Nov30

To Make a Difference, Always Choose To Be Kind

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To Make a Difference, Always Choose To Be Kind

The past thanksgiving has made us realize that we have a lot to be grateful for. It also made us realize that the world needs a lot more kindness going on: kindness not only to others, but also to ourselves. More than ever, practicing self-kindness is to be necessary in order for us to be able to help other people. Big or small acts of kindness help create ripples of happiness that people can take with them and pay forward. One simple act goes a long way.

We all have different ways to show kindness. Some show it by lending a helping hand, others by lending an ear. Others show it by doing volunteer work, while others show it by helping out in the house. Practice kindness triggers a chain reaction: make someone else’s day better, and they in turn feel good about themselves and try to make someone else’s day better. Here are some ways you can practice kindness.

  1. Be generous – it doesn’t have to be a grand gesture of generosity. Making the family’s favorite dinner. It can also be giving a bit of your time to a neighbor or a friend to help out where you can.
  2. Compliment someone – pick a trait that you admire in someone and tell them what you admire about them. Watch them glow in appreciation.
  3. Practice gratitude – we take for granted the words “thank you” and we don’t say it enough. Always say thank you whenever you can and show others how grateful you are for their presence in your life. Also practice gratitude for simple things, such as good food, great friends, and good health.
  4. Lend a helping hand – don’t think twice, offer to help. Helping others has a twofold effect. It benefits the recipient and also makes us release feel-good hormones, so we actually do feel good about helping. If you’re feeling a little blue, try lending a helping hand.
  5. Be a good listener – these are trying times for everybody. If you feel that you are just one person who can’t make a difference, start with being a good listener to someone who is struggling. You might not know it, but it makes a huge difference and that person will appreciate you for it.
  6. Tell a joke – lighten the mood whenever you can. It won’t hurt to crack a joke or two, nobody needs to be serious and talk about gloom and doom all the time. We get it, there’s a pandemic. But a little laughter would go a long way. We’re all stressed enough.
  7. Rally behind a good cause – pick a cause, organization, or movement that you really believe in and get behind it.
  8. Show appreciation – when someone does something good for you, don’t forget to tell them that you appreciate it.

We need more kindness in the world, don’t you think so? Have you seen extraordinary acts of kindness going around? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

Nov23

3 Things To Do To Get Over Quarantine Fatigue

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3 Things To Do To Get Over Quarantine Fatigue

It’s almost the end of the year, and we have yet to see the end in sight of this pandemic crisis. A lot of people are experiencing ‘quarantine fatigue’. Quarantine fatigue is different for everyone but it is generally the feeling of “exhaustion associated with a confining lifestyle due to locally imposed pandemic restrictions. Yes, quarantine fatigue is a real thing. It is the fatigue felt by people who experience the complex challenge of extreme physical and social distancing. This feeling, coupled with economic hardships can cause psychological damage, especially to people who already have depression and anxiety even before the crisis started. 

Reverting to the old version of ‘normal’ is now out of the question since vaccines aren’t readily available yet and probably won’t be available for quite a while. Public health and safety campaigns from governments all over the world are discouraging social gatherings and for good reason. New cases continue to rise and the only way to manage this alarming increase is by social distancing. 

So what should people do to alleviate the feeling of ‘quarantine fatigue’? 

