5 Ways to Stay Healthy for Work During Cold and Flu Season

It’s that time of year when you might see your colleagues taking sick days at work and perhaps you’ve missed a day or two yourself. It’s cold and flu season and for every day you might miss because you’re sick, there are several other days you go in when you’re not feeling well, and when you’re ill you are unable to work at peak performance.

To excel at work, we need to pay attention to our health. Consider implementing these five ways to improve your health, boost your performance at work, and keep you healthy during cold and flu season.

Get a flu shot. Many workplaces offer the flu shot for free and provide an opportunity for employees to receive the shot at work. If your employer offers this make sure you get in line. Not only will you protect yourself from the flu, but you’ll also decrease the chance for others to get sick by being in contact with you.

Get adequate sleep. Getting adequate sleep provides many health benefits and studies have indicated that getting 7-8 hours of sleep reduces stress, increases creativity, improves memory, and sharpens attention, among other things. On the other hand, sleep deficiency has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke.

Meditate. A brief, daily practice of meditation can result in significant health benefits such as reduced stress, better sleep, and perhaps even improved immune functioning. Meditation can also help you focus on positive and encouraging thoughts, which can lead to more joy and greater focus throughout the day.

Drink water and avoid alcohol. Staying properly hydrated is important to provide energy, strengthen muscles, improve skin, and keeps your gastrointestinal tract functioning healthily. As we’ve all heard, our bodies are mostly water and we need to drink enough daily to avoid fatigue, headaches, and other issues. Frequent alcohol consumption has many negative consequences and alcohol is a depressant; if you struggle with depression it can exacerbate it. To be at your best limit your alcohol intake.

Exercise or move 30 minutes. Our bodies are made to move, and we need to ensure some basic level of movement daily in order to stay healthy and strong, and to avoid illness. You don’t need to train like a professional athlete or body builder to see results. Get out and walk two miles on your lunch break, or bike in the morning before work … or, better yet, bike to work. Schedule this time every day just as you would any other important meeting. You’ll soon find that you have more energy and accomplish more throughout the day.

See your doctor. This is something that men often struggle with more than women. To stay healthy and to deal with an illness before it becomes more serious, be sure to see your physician for an annual exam. 

  

These basic strategies will help you feel stronger, and more energetic, and keep you healthy and on the job during cold and flu season.

5 Great Ways to Prepare for Work Tomorrow

The path to a great day at work tomorrow begins today but many of us go through each day simply focused on the task in front of us. Then something seemingly urgent pops up and we switch our attention to putting out the fires and increasing the stress in our lives.

If we take a more thoughtful approach to planning our work experience, we can use our time more wisely, be more productive, have less stress, be better prepared for the crises that pop up, and enjoy work more.

Consider these five ways to be better prepared for work tomorrow.

Plan tomorrow today. Before you leave work today be sure to identify and write down the three most important tasks you must take on tomorrow. Place them in a clearly visible place so you will notice them when you arrive to work. That could mean simply noting them on a post-it, setting a notification in your phone or on your pc, or using a to-do list app. Place the most urgent, difficult, or stressful task at the beginning. If you tackle that item first thing in the morning you will feel inspired and confident to take on the rest of your day.

Leave work at work. Make an effort to avoid bringing work home. Take the time in the evening to relax, read, spend with family, exercise, or do something else that you enjoy. It can be difficult to resist the pull of work, especially with your mobile phone providing ready access to the office so turn off email notifications and turn down your ringer, unless, of course, you must remain available in case of a true emergency. Everyone needs a break from the demands of work and your evening should be one of those respites.

Get enough sleep. Speaking of respite, be sure to go to bed at a reasonable hour and get adequate sleep. It’s impossible to be focused and at your best if you are getting little sleep.

Eat well. You’ll be better prepared and focused at work if you eat healthy meals that are energizing, rather than heavily processed foods with a lot of sugar and salt. In addition, make an effort to get some movement and exercise into your routine. Not only will it take your mind off of the job, reducing stress, but it will also enable you to bring greater energy and attention to the job.

Get to work early. After you get a healthy amount of sleep and have engaged in some exercise and a good meal, get to work early. This will enable you to have some quieter time in the office, before others arrive, to refocus and begin to tackle the number one task and priority you identified the day before.

