Yesterday I was cleaning out the drawers in my office and I found a bundle of colored pencils. And I thought, why would I have these? Then I remembered how much I used to enjoy coloring mandalas and it prompted me to review the research on the benefits of coloring. Let’s take a look…
Stress and Decision Making
There’s no question that all of us are under an unusual amount of stress. And when we are under acute levels of stress, our decision-making process is impaired. Yet, while much of our lives are on hold, there are still important decisions that need to be made. Here are a few things to consider before you make major decisions in your life.
Building Trusted Relationships Virtually
More than four decades of research has unequivocally shown that trust in teams is vital for the effective functioning of work relationships. Trust becomes become especially relevant in environments where there’s a need for high interdependence, close cooperation, teamwork, and flexibility – which are some of the primary characteristics of virtual environments. So, how do you increase trust? Is it a skill that can be learned?
Virtual Meetings: Make Time for Empathy
As we re-engineer the way work gets done, perhaps it’s time to incorporate more empathy and care into our interactions so they will hopefully be a permanent part of our work life. In fact, research shows that when we take time to develop stronger relationships, we are more cooperative, collaborative, and productive (Kim & Robert, 2019). Let’s learn how…
Virtual Meeting Tips
At Levelhead, we have always conducted our business virtually. Our team and clients are located from coast to coast and even internationally. We rely on technology so much that we only know our clients virtually. So, for us, not a lot has changed from the standpoint of how we conduct business. Because of this experience, we thought it would be beneficial to offer some tips to those who are just starting to communicate this way.
"Yes, We Have Hand Sanitizer!"
On our favorite Sunday drive, we drove past a very small convenience store that caters to the hiking and camping crowd. The owners decided that they would capture what little traffic there was by posting a handwritten sign that said, “Yes, we have hand sanitizer.” The sign prompted me to think about just how much change we’ve adapted to over the past few weeks. Our adaptation seems to have no limit and we are just now discovering what we are all truly capable of…
Our Furry Friends
This morning as I was drinking my coffee and preparing for the day, I noticed my sweet little dogs all curled up in their beds totally oblivious to anything beyond this moment. I have to say, I envied them. For them, there is no crisis … no worries. All they know is that in this moment everything is fine. This prompted me to take a look at the latest research on pets and well-being.
Power of Anticipation
We all need something to look forward to, especially now that we can expect weeks and perhaps months of social distancing ahead. A healthy sense of “anticipation” can often help energize our lives and help us get through tough times. However, our environment has changed so much that even looking forward to the weekend has lost some of its sparkle. So, what can we do to get the sparkle that comes from the anticipation of a reward?
Need Grounding?
Without all of the things that help connect us to our routine, we may start to feel a little disoriented, disconnected, and maybe a little anxious for no specific reason. Since almost everything in our lives has changed, it can be expected that we may have trouble adjusting to our new normal. What’s needed when you are feeling this way, is to engage in “grounding” practices. Let’s take a look…
Forgiveness
By now, most of us have been confined to our homes for at least a few weeks. With all of this closeness and the extra tension we’re all feeling, we may have lost our patience with someone close to us. Or, we may have been hurt by the words or actions of another. Whether you were the offender or the person wounded, holding in these feelings can have a big impact on both your emotional and physical well-being. Is it time to forgive?