Optimism and Health
Optimism can affect health and reduce stress, according to the Mayo Clinic. A positive attitude is that “you approach the unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way.” One is able to cope better in tense situations when optimistic. The Mayo Clinic said positive thinking may increase the life span, decrease depression, and give one more resistance to colds. A New York University study said that the brains of optimistic and pessimistic people light up differently when subjects thought about the future. They are striving to unravel how much is hereditary and much is due to other factors. Researchers at the University of Penn. are not clear if optimistic people have especially good health because they take better care of themselves or that they have more extensive social contacts which “have been associated with longevity.” Harvard school of Public Health studied optimism and heart disease. They concluded that having a positive outlook could reduce heart disease risk by 50%. Robert Grenfell, director of the Heart Foundation of Australia, said research indicates the link between “psychological well-being” and heart health. People with social isolation have an increased risk for heart disease. Different studies were unclear whether it is the pessimism or depression itself that has a negative impact on health, or is it more due to social ramifications such as a lack of a social network. Also it was mentioned that depressed people may not feel like doing preventative health care measures. Strive to become more of a person who sees the world through rose colored glasses. It may be beneficial to see a life coach or cognitive therapist, who help give concrete steps to achieve a more optimistic outlook on life. Others dive into self-help books for suggestions.
Fighting Sexual Harassment in the Military and at Workplaces
Things are looking more promising for people fighting sexual discrimination or harassment in the military. There are more safeguards now in place for reporting these infractions. My friend was successful with her gender discrimination allegation on an Air Force base and is happy in her new department. One Air Force Region has Special Victim’s Counsel (SVC) which has these important services: Represents just the victim, providing confidential legal advice and assistance. Protects rights and advises on the investigation & prosecution. Attends interviews, hearings and court-martials with the victim. The SVC does not work for anyone else on base and their chain of command is a separate office in Washington DC. The actual report can remain restricted so others can’t see it. In the Office or Job site: If appropriate, speak to the perpetrator or have a co-worker do so on your behalf as in the following situation. The boss in one office was a sports coach outside of the work environment and gave his players mini massages to keep their shoulders and neck muscles relaxed during the game. His employees enjoyed these same quick massages when having a frenetic or stressful day and told him so. A new woman joined this work team and felt like her personal boundary was being invaded and was uncomfortable with these massages. Telling her boss, or having a co-worker tell him that she did not want to be touched would have been more simple. Instead, she went to the HR department and lodged a formal complaint. The boss was reprimanded and had to attend a sexual harassment class. He was banned from touching any employees. The other employees were miffed about losing their mini massages that helped them be relaxed at work and were not happy with how the new employee handled this situation.
Fighting Sexual Harrassment in the Military and at Workplaces
Things are looking more promising for people fighting sexual discrimination or harassment in the military. There are more safeguards now in place for reporting these infractions. My friend was successful with her gender discrimination allegation on an Air Force base and is happy in her new department. One Air Force Region has Special Victim’s Counsel (SVC) which has these important services: Represents just the victim, providing confidential legal advice and assistance. Protects rights and advises on the investigation & prosecution. Attends interviews, hearings and court-martials with the victim. The SVC does not work for anyone else on base and their chain of command is a separate office in Washington DC. The actual report can remain restricted so others can’t see it. In the Office or Job site: If appropriate, speak to the perpetrator or have a co-worker do so on your behalf as in the following situation. The boss in one office was a sports coach outside of the work environment and gave his players mini massages to keep their shoulders and neck muscles relaxed during the game. His employees enjoyed these same quick massages when having a frenetic or stressful day and told him so. A new woman joined this work team and felt like her personal boundary was being invaded and was uncomfortable with these massages. Telling her boss, or having a co-worker tell him that she did not want to be touched would have been more simple. Instead, she went to the HR department and lodged a formal complaint. The boss was reprimanded and had to attend a sexual harassment class. He was banned from touching any employees. The other employees were miffed about losing their mini massages that helped them be relaxed at work and were not happy with how the new employee handled this situation. Tips for…
Returning to the Workplace During Divorce
The April 11, 2013 New York Times newspaper’s magazine section had an article by Judith Warner that discussed returning to work after a long hiatus raising children. Some of the women were facing divorce and had to jump back into the workplace. A question was raised, is it better to get a job during the divorce or wait until it has ended. A woman’s divorce attorney told her “Before you do anything, you get a job. You have to look at the next 30 years of your life, and if you are in control of the situation, and you have a job that’s paying you money, he’s going to be far less powerful over you in the divorce.” Before my divorce, I was forced out of my job in our jointly owned business. My divorce attorney also insisted that I immediately find employment. Besides earning a little extra cash in this part-time position, it helped keep my sanity intact and gave me more power in my divorce proceedings. Since it was far less income than co-owning a business, it may have given me more leverage in my alimony amount. One hurdle with determining alimony is that it can be calculated on what you can potentially earn, even if out of the workplace for many years. It is a toss up if quickly finding any old job during a divorce helps with increased alimony, but it can boost self-esteem. The article discussed how women may be able to get back into the job market. Schools are great places to network with well placed parents who have contacts in one’s field. One woman said that she did not even have to fill out a resume because these parents knew her talents and a job materialized. Warner stated “those who hadn’t been sufficiently strategic in…
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