Work Smart Live Smart with Beverly Beuermann-King

EP 221 – Making Lemonade

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. 

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

It is May and the weather is nice, so why not set up a lemonade stand up with your children and enjoy the fun.

Support your local entrepreneurs – especially those that are young and who are learning the upsides and downsides to being in business for yourself

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.

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

EP 220 – To Tell The Truth

Today we encourage honesty and straightforward communication in politics, relationships, consumer relations and education.

Most of us have told a few lies. Lying can bail us out of awkward situations. Spare the feelings of others. Preserve or strengthen alliances. Enhance social standing. Keep us out of trouble. Even save our lives.

In today’s world of so many false truths, it is even more essential to build relationships based on honest and clear communication.

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

Practice telling the truth. Studies have shown that human children begin practicing deception as early as six months of age through such attention-getting gambits as fake crying or laughter. Try answering questions honestly all day today and see where the difficulties lie for you.

Be more transparent. Honesty goes a long way in building solid relationships. Leaders get ahead by making the right choices and showing that they are trustworthy. This builds trust, which is essential for teamwork.

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

EP 219 - Screen Free: Will You Accept The Challenge?

Could you unplug your TV for 7 days? How about that PS4?

What role does screen time play in your daily life?  Entertainer, pacifier, babysitter, time filler and/or a distraction?

Many parents are concerned about the amount of time their children spend with screens. And with good reason! Research shows that screen time gets in the way of activities known to be good for young children, however kids who spend less time with screens fall asleep faster, sleep longer, eat healthier, and get more exercise.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency During Screen Free Week:

Turn your living room into a place for family interaction and play by arranging the furniture so the TV is not the focus of the room.

Take a break from your smartphone and other screens during periods of the day and model good screen time behaviour.

TV and screen time is not all bad.  It becomes a negative when we let it take over our lives.

We grow accustom to the silence of watching TV and it allows us to avoid communication with those around us. It separates us from those we love, even when we are in the same room. It can taint our perspective and the way we see the world as it is full of negative images.  During Screen Free Week, challenge yourself.  Move outside of your comfort zone and focus on being creative, an active participant and connected to those around you.

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

EP 218 – Tick Tock

Tick tock. Tick tock. Can you hear your biological clock ticking away?  I am pretty sure that I can, though, I am certainly not looking at having anymore children!

So What Does Your Biological Clock Tell You?

Our biological clock does so much more than tell us the perfect time to get pregnant. In fact, both men and women and the young and old are subject to the influence of the biological clocks that we all have.

#Circadian rhythms are controlled by “clock genes” that carry the genetic instructions to produce proteins. These instructions control everything from when we sleep and rest, body temperature, heart activity, hormone secretion, blood pressure, oxygen consumption, and metabolism. They may even influence our mood, particularly in the form of wintertime depression known as seasonal affective disorder.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating #BiologicalClockDay:

Celebrate – whatever age you are, or whatever life stage you are in.

Sleep is essential to our mental and physical health.  Clock genes normally keep us awake during the day and asleep at night.  But when a clock gene mutates, it can disrupt the normal sleep cycle. Sunlight, air travel and even the seasons can disrupt our Circadian Rhythms and the quality and quantity of sleep that we get.

So avoid night light. When possible, avoid bright and outdoor light close to bedtime and keep your surroundings as dark as possible at night. Cover the lights of your alarm clock, so that you are not tempted to look at it or have its glow disrupt your sleep.

Avoid eating or exercising too close to bedtime. Also watch out for caffeine and nicotine, both of which are stimulants.

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

EP 217 – Stress Decreases Your Chances Of Conceiving

In our early adult years we spent so much effort on prevention, who knew that #conception could be so difficult, or that Stress Decreases Your Chances Of Conceiving.

For more than a couple of years my husband and I tried to conceive a child.  At that time we never heard that Stress Decreases Your Chances Of Conceiving. We endured months and months of taking temperatures, doctor visits, disappointments, crying, trying new medications, testing of all kinds and grieving.  It was a horrible roller-coaster ride.  We were not alone in our struggles. Infertility rates in Canada are increasing with roughly 1 in 6 couples experiencing fertility issues.

While we were going through this struggle, we told very few people, especially our families. 

Stress grew as the months passed.

Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency Increasing Your Chances of Conceiving and Celebrating #InfertilityAwarenessWeek:

Find Ways To Relax. I know that you may hate hearing this, but it is one thing that you can do.

Be Nutrition Wise. Our nutrition impacts the way in which our bodies function, both efficiently and effectively.

Aim For Emotional Balance. Watch out for negative emotions such as anger, guilt, or resentment, which many women may feel at some point in their journeys to conceive.

Laugh More. Laughter can take the edge off of a stressful day.

Take Advantage of Support and Counselling.

Keep the Romance Alive While Trying to Conceive.

If you know someone who is experiencing fertility issues, let them know that you understand how difficult this is for them and that you are there to listen to their frustrations, their fears, and their disappointments.

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 216 – Burning Out The Babysitter

I find it very sad when I see someone who was dedicated and enthusiastic about their job, leaves because of burnout.

This is often the case in the childcare profession. 

Burnout is a state of fatigue, while feeling frustrated, overworked and unappreciated. It combines physical, emotional and mental symptoms. 

Workplace stress and #burnout is very high in the childcare profession due to the stress of managing multiple children and their behaviours, the relationships with parents and peers, and often there is a lack of recognition and appreciation for what should be seen as such an important role in our society.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating #ChildcareProfessionalsDay:

As a childcare professional be aware of the problem and recognize the danger signs of burnout, then take care of your health.

Learn long-term and short-term relaxation and stretching strategies.

Be realistic about goals and expectations.  Set limits.

Develop strong communication skills and strategies for dealing with children, parents and peers.

Develop activities that are separate from work.

As a parent whose child is looked after by a childcare professional:

Remember that parenting isn`t easy at the best of times, neither is looking after someone else`s child.  Not everything will be perfect or dealt with exactly as you would like it to be.

Let go of minor annoyances and deal appropriately and respectfully with those issues that must be addressed.

My children are many years out of their daycare setting, but they still have warm feelings for their childcare providers when they see them in person or when we look at pictures from the past.  So to Sara, Kelly, Julie, and Darlene – many thanks for taking good care of my boys.

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

EP 215 – Shh!

It’s quiet. Well, almost. There is the ticking of the clock, the rattle of the furnace, the birds chirping outside of my window and my computer humming along.

For some this silence is uncomfortable or we feel guilty, so we turn on the TV, though we aren’t really watching. It is important in the chaos of everyday living that we take a few moments and shut out as many sounds of the world and just be. It is here that we can rest, that we can rejuvenate, that we can be creative, and we can reflect.

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

Pay attention to the noise you make and respect your neighbour’s right to peace and quiet.

Turn down the volume two notches on your radios and personal stereo systems with headphones.

Turn down the volume one notch on your television and turn it off during dinner.

Do NOT honk your horn, except in the case of imminent danger.

Replace noisy activities with quiet ones such as taking a walk.

Wear adequate hearing protection if you must be in a noisy environment and if you are concerned, get a hearing screening test done.

Try to observe one minute of no noise everyday.

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 214 – I’m A Princess

I want to be a princess. Not the entitled kind, but the kind who works at being secure, confident, and powerful.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National #Princess Week with me:

One site listed 10 Qualities of a Healthy Princess Mentality

A princess is humble. She doesn’t try to overtly call attention to herself. Her poise and confidence may draw attention, but she doesn’t go out of her way to get people to notice her.

A princess knows her self worth. She sets boundaries and doesn’t let others walk all over her.

After a princess has taken care of her personal needs, she helps those around her.

A princess is a leader. She carries herself with authority.

A princess has an opinion and can voice it on a subject with both strength and tact, not with judgment and force. I am working on the judgement issue.

So to all the other princesses out there, have a wonderful week!

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

EP 213 – Green Is For Life

Green is the symbol for life.  Appropriately, the green ribbon is the symbol of how we can save lives.

Over 4000 Canadians are awaiting a transplant and unfortunately more than 200 Canadians died last year waiting transplant.  

I believe that many of us want to donate, but life gets in the way and we forget to sign our donor’s card and have the discussion with our loved ones.   If you are okay with donating, take the opportunity during this awareness week to sign your card and discuss it with your family. Someone may be counting on you.

