Work Smart Live Smart with Beverly Beuermann-King

EP 1108 – Stop The Stigma Of Mental Illness MIAW

For many years I was the educational consultant to the Canadian Mental Health Association in Toronto Ontario in that capacity I developed several mental illness awareness workshops for frontline workers agencies and caregivers.

The most satisfying part of that role was going into a group who may have been fearful of those with mental illness and opening their eyes to the realities. The proverbial light bulbs would go off, the stigma would be lifted, and their minds open on to how they could better the lives of those who are experiencing a mental illness.

My Tip For Building Resiliency In Celebrating Mental Illness Awareness Week:

Taking the time to learn about mental illness can make all the difference to you or to someone you care about.

During this month open your eyes and find your own path to helping a family member a friend a co-worker or a person you meet sitting there on the street who may desperately need your understanding and compassion.

 

For more information on coping with mental illness sign up for one of my online courses at WorkSmartLiveSmart.com under the Resources And Courses tab.

EP 1107 – Be Positive

It's the end of the day and you're exhausted frustrated and wondering if this is what your life has come to.

You hear yourself describing your day as if it were someone else using those words.

It takes a lot of energy to be positive, to keep things in perspective and to actively look for the good in someone.

Today's Hot Tips For Building Resiliency And Celebrating Positive Attitude Month:

It is essential that you take care of yourself.

Maintain your balance. Be sure to have other pursuits that you can count on for pleasure and distraction Eat properly to control your mood swings and to feel more energetic.

Cut out caffeine which makes us more sensitive to those around us,

Get plenty of sleep. Probably more than what you're getting right now.

Lighten up. Have fun and remember to smile.

And if you think what I'm recommending will never work, well then it may be time for you to commit to some self-reflection.

Looking for better ways to build your resiliency? Take my free online vulnerability test at WorkSmartLiveSmart. com under the resources and courses tab.

Ep 1106 – Frugal Fun

Today we fight the perils of FDS: Fun Deficiency Syndrome.  

How very appropriate that today is also National Frugal Fun Day.

It's the day to look for cheap, but fun things to do.

A lack of money shouldn't mean a lack of fun. There are lots of when things to do that don't require any money at all.

Play dressed up or make believe with your kids. Go and ride your bike. Take a walk at the beach or along a nature trail, and see what the season has to offer. Play catch or frisbee with your dog.

Don't forget to build some fun into the workplace as well. When we are having fun, we counterbalance the stress that we may be facing.

So Here Are My Hot Tips For Celebrating National Frugal Fun Day:

We can lose this sense of fun as we age so nourish it regularly.

So my challenge. Do something fun today. Anything. But don't let the day pass, without having some fun.

And don't forget that you can find more tips and strategies by following my Work Smart Live Smart Facebook page.

EP 1105 – Less Than Perfect Is Health

I am a perfectionist.

Are you?

Do you know someone who is?

 

Perfectionists are extremely hard workers and they generally accomplish more than the average person. However perfectionists are extremely hard on themselves and on those around them.

 

Perfectionism is destructive behavior and it's addictive. Physical exhaustion and burnout are common.

 

So here are my hot tips for Building Your Resiliency on Less Than Perfect Day:

 

A quote that I like goes like this: "Less than perfect is a perfect start."

This is something that I need to keep in mind. Give yourself permission not to be perfect all of the time.

 

Number two: Practice self compassion. Challenge those thoughts of criticism and unrealistic expectations.

 

Looking for ways to build your resiliency, take my free online vulnerability test at WorkSmartLiveSmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

EP 1104 – Stupid Can Be Fun

If corn oil is made from corn and vegetable oil is made from vegetables. What is baby oil made from?

Why is an electrical outlet called an outlet when you plug things into it?

Why does it hurt like hell to hit your funny bone?

Why is it called a “drive through” if you have to stop?

And finally, If the professor on Giligan’s Island can make a radio out of coconut, why can’t he fix a hole in a boat?

Today is Ask A Stupid Question Day and Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and having more fun!

