Work Smart Live Smart with Beverly Beuermann-King

EP 795 - Every Story Matters

I belong to the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. As one of our chapter presidents, it was obvious that we were not the association of professional listeners. It took forever to get everyone focused to begin our events, as the chatter was so extensive.

Listening can be hard for us to do. It is an investment that sometimes we are not willing to make and because of this, we may miss out on hearing the other person’s story.

Originally this week was initiated to encourage people to interview a loved one, friend, or member of your community and to share this story with others. The feeling was that every story matters, and they need to be shared

Here Are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating Better Conversations Week:

• Ask people about their journey and experiences and really listen in
• Interview a friend or family member. Record the interview and then share it with others.

By really listening to these stories, you will be conveying that they matter. This may be the most meaningful time you spend with someone all year.

If you like today’s resiliency tips, let me know.

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 794 - Uniquely You

We are all remarkable.

However, many of us have talents that we don’t share, as we believe that we are unremarkable, plain, or ordinary.

I love this quote by Henry Van Dyke:  the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.

So Here Are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating Your Unique Talent Day:

• Embrace your uniqueness. You are truly a category of 1
• Share your talent. If it is a creative talent, share it so that others can appreciate it.
• If it is a quirky talent, make someone laugh. This can be the best gift that they received all day
• Host a talent break at work

 

So sing out loud, dance in the street, paint a picture, wiggle your eyebrows, talk in a cartoon voice or whistle through your nose.

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

EP 793 – Is Your Life Under Control?

My life is too complicated. I feel like I am always rushing to get somewhere. I feel like I don’t spend any quality time with my family. What suggestions do you have for getting my life under control? This is what one conference attendee asked me.

Many of us feel our lives are too complicated. We rush from one destination to the next – rush through traffic to get to work – then rush back again to pick up the children – and back to rushing from one sporting lesson to the next.

Rush! We get frustrated.

In the end we forget how to talk to each other. We don’t remember what it is like to spend quality time together just being.

Here Is My Hot Tip For Building Resilience and Celebrating National Family Week:

Trends in our society have been to achieve more, get more, do more.

A contrary movement is underway called Simplification. It can be hard to do, but the rewards can be great. Simplification means reorganizing your life and routines to focus on the meaningful, and to minimize the chaos.

The more you can par down your life by simplifying your routines or de-junking your physical space, the less hectic it will be for you and your family.

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

EP 792 – Family PJ Party

I love my pajamas.

I could hang out in them all day. I could work in them all day. And I feel a sense of relief when I put my flannels on at the end of the day.

It is a huge trend right now to having matching family pjs for watching movies or playing games during the holidays.

So here is to Celebrating National Family PJ Night:

There is some confusion as to what day this should be celebrated on, however, I don’t think that it matters when you get together.

National Family Pajama Night is a time to relax, have fun, and create some memories.

Start your own new tradition just in time for the holiday season.

No matter what the age everyone can get into the spirit of connection and fun.

If you don’t have family to get together with, have a virtual PJ party with friends, or dress your pet up and snuggle on the couch.

It is the spirit of fun that matters the most.

If you like today’s resiliency tips, let me know.

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

 

 

EP 791 - Play For The Fun Of It

Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we’ve stopped playing. Play can be an important source of relaxation and stimulation for adults as well. It can fuel your imagination, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and emotional well-being.

Here Are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating National Day Of Play

Focus your play on the actual experience, not on accomplishing any goal. There doesn’t need to be any point to the activity beyond having fun and enjoying yourself.

By giving yourself permission to play, you can reap tons of health benefits.

Play is one of the most effective tools for keeping relationships fresh and exciting. Playing together brings joy, vitality, and resilience to relationships. Through regular play, we learn to trust one another and feel safe.

Many companies have long recognized the link between productivity and a fun work environment. These companies know that more play at work results in more productivity, higher job satisfaction, greater workplace morale, and a decrease in staff turnover.

If your company lacks the play ethic, you can still inject your own sense of play into breaks and lunch hours.

It’s never too late to develop your playful, humorous side.

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 790 - Giving Thanks

“What do you say?”  “Thank you”

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

Are You Thankful?

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

A line of wisdom goes…You cannot welcome more abundance into your life until you have said thanks to the universe for all that you have.

Here Are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating I Am So Thankful Month

Make a list of all that you are thankful for in your work and personal life. 

