
88. On my way to work today, my tooth cracked. I’ll be going to the dentist.
89. The fan belt broke on my van.
90. The brakes went out on my car.
91. My car has a flat tire.
92. The hot water tap in my shower broke.
93. I’m stuck in the bathroom without any toilet paper.
94. During the night the power must have gone off because when I woke up my alarm clock time was flashing.
95. My cat is lonely and stressed out and if I don’t spend quality time with him, he will keep peeing on the furniture.
96. My wife said she is going to conceive today, and I want to be there when it happens.
97. My chain came off my bicycle.
98. I came down with a bad case of something or other.
99. My cat hid my car keys because she gets lonesome when I’m gone.
100. I was taking a shower and I dropped the soap, as I reached down to pick it up, I slipped and fell causing me to bust my lip, twist my ankle, strain my back, stub my finger, and get soap in my eyes.
101. The babysitter didn’t show up today so I have to watch my kids.

Ever feel envious of another person’s office setup? Well, it’s very common. You walk into a well-equipped ergonomic office, with advanced technology and all the fancy office fixins’. The office owner has clearly taken full advantage of office ergonomics and proudly displays a comfortable chair, a large LCD monitor set at the perfect adjustment in its monitor holder, a fancy computer privacy screen, and a hip adjustable keyboard tray upon which an ergonomic keyboard sits. Meanwhile, back at your office, you have wires everywhere, a bulky old-fashioned computer monitor, a flat and hand-crippling keyboard, you’ve never even heard of a keyboard shelf, and your mouse only works after tapping it on your crowded desk.

There is one simple solution to this problem – Get a new home office. Setting up a new office or improving your current home office doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. With office ergonomics, high-tech office gear, and decreasing prices of office equipment and furniture, you can turn your home office into an ergonomic technological paradise. After reading the following and viewing some of the coolest home office setups, you will have plenty of ideas of amazing ways to spruce up your home office.

Single Display Workstation Setups

Like to keep it simple? In fact, so simple, the following person removed their keyboard shelf and is just using the desktop as a keyboard tray.

For the organized and tidy individual who takes full advantage of office ergonomics.

Keep it basic. No extras, like an adjustable keyboard tray or a monitor holder, but it’s still a nice and clean office set up.

Multi Display Workstation Setups

Bored with your home office…make it fun. For the ultimate racing fan:

Tired of your computer monitor taking up too much space on your desk? The solution is office ergonomics. Get a monitor holder, or as the owner of the following office would argue, get wall mounts to mount your monitors on the wall.

How about a purely panoramic view?

The double whammy.

One, two, three…even ten monitors are just not enough

Mixin’ it up with all brands and sizes, desktops and laptops, adjustable keyboard trays and flat keyboards.

Keep it simple X 3.

Surround yourself. Who needs office ergonomics when you can just put a bunch of computers in every space at every angle?

Computer monitors aren’t always as important as the view behind them.

Big and little can go together. Probably not the ideal keyboard setup though. I would recommend using an adjustable keyboard tray on a keyboard shelf…remember the goal is to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome not encourage it.

The ultimate home office computer monitor set-up.

Regardless of the home office setup you want to imitate, to have an awesome home office, you need to have a plan. Decide on the perfect space for your home office and work from there. You will need to plan out what type of desk you want, in other words, what size, what shape, what color, and so on. You will also need to decide if you want other office furniture, for example lamps and filing cabinets, and what office equipment, particularly what computer equipment, you want in your ideal home office. The best practice is to follow office ergonomics in order to attain the most comfortable, pain preventing home office setup.

Admit it, you’ve probably fallen under the Apple marketing campaign and found yourself singing along to one of their catchy songs they use to promote new products, stood in line for the latest iPhone, or purchased one –or several—iPods to carry your personal music library wherever you go. And did I mention their desktop computer and laptops? Not only are they sleek, but incredibly user-friendly. In a world of telecommuting and online business, laptop ergonomics are becoming incredibly important to the average computer user.

Apple’s popularity boom has not only come from their trendy marketing campaign, but also because their products produce longevity and reliability. Here are some tips to take from the latest in Apple MacBook review if you are looking to make a purchase of an ergonomic laptop.

