Work Smart Live Smart with Beverly Beuermann-King

EP 1332 – Vacation Stress

You remember those times…You had one hour to get to the airport, and you find yourself still stressing out about what clothes to pack and where you’ve hidden the sunscreen.

Though we may not be able to go on vacation right now, it may be the perfect time to plan what you would like to do for your next vacation.

Time away from work is needed to restore our resiliency. Vacations were meant to be rejuvenating, but sometimes our expectations around having the perfect vacation lead to further stress.

So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Vanquishing Vacation Stress Month:

Even researching and daydreaming about your next vacation can be good for your mental health, so look at pictures, and explore the possibilities for when the time is right.

Remember that there is no such thing as the perfect vacation, so stay flexible in your thinking.

When you get a chance to actually go on vacation, choose your activities wisely. Choose activities that meet with your particular goals. Is your vacation for relaxation, celebration or relationship renewal?

Plan to ease into and out of vacation mode. There is nothing worse than returning from a vacation saying you need a vacation from your vacation.

Finally, take the time to breathe deeply, laugh and nurture your soul now. You don’t have to wait for your vacation to spend time on protecting your mental health. 

Remember, If you like the tips in this briefing, please leave me a review on amazon or in 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.

EP 1331 – Sexual Harassment Is Still Out There

It is out there. We all know that it’s out there. Yet, many of us still ignore it, pretend that we don’t hear it or worse yet, we laugh and join in on it. Sometimes out of embarrassment. Sometimes out of fear.

Recent results show that more than a quarter of working Canadians have experienced sexual harassment or been affected by it. This can result in a variety of stress-related illnesses, relationship difficulties as well as upset productivity and engagement.

So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Stopping Sexual Harassment In The Workplace:

Know that when faced with unwanted and unsolicited sexual harassment, victims feel confused, frustrated and angry. They may not know how to react to the situation and may become very anxious or depressed.

Some employees will suffer the humiliation and harassment silently and when they can no longer take it, they will quietly quit.

Not addressing sexual harassment in the workplace is bad business and can create a toxic environment.

Education around sexual harassment and developing strong policies and procedures to deter it are the most effective means of minimizing its occurrence and impact.

Companies can protect their employees, and create a positive workplace culture, by implementing a comprehensive policy and providing training to employees and leaders on that policy.

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.

EP 1330 – Workplace Wellness Is An Investment

With so many companies investing in workplace wellness, it comes as a surprise that research shows that few companies assess the health needs of their employee population before deciding which wellness services to invest in. Even more surprising, is that only about a third of companies evaluate and measure how their programs impact the health and wellness of their employees or their bottom line.

A productive employee wellness program assesses the health, wants, and needs of your employees and then addresses these issues, wants and needs in a meaningful and measurable way that the employer can track over time

So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating the Mental Health Month:

Simply offering a wellness program, no matter how well-intentioned, provides no guarantee of improving employees' well-being or having any value or return-on-investment. Workers must be aware the program exists and be persuaded to use it. Engaging company managers are key.

Managers that engaged their workers were 28% more likely to participate in a wellness program offered by their company than were average employees.

Wellness is a commitment. It is a commitment by the individual, their manager and by the company.

It can take several years for the investment to be realized, but is well worth doing, because a healthy workplace is clearly a win/win situation for both employee and employer.

Remember, If you like the tips in this briefing, please leave me a review on amazon or in 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.

EP 1329 – Reading Opens A Window

“Reading opens a window to the world; giving us a vision of things we never dreamed possible.”

Reading for fun has become like a long-lost luxury, especially in this busy age of 24/7.  Relaxation and ‘luxury’ activities are often met with the guilt that we should be doing something worthwhile and productive…not indulging and pampering ourselves.

One survey found that nearly a third of adults across our country didn’t read a single book for pleasure in the past year. The discouraging figure puts Canadians behind the U.S., where an identical poll showed 27 per cent of Americans hadn’t picked up a book. 

So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Reading Is Fun Week:

Reading can transport us to another time or place.  It stimulates the right side of our brain and can engage our imagination and strengthen our creativity. It can expand our understanding of other cultures, help us to find new ways to express our ideas, and expand our vocabulary.

Reading forces us to be still and slow down when we are used to running on high-speed.

Reading can stimulate our emotions and give us an appropriate way to vent out our frustrations, sadness and joy. 

I have a very hard time limiting my time when I get a really good book.  I have been known to read an entire day (or night) away, just because I couldn’t put the book down. Generally I only start a good book when I am truly able to ignore the phones and my work, like while I am on vacation. 

