(U)niversal Things I Recommend

I’ve been getting alot of questions about what I recommend for wellness or just life in general.  Like Oprah, here are a few of my favorites things ….

“Healthy Profits:  The 5 Elements of Strategic Wellness”by Sandra Larkin and 30 Additional Authors
         GREAT resource for individuals to put together a wellness action plan in these five areas simultaneously (physical, emotional, social, intellectual, occupational).  Includes assessments and sample plans along with advice from 30 wellness professionals.   Also, can be used as a corporate small group plan or given to corporate employees to aid with the new Healthcare Reform which includes workplace wellness.  See www.healthyprofitsbook.com

You On A Diet”by Dr. Michael F. Roizen, and Dr. Mehmet C. Oz
         Best book I’ve read for telling exactly what goes on in the body and how to move toward positive health.

“Eat This Not That”by David Zinczenko
        You see and read about your favorite foods to make better choices.  Yum and Yuck all at the same time.

Costco
           I LOVE Costco’s organic fruit and vegetables.  You don’t have to think about what to buy.  Just roll up and LOAD UP!

Prevention Magazine
           Best magazine for all around health and wellness along with tips and ways to make wellness stick.

Exercise TV
            If you own cable, this is FREE.  There are 10 minute to 1 hour exercise videos with variety.  I love this!  No excuses for lack of time. 

 Nintendo Wii and Wii Fit
           Creative ways to stimulate the mind and body.  Can include “teams” of people for a team challenge.  Yes!

Silk Soy Milk
           I use to turn my nose up at soy milk until I tasted it.  This is really good and it’s good for you.  I drink about three 8 oz glasses a day.  Dairy doesn’t like me so it’s a good move towards health.

Guidepost
          The articles are motivating and inspiring.  We all need a little of that right about now.

Keeping a food journal.
          Yes, this is work AND you will see what you are doing right and where there are gaps to improve.  This was very telling for me because I was NOT getting enough calories each day.  That’s why I was not losing weight.  I would not have known that unless I kept the food journal.

Keeping a time log.
          More gunts and groans AND it will help you manage your time and set those needed boundaries.  People will steal your time.  Don’t let them.

Sandra Larkin, CWPM
Certified Wellness Program Manager

 www.sandralarkin.com
www.healthyprofitsbook.com

All rights reserved.  Content © 2009 Sandra Larkin Wellness Strategies, LLC

November 1st, 2009 - Posted in ABC's, emotional, health, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, time management | | 1 Comments

(K)now The 5 Areas of Beautiful Strength

I walked into a national sporting goods store and saw a Nike tee shirt with the phase “Strong is the new beautiful”.  Up until then, I never thought about beauty or health in that way.  With so much media attention paid to an “image” of beauty, we sometimes lose focus on what beauty and strength can be in other life areas.  This also apples to men as beauty and health are gaining a greater focus on their side of the fence.

 I stopped to think about if I was developing strength in the five areas of strategic wellness: physical, emotional, intellectual, social and occupational.  Where is my strength in each area?  Am I working towards strength?  If not, let’s get to the big WHY?

  • Are my muscles strong to lift and bend?  Are they lean and flexible?  Can I stretch and just plain move?
  • Have I dusted out the cobwebs of any emotional issues or pain and begin to heal the past hurts?
  • Am I doing enough to educate myself by attending free webinar’s, reading, blogging, joining online user groups for support and inspiration and attending professional development classes?
  • Then there’s the social aspect with community, friends and family.  Have I been reaching out, going out and or just plain being out?   With the busyness of the past few months, we tend to hunker in for the long winter.
  • Finally, am I planning on reaching my full occupational potential?  If yes, what plans do I have to increase my value as  an employee and reach new heights in my career?

Our hearts desire can be strong.  Each of us will ask our own strength questions to see how heart healthy we’ve become.  Beauty follows with confidence, joy, youthful expression and a positive attitude of wealth and happiness.

Be healthy and fabulous!

