Stress is evil...plain and simple! And I am always on the lookout for different relaxation methods. I've actually tried several things, which have generally had favorable results: spinning...running...ditching my cell phone...each of these have been effective in the past, but I am always open to new things!
The truth is that being a professional and dealing with the everyday ups and downs of Corporate America usually brings unintended and unwanted stress. Unfortunately, too much stress can have negative effects on your physical, emotional, and mental health. For example, chronic stress can trigger headaches, chest pain, and elevated blood pressure. Additionally, stress can be attributed to insomnia and alcohol/substance abuse, as well as physical aches and pains. And for professional women of child-bearing age, stress can also be a contributing factor in infertility.
Needless to say, it is imperative that professional women find ways to avoid and relieve the daily stress we encounter, both at home and in the work place. As a constant seeker of stress-reduction methods, I was pleasantly surprised when I came across an article in the Huffington Post entitled "Stress-Reduction Tips From Around the World." I was all in! The article took a look at stress reduction methods from Sweden (taking a few coffee breaks), India (head massages), Japan (going shoeless at work), Finland (sweating it out in a sauna), and West Africa (dancing). The article is highly interesting, so in the interest of sharing I am passing it on to you! Do yourself a favor and check it out!
Now, I know I lost most of you with the title of this post, but please hear me out! Like many professionals, my company has provided me with a cell phone so I can access my work emails while away from the office. I also use this phone to compose and respond to emails, open and edit work documents, and bill my time spent working on projects. As a result, my work phone has become my third arm. I feel naked without it, and I check it incessantly. Naturally, I didn't see anything wrong with my behavior...until I came across an article in Women's Health Magazine stating that our cell phones are a big source of everyday stress. Wait...what!
My regular Chronicle readers know that I am always searching for ways to destress. As I have said in the past, being a professional and dealing with the everyday ups and downs of Corporate America usually brings unintended and unwanted stress. We all know that stress can have negative effects on your physical, emotional, and mental health, and I'm not with that! So I am open to any and all suggestions to alleviate stress, including entertaining the claims in the Women's Health article.
After reading the article, I started thinking about the correlation between my work phone and stress. I then realized that treating my work phone like it is a third arm is sought of like working all day long...I am always "on." Even in those moments when I am supposed to be relaxing. And then it clicked...I need to cut off my third arm...not completely, but a little more than I have been in the past.
That being said, I started thinking of ways to cut back, and I came up with a few ideas that I believe will help me, and you, to minimize our stress and provide some much needed detachment from our work phones. In the interest of sharing, I have outlined my ideas below so that we can all work on destressing and taking a break from our work phones. Take them or leave them....but I'm willing to bet you'll be less stressed if you take them!
1. Revoke your phone's access to the breakfast, lunch, and dinner tables - A quick way to mess up the digestion process is to read an email that reinforces just how busy you are, or are going to be, at work. Use your meal time to relax and eat without checking your mail. Ideally, you can give yourself at least 2 hours per day when you are not focusing on your email and work.
2. Put the phone out of reach when it's time to go to bed - You can't read emails while you sleep, so don't have your phone within reach when you head to bed. I'll admit, I do keep my personal cell phone on my nightstand, primarily because I use my phone as an alarm clock. But my work phone is always tucked away in my work bag...on silent!
3. Keep the phone out of the bathroom - Let's face it, having your phone in the bathroom is not the most sanitary practice. Also, just about anything you do in your bathroom can be a relaxing and relieving experience. Why ruin this time by checking your work email! Instead of inviting your phone to share a bubble bath with you, take a magazine or a book or your iPod. Anything to help you chill out!
4. In the morning, try not to check the phone until you get to the office (if possible) - I don't know about you, but I use the time it takes me to get ready for work in the morning to get my mind right for the day ahead. If you're heading to the office anyway, why not wait until you get there to check your email. I always say that if someone needs to reach you urgently, they can always call. Give yourself the morning to get it together before heading into the office.
5. Don't check the phone while driving - Not only is it illegal in many states to use your cell phone while driving, but it is also dangerous. Leave your phone in your work bag or pocket until you are done driving...no checking your email. Instead, use your drive to listen to music or relax in silence. The best part about my commute is the chance it affords me to listen to my music, and sing to the top of my lungs, and not care if the person in the car next to me is looking at me like I'm crazy. It's sort of like therapy!
