Thursday November 12, 2009
Now that Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, and the stores are all stocked with holiday decor, the holiday season is gaining momentum. For many people, this means adding extra cleaning and cooking, hosting and hostessing, and other activity to an already-packed schedule. There are also the decisions of who to see, who stays where, or whether home is the place to be, and balancing everyone's needs and feelings.
How much stress should you endure (from travel, cooking and dealing with difficult relatives) for the special moments Thanksgiving brings?
There are many decisions to be made, but keeping in mind the main focus of the holidays--love, family and gratitude, can help keep stress at bay. And here are a few other things to think about.
Elizabeth's Thanksgiving Stress Relief
Tuesday November 10, 2009
When I first started hearing about the 2012 fears--predictions that the world will come to an end in 2012--I thought, 'Interesting.' After a friend told me about a documentary she saw detailing the fact that the ancient Mayan calendar ends in 2012, part of me thought, 'Wow, is there something to this?' Then the buzz got louder, and a terrifying movie trailer appeared, depicting the destruction of the world as we know it--a movie titled, of course,
2010--and I thought, 'Oh, no.'
My concern was less that the would would, in fact, end via an astroid hitting us, or an ancient Mayan curse, or a reversal in the spin of the Earth's rotation--all possibilities I'd heard kicked around--but that people would become so scared by these possibilities that we'd panic and create our own problems as a society. (The scary movie coming out can't be helping things.)
That's why I was happy to see this new article from About.com's own John Millis, Guide to Space and Astronomy. He examines each theory and provides a scientific explanation of each, and, happily, provides reassuring information on all fronts. Whether you've been concerned about 2012, or have even heard of these theories, I'd recommend that you read this article so you'll know the scoop if it ever comes up in conversation between now and the end of 2012.
Will The Earth End in 2012?
What's your take on the whole 2012 issue? Leave your thoughts in the 'comments' section below.
Saturday November 7, 2009
Yesterday I went to Magic Mountain, a fun theme park, with my kids and some friends. As we walked (well, scampered, really) through the park and rode various rides, I noticed something that made me think of a
blog I wrote just a few weeks ago about
enjoying your job more. Unlike Disneyland, where everyone who works in the park generally stays 'in character' and focuses on the enjoyment of the guests and nothing else for their entire shift, there was a variety of commitment that most other park employees showed toward their jobs, mirroring what we find in most fields, especially customer service-oriented ones.
Some of the park employees were friendly enough, but obviously watching the clock. These people were pleasant, but not really smiling. They did their jobs perfunctorily, and were nice, but were obviously 'working'. Many people approach their jobs this way--they manage to get by, and do a decent job, but they look forward to breaks and days off, and would quit their jobs immediately if they didn't need the money. The can't imagine things any other way.
Contrast this with the guy who ran 'The Scrambler'--I didn't catch his name, so I'll refer to him as "Scrambler Guy", or "S.G." for short. S.G. acted like he was having as much fun running the ride as we were having on it! Where other people might turn on the ride and turn it off after several minutes, staring off into space and imagining being at home while the ride was running, S.G. was constantly keeping things interesting: asking us if we want to go faster (of course!), reminding us that there are churros to be had (yum!) and providing us a soundtrack with his "beat boxing" (which wasn't great, but I had to admire his effort). His energy was infectious, and I found myself happy to ride the ride three times in a row and hear his commentary throughout. I made the comment to him that he seemed to really enjoy his job, and he replied something like, "Ya gotta make it fun, right?"
Well, actually, not everyone does approach their job like S.G. does, but those who do--those who use their creativity and energy to go beyond their basic job description and create a better experience for themselves and those around them--tend to enjoy their jobs more, experience less job burnout, and generally enjoy life more.
The good news is that most of us have the ability to change our approach to our jobs, and make the job more fun. And with an extremely competitive job market out there, that's usually much easier than switching jobs, so it's a good route to pursue if possible. Think about it: if S.G. came to work at your company, how would he approach the job to make it more fun? How might you approach your job differently?
More Job Satisfaction Resources:
Make Your Job More Fun
What Makes A Job Great?
Respond: How Can You Improve Your Work Experience?
Find Satisfaction At Your Current Job
Poll: What Causes You The Most Stress?
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Friday November 6, 2009
Many of the questions I hear about stress are asked more than once, by different people; many of the stressful situations that people face are shared by many. Below are a few answers to frequently asked questions. If you have a question that you don't see addressed, you can post it in the comments, the forum or send me an email--your question could be included in the next round of FAQs.
What Coping Strategies Are Effective?
"I need help with coping strategies! I've worked very hard to build up security in my life, and now because of tough economic times, I find myself with few assets that are worth anything and a precarious job situation. These stresses are even taking a toll on my relationships! I feel like everything I've worked so hard for, everything I thought I'd always be able to count on, is falling apart. What coping strategies can help with this?" Read on for the answer, and an invitation to leave your own answers.
Can Simple Tips For Managing Stress Actually Work?
"I'm feeling completely overwhelmed, and am having difficulty managing stress! I keep reading about simple things like breathing exercises or meditation, but they can't change my life. How can these tips for managing stress help?" Read more for more on managing stress.
Read Stress FAQs
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