 Sandra

April 22nd, 2009 - Posted in ABC's, Uncategorized, attitude, emotional, health, intellectual, occupational, physical, social | | 0 Comments

(I)ntentional Social Connections

Earlier this year, I reconnected with a high school classmate. I’m embarrass to say that I did not reach out to Dan first.  He initiated the connection from a posting on a high school alumni website.  Some of us start to sweat at the thought of “going back there” whether it’s through email, telephone or in person.  There is something to be said about staying connected and reaching out to others from high school, college, former organizations and associations.  It has it’s value when the time is right.

I’ve watched as Dan has reconnected me to not only him but others.  After learning more about Dan, I discovered he is truly an “intentional connector”.   An intentional connector is a person that makes it a point to keep in touch with people from their past, initiate new friendships in the present and connect people from both worlds for the future.  

Just recently, I received an anonymous email from from my website contact page.  It detailed how “Dan” told them about my website and to check it out.  It turns out that Dan had given my information to a former classmate and connected the two of us if even for a brief moment. 

Why is intentionally connecting people important?

  • It allows others to see that you are interested in them for them.
  • People find this type of reaching out as compassionate compared to the dog eat dog world we sometimes live in.
  • Networking, whether in a social or business setting, just makes sense.
  • Each person knows approximately 250-500 people.  What if you can help another or someone can help you?

What’s in it for you?

  • friendships
  • business relationships
  • good times
  • no regrets
  • clear conscious
  • future job opportunities
  • interesting projects

Prior to Dan and I reconnecting, I reached out a number of years ago to my best friend from high school.  Was this scary? Yes.  Would she reject me?  Possibly.  I am happy to say that we established our relationship for the following three years.  Suddenly, on a May Sunday, she died.  I’m blessed to have reconnected with her.  I live knowing I have no regrets about about the “what ifs”.

Let’s look at being an intentional connector from a business aspect.  Being the connector in business can enchance your career.  Here’s how …

  • You become the “go to” person.
  • You’re seen as friendly, likeable and easy to work with.
  • It creates positive energy that people want and need to be around in business.
  • You the one who knows “a heck of alot of people”.
  • You establish a huge network for yourself and your organization.

Go on!  Try it!  It’s not as scary as you think.  Quite frankly, what’s the worst that can happen.  I like to say if it’s not detrimental to your career, finances or family …. go for it!

Be healthy and fabulous!

 Sandra

September 10th, 2008 - Posted in ABC's, social | | 0 Comments

(C)ommuicate Away From Conflict To Become A Millionaire

True Story.  A colleague of mine had an interdepartmental meeting with two of his team members.  As the meeting progressed, so did the challenges as they went from from a neutral starting point to a one-sided heated discussion with one of the team members.  All of a sudden, this person got up, open the door, walked out and launch his tablet across the department hitting a cubicle wall.  On the other side was someone intently working.  The situation escalated from the meeting room to also include the person on the receiving end of the tablet launch.  What happened to open and honest communication?   It appears there was a breakdown.

In today’s workplace, emotions can run high as more demands are put on our limited time without additional resources.  We begin to feel overwhelmed and out of control.  I know of a women that would hyperventilate when it just got to be too much for her.  Communication in the workplace begins and ends before any situation has a chance to escalate or even start.  A breakdown in communication is the result of how we should be stepping it up to better our communication methods.

Organizational conflict cost the company money in the form of stress related illness, lost time at work due to avoidance, as well as lower morale and productivity.  It also may cost the organization in legal fees if employees feel threatened or harassed by co-workers.  What are the solutions?  How can we take out an insurance policy on organizational communication?

Solutions range from

  • professional coaching
  • conflict training
  • team building
  • anger and crisis management
  • work/life balance training

The million dollar answer is  knowing how to communicate effectively where both people are respected in the disagreement.  We need to develop skills that become a permenant part of how we deal with others.  This will help us form a collaborative environment coming to the best solution even though it may not be in our favor.

If these points earn you $250,000 each, would you pursue them with passion and intensity?

