10 Tips for Going Back to Work After Vacation With Minimal Stress

10 Tips for Going Back to Work After Vacation With Minimal Stress10 Tips for Going Back to Work After Vacation With Minimal Stress10 Tips for Going Back to Work After Vacation With Minimal StressEver feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? Never againEveryone looks forward to vacation a week or two filled with exploring new cities or relaxing in a hammock on the beach and doing notlagehing. Unfortunately, going back to work after a vacation can make you feel like you need another vacation pronto. Is there a secret to keeping that post-vacation serenity and glow for just a little while longer?Luckily, with a little pre-vacation strategic planning for your first few days back, you can accomplish a smooth exit and reentry Here are 10 tips from the pros who still have a smile and relaxed demeanor upon returning to work after vacation.1. Make a running list of your projects before you leaveBeing away from the office has a way of getting you out of the daily details, and you wil l be glad you have a reference point when you return. I recommend making two lists. First, make a list of every project you are working on with its corresponding status. Whether you are waiting for feedback on a proposal draft, a response from a client, or a deadline for a report to become available, commit them all to paper.Second, make a short priority list for first things you plan to tackle upon your return. Priorities at work can change fast, but starting from a list gives you a better launch point no matter what happens.This is also a good opportunity to scrub your mile-long to-do list and finally move all those lagging tasks to a maybe never list. Be honest if something has been on your agenda for six months and you have not found the time to address it, it may be time to just delete or delegate it.2. Delegate the things that cant wait until your returnYou may be sipping Chianti in Rome this time next week, but client cases still need to be moved along, reports delivered, an d deadlines met. Be sure you are clear on who is responsible for covering each urgent task, and give your co-workers an overview of the deadline, making sure that they have all the information to do the work efficiently and effectively. Also, brief your anfhrer on who is responsible for each task so that he or she does not have to scramble to make sure all mission-critical tasks are covered.3. Set up an out-of-the-office email and voicemail messageThis task often gets overlooked until the very last minute, so dont wait. Outlook and Gmail will allow you to pre-schedule your vacation notice days in advance, with many other email services allowing the same. Be sure to set the expectations for whether or not you will be checking messages while you are away and leave an alternate contact to call with urgent matters.4. Ask your manager to email you the day before you return with an updateDepending on your relationship with your manager, this may or may not work for you. However, having a quick message that lists mission-critical priorities for your first day back can do wonders for your effectiveness and focus. I have found that my managers usually needed a reminder, so I would schedule an email prompt to go out automatically two business days before I would be due back.A morning huddle with your manager for your first day back to work after vacation is a good alternative. Everyone gets busy, so I recommend getting a slot on your managers calendar before you leave. Even a brief meeting can give you a chance to regroup and focus on what is most urgent.5. Clean up before you leaveThis applies to both your workplace and your home. At work, file away those contracts that have been sitting in a stack on the floor, organize the memos on your desk, and put away the mail. This step does not guarantee you will come back to a clean desk, but you will have a better starting point. It is also a great way to ensure that all urgent matters have been delegated.At home, spend an ho ur straightening up. I know that your brain is already on vacation mode and its tough to focus on everyday chores, but your post-vacation self will thank you. Be sure you take the trash out, clean out the fridge, and vacuum. Personally, I like to check my pantry and stock up on simple non-perishable snacks for that midnight jetlag-powered kitchen raid.Related3 Tips to Spring Clean Your Resume6. Give yourself a buffer dayIf you can, try to give yourself a buffer day in between your return home and going back to work after vacation. It may seem counter-intuitive to use a vacation day for simply being at home, but strategically, it gives you the space to get back to normal with minimal pressure. The extra day can be used for catching up on laundry, grocery shopping, meal planning for the week, and napping to get over the jet lag. None of it is glamorous, but taking care of those tasks can make your reentry to work much smoother.7. Check your work calendarLook at your calendar the day b efore you are due back to work so you are not surprised by meetings that have snuck up on you. If you do discover unexpected surprises, look at them one by one to determine if you can attend them with minimal preparation. Alternatively, consider whether they can be postponed so that you can contribute in a meaningful way.8. Clean up your desk upon returnEven if you left a pristine desk before taking off for vacation, chances are you will come back to a jumbled mess of reports, unopened mail, and Post-It notes. Take a few minutes to sort through everything, get important documents labeled for follow-up and action, and toss out reports that are no longer relevant. This will help you feel better organized as you get into the swing of things. 9. Stay in stealth modeSure, your boss knows you are back and so do your immediate reports. However, there is no harm in waiting to broadcast your return across the departments for a day or two. This selective stealth will give you an opportunity t o catch up and get back into your normal rhythm without the added pressure.10. Consider postponing that boot camp or liquids-only cleanseWith airplane travel, time zone changes, different foods, and different activity patterns, your body and mind are already going through significant stress. Dont make it worse by adding challenging exercise routines or dramatic diet changes to the mix. Even if you feel that you overindulged on vacation, resist the urge to sign up for a Crossfit boot camp right away. Ease your way back with a couple of yoga classes, a swim, or a light exercise routine.In closing, the secret to keeping your sanity upon returning from vacation is a combination of smart preparation and strategic triage. No matter how urgent the tasks and the pressure, do try to leave the office on time. After all, going on vacation does not automatically mean that you must put in extra hours as punishment Be sure you build in time to relax and do the things you enjoy, that way the benef its of vacation stay with you longer.Click on the following link for more advice on how to get ahead.Is your job search stressing you out? Request a free resume critique to ease some of the burden.Recommended ReadingFeeling a Little Burned Out? Take a Work VacationProductivity Tips That Really WorkAre You Stressing Out at Work for No Reason?

