Public Spark

1. Make a rubber band ball

   This is a creative way to reduce stress and get rid of all the rubber bands all over the place. It’s a great decoration and also an additional tool to play with. It’s important to have fun at work because after all you spend at least 40 hours/ week of your life at work. That’s 2080 hours per year. Just be careful not to snap your fingers with the rubber bands.

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I spend many hours in front of the computer and in the past noticed my neck cramping up and wrist getting strained. These are some of the beginning signs of ergonomic injuries. They are related to an individual’s interaction with a task, including all physical aspects of performing the work. Here are some other signs to look out for:

Symptoms of non-ergonomic workstations/ work habits:

• back soreness or pain

• wrist pain

• neck pain

• shoulder pain

• arm pain

• headache

• eyestrain

• tingling, numbness in hands and fingers

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Sometimes I want energy, but I don’t want to have to go to a gym or go get energy bars. These are the 4 ways that have worked for me.

1. Walking

   I usually like to walk in the morning for about 15 minutes and also after dinner. I enjoy different paths to disrupt monotony and also stay away from busy streets. Sometimes I feel particularly lazy so it helps to have my walking partners for motivational support. AARP and Medicine Net both have information related to the benefits of walking.

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Fear can be a good thing. Your flight-fright response is activated, your adrenaline is rushing and you are able to pick up quickly on danger. However, sometimes it can be limiting, as it is with flying. When this fear is very real and extremely debilitating, it is referred to as pteromerhanophobia. Indeed, it will take someone afraid of flying longer to get to places or if not impossible to get somewhere. These are 5 things that have worked for me.

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There comes a time in everyone’s life when we make a transition from being a young student into being an employee. This can be one of the most stressful transition periods of your life. During your job search period, you may have rejections, parents and friends adding pressure, having your own pressures, etc. Here are 10 ways to combat those stressors:

1. Balance job search with something fun to reduce stress

   Job searching can be stressful and when you are, it can be difficult to think. Balancing your search times with something fun, can help rejuvenate you and also motivate you.

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1. Prioritizing your workload

   This is a quick lesson for college students when professors give unreasonable amounts of reading, assignments, test. You begin to see that you can skim through certain things, skip classes (in moderation), skip readings, etc. Otherwise, you will drive yourself crazy and not retain much.

2. Balancing life

   Indeed most are paying a lot of money to attend college so of course the focal point is getting an education, but it is equally important to have a balance. It is the experience that helps you to become who you are and be a great candidate for the working world.

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Family and friends are great people to have around. No one will argue with me on that. However, difficulties may arise as in any relationship. Particularly when it comes to “get-togethers” where there are a number of factors involved especially when you are the host. These include a large group, mass chaos, messiness, arguments, kids running around, etc.

Here are some factors that have worked for me:

1. Boundaries

   If you know you can’t deal with kids, be honest about it. Talk to those you invite ahead. Open and honest communication can go along way.

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Whether it be sports, theater, music, public speaking, at one point in everyone’s life, we face “stage fright” or “butterflies in the stomach.” It’s perfectly natural. As a former basketball player and golfer and currently a singer, I still experience that no matter how much my experience is. Just yesterday I had a singing performance at the Marriott Hotel. Every year we have this lunch show recital. I felt extra pressure this year because in addition to my solo performance I sang a duet with my boyfriend, who is a professional musician. We sang the Andrea Bocelli and Christina Aguilera Somos Novios duet. Here are some of the techniques that worked for me to turn the nervous energy into adrenaline.

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This is a sample travel checklist that I use whenever I travel. It helps to reduce travel stress and worry.

• ACCESSORIES
• • Jewelry
  • Purse

• CASUAL ATTIRE
• • Casual shoes
  • Pajamas
  • Shorts
  • Socks
  • Swimming suit
  • Swimming trunk
  • T-shirts
  • Underwear
  • Wind breaker
  • formal attire

• HYGIENE
• • Eyes:
  • • contact lens
    • contact lens solution
    • eyedrops
    • glasses
    • sun glasses
• • Meds:
  • • Benadryl/ Claritin/ allergy
    • First Aid
    • Insect/ Mosquito repellent, Benadryl Anti-Itch Cream
    • Pepto
    • Prescriptions
    • Tylenol
    • Airborne

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1. passport, ID, addresses (international travel)

   Pretty straightforward but easy to forget. Addresses are important went traveling internationally. This is to indicate whether you will be visiting a person’s house or staying in a hotel.

2. airline ticket confirmation, boarding pass (if printed online)

   As with anything, it’s always important to carry a confirmation, just in case there is that slight possibility of a computer glitch and it’s your word against theirs! Better safe than sorry.

3. special equipments

   Getting information about camping, skiing, swimming rentals before going on the trip will allow more time and enjoyment when you are at your travel destination.

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