Listen to today's podcast... Some days I am so tired that I can’t think straight or even focus my eyes. This is an awful feeling, especially if this fatigue hits while I am driving. Has this ever happened to you? Over 60% of adults say they have driven drowsy in the past year. And 4% have had an accident or near accident because they were too tired, or they actually dozed off while driving. Drowsy Driving kills Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      Here Are Today’s Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating National Drowsy Driving Prevention Week: Know that even one night of sleep loss or poor sleep can put you at risk of drowsy driving. But certain people have a higher risk of drowsy driving than others. So be aware if you have a sleep disorder, work shifts or are taking medications as these can increase your risk for drowsy driving. Rolling down the windows or turning up the volume on the radio will do little to increase your alertness while driving. So try to get a full night of seven to eight hours of sleep before driving. Avoid driving late at night or alone. And if you need to pull over at a rest stop and take a nap. Looking for more tips to build your resiliency’ Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out! 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In. #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... Gathering around a fire pit is a guaranteed way to instantly increase your relaxation factor. The crackling sound and bright flames are mesmerizing. There is nothing better for me, than a snowy day, cuddled with a blanket beside the fireplace hearing the crackling of the wood. These relaxing effects from fire may go back to prehistoric times when our ancestors socialized primarily around campfires – forging strong bonds with others and sharing the safety fire provided from predators. You may not have a campfire to sit by or a fireplace in your house, but you can now tune in to a TV station or Youtube video that broadcasts a wood burning fire experience all day long. One study found that that blood pressure decreased for those who watched and listened to the sound of a fire and the longer people watched the fire, the more relaxed they became. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      Here are todays Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Firewood Day: With the busyness that we experience all day long, it is important for our mental health to find ways to stop, pause and slow down. A campfire, or sitting by the fireplace is a great way to pause and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... Our minds can not operate on ‘full throttle’ all day long. Focus meditation helps to clear the mind of racing, cluttered thoughts by focusing our energies on a particular image or thought. Gradually distracting thoughts will decrease during meditation. This strategy helps to restore mental balance by providing a break in our hectic day. By allowing our mind to slow down it is better able to focus when we return to the task at hand. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Stress Awareness Day: All that is needed is a quiet environment, a comfortable position, a mental image or positive thought in which to focus on, and an attitude that will permit relaxation to happen. Meditating or focusing on music or a relaxing video can give the mind a needed break from stressful events such as conflict, problem-solving, and high energy output. Guided imagery is a visualization technique, that goes one step further than mediation, by actually engaging the senses within the body to deliver a variety of messages. It can be used to reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol, reduce muscle tension, and increase energy. Your body responds to these positive images in the same way it would, if the image was ‘real’. There is no way we can not get rid of all of our stress, nor do we want to. What we want to do is to reduce our negative reactions to stress so that we don’t become sick, worn down, and worn out. Start by adding one relaxation technique to your daily checklist of things to do. Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... Why is common sense not so common? Common sense is one of the most revered qualities in the workplace. People with common sense are seen as reasonable, down-to-earth, reliable, and practical but here's the catch. Common sense is neither common nor sense. If common sense was common, then most people wouldn't make the kinds of decisions they do. Every day people wouldn't buy stuff they couldn't afford. They wouldn't smoke cigarettes or eat junk food. They wouldn't gamble. In other words people wouldn't do a multitude of things that are clearly not good for them. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency So Here Are My Tips For Building Resiliency In Celebrating Use Your Common-Sense Day: Trusting in common sense can cause us to make poor rather than sound judgments. Gather the facts. Look at past experience and talk to others before making decisions which could have dire consequences. Keep an open mind to all the possibilities, rather than just confirming the solution that you want to see. And finally, while we often think with our emotions, this can lead to negative outcomes. There are times when it's better to think with our analytic brain instead of our heart. Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out! 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In. #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... Most of us do it and some of us even started. It is frowned upon publicly, but privately, it is often indulged in. If you're a professional gossiper, then you can make money through publishing it in magazine and newspaper columns or even through your own talk show. However, in some places around the world it is seen as downright criminal. Workplace gossip can destroy. Gossip is thought to empower one person while disempowering another, accordingly many companies have formal policies in their employee handbook against gossip. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      Here are Today's Tips For Building Resiliency And Celebrating And Gossip Day: Gossiping is a reflection of who you are at the core. Consider the conversations that you have. Are they serving a purpose? Is that purpose constructive. Is it focusing on solving issues or just to draw people to your side? It can be hard to avoid gossip. Become skilled at walking away or changing the subject. If you can, focus  the conversation on problem solving instead of allowing the attack to continue. Looking for resources to build your healthy workplace? Check out my top ten tips under resources and courses at www.worksmartlivesmart.com. #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... Sometimes when we try to multi-task, we may actually freeze up, lock up, or quit performing at our peak. There is so much pressure to get things done in a day, that we try to split our focus and work on several things at once.  Researchers have studied human multi-tasking for the past 25 years or so and have found that the brain cannot fully focus when multi-tasking. We take longer to complete tasks, often double or more the time, and are predisposed to error.   Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      Here Are My Tips For Building Resilience and Celebrating ZeroTasking Day: Today is the day to take it easy, give up multitasking, and try doing nothing. Not for the whole day. But try for an hour. And if that is too long, try 20 minutes. See how you feel and if being anxious was the only thing that you could focus on, know that being able to be still for a moment and quiet your mind and body takes practise. If you weren’t successful, try again next weekend. Finally, let go of the idea that the more we tackle at any given time, the more productive we will be. Maintain your productivity by setting your priorities for a focused period of time and don’t let distractions take you off course.  If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app. 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 #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... Should have. Could have. Would have. I should have taken that other job. I should have talked to my friends before I spent all that time and energy. I should have just left it alone. Do you find that other people should all over you? You should do this. Or you should act this way. Most of us have things that we regret, or wish were different in our lives. However, it is both our good and bad decisions that mould us into who we are today. What we can do is learn from our past and try not to make the same mistakes again. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      So Here Are Today Tips For Building Resiliency And Celebrating Giving Up Your Shoulds Day: I follow this quote as much as possible. It goes: never look back unless you are planning to go that way. Regret is a waste of energy and just leaves you feeling guilty. Remember, we need to follow our own path and not let other people's expectations rule our life. Want to make sure that you don't miss out on any of my weekly posting? Follow Work Smart Live Smart on Facebook. #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... Do you believe in magic? Did you know that there is a magic spell that can relieve your stress? It goes like this: Magic moon burning bright, Let thy will be done tonight. Answer now my earnest spell. Let things with Beverly all be well. Not sure about the spell? Not sure you believe in magic, but wishing that you could let magic relieve your stress? Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      Try These Tips For Building Your Resiliency And Celebrating International Magic Week: Fun is a stress reliever, as is laughing, and sharing with others. So go and see a magic show and let the magic take you away. Learn a magic trick and amaze your co-workers. Fun things added into your workday can increase productivity and creativity. And finally, one of my most loved stress relievers is my magic bag. It has nothing to do with magic other than the way the heat warms me up and relaxes me completely. Remember those who don't believe in magic will never find it. Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out! 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In. #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... Do you forget things? Is it because you forgot to write them down somewhere or tell Alexa to remind you? Sometimes we push it out of our mind because the task doesn't rank in importance or urgency. Sometimes it's because we want things to turn out just right and then we get overwhelmed by the details. I love this quote. If we fail to control the events in our life, then the events in our life will control us. Failing to plan and failing to keep moving forward, will ensure that we are stuck. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      So Here Are Today's Tips For Building Resiliency And Celebrating Checklist Day: Find the answer to what's in it for me. Why is this task or decision important? What will I achieve once it's completed? Write it down or set up a reminder. Build systems and procedures to follow that will keep you on track. Make appointments with yourself for breaks, planning, visioning, and even napping. And reward yourself for getting things done. Looking for resources to build your resiliency? Check out my Live Smart Blog at www.worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... Today is the day to spend time alone. In seclusion. However, it is a Wednesday, and you are likely at work or at school. Most of us never will - or want to - live in a cave for years and years like an actual hermit, but we can still celebrate Hermit Day. We can consider using seclusion at least once in a while as a way to rest up from the normal busyness of our lives. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      So Here Are Today’s Tips For Building Your Resilience And Celebrating Hermit Day: Turn off your phone Turn off your computer Clear your mind of your worries Rest Enjoy your quiet time Read, write or draw Write in your journal Meditate Take a short nap Go for a walk in nature 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 tips to build your resiliency? Check out my website at WorkSmartLIveSmart.com. #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... I love Halloween. I love getting dressed up now almost as much as I did as a kid. I have decorations everywhere. I even created a haunted bush path through our trees when my children were small. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      Here Are My Tips For Building Resiliency And Celebrating Halloween Safety Week: With so many kids, teens, and adults joining in on the Halloween fun, it's important to remember a few simple tips to ensure that the night won’t end up a fright. Talk to your young children so that they know what to expect. Being greeted by a mask creature can ruin the night if a child is not prepared. Remember Halloween activities for kids don't have to include squishy eyeballs and big monsters. Have a howling in a good time without the spin tingling chills that give children nightmares. If you are worried about ghouls and goblins include a line on your party invitation that simply says, no scary costumes please. Halloween parties and trick or treat can be a great we'll have fun. So plan ahead and happy haunting everyone. Want to find some more strategies for coping with stress? Check out my website at WorkSmartLIveSmart.com. #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... Do you have those days when you are more prickly than others or feel that you woke up on the wrong side of the bed? Sometimes we have these types of days when everything seems to just go wrong. We couldn't find our keys. We had a battle with our teenager. We got stuck in traffic or we're getting a cold. Today is the day to celebrate being cranky. To celebrate the crankiness in us all. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      So Here Are My Tips For Being Cranky On Cranky Co-Worker Day: Don't hold the door open for anyone. Slam your office door. Don't say goodbye when you hang up the phone. Growl at anyone who seems perky. Say it can't be done to any suggestion that is made. Complain about the rain, snow, wind, sunshine, heat, blue sky, and wear really tight underwear, or at least the kind that seemed to want to climb up higher and higher. And finally, if these just don't sound right, smile and ignore the crankiness in someone else and maybe offer them a simple act of kindness. Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out! 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... Though everyone may want something unique from our job, there are some things in common that unite us. One of them being that we want to know that we are making a difference. A good leader knows how to recognize and value their team members, to let them know that they matter. They make a point to notice, show respect and appreciation for a job well done. And they ensure that the team is not just receiving negative criticism. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      Today’s Tips For Building Resiliency And Celebrating Make A Difference Day: You don't need to be a leader to make a point of recognizing someone for their contribution, their energy, or their hard work. One of the greatest gifts that we can give to one another is the gift of encouragement. Build others up and truly value the contributions they make. You do not need to be best friends with every one at work, but communicating in a positive way can help to build a positive, productive, and enjoyable place to work. Want to make sure that you don't miss any of my weekly postings, follow WorkSmartLiveSmart on FaceBook. #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... There is nothing more relaxing than having a skilled massage therapist, work out the tension from an overly taunt neck and shoulder muscles. But how is a massage an important component to mental health? Massage can increase circulation by manually applying pressure and movement. It stimulates nerve receptors causing the blood vessels to dilate. It increases oxygen capacity and loosens muscles. All of this is great for promoting the body's relaxation response. The other benefit is that it forces you to be still and to let your mind wander. When the mind is allowed to relax, it is better able to focus when we need it after the message. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      So Here Are My Tips For Building Resiliency And Celebrating National Massage Therapy Awareness Week. Find a qualified massage therapist. Ask your friends who they would recommend. Book the time. If you wait for the perfect time. you will never find it. Our mental health is important, and massage can play an important role in helping us to relax. So lay back and enjoy. Looking for better ways to build your resiliency? Take my free online vulnerability test at WorkSmartLiveSmart.com under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... Our goal is to stop rewarding irritating behaviours and attitudes. To do this, we must understand what employees expect to gain from being so difficult.  Celebrate Mediation Week. Understanding why some co-workers may become difficult or negative, and when they are more likely to act that way, can prevent the buildup of tension. So why are people difficult? Some employees learn very early on, that the more noise they make, the more likely those around them will respond to their squeaky wheel. For some, negative attitudes and behaviors are expressed when they just don't have the energy to use better communication skills, judgment, or manners. The difficulty behind these attitudes and behaviors is that they are highly toxic, and they can ripple out to those around us. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency So Here Are Today's Tips For Building Resiliency In Celebrating Mediation Week: Our goal is to stop rewarding those irritating behaviors. To do this we must understand what the person expects to gain from being so difficult. Some want to feel more in control. Some want to feel important and listened to. Be in the moment and treat each person as if they are all that matters. It is hard to be difficult with someone who makes us feel special. And finally, move difficult people away from problem identification into problem solving. By understanding what employees expect to gain from using undesirable behaviors, we are in a much better position to deflect and defeat the difficult behavior. Looking for resources to build your healthy workplace? Check out my top ten tips under resources and courses at WorkSmartLiveSmart.com. #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... But you look so good! 96% of illnesses are invisible. These people do not use a cane or any assistive device and may look perfectly healthy. 