Acupuncture and More…

With the economy taking a nosedive, many people are landing in the unemployment line. If you’ve suffered the loss of your job, it’s heartening to discover that there are specific actions you can take to cope with this challenge and get back on your feet.

Keep in mind that, while it’s certainly distressing to lose your job, it has the potential to bring you an exciting new beginning. The right attitude can help you immensely in seeing this hardship through!

Here are some things you can do to minimize the damage and come out on top:

1.    Openly discuss your job loss with your spouse. Since this affects both of you, be sure to make plans together and agree on implementing changes in your spending habits to lessen the impact.

•    Evaluate where you stand financially. Determine how much savings you can rely on and what bills are coming due around the corner.

•    Draw up a short-term financial plan to follow while you figure things out.

2.    Check with your employer. Even though your job has ended, the final details are important to your financial future.

•    Be sure you understand your insurance options, such as COBRA, so that you and your family can remain covered without any lapses during your search for a new job.

•    Ask if you can receive a severance package. If one is available, find out every detail, such as beginning and ending dates for each of the benefits. Account for every dollar closely.

3.    Apply for unemployment benefits from your state. Most states offer online applications to help expedite the process and get you enrolled quickly. Unemployment benefits can bring in some much-needed income while you’re job hunting.

4.    Pull out your resume, dust it off and add your most recent information. Consider posting your resume online on job sites and Craigslist and print plenty of copies to drop off or mail.

•    Start your job search by looking online at job boards, forums, and classified ads, as well as applying directly to companies via their websites. The internet allows you to search the entire world right from the comfort of your own home, and can open doors of opportunity that were previously unavailable to you!

5.   Develop an unflagging optimism about this opportunity you’ve been given. Offer positive, affirming thoughts to yourself and your family to keep everyone’s spirit high.

•    Positive thinking can make a huge difference on how quickly you find the right job. Enthusiasm will impress prospective employers much more than if you sink into a negative outlook and carry it with you unintentionally during interviews.

6.    Talk about your unemployment with your kids, too. Your children should know that times are a little tougher and that you need to cut back on spending. Reassure them that things will be okay and use age-appropriate information so as not to stress or scare them.

7.    Consider all options. Many times in life, what initially appears to be negative ends up being a blessing in disguise, and losing your job is no exception.

•    Perhaps you weren’t completely happy with your job, but were hesitant to leave it. Now that the decision has been made for you, you finally have the opportunity to try out a new profession or company.

•    The possibilities are endless. You can even use a layoff as an opportunity to explore a new area of the country, travel the world for a new job, or work online.

You can find success in the face of adversity. As long as you think positively and work hard, don’t be surprised if you come out of this entire experience better off than you were before!

Your well being should be a priority in your life, yet so many of us place our health on the back burner, leaving it unattended until it boils over on us.

Health seems to be something that’s largely taken for granted. We feel invincible until it fails us. This is clearly the wrong attitude. If you take preventative action, you’ll not only feel better, but your body will thank you by adding years onto your life!

Improve your Health for the Right Reasons

Nowadays many Americans are overweight. As a result, more people than ever are trying to slim down. The problem is a lot of us aren’t trying to lose weight for the right reasons. If you need to lose weight, be sure to do it for yourself, not for anybody else.

Losing weight goes far beyond the superficial. Don’t lose weight only in order to look good, but for your overall health and wellness.

When you try to improve yourself for other people, you can lose sight of your motivation if your relationship changes. The motivation needs to be within you, not someone else. The deeper your commitment to your health, the more difficult it is to cheat on a diet or forego exercise.

It’s also important to realize that you must love yourself first before anyone else will. People are drawn to others who have self-confidence and self-respect. When you care about your well being, not only will you take better care of yourself, but others will be more likely to do the same.

Here are some ways you can put yourself first and take better care of your health:

1.    See your doctor. If you haven’t been to see a doctor in a while or are in need of an annual checkup, start by making an appointment to get your health evaluated. This will give you a good foundation for what improvements you need to make.

2.    Find an exercise routine you can incorporate regularly into your lifestyle. It can be as easy as going for a walk. Just put on your shoes and get outdoors. The fresh air and the walk will do wonders for your health.

3.    Make changes in your diet. Try reducing red meat, refined sugars and alcohol for starters. Increase your fresh fruit and vegetable intake. Be sure to start off each day with a healthy breakfast and don’t skip meals. Drink plenty of water throughout the day as well.

