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Information and Resources for professionals helping disabled and injured workers as well as those needing to make a career change.
www.Life-Works.Info
410.444.1989
Skype Mary.E.Sherwood
When you’re used
to going into the office each day for your job, working from home can feel
stressful, isolating, and nearly impossible. The good news is that though we
can expect remote work to stay awhile (if not forever), there are ways to make
things easier. Here’s how to stop coping and start thriving by making your
work-at-home situation feel more normal.
Start a New Routine
You may no longer
have a commute, but a routine can be a healthy way to transition to your new
normal. Try these techniques for maintaining your sanity—and schedule—at home.
Keepergonomics in mind when choosing equipment
or furniture.
Factor inproductivity and establish a
distraction-free area.
Find Ways to Reach Out
Now that you’re
working solo at home, water cooler chat is a thing of the past. But that
doesn’t mean you can’t connect with others outside the office.
Consider finding amentor to support your work at home goals.
Getprofessional help from Life-Works if you experience work
injuries or discomfort.
There are both
significant benefits and extreme challenges involved when you’re adapting to
work at home. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of resources to help you
navigate the difficulties—and embrace the positive elements. Get started with
this list, and you’ll feel better—and become more productive—working from home
in no time.
I think most of us worry about the same things, deep down. We may ignore our niggling thoughts. We may bury them. We may even twist them into neurotic disorders that make us and all of our friends crazy (pardon the pun!).
Most of us think we are not good enough.Not good enough for what? Who knows! It depends on the day and the task at hand, doesn't it.
YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH, IN FACT, YOU'RE AWESOME!
For some reason we all need someone else to convince us of this. At the very least we need to hear "you are awesome" from someone else, no matter how self-possessed and self-assured we are.
In the end, I think this is by design. Take a minute and think about it. If we need to hear good things from other people we are going to be more likely to be social and, in turn, tell other people good things.
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around - Leo Buscaglia
HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT HOW AWESOME YOU ARE?
It is simple, really. You can find out how awesome you are by ASKING SOMEONE. I know. It is not as simple as it sounds. But I promise you that more often than not you will hear something really good from almost anyone you ask who interacts with you.
Requesting feedback will help you in your career, your personal relationships, and your life. If it is something you don't want to hear, it may be something you need to hear.
At the very least, whomever you asked will be impressed with your courage, your interest in knowing what they think about you, and your interest in improving yourself. BRAVO or BRAVA!
Feedback can also reveal knowledge skills or abilities that you may need to address in order to be successful in your job search. You may find that you inadvertently used the wrong technical term or answered a question in ...
When you are undergoing a job search, you may find that most of the feedback you get is negative. Worse, you may not get any feedback at all! Take time today to ask someone close to you for input about your good qualities.
Ask for feedback - this is difficult, but can make all the difference in your next opportunity. Get back on the horse - if you have laid back on your job search hoping for this offer regroup and restart! Seek out people, things, and ...
As always I welcome your feedback, comments and questions! Take care and I will talk to you soon, Mary. Posted by Mary Sherwood at 6:24 AM · Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook. Labels: announcement ...
Asking for feedback can be scary, but you may be surprised at what you hear! Ask for feedback post-interview, or even with good employer contact to obtain information that will make you and/or your job search even more outstanding!
You have been putting your heart and soul into a proactive job search - check.
Telephone, interview and second interview completed - check.
Thank you notes sent - check.
Waiting for THE CALL that will notify you that you are being offered the job - check.
THE CALL comes and the caller id shows that the caller is THE EMPLOYER from whom you are awaiting an offer. You slow your heart and answer the phone with a gulp and a smile. SLOWLY you begin to follow the caller's words and your entire body sags into a nearby chair.
"It was a difficult decision. You are an excellent candidate. Thank you for your interest. UNFORTUNATELY we have decided to offer the job to ANOTHER CANDIDATE....."
There are few words that you can say or can be said to assuage the disappointment of a non-job offer.
FORTUNATELY there are a few things you CAN DO after your heart sinks back out of your throat and you begin breathing again:
Thank the caller immediately - employers don't always notify those that are not hired.