That's all I got for now! Can you think of any additional times and/or places where you should ditch your work phone? Share in the comments below!
Greetings Divas and Gents! And welcome to June...or as I like to call it, the beginning of internship season. All across the country college students, recent college graduates, and professional school students are beginning their summer internships. In many cases, these individuals are hoping to transform their internships into a permanent position. Believe me when I tell you that I have been in this position on several occasions. In fact, this post is inspired by some great advice I received from one of my mentors before starting my first internship after completing my first year of law school. In the spirit of sharing, please check out 7 Tips for Rocking Your Internship and Possibly Securing a Permanent Position!
Show Up On Time Every Day...Which Means Arrive Early
I figured I'd start out with an easy one. A no-brainer. You are doing yourself a disservice by showing up to your internship late. Not only are you being extremely unprofessional, but you are sending a signal to your supervisor that the internship is not important to you. Additionally, tardiness is the first cousin of unreliable...and neither relative will get you that permanent position. The rule of thumb remains the same: to be early is to be on time; to be on time is to be late; and to be late is unacceptable.
Turn In Stellar Work Product Always
You do want a permanent position, right? So do great work! Give your superiors no other choice but to offer you a permanent position. Treat each assignment like your professional life depends on it. Ask enough questions so that you have all the necessary information to complete your assignments, and be sure to hand them in on time. If the company you are interning with is not in the position to offer you a permanent position, your supervisor may be willing to give you a recommendation if your work product is fabulous!
Show Interest In the Company
Ask questions about the company. Learn about its history. Be familiar with its products. Let your supervisors know that you are interested in the company, and that you are personally vested in its success. You do not want to give the impression that the internship is merely a resume-filler...those who approach an internship in this manner rarely get a permanent offer.
Adhere to the Dress Code and Other Company Policies
During your internship, you want to be recognized for you stellar work product...not for your inability to abide by company policies. And certainly not for your inappropriate work attire. Make it a point to review your company's dress code and other policies to ensure that you are giving your supervisor the right impression...that you respect the company's culture and that you are willing and able to abide by its policies.
Attend Company Events
Many companies are known to have special activities and events for its interns. Barring any real emergency, you should attend all of these events. Not only is it a great way to network and meet other key company players, but it is also the perfect opportunity for company employees to get to know you...to gauge how you would fit in with the current employees. Enjoy these events, but also treat them like an extension of your internship...remember that you are always being evaluated!
Resist the Urge to Surf the Web
I know this is difficult, but you should avoid using the company computer to surf the Internet for non-work-related content. You should especially avoid the Bermuda Triangle of Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, and Gmail. As a general rule, you should review and commit to memory your company's Internet use policy, if they have one, and you should strictly adhere to it.
Keep in Touch When Your Internship Is Complete
When your internship is completed, keep in touch with your supervisor and other company employees that you worked closely with during your tenure. Be sure to send them thank you cards when your internship is done, and exchange periodic correspondence. If the company is not in a position to offer you a permanent gig at the end of your internship, keeping in contact with company employees is a great way to ensure that you are "kept in mind" if and when a position becomes available.
That's all I got for you tonight! Special shout out and many thanks to Auntie Pam, Esq. for the advice and continuous guidance...it worked like a charm!
What are some other tips for rocking an internship?
Greetings Divas and Gents! One of the things I have come to really love about blogging is that I have met tons of dynamic individuals that I may not have met in my daily comings and goings. A couple of weeks ago, the Chronicles attracted a new reader, who happened to have strong opinions about the resumes that come across her desk. As we bonded over Tweets, @ShesheLaGhost suggested an idea for a post….I counter-suggested that she write it herself for the Chronicles.
And she did! What you are about to read are 4 quick resume tips from someone who reviews resumes as part of her daily duties. Sheila (@ShesheLaGhost) was born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. Throughout her career, she has dabbled in wardrobe styling and jewelry design, and is a self-proclaimed unprofessional comedian. She currently serves as a Personal Manager for Envy McKee. Please raise your martini glasses and help me welcome Sheila to the Chronicles!
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Ok folks...I'm just going to jump right in and break it down. I'm not a resume building expert by any means, but I’ve had a few resumes pass my desk from time to time. Here are a 4 quick resume tips from the other side of the desk.