If laughter is the best medicine, reading the numerous lists of questions people have asked at the doctor’s office, the supermarket, or on the internet can certainly take the stress out of the everyday.

Stupid questions can be funny conversation starters or interesting brain teasers when you are hanging out with friends.

As for stupid conversation starters, try these ones out:

Is a hotdog a sandwich?

How many chickens would it take to kill an elephant?

Or what would be the worst “buy one get one free” sale of all time?

And finally you can annoy your friends even further with these tricky stupid questions:
What is always coming, but never arrives?

Or If a plane crashes on the border between the United States and Canada, where do they bury the survivors?

If you had fun with 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.

EP 1103 – Minimizing Caffeine

Coffee has never been more popular, with an estimated 3 billion cups consumed every day.

Caffeine can promote alertness, and it may decrease the occurrence of depression.

However, sleep can be negatively affected by caffeine. It can create a never-ending cycle of reduced sleep, fatigue, and a need for increased caffeine consumption.

Our sensitivity to caffeine and the impact on our sleep seems to be dependent on age, the amount of caffeine ingested at bedtime, and also on the amount of caffeine ingested over the whole day.

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

Caffeine consumed close to sleep time has the greatest potential for sleep disruption, so be aware of how much caffeine you are consuming in a day and when.

When stress is at its highest, it is advisable to cut back on caffeine. Caffeine abstinence for a whole day can improve sleep quality quickly, which is vital for being able to cope and ward off the negative impact of the stressful situation.

Finally, while drinking caffeinated coffee in moderation can help to maintain adequate fluids, which can reduce fatigue, water is still considered to be more beneficial in rehydration and maintaining cognitive functioning.

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 1102 – Be A Good Neighbour

Good neighbours help each other.

You can't pick your neighbors but if you are lucky, you have good neighbours.

I live in the country and I don’t really have close neighbours, but I do wave to them, as we drive by. And when my boys were little, it was the neighbourhood teenagers that I counted on for babysitting.

Neighbours who look out for one another are the key to a strong community. It was this connectedness that acted as a buffer to those who left everything that they a couple of hundred years ago, and started the settlements here in North America. Times were tough, but the sense of belonging, support, and care helped them to flourish.

Sadly, this sense of connectedness to our neighbours is lacking in many communities. Neighbours don’t often know each other. And many people feel isolated and disengaged.

Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Good Neighbour Day.

Everyone will have their own definition of what it means to be a good neighbour.

For me, a good neighbour is friendly and considerate.

They respect your space and privacy.

Good neighbours take time to talk, smile, or give a wave hello.

They keep an eye out, when they know you are away.

The neighbourhood we live in can affect our happiness and stress levels in multiple ways. When you're thinking of strategies to manage your stress, consider investing in your relationships with your neighbours.

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 1101 – Celebrating Family Day By Helping Your Children

As parents, we often worry about assisting our children to become competent capable and healthy adults.

We're concerned about their self-esteem and their overall emotional health. We often wish we had more time to spend with them.

So today being Family Day, it's the day to sit down, talk, eat dinner, and connect with your children.

Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Family Day.

As parents, we need to constructively express both our negative and positive feelings and thoughts. Our children learn how to cope and express themselves through us.

Do they often use just the word sad or mad or they don't know even what to say?

As parents, help your child to put a name to their feelings.

Help them to find positive ways of expressing their difficult emotions.

For more information, visit worksmartlivesmart.com and check out our resources and courses

EP 1100 – Forget Me Not

Have you ever looked through old pictures and ever wondered whatever happened to some of the people that you were friends with or met along the way?

Have you tried to find out where they are or what they are up to on social media?

I have.

I have looked up long lost roommates, classmates, old boyfriends, teachers, and even old bosses.

Sometimes out of nostalgia. Sometimes out of curiosity. Sometimes out of a desire to reconnect.

Forget Me Not Day is a day to try and reconnect with some of the people that you may not be in touch with anymore.

Here are my tips for Building Resiliency and Celebrating Forget Me Not Day:

Social connection is important, but before I would spend a lot of time and energy on finding those from your past, ask yourself if you are doing a good job of staying connected and supporting those who are your current friends, colleagues, and family members.

