Helene Lerner's Blog, page 178

Remembering the Moments that Mattered

The fight for women’s political and social equality made strong gains in 2012, but the battle is still far from over. Through the highs and lows, the ups and downs, we continue to strive for women’s rights in a variety of ways. Below, we look back on some of the most empowering moments for women throughout the year as we fix our eyes on future change. 

Switching it up. In August, three high school girls from New Jersey launched a petition at Change.org urging the Commission on Political Debates to appoint a female presidential debate moderator for the first time in 20 years. The girls gathered over 120,000 signatures in support of their cause, and on August 13 it was announced that CNN’s Candy Crowley would moderate the October 16 debate. 

Going for gold. All eyes were on the world’s top athletes at the 2012 Olympics in London, England this past summer. The United States walked away victorious with 46 gold medals and 104 medals overall, but it was the women who stole the show. Not only did US female athletes outnumber their male counterparts for the first time – 269 to 261 – but they won 66 percent of Team USA’s gold medals. Among them were favorites Gabby Douglas, Missy Franklin, and Kayla Harrison. 

Fighting for equality. Female soldiers made gains this year when the Pentagon opened 14,000 combat-related jobs that previously excluded women. The Marines also allowed women to participate in the Infantry Officer Course for the first time this fall. Unfortunately, women are still barred from direct combat, which prevents most women from gaining the proper experience to move up the military ranks. 

Winning votes. The 2012 election was one to remember, as 20 women will hold Senate seats in 2013, the first openly gay candidate was elected to Congress, and New Hampshire will host the first all-female congressional delegation. But there was great news on the other side of the polls, too – 60 percent of registered female voters cast a ballot in the 12 key states, versus only 39 percent of registered male voters. 

How else did women make an impact in 2012? Be sure to read which female leaders left a mark this year, and how one woman is still campaigning for gender equality at the Olympic Games. 

—Lindsay Putnam

Raise Your Holiday Spirits

The holidays have a way of amplifying our emotions. If December brings more silent nights than joy to the world, we can easily become embittered or overwhelmed. Don’t fight the season’s good will! Instead, surrender to a few of our favorite feel-good rituals. By putting self-care at the top of your list, you’ll be giving a gift to everyone around you.

Lighten up. We all know what sunlight can do for the mood, but festive decorations can work a similar magic. No need to spring for a full-fledged tree—instead, wind a trail of holiday lights around the edge of your floor or ceiling, or light a few candles for an ethereal glow that’s sure to brighten your spirits. If you’re feeling ambitious, see our past articles on inexpensive holiday decorating here and here.

Have a cup of cheer. A mug of something toasty can settle your mind as well as your stomach. For a quick homemade hot chocolate, bring a cup of milk to boil over medium heat, then whisk in a heaping tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder and two teaspoons of sugar. Not a cocoa fan? Eggnog, cider and any peppermint or spice tea make lovely companions to a fuzzy blanket and a viewing of It’s a Wonderful Life. 

Get crafty. Even if you’re not normally a craft queen, it’s hard to feel sad when you’re covered in glitter and glue. Save the hand-woven wreaths for Martha and start simple with cards or gift tags for friends, family and coworkers (see our thoughts on the art of the handwritten note here). If you’re not sure where to start, Pinterest is a wonderful source of inspiration for crafters at any level.

Give back. Whether you choose to volunteer at a local charity, bake cookies for a neighbor, or donate gifts to underprivileged children through an organization like Angel Tree or Operation Christmas Child, nothing feeds the soul like helping someone else. Once you see the positive change that even a small contribution can bring, you’ll abandon your glum, Grinch-y mindset for good.

Be at peace. Above all, don’t feel ashamed or frustrated by your emotions. Know that the holidays are hard for many people – particularly those who have recently dealt with stress, loss or hardship – and if you need to lay low instead of trolling the neighborhood party circuit, the world will keep turning. Take things one day at a time, and show yourself the love you deserve. After all, ‘tis the season. 

—Emma Aubry Roberts

Career Coach: Stop Procrastinating. Start Doing.

Procrastination is a way of hiding from our life purpose and it ruins the quality of our limited time on this planet. Setting worthy goals and then executing them rewards you with high self-worth and success. Now is the time to stop torturing yourself with unfulfilled dreams. Try these powerful strategies to get you out of a rut and back into the flow. 

Face the facts. Make a list of the top 10 things that you are procrastinating about right now. Then prioritize them in terms of importance and value to you personally and professionally. Why are you reluctant to finish these tasks? How are putting off these tasks delaying your personal and professional successes? This may put more urgency behind some projects. 

Make decisions. If your procrastination represents indecision, identify what information or support you need to make that decision. Where and why are you stuck? Do you really want to do this project right now, or do you have higher priorities? These are decisions that will not get any easier with time. Trust yourself to make the right choices. 

