Bringing education-related news and trends to the forefront of the conversation.

While many of us will be enjoying a three-day Memorial Day weekend, UniversityDecisions.com hopes that you will take the opportunity to rest up, eat right, and consider the importance of recognizing your job’s impact on your health.

Work and Health
Work and personal health are inextricably linked. It is important to understand this relationship and what can be done to thrive personally and professionally.

Stress
Most people experience some form of job-related stress. Stress can cause colds, infections, emotional disorders, headaches and even cancer and heart disease.  If work (or unemployment) is stressful find ways to alleviate the stress and decompress. Organize and prioritize to eliminate frustration at work. Outside the office engage in enjoyable activities, meditate, or seek counseling.

Sleep
Circadian rhythm is the “internal body clock” that regulates the (approximately) 24-hour cycle of biological processes in living things. Disruption of the circadian rhythm is usually related to not getting enough sleep and can result in fatigue and irritability. Do not neglect needed rest. Without proper sleep the body (and more importantly mind) cannot function properly.

Diet
Maintaining a well-balanced diet is important. Nutrition is fuel. Let’s begin with breakfast – coffee alone, or even with a donut, is not a healthy way to start the work day. Even if you can only manage a few bites never go without some nourishment. Most likely you haven’t eaten in over eight hours and deprivation is not conducive to efficiency.

Every system in your body depends on water. Try to drink the recommended eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.

As for lunch, eating out is okay, as long as you make good choices. Fast food is not an acceptable option more than once a week. Try brown bagging – it will save your waistline and wallet.  And don’t eat at your desk! Even if you cannot take a full break, leave your work station. A break is good for you.

In terms of alcoholic beverages a glass of red wine or beer in moderation is fine but don’t overindulge. Excessive drinking is terrible for your health and career.

Work Area
Do you have a physically demanding job or do you sit in a chair all day? If you are the first type don’t over exert yourself and remember to be safe. If you are in the latter category get up every once in a while. Stretch or take a walk outside.

Do you have an ergonomic workstation? If not, work with your employer to modify your area. Not taking care of this can lead to physical injuries. Similarly, if you work in front of a computer all day be careful not to strain your eyes. They need to be minded, just like the other parts of the body.

Here’s what you can do to maintain your health and manage your career.

Get regular check-ups. Schedule a yearly physical exam and don’t shy away from discussing any issues with your doctor. Also review your family’s history. There may be some preexisting conditions you need to be aware of. Be cognizant of illnesses that run in the family and take preventative measures to promote longevity.

Take a multivitamin everyday. You are most likely not getting the required amount through food and drink so take supplements.

Move around. Everyone requires 30-minutes of physical exertion a day—minimum! If you don’t like the gym stay exercise through dance, running up and down the stairs, walking outside, anything to get your body moving and heart pumping.

Talk to HR. If health issues are negatively affecting your work speak with a human resources professional. They can discuss your options and offer solutions.

Strive for a proper work-life balance. This is the best way to stay healthy and happy at home, and on the job!!!

Those with a passion for the arts have many options when it comes to education and career. Pursing an education in the arts can be a tremendously rewarding experience. While not thought of as a traditional school path, proper training in an area of the arts can lead to a very happy and lucrative professional life. There are two general programs creative types can select from:  Art and Design programs or Liberal Arts programs.

Art and Design deals with an incredible array including the visual and performing arts. Art and Design covers architecture, graphic design, game design, interior design, education, marketing, film and television production, recording arts, visual communications, animation, photojournalism, music, acting and theatre production, fashion and education. Getting an education in the arts can be an incredibly important and valuable experience. Students gain knowledge and skills, engage in hands-on practice, have their work critiqued by experts and learn from skilled teachers—all of this translates to a more successful professional outlook.  Once a student has found a field that matches their precise artistic passion they have a number of instructive programs to choose from. They can earn Certification in a particular discipline or enroll in an Associate’s or two-year degree program (AA), a Bachelor’s or four-year degree (BA), a Master’s or post-baccalaureate degree (MA) or a doctorate (PhD). Colleges with programs in Art and Design are: Berkeley College, College America, Full Sail University, Minnesota School of Business and Stevens Henager.

