Work Smart Live Smart with Beverly Beuermann-King

A study found that 20% of workers felt that their employer didn’t care about them. Imagine what that would look like in your organization. What impact do you think that this would have on productivity and engagement?

Quality leaders are aware of the value of recognition. During Leadership Week, I encourage supervisors, managers, directors and the C-Suite to look closely at the relationship that that they have with their employees. A poor relationship – one in which employees feel powerless, uninformed, disrespected, used and stressed – will lead to high rates of heart and cardiovascular problems, anxiety, depression, and alcohol and drug use. It can also leave the company with higher rates of absenteeism, lowered productivity, higher rates of job turnover and more difficulty in attracting and retaining high quality workers.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating International Leadership Week:

Quality relationships take time to develop. They require that leaders allow for participation in decision-making, provide information and support on stress, develop support strategies between team members and that the leader ensures the proper resources are available to get the job done.

Challenge yourself to evaluate your leadership skills. Would your team consider you a quality leader?

Want to check out more health and wellness related celebrations, visit my wellness calendars under the resources and courses tab at worksmartlivesmart.com

Accept Yourself. Accept Your Body. Celebrate Yourself. Celebrate Your Body.

Fact #1 Eating Disorders affect people of all gender, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class, ability, race, and ethnic background.

Fact #2 Eating disorders are not choices, but seriously biologically influenced mental illnesses and need to be treated as life threatening conditions

Fact #3 You can’t tell by looking at someone whether they have an eating disorder.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Bringing Awareness To Eating Disorder Week:

Whether you're a parent concerned for a child, a friend or someone who just wants to make a difference, there are many ways to shine a spotlight on eating disorders to help those in need and celebrate people who have made a recovery.

Find ways to show your support. US News & World Report recommends:

Be honest: Tell the person you're concerned about his or her health.

Be sincere: Compliment the person on their intrinsic qualities – like their ability to make people laugh or their ability to work as a team player.

Be caring, but firm: Let them know that you care and want to help in the recovery process.

For more tips on how to Promote Mental Illness Awareness check out my website at worksmartlivesmart.com under the Resources and Courses tab

Have you just about had it? If you live in Canada or in the northern hemisphere, winter has worn out its welcome. The cold temperatures and the gusting winds along with the shorter days, have made many of us cranky, tired, and ready to say enough is enough.

One survey reported that winter is bad for our health, appearance and our sex life. Others claimed they had less energy, struggled to wake up and had sore and achy joints and muscles.

Cheer up. We are at the half way point of winter and thankfully from now on, we will start to notice the longer days, and the temperatures hopefully rising.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating the Half Way Point of Winter:

Brighten up. Buy some flowers for your office desk or kitchen table. The perk of colour can help to brighten your mood.

Turn up the beach music. Music can flip the switch from negative to positive, hopefully giving you enough of a jump start to begin to turn things around.

Start Sniffing. Our human olfactory system is intricately tied to our emotional control centre. Essential oils from plants can reduce stress, promote relaxation and enhance cognitive function. Our sense of smell is also connected to our memory. Does suntan lotion remind you of your family vacation? Does the smell of oranges, make you think of the tropics? If so, light a candle, grab your essential oils or look for foods that make you think of sunshine and summer.

Want to find more strategies to coping with stress, check out my website at worksmartlivesmart.com

Have you found that when your plate is overloaded with work and family responsibilities, or when you are in a professional, financial, or relationship crisis, your self-care tends to fly out the window?

For some of us, self-care is a luxury that we feel that can not afford to indulge in. There is a quote that I like that says, “How thin can I spread myself before I no longer exist?”

Self-renewal is about transforming yourself. It can give you a fresh take on life. You feel better and more able, more competent and more effective. Self-care is like oxygen. It is essential in order to live a balanced and fulfilled life. If grit is what keeps you going, and resilience is what picks you up, self- renewal is what helps you stay energized.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Self-Renewal Day:

Tip #1 Do A Body Scan. As soon as you wake, ask yourself, “Physically, emotionally, or spiritually, what do I really need to focus on today?” Self-renewing activities include looking after your well-being.

Tip #2 Find Your Tribe. “Build your support network,” When we gather together to “tend and befriend,” our body releases more of the stress-reducing hormone, oxytocin. This makes us feel more hopeful, grateful and resilient.

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

Last week we celebrated Have Fun At Work Day and today is Working Naked Day. Well…I guess this is one way to have more fun at work. I think that working naked is more for those of us who work alone and at home…with no chance of a customer dropping in. In fact, a recent study found that 1 in 8 male teleworkers and 1 in 14 female teleworkers actually work naked.

Some suggest that working naked, means that you work alone, without the support of a corporate group around you. If this is the case, I guess I do work naked. Being in business for yourself means that you have to push your limits, test new waters and find new paths. Without supporters around you, you can feel exposed and vulnerable.

So Here are today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Working Naked Day:

If you are literally going to work naked today, it is best to ensure that no one else is around. It is very difficult to use the celebration as a line of defense with your boss.

If you are an entrepreneur, working alone, celebrate that you have courage. Though many wish to work for themselves, it takes true courage to actually go out on your own and sink or swim on your own merits.

Minimize your exposure. Surround yourself with those who will cheer you on, give you honest feedback, pick you up, dust you off and send you back out.

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

You have one hour to get to the airport, but you find yourself still stressing out about what clothes to pack and where you’ve hidden the sunscreen.

Stop letting the vacation stress get to you, start breathing, and focus on the next step. If you don’t, you’ll be running around like the proverbial ‘chicken with your head cut off’ and it’ll only get worse.

Vacations are to great to restore resiliency. They can be rejuvenating, but they require planning

So here are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Plan For Vacation Day:

There is no such thing as the perfect vacation, the first step is to pick and choose your activities wisely. Choose activities that meet with your particular goals. Is your upcoming vacation for relaxation, celebration or relationship renewal?

Remember to plan for when you return home. Ease into and out of vacation mode. There is nothing worse than a person returning from their vacation saying they need a vacation from their vacation.

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

Mental illness is a very common form of human pain and suffering. One of the biggest hurdles for anyone suffering from mental illness is overcoming the stigma attached to it. This stigma brings about isolation and prevents people from getting the help that they need.

So here are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Let’s Talk Day:

Language matters. Watch the words that you use that may colour the way we see mental health issues.

Simple kindness can make a world of a difference. Whether it be a smile, being a good listener or an invitation for a chat over coffee, these simple acts of kindness can let someone know you’re there for them.

Break the Silence. Two out of three people suffer in silence, fearing judgement and rejection. Being open to a conversation is the first step towards eliminating the stigma.

When it comes to mental illness, education is key. Having the right tools, knowing the right words to use and understanding how to correctly speak with someone experiencing a mental illness can make all the difference.

You are not alone. There are resources available to help you to feel more competent in providing this support. Check out my on-line courses at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.----more----

According to the Dictionary a curmudgeon can refer to a mood or someone’s whole personality.

Curmudgeons Day is a day to celebrate the cranky people in our lives or a day to allow the cranky person in us to have a day out in the sunshine. It is also a celebration of WC Field who prided himself on being a real crumdgeon.

So here are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Curmudgeon’s Day:

Take stock of what usually brings about your crumdgeonly side. Knowing this can help you to develop strategies to not bring that mood to your workplace.

Sometimes it is okay to allow yourself a day to be cranky. Doing so can help you to move past these feelings and start to see the world in a more positive light.

Don’t let the crankiness of someone else bring you down. Find ways to buffer yourself against their negativity. Try to show them kindness. Buy a cup of coffee for that co-worker who never seems to have a good day.  Maybe, an act of kindness can change that person’s whole world.

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

Bubble Wrap has always been great for cushioning fragile items during shipping.

I don’t know what it is about bubble wrap, but like a lot of people, when I’m around it, I have to pop it.

We all know it's fun to pop, and it makes a great stress reliever. However, did you know that bubble wrap started off as wallpaper and then green-house wall insulation? Thankfully, these uses didn’t take off and in the end, IBM began using Bubble Wrap to protect delicate electronics from damage during transit.

It wasn’t long after that people began to see the fun in popping their bubble wrap.

So here are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day:

For some carrying a smooth-surfaced stone serves to produce a calming effect. Keeping your hands busy with little projects like needlework can also be relaxing. Popping a sheet of Bubble Wrap might work in the same way.

A survey by Sealed Air Corporation, found that one minute spent popping Bubble Wrap relieves as much stress as a 33-minute massage.

We love the instant gratification. So the next time you are stressed out, anxious, or frustrated, reach for your bubble wrap and start popping.

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

The Think Tank - The Log Cabin - The Johnny on the Spot - The Oval Office

Toilets are the most amazing invention that most of us just take for granted. 

For some, getting stressed out, can cause bathroom and digestive issues.

Some people experience toilet anxiety. Toilet phobia, is a term used to describe a number of issues related to using the toilet. It is a type of anxiety condition in which the sufferer may experience concerns and fears about:

Being unable to urinate or defecate

Using a public toilet

Being too far from a toilet

So here are Today’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Thomas Crapper Day:

The experience of toilet anxiety is unique to each individual, and consequently, different treatments will work better for different people.

If your digestive system is acting up it might be an indication to take it easy and try to reduce some stress wherever possible in your life. You can also be mindful of what you're doing, eating, and drinking when you're under pressure to see if that helps.

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

Finally do you know the most popular toilet joke?

What did the toilet say to the other toilet? – You look a little flushed