How Not to Work Through Your Lunch

We've all done it. Looked at the clock, it's lunch time, but that teetering pile of paperwork on our desk beckons us to stay and slog through it until it's done. Or maybe the boss has been riding you all morning about an impending end-of-the-day deadline, and you're falling behind, and noon time is the time of day where you don't have to answer the phone, and no one is bothering you, so it's prime work time right? Wrong!

Don't get me wrong, I've been an work-on-break offender! In fact, because I'm a freelance writer, and I work from home, so my "lunch hours" are not consistent. But when I was working as a sales representative for a premium denim company, I made lunch breaks mandatory for myself. My job was fast paced and stressful, and when I didn't take breaks, my ten-and-a-half our day felt like a fifteen hour day. I'd drag my weary body in the front door, flop down on the couch, and sometimes, I'd still be there in the morning, and one day would melt into the next. Other than feeling like you've been rolled over by a mack truck at the end of the day, there are a whole host of other reasons as to why you need to take back your lunch hours:

1) People who skip lunch, often skip meals. You're a grown adult, and by now, you should know better than to starve your body for the sake of convenience. And if you are eating, you've probably whipped down the street for something super unhealthy, and in that case, you might as well eat nothing! It's counter-productive for your health, and it directly effects the quality of the work you are producing.

2) People who skip lunch burn-out much quicker than those who take lunch. Several studies across Canada and the USA have indicated that in some cases, 40% of the employees on staff take a minimal lunch break, yikes! Those same individuals are sick more often, complain of body discomfort, and suffer from a series of sleep disorders. If you are working 24/7, you're not giving your brain time to recharge, refocus, and recalibrate.


3) People who skip lunch, give out the wrong impression with employers. This habit can work against you in a number of ways. If your employer catches wind that you're the guy who never takes breaks, they could potentially increase your work load if they think they can squeeze a few more projects out of you. It sounds horrible, but in the corporate world, sometimes, it's the nature of the beast. The other way working through your lunch is detrimental, is that you might be impressing upon your boss that your time management skills are less than stellar, and you need more time to conduct your work. Hmmm. That's never good.

If you're one of those individuals that's feeling burnt out, and work is becoming unbearable, take a time out. If you don't take it easy, you'll be sitting in front of a nurse, giving blood, and popping pills because your ticker's had enough! Life is about living, not surviving.

Road Rage or Unresolved Issues?

On more than one occasion, my better half has accused me of being an absolute tyrant behind the wheel. I'm not an irresponsible driver, in fact, I've been driving for more almost fifteen years, and only managed to snag one speeding ticket (and it wasn't even in my country!). But it's not my driving that makes my boyfriend's hair stand on end, it's my fits of rage when I feel slighted on the road.

I'm not an angry person by nature, in fact, I'm fairly laid back. I rarely raise my voice, and I don't seek out confrontation, but for some reason when I get behind the wheel, self-righteousness rears its ugly head. Whether its drivers yacking or texting on their cell phones, weaving in and out of traffic dangerously, or refusing to use their turn signals, I have moments when I'm stuck in the midst of gridlock and fantasize about what it would be like to be a traffic police officer. What I wouldn't give for the opportunity to pull over every idiot I possibly could, just so I could hand them an absurdly expensive ticket (or two!). This of course isn't going to solve my rage issues, so let's discuss.

Why would an otherwise perfectly sane individual absolutely lose their marbles in a brief moment? Let me be clear, I've never chased someone down in my car, nor have I ever had the urge to do anything violent. But my face goes flush, I get hot under the collar, and my heart begins to race. Words fly out of my mouth that I wouldn't dare speak in front of civil company. So who gets road rage? Well, anyone actually. Young, old, wealthy, not so wealthy; It includes any and all demographics.

