Brie Hobbs

Home/ Posts by “Brie Hobbs”

Brie Hobbs

The Recession: An Opportunity to Improve Your Life

By Brie Hobbs on Wednesday, May 13, 2009

With much of the media focusing on the negative impact of the recession, new grads looking for employment, mature workers who’ve been laid off, and individuals struggling with survivor’s guilt, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. If you’re feeling defeated in your current job search, look beyond the grim picture the media paints to the opportunities and possibilities ahead of you before you raise the white flag of surrender.

While change and the unknown can be daunting, even frightening, it can also be a chance to redirect your life, to have an adventure, or to do and become more. It may not feel like it now, but the possibilities your life holds and the roads you choose to take are endless. So, if you find yourself at a roadblock, create a new path. Bravely step out on the road less traveled, and change your life. Choosing this mindset can make all the difference.

Not sure which road to take? Explore these avenues to discover potential alternative career paths.

Start Your Own Business. If you’ve ever wanted to be your own boss, now may be the perfect time to start your own company. While keeping your passions and skills in mind, think outside the box and develop a business that’s right for you, whether it’s a quaint neighborhood restaurant, an in-home day care, or a franchised company. Be innovative and dream big and you’ll take control of your destiny.

Gain Life Experience. If you’re a new grad or just need more adventure than an 8 – 5 desk job has to offer, consider taking some time to discover the world. Think about volunteering for the Peace Corps, or becoming an English teacher in a foreign country. Working abroad will provide you with incredible life experiences, equip you with valuable skills you can use in other fields, and help you determine your priorities and purpose.

Whatever road you choose, whether you’re just beginning or you’ve traveled great distances, take heart. As Dr. Seuss says, “Today is your day. You’re off to great places! You’re off and away! You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own and you know what you know and you are the one who’ll decide where to go.”

The Daily Grind Work/Life Balance

Your Life: Take Control (of What You Can)

By Brie Hobbs on Friday, April 24, 2009

Balancing the deadlines, workloads, and relationships of life can be difficult enough when the rubber hits the road. Add in worries and fears – about job security or the nation’s economy – and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. While many of the concerns you face on a daily basis are beyond your control, managing the things you can control will help you feel secure, focused, and ready to face life’s challenges – both big and small.

If you feel like your life is a circus and you’re worried that something’s going to give in your balancing act, concentrate on controlling what you can and choose to worry less about what you can’t. Here are five things you can take control of today to help ease your stress.

Priorities. Create task lists – one for home and one for work. Write down the things you need to accomplish and prioritize each list. Make sure to check off your tasks as you complete them, and you’ll soon realize how much you have actually accomplished.

Clutter. Organize and clean your workspace and home environment to create an atmosphere that fosters clear thinking. When your space is free of clutter, you’ll be able to focus on the tasks at hand or just unwind from the stresses you face.

Personal Health. Make healthy lifestyle choices by exercising, eating well, and getting enough sleep. The benefits of managing your health are endless and will help give you the energy, focus, and overall wellness you need to keep pace with the demands of the day.

Goals. Make a list of goals you want to accomplish – from minor to lofty – and write them down by order of importance. Break each goal into steps, and mark off accomplishments as you complete them. This will help you gain the momentum you need to achieve your ambitions.

Attitude. Make the decision to have an optimistic outlook and a positive attitude no matter what your circumstances, and you won’t be defeated by challenges that arise. Instead, you’ll be more productive, focused, and ready to take on those challenges.

Be the ring leader of your circus. Take control of the things you can and you’ll be in the perfect position to enjoy the show.

At Work Cube Life The Daily Grind Work/Life Balance Workplace Relationships

Come On Get Happy: Use Music to Produce Positive Thinking

By Brie Hobbs on Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Monday morning blues were tough enough before the recession, but in our economic situation, facing the work week with the energy, enthusiasm, and motivation you need can be difficult.

Moods are contagious. According to a recent study, people who work together share their moods – within two hours of being around each other. So, why not make sure the mood you share is a positive one? This will improve workplace relationships, enhance your work environment, and boost productivity. Plus, chances are your employer will notice your upbeat attitude and its impact – so why not strive for a great mood every day?