  1. Do something you have to do – this includes doing the things that are expected of you like familial responsibilities and daily work. Quite a few of us are experiencing debilitating and crippling anxiety that it is an overwhelming task to even get out of bed in the morning. If it gets too hard, you are entitled to take a break for your mental health. Once you are strong enough to get back into the rhythm of things, you must try to find the motivation to face the tasks of tackling your responsibilities. You need to go back to work in order to pay the bills and put food on the table. Take care of the basics.
  2. Do something you want to do – this is what will get you through hard times. Always remember to take care of yourself first. You cannot pour from an empty cup. So, do what you must in order to take care of yourself. Self-care activities aren’t just limited to massages, scented candles, or face masks. Self-care can also be about continuous learning, crafting, catch-ups with friends or family, or even scheduling time in your diary to watch your favorite binge-worthy series. 
  3. Do something for others – it is easy for people to retreat into themselves in times of crisis in the hopes that everything will blow over once they come out of their safe place. However, one way to overcome adversity is to understand that we are not facing these challenges alone. By helping other people, you will understand that it doesn’t matter if this thing is bigger than you, you can still make a difference. Studies show that giving is good for your health. Generous behavior is closely associated with reduced risk of illness and mortality and lower rates of depression. So if you are battling anxiety and depression. It is a good idea to donate to charity or volunteer your time.

How are you coping with quarantine fatigue? Do you have tips to combat quarantine induced anxiety? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

Nov16

Empathy Is A Skill That Can Be Learned And Strengthened

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Empathy Is A Skill That Can Be Learned And Strengthened

Empathy is defined as “the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner.[1]” Given the present global situation, the world needs more empathy right now. Not everyone has the same coping mechanism. Some people have it worse than others, so empathy skills might come in handy.

3 Types of Empathy

Yes, you heard that right. Empathy is actually a life skill, and a skill that can be honed. There are 3 types of empathy. They are as follows:

  • Cognitive empathy – basically this is about being able to see things from someone else’s perspective.
  • Emotional empathy – this type of empathy is otherwise known as ‘emotional contagion’ or being able to feel the other person’s emotions alongside them.
  • Compassionate empathy – this type of empathy is all about understanding someone else’s pain AND taking action to help.

Finding The Right Balance

Finding the right balance is what empathy skills boil down to. Cognitive empathy is more of ‘empathy by thought’ while emotional empathy is more of ‘empathy by feeling’. Compassionate empathy is the right balance between logic and emotion and is a very good life skill to have. And just like all skills, this can be improved upon. Strengthen your empathy skills with these 7 tips.

  1. Open up about yourself – being able to share your thoughts with others is the first step to building genuine relationships. The more you open up, the more other people can find relatable experiences to build connections with.
  2. Listen without interruption – being a good listener is another good skill to have and is important in improving your empathy skills. Giving the other person your undivided attention gives you a chance to hear the little things that matter the most.
  3. Ask for an opinion – asking someone for advice encourages others to share their opinion and might help you make better decisions, too.
  4. Be calm – when another person tells you their worries and fears, it is not the time to panic along with them. That isn’t empathy, that’s helping create more anxiety and paranoia. You should be calm and collected so that both of you can see the bigger picture.
  5. Put yourself in their shoes – this is what empathy is all about, being able to put yourself in the other person’s shoes. If you can imagine what they feel, you will have a better understanding of their situation. It also helps to ask relevant questions.
  6. Know your body language – avoid crossing your arms or giving off an aloof vibe (avoiding eye contact, hunching, turning your body away from the speaker, etc.)
  7. Give out praises when needed – a nice word or compliment here and there can do wonders for the other person’s self-esteem, and surprisingly, yours too!

Do you have any tips on how to improve your empathy? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

[1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empathy

Nov9

Bounce Back After A Setback With These 10 Tips

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Bounce Back After A Setback With These 10 Tips

Resilience is our capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. With all that is happening in the world today, it can be said that resilience is an extremely important skill to have. While physical toughness is good to have, everyone must work on improving their psychological resilience or mental toughness. Being able to emotionally or mentally cope in times of crisis or challenges can help strengthen your mental fortitude.

Calmness and clarity in the face of adversity will only come to you once you learn the art of resilience. Here are 10 tips to help yourself bounce back from a setback.