Historically, men used to be the worst offenders, but women are rapidly catching up. Women may not be pulling handguns out of their glove compartments to handle business, but they're certainly running their mouths off like sailors that have been at sea for a year and a day. So how do we combat this sudden rage? I listen to classical music. It's dramatic, but soothing, and it allows me to focus on the road with out becoming fixated on stupid drivers. I also meditate. My mission is to get from point A to point B in one piece, and losing the plot accomplishes nothing except aggravate my ulcer and give me wrinkles.

If you find yourself raging out on the road, it might be worth doing a little self reflection. There could be something bothering you that you're subconsciously repressing. Take a deep breath, and just drive.

Meditate Don't Procrastinate

We all have stress. Each and everyone of us, at one point or another, comes across a situation that affects us physically. Whether it makes your heart race, your head ache or causes you to lose sleep, when stress manifests physically, it's time to stop and take notice. It's true what they say, stress kills. Over the last couple of months, there have been a significant number of changes in my life. My job is in jeopardy, I was recently excepted to a prominent university that I have to figure out how to pay for, and number of changes going on personally, and it's all a bit overwhelming.

So it was high time to get my stress and anxiety under wraps, and find a suitable way to bring some more calm to my chaotic life. I decided to take a serious look at the art of meditation. I must admit, I've always had some strong views about meditation. I had always associated it with religion, spirituality and weird chanting. I know, I know, I sound like an ignorant buffoon, but you'll be happy to hear I've since changed my perspective and have conducted a serious amount of research. I realized that mediating wasn't just for granola-eating tree-huggers, or people who dedicated obscene amounts of time to live on an ashram. Mediation is not specific to certain walks of life. Whether you're a crime scene investigator, a college student or a stay-at-home mom of three, everyone can benefit from a few moments of stillness in their day. So, let's get started!  
  
Set the scene Find a space in your house that will be dedicated to your meditation time. Make sure it's clutter free, and a space that you're going to be comfortable in. If you're a spiritual person, you can add a few iconic items that speak to your beliefs if you wish. Personally, I like to keep it simple. A few candles, and some essential oil nearby. The smell of Frangipani reminds me of my time in Bali, and immediately puts me at peace.

Find a comfortable position You don't have to sit with your legs crossed, I actually prefer to lay down on my back, that way I can focus on my breathing. You can sit in any position you want, as long as it doesn't take the focus away from what you're trying to accomplish, stillness and inner calm.


Breathing is everything We don't notice, but we spend most of our day with our shoulders at our ears; We breathe into our chest, and this is wrong. If you ever watched a baby sleep, you'll notice that they breathe deeply, and they breathe down into their belly. I would say that 90% of meditation is about breathing, and if you don't have that down, you're not going to have a very rewarding meditative experience.

5 Skills Every Woman Should Learn

Being raised by two military parents, if there was one thing that they taught me, it was to be utterly self-reliant, though, their interpretation of what self-reliant was interesting to say the least! My mother never wanted me to expect a man to do anything other than treat me with the utmost respect, and to love me with anything he had in him. My father took a different approach. He told me that most men weren't to be trusted, their intentions were never good, and that no man would ever be good enough for me (typical dad). My father, of course was none of those things. He was a proud soldier and loving father, and like every daughter, I only took half of what he said to heart! But through the fog of their well-intentioned advice, what they did teach me was that there are certain skills in life a girl just can't live without!

1) Learn how to change your own tires. This is the twenty-first century ladies, and there is absolutely no reason why we still need to be calling someone to come change our tires for us. This is a skill that really isn't one that only women should possess, men should too! We live in an age where we can just pick up the phone and poof! Someone magically appears to solve our problems. Get out the tire iron, drag out the jack, roll out the the spare and watch this video! 

2) Learn to cook for yourself. This doesn't mean you have to go learn how to become a chef or anything, but you should learn how to do more than boil and egg or make toast. My mom had me in the kitchen helping her make dinner when I was nine, and I thank her every day for teaching me all the basics. Sure, you can eat out, but cooking for yourself is way better for your waistline! 

