Listen to today's podcast...

How ironic that today we are to be celebrating one of the most common greetings between two people.

The handshake was a gesture of peace, demonstrated by the fact that the hands held no weapons.

Today, a handshake is offered upon meeting or parting. It is an expression of goodwill, gratitude and congratulations. Sometimes it is used in making a bet and confirming the bet with a handshake. There are also secret handshakes, those elaborate greetings signalling membership in a group or society.

Research shows people with firmer handshakes are viewed as more positive and outgoing and less socially anxious.

Do you dislike the thought of shaking another person’s hand or feel that we should do away with this handshake all together especially in light of current health issues? Many people do.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!

Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating World Handshake Day:

When and if we ever get back to feeling comfortable using the handshake again, remember that it should be positive, friendly, warm, and welcoming. A handshake is a way of creating and sustaining relationships. Avoid using the crushing alpha handshake or the flaccid dead fish handshake.

During these current times you can replace the handshake with these acceptable greetings in addition to the popular foot tap or the elbow touch.

The Namaste which is a traditional Hindu greeting, is done by bowing slightly, palms pressed together toward your chest, with your fingertips pointing up.

Just like the foot tap, don't say "hello" with your hands – when you can say it with your brows. Greet your colleague with a raise brows and smile

Another popular way to greet someone is by bringing your hand to your heart.

Finally, you can replace the handshake with the sign language wave. Bring one hand to the top of your forehead, then flick your wrist away from your head like a small wave or with the Shaka sign which you may also know as the wave of the surfer dude.

Remember, 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? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In

#mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast...

It is time to take make sure that we take our lunch break.

North American workers who take a lunch break every day scored higher on a wide range of engagement metrics, including job satisfaction, likelihood to continue working at the same company, and likelihood to recommend their employer to others.

And though we would like to blame others for not taking our lunch break, that doesn’t seem to be the case in reality.

It seems that our workload is a much greater influence on whether or not we take a lunch break than our boss or company policy. And if we do eat, we tend to stay at our desks and nibble while we work.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Take Back The Lunch Break Day:

Know that it is essential to take that lunch break in order to maintain your energy and productivity.

38% of employees don’t feel encouraged to take a lunch break.

It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure healthy habits within the workplace.

So, invite a friend to go for a lunchtime walk. The light break and exercise will boost your mental health and your immunity.

If you are the boss, model healthy habits by not calling lunch time meetings.

Encourage your team to leave their desks for lunch.

Prolonged sitting is a health risk, so get up, stretch, grab something to eat, and change the scenery.

Your mind and body will thank you.

Remember, If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know. You can leave me a review on amazon or through your #alexa app.

Take One Action Today To Build Your Resiliency!

#mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast...

I remember running out of the school double doors to get to the swing first.

We all hated when it rained, and we had to stay indoors in the classroom reading quietly.

Recess was the best part of my school day. In fact, we know from our research that school children who receive more recess time behaved better and were likely to learn more. But recess time is declining. Since the 1970s, children have lost about 12 hours per week in free time. And adults are suffering too.

In our workplace we don’t call it recess, we call it break time. And according to research, 1 in 4 of us barely even get up from our desk to go for a bio break, let alone get outside. There is no excitement. No energy. And almost certainly, no fun.

When we don’t take a break we create a stressful workplace. And when we don’t restore our energy, we are setting ourselves and our companies up for higher stress, lower morale and engagement, poor creativity and employee performance issues.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Recess At Work Day:

Change your mindset. Breaks are a necessity, not a luxury. Workers who failed to take breaks were at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease.

A recess mind-set is an opportunity to build resiliency, create team spirit, engage employees, increase morale, improve health and wellness and share some fun with those that you work with.

So, What are you favourite workplace fun activities?

Remember, 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 resources to build your healthy workplace? Check out my top 10 tips under Resources and Courses at worksmartlivesmart.com

#mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast...

A Stanford survey reported that 85% of job success depends on utilizing proper business etiquette. Another report said that 69% of leaders would fire an employee who demonstrated bad office manners.

National Business Etiquette Week also recognizes the need for proper business etiquette in order to compete in the growing global marketplace. This can include everything from how to network, to the proper handshake, and how to remember names.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Business Etiquette Week:

“Can you hear me now?” When it comes to the use of cell phones in everyday society, we not only hear you now, we hear everyone else too—nearly everywhere we go. Step away from a shared workspace to conduct your business, so as to show respect for your co-workers, especially during a meeting.

