Work Smart Live Smart with Beverly Beuermann-King

EP 656 – Grieving The Loss Of A Child

The loss of a child is the most stressful and inconsolable of losses to deal with. It violates the natural order of things and it’s not fair for an innocent to see their dreams unfulfilled.

I watched as my husband`s parents grieved for the loss of their son, my husband`s only sibling.  I watched how my brother-in-law`s wife`s parents grieved for the loss of their daughter. Together they were killed by a drunk and drugged driver. Their pain was evident and their grieving styles so different, as was the responses of their family and friends.

Often, we don’t know what to say or do for grieving parents, so we do nothing.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency Through Bereaved Parents Awareness Month:

Don`t avoid the parents. It is okay for you to not know what to say or how to help. A listening ear may be what they need the most. I love the sentiment that one parent received from a friend:  “Grieve well. One day you will cease to remember him with tears and instead remember him with smiles.”

Don`t avoid important dates such as birthdays and anniversaries, but provide an opportunity for the parent to grieve and remember and not feel like they must hold the grief under control.

Be aware and provide support for both the health of the bereaved parents and their relationships. According to research, bereaved mothers and fathers experience more physical and emotional issues than do non-bereaved parents, including severe depression. It is estimated that over 70% of marriages where a child has died, end in separation or divorce.

Be patient. Grieving parents may think, do, and say things that are very unlike who they really are and as their family and friends, our job is to be there for them and not judge their reactions as justified or unfair.

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 655 – Dealing With Change

Moving, having children, starting a new job, quitting a comfortable job, getting married, getting divorced, buying a car, buying a house, upgrading your technology, implementing a new system….

How Do You Feel About Change?

Change can be scary – it can be difficult – it can cause anxiety.

So why do we have so much trouble dealing with change?

1. Difficult saying goodbye – whether it be to a loved one or a world that has given identity, change can often mean that we lose something of value.
2. Dislike chaotic and confusing situations in which no one seems to know the new rules. This loss in direction can lead to a fear of the unknown.
3. Difficulty taking risk. We are creatures of habit which provides us with security, predictability, stability, and comfort. When this disappears, we become anxious and stay awake at night worrying about our choices.

Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Take Charge Of Change Week:

Dealing with change can be stressful. Achieve a sense of control by problem-solving around what you can control and letting go of what you can’t control. Control starts in your own mind. If you believe you have control of your life, then you probably do. Actions are the easiest to control, while thoughts and emotions are harder to control. Actions have a positive effect on our thoughts and emotions. Start by controlling your actions.

Finally, Let go and relax

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

EP 654– Stretching The Truth

Liar, liar, pants on fire.

Have you ever told a lie?  Even a little white lie?

Is it ever okay to lie?  Do you think that stretching the truth is lying?  Or is lying by omission lying?

Have you ever lied about your spending habits or about an illness to a boss so that you could take an extra vacation day?  Is there such a thing as an acceptable lie?

Research out of the University of California suggests that people tell an average of two lies a day.  A survey conducted in the UK estimated that parents will tell children approximately 3,000 lies throughout their childhood and a US poll reported that 31% of moms said that they lied more often since having kids.

So is it possible to always tell the truth?  Probably not as sometimes we lie to protect the feelings of another or to prevent issues from arising. 

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Tell The Truth Day:

Take note of the things that you may be lying about.  Then, ask yourself why do you feel the need to lie about these things? The insights that you garner may be invaluable in measuring your morale compass.

See how long you can go without lying.  And avoiding all other human contact during this time doesn’t count.  Do you have a harder time not lying at work or at home?

REMEMBER THE GOLDEN RULE – Let the truth you share be in a manner that you would also appreciate.

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 653– Kissing For Happiness

Pucker up. Today is a lip-smacking day.

Is your technique more washing machine, cannibal, puppy, or prude?

Did you know that locking lips, increases your heart rate and causes your pupils to dilate? It also releases endorphins causing the feeling of happiness.

