Allergies and Springtime Office Etiquette

If you sneeze and wheeze when the grass turns green, and your sinuses get clogged when the plants start to bud, you battle spring allergies. This can make the work day long, but there are some things you can do to ensure your allergies don't become a nuisance. If you prepare for the symptoms, you can prevent disrupting your co-workers and customers at the office.

You don’t want to head into the office looking tired or ill. People will avoid you because they don’t want to catch an illness they assume you may have. Take allergy medication to assist with the sneezing, itchy eyes and coughing. Make sure you shower before work, to eliminate any allergens that could be on your skin, and to relieve congestion.

Use eye drops to eliminate any redness, irritation or dryness you are experiencing from spring allergies. Take these aids with you to the office, in case you need another dose. If you take the medication as soon as the symptoms start, you can get ahead of the problem. Don’t mow the lawn, weed the garden or do other things that will trigger an allergy attack during the work week, or on a Sunday when you have to be in the office the next day.

No one wants to hear you sneezing and blowing your nose because of spring allergies all day. Proper office etiquette would be to head into the bathroom when you have to blow your nose. If you have to cough, do it into your sleeve, or remove yourself from the office area. If you find yourself constantly clearing your throat, have a glass or bottle of water on your desk. Keeping your throat from drying out prevents you from constantly clearing it or coughing, which can be annoying to people that work nearby.

Keep tissues on your desk for an unexpected runny nose, and wash your hands or use sanitizer throughout the day to practice proper office etiquette. The less you touch things that may have pollen or allergens, the less likely you are to contaminate your nose, eyes or mouth. Avoid opening your window to let in triggering debris, and set up a small air filter for your office space to battle spring allergies.

If you can’t get control of your spring allergies, you may want to see a physician. You can’t spend all day hiding from people you work with, or coughing and sneezing in their faces. Seasonal spring allergies are a problem for many, but you can’t let them interfere with your professional success.

Don't let your spring allergies make you an outcast in the office. Check the local weather to see when pollen counts or allergens will be high in your area, and get in front of your allergy problem before it hits.

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