Work Smart Live Smart with Beverly Beuermann-King

Do you hate it when the interviewer goes after the second place person and asks them how it feels to lose the race?  Do you always cheer for the underdog, the team not expected to win?  Are your favourite movies the one where the underdog prevails? Today is the day to salute all of the underdogs and unsung heroes.

An underdog is a person or group who is expected to lose. However, sometimes they pull off the unexpected. Isn’t that what life is like for most of us?

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

Who are the underdogs in your workplace, family or community who could use a little extra encouragement or know that someone is in their corner?  Go out and be their cheerleader.

Are you letting your fear of not winning, stopping you from even being a part of the game?

Most of the underdogs that we celebrate in our society and in our movies have a few things in common.  They don’t throw in the towel just because they aren’t expected to win.  They give it their all until the very end. 

When my son was just starting out in hockey, they use to rotate the goalies.  His team was badly beat by one particular team.  On the next re-match, my son was to be the goalie.  He donned his gear and was determined to stop the pucks that came his way. In the end, they lost by 10 goals.  I was fully prepared to go into the dressing room and provide my motherly comfort and ‘you’ll get them next time’ speech.  To my great surprise, my son’s first comment, was “Well at least we didn’t lose by 15 like the last time”.

Improvement is improvement and who knows what the outcome will be the next time….good lesson for all of us.

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

Thank you! Good work, as always. Thanks for getting this done. You are a lifesaver.

Thanks for your help today.

One step to emotional wellness is being able to learn to give to others. Recognize and tell someone that they are doing a good job. Research says that you will be boosting their health and yours.

So here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Tell Someone They Are Doing A Good Job Week:

Don’t forget that your people want to do well. Before getting frustrated with someone remind yourself of that, and then decide how to provide constructive feedback.

When someone does something well, tell them that you notice. As a leader it is easy to forget to mention it. Most leaders wait until something goes wrong before they even think about giving employee feedback. And then it’s only negative. Block out some time during the week to reflect on positive contributions your team has made over the week

However, don’t overdo it. If you are sending people emails everyday then your positive feedback becomes diluted and meaningless.

Finally, don’t use phrases like "great job" or "nice work" as these are so vague as to be virtually useless. Use the opportunity to teach which of their terrific behaviors you would like to see repeated in the future.

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

Crispy or chewy? Palm-sized, or bite-sized? Sprinkles or no?

One of the first signs that the holidays are close is the invite to participate in the Cookie Exchange.  Have you ever been involved in a cookie exchange’ I have and it was so much fun…but for others I know, this is the last thing that they want to participate in.

Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resilience and Celebrating National Cookie Exchange Week:

A Cookie Exchange doesn’t have to be a strictly C2C (cookie to cookie) transaction. At your workplace you can enjoy the holiday spirit by giving out cookies in exchange for smiles, holiday singing, or anything else you can think of to bring cheer to your colleagues.

Use the cookies as a way of fundraising to support a family in need.

Finally, make sure that if you are involved in a cookie exchange that it is fun and for connection. It shouldn’t be extra work or add to your stress-level…especially at this time of year.

When looking up National Cookie Exchange Week, I came across a site that told me what kind of a cookie I was…I am a Peanut Butter Cookie. I am not one to skimp on the finer things in life, and keeping my finances in check is crucial. You may want to check out that quiz.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line vulnerability test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

Did you know that flowers and plants freshen the air?

This is a day set aside to honor our clean air and to raise awareness of the many environmental issues that are changing our climate on earth. This is one of several official days to pay attention to your environment and the air we breathe. Air pollution is the largest environmental health risk in the country, ranking alongside cancer, heart disease and obesity in the scale of its health impacts.  Air pollution affects us all at work, at home and when we are out and about.  It causes heart and lung diseases, affects children’s lung development and shortens life. 1 in 8 deaths around the world is linked to poor air quality.

So here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Clean Air Day:

Clean Air Day 2018 is the perfect opportunity for people to ditch their cars and either walk or cycle to work.

Even the smallest contribution soon mounts up when large groups of people pledge their commitment.

Taking a walk in nature, breathing in the cool crisp air and slowing down for a moment is also a great way to celebrate

We need to protect Mother Earth and making sure that the air that we breathe is as clean and healthy as possible.

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

Today is my day to indulge. Chocoholics, rejoice! For today, we celebrate the treat of dipping anything in chocolate

Chocolate compliments so many different flavors. From chocolate covered pretzels to chocolate covered espresso beans, sweet, salty, and savory items can all be dipped. Love this quote from Charles M Schultz: “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”

So here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Chocolate Covered Anything Day:

If you don’t have access to a chocolate fountain, you can still have some chocolate dipping fun. Look up melted chocolate recipes and instructions and gather your favorite foods to dip in chocolate. Make it healthy and dip strawberries, pineapple spears, or really any fruit. Or go decadent and dip marshmallows, cookies, and cakes. You can really dip almost anything in chocolate, and it will be delicious. Though I may draw the line on chocolate covered bacon, jalapenos or fish.