People think this is the worst quality a coworker can have

People think this is the worst quality a coworker can havePeople think this is the worst quality a coworker can haveSome of our coworkers can end up becoming our very best friends in the world. After all, you see these people more than your any of your friends and family for the most parte and even if you arent physically with them, you may be in communication constantly. So if you get along with them, it makes for a pretty pleasant work experience. But then what if you dont get along with them? A bad coworker can really be the worst (watch Corporate to get a sense.)Comparably wanted to look into specifically what makes a coworker the absolute worst. They surveyed more than 20,000 employees at small, mid-size, and large public and private companies, between November 2017 and November 2018 and asked them questions includingWhats the worst quality a coworker could have?Does someone you work with closely make you want to quit your job?Do the political views of your coworkers affect your working relationship with them?How likely are you to share your compensation with coworkers?Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Success, and moreYoure the worstSo what is the worst quality a coworker could have? It was negative personality for the win at 28% followed bypoor work ethic and entitled. Take a look at the results in the chart below.Interestingly men and women had the same attitude when it came to bad coworker qualities.Generation Z is the least tolerant of their coworkers political viewsAs for who was upset enough to quit because of a coworkers personality it seems Gen Zers (ages 18 to 25) really cant cut it if everyone isnt a kollektiv player. Thirty-eight percent of them said they work with someone who makes them want to quit their job. This generation was also the mostaffected by the political views of their coworker (35%) followed by Millennials (27%.) Their older colleagues (51 to 55-y ear-olds) were the least affected by a coworkers personality as only 34% said they would quit.Respondents in California and Florida least tolerant of their coworkers political views. Check out how other cities measured up below.Quittin timeWomen and men were on par when it came to quitting because of a coworker though women were slightly higher at 35% compared to men at 31%.As for which departments were most likely to lose people because they simply couldnt work with a coworker any morerespondents in design were most likely to want to quit because of a coworker (42%) while HR respondents were least likely (18%). Check out how other departments measured up below.

Be More Productive in 4 Easy Steps

Be More Productive in 4 Easy Steps Be More Productive in 4 Easy Steps However, it can be done.On Ramit Sethis I Will Teach You to Be Rich website, there are multiple depictions of people who have defied the odds and developed routines that include high-earning side jobs despite the stress and time requirements of being full-time students, parents, or full-time workers. One particular approach stands out for its simplicity and sensibility.The idea is centered around a core three-step outline daily preparation for the day ahead, balancing predictable income opportunities with more risky earning possibilities, and protecting the time when you are most productive from being hijacked with other tasks.In buchung to routinize these core ideas, prioritize, and better organize your limited spare time, it is helpful to platzsetup a small collection of triggers to help you stay on task. Three useful triggers to consider when constructing your new routine may includeCreating a nightly to-do li st that describes everything that needs to be accomplished the following day. Place the list near your area of productivity such as your computer so that it is one of the first things that you encounter at the start of your day. Over time,once the list becomes a part of your normal routine, it will act as trigger to motivate you to start your tasks instead of distracting yourself from the daily chores.Keeping your computer on and immediately accessible. By allowing your computer to be available for you to immediately begin working, you can avoid falling into the trap of distraction that can develop during the time it takes your computer to start up. Leaving the computer on acts as a trigger to get started working right off instead of filling your time with less necessary tasks, like checking your emails or social sites from yourphone and other potential time sinks.Not all triggers are productive triggers. An important aspect of the trigger model is to remove the bad triggers that ca n derail your efforts to stay on task. It is crucial toeliminate triggers that can start you on the wrong task. One approach to doing this is to remove items from your work area that could trigger you to work on low-priority tasks.Dont just rely on yourself to set deadlines. Create some amount of accountability by taking on projects that require you to work under deadlines.The goal here is to develop time management skills and learn how to avoid distractions by creating your daily routine around the tasks that will bear the most fruit, allowing you to be more productive and produce income.

