Viewing corners

Ever notice how men stand when they’re talking to each other? Sort of side by side -shoulder to shoulder.  And women?, they just usually face each other.

My goal here is to draw attention to the differing patterns of men and women ( not that they aren’t few), especially in the workplace.  It’s not that one is right and the other is wrong.  If we don’t understand each other, however, we’re more prone to taking things the wrong way.

And even if women are holding more important positions in the workplace, men are still on the dominating side, even just in small but glaring ways, and here are a few of these signs as studied by Pat Heim, an author and management consultant in California.

1.  In business meetings, men tend to talk longer than women with their focus on selling ideas. By contrast, women tend to worry about keeping their comments brief so everyone gets time to talk.  This attitude ends up them getting less attention.

2.  Men are more likely to speak in declamatory terms, saying things such as ” this needs to be done.” Women are more likely to allow room for their ideas to be challenged. For example, women often hedge, by framing an idea in a question, or by qualifying what they say with words such as maybe, possibly, or hopefully.  Men, in turn, may construe this as wishy-washy, when in reality, a woman may just be simple trying to build consensus.

3.  Men are more likely enter a meeting having already lined up support for what they want to do. The real meeting may have taken place in the hallways, over lunch or on the golf course.  If women don’t understand this, they may enter a meeting expecting a meaningful exchange, when in reality, the issues have been decided.

What we need to do is to be more assertive, more direct, and less apologetic.  We blame ourselves too much for things that go wrong.  We should also be more willing - as men often are -  to come across as knowing the answer, even when they’re not a hundred percent sure.

In today’s world it can be hard to feel appreciates and valued at your work, especially if it’s a position that produces a lot of intangible results.  If you just aren’t feeling it anymore, here are three reasons that may suggest that the grass is really greener on the other side.

1.  You become easily annoyed at both your fellow staff and the clients. If you find yourself holding back rude or offensive comments because you are becoming agitated and annoyed, then it’s time to think.  You are so annoyed that even on a good day, all it takes is one comment to make you realize just how miserable you are.

2.  You are unhappy at home when you come back from work. The weekends are great, but look out for weeknights.  If you are constantly coming home tired, frustrated, annoyed, paranoid or even upset, you may need to a career change.

3.  You now hate your boss,coworkers or your clients. Operative word here is hate.  To some degree we all are annoyed with our bosses or some of our coworkers or a number of clients, but when it comes to the point of hating, it is a different story.

Do any of these raise red flags? If so, perhaps now is the time to give some serious thoughts about your career objectives.  If you discerned that changing careers isn’t the outright answer, then sit down with your boss and see if you can work out some type of solution to your dilemma.  Your happiness should be number one, so work to achieve it.

The office grind, the rat race, the proverbial ride at the elevator. The last thing you need is slip off the ladder. But unfortunately, stress isn’t just around the corner of your office corridors. Heck, it’s not looming around, it’s badgering us constantly.

In 2002, the U.S. Court of Appeals said that employers are NOT liable for causing stress, although they may be liable for ill health caused by stress. My reaction to this, maybe they are the boss themselves and have never experienced making cups of coffee for themselves.

But, bottom line, why let it get to you? Beat it while you’re still ahead and on tip-top shape- yes, right behind your office desk.

1. Do desk-side yoga. In between heartburn episodes which is a result of stress, try squeezing in a half-a-minute yoga poses.

Try the Monolith of Mastery stance by Diana Fairechild. Stand with hands clasped over your head, and then stretch side to side while tensing your abdomen.

Or go for the Kick-back,Log-on pose. Put your hands fingers laced, behind your head, and then stretch while taking deep breaths. Do this while smiling. You’ll see also see grins and sneers from your officemates in the process, but hey, to each his own.

2. Get an aromatherapy set. Get one that does not require lighting a flame to heat the oils or you’ll be sacked by triggering the sprinklers. You can drop some aromatic oils into a pot or cup pf steaming water. The fragrances will run up your nose and soothe your stress away.

3. Go for quickie massages. You can get one during an errand or even at lunch hour. More and more people have been getting into massaging classes ( of all sorts - but enroll in a class where you have your clothes still on). Or give yourself mini-massage. Rub your shoulders and neck. Knead your thighs. Get a stress ball to squeeze.

4. Visualize, visualize, visualize. When the day’s to-do list is driving you more nuts instead of keeping you together, close your eyes, breathe, and go on a mental trip to a deserted beach.

5. Keep your Ipod’s volume level at a moderate level. Sometimes, you’re the one who causes the stresses to yourself. Stress is caused by restlessness and a noisy environment. Much more when it it attached to your ears. So, keep it down, even if you’re the only one who can hear it.

Through these suggested steps, you need not to go on an expensive spa to relax.

Coffee is usually associated with breakfast. It is part of an everyday meal for some who are addicted to caffeine even without them noticing that they are already addicted to it.
The word itself makes you think of royal intrigue in exotic land because coffee has a romantically deep past which leans toward mystery and adventure.

In the Spice Islands, it is called Java. Portuguese traders called it café. Arab explorer named it Gahwah. In most countries today, even those mentioned above, it is known as coffee. I hope you do not call your coffee drink as Starbucks.  It was first utilized for spiritual reasons by the Muslim monks. Arabians on the other hand used the pulps of fermented coffee beans to make wine.

