Take steps to avoid contributing to a toxic workplace. A toxic workplace typically has informal or unspoken rules or practices that inhibit communication, build distrustful relationships, and provoke unhealthy competition. They also undermine or inhibit attempts to practice healthier forms of communication or cooperation between employees, and they perpetuate primarily through fear. Employees struggle to be happy, healthy, and productive in toxic work environments, but developing a personal…

Every resource on time management and productivity discusses having the ability to say no. This assertiveness helps prevents distractions, saves personal energy, reduce stress, and reduces the risk of feeling overwhelmed. If saying no is a struggle for you, here are four other ways to do it: 1) Let others know in advance that you will be busy during a certain time or defined period. 2) Ask whether a certain task can be postponed. 3) Recommend another source of help or person with better…

Nothing creates a feeling of vulnerability more than admitting to a big mistake at work. In one moment it can feel as though your integrity, job status, reputation, and self-esteem are hanging in the balance. Conquering this fear is not easy, but the payoffs can be significant in elevating your reputation for two reasons. The first is that everyone makes mistakes. Everyone fears admitting to a mistake, so those who do so are often elevated among their peers because they show confidence,…

A 3-year-old child could save a life by dialing 911. Would your little one know what to do if you fell and could not get up? It takes only a short time to teach a child how, why, and when to phone for help. The most common life-threatening event in the home is falling, with 6,000 victim deaths per year. It may sound ominous to be teaching a small child to dial 911 in an emergency, but if you do an online search, you will discover many stories of lives saved this way. 

There are secrets to successful to-do list management. When tallying your crucial items, do the following to maximize the benefits of this time-tested tool. 1) Add the time needed to each task for its execution; 2) add headlines to each item; 3) add subtasks for each task that requires multiple steps; 4) draw a line between related items (e.g., get haircut, pick up milk at grocery store); 5) mark whom to delegate the task to, if appropriate; 6) add more items to your list than you can…

A new study on teen bullying surveyed 5,600 children between the ages of 12 and 17 years old to address various forms of bullying and cyberbullying, "sexting" and dating violence. Thoughts of suicide, deviant behavior, resilience, and ability to cope were also examined. A few findings: Girls are more likely to be bullied online. Eighty-three percent of those bullied online are also likely to be bullied at school. Insight: Bullying at school is often not reported to parents. However, if you…

Today the world constantly tries to throw you out of balance and sometimes no matter what we do, you still feel like your life is going in the wrong direction. Balanced living might seem like one of those theoretical terms that nobody can put into practice, but in fact, there is nothing simpler than living a balanced life.

It might take some work at first, buy once you get in the flow and discover the simple ways to steer your life in your desired direction, you will feel empowered. You will…

When a family member is in serious trouble, many families will go to any length to help the one they love. It's as if their battle cry, whether spoken or unspoken, is, "All for one, and one for all." Unfortunately, with the diseases of alcoholism and drug addiction (Substance Use Disorders), this desire to be helpful can become unhealthy for both the helper and the addict. 

Family members are confused by the change occurring in the one they love. They don't understand the increasing…

Mental health problems of college students get more media attention in the fall months when grade pressures, anxiety, depression, and relationship issues pile up. How to cope with stress can be learned, but not all students learn adequate coping skills from parents, caregivers, and siblings. If you have a college student plowing away, be sure to inquire about campus sport resources when you hear "how awful everything is going." Discourage isolation and counsel your student to strive for…