The Liberal Arts area is extremely broad. A Liberal Arts curriculum includes literature, languages, philosophy, history, mathematics and science. Those who follow this path can move on to a number of different employment opportunities including: teaching, journalism, politics, human resources, public relations, psychology, writing, sales, management, finance, social and community service, law, hospitality, therapy and real estate.  This is a great degree to earn as it offers an extremely comprehensive education that can lead to any number of job types in a wide variety of industries. The key is to find an interesting and challenging subject matter and match it to a career. A degree in the Liberal Arts is advantageous because it is multidisciplinary, prepares an individual for work in many areas, and at the same time allows an individual to become a specialist in a specific subject matter.  Students can pursue an Associate’s Degree, Bachelors Degree or Masters Degree. An example university with a program in the Liberal Arts is Lincoln College Online.

Not sure what type of career path is right for you? Take the UniversityDecisions.com Career Assessment Test today!

Workplace gossip is informal communication between coworkers. It is usually unavoidable and has many facets.

The Good

Researchers at Indiana University conducted a study on workplace gossip and concluded that it can actually be beneficial. Their field report, published in The Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, found that gossip forges connections, builds trust, provides a means of learning unwritten social norms and offers a way of comparing ourselves with others.

Office gossip can create camaraderie among colleagues. Interacting with others generates bonds and as a result contributes to job satisfaction. Gossip that produces happy relationships can result in better teamwork and higher productivity. If you’d like to start connecting with your colleagues via gossip just begin by saying hello and goodbye. Chat someone up over coffee, in the office kitchen, or before or after a meeting. Keep topics neutral and remember to be a good listener. Follow these steps and you may be on your way towards utilizing gossip to form a relationship that can have a positive effect on your profession.

Gossip on the job is also a good way to uncover information. Gossip is a conduit for news.  Chitchat can also be used to your advantage as a way to promote yourself and share successes.

The Bad

Gossip is sometimes used as a weapon, to spread rumors. Venting is understandable but speaking disapprovingly can have consequences. Never engage in damaging, hateful dialogue – often times you may become the victim of a trap. Be careful what you reveal as you may not always be conversing with a trustworthy party. If you do need to complain, and all of us worker bees do, keep it outside the workplace walls and don’t get too specific. And never, ever, put anything derogatory in an email. Electronic communication lasts forever!

…and The Ugly

Gossip can be very detrimental to the subject and in some cases can even result in a civil or criminal complaint. Negative comments and false information can often land a gossiper in legal trouble. Be extremely cautious about the content of your conversations. Do not speak maliciously about another person in your company. Do not engage in gossip that can be construed as an invasion of privacy or the misuse of confidential information. You never know who is listening! Human Resources professionals can go over the types of things that are inappropriate to discuss in the workplace.

Now that fall semester is over, many recent college graduates are preparing their post-graduation career plans: applying for jobs, scoping out graduate programs, and discovering how to apply the skills they’ve acquired in college to the “real world.” While degree completion heavily impacts the sucess of any graduate’s career, it isn’t the only factor. How someone reacts and interacts in the workplace from an emotional perspective is also a determining factor.

What is EQ?

Emotional Intelligence, also known as EI, describes an ability or capacity to perceive, assess, and manage the emotions of one’s self and of others. An individual’s Emotional Quotient (EQ) is how Emotional Intelligence is calculated. EQ is defined as a (notional) measure of a person’s adequacy in such areas as self-awareness, empathy, and dealing thoughtfully with other people.

