Category Archives: Time off Work

Things You May Or Not Know About Labor Day

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The kids are going back to school and the end of summer is quickly approaching. But, before we start packing lunches and closing the pool, we get one more holiday to enjoy the end of summer; Labor Day! Many people associate Labor Day with BBQ, picnics, and family/friend gatherings, but this hasn’t always been the case. I thought it would be fun to do a little research on the history of Labor Day. Here are some interesting facts that I didn’t know!

  1. Labor Day began in Toronto, Canada in 1872, but quickly made its way to the States.
  2. The first Labor Day occurred on September 5, 1882 in New York City.
  3. Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day an official holiday in 1887.
  4. The holiday’s origins stems back to the 1880s when the average American worked 12 hour days 7 days a week. Children ages 5-6 worked in factories and mines.
  5. People avoided wearing white clothing after Labor Day as it officially marked the end of summer.
  6. Labor Day began as a demonstration for workers’ rights but is modernly seen as an opportunity to celebrate the end of summer.
  7. Labor Day is called the “unofficial end of summer” because it marks the end of the cultural summer season.
  8. In other countries, May 1st (May Day) is the day working people are honored. The majority of Europe celebrates May Day.

I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend! Enjoy the “unofficial end of summer”!

Written by Lindsay Olewniczak

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How To Stay Focused When The Sun Is Calling Your Name

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We finally have nice weather and the sun is a frequent visitor here in Buffalo. Since we’ve been cooped up all winter and spring (that rain!) we all want to enjoy as much of this summer as we can. Only problem…? We still have to work! How many of you look out at the beautiful sun shining while sitting at your desk wishing you could be outside doing literally anything else?! Well my friends, I have good news and I have bad news. For most of us our responsibilities are a year-round thing. But I have some ideas on how to keep your focus in the right place.

Prioritize Your Day – Make a list of everything that needs to be done that day or that week. You’ll get a feeling of accomplishment when you get to cross things off the list while you’re actually getting things done! A list is a way to hold yourself accountable for your responsibilities and unless you put “slack-off” on your list, you won’t have time to!

Shift Your Work Hours – Find out how flexible your job/manager is and if you can switch up your hours. Coming in an hour early means you get to leave an hour early! This would allow for more friend/family time in the sun!

Keep Yourself Busy – If you are busy doing your work or helping others complete a task, you really don’t have time for much else. Keeping yourself busy will help keep you focused and make the day fly by!

Get Outside More – This is our goal! If it’s possible, eat your lunch outside. Or take your laptop and finish that report outside. Even a quick walk or a few minutes outside in the fresh air can help to reboot your mind and body and help finish out the day.

Take The Day! – Most of us get the weekends to recharge, some of us don’t. Whether you do or not sometimes an extra day is exactly what we need. So if you’re capable to take a personal day, do it!

These are just a few ideas on how you can stay focused at work when the sun is shining and calling your name outside. Staying focused through the summer months make it easy to transition into the fall and winter months and keeps you ahead of the game!

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"Boundaries" by Sarah Zimmerman - Unearthed Comics

The Simple Step to Achieve Great Work-Life Balance

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Featured image: “Boundaries” by Sarah Zimmerman – Unearthed Comics

The issue of life and work balance is so common that you hear it being discussed all the time – you read articles about it, talk about it with your colleagues, with your family, so on and so on. It’s a struggle that many of us have, sometimes for a lot longer than we anticipate, and oftentimes we sort of give up on trying to fix it; we say “it is what it is,” or “I do what I have to do.” Meanwhile, we, as well as the people we care about, are unable to escape the consequences.

In reality, the step to achieve a good work-life balance is a lot simpler than we’d think, although simple does not mean easy. However, you’re going to find out that although it may sometimes be difficult to apply this step, it is well worth it in the long run. Not only will it keep you from going insane, but family and loved ones will be grateful for it too. So what’s the secret? Simple: setting Clear Boundaries.