Implementing these five steps will help you be better prepared and organized to take on the day.

5 Work Habits That Are Holding You Back

We often hear and read talk of the good habits we should form at work or the morning habits necessary for a successful day, but there are some habits we should get rid of.

Without changing some of the things that are holding us back in our career we will continue to struggle and wonder why we’re not hitting our career goals.

Here are some basic, but often overlooked, habits that can sink your performance on the job and prevent your career from taking off.

Not having a plan. If you don’t start your day with a plan made up of clearly attainable goals, you’ll have a difficult time accomplishing anything of value during your work day. Focus on 3-5 attainable priorities for your day and you’ll feel a greater sense of accomplishment and make real progress toward your longer-term goals.

Taking work home. A consistent practice of taking work home might indicate that you are not using your time proficiently at your work place and need to develop better strategies for time and project management. You are also more likely to experience stress which can lead to a poor performance at work and increased dissatisfaction with your personal life.

   

Multi-tasking. Contrary to previous thought, multi-tasking is not a skill you want to try to master. The most productive people are those who focus on one task for a specified period of time, allowing them to bring their full attention and skill to their work. Attempting to multi-task often leaves you distracted, and the work you accomplish is often of lower quality than when you’re able to give your undivided attention to the job. 

Negative attitude. Sometimes we develop a consistent pattern of thinking negatively about our job or workplace and don’t even consciously realize that we’re bring this negative energy into the office with us every day. Take time to evaluate your words, your interactions, and your attitudes about your job for any negativity. If you find that you’ve developed a habit of negativity work to change your thoughts through meditation or other practices.

Working tired. You likely would not want to have heart surgery performed on you by a doctor who had very little sleep the night before. Nor would you want to get on a plane with a pilot who could barely stay awake. Yet many of us habitually go into work fatigued and unable to perform our job to the best of our ability. This is an unsustainable habit that will prevent you from achieving the success you desire.

If any of these five habits are holding you back in your career, make a change today.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 5 Signs it's Time to Quit Your Job

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 5 Signs it's Time to Quit Your Job:"The following exercises will help you shift your thinking so that your exit strategy can become a powerful experience rather than a slow motion trainwreck."

• The Simple Productivity-Boosting Method You're Probably Overlooking: "The National Safety Council has estimated that fatigued employees cost employers about $136 billion a year in lost productivity."

• Should You Take That New Job or the Promotion?: "Which of the two companies can give you better long-term opportunities in which you can make a difference? A difference maker is someone who can see the impact of his or her work on the organization."

• 5 Strategies for Enjoying Your Workday: "
  Your company might provide snacks, board games and holiday parties, but it doesn’t hurt to customize your workday for a happier you
  ."
• 4 Easy Ways to Recognize How Your Work is Meaningful: "these are all ways that your work – and the money you earn - is meaningful to you and your family."

8 Steps to Your Best Day on the Job

Instead of hitting the snooze button, dreading the office and your co-workers, you can get up with energy and enthusiasm to face the day.

When you do that you’ll be on your way to having your best day at work, ready to tackle the opportunities that come your way.

Like anything in life, your best work day comes from preparation. Here are eight steps to prepare for your best work day … and weeks … and months.

Get good sleep. It all starts with this. You have to ignore all those loud voices telling you that the only way to succeed is to work longer than everything else, sleep be damned. Adequate sleep is critically important to success and most of us need 7-8 hours every night. If you must, schedule it in and treat it like one of your other key tasks of the day.

Exercise. After you awake begin your day with some movement. Choose something you enjoy: a bike ride, a run, some push-ups or burpees, or maybe just dance wildly to a favorite song.

Meditate. You don’t need to go off to a monastery to learn how to meditate. Download an app or check out some meditation practice on YouTube. Even five minutes every morning will slow your mind and help you get settled in and focused on having a good day.

Write. If you don’t keep a journal now is a good time to start. It does not have to be complicated. You’re not writing for others so don’t worry about doing it “right.” Consider writing a few lines about the events of the previous day, note some projects you are working on, take some time to brainstorm possible solutions to any issues, and end by jotting down several things you are grateful for in your life.