Ask for feedback - this is difficult, but can make all the difference in your next opportunity.
Get back on the horse - if you have laid back on your job search hoping for this offer regroup and restart!
Seek out people, things, and activities that will bolster you and help salve your self-esteem.
After a little time has passed assess the opportunity and non-job offer. If there was something you could have changed make note and learn from it. If not, move on to your next opportunity.
In the end, it is important to do what you can and let what you can't control go. Equally important is that you understand you OWN YOUR EMOTIONS. Feel them, understand them, and put them in their proper perspective. It may be hard, but it is possible to handle the disappointment of a non-job offer!
It may be difficult to have a positive view if you have been out of work after an injury. Many job seekers get caught up in focusing on their hardships and difficulties and can eventually just adopt an persona of negativity that puts ...
We all talk a lot about a positive attitude and looking forward and setting goals. But, how much... But, if you find one or more positive aspect or result to making phone calls, you will better be able to appreciate this time spent.
Understanding that you control how you handle change can really help you deal with it. Try to focus on the things you can control and face the change before you with a positive mindset if you want to make the most of it.
Enhances your portfolio which may also include, resume, awards, certificates, samples; Provides you with a reason to contact people you have lost touch with and keeps you connected; Gives you something positive to focus ...
I am a talk radio junky. I work at my desk or drive all over the region to meet with clients, so it's a no-brainer, really. If you have this type of job you are probably a talk radio junky too!
This morning's local talk radio discussion centered around a young man who dances on the side of a major highway, outside a busy outlet shopping center. I've seen him my self!
When I see the highway dancer, as I learned this morning that he calls himself, I always think he looks happy. So does everyone else apparently.
Some callers shared information that painted a bit of a picture of the young man. He is 21 years old and works for two retail stores and word has it he dances to "relieve stress."
Several callers suggested ways for him to turn his happy highway dancing into paying gigs. Some suggested dance-off's with a similar dancer in another, nearby town.
It put me in mind of my many friends and family who have tried to encourage me to work in food as I love to cook and usually turn out edible items... Sometimes we just need to do what we love and not be paid for it. Otherwise, it might be less enjoyable.
Ironic, really, since it IS ideal to love what you get paid to do as you will be more satisfied and, potentially, more successful. I am one of those lucky people who do what they love and get paid for it - I cook edible items as well!
In a recent conversation with my niece at a family vacation I found the need to explain that I don't get paid if I don't work. "But, how can that be vacation if you are working, Aunt Mary!"
Photo Courtesy of 3riversepiscopal.blogspot.com
"Well," I told her, "I am on vacation all the time."
And that is truly how I feel. I wish for everyone that they find their calling and enjoy what they do and find a balance between work and personal life.
So many drudge to work and whine about about terrible this and terrible that, counting off the days to the weekend or vacation. If this is you, you may want to read the article I just came across on the Minimalist Mom Blog:
Draw happy faces on the computer or on paper. Turn up your CD Player as loud as you dare and sing ... Google search "How to cheer yourself up" or "Happy images." Fly a kite or blow bubbles. Call or visit someone who ...
In order to break the negative cycle, you might need to go through the motions of being positive or appearing happy. Not convinced? Get up right now and go look in the nearest mirror. What do you see? Would you engage ...
People like to interact with happy people. When you ... Not right away, but eventually, you will feel happier if you act happier. Part of the ... Smiling lifts your face and makes you appear not only younger, but happy and healthy.
The negative emotions can be especially magnified at holiday time when Delaware familes join together and expect happy times. Well meaning friends and relatives often increase the sense of frustration and anger that can ...
We all talk a lot about a positive attitude and looking forward and setting goals. If you are out of work due to an injury or looking for work after a physical change, it is especially important to look to the future. Often, this is the best way to get through a rough patch.
But, how much are you missing by looking past this moment and always to the future?
You may be missing out on more than a future memory, you may be missing out on an opportunity as well. Life is about having a balance and consciously choosing the path that will give you the best future, but also the best present and past possible.