It also has the following “IMPORTANT” benefits:

Increases female libido and sperm mobility
A Brazilian study showed that coffee intake makes the sperm more mobile. Aside from being a baby making aid, it also shows that coffee drinkers enjoy sex until their late years. In women, they administered caffeine in female rats (sorry for the disgusting example, but rats are the living thing they use to test drugs for cause and effects.) and it took them less time to go back to their mates because they were somewhat excited, to that effect.

Maintains alertness and activeness
Since most of us work like slaves, working the hours off the night, we need coffee to stay awake. Caffeine will give you a “nitrous” boost effect in our blood sugar level by releasing adrenaline. It will now mix produce glucose that will make our muscles work on the double. A warning though: If you raised your adrenaline by drinking coffee but your work entails you to minimal movement, those glucose will now be converted to fat.

So, now you know why people should drink coffee not only in the morning, but also, at night. There is no hard evidence but if you tell your partner that it has that effect, it might affect them psychologically and you might enjoy after all.

While work is already an essential part of our daily lives to struggle for the betterment of everyone we are supporting, we should also understand that too much work would not just harm us but, it would also decline everything else. Workaholics tend to be depressed because they lack social life, they seem to be to preoccupied with work that they are neglecting their priorities in life like their family because they are so busy climbing up the corporate ladder and, they tend to eat unhealthy foods because they need “fast” foods to save more time to do more work.

It is understandable that without our daily work, we would live like those beggars asking for food in sidewalks or worst, like those lurking behind dark alleys waiting to pounce over any weak unsuspecting victims. But, we should not make work our reason on why we are neglecting our health. Remember, living a healthy lifestyle can be achieved even when we are at our busiest time of the week. Here are some tips where you can squeeze in exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is like going to the gym and office at the same time.

1. Take the stairs – Who said going up the Empire State would be a sweat trip? Do that once in a while. Use the stairs. It would be good for your health. If you are in a hurry because you have a meeting, run! That would be a much better exercise. You have to run a little bit faster though because you need to retouch when you reach your floor.

2. Do leg extensions. Extend your right leg until it is level with your hip. Hold as long as you are comfortable and then relax it.

Walk as fast as you ca without actually running. Another way to do it is Lunging. While walking, take the widest gap of steps you can step and lunge forward. Just remember not to look crazy when lunging.

3. Drop your chin and roll your neck while you’re in a meeting. Bend your neck from side to side. A warning though. Try not to attract attention from your colleagues and your boss.

4. Roll your shoulders back and forth while rolling your ankle one by one several times when in the bathroom. Who said going to bathrooms can’t be productive?

5. Every time you chew, chew widely. Chew slowly and move your jaws in stretches. This way, you get to enjoy your food while having jaw exercises.

6. Stretch in bed. Not the one you are thinking,you naughty thinker. Sex is also an exercise but it should not be done in the office or any other parts of the office. It is recommended to do it at a secure place like home. Note, in your own home. If you do it in other’s home, then you might get more exercise than you need like, running naked around your neighborhood.

You do not need exercise equipments to exercise. Determination and a trained mindset is all you need. It is a must to work for us to survive but what good is our money if we do not have health to use our hard earned big bucks when we retire? It is just like working so you have enough money to pay your own hospitalization. Why bother working then?

We all have our eyes on a certain position that may require more responsibilities, more hours but a higher pay. And more often than not, we are all shy in some way to ask for what a promotion out of fear of rejection and embarassment and a perception that we’re coming on too strong. So, here are a few things why you might still be stuck in the same desk for years now.

1. You slack around too much. If you’re always late, then the first one to go home before the cleaning lady or go on leave with all excuses imaginable every Monday or Friday or a day after the salary is given, or you submit your reports late or you submit them on time but are incomplete, then don’t complain why you’re still sitting on the same chair.

2. You play safe. Now, there is nothing wrong here, but have to grow. If you only do what is required and avoid little extras, then you’re just going to be stuck there for the rest of your life in that company. It won’t hurt to go on an extra mile.

3. You’re hard to deal with. By this, it means that you’re always a loud talker that everyone’s ears bleed whenever you talk because it’s too much and your vocal chords are probably damaged now. Also being difficult means you’re an endless complainer yet you don’t make changes yourself, then just keep quiet and don’t dream for a promotion.

4. You’re indispensable to your boss. It’s like you’re too good to be true for your job so your boss wants you for a keep. It’s like your boss can’t function at his best if you’re not on the team. So there, make a balance.

5. You got frienemies. This term comes from a combination that your friend in the office is your enemy too, but the weight leaning on the enemy side. If you have “issues” with your boss’ assistant or those at Human resources, then better make amends or don’t do anything to aggravate them or you might as well be submit your resumes to other companies.

Getting the job you want takes a lot of hardwork and a certain amount of socialization with those above you, those that are on the same level and even those who are under you in the organization chart. Some are contented in their positions because getting a promotion may mean a bigger paycheck but less time for themselves and the free time WILL be lessened, stress levels will be shooting up that you’ll develop heartburn or sever migraine.

Its up to you, if you want to be stuck in your comfort zone or you want to go a floor up.