Eat energizing foods. Your breakfast should provide you with energy and you’ll want to eat something with protein. Avoid a lot of breads and sugary cereals.  Try eggs and yogurt with fruit. Add a protein smoothie. Pay attention to your body in order to discover the foods that energize you and the ones that slow you down and be sure to eliminate the latter from your diet.

Greet everyone with a smile. Set the tone for your day and in your relationships with your colleagues and manager by greeting everyone you meet warmly. Smiling has a therapeutic effect on the one smiling and on the one receiving the smile. So, don’t be stingy with that grin.

Move before lunch. Particularly if you have a sedentary job, be sure to get some movement in before you grab your (healthy and energizing) lunch. Perhaps go for a brisk walk around the building or the surrounding neighborhood, or maybe you have time to pop over to a nearby gym for a quick workout. You’ll enjoy increased energy and focus for the afternoon.

Plan tomorrow. Before you leave work, plan for the next day. Write down the major tasks or goals you have so when you arrive tomorrow morning you are focused and ready to get after it.

Implement these eight steps tomorrow and you’ll be on your way to a better and more productive day on the job.

5 Ways to Ensure Your Vacation Benefits Your Career

A summer vacation can be a great time to build energy for your career or job if you do it right. Unfortunately, many of us don’t know how to relax, nor do we know how to leave work behind.

In order to gain the most benefit from your vacation and return with renewed enthusiasm and focus at work implement the following guidelines for your trip.

Don’t check emails or respond to texts and phone calls. When you are on vacation you need to be on vacation. This is a time for making a clear break with work and get some time to recharge. Make the effort to catch up on your messages before you leave and be sure to set up an out-of-office message.

Be sure to relax and avoid constant motion on your vacation. The point of a vacation or holiday is to relax and recharge, rather than run from one event to another or one historic site to another architectural wonder of the world. By all means enjoy your vacation and see and do whatever you wish but do so at a leisurely pace. Effective pre-planning can help you appreciate the locale while also ensuring that you’re getting in some R & R.

Consume responsibly. It can be tempting to overindulge and eat anything you want or to drink too much while on vacation. While it’s okay to enjoy some of the treats you might discover on your travels or enjoy a drink of the local wine, beer, or whisky, if you overdo it you’ll find that you feel less energized for your return to work and will want time to “recover” from your holiday.

Get enough sleep. Like we just discussed, be sure to get enough rest. Balance a late night out with a leisurely morning and since you’re on vacation, why not treat yourself to a nap? The important consideration here though is to avoid changing your schedule so radically that it becomes difficult to readjust to your normal work schedule.

Give yourself at least a day to recover before returning to work. You don’t want to fly home at 8 pm on a Sunday night and head back to work at 8 am the next morning. 

Take a day to return home, resume your typical routine, catch up on the laundry, and prepare yourself mentally for the return to work.

3 Signs You Are Stressed at Work (and what to do about it)

You cringe whenever you see that email or phone call from your boss. Maybe you’re avoiding everyone at the office, hiding out in your cubicle.

These are just a couple of the signs you’re stressed out at work and need to make some changes.

Here are some additional indicators you might be stressed out, along with a few suggestions for managing the stress in healthy ways.

You hate everyone. Ok, hate is a strong word, but you find yourself frequently irritated by others. This is a clear sign you are stressed out and should give you pause. Yes, pausing is part of the solution here. Pause and take some time to breathe and focus on what you’re feeling and experiencing. In other words, slow down and meditate. Make this part of your morning routine and your stress levels will decline.

Sleep is an option. This is not true. Sleep is not an option and if you’re sacrificing a good night’s sleep to be overworked or stressed out you’ll not only suffer in your career, but your personal life will feel the impacts. This week set a goal to get eight hours of sleep each week night and stick to it! Turn off the TV or shut down the laptop and get into bed on time. You’ll feel more energized and less stressed.

The bottle is your new best friend. If you’re drinking too much as a way to manage stress it’s time to do something about it. That bottle of wine or that craft brew is not your best friend and will only prevent you from dealing with the stress in healthy ways. It will make it more difficult for you to sleep well and might lead you to make mistakes on the job. So, get rid of those bottles and consider talking to a therapist or other professional about the stresses you’re currently undergoing.