Enlist help. Ask yourself if this is a project you have to do yourself or if it can be delegated to someone else. If you hire a personal organizer for two days to streamline your office, then you could continue to meet with clients during that time. What is the best use of your time? If you can budget your time effectively, you will have less reason to procrastinate some of your tasks. 

–Gail McMeekin, Career Coach

Stop Procrastinating. Start Doing.

Procrastination is a way of hiding from our life purpose and it ruins the quality of our limited time on this planet. Setting worthy goals and then executing them rewards you with high self-worth and success. Now is the time to stop torturing yourself with unfulfilled dreams. Try these powerful strategies to get you out of a rut and back into the flow. 

Face the facts. Make a list of the top 10 things that you are procrastinating about right now. Then prioritize them in terms of importance and value to you personally and professionally. Why are you reluctant to finish these tasks? How are putting off these tasks delaying your personal and professional successes? This may put more urgency behind some projects. 

Make decisions. If your procrastination represents indecision, identify what information or support you need to make that decision. Where and why are you stuck? Do you really want to do this project right now, or do you have higher priorities? These are decisions that will not get any easier with time. Trust yourself to make the right choices. 

Enlist help. Ask yourself if this is a project you have to do yourself or if it can be delegated to someone else. If you hire a personal organizer for two days to streamline your office, then you could continue to meet with clients during that time. What is the best use of your time? If you can budget your time effectively, you will have less reason to procrastinate some of your tasks. 

–Gail McMeekin, Career Coach

Make a To-Do List That Actually Works

Work, family, cleaning the house, preparing for the holidays…who has the time to do it all? Last week, Sharon Lowenheim shared her tips for cleaning up clutter, and now the “Organizing Goddess” is back to share her best strategies for effectively managing your time and staying on top of all of your commitments. 

During her 25 years in corporate America, Sharon saw firsthand how a lack of direction often leads employees astray. Here she shares how to manage your “To-Do” list effectively with time to spare. 

Break down projects. The key to a successful to-do list is to differentiate between a task and a project. If you put a big thing on your list that has too many tasks, you’ll feel defeated and overwhelmed and not get anywhere. So if you need to do laundry tomorrow, add it to the list. But don’t put “lose weight” on there; instead, break it down into tasks, such as getting a gym membership, buying a low calorie cookbook, etc. 

Keep it small. Keep your to-do list to a reasonable length. If you put 30 things on your list, you’ll go mad. But if you put 10 tasks, with a few that are high priority, that’s manageable. Reprioritize your list daily, crossing off the things you completed yesterday and adding new things you want to get done today. 

Make it fun. When you have a day off, you always think you’re going to accomplish more than you can. To make your weekends productive but still relaxing, make a list of the things you want to get done, and then cut it in half. Do the boring tasks – filing taxes, sorting through insurance forms – first thing in the morning. How do you make them enjoyable? Be creative. Put on a fancy outfit you don’t get to wear often or sing along to your favorite album as you are doing it – whatever strikes your fancy.

Find time for you. Don’t think just because a commitment is personal that it doesn’t deserve to go on your calendar. You shouldn’t always get just the leftover time. Block out time to go to yoga or get a massage, and make it non-negotiable. If your boss needs you for work, say you have a prior commitment – just don’t tell him it’s with your masseuse. 

–Lindsay Putnam

What Makes A Strong Woman?

Last week, we previewed some of the responses we received from members of the WomenWorking community to the question, "What do you think makes a strong woman?" The comments continued to pour in, so we compiled them all in one place. We all possess strength in one way or another, whether it be emotional, mental, or physical, and it is important to remember that always. Read the compilation of thoughts on female strength, and watch the video below for some inspiring words from celebrities and the WomenWorking staff. 

—Lindsay Putnam; Video by Nina Giordano 

Spreading Cheer at the Holiday Fair

We stopped by the bustling Grand Central Holiday Fair and caught up with several of the vendors, including the owner of Christina’s World, home of handcrafted glass ornaments, and Lisa Shaub, a New York City-based handmade hat designer. Below, Lisa shares how she entered the millinery industry and offers advice to any entrepreneurs just starting out. 

If you love Lisa’s hats, enter our drawing where one lucky woman will receive a $150 gift certificate to her online boutique. Enter by “liking” our Facebook page before Wednesday, December 12. Happy holidays!

 

–Video by Nina Giordano

Looking for a few good women?

With the end of the year fast approaching, now is the time to reflect on the remarkable change that international women have brought about in 2012. From corporate life to government to charity, women across the globe have worked bravely and tirelessly to make the world a better, safer, more opportune place for us all. Here are just a few of the strong female leaders who have inspired us this year. We hope they do the same for you.

Marissa Mayer. After being named Yahoo’s new CEO last July – quite a feat in itself – Marissa stunned the business world by revealing her pregnancy, giving a face to the debate over whether or not women can “have it all.” In the past six months, Marissa’s insightful plans for the future of Yahoo have emerged, leaving little doubt that her sharp business sense and charismatic leadership style will bring about positive change for the company.