  1. Learn from your mistakes – Our ability to learn from our mistakes is one of the best ways to gauge personal development and progress. The only person you should compare yourself with is your old self. So strive to be better than who you were yesterday. 
  2. Be honest with yourself – accept yourself for who you are. When you are honest with yourself, you can focus on the things you want to improve on. 
  3. Vent out – let’s face it, we need others to stay sane. Friends and family can only be too happy to share the load with you. So if the burden is getting to be too heavy, learn to reach out and ask for help from loved ones who are willing to listen. 
  4. Keep it short and sweet – there is a time for wallowing and a time for grieving. Go through that process, it is healthy. But do not dwell. It will keep you stunted and staying in a dark place, somewhere you don’t want to be. Do not wallow over your regrets for a long time. The key to bouncing back is to know when to dust yourself off and get back up.
  5. Revisit your why – when you experience a setback, it is human nature to keep revisiting the reasons why it went wrong. While you are in this process, revisit your reasons for pursuing the thing you were pursuing. Remind yourself why you wanted to reach that goal in the first place and recalibrate accordingly. 
  6. Maximize your strengths – it is always a good idea to hone your skills and look for ways to improve yourself. Focus on what you are good at.
  7. Look forward – forward-thinking is a great way to bounce back from any setback. It helps you set your sights on a goal. This means being hopeful about something in the future and always being on the lookout for opportunities.
  8. Set goals – establish realistic goals. You can read all about goal setting here.
  9. Find happiness – Don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers. Sometimes, we get all shortsighted and too focused that we don’t take some time for ourselves to relax and enjoy the process. Don’t forget to celebrate wins and enjoy life.
  10. Lend a helping hand– shift your focus from your setback to helping others. Knowing that you are part of something bigger always helps put things in perspective.

Do you have any tips on how to bounce back from a setback? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Nov2

9 Tips To Build Your Confidence

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9 Tips To Build Your Confidence

Confidence is a state of mind and so it is unique for everyone. It comes from having a healthy acceptance of yourself, both mind and body coupled with a strong belief in your abilities and skills. It can be very difficult to succeed in any endeavor without confidence. It goes hand in hand with self-esteem. How you see yourself is how others will see you. So make sure to reflect back what an amazing person you are. While there are no set rules for building confidence, here are a few tips on helping you improve your confidence levels.

  1. Keep smiling – smiling helps you project a positive and confident demeanor. It conveys the image that you are above annoyances and things that can ruin your day. It signals to other people that you are approachable and feel good about yourself. Even if you don’t feel like it, try to smile and watch as your whole outlook takes a turn for the positive.
  2. Treat yourself – rewarding yourself for small(and big) wins signifies that you expect good things to happen to you and that you deserve the good things that come your way.
  3. Explore your passions – another confidence booster is to explore your passion. It’s hard to be not self-assured when you know for a fact that there is something you are wonderful at. Developing a skill or improving upon an existing one will only help you gain more confidence.
  4. Credit where credit is due – give yourself a compliment every time you do something good or achieve something great. You deserve the credit.
  5. Consistent exercise – being healthy and looking healthy are great confidence boosters. So get on a consistent exercise routine. While going for a svelte look is a good goal, you can do it for health reasons.
  6. Eat better – food affects your mood and good food will put you in a better and more confident mindset. Imagine the last time you ate a lot of junk food? Did you feel better after? Didn’t think so.
  7. Strong support group – sometimes, it takes others to boost our confidence. Take advantage of your support group for a confidence boost. The kind and encouraging words of your friends and family will wash away your insecurities. 
  8. Know your pros – everyone has something that they’re good at. List all your good qualities down and revisit that list every time you need a confidence boost. Incorporate your strong points into affirmations such as “ I am confident about my public speaking skills.”
  9. Stop comparing yourself to others – comparison is the death of joy. Focus on yourself and how you can improve instead of comparing yourself to others. Everyone has their own journey to run.

Our confidence is directly proportional to your quality of life. As your confidence increases, so does your quality of life. So work on boosting your confidence today and explore becoming your best self. What other confidence-boosting tips do you have? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp