Virtual Cathy Blog

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Putting Things Write

Find it hard to sleep sometimes? It's not surprising, judging from the number of television and magazine advertisements for drugs to help you get a full night's rest. But before you reach for that bottle on the nightstand, consider one alternative that has been proven to help: writing.


We all know the damage that can be suffered when we "keep it in" and repress our feelings. Just getting it off your chest can provide quite a relief, and it can be as easy as simply putting pen to paper and naming what's really bothering you. Maybe you're feeling pressured at work as a large contract deadline approaches, or your bills are piling up, or you're experiencing chronic pain, or caring for an aging parent. Whatever is worrying you can make you sick.

But there are health benefits to the act of "expressive writing" - writing about events in your life that are causing you anxiety. While the subject may not be easy to face, it may still be easier to write about it than to talk about it. Facing down your fears is a healthy form of coping, and simply revealing the problem, even just on paper, can go a long way towards reducing your blood pressure, enhancing your immune system, and encouraging a good night's sleep.

Try to find a few quiet moments and jot down the issues that are making you toss and turn at night. It won't be the next great American novel, but tackle each problem by examining its cause, and the effect it's having upon you. If you can imagine solutions, no matter how unrealistic they may be, write those down too.

Don't pressure yourself here to solve the problem - just write about it. You might be amazed at how much better you feel afterwards. These Monday morning missives are one way to keep it together, so you are strongly encouraged to pick up a pen or hit the keyboard and try it yourself!

If you're not a writer but you still need to get it all out, consider dictating your thoughts and having a professional transcribe your words for you. Give us a call for more details.

Labels: dictation, transcription, work-life balance, write, writer, writing

posted by The Office Grapevine at 11:00 PM 0 comments   

Monday, April 16, 2007

Leadership from The Vaults

On the playground of any school, and on any day, you can witness examples of children playing "follow the leader." One hops, skips, or jumps, and all the others follow. As adults, however, many of them play a variation of that game - called "follow the follower."

On the job, they look around, see how someone else is doing their work, and duplicate the effort. What they don't realize is that their fellow employee is also watching someone else. A circular game of "follow the follower" evolves, resulting in a mediocre work force. The same can be true in marriages, education, hobbies, and sports.

Consider the story of a telephone operator in a small town. Every day she received a call from a gentleman asking for the correct time. One day, she finally asked the mystery caller who he was and why he called every day. His answer? "I'm the one who blows the whistle at the factory each day at noon. I like to be right on time!" The operator laughed and then responded, "Here at the telephone company, we set our watches and clocks by the noon whistle at the factory!"

Tired of playing follow the follower? Want to rejuvenate your life? Begin acting like the unique person you already are. See what everyone else is doing . . . and do something different. Strike out in the direction of your own imagination instead of theirs.

In the words of Henry David Thoreau "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined."

posted by The Office Grapevine at 3:28 PM 0 comments   

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Get By With A Little Help!

Our world is so much larger now that we're losing our ability to build close bonds with others. We need to remember the environmentalist mantra to "think globally, act locally." Chatting via computer is not an evil thing in and of itself, but the Internet is beginning to replace our face-to-face "in the flesh" relationships. While improving the social lives of the sometimes more isolated elderly and disabled, where does that leave the rest of us?

Our closest friends are the ones we count on for support and development, for everyday problems and real emergencies. Next time you're sick, try emailing a friend across country for a bowl of chicken soup!

Seek out and connect with others where you are most likely to find them: exercise classes, community education courses, sporting fields, dog parks, churches, synagogues or mosques, just to name a few.

We need to prioritize our relationships outside our nuclear families. It might take a bit of work to make and keep those friendships, but the benefits make it well worth your effort. Research has proven that people with very close friends stay healthier, live longer, enjoy more success, and avoid the psychiatrist's couch. Oddly enough, the solution to isolation might just be to stay closer to home!

Labels: friendship, relationships, work-life balance

posted by The Office Grapevine at 11:20 PM 0 comments   

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Good Vibrations

Do you know one of the top secrets to achieving job satisfaction and personal happiness? It's volunteerism. That's right - no matter how hard or long you work at your career, you'll get further ahead once you work long and hard at helping others.

Most of us probably feel like we're just too darn busy and preoccupied to create extra time for volunteering. Pressures at home and at work can wear us out to the point that we don't think we've got anything left to give. Strangely enough, giving to others really becomes a gift to ourselves, because once you've tried it, you'll find it makes you feel good - really, really good!

