Fashion Career Expert: Maria Pesin

Mental Health Days

Sometimes the stresses of life can get you down. I am not speaking about depression. I’m talking about feeling tired and overwhelmed. Not sad enough to see a therapist and go on drugs. But sad enough that you can’t easily push it away. These are the times you need a mental health day.

A mental health day is one where you really don’t do anything unless it is spending time on renewing yourself. If that means watching TV all day or going to the spa for massages and facials that is ok. It is not a day spent doing errands. You might even spend the day in bed. These are "give yourself a break days". Trust me everyone needs them every once in a while. But remember the whole point is to do nothing that is a thinking or getting it done kind of task. One warning do not feel guilty!! The whole point is to give yourself a break

The Magic Of Self Discipline - Part III

As I ponder the concept of self discipline I realize how much it effects every area of my life. If I do the things I promise myself to do then I exhibit great self discipline. Then the chance of achieving my goals are greatly enhanced. If I don’t then of course the chances are slim to none that I will ever come close to getting the life I want. So it makes sense that I would stay the course and continue to be focused on my tasks and do what I have to.

In that case why don’t I always follow through. Well for one thing instant gratification is very seductive. Why wait for results which might take weeks, months, or maybe years to see when you can enjoy what you want right now. For example losing weight takes a while but eating a cookie gives you pleasure in the moment. If you knew that not eating the cookie you would lose the weight by tomorrow you wouldn’t eat the cookie. However you know that you have to not eat many cookies and it will probably take months for you to arrive at your goal weight. That is the challenge. Being able to delay immediate gratification with the knowledge that if you do ultimately you will arrive at your goal. Another example is saving for your retirement. Wouldn’t it be more fun to go out to a show and dinner than to put money into your retirement fund. Than again you still want to have some fun now.

So maybe the answer is not to totally delay your enjoyment but to find it now by planning for yourself some of what you want and also to do your saving, dieting, or whatever also. This way you don’t feel deprived, but yet move towards your goal. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You can have your cake and eat it too!! This may also be a key to achieving self discipline.

5 Action Steps for Dealing with Job Stress

Sometimes the stress at work seems too much to bear.  It is coming at you from all sides.  Problems with customers or with product, a coworker is giving you a hard time, or your boss is in a foul mood.  Or maybe all of it is happening at the same time.  All you want to do is go home and sleep, but you can't because the work is piling high and you cannot fit it all in the 9 hours you have.  What do you do?

This has happened to me, many a time.  Chances are throughout your career, it will most definitely happen to you.  That is the nature of life and working.  To deal with these type of situations, you should have coping mechanisms ready and in place.  Maybe listening to music, or doing yoga works for you.  It could be watching T.V. or doing aerobic exercise.  Whatever your coping style is, be ready.  You can implement whenever things get too difficult.  Don't wait until it gets unbearable and you are drinking yourself into alcoholism.  Find something healthy that works for you and use it every time, as soon as you need to.