Guide to Online Etiquette: E-mail Etiquette

Understanding and practicing the basics of professional, online etiquette may make or break your Internet relationship with others.

Times change and so do methods of communication. At the moment, there is a need for proper etiquette on the Internet when it comes to e-mail. While online communication via e-mail is still in a state of transition, so is online etiquette. Because so many business people now correspond online via e-mail and with many baby boomers and retired people pursuing online upgrading in order to be able to correspond online, appropriate etiquette is becoming increasingly important.

The article “Online etiquette” offers suggestions for students and teachers regarding online etiquette in their correspondence. Consider the following guidelines for online etiquette also.  

Respect your online correspondent.

Treat your online correspondent with respect, at all times. In turn, he or she will treat you with respect, too. For example, in terms of e-mail etiquette, do not use all capital letters as your correspondent may think that you are yelling at him or her. If you are using capital letters for emphasis, does he or she understand that?  

Be careful what you say and how you state it.

To convey the correct message to your correspondent, your choice of words is important. Always be polite. For example, use words like please and thank you to give your online correspondent a good impression. Avoid the excessive use of emoticons, symbols and abbreviations, as not everyone interprets them the same way. What may seem to be fun to you, may appear offensive or regarded as swearing by your online correspondent.  

Use caution with the use of names and online addresses.

Make certain that the names and online addresses of your correspondents are correct, as you do not want to offend anyone with whom you are communicating online. Remember that e-mail communication can be misdirected, go astray or get lost. Others may gain access to it, so caution when sending it is important. 

Include your name and online address.

Identifying yourself correctly will increase the likelihood of receiving a response. Include your name and online address in your online correspondence. When there is an error of some kind in your name or online address, correct it and apologize.    

Make a timely response.

If possible, make a timely response. Your online correspondent will appreciate your promptness in replying and you will appreciate his or her timeliness of response, too. 

Deal with the topic under discussion.

In any online correspondence, always stay on the topic under discussion. Make certain that the person with whom you are corresponding understands what you are referring to in your e-mail. Ask for clarification if you do not understand something. Avoid excessive verbiage. Keep your correspondence to an appropriate length and do not send more online correspondence than necessary.   

Online communication does not differ from other kinds of communication, but sent electronically, it is faster. 

Basic rules of online, non-verbal communication etiquette are always applicable and important.

How to Keep Teens on the Straight and Narrow: It is Their Responsibility, Too.

Professional, positive, pro-active educators help keep teens on the straight and narrow. This is a continually growing, global concern that presents a conundrum of possibilities and concerns.  What does to keep teens on the straight and narrow mean?

Freedictinary.com suggests that the straight and narrow refers to the “the way of proper conduct and moral integrity” or “the proper, honest, and moral path of behavior”.

This involves decision making regarding their lives and lifestyles. Some teens will try to make good decisions, while others go astray. 

Consider the following guidelines with respect to how to keep teens on the straight and narrow.

Whose responsibility is it to keep teens on the straight and narrow? Everyone bears a degree of responsibility when it comes to keeping teens on the straight and narrow. Initially, it is the responsibility of parents, grandparents, other family members and guardians. Siblings and peers play an important role, as well. The responsibility does not end there.

Who is influencing teens today in terms of keeping on the straight and narrow? Communities and educators bear a degree of responsibility for teens and have an influence on them. Teens are also subject to the influence of other individuals, couples, families and communities. This can determine the course of their lives, their families, as well as that of others. 

There are increasing global influences because of the Internet. Mass media presents different life style alternatives for teens. Ultimately, it is up to them to make the right decisions.

Why are role models so important for teens? Teens observe role models and decide whether their words, actions or deeds are ones they can or should adhere to or follow. Their initial role models are their parents. Parents who set a good example for their teens by walking the straight and narrow in their own lives, are not always be followed by their teens, particularly if the teens rebel, but the once the seed of the straight and narrow has been planted, it will come to fruition. Sometimes, it takes many years.

Is teaching the straight and narrow to teens important? Teaching teens to adhere to the straight and narrow is vital to their survival and success in life. Both parents and teachers can be wonderful role models who guide teens in terms of academic success and potential lifestyle choices. Parents can only teach teens so much.

Consider this statement: “I have taught you everything I can, son (daughter), and now it is up to you to make your own decisions. Be aware that there are consequences that result from decisions. I will not always be there to rescue you if you make bad decisions, but you can always turn to me.”