1. Get a Professional Email Address
Email addresses are generally free (Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.). It takes approximately 6 minutes to open an email account. I can’t tell you the number of resumes I have come across where an applicant is using his or her high school or college email address as a point of contact. While this may be appropriate when one is interviewing for a position immediately following graduation, it is not appropriate once one has left their academic institution. In fact, an academic email may not even work once you’ve graduated. Take the time and sign up for a new account.
And while we’re talking about email addresses, please select and email consisting of some variation of your actual name. A professional resume with BoobsMcGee@yahoo.com as an email address gets passed over. But if I see BMcGee@yahoo.com …you get my point, right?
2. Spell Check (And a Friend) Is A Must
Your resume is your ticket to that great job you want, so don’t ruin your chances by having spelling and grammatical errors. Just about all resumes these days are created using a computer, which generally has spelling and grammar check. Also, you should solicit a friend or an adviser to proofread your resume for any spelling and grammatical errors. When I am creating and updating my own resume, I use spell check and a friend (who is an underwriter for a newspaper). You should do the same!
3. Twitter/Text/FB Language
Social media jargon is unacceptable on a resume. DO NOT use JK, LOL, LMAO, IDK, LMFAO, ROTF anywhere in your resume…Period!
4. Photos (If Applicable) Depending on the job you’re applying for, a photo may be required. If so, get a professional head shot made with a white or gray background. DO NOT (and I stress DO NOT) send a picture of yourself in a bar, on a beach, at a college frat party wasted beyond belief with your friends blacked out…completely inappropriate! I have had pictures like these attached to professional resumes, which results in chuckles of disbelief on my part. In these cases, the resume is deleted…even if you have a ton of awesome experience. The picture ruined any chance!
These are just a few tips based on my experience. I always suggest researching resume building and reviewing websites and agencies when preparing a professional resume. Happy job hunting!
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I want to thank @ShesheLaGhost for sharing these quick resume tips with the Chronicles. What are some of your resume do’s and don’ts?
Divas, it’s that time of the year again. Break out your cheat sheets and draft kits because it’s time for Fantasy Football! I am super excited about football this year, especially since I was unsure about whether the season was actually going to happen. The lockout had me stressed! But no need to worry…the season is about to start, and so is Fantasy Football!
For those of you who know me personally, you are well aware of my love for Fantasy Football. This will be my third year participating in a least one league, and I think my fellow Professional Divas should join me on the bandwagon. I am a firm believer in the wise saying, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!” And you should! Participating in Fantasy Football has fostered camaraderie amongst my co-workers/fellow league owners, opened up a new level of communication between me and my hubby, and provided conversation fodder at networking events. Aside from all of these perks, Fantasy Football is fun!
Have I convinced you to drink the Kool-Aid yet? If so, find a league (or create one), and get ready for the draft…there’s still plenty of time! Here are a few tips to get you started!
1. Prepare Before the Draft – This should be easy for you Divas. What do you need? First you need a copy of the rules for your league, which will provide the number of allotted players/positions for each team, the scoring system for the league, and player drafting procedures. Knowing the rules will guide you in deciding who and who not to draft. You should also do a little Internet research for various cheat sheets from the experts. I really like ESPN’s Cheat Sheet Central. By the time you make it to your league’s draft, you should have compiled your own cheat sheet. Remember, preparation is key!
2. Don’t Allow Team Loyalties to Drive Your Draft – Okay Divas, please note that it is perfectly fine to have an allegiance to a team. It is not okay, however, to only draft players from your favorite team. Not a good move...don’t do it…no further explanation needed.
3. Take Note of Bye Weeks – During the regular season, NFL teams play 16 games over 17 weeks. Each team gets one of these weeks off….hence the Bye Week. Here’s where strategy comes in. In Fantasy Football leagues, you typically have a starter and a backup for each position. What you don’t want to do is draft two players in the same position whose teams have the same Bye Week. For example, you do not want to draft a starter and backup quarterback that both have Week 7 as a Bye Week. This would result in you having to drop one of your chosen players for another who happens to be playing that week. Wouldn’t be such a big deal, except your fellow team owners may scoop up your dropped player….you don’t want that!