Some laptop keyboards can appear to stiff and even “sticky” when compared to the traditional desktop keyboard. These types of laptop keyboards will in turn require that you put extra pressure when typing, which can result in wrist strain and other uncomfortable feelings. For some time, college students and young professionals purchased smaller laptops so they could easily transfer them from school to work, or comfortably fit them in their book bags. In turn, the keyboards also became much smaller and forced users to scrunch their hands and fingers together when typing.

The keyboard on the MacBook Pro is easy to type on and will respond to even the lightest of touch. The MacBook Pro comes in two different screen sizes and both keyboards are comfortable to use. To become even more efficient with the laptop ergonomics of the MacBook Pro, take a refresher course on the key shortcuts to save time and reduce finger and wrist strain.

Laptop mouse pads are often difficult to get used to. Some mouse pads are uber sensitive and will respond to the lightest of touch and may disfigure program screens or relocate your cursor when you are typing a word document. On the flip side, other mouse pads require you to put extra pressure on the device, which can induce extra strain on the fingers.

The MacBook Pro offers a comfortable halfway point between the two. Test out the efficiency of the touchpad. Sweep your fingers across the pad to see how the touchpad responds. There are no extra left click and right click buttons, which gives you more room to navigate. Apple engineers have developed multi-touch gestures as well, letting you swipe, pinch, rotate and use four fingers to swipe and move through programs and the Internet, making it the most ergonomic MackBook Pro track pad to date. You can set the touchpad to respond to a tapping gesture of plug in your own mobile mouse that you feel comfortable using.

Another important feature that comes in to play with Apple ergonomics is that the keyboard is light sensitive and will illuminate in a darker room. Although it is not ergonomically correct to type in the dark, the illuminated keys help those that still look at the letters and keys when typing. The weight of the MacBook Pro is also considerable lighter when compared to other laptops. The 15 inch model is one inch thick and weighs less than five pounds, yet is strong and durable enough to take refuge in any backpack or book bag. The MacBook Pro is made of a single piece of aluminum which may also add to the lighter and compact nature of Apple ergonomics and products.

Other laptop ergonomics that the MacBook Pro includes is the LED backlight in the computer. Apple engineers have noticed that LED creates the same amount of brightness with less space than an LCD or CCFL display would normally use. This causes for a thinner structure and also allows for maximum brightness instantly without a “warm up” waiting period.

Do some of your own research and you will find many other types of Apple MacBook reviews. Apple products are not only user friendly, but also aesthetically pleasing. With so many satisfied customers of Apple products, you might also want to ask your neighbors and friends about the laptop ergonomic benefits of the MacBook.

There’s a wide gamut of individuals that work from or read off of papers in their daily life. High school and college students read off of class notes to type up notes, book reports and major projects. Teachers read off of papers when they are inputting their data from semester grades.  And there are a large number of professionals that read off of handwritten notes or other reading material to type of reports on their work computers. When it comes to your daily responsibilities with work and school, paper document ergonomics is an important factor to keep in mind when considering the well-being of your mind and body. Here are a few ergonomic setup tips to create an ergonomic workstation that best suits your lifestyle and career responsibilities.

• Few people would realize that the positioning and placement of the paper documents you are working off of play an important role in your comfort level, especially when it comes down to your neck and shoulder pain.

Don’t put paper documents and reading material flat on your desk while reading off of them. You are more likely to tilt or twist your neck in between reading the document and looking at your computer screen. The repeated movement in the neck can cause neck strain and poor posture.

• Your head and neck should not be twisted or bent in strange angles while you are working in front of a computer screen. If you are straining to read off of a paper document while working on your computer can lead to shoulder and neck pains and eye strain.
• Use a paper holder to put your reading material as close as possible to the computer screen. This distance and the level of the paper should be at the same as your computer monitor. Having these at the same level will minimize how many times your eyes will refocus between looking at the document and computer screen and you won’t have to tilt your head in different directions to look at each item. There are three different types of paper holders.

In-line document holders place the documents between the computer screen and keyboard in a specific angle that follows your field of vision. This type of holder eliminates your side-to-side head and neck movements and makes it easier for you to look at the computer screen and document.

Screen-mounted paper holders are connected to the side of your computer screen so that the document is in alignment. This type of holder is ideal for those that only work off of a single or few sheets of paper.