I want to emphasize the word “clear” because a lot of times we say that we’re setting boundaries between our work and our personal life, but in reality we just put up a fort with bendy straws. Having clear boundaries means you have specifics; you set a specific line for yourself that you will not cross when it comes to your work interfering with your personal life at home, and vice versa. Sometimes we realize our need to do this too late, and we might end up telling a story similar to the one below:

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Shared story from Work it Daily

Becca Thomas mentioned how she “took back the ability to say ‘No’,” and while that is essentially what setting a boundary entails, for some of us simply saying “No.” is virtually impossible (at least for me it is). If you’re like me and have a relatively tough time saying “No.” to requests, there are other things you can do for yourself that make it easier to do so, like your time management.

When it comes to time management, there are a couple of ways you can go about it. For example, there are times when my husband has to do some work from home after a full day of work at the office. When this is the case, his boundary is to spend no more than 20 minutes working at home. You could also simply say “I will not work past 6:00pm,” and have that be your boundary instead.

These kinds of boundaries are clear, making them simple to follow, thus making them very effective. Are they easy to follow? Not always – there has been one or two times where Patrick goes a little over the 20 minute limit, but these are very rare occasions. The fact that the boundary has already been established makes it easier to be aware of how you’re handling your work-life balance, preventing you from going on a downward spiral of unbalance like Becca Thomas. Although, with stories like hers I would still argue that it’s better late than never, as you could see from her testimony this wouldn’t be a situation in which “fashionably late” is a good thing either.

So, what will your clear boundary be? Will it be “no working past 6pm”? No checking emails during dinner time? No more than 20 minutes working at home? Or maybe it’s “Thursdays are strictly family days – no phones, no emails”? Of course, it’s hard to decide to step away from your work at times, especially if your role is extremely involved in essential operations of a company. However, there are certain things that will always be more important, that also need your care and time – yourself being one of these. Having clear boundaries to maintain work-life balance will always work out in your favor, and you’ll also find that the business world will not fall apart when you decide not to be a 24/7 working robot. So have at it and take back the ability to say “No.” 🙂

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By Nayadee Wilson

Getting Your Mojo Back After The Holidays

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Even as I write this I am struggling to keep my focus and motivation. What others would call “writer’s block,” I am calling procrastination. To be fair, I believe that this is simply the effect from a cause that we all know too well: the “After-Holiday Blues” (I think I just made that name up, but you get my drift). There is no doubt that returning to work after the freedom of the holidays is hard; the heavy thought of “I don’t feel like going to work today” fills our mind like an ugly plague. To get out of the wishing-for-a-never-ending-holiday stage, here are some ideas that may help in getting your mojo back and start up some motivation.

Music heals all.

One thing you may want to try is playing some cheery music (quietly, if allowed) while you’re working. Music has the amazing effect of altering the way we feel. Playing music while you work will make you feel happier, and in turn, more productive and motivated to work. I, for example, like to listen to talk shows while I work – not necessarily “music,” I know, but it is something that soothes me and makes me feel good. When I don’t have my talk shows on, I love to listen to upbeat songs and have my own little party – you could do the same 🙂 . Additionally, if you wanted to keep the holiday season going in your own way, go ahead and play songs like “Sleigh Ride” (one of my favorites) over and over until you’re satisfied – whatever makes you happy! Whether cheery music means sad country songs or super upbeat Christmas songs, choose whatever works for you; get working while enjoying the beat.

Something nice to have.

I am always like a little kid on a sugar rush any time I have anything new – it could be something as simple as a nice pen (I do love nice pens *_*). If you’ve received something nice during the holidays and you can bring it to work, go ahead and take that with you. Having something nice to look at, especially something you really enjoy, will make you feel more at home and boost your mood. I’d recommend even getting some nice office supplies of your own (or something related to the job that you do) so that you’re motivated to use it. New things are always exciting! These can range from really cool mouse pads, to awesome pens, a fancy calculator, or even just a plant for your desk or a new picture for your screen background. Today, for me, my nice thing to have was a really nice sweater that I got over the holidays. I feel pretty and uplifted, and that is what counts! 🙂 Of course, not everyone has the same likes/dislikes, just make sure that you find something that makes you feel inspired and bring it with you – whatever that may be.