Research shows that doubling your group of friends has the same impact on your well-being as a 50% increase in income, we only have so much time and energy to spend on cultivating true, healthy relationships. So use your time and energy wisely.

If you do have a desire to reconnect, ask yourself why. Is it because of curiosity, guilt, or an interest to start up a new relationship? The answer will also help you decide if you should reach out or invest the time and energy.

Social connections and support are key to building resiliency and we know that we are forming fewer friendships than in the past. As life gets busier, we often find that we barely have enough time for ourselves, let alone staying connected with others. Developing and maintaining positive friendships takes effort. Friendships take time to grow, to build trust and to share common experiences. Today is a great day to reach out and let your friends know that you are thinking of them.

 

If you like today’s wellness 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 1099 – Time to De-Junk

Our stress can be negatively impacted by the way in which we organize our daily activities and routines, and by the organization or lack there of in our physical environment.  De-junking our physical space can increase our efficiency, our effectiveness and can add to a sense of control which can help us create a calm and peaceful presence.

I love purging my files and this summer saw me get rid of more than one full cabinet of paper!

Now is a very good time to do some fall cleaning. It is time to purge some stuff that is getting in the way of doing business efficiently, or that may be adding to the clutter, and stopping us from being as creative and productive as we can be. 

Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Love Your Files Week.

While most of us are fairly paperless, it is a good time to look through past paper files and purge. Do you need to keep a hard copy, from a project that is no longer active? Make sure you have an ecopy then off to the recycle box or shredder it goes.

Look at the files on your computer. Have you cleaned out your downloads file? Refile those that you actually need and delete those that are no longer relevant.

This is especially important for picture files. Most can be uploaded again if needed.

Have you backed up your files?  A little extra time ensuring that your back ups are done, can save you heartache and wasted energy if something goes amiss.

Today is as good a time as any.

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.

EP 1098 – Show That You Care Send A Love Note

Who doesn't love receiving a special note of affection from someone they cherish? Well, my boys don't or at least that's what they told me.

Apparently, my love notes added to their lunchbox when I was out of town was embarrassing. Opening your lunch bag and having one of these notes fall in front of your friends was horrific.

How could their mother do this to them?

It was so horrible though, that one day I found several of these notes tucked away in my son's room. When questioned, he admitted that he really did like them, but he would prefer to find them under his pillow instead. I can live with that.

So here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Love Note Day.

Express yourself. Let the person know how much you love them, miss them, are grateful for them, and appreciate them.

Hide your love notes someplace special. Stick it to the water bottle, inside their fridge, or attach it to the backside of the remote control.

My challenge for you today is to do one thing to show someone that you care.

EP 1097 – Restless Leg

Have You Ever Had The Sensation That Your Legs Are Unable To Relax When Trying To Go To Bed At Night?

Has it kept you awake or even made you pace the floors trying to get them to stop tingling?

If yes, you may have experienced Restless Leg Syndrome.

This is no joking matter for many people. Some research shows that Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) may affect 3 – 15% of the general population.

When I first experienced it, I was pregnant.  I was awake for 3 days straight.  It had me beside myself and stressed out trying to find ways to get them to relax.  When I asked the doctor, his response was that he didn’t know what it was or what could be causing it and that I should just try and get some sleep. 

It wasn’t till I found a name for this on-line that I knew what I was dealing with

Since then, I have experienced it a few times each year – especially when I get over-tired. 

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency By Dealing With Restless Leg Syndrome:

Ensure that it is not a reaction to a medication that you may be taking

Avoid getting over-tired or stressed out

Try massage, relaxation techniques and stretches to prepare your body for sleeping

Remove caffeine and other stimulants from your diet

If nothing seems to work, check with your doctor, as there are a variety of medications that may be useful in reducing the symptoms and allow for a better sleep

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

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 1096 - Why An Ice Cream Cone Can Help You Cope

When you think of stress and food, you are often told to stay away from treats, like ice cream cones.