Freestanding paper holders have a sloping surface that should be in alignment with the same plane as your computer screen. On some models, you can adjust the height and/or angle to best suit your field of vision. Depending on the type of reading material you are working off of, there are freestanding paper holder models that are idea for holding a single piece of paper or a large book. Freestanding paper holders should be positioned near the side of the computer screen and at the same distance as the screen. It is also possible to rotate the holder at different angles to follow the visual field curve if necessary.

• Install proper lighting at your ergonomic workstation. Few people make it a priority to establish ample lighting in their work area. However, not enough lighting can trigger glare problems with your computer screen and force you to strain and squint your eyes. If you don’t have proper ceiling lights, consider a desk lamp or some other type of task lighting to allow for proper lighting on the documents.

Because there are so many industries that require workers to read off of other documents to complete work on their computer screen, it’s important to ask yourself if you are using correct paper document ergonomics. There’s nothing appealing to eye strain so make sure your work station is fully equipped with ergonomic products.

Look into an ergonomic keyboard, mouse, chair and footrest and other ergonomic office products to ensure that the well-being of your body is maintained. With so many products out there, shop around and find the best items for your work station.

Even through the hardest times with our current economy, co workers are still thinking of innovative ways to bring funny office humor to lift the spirits of others. Office pranks never seem to get annoying and there’s a new generation of people out there looking to annoy their fellow coworkers and bosses. Here are the Best Office Pranks Part 3.

1. “It’s music to my ears”–We all have this type of person in our office…the person who has awful taste in music and has no consideration for others. He or she never seems to remember to bring in headphones and decidedly blasts their crazy techno or Mariachi music throughout the office for everyone else to enjoy. Here’s a way to get even with your music maker.

While your co-worker is out to lunch or away from their computer for a few minutes, create your own file of music, preferably the type of music that annoys them the most, or a type of music that is even more irritating than what they already play. Transfer from the music file onto a USB port and download it onto their desktop.

On your colleague’s computer, go to the control panel and look into the sound devices. Go into the sound tab and click on the Start Windows tab, or any other popular tab that is frequently used and replace the existing sounds with those from your music file. Apply the changes, turn their speakers up the highest volume and turn their computer off. When they get back to their computer and restart their program, the music file your applied will start blaring from their speakers. It will surely scare your colleague and they might reconsider bringing in their headphones to personally enjoy their music.

2. Electronic Overload–(One of the more complicated of office practical jokes) Let’s say you have a boss or manager in your office that isn’t the sharpest when it comes to technology. Have one of your IT guys or an electrician re-wire some of the electronics in his or her office. For example, when they turn on the light switch, their radio turns on. Or, when they pick up their phone, the fan starts blowing. Be creative with this one and don’t forget to rewire everything after the prank is over.

www.bestofficepranks.com

3. Welcome Back Gift–When your favorite boss leaves for a week for his annual vacation, get to work with your co-workers and line the floor of his office with Styrofoam cups, mouse traps, dominos, or even crumpled up paper. After coming back from a relaxing vacation, he will definitely be peaved when it takes him a couple hours to clean up the mess. And don’t forget to conveniently place a garbage can near his office or cubicle to discard the clutter.

www.bestofficepranks.com

4. Hole Punch Haven–If you have a particularly messy coworker who, let’s say, leaves their desk awry over the weekend with various papers, pens and wrappers strewn about their workspace, you can get them to notice very quickly that they are the hugest pig in the sty. While they are away from their desk, grab their car keys and bring a large bag full of hole punch scraps with you. If you can, open up their air vents and fill them up with the hole punches. Find an annoying radio station and turn the volume to full blast. While the car is off, turn the air to its highest level, lock the car up, and safely return their keys back to their desk. As your employee gets ready to leave for lunch or the office for the day, watch from a window as their air vents spits paper shredding back at them while country music blasts in their ears. They’ll definitely remember to clean up after themselves.

www.bestofficepranks.com

5. Feeling a Little Rewired?–If you have two computers that are next to each other, switch all of the cords between the two docking stations. The duo will never figure out why their new CD won’t play on their drive, or why all of their important documents and files have magically disappeared and have been replaced with someone else’s work.

After working on a computer on a daily basis, using a computer mouse becomes pretty much second nature. You never have to think about how to place your hand on the device or where to guide your mouse to navigate through the programs you are viewing on your computer screen. However, if you are experiencing wrist pain or feel like you may be experiencing signs of carpal tunnel syndrome while working long days at the office, you may want to rethink the ways you are using this handy tool.

