How to Support a Co-worker Through a Personal Crisis - The Muse

How to Support a Co-worker Through a Personal Crisis - The MuseHow to Support a Co-worker Through a Personal Crisis When you spend over 40 hours a week with the same group of people, you cant help but form bonds. Shared experiences like laughing at office-related inside jokes, dealing with tough bosses, and frequenting favorite lunch spots can turn colleagues into personal friends. You may even come to know about your co-workers lives outside of the office. Its not uncommon to spend time with your co-workers at happy hours and fitness classes or know about (or even meet) their kids, spouse, and friends. But what happens then when a close colleague encounters a personal crisis? Whether a co-worker is going through a divorce, caring for a family member with an illness, or experiencing another personal problem, it can be confusing to know how to respond appropriately. While you may feel a degree of intimacy with this person and feel like its natural to inquire about the details and step in to try to alleviate some of the stress, there are still professional boundaries you should respect. Its wise to strike a balance between offering your support and respecting your colleagues privacy.Here are some rules of thumb to help you achieve that happy medium.Do Show Youre ApproachableEveryone wants to feel acknowledged and comforted during tough times, but it can be challenging to figure out how to convey support in an appropriate way. When you dont know what to say, something simple yet heartfelt- like, Im so sorry to hear about the loss of your mother- can be just what your co-worker needs to hear. And its absolutely OK to let your colleague know youre there for her if she does want to talk about whats going on. This doesnt, however, mean barraging her with questions or insisting on details that could drive her away. Dont Offer Unsolicited AdviceWhile its tempting to want to play amateur therapist and offer advice to your struggling co-worker- particularly if youve been there before- focus on supporting, not preaching. Your goal should be to make your colleague feel comfortable and cared for, not to provide your recommendations. Unless someone specifically asks for your advice, its best to keep your opinions to yourself. Instead, ask open-ended questions like, How are you holding up? to try and understand how he or she is feeling.Do Offer to Help in Specific WaysAvoid offering vague statements like, Let me know if theres anything I can do or asking, How can I help? These blanket sentiments place a burden on the struggling person to make an effort to generate ideas for you, and chances are, your colleague may feel uncomfortable requesting help from a fellow co-worker. Instead, be proactive and show youre willing to help by offering assistance in specific, concrete ways, such as, Im running out for lunch can I pick up a meal for you today? or, Im calling the distributor- do you want me to touch base with him on your behalf about the new designs? Simp le gestures like unterstellung can provide a huge amount of relief for your colleague. And, by offering something specific, you wont get overloaded with tasks you dont have the bandwidth to handle or arent comfortable with based on the nature of your relationship.Dont Be Susie SunshineIf your colleague is going through a personal crisis, he doesnt need you reminding him to buck up and look on the bright side. Every person experiences lifes highs and lows differently, and its important to respect your colleagues unique coping process- whatever that entails. While you likely have good intentions, your optimism can inadvertently make it seem like youre downplaying or trivializing the matter, which can make the situation even worse for your co-worker. A better strategy is to help him or her feel heard and understood by offering phrases like, That sounds so difficult or You must be angry By validating your co-workers struggles, yet remaining neutral, youll help him feel comfortable openi ng up to you. At the same time, you minimize the risk of alienating him by making him feel like hes overreacting or not handling things the way he should. Supporting a colleague whos going through personal turmoil can be a tricky workplace scenario to navigate. When you reach out to offer your support, remember to honor your co-workers boundaries and let him or her take the lead on how much he or she wants to disclose. By sticking to unterstellung rules of thumb, youll be able to strike a balance of support and respect. In the long run, this helps you preserve and strengthen your relationship with that person and foster even better teamwork when the clouds clear.Photo of comforting colleague courtesy of Shutterstock.

