Work Smart Live Smart with Beverly Beuermann-King

We never seem to be able to find ‘the time’.  Stop looking.  You will never find it.  It isn’t lost.  You are living in it.

So what kinds of things waste our time?

44.7% of the more than 10,000 people polled cited personal internet use as their #1 distraction at work.

Today’s Time Truth:

If we fail to control the events in our life, then the events in our life will control us. Planning is key to performance. Not planning wastes time and energy.

According to one survey the average worker admits to wasting away 2.09 hours per 8-hour workday, which is twice as much time as their employers expect.

Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Time Management Month:

Eliminate useless meetings. Insist on short, well-planned, morning stand-up meetings. They are the least likely to waste your time and interfere with your work.

Stop thinking that you can multi-task. Prioritize and then break up your day accordingly. Don’t move on to the next task until you’ve really completed the previous one. Not only will you do a better job when you’re focused, you’ll also force yourself to finish something within the time allotted.

Come up for air. Productivity declines after a certain period, so pump up your productivity with scheduled breaks.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line vulnerability test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

Do You Find It Hard To Stay Focused?

Have you ever had your computer lock up when you have opened too many files or programs at once?

Sometimes when we try to multi-task, we may actually freeze up, lock up or quit performing at our peak. 

Researchers have studied human multi-tasking for the past 25 years or so and have found that the brain cannot fully focus when multi-tasking.  We take longer to complete tasks, and are predisposed to error. 

The pressure to get more and more done, and toggle between one task and another creates a great deal of stress and pressure on the mind and body. Developing the ability to focus completely on a single task can help in our energy management.  

Building Resiliency and Celebrating Single Tasking Day:

Single-Tasking should be our main way of operating when needing to accomplish important tasks

Let go of the idea that the more we tackle at any given time, the more productive we are or will be

We have become like junkies in many ways, by needing a ‘fix’.  We check our emails, notices and webpages out of curiosity.  By setting time aside for these activities, we fill our curiosity, yet we are more likely to stay on task and complete that task more efficiently and effectively

 Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line vulnerability test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

This day celebrates those entrepreneurs who had a desire to be their own boss and who went out and made it happen.  They are store owners, manufacturers, producers and service providers.  It is through determination and hard work that their success is possible.

The downside is that they probably sacrificed family time and personal care for this success.

In helping entrepreneurs in dealing with work-related stress issues, one of the key reasons I hear that many started their business, was to have control.  Control over the creative process.  Control over the service that they provided to others.  And most especially – control over themselves – How they worked and when they worked.

Often this control over when they worked and how they worked was quickly given away in an effort to grow their business. They became their own worse boss as they strived for success. 

Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day

Some advice if you are the business owner – remember why you started your own business and make sure that you are honouring that reason in the way that you conduct your business.

 Make sure that you are taking care of yourself so that you have the energy to continue to work hard in your business. Take several breaks throughout the day to restore your energy. Eat right. Have a life outside your business.  Stay connected to your family and friends.

The goal is to run a successful business and stay healthy and connected at the same time.

To everyone else: Thank those mom and pop business owners in your community who work hard to keep their business going strong

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line vulnerability test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

Grumble. Grumble. It is 2:00 in the afternoon and you find that your stomach is growling and your energy is fading. Time for a snack.

Snacks provide you with an extra little boost. If done right, they can help to keep energy levels going, and avoid weight gain.

Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Snack Food Month:

Get good at reading. Don’t trust the claims of the food’s manufacturer on the front of the package.  Judge whether a food is healthy for you by reading the ingredients and the nutrition information on the food label.

Prepare healthy snacks in advance. When you make something yourself, you get to control the ingredients.  Keep plenty of fresh fruit and veggies in the refrigerator. Cut up melons or vegetables like celery and carrots in advance.

Healthy snacking doesn’t have to be boring. Make it interesting.

Go the caveman way. Try:  Fresh Fruit, Salad & Vegetables. You can also add fish, eggs or meat, or dried Nuts & Fruits

Research shows that people who eat regular meals and healthy snacks are less likely to overeat and gain weight than people who skip meals or go for long periods without eating. Thinking ahead is the key to smart snacking.  So…happy snacking.

Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In

Their names are Carly and Misty. They are my source of stress at times as we train each other, and my cuddly companions when curling up on the couch at the end of the day.

Research shows that pets can provide excellent social support, stress relief and numerous other health benefits including lower blood pressure

Pets Stave Off Loneliness and Provide Unconditional Love: Pets offer love and companionship, and can also enjoy comfortable silences, keep secrets, and are excellent snugglers.

Pets Encourage You To Get Out And Exercise

It’s important to realize that owning a pet isn’t for everyone. Pets can make additional work and add to our responsibilities. However, for most people, the benefits of having a pet outweigh the drawbacks.