No small order! You will have a better chance at living every moment to it's fullest if you do a few simple things:
Set goals that are not only career oriented. For example, also plan out leisure time goals, exercise/health goals, and relationship goals. Use Short-, Mid-, and Long-term time frames and review your goals at least weekly.
Make sure each day, or at least week, reflects the balanced nature of your goals - "all work and no play...," as they say! If you are spending too much time on your career your personal life and relationships will suffer.
Savor each task or chore. This can be difficult. If you dislike making calls it will be hard to savor the time you spend on this task at first. But, if you find one or more positive aspect or result to making phone calls, you will better be able to appreciate this time spent. It may be something as simple as reminding yourself this might be THE employer/job for you.
Acknowledge each step, especially the more challenging ones. Many of us just don't give ourselves enough credit for what we do. Take a moment and just breathe! Give yourself a nod or a kind word. Pat yourself on your back. You deserve it.
By really being present, as much as possible, you will better be able to enjoy the little parts of your day that are often missed. You will also be more likely to see opportunities that you might not otherwise. Imagine phoning an employer with a lack luster voice and being given the brush off by the receptionist vs you, at your best, being well received and finding the employer/job was even better than you hoped. Which would you prefer?
What task or chore do you have a difficult time valuing?
How to live and work in a resort area. By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Mary Sherwood Sevinsky, MS, CDMS, CCM. Who hasn't gone on vacation to mourn leaving and say, “I wish I could live here…let's not go back!
Tons of folks have the, “I deserve it because I deserve it” attitude. And, it's hurting their careers. Click the link below to watch the funny Saturday Night Live clip we embedded to help get our point across. Then, tell us.
If you live within 1 ½ hours it would be appropriate for you to attend: http://chamber.oceancity.org/events/details/2011-ocean-city-job-fair. Here are some links to Career Fair Tips to review: WHAT NOT TO DO AT A CAREER ...
It may be difficult to have a positive view if you have been out of work after an injury. Many job seekers get caught up in focusing on their hardships and difficulties and can eventually just adopt an persona of negativity that puts off those around them. Unfortunately this pushes people away and reinforces the negativity!
Sometimes you need to "fake it til you make it," as the saying goes. In order to break the negative cycle, you might need to go through the motions of being positive or appearing happy. Not convinced? Get up right now and go look in the nearest mirror. What do you see? Would you engage this person? Smile? Nod?
If you are like many of the un- and under-employed the answers will likely all be negative. If you want a job you have to stay positive. Make it a habit at home when no one is around and force yourself to focus on every positive thing you can.
Your spouse and your children will be the first to notice (unless you have a dog or a cat at home - they aren't immune to the impact of a negative attitude!). You will get immediate positive social feedback from them without a doubt.
Those you speak with on the phone can tell if you are smiling or not. Smile until you feel happier. When you are more positive you will notice more opportunities. Force yourself to be more positive. You will do a better job on applications and resume submissions if you are really positive about the prospect. Be positive!
This will only be the start of your upward swing. Keep at it. Your life won't change over night, but it will be noticeably changed if you can take this one step.
When you are out of work, you need all the positive interactions you can get. Employers are impressed by people who can persevere. You want to give the impression you can deal with anything - nothing is going to get you ...
If you are feeling down today, there are a few things you can try to cheer yourself up! Some are silly and you may not be able to bring yourself to try them, but if you try them all, I guarantee you will find yourself at least cracking a smile!:
Play with a small child - go to the park or a Chuck E. Cheese if none are available.
Jump up and down three times shaking all your limbs crazily and yell oogly boogly as loud as you dare. (my best friend and I used to do this, seriously, before important business meetings - it never fails!)
Go to a pet store and visit with a puppy or kitten.
Draw happy faces on the computer or on paper.
Turn up your CD Player as loud as you dare and sing along with a make shift microphone (like a carrot).
Play with your kids toys.
Plan a vacation in incredible detail.
Sing "The wheels on the bus go round and round" over and over (this may actually annoy you).
Google search "How to cheer yourself up" or "Happy images."
Fly a kite or blow bubbles.