When to Quit Your Job and How to Get a Better One

When to Quit Your Job and How to Get a Better One When to Quit Your Job and How to Get a Better One Does your Monday start to feel mora dreadful week by week? Have you lost the enthusiasm for your career that you once had? Perhaps its time to start thinking about when to quit your job and what it will take to get a better one.Experts say that the average adult changes jobs about 12 times in their lifetime. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, gender, age, and life experience can play a role in this. On average men between the ages of 18-48 have held 11.8 jobs, women 11.5 jobs. Working people 18-24 years of age held an average of 5.5 jobs, but by the time workers reach age 25-39, they slow down switching jobs to about 2.1 jobs during this period.How to know when to quit your jobThere can be a number of personal and professional factors that can influence your decision to switch careers. These can range from general dissatisfaction with the job itself to an impending move to another region. If you fall into the first category, you may be seeing signs around you that includeNo further advancement opportunities available in the job or companyPoor compensation and benefits that are below industry averagesConstant conflicts between staffers and members of the management teambadeanstalt business decisions putting the company, clients, and employees at riskToxic working conditions or co-workers that have become part of the cultureA job that no longer meets your professional goals or career growthIf you find yourself feeling overwhelming stress, anger, or disappointment in your job, by all means try to talk with your supervisor about ways to improve things before you walk away.Planning a job changeWhenever possible, plan your departure from this company ahead of time and do so with one goal in mind to find a better job and company where you can shine. From a professional standpoint, its always preferable to leave on a positive note and with plenty of notice g iven. Use the following steps to get ready to find a new job and leave this one behind.Step 1 Take a good look at your current skills and how they align with your career goals.Before you can start applying for new jobs you may need some brushing up on certain skills and knowledge. For example, if you are looking to make a career leap into a management role, there are some free and low cost leadership development programs you can get involved in. Consider online classes and after-work groups that enable you to maintain your current job while you work on improving your skills - something that todays employers like to see on a resume.Step 2 Evaluate the current resume and cover letter you are sending to employers.It can be easy to get stuck in a rut by using the same old resume and cover letter, but things have changed a lot since your last job search. Employers are no longer interested in reading through a long detailed resume. Many no longer require much more than a brief email in troduction or a link to a social media profile in lieu of a cover letter. Take the time to get your resume scanned and reviewed to make sure you know what areas to improve. Create a short-form cover letter and customize it to each job you apply to (no form letters).Step 3 Meet with a certified career coaching professional.A job change is not something to look at lightly. This can have a major impact in yourself, your spouse or partners, kids, and even friends and other family members. Its important to understand how to handle things with tact, from searching for jobs to arranging for interviews around work time. A career coach can help you establish clear career goals, focus on the right career opportunities, and make the transition more smooth. An added bonus many career coaches have connections and can refer you to hiring companies.Step 4 Improve your brand image, and your confidence.Before stepping outside into the world of job seekers, take an inventory of your current image. How up to date are your social media profiles? Is your LinkedIn profile optimized?We know that around 70% of employers routinely check out the social media profiles of candidates before calling them in for an interview. Yours needs a professional photo, a good overview of your skills, written references from past and current colleagues, and some featured content that shows off your achievements. Clean up anything else. Do the same with the way you present yourself in person get a haircut and get some new clothes for interviews and networking opportunities.Step 5 Understand the current job market.How people apply for jobs and how employers seek out candidates are continually evolving. The current job market favors job seekers, mostly due to shortages of skills in many core areas and industries. Soft skills are critically important, but so are technical, analytical, and project-focused abilities. How well does your resume reflect these areas? Use a resume scanning service to get matc hed to targeted jobs and companies that should be on your radar. Evaluate how well you are matching with desired jobs so you can get better results.The above steps are just a few ways you can start getting ready to leave your current job and move into a new one. Take your time and leave your old job behind when the right job offer arrives.

Employers That Help Employees Have Work-Life Balance Are Glad They Did

Employers That Help Employees Have Work-Life Balance Are Glad They DidEmployers That Help Employees Have Work-Life Balance Are Glad They DidWork-life balance is a concept that describes the ideal of splitting ones time and energy between work and other important aspects of their life. Achieving work-life balance is a daily challenge. It can be tough to make time for family, friends, community participation, spirituality, personal growth, self-care, and other personal activities, in addition to the demands of the workplace. Because many employees experience a personal, professional, and monetary need to achieve, work-life balance can be challenging. Employers can help employees achieve work-life balance by instituting policies, procedures, actions, and expectations that enable them to pursue more balanced lives, such as flexible work schedules, paid time off (PTO) policies, responsibly paced time and communication expectations, and company-sponsored family events and activities. Work- life balance reduces the stress employees experience. When someone spends the majority of their days on work-related activities and feel as if they are neglecting other important components of their lives, stress and unhappiness result. An employee, who doesnt make time for self-care, eventually damages their output and productivity. The workplace that enables employees to achieve work-life balance is particularly motivating and gratifying to employees, which makes them happy. And happy employees, whose needs for work-life balance are achieved, tend to stay with their employer and are more productive. Work-Life Balance for Parents Lynn Taylor, the author of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant says that work-life balance is an elusive goal for working parents. But, you can take steps as a parent to make it a reality for you and your children. Like many great achievements, it takes time and organization- but its worth the effort. Managers are important to employees seeking work-life balance. Managers who pursue work-life balance in their own lives model appropriate behavior and stab und sttze employees in their pursuit of work-life balance. Your work-life balance planning begins before you accept your next job. First, take the time to determine your real needs from the broadest perspective. You may be surprised to discover that a lesser paying job with proximity to great daycare is preferable over another option, for example. Parents should think carefully about job location the commute to daycare can make or break your ability to spend invaluable bonding time before, during and after work with your children. The satisfaction you get from seeing your child more often will make you much more relaxed and productive at work, and reduce your stress significantly. Make quality of life an aspect of your job criteria before you commit. In the job interview, keep your ears open to the companys view on telecommuting, workculture, time flexibility, and so on. Usually, be nefits are spelled out at the time of the job offer, and sometimes theyll be listed on a companys website. If you get the chance to chat with other employees, ask if the corporate culture is family-friendly. Are there daycare benefits? Is there enough personal time off for emergencies- a sense of empathy for parents? For example, in a Terrible Office Tyrant (TOT) environment, where baboes slip into a mode that trumps a schoolyard brawl, you may be stepping into unfriendly-to-parents territory. By noticing your surroundings, the posture, demeanor, and the sociability level of workers- youll get a feel for how flexible management will be. And thats one valuable data point for your family-friendly checklist. Super-Parent Mealtimes It seems like a tall order to experience calm and no chaos each weekday morning, especially when winging it at 7 a.m. has been the norm. Try hitting reset and abflug the day on a positive note with an unhurried, sit-down, healthy breakfast. A brief, morni ng family meal- even for 15 minutes- cuts down stress for everyone. It also assures your children that they are your priority. In case you cant get together for dinner because of other commitments, then you at least have this meal. If you cant pick up or meet your child at lunchtime, then arrange to place a call. Its reassuring for a child to hear from a parent during the day. A brief check-in will be rewarding for both of you. In the evening, designate a quality time- especially at dinner. A little extra time with your children now will prove enormously beneficial as they grown up. According to studies by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, ...teens who have frequent family dinners (five to seven a week) are more likely to report having excellent relationships with their parents. Instead of letting the TV, YouTube, or computer games fill up the evening, plan pre-bedtime family activities. Even if you have to catch up on work, keep them somew hat engaged and nearby. Other Work-Life Balancing Techniques Bring your children to the office if and when you can, and let them see their photos or their creative work on your desk. This lets them know that they are in your mind and heart. It helps them understand that you think of them often- and they will also feel a part of what you do. Make their special day an adventure. Work-life balance for anyone means having great time-management skills. If you allow your workday to drag on, youre stealing precious leisure and family time. Here are some additional tips Know the bosss schedule. Maximize meeting time with your boss be strategic and work closely with his administrative staff to achieve this.Know when to make calls and when to do administrative work to optimize your time at work.Schedule family vacations when people arent going to be around. Offer a countdown to vacation time so there are no surprises for your boss or team.If you telecommute, ensure that your tech tools ar e state-of-the-art. Make sure you can video conference with ease.Draw a clear line between your personal and work time. Set clear expectations with your boss. If youre an overachiever, consider cutting back to realistic goals, so you feel youve succeeded. When Youre the Boss If youre a manager, and you tend to be an overachiever, encourage your staff to take breaks- even if you dont. (You really should, though.) Make sure that you arent holding back the reigns when it comes to your employees work-life balance. Learning to let go will pay dividends in building a dedicated, motivated staff. Achieving a comfortable work-life balance as a parent doesnt just happen randomly anymore than does a great career. It takes strategy and thought. You can make work-life balance a labor of love- after all, it is about love. Find out what else employers can do to encourage work-life balance for employees.