Loving, caring and compassionate parents and teachers try to teach teens to make the best possible decisions. Not all teenagers go astray, but some teens refuse to walk the straight and narrow, want more excitement not realizing the consequences they suffer in the end. The straight and narrow is not always an easy path for teens, as peer pressure can be tremendous.

Adherence to the straight and narrow does have distinct advantages. There are opportunities that await those who choose to walk wisely in their teen years and later. These opportunities are not necessarily available to those who choose to go astray as teens. For them, it can be a long road back.    

Ultimately, keeping teens on the straight and narrow is their own responsibility too, as their life choices are theirs to make.       

How to Ease Back to School Blues: Being Happy is a Choice

Are you back in school and feeling blue? Feeling blue is common in September, as returning to school often makes students feel that way. Parents and teachers may feel that way, too. At times, it can be a masked or hidden depression, but it may also be a seasonal affective disorder.

How to ease back-to-school blues is something many students ponder, as each experiences feeling the blues differently. Parents and teachers need to know how to help students cope with back to school blues, as well as how to deal with the blues in their own lives.

The article, “Dealing with the back to school blues” offers suggestions for parents and their children, who are feeling blue when returning to school.   

Seek positive, pro-active goal orientation re school:

Whether you are a student or a teacher returning to school, having a positive, pro-active, academic orientation, will help you to focus on what you are doing, rather than on yourself and your feelings. It is easy to slip into a poor me pity party mode if you are self-oriented. Be aware this is an emotional trap.

Parents, focusing on their children and teenagers, rather than on themselves, are more likely to get past back to school blues. Sometimes, it is not easy for parents to see their children or teenagers starting or returning to school. When they leave home, it is like a premature empty nest syndrome for them. 

Parents returning to school may have to deal with financial concerns and other issues, like day care for small children. Baby boomers and seniors seeking up-grading, may feel depressed because of having to work to survive financially during a time of high unemployment rates. 

Become a school leader:

Students who are leaders at school, seldom have time for the blues, simply because they are too busy; it is more likely to be the followers who feel blue. Taking on the challenge of becoming a leader at school is not necessarily easy, because it means overcoming your own thoughts and feelings first, then dealing with the blues of others. As a student or teacher, you can become a leader by actively choosing to do so. Parents can seek leadership roles in school settings that will help them overcome the blues.      

Maintain a healthy lifestyle:

Regardless of whether you are a student, parent or a teacher, if you and your family consistently maintain a healthy lifestyle, the blues will give way to thoughts and feelings that are more positive. It takes time and effort to make and eat healthy meals, get sufficient exercise and do what is mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually healthy. Everyone needs a healthy life style, particularly during the early school year.  

Include people you enjoy in your life:

Students, parents and teachers find that the relationships they build and the company they keep helps to determine whether they have the blues when back at school. For example, if a student is associating with positive, happy people, he or she will relate to their attitude in his or her own life.

As a student, you can avoid being with those who continually bring you down. The blues are not contagious, even though it seems they can be. Seek ambitious classmates who inspire you and are engaged in doing things you enjoy, for example music or artwork.

Getting to know others is important in terms of your own emotional support, whether you are a parent, student or a teacher. In other words, expand your social horizons.    

Be happy:

If you are determined to be happy, you will likely seek to do the things that make you happy. Others will recognize your happiness.

“We are all so blue,” someone may comment. “How can he or she be so happy?”

Being happy is a choice. In other words, you choose to be happy. You can choose to enjoy being back at school and to become active in planning or participating in annual or special school events. Helping others with special needs can help to re-orient your own life.    

Depression, major and minor, open or hidden, is part of what students and teachers, as well as parents, experience when summer ends and the school year begins. At times, seeking professional counseling may be necessary, but generally making a proactive, positive effort to be happy will help to eliminate the back to school blues.       

Signs You are Overwork and In Need of a Break: Overworked, In Need of a Break and Working Smarter

Are you feeling more and more exhausted, depressed and discouraged? Many people feel that way at home, at work or at school. Everyone experiences stress to some degree, but when there is excessive stress, a person can be on the road to burnout.

“Preventing Burnout: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Coping Strategies” distinguishes between stress and burnout.

Are you overworked and in need of a break? 

