Work Smart Live Smart with Beverly Beuermann-King

TIP 1603 – Goodwill, Peace And Understanding

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

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

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

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     
Tips for Building Resiliency and Celebrating National World Understanding Month:

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

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

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

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

Who lives in your community right now?

What kinds of diversity already exists?

What issues do different cultural groups have in common?

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

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

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

#mentalhealth #hr

TIP 1602 – Read In The Bathtub To Help Relax

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

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

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

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

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     
Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Read In The Tub Day:

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

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

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

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

#mentalhealth #hr

TIP 1601 - Do You Have A Hobby

With many of us today riding on the roller coaster of life, it is incredibly important to have activities that help to slow the pace, regulate our rhythm in life and add a sense of fun. Hobbies can provide many hours of relief from stress and worry.  A hobby can boost creativity, self esteem, passion, pleasure and accomplishments. Hobbies have no deadlines, no rules and no pressure to be successful.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     
Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Hobby Month:

Adopt a hobby that you can have fun at and that you look forward to doing. You don’t have to be great or perfect – you don’t even have to be good. The most important part is enjoying it just because.

Here are a couple of my favourites:

Gardening can be a great stress reliever for many reasons, including getting you into the sunshine and fresh air and creating more beautiful surroundings to come home to.

Whether you take pictures of your friends, family, or nature, photography can be a great hobby. Seeing the world through the lens of a camera may help you to see things from an entirely different perspective.

Reading opens a window to the world; giving us a vision of things we never dreamed possible. When you curl up with a good book, you put the rest of the world at bay.

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TIP 1600 – Refuse Shame

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

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

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

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

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#mentalhealth #hr

TIP 1599 – Caring With Compliments

They are free, easy to give and receive.

They make people happy.

They make you happy.

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

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     
Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Pay A Compliment Day:

Celebrating today is so easy to do.

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

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

Watch how they light up when they hear the compliment.

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

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

Small acts of kindness go a long way these days.

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

#mentalhealth #hr

TIP 1598 – Does Your Employer Care

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

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

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     
Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating International Leadership Week:

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

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

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

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TIP 1597 – Becoming Heart Healthy

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

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

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

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     
Building Resiliency and Celebrating Women’s Heart Week:

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

Nutrition and exercise essential.

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

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

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

#mentalhealth #hr

TIP 1596 – How Not To Be Exposed

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

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

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     
Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Working Naked Day:

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

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

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

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

#mentalhealth #hr

TIP 1595 – Self-Care Is Like Oxygen

Have you found that when your plate is overloaded with work and family responsibilities, or when you are in a professional, financial, or relationship crisis, your self-care tends to fly out the window?

For some of us, self-care is a luxury that we feel that can not afford to indulge in. There is a quote that I like that says, “How thin can I spread myself before I no longer exist’”

Self-renewal is about transforming yourself. It can give you a fresh take on life. You feel better and more able, more competent and more effective. Self-care is like oxygen. It is essential in order to live a balanced and fulfilled life. If grit is what keeps you going, and resilience is what picks you up, self- renewal is what helps you stay energized.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     
Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Self-Renewal Day:

Tip #1 Do A Body Scan. As soon as you wake, ask yourself, “Physically, emotionally, or spiritually, what do I really need to focus on today’” Self-renewing activities include looking after your well-being.

Tip #2 Find Your Tribe. “Build your support network,” When we gather together to “tend and befriend,” our body releases more of the stress-reducing hormone, oxytocin. This makes us feel more hopeful, grateful and resilient.

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

#mentalhealth #hr

TIP 1594 – SOB Spunky Old Broads

Have you met any S.O.B’s lately?  I mean the good kind.  The feisty, spirited ones kindly referred to as, Spunky Old Broads.

These are the ladies who live life to the fullest, regardless of their circumstances.  They have learned to push forward, find humour and share their spirit with those around them.

I’ve been fortunate to meet some very Spunky ladies – Liked my mom’s cousin Linda, who makes me laugh every time I see her, Virginia who ran her first marathon at the age of 50 and who shared her message of hope with those who were also dealing with severe depression, and Shelle who travels the world for business and still takes the time to make me laugh and be my mentor.

SOB Month celebrates all women over 50, who believe it is never too late to live your dream, be who you want to be, and create and do whatever you want to do.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency
Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Spunky Old Broads Month:

I want to be a spunky old broad.  I’m not there yet.  For me, I take things way too seriously and I fret about the little things.  But I believe that it is never too late to learn something new, try something different and strive for all that life has to offer.  So I am going to remind myself to let go and laugh a little more and maybe one day I will be known as a SOB.

Looking for more tips to build your resiliency?

Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In.

#mentalhealth #hr

TIP 1593 - Take Back Your Time

Does time just slip away from you?

Take Back Your Time is an initiative to challenge this epidemic of time stress.

Studies show that Time Stress threatens our:

Health. It can lead to fatigue, accidents and injuries.

It can threaten our Relationships. As we find less time for each other, our ability to connect, empathize and communicate is impaired.

