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Success!Ezine
Volume 7 Issue 12 -- December 2010
DrCarolWebster.com
Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved
Success!Ezine
is a Free newsletter provided to you by
Dr. E. Carol Webster to help you get ahead in life
and enjoy your success.
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E. Carol Webster, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist
consultant in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Feel free to call or
e-mail for more information.
Dr. Webster is author of
Success Management: How to Get to the Top and Keep
Your Sanity Once You Get There and The
Fear of Success: Stop It From Stopping You! |
Feature Article
Holiday
Stress
E. Carol Webster, Ph.D.
Copyright © 2010
The holiday season is here, so expect your stress
meter to rise. Even if you vow to take it easy, your senses will be
bombarded by all the holiday hype and excitement – causing you to feel that
you should be doing more, increasing feelings of tension and
edginess. Take steps to manage the days ahead so that stress doesn’t strain
the holidays for you.
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Plan Your Activities |
Like most people, you probably have a limited
amount of time off during the holidays so try to make the most of it. Map
out what you want to do and how you’re going to do it. Gift shopping takes
time – even online, so force yourself to make some type of list to guide
your web purchases or trips to the mall. Ditto with grocery shopping –
especially if you’re hosting family gatherings, dinner parties, or other
holiday festivities. You can spend valuable days meandering from store to
store, making multiple trips to build and stock your menus if you don’t plan
ahead. For some people, this is the fun they enjoy during the holidays.
Great. But, if you’d rather have that time to do other things, plan ahead!
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Don’t Overdo |
While there are many exciting activities taking
place this time of year, it’s not necessary to attend all of them.
Great networking opportunities abound, but be selective. Decide what it is
you want to accomplish, who you want to meet, and put these events at the
top of your list. And be smart. If you’re unemployed, every day is a job
search day so stick to those activities that have helpful information or are
more likely to put you into contact with those who can help you. But don’t
zoom to every event in town with a sack of resumes to pass out to everyone
you’re introduced to. Doing this might temporarily calm your nerves about
being out of work this time of year, but it’s not likely to be effective or
to put you in a positive light with those you meet. And, of course, resist
spending money you don’t have. There are plenty of free or low cost
activities you can enjoy, and many creative ways to show appreciation to
family and friends without adding the financial stress of buying things or
going places you can’t afford.
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Allocate
Time to De-Stress |
To avoid feeling worn out when the holidays are
over and wondering where all your time went, take care to build in time to
be “on vacation.” Spending your entire time ripping and running, partying
hearty, entertaining relatives or just visiting them in their locales, is
likely to leave you feeling drained. Save a day here or there simply to
de-stress -- by whatever means you enjoy. You’ll feel rejuvenated as you
wind down the year and will be refreshed in outlook and attitude when it’s
time to return to your usual routine
The holiday season is a wonderful time of year,
full of merriment and joy for many. Don’t let stress ruin your good times.
Plan ahead and guard your time vigorously!
About the Author:
Dr. E. Carol Webster is a clinical psychologist consultant in Fort Lauderdale, FL and is author of
Success Management: How to
Get to the Top and Keep Your Sanity Once You Get There
and The Fear of Success: Stop
It From Stopping You!
|
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Ask Dr. Webster...
Dear Dr. Webster:
What’s going on?? I went to a meeting one morning and all the security
guards and receptionists were scoffing down plates of food like it was their
last meal. Nobody looked up unless you forced them to stop eating by asking
a question and then they looked annoyed that you interrupted them from
stuffing their face. What happened to business decorum and the customer
comes first? And they called that security? It was a joke. I wanted to tell
somebody in charge but figured that person was probably somewhere busy
wolfing down a plate of food too!
-- Starving for Attention
Dear Starving for Attention:
Sadly, the scenario you describe has become all too common. It’s never clear
whether the staff has not been given enough time to go out for breakfast on
the shift they’re working, or whether they’re arriving on duty with plates
of food in tow, using work time to chow down rather than eating at home or
arriving early to eat in the breakroom. Whatever the explanation, it is
resulting in dismal customer service, not to mention a dreadful image for
the business. And
clearly the staff does not understand – or appreciate – the importance of
giving you their attention and the fact that they wouldn’t have a job
without visitors and customers like you.
You were right to want to complain to somebody. Especially if you didn’t
feel safe on the premises because of the obvious lack of vigilant security.
But it’s not too late. Let the management know how you feel even though it’s
after-the-fact. While it certainly seems inconceivable that they have not
observed this unacceptable behavior themselves, it’s important that they are
made aware that others are observing it too and that something needs
to be done about it. ASAP.
-- Dr. Webster
Got a Question?
Ask Dr. Webster
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Success Motivator
If initiative is the ability to do the
right thing, then efficiency is the ability to do the thing right.
-- Kelly Miller
Success Tip
Fighting Off Temptation
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Put money in savings. |
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Put money in an envelope or in a wallet compartment and don’t
spend it for at least a month. |
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Pay off all or part of a debt that’s been hanging over your
head. |
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Leave your credit cards at home for a week.
|
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Promise yourself that before making any unplanned purchase
costing more than $10, you’ll write down in your journal the pros and cons
of buying it, and think about it for twenty-four hours. |
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Before making any unplanned purchase of any size, physically
walk away from the item, leave the store, and think about it for at least
ten minutes. |
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Comparison-shop
price and quality in three locations before making any unplanned purchase
over $10. |
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Put an impulse item on layaway instead of buying it outright,
so you have the latitude to change your mind and cancel your purchase after
you’ve had a chance to think about it calmly. |
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Take the time to give a pleasurable experience to a child,
partner or friend instead of buying an expensive gift. For example, pack a
picnic, rent a canoe at a nearby state park, and go for an afternoon paddle
on a pond or river. Or put together a personalized cassette tape made up of
music the recipient especially loves or can relate to, linked by your own
commentary. Emotionally meaningful gifts like these can become memories that
are beyond price. |
From the book:
Overcoming
Overspending Olivia
Mellan with Sherry Christie
Barnes & Noble Books, New York, 1995 |
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Thank You
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Missed
An Issue?
Here's another chance to read up on topics of interest: |
|
ISSUE |
FEATURE
ARTICLE |
|
November 2010 |
Honor Our Veterans |
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October 2010 |
Nominate Yourself! |
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September 2010 |
Toxic Workplaces |
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August 2010 |
Back to School Stress |
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July 2010 |
Take Time to Rejuvenate Yourself |
|
June 2010 |
New Managers |
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May 2010 |
Leading Change |
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April 2010 |
Returning to Work |
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March 2010 |
Parenting Power |
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February 2010 |
Work Can Wreck Relationships |
|
January 2010 |
Set a New Direction for the New
Year |
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2009 Issues |
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2008 Issues |
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2007 Issues |
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2006 Issues |
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2005 Issues |
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2004 Issues |
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2003 Issues |
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Success!Ezine
E. Carol Webster, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychology Consulting
DrCarolWebster.com
954.797.9766
Ezine@DrCarolWebster.com
Disclaimer: The information in this
newsletter is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a
substitute for obtaining direct professional help. |
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