Simplify Your Job Search in 3 Easy Steps

Simplify Your Job Search in 3 Easy StepsSimplify Your Job Search in 3 Easy StepsSimplify your job search by dividing it into manageable phases.As a job seeker, you will be taken on a journey that is sure to produce some highs and lows along the way. To help you navigate this process smoothly, Id like to show you how I break down the job search into three main phases (1) Prepare, (2) Search, and (3) Close.Stage 1 PreparePreparation is the key to a successful job search. Before you can pursue new job leads, you have to be clear on what you want to do next, and this will influence how you position your experience and skills as qualifications for unterstellung roles. The legwork below may seem like a lot, but it saves you a great deal of time and frustration further down the line.Job Goals Take inventory of strengths and interests to identify a specific job goal for your search. This information will inform all the other actions you take during the job-search process.Resume titelseite L etter Craft a resume that supports your goals by showcasing your most relevant qualifications. While each application will require some tailoring, you should be able to build a cover letter template to work off.Online Brand Google your name to assess your existing eReputation. Its important that your online brand tells the same story as your resume make sure your name, education and work history are consistent across all your professional profiles. Increase the security settings on any social media accounts that are unrelated to your professional brand so no employer will find them.Elevator Pitch Your elevator pitch should explain what youre great at and passionate about, and how you can provide value to a prospective employer. Be prepared to modify your pitch depending upon the audience and occasion.References Target three solid people who have insight into your experience and capabilities and you trust to say good things about you and your work. Once your contacts agree to be ref erences, send them a current copy of your resume and provide a run-down of your elevator pitch so they understand your job goals.Stage 2 SearchThis phase of the job search is dedicated to identifying and pursuing job leads that align with your job goals and match your skill set. Its important to use multiple methods during this stage to help you find the most opportunities, including those hidden jobs that arent published online. When you combine these methods such as leveraging your network to get an employee referral for your job application you increase your chances of landing the right job, sooner.Job Applications Follow-up Target opportunities where you meet the core requirements for the role. Then edit your job application so your goals and qualifications are obvious. Incorporate key terms from your targeted jobs requirements into your resume to ensure it makes it past the electronic gatekeeper.Utilizing Recruiters Recruiters can be a valuable source of job leads and compan y insight. Develop a recruiter outreach strategy to target specific individuals that source for positions in your field.Networking Take stock of your existing professional and personal networks to identify those who are in the best position to help you with your job goals. Continue to expand your group of connections in and out of the office and dont discount those you meet through your social activities. While they may not work in your field, whos to say they dont know someone who does?Stage 3 CloseExpect this stage of your job search to begin while youre still pursuing job leads. As you nurture different relationships and follow up on job applications, youll begin receiving interview requests. During this phase, both you and the employer will be evaluating one another to make sure the right person is placed into the right opportunity and at the right price.Interviews Follow-up Interviewing is also a three-step process. How you prepare and what you do afterwards is just as import ant as what happens when youre sitting in the interview room pitching your skills.Negotiation This is a crucial part of the interview process. By not properly negotiating your compensation package, you could miss out on hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of your career. Do your research and be prepared to negotiate with confidence.Onboarding Consider the first 90 days of any new position to be an extension of the interview process. Click on the following link for a list of onboarding tips that will help you transition to your new role as smoothly and successfully as possible.

Video Chapter 2 What Should We Be Teaching

Video Chapter 2 What Should We Be Teaching Video Chapter 2 What Should We Be Teaching Video Chapter 2 - What Should We Be Teaching?Decision Point Dialogues II STEM, Chapter 2 - What Should We Be Teaching?A new principal at Danicas school, Metro City, advocates for a STEM curriculum in which engineering would play a much greater role. Should the changes be made? Would they also work at Dereks middle school, West Harding, which has a much tighter budget and many more struggling students?This second episode is parte of the second Decision Point Dialogues programCritical Thinking, Critical Choices What Really Matters in STEM. Here, celebrated journalistJohn Hockenberry, host of the public radio programThe Takeaway, leads 12 influential STEM thought leaders through a myriad of intricate cultural, economic, and education related conflicts based on a mock scenario.Join the conversationon the second episode.Watch Chapter 3 - How Should We Be Teaching?Stay connected to the ongoing dialogue wi th subject matter experts and access exclusive content by visitinggo.asme.org/stemdialogues. The copyright of this program is owned by ASME.

