Work Smart Live Smart with Beverly Beuermann-King

It is usually the longest relationship in our life. If you have brothers or sisters, then you will know that rivalry and love can exist in the same relationship. Siblings are a part of who we are, and that shared history is what makes this relationship so valuable.

Did you know that research has shown that healthy sibling relationships can significantly benefit us later in life’ The quality of sibling relationships is one of the most important predictors of mental health in old age, according to The American Journal of Psychiatry. Research shows that people who are emotionally close to their siblings have higher life satisfaction and lower rates of depression later in life.

An agreeable relationship between siblings isn’t always a given. It takes work.

Today is the day to let your siblings know how much you appreciate them. Sibling Day is a way of honouring that special bond that can exist between siblings.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Siblings Day:

• Post a photo with your siblings using the hashtag #NationalSiblingsDay

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

Today is the day to share your favourite poem with your friends and co-workers. You may share the actual piece of paper you wrote it on, or you can Tweet it or FB it. Poetry can be shared at any time.

Poetry can be a mantra for living.  It can express your emotions.  Sometimes it can remind us of those we have loved or lost.  Poetry can give a spiritual connection.  It can provide you with a new perspective, and it can transport you.

One of my favourites for living my life is by Dylan Thomas.  Life is to be lived, not watched.

Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Sometimes we find lessons in poems that are bang on.

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

Go through your old books and re-visit some of the poems that use to connect to your heart

Search through the Internet to find some old classics or to read what a younger generation is writing about

Write your own poem to express your gratitude or your emotions.  It can help you to go deeper and sort out all that you are experiencing

Share your poems with others

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

Getting a full night’s sleep is up there on the list of things that can make you an energetic, happier person. That quality and quantity can be impacted by poor feng shui in your bedroom. By being aware of some of the principles of feng shui, your bedroom can promote healing, love, and energy.

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

Meeting the feng shui bed guidelines starts with a solid headboard, good mattress, good frame height, and no storage underneath.

Choose Your Bedroom to be at the back-end of your home. The back-end of our homes are usually much quieter and your sleep is less likely to be disrupted.

Position your head so that you can see the door and have your headboard against the wall. This gives you a subtle sense of security that’ll help you fall asleep easier. The feng shui commanding position is the area furthest diagonally from the door, but not in line with it.

Only have things that bring you joy and help your energy

Work and sleep don’t mix, so avoid work-related furniture in the bedroom.

Get rid of “light pollution” that causes sleepless nights. Use black out curtains if necessary.

Remove all electronics from easy-access to your bed, and you can find your sleep quality improve.

Keep your bedroom free of clutter including underneath your bed. A clean and organized bedroom is more visually relaxing and less likely to invoke frustration and agitation that lower your sleep quality.

Feng shui is often misconstrued as a complicated, confusing process, however, just follow a few basic principles. Keep clutter at a minimum, have plenty of natural light and fill your home with rounded or curved furniture to allow energy to flow more freely throughout a space.

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

I have a Social Phobia.  It produces extreme reactions in me. 

I am a stress and wellness speaker.  I can stand up in front of hundreds of people.  However, put me into a situation where I am being graded, evaluated, or tested and I fold. I think that I have FNE or fear of negative evaluation.

This became obvious when I went to a karate grading.  It wasn’t even really being graded. It was being pre-graded for my black belt.  When the big day came, it overwhelmed me. 

When I think back, I know that this happened at every skating competition and every piano recital.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Stress Awareness Month:

Many employees hate the performance appraisal to the point where they make them physically ill.  Often in these situations, they miss any positive comments and hear only the areas that were cited as needing to improve. 

As employers, flexibility is needed.  Not all performance appraisals need to be delivered in person.  Allow people to choose how they want to proceed. 

If you have a social phobia, know that to overcome a fear takes work. You need to slowly learn how to challenge some of the unhelpful thoughts that the fear generates.

Expose yourself to your social phobia in a safe way.  Plan and practice your stress strategies ahead of time so that they are like second nature during your exposure.

Ask for help.  Let others support you during those stressful times.

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

Part of spring cleaning is tackling your cupboards and drawers.  Well how about that medicine cupboard? Do You Know About Medication Safety?

I know that mine had been neglected when I found a jar of Vicks medicated rub from when I was a kid.  Yes, that was a long time ago and yes, it was about time that it was thrown out.  I have no idea if that stuff ever goes bad, but I probably should have thrown it out years ago.  I have carted it from my bedroom, to my residence room, to my first apartment, and then from one home to the next with my family.

Medication errors are said to affect at least 1.5 million Canadians per year according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information.  And those mistakes can be disastrous.

Medication safety isn’t just about an expiry date.  It’s about safe storage.  Knowing what medications may interact with other medications, food and supplements. It’s about telling your doctor about any side effects you may have had from previous prescriptions and what supplements or over-the-counter medications you may be taking.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Medication Safety Week:

Check your prescriptions periodically for expiration dates

Don’t share medicines with friends or family

Dispose of medications properly. Most pharmacies will take your old drugs for proper disposal. Avoid putting them in trashcans or into the toilet

Remember that the term “natural” does not necessarily mean “safe”.  Treat all supplements and herbal remedies with the same respect as you would any prescribed medications

 Make Sure That Your Family Stays Safe And Healthy

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