Work Smart Live Smart with Beverly Beuermann-King

EP 111 – Wear Your Milk Moustache Today!

Have you worn a milk moustache today? January 11th is milk day, the anniversary of milk being first delivered in glass bottles.

I grew up on a dairy farm. Milk was a part of every meal.  I can still remember my dad skimming the cream off the milk for his cereal and the first time I stayed with my aunt who ‘bought’ her milk from the store, and thinking that it was so watery.  Nothing at all, like what I was used to.

Even after 7000 years of drinking it, milk is still very controversial. Many say we need it for bone growth, but there are those who say we shouldn’t drink it, as it can increase our risk for certain diseases.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Milk Day:

Watch what you drink.  Add more water and milk to your diet as opposed to pop and other sugary drinks. Studies show that kids and adults who drink milk are less likely to consume sugary drinks which add no nutritional value to their diet.

If you are having trouble sleeping, try a cup of warm milk.  The chemicals in milk, along with the warmth of the drink, can help to produce that sleepy feeling.

So to honour my dad and brother, here is a little milk day humour…..

Q: What did the farmer call the cow that had no milk?

A: An udder failure.

Don’t forget that you can find more tips for promoting health, by checking out my Live Smart blog at worksmartlivesmart.com

EP 110 – Becoming a Fit Family

Are you and your family spending too much time as couch potatoes?

Although this is Family Fit Lifestyle Month, healthy habits should be a lifelong journey. I recently asked my sons what life lessons they have they learned from me (risky question but I wanted to know). I was proud to hear some of things that they said. Both of them said that one of the important lessons was around eating right and exercising often. They said that it has helped them to be good athletes and to feel good. (So all that harping around eating their lunch and working hard at practise has paid off after all). They saw me involved in fitness activities even when I was not naturally good at them. And they saw me having fun anyways.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Family Fit Lifestyle Month:

Reward participation in fitness activities. Be each other’s cheerleader.

Have fun. Fitness shouldn’t be boring or feel like drudgery. If it does that you haven’t found the right activities. Some of us prefer activities that we can do alone. Some of us need the watchful eye of a coach. Others prefer team settings. Fitness activities should be something that we look forward to.

This year, set a few goals for creating a healthier family.

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

EP 109 – You Need To Get Over It

Do you hold a grudge? 

January is the month of new resolutions.  It is also the month to Get Over It.  Whatever ‘It’ is. 

‘It‘ can be very destructive emotionally and physically.  It is not to say that feeling hurt or angry is bad, but holding on to hurt and anger for a long time is.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Get Over It Month:

Weigh the risks.  Holding a grudge takes energy and has a negative impact on your health.  It can keep you awake at night, it can cause excessive dread and worry and negatively impact your digestion.  It can bring about Depression.  Weigh out the risks of hanging on to that grudge or negative emotion and see if it really is worth the energy.

Learn to accept what is.  You may not hear an apology.  The person may never admit their mistake but that shouldn’t be the goal in trying to get over something.

Often hearing someone say sorry doesn’t make us feel better.  Only you can change your perspective and focus, so start today and Get Over It.

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

EP 108 – Are You Thankful

“What do you say?”  “Thank you”

As parents, we probably said this a lot, as we taught our children to be thankful for the gifts that they received or when others did nice things for them.

Are You Thankful?

I think as adults we sometimes forget to be thankful.  We often focus on the difficulties and on the things that are not going right and sometimes we lose sight of the things that are going well and the blessings that we have received.

A line of wisdom goes…You cannot welcome more abundance into your life until you have said thanks to the universe for all that you have. January is the month of new beginnings.  Let’s kick it off by being truly thankful. 

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Thank You Month:

Make a list of all that you are thankful for in your work and personal life.  Be specific.  True blessings are the things in your life that resonate importance and touch your core.

Know that when we are full of thanks, we radiate this to the people around us and we impact them in a positive way.

Hang out with people who are truly thankful.  It is contagious, and you will feel energized, and inspired.

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

EP 107 - Thank God It’s Monday

Having trouble returning to work on Mondays? Feel like you never really left? Struggling with the blahs?

Studies show that happiness at work may be the most important success factor for a modern workplace and that happy companies make more money!

Your happiness at work is your responsibility. Not your boss’s, not your co-workers’ and not society’s. It’s Yours. However, if you are a boss or leader it is your responsibility to set a culture where it’s easy to be happy at work.

Happiness at work doesn’t only come from the policies, strategies, plans or values. It comes from being able to do great work with great people.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Thank God It’s Monday:

Decide to say, “Thank God it’s Monday”. Make sure that you set the intention to be grateful for the fact that you have a job and grateful for the fact that you get to demonstrate your talents to the world through your work.