Cover your food in chocolate today, and, in spirit of the holiday season, share some of your chocolate covered treats with your friends and family.

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

This day is a day of encouragement and inspiration. National Wear Your Pearls Day was created by best-selling author and motivational speaker DeAnna Bookert to celebrate life after she emerged from a deep depression. She said, “I wear pearls as a reminder that I have purpose and value,”. We are reminded that one irritating grain of sand can cause an iridescent pearl to form.  National Wear Your Pearls Day reminds us that when life throws dirt our way, we can take that dirt build on it and turn it into something meaningful and precious. Pearls symbolize wisdom acquired through experience and represent new beginnings.

So here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Wear Your Pearls Day:

Embrace the beauty of your life, a beauty that is often formed through hardships and trials

And when life throws dirt your way, put on your pearls

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

Yoga can give you a piece of time to observe your mind and your heart. People have different ways of relaxing, some of them healthier than others. Some people drink a glass of wine, some doze off in front of the TV, and some people prefer physical pursuits. One of the best and oldest ways to release the tension building up in both the body and the mind is practicing yoga. The benefits of practicing yoga, such as mastering countless techniques of controlling the body and the mind, have been widely recognized by the Western world for years.

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

If you are a devout practitioner, today is the day to celebrate as it is the birthday the man called “the father of modern yoga,” B.K.S. Iyengar.

Even if you don’t consider yourself a particularly fit person—don’t worry! Due to its slow, fluid movements, few people suffer any kind of injuries practicing yoga, and many of the meditation techniques, breathing exercises, and certain postures are considered safe and beneficial even for those suffering various illnesses as well as pregnant women. Just make sure you don’t attempt a headstand the first time you decide to give yoga a try.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency, take my free on-line vulnerability test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

The Ugly Christmas Sweater trend has made its way online and in stores, with extravagant additions including light up Christmas trees, wine bottle holders and modern-day slogans. And naughty and nice two-person sweaters that you can share with your partner. There are even social media battles for the most likes, shares and comments on your Ugly Christmas Sweater.

So here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day:

National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day is on the third Friday and is about proudly sporting your favorite ugly Christmas sweater for the entire day. Don’t have an ugly sweater’ Make one of your own. Bedazzle an old sweater, add embroidered holiday motifs and some sequins, and voila, you are ready for Ugly Sweater Day

Why am I mentioning this so soon’ Well because it is the day for light hearted fun and a day to not be that buttoned up corporate version of yourself, you will need some time to buy or make your sweater, get up the nerve to wear your sweater and get your colleagues on board to wear their sweater next week.

Remember that National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day is a day to make the holidays fun...the way they were intended to be! And don’t forget to post the pictures for us all to enjoy!

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

Unmentionable thoughts’ There is a Festival that celebrates these thoughts’ Guess that is what today is. The Festival of Unmentionable Thoughts

Beverly’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating the Festival of Unmentionable Thoughts:

We aren't going to mention any subjects you could be thinking about today. Feel free to think about them yourself, but make sure not to mention them.

We don't even want to know what you're thinking. It’s not that we don’t care. Somethings should just stay unmentionable.

It’s surprising how little control we seem to have over the timing and content of “bad” thoughts. Researcher found that people have about 500 thoughts a day that are unintentional and “intrusive” and that last about 14 seconds on average. While most dealt with the concerns of everyday life, 18 percent were unacceptable, uncomfortable, or just plain bad—politically incorrect or mean thoughts. And a remaining 13 percent were ugly, out of character, or downright shocking.

So whether they are morbid, perverse, prejudicial, know that we all have them, but what we do with them and the significance we attach to them are key.

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

What is your favourite app?

Do you have one that saves you time or reminds you to do something that you couldn’t live without?

Apps are so ingrained into the way we do things now and there are very few people who don’t use at least one app.

Apps can be used for communication, and entertainment.

Travel apps provide needed information and tools, helping with everything from transportation to finding the closest restaurant.

Other apps help people organize their homes or perform essential functions at work. Some can help build your resiliency.

So here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National App Day:

According to Flurry, mobile users spent 86% of their time on mobile apps. App Annie says that the average user now has around 80 apps installed and uses around 40 every month.

Look for apps that are easy to use and make sense in your daily life.

There are many apps now for almost any kind of stress therapy, be it meditation, mindfulness breathing, cognitive behaviour therapy, relaxation techniques, colouring in, or online therapy chat services. Use these apps to build in a pause to your day or as an aid to get a better night sleep.

Though keeping up with technology can be a source of stress, it can also be used to build our 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.

Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line vulnerability test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.