• When you eat poorly, you’re doing a huge disservice to your body. You are what you eat, after all. If you eat unhealthy foods, you’ll likely end up unhealthy with chronic health issues like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes, just to name a few.

• The healthier foods you eat, the better you’ll feel and the stronger you’ll become. Whether you believe it or not, it’s the truth!

4.    Find time to relax. It’s imperative to take care of your mental health, also, by incorporating relaxation techniques into your lifestyle. Regular relaxation helps reduce stress and anxiety and recharges you so you can bring more energy and passion to all areas of your life.

• Consider taking up yoga or meditation.
• Find time to pursue hobbies you enjoy to help bring you contentment and happiness.

If you take good care of yourself, you’ll be able to enjoy your life to the fullest. Use these tips every day to improve your health and put yourself first. Following a good wellness plan will help keep you fit and boost your energy!

Body language is one way of communication that we pay little attention to. Oftentimes others “hear” something from our body language that we didn’t even realize we were “saying” and it can come back to haunt us!

Some experts say that up to half of our communication is conveyed through body language. That’s a lot more than most of us might imagine it to be!

Learning to read body language can help you understand what someone is really saying. Conversely, learning to use body language can help you communicate your message more effectively than words alone.

What is Body Language?

Body language is a form of non-verbal communication that utilizes the body. It can be anything from a facial expression to a stance.

For instance, many people talk in an animated fashion, using their body to help communicate their thoughts. There are a lot of “hand talkers” in the world who keep their hands in constant motion to help them convey information, emphasize a point, or keep a story moving along.

Body language can give off a certain attitude based simply on posture alone.

• Slumped shoulders and a rounded back with the head hanging down may indicate sadness or shyness.

• A firm walk with the chest puffed out, shoulders raised and head held high could be interpreted as confidence or even arrogance.

• When someone has his or her arms folded across the chest, this position tends to be understood as a standoffish or unfriendly stance.

It’s truly amazing how much can be perceived from body language! Not only can you use body language to judge an individual’s attitude or mood, but you can also better understand relationships between others. These non-verbal cues can indicate the level of bonding people have to one another.

Body language can be broken into general categories that we see time and time again.

General Body Language Categories

1.    Aggressive. Aggressive body language is threatening by nature.

2.    Attentive. This type of body language shows that you’re engaged and interested.

3.    Bored. Just as it says, this body language is the opposite of attentive and is indicated by yawns and lack of eye contact or other visual listening cues.

4.    Closed. This one shuts you off from others. Arms crossed and standing far away are two common signals of closed language.

5.    Deceptive. Deceptive body language is often used when someone is trying to get away with a lie. It can be easily distinguished by nervous behavior, which is brought on by guilt and worry.

6.    Defensive. This kind of body language tends to be present when someone is protective of information or their inner thoughts.

7.    Dominant. Those who like to be in command use dominant body language. Dominant people tend to stand tall with their chest puffed out.

8.    Emotional. This one is influenced heavily by feelings at any given moment. It’s constantly changing with mood.

9.    Evaluation. Evaluating body language is used when making a decision or hesitating to make a judgment.

10.    Greeting. This type of body language is used when first coming into contact with people.

11.    Open. Open body language is welcoming and very friendly in nature.

12.    On the Ready. This type of body language lets people know you’re prepared and willing.

13.    Relaxed & Content. Relaxed body language is that which is seen when people are restful, happy, and calm.

14.    Passionate. Romantic body language is flirty and expresses attraction for another.

15.    Submissive. This one shows your relenting side.

These are the most common ideas communicated through a stance or combination of poses or posture. Many body positions can have different meanings depending on the person, the situation, or their culture.

In the United States, for example, it’s polite to look into another person’s eyes intermittently to show you’re listening to them. In Japan it’s considered rude. While it’s commonplace for Americans to smile at one another as a show of friendliness, in Korea smiles are indicators of embarrassment and aren’t shared in public.

When traveling abroad, it is best to do as the Romans do, that is, follow suit with the practices of the culture you’re visiting so that you can communicate your ideas appropriately.

It’s important to be more aware of what your body is saying when you talk to others! Keeping these body language tips in mind will strengthen both your comprehension and communication skills, paving the way for more effective interactions with others.