Prepare to be Quizzed The Job Assessment

Prepare to be Quizzed The Job AssessmentPrepare to be Quizzed The Job AssessmentThe growth of pre-hire job assessment tests and what job seekers can expectPre-hire sichtung tests are not new. Theyre a common presence in big-box stores, where job applicants sit at a little booth near the front door for a quick test to determine if theyre suitable even to apply.The technique is not typically associated with $100K+ jobs - but that is changing, said analysts and vendors who make the software behind the tests.Employers are beginning to mandate applicants take an online pre-hire assessment test as they submit their resume, and it can determine whether your resume even makes it to Step One of the application process, said Lisa Rowan, program director of HR, Learning and Talent Strategies for the analyst firm IDC.Pre-hire assessment tests examine your skill level and whether or not you would fit into the cultural and ethical environment of the employer. It measures your answers against what the employer has defined as the profile of an ideal employee in that position. The test is psychometric, testing personality and style as opposed to skills. Its also subjective, Rowan said for a abverkauf position it may reflec t a particular sales style a given employer might prefer and assess how a candidate thinks and behaves to determine if he would be a good fit.Rapid (and expensive) employee turnover rates motivated retailers embrace of pre-hire assessment tests, but its use has percolated upward into companies searching to fill higher-level sales positions, Rowan said.Shrinking human-resources departments and the surge in applicants have fueled demand for an early screening process, said Chris Forman, chief development officer and president of AIRS, a recruitment process outsourcing company owned by The Right Thing. They have fewer HR managers in place - they get let go in this kind of economy, he said.Kronos, a workforce management technology vendor, is one such technology , whose makers say it is now in high demand. In 2006 Kronos acquired Unicru, a pre-hire assessment software maker, and used the technology to build a pre-configured profile of sales associates. Most companies are still hiring revenue-driving sales positions, and the drain on human resources can take its toll.Passing the testThere are no right or wrong answers on psychometric tests. For skills tests, job seekers can self-test using tools on Monster, for example. Otherwise, make sure you answer pre-screening questions accurately if you want your resume to make it into an employers ATS. The game starts and stops with the screening questions, Forman says. If you answer those questions on the Web site wrong, or answer them right and youre not what theyre looking for, your resume will get knocked out.Theres this belief that the resume is what will put you at the top of the list, he said. Thats the case in a number of companies, but more and more today, its those knockout questions that wi ll tag you as qualified or unqualified.