In addition to helping those in your community, getting involved in charitable or humanitarian work gives you a greater appreciation of who you are and what you've got. That appreciation is often the motivation you need to continue doing the best you can in all areas of your life. And once you've got those good vibrations, you discover the energy and joy you might have thought you lacked.

Volunteerism actually reduces stress and increases stamina, because of the mental boost you feel when you give your time to a worthy cause. You feel better about the people and the world around you, because you realize that if you can feel like this, there's hope that others can and will follow your path.

Studies have shown that volunteers are 25% more satisfied with their jobs, have a better work ethic, and are more persistent in working toward long-term goals and rewards. If you feel like there's something missing in your life, the best way to get it might be by giving something away.

Labels: charity, self-improvement, Volunteerism

posted by The Office Grapevine at 10:40 PM 0 comments   

Stop the World. . .

There's a new term in the psychological lexicon - "hurry sickness." The phrase was created by Dr. Meyer Friendman, the same guy who gave us the "Type A Personality" (the driven, overachiever type).

What are some symptoms of hurry sickness? Are you irritated when it takes someone more than three rings to answer the phone? Do you interrupt people or finish their sentences? Have trouble sleeping or eating because you're distracted by "what needs to be done"?

In our quest to be more productive, we often relinquish time spent with friends and family, or just ourselves. We begin to fantasize about what it would feel like to just "unplug" ourselves from the world and all its responsibilities. It's high time to turn those dreams into reality.

The fact is that working at double speed or for twice as long does not increase your productivity - it actually reduces it. Working too fast for too long turns us into exhausted and inefficient drones who make mistakes because we're not thinking clearly.

Our bodies and minds remain in a constant state of overstimulation, which makes it just about impossible to relax. Each day turns into a survival course, instead of an opportunity to embrace life and help others.

Our fear of disappointment and failure often leads to hurry sickness. Eric Hoffer wrote that "the feeling of being hurried is not usually the result of living a full life and having no time. It is, on the contrary, born of a vague fear that we are wasting our life."

So let someone else help, and let go of the fear that if you don't handle it, it won't get done right. Tell someone "no," and let go of the fear that you'll disappoint them by setting a boundary. And for heaven's sake, stop taking the cell phone or PDA into the bathroom (you know who you are)! Jump off the merry-go-round and take a long, slow look at what you've been missing.

Labels: cell phone, Outsourcing, PDA, Type A Personality

posted by The Office Grapevine at 10:37 PM 0 comments   

Overload

Feel on edge? Not sure what to expect next? Nerves frayed? Feeling overwhelmed by today's complex world situation? How is it that some people are calm, fearless, and content, while others are frightful, worried, overwhelmed, and uncertain about the future?

In the 1950's there were only three models of Chevrolet, about four dry cereals, two or three types of soap, etc. Mom went grocery shopping weekly. There were no malls, computers, cell phones, portable mp3 players, 401k's, Internet, or co-ed dorms. Life was simple and calm - and revolved around the family. Technology didn't dominate daily life.

Today, our choices have expanded exponentially. There are hundreds of vehicle models, 50 different cereals on the shelf, software for every job or diversion, hundreds of cable channels, and millions of pages on the World Wide Web. Could that clog your thinking just a little? Want to get back to simplicity, peace, and security?

Try a few of the following suggestions. Begin limiting your choices. Spend less than you earn. Limit trips to the store. Spend the evening at home - with your family - with the television OFF. Go directly home after work. Identify your principles - and live by them. Count your blessings daily by entering them in a journal. Read. Treat yourself to a hot bath.

Think of your life as an extension cord with too many appliances plugged-in. Each vies for the limited energy you have available until a short-circuit or fire occurs. Start unplugging those peripherals now, and you'll see your life-light begin to shine.

Labels: balance, work-life balance

posted by The Office Grapevine at 10:29 PM 0 comments   

Back to School!

The beauty (and humor) of Twain's observation lies in its double-edged irony. On one level, it seems to suggest that a little learning makes us more formidable - more dangerous - than someone with no learning. Then again, it also suggests that the false sense of security that a little learning gives is, in itself, a dangerous thing.