If you’re having trouble starting the day off right, take your cue from history and motivate yourself through music. A Los Angeles Times article, How Song, Dance and Movies Bailed Us Out of the Depression, discusses the impact the arts, like swing, jazz, and big bands, had on the depression. “The engine of the arts in the ‘30s was not escapism, as we sometime imagine, but speed, energy, and movement at a time of economic stagnation and social malaise.”

Now, studies show that music impacts reasoning skills, the cardiovascular system, and moods. So, tap in to the power of positive music and create a play list that motivates you. Listen to it at work, in your car, or at home, and you’ll improve your mood and the moods of those around you.

Not sure what songs to add to your play list? Here are 10 recommendations to boost your mood no matter what your musical taste is.

1. Powder Your Face With Sunshine – Dean Martin
2. Pennies from Heaven – Louis Prima
3. Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
4. Get Happy – Rufus Wainwright
5. I Feel Good – James Brown
6. Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
7. I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash
8. Brighter than Sunshine – Aqualung
9. Beautiful Day – U2
10. Feels Like Today – Rascal Flatts

As Dean Martin sings in Powder Your Face with Sunshine, “The future’s brighter when hearts are lighter.” So, whether you want to listen to Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger or Queen’s We Will Rock You every day this week, you can improve your mood with music and impact your team – and your company – with the power of positive thinking!

Have a song that improves your mood? Add it to our comments section below.

Career Options The Job Search

Looking for a Job? Three Women-friendly Industries

By Brie Hobbs on Monday, April 6, 2009

The American workforce has made great strides toward equality and balance in the workplace in the last century. Women now comprise 46% of today’s labor force. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, recently signed by President Obama, could create an estimated 3,675,000 jobs. While many of the jobs created are in the construction sector, a traditionally male industry, the plan also includes industries that ensure job creation that reflects the demographics of today’s workers. Check out these three industries that will create jobs for women.

Leisure and Hospitality. Women should consider looking for jobs in the leisure and hospitality industry. An estimated 262,000 jobs created by the stimulus package are expected to go to women in this industry, which includes art, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation and food services. So, hotels, travel agencies, museums, spas, and vacation destinations will be great, exciting, and even exotic places for women to begin their job search.

Financial Activities. The stimulus package is expected to create 127,000 jobs for women in the financial activities industry. The financial activities sector includes jobs in insurance, real estate, rental and leasing, and finance. For women who are good at numbers and enjoy working with people, becoming a realtor or accountant, or working for an insurance company could be the perfect career move.

Retail Trade. Investment in the retail trade industry is expected to create an estimated 304,000 jobs for women. Women who like change and meeting new people everyday should take a look at this multifaceted industry. Retail trade impacts our lives on a daily basis. Examining hobbies and passions, like electronics, furniture, or gardening is a great way to identify a career path. It might also be the perfect time to get creative and consider opening a specialty store. With retail trade, the possibilities are endless and the experiences are different every day.

Looking for a new job can be a scary and intimidating thing, but this opportunity could lead to a positive change. Every life is a story, and one of these industries just might hold the perfect beginning to a new chapter with an exciting career.

At Work Cube Life The Daily Grind Work/Life Balance

One Small Change: Instant Workplace Happiness

By Brie Hobbs on Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Research shows that happiness boosts workplace productivity and improves health, so companies have a vested interest in the happiness of their employees. But, because Americans spend most of their time at work – an average of 2,080 hours a year – every employee has a vested interest in their own happiness.

Factors like leadership, salary, benefits, and sense of purpose can improve happiness in the workplace, but they can not produce happiness, and are not factors completely within your control.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” So when you feel unhappy at work, take control and decide to find the silver lining in your current circumstances. Make the choice to have a positive outlook, no matter what. Chances are, you will instantly feel happier.

Having trouble looking on the bright side? Try these five techniques the next time your outlook’s gloomy:

1. Make a list of three positive things in your life and post it at your workstation. Refer to it when you need a pick-me-up.

2. Make someone else happy. Mark Twain wrote, “The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer somebody else up.” Do something to make someone’s day, and it just might make yours.

