Month: March 2025

How to Motivate Yourself to Stand Up and Walk Around

Sitting for extended periods can really take a toll on our bodies and minds. Here are some tips to motivate yourself to stand up and walk around more:

  1. Set Reminders:
  • Technology is your friend: Use your phone or computer to set reminders to stand up and stretch every 30 minutes.
  • Sticky notes: Place them on your monitor, keyboard, or desk to remind you to move.
  • Movement apps: Explore apps that track your movement and encourage you to stand up more.
  1. Gamify It:
  • Step challenges: Compete with friends or colleagues to see who can take the most steps each day.
  • Movement goals: Set daily or weekly goals for steps taken and reward yourself for reaching them.
  • Turn walking into a game: Make it a fun challenge to reach a certain number of steps by lunchtime or by the end of the day.
  1. Make Movement More Appealing:
  • Find a walking buddy: Walking with a friend or colleague can make it more enjoyable and motivating.
  • Listen to podcasts or audiobooks: Make your walks more engaging by listening to something interesting.
  • Explore your surroundings: Take advantage of your walks to explore your neighborhood or workplace and discover new places.
  1. Create a Standing Workstation:
  • Invest in a standing desk converter: This allows you to easily adjust your desk height.
  • Use books or boxes to raise your monitor. This is a simple and affordable way to create a makeshift standing desk.
  1. Schedule Movement Breaks:
  • Walk during your lunch break. * Take short walking meetings.
  • Use the restroom on a different floor.
  1. Make it a Habit:
  • Start small and gradually increase your movement throughout the day.
  • Celebrate your successes and stay positive.

Remember, consistency is key! Even small changes in your routine can make a big difference in your overall health and well-being.

If you’d like, tell me about a specific challenge you’re facing in getting yourself to move more, and I can give you some more tailored advice.

If You Can Keep Your Head When All About You Are Losing Theirs

 

Ultimately, Kipling suggests that embodying these traits leads not just to success but to the fulfillment of one’s potential as a human being. This poem resonates across generations because of its universal lessons on character and strength.

“If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!”
― Rudyard Kipling, If: A Father’s Advice to His Son

Courage to Continue

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”  Winston Churchill

Success is not final.

Even repeating our actions does not guarantee success. As our circumstances change, the actions we need for success change. For nearly thirty years, I built a recruiting business based on using a telephone, a database of file cards, and paper mail.  Over time, the need for a telephone shriveled to a small part of my business communications, my database went from file cards to my computer, and emails have all but replaced postal mail.

Failure is not fatal.

Over all the years of recruiting, I had many failures. I had candidates turn down offers. I lost clients through company mergers, acquisitions, and changes in recruiting practices. I had to learn that my business was a numbers game. The number of contacts I reached determined how much money I made. Everyone has failures. Focusing on my failures would only create more failures and eventually kill my business. Focusing on the numbers of contacts I made and not the failures I encountered, I moved through decades of change successfully.

During a period of frustration, I called a friend and told him of my fears that my business might fail. He suggested that I just think about what was on my desk, act on those things, and let the results take care of themselves.  I had to learn that success was not a matter of thinking, but a matter of planning and acting.

I called a partner one time and told him that I had a problem.

I began by saying,” I was just thinking.”

He cut me off. He said, “That statement explains your problem. You have to stop thinking and start acting.”

Planning has its place as a form of action but not as a form of painful mental processing.

It is the courage to continue that counts.

Finding courage is an inside job. Ruminating produces worrying. Here are some things that help me stop ruminating and find courage.

  1. Eating when I am hungry
  2. Resting when I am tired
  3. Stopping to help other people
  4. Meditating to rest my mind
  5. Turning anger into an opportunity to take a walk

I am not perfect. I still become overconfident when I am successful. When I experience failure, I become frustrated, angry, and fearful. I sometimes lack courage to face problems. However, when I allow myself to get back into action and to live a healthy life, I find the courage to accept failure and find new ways for success.

 

Eating Healthy Foods while Beating Inflation

I am not a nutritionist. I worked in grocery stores while I was in college. I also recruited for food manufacturers over 30 years. Consequently, I have spent decades reading about and working in the food industry.

Inflation and Food

Inflation has been a hot topic, especially when it comes to food prices. While many staples have seen significant price hikes, some foods have managed to remain relatively stable. Check prices and do your own research. I pick these inflation-resistant foods. They might be your best bet for budget-friendly meals.

Foods That Defy Inflation

1. Root Vegetables
Potatoes, carrots, and onions are not only versatile but also tend to have stable prices. Their long shelf life and ease of storage make them less susceptible to supply chain disruptions.

2. Legumes and Pulses
Lentils, chickpeas, and beans are pantry staples that offer high nutritional value at a low cost. Their dried form, in particular, is incredibly economical and unaffected by inflationary pressures.

3. Rice and Oats
These grains are global staples with consistent production levels, making them less prone to price fluctuations. They’re also incredibly versatile for meals.

4. Seasonal Produce
Buying fruits and vegetables that are in season locally can help you avoid the inflated costs of imported or out-of-season items.

5. Protein
For vegans, inflation is less of a problem, at least for now. Eggs are currently the hardest hit protein source. Some options that work for me are whole chicken, seafood, and less expensive cuts of beef and pork.

