(NAPSA)—Take a few moments tonight to embrace your pillow. It turns out you might not be seeing it as much as you'dlike. According to the Better Sleep Council, nearly two in three Americansare losing sleep due to stress. And, at the same time, it looks as if U.S. workers may be burning the midnight oil to keep up with demandsattheoffice. What might this mean for you? Well, you may find yourself behind a computer for a sizeable chunk of the day. In fact, a recent survey commissioned by Microsoft’s Hardware Division revealed that two out of three office workers surveyed spend at least six hours a day with their computers, and nearly 25 percent said they spend eight hours a day at the computer—more than many peo- ple spendsleeping. This survey suggests that most of the U.S. workforce may have their hands on a mouse and keyboard more than anythingelse, includingtheir pillows. What to do? Take a look at your work space and catalog what you've chosen to surround yourself with for those more-than-eight- Mice and keyboards can help youtake backthe night. hour days. Are you comfortable? Productive? The survey found that eight out of 10 computer users believe that high-quality mice and keyboards have an impact on their ability to be productive, and nearly 60 percent of survey respondents said high-quality mice and keyboards would boost morale in theoffice. With the scales of work-life balance already tipping more and more to the office, Microsoft Hard- ware is developing sophisticated and reliable products that help keep workers productive and comfortable day after day. In addition, the company offers a few simple tips that can help people get more done at work through increased productivity, comfort and, ultimately, happiness: Take hold of technology. Computer products allow you to automate certain tasks that were once time-consuming. Consider purchasing mice and keyboards with time-saving features such as programmable hot keys, optical tracking anda tilt wheel to work moreeasily in spreadsheets. * Go ergo. According to Stephen Pheasant in “Ergonomics, Work and Health,” researchers have found that individual perfor- mance increases by 25 percent when employees use an ergonomically designed workstation. Cut the clutter. Reduce stress by planning your work area so that desktop distractions are kept to a minimum. Wireless mice and keyboards are great because they free up space on your desk andallow you to focus on the task at hand. For more information or to read healthy computing guidelines, visit http://www.microsoft.com/ hardware.