Look at that list when you are feeling down and use it to pick up your spirits and keep you moving forward

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

Hang out with people who are truly thankful.  It is contagious.

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 789 - The Truth About Stuff

Is Your Stuff Starting To Take Over?

I have a lot of stuff!  I use some stuff regularly, some is more seasonal.  There’s also stuff that hardly sees the light of day and other stuff, is just stuff taking up space.

Now is a good time to look and see how you can use less stuff or get rid of the stuff that you have. 

Here Are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating Use Less Stuff Day:

As you are preparing to clean and decorate your home for the holidays, take a few extra moments to evaluate whether or not you need the stuff that you are organizing or cleaning around.

Get rid of items that are useful, but you have too many of.

As we cleaned out grandma’s house when she moved into a nursing home, it amazed me how much stuff we really do accumulate over the years. She had piles of bowls, though I could only remember her using one or two favourites. There were things that she had received as gifts that she was waiting for the right occasion to use…in 91 years, I guess that the right occasion never came around.

Use Less Stuff Day is an awareness day to take stock and make choices about the stuff that we gather, organize and clean around. It is the day to ask if our stuff is taking over our lives. 

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 788 – Be An Inspiration

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Strive to be a role model to others.

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

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

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

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

EP 787 – Celebrating The Entrepreneur

They are shapers. Solution lovers. Grabbers of Opportunity.

They are a special stock of a person. The one who wants to carve their own way in life.

These entrepreneurs may start their own main street business or launch a tech start up. They may be providing consulting services or building the latest time saving gadget. Thanks to their vision, dedication, sacrifice and drive, these entrepreneurs are driving our countries forward.

So Here Are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating National Entrepreneurship Week:

• If you know an entrepreneur, thank them. Encourage them. Buy from them.
• If you are an entrepreneur, maintain your balance and remember the reasons why you started your business. Don’t let stress take you off track.
• If you are a successful entrepreneur, mentor someone who is just starting out or is a Futurpreneur and let them learn from the trials and tribulations that you faced along the way
• Consider donating to organizations that do micro lending around the world. These companies help to alleviate poverty and act as a catalyst for positive change in these communities

 

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EP 786 - Empty Nest Does Not Mean An Empty Life

One minute you’re changing diapers and wiping noses, the next minute they have moved out and on.

“empty nest,” does not need to mean an empty life. At least I hope not. With my two sons starting to venture out on their own, I am actually looking forward to our new life.

For many parents becoming empty nesters can be a “joyous” time.  A time for exploring, getting involved in new activities and new developing their adult relationships.

When much of your life has been defined as a parent it can be hard to adjust to life without kids in the home. Research points out that some parents have a hard time adjusting and they do experience depression and emotional distress when their children left home.

So Here Are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating Empty Nester Month:

Grieving is normal. Be gentle with yourself.

Explore other activities that can give you meaning and purpose.

Did you have any hobbies that you slowly gave up as parenting took over your life’

Coming to terms with this new phase in your life can be tough. But most parents find they’re able to adjust to their new roles as being parents of young adults and they develop a new sense of normal.

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

EP 785 – Family Stories Matter

“Hold On, It’s Going To Be Okay”

This saying is part of my family story, along with how my parent’s set up their farm, the struggles that they had, where my grandparents went dancing on the weekends and how they walked up hill both ways to get to school, through 10 foot drifts of snow, even in the spring.

Family stories shape who we are.

They directly impact how we see ourselves, our desire to succeed, and even our level of resiliency.

Family stories give us an idea of where we come from and how we fit into our larger, extended, family.

Research shows that teens who were able to recount details of their family stories had higher self-esteem and greater resilience than those who couldn’t.

So Here Are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating Family Stories Matter Month:

If you have elderly relatives, ask them about their stories. Record them. Share them.

Ask about the traditions. Ask about the hardships and the triumphs. Stories of perseverance and resilience give us the faith and hope that we can too. Stories of different generations provide insight and understanding. They provoke curiosity to learn more.

Take the time during family gatherings to ask your children about their stories. You may be surprised at what you may not know about them and their story.

Finally, write your own story. Some of it is painful. Some brings a smile. Share these so that others can see your story in building their resiliency.

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

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

EP 784 - Loosen Up Lighten Up

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

It has been proven that laughter reduces physical and emotional tension. It is potent but not toxic, low-calorie, organic and absolutely free.