For example, a busy mother with three, small children loves her family dearly and is dedicated to their well being, but finds that taking care of everyone is a lot of work. She becomes exhausted, depressed and discouraged realizing there is no end to this in the immediate future.

A man, not quite old enough to retire, drives a truck from dusk until dawn seven days a week, hoping to be able to save enough money for his pending retirement. He is aware that he is placing his life at risk by working so many hours, but exhaustion, depression and discouragement have always been a part of his life’s work. He is determined to succeed or die trying.

A young medical student takes on extra curricular activities on top of his full time studies, working with boys with severe disabilities in order to obtain extra credits. His workload is extremely heavy and exhaustion sets in. He becomes increasingly depressed and is discouraged because his marks are gradually dropping.         

All of these people are experiencing exhaustion, depression and discouragement, but for different reasons.

Exhaustion, depression and discouragement are signs that you are overworked and in need of a break. Trying to ignore these signs does not usually work, as they will not go away. If anything, they will become more severe leading to potential mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health problems.

A human being has a tremendous capacity for work and when a person feels challenged, there are no limits to his or her endurance. Common sense suggests that the human capacity to endure stress and carry a workload does have limits, but most people go beyond those limits. Something has to happen before they will take a break.

Recognizing one’s capacity to endure stress is important. This means acknowledging in some way, the warning signs, before irreparable damage occurs. Damage may be reversible, but it is not always possible.

When overworked, seeking an appropriate solution becomes a preventative health measure.

For example, the young mother finds a day care for her children, several mornings a week. The truck driver talks to a financial planner, who shows him how he can manage his money more effectively, as he heads into retirement. The young medical student finds other medical students to assist him with his disabled boys’ project and gains additional motivational leadership credits.

Working smarter reduces stress and the likelihood of burnout.

Taking a break can mean making other arrangements when overworked as a parent, worker or a student. It does not necessarily mean taking time off or a holiday, although those can prove beneficial too. Stress is inevitable, but burnout is preventable.   

How to Bust a Diet Plateau: Overcoming a Diet Plateau

Anyone who attempts to lose weight reaches a diet plateau at one time or another, as his or her weight loss levels out for one reason or another. This may be what is happening with you and your weight loss program. Perhaps you were losing weight steadily, but now, you cannot seem to get below a certain weight.

Being successful at weight loss and then, not being able to lose more weight or reach a weight that reflects your body mass index (BMI) can be discouraging and frustrating.

What is a diet plateau? 

Understanding what a diet plateau is can help you to move beyond that weight as you begin to recognize what you are dealing with.

“A weight-loss plateau occurs when you no longer lose weight despite continuing with your exercise and healthy-eating habits.”

It is possible to bust a diet plateau. Perhaps you thought that you had established an appropriate weight loss diet and exercise regime that you would be able to adhere to for the rest of your life. Note that it worked for the initial period of your weight loss, so you have succeeded. Congratulations in this respect. 

To continue to lose more weight may mean re-adjusting your original dietary-exercise regime. You probably did not expect to have to do that.

Realistically, you can choose to stay where you are weight wise or remain positive and proactive in terms of your weight loss project. The decision is yours.  Are you at a weight that is healthy for you? Would you be more comfortable losing more weight? It will take time and effort on your part.

Overcoming a diet plateau or weight loss plateau is not always easy but “to lose more weight, you need to increase activity or decrease the calories you eat”.  

Do you want to stay where you currently are weight wise? Do you have sufficient incentive to continue on your weight loss program?

The article, “How can you overcome a weight-loss plateau?” offers four suggestions, namely “reassess your habits, cut more calories, rev up your workout and pack more activity into your day”. 

In a weight loss program, reassessment is vital to avoid stagnation. It often indicates the need for changes. Caloric intake and exercise regimes are adjustable, even though the human mind may resist the necessary changes needed to get off a diet plateau.

Setting new weight loss goals is often a good idea and re-establishes priorities. Taking a new, positive and pro-active approach to ongoing weight loss is like entering stage two of a weight loss program. The third stage will be your weight management, after reaching the dietary goal based upon your BMI.         

How to Deal With an Emotionally Needy Friend: Emotion, Emotional Needs and Emotional Dependency

Do you have an emotionally needy friend who is becoming a burden to you? Be aware that an emotionally needy person is experiencing a deficit in the realm of his or her emotions and thus, he or she may turn to you for emotional support. As a friend, you know that this person would probably be there for you too, in a similar situation. You want to help him or her.

How to deal with an emotionally needy friend can present a conundrum of problems or possibilities. For example, he or she may become so emotionally dependent on you that it interferes with your life. If you are in a position to counsel him or her, that can lead to positive, proactive alternatives in terms of dealing with his or her emotional needs.     

What is emotion?

According to dictionary.com suggests emotion is “an affective state of consciousness in which joy, sorrow, fear, hate, or the like, is experienced, as distinguished from cognitive and volitional states of consciousness.”

Emotion has to do with a person’s feelings and the accompanying physiological changes triggered in a positive or negative manner.  Everyone functions from various emotional, mental, spiritual and physical levels that continually interact, because what affects the emotional realm affects other realms in varying degrees.

How to deal with an emotionally needy friend may depend upon what is happening in his or her emotional realm and how that affects other realms of his or her life. Being there for a friend, allows you to assess what is happening with him or her realistically, from a non-threatening perspective. Being there may be all that you can do and the best thing you could possibly do. Being aware of a friend’s need for compassion and concern during an emotional crisis can help to bring about healing for him or her.

When you see the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical realms in your friend’s life are adversely affected, you may decide to take action that will help your friend get beyond the emotional crisis. This could mean involvement with professionals like doctors, counselors, lawyers, etc. For example, your friend, a young woman in her twenties, finds she is pregnant. She panics immediately, not knowing what to do. She no longer has a boyfriend or any family in the area. Emotionally, she is in turmoil, feeling excited but devastated at the same time.

How do you deal with this kind of an emotionally needy friend scenario? If you panic too, that would create a less than ideal scenario. A kind and loving, empathetic approach , as opposed to a sympathetic approach is important. Initially, you may be able to support her emotionally while she examines her options, but in a situation like this, there are serious issues like her physical health, housing, financial support, childcare, etc. that may present a burden for you in terms of dealing with her emotional dependency on you. At times, emotional dependency of a friend can go too far, especially when it interferes with your life.

Being a kind, compassionate, caring and concerned friend, you are determined to be supportive of her emotionally, but at the same time you know that you must insist that she take the responsibility for her own life. If there are indications that she is not able to do that or cannot cope, seeking immediate counseling with and for her may be vital to her survival and yours.

Friendship is not the same as dependency. Being friends gives you a positive, pro-active platform for emotional support where the emotional crisis does not turn to partial or total dependency.

How to Lose Weight With Healthy Eating: Eat Healthy and Lose Weight

Healthy eating is far more conducive to weight loss than unhealthy eating, but how to lose weight with healthy eating can still be problematic for people who have difficulty losing weight.

“How to eat better: Top 12 healthy-eating tips” offers some suggestions from a dietician for eating better.  

Consider the following guidelines.

Portion size:

Portion size is a major factor in weight loss, as caloric intake depends upon the amount of food consumed. In other words, regulation of portion size limits caloric intake.    

A well balanced diet:

A well balanced diet is vital to healthy weight loss. Consuming a wide variety of healthy food is more conducive to weight loss than only eating certain foods.

Plate and cup size:

While it does not seem that plate and cup size should matter in a healthy diet, in reality, most people consume everything on their plates or in their cups and glasses. Reducing plate, cup and glass size reduces the food to an amount conducive for weight loss.

Record keeping:

Keeping a record of healthy food eaten, including portion size increases one’s awareness of actual consumption. It is easy to suggest one should eat only eat  healthy food, but how much and how often, may be forgotten or ignored. One can over-indulge on healthy food and fail to lose weight or choose to actively document the amount eaten and watch the pounds drop.

Attitude:

Persistence with a positive, pro-active attitude towards consistent weight loss, in conjunction with the consumption of healthy food in appropriate portion size, invariably gets positive results.

Lifestyle:

Being successful in terms of weight loss reflects a busy, happy lifestyle where the focus is on life rather than on dieting or food, healthy or otherwise. Eating often reflects how one satiates other desires like emotional deficits or the lack of mental stimulation.

How you eat:

In order to lose weight, watching how you eat may reveal that you need to slow down, chew your food thoroughly and enjoy it. Eating too fast can take the enjoyment out of eating healthy food. It also has a direct relationship to the volume of food that you are likely to consume.