Building Your Resiliency and Celebrating Love Your Pet Day:

If you don’t have a pet and are considering one – carefully consider you and your family’s lifestyle and the needs of the pet you choose. A good fit will reduce stress and not add to your stress load.

If you have a pet – give them some extra attention today – throw the frisbee, snuggle on the couch, or give an extra treat – you will both enjoy and benefit from it.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line vulnerability test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

Have you ever looked at those websites that compare your real age to your chronological age?

I did and I was pleased to see that it covered a variety of areas related to positive stress management and resiliency. It also had some interesting questions regarding heart health.

Cardiovascular diseases continue to be a major threat to women's health.

Building Resiliency and Celebrating Women’s Heart Week:

It is imperative that women learn the warning signs and symptoms of heart disease and stroke, see a doctor regularly, and learn their family history. Making a commitment to your health isn’t something you have to do alone either, so grab a friend or a family member and become accountability partners.

Nutrition and exercise essential.

But also consider the impact of being positive, being able to relax, using a sense of humour, being organized, being involved in hobbies/community, having a spiritual side, and striving to be a continuous learner.

Our heart pumps life through our body, so ensure that you are pumping your heart full of life.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line vulnerability test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

There are so many different aspects to health.

We hear daily about eating right and exercising, but health also involves our relationships.  

February is Relationship Wellness Month and it reminds us that we need to reach out to others and build stronger social ties with family and friends.

One key to happy, healthy relationships is the opportunity to spend quality time with the people you care about. Relationship Wellness encourages us to develop better communications with those around us including the ability to share our feelings and needs.

Building Resiliency and Celebrating During Relationship Wellness Month:

Relationships take time. Time to develop. Time to nurture. Time to sustain.

Spend time really listening to your family and friends.  Find out what is important to them.  What issues are they facing? Listening to someone else is one of the best things that we can do for them and it allows us to keep our own issues and challenges in perspective.

What is the one thing that you can do this month to pump up your relationships, on your road to a healthier you?

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line vulnerability test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

Today is My Way Day. Yes, it is MY way or the highway!

I like MY way, it is the RIGHT way. It is the ONLY way!

Why, because I said so. I know it is so.

You just haven’t realized it to be so.

And until you come around to my way of thinking, just do as I say, and life will be much better for all of us.

And don’t argue with me. When it is Your Way Day, I’ll do what you say, so, till then, remember it is MY Way Day!

I jest, but part of it is true.  I really do want things my way.  It’s all about control and I like to have control.  I can be seen as a difficult person and in fact I am one of the ‘characters’ that I talk about in my workshops.  When we understand what motivates others and what motivates ourselves, it is much easier to deal with the negative sides of these personalities.

 

Building Resiliency and Celebrating My Way Day:

Just because it is My Way Day, don’t expect that everything will go your way, because funny enough, others think it is their way day too.

Learn what pushes your buttons and learn what pushes other people’s buttons. 

Relaxation skills can help to reduce that overwhelmed, frustrated feeling, helping to prevent you from stomping around.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line vulnerability test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.” Seneca

World Kindness Day gives us a chance to reach to others and show them that they are not alone, and the world is not as gloomy as it is often made out to be.

Numerous scientific studies show that acts of kindness result in significant health benefits. Performing kind acts can help reverse feelings of depression, decrease feelings of hostility and isolation, decrease intensity and the awareness of physical pain, and increase sense of self-worth, happiness, and optimism.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Random Acts Of Kindness Week:

Think of those that are closest to you and take a moment to connect with them…phone your grandmother, mother, father, uncle…nothing is more personal than a visit or a phone call so that they can hear your voice. Let them know how much they mean to you.

Leave a love note for your spouse. Let them know that you still hold them in your heart.

Make a donation to a charity on behalf of a love one. You are letting your love one know that you are thinking of them and you are helping out a worthy cause at the same time.

Send an appreciation note to a colleague. Many of us receive little or no appreciation at work. Let’s change this and help increase the engagement of each other.

Being kind to another doesn’t have to cost us anything other than the energy to think of something.

Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com

As parents we worry about assisting our children to become competent, capable and healthy adults. We are concerned about their self-esteem and their overall emotional health. We wish we had more time to spend with them. Today, where I am it is Family Day. It’s a day to sit down, talk, eat dinner and connect with your kids and other family members.

Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Family Day:

When caring on a conversation, constructively express both negative and positive feelings and thoughts – children learn how to cope and express themselves through us

Help your child to put a name to their feelings. Assist them to expand their vocabulary beyond using ‘happy’, ‘sad’ and ‘mad’. Help children to find positive ways of expressing difficult emotions

Challenge unrealistic expectations when they become interpreted as a self-failure or become expressed as frustration

Remind the child of the number of different people that they can go to in difficult situations

Teach children the importance of developing friendships and what it means to be a ‘good’ friend to someone else

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.