In today's rapidly changing economy, just a little knowledge is indeed scary. The fact is we need education - early and often. According to economists, one of the best returns on an investment occurs when we spend for training and re-training ourselves. This investment in the future allows us to hone our skills, stay on top of changes in our profession, and adapt to changing technologies.

Take the recent trend in outsourcing. Many businesses have found it beneficial to send technology-related services to overseas operations in countries that have invested heavily in technology training. Like it or not, the companies save money, and the overseas employees doing the work are typically among the highest-paid in their communities. If we stop training ourselves, we lose out to those who appreciate the value of continuing education.

Perhaps most importantly for us, investing in ourselves also buys us some time for reflection and assessment. We can't find out where we're going if we can't figure out where we are. We need to commit the time and the resources to take advantage of continuing education opportunities. As retirement age rises and people work longer, we all want to feel good about our jobs. Expertise is often the edge we need. Quite simply, we're worth it.

Labels: economy, education, Outsourcing, training

posted by The Office Grapevine at 2:35 PM 0 comments   

Do Your Duty!

If you've participated in air travel, you're familiar with the drill explained by the attendants before takeoff: "If the oxygen masks drop and you're traveling with small children, put yours on first and then help them." There's an important lesson hidden in that statement, and one that most us of ignore in the course of our busy lives.

We often spend too much of our time fulfilling responsibilities and commitments to others, and a good deal of that comes out of time that should be set aside for ourselves. That's not to be read as "be more selfish," but we certainly should be taking our own needs more seriously.

"Me" time becomes more important when there's less of it. We probably all need more rest and more sleep, but we end up feeling guilty when we take breaks. We engage in too many "reactive" activities - doing for others - and we lose our sense of control. When you are constantly interrupted by someone else's needs, your body and your mind don't function well. Even when you try to sleep, your mind is too busy to allow it.

So, what's the answer? It's simple really - STOP!

Stop and do something you WANT to do - not something that you feel you OUGHT to do. For instance, exercise is a great release, but not if you feel obligated to do it. That's not what Me Time is about. Most often, it's just about getting some quiet, whether you do it by reading a book, writing in a journal, drawing in a sketchbook, or just turning off the phone.

What works for some will not work for others, and it's up to you to decide what helps you relax. But the all-important first step is to give yourself permission to do so. Stop typing, stop talking, stop selling, stop buying. Close your eyes and breathe. Permission granted!

posted by The Office Grapevine at 2:26 PM 0 comments   

The Sun Also Angers!

Here's an interesting lesson in anger management. A bar in eastern China has developed a novel way of attracting clients - allowing customers to beat up the staff! The Rising Sun Anger Release Bar encourages its patrons to smash glasses, rant out loud, and actually punch specially trained workers.

At first you may think, "Hey, that's not a bad idea! What a great way to safely release all that pent up steam." After all, pressure today comes from every corner of our lives - work, family, finances. It might be tempting to vent your anger under such circumstances, but is literally hitting out the best, if not easiest, solution?

We become angry with others who don't meet our expectations, but often that anger really comes from our own unhappiness with ourselves. If we feel the type of outrage that would lead us to desire harming another, that would suggest a need for an adjustment in lifestyle and psychology. After all, it has been said that he who angers you, conquers you.

As in William Blake's poem, the first step is to speak your anger. The effects of repression are twofold, in that the cause of your wrath remains completely unaware and unable to compromise (or apologize), and those feelings of negativity will continue to grow and fester from within, leaving you in worse shape than before The Great Offense.

In the words of Marcus Aurelius, "How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it." That applies whether you go to an Anger Release Bar or choose to repress your wrath. Balance is only achieved once you can both confront and conquer those feelings, either on your own or with a little help. Dig in and rip out that "Poison Tree" by the roots!

Labels: anger management, conflict resolution

posted by The Office Grapevine at 2:21 PM 0 comments   

Links

• Home
• Contact Us
• Google News

Previous Posts

• Putting Things Write
• Leadership from The Vaults
• Get By With A Little Help!
• Good Vibrations
• Stop the World. . .
• Overload
• Back to School!
• Do Your Duty!
• The Sun Also Angers!
• Fortune

Archives

• November 2005
• December 2005
• January 2006
• February 2006
• March 2006
• April 2006
• May 2006
• June 2006
• July 2006
• August 2006
• September 2006
• October 2006
• November 2006
• December 2006
• January 2007
• February 2007
• March 2007
• April 2007