Knowing when to stop:

Your body will indicate when your appetite has been satiated when eating healthy food. You will no longer desire more. You do not have to clean your plate every time you eat. In fact, saving some for later is often a good idea and conducive to healthy weight loss.              

Healthy food, healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle should appeal to those who are actively seeking to lose weight.

How to Explain to Teens That They Need to Control Their Spending: Fiances, Control Over Spending and Teens

A teen is not always aware that all teenagers need to learn how to control their spending. Of course, there are exceptions. For example, a teen with parents who practice financial planning is likely to be more money conscious. A teen with personal income becomes aware of the need to control his or her spending, particularly when self-support determine his or her lifestyle..

Unfortunately, not all teens know the meaning of the word control when it comes to spending money; nor do they understand the importance of learning how to budget. 

The article, “Teen Budget: How to setup and use a teen budget” offers a sample budget form for teenagers. 

How to explain to a teen that they need to control their spending includes the following guidelines.

Parental sensitivity:

Most parents are loving, caring, compassionate and sensitive when it comes to the financial needs and the desires of their teens. Discussing the need for teenagers to control their spending, together as a family or on a one-to-one basis can benefit everyone. Parents need to know how their teens think with respect to their finances and the importance of control over their spending. 

Realistic money management:

Not all teens are realistic when it comes to money management. Being aware of his or her personal income, allows a teen to practice budgeting and money management, if he or she has not already learned to do so. Most teens have personal income from part time jobs, as well as money from their parents while they are in school. Learning how to budget that money appropriately is important. Maintaining control over spending is vital to financial survival as a teen and then later, as an adult. 

Realistic financial needs and desires:

A teen may or may not be realistic about his or her personal financial needs or desires. Parental guidance is important to help him or her discern between the two. Needs must take priority over desires in terms of expenditures for a teen to be able to survive financially. For example, while most teens have their housing needs met by their parents, when a teen has to take the responsibility for his or her food and clothing expenditures, it must take priority over entertainment. It is only a matter of time before a teen has to pay for housing.

Preparation for adult financial responsibility:

Teen financial planning leads to more responsible adult financial planning. While many parents set a good example for a teen, at some point a teen has to take over all of his or her personal finances. This is when the control factor becomes evident. Either a teen knows how to control his or her spending at that time, or does not. Ideally, there is still parental input or financial supervision. If not, a teen can get into debt beyond his or her ability to pay back.

Note that not all teens have appropriate financial backing and many have to learn to survive on their own financially, at a young age. While it is seldom easy for them, it is still important that teens surviving on their own learn to control their spending.             

How to Make the Most of Feedback at the University: Why is Feedback Important?

Imagine for a moment a university where there was no academic feedback.  Professors would continually feed students with no expectation of any feedback from them. Would that be a positive, pro-active teaching experience for the professors or a positive, learning experience for students? Definitely not, as feedback is an important part of university education. 

Consider the following tips on how to make the most of feedback at university.

Understand the meaning of feedback:

In an academic world, feedback is “the return of information about the result of a process or activity” or “an evaluative response”. The key to feedback lies in the word ‘evaluation’, which comes down to “an act or instance of evaluating or appraising.”

Perhaps as a student, you do not think feedback from your professors is necessary or important. Maybe you would like to see all assignments, tests and exams eliminated. Some students feel that way.

Ideally, in a university setting, academic feedback for students is positive, constructive and proactive, but unfortunately, that may not always be the case. Some students do not welcome the feedback from their professors, as it immediately forces them to re-evaluate their own work and academic status, as well as to do something about it. Without the feedback, many students could be totally lost and badly in need of academic directives. Serious students welcome and learn how to make the most out of feedback, knowing they ultimately are the ones who will benefit from it.

Follow academic directives:

Your professor recently gave you feedback on your test, with some academic directives. Did you decide to pay attention to it and follow the directives? If you were a student who had knowledge about everything a particular course had to offer, you would not need to take the course or receive advice from your professor. Even when you have basic knowledge, your professor can guide you further in a direction that will help you grow academically. 

Choosing to follow the academic directives from your professor, (and it is an active choice that you make), the purpose of the course, as well as the professor’s strategy in terms of his or her academic feedback, will become increasingly evident. A professor is not likely to misdirect you in terms of feedback, even if you do not always like the feedback you receive. Remember that feedback can be positive and affirm the reality that you are on the right track academically.