4. Don’t Forget to Set Your Lineup Before Thursday Night – Here is a mistake I made during my first year. I completely forgot that during the season, some teams play on Thursday nights. I had become accustomed to setting my team lineup on Sunday Morning just in time for the lion’s share of the games, and neglected to put one of my better players in the game…who was playing on Thursday. That player ended up having a monster game, and he was sitting on my bench….The Pro Diva was quite upset and inconsolable. I never made this mistake again! In sum, make sure you know when your players are playing during the week, and consider this when deciding on when to set your lineup.
5. Have Fun and Enjoy Yourself – This is by far the most important tip. Whether you win, lose, fail to make the playoffs, or come in last, remember that Fantasy Football is all about fun. Talk a little trash; take a few risks; have a good time!
These are just a few tips to encourage you Divas to get excited about Fantasy Football. How many of you have participated in a Fantasy Football League? Are you participating this year? What are your tips? In the meantime, check out my favorite Fantasy Football commercials!
A few months back, I present 7 Quick Ways to Start Saving Money…Now. I received a plethora of positive feedback from you Divas…so much in fact that I decided to present 7 More Ways to Start Saving Money…Now! These are just a few more things that are sure to save you a few dollars, and allow you to add to your bank account. So no more excuses! Start saving….NOW!
1. Skip the Coffee Shops – I recently read an article on My Thirty Spot that shared an easy way to prepare the perfect iced coffee (Get the Article Here!). It got me to thinking just how much money us Divas spend in coffee shops each year. If you cut your visits to the coffee shop in half, you’d be surprised at how much you can save. Not convinced? Then check this out: Let’s assume that a Short Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks costs $3.50….that’s $17.50 per work week….and $910 per year! If you cut your visits in half, you can save $455 each year. Did I do my math correctly? In any event, that $455 would look really good in your savings account!
2. Do Your Own ‘Do – Growing up I was one of those Divas who’s accustomed to visiting the hair salon once a week for an old fashioned shampoo, deep conditioning, and roller set. That was until I went away to college, and needed to hold on to the money my parents would send me every month. I always had a talent for doing my own hair. In college, I used this talent to do my own hair…and many of the women on my campus.
As I entered Corporate America, I fell back into my weekly visits. Needless to say, a weekly visit to the hair salon isn’t the most frugal activity. As such, I recently ventured into the beauty supply store, and purchased a new hard top hair dryer, rollers, and setting lotion. Instead of going to the hair salon every week, I go every four weeks. In between time, I do my own hair. My initial investment in supplies: $70. Amount saved: about $90 per month….or $1,080 per year….need I say more!
3. Skip the French Manicure/Pedicure – And while we’re talking about beauty savings, let talk about our spending habits in the nail salon. In the Summer, many nails salons run a special where you can get a mani/pedi for one low price. This special flies out the window as soon as you start adding "extras" to your tab. The most common “extra” is the French Manicure and Pedicure. Isn’t it amazing how that little white line across your nude nail polish can add up to $20 to your Summer special. How do you save money? Skip the French Manicure and Pedicure. Pick a solid, yet pretty, color, and ride it out until your next visit. Amount saved: approximately $40 per month.
4. Be a Circular Stalker – This is an easy one. Check out the weekly supermarket circulars before you do your grocery shopping. I usually stalk the weekly deals for Stop & Shop, Pathmark, and Shop Rite (as these are the supermarkets in my neighborhood). Whichever has the better deals that week, I’m there! A very simple thing to save a few bucks.
5. Reuse Your Grocery Store Bags – When you’re on your way to the supermarket, grab some of your previously-used shopping bags or reusable canvas bags. Many supermarkets offers instant rebates for each bag you reuse. Some offer as much a $1 per bag! This is a no-brainer! And eco-friendly!
6. Walk – Summer is here, and the weather is warm. Leave your car in the driveway and walk to you nearby destinations. I like the “1 Mile Rule,” which encourages you to walk to any destination within 1 mile of your starting point, if reasonable. Not only will this save gas money, but it’s also great exercise!
7. Have a Yard Sale – While people are out walking to their destinations, wouldn’t it be great to entice them with your some of your old treasures? As I mentioned in my previous article, we all have an abundance of items in our home that we do not use, nor do we intend to use them. As the old saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Have a yard sale, and catch those walkers!
And there you have it! Some of these tips may work for you, and some may not. Pick and choose as you please. Also, feel free to share some of you money saving secrets below. Happy Savings!