Stress in the workplace can often result from ineffective communication and unrealistic expectations. If you discover that workplace stress has got a grip on you have a conversation with your manager. Often your supervisor will be happy to work with you to reduce the work stressors and help you develop a more manageable work load.

5 Personal Habits to Support Your Career

Some people try to separate their work lives and their personal lives, avoiding outside friendships with co-workers, and striving to leave work at work, without spending their evening and nights attached to their laptops.

This approach certainly has its benefits and it’s unhealthy to spend all our time chained to the demands of email and sales spreadsheets.

Of course, we know this separation is rarely clear and our personal lives and habits can have a tremendous impact on our success at work.

Here, then, are five personal habits to cultivate that can benefit your career and lead to greater success:

Get sufficient sleep. Of the habits to focus on here, this is perhaps the most important. If you’re not getting enough sleep you will have difficulty implementing the additional habits, you will struggle focusing on the job, and may be more irritable with your colleagues and customers. Most people need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep each night so make that your goal.

Avoid alcohol on work nights. Contrary to popular belief, drinking alcohol does not help you sleep. It might help you fall asleep easier but alcohol makes it more difficult for you to get into deeper levels of sleep, preventing your body and your brain from getting the rest the need. You might, of course, experience a hangover the next day at work depending upon how much you drank the night before. Perhaps it’s better to leave that trip to the local brewery or glass of wine after dinner for the weekend.

Get up early. One habit that highly successful individuals often advocate is getting up earlier. This affords you an opportunity to get focused on the important goals of the day, spend some time in meditation or prayer, and get in some exercise and a healthy breakfast.

Be attentive to the good. It’s impossible to overestimate the importance of paying attention to the good in your life, avoiding the steady stream of negative news and complaining co-workers, and keeping your focus on the positive.

Make time for physical activity. Think creatively about your physical activity and do things you enjoy. Your exercise doesn’t have to be at the gym. Maybe you prefer to go for a swim, or perhaps your routine involves an evening walk with the dog. If you can bike to work that’s great. But the important thing is just to ensure that you’re able to get in some fairly strenuous physical activity three-to-five times a week. You’ll notice that staying active will make it easier for you to get good sleep and avoid unhealthy habits.

There are many other personal habits that can benefit your career but starting with these five is a great place to start.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: How to Get the Job Without the Degree

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• How to Get the Job Without the Degree: "When the interview rolls around, ask pointed questions to show that you not only understand the company’s pain points but also see where potential solutions are and how to implement them successfully."

• How to Figure Out If You're in the Wrong Job: "A mismatch in job and motives will wear you down and eventually cause you to fail to live up to your potential."

• 3 Steps to Creating a Disruptive Mindset: "When it comes to making big changes in the world around you, you must first challenge your mindset. Mindset is a powerful thing. Our mindsets determine everything."

• 6 Warning Signs You Need More Sleep, Based on Your Work Behavior: "Because sleep deprivation affects cognition and focus, it's much harder to make sense of information or to remember it. You might have to ask people to repeat themselves because you unintentionally tune out from fatigue."
• Building a Great Team: "The greatest leaders ... are the ones who provide additional opportunities for learning and growth at all levels, requiring participants to continually stretch."

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 3 Things Great Leaders Say

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 3 Things Great Leaders Say: "Great leaders put their ego aside because admitting to being human and making mistakes actually increases trust."

• How to Craft a Perfect Thank-You Email After a Job Interview: "the following email template is an ideal way to follow up because it possesses six important traits"

• Why Traveling the World is a Great Investment in Yourself: "Unfamiliar moments help us grow. That’s how we acquire new habits, new tastes in food, and new interests we might take back home and share with those around us. Learning to be curious about and gain knowledge from people will aid you in every aspect of your life."

• More Sleep, Not Less, is the Secret of Success: "there is still a long way to go before it will be generally accepted that effective leaders sleep more rather than less than regular mortals."
• 3 Things to Do to Stop Staying Late at Work: "The more you plan, the more choices you’ll be able to make over the course of your workday that can improve your chances of leaving whenever you want."