6. Canned Goods
The stability of can goods comes down to their production and storage characteristics. Foods with long shelf lives, high yields, or local availability are less affected by global supply chain issues and transportation costs. Additionally, items that don’t rely heavily on imported ingredients or specialized farming conditions tend to be more resilient.

Tips for Budget-Friendly Shopping

– Buy in Bulk: Stock up on non-perishable items like rice, oats, and canned goods when they’re on sale.
– Cook at Home: Preparing meals from scratch can save money and allow you to make the most of affordable ingredients.
– Plan Meals Around Sales: Check weekly grocery store flyers for deals on seasonal produce and other staples.

By focusing on these inflation-resistant foods, I have more success in keeping my grocery bills in check without compromising on nutrition or variety.

Happiness in a Controversial World

I wrote this post for my own mental and emotional well-being. Perhaps some of these suggestions will help you.

Changing How I See and Feel About My World

For me, the constant wave of negative news is overwhelming. I can take control of the information that I expose myself to with these steps:

Curate My News Sources: Follow reputable news outlets that provide balanced reporting. Consider subscribing to newsletters or apps that deliver only highlights, so I am not bombarded with every single development.

Set Time Limits: Allocate specific times during the day to catch up on news, rather than consuming it constantly. This can help me stay informed without feeling inundated.

Filter My Social Media: Unfollow accounts or mute topics that frequently share distressing content. Instead, follow accounts that inspire or bring joy.

Focus on Positive Stories: Seek out websites or segments that highlight uplifting, human-interest stories to balance the negativity.

Engage in Media-Free Activities: Take breaks from screens and spend time doing activities that bring me peace—whether that’s reading, gardening, exercising, or simply enjoying a hobby.

Practice Mindfulness: When I feel overwhelmed, I can pause and practice mindfulness or meditation. This practice can help me remain grounded despite troubling headlines.

Create a Balanced News Diet

Creating a balanced “news diet” involves consuming information thoughtfully and intentionally, much like maintaining a healthy diet. Here’s how I can do it:

Diversify My Sources: Rely on a mix of reputable news outlets to get different perspectives. This prevents over-reliance on one source and reduces bias.

Balance the Content: Include both hard news (current events, politics, global issues) and soft news (human-interest stories, culture, science advancements).

Schedule News Time: Set aside specific times to catch up on news. Avoid checking headlines constantly throughout the day.

Include Positive News: Incorporate uplifting sources like the *Good News Network* or *Positive News* to balance out the negativity.

Avoid Doomscrolling: Be mindful of how much time I spend scrolling through distressing or sensational headlines on social media.

Critical Thinking: Question the sources, motives, and accuracy of the news I am consuming. Look for articles with citations and well-supported arguments.

Limit Opinion Pieces: While editorials can provide context, focus on factual reporting to avoid getting swept up in emotionally charged takes.

Take Breaks: Media-free days can help me recharge mentally and emotionally.

 

Career Agility: Thriving in a Changing World

In today’s rapidly evolving job market, the concept of a linear career path is becoming increasingly obsolete. The rise of automation, globalization, and the gig economy has created a landscape where adaptability and resilience are paramount. This is where career agility comes into play.

What is Career Agility?

Career agility is the ability to adapt and thrive in a dynamic work environment. It encompasses:

  • Flexibility: Being open to new opportunities, roles, and industries.
  • Adaptability: Quickly adjusting to changing circumstances and acquiring new skills.
  • Resilience: Bouncing back from setbacks and navigating career transitions.
  • Continuous Learning: Embracing lifelong learning and staying up-to-date with industry trends.
  • Proactive Mindset: Taking ownership of your career and actively seeking growth opportunities.

Why is Career Agility Essential?

  • Job Security: In a world of constant change, traditional job security is diminishing. Career agility provides a safety net by enabling you to adapt to new roles and industries.
  • Career Growth: Agility opens doors to new opportunities and allows you to pursue diverse career paths.
  • Increased Earning Potential: Acquiring in-demand skills and staying relevant in the job market can lead to higher earning potential.
  • Enhanced Job Satisfaction: Embracing change and pursuing your passions can lead to a more fulfilling and engaging career.
  • Navigating Disruption: From technological advancements to economic shifts, agility allows you to navigate disruptions and emerge stronger.

How to Cultivate Career Agility:

  1. Embrace Lifelong Learning:
    • Stay curious and seek out new knowledge and skills.
    • Take online courses, attend workshops, and read industry publications.
    • View challenges as learning opportunities.
  2. Build a Strong Network:
    • Connect with professionals in your industry and beyond.
    • Attend industry events and conferences.
    • Leverage online platforms like LinkedIn to build relationships.
  3. Develop Transferable Skills:
    • Focus on developing skills that are applicable across various industries and roles.
    • Examples include communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and adaptability.
  4. Be Proactive:
    • Take ownership of your career development.
    • Seek out new challenges and opportunities.
    • Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you; create them.
  5. Embrace Change:
    • Be open to new ideas and perspectives.
    • Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.
    • View change as an opportunity for growth.
  6. Build Resilience:
    • Develop coping mechanisms for stress and setbacks.
    • Focus on your strengths and learn from your mistakes.
    • Maintain a positive attitude and believe in your ability to succeed.

In essence, career agility is about embracing uncertainty and viewing your career as a continuous journey of growth and adaptation. By cultivating these skills, you can navigate the modern work landscape with confidence and achieve long-term career success.

 

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