Call or visit someone who would be THRILLED to see you.
Dress yourself in the craziest combination of clothes you can muster.
Wear a hat. If that doesn't work add all the hats in the house that will fit on your head.
Do your entire day in reverse.
Make a major break from your routine.
Spin around in your desk chair singing fa la la la la.
Visit with a disabled or elderly person.
Go to the grocery store and pay for someone's groceries (express aisle is best for this - wait until someone with a few items is in line, naturally).
Give someone a compliment.
Go to the Hallmark store and pick out a card for yourself.
Hope you are smiling just reading this list - how do you get out of a funk?
When you are out of work, you need all the positive interaction you can get. Employers are impressed by people who can persevere. You want to give the impression you can deal with anything - nothing is going to get you .
When you are out of work, you need all the positive interaction you can get. Employers are impressed by people who can persevere. You want to give the impression you can deal with anything - nothing is going to get you ...
If you have gaps in your work history or are making a career change it is especially important that your answers are positive and convincing. With the competition in today's labor market, you cannot afford to leave a shadow of ...
A person following up will find out very quickly they are not able to reach anyone in any positive way that will be helpful. This may feed into those who fear rejection, but shouldn't bother those fearful of looking pushy! Besides ...
When you are out of work after an injury it can be difficult to find positive things to think about or focus on. One thing you can do to begin hauling yourself up out of the doldrums is to think about someone whom you look up to, past or present.
Think about that person and ask yourself:
What quality(ies) do you most admire about that person?
What obstacles have they overcome to get where they are?
Where does that person see him- or her-self in 10 years?
What advice would he or she give you today?
What would that person recommend you change about your situation?
What is something your hero or heroine has a hard time with?
What three words would you use to describe this person?
What would this person change about themselves or their life if they could?
Answer as many of these as you can. If you are still able to contact your hero or heroine, ask them the questions directly. You might be surprised by the answers!
Once you have the answers, either answered by you or your mental mentor, think about how you can develop some of the same qualities, strategies, and/or habits. When you get stuck or feel yourself sinking down towards despair focus on your answers above and let the inspiration of your hero/heroine guide you where you would like to go.
January 1, 2012 Mary Sevinsky Attitude | Noun 1. The way a person th... Mary is a Masters-prepared Career Counselor with over 18 years experience in resume writing, personal branding, career assessment and counseling.
Tons of folks have the, “I deserve it because I deserve it” attitude. And, it's hurting their careers. Click the link below to watch the funny Saturday Night Live clip we embedded to help get our point across. Then, tell us.
It is Friday afternoon and hopefully as beautiful a day for you as for me! Do yourself a favor and walk away from your desk and get out to do something NOT related to job search. Even I do this.... really! You can too!
Taking a break from something can rejuvenate your spirit and mind and allow you to be even more effective when you go back to the task at hand. Job search after an injury can be especially challenging and frustrating. Take a break!
Focus on where you are, who you are with and what you are doing as you do it - make sure not to let your mind stray to anything related to job search, employment, career planning, etc.
Enjoy the rest of your day and have a successful week of job searching NEXT WEEK!
Job search tip of the day: Stretch every hour. Sitting at the computer applying for jobs can put a strain on your body and mind. Do yourself and your job search some good by taking a break every hour or so. Set a reminder in ...
Pain and heart-break are laced with guilt in this stage. You may relate it to a lost love from which you suffer and know it must be that you are not worthy or must have deserved it. What you can do: Accept comfort and seek out ...
Personally, my view is
that it is easier to start back on the path to RETURN TO WORK by
first determining what you can CONTROL. If you are looking for work after an injury, you may feel like few, if anything, is within your control. Little, if
anything, can be gained by spending energy on something you cannot, yourself,
control. It is hard enough to handle the things you CAN control, let
the rest go… Those of you who are religious may receive strength from The
Serenity Prayer, those opposed, from The Secular Serenity Prayer. You can find both
versions here.