60% are between the ages of 18 and 64. It's hard to know what to do when a person has an illness. It’s even harder when it's virtually invisible. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Invisible Chronic Illness Week Don't be afraid to talk about what they're experiencing. Open the lines of communication and follow the other person's lead. If they want to go into details, they will. If they would rather talk about other things, they will let you know. If you're living with an invisible chronic illness it's important to keep connected. Reach out for support. It's only by opening up about your illness that you can educate people and invite them to be there for you. You may be surprised, but they may be dealing with their own invisible chronic illness and could really use your support, or they may become one of your biggest advocates or confidents. You won't know until you give them a chance. Looking for more information on making your mental health matter? Check out my online courses at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... According to the health index almost 45% of people don't put their health at the top of their priority list and for some it's not on the list at all. Many of us will experience a critical illness at some point in their life. It's just a matter of rolling the dice. Medical advances mean that we have a better chance of surviving a critical illness. However surviving a critical illness, such as breast cancer, can be one of the most difficult challenges in life and often brings overwhelming medical and financial burdens on the person and their family. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      Knowing that one in nine women will develop breast cancer, Here Are Today's Tips For Building Resiliency In Celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Know that supportive families have a beneficial impact on the patient's response to treatment, however if the family anxiety is high, they may be unable to support the patient and may transfer their anxiety. So understand what family members need during this difficult time. The most important of these needs is assurance and hope they want to remain near their patient, and they want to receive information and support. Anxiety is reduced when a sense of control is promoted. For more information on coping with mental health, sign up for one of my online courses at WorkSmartLiveSmart.com, under the resources and courses tab. #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... Children have been back to school now for a month and we're starting to see the rise of colds and other ailments, both in our children and in our workplaces. Though these are not usually cases of influenza, it is a reminder that the true flu season is just around the corner, and that we need to protect our families and our co-workers. Influenza is an infection of the nose throat and lungs caused by the influenza virus. For most people the flu is uncomfortable, tiring, and can keep you bedridden for many days. But for some, the flu can be serious. Each year the flu causes many unnecessary deaths. The most common way the flu is spread is through flu germs on people's hands. If you touch something with the flu germs on it, then touch your face or mouth, you could get infected. Flu germs can also travel through the air. If a person with the flu sneezes, or coughs, their spray can carry the virus to your nose, mouth, and our eyes. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      Today's Tip For Building Resiliency And Celebrating Flu Prevention Month: Wash your hands often and consider getting the flu shot. For some the flu shot is the best defense. For more information, check me out on twitter at SOS To Stress. #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... Do you think the people have always been this stressed? I'm often asked if we have more or less stress than we did a hundred or two hundred years ago. Our lives are stressful today, but they were way back then as well. One of the things that helped people to cope was a sense of support. Back then we lived in smaller communities, had families around us, and we knew our neighbors. Today we live in large communities, our families may live hours or continents away, and we have no idea who lives around us. Our support circles have grown smaller and smaller. Let's talk month embraces sharing your stories and asking for help as ways of gaining and giving support. It is one of the three main strategies in positive stress management. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      Here Are My Hot Tips For Building Resiliency And Celebrating Let's Talk Month: Learn to share your thoughts and feelings, your successes, and your challenges. Learn to listen to other’s thoughts and feelings, successes, and challenges. Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out! 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In. #mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast... Do you have balance in your life? Have you ever had balanced? What does balance mean to you? Without taking the times to evaluate how things really are, it’s nearly impossible to make the changes you need to make in order to create the life you wish to lead. Evaluate your life day is an opportunity to sit down and review. It is a time to pause and reflect. In my workshops, I help people look at what they're spending their time and energy on and then we discuss how they would like their life to be. It's not easy and often messy. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      So Today’s Tips For Building Resiliency And Celebrating Evaluate Your Life Day: First, it's easy to wish that things were different, but to be different, we must evaluate first. This takes effort. So sit down and make notes. Understand your priorities, then make active decisions to make these things a priority. This isn't about wishing. It's about doing. Looking from more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out! 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In. #mentalhealth #hr