Here Are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating Loosen Up Lighten Up Day:

Some of us thing that Life, especially work, is serious and in order to succeed, we must be serious too.

We need to loosen up and lighten up and we need to be better role models for the next generation. There is nothing more distressing than to see a young adult, so stressed out, about their future. Many of them are developing physical illnesses and mental disorders thought to be experienced only in later adult years.

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. It also gives us the physical energy and mental resilience needed to survive. So let go of your fears, lighten up, smile, laugh large and fight terminal seriousness.

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

EP 783 - If You Can Be Anything, Be Kind

Far too many of us are feeling isolated, overly challenged and highly stressed.

World Kindness Day Gives us a chance to reach to others and show them that they are not alone, and the world is not as gloomy as it is often made out to be.

Numerous scientific studies show that:

Stress-related health problems improve after performing kind acts.

Helping can enhance our feelings of joyfulness, boost our emotional resilience, and reduce the unhealthy sense of isolation.

Here Are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating World Kindness Day:

Think of those that are closest to you and take a moment to connect with them…phone your grandmother, mother, father, uncle…nothing is more personal than a visit or a phone call so that they can hear your voice.

Make your son or daughter their favourite meal. Food is one of the main ways that we connect with others.

Leave a love note for your spouse. Let them know that you still hold them in your heart.

Make a donation to a charity on behalf of a love one.

Send an appreciation note to a colleague.

Being kind to another doesn’t have to cost us anything other than the energy to think of something

So my challenge to you is to do something to show someone you care!

EP 782 - Fighting Hunger and Homelessness

Tis the season to think about what we are thankful for. It is also a perfect time to share our compassion. Being grateful is the number one personality trait that leads to happiness. And being compassionate to others has been found to be protective to our own mental health.

Within our communities there are many who are experiencing homelessness and hunger. No one should have to worry about whether they will have food on their plate or a roof over their head. But the reality is that hunger and homelessness are widespread problems that affect far too many people.

Here Are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating National Hunger And Homeless Awareness Week:

Practice daily gratitude. What are you thankful for?

Show compassion. Find ways to contribute to supporting those facing the challenges of homelessness and hunger.

6 children a minute are dying from a hunger-related disease, but this is not just in famine-stricken countries. 1 in 5 children in the US live in poverty and 1 in 8 families in Canada struggle to put food on the table. These families live in a state of food insecurity, which means they do not have reliable access to adequate amounts of safe, good-quality, nutritious food. Food banks are an important method of addressing this need. They may not be best solution, but they are necessary right now. So consider donating or volunteering.

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 781 - The Great Warm Up

I love de-junking. There is nothing better than getting rid of clutter and unused items. It changes my perspective. It helps me to think more clearly. I feel free.

Every couple of years I attack my closets. I get rid of the clothes that I no longer like, are worn out or have ‘magically shrunk’.

I often look at the bags of clothes in front of me and think, “What a waste”. However, it is not a waste. In most cases, these clothes have seen their share of special occasions, lounging days or workplace meetings. It is not a waste, because these clothes are donated to others who will continue to appreciate their beauty or their warmth.

I live where there is truly a winter. It takes a lot of money to stay warm and healthy in this bitter weather. Some can barely make ends meet and the clothes that we donate help them to survive.

Here Are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating The Great Warm Up

De-Junk and Simplify. The Great Warm Up is a call for everyone to look into their closets and pare them down. Donations of coats, hats, scarves, mittens and boots are desperately needed, as are blankets and sleeping bags.

Donate to agencies, like the Canadian Mental Health Association in Toronto, that purchase hats, scarves and mittens and deliver them to the homeless and those with mental health issues at Christmas time.

Think twice before buying something new. Is it a need or a want’?

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 780 - Words Hurt: Dealing With A Bully

“You can’t do anything right”. “This is your fault – It’s always your fault”.

Many of us have grown up, been in a relationship with, worked for, or even been coached by, someone who was emotionally abusive. It is often seen as a normal part of the culture of the organization and tolerated.

People who are the target of emotional abuse are made to feel insignificant and incapable. They may actually begin to feel that they have brought this on themselves and that it really is their fault.