Preventing illness, slowing down the aging process and living life to the fullest – these are a few of the reasons that we are craving a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. 

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     
So here are Today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Take Back Your Time Week:

Take control of your time by learning how 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.

Finally, be realistic with your time. Don’t get caught up in activities that suck away your time, without purposefully scheduling for them. Email, social media and meetings are notorious for eating up more time that we imagine.

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

#mentalhealth #hr

TIP 1592 – Bubble Wrap Day

Bubble Wrap has always been great for cushioning fragile items during shipping.

I don’t know what it is about bubble wrap, but like a lot of people, when I’m around it, I have to pop it.

We all know it's fun to pop, and it makes a great stress reliever. However, did you know that bubble wrap started off as wallpaper and then green-house wall insulation’ Thankfully, these uses didn’t take off and in the end, IBM began using Bubble Wrap to protect delicate electronics from damage during transit.

It wasn’t long after that people began to see the fun in popping their bubble wrap.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     
So here are Today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day:

For some carrying a smooth-surfaced stone serves to produce a calming effect. Keeping your hands busy with little projects like needlework can also be relaxing. Popping a sheet of Bubble Wrap might work in the same way.

A survey by Sealed Air Corporation, found that one minute spent popping Bubble Wrap relieves as much stress as a 33-minute massage.

We love the instant gratification. So the next time you are stressed out, anxious, or frustrated, reach for your bubble wrap and start popping.

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

#mentalhealth #hr

TIP 1591 – Curmudgeon

According to the Dictionary a curmudgeon can refer to a mood or someone’s whole personality.

Curmudgeons Day is a day to celebrate the cranky people in our lives or a day to allow the cranky person in us to have a day out in the sunshine. It is also a celebration of WC Field who prided himself on being a real curmudgeon.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     
So here are Today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Curmudgeon’s Day:

Take stock of what usually brings about your curmudgeonly side. Knowing this can help you to develop strategies to not bring that mood to your workplace.

Sometimes it is okay to allow yourself a day to be cranky. Doing so can help you to move past these feelings and start to see the world in a more positive light.

Don’t let the crankiness of someone else bring you down. Find ways to buffer yourself against their negativity. Try to show them kindness. Buy a cup of coffee for that co-worker who never seems to have a good day.  Maybe, an act of kindness can change that person’s whole world.

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

#mentalhealth #hr

TIP 1590 – Life Balance

It is a gorgeous July morning. I have finished watering my newly planted grass seed and now it is time to focus on my business. I am finally feeling like my life is in balance.

This was a reflection on life that I had several years ago.  It didn’t mean that my life wasn’t chaotic, but I was feeling satisfied with the time and energy that I was spending on the various aspects of my life.

Sometimes my ‘balance’ lasts for a long time, other times, that balance is fleeting. Balance to me, does not mean equal. Balance means satisfaction.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! 

Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Life Balance Month:

My First Strategy is the belief that I have a purpose in this world and that this world has a purpose.

Second, is being comfortable with who I am. I am not superhuman. I try my best to take care of myself. My family and my business need me to function.

Third, I enjoy the little things and look for the awesome.  In my reflection above, my day started outside, watering and weeding. For me, this is nature at its most glorious and it helps to ground and center me.

Each day I experience different challenges, but these beliefs keep me satisfied with where I am going. How do you create more satisfaction and balance in your life?

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

#mentalhealth #hr

TIP 1589 – Thomas Crapper Day

The Think Tank - The Log Cabin - The Johnny on the Spot - The Oval Office

Toilets are the most amazing invention that most of us just take for granted. 

For some, getting stressed out, can cause bathroom and digestive issues.

Some people experience toilet anxiety. Toilet phobia, is a term used to describe a number of issues related to using the toilet. It is a type of anxiety condition in which the sufferer may experience concerns and fears about:

Being unable to urinate or defecate

Using a public toilet

Being too far from a toilet

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     
So here are Today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Thomas Crapper Day:

The experience of toilet anxiety is unique to each individual, and consequently, different treatments will work better for different people.

If your digestive system is acting up it might be an indication to take it easy and try to reduce some stress wherever possible in your life. You can also be mindful of what you're doing, eating, and drinking when you're under pressure to see if that helps.

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

Finally do you know the most popular toilet joke’

What did the toilet say to the other toilet’ – You look a little flushed

 

#mentalhealth #hr

TIP 1588 – Connecting With Your Spouse

Have you ever been in a good mood, and then one conversation with your spouse can turn your mood around?
Research shows that moods and emotions are highly contagious.

We can literally catch each others’ emotions like viruses, a phenomenon known as emotional contagion.

I love my spouse and hopefully, if you have one, you can say that too.

However, the mood I bring to the home and that he brings home affects our conversations and connections with each other.

Research has found that wives were not affected significantly by their spouse’s stress. Husbands, however, experienced lower marital satisfaction when their wives reported higher stress.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     
So here are Today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Spouse’s Day:

Self-awareness is the first step toward bringing moods under control so that they don’t continually impact your relationships.