Dilma Rousseff. Over the course of her political career, Dilma has endured everything from jail to torture to fight for her beliefs. Now, she lays down the law as the first female president of Brazil, an honor that carries its own set of challenges. 2012 brought an onslaught of strikes in Brazil’s public sector, and Dilma has defended her policies despite opposition. How refreshing to see a politician who maintains her point of view, popular or not.

Margaret Chan. The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) was reinstated for a second term this year (she has held the position since 2006, previously serving as Hong Kong’s Director of Health). Margaret has named women’s health and African medical care among the top priorities for WHO, further clarifying that she wants to focus the organization’s attention on “the people in greatest need.” A strong leader? Great. An empathetic giver? Even better.

To these three powerful visionaries, and all the rest who are working to bring about much-needed change. May their vision and perseverance inspire you in the year to come. Dare to dream big and accomplish what others deem impossible.

—Emma Aubry Roberts

Career Coach: Assess What's Stressing Your Career Transition

Making a career transition—whether it’s to find a new job, assume new responsibilities, or start a business—is stressful. If the stress is positive, it can increase your chances for success. If it’s negative, however, it can undermine your efforts when you need to project confidence and achieve results the most. Managing the stress involved with your transition and using it to your advantage requires identifying the issues that cause discomfort, then taking action to resolve them. 

To identify unresolved issues, try rating your attitude about your transition on the Work Transition Stress Test below. Statements you answer with a 4 or 5 indicate that it is an area that may be holding you back from achieving your goals. An awareness of what’s wrong is the first step toward managing change. If you can’t overcome your fears on your own, seek help from a career counselor or other professional. Don’t wait until you’re totally discouraged before seeking help. 

Work Transition Stress Test

Using the following rating scale, number each item below according to how often it activates negative stress for you: 

1. Never 2. Seldom  3. Sometimes   4. Often  5. Always

____1. I’m uncertain about how to conduct a successful job search, write a new business plan or redesign my current job.
____2. I don’t have an organized, convenient and quiet place to make telephone calls and do
transition-related tasks.
____3. I’m easily distracted by other projects or priorities.
____4. Other people interrupt or distract me when I’m working.
____5. The fear of failure is constantly on my mind.
____6. I’m not interviewing/networking well.
____7. I feel angry and embarrassed about being in transition.
____8. I feel overwhelmed by all that I need to do.
____9. I can’t relax and enjoy my time off.
____10. I have difficulty calling people I don’t know for job/career/business information.
____11. I dread going to professional association/networking/support meetings, so I don’t go.
____12. I’m working hard on completing this transition, but I’m not accomplishing much.
____13. I keep changing my mind about which direction I’m pursuing.
____14. I don’t have enough to do or know what I should do next.
____15. I’m confused about career options and interests.
____16. I can’t find any jobs/businesses that interest me.
____17. I keep thinking that I should have completed this transition by now.
____18. I procrastinate a lot.
____19. I don’t have ongoing support from family, friends, or coworkers.
____20. I don’t feel as energetic as I used to.

—Gail McMeekin, Career Coach

 

Want to Help Cure Your Winter Blues?

We all make changes as the seasons shift from summer to winter—swap out t-shirts for sweaters, air conditioners for space heaters—but sometimes there’s an emotional shift as well. As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, you may withdraw from friends, be unable to get out of bed, and experience depression. If these feelings only creep up during the winter months, you may have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), or what your mother probably called “the winter blues.”

While the cause is unknown, it generally affects individuals who live in areas where there is a notable change in hours of daylight, which can upset your sleeping cycle and alter the levels of serotonin in your brain. And though the symptoms are unpleasant—difficulty concentrating, fatigue, weight gain, and irritability—don’t feel you have to schedule an appointment with your doctor just yet. Many at-home tricks can raise your spirits and bring a smile back to your face before the spring thaw. 

Step into the light. The most commonly prescribed treatment for SAD is light therapy. A light box containing fluorescent lights is kept on your desk at home and turned on while you eat, read, or work at your computer, for anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours a day. This resets your circadian rhythms to control sleeping and waking. Light boxes are available online in various sizes and prices.

Make a date. Although staying in bed might seem like a better use of your time right now, the best way to get out of a winter funk is to stick to a normal social calendar. Plan an intimate dinner date with some close friends—you will most likely enjoy the company. 

Set standards. Seasonal depression can lead to a lack of self-motivation, so give yourself a confidence boost by acknowledging that you achieved a goal, no matter how small. Clean out a cluttered e-mail inbox or organize your shoe rack—you will be proud of your accomplishment. 

Get moving. Engaging in physical activity—especially when you first wake up—can improve energy levels and alleviate symptoms of depression. Aim for at least three hours of moderate to vigorous activity per week, such as running, swimming, walking, or biking. Improving your physical health is an added bonus!

Of course, these tips may not resolve all negative feelings. If you still feel down, or if you continue to experience these symptoms in other seasons as well, be sure to make a visit to your doctor to receive further care. 

–Lindsay Putnam