I met with an injured
worker recently who wrote me two emails within 24 hours that both ended with,
“So, I assume they don’t want to hire me.” Unwritten, but definitely
there was: Because of my injury…. He was so focused on
his injury and the resultant disability that he assumed that
everyone else is too. In both cases he was expecting action from the
employer that may not have been realistic.
What we choose to
focus on correlates directly to what we see in terms of options. The narrower
our focus, the less there is to see. Cup your hands around your eyes and
describe what you see – the computer screen? A piece of paper? The
floor? Whatever your answer, it is a mere fraction of what there
is to see. There are options and opportunities out there
that you will never know about because of your FOCUS.
As adults, we
structure our days around our work schedules and identify ourselves as what we
do. Think about it. When you meet someone new do you say, “Hi, Joe
Smith, I am trying to teach myself Spanish and am taking piano lessons in my
spare time.” No. We typically will say something like, “Hi, Joe
Smith, I am a Plumber. What do you do?”
When someone is
unemployed, through injury or otherwise, they often lose this sense of self,
which includes:
oEsteem
oConfidence
oIdentity
oReliance
oDetermination
This area of loss
includes so many aspects that it requires separate treatment. In short,
if a worker has been injured he or she may become almost paralyzed – not sure
what to do or in which direction to turn. I hear, “I can’t…” so many
times a day it makes me crazy (it may explain a lot, actually!). I
hear myself say, as many times a day. “Focus on what you CAN DO and/or
WANT TO DO.”
For many of the people I
work with, activity helps them to FOCUS and to feel hopeful.
First consider, what is in your control – your ACTIONS.
If nothing else, you have control of this. Next, what do you want?
If it is like most of the clients I work with the answer is to RETURN
TO WORK. The very next step then is to figure out what YOU
CAN DO (physically, mentally, in terms of your skills, anything
you can think of). Finally, JUST DO IT (thank you NIKE).
So what can you do to
regain these important parts of yourself if you have been injured at work, have
been disabled, or are looking to make a career change? It may not be
easy, but it is possible:
·Focus on what you CAN control
·Think about what you WANT or CAN do
·Set short and long term GOALS
·Determine what you NEED to attain your goals
·Ask for HELP
It may not be possible
for you to get back on your feet and back to work alone – you may need
assistance, as we all do from time to time. Talk to your family, friends,
co-workers and seek out expert help.
Inevitably you must mourn the loss of the job and all that it provided: Security, money, self-esteem, status, identity, etc. I like this model for dealing with loss that is similar to the traditional Kubler-Ross Model, but provides 7 ...
Increased self-esteem and confidence. Control over your income versus waiting for an insurance payment to come (or to end). Expanding your network, knowledge, skills, experience; Providing the opportunity to think about ...
Inevitably you must mourn the loss of the job and all that it provided: Security, money, self-esteem, status, identity, etc. I like this model for dealing with loss that is similar to the traditional Kubler-Ross Model, but this one ...
When someone is injured, they often lose this sense of self, which includes: o Esteem. o Confidence. o Identity. o Reliance. o Determination. This area of loss includes so many aspects that it requires separate treatment.
What If Your Community Was Never Designed to Last?
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Everyone keeps saying the future of community is human connection.
Cool. So was MySpace
Attention isn’t just fleeting. It’s being actively competed for b...
Lewin's Change Management Model Video
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Change can be disruptive and unnerving. In this short video, learn how to
understand and manage change with Lewin's Change Management Model.
Burgers: Asian Zucchini-and-Chicken Burgers
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[image: Asian Zucchini-and-Chicken Burgers]
3.75 / 5 Stars | 3 Reviews
by SunnyDaysNora
"These chicken burgers also feature zucchini and green onion ...
Sending a Thank You Letter After an Interview
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[image: Thank You Note] It doesn't take much time to send a thank you note
or thank you email message after an in-person job interview or a phone
intervi...
What to Do With Your Poli Sci Degree?
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You enjoy learning how governments work. Hearing about political processes,
behavior and systems gets you all fired up. Those are the reasons you are
thi...
Is Checking References Worth the Effort?
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Q. Is checking a candidate’s references worth the effort since most
companies won’t give references anyway? I conduct references for every
candidate I repr...