Smile – it is contagious. Just as negativity is contagious, so is being optimistic, fun and happy.

How you show up in life and at work, matters! If you are just going through the motions you will be shortchanging yourself and depleting your happiness.

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

EP 106 – Managing a Difficult Boss

It’s the end of the day and you’re exhausted, frustrated and wondering why you put up with your difficult boss. If you have been in this situation before, you know just how much they can impact how you feel about your job, and even your own security and confidence.

Understanding why some people become more difficult or negative, and when they are more likely to act that way, can prevent you from obsessing about your difficult boss, to the exclusion of all your other colleagues, who were quite pleasant and appreciated your work. By reflecting on your role in these difficult interactions, you will be in a better position to learn strategies to head off and/or counteract the stressful effects of these encounters.

So here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency and Celebrating Home and Office Safety and Security Week

The main premise to work from is that difficult people use negative behaviour to get what they want. It has decreased their stress before and they are counting on it to work for them again.

We must understand not only what people are going through but also what they expect to gain from being so difficult. Some want to feel more in control. Some want to feel important and listened to, and some want to avoid outright conflict, but will act out their annoyance or disagreement through other negative behaviours.

Our role is to find alternate ways of meeting their needs for control, importance or safety.

Don’t forget that you can find more tips for coping with mental health issues, by checking out my Live Smart blog at worksmartlivesmart.com

EP 105 – Someday We'll Laugh About This

Humour can help you thrive in change, remain creative under pressure, work more effectively, play more enthusiastically, and stay healthier in the process.

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.

So here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency and Celebrating Some Day We'll Laugh About This

Our ability to look at the funny side of life can be developed with practice.

• Post a ‘Murphy’s Law of our Workplace’
• Develop a Humour First-Aid Kit and fill it with your favourite jokes, clippings, and stories
• Make up a humourous response to ‘How are you doing?’

Being able to laugh about our situation and ourselves helps us to release the tension, regain our perspective, accept that which we cannot change and experience joy.

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

EP 104 - What You Need To Stay Safe

I have been taking karate for quite a few years now.  I’m a second degree black belt, so not quite a beginner.  It takes lots of hard practice to get this far…yet I am pretty sure that I would still have a great deal of trouble using it against an attacker, especially one with any size behind them.

Early in my university years and again when I was working within a college, I took a couple of basic self-defense courses.  They did two things. They enhanced my awareness of the dangers and gave me ideas for options that I could use.  They were definitely worthwhile.

Fear is powerful.  And so it should be.  Fear keeps us on our toes.  It warns us to not be in dangerous situations.  Even the best karate move is not to be there when the attack comes in.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Personal Self-Defense Month

Consider your answers to these questions.

Do you know what to do if someone grabs you?  If not you may need to take a course on basic self-defense strategies

Are you aware of your surroundings. Don’t become complacent, even in familiar situations.

Are you confident in yourself and do you carry yourself in a confident way? Learn how to walk with confidence. This can be the difference of a potential attacker thinking that you are an easy target and them moving on to the next person.

Take your personal safety seriously.  Be prepared.  Be Aware.  Look like you know what you are doing.

Want to find more strategies to coping with stress, check out my website at worksmartlivesmart.com

EP 103 - Everyone Needs More Sleep

I must have been sleeping. I missed the Festival of Sleep this morning. The celebration is an opportunity to sleep in, snooze, doze, nap, and catch 40 winks. However, I did doze off and I did go to bed early last night, so I guess that I unknowingly celebrated it anyway.

The Festival of Sleep reminds us that we all could use a little more sleep. Before the light bulb was invented, we use to get on average 10 hours of sleep. Now many of us are lucky to get 6.5 hours of sleep per night. Yet, we know that we need 7-9 hours per night just to stay healthy.

In fact, I think that we should celebrate the Festival of Sleep for two solid weeks – The week between Christmas and New Years and then the week after New Years. What a great way to end an old year and start a new year.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating The National Festival Of Sleep:

Obvious tip alert – Go to sleep.

Watch for those things that interfere or prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep. If you are like the majority (65%) of the population who do not get the right kind or length of sleep, you need to find the right strategies to get a good night sleep. Go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time. Keep your room cool. Block outside noises. Watch the kinds of foods that you eat prior to bedtime. Don’t exercise right before bed.

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

EP 102 - Transform Your Thinking

The pressure is on! Too much to do. No time to think. Be productive. Do more. Uncertain economy. Climate change. Make the right decision. Make it now.

