Tag: smile

Laugh Stress Away

cute-18716_640Is it really possible to laugh stress away? Yes! Laughing is the best medicine!

A good laugh will increase your oxygen intake, stimulate your organs and relax your stress response. Who can think negative thoughts when laughing? No. You will feel happy and that state can even strengthen your immune system. All great benefits to have every day of your life. That is why it is so important to make sure to get your daily dose of smiles and laughs!

If you are having an especially stressful day, use our tips to feel lighter. (Depending on your work situation, you might not want to engage with these tips when you are at your office. What about right before and after your workday?)

Create a humor journal. Gather the funniest jokes and comments which make you laugh out load. When you feel less than energized, just read this journal for a few hearty laughs!

Learn to tell a joke. You might need to practice this skill if you are not a stand-up comedy talent. But once you master this skills, you will be able to entertain your co-workers and lighten up stressful situations at the office.

Can you laugh at yourself? Everybody fails and makes mistakes – don’t take yourself too seriously. People who can actually laugh at themselves have a higher self-esteem compared to those who cannot.

Just smile. Even if you don’t feel laughing out loud, you can still create a big smile on your face. You will feel happier instantly!

Make humor part of your days. Look out for funny films and good jokes. You will be able to find a lot of funny entertainment online, just search Google or YouTube. Set up your own fun channel on YouTube to have your favorites in one place.

Here are 4 videos randomly from our own selection:

No Soup For You! This is a classic that still makes people laugh – from Seinfeld

The weird things couples fight about – so hilarious! Next time you feel stressed with your partner, just watch this together.

Everything is amazing and nobody is happy – in the mood for some comedy?

What is your favorite joke or funny video? Feel free to share it below in the comments section so we can have a good laugh with you!

 

5 Tips For Better Communication At The Workplace

adult-18086_640Nothing kills our enthusiasm to go to work more than having conflicts with colleagues and the lack of cooperation at the office. As in any relationship good communication is paramount.

We gathered 5 better communication tips for you:

People remember how you made them feel. What you say is not as important as how you say it and how the communication influences the other party. So pay extra attention to make people feel good when you talk to them. Just a smile on your face will do the trick. If you talk to somebody on the phone, put a smile on your face, too. They will notice the “smile in your voice”, they really do!

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

Self-image to protect. We all have a certain image of ourselves in our heads (if it has anything to do with the reality is another question). What you need to know is that people will fight tooth and nail to cling to this image. Don’t attack their self-image if you don’t want them to seriously dislike you. On the other hand you don’t have to actively build a false self-image, either.

The magic of the name. People love being referred to by their name, there no doubt about this. It signals trust and friendship. Use the name of the person you talk to often – but not in every sentence as that feels phony. The best is to include their names at the beginning and at the end of the conversation.

The power of silence. Sometimes you just need to shut up. How many times do you have the feeling that your questions are not getting answers? Or you suspect that you only get part of the story? Use the power of silence! Just wait, don’t say anything but keep the eye contact with your partner. The silence will help them continue talking.

Feet talk attention. Do you want to know if your co-worker is actually paying attention to what you say? Just look at their feet. It might be that their torso is turned into your direction and you think they must be listening to you… but wait till you check out which direction their feet is facing. If the feet are facing in any other direction than you… well, their attention might be totally somewhere else. Want to know where? Just follow the direction of their feet….

Are you welcome? You can use the above feet direction test to see if you are welcome to join a conversation. If the people involved in the conversation only turn their torso but not their feet towards you, they don’t want you to join in. You’d better set up a separate meeting for a meaningful discussion.

Would you like to learn more about building better communication in the workplace? We recommend this classic: “How to Win Friends & Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. There is even an updated version available for the digital age:  “How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age” by Dale Carnegie & Associates. Both are available on Amazon.com.

Corporate yoga classes are also a great way to foster better cooperation in the workplace. Would you like to know how? Michelle will be happy to answer your questions! Just call 314-630-1677!