A kiss is a perfect way to tell someone you love them, to connect with that special someone and a perfect way to take your relationship to the next level.

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

Did you know that:

In Italy and Greece friends, commonly kiss each other on the lips when greeting each other, whereas in France one air kiss on each cheek is a customary greeting.

In Vietnam, China and Japan kissing between spouses is only done in private. While people from the Netherlands opt for 3 kisses as a form of greeting.

In one survey, 23% said that their kissing skills were amazing, while 2% said that they were horrible at it.

They also reported that the worst attributes of a bad kisser were bad breath, too much tongue, teeth gnashing, not enough tongue and no eye contact.

Funny enough, 11% of people said that there were grossed out by their parents kissing in front of them.

The act of kissing has many meanings and takes many forms. No matter which type of kiss you prefer, International Kissing Day is the perfect time to celebrate this powerful gesture. And if you don’t have anyone that you can pucker up with, you can always celebrate the day with a yummy Hershey’s Kiss.

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

EP 652 – Cell Phone Courtesy

Have you experienced this?

The driver in front of you is going slower and slower on the highway as they talk on their phone

You are in the bookstore when the person walking beside you has their phone go off breaking the peace and silence.

You are sitting at a restaurant enjoying the company and the meal when the person next to you engages in cell yell.

I think that we have all been exposed to poor cell phone etiquette.

Are you attached to your cell phone?

I don’t particularly like mine.  In fact, I keep it off most of the time, unless I need to call my husband or remind my kids of something if I am on the road.  But it is getting harder and harder to do that.

Cell phones are an integral part of our technology-based world, and they won’t be disappearing anytime soon.  However, if we all practiced a little more courtesy using our phone, then maybe cell phones would not seem so annoying and intrusive.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Cell Phone Courtesy Month:

Evaluate your own cell phone practices:

Make sure you keep it down. No one wants to hear you on the phone

Love the vibration. Use your phone’s vibration mode when in public

Try to excuse yourself when accepting a call in a group gathering

Focus on the task at hand, not your cell phone

And try to make the Person You are With Feel Like the Most Important Person you want to talk to

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 651 – Combating Boredom

“I’m bored, there’s nothing to do”.

As summer vacation begins for thousands of children this is far too often a familiar complaint. But boredom is generally a totally self-inflicted problem.

The antidote to boredom is curiosity. Curiosity happens when you start to explore the world around you.

You will be less likely to feel bored if you go out, get active, pick up a new hobby, or even volunteer. You will be too busy learning new things or meeting new people to feel bored.

For children the anticipation of summer-fun wanes as the summer goes on and all those previously fun activities start to feel stale.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Anti-boredom Month with your family:

Make up a new sport. When you’ve created new rules for an old game, your mind in more engaged and time flies by.

Change the scenery – Set up a tent or a picnic area in your backyard.

Put out a challenge. Design the classic scavenger hunt or let the kids design the challenge for an activity and see what they come up with.

Come up with a list of the most boring things to do and see how the creative juices kick in.

And if all else fails – suggest a list of chores that they can complete. You will be amazed at how quickly they can find activities to entertain themselves.

Remember, 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 650– Positive Body Image

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall. A fairy tale question that can be the basis for our everyday ritual.  A mirror image is a reflected duplication of an object that appears identical but reversed, but often, what we see is not just reversed but often distorted.

Many women and some men spend much of their lives attempting to change their bodies. Only 4% of women globally consider themselves beautiful.

A positive body image involves understanding that healthy, attractive bodies come in many shapes and sizes, and that physical appearance says very little about our character or value as a person.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Compliment Your Mirror Day:

I am SO guilty of looking in the mirror and picking away at the things that are not perfect: my crooked toes and my short waist.  Not to mention my eye lids that are sagging with age and the loose skin on my arms. It is hard to look at yourself in the mirror and ignore what is not ‘ideal’ and to celebrate what is unique and beautiful.