Acknowledge academic feedback appropriately:

Let your professor know that you acknowledge and appreciate his or her feedback. Accept and follow your professor’s directives. 

Establishing and maintaining a good relationship will lead towards consistent positive, proactive feedback from him or her, as long as your academic work is up to par. You may or may not always understand your professor’s feedback in terms of your academic work. When you do not comprehend the feedback, it is a good idea to contact him or her directly and discuss your areas of concern.  

Most professors enjoy student inquiries and students find that feedback is helpful to them.       

How to Buy Time in a Family Crisis: Is Intervention Needed?

Have you ever been in the midst of a family crisis, wishing that you could buy some time?

A family crisis can happen at any time and in any place. Time is of the essence when that happens. The question of how to buy time in a family crisis becomes a critical issue.  

One meaning of the idiom to buy time is “to postpone an event hoping that the situation will improve”. This focuses on the event and triggers hope with respect to needing or buying more time. “To obtain a longer period before something happens”, suggests the possibility of somehow bartering for, bargaining for or buying time.

Unfortunately, time is not a commodity one can buy or sell, Buying time refers to saving time, making time or stalling, so that a crisis can be resolved.

What can you as a family member do in order to buy time in a crisis?

Consider the following:

Assess the crisis realistically:

In a family crisis, there could be immediate intervention required. You may be the person in a position to intervene. A call to 911 for assistance is appropriate in many situations. Are there family members who can assist you or others? Anyone with basic, emergency response training will be able to do a crisis assessment and determine these factors which can save valuable time.

Assume proactive leadership immediately:

Valuable time can be lost if there is no leadership during a family crisis. Assuming positive, proactive leadership immediately, allows those who are natural followers to turn to someone who is able to assume some degree of control in a crisis. Giving appropriate directives for them to follow can save or buy time.      

Do not panic:

Family members who tend to panic during a family crisis waste their time, plus valuable time of others, knowingly or unknowingly. The situation at hand may not allow room for wasted time in a crisis scenario. Be aware that a panic response to a family crisis is rooted in fear and needs to be resolved, as soon as possible in order to save time.  

Encourage everyone to stand together:

Taking a stand together and actively engaging everyone in a positive, crisis resolution role proves beneficial in terms of buying time. It helps to avert the feeling of hopelessness and helplessness that many experience during a family crisis, as well as the wringing of hands, as each one asks, “What can I do?”    

Draw upon the skills, expertise and ability of family members:

Every family member has certain skills, expertise and different abilities that can prove valuable in a crisis. For example, a grandparent can assume the care of a small child, while an older sibling can run errands for him or her. A teenager may answer the telephone and relay messages. This frees up other family members to deal with the actual family crisis and buys time, so to speak.

Buying time in a family crisis is vital and can save lives. Being instrumental in crisis resolution sets a positive, proactive example for other family members in terms of effective time management during a family crisis.

How to Balance the Books at Work: Accountability Related to Your Job Description

Were you assigned a new task, namely that of balancing the books at work? Perhaps you feel a bit insecure about accepting this role. 

Balancing the books at work can present a challenge, depending upon where you are working.

Not knowing how to balance the books at work can present a problem, particularly if it turns out that there is a shortage of money when there should not be one. If you are the one who is accountable, you will need to come up with answers.

Learning how to balance the books at work correctly, is an important part of your job description.

The expression, ‘balance the books’ means to “break even”. In other words, “equalize, experience no loss, recover cost” or “recover expense”. There is a balance between what goes into an account at work and what removed or spent.

Consider the following guidelines with respect to how to balance the books at work.

Plan a realistic budget with your employer.

Financially, every business functions better with a realistic budget. The larger the business, the larger and more complex the budget will be. The budget should be realistic for the size of the company or organization and reflect the directives of your employer. You should know how much money to expect on that account and its planned usage.

Is there a company bookkeeper or accountant? You might receive further guidance from them. Taking a basic bookkeeping course at a local college or university may be a good idea.

Set up accurate financial records.

Create a financial record of the amount of money you have to keep track of at work on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Document all fixed expenses and variable expenses, so that there is no doubt about the use of the money. A running financial record book will prove helpful, so that you know exactly what is coming in and going out.

Obtain receipts.

It is important to obtain receipts for all expenditures. Record the transactions immediately and accurately. Documenting expenditures as soon as possible, helps to ensure the accuracy of your financial records.