Ice cream: My favourite food. Creamy. Cold. Sweet. Hard or Soft…doesn’t matter. I love ice cream. It can be high in fat and it contains a lot of sugar. And it’s not the kind of snack food that I should have everyday…though wouldn’t that be absolutely wonderful? An ice cream cone has some definite pros.

Ice cream may help in maintaining weight.

How interesting is that?  Ice cream for weight control.  Research from the American Society of Experimental Biology found that a diet that included dairy prevented about 50 percent of weight regain and 80 percent of fat regain after the animals had lost weight and were allowed to eat at will.  Now this research was done with animals, but if it works there it may work on humans….I would at least like to be a part of the experimental group…test group…not the control group.

Ice cream may help me to keep my girlish figure.

The North American Association for the Study of Obesity found in a study of 800 men and women that those who ate the most calcium were also the leanest. Research from Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Woman’s University in Houston reported an association between the consumption of low-fat milk and dairy products and a lower waist-to-hip ratio.

Ice cream may keep me from shrinking.

Calcium is essential in preventing osteoporosis.  One reasonable (insert small) serving of ice cream can give you 10% of your daily calcium intake. 

Did you know that:

Ice cream is not a new treat…people have been creating frozen delicacies since 400 BC

Britain’s Margaret Thatcher was part of a research team that helped to develop soft ice cream

The average American eats 18.3 litres of ice cream each year while Canadians eat 8.7 litres.  Japan has the lowest consumption with .01 litres per year.

Here are my tips For Building Resilience By Celebrating National Ice Cream Cone Day:

Ice cream can be a healthy treat.  But it is a treat. 

I have nothing else…just go out and celebrate.

Now which kind to choose…DQ, Kawartha Dairy, soft, hard, dipped, sauced, fruit, chocolate…..

EP 1095 – Pause The World Day

Sirens, television, computers, printers, car stereos, endless talking — Most of us accept this daily racket as normal.

It is not until we step away, into a peaceful setting, such as when we are walking in a park or camping at the lake, that we notice how loud our life can get.

And it is odd what we can get use to as normal. During the heat and humidity of this summer, I had the fans on high and it didn’t keep me up at night. A few weeks later, when it cooled off at night and there was no need for the fans, I was kept up by a cricket outside my window.

Constant or uncontrollable noise can stress our bodies by raising our blood pressure and heart rate and by releasing stress hormones.

Part of Pause The World Day on September 21st is to relax and to enjoy the silence. Most of us rarely experience true silence, but silence can help us to get in touch with our emotions, provide us with a sense of calm and leave us feeling rejuvenated.

Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Pause The World Day:

• Listen for the sounds of nature – the birds singing, the bees buzzing and the trees whispering
• Turn down the volume
• Seek out silence
• Sit with only your thoughts to focus on and tune in to the quiet within

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.

EP 1094 – What’s Your Image?

Your image is the way you appear to others Some say that it shouldn’t matter how others perceive you. But life Is all about relationships. And for most of us, everything that we do involves other people.

Building a better image is about making improvements in order to change the way we appear to others. It is about ensuring that when people think about us that they have a positive perception about who we are and the benefits of connecting with us.

Our image encompasses your personality, values, culture, and beliefs.

Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Build A Better Image Week.

Take stock. Before changing your personal image take a step back and consider what you want others to perceive. What are your strong qualities? What do you want to showcase? What first impression do you want to convey?

Next evaluate. What do others think about now when they do think of you and is that different from the image that you want to present? Get feedback from those that you trust to provide honest information.

Beware. Caring too much about how others perceive us, is not good for our mental health. However, aligning how we want people to perceive us with how they actually do, can help to eliminate some of the stress that we may be encountering in our day-to-day relationships.

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 1093 – How To Be A Healthy Road Warrior

Have you ever found yourself exhausted or caught a cold after flying for a business trip or a vacation?

Whether it's for business or for pleasure, stress from travelling can cause a person to experience many physically and mental symptoms.

The stress of being on the move can become overwhelming.

Today is International Road Warrior Day and Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating International Road Warrior Day

Number one: Be healthy.