3. Take a walk in the sunshine to change your scenery. A change of scenery can help change your perception.

4. Change your stance. Hold your head up high in every circumstance and you will see more clearly.

5. Focus on something that brings you joy. Read a book, play a sport, or volunteer in your community to refocus your outlook on something positive.

Tell us how you improve your outlook in our comments section below.

Work/Life Balance

Inexpensive Vacation Ideas to Help You Refuel for Work

By Brie Hobbs on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

With spring in bloom and summer on the horizon, a relaxing vacation may be the perfect way to spend a few days unwinding, relieving stress, and re-energizing. But with a pressing workload and financial stresses, a vacation may seem impossible.

Taking regular vacations can improve workplace productivity, lower stress levels, and boost your overall health. So, before you skip out on a much needed, well-deserved vacation, consider these inexpensive ways to get away and refuel.

Go camping. Enjoy the great outdoors, and take a break from work by camping at a nearby lake or state park. If you don’t have a tent or other necessary camping gear, ask a friend if you can borrow theirs or check with local sports and outdoor stores like REI to rent equipment. Activities like hiking, rock climbing, or even just setting up camp can help release built up stress. Don’t forget about traditions like campfire stories and s‘mores to build or renew relationships with family and friends without breaking your budget.

Take a road trip. Pack up the car, turn up the music, and hit the open road for an adventure. Now that gas prices are not sky-high, a road trip is an affordable option. Travel with friends to split the cost of gas and hotels. Visit nearby cities or states, small town diners, and historic sites along the way. The feeling of possibility and excitement that comes with a road trip can provide the energy and focus you need when you return to work.

Enjoy a “staycation.” “Staycations” are an economical alternative to travel without the stress of packing. If going out of town is not possible, consider taking a few days off work to explore your own town or city. Relaxing by a pool, visiting museums and restaurants, or spending the day at the park could be just the thing you need for rest and relaxation.

Vacations don’t have to be expensive, exotic, or even long, but the benefits of a change of place – and pace – can positively impact your outlook and give you the boost you need to rock your career.

Have you taken a break from work? Where did you go to refuel? Share your ideas on inexpensive vacation plans in our comments section below.

Cube Life The Daily Grind Workplace Relationships

Healthy Ways to Blow off Steam at Work (Without Losing Control)

By Brie Hobbs on Friday, February 27, 2009

It’s one of those days, or maybe one of those weeks, months, or even years, when everything seems to be going wrong. Economic concerns and reports of job loss bombard the news and your thoughts; your workload literally towers above your head, threatening to topple and crush you under its weight. And to top it all off, your cube-mate makes Dwight Schrute seem the embodiment of normality.

The pressures of work and home can be overwhelming, but before you detonate from built-up stress, use these five tips for healthy ways to blow off steam at work.

Take a break. Release pent-up frustration by taking a break from the task at hand. Find a quiet place to unwind when you feel provoked or annoyed by a boss or co-worker, before you snap under the pressure. If the weather allows, spend a few minutes outside to enjoy the air, or take a short walk to help release tension.

Escape at lunch. Spend time away from the office during your lunch break instead of working through lunch or not even taking your much needed break. Take a drive, wander through a park or a local bookstore, or take a nap so that you can return to work with a renewed focus. Utilizing your lunch will help you feel refreshed and better prepared for the challenges of the day.

Clean your desk. Take time to organize your workspace. This is a productive way to physically alleviate aggravation and expend extra energy. Cleaning the area you work in will help you feel less overwhelmed and will leave you ready to tackle your next task.

Listen to music. Listen to music to take your mind off stressful situations and soothe your emotions when you’re upset. Music releases endorphins in your brain that can help you relax, so if your job or company allows you to use an mp3 player at work, release your frustrations to the beat of a song. But be sure to use headphones so you don’t add to your co-workers stress levels.

Laugh a little. Charlie Chaplin once said, “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” When you or a co-worker feel overwhelmed or stressed at work, use humor to lighten the mood. Play a team-building exercise or tell a joke or story to a co-worker who is feeling frustrated. Laughter in the workplace promotes creativity and understanding, strengthens relationships, and can be the “best medicine” when you’re feeling stressed.

Office outbursts often have a trickle-down effect that can impact your work relationships, company, and even your career, so before you get irritated at work, practice these tips to blow off steam without losing control.