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 5 Behaviors That Can Make You More Successful at Work

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 5 Behaviors That Can Make You More Successful at Work: "People destined for greatness know exactly when to quit—only when they’ve found success. You have the patience to see something through to the end."

• The 15 Minute Ritual Necessary to Recharge Your Day: "We've got great research supporting the fact that naps can help corporations and employees, yet we still feel reluctant to make it an acceptable part of a healthy lifestyle and a healthy workday."

• Why the Traditional 4-Year Degree Isn't Cutting It Anymore: "Even as greater numbers of young Americans head to college, fewer are seeing the return on their substantial investments of time, effort and money."

• 3 Reasons Why It's Never Too Late to Start the Work You Love: "I began to look at my time as an investment. If a project did not help me grow, forge meaningful relationships or give me personal fulfillment, it had to go."
• What to Do When You're Feeling Distracted at Work: "If you have colleagues who are constantly distracted themselves, or who tend to pull you away from work, try to spend less time with them."

Do These 5 Things With Your Time Off Over the Holidays

With the Christmas and New Year’s holidays coming up you might be planning to get away from the office or job for a few days, or perhaps even a week or two, if you’re lucky.

Make the most of your time away from work to come back with new energy, new ideas, and a new attitude. Here are some ways to do just that:

Get adequate sleep and rest. We’re often tempted to spend our vacation time staying up later than normal, finally getting a chance to watch TV late into the night, and then sleeping in late the next day. Give your body the physical rest it needs and avoid getting out of your normal routine. This doesn’t mean you can’t stay up late at the holiday party but you’ll be grateful you made sure to sleep well once you return to work.

Upgrade your wardrobe. If you receive some holiday money or gift cards this is a perfect opportunity to pick up a few items to enhance your style at work. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or purchase a full outfit. Adding an accent or two to your wardrobe—such as a new tie or scarf—can liven it up and help increase your confidence when you return to work for that important meeting with the boss or a key client.

Read a good book. While you’re relaxing and making the most of your time away from work be sure to read an interesting and entertaining book. It doesn’t have to be nonfiction, nor does it have to be a business book, or something related to your field of interest. Reading a great novel can open you up to experiences, cultures, and lifestyles that are different from your own, helping to develop empathy and understanding.

Focus on your health. As mentioned with the first point, don’t neglect your health during your time away from work. Get good sleep, avoid excessive amounts of alcohol, control the urge to overindulge with Christmas cookies and other treats, and stay active. If you do these things, you’ll feel ready and perhaps even eager to return to your work routine.

Give. We’ve all heard “it is better to give than to receive” and this can be true. If you focus of your time, talents, and resources over the holidays you will experience this time with more energy, peace, and joy: all qualities that will enable you to be more effective and impactful in your work.

Be intentional with your time off over the holidays and you will set yourself up for more success in your career and life as you head into the new year.

How to Practice Self-Care After Losing a Job

Losing a job ranks rights up there--along with death, divorce, or a move--as one of the most stressful and difficult times in a person’s life. 

A job loss can lead to anger, depression, and solitude and it’s very important to develop healthy habits during this time of unemployment.

Take the following steps to create a regime of self-care.

Focus on friends and family. Seek out and spend time with those you are closest to. Meet up with a best friend for a regular lunch appointment and spend some extra time with family. Be open with those close to you about how you’re experiencing the job loss and accept the support of others.

Let’s get physical. Pay attention to your health. Now you have some additional time to ensure you can fit in a daily exercise routine, whether it’s yoga at a nearby studio, joining a local fitness club, biking across town, or simply taking a brisk walk around the neighborhood. This time will also stimulate creativity and just might stimulate some ideas regarding your next career move.

Embrace the pillow. Get adequate sleep. Make an effort to avoid staying up late to watch television or staying on a computer or mobile too long getting lost in the world of social media. Instead, go to your library and pick out some great books to read in the evening before falling asleep. Good sleep will provide you with energy and a positive attitude to continue on with the other healthy practices your implementing.

Resist the bottle. This is a time to avoid excessive alcohol consumption. Drinking will not change your situation and will only make it more difficult to practice other healthy habits. This might be a great time to avoid alcohol and instead make a switch to a healthier diet that make you feel more energized and optimistic about your situation.