We have a positive body image when we have a realistic perception of our bodies AND most of the time, we enjoy them just as they are.

Learn to de-emphasize the numbers and emphasize positive self-care choices. 

Stop comparing yourself to others. You’re are unique.

And finally, one that I am working on is setting a good example for others by refraining from “fat talk”  or “old talk” when you are with friends and family.  Think of it as the psychic equivalent of second-hand smoke.

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

EP 649 – Oh No, I Forgot!

Ever been standing there, looking at someone directly in their eyes, knowing that you have a history together and for the life of you, you can’t remember their name?

Ever walked into a room and not remembered why you were heading there?

I hate forgetting things. I get annoyed when others seem to be able to remember the smallest details and I can’t even remember being there. Sometimes I think I have early Alzheimer’s.

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

I tend to believe that much of our ‘forgetting’ is based on interference theory. Interference occurs when the learning of something new causes the forgetting of older material on the basis of competition between the two.  Simply…we often have way too much on our mind.

Stress Affects Our Memory

There is competition for our attention and competition in juggling far too many things at once.  We are stressed out and this interferes with what and how we store these things.

So, slow down and try to live more in the moment.  Go from multi-tasking to single tasking and see if these stress reducers are memory boosters

Try boosting your memory with foods rich in Omega-3 such as seafood, nuts and seeds.

And if you are really concerned that you are forgetting more than you should, go and see your doctor. It may not be Alzheimer’s, but it could be the result of a number of different health issues including depression.

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

Want to find more strategies to coping with stress? Check out my website at worksmartlivesmart.com

EP 648– Play At The Park

Frequently going to a park and being active can reduce stress, improve cardiovascular health, help ward off obesity and decrease feelings of depression. Research shows that:

Active users of public parks have a lower body mass index

People who visit parks for longer periods of time (one hour or more) have significantly lower systolic blood pressures

Playing in parks also helps children build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints, improve self-esteem

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Recreation And Parks Month:

Take a look at what is available near you for a relatively low entertainment fee

From camping overnight to enjoying the day at the beach our parks can provide an opportunity to enjoy some of the best views and activities our countries have to offer. If you are camping overnight, plan for both the good weather and bad.

Let go of your everyday worries and be in the moment. Enjoy the sights and sounds that only our parks can provide.

Leave your technology at home or at least turn it off. There is nothing like cooking outdoors or sitting beside the fire. Resist the urge to bring modern conveniences with you. Check in for messages only when absolutely necessary

Our parks are one of our national treasures that many of us don’t take the time to enjoy. However, they can provide us with an opportunity to relax and get connected with ourselves, our family and friends and to nature itself.

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

EP 647 – SOS To Stress

Coping with stress is simple…though not always easy.”

We hear so much about stress.  Most of it negative.  Most of it about the sources or symptoms.  Some of it inaccurate.  And much of it not helpful.

Today is SOS To STRESS Day

This day was conceived because we need to hear more about how to deal with stress and build our resiliency.  We already know that it is bad to be “under” too much stress.  We need to know what options we have to deal with it.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating SOS To Stress Day:

SOS To STRESS Day is about coping. It is about finding the right strategies to take care of the situations and ourself.

What Do Sleep, Sex and Sweaty Palms Have In Common?

They are all impacted by stress. Stress plays on our minds and keeps up awake at night. It can lower our libido. It brings about headaches, high blood pressure and sweaty palms.  So, how do we determine the right strategies to deal with so many different sources of stress and such a large variety of symptoms?

The S-O-S Principle helps us to ensure that no matter what we are facing we are able to best take care of the Situation and Ourselves and be Supported while we are doing this. 

There is no one way to deal with stress…despite what others may suggest or tell you.  It is about designing a plan with sufficient strategies to be successful, healthy and happy.

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

EP 646 – Smile and Take Care Of Your Oral Health

Want to live longer?

Then smile more.

Smiling is contagious.  It changes our mood. It fights stress and builds your resiliency. Smiling boosts your immune system. It lowers your blood pressure and blocks pain.