Emotional Intelligence theory was originally developed during the 1970s and 80s by university psychologists Howard Gardner (Harvard University), Peter Salovey (Yale University) and John D. Mayer (University of New Hampshire). In 1996 psychologist and science journalist Daniel Goleman authored the bestselling book “Emotional Intelligence,” once again popularizing the concept. In the book Goleman identified five domains of EQ:

1.      Self- awareness – knowing your emotions.

2.      Self-regulation – managing your own emotions.

3.      Self-motivation – commitment, initiative, optimism; utilizing feelings for goal achievement.

4.      Empathy - recognizing and understanding other people’s emotions.

5.      Nurturing Relationships – social skills; how you deal with others and form bonds.

How does EQ affect my career success?

Understanding and mastering the five different EQ competencies can have a significant impact on your career. In the past, standardized exams that measure intelligence by testing cognitive abilities have been considered the best predictor of success. Now, researchers in the field of behavior, communication and organizational development have found that EQ might play a more significant role in determining professional achievement.

Awareness, control and management of one’s emotions (in addition to understanding how others feel and react) can be incredibly beneficial when applied to the work environment. Understanding EQ can help with productivity, initiative, stress reduction, conflict resolution, ability to deal with change, teamwork, self-control, confidence, leadership skills, optimism and overall harmony.  EQ principles help in understanding people’s behavior, attitude, interpersonal skills, management styles, general competency and future potential.  Uncovering aptitude in the five areas and actively working on enhancing emotional strengths and eliminating weaknesses can have a significant impact on one’s career. Figuring out how you manage your own emotions, communicate and interact will help your career tremendously.

To gauge your EQ look into assessments available online or better yet, read the groundbreaking work that popularized the theory: Daniel Goleman’s book, “Emotional Intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ.”  In 2000 Goleman released a new book that dealt directly with EQ and work: “Working with Emotional Intelligence.”

What you may learn about your emotional competency my surprise you—and end up leading to great success on the job front!

To evaluate career areas you may have an aptitude for, check out University Decision’s FREE Career Assesment Test.

It’s that time of year again: parties galore, even in the professional zone.  Company holiday gatherings offer an often needed break to the normal grind- but etiquette should still be adhered to.

Here are some tips to keep in mind at the next office social occasion:

• Respond to the invitation immediately. Also clarify if guests are allowed and consider carefully who you intend to bring as your companion and ultimately expose your workplace to. Significant others and spouses are preferable but a close, polite associate or friend can be acceptable if allowed.
• If you have the time and energy (and your supervisor gives the OK), offer to assist the event organizer. Planning a party and keeping up a normal level of productivity can be time-consuming and stressful. Your colleague will truly be grateful for whatever form of help you can provide.
• Choose a business-casual outfit, unless the invitation explicitly defines a required, possibly more formal, dress code. This is still the office, not a fashion show, club or red carpet affair.
• Plan to stay at least a half hour (absolute minimum) or hour (better). If you need to arrive late or depart early inform the organizer right away, otherwise your behavior will appear rude and abrupt.
• Act professionally—this means no Animal House type antics. This includes flirty and provocative behavior. Once the festivity is over you still have to collaborate with these people. This may be a social gathering but you are still under observation. But remember to enjoy yourself—a party at the office is a form of reward!
• Make sure to mingle. Try to make conversation with as many people as possible. In fact, seek out employees you don’t frequently interact with. Don’t get stuck talking to coworkers you see on a daily basis or your work best friend(s). Take this time as a chance to get to know management and company leadership better. This gathering can also function as a networking opportunity!  Keep the exchanges light and positive; don’t stick to pure business talk, gossip, brag, speak negatively, curse or delve into taboo subjects. Also be mindful of individual religious beliefs—attendance at a holiday party does not equal observation of certain special occasions.
• Keep your food and alcohol consumption in moderation. Don’t gorge yourself. If alcohol is served, feel absolutely free to partake, just don’t do it in excess. And remember, taking a doggy bag or alcoholic beverage back to your work space is considered tacky and inappropriate.
• Thank the organizer directly, in person, or post-event send a thank you card or express your gratitude via email. It will be appreciated!