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Many of us find it hard to say “no” in our day to day lives and it can be a particular challenge in the work place, where people are often eager to please and don’t want to appear inflexible. However, saying “no” isn’t about being any of those things; it is about creating boundaries and being clear with ourselves and others about what works and doesn’t work for us. Do you feel that you can’t say no at work? That you are always taking on too much? Do you regularly work late to stay on top of your workload? If saying “no” at work is a challenge for you, start by saying no to small requests. You can then build up your “no” muscle and work your way up to saying no to bigger requests in time. Here are a few ideas to help you on your way: Give Yourself Time When someone makes a request of you and you are not sure if you can (or want to) do it, let the person know that you will check and come back to them, so that … [Read more...] about Learning To Say "No" At Work

Benjamin Franklin was one of the greatest men in the history of America. But apart from his political role, he played an integral role in many scientific, social, and psychological discoveries. His writings have become famous and well-read parts of our history. Some of his greatest discoveries, such as his theories about electricity, have overshadowed his more humanistic discoveries. We will talk about one of these lesser-known discoveries today, and how it can help you be more successful in finding and maintaining a career. Have you ever heard of the Benjamin Franklin Effect? Even if you haven't, you probably have noticed it without even realizing it. While Ben isn't the first person to notice this effect, he was the first to publicly acknowledge its existence and write about it. Basically, this is what happens in the Benjamin Franklin Effect: If you allow someone to help you, they are more likely to help you later. Conversely, if you allow someone to harm you, they are most likely … [Read more...] about Tips From Benjamin Franklin on How to Get a Job

The environment that you work in makes a difference not only to the quality of your work but also to your overall mental and physical wellbeing. It is worth taking the time to create the best work environment that you can. Here are some ways in which could help you to create and maintain a positive work environment. Keep Your Desk Clean and Clutter Free Keeping your desk clean and clutter free is a simple but effective way to take pride in where you work and keep it as an inspiring place to be. You could set aside five minutes at the end of each day to clear and clean your desk ready for the next day. Digitally Declutter Clutter doesn’t have to be physical; the digital clutter we accumulate can also weigh us down.  Clearing out your digital clutter regularly is a good habit to get into and stops the number of digital files you have saved getting out of control. In turn, this also reduces the need for more and more storage space! You could create a reminder on your … [Read more...] about Creating and Maintaining a Positive Work Space

Do you ever find yourself getting down in the dumps and you’re not sure how you got there? Perhaps you found yourself wishing and thinking if only you had a better job, house, car, family, and the list goes on and on. The truth is, we all goes through times of wishing that life was better, however, how does wishing create a life we only imagined having? Instead of spending your time wishing that life’s current situations were better, try reframing your thoughts. A lot of the time our thoughts influence our day to day activity and how we respond to situations and people. Changing your thoughts will absolutely change your life. Let’s look at a few simple ways that you can retrain your mind to look for the good in life and stay positive at the same time. Every time you find yourself thinking about something negative in your mind, question it. Ask yourself: is this really beneficial to my time? Try thinking of ways that you can switch around your thoughts to instead look at your current … [Read more...] about How Positivity Can Change Your Outlook at Work

Work is crazy. Just about all of us have stressful jobs. Lunch is often overlooked or had at our desks in the midst of the massive paper mountains and keyboard. It is important to give your body and mind a break. Without downtime, our minds will not function properly and we will become exhausted and hence, begin falling behind in our work. Even the most workaholic types should understand that breaks equal efficiency. Without focus and efficiency, our work will suffer and in turn, we will suffer the wraths of the evil bosses. Clear Your Mind Most corporations require a 15 minute break for every 2 or 3 hours worked and an 8 hour shift requires a 30 minute lunch break at the bare minimum. There is a reason most places embrace this rule. What we do during this time is crucial to our productivity. If you find that you are sitting in the break room frantically shoving oatmeal in your face without even taking time to chew it while you talk frantically on your phone or to your coworkers, … [Read more...] about Take Your Lunch: How Breaks Keep Us from Breaking Down

The writing is on the wall: You’re about to get fired.Once the wheels are in motion, it's often hard to get momentum back on your side. The best thing to do is to start pursuing other work options. However, if you feel strongly about staying with the organization, you can employ several strategies to attempt to hold onto your employment status. Just keep in mind that it’s a long shot.First, you want to be sure your intuition is correct and you’re actually on the chopping block. Make sure paranoia hasn't seeped in, and assess the situation by talking it through with people who understand how the company works. You should also seek advice from a neutral third party. This can be a career coach, therapist, or even a stranger on a message board.If you’re still convinced you’re going to get fired, here’s what to do:Sneak attack. Catch your boss off guard and request an impromptu job assessment. Document the main points you discussed in a follow-up email so … [Read more...] about Getting Fired? Try Stalling Your Employer

Quitting your job and changing career may seem like a daunting task, but that doesn't mean it is impossible. You want a change, but where do you start? Here are a few ideas to help you make the change: Don’t Settle It is possible to change careers at any stage of life though, it might take some work. Don’t settle for your current career if you do not enjoy it or if it is not what you want to do with your life anymore. No job is perfect all the time, but if you find yourself dreaming about a new job regularly, it could be time for a career change. Try to cacth yourself if you are feeling resigned about making the change and remind yourself regularly that it is possible. Reading articles about people who have changed careers or done something similar can be good inspirational fuel to remind you of where you want to go next. Identify Areas of Interest Start noticing what you are interested in and naturally drawn to. Don’t worry initially about whether or not … [Read more...] about Make That Career Change!

One of the biggest mistakes any employee could ever make is underestimating the power of social networking sites. There is a reason why most employers ban these sites while employees are in the office, and that’s because employees not only waste time on these sites, but also tend to post things they shouldn’t. Companies have fired employees or overlooked job applicants due to the content of their social networking profiles making the management of these sites more important than ever. Reputation Management isn’t just for large companies, it’s for individuals as well, especially those wishing to maintain or secure employment. If you are employed and hold accounts on a few social networking sites, there are a few things you should consider doing to save your personal brand. Such things include: Watching What You Say Watching what you say on Facebook or Twitter doesn’t just mean avoiding proclaiming your hatred for your boss or lamenting that you wish you had another job, it means … [Read more...] about Saving Face to Save Your Job

Do you find yourself reaching for an energy drink around 4 p.m. on a work day? Or are you just revving up for your day’s work? Finding your peak work hours is a great way to boost your productivity. We usually do know our own energy body/mind rhythms of energy, but if you examine your work/productivity patterns, you can maximize those times. Morning Person vs. Night Owl People usually describe themselves as a morning or night person. But you don’t have to buy into your own stereotype: you can take some control over those energy cycles and be more productive at supposedly “down” times, because that self-talk can become self-fulfilling. In the “Flow” Published in 1991, Mihaly Csikszenmihalyi’s book “Finding the Flow – the Psychology of Optimal Experience,” is a concept that’s still applicable to work styles today. When you’re in the “flow,” you are so absorbed in a task that you lose sense of time, you … [Read more...] about How to Maximize Your Peak Working Hours