Work Smart Live Smart with Beverly Beuermann-King

Did you know that flowers and plants freshen the air?

This is a day set aside to honor our clean air and to raise awareness of the many environmental issues that are changing our climate on earth. This is one of several official days to pay attention to your environment and the air we breathe. Air pollution is the largest environmental health risk in the country, ranking alongside cancer, heart disease and obesity in the scale of its health impacts.  Air pollution affects us all at work, at home and when we are out and about.  It causes heart and lung diseases, affects children’s lung development and shortens life. 1 in 8 deaths around the world is linked to poor air quality.

So here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Clean Air Day:

Clean Air Day 2018 is the perfect opportunity for people to ditch their cars and either walk or cycle to work.

Even the smallest contribution soon mounts up when large groups of people pledge their commitment.

Taking a walk in nature, breathing in the cool crisp air and slowing down for a moment is also a great way to celebrate

We need to protect Mother Earth and making sure that the air that we breathe is as clean and healthy as possible.

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

 

Today is my day to indulge. Chocoholics, rejoice! For today, we celebrate the treat of dipping anything in chocolate

Chocolate compliments so many different flavors. From chocolate covered pretzels to chocolate covered espresso beans, sweet, salty, and savory items can all be dipped. Love this quote from Charles M Schultz: “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”

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

If you don’t have access to a chocolate fountain, you can still have some chocolate dipping fun. Look up melted chocolate recipes and instructions and gather your favorite foods to dip in chocolate. Make it healthy and dip strawberries, pineapple spears, or really any fruit. Or go decadent and dip marshmallows, cookies, and cakes. You can really dip almost anything in chocolate, and it will be delicious. Though I may draw the line on chocolate covered bacon, jalapenos or fish.

Cover your food in chocolate today, and, in spirit of the holiday season, share some of your chocolate covered treats with your friends and family.

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

This day is a day of encouragement and inspiration. National Wear Your Pearls Day was created by best-selling author and motivational speaker DeAnna Bookert to celebrate life after she emerged from a deep depression. She said, “I wear pearls as a reminder that I have purpose and value,”. We are reminded that one irritating grain of sand can cause an iridescent pearl to form.  National Wear Your Pearls Day reminds us that when life throws dirt our way, we can take that dirt build on it and turn it into something meaningful and precious. Pearls symbolize wisdom acquired through experience and represent new beginnings.

So here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Wear Your Pearls Day:

Embrace the beauty of your life, a beauty that is often formed through hardships and trials

And when life throws dirt your way, put on your pearls

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

Yoga can give you a piece of time to observe your mind and your heart. People have different ways of relaxing, some of them healthier than others. Some people drink a glass of wine, some doze off in front of the TV, and some people prefer physical pursuits. One of the best and oldest ways to release the tension building up in both the body and the mind is practicing yoga. The benefits of practicing yoga, such as mastering countless techniques of controlling the body and the mind, have been widely recognized by the Western world for years.

So here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Yoga Day:

If you are a devout practitioner, today is the day to celebrate as it is the birthday the man called “the father of modern yoga,” B.K.S. Iyengar.

Even if you don’t consider yourself a particularly fit person—don’t worry! Due to its slow, fluid movements, few people suffer any kind of injuries practicing yoga, and many of the meditation techniques, breathing exercises, and certain postures are considered safe and beneficial even for those suffering various illnesses as well as pregnant women. Just make sure you don’t attempt a headstand the first time you decide to give yoga a try.

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

The Ugly Christmas Sweater trend has made its way online and in stores, with extravagant additions including light up Christmas trees, wine bottle holders and modern-day slogans. And naughty and nice two-person sweaters that you can share with your partner. There are even social media battles for the most likes, shares and comments on your Ugly Christmas Sweater.

So here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day:

National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day is on the third Friday and is about proudly sporting your favorite ugly Christmas sweater for the entire day. Don’t have an ugly sweater’ Make one of your own. Bedazzle an old sweater, add embroidered holiday motifs and some sequins, and voila, you are ready for Ugly Sweater Day

Why am I mentioning this so soon’ Well because it is the day for light hearted fun and a day to not be that buttoned up corporate version of yourself, you will need some time to buy or make your sweater, get up the nerve to wear your sweater and get your colleagues on board to wear their sweater next week.

Remember that National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day is a day to make the holidays fun...the way they were intended to be! And don’t forget to post the pictures for us all to enjoy!