If you like the tips in this briefing, please leave me a review on amazon or in 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.

EP 1328 – How To Be A Healthy Night-Shift Worker

“Night shift can kill the body.”

Today is the day that we celebrate National Night-Shift Worker Day and the introduction of the 24-hour society.

One repercussion of the nightshift work schedule is that a typical night shift worker sleeps one or two hours less per day than a day worker and often has less deep and REM sleep.

Shift Work Maladaption Syndrome is where shift work is leaving the worker so sleepy that they fear for their safety on the job.

So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Ensuring Resilience In Our Night-Shift Workers:

As a leader, it is important to educate employees on what shift work entails and provide annual screening for shift-related illnesses.

Promote and educate on healthy lifestyle strategies.

Organize mandatory stretch breaks especially during the dangerous hours.

As a Night Shift-Worker:

Understand the hazards and consequences of shift work.

Pay attention to sleep strategies and avoid going into sleep debt.

Shift work is a lifestyle and in order to minimize stress and build resiliency, the worker and their family must ensure that they follow a healthy schedule, focus on their sleep strategies, and ensure that they have support from those around them.

Looking for Tips To Promote Mental Health Week In Your Workplace, visit worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab for my Top 10 Tips.

EP 1327 – Avoiding Food Allergy Triggers At Work

Allergies occur when the immune system becomes unusually sensitive and overreacts to common substances that are normally harmless, such as pollens, molds, dust or even food.

Food allergies are serious business. They impact over 2.6 million Canadians.

Everyone is entitled to a safe working environment. Unlike many conditions, anaphylaxis is not visible unless someone is having an allergic reaction. That is why it is extremely important to communicate about your food allergies before a reaction occurs.

So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Food Allergy Awareness Week:

Be open about your food allergies. It’s important that your co-workers and boss know about them.

Always carry at least one auto-injector on the job. It’s better to have two in case you need a second dose during an allergic reaction.

Educate co-workers. Your co-workers may have no experience with food allergy. Teach your co-workers how to prevent reactions from happening, recognize the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction and how to use an epi pen properly.

Say thanks. Make sure your colleagues know that you appreciate their support.

Those who don’t have food allergies can help by understanding the condition and doing their part to create a safe environment to prevent serious reactions from occurring.

Simple things like washing your hands well and often. It is one of the most effective ways to prevent cross-contamination as well as the spread of general viruses and bacteria.

If you like the tips in this briefing, please leave me a review on amazon or in 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.

EP 1326 – Promoting Mental Health

1 in 5 people in will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lifetime.

Mental health disorders are among the leading causes of ill-health and disability world-wide.

17% of Canadians report that they have taken time away from work and school,
 to deal with a personal mental health issue.

According to Guarding Minds At Work, when employers adopt policies and programs to address psychological safety and health, they incur 15% to 33% fewer costs related to psychological health issues.

Employers and employees both have a responsibility to protect the health and safety of their employees.

So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Mental Health Week:

Know What Mental Health Is

Mental Health is a state in which an individual realizes their own abilities, can cope with the normal stressors of life, can work productively, and is not overwhelmed by their responsibilities.

Know What The General Mental Illness Indicators Are In The Workplace. Some of the most common include:

• Excessive lateness or absences
• Increased need for extra supervision
• Reduced productivity and loss of pride in work
• Inconsistency in work or habits

 

Exhibiting several of these, may indicate that someone may be experiencing a mental illness and intervention and assistance is needed.  As a leader and a co-worker, being alert to these indicators can ensure a healthy work environment.

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 1325 – Eliminating Mental Health Stigma

Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all, said Bill Clinton

So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Mental Health Week:

In the spirit of eliminating the stigma around mental health challenges here are some Do's And Don'ts

Do:        

• Educate yourself about mental health challenges and issues
• Foster a healthy workplace environment
• Emphasize abilities, not limitations
• Use respectful language
• Refer to the person not the disability or illness
• Tell people when they express a stigmatizing attitude

 

Do Not:

• Portray successful people with disabilities as the exception
• Use generic labels such as “retarded” or “the mentally ill”
• Use terms like “crazy,” “lunatic,” or “insane” in general conversation
• Don’t let stigma create self-doubt and shame

 

It is everyone's responsibility to reduce the stigma, prejudice and discrimination associated with mental health issues. Education, understanding, and support are key to creating a psychologically safe and healthy workplace.

If you like the tips in this briefing, please leave me a review on amazon or in your #alexa app.