The quest for goodwill, peace and understanding among people of the world. This is the fourth avenue of service for the Rotary Club.

With all of the chaos and conflict happening in the world, we need courage to take a stand and promote peace in our communities.

We do this by digging in and learning how to understand other people's cultures, by promoting engagement with others, and by building strong, diverse communities.

Tips for Building Resiliency and Celebrating National World Understanding Month:

The first part of expanding our understanding is to recognize that every cultural group has unique strengths and perspectives that the larger community can benefit from.

We need a wide range of ideas, customs, and wisdom to solve problems and enrich community life. It is by bringing non-mainstream groups into the center of civic activity that we get fresh perspectives and shed new light on tough problems.

Here are some questions that may help you think about and understand your community:

How would you define your community? Does it have geographical boundaries? Is it local or global?

Who lives in your community right now?

What kinds of diversity already exists?

What issues do different cultural groups have in common?

These are just a few of the questions that can expand your understanding and this insight can lead to an increase of goodwill, cooperation, and peace in your community.

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 vulnerability test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

Do you know who Dianne Belmont was? I think that she was a comedic genius. Still not sure?
Dianne later became known as Lucille Ball.  

Have you ever wished you were given a different name by your parents?

If so, today is the day, as it is Get A Different Name Day. If you could, what new name would you give yourself?

In some religions they have or had a practice or ceremony during which you selected a new name. Sometimes taking a new name is a case of a celebration, such as getting married. Some actors or musicians choose a new stage name, especially if they had a hard to pronounce name.

Taking on a new name can help affirm a new identity, like when transitioning from one gender to another. It’s all about getting a fresh start, and that’s what Get A Different Name Day is about!

Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Get A Different Name Day:

If you are not seriously looking for a new name, have fun with a different name anyways, just for today.

Choose a character from a movie or TV show or from folk lore and post it on your social media to let your friends and family know about this new or hidden identity

Are you a Sheldon Cooper, a Zena Warrior Princess, Taz for Tasmanian Devil, or a Lucy because of your sense of humor?

Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com

Though everyone may want something unique from their job, there are some common things that employees want their job to provide.

Employees want to gain a sense of confidence, competence and control.

What motivates employees is having interesting work that challenges them, along with increased responsibility, autonomy, and recognition for a job well done. These motivating factors fill our need for growth and achievement, and bring about long-term happiness and fulfillment.

Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Leadership Success Day:

Successful leaders build confidence, competence and control by treating their employees with respect and by giving positive recognition for performance and dedication.

Successful leaders focus on building two-way trust within the organization.

When employees feel that they are trusted and respected, they will share issues openly and are more productive and creative. They are more likely to develop meaningful relationships and take pride in contributing their skills and abilities. All of this increases overall confidence, competence and control.

Looking for resources to build your healthy workplace?
Check out my top 10 tips under Resources and Courses at worksmartlivesmart.com

Electrific. I have no idea what this word means, but isn’t it a great word’  When I hear it, I think of great, terrific, electrifying, bubbly, energizing…..

How can you be electrific?

Often, we find ourselves just going through the motions.  Days run into each other.  Life can become boring and stagnant.

If we don’t purposefully attack each day, we can become anything but electrific.

Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Electrific Day

Share a smile with those around you.  Greet your family the way you wish to be greeted

Do something fun – just because

Say thank you to your co-workers, to your boss, to your spouse

Think of something positive to say to each person that you connect with today

Get plenty of sleep so that the energy you have bubbles out from you

Wear something bright to pick you up from the winter blahs

Do your best to be electrific 🙂

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency?
Take my free on-line vulnerability test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

Did you know 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. We benefit from the emotional support of a community during difficult times.

Connectedness is so important to our overall well-being that workplaces are also recognizing the value of support to the success of their organization.

It is unfortunate that the busier we become, the easier it is to let our existing friendships go by the way-side, let alone develop new connections.

Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating International Friendship Week:

Look up. Smile and say hello to those around you

Try to connect with your co-workers about things other than the task at hand

Participate in social programs

Call, text, or email those friends that you have lost touch with

Connectedness and group involvement have exceptional powers in decreasing our stress, if we venture to put ourselves ‘out there’.

Looking for resources to build your resiliency?
Check out my Live Smart blog at worksmartlivesmart.com

CEO Jeff Bezos admits that he reads in his bathtub. He takes a one-gallon Ziploc bag, and puts his e-reader inside it. Book in hand…safe and sound.

An interesting way to combine two popular stress-relieving past-times. I am not sure that I am co-ordinated enough to master this even with a Ziploc bag.

Bathtubs are the picture-perfect scene to the end of a hard day for many people. I have trouble sitting in a tub. I don’t find it very relaxing and my mind usually wonders off to what else needs to be done.

Part of the S-O-S Principle that I developed involves finding strategies that get your mind off of the stressful situation. The key is to find something that works for you.

Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Read In The Tub Day:

If you have trouble slowing down to relax, ask yourself why. Are you too caught up in what needs to be done next’ Keep the superhuman syndrome in check – we need to take time to take care of ourselves.

If the bathtub or a good book don’t do it for you, find something else that does. Find something that changes the speed, changes your focus and helps to renew your energy.

If you are still willing to try the book and bathtub combo to relax, start with a magazine or book that doesn’t matter if it gets wet.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency?
Take my free on-line vulnerability test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

A study found that 20% of workers felt that their employer didn’t care about them. Imagine what that would look like in your organization. What impact do you think that this would have on productivity and engagement?

Quality leaders are aware of the value of recognition. During Leadership Week, I encourage supervisors, managers, directors and the C-Suite to look closely at the relationship that that they have with their employees. A poor relationship – one in which employees feel powerless, uninformed, disrespected, used and stressed – will lead to high rates of heart and cardiovascular problems, anxiety, depression, and alcohol and drug use. It can also leave the company with higher rates of absenteeism, lowered productivity, higher rates of job turnover and more difficulty in attracting and retaining high quality workers.

Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating International Leadership Week:

Quality relationships take time to develop. They require that leaders allow for participation in decision-making, provide information and support on stress, develop support strategies between team members and that the leader ensures the proper resources are available to get the job done.

Challenge yourself to evaluate your leadership skills. Would your team consider you a quality leader?

Want to check out more health and wellness related celebrations?
Visit my wellness calendars under the resources and courses tab at worksmartlivesmart.com

Accept Yourself. Accept Your Body. Celebrate Yourself. Celebrate Your Body.

Fact #1 Eating Disorders affect people of all gender, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class, ability, race, and ethnic background.

Fact #2 Eating disorders are not choices, but seriously biologically influenced mental illnesses and need to be treated as life threatening conditions

Fact #3 You can’t tell by looking at someone whether they have an eating disorder.

Tips For Building Resiliency and Bringing Awareness To Eating Disorder Week:

Whether you're a parent concerned for a child, a friend or someone who just wants to make a difference, there are many ways to shine a spotlight on eating disorders to help those in need and celebrate people who have made a recovery.

Find ways to show your support. US News & World Report recommends:

Be honest: Tell the person you're concerned about his or her health.

Be sincere: Compliment the person on their intrinsic qualities – like their ability to make people laugh or their ability to work as a team player.

Be caring, but firm: Let them know that you care and want to help in the recovery process.

For more tips on how to Promote Mental Illness Awareness check out my website at worksmartlivesmart.com under the Resources and Courses tab

They are free, easy to give and receive.

They make people happy.

They make you happy.

If you are having one of those days, you can shift your attention from all the things going wrong in your day and put it on making someone else’s day a little sunnier by paying them a compliment.

Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Pay A Compliment Day:

Celebrating today is so easy to do.

All you have to do is find something nice to say about someone and say it to them!

If they are not around tell others how great that person is.

Watch how they light up when they hear the compliment.

What a difference you will make in their life and your own.

We all have a desire to be acknowledged. When someone else notices even the slightest thing about us, it can boost our self-esteem, motivation and happiness.

Small acts of kindness go a long way these days.

Discover how to take small steps towards a healthier, happier, less-stressed you by visiting my website at worksmartlivesmart.com

Last week we celebrated Have Fun At Work Day and today is Working Naked Day. Well…I guess this is one way to have more fun at work. I think that working naked is more for those of us who work alone and at home…with no chance of a customer dropping in. In fact, a recent study found that 1 in 8 male teleworkers and 1 in 14 female teleworkers actually work naked.

Some suggest that working naked, means that you work alone, without the support of a corporate group around you. If this is the case, I guess I do work naked. Being in business for yourself means that you have to push your limits, test new waters and find new paths. Without supporters around you, you can feel exposed and vulnerable.

Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Working Naked Day:

If you are literally going to work naked today, it is best to ensure that no one else is around. It is very difficult to use the celebration as a line of defense with your boss.

If you are an entrepreneur, working alone, celebrate that you have courage. Though many wish to work for themselves, it takes true courage to actually go out on your own and sink or swim on your own merits.

Minimize your exposure. Surround yourself with those who will cheer you on, give you honest feedback, pick you up, dust you off and send you back out.

Looking for more tips to build your resiliency?
Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In