Monthly Webinar • Tuesday, January 17th

January 2012

Exclusively for Health Advocate Members

Resources and assistance for personal, family and work issues

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Health Advocate EAP+Work/Life Newsletter | Page 1

Creating a More Positive Workplace

The Science of GratitudePracticing an attitude of gratitude appears to have a scientifically measurable positive impact for improving mood and facilitating resolution of a variety of life problems. If you have participated in a 12-step group or know someone who has, have visited with a mental health professional, or have taken advice from a self-help book, it’s likely that you have heard about or practiced the simple principle of “having an attitude of gratitude.”

Those who practice gratitude tend to be more optimistic. And research shows this can contribute to improved health and maybe even longer life. Gratitude is a two-way street in the workplace. It benefits the person expressing gratitude as much as it does the recipient. Social scientists believe this may extend to improving productivity when gratitude is practiced between managers and employees; the payoff is more job satisfaction for both. This may lead to other outcomes such as loyalty, a desire to become more engaged with the organization, reduced absenteeism, and even a healthier bottom line. Source: http://tiny.cc/gratitude-yes

Has your negativity in the workplace become a habit that’s hard to break? Try this age-old technique for creating a new habit. (Devise a different approach to the following technique if you don’t have pockets.) In accordance with your desire to be more positive, place 12 pennies in one pocket. Each day, try to be more agreeable and pleasant. For each positive encounter without negativity, move a penny to the other pants pocket. Your goal is to move all 12 pennies each work day. Within several weeks, a new habit (and new reputation) should follow.

Health Advocate EAP+Work/Life Newsletter | Page 2

EAP+ Work/Life Program

©2012 Health Advocate, Inc.HA-EM-1201001-JAN

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Monthly WebinarTuesday, January 17th12 pm, 2 pm and 4 pm ET

“Financial Fitness: Living Within a Realistic Budget ”Learn to create and live within a realistic budget, set short- and long-term financial goals, track spending and manage debt.

You can register at HealthAdvocate.com/members

• Enter the name of your organization and click “Submit”

• Click “Online Services”

• Scroll to online seminars, choose “Financial Fitness: Living Within a Realistic Budget”

• Select your registration session

• Click “Register” on the “Welcome to e-learning center” page

• Enter your name, other information and submit

*Please note: Webinars are available only in English.

Three Ways to “Declutter” Your Mind Kicking off the new year is a great time to freshen your mind. To sweep out the mental “cobwebs” so you can become better organized, try these simple tips:

• Let it go. Another way to say it: “don’t sweat the small stuff.” Annoying things like a snide remark, dripping faucet, or someone cutting in line, for instance, takes up unnecessary space in your mind, causing unnecessary stress.

• Ease your to-do list. What can you erase that is not absolutely necessary? Saying “no” to certain tasks or meetings, for example, frees up your list to free up your mind.

• Get it out of your head. Write down the thoughts and to-do tasks rather than carrying them around in your head. If it’s on paper, you don’t have to remember. The paper remembers for you.

Spice Up Your To-Do ListIs your to-do list only for mundane tasks? Try adding a “strategic task.”

This is an item related to a big dream for your future—a “strategic goal.” These goals that are 5, 10 or 20 years in the future have powerful psychological effects if you act on them now. Will you someday own a cabin in the mountains? Open a cookie store on Main Street? Travel to distant lands? Add a small step or strategic task to set a future dream in motion now. You will feel energized, improve your attitude, feel more engaged at work, and acquire a feeling of momentum as you feel excitement now.