Be aware that receipts or financial records may be misplaced if there is more than one person with access to them. Data entry entails the use of computer files and computers can fail. A back up copy is a good idea.

Recheck all account details.

Taking the time to recheck financial transactions in your records regularly, will save time in the end. This is particularly important with cash transactions.

Report any financial discrepancies immediately.

Be aware that when you are the one who is accountable your credibility is at stake, not someone else’s. Errors in your bookkeeping can cost you your job.

Report all financial discrepancies including suspected theft, missing monies, checks, etc. to your employer. Discrepancies multiply quickly without the person accountable being aware of what is happening. Remember that human error is always a possibility and there is no one who is not prone to err.

Keep all financial records in a safe place.

When all records and financial documents are kept in a safe place preferably under lock and key, they are less likely to be misplaced, stolen or lost. Do not leave credit cards, checkbooks or cash where others can have access to them.

What you think is a small amount of money at work, may be more than you realize when there are several shifts employed over a twenty-four hour period. Assigning responsible people to balance the books on other shifts is important. Check everything at the beginning and end of each shift with the person who has the responsibility in order to be certain you both have balanced the books at work.           

Learning how to balance the books at work is a skill that you can acquire and add to your resume. Teaching others how to do the same can make your job much easier.

What Can You Do to Remedy Empty Nest Blues: Empty Nest Syndrome and Coping With Depression

With more and more single parent families, the face of empty nest blues is changing. Are you a mother or father who is experiencing grief, loss and even remorse associated with empty nest syndrome? 

Most parents realize that at some point in time, they will have to experience empty nest syndrome, as it is inevitable for their children to be mature enough to leave home, but no one really expects to go through empty nest blues when that happens.  

What is empty nest syndrome?

“Empty-nest syndrome is the name given to a psychological condition that can affect parents (most commonly women) around the time that their children leave home.”

Parents love their children and like little birds, the children have to move on in their lives. Empty nest syndrome is “the label for the feelings of sadness and loss, which many individuals experience when their children fly the nest.”

While this can happen to a parent at any time, it can also happen when teenagers start college or university. Some children marry and start their families immediately or leave home to pursue careers or other interests. For parents it can be a wonderful experience or a devastating one. 

Remedying the empty nest blues can present a challenge, but there are things that you as a parent can do, rather than dwell in the depths of depression.

Consider the following guidelines to remedy the empty nest blues.

Do not panic:

When there is a major change in your life like your children leaving home, your first reaction may be fear leading to panic. Being alone after years of raising your children will be somewhat of a shock. Remember that your children will always be your children regardless of where they are, or where you are. For some parents, the opportunity to be alone and being able to get on with their own lives is a good thing. For others, it can be extremely difficult to cope initially.  

Be realistic:

Perhaps you are just heading into empty nest syndrome. Have you begun to do some realistic planning? Your future is in your hands. Most parents are aware that while empty nest syndrome is inevitable, that does not make it easier. Facing the situation is problematic for some parents, while others see it as an exciting new time in their lives and make their plans accordingly.

Maintain communication:

Making a sincere effort to maintain communication with your children should give you peace of mind, as you realize you are still able to be in touch with them, if or when you choose to do so, or they can contact you whenever necessary. You will be reassured that they are able to take care of themselves. Many parents hear a cry for help from children learning how to cope with their new life styles.  

Plan special occasions together:

Will you be celebrating special occasions with your children? Many parents visit their children wherever they have special occasions or holidays. Others make an extra effort to welcome them home. The thought of seeing each other is something to look forward to and can lift the feeling of the blues. 

Make plans for your own lives:

As parents who are alone, are you making plans for your own future? Parents see this as an opportunity to enjoy their lives more fully and begin to work on projects they have wanted to undertake for a long time. Some will travel, downsize, join organizations, find new friends, etc. What have you always wanted to do?

Pathological blues:

The nature of menopause combined with the severity of the depression with empty nest syndrome, suggests that at times, it may be important to seek psychological counseling, particularly when the symptoms of depression continue or are overwhelming.

Most mothers and fathers experiencing empty nest syndrome are able to move on and enjoy living their own lives, with the prospect of grandchildren to look forward to at some time in the future. Perhaps this will be your experience, too.

A word of caution, use your empty nest syndrome time wisely, as your children may decide to move back home. 

Look at those around you who have never had children or children living at home. Life goes on regardless and it is always a challenge!