There is always a first step.

This blog is a prime example of the power of this tip. I was not initially motivated to start this, but without thinking I just opened up Word Document and started writing – now here we have a blog. Every job or task that you have needs to start somewhere, and all you have to do is take that first step. Chances are that once you get started on your task, you will gain momentum and follow through with the project; even if it is just for that day (then you have to take that first step again, the next day). Usually the first step is always the hardest to take, but, in most cases, it will always be the most simple. You will quickly find that just a few minutes after taking that step, you’ve actually already made some great progress. 🙂

We can be merry all year round.

I know there are times in which we all wish for longer breaks, but what fun would that be? After all, our breaks serve as great satisfaction after a job well done. Although some may be wishing for the holiday season to just be over with, most of us can agree that, even so, coming back to work can be mentally challenging. At least now you know that there is no need to fret, and you can easily get your groove back in the workplace. Just because the holiday season is over doesn’t mean that you can’t carry it on in your own way, if you wanted to. For this New Year, remember to stay merry, and never stop showcasing the best of your talents – that is what you are there to do!

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By Nayadee Wilson

 

 

 

4 Tips to Make the Best out of your Vacation

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The holiday season is finally here (well, it actually got here before we could blink!), which means you may be planning a vacation soon, or hosting a family gathering of your own where you may be taking some time off. Vacations, in my opinion, are a must; they are relaxing, refreshing, motivating, and needed for continuous productivity. Last week my husband and I headed over to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and took a 10-day family vacation with our kids. Although we had a great time with the rest of my family, there were some things I did that I was thankful for, while there were some other things that I wish I had done a tiny bit better. If you’re thinking about taking a vacation (and you should – everyone needs a break!), here are some things to keep in mind.

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My son Liam – just about the only fully prepared child (of mine) for the weather.

I think the weather should be nice.

You’d think that I would learn from experience, since I’ve been to Albuquerque during the month of November before, but I didn’t. For some reason I always think I’m going to some haven of awesome, nice, warm weather (maybe I subconsciously make a silly connection between Mexico and New Mexico?), only to find a very dry and brisk Albuquerque chill. One thing I would definitely recommend for you to do is to check the weather of your destination ahead of time, and be precise – otherwise you could be in for a rude awakening. My husband did check the weather for us, and he said it was going to be in the 50’s. Being from Buffalo, NY, I thought “OK, 50’s is not so bad. Light jackets and some sweaters will do.” However, I came to find that 50 degrees in Buffalo is not the same 50 degrees in Albuquerque; New Mexico feels much drier, and the cold breeze felt like sharp little needles on my skin. Additionally, the 50-degree weather only came about for a good two days 😦 ; every other day was in the 40’s or 30’s (one day it dropped to 28 degrees! >_< ). At one point, when hiking back from some cool rock formations (Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks), I desperately started to sprint back to our vehicle because I was so cold that my entire thighs were itching in freezing pain. Moral of the story: don’t just check the weather in terms of general temperatures; make sure you also check the “Feels Like” temperature for your destination and pack what you will need. That way you’re not scrambling around trying to see how many layers would make a good substitute for a winter jacket (like I did). Or, if the opposite happens, where it’s hotter than expected, you’d avoid trying to figure out how many articles of clothing you can remove before unwanted exposure happens >_<.

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Photo Credit: Creative Commons – Johan Siegers (but I could totally see myself doing this)

Not sure if I’ll need this, but I’ll take it just in case.