3) Learn the art of storytelling. This is a useful skill in both your personal and professional life. A good story captivates people and draws them to you. It'll get you out of the odd jam, and you'll leave people wanting more. 

4) Keep your first aid training current.  This is a skill that absolutely everyone should possess, but it seems that less and less women feel the need to get the proper training. Not only is it important to be able to save someone's life, it actually makes you worth more to your employer. Get your first aid training, and keep it current! 

5) Travel Light! Now stop rolling your eyes, this can definitely can be done. It is not necessary to bring everything and the kitchen sink along with you in your bag. Several millennia ago, humans travelled with only what they could carry on their backs. Nowadays, women bring entire make-up shops with them. It's time to learn the art of travelling light, and remember, the more you bring, the more you risk losing. 

Under Appreciated at Work? Why You May be the Cause!

Not everyone loves there job all of the time. In fact, many of us despise the work we do, and we spend the majority of our day staring at the clock on the wall, willing it to fast forward to the end of the day. It's taken me at least ten years to finally find a job that actually I enjoy waking up to, and rarely do I dislike it. But what if you had the privilege of working at a job you actually loved, and all of your blood, sweat and tears went unnoticed by your boss? Would you still love your job? Would the rewards of the work itself be enough to sustain your happiness and personal satisfaction? Probably not, and this is a common complaint by employees no matter the industry they happen to be working in. 

While many of us allow ourselves to feel victimized by rude or pushy employers we don't stop to consider that we might need to sit down to do some serious self-reflection. The North American mentality in the workplace is to redirect blame on whoever looks like a sufficient scapegoat. There are absolutely cases in which it doesn't matter how hard you work for an employer, they just can't be pleased and in those cases, it may be time to say C'est la vie to the job, because they're just severely flawed individuals who never be able to stop attrition from occurring in their company. 

Before you come home whining about a ungrateful boss, sit down and have a good think about the structure of your work day and the kind of work you are doing. You may be feeling under appreciated, but is it because of the wrong reasons? Are you really giving your all to your job? 

1) If you are someone who takes work home in the evenings or on the weekends this does not necessarily mean that you're working harder, it more often than not, means that you are not managing your day properly! You might need to consider tweaking your time management skills so there is more of a separation between work and play! 

2) Are you wasting time, or creating value? You might have spent 12 hours working on a report or brief for the boss, whereas, your colleague may have spent 6 hours and produced a better product. This not only shows that you may be struggling with time management again, but perhaps there are some skill incompetencies that you are in denial about! 

 

3) Are you waiting for your employer to decide your future for you? If you're sitting at the sidelines waiting for that promotion, it's probably not going to happen! Your employer is not responsible for your career growth, you are. They are simply there to provide the framework and the rest is up to you! You need to learn to ask for it, and not just expect it. 

There of course exceptions, and as I mentioned above, there are employers that are just miserable and incompetent! If this is the case, move on and find an environment that you feel that you can thrive in. But before you jump ship, consider what you can do to contribute to your own personal growth, rather than placing the blame elsewhere. 

Flaking Out - The Inability to Commit to Life

I recently celebrated my 30th birthday, on Valentines Day to be exact. My boyfriend decided to arrange a special dinner for me, and sent invites out about one month prior to the date. Most of whom were invited, enthusiastically accepted, but the day before the dinner itself, several of them began dropping out, presenting a whole host of excuses. Everything from I couldn't find a babysitter, to I'm just too tired to come out this evening. I had a wonderful time at my party, but the next day I felt the sting of disappointment in friends that I had known for over a decade. Two messages could be derived from this action. Celebrating a milestone with me was not work the the time or effort or, people are just incapable of committing.

