It’s mid-December and the holiday season is in full swing. Flu season is upon us. Students are staring down finals. There is much to do and precious little time to do it. And is it just me or are there just a lot of changes happening ? I got news of 2 big changes to my personal and professional situation … Read More
Quirky & Fun Ways To Reduce Stress
Earlier this week I was having a rough day and, as a result, was carrying around all that stress. I found relief in an unexpected way- while walking the dogs we were caught in a rainstorm. Getting caught in the rain was a wonderful opportunity to let go. I was already soaked so why not splash in the puddles? Why … Read More
How to make big life decisions
Earlier this year I found myself dealing with job burnout and was faced with a major life choice- what direction to take in my career. Seek another full-time job? Take a part-time job? Start offering work-life balance and professional development coaching services on the side? Start actively pursing paid speaking engagements? Take a risk or follow the “safer” route? Ultimately … Read More
17 Ways to give yourself a break
If you’re not nice to you, who will be? Don’t you deserve to give yourself a break? I know I do! I’m a recovered perfectionist, fully enjoying a peaceful, happy life after many years stressing over getting every little detail right. I’m sure I’m not alone because when I look around me I see many people burdened by perfectionism and … Read More
How To Deal With Conflict
Conflict happens regularly in life. Conflict often arises when minor disagreements go unnoticed or unaddressed and become larger issues. In other cases we experience unnecessary stress over perceived conflicts because we have been conditioned to focus on negative experiences. How we deal with conflict has a significant impact on our health, happiness, and success in life. By overcoming emotional attachments … Read More
The Dos and Don’ts of Work Life Balance
When I tell people I write about work-life balance the response I get most often is, “I need some of that!” Don’t we all? The problem is we tend to think of work-life balance as a destination we hope to arrive at one day but like most of the things we want in life (happiness, love, success) work-life balance is … Read More
Give feedback that gives back
One of the most valuable skills I’ve learned in Toastmasters is how to give helpful and encouraging evaluations. I’ve learned the best feedback is constructive and motivating. Most of us have many opportunities to give professional feedback. Managers need to give feedback regularly (not just once a year!), as do committee members, project leaders, team members, and customers. We all … Read More
6 Things Not To Say In The Workplace
I read an article listing the top things never to say to your boss. It was a ridiculous article that focused on the boss’s needs and made employees sound like whiny self-centered complainers, which in my professional experience this is very rarely the case. The vast majority of people I’ve worked with throughout my career have been hard-working and dedicated … Read More
52 Ways To Be Kind At Work
It’s the season of giving and you don’t need money to give generously. Some of the best gifts are random acts of kindness, inspired by a paying it forward mentality. Showing kindness to others is a simple and easy way to brighten the day of those around you. As an added bonus you are likely to feel happier when people … Read More
How To Set Boundaries At Work
Are your work days generally productive? Do you spend your work time getting done what you really need to get done? Do your customers and co-workers respect you? Do you feel happy at work? If you said no to any of these questions you may need to set boundaries at work. How do I know? Years ago I had few … Read More