Turn down the pressure. Take some time to minimize expectations and resist the temptation to put too much pressure on yourself to find a new job or make a decision about a career path. It can be difficult to make clear-headed decisions when we feel under pressure. Implement a daily practice of calm breathing, meditation, prayer, and positive affirmations to quiet the voices in your head, reduce the pressure, and set aside expectations.

When you develop habits of self-care—deepening your friendships, getting adequate sleep and exercise, eating well, and developing positive thinking patterns—you’ll be better equipped to handle a period of unemployment or under-employment.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Why You Need An Early Night

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career and life development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

The video below from The School of Life highlights the importance of sleep in order for us to be healthy, whole, and at our best in life and at our places of work.

Boost Your Career With These 5 Tips for Healthier Living

In the US, employees take an average of about five sick days per year. That might not seem like a lot but consider the number of times you work when you’re sick with a cold or some other ailment. When you’re ill you likely are not working at peak performance.

In order to excel in your work and career you should also pay close attention to your health. Below are five simple strategies for improving your health and boosting your performance at work.

Sleep 7-8 hours. Getting adequate sleep provides many health benefits and studies have indicated that getting 7-8 hours of sleep reduces stress, increases creativity, improves memory, and sharpens attention, among other things. On the other hand, sleep deficiency has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke.

Meditate. A brief, daily practice of meditation can result in significant health benefits such as reduced stress, better sleep, and perhaps even improved immune functioning. Meditation can also help you focus on positive and encouraging thoughts, which can lead to more joy and greater focus throughout the day.

Drink (a lot) of water. Staying properly hydrated is important to provide energy, strengthen muscles, improve skin, and keeps your gastrointestinal tract functioning healthily. As we’ve all heard, our bodies are mostly water and we need to drink enough daily to avoid fatigue, headaches, and other issues.

Move 30 minutes. Our bodies are made to move and we need to ensure some basic level of movement daily in order to stay healthy and strong, and to avoid illness. You don’t need to train like a professional athlete or body builder to see results. Get out and walk two miles on your lunch break, or bike in the morning before work … or, better yet, bike to work. Schedule this time every day just as you would any other important meeting. You’ll soon find that you have more energy and accomplish more throughout the day.

Avoid alcohol. While a drink at a social event or company party might lower inhibitions and help manage some social anxiety, frequent alcohol consumption has many negative consequences—damage to the brain, heart, and liver—and can lead to addiction. In addition, alcohol is a depressant and if you struggle with depression it can exacerbate it. To be at your best limit your alcohol intake.

Implement these five simple strategies and you’ll soon feel healthier, stronger, and more energetic.  

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Win the Morning, Win the Day

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career and life development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In the video below Chase Jarvis speaks with Tim Ferriss about his book Tools of Titans and highlights several practices that contribute to success, including a regular journaling practice. Check out the other recommended practices by watching now:

5 Ways to Excel in Your Career (and Life) in 2017

As you've entered the new year you've likely set some goals for yourself in 2017 and, if you're like many people, a goal or two is related to your job and career. Of course, we can start the new year with good intentions and then quickly find ourselves discouraged and failing to meet our goals.

Consider the following five ways to stay on track with your goals and to excel in your career and job in 2017.

1. Automate when possible. Find ways to increase your productivity and create additional time in your schedule by automating as many tasks as possible. Use an app to manage your budget or to organize your email. There is, really, an app for everything so you have an opportunity to better manage and control some of the many tasks that dominate modern life.

2. Start a side gig. If you've always wanted to work for yourself or start a business now is the time. Set aside a few hours every week to work on this: develop a business plan, create a web site, offer your services as a freelancer, or start making that product you've dreamed of.

3. Go back to school. Start taking a class or two toward earning a new degree or certificate. You can even learn online or informally by reading some books by experts in your field of interest.

4. Be mindful of your health. Unfortunately, many of us don't pay enough attention to our health and don't realize that we can be much more successful in work and life, and increase our productivity if we focus on our health. Take a look at your diet and eat more healthily, be sure to be active and exercise, have a consistent spiritual practice, such as meditation, get enough sleep, and reduce alcohol and caffeine.  