My close girlfriend, a dedicated paralegal assistant who works a sixty-five hour work week, has three children and is suffering from multiple sclerosis was front and centre for my special night. If anyone has a reason to stay home, it would've been her, so a week or so later, I called her up for a coffee, and we ruminated over flakey people. It would seem that we all fall into this invisible hierarchy in life. If your boss asked you to lunch, to discuss your career, would you use some lame last-minute excuse to get out of it? Of course not! You could be committing career suicide! But if your girlfriend asks you out for drinks or coffee, some of you wouldn't think twice to cancel. Why is that? Well, one of my theories is that people consistently bite off more than they can chew, and the more they try to multi-task, the more ineffective they are with their schedule. But delving further, I honestly believe that on the whole, humans are selfish, self-serving creatures, and if we don't see something in it for us, we place little importance on it.

I live in a city that is particularly famous for flakey people, and I decided that after surviving a decade of diva behaviour, I'm setting some ground rules. When I make arrangements to meet someone, I always call them the night before to make sure everything is on the up-and-up so I'm not left in a lurch. To ensure that I don't turn into a flake, I never double book. Everyone deserves my utmost attention, and vice versa. And if someone makes it a habit of flaking out on a regular basis, I call them on it!

Life is far too short. There are 7 billion people on the planet, if someone in your life is being a consistent flake, have a chat with them, and if you feel like you're getting no where, cut them out and move on! 

Don't Be a Selfish Cellphone Nuisance!

On my way home from work today, I stopped in at my favourite produce store to pick up a few things for dinner. I scooped up my basket and headed straight for the organic section to find some leeks, a few celery sticks and some beets, but little did I know, that this seemingly mindless task was going to turn into a spectacle in the middle of the store. When I reached the section, there was a woman, having a rather loud and shocking conversation about how intoxicated she had been the night before and all about some gentleman that she had taken home. I do try my best not to eavesdrop, but Miss X was blocking the beets, and I really just wanted to get home. I asked ever-so-politely if I could just sneak past to grab what I needed and she sneered at me as if I were a parasite that dared speak out of turn. Miss X continued her conversation intently, and in an effort to stake her claim of the organic veggie aisle, she refused to move her body or her cart. I asked her again, this time, I didn't mince words, and again, I was met with aggressive resistance. In a moment of blind produce rage, I snatched the phone out of her hand, and dropped it into her over-sized handbag.

My patience had completely run out, and I was not about to be forced to buy regular vegetables all because some inconsiderate twit was sorting her life out in a post-alcohol fog. After I was cussed out by the offending party, me and my beets prevailed, but it left me questioning; Have cellphones made us more selfish? Smart phones, I feel, have spelled disaster for social relations in a public setting. We feel this intrinsic need to be surgically attached to our phones at all times, and it seems to be at the cost of others. In a handful of places around my city, shop owners seem to understand my sentiment, and have posted signs up blatantly forbidding cellphone use while they are conducting business with a cashier.

Laws have been devised to stop us from chatting on our phones while we drive, and now we have to be told that we shouldn't talk on the phone while we're making a purchase. Ten years ago, you would never have had to lecture a group of adults about phone etiquette, but today it seems we are completely devoid of manners. No one likes an obnoxious cellphone yacker, so before you engage in a lengthy conversation in a public setting, try something a little bold, a little daring, a little controversial; Think of others and don't be so darn selfish!

7 Random Things That Make Life a Little Sweeter

There is no finite formula that to allows us to be successful in life. Everyone measures success in different ways, and has a different opinion on how to achieve it. For some, success is home ownership, or attaining that dream job, whereas for others it could be experiencing motherhood, or traveling the world. But we can all learn something from each other's successes and failures, and we call use a tip or two to keep us positive, keep us productive and most importantly, to remind us of all the little successes we achieve along the way.

1) Post up your progress. I am a list-maker. I realize that many of you may scoff at the idea of making endless lists, but it can be quite an effective tool to getting things done. When I began researching top online schools to allow me to finish my degree, I posted up a list of questions and requirements that I needed from my perspective school on the wall beside my computer, and as I crossed the items off on the list, I felt steps closer to completing my degree.