Part of National Smile Month is about maintaining good oral health. I just recently went to see my dentist and I didn’t have it in me to lie about flossing my teeth. I just don’t take the time, especially as life gets busy and rushed. And I am not the only one.

Currently, research shows that a significant number of us have taken time off work in the last five years due to poor oral health. Most problems with teeth and gums are preventable with a good daily routine. Furthermore, a quarter of all adults have not visited a dentist in the past two years and a similar number only brush their teeth once a day.

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

The Oral Health Foundations recommends that we brush our teeth right before going to bed at night and on at least one other occasion throughout the day with a fluoride toothpaste. We should also cut down on how much sugary food and drinks we have, and how often we have them. And finally, we need to go to see our dentist regularly.

Ultimately, the aim is to help us achieve good physical and mental wellbeing by improving our oral health.

A smile might be a small gesture, yet it can have a remarkable effect on our state of mind, as well as the emotional happiness of others.

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

EP 645– Rebuild Your Life Month

Some days when things are so hectic, I forget where I am supposed to be or I leave important notes and items back at my office. I struggle daily with trying not to be a perfectionist.  Sometimes my total focus is on family issues and I haven’t tackled any of the jobs on my desk.  Other times when I am so pressured to meet a deadline, that even saying good night to my family seems too much of a distraction.

There are habits and strategies that I use to keep me, and my family organized, and to maintain my health.  My afternoon nap allows me to recoup from my working day and gear up for my evenings spent teaching karate. Spring and summer are my favourite time of year and there is nothing better than a day spent away from my office gardening, cutting the grass, or just sitting on the patio. 

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Rebuild Your Life Month:

Finding the right balance is important for ourselves and for our organizations.

Life is busy and often we are pulled in many directions.  Balance is not about equality in all areas of life.  It is about making choices and living in a way in which you feel motivated and satisfied with the way your life is going.

If your life is not exactly how you want it to be, take the time to rethink your strategies and look for ways to rebuild your resiliency.

Remember, 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 644 – Post-Traumatic Stress

Our lives can become filled with anxiety, fear, and uncertainty and with little information on where to turn, we find ourselves struggling on our own. We know that this stress can have a profound effect on our health and the lives of those around us.

Traumatic events can bring about an extreme stress disorder. Whether it be living through an earthquake, surviving childhood abuse, witnessing violent acts of terrorism or being a first responder to an accident, all of these can bring about PTSD. Post-traumatic Stress can seemingly creep into our lives when we least expect it.

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

Treatment depends on the severity and persistence of symptoms. Support, debriefing, therapy, and medications have all been shown to be effective ways of managing PTSD.

We do know that having the opportunity to share your feelings and memories with others who have also experienced similar tragedies can be helpful in processing and recovering from a trauma.

The number one tip, is Don’t Be Afraid To Reach Out For Support

We must develop our supports as they can provide a protective barrier. Talk to friends and family about your fears. If they seem overwhelming contact your doctor or a counselor. Your workplace Human Resources Department or Employee Assistance Program may also be a valuable support.

Remember, 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 643 – Education Is The Key To Reducing Drug Use

The United Nations estimates today that more than 240 million people in the world suffer from illicit drug use. This represents 4.7% of the world’s population. The breadth of the global drug problem carries a heavy burden on public health systems and workplaces with respect to treatments, care and prevention.

In the world, a third of all substance abusers are women. Women are more inclined to consume opioids and prescription tranquilizers compared to men, who would be 3 times more likely to consume cannabis, cocaine and amphetamines.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking:

Substance use may cause issues at work by:

impacting a person’s judgment, alertness, perception, motor coordination or emotional state which also impacts working safely or making safety sensitive decisions.

Certain elements of work may contribute to the use of substances such as

high stress, high demand/low control situations, low job satisfaction, long hours or irregular shifts, and fatigue.