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 1324 – Psychologically Healthy and Safe Workplaces

Canada became the first country in the world to have a national standard for psychological health and safety in the workplace. This Standard contains a voluntary set of guidelines, tools, and resources aimed at promoting employees’ psychological health and preventing psychological harm due to workplace factors.

So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Mental Health Week:

Get Clear On What’s Required For Building A Psychologically Healthy Workplace

Foster overall psychological health and a respectful workplace based on trust, honesty, fairness and recognition.

As employees, ask questions, report issues, and propose new ideas for building a positive culture.

Be sure to train leaders and employees at all levels on awareness and prevention strategies.

Look beyond the workplace to what resources are available to help meet personal, as well as workplace challenges.

If you like the tips in this briefing, please leave me a review on amazon or in 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.

 

 

EP 1323 – Don’t Get Caught With Your Pants Down

Have you seen the videos?

Someone doing a zoom meeting and they get caught wearing no pants, just their jockies.

Today is the unofficial holiday – No Pants Day.

And prior to this business disruption, it wouldn’t cross my mind that wearing no pants would be widely celebrated…but here we are and the joke and often asked question is…who isn’t wearing pants on this call?

We have the zoom mullet. All business up top and no pants on the bottom.

So just in case this may not be for you, Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating No Pants Day:

• Though the idea of today is about wearing no pants in public and to pretend like it is nothing out of the normal, I’m not sure I am a fan

 

• I do love my PJs and I often wear them all day long…and even more so in these days of zoom calls and working from home. The idea is comfort rules. I am spending way less time on getting ready for work and more time on being creative and getting things done.

 

Remember:  Use your best judgment in celebrating today, you don’t want to be remembered as that person who got caught wearing no pants.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

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

EP 1322 – What Is Burnout?

Being burned out and being stressed out are not the same thing. Many of us can tell when we are stressed out, but often, we cannot tell if we are burned out.

Burnout may be the result of unrelenting stress, but it isn’t the same as too much stress. Stress is often about too many pressures that need to be dealt with.  Burnout is about feeling empty, lacking in motivation, and beyond caring. Employees experiencing burnout often don’t see any hope of positive change in their situations.

Burnout may occur over a short period of time or take several years to manifest.

So Here are today’s Tips For Combatting Burnout and Celebrating Mental Health Week:

First:

Slow Down. Take a break. Cut back whatever commitments and activities you can. Give yourself time to rest, reflect, and heal.

Change What You Can. 

Maintain Balance.

Talk to a Professional.

And Make A Plan. Part of the problem with burnout is the lack of control that’s associated with it.

Burnout can be a serious consequence of an unbalanced life and of an environment where the individual experiences little control and high demands. Leaders can help by ensuring a clearer understanding of what their job is and is not, providing as much control as possible, ensuring that demands are realistic and by recognizing the employee’s contributions and achievements.

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 1321 – Super Heros In PJ’s

What superhero reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20 per cent, overcomes gridlock faster than a speeding train, and leaps over distraction barriers in a single bound?

Hint: Often seen wearing pajamas while on the job…It’s not a bird. Nor a solar plane…It’s the Telecommuter!

So, here I sit in my pj`s working at my computer.  No stress spent on deciding what to wear to the office.

I appreciate the flexible work arrangements that I have.  It strengthens my resiliency while running a successful business.  Some days I work all day and into the evening.  On other days, I may find myself helping out a family member or pulling the weeds from my gardens.  This flexibility gives me the balance that I want and need.

So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Flexible Work Arrangements Week:

Companies that aim to provide a flexible working options encourage a healthy work-life balance, build resiliency and retain key workers. Develop a flex work policy that outlines what best practices they are expected to adhere to.

As an employee, if you are interested in flexible work arrangements, consider how this might positively or negatively impact your job, your family, your employer, your team members.

There are many adjustments that need to be made both by the employer and by the employee to make flexible work arrangements work.  Good communication and problem-solving skills are the foundation to working out any kinks.

So here`s to all superheroes working in their pj`s – May it be a productive day!

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

EP 1320 – Are Our Children Dealing With Depression

It is hard to understand how a child can experience depression. 

As caregivers and parents, we need to remind ourselves, that while a child’s problems may seem minor to us, they can be overwhelming to them. Your first warning signs will probably be changes in behaviour that may suggest a troubled and unhappy state of mind.

If a student becomes depressed, they are unlikely to talk about it. Very likely, a depressed child will think that no one else feels the same way and that no one will understand their problems. Often a depressed child will feel that they are disliked.

Clinical Depression is more than just the ‘blues’. It is a “biochemical disorder where a person feels very sad for an extended period of time and where this state interferes with their everyday life.” Depression affects about 3% of our children, 8% of adolescents and 10% of adults. Stress can act as a ‘trigger’ for Depression.