Here are some things I didn’t know…

Living #donors can provide a kidney or part of their liver as well as bone marrow.

Between 80-95 per cent of patients are doing well one year after their transplant.

Spain has highest donation rate.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Organ and Tissue Donors Awareness Week:

Having “organ donor” noted on your driver’s license or carrying a donor card or provincial health card is not all you have to do to become a donor.

Organ and tissue donation are always discussed with family members prior to the donation. For that reason, it is very important that you discuss your wishes with your family.

Don’t let the busyness of life get in the way of saving a life.

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 212 – Mother Earth

I am very glad that the snow is gone and that my flowers are trying hard to poke their heads up to the sun.  A few years ago we celebrated Earth Day while we were on vacation. My boys were looking forward to the release of the Disney production of Earth, while we were at Disney.  It inspired them to do our annual clean up of the roadside where we live. They learned that each of us can do a little and we can all have an impact.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating #EarthDay:

Be a Smart shopper. Buy what you need, not what you want. Consider renting and borrowing things that are seldom needed

Walk, cycle, car pool and use public transportation

Choose local foods that are in season and support local food producers

Wash full loads of clothes in cold water and hang to air dry

For summer air conditioning, set your thermostat to 24°C or 25°C

For winter heating, set your thermostat to 19°C or 20°C

Take short showers instead of baths

Don’t discard. Donate, reuse and recycle items before throwing them into the trash

Earth Day isn’t about a single action you can do to support a healthier environment. Instead, Earth Day is seen by many as a day to renew a personal commitment to support a healthier environment. Though my family and I have a long way to go, every little bit helps as we move to live more responsibly with the environment.

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

EP 211 – Husband Appreciation

Now, I must admit that I am not the best at letting my husband know how much I appreciate everything that he does. He is a wonderful man, a great friend, a good listening post, a terrific father, handyman excellente and very supportive of all of the things that I am involved with.

Like many people, I spend more time thinking about what could be different, what hasn’t been done and what I wish he would do, then letting him know what I am thankful for.

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

Take a moment and think about how life would be terribly different without this person in your life

Let them know a couple of the little things that they do that make you smile

Give a hug for no reason

Use funny Post-It Notes and stick them in their car, their briefcase or lunch bag

Send a cheerful email to them at work (not one that reminds them to pick up a few groceries on their way home)

 Being able to appreciate others benefits not only your relationship but also your own mood and perspective on life. Look for the things that are going right and they will start to over-shadow those things that may not be just as we would like them to be.

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

EP 210 – Motivation and Wellness

As wellness leaders and wellness cheerleaders know, it is often not a lack of information that our team’s face.  It is about finding a stronger motivation to fight the no’s and the excuses.

Look for example at your smoking cessation programs.  I would venture to say that almost everyone who smokes know that it is harming them in one way or the other.  It is not until someone has a clear mental picture as to what the benefits are or how they see their life without smoking, that they can even hope to be successful. 

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Physical Wellness Month:

Help people to have a picture in their head of what life will look like when they have achieved their wellness goal. 

 So, my picture, is to be able to still run a successful business and to have the creativity and motivation to keep trying new things.  It is to be teaching karate to young boys and girls when I am older.  I want to be that cool grandma that goes on the roller coaster rides and can walk along the beach. I want to be in my gardens and I want to stay living in my two-story house.  I want to be sure-footed and not afraid to go out and about.  I want my back to be straight and my eyes looking forward, not hunched and looking at the ground.  So I try to walk at least a couple of times every week, sometimes, complaining the whole way.  I go to karate class as often as I can. I throw the frisbee in the snow, because even though it’s only the dog getting exercise, I am taking in the benefits of the light that will positively impact my mood and energy.

There are so many wellness programs that you could host at your workplace. How are those programs going to help your team be who they picture themselves being? 

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

EP 209 – Meditation To Mend The Mind

Our minds can not operate on ‘full throttle’ all day long. Focus #meditation helps to clear the mind of racing, cluttered thoughts by focusing our energies on a particular image or thought. Gradually distracting thoughts will decrease during meditation. This strategy helps to restore mental balance by providing a break in our hectic day. By allowing our mind to slow down it is better able to focus when we return to the task at hand.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National #StressAwarenessDay:

All that is needed is a quiet environment, a comfortable position, a mental image or positive thought in which to focus on, and an attitude that will permit relaxation to happen. Meditating or focusing on music or a relaxing video can give the mind a needed break from stressful events such as conflict, problem-solving, and high energy output.