Make an effort to enter into a conversation in an upbeat frame of mind.  Change your routines if you are irritated by the rush-hour traffic.

Watch your body language. Research has shown that when people are trying to “read” someone’s mood they rely heavily on that person’s body language for cues. So make sure your posture, gestures, and facial expressions send the right signals.

Be proactive about managing your moods. Learn a few stress-management techniques that may help you avoid negative moods altogether. Mood lifters may also include talking to a funny friend, listening to music, or going for a walk.

Take care of your health. Bad moods can have physical causes, including hunger, fatigue, and pain. Build your resiliency to buffer yourself against these.

Remember that emotions are contagious and your relationships are precious.

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

#mentalhealth #hr

TIP 1587 – Let’s Talk

Mental illness is a very common form of human pain and suffering. One of the biggest hurdles for anyone suffering from mental illness is overcoming the stigma attached to it. This stigma brings about isolation and prevents people from getting the help that they need.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     
So here are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Let’s Talk Day:

Language matters. Watch the words that you use that may colour the way we see mental health issues.

Simple kindness can make a world of a difference. Whether it be a smile, being a good listener or an invitation for a chat over coffee, these simple acts of kindness can let someone know you’re there for them.

Break the Silence. Two out of three people suffer in silence, fearing judgement and rejection. Being open to a conversation is the first step towards eliminating the stigma.

When it comes to mental illness, education is key. Having the right tools, knowing the right words to use and understanding how to correctly speak with someone experiencing a mental illness can make all the difference.

You are not alone. There are resources available to help you to feel more competent in providing this support. Check out my on-line courses at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

#mentalhealth #hr

TIP 1586 – Belly Laugh For Health

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

It has been shown that a big old belly laugh, reduces physical and emotional tension for as long as 45 minutes. The heartier, the more relaxing it is and the longer the positive effect.

A good belly laugh can stimulate your internal organs, increase your circulation, raise the level of oxygen in the blood and boost the immune system. A group of researchers found that laughing boisterously 100 times a day will give you the same impact as 10 minutes of rowing or 15 minutes on an exercise bike.

Studies show that those who are able to laugh at work are more productive and less distracted than their humourless counterparts.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     
So here are Today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Belly Laugh Day:

Find funny friends and co-workers who can make you laugh.

Develop a Humour First-Aid Kit and fill it with your favourite jokes, clippings, and stories

Watch funny TV programs, movies and videos

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. Not only that, but, it also gives us the physical energy and mental resilience needed to survive.

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

#mentalhealth #hr

TIP 1585 – Sticks and Stones

Words Hurt. Name Calling is a form of Emotional Abuse.

Many of us have worked for or with someone who was emotionally abusive. According to research from  Employment Law Alliance, 45% of us reported being abused in the office.

People who are the target of emotional abuse are made to feel insignificant and incapable.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     

So here are Today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Bringing Awareness To No Name Calling Week:

There is a thin line between joking around and causing harm to each other in the office. Nicknames are bound to pop up in the office. But once the name calling is unwanted and based on gender, sexuality, or ability, it's no longer a friendly exchange.

If we are bullied, we might think it's because we are not a good worker, or perhaps not a good person. In other words, we start to believe what the bully is saying about us. We start to blame ourselves.

Don't give in to the lie.

Document your experience. If you don't keep track of what is happening, then, in the eyes of the law, it didn't happen.

One of the bully's tactics will be to isolate you from fellow workers. Keep your relationships with co-workers as strong as you can.

Let them know what is going on and let them know that you need support during this time.

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

#mentalhealth #hr

TIP 1584 - Fighting The Winter Blues

The alarm clock goes off, but you would rather roll over and continue sleeping. You get up, look in the mirror and you feel dumpy and grumpy. You go to the cupboard and instead of something healthy, you pull out one of those sugar cereals. You are not sure what is happening, but there are days when life is definitely more of a challenge.

Reportedly 65% of us notice a difference in our mood and energy in the fall and winter. These people may be fighting the winter blues. This decrease in mood and energy colours the way in which we handle the other areas of our life that compete for our energy and attention.

Research into the direct causes of the winter blues is ongoing. However, the more severe form, called Seasonal Affective Disorder, is thought to be related to seasonal variations in light which negatively impact the production of neurotransmitters and hormones that affect our sleep, mood and appetite.

The winter blues are usually characterized by varying degrees of sadness, anxiety and energy. Winter blues differ from SAD in that the symptoms do not last as long and do not interfere significantly with everyday living.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!     

Tips For Building Resiliency Against Seasonal Affective Disorders:

Increase your exposure to light. Spend at least 20 minutes twice a day.

Arrange your indoor environment so that it receives more natural light.

Install full spectrum lights.

By increasing your exposure to light and monitoring your diet, sleep patterns and exercise levels you will be able to maintain your health, increase your energy and combat the winter blues.

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.

#mentalhealth #hr