Employers need to design policies which outline what is an acceptable code of behaviour and what is not. By establishing or promoting programs such as an Employee Assistance Program, employees can gain better access to community services.

Education is the key. Managers and supervisors should be educated on how to recognize and deal with substance use issues, and employees should be offered educational programs about positive coping strategies and where to go if help is needed.

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

EP 642 – Vacations For Your Mental Health

Time off is essential to our mental health, yet three in ten put our holidays on standby and we leave them unused.

More hours spent on the job can often mean less quality time with friends and loved ones and can negatively impact our mental and physical health.

When we do not use our allotted time, we may experience more stress related symptoms such as mood swings, frustration, irritability, pessimism, feelings of being rushed, pushed or tired, more headaches, sleep difficulties and gastrointestinal disorders. Being overworked and vacation deprived may result in not communicating as effectively, problem solving as efficiently and are being as creative or energized as those who do take their allotted vacation time.

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

Many of us are working under the false belief that more in always equals more out. Unfortunately our bodies and minds can only work at peak efficiency for so long before they start to break-down and shut-down. Make sure that you use all of your allotted vacation time.

It may not be the employee that is not valuing the benefits of vacation time. There are some leaders who see vacation time as a nuisance and a disruption to the productivity of the group. Employers can minimize vacation deprivation by lightening their workload and by encouraging them to take time off.

Vacation usage is one of the most common corporate wellness programs. Vacation usage needs to be evaluated, as it can be an early indicator of individual and team difficulties, which may negatively impact the corporate bottom line.

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

EP 641 – Celebrating Our Senses

Taste, touch, sight, sound and smell.

We are often bombarded and feel that we are on sensory overload.

Most everything we know, feel, understand, and struggle with comes through our senses, including pain and pleasure. But how often do you actually pay attention to your specific senses?

By focusing on all five of our senses, we can promote health and wellbeing in our workplace. We can use these individual senses to boost our creativity, productivity and happiness.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Celebration Of The Senses Day:

Look for ways to boost each of the five senses in your workplace.

Taste. Did you know that chewing gum can help you stay focused for longer on tasks that require continuous monitoring? And that chewing gum can improve concentration in visual memory tasks?

Touch. I like having squish toys to play with while I am on the phone or listening to an on-line learning course. It helps me to concentrate more on what is being said. And research has found that these fidget toys are most beneficial to those who are more kinesthetic learners.

Sight. Try adding a bouquet of flowers. One study found that including plants and flowers in your work environment improved productivity and creativity.

Sound. Research from Cornell University found that employees who listened to happy music were able to cooperate and make group decisions better than employees who worked without a background soundtrack. If you’re going to play music in your workplace, the most important thing you need to do is match the type and tempo of the music to the task and level of concentration required.

Smell. Scents are tied directly to the part of the brain that is linked to memory and emotion, so scents can influence both. Some scents are known to reduce stress, others are known to improve productivity. Play around with mild scents in your workspace to see what you prefer, just remember not to interfere with your colleagues and their ability to enjoy their workspace.

Remember, 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 640 – Let It Go

Make it a point to never regret. Regret is an appalling waste of energy. It is only good for wallowing in.

Regretful Situations and Difficult People.

These can play on our minds and lead us to becoming angry, frustrated, hurt, guilt-ridden or even embarrassed.

Moving past these situations can be difficult. Your logical mind wants to work it out so that it doesn't happen again. You focus on the “what if’s” and “if only’s”. You replay the situation over and over. Letting go feels like we are admitting that we were wrong in some way.

Holding on to pain doesn’t fix anything. Replaying the past over and over again, doesn’t change it, and wishing things were different, doesn’t make it so.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Let It Go Day:

Identify those situations or people that pushed your ‘buttons’

Try to look at the situation or person without judgement. What lesson can you learn, and appreciate that you have learned that lesson

Recognize the emotions behind these situations and then do something to relieve the tension. Try deep breathing, a hobby or exercise

Positive self-talk. Reaffirm that you are doing the best that you can and that letting go is not 'wrong'

Finally, rely on your positive supports to keep the situation in perspective

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

EP 639 – Focusing On Professional Wellness

June is a time of reflection.