One of the easiest solutions in improving wrist pain associated with strenuous mouse use is to invest in an ergonomic mouse. These mice don’t only look cool, but they also provide features to reduce the strain on your wrist and hand. The 3M Ergonomic mouse reduces the stress on your fingers and the chance of getting carpal tunnel syndrome by implementing a joystick manner of holding the mouse.

Here are a few tips to consider for getting the most out of your mouse with the minimal amount of pain. These tips also correlate to those who work with a digital pen, touchpad, trackball or digitizing puck.

• Hold the mouse gently and move it over the mouse pad in a gliding manner. You may want to consider the purchase of an ergonomic mouse to ease wrist pain.
• Don’t flick the mouse with your wrist. Controlled movements and a neutral mouse will reduce the risk of carpal tunnel.
• Mouse movements should be made with the elbow as the pivot point and not the wrist. Anything that restricts free movement in the hand and forearm will increase your risk for injury.
• When you’re not using the mouse, it is not necessary to keep your hand over it. This tip may be simple enough, but users sometimes unconsciously leave their hand on the mouse when not in use.
• Consider installing software that monitors your mouse usage. These programs, such as Break Reminder and ErgoManager, will recommend when it is time to take a break and track how much you are using the device.
• Use a mouse that is as flat as possible to reduce wrist extension. Find a mouse that encourages wrist movement and offers a variety in your posture. A curved mouse will increase your risk for injury.
• Avoid using a wrist cushion. Research has shown that these cushions double the pressure inside of the carpal tunnel. The use of a small wrist cushion will also force you to restrict the movement of your arms, which can also lead to wrist pain.
• Avoid any jewelry, watches or long-sleeved shirts that can restrict the blood from circulating to your wrist.
• Take note of your posture. Are you sitting up straight, or does your lower back feel better when you are hunched over your computer desk. An ergonomic mouse is designed to improve your posture.
• Vary your posture while using a computer mouse. Take breaks every hour, or stand up for a few moments to stretch your muscles.

The best placement for your mouse is right above the keyboard, near the number keypad. This promotes extension of the arm and ease of use.

It has been estimated that three percent of the population in the Unites States suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), the most common of repetitive stress injuries. The injury related to the overuse of wrist and hand muscles affects many industries, including assembly line workers, musicians and office workers.

Treatments for repetitive stress injuries (RSI) and carpal tunnel include medications, splints and resting of the hand and wrist. Surgery made the last resort made for serious CTS cases. However, there are some cases where the patient doesn’t see an immediate relief from these treatments and are compelled to find alternative CTS treatments to ease symptoms, such as numbness and tingling of the hands and fingers.

Carpal tunnel yoga is a new age treatment that is believed to relieve pain the wrist and increase the strength in the ailing hand. Yoga improves the body’s overall posture and endurance and there are a variety of different poses, such as chair twists, Downward Dog with chair and 90 degree forward bends to a wall, that provide relief. Some studies have even concluded that carpal tunnel yoga is more effective than wearing a splint on your wrist.

Because you will often feel shooting pains or experience swelling in your wrist and hand, carpal tunnel massage is another alternative treatment you may want to look into. Look into these various massage techniques to ease your wrist pain:

• Swedish massage uses tapping and kneading strokes to loosen joints and relieve muscle tension. The five basic strokes in Swedish massage are: tapping or beating strokes; vibration of the muscle; stroking; the grabbing and lifting of muscles; and friction using the thumbs and fingertips in deep circles.
• Neuromuscular massage is applied to individual muscles to increase blood flow, release pressure and reduce pain.
• Skull and spinal massage therapy uses extremely light pressure to the bones and membranes that surround these areas.

The Eastern influence has also led CTS sufferers to believe that acupuncture is another form of treatment. Research is still continuing to prove its success. A chiropractor can also realign your joints and bones in rehabilitating exercises, which include the twisting, pushing and pulling movements of the wrist and forearm.

Individuals with CTS can also look into carpal tunnel herbs and vitamins to promote a healthier lifestyle and improve their pain from within. Some people take vitamin B6 is a supplement that promotes protein metabolism, red blood cell metabolism and a healthy nervous and immune system. Originally used to treat depression, St. John’s wort helps to recuperate damaged nerves by reducing pain and swelling. Flaxseed oil is a fatty acid that can also reduce inflammation of the area. Lastly, turmeric contains anti-inflammatory chemicals to treat pain and has been widely compared to cortisone.