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

Unmentionable thoughts’ There is a Festival that celebrates these thoughts’ Guess that is what today is. The Festival of Unmentionable Thoughts

Beverly’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating the Festival of Unmentionable Thoughts:

We aren't going to mention any subjects you could be thinking about today. Feel free to think about them yourself, but make sure not to mention them.

We don't even want to know what you're thinking. It’s not that we don’t care. Somethings should just stay unmentionable.

It’s surprising how little control we seem to have over the timing and content of “bad” thoughts. Researcher found that people have about 500 thoughts a day that are unintentional and “intrusive” and that last about 14 seconds on average. While most dealt with the concerns of everyday life, 18 percent were unacceptable, uncomfortable, or just plain bad—politically incorrect or mean thoughts. And a remaining 13 percent were ugly, out of character, or downright shocking.

So whether they are morbid, perverse, prejudicial, know that we all have them, but what we do with them and the significance we attach to them are key.

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

What is your favourite app?

Do you have one that saves you time or reminds you to do something that you couldn’t live without?

Apps are so ingrained into the way we do things now and there are very few people who don’t use at least one app.

Apps can be used for communication, and entertainment.

Travel apps provide needed information and tools, helping with everything from transportation to finding the closest restaurant.

Other apps help people organize their homes or perform essential functions at work. Some can help build your resiliency.

So here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National App Day:

According to Flurry, mobile users spent 86% of their time on mobile apps. App Annie says that the average user now has around 80 apps installed and uses around 40 every month.

Look for apps that are easy to use and make sense in your daily life.

There are many apps now for almost any kind of stress therapy, be it meditation, mindfulness breathing, cognitive behaviour therapy, relaxation techniques, colouring in, or online therapy chat services. Use these apps to build in a pause to your day or as an aid to get a better night sleep.

Though keeping up with technology can be a source of stress, it can also be used to build our resiliency.

 

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

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:

Obvious tip alert – pick a book that you have an interest in. But also pick a book that you have time to read as well. If the book requires your unbroken attention and you have small children running around you or you plan on reading during your lunch hour, this may not be the book for you.

If you like to read, indulge yourself during the down times within your day or during your holidays. Reading can be a great way to regulate the rhythm of your day.

And finally, don’t let reading negatively impact your sleep. Poor sleep habits such as reading late at night or in bed can leave you sleep deprived, foggy-headed and often grumpy.

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

I love Christmas Cards, however the sending of Christmas cards may be becoming extinct. In a world where we are already too busy, the thought of buying, writing, addressing, stamping, sealing and sending cards seems like an overwhelming task.

Just before my oldest son was born, I started a tradition of writing a Christmas newsletter and sending it with my Christmas cards. There have been times when I have thought that I wouldn’t send it out but then someone gives me a comment about looking forward to reading my annual update and seeing the pictures of how the family has changed.

Beverly’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Christmas Card Day:

Christmas cards and letters take time, but I have found the benefits to outweigh the cost. It let’s the receiver know that they are being thought about, which in this day of disconnectedness and isolation is especially important.

Another unexpected benefit of writing these annual newsletters is that I have logged many important family events. I have kept copies for myself and for my sons. They have a record of the special moments from their past.

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.

Are The Holidays A Stressful Time In Your Household?

Are you ready for the holidays’ This is the questions that you hear daily at the grocery store, the post office and in line at the bank? Some people ask because they want to feel like they are not the only ones struggling to get things done before the big day. Others ask because they are concerned about us as we may look a little haggard. Others may just want to gloat about they had in all done in July

Here are my hot tips for building your resiliency and avoiding that stressed-out feeling this holiday season while we Celebrate Stress Free Holiday Preparation Week:

Like many we tend to let our expectations, poor planning, and over-indulgence get in the way of truly enjoying and de-stressing during our ‘down-time’. The key to success in avoiding the ‘festive fizzle’ is to recognize those activities that energize, motivate, and please us, and to delete or change those activities that irritate, disappoint, and anger us.

Get back to basics and simplify to meet these priorities.

Stop often and be in the moment. Far too often the holidays come and go and we missed experiencing the joy connection and spirit of the season.

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

What do you call a germ who wants to have a good time?

A fungi (fun guy)!

I know that it is not pleasant, but think of yourself as a human petri-dish that grows all kind of icky bacteria and is the warm and cozy home for all kinds of viruses. 

Washing your hands regularly can prevent many flus, flu-like illnesses, common colds, conjunctivitis, , tonsillitis, bronchitis, , pneumonia, Streptococcus, Pneumoccous, TB and more from growing, spreading or from entering your body.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building your resiliency and Celebrating Handwashing Awareness Week:

Henry the Hand says:

Wash your hands when they are dirty and BEFORE eating

Use “Good” hand washing techniques including an adequate amount of soap, rubbing the hands together to create friction and lift the germs from the skin.