Be an active listener more than an active talker. 

Visualize yourself with HUGE elephant ears to stay focus on the message.

Ask questions. 

When we ask the right questions at the right time, we come across as a person who truly cares and wants to learn more about us.  What is the “right” question?  Any question that stays on point of the conversation.

Don’t let your body language give you away. 

If we listen intently, ask the right questions but we stand there with clenched fist and a puzzled look, we are communicating that we truly have no desire to be there or learn more.  Be conscious of your body language and the suttle ques your facial expression and tone may be transmitting.

Be truly concerned.

If you can’t be concerned or aren’t interested in another’s ideas, do yourself and the other person a favor…. get off the project, move out of the department or assign someone else to take your place.  Otherwise, the cost to your business could be in the thousands or millions depending upon the eventual negative outcome.

A small investment in ourselves and a conscious effort to see others point of view, goes along way in increasing our professionalism in the workplace.  People see us as friendly, easy to work with, and easy to deal with.  Eventually, this leads us to a positive increase in our professional back accounts. 

Be healthy and fabulous!

 Sandra

January 18th, 2008 - Posted in ABC's, communication, intellectual, occupational, social | | 0 Comments

(A)ttitude - Negative Attitudes Are The #1 Career Killer

What is the #1 warrior for or killer of your career and opportunity for advancement?  Your attitude.  Do you work with someone that when they walk in a room, their attitude walks in before them?  Do you have a particular person in mind?  Is it pleasant at the thought or make you wince?  Let’s look at both the warrior and killer.  Also known as the ying and yang., the postive and negative, and the good and bad.
 
A bad attitude is the #1 killer of your your career.  Yes, I said career, not promotional opportunity.

People who are slowly killing their career for the long haul look like this.  

  • They are negative, uncooperative, argumentative, nasty, or gossipy.  
  • They have an air of superiority knowing the job and company better that even the founders.  
  • They specialize in chaos and reck havoc in meetings.
  • They stymie projects and processes, dig their heels in and go on a personal temper tantrum.
  • They try to take over all situations turning it into their personal mission for the sake of the company taking hostages along the way.

And the best part is that in their own mind, they are the #1 employee of the company and think they deserve to be promoted over others.  

This is the type of attitude that everyone LOVES to talk about long after your have both left the company.  Its a “war wound” that has been inflicted upon us long ago.  When we are in the right situation, it’s a natural conversation piece. 

Why is this a #1 killer of our career?  Because it’s a small business world.  Your attitude and reputation will follow you across the globe.  You would be surprised at the number of people who globe trot companies only to find that some of the same people they use to work with 10 years ago are now apart of the current organization.  For a personal example, please see my website video on “Business Etiquette” (www.sandralarkin.com).

So how can we insulate ourselves from the negative in our work environment to help establish a positive attitude?  QTIP!  Quit Taking It Personal. 

When we stop taking it as a personal dig or insult here’s what it looks like when we walk in a room.

  • We are positive, supportive, cooperative, and learn to evaluate the request or relationship based on the goals of the department, project or company.
  • We seek out an involve others because we don’t know everything about the past company or project experience.
  • We help gain willing cooperation from others in a team atmosphere because this is where most progress is made.
  • We involve others and do not discount their advice.  We realze that people have a variety of experiences from other organizations.  
  • We look to further projects and goals even if it’s not in our best interest but in the interest of the bigger picture.
  • We guide people and support them in their efforts towards success.

This type of individual leaves a legacy of positive support and encouragement not only for the company but for its people.  We are not leaving “war wounds” but a sense of value to each person we deal with.  Fast forward 10 years working with  former co-workers, what kind of comments will they make to the new management about our past attitude, reputation and behavior?

Stay on the high side of your career.  Enlist the warrior to help make your professional life easier, productive, fun and profitable.

 Be healthy and fabulous!

Sandra 

January 10th, 2008 - Posted in ABC's, attitude, emotional, social | | 0 Comments