10 Fun Alternatives to the Traditional Office Party

10 Fun Alternatives to the Traditional Office Party10 Fun Alternatives to the Traditional Office PartyAccording tosurveys by Challenger, Gray ChristmasInc. from 2014 through 2017, more than 70 percent of employers typically host holiday parties for employees.In 2014 and 2015, more than 11 percent of employers stating that they were hosting such parties after having not hosted one for one or more years.Additionally, 2014 and 2015 also saw significant spikes in the number of employers who were spending more on such parties, and budgets mostly have held steady since then.Still, some employers want to celebrate in a way that does not include a traditional office holiday party. The emphasis in ansichtalternatives is on low-cost activities that still are fun and help build morale. A minimal investment of energy and time in planning and execution also isappreciated by stressed-out employees.Consider these ideas about how to embrace the holiday spirit without committing a lot of employee ti me, hard earned cash, or energy. Your employees and their families will appreciate your low-key alternatives to an expensive, energy-consuming, scary office party. 01Make cookies for a holiday cookie tasting- Fotosearch / Getty ImagesYou can hold a fun, less expensive alternative to traditional fancy blowouts. You even canschedule and hold the office party at a time or location to involve familiesif you wish.A combination of casual clothes, children invited, and fun, comfortable relaxed surroundings make these parties fun for all.Held onsite, or in a local establishment, the key to low key includes a buffet, casual dress, and lots of team building activities to play and share with coworkers, and their families, if you choose. An enterprising employee may even want to play Santa for the kids.Did you enjoy this article? Youll want to sign up for the free HR newsletter now because you want to read all of the new articles as soon as they are available.

Top How to Write a High School Resume Reviews!

Top How to Write a High School Resume Reviews Career Objectives are excellent for resumes with a particular intent. UPenns Career Services department supplies a huge assortment of CV samples as well as the resume samples listed above. Since you likely dont have a good deal of Work Experience, you can include your Achievements as a distinct section. An academic resume also makes it possible for you to determine which accomplishments to highlight. There are 3 excellent reasons to compose a resume in your high school years. One of the excellent benefits to it, however, is it is something families can start compiling it regardless of what grade their student is in even as early as freshman year. You can and ought to incorporate anything which you think is related to you as a student. Therefore, if your student intends to work while theyre in school or simply wishes to be ready for graduation, developing a scholarship resume now gives them the framework they have to receive on e ready for work applications whenever the time comes. A resume is the 1 chance a student must tell college recruiters everything they will need to understand. Generally speaking, higher school students have a tendency to concentrate on their club participation whilst college students often incorporate major class projects. Next, you are going to find out how to earn a college resume prepared for the big leagues You have precisely what it requires to be successful in college. The Most Popular How to Write a High School Resume You might have fixed your LinkedIn profile to get ready for your upcoming job, and thats terrific. A CV is something which reflects you inside out in the front of the HR of the organization and that means you need to be quite careful when writing your bio data. Resumes give potential employers a means to learn about applicants quickly and readily, and theyre your very first step toward new job opportunities. Since they are frequently e-mailed, you want to be sure of how it will look on the employers computer. As most high school graduates might elend have any working history, you dont have to fret, you might just indicate your educational background and produce your sales speech about yourself through your objective. A superb method to start on your resume as a high school student is to examine examples of resumes and read tips about what to include and the way to format your resume. Keep reading to learn our top 3 strategies for writing a winning high school resume. Keep reading to learn more, and dont neglect to have a look at our sample high school resume for inspiration Writing a winning college student career objective is a fairly simple method to bolster your application for this internship or job youve got in sight. Hence, youll need to make an application for work, and like every other applicant youve got to submit some documents associated with your education, experience and interests. If youve just graduated, look at placing your education section prior to your experience section. If youre a seasoned professional, set your professional work history section prior to your education. The How to Write a High School Resume Game Padding out your resume will not just be a waste of precious space but its also going to distract the employer from the fantastic pieces. Now youre networking and building contacts in the business In its core, a resume is extremely straightforward, it is a one-page document showcasing you. If youve got little to no work experience, a coursework description can demonstrate you have the wisdom and skills necessary for the job via your education. A crystal clear statement about how youll utilize your strongest relevant abilities and professional experiences to satisfy the specific role youre applying for 3.Dont forget that a resume is your very own personal tool which allows you to promote your abilities and experiences to possible employers. Youve got leadership abi lities. Youve got collaboration abilities. It is essential that you indicate your abilities and achievements in your resume. What to Do About How to Write a High School Resume Before You Miss Your option A clean, error-free resume will force you to look professional. Its fast and simple to use. Youre probably creative. You always need to be ready with a resume instead of regret you dont have one. The Lost Secret of How to Write a High School Resume Just make certain it is altogether clean of whatever you wouldnt need a possible employer to see. Performance and attitude persuasion The possible employer in the instance of a high school student would be considering the attitude of the student and their habits to a fantastic extent. Many people are not familiar with the idea of a scholarship resume. You would like someone in order to check at it quickly and feel as though they have a great grasp of who you are. A resume summary statement is a brief paragraph crafted to as sist you sell yourself to your prospective employer. If you wish to apply to get a part-time position at a retail shop, utilize the subsequent objective examples as a guide that will help you create one that is suitable for you. Its not difficult to compose an outstanding objective. The aim is the part we mostly leave for last, based on what you intend to use your resume for, you might need to tailor it accordingly.