DO NOT cough into your hands

DO NOT sneeze into your hands

Above all, DO NOT put your fingers into your eyes, nose or mouth.  These are the only portal of entry into the human body for respiratory infections and washing can reduce your risk significantly

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

Ever wondered who St. Nicholas was?

There once was a young boy named Nicholas, who was born during the third century. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic. Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those in need.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating St. Nicholas Day:

We could all stand to be a little more like St. Nicholas.  Here is a boy, whose world dramatically changed when his parents died.  He could have let this beat him down. He could have drowned in self-pity.  Instead, he relied on his faith and did whatever he could to help those who were even less fortunate then himself.  Let’s get good at turning life around and focusing on what we have, and less on what we have lost or don’t have.

Today, we have the image of Santa Clause and we give gifts to the people we know and love.  But what about our giving to those less fortunate then ourselves? We are donating less each year. The average annual amount per donor is less than $500 with the median amount under $150. With the economy the way that it is, the demand within most charities has increased while their donations have decreased.  Make a difference in the lives of someone less fortunate than you.  It doesn’t take a lot to have a huge impact.

In 1998, my youngest son was due to arrive on Christmas Day.  We decided that boy or girl, their name would honour St. Nicholas as he was our blessed gift.  Nickolas arrived safely on December 22.

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

A hiring manager was preparing for an upcoming interview. The supervisor asked why she had a bathtub brought in for the interviews. "Well," said the manager, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer the applicant a teaspoon, a teacup, and a bucket and ask them to empty the bathtub." "Oh, I understand," said the supervisor. " A smart person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup." "No," said the manager. "A smart hire would pull the plug."

I am not a fan of baths. I am too focused on getting what needs to be done, done and showers achieve this in a much more efficient manner. That being said, enjoying a hot bath, can be a very positive resiliency booster for some.

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

"Bathtub Party Day" is supposed to be the time to slow down and immerse yourself in a long leisurely bath. It can be a party for one, two or if you have a hot tub, maybe even more.

One site had these recommendations: To enjoy a really good soak, take the ringer off the phone, light a few candles, tune into some favorite music & lock the door. If you want to add a few drops of essential oils to your bath, be sure to wait until the moment you are ready to step into the tub, to ensure the essence doesn’t evaporate before you benefit from it–whether you want the relaxation of lavender or chamomile or the stimulation of rosemary or peppermint. Don’t forget to have a big, fluffy towel ready for you! For after bath skin soothing, while your skin is still damp, apply a favorite body lotion or body oil.

Again, it seems like a lot of work…but the relaxation effects are likely worth it.

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

We take for granted our health and the health of our children.  But what if you are a family that has a child who is facing special challenges? Your child’s health and well-being are always at the forefront of every decision that you make.

Special Kids Day was put together to help families cope during the extra stress of the holidays.

Beverly’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Special Kids Day by showing your support for these special families:

If you are hosting a party:

Invite the family, but don’t be disappointed if they are not able to attend.  The invite alone says that you care and are thinking of them.

Ask if there anything special that you can do to make the party a success for the special needs child’

Have a quiet place for the child and the family to decompress if things become to hectic.

 Provide the gift of time:

You may be able to pick up items that would save a run to the mall or the grocery store for the family.

Provide ready to eat meals for the ‘crazy’ days…the days were it is non-stop appointments or that are especially difficult to cope.

Let them know that you are there for their family.  It can be very isolating and lonely and true friends are hard to come by.  But don’t wait to be asked, as it is hard for many parents of special needs children to reach out and ask for help, at the end of the day the health of our children is the most important thing to a parent.

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

Just over 25 years ago the first text message was sent. Like most inventions, it wasn’t thought that it would really catch on. Who knew that billions of text messages each month would be sent and that it would be a major influencer on the way we communicate?

Convenience, speed and efficiency have turned texting into a primary form of personal communication, and it is very common in business for the same reasons.

While it’s fun and easy to send an abbreviation-filled, emoji-studded message to a friend, the rules are different when texting clients, colleagues and your boss.

Here are today’s Hot Tips For business texting while Celebrating the Anniversary of the First Text Message:

Text only when there is an established business relationship. A text should never be your first contact with a business associate.

If you wouldn’t call after hours, don’t text after hours.

If it is complex, make a call. Anything over two sentences should be an email or call.