Road warriors can burn themselves out, so know how to relax and take care of yourself regardless of the environment.

If you're a road who flies learn the tricks and tips around avoiding jet lag.

Number two: Stay connected to your family and friends. Leave them notes. Make use of social media and plan for social times when you are not on the road.

And finally keep things simple and uncluttered.

For more tips my book on amazon called Stressed Out: 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In

EP 1092 – RESPECT

I disagree with the usual sentiment. Respect is earned, not given. I believe that Respect is given, first. But you can lose my respect and you may have to earn it back.

Our default setting should be to respect every person we meet. Every single one.

Respect is not just deep admiration for someone elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. Respect is due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others.

Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Respect Day.

Start by treating people with a more polite approach. Are you saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’?

Respect their time, energy, and experience.

Treat people they way you would hope that they would treat you with.

Sometimes, people mistakenly think that they must agree when showing respect. That is not true. It is very possible, to disagree in a manner that demonstrates politeness and consideration. That can be done without berating the person, without insulting them or their opinions, and without causing hurt, guilt or shame.

Respecting everyone can create a ripple out effect to others. Respect is like kindness and once demonstrated, it can have a profound impact on the person receiving it.

If after getting to know a person you realize they are very cruel or bigoted, or they have demonstrated a lack of respect and understanding towards their fellow humans, you don't have to continue to respect them. But it is always best when we start from a place where we believe people are good.

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.

EP 1091 – Time’s Up

Life is too short. Some Day will never come. Tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Time’s Up Day is here. Today is the day to make the most of your life.

It is also the time to get over whatever is standing in between you and someone else: Arguments, disagreements, feeling slighted, jealous, or whatever it is. It is time to address the situation head on.

Hurt is inevitable in significant relationships. Yet pain and strife do not have to mean a relationship is going to end.

Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Time’s Up Day.

Time is fleeting. Waiting until tomorrow, may be too late. Tell yourself that time is up and reach out to the person today. Call them on the phone, or send them an email.

It takes two people to mend a broken relationship. There is no sense in trying to fix something if you are the only one willing to do the work. If the other person is unapologetic, dismissive, or continues hurtful behavior, it might be time to move on.

If it is a worthwhile relationship to work on, then use your best communication skills. Instead of trying to think of what you need to say next, stop and try to understand what they are telling you. Careful listening shows respect and will help you both figure out what to do next.

The time for repairing relationships is today

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 1076 – Words Hurt

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

Those who are emotionally abusive, are just as dangerous as those who are physically abusive.

People can be emotionally abusive by:

Rejecting the person by undermining self-esteem, criticizing, humiliating, blaming, or ridiculing

They can withhold affection or threaten to take away possessions

Abuse my also be restricting access to people or money, or exposing the person to inappropriate situations

Emotional Abuse can lead to many emotional, physical, cognitive, and behavioural issues. It can impact social development, future success, and relationships outside of the abusive relationship.

Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Bringing Awareness To Emotional Abuse:

People who are the target of emotional abuse are made to feel insignificant and incapable. Often, having an advocate or a person that they can confide in, can help them to see the abuse is not their fault.

If you are being emotionally abused, talk to someone – find someone you can trust – a family member, friend, co-worker, EAP, supervisor, spiritual leader, community advisor or health professional. These resources can help you to examine all of your options so that you can decide what is best for you.

Emotional abuse is a serious issue faced by many, but help is available. Recognition is the key.

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.

EP 1085 – Building Resilience As We Age

Do you find yourself creaking, cracking, groaning, or moaning, more as you age?

I recently took a look at a website that tried to determine your real age compared to your chronological age.

I was pleased to see that it covered a variety of areas related to positive stress management and this sparked some interesting reflection regarding healthy aging.

Studies show that regularly exercising our brains by problem-solving, organizing, and prioritizing helps our bodies age healthy.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Healthy Aging Month.

Well besides the obvious of healthy eating and staying hydrated, along with regular exercise, make sure that you're getting an adequate amount of sleep.

And finally, look for creative ways to stimulate your brain.

If you'd like some more tips, follow me on twitter at SOS to stress.