Job interview question and answer How do you handle criticism

Job interview question and answer How do you handle criticism Job Interview Question And Answer How Do You Handle Criticism?Posted October 13, 2011, by Helen Isbister This interview question might seem like a tricky one to answer because it ultimately boils down to admitting that you are a mere mortal who has flaws. (And before you even think about claiming that youve never had to handle criticism, thats a terrible idea because you risk appearing arrogant, out of touch and lacking in self-awareness.) However, this seemingly tough interview question is a fairly straightforward one to navigate if you think it through. Its designed to understand your response to constructive feedback do you get defensive or upset? Are you quick to assign blame? Here are a few examples of how to best approach your answer I try to see criticism as an opportunity to improve my work Constructive criticism is an important part of professional growth, and this is a good chance to show your potential employer that you are open to improvement, and striving to do better. Even though receiving criticism can feel lousy, show the interviewer that you are happy to put your selbst aside and act upon feedback and advice. Explain that you think that criticism is an important agent of change, and you are open to receiving feedback from your peers, superiors and subordinates in order to further your growth and development. I decide whether the criticism is valid or not Criticism isnt necessarily a synonym for the cold hard truth. When you come up against a less-than-rave review about your work, you have the right to judge it on its own merits. In your answer, you should explain to the interviewer that in you would accept the criticism when given, thank the person for their feedback and take some time to consider it. After weighing up the evidence, you would decide whether or not you are making the correct decision. Criticism can spring from a persons doubt about your abilities, jealousy of your su ccess or pure vindictiveness so depending on the situation, you may need to stand strong and be confident in your abilities. Sometimes the most successful people are the ones who go against the grain and defy public opinion, and your answer should demonstrate that you are abe to separate the wheat from the chaff. It depends on whether the criticism is from a colleague, a client or my boss Criticism from a client is a completely different kettle of fish to that from a colleague.Its important to make this distinction, since handling criticism from clients and carrying out effective damage control could be a core component of the job on offer. If you are going for a job as a waiter, for example, the interviewer wants to know how you would handle a cranky customer, or if you are applying for a job as an airline abfertigung agent, how you would diffuse the situation if flights were delayed. Explain to the interviewer that you would approach the criticism differently depending on its sou rce. For a customer, you could say that your primary goal would be to listen to and empathise with theircomplaint, and then try to figure out a solution that would satisfy them. For a colleague, you would hear them out and try and ask questions to understand the situation completely, so you can improve. For your boss, you would proactively solicit feedback as part of your regular catch ups, since youwant to continually improve and progress. Give an example Interviewers love real-life examples because they show that your answer is based on the person you are, rather than a person you have created in order to blitz the interview. Make sure that the example illustrates that you have viewed the criticism objectively, taken ownership of the problem and used it to improve your work. If you are in a leadership position, you will also need to show that you are responsive to criticism by calling a follow-up meeting to discuss feedback and work towards solutions. Dos and Donts of accepting co nstructive feedback Do listen objectively Do ask for specifics Do get a second opinion and do your own research Do take ownership and responsibility Do take feedback into consideration Do learn from it Dont ignore the criticism Dont get defensive, angry or rude Dont make excuses Dont dwell on the error Dont take it personally See our full list of interview questions and answers to help you in your next interview ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searchesgroup interview questionsmarketer interview questions and answershow to get a job in aged care with no experiencenursing interview questions and answers why should we hire youfinancial planner interview questions and answers CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire angeschlossen Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health Administrati onEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineHelen IsbisterRelated ArticlesBrowse moreCreative Mornings with Ben Chestnut VideoLove what you do, dont do what you love is the motto of Ben Chestnut, CEO and co-founder of MailChimp.com. Watch Chestnut discuss his success and tips for a creative workplace in this talk for CreativeMornings.Career counsellorHigh schoolNavigating life after high schoolFor many young adults, choosing which direction to take after high school can feel like an insurmountable task. We take a look at some steps that you can take to ensure youre headed in the right direction.STUDYINGWork experienceEducation or Work Experience Whats More Important?Wondering whether it is more important for you to get some work experience behind you or build your qualifications? We are here to help you weigh up your options to decide what is best for you.

The most important thing we keep throwing away (and how to get it back)