The goal of Professional Wellness Month is to encourage you to reflect on how your health and wellness intersect with your professional life.  

One of the main sources of stress at work is having too much to do and not enough time to do it in. Examine your workload. Are you working copious amounts of overtime? Have you stop taking breaks? Are you feeling vacation deprived?

If so, here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Professional Wellness Month:

If workload is the reason you're unable to take breaks or vacation, discuss the problem with your manager to find a solution. It is important to know when to ask for help, rather than letting the stress build to the point of burnout, anxiety or depression.

Eating well, exercising, attending to our health and feeling good, makes you more productive at work. So build in strategies to take care of your biological needs, as well as strategies to give yourself a break from your workplace stress.

Get a life outside of work. Focus on hobbies, friends, and family. Unplug and learn to focus on these activities and relationships. Focusing more on your time away from work will benefit your energy and creativity while you are at work.

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

 

 

EP 638 – Is The Handshake Gone Forever?

How ironic that today we are to be celebrating one of the most common greetings between two people.

The handshake was a gesture of peace, demonstrated by the fact that the hands held no weapons.

Today, a handshake is offered upon meeting or parting. It is an expression of goodwill, gratitude and congratulations. Sometimes it is used in making a bet and confirming the bet with a handshake. There are also secret handshakes, those elaborate greetings signalling membership in a group or society.

Research shows people with firmer handshakes are viewed as more positive and outgoing and less socially anxious.

Do you dislike the thought of shaking another person’s hand or feel that we should do away with this handshake all together especially in light of current health issues? Many people do.

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

When and if we ever get back to feeling comfortable using the handshake again, remember that it should be positive, friendly, warm, and welcoming. A handshake is a way of creating and sustaining relationships. Avoid using the crushing alpha handshake or the flaccid dead fish handshake.

During these current times you can replace the handshake with these acceptable greetings in addition to the popular foot tap or the elbow touch.

The Namaste which is a traditional Hindu greeting, is done by bowing slightly, palms pressed together toward your chest, with your fingertips pointing up.

Just like the foot tap, don't say "hello" with your hands – when you can say it with your brows. Greet your colleague with a raise brows and smile

Another popular way to greet someone is by bringing your hand to your heart.

Finally, you can replace the handshake with the sign language wave. Bring one hand to the top of your forehead, then flick your wrist away from your head like a small wave or with the Shaka sign which you may also know as the wave of the surfer dude.

 

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

EP 637 – Promoting Productivity While Working From Home

As a leader, are you having trouble adjusting to your team working remotely?

We know that how we do our work is changing and so is the way that we are working as a team.

As a leader, you may be biased against having your team work remotely and this may be causing them and you more stress than it needs to.

Do you find yourself thinking that your team is not as productive as they would be if they were all in one location?

This bias may be from thinking that it is difficult to confirm if an employee is performing adequately – if I can see them, then how do I know what they are doing?

Or, it may be around inconveniences in communication. What if there is a problem, how will I get a hold of them?

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

Start by asking yourself a few basic questions.

What do I need to let go of to see this as an opportunity for my team and myself?

Is a lack of trust or the need for control possibly holding me back from fully embracing this opportunity?

And if the answer is yes, how can I build more trust within my team or how can I satisfy my need for control while making the need for working remotely work for everyone?

What are the resources that will make working from home more effective and efficient for my team? It may take a bit of a learning curve, but the time investment in these resources, can dramatically increase productivity.

What guidelines do we need to ensure that we have effective communication, without losing the opportunity for informal collaboration and brainstorming?

Finally, ask yourself if I am creating an environment were my team feels safe in bringing up challenges and voicing an alternate opinion.

If you’ve been reluctant in embracing the opportunities that come from working from home, you may owe it to your team to address these biases.

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