Guided imagery is a visualization technique, that goes one step further than mediation, by actually engaging the senses within the body to deliver a variety of messages. It can be used to reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol, reduce muscle tension, and increase energy. Your body responds to these positive images in the same way it would, if the image was ‘real’.

There is no way we can not get rid of all of our stress, nor do we want to. What we want to do is to reduce our negative reactions to stress so that we don’t become sick, worn down, and worn out. Start by adding one relaxation technique to your daily checklist of things to do.

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 208 – Get to Know Your Customer

I have been asked about how to ensure that irate customers don’t rattle your staff.

The first step is to understand that negative attitudes and behaviours are usually expressed when our customers are stressed out or they just don’t have the energy to use better communication skills, judgment and manners.

Being stressed out is chronic in today’s society. Our customers often have too much to do, too many decisions to make, and are usually running behind schedule.

The difficulty behind the negative attitudes and behaviours of our customers is that they are highly “toxic” to our team.

As the leader, there are several steps that you can take to ensure that your staff can effectively handle the best and the worst in these customers.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating #GettoKnowYourCustomerDay

1. Discuss the types of customers that your team may encounter ahead of time.

What are some of the common complaints that your staff may face? Share past experiences and horror stories with each other and prepare answers and solutions ahead of time. Preparation allows your staff to feel more confident in dealing with these difficult customers and not absorb the negativity.

2. Teach your staff how to keep their composure, be assertive and know exactly what it is they want to communicate. Help them to get comfortable with those customers who need to vent and express themselves – however let them know that they do not need to tolerate abuse.

As the leader, you play a very important role in preventing customer negativity from rattling your team.

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

EP 207 – Mustang Sally

It debuted at the World Fair on April 17, 1964. It was featured on the covers of Newsweek and Time magazines and appeared on the silver screen in the James Bond movie “Goldfinger” that same year.

Here’s another hint: It was built for the working man and it sold almost 400,000 in the first year.

What am I referring to: The Ford Mustang and today is the day that all Mustang owners and enthusiasts celebrate.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Ford #MustangDay:

My husband and I own a 1965 Mustang. Sally is numbers matching, which means that she is in her original condition. She is part of our resiliency tool belt, as during the summer months, we take Sally out for drives in the country. Mostly to find a good ice cream cone or to enter her in a car show. Driving around is about savouring the summer.

Whether you're into gardening, fixing up vintage cars, or even soduko puzzles, research has found that #hobbies are just as important to good health as exercise is, thanks to their ability to relieve stress.

The study, published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine, found that people who engaged in leisure activities were 34 percent less stressed, reported feeling happier, and their heart rates was lower.

It didn't seem to matter what the participants did just so long as it was something they deeply enjoyed.

So on this day of celebrating the iconic Mustang, find something that you enjoy and be immersed in it. Your health will thank you for it.

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

EP 206 – Would You Wear Your PJs To Work

No need to get dressed up for work today. You can ditch the shoes too. Today is wear your pjs to work day, along with a pair of fuzzy bunny slippers.

For me, I regularly wear my pjs to work. 15 steps down from my bedroom and 15 steps into my office and I am at work. And since I am the boss, there is not a dress code. Unless, I am going out to speak somewhere, then, I shower up, beautify and dress in my best.

Whether or not you want to wear your pjs to work, today is a day to ditch the stress. Focus on self-care and let loose.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Wear Your PJs To Work Day:

Have fun with this day. Many celebrities, radio stations and tv shows are celebrating, so why not you? Have your own pajama party at work. You may want to ensure a few rules, such as ensuring appropriate body coverage. Give prizes for the loudest pajamas or the craziest designs.

The fun people at Zappos have an official Wear Your Pajamas to Work day during their annual Spirit Week as a way of building in fun, and relaxation.

If the day has passed and you didn’t wear your pjs to work, put them on as soon as you get home. For me, there is nothing as relaxing as a cozy, comfy pair of pjs. My kids know exactly what to get me for my birthday and I love all of them. In pajamas you can be yourself.