2) Give yourself no more than 5 minutes each day to clearing out your inbox! Don't spend hours on end sorting through crap, and don't let it pile up! Messy inbox, messy life. You have folders, use them! Organize your contacts accordingly, and return emails promptly.

3) Leave work at work. I'm sure you've heard this a thousand times, but bringing work home with you is so toxic for so many reasons. It never gives you time to enjoy life at home, nor does it ever give you a chance to enjoy your work if that's all you do.

4) Stop drinking bottled water. C'mon now, unless you're living somewhere in a developing country, most North Americans have access to clean drinking water. If choose to buy bottled water, you are simply putting more harmful plastic into our brimming landfills, costing yourself money you needn't spend, and putting harmful chemicals into your body.

5) Eat Slower. Not only is eating slower good for your health, but enjoying a meal at a slower pace helps you relax. North Americans need to take a few tips from the Europeans!

6) Have regular brainstorming sessions. Ideas are the seeds of greatness, and every now and then, putting your swimming thoughts onto paper, somehow legitimizes them, and gives them life. The world's most splendid inventions all began with an idea.

7) Get up early. Yes, yes, we all know, you should try and get at least eight hours of sleep per night, but that doesn't mean you should be getting fifteen hours on the weekend! We're only on Earth for so long, so why waste it sleeping? North American's are some the laziest people on the planet! We spend more time on our behinds, than on our feet, it's time to seize the day and get moving!

Public Speaking Isn't Just for Presidents

Speaking in public actually ranks as number one in the top ten list of the greatest fears in America, number one! This is the same list that includes things like the fear of dying, the fear of heights, and the fear of darkness, just to name a few. The thought of standing up in front of a crowd and speaking a few words creates a violent physical reaction for some people. Nausea, vomiting, cold sweats, the shakes, you name it, people experience it. But the truth is, public speaking is a skill that you should have been able to master at a very young age! Of course, as most of us spend most of our lives trying to avoid public speaking situations,  we don't learn the skills required to deliver believable, noteworthy speeches. Guess what, it's time to stop being a wallflower because fewer and fewer of us have the luxury of hiding in the shadows. You are only doing yourself a disservice.

There are several things we know about public speaking, one being that if you lack the confidence to stand up and speak in front of a group of people whether it's five people or five hundred, it can permanently hurt your career. You could be passed over for promotions of any kind, because you lack the confidence needed to show leadership and inspire others to follow. Statistically, it doesn't matter if you're  a man or woman, both sexes are equally terrified to speak publicly, however, it has been shown that women suffer longer, and men tend to seek help for their anxiety. C'mon girls, we're better than that! 

The anxiety behind public speaking generally starts when children are very young. They're shy around other children, and as they get older, they fall prey to peer pressure, when being outspoken and different isn't cool. Parents and teachers don't realize that letting social awkwardness and speaking fears flourish, they are harming those children far more than helping them.

If you feel that you are one of those individuals that's terrified to speak in front of others, it's time to take charge of your future. Whether it's giving a speech at a wedding, making a presentation in the boardroom or you're defending your dissertation, acquiring the skills to deliver your words in an effective manner will set you apart from those who are too afraid to step out of their shell. Make the change today. 

How to Love Yourself Better!

It seems that some people are simply born confident. They never let anyone ruffle their feathers, they hold their heads high and march through life with purpose. But rest assured, absolutely no one was born perfect, not even Jesus! That sort of confidence is learned and practiced, so for all you wallflowers, there's hope for you yet! You don't have to become a police officer to come out of your shell, and claim your self-confidence, there are plenty of other ways to feel like the master of your own domain, and none of them involve joining the military or taking up some masculinized hobby.

Get Movin'! Join a gym and actually go. Or join a running club or ski club. Make getting in shape an absolute priority, and as you start to see results, you'll start to see a significant change in the way you look at yourself in the mirror. If public exercise isn't your bag, try an intense at-home program like P90X, where you can work out in the comfort and security of your livingroom. You can join online community if you wish, and share your results. After 90 days, you can emerge from your cave looking smoking hot! 