Depending on your own lifestyle, there is a treatment out there to suit anyone. If you’re not sure about which alternative treatment to pursue, speak with your health professional for their specialized guidance with your specific case.

Technologically savvy and ergonomic product lovers are switching to LCD computer screens to complete their ergonomic workstation to reduce eye strain and improve their overall environment. LCD, which stands for Liquid Crystal Display, used to be a luxury for homeowners and big corporations. Technology has improved and the prices for these specialized screens have come down so much that your average Joe can afford them.

The first type of computer monitor screen was made from CRT, which stands for Cathode Ray Tube. This screen is becoming less popular because their color imaging isn’t as superior as an LCD screen. However, CRTs are still useful for displaying images with high pixels per unit area and with the correct color balance. CRT monitor screens are also still popular with those working in the broadcasting and printing industries, as well as those working in professional graphics and photography fields because of their greater color contrast and better resolution for displaying moving images. Apart from these industries, the average consumer is not in the market for CRT screens because LCD screens offer better features.
One of the other reasons that consumers are staying away from CRT monitors are the health concerns and claims involved with this product. Some researchers have claimed that electromagnetic fields are emitted by these monitors, which can have a negative effect on one’s living cells. Researchers have also proved that CRTs can release a small amount of X-ray radiation, but is considered not harmful. Lastly, CRTs are considered to be toxic waste when discarded, operate under extremely high voltages, and implosion may occur if the outer glass envelope is damaged.

Ergonomic LCD screens in the workplace are beneficial to workers because it produces a clearer image and helps to avoid eye strain. The reduced glare on the computer screen’s monitor helps to deter any eye injuries or headaches. A CRT monitor redraws the image on the screen when it refreshes, but an ergonomic LCD monitor screen only changes the necessary pixels when it refreshes. Ergonomic monitor screens are also void of flicker because they don’t work with a scanning electron beam. Flicker on a computer screen also lead to eye strain and a decrease in visual performance.

Ergonomic LCD monitors are also much thinner and lighter when compared to a CRT screen so it can be easily mounted and won’t strain your back if you ever have to move the screen. LCDs are also becoming increasingly popular, outside of the ergonomic workstation industry, because it requires less power per display area. Officials have noted that the energy use with an LCD screen is nearly 60 percent less than a CRT screen. Research has also shown that LCDs allow for better posture while working on the computer. Because the screen cannot be clearly viewed from different side angles, the screen helps to force the user to align their body with the front plain of the screen.

Overall, an ergonomic LCD monitor is more beneficial to someone working in an office because of the improved technology and better visual features that promote healthy eyes and posture. Be your own critic and test both screens out, but you may find yourself upgrading to LCD monitors in the future.

If you spend at least eight hours a day working in an office, it’s only a matter of time before you start getting antsy and need a distraction to relax your brain a bit. While you could spend some time catching up on your serious solitaire skills or shopping online, wouldn’t it be a more fulfilling experience to plan the ultimate office prank on your co-workers or boss? In the more casual work environments, office pranks are used as an initiation of sorts for new employees, or to get revenge on co-workers who are just getting back from a long-winded vacation to the tropics. Here is list of simple and more extraordinary office practical jokes that you can practice at your own work place. Welcome to Part 2 of The Best Office Pranks.

Simple office pranks to take advantage of:

A little Google language switch-a-roo—When your co-worker leaves their desk for a few minutes, go into their Google search page, click on the “Preferences” link and change the interface language to something unique, such as Klingon on Pirate. If your co-worker isn’t the most technologically savvy, they may have some problems the next time they are feeling lucky.

It’s a jerk in a box—Get a box that is big enough for you to fit in and place the box is a heavily trafficked place, such as near someone’s cubicle or in the break room. Get in the box, jump out and scare passing victims. Crazy masks are a plus here.

A little J-E-L-L-O love—Take one of your co-worker’s most used items that can be replaced, such as a mouse or calculator and bring it home with you. In a large bowl, mix a few boxes of Jell-O and place the item in the bowl and let it sit over night. Bring the Jell-O mold back to work and replace it where it was the day before. Your co-worker will have a great time figuring out how to get their item out of this delicious dessert.