Working in Federal, State or Local Government Differs

Working in Federal, State or Local Government DiffersWorking in Federal, State or Local Government DiffersIn many ways, government work is government work no matter where you do it. Government work can be performed on the federal, state or local level. Several facets distinguish the work among these levels, chief among them being scope, sovereignty, proximity, and types of jobs. Different Responsibilities The scope of a government is how much it can legitimately do within its authority. The scope of the federal government is defined by the U.S. Constitution. Federal workers deal with problems, issues, and laws impacting the entire nation such as national defense, border security, foreign affairs and workplace safety. The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution delegates powers bedrngnis expressly granted to the federal government to reside with the states or citizens themselves. State workers administer programs that impact state citizens, visitors to the state and those parties seeking to do business in the state. Local governments are created under the authority of states. Local workers perform functions pertaining only to their jurisdiction such as county road maintenance, library services, and garbage collection. Responses to natural or man-made disasters illustrate the scope of government. If one or two houses are on fire, the local government responds. If several hundred houses are on fire, a collection of local governments with state oversight respond. If a thousand square miles of land are on fire, the federal government will likely oversee response efforts. Sovereignty of Higher Levels of Government Higher levels of government are sovereign over lower levels of government. This means that, for example, a state cannot enact a law contrary to federal law. Likewise, a local government cannot violate state law. Workers at lower levels of government must operate within laws of their level and those of higher levels. Local government workers must en sure their actions comply with federal, state and local laws. State government workers operate within federal and state laws. Federal workers perform their duties within the confines of the U.S. Constitution and federal laws. Proximity to Citizens Local government workers live in the communities their work impacts. If a citizens garbage is not collected the trash truck driver, solid waste supervisor, public works director or city manager could live next door and could get an earful about it. Citizens can point to a career service manager or front-line employee to fix their problem. Citizens usually do not have this luxury for state and federal governments. At times they may be lucky to find a toll-free telephone number or e-mail address to contact. State workers who frequently interact with the public include state police officers, social workers, and drivers license office workers. With the exception of going to the local post office, the ordinary citizen does not have much con tact with federal employees. Types of Jobs Any job you can do, you can almost always find a place in government to do it. Every organization needs someone to pay the bills. However, some jobs only exist in particular levels of government. For instance, firefighters are almost exclusive to local government. But if youre creative and think about what attracts you to the work, you can find a fit. Continuing with the firefighter example, you may discover that what attracts you to firefighting is your desire to save lives. So, if you want to save lives, you dont necessarily have to be a firefighter. You can join a branch of the military or work for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or your state police force.

Survey 29% of Americans regret how they spent their PTO in 2018

Survey 29% of Americans regret how they spent their PTO in 2018Survey 29% of Americans regret how they spent their PTO in 2018Along with health insurance and 401(k) plans, paid time off is one of those benefits that job seekers consider closely before accepting a position. But a recent report found that many of us dont feel were making the most of our vacation days.The survey, commissioned by Priceline and conducted by Morar HPI, found that 29% of more than 1,000 employed Americans regret how they used their 2018 paid time off, and 20% of full-time workers expect they wont use all their PTO by the end of the year.So why so much regret and lack of action? Well, 24% say they cant afford to use their vacation time. But even among those who can, theyre pretty salty about where they have to go.Do Americans hate love?The happiest day of someones life is supposedly their wedding day. But that doesnt mean everyone in attendance is pleased to be there.Of the 19% of Americans who used time off to attend wedding festivities, 41% said it was their top regret, in terms of how they spent their PTO. Maybe we dont love love as much as we think.Bon appetitWhile we may hate love, we do love food. 41% of Americans said food will be their top influence when considering travel in 2019, according to a release on the report.Were also willing to pay big bucks for our food. Food and drink were among the top travel expenses for 2018, before accommodations and transportation. Thats one expensive dinnerHomebodiesTurns out most of us are pretty comfortable in the United States. Even when Americans were asked where theyd go if they could hypothetically visit anywhere on the globe this year, 37% wanted to travel stateside. A quarter of people chose to hypothetically go to Europe, and the numbers only declined from there.Were also focusing more on hyperlocal destinations - Staycations were the most-taken trips in 2018 and proved even more popular than beach visits.Perhaps there really is no place like home.