Don’t text ANYTHING confidential. This is an electronic record that doesn’t really go away.

Remain professional. Skip the emoji’s and spelling counts.

Reply promptly.

Sign off with a clear departure, such as a thank you

Finally, don’t text and drive. There’s evidence that shows texting-and-driving is actually more dangerous than drinking-and-driving. So while that work text might feel important, it most definitely is not more important than your 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.

When was the last time you wrote a letter by hand’ We’re quick to email or text our friends, but nothing can replace the joy of receiving a personalized letter in the mail. December is the perfect time to stop what you’re doing and drop a note to a friend or a family member.

Here are my Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Write A Friend Month:

Researchers have found 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. One way to continue building that sense of connection and deeper friendship is to continually communicate and writing allows us to contemplate, ask questions or show appreciation in a very different way than by calling or emailing.

One of my favourite quotes is: Life is to be fortified by many friendships.

It is a shame that for many of us, the more stressful life gets the less connected we become.

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.

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

One bad decision can have devastating effects.

This my family knows only too well as over 20 years ago one young man’s bad decision after work left our brother and sister-in-law dead on the side of the road. Drunk driving, left parents heart-broken, robbed brothers and sisters of the chance to lean on each other, left future nieces and nephews without cousins and impacted this young man’s freedom for the next few years.

But there is a long way to go and much of that work is within my own generation. Many of us grew up not thinking a whole lot about drinking and driving. Where the only goal was not to get caught and get a ticket on the weekend. For some, this is still the goal. They’ll say things like, “I’ll take the back way home”, or “I haven’t had that many”.

Here are today’s Hot Tips For National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Week:

Really, it is one simple tip. Don’t be that person who makes this bad decision.

Assign a designated driver before the night even begins

And Don’t be afraid to address the ‘elephant’ in the room when someone tries to drive after they have been drinking or if you believed they are stoned.

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

It is something that we all know that we should do. But often, it is not until something goes wrong or we’ve had a close call that we actually do do it.

What is it?

Backing up our computer files and taking care of our computer.

Beverly’s Hot Tips For Building Resilience and Celebrating Computer Security Day:

Change your passwords.

Update your anti-virus program.

Check for computer viruses.

Back-up your data. (after being certain that it is virus-free.)

Store back-up data off site.

Delete unneeded files.

Install and inspect power surge protection as appropriate.

Install fire/smoke detection equipment in computer areas.

Don’t drink in your computer area.

Our computers have become one of our most valuable possessions. Not because of their purchase price, but because of all the important and often critical data that they contain. Mark off dates on your calendar to remind you to do the most important security work that you can do. Protect your computer.

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

The weather is changing and for some of us, so does our skin. Our skin is often a reflection of our overall health. It can show signs of stress, lack of sleep and poor diet. How do we take the best care of our skin during this time?

Here are some quick skin care tips:

Exfoliate at least once a week.

Use sunscreen at least 30 minutes before you go outdoors.

Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated inside and out.

Get a good sleep – aiming for 7-9 hours of restful sleep.

Beverly’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Awareness During National Healthy Skin Month:

It is important to examine your body for marks

Check your front and back in the mirror, then look at the right and left sides with your arms raised.

If you find a spot look for things like:

One half is unlike the other half.

An irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined border.

If it varies from one area to another; has shades of tan, brown, or black; is sometimes white, red, or blue.

Look for anything that is changing in size, shape, or color.

Early detection is key.

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

“We love coming to your class. You are such a great role model for our kids.”

That blew me away. I didn’t really think of myself as a role model. I am just the karate Sensei at the front of the room.

But I guess I am a role model. I let the kids know how tough it is for me to go to a tournament and compete. And how nervous I get before and during my grading. I let them know that they can do all of these things too, even in they are afraid, and that I believe in them.

I hope that I can inspire them to believe in themselves. To move beyond fear.

So Here Are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating National Inspirational Role Models Month:

I hope that everyone has someone that inspires them to become the person they want to be.

If you haven’t found that person yet, look around. They may be a historic figure, an ancestor, a close family member, a friend, or colleague.

Strive to be a role model to others.

I have some great role models – some are my best girl friends. And I have been fortunate to have great colleagues who I look up to in the way that they innovate, persevere, and reach for success. I am fortunate to have had people who have encouraged me to reach further then I thought capable. I continue to learn from my husband in the way that he problem solves life’s challenges.

Think of the people who you most wish to emulate. If they are still with you, give them a phone call or thank them in person. If they are not here, tell someone about them and keep their legacy alive.

If you like today’s resiliency 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