Pjs are also great on Saturday mornings by the fire while camping. Sundays that are lounge all-day days. How about Pjs, a movie and hot chocolate or ice cream or other wonderful treats.

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

EP 205 – I’ll Do It

The most rewarding experiences that I have had have come from volunteering. Especially my time developing youth groups, being on boards for various charities and associations, and fundraising for my children’s sport programs. In fact, I would guestimate that about ¼ of my time is given to volunteering.

Over a quarter of Canadians aged 15 and over volunteered for a charitable or non-profit organization last year. And though we think of women volunteering more than men, men contributed more volunteer hours on average than women.

Volunteering is a way of connecting yourself to the larger society and connection is critical when it comes to dealing with the sources of stress that we face.

By far the most commonly cited barriers were those related to time.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Volunteer Week:

If you are a #volunteer, talk about your experiences to others. Positive role models are needed, especially by our younger generations.

If you are looking for volunteers for your organization, be clear about the expectations, make commitments short and ASK. Many have difficulty holding up their hand to volunteer, but would say yes if asked in person.

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

EP 204 – Find The Positive In All Of The Negative

The war continues in the east.  Oil prices are skyrocketing.  Crime is on the rise.  Global warming may bring about disaster….

If you have listened to the news or read the newspaper, you would think that the world coming to an end may not be such a bad thing. We get bombarded every day with negative news stories. Often to the point where we see the world as a very difficult place to live. For some, it may get to the point of wondering why any sane person would bring a child into this world.

All of this negativity has an impact. It impacts our outlook, our relationships and our health. #Negativity is contagious and a major health hazard.

We need to balance these negative news stories with positive and inspirational stories. Positive stories and experiences have a positive impact on our health. A recent review of more than 160 studies on the connection between a positive state of mind and overall health and longevity has found that happier people enjoy better health and longer lives.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Inspirational News Week:

We need to be informed and I am not suggesting that we keep our ‘head in the sand’ when it comes to difficult issues. But make sure that you don’t get sucked into the negativity that is around you.

Be proactive and look for the positive ‘stories’.  Share these stories.

And if you have children, watch what you share with them.  We can easily skew their perception of the world if we only share the negative.  Inspire them with stories of how others have taken on a difficult situation and found ways to overcome.

Remember:  Negative breeds negative and positive can inspire positive.

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

EP 203 – Controlling Conflict

April celebrates Conflict Awareness Month.

Celebrates sounds like a funny word to use when we are talking about conflict, but there are benefits to conflict including:

Becoming aware of issues within your team

Encouraging change in the way things are done

Stimulating creativity and bonding as you work to solve the conflict

And Promoting decision-making.

#Conflict becomes difficult to manage when personalities hinder the process.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Conflict Awareness Month:

Understanding why some team members become more difficult or negative, and when they are more likely to act that way, can prevent that build up of tension from happening, that may prevent the team from productively solving the conflict.

So why are people difficult?

For some, negative attitudes and behaviours are expressed when they are stressed out and just don’t have the energy to use better communication skills, judgment and manners.

Our goal is to stop rewarding these irritating behaviours. To do this, we must understand what employees 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. By finding the strategies to meet their needs and lower their stress, they may be better able to focus on solving the conflict.

The difficulty behind these attitudes and behaviours is that they are highly “toxic.” It is important that we practise good self-care so that our stress doesn’t add more negativity to the situation.

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

EP 202 – Walk On Your Wild Side

Do you walk on the wild side?

Or have you given in to the every day routines of life?

Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Walk On Your Wild Side Day:

Take the Walk On Your Wild Side Challenge.

Use this day to plan something out of the ordinary, unusual or even extraordinary.

Better yet, don’t plan something, just do it.

It doesn’t have to be something dangerous, just a bit quirky or different from the everyday.

What about spraying your hair your favourite colour?

Or dressing up like a famous rock star or movie character?

Or maybe it is to get up on stage and belt out your favourite tune at a karaoke bar? How about the 1972 song, Walk On The Wild Side, by Lou Reed

Let yourself be free and unencumbered.

Share the moment with #wildside and encourage others to add more joy to their life too!

PS My most recent wild side display was going to a big-hair 80’s band concert…dressed in authentic garb of the day.

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