The most important thing we keep throwing away (and how to get it back)The most important thing we keep throwing away (and how to get it back)Im grounded today, like a jet ready for takeoff, but out of fuel. The worst part is, I have only myself to blame.Last Sunday, after a week away from the gym, I decided to dive in and hit the weights. I spent 45 minutes pumping and straining and then cooled down on the treadmill for a 30 minute, incline run.Artwork by John P. WeissProud of myself, I came home, showered, made some coffee, and settled into a good book.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreAn injection ofToradolThe next morning, a dull headache slowly enveloped my skull. As the day progressed, so did the pain. A few Advil mid-day blunted the intensity, but it came back full force at bedtime.I crawled out of bed, took more Advil and wrapped an icepack around my neck. I slumped onto t he couch, focused on my breathing, and eventually slipped into a fitful sleep.The headache stayed with me, at varying intensities, all week, until I finally visited the doctor. After an injection of Toradal, a prescription, a massage referral, and stretching suggestions, I was sent home to ice my neck and back.My productivity and creative output suffered all week because I overdid it at the gym and failed to stretch.The wasted time got me thinking about how we spend time. Subtract roughly eight hurs of sleep, and each of us has 16 hurs a day. Some people seem to accomplish amazing stuff in those 16 hours. Others, not so much.Busy has become the newfineIt seemswe all get wrapped up in lifes minutia, like gum in our hair.Our crazy schedules, commitments, and appointments monopolize much of our time.Add to that the unforced errors, like forgetting to stretch before a workout, and soon we feel totally time-starved.Whats worse, a lot of people confuse busyness with effectiveness. They vi ew a hectic schedule and rush-rush lifestyle as a sign of success and status.Theres a video by social entrepreneurJeff Shinabargerthat captures perfectly todays glorification of busy (watch it below). In fact, Shinabarger points out that busy has become the new fine.In other words, when we used to ask people how they were, theyd say, Fine. Now, people say, Busy Im really busy.At some point toward the end of my law enforcement career, I started to figure out the value of slowing down. I paid more attention to my calendar and commitments.I couldnt predict every time waster, but I employed strategies (laid out below) that bought me some peace and sanity. I learned the value of slowing down, in bestellung to get more out of life.Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a Roman, stoic philosopher who shared some wisdom about slowing down and living better.It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it. Life is long enough, and a sufficiently generous amount has been given to us for the highest achievements if it were all well invested. But when it is wasted in heedless luxury and spent on no good activity, we are forced at last by deaths final constraint to realize that it has passed away before we knew it was passing. So it is we are not given a short life but we make it short, and we are not ill-supplied but wasteful of it Life is long if you know how to useit.Seneca also shared the following observation.Finally, everybody agrees that no one pursuit can be successfully followed by a man who is preoccupied with many things?- ?eloquence cannot, nor the liberal studies?- ?since the mind, when distracted, takes in nothing very deeply, but rejects everything that is, as it were, crammed into it. There is nothing the busy man is less busied with than living there is nothing that is harder tolearn.Five ways tosimplifyWe all have different lives and professions but fall into similar traps in how we manage our time. To that end, here are five ways to simplify your life and get more out of it. None of these suggestions are earth-shattering revelations, but they are often overlooked and/or neglected.SleepGetting enough sleep pays huge dividends on your overall health and mental focus. Its easier to think when weve had enough sleep, and that means we can problem solve better.The sleep-deprived end up taking longer on tasks, which only cheats them from pursuing more enjoyable things.Digital vacationSocial media has its charms and its curses. Facebook, Instagram, and all the other digital rabbit holes can suck serious time out of your day. If youre wondering why you dont have six pack abs, or never wrote that novel, take a look at your social media use. Same goes for TV and smartphone use.More and more people are reevaluating their use of social media, television, and smartphones. Theyre removing apps, quitting social media, and rediscovering the gifts of face to face conversation, outdoor exercise, and passions like sports and the creative arts.Try taking a digital vacation, and replace all that online time doing family stuff, exercise, and neglected passions. Youll be surprised how much happier you might feel.MindfulnessLearning how to breath deeply and un-cluttering your mind will help you become more mindful and at peace.So much of our thoughts dwell on the past or what might happen in the future, at the expense of enjoying the present.Ever notice how we miss out on savoring experiences because were so busy documenting them with our smartphones?What on earth are we going to do with all those digital images and videos? How often do we ever really review all those images? Sure, some special moments deserve a photo, but not every waking hour. And what makes you think posting your chicken sandwich on Instagram will fascinate others?Turn off the devices, clear a smidgen of your schedule, and work on being present. When I was a police chief, I used to take my lunch in a local park. Id go somewhere quiet, enjoy my lunch, and listen to the birds and wind in the trees. The experience was a welcome refuge from my hectic schedule. It grounded and re-energized me.Nowadays, I take long walks with my dogs to clear my mind, enjoy the fresh air and be mindful of the peaceful moments.SolitudeIve written often about the power ofsolitudeand quiet time. Were all social creatures to varying degrees, but spending time with ourselves is important. Its how we reconnect with our inner being.I love my solitude but struggled with the need to be doing something important. It took me a while to change habits, and realize that quiet time is important, too.In the past, whenever I went to a coffee shop by myself, Id pull out my iPhone and sink into the Internet quicksand. Now I sip my latte and take in the sights, sounds, conversations, and life around me. Ive become a quiet observer, and notice so much more.I enjoy my friends and some social engagements, but solitude is what recharges my spirit and creative energy. Even if youre an extrovert who needs social interaction to energize, a degree of solitude will quiet your mind and offer some balance.Say noThere will always be people willing to spend your time for you if you let them. Learn to politely say no to commitments and obligations that make your life unnecessarily busy.Take the time to add me time into your calendar. Add cushions of time between appointments and meetings, if you can. Use that time to slow down. Maybe grab a cup of tea, or read in your car for half an hour.I used to fear disappointing people and often said yes to things. Then later, I regretted it and resented the commitment. I learned to gently thank people but tell them, No, Im sorry, but I cant commit to that. I appreciate the kind offer, but I need to focus on my work.Today is agiftOne of the most important things we have is time, and we have the power to manage how we spend a lot of it. Sometimes it takes discipline, but wise time management pays huge dividends.Yesterdays th e past, tomorrows the future, but today is a gift. Thats why its called the present.- BilKeaneWith some thought and effort, we can change our habits and make more time for family, exercise, our passions, and quiet reflection. Do this, and you can significantly change your life for the betterBefore yougoImJohn P. Weiss.I draw cartoons, paint landscapes, and write about life. Thanks for readingThis article first appeared on Medium.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

