Would you like to live your life with less stress and more happiness? Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stress you.
Listen to today's podcast... “A permanent solution to a temporary state.” We often don't hear about those that died by suicide. Because we don't talk about it, those around us can suffer in silence, unaware of the supports that may be available to them. There is little funding because there is no public outcry. But the issue of suicide touches us all – whether directly or indirectly. Today is World Suicide Prevention Day and it is celebrated on September 10th each year as a way to improve education about suicide, disseminate information, decrease stigmatization and, most importantly, raise awareness that suicide can be preventable. Around the world, every 40 seconds someone dies by suicide. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating World Suicide Prevention Day: Read and learn as much as you can about suicide – it's prevalence, the signs and symptoms, and personal stories from survivors. Understand the pain that those who even consider suicide as an option, must be in. Be open and not afraid. Don't be afraid to ask directly about the issue of suicide. Know the resources that are available to help. Suicide is a difficult issue to discuss, but it is even a more difficult issue to experience. Let's help support those who are in pain so that they can find a better solution to living a peaceful and purposeful life. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. For more information on coping with mental health issues, sign up for one of my on-line courses at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Did you ever play ‘Opposites' in school? Any time you were asked a question you had to give the opposite answer. You wore your clothes the opposite way around, and you ate your lunch in the opposite order. Opposite day is a day to have fun and be silly. Especially as you kick it back up into high gear after summer vacations. Some celebrate Opposite Day a month after Christmas, other's today…the idea is just to add some fun to your life. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Opposite Day: Adults can get in on this silly holiday. Try having dinner for breakfast and breakfast for dinner. Eat, write and use your mouse with your non-dominate hand. If you are the super achiever, ask for help. If you are a procrastinator, try getting the tough stuff done first. Flip that button-down shirt around and wear opposite coloured socks and shoes. Just be sure to let your family, friends and colleagues know that you are celebrating Opposite Day. Otherwise, it could get very confusing for everyone around you. Have a great day. Sorry, I mean hello, how are you? If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... I find it sad that we are often more polite to strangers then we are to the people we love the most. Statistics show that about ninety percent of adults will get married at least once in their lives, but many of them get disappointed because in the end, it is not the stuff that fairy tales are made of. I think that I have a healthy marriage. Is it perfect? No. We are loud, and we go to bed angry, but not very often. We know that a happy, healthy marriage is created. It doesn't just happen. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are my Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Health Marriage Month: Know that marriage is more than love and passion. It's about commitment, respect, and believing in your future together. Marriage is not fifty-fifty. It's two people giving all of themselves to each other. And finally. never compare your marriage to others. What you see on the outside is not always what is on the inside. Looking for more health and wellness celebrations? Check out my wellness calendar under resources and courses at WorkSmartLiveSmart.com. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... “The best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person“. He was tall and taught me to dance while standing on his feet. She was quiet and always had a hug waiting for me. These are my grandparents. My sons are blessed to have had 3 sets of grandparents and 3 sets of great grandparents. They knew and loved each one. One always had their favourite cookies. Another had the special green and white striped candies in a dish just waiting for them. One liked to take them fishing. One took them golfing. One took them for rides on the lawn mower. One had boxes of lego for them to build with. Another had lots of tractors to play with. We are blessed to have grandparents in our lives. They joke that being a grandparent is much more fun than being a parent because you can give the children back. But in reality, they have the wisdom to see through the temper tantrums and other day-to-day issues and to cherish the short time that they have to spend with their grandchildren. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Grandparent's Day: Grandparent's Day is not just a Hallmark creation and a way to increase card sales. It is our opportunity to thank our grandparents for their wisdom and love. Ask your grandparents for their favourite childhood memory. It may be a priceless gift. If they are not in your lives anymore, today is the day to remember the legacy that they have left you and to be thankful. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Can you find time? Stop looking. You will never find it. It isn't lost. Sometimes we lose time because we are procrastinating. This could be because jobs or tasks are difficult or time consuming, but it is not procrastination if the job doesn't rank in importance or urgency. So why else do we procrastinate? Perfectionism – have you ever wanted something to turn out ‘just right', that you got overwhelmed by the details and couldn't move forward? There are 3 books waiting to be written, but the thought of them being less than spectacular keeps me from sitting down to write. Fear of failure, success, or finishing – Like the examples above, sometimes procrastination is also fueled by the fears that we have. Dislike task or person – I hate tackling my monthly finances. It wouldn't be so bad if I actually did them monthly. However, I procrastinate, and I end up doing them every 3 months or so. I get frustrated and annoyed which makes me want to put the task off even more. Too tired – I need my sleep. If I am worn out, all those little tasks are easy to draw out or avoid all together. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Do It Day: Find the answer to ‘What's In It For Me”. Why is this task/decision important? What will I achieve once it is completed? Use positive self talk to keep you moving forward. Watch out for time gobblers. Reward yourself. Make it fun. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Procrastinators Rejoice! Today it is okay to be late. I hate being late. But I am not quite as bad as my dad, who arrived early and often unexpectedly for almost everything. He even had a hard time with me being the last one to arrive for my wedding. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Late For Something Day: While it is okay to be late for somethings, it is not okay to be late for everything. It is not okay to be late for a meeting, especially if others are depending on your input. It is not okay to be late in paying your bills. And if grandma was making dinner, it was most definitely not okay to be the last one to the table. There is an incredible pressure to meet challenging deadlines, and to regulate our lives by tightly defined schedules and calendars. Wouldn't it be nice to just stop for a little bit and see what happens? Be Late For Something Day encourages you to take a step back from your schedule and intentionally be late for something. You may find that people can still function without you, and maybe all of the stuff that you fuss about is not all quite as important as you thought. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Do you find yourself creaking, cracking, groaning, or moaning, more as you age? I recently took a look at a website that tried to determine your real age compared to your chronological age. I was pleased to see that it covered a variety of areas related to positive stress management and this sparked some interesting reflection regarding healthy aging. Studies show that regularly exercising our brains by problem-solving, organizing, and prioritizing helps our bodies age healthy. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Healthy Aging Month. Well besides the obvious of healthy eating and staying hydrated, along with regular exercise, make sure that you're getting an adequate amount of sleep. And finally, look for creative ways to stimulate your brain. If you'd like some more tips, follow me on twitter at SOS to stress. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... So what are people skills? And why do these skills matter in this age where communication is more focused on texting and messaging? People Skills are a set of skills enabling a person to get along with others, to communicate their ideas effectively, to resolve conflicts, and to achieve personal and business goals. One issue of having information at the tips of our fingers all times is that you can get any answer to a question, anytime and anywhere, by simply typing it into a mobile device or computer. Many have not learned to branch out, ask questions and connect with other humans to learn and gain people skills. One of the most important factors in gaining influence and achieving success, is developing strong, positive, and effective people skills. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! So Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating International People Skills Month: Learn to ask great questions that people are excited to answer and then listen attentively. You will engage at a much deeper level than the superficial ‘how are you doing?'' Be authentic. Authenticity breeds trust, and trust breeds relationships. Engage with a story. The secret to persuading people is to tell an effective story. Connect to their head, heart and soul. Be contagious. A bad mood impacts those around us. A good mood, full of energy can produce more energy in others. Employers often seek out those who have these strong interpersonal skills as they have the ability to work collaboratively, communicate effectively and display the commitment and work ethic that they require. Remember, If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Back to school and the kick-off of fall can be exciting and full of energy. It may also be dreadful for both children and parents. Not many parents cherish the thought of forgotten textbooks, missing permission slips, making lunches or lost backpacks. For many children, success is dependent on their ability to effectively manage the stress of the morning routine. For both parents and children, having to deal with morning chaos can throw everyone off course. So what can you do to reduce your stress? Enlist everyone's help in establishing a smooth morning and evening routine. Decide what needs to be done, who can do it and who is responsible for it. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Reducing Back To School Chaos: Post a calendar of all weekly or monthly events and activities. Predictability helps to relieve anxieties. By seeing what needs to be accomplished for the week ahead, everyone can plan to complete tasks accordingly. Do not over-schedule. If it starts to look crowded on the calendar, it is probably going to increase the difficulty in transitioning. Establish a ‘drop zone'. Have a set place for everything so that it is all easily and predictably found. And finally, keep a sense of humour. This is not the time to panic, get angry or impatient. It sets an awful flavour for the rest of the day. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Enthusiasm makes ordinary people extraordinary. Enthusiasm originally meant inspired by a god. So how can you be enthusiastic about your life? Be present. Be involved. Make active choices about your life including what priorities you will focus on and what activities can wait. This is how ordinary people achieve extraordinary lives. They enthusiastically go after what is important to them regardless of whether it is a business idea or cheering for their child sport's team. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Enthusiasm Week Examine your priorities Be clear about what areas of your life are your priority. Don't let other people determined your priorities. Watch out for the peter pan syndrome of jumping from one flavour-of-the-day to the next. Working at our priorities isn't always fun and it can be frustrating and hard work. Being enthusiastic is pushing forward, in spite of the tough times. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... The tragedy of overdose is preventable. While street drugs often come to mind, an overdose can happen with many different types of drugs, from alcohol to opioids, in all segments of the population. Worldwide, almost 200,000 people die prematurely due to drugs every year—the majority due to the use of opioids. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Promoting International Overdose Day: Recognizing the signs and symptoms of overdose, can help prevent death and injury. These include: Unresponsiveness or unconsciousness Passing out or a “slumped over” posture Shallow or irregular breathing, or no breathing at all Choking or gurgling sounds Purple lips and fingernails Vomiting Seizures Loss of coordination Panic, paranoia, or symptoms of psychosis Confusion or disorientation An overdose is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Always call 9-1-1 if you suspect someone has overdosed. Education and preparation can be one of the most important things that you can do to help prevent an overdose from happening or leading to death. For more information on how to recognize the signs and how to be a supportive family, friend, or co-worker, sign up for my on-line courses at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Sitting by the campfire…making smores and roasting marshmallows. There is nothing like the total relaxation of a peaceful night by the fire. Did you know that the marshmallow originally came from a marsh mallow plant or that it started as a candy in Ancient Egypt? The end of the August tells us that summer is unofficially coming to an end. It is important that we get ourselves ready for the busyness of the fall, but it is equally important to ensure that the summer holidays are not forgotten. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Toasted Marshmallow Day: Visualization is a powerful stress management strategy. You may not be anywhere near a campfire, roasting marshmallows, but your mind can certainly take you there when you need a moment to relax. Funny thing is that if your mind can take you there, your body will follow and will become as relaxed as if you were actually there. There still may be time to plan one last campfire before it is back to school and back to work. Break out the marshmallows and enjoy! And if there is no time left for a relaxing campfire, break out the marshmallows anyway, and play a game of Chubby Bunny with your friends and family…not sure what it is…add marshmallows to your mouth one at a time to see how many you can stuff in while still being able to say “Chubby Bunny”! Disgusting, but good for a belly laugh! If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Living on a farm and being the girl of the family meant that I made dinner. Dinner was always a big meal and usually was meat and potatoes based. Salt on the meat. Salt in the water to boil the potatoes. I can remember getting into a load of trouble for not remembering to salt the water. Today, we salt very little of our food. I have even given it up on my most favourite of foods – corn-on-the-cob. However, there is salt in all most all of the foods that we buy and in most cases way too much. We take in way more than our allotted 3 grams per day. On average about 3-5 times this amount, and processed foods are the largest culprits. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Less Salt Day: Read the labels and get an idea of how much salt is in the foods that you buy. True or False? If you're trying to watch your sodium intake, eating a can of soup at lunch is a good alternative to a hamburger and fries. It may be, but one cup of soup can have up to 1300 milligrams of sodium. Try more herbs – experiment and see what flavours you can add to your meats and soups Awareness is the first key to health and wellness. The second is making good choices. Start small by reading and comparing and then choosing the less salt option. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Have you lost a beloved pet? I can remember growing up on the farm and being surrounded by dogs and cats, along with baby cows and horses. But they weren't really my pets. It wasn't until my husband and I bought a house and brought home our first little border collie puppy. We were in love with this little crazy puppy and for 14 years she was a part of our family. She was there to greet each of my boys when we brought them home from the hospital. She protected them from getting too close to the pool fence by nudging them aside. She kept my kitchen floors amazingly clean. And then one day she could no longer get up to greet us, eat the food that we set out for her, or wag her long tail to show her appreciation and we knew it was time to say goodbye. If you have ever had a pet, you know how tough this was on all of us. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's tips for Building Resiliency and Celebrating Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day: The pain of loss is real. As each person travels through their grief, it is important to remember the companionship and comfort that our pet provided to us. I love the image of the rainbow bridge where your beloved pet waits for you to join them. For me, it helped me to deal with my grief. On this day of remembrance, it is okay to take a moment to say thank you or feel gratitude for all that your pet did to bring love into your life. Take time to enjoy memories of your pet. Look through pictures and celebrate your time together. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Do you over plan? Do you get stuck in the details rather than getting down to it? While planning is important, so is being mentally agile. Being mentally agile is being able to shift and turn in a different direction when a challenge or opportunity arises. It is not about going after the next shiny object, but rather being flexible and able to go with the flow of the day. Practicing spontaneity keeps you mentally agile and it can be beneficial to your mood and well-being. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Just Because Day: This day is a chance to do something without rhyme or reason. To be spontaneous. Just Because. So what kinds of things can you do…Just because? Go for a walk Have an ice cream cone Stay in your pj's Dress to the nines Buy a friend some flowers Call a friend just to say hi Watch puppy videos Spontaneous people tend to not stress out over much and tend to be happier. Spontaneous people make the best of every situation they face, and take full advantage of everything life has to offer. They understand that life goes on, whether it goes as planned or not. They're less disappointed when things don't turn out the way they expected, as they will simply move on to whatever life has in store for them next. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... How can you make the world a better place? The next evolutionary step for humankind is to move from man to kind. Martin Luther King Jr. is quoted as saying that we have flown the air like birds and swum the sea like fishes, but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers. We need to counterbalance the negative things we read and hear about every day. On the Be Kind To Humankind Week site, the organizer posts, “People need people; it's as simple as that! In order to have the power to make the world a better place, we must first change our attitudes for the better. We can create our own good news if we choose to do so!” Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Be Kind To Humankind Week: So this week, try to focus on the little things that are kind and good. Show someone that you care - offer to drive someone who has trouble getting around. Drive respectfully – try letting another car go ahead of you instead of racing ahead of them Spread kindness - make a donation to a charity you love Offer a helping hand – offer to babysit or pet sit Treat others well – make it a point of saying please and thank-you or holding the door for the person behind you Say something nice - if you notice something great about someone, give them a compliment! Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world. Desmond Tutu If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... We all have spats from time to time with our significant other. And when we do, we often make it a point to kiss and make-up. Kiss and Make-Up: means to become friendly again after a fight or disagreement Did you know that the purple hyacinth means ‘I'm Sorry – Please forgive me'? One site posted a list of apology notes to send with those flowers. I like this one…The words are hard to say, but I hope that these flowers pave the way…I'm sorry. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Kiss and Make-Up Day: Spats and disagreements do occur, but it is important that you never resort to dirty fighting, which includes name-calling, or cursing. Use I statements, and focus on problem-solving. Beside being able to say sorry and send flowers, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index suggest that empathy is the building block of successful interpersonal relationships. It suggests these strategies: First, after your angry feelings resolve, ask yourself whether there isn't some value to your partner's side. Take a moment to feel your partner's pain. Often, when we watch a movie or read a good book, we can put ourselves into the character's role. After a disagreement, try putting yourself in your partner's role. Finally, if you have lost control in the midst of your argument, try to regain your composure. Relationship skills come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and it's possible that you (and your partner) aren't as empathic as you could be. Before having to resort to the kiss-and-make up” strategy, find more ways to be in tune with your partner's thoughts and feelings. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... If you are a parent, you may remember when your little one learned how to crawl. All of a sudden you started to see danger in every corner, in every wall plug, in every drawer and in every room. You became super aware of the many potential dangers hiding in your home. Is that a bad thing to be on guard and to look for danger? No. We are hard-wired to do so. Early humans faced a lot of dangers, and their ability to detect danger evolved to help them evade or battle those dangers in order to survive. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Safe At Home Week: The purpose of National Safe At Home Week is to raise awareness of the need to stay safe around the home. So here are some recommended tips: Sound the Alarm: Install smoke detectors on every floor of your home and carbon monoxide detectors near sleeping areas. Avoid Overload: Check for overloaded extension cords. Plan Your Escape: Practice a fire escape plan with your family where you identify two exits for every room. Keep Extinguishers Handy: Place all-purpose fire extinguishers in key locations in your home—the kitchen, bedroom and basement. Knowing that the space you live in is safe allows your brain to relax and stand down. It allows you to sleep more deeply. And according to research, a safe, secure home promotes emotional security for your children. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... We all have a responsibility to do something when we see harassment happening. But too often we turn the other way. We don't know what to do. We don't know what to say. When we intervene, we don't just reduce trauma for the person being harassed., we also start to chip away at a culture that allows this harassment to be so prevalent. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Building Resiliency and celebrating Bystander Awareness Month: These five ‘D' strategies may be just the thing to help you intervene. Distract – interrupt the incident. You could engage directly with the person who is being targeted. Start a conversation or ask a question about something completely unrelated. Or you may accidentally-on-purpose spill your coffee. Direct - You may want to directly respond to harassment by naming what is happening or confronting the harasser. This may be risky: the harasser may redirect their abuse towards you and may escalate the situation, so use this with caution. Delegate – Look for assistance from someone in authority, like a supervisor, bus driver, security guard or front desk attendant. Document – It may be helpful to record the incident, but keep safety in mind at all times. And never post the video without the person that was targeted's permission. Delay – Even if you can't act in the moment, you can make a difference for the person who has been harassed by checking in on them after the fact. Ask them if there's any way you can support them. it is important that we show up for one another as active bystanders. This lets the person who is being targeted know that they are not alone. However, in any interaction always prioritize your own safety while intervening. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. Looking for resources to build your resiliency? Check out my Live Smart blog at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Our angels watch out for us. Our angels wipe away our tears. Our angels make our day brighter just being there. And many times we do not recognize that we are looking into the eyes of our angels. There are probably people in your life that could really use an angel by their side right now. Why not be that person? It's easy to share love and kindness with the world if you put in a little bit of effort. On this special day, I am encouraging you to not only be someone's angel, but to recognize those angels who are already in our lives. They may be our parents, our grandparents, our children, our doctors, our nurses, our teachers, or our friends. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Be An Angel Day: Look for your angels – those who have made your life easier – and say thank you. They won't want it, because our true angels don't usually feel like they have done anything exceptional, but we all can benefit from the appreciation of others. In such a busy society, people forget to stop and listen. You can be an angel to someone today just by taking the time to really listen to what they have to say. Listen with empathy. Listen without judgement. Speak with kindness. Simply using kind words to spread positivity can lift up others around you. Angels offer a helping hand to those in need. When we show a small gesture of kindness and compassion to others, we are spreading love. Those who encounter you will be lifted up by your blessings of compassion and kindness. Being like an angel is easy, if you just put in the effort. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency, take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... It is awesome to watch those videos of those 100+ who are running in the senior games. Have you ever wondered what it takes to get there? A healthy genetic background is a good start – but research also shows that being positive, staying active, being able to relax, using a sense of humour, being organized, involved in hobbies/community, having a spiritual side, and striving to be a continuous learner are all positive traits that can lead to healthy aging and a long life. It is important to understand how our mind and body work together to keep us healthy. If the body is not healthy the mind reacts, and if the mind is full of worry the body functions are affected. The mind and body are so tightly connected that it is difficult and often pointless to separate the two. Taking care of both through nutrition, exercise and/or stimulation, and rest/relaxation, the mind and the body will work more efficiently and in tune with each other, which should result in a healthier aging process. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Senior Citizens' Day Besides the obvious of healthy eating and regular exercise, one should also be sure to include: adequate sleep so the body and mind can repair itself 6-8 glasses of water to avoid dehydration which can affect one's memory a sense of humour which helps to release natural endorphins a variety of hobbies to add satisfaction and enjoyment to life I am fortunate to have several people in my family who have aged gracefully and where longevity seemed to be the norm. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency, take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Do you know where pink lemons come from? Two 12 year-olds were left with a sour taste in their mouths after officials shut them down for not having a permit when they started selling lemonade in a dog park to raise cash for new soccer uniforms for their team. Today we celebrate Lemonade Day. A day which is designed to introduce children to having their own business. I still remember when my boys decided that they were going to sell lemonade at the end of the street when we held a garage sale at their great grandpa's. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Lemonade Day: It is May and the weather is getting nicer, but we are not able to set up a lemonade stand…not yet. What we can do though is talk to our children about what type of business they would run if they could or what kind of business do they think they could run now. The idea is to have a conversation around what would be involved, who their customers might be, and how would they let their customers know that they were open for business. Fun Fact…. The Greeks were the first to make pink lemonade. They made this so that while the adults were having wine at celebrations, the children would also have a special treat. When the Greeks dyed the lemonade pink by adding wine, the common myth in the community was that this drink was made from pink lemons that grew in a forest that no man could enter and come out alive. They made the children believe that these magical pink lemons were brought back by a noble king. Now there is marketing If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Once there was a time when photography didn't exist. A time when precious moments couldn't be captured, uploaded and shared. I look back at my baby pictures and there were only a handful. My mom and dad had a single picture each and I don't know if I have ever saw one of any of my grandparents when they were really young. Compare all of that to the albums upon albums that I have of my sons who are now young adults. Today, we don't even print all of our pictures, but save them to on-line albums or files to be viewed at any given instant. Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. Photography is a great hobby that can help us build our resiliency. It is something to take our minds off of all of our stressful life situations. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Nature Photography Day: Photography can be a means to get out and physically active. Use your camera to take note of the awesome or the bizarre. Have some fun looking for the humour in everyday life. Photography is a good activity to strengthen relationships. Make it an outing and invite others to join you. Visit the park or a natural habitat and spend time discussing what you see. So what is the funniest photograph that you have ever taken? Remember, If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... At this point in the summer vacation cycle, some of you are very tired of being home or entertaining or dropping off your children and you can hardly wait until the school bell rings. This doesn't make you a bad parent. Being home with your children whether for a day or as a career choice can take a lot of energy and creativity, and it is important for parents to take care of themselves and to support each other. Whether you are a working parent or a stay-at-home parent, both of these decisions take a certain sacrifice and toll. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Stay At Home With Your Kids Day: Find something fun to do today with your children. Examine your priorities. Leaving your job may not be an easy decision, but if your heart aches every time you drive away from the daycare center in the morning, it might be time to look at other options. Financially, there are many more options today. Some parents have chosen flex hours, telework, job sharing, starting their own company, virtual companies etc. Once you have made the choice make the best of it. Don't let guilt rule and take the enjoyment out of life. When you are home, be at home. When you are at work, be at work. Be present and engaged. Finally, on this day, reward yourself and your children. Being a parent is hard – there is no manual and a million right and wrong ways to do just about everything. Give yourself a pat on the back. Look back at what you have accomplished as a parent and take some satisfaction in that. It is not about perfection. It is about raising happy, healthy, well-adjusted children, in the very best way that we can. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... What does the makeup of your team look like? Are they mostly from the Baby Boomer or Generation X era? Do you have any Gen Y's or even Millennials working for you? For the first time in contemporary history, there are four generations in the workforce — Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z. With employees ranging in age from their late teens to their 70s, leaders must tailor their management styles to fit their multi-generational workforce, who work with different value sets and expectations of each other. This age difference can make it a bit more challenging for leaders to handle. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating our diverse workforce on Baby Boomer Recognition Day Don't confuse your teams by phrasing orders as suggestions: Boomer managers are often reluctant to give clear, direct, specific instructions. Although you really mean “Do it,” often we use phrases such as “You might want to consider…”, or “Have you thought about…” Gen Xers and New Millennials (Gen Yers) hear these as suggestions. They're caught off guard when you're later surprised to find out they didn't carry out your directive in they way that you intended. Talk with them about more than just work. Be a leader, not a friend: Knowing and being interested in your employees isn't the same as becoming their friends. What they're looking for is a role model, a mentor, and a leader—not a buddy. Reward good work quickly: Gen X and Y employees are used to instant feedback and gratification. Think knowledge exchange, not knowledge transfer. As technology changes, your younger generations have the upper hand and experience. Allow them to shine as they show others how to adapt. With 4 generations in the workplace, a strong leader can juggle these vastly different expectations, communication needs, and views about the workplace. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Today we honor the insect responsible for more than 1/3 of the food we eat. The Honey Bee. Now you may ask what does the honey bee have to do with mental health, stress management or resiliency? It is all about taking notice. When you go outside, do you stop, look, and listen. Can you see the bees? Can you hear them buzzing from flower to flower? Part of building our resiliency is about learning how to pause. August is almost over, have you taken the time to stop, look, and listen for the sounds of summer? Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating World Honey Bee Day. Get outside and take a moment to see what nature is busy creating. Listen for the sounds of the bees, the birds, the wind, and the water. And to celebrate our pollinator: Visit a beekeeper to become acquainted with their work Learn more about the value of bees and honey. Did you know that high-quality honey contains many important antioxidants that may be able to lower cholesterol and blood pressure and can promote healing because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties? If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Want to check out more health and wellness related celebrations, visit my wellness calendars under the resources and courses tab at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... We finally have a day off. One that we have been looking forward to. Only to be struck down with some kind of bug which makes us feel rotten. These symptoms can be a sign of leisure illness and they are often linked to stress caused by work overload and pushing ourselves too hard before taking time off. Sometimes it is not until we stop the ‘rollercoaster ride' that our body responds, and we experience these flu or cold like symptoms. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Relaxation Day: Vacations are important to our health and well-being, so don't wait for the ‘right' time. Make plans to use all of your vacation allotment, whether it be a day off, an extended weekend or a longer vacation period. Do not over-program your days off. Look for activities that are relaxing and rejuvenating. Promote relaxation. Try deep breathing, visualization, yoga or a massage. Get involved in a hobby. Try gardening, fishing, boating, or reading a book. Reading something uplifting activates the same positive emotion center as experiencing a happy moment first-hand. Get out and Play. Play is important for all aspects of our lives, including creativity and relationships. When we play, we trigger a mix of endorphins that lift our spirits and the relationships that we form during play remind us that we are not alone in this world. Playing with a pet can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax us. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... While secretly hiding to catch a nap on the job is irresponsible and dangerous, banning napping altogether may not be the best idea either. Are you able to nap at work? Are you a good napper? Would a napping policy be beneficial? For some of us, napping is essential. A short nap of 20-30 minutes can help to improve mood, alertness and performance. It can be extremely effective at eliminating fatigue-related accidents and injuries and reducing workers compensation costs. Smart leaders and companies are taking note. They know that plenty of sleep is not for the weak, frail or unsuccessful. Good Nappers are in good company: Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison and George W. Bush are known to have valued an afternoon nap. Naps can be typed into three different categories: Planned naps Emergency naps Habitual naps Naps can restore alertness, enhance performance, and reduce mistakes and accidents. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Napping Month: Take into account these three things when it comes to napping. First, The right length: A short nap is usually recommended (20 minutes) for short-term alertness without leaving you feeling groggy or interfering with nighttime sleep. The right environment that is conducive to sleep And The right time: If you take a nap too late in the day, it might affect your nighttime sleep patterns and make it difficult to fall asleep at your regular bedtime. A nap can provide an easy way to get some relaxation and rejuvenation If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Want to check out more health and wellness related celebrations? Visit my wellness calendars under the resources and courses tab at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... What is your burden to blessing ratio? How often do you catch yourself complaining about something and how often are you outwardly expressing gratitude? For most of us, we spend far too much time looking at the negative and the difficult and not nearly enough looking at the positive and the awesome. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Admit You're Happy Month: The more that we focus on the positive and the awesome, the bigger the impact it will have on our happiness. Admitting that we are happy, increases our happiness. And it encourages others to admit to being appreciative and happy in their lives. So celebrate the brief moments that make you smile, and the occasions that knock your socks off! Dr. Amit Sood, Professor of Medicine and the Mayo Clinic, states that life's happiest moments have one or more of these three ingredients: Creating, Connecting, Caring. What positive things have happened to you today? Acknowledge all of them. Be proud of who you are. Celebrate yourself. Keep a positive mental attitude. You'll feel better, live better, and be happier. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... I'll take care of myself when…. Do you neglect your own needs while you take care of others or are busy making a living? Many of us put our own needs at the bottom of our to-do list and over time, we may actually forget what self-care looks feels like. Research shows that self-care helps manage stress and promotes happiness and can help you to be more productive and better able to care for the needs of others. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Today's Tips for Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Wellness Month: It is time to focus on our overall wellness, which includes self-care in all five aspects of health: Physical Emotional Social Spiritual Intellectual Small, daily acts of self-care lead to a lifetime of wellness. Look for small changes that can positively impact your health, like adding more water to your daily intake, taking a moment to breathe deeply, writing in a gratitude journal, connecting with a friend that you haven't seen in a while, or watching a video on national geographic on the migration of turtles. To celebrate your commitment, post a picture on your social media feed of you with a sign that says “I choose wellness. #wellnessmonth”. Inspire others to create their own healthy habits. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Some say that romance is dead. I don't think that it's dead. I just think that our expectations have been lowered. Quick and convenient has polluted our relationships to the point where the effort of being truly romantic is seen as being over the top. We settle for emoji's, watching TV together, and hanging out. Romance is so much more. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Resurrect Romance Week: Remind your significant other as to why you cherish them in the first place. Romance takes effort and a dash of creativity. Here are some suggestions based on the Love Languages that got me thinking: Verbal appreciation is extremely powerful towards those who have Words of Affirmation as their primary love language. How about leaving a sweet or sexy note in their coat or on the dashboard of their car? Acts Of Service might be breakfast in bed or even making the bed. For those you appreciate Gift Giving, try to think of a meaningful gift, that doesn't cost anything. Be creative like framing a favourite picture of the two of you. Quality Time together might be setting up a date night, complete with dressing up. Or going out on an unplanned adventure together. And for the fifth love language of Physical Touch you may try a foot massage or just holding your special someone's hand while you drive. Finally, remember that little romantic gestures here and there won't make an ounce of difference to the quality of your relationship if, the rest of the time, you treat your partner in unloving, negative and disrespectful ways. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... I like these lyrics for Lazy Day by Spanky and the Gang: Blue sky, Sunshine, what a day to take a walk in the park. Ice cream, Day dream, till the sky becomes a blanket of stars. What a day for pickin' daisies, and lots of red balloons. And what a day for holdin' hands and bein' with you. So is it good to have a lazy day? Though being active is healthy for us and procrastination can cause a lot of problems if it goes unchecked, taking a lazy day can actually be good for our mental health. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Lazy Day: Taking it easy and indulging in a lazy day, can help to restore your energy and refocus your mind. But first, you have to let go of feeling guilty, like you are being bad by not doing something productive. Part of being successful is knowing how to add more joy to your life. Part of this is by learning to slow down and jump off the rollercoaster for a while. Try sleeping in and repairing some of the ill-effects of sleep-debt Go for a walk and plan nothing. Just be present and in the moment Sit outside enjoying nature and read a good book. There is nothing like going camping and reading something that is not designed to improve my business or better my life. It is just a story to get caught up in. A like the song says, it is a great day for just holding hands. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... When it comes to holding hands it's not all about romance. When you hold the hands of another you are sending the message that the other person is valued, important and noticed. James Coan of the University of Virginia found that when people hold hands, their brains don't work as hard to cope with stress. To hold someone's hand is to offer them affection, protection or comfort. A poll showed that more than half of people couldn't remember the last time they held their grandparents hand and more than a quarter had never done so. However, almost a fifth of respondents, when asked whose hands they would most like to hold, said it would be the hand of a grandparent who has died. Loneliness and depression are rampant in today's society. Holding someone's hand, especially of someone who is isolated, dealing with an illness or elderly can help them to be more resilient against the impact of stress, promote better health and combat their feelings of isolation. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Hand Holding Day: Reach out and touch the hand of someone you love or someone in need. Not only do they reap the benefit but so do you. Don't wait until it's too late and end up regretting that you didn't grab at the opportunity. Robert Fulgham (Everything I Learned, I Learned In Kindergarten) said: . . . Share everything. . .When you go out in the world, Watch out for traffic, hold hands, And stick together. . . . If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Happiness does not just happen. It has to be worked at. It is far easier to focus on the difficult, the stressful, the negative and the disappointing. It takes effort to really notice and be thankful for the big and small things that make us happy. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Happiness Happens Day: Happiness Happens Day aims to spread the joy of being happy and to persuade people to look on the brighter side of life. So, raise your glass of pink lemonade to Happiness Happens Day. Why pink lemonade? Happy people naturally turn lemons into lemonade. Also pink is pretty. Plan something fun to look forward to after work. Get outside. Sunlight can boost our mood as it impacts our neurotransmitters and hormones. Use different scents to boost your mood. Phone your mum. A US study found that hearing a mother's voice is as good as a hug for stress release. Get away. According to one study, vacations lead to increased happiness (93%), less stress (86%), being recharged (89%), more energy (81%) and improved health (78%). And finally, researchers found that people who count their blessings sleep better, have a higher self-worth and are more satisfied and happy with their life. So, let happiness happen. Be open to it. Be aware of what makes you happy and when you are happy. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... I would never have imagined that one day that I, Beverly, would be a public speaker. I hated giving presentations. When I was younger I struggled with stress and public speaking. My voice would quiver. I would speak a mile a minute. My nervousness was obvious. Some people report that they would rather be naked in public than have to deliver a speech to their peers. I would have absolutely agreed with this statement. The stress was unbelievable and public speaking was best to be avoided whenever possible. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Professional Speaker's Day: Public Speaking Advice: You don't need to be perfect. You just need to be able to deliver your message effectively. What I learned was that speaking effectively in public and professionally is rarely a natural talent, but it is one that can be learned. When you have a passion for your topic, and you immerse yourself in that topic to become an expert, the stress becomes secondary to the message that you want and need to deliver. Remember that your audience really does want you to be successful and they are all that truly matters. I am proud to be a professional speaker. In fact, I am a Certified Professional Speaker and a Certified Virtual Speaker. If only my high school English Teacher could see me now. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Want to find more strategies to coping with stress? Check out my website at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... We know as parents that it is up to us to teach our children how to take care of their oral health and we wouldn't think twice to tell our child that they need to go and use some mouthwash if their breath smelled. But how do you handle it when it's your friend, co-worker or boss? In a study by the Emily Post Institute, 75% of respondents polled said they'd want to be notified by a friend if they smelled. Working with a colleague whose breath smells can be stressful, that's why when doing a search on “bad breath and coworker” you can find over 1.8 million sites. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Fresh Breath Day: Most workplace experts recommend that the upfront method works the best…tell the person that their breath smell today and offer them a piece of gum. You have given them a way out, by indicating that ‘today' may mean that this is unusual or temporary and the gum lets them save face while they talk to you. If bad breath is something that you deal with on occasion, minimize foods that can increase sulphur production and stimulate bacteria like alcohol, coffee, dairy and sugars Stimulate saliva production which is nature's breath freshener using sugar-free mints Drink lots of water Scrape the back of your tongue If it is chronic, you need to talk to your dentist about solutions that may be right for you. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... How you organize yourself can either help or hinder in the way that you deal with stress. Clean out your inbox, or clean out your closet and you'll notice the stress relief from being organized and clutter free. Clutter can add more chaos. But being too worried that everything is in its place can stop us from being productive and creative as well. Your personal organization should help you to move forward, give you a sense of control over your space and help to decrease the stress that you feel. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Reduce the Clutter Week: Use baskets to gather unread magazines/journals/computer accessories etc. Colour coded file folders makes for easier identification and location of topics. The idea of keeping sentimental treasures is not entirely practical and I am not really good at letting go. I know that there is simply no reason to save that dried flower that my first boyfriend gave me back in high school. Besides, how much am I actually enjoying anything that's packed up in a box? We need to let these things go. De-junk your clothes closet while you are at it. Look at the bottom third of any drawer. These are usually the clothes that you are not attached to and could be donated. Purge periodically – it takes time but gives you more space and you may find that it can trigger your creative juices If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... My son's archery coach was very sick and my son wrote him a letter letting him know how much my son liked him as a coach and mentor, about how his helpfulness and encouragement made my son feel and how much he was going to be missed. I was told that this letter touched the man very deeply. He had a huge impact on my son and he was leaving a wonderful legacy. So–What words would your friends use to describe you? What words would your family use? Your business partners? This month consider what legacy you are leaving to those around you. Is your impact something that you can be proud of? Are your behaviours aligned with your values and beliefs? What do people think of when they think of you? Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating What Will Be Your Legacy Month: Some of the legacies that I have been gratefully left… Financial responsibility – I watch my parents work hard to make ends meet on the family farm. Money was to be used wisely and decisions weighed against needs and wants. Strong work ethic – They taught me that to get what you want you have to work hard and be persistent. Community – I watched both my grandparents and parents volunteer at the church and the local chamber. I saw how they pitched in when other's in the community needed their help. I learned that we have a responsibility to those around us and we help out when we can. Consider the legacy that you have been left. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Want to check out more health and wellness related celebrations, visit my wellness calendars under the resources and courses tab at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Witmer and Sweeney found in their study that people with few ties to others had 2 to 5 times the death rate as those who had more ties. Support and connectedness can be a powerful tool in preventing illness by acting as a buffer to the effects of stress. The benefit of friendship is having the emotional support of a community during difficult times. Workplaces are also recognizing the value of support in their organizations. Effective leaders are evaluating their teams and ensuring that they reduce isolation, celebrate occasions and successes, develop trust through effective communication, deal with conflict and gossip in a direct and open way, promote a casual and friendly atmosphere, and develop a support network through human resources, an EAP or connection to community contacts. Unfortunately, many people in the workplace do not make the effort to utilize this great coping strategy and the busier we have become the easier it is to let our existing friendships go by the way-side. So where do we start? Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating International Friendship Week: At work and in your community, smile and say hello to those around you Connect with your co-workers informally Call, write or email those friends that you have lost touch with and book a date to get together Connectedness and friendships have exceptional powers in decreasing our stress, if we venture to put ourselves ‘out there'. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Want to check out more health and wellness related celebrations, visit my wellness calendars under the resources and courses tab at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Life can get very complicated and stressful what with all of the ‘hats' we wear. We sometimes let others control our activities and determine our priorities. So how do we simplify it so that our life is more manageable and enjoyable and we are more resilient? Realization and acceptance can be the first steps to gaining control. Accept that it's impossible to do it all and it's all right if you don't, in fact, it's much better if you don't. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Simplify Your Life Week: Avoid blaming others and situations – WE have the ultimate decision on how OUR time will be spent. Develop and set your priorities and say ‘No' to those things which are not your priority. Planning and time management are essential skills. Prepare for the transition from work to home by planning your work-related activities for the next day before you leave the office. Do not over-program yourself or your family. Make the morning routine as simple as possible, leaving yourself more than enough time for ‘emergencies'. Our stress can be negatively impacted by the way in which we organize our daily activities and routines, and by the organization or lack there of in our physical environment. Simplifying routines and de-junking physical space can increase our efficiency, our effectiveness and can add to a sense of control which can help us create a calm and peaceful presence. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr
Our closest friends support us. They cheer for us. They cry with us. They laugh with us (and at us). They are there for us. I have a couple of ‘bestest' friends. I don't see them very often as we have moved far apart. But I know that I can count on them. Research shows that our social connection to our friends gives us a sense of belonging, a feeling of security and increase our sense of self-worth. They help us to deal better with the stressors in life and live happier more successful lives. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! So Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Girlfriend's Day: Listen to your intuition – true friends give off a positive energy that make us feel good as opposed to drain us – Evaluate your friendships. Make the time – though life can get away from us we should never let our friendships get away from us – friendships take energy and time to nurture and to keep fresh. Learn to let go – our friends are no more perfect than we are. We need to ignore those imperfections and learn to celebrate their positive traits that brought us together as friends. Today is a great day to share a special memory of those that you hold in your heart. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... I am missing my family reunion. Living so far away means that it is tough to make it to this family function. I have some wonderful memories of family reunions. The games that we would play. The prizes that were given out. The laughs that we would have, and the food. The awesome, glorious, delicious potluck that would follow. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Family Reunion Month: Family reunions can be a cherished tradition. But being around your family or going back to the town in which you grew up can stir up implicit memories that can automatically trigger feelings we felt in our past. No matter how mature we feel, memories of our 10 or 15-year-old selves can cause us to act like we did when we were 10 or 15. If we fail to recognize how we are affected by old emotions and negative early experiences, we run the risk of projecting our past onto our present interactions and relationships. So all of this is to say that family reunions can be fun and a point of real connection, but be aware that there is the potential for past memories and experiences to interfere with this enjoyment. Being aware of your triggers and emotions is the first step in being present and just enjoying the moment for what it really is…a chance to create a new memory. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Life is to be fortified by many friendships. To love and to be loved is the greatest happiness of existence. Sydney Smith I love my friends. They boost my energy. They make me laugh. They allow me to vent. They cheer me on. Often, we can't get together in person. Social media has become a way for us to still stay connected. It is similar to the quilting bee of days gone by. The quilting bee was not about putting a quilt together. It was a way for the women of the community to get out from their homes and get connected. They shared, they vented, they cried, and they laughed. Social media is just like the quilting bee for when we can't connect in person. We post about our thoughts and our situations and our friends reply back with comments and support us. Though others can comment on our writings, our pictures and our videos, there is nothing like the face-to-face gatherings of friends. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating International Day of Friendship: We know from our research that people with friends are less likely to suffer physical and mental health problems than those who are socially isolated. Friendships can last a lifetime or be specific to a time in our life – however long, they are valuable. Remember your friends. Let them know that they matter. Connect when possible – but don't leave it up to chance – or time may pass you both by. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... There is no rain in sight, which makes for a gorgeous summer day and some time enjoying nature just outside my door. But what if it had been raining? Would this add stress to your life? Do you plan for rain days when you are on vacation? Rain days can force you to make different decisions on how you are going to spend your downtime. When it comes to spending, do you have a rainy-day fund that you can tap into when times are not so prosperous? This safety net protects you when an unexpected event - such as job loss or unexpected repairs to your home. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Rain Day: People all over the world have celebrated rain and its life-giving power. All life is dependent on rain, and rain is what keeps our world green and beautiful. Today, celebrate all things wet and wonderful. Managing your stress and building your resiliency means that you have a back up plan. Plan for a rainy day. This may mean knowing what alternate activities you can take advantage of, or packing an umbrella. Or it may mean putting money aside for an emergency or unexpected expense into a rainy-day fund. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. For more information on coping with mental health issues, sign up for one of my on-line courses at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... What is Workplace Culture? Workplace organizational culture is defined as the attitudes, values, and beliefs that shape the workplace environment. The culture or these “unwritten rules” can impact employee morale, productivity and health. It plays a key role in predicting workplace satisfaction and stress levels and provides the foundation for workplace health. One of the most often neglected areas of workplace culture is the social support that is given and received in our teams. It is seen as an ‘extra', a social nicety, or something to focus on if you have time. With more people living alone or separate from extended family and friends, it is critical that we are as diligent about our social well being as we are about our physical well being. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! So Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Social Wellness Month: July is Social Wellness Month and it reminds us that we need to reach out to others and build stronger social ties with co-workers, family and friends. Social connection provided by friends and colleagues may ward off depression, boost self-esteem, and provide support, along with fewer cardiovascular problems and immune problems, and lower levels of cortisol. People with strong social connections feel more relaxed and at peace, which is related to better health and a better bottom-line. Workplace celebrations are an important part of social wellness and can range from monthly birthday parties to rewards for team accomplishments. It's about making connections and knowing that you're a part of something bigger than yourself. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... I like my parents today. But I don't think that I did when I was growing up. They were always telling me what to do. Always treated my brother better than me. They never let me do anything that I wanted to. It's funny, but I heard my own children say many of the same things. I know that my parents are there when I need them. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Parents Day: Parenting is hard. It is not for the weak at heart. Parenting is about the unconditional love that you give to your children, often with very few rewards given back at the time. So, look through your family pictures and focus on the easy, fun and/or rewarding times, instead of the difficult times that you have had as a parent Share a special memory with your child about your child. Let them know that you hold them dear to your heart Share a special memory of your own childhood. Let your children know that you didn't always value your parents, but you do now Call your own parents and let them know that you appreciate them as parents Parenting is hard. We need to support each other as parents and let each other know that perfection is not the key, but self-confident, happy adult children is the reward. Happy Parent's Day! If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Humour can help you thrive in change, remain creative under pressure, work more effectively, play more enthusiastically, and stay healthier in the process. Humour and Stress – For some of us it is a lost art, but it can be one of our most powerful ‘life coping' tools. One definition I really like, is that humour is an attitude focused on generating positive feelings in yourself and for others. It is an active state and a choice that we make. One other advantage of maintaining a sense of humour and being able to freely laugh is that it provides us with a powerful sense of perspective and ability to build relationships with those around us. Humour and creativity originate from a lively imagination and the ability to recognize and to appreciate the incongruities of life. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Personal Health Month: Part of ensuring your personal health is making sure that you have a positive and fun attitude towards life. So, When you're feeling terrific – notify your face. Some of us forget to show that we are having fun Find funny friends and co-workers. Hang out with the people who's attitude you admire. Develop a Humour First-Aid Kit and fill it with your favourite jokes, clippings, and stories to buffer yourself through hard times. Use humour in adversity to lighten up rather than tighten up – Laugh at yourself and your mistakes Finally, appreciate today and look for the ‘awesome'. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Have you experienced this? The driver in front of you is going slower and slower on the highway as they talk on their phone You are in the bookstore when the person walking beside you has their phone go off breaking the peace and silence. You are sitting at a restaurant enjoying the company and the meal when the person next to you engages in cell yell. I think that we have all been exposed to poor cell phone etiquette. Are you attached to your cell phone? I don't particularly like mine. In fact, I keep it off most of the time, unless I need to call my husband or remind my kids of something if I am on the road. But it is getting harder and harder to do that. Cell phones are an integral part of our technology-based world, and they won't be disappearing anytime soon. However, if we all practiced a little more courtesy using our phone, then maybe cell phones would not seem so annoying and intrusive. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Cell Phone Courtesy Month: Evaluate your own cell phone practices: Make sure you keep it down. No one wants to hear you on the phone Love the vibration. Use your phone's vibration mode when in public Try to excuse yourself when accepting a call in a group gathering Focus on the task at hand, not your cell phone And try to make the Person You are With Feel Like the Most Important Person you want to talk to Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... Did you know that going through the drive thru naked is illegal? In 2012, a naturist was found guilty of “partial nudity that offended public order” for incidents that occurred in 2008 and 2009 as he went through a drive thru. Today is National Drive Thru Day and while it is not recommended to go through the drive thru naked, we know that many of us will go through at least one drive thru today. Eating out is no longer a special event, but a practical alternative to eating at home when no one feels like shopping or cooking. Decisions about ‘what's for dinner?' reflect a solution to an equation that involves three variables: 1) what's on hand in the fridge, cupboard or freezer, 2) the time available to cook and eat and 3) the urgency of hunger. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Drive Thru Day: Drive thru foods are not all bad. It is possible to make some wise choices, but it can be difficult if you don't consider the options before you are about to order. Examine your life and do a rhythm check. Are you pushing and rushing most of the time? If so, consider altering your drive thru behaviour slightly to allow yourself the opportunity to slow down, take your time eating, socialize and enjoy the ‘whole' meal experience. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... I am blessed to have had a grandma who was a huge influence on my life. She made me feel accepted, wanted, and truly loved. I loved how she could dress it up for a night out and she could get down and dirty in the garden. And she was gorgeous. My sons were blessed. They had 3 great grandmas and 3 grandmas that got to share in their early years. I hope that they remember them as being gorgeous women and that beauty is not about what is on the outside but what is on the character of the soul. Our worth is not about the job that we have, the goals that we achieve, or the beauty of our youth. Jobs change. Goals change. Looks change. Our beauty is in the connections that we make with others. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Gorgeous Grandma Day: Don't Be Someone You're Not. I see young girls who put on ‘airs' and try to mould themselves into the popular image of beauty. If you have young girls and women in your life, help them to see that beauty is about so much more than that. Tell the gorgeous women in your life what you see when you look at them. Don't describe their physical beauty, but what you see that radiates from their heart or the positive impact that they have on those around them. Having had a gorgeous grandma, I can only hope that I can make as much of a difference in someone's life like her. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
Listen to today's podcast... The loss of a child is the most stressful and inconsolable of losses to deal with. It violates the natural order of things and it's not fair for an innocent to see their dreams unfulfilled. I watched as my husband`s parents grieved for the loss of their son, my husband`s only sibling. I watched how my brother-in-law`s wife`s parents grieved for the loss of their daughter. Together they were killed by a drunk and drugged driver. Their pain was evident and their grieving styles so different, as was the responses of their family and friends. Often, we don't know what to say or do for grieving parents, so we do nothing. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! Here are today's Tips For Building Resiliency Through Bereaved Parents Awareness Month: Don`t avoid the parents. It is okay for you to not know what to say or how to help. A listening ear may be what they need the most. I love the sentiment that one parent received from a friend: “Grieve well. One day you will cease to remember him with tears and instead remember him with smiles.” Don`t avoid important dates such as birthdays and anniversaries, but provide an opportunity for the parent to grieve and remember and not feel like they must hold the grief under control. Be aware and provide support for both the health of the bereaved parents and their relationships. According to research, bereaved mothers and fathers experience more physical and emotional issues than do non-bereaved parents, including severe depression. It is estimated that over 70% of marriages where a child has died, end in separation or divorce. Be patient. Grieving parents may think, do, and say things that are very unlike who they really are and as their family and friends, our job is to be there for them and not judge their reactions as justified or unfair. If you like today's wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr
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