So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Mental Health Week and Childhood Depression Awareness Day:

Be aware of the signs and symptoms of Depression. As an employer, hold awareness sessions for your employees.

Provide support and understanding.

Be aware of the signs of suicidal thoughts – Suicide is one of the top killers of our youth.

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 1319 959 225 593 – Celebrating Our Mental Health

A friend of mine, had been promoted over the years, rewarded for her achievements and was a solid employee.  During a major corporate transition she was given a new department that needed a lot of help in restructuring.  She worked hard through long days, with little progress. And the results were devastating for her health to the point where she had to leave.

What could have been different?  Her supervisors should have seen that the new role was unrealistic for one person to handle. They should have noticed the excessive overtime. They should have spotted the impact it was having on her health. And they should have worked with her before she felt that she had no choice but to leave, or feel like a failure.

We know that engaged employees help our companies to be more creative, productive and successful. Disengaged or stressed out employees cost our companies in job turnover, disability and lowered productivity.  Yet, some employers still look at their employees as being a commodity.

Ensuring that your teams work in a healthy environment is a priority.

So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating the start of Mental Health Week:

Start a conversation. What are the sources of stress within your teams-personally and professionally? If you are not sure – ASK!  What impact is it having?

Benchmark this information. How much is this costing in absenteeism, turnover, lowered productivity, healthcare costs?

Decide what programs would help reduce this impact on the individual and the company

Looking for Tips To Promote Mental Health Week In Your Workplace? Visit worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab for my Top 10 Tips.

EP 1318 – 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 Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Lemonade Day:

It is May and the weather is getting nicer, but we are not able to set up a lemonade stand…not yet.

What we can do though is talk to our children about what type of business they would run if they could or what kind of business do they think they could run now. The idea is to have a conversation around what would be involved, who their customers might be, and how would they let their customers know that they were open for business.

Fun Fact….

The Greeks were the first to make pink lemonade. They made this so that while the adults were having wine at celebrations, the children would also have a special treat. When the Greeks dyed the lemonade pink by adding wine, the common myth in the community was that this drink was made from pink lemons that grew in a forest that no man could enter and come out alive. They made the children believe that these magical pink lemons were brought back by a noble king. Now there is marketing

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

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

EP 1317 – Neighbours Helping Neighbours

April is often seen as the month to focus on spring cleaning, but it is also the month to reach out and help your neighbours.

When I was young, our family dairy barn burned down. Neighbours came to help in the rebuild, and brought food to feed the construction workers and volunteers. It was just something that was done. Neighbours helping neighbours.

National Rebuilding Month is a campaign to highlight the connection between our homes and health. It encourages everyone to take steps to be safer and healthier at home.

So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Rebuilding Month:

This past year has certainly seen many people looking for ways to work at home, feel happier in their homes, and to relax in their homes.

National Rebuilding Month is also an annual month-long call to service, culminating with National Rebuilding Day, the last Saturday of the month. It encourages you to look out for those who need a helping hand in your neighbourhood. Volunteers eliminate health and safety hazards and help their neighbours live safely and independently in their homes.

Adopt a neighbour and provide the critical repairs that they need to stay safe in their home.

Maybe you are not handy, but you have a green thumb. Help a senior work their flower beds or pull weeds.

Provide a bag of groceries or a bag of pet food to alleviate a bit of the financial pressures someone may be experiencing.

As houses are transformed, neighbourhoods and communities find hope. And HOPE is so critical right now in helping us to look towards the future with joy and energy.

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

EP 1316 – 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 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 1315 – 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 Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Biological Clock Day:

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 1314 – 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 Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Noise Awareness 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 1313 – Express Yourself Through Poetry

Today is the day to share your favourite poem with your friends and co-workers. You may share the actual piece of paper you wrote it on, or you can Tweet it or FB it. Poetry can be shared at any time.

Poetry can be a mantra for living.  It can express your emotions.  Sometimes it can remind us of those we have loved or lost.  Poetry can give a spiritual connection.  It can provide you with a new perspective, and it can transport you.

One of my favourites for living my life is by Dylan Thomas.  Life is to be lived, not watched.

Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Sometimes we find lessons in poems that are bang on.

So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Poetry Month:

Go through your old books and re-visit some of the poems that use to connect to your heart

Search through the Internet to find some old classics or to read what a younger generation is writing about

Write your own poem to express your gratitude or your emotions.  It can help you to go deeper and sort out all that you are experiencing

Share your poems with others

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