Here Are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating Bullying Awareness Week

If you are the Recipient of someone else’s abusive behaviour:

1. Take precautions – look for the signs of excessive jealousy and control
2. Don’t blame yourself for the way other person is treating you
3. Believe in yourself – believe that you deserve to be treated with respect
4. Trust your instincts – if you feel uncomfortable than this is probably not a healthy relationship
5. Talk to someone – find someone you can trust – a family member, friend, co-worker, EAP, supervisor, spiritual leader, community advisor or health professional. Call the Distress Centre and they can help make the appropriate referral. These resources can help you to examine all of your options so that you can decide what is best for you.

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 779 - Appreciating The Right To Choose World Freedom Day

Our freedom is not something to be taken for granted. We could say that we are lucky to have the freedom to choose any religion we want, the freedom to be in a relationship with the person we love, the freedom to vote for our government officials…the list goes on.

We are not lucky. People fought for our rights and our freedoms. Our freedom to chose should be celebrated, and that’s what World Freedom Day is all about.

World Freedom Day was first observed to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of loved ones separated by differing ideologies.

Here Are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating World Freedom Day:

Read, listen and watch news stories about what is happening around the world. Expand your knowledge so that you can appreciate what you have because of the freedom to choose. Recognize that many people in the world who are still fighting for their own freedoms and liberties.

With Remembrance Day only a few days away, give appreciation to all those who had and have the courage to insist on a better future for themselves, their families, and their country.

Want to make sure that you don’t miss out on any of my weekly postings? Follow Work Smart Live Smart on FaceBook

EP 778 - Wishing You Had More Time?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have ample time…Really?

More than enough time to get the things done that we would like to be able to get done?

Do you remember the 1996 movie “Multiplicity” with Michael Keaton? 

I would love to have several clones of myself all existing at the same time to get all of the many things done that I wanted to get done.  There would be the Magnificent Mom. The Grateful Gardener. The World Renown Stress Speaker and the Magnificent Marketer who could pump out websites and create marketing materials faster than a speeding bullet.  I am sure that I could think of more me’s that I would need, but even 1 or 2 would be a great start.

Since this is not likely to happen, Here Are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating Ample Time Day:

Know what your priorities are in each area of your life.  Write them down.  Once we know what is important to us, it is a lot easier to make decisions about how we use our time in the best way possible.

Watch out for ‘black holes’ that seem to suck a lot of our time away.  These activities may be enjoyable, they may be part of your relaxation program, but they also tend to eat up more time then we allocated or expected.

Finally, make sure that you are taking care of yourself, otherwise you will be tired out and lack the energy to use your time wisely. 

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 777 – Upping The Happiness Factor

Does your company have a happiness engineer?

Should it have one?

Big Viking Games in London, Ontario hired happiness engineers to create a low stress work environment in a high-stress industry.

Their arsenal of happiness includes daily catered lunches a soft-serve ice cream machine and even puppies.

The founder hopes that this will help them to attract the best people.

His theory seems to be proving itself.

His company was named one of the Top 10 Medium Business Employers in Canada by the Great Places To Work Institute.

Hiring a happiness engineer may not be an option for all companies however, all companies can benefit from upping the happiness factor in their workplace.

So Here Are Today's Hot Tips For Building Resiliency And Celebrating International Games Day:

Bring fun to your workplace. It may include games or challenges.

Ask your team what suggestions, large and small, will create a happier workplace for them. Even small steps are noticed and appreciated.

Remember you will not be able to please everyone or make everyone happy, but the majority will respect your efforts.

Looking for resources to build your healthy workplace? Check out my top ten tips under resources and courses at www.worksmartlivesmart.com

EP 776 41 - Giving Up On Gossip

Most of us do it and some of us even started.

It is frowned upon publicly, but privately, it is often indulged in.

If you're a professional gossiper, then you can make money through publishing it in magazine and newspaper columns or even through your own talk show.

However, in some places around the world it is seen as downright criminal.

Workplace gossip can destroy.

Gossip is thought to empower one person while disempowering another, accordingly many companies have formal policies in their employee handbook against gossip.

Here are Today's Hot Tips For Building Resiliency And Celebrating And Gossip Day:

Gossiping is a reflection of who you are at the core.

Consider the conversations that you have. Are they serving a purpose? Is that purpose constructive. Is it focusing on solving issues or just to draw people to your side?

It can be hard to avoid gossip. Become skilled at walking away or changing the subject. If you can, focus  the conversation on problem solving instead of allowing the attack to continue.

Looking for resources to build your healthy workplace? Check out my top ten tips under resources and courses at www.worksmartlivesmart.com.