I’m sure I am not alone here, but I have a minor tendency to over-pack (OK, so maybe it’s not so minor – I do it all the time). Over-packing for your trip is not just time consuming, but it is truly a big nuisance. For those of you who are flying, make sure that you become aware of any baggage fees that your airline may have in place (including the WHOPPING fees for any baggage that is overweight – 50lbs max). During our trip, I packed so many diapers for the kids that you’d think we were staying there for a month (which was silly, really; we could have just bought more diapers there if we ran out), taking up a lot of space in our carry-on. Additionally, in our main luggage, I packed so many unnecessary things (makeup that I never wear, hair products, “going-out” outfits that I never used), that it tipped the scale for the maximum weight allowed on the plane. Now we were going through this luggage, in front of everyone, taking things out just to make it under the weight limit; our hands were absolutely full throughout the rest of the flight. Moral of the story: You really don’t need as much as you think you do. The best vacations happen when you’re worry-free, and you’re not being weighed down with things that ultimately serve no purpose. Pack what you need, and think about the things that you could easily obtain at your destination – travel as light as you possibly can, because it is soooo worth it, trust me.

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Our Thanksgiving feast! Luckily, everything was delicious (mostly)

It’s dinner time!

For those of you who will not be cooking, this may not be a critical thing to worry about, but it still may be a good idea to look for where and what you will be eating ahead of time (or what you will serve your guests, if you are hosting), and how it will affect you financially. Most people don’t think about this, but small meal preparations should take just a few minutes and it will save you time and effort in the future. If you don’t want to spend a load of cash eating out, maybe you can purchase some essentials while you’re there (bread, deli meats, etc.), and make some small meals if you can. For those of you who will be traveling and/or hosting, the following is a great tip. I cooked/baked a great portion of our thanksgiving meal this year, and one thing that I was very happy with was the fact that I created my menu ahead of time and wrote down all of the ingredients I would need. Something I regret, however, is not making some of these dishes beforehand as a “practice” round. Mostly everything was great (my turkey was pretty good, thank God!), but I attempted to make this new baked mac & cheese recipe that I had never made before, and, to say the least, it was just gross 😦 . I felt really bad for anyone eating it, and I desperately tried to steer people away once I saw anyone attempting to go for it. Moral of the story: maybe you’re a pro chef/baker, but if you’re making something you’ve never done before, make sure you have a “practice round” first; it may save you some embarrassment later.

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My brother Colbert (big head), my daughter, and myself: GoKarts (I’m pretty sure I beat everyone)

I’m ready for adventure 🙂

Whether you’re planning to just sit and relax or to go out and be active, it is always good to have some activities planned. Knowing the kinds of things you want to do will allow you to prepare around these, and it will make things much easier for your trip (or your guests). While in Albuquerque, we had days where we just stayed in, while also having days in which we would go hiking or sightseeing. Depending on the kind of crew you’ll be with, the kinds of activities you will be doing may vary, but never forget to add some fun to your schedule. Of course, if you’re traveling with kids this may be tricky; we attempted to take a stroller (a big, heavy-duty stroller) up the mountains when hiking the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks. Only about 20 people on their way back from the top told us that the stroller would not make it very far :/ . Hence, some of the kiddos had to stay behind with grandma (the hike was a bit too epic for my mom and my little nuggets). Nevertheless, this was one of my absolute favorite moments of the trip, and we had a lot of fun! (I wonder if it had anything to do with the fact that I was child-free for 2 hours?). Moral of the story: Do some research and plan some fun. Even if you just like to relax, plan to go to a beach or somewhere similar where you can just sit back and enjoy the view. Creating memories with your family and/or friends (or just for yourself if you’re going solo) will make your vacation worthwhile.

Have a good time!

Now that you’ve gotten some ideas on how to start your vacation planning, make sure that you make the best of it. The steps you take to plan and prepare accordingly to ensure you have a good time could make or break your time away from work. Even if you are the spontaneous type, you can still just plan for the basic necessities of your trip; the less you have to worry about, the more gratifying your time will be. So mark that calendar, leave your stress behind, and don’t forget to enjoy yourself – you need a vacation just as much as you need anything else. As a man by the name of Alexander Babinets put it, “I have never believed that vacations are luxuries. They are our necessities–just like shelter, clothes, and food, they make us feel like humans and not like animals that care only for survival.”

Have fun! 🙂

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Happy Vacationing, from my family to yours! – Written by Nayadee Wilson