How to Handle Your First High-Stakes Job Interview

How to Handle Your First High-Stakes Job InterviewHow to Handle Your First High-Stakes Job InterviewMost of us have gotten through our entry-level job interviews. So when you finally get to a job youre really excited about with high stakes for your careerwhat if you freeze?Dont panic. Your first high stakes interview can be just as successful as interviews with less pressure. Here are four ways to prepare yourself. Center yourselfWhen youve got a lot riding on one interview, its easy to fall prey to nerves. The first thing you need to do is center yourself with specific mind relaxation techniques. Various forms of meditation and prayer can be effective ways to focus your energy and reach a peaceful place inside yourself. Start with guidance from your faith or try visualization and meditation, which can be honed with apps and videos online and on YouTube. Realistically evaluate the stakesBeing primed for a stressful event makes it easy to blow things out of proportion and pile even mo ra stress on your efforts. As you prepare for the high-stakes interview, remind yourself that what youre trying to achieve with this opportunity is one of many opportunities that will come to you in your life. Its not a one-and-done deal, no matter how the interview itself goes. Focus on hard factsRelying on facts can take the pressure off your performance. Use the job description to shape the backbone interview and the questions you prepare. Brainstorm stories that address each bullet point on the job descriptionand practice them so that youre focusing less on you in that moment and more on your experience and qualifications for the job you want.Spend some time alone before the interviewYour posture during a job interviewis very important, and so is your posture before an interview. If at all possible, try to arrange some alone time right before the interview, perhaps even in the bathroom of the interview location. Use this private time to work through body positions and postures t hat increase endorphins and put you in a confident and relaxed state of mind.A high-stakes interview is just an interview you really care about. Use that sense of investment to power your preparation, not your stress dreams.