The finished product!

More intensive office pranks that you may need some time to plan:

“I swear that wasn’t my computer!”—There are certain computer programs, such as EZ Macro amen5a, that you can download to a colleague’s computer that allows you to set up various applications to run when certain specifications are met. For example, the desk top can open up a few dozen windows all at the same time, forcing your coworker to try and close all of the unnecessary programs. You could run an application where awkward sounds come from their computers when certain words are typed. Choose an application that adds funny words automatically after they type in predetermined words. Or, find a program that opens NSFW images every few minutes.

Recycle, Reduce, Reuse—This prank is pretty time consuming so get some assistance from friends. Get a bunch of cardboard and recreate everything in your co-worker’s office, ranging from their computer and desk, to portraits of their family and staplers. Install a video in their office so you can capture their face when they realize their office was built for a hobo. If you are looking for a less time-consuming office prank, wrap their whole office in newspaper.

Another funny office prank idea!

Tips for pulling off an office prank with the safest parameters:

• Make sure to notify higher management if you will be attempting to pull off more detailed pranks. Don’t hurt anyone’s feelings or break any property. You do want your job the next day, right?
• If the victim suspects that an office prank may be happening soon—say it’s close to April Fool’s Day—try doing the prank a few days before or after April 1st or when they get back from vacation to keep them on their toes.
• Take lots of pictures and video to document people’s stunned faces. Don’t forget to share these pictures and they may even end up on the monthly company newsletter.
• Ask co-workers to help you out. If the process is extensive, you’ll need more bodies to distract the victim and follow through with the scheme.

Office pranks are a popular past time for any imaginative co-worker, but make sure the prank is safe and won’t upset anyone in the office. Get your creative juices flowing and keep the integrity of office humor alive.

While many office employees often kid that their heavy workload may cause them carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) if they don’t go on a vacation or get a three-day weekend, the serious wrist injury is no laughing matter. The cause of carpal tunnel syndrome can be based on unhealthy work conditions or already present medical conditions. Studies have shown that more than half of CTS cases are due to workplace conditions. The other minority of CTS causes are due to a medical history of obesity, diabetes, arthritis and hypothyroidism. At the same time, a combination of serious medical conditions and a stressful workplace can increase the potential that one will acquire CTS.

Carpal tunnel syndrome involves a compressed median nerve at the wrist that leads to pain and muscle weakness in the hand. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel, which is a canal in the wrist surrounded by bone on three sides and a transverse carpal ligament that surrounds the fourth side.

The first symptoms of CTS may appear while the person is sleeping and include numbness in the thumb, index and middle finger and sometimes in the palm. Because many people bend their wrists while they sleep, the symptoms become more defined and apparent. Having difficulty when making a fist or gripping on to an object, dropping items and wrist weaknesses are also symptoms that the carpal tunnel case is progressing.

Although a majority of CTS cases are without a known cause, one of the biggest causes of CTS is repetitive activities in the wrist and hand, usually resulting in typing on a keyboard or continuous motion in the wrist. Repetition in the wrist is often blamed for the expansion of CTS, the connection between the two is oftentimes uncertain. Other causes include:

• Genetics: One of the most important risk factors
• Work environment: The relationship between work and CTS is oftentimes controversial, but in many industries, workers can request time off or extra compensation to deal with their CTS. Forceful and repetitive use of the hand and wrist in manufacturing companies and offices also are a high contributor.
• Posture: Determined to be another main cause of CTS, the rolling of the shoulders forward, rounding of the lower back and thrusting of the chin compresses the nerves in the neck and shortens the neck and shoulder muscles. Compressed nerves in the neck have an effect on the hand, fingers and wrist.
• Stress: Medical professionals have determined that stress is misdirected as a cause of CTS.
• Previous trauma: Fractures in the arm and wrist bones are also considered a cause
• Medical problems: Diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and hypothyroidism can also cause the inflammation of the carpal tunnel.
• Hormones: Changes in hormones and the preservation of fluids during pregnancy can cause swelling and symptoms of CTS.

Researchers have come up with various treatments to CTS, such as immobilizing wrist braces, using ergonomic products, or prioritizing hand activities. Medical professionals have not been able to come up with a medication to prevent or treat CTS. However, carpal tunnel release surgery may be required in more serious cases.