Your thoughts create your emotional and physical state. How you think and react at any given time determines the decisions or actions you take. Successful people realize that by transforming their thinking that they can master the essential skills for thriving in these turbulent times.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Transform Your Thinking Month:

Look at the decisions that you have made in the past. Have they been the best ones that you could have or should have made. If not, evaluate how you made those decisions and see if there is something that you need to work on.

Do you have enough tools in your strategy tool belt to deal with the issues and challenges you are facing? Using the S-O-S Principle can help ensure that you deal with issues, stay healthy and are supported during stressful times.

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.

EP 466 - New Years Resolution Week

“This year, I am going to earn my CSP.” That is what I said several years ago at this time. And thankfully, I can say that after many hours of sweating it through, I received my Certified Speaking Professional designation in San Diego, California July 2007.

For many of us, New Year’s Resolution Week is a time to reflect on the changes that we want and need, and in doing so we compile a list of resolutions. Unfortunately if our resolutions happen not to work out as we had hoped, we tend to put off trying again until the following year.

So Here is today’s Hot Tip For Building Resiliency and Celebrating New Years Resolutions Week:

Visualize It

Many experts agree that the resolution itself is too often equated with the plan when it is only one part of the overall plan. One tip is to visualize the future.  Identify and visualize what feelings will come about by you achieving your goal. Replay this image regularly. The more details the better!

Everyday is a new challenge to live the way you intend to, according to your passions and purpose. Remember, it takes less effort to stay the same than it does to change. Most goals require stepping outside of your comfort zone and that is why many people give up.

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

EP 100 - Looking On The Bright Side

Every one of us has heard the phrase “Look on the bright side!”

Look on the bright side is used to refer to focusing on the good part of something that is mostly bad.

As we head into a new year, let’s focus on these Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Look On The Brighter Side Day:

#1 It's difficult to look on the bright side when you're surrounded by negativity so be careful who you spend your time with.

Remove “can’t” from your vocabulary. A defeatist attitude will get you about as far as a car without an engine.

Be grateful. There are times when looking at the bright side of things can seem out of the realm of possibility. However, it’s important to take a step back and concentrate on what you do have, rather than what you don’t have.

Finally, It’s OK to make mistakes. Your past mistakes are meant to guide you, not define you. Remember, no one is perfect. Rather than looking at the negative aspects of a mistake that you’ve made, look at the bright side of that mistake and use it as a lesson moving forward.

So today, I challenge you to look on the bright side of a negative situation and use it to your advantage.

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

EP 99 - A Year In Review

It is almost the last day of the year. This is the day that many news programs offer up a year in review. What happened that was news worthy. Good, Bad and even the Ugly.

This is a good time of year to do the same for our own personal life. What was great. What successes did you achieve. What challenges did you face. What didn’t go the way you would have liked. What lessons did you learn.

All of these questions can help you to put life in perspective and help you to recognize the skills that you have developed that have aided you along the way.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating the New Year ahead:

Reviewing Your Life Allows You to Know Where You Are. If you don’t want to live this upcoming year exactly the same as your last year, you need to take stock of all that has happened. It is only when you stop and reflect, that you are able to find out, if what you do, is getting you the results you want.

Ask yourself the question, What Am I Working Towards? If you are serious about living your ideal lifestyle, you must take stock of where you are and where you would like to be.

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

EP 98 - Are You A Chocoholic?

I am a chocoholic. I love milk chocolate. Creamy. Rich. Sweet. Delicious. It picks me up when I am down.

Is this wrong? Not terribly. We all have comfort foods and mine is chocolate. I don’t eat it everyday. My addiction is quite mild most of the time. But there are days when I just have to give in. I have scavenged the cupboards looking for any type of chocolaty morsel. And when I do indulge, I try to do so with very little guilt, (which isn’t always possible).

It’s About Moderation

Contrary to popular belief, chocolate isn’t its own food group, but treats are not all bad. Moderation is the key. Eating healthy around the treats is also well advised.

But I do like my chocolate and I am always glad that my Christmas stocking, is lovingly filled with….Chocolate. My boys use to wondered why Santa only brought mommy chocolate…I told them, it was because daddy wanted mommy to be happy so he wrote it in his letter to Santa to bring me a stocking full of chocolate. And Santa hasn’t let me down yet.

So hats off to the Mayans and the Aztecs for creating the first chocolaty drink.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Chocolate Day:

I don’t have any, other than to indulge responsibly

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

EP 97 - Interrupting Interruptions

On the last working day of the year, the office is quiet and you are prepared to take advantage of it to get caught up on your work.  The phone rings.  You sigh. Another stressful interruption.