Show off your strut! Whether you're a guy or gal, when you walk tall, you feel tall. My father was in the military, and he always use to tell me, "stand tall, shoulders up-back-and-down". And it worked. If you repeat that mantra in your head over and over again, you'll be less likely to slouch. Slouching is for slackers, so chin up, you are in control of your life!


Giving the best brings out the best! This may sound strange, but paying others compliments makes us feel better about ourselves. By acknowledging the best in others, we bring out the best in ourselves.

Eliminate negativity from your life. Do a social media cleanse, clear out your phone and email contacts, it's time for a clean slate. Life is already full of downers, why on earth do you need list after list of negative acquaintances? It's better to have 10 positive friends, than 336 negative ones. Avoid gossip, and refuse to participate in knit-picky politics (especially in the workplace!). People respect and gravitate towards people who maintain their integrity, so be the exception, and not the rule.

Be a little less selfish! This may sound a little contradictory when you're trying to gain more self-confidence, but it's necessary. We tend to get all wrapped up in ourselves, what we want, and how we're going to get it, and then we stress ourselves out, and a get bogged down when we don't achieve our goals. Spend more time time focussing on the needs of others, and you'll spend less time focussing on your flaws. Think about how you can make the world a better place, and when you make a difference in other people's lives, the self confidence will flow!

Not Just About the Bucket

Have you ever given any thought to the phrase "I have a new lease on life"? Probably not, so now's the time. A lease. That is a fairly accurate way of describing the nano second of time we have here on Earth. And we are forever abusing our time. We steal it, lose it, waste it, try to manipulate it so we can eek more out of it, but we forget to respect it, appreciate it, make the most of it. Well, there is no time like the present, you have the ability to change that, so stop cheating it, and start living it.

It's a new year and it's only natural to feel inclined to set new goals, make drastic changes, a list of resolutions. You have every intention of fulfilling every single one of those resolutions, but let's face it, you'll be lucky to get a third into that list before you let your mundane life get in the way. You'll slip back into a monotonous routine because you're too damn scared to stand up to yourself, and demand better. Stop. Sit down, and calculate how many hours on average you spent on your behind in front of the television last year, unable to will yourself into doing something more productive, more exciting, thrilling even? Enough! It's time to earn yourself a little life merit scholarship. Time to get out there. Unless you are one of the incredibly fortunate few who actually adore their 9-5, it's time to break the mundane, and catapult yourself out of your comfort zone.

Bucket lists are not a new phenomena, and with the influence of globalization, the world has become incredibly accessible to a greater percentage of the global population. Traveling has never been easier (for those who can afford it). Within mere seconds, an individual in Johannesburg can chat with someone in Bangkok. If you are lucky enough to live in a big North American city, you can dine on cuisines from Namibia to Bali. So why aren't you out there tasting, sampling, gallivanting even? Stop making lists about making lists, get out there!

Your Bucket List doesn't have to include illusions of grandeur. Going on safari up the Skeleton Coast, or spending an afternoon dishing it up with Gordon Ramsey in one of his swanky London restaurants may not be an attainable, nor affordable option for you, hell, that may not even interest you. Your list can be as small as learning to run a 5km run without stopping, or maybe you want to learn to knit, and you don't think all the guys at pub are going to think you're so slick. Or maybe you want to go back to school! You are never too old to further educate yourself, so why not check out a fine establishment like Boston University Online and get yourself the career you truly wanted, instead of the one you settled for.

Sara McKinninmont, Owner of Eager-Beaver.com

For many of us, life is about choices. And if you're just wasting it, slugging along at a job you hate, eating food your dog wouldn't eat, plunking your tired rear end in front of the television every night while your brain wastes away, snap out of it! Erase that old list, and write a new one, a personal proclamation to live by. As a very good friend of mine always says, it's time to start living like you give a damn!