Your complete guide to mastering your early retirement

Your complete guide to mastering your early retirementYour complete guide to mastering your early retirementIm waking up every damn morning with a smile on my face with the following 18-or-so hours ahead of me to do with as I please. The other 6 hours or so Im sleeping. Ive found I dont need a ton of sleep.I have no bosses to impress, no time cards to punch and no stupid deadlines or endless meetings just for the sake of team unity. Inearly retirement, you truly are the master of your domain.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraBut, it wont always be quite as easy for everyone, and it all starts with a very simple and unifying themeYou need to do something in early retirement thats your purposeI can talk about purpose until Im blue in the face because, well, it really is that important. Not that I relish the thought of losing enough oxygen for my face to get blue, but you get the ide a.Purpose iskinda important.Its important because having the entire day ahead of you with nothing on the schedule comes with ita whole other set of potential aufgabes. When the buck stops with you,shit gets real.Do you want shit to get real? I mean,thatreal? Do you want the responsibility of owning your entire day without the structure that a full-time job often provides?Its similar to being your own boss or working for yourself. It sounds good in theory, but you also need to own it. You need to be a special kind of person to manage yourself.Its not as easy as it sounds.To successfully manage your own time in early retirement,you need to know yourselfwell. You need to know what makes you happy and what doesnt. You need to balance your fun with your work and know how much time to devote to each individual thing.If you think thats easy, then you might be in for a world of hurt.On the flip side, you cant over-schedule yourself after quitting your jobI have absinken terribly close to th is point in early retirement. Im so motivated to try new things and get involved that, quite frankly, I have a tough time saying no. Im always looking for mora.And, thats not always a good thing.For instance, I have this huge blog that Im maintaining. My wife and I also run a growing YouTube channel atA Streamin Life. What else?I startedanother blogaboutdigital marketingI do consulting work at Rockstar FinanceI write for bloggers/websites on specific projectsIm involved in several blog projectsAnd, my wife and I travel the country for a livingAll this stuff takes time, and Id be lying if I said that time never gets away from me. Even after retiring early, I sometimes feel that there arent enough hours in the day, andthats my own fault.I just like being involved with things. Things that keep me focused and energized. Ultimately, a strongly believe thats good. It is.But, the trick is toproperly manage your timeso you dont feel like you have a job again. After all, Iretired earlyin lar ge parte to recapture my time, and the last thing that I want to do is sign myself up for enough projects that I feel like I dont have enough time to justrelax and enjoy life.Managing your time is crucial.Youll fail without time-managementForget the money component of early retirement for a minute. Of course, we all know that we need money before quitting our jobs. Thats the most obviously and clear-cut aspect of FIRE.What isnt so clear-cut is, well, us. You and me.Life is an organic entity. We arent using a bunch of repeatable mathematical equations to rule our time like we might use to come up withhow much money well need before calling it quits.If you cant manage your time, you wont be happy in early retirement. It really is that simple. You cant quit your work structure if you cant replicate that with abetter structure.Its a structure thatyoudesign and impose uponyourself. This is the hard part.And, I cannot teach you how to do this, but I can give you the basic outline of what a solid structure looks like.What times of the daydo you feel most productive?Are you anearly morning person or a late riser?Are your hobbieseasy enough to pursueon a daily basis?Do you have aone year, two years and five-year goals?Adirectionis critical, and understanding how you work the best is how to set yourself up on the path to head that way.For example,I know that I do mybest work in the morning hours. Therefore, I focus on the most critical aspects of my life in the morning. Everything else takes second priority. The morning is my time to focus.When I can properly focus, I can get my work done on my side projects. I feel productive and motivated to repeat that process the next day and Im actively strutting in the direction that I need to go.The mora that you understand about yourself, the better equipped youll be tocustomize your lifein a way that makes sense.Stop worrying about the damn risksFirst, let me preface this discussion with a very simple statementAnything can happ en in early retirement. You might fall down a flight of stairs the day after you call it quits, break your leg and undergo a series of painful and expensive surgeries.Or, you might get into a car accident. Or a train wreck. Or contract a disease. Or*fill in the blank*. The point is that yes, things happen. Markets crash. People over-spend.Theres no doubt that quitting your full-timesource of incomein your 30s, and expecting to live not 20, 30, or even 40 more yearstry, 60 or 70, without a dedicated income for more than half of your life, is a risk.But for most of us, its a calculated risk. But, heres an important question that we need to ask ourselves.What about the risks of staying at our jobs? especially stressful ones. AsABC reports A growing body of research stands testament to this fact lack of sleep has been shown to tax the hearts of the stressed executive and the stressed day worker alike.Layoffs, the report continues, can take their psychic and physiologic toll in the execu tive suite and on the production line the burden on those left behind, who work more overtime to shoulder a heavier workload, can be life-shortening and living in fear of losing a job, or staying put in a hostile workplace, also boosts the risk of an earlier cardiac death.I hate the risk ofnot retiring earlymore than the opposite. To work the vast majority of our life and then retire during the portion of our life where weremore likely to get sickis a dreadful thought. To develop cancer. Suffer from mobility-inhibiting aches and pains. Its painful to even think about.Consider this graph fromCancer.gov.The wide majority who develop cancer are above the age of 50.The highest incidents of cancer occur between 65 and 74 which, coincidently, happens to coincide closely with the age that we can draw social security without penalty 62.Does anyone else see a problem with this?Risks run in both directions, ladies and gentlemen. Were wise not to hone in on the risks OF early retirement and ig nore the risks of NOT taking your life (and your time) into your own hands.To me, itsway more risky to retire during the period when were most likely to develop a health problemthan it is much earlier in life.At what point do we begin to consider the risks of NOT retiring early and weigh those against the risks of quitting the rat race early?Risk is a two-way street, my friends.Every once in a while, do something insaneIvewritten about this one before Comfort zones crush our ability to improve our lives. They keep us wrapped up in a cocoon of mush, complacent and completely relaxed. Reflection and bettering our lives is often the furthest thing from our minds when were in these zones.Instead of going to the gym to begin that new fitness program, we give ourselves an excuse to stay home. Rather than dropping by the neighborhood pot luck to meet the neighbors and network, we catch the latest episode of insert popular TV sitcom here because I honestly have no idea.It is natural to want comfort. And occasionally, theres nothing wrong with a little time in our comfort zones. But spending too much time in this zone is detrimental to our progress. Get out of it.Remember that time that we gave a speech about financial independence in front of hundreds of people? I do, because that was just a couple of months ago at the RV Entrepreneur Summit.Okay, while I wouldnt consider that insane, it definitely got us out of our comfort zones. We were nervous as hell before going up there, but once we got up on stage, everything fell right into place.Confidence is a convenient virtueI am, like, super duper confident. Confident to a fault.I firmly believe that what we are doing is the absolute right thing, and weve made our decision. We are jumping in head first and not looking back. I quit a high paying and relatively low-stress job in theInformation Technology industryfor a life of freedom.And Im damn proud of what were doing.Confidence is very different than arrogance. I dont be lieve that Im always right. I believe that I make the very best decisions that I can base on the information I have at the time. If Im wrong, then Im wrong. Big deal.We fix it and move on.Life sucks when we spend it second-guessing ourselves. So, I dont. I believe that things will work out. I know that we are flexible and will roll with the punches.Im not worried about health care (gasp). I dont care who ourpresidentis. I refuse to let external factors that I cannot control dictate my life. The only thing that I can control is me. My life. My reactions. My motivations.Confidence is key to keeping a sound mind and determined future. The more confident you are, the better prepared youll be to make early retirement work. Why?Because early retirement, just like life, is a mind game. If youwin the battle inside your head, youll win the battle outside of it as well.What does financial independence and early retirement actually mean to you?For me, financial independence is simple it means that you are not beholden to a job to provide for your livelihood.Instead, your wealth acquired through a high level of income or aggressive savings plan, supports your lifestyle. While you may still work, you dont need to. You work because you enjoy it.To my wife, financial independence is a choice. It refers to the ability to choose the life that we all desire and live it as the person that we all choose to be.Whatever it means to you, make sure that you understand it. This is your guiding principle thatll help ensure youre on the straight and narrow.This article originally appeared on ThinkSaveRetire.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people