No one likes to think that someone is wasting their time, especially when there are deadlines to meet. So arrive on time for your meetings.

Everyone should practice good manners. Common bad manners at work include things like loud ringtones, talking and chewing, and not cleaning up after yourself.

Especially, if you are doing business internationally, do your research. Do you bow, kiss or shake hands with a guest from another culture? Research will help create respect and eliminate cultural faux pas.

Remember, 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 resources to build your healthy workplace? Check out my top 10 tips under Resources and Courses at worksmartlivesmart.com

#mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast...

I have done it. And I have watched others do it. You get caught up or too busy and you stop paying attention to what is right in front of you and BOOM, you walk right into that wall, post, or obstacle.

Injuries are one of the leading causes of death for those ages 1 to 44. The good news is there are many things people can do to stay safe and prevent injuries. Hazards exist, but creating a culture of safety protects and defends against those hazards.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!

Here Are Today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Safety Month at your workplace:

What is the No. 2 cause of nonfatal disabling injury, in the workplace, following overexertion? Is it

1. Improper use of protective equipment
2. Stress
3. Improper ergonomics or
4. Slips, trips and falls

You guessed it, it is slips, trips and falls.

In your workplace, look to bring additional awareness to these hazards during the Safety Month by:

• Holding a safety trivia contest
• Making an activity out of identifying hazards where you work and live
• Hosting a safety fair, lunch 'n learn or celebratory luncheon
• Provide additional safety training

Finally, stay safe by being more aware of your surroundings. Be present and get rid of distractions.

Remember, 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 ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

#mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast...

June is a time of reflection.

The goal of Professional Wellness Month is to encourage you to reflect on how your health and wellness intersect with your professional life.

One of the main sources of stress at work is having too much to do and not enough time to do it in. Examine your workload. Are you working copious amounts of overtime? Have you stop taking breaks? Are you feeling vacation deprived?

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!

Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Professional Wellness Month:

If workload is the reason you're unable to take breaks or vacation, discuss the problem with your manager to find a solution. It is important to know when to ask for help, rather than letting the stress build to the point of burnout, anxiety or depression.

Eating well, exercising, attending to our health and feeling good, makes you more productive at work. So build in strategies to take care of your biological needs, as well as strategies to give yourself a break from your workplace stress.

Get a life outside of work. Focus on hobbies, friends, and family. Unplug and learn to focus on these activities and relationships. Focusing more on your time away from work will benefit your energy and creativity while you are at work.

Remember, 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 resources to build your healthy workplace? Check out my top 10 tips under Resources and Courses at worksmartlivesmart.com

#mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast...

Once there was a time when photography didn’t exist. A time when precious moments couldn’t be captured, uploaded and shared.

I look back at my baby pictures and there were only a handful. My mom and dad had a single picture each and I don’t know if I have ever saw one of any of my grandparents when they were really young. Compare all of that to the albums upon albums that I have of my sons who are now young adults.

Today, we don’t even print all of our pictures, but save them to on-line albums or files to be viewed at any given instant.

Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving.

Photography is a great hobby that can help us build our resiliency. It is something to take our minds off of all of our stressful life situations.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!

Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Nature Photography Day:

Photography can be a means to get out and physically active. Use your camera to take note of the awesome or the bizarre. Have some fun looking for the humour in everyday life.

Photography is a good activity to strengthen relationships. Make it an outing and invite others to join you. Visit the park or a natural habitat and spend time discussing what you see.

So what is the funniest photograph that you have ever taken?

Remember, 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? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In

#mentalhealth #hr

Listen to today's podcast...

Today is a world-wide celebration to honour and thank those people who donate their blood without any reward, except the knowledge that they have helped to save lives.

This day has particular significance as it is the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, the Nobel Prize winner who discovered the ABO blood group system.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency! So Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Blood Donor Day:

Get others involved and it makes it easier to remember to donate, and less anxious for those who have never gone before.

Get your office or organization involved and promote it through your on-line or internal communications

Get your family involved – go together and make it a family-giving project

Be a role model for others – I love how my mom still goes regularly to donate.

With our lives being so busy it is easy to forget to do this simple little act of kindness. But this little act can mean the difference between life and death.

Remember, 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 ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

#mentalhealth #hr