5. Build a support system. None of us can succeed on our own so be sure to develop your support system. Your support group should ideally include co-workers, friends, family, a supervisor at work, and a mentor or two.

5 Things to Do On Your Holiday Vacation From Work

The holidays are upon us and with it, if you're fortunate, will be a week or two away from the work place.

You should definitely use that time to unwind and relax, while avoiding any stressful thoughts of work or overdoing it with the eggnog.

However, time away from the job can provide an opportunity to evaluate where you are and where you're headed and prepare you for future success. If you'd like to relax on your holiday vacation and also be productive, here are five things you can do:

1. Work on developing a new habit now. Don't wait until January first to start your new routine, whether you want to do yoga in the morning, or go for a run. Get a jump on it and it will be part of your life by the time you return to work.

2. Read a good book. Check out a great read from your local library, perhaps something in a field you're interested in but no very little. This can help generate your creativity and spark ideas that you can take with you back to the office.

3. Connect with an old friend. It's fine to share Facebook posts or messages on twitter but make an effort to meet up with a friend in person, or over the phone if they live out of state. Reconnecting will boost your spirits, increase your energy, and might even lead to deepening your networking contacts.

4. Get a lot of sleep. This is likely on your agenda but sometimes the busyness of the holidays, with family and social events, can keep us running around and needing a break. Be sure to take some time for yourself. The holidays provide a great opportunity to kick back, sleep in, read a good book, or binge-watch that show you've been missing.

5. Set some goals. What do you want the coming year to look like? Take a look at your life and career situation and consider what changes you need to make in order to have a great year. Refer back to point 1 and implement a new habit now, rather than waiting until January 1st.

6 Practices That Will Make You More Successful Tomorrow

We all want to be successful in our lives and in our careers but sometimes we let the busyness of our personal and work lives interfere with taking care of ourselves and doing the things we need to do.

It can be easy to get off track and find ourselves filled with anxiety while we struggle to meet deadlines and prioritize competing demands.

Apply the following 6 practices to your day today and you'll have a better day tomorrow.

1. Turn off the social media. Avoid your Facebook, twitter, and Instagram accounts. These take time away from the important things and we often find ourselves unfavorably comparing our lives or circumstances with others we barely know.

2. Forget multi-tasking. Focus on only one thing and work at it until you complete it. Attempting to multi-task is a distraction and might even lead to taking a look at those social media accounts we suggested turning off.

3. Replace negative self-talk. When you're stressed out or struggling with work you can find yourself stuck in a rut of negative self-talk. You're not good at this. It will never get done. No one will like this. The self-talk can be ruthless. It's important to recognize this and replace the self-talk in your mind with positive affirmations: I've got this. I'm good enough. I'm brave and capable.

4. Take a walk outside and breathe. Get outside into the fresh air, go for a walk, and focus on your breathing. You'll feel better, more relaxed, less stressed, and ready to take on the world.

5. Eat a healthy and energizing meal. Be sure to get at least one meal in every day that consists of healthy food that will make your body feel strong and provide the energy you need.

6. Sleep. You need good and adequate sleep to be at your best. Make sure you get 7-8 hours in order to be rested and focused to start your day well.

5 Steps to Build Confidence

If you don't have confidence in yourself and in your skills you will not attain the success in life or in your career you are striving for. If you don't believe in yourself no else will.

It's normal to go through times when you struggle with self-confidence and it can be difficult to break out and restore your confidence.

Here are 5 steps you can take to build (or re-build) your confidence.

1. Pay attention to your appearance. Do what you can to feel good about the way you look. Get a haircut, shave, get a new cologne or perfume, invest in some contacts, or purchase a new outfit. If you feel good about the way you look you'll likely feel more confident.

2. Get sleep, eat well, and make time for exercise. Your health plays an important role in how confident you feel so be sure to get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, avoid alcohol and nicotine, and take some time to stay physically fit.

3. Work on positive self-talk. Your voice is the one you hear the most throughout the day so focus on positive and encouraging messages.

4. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. Try to arrange regular conversations with friends and colleagues who support you and build you up.

5. Take small risks. Find some successes. Take on a new project. Start small and begin to have some success and you'll find your confidence increasing.

Want more? Check out this list of 25 killer actions to boost your self-confidence.