EAP Newsletter
Helping Hands—January 2012
A publication of District 141 Employee Assistance Program
New Year Resolutions
Each year we have the opportunity to review how we feel about ourselves and the work we do. A review of 2011 is a healthy and appropriate practice as we begin 2012. There are many websites that can help us determine how to make effective resolutions that are realistic. Here are some ideas from MyGoals.com:
1. Create a Plan
Setting a goal without formulating a plan is merely wishful thinking. In order for a resolution to have resolve, it must translate into clear steps that can be put into action. A good plan will tell us: A) What to do next and B) All of the steps required to complete the goal.
2. Create Your Plan IMMEDIATELY
If you're like most people, then you'll have a limited window of opportunity during the first few days of January to harness your motivation. After that, most people forget their resolutions completely. It is important that you begin creating your plan immediately.
3. Write Down Your Resolution and Plan
Many websites can assist in formulating a plan, which you can stick to. However, even if you don't use internet resources, commit your resolution and plan to writing someplace, such as a notebook or journal.
4. Think "Year Round," Not Just New Year's
Nothing big gets accomplished in one day. Resolutions are set in one day, but accomplished with a hundred tiny steps that happen throughout the year. New Year's resolutions should be nothing more than a starting point. You must develop a ritual or habit for revisiting your plan. Websites like MyGoals.com can help by providing email reminders that arrive when it's time to work on a given task.
5. Remain Flexible
Expect that your plan can and will change. Life has a funny way of throwing unexpected things at you, and flexibility is required to complete anything but the simplest goal. Sometimes the goal itself will even change. Most of all, recognize and celebrate partial successes at every step along the way. Just as a resolution isn't accomplished the day it's stated, neither is it accomplished the day you reach your goal. Rather, it's accomplished in many small increments along the way. Acknowledge these incremental successes as they come.
The Art of Being Positive
We all have the ability to be positive - and we all know people that are positive in some very trying circumstances. How do they do it? What makes some people see positive in situations that seem to have only difficult outcomes? It can be easier than you think.
Thinksimplenow.com has some simple ways to turn a bad situation into a more positive one:
Shift Your Thoughts – Be conscious of your thoughts when life isn’t going your way. The moment you see that you are experiencing frustration, agony, sorrow and low self-esteem, shift your thoughts by thinking about something completely unrelated. This breaks negative thought patteerns from going into a downward spiral. What makes humans different from other mammals is the ability to control our thoughts and think for ourselves.
Find the Lesson – There is a lesson to be learned from every situation. No matter how the situation may appear, recognize the lessons waiting to be discovered. Every problem is a learning opportunity.You may have made a mistake, but now you can accept it and continue, knowing that you will make a different decision in the future. Understand this and be appreciative for the experience.
Attitude of Gratitude – You cannot be both angry and grateful at the same time. What are you grateful for? You are alive and breathing! Realize the where there is abundance in your life.
Positive Affirmations & Visualization – Practice seeing yourself in a positive and confident light. Do this whenever you have a few minutes for example: Waiting for a friend, sitting on the bus, riding an elevator).
Self-affirmations (a list of positive statements about yourself and your self image) can help you see yourself in a positive light. Many of us are hard on ourselves because of social conditioning.
Inventory of Memories – Keep an inventory of memories that immediately make you smile. Whenever you are in a negative frame of mind, consciously and deliberately focus on one of these positive memories. Reminiscing about happy moments gives a balanced perspective to your situation. You realize that what appears negative today will change tomorrow. Nothing stays the same.
Stop Criticizing - It can be easy to find what is wrong - try to find what is right. You will help others feel better about the situation.
Winter Weather Health Care
You can prepare for winter weather by paying attention to some of these tips from PRWeb.com: Keep yourself hydrated. It takes a lot of energy to keep warm, and the heat generated to maintain a stable temperature uses up moisture. Drink plenty of water (or water mixed with 50% fruit juice). Your skin needs more hydration in the winter, too.
Dress in layers for thermal protection. You can peel them off as you exercise and your body heats up. You’ll want to keep dry, too—especially your feet--since wetness intensifies the damage cold weather does to your body. You lose most of the heat through the top of your head, wear a hat. Wear good quality socks—and even sock liners--and water proof footwear to keep feet warm and dry as wetness accelerates any “deep freeze” effects.
Don’t forget your face, ears, and eyes. UV protection is important, and good polarized sunglasses will prevent “snow blinding” as the sun glares off snow. Use goggles to prevent wind chill. Because the nose and ears are easily frostbitten, and cold air breathed into lungs is harmful, wear a facemask if you expect to be outside for any length of time or when the temperature drops below 21 degrees Fahrenheit, wear a scarf at all times (which can be wrapped around mouth and nose if necessary). Ear muffs are helpful, and there are a number of low-profile styles that wrap around the back of the head and so can be comfortably worn under hats. Think mittens, not gloves. When the temperature hits 32degrees Fahrenheit or below, your fingers can actually get frost bitten when you wear gloves because fingers are separated and can’t keep each other warm.
Calendar 2012
March 18-23
EAP II
William P. Winpisinger
Education Center
April 1-6
EAP iI
William P. Winpisinger
Education Center
July 15-20
EAP III
Wiliam P. WInpisinger
Education Center
September 17-19
IAM/UAL Joint EAP Training
Los Altos California
November 11-16
EAP I
William P.Winpisinger
Education Center
IAM Peer Employee Assistance Program
The heart and soul of the District 141 Employee Assistance Program is the local lodge EAP peer coordinators. These dedicated men