According to Fast Company the average office worker is interrupted and taken off task every 11 minutes. Even worse, they say that it takes basically that much time to refocus on the task at hand.  Often, we end up compensating for interruptions by working faster and harder, which results in us experiencing more stress. We get frustrated, impatient, annoyed, angry, defeated.  The key to avoid interruptions at work is to find productive ways to minimize and deal with them and keep our emotions in check.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Dealing With No Interruptions Day:

Plan for interruptions.  Know the type of interruptions that you usually encounter and when they are most likely to occur. 

Limit the opportunities for people to distract you.  If you need time to concentrate on a particular task, block it off in your schedule and let colleagues know that you are not available until a certain time.  Turn off your phone and your email notifiers.  Shut the door.  Book a meeting room just for yourself.

Watch for your own personal interrupters.  A messy desk, hunger, thirst and curiosity all get in our own way of being as productive as we can.  Organize yourself prior to starting your focused time, not during it.

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

EP 96 - It’s About Time

Are you overworked, over-scheduled and just plain stressed out?

There is a quote that says, Time is the most valuable coin in your life. You and you alone will determine how that coin will be spent. Be careful that you don’t let other people spend it for you.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating It’s About Time Week:

Schedule downtime. At least once during the day, you should allow yourself the luxury of having a period of time to decompress. The simplest and easiest strategy to use is deep breathing. It can be done by anyone, anywhere and in any circumstance.

Create off-work zones. Determine what times during the day are off-limits for working, including no e-mail, or text messages. By defining these zones such as at meal time, bed-time and days off, we are creating the space for rejuvenation and connection.

Learn to say no. Say no to things that are outside of your priority. Say no to working late, especially if it is self-imposed. Say no to extra activities if you are feeling stretched to thin. Saying no now, does not mean that it will be a no forever. When you feel like it is a priority and you have the time to dedicate to the activity without compromising yourself, then it is okay to say yes.

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

EP 95 - Whiny Wednesday

We can be a nation of entitled whiners.  “It’s too cold.”  “I am the only one around here who does anything.”  “Blah, blah, blah” or should I say “whine, whine, whine.”

Hunger, tiredness, boredom and feeling unwell are factors that can precipitate whining sessions at work, but some colleagues have learned from a very early age that whining gets them the attention that they are seeking.  Whining has become second nature and their predominant way of communicating.  Their behaviour is draining on relationships and it can poison a workplace.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Whiner’s Day:

If you catch yourself whining:

Try moving from an attitude of entitlement to one of gratitude.  It is hard to be whining when focused on the positive and being thankful.

Focus on problem solving.  It is okay to vent, but that venting must be followed by problem solving otherwise it is whining for whining’s sake.

If you are going to confront a whiner:

Understand that they are looking for attention, but give them attention for solving the issue, not for whining about the issue.

Finally, minimize the amount of time that you spend with the whiner.  They will zap your energy if you aren’t careful.

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

EP 94 - Wishing You A Merry Christmas

It is Christmas for those of us who celebrate this time of year.

As we go into the holidays, I wanted to share this little blessing with you.

To you, I wish all the blessings of Christmas.

May you experience the warmth of home,

The cheer and good will of friends,

And the hope of a child-like heart.

May love work its magic into your life,

And may you touch every life you meet.

May you provide compassion to those in need,

And have the courage to stand up for yourself.

May the stars light your way.

May you have unmatchable success in life and the ability to handle it with grace.

Have a blessed Christmas.

EP 93 - Happy December 24th

It is Christmas Eve for those of us who celebrate this time of year.

As we go into the holidays, I wanted to share this little blessing with you.

To you, I wish all the blessings of Christmas.

May you experience the warmth of home,

The cheer and good will of friends,

And the hope of a child-like heart.

May love work its magic into your life,

And may you touch every life you meet.

May you provide compassion to those in need,

And have the courage to stand up for yourself.

May the stars light your way.

May you have unmatchable success in life and the ability to handle it with grace.

Have a blessed Christmas.

EP 92 - Read For Relaxation

I loved reading. I would read between homework assignments, favourite TV shows, or on the bus. I loved to stay awake until the wee hours if the book was enticing enough. That was before children. It seems that for many of us, our daily reading habits center around tweets, Facebook updates, or the ingredients of our morning cereal? We read on average 5 or less books a year.

I find it difficult to add reading to my long list of daily to-dos. For me, the holidays give me the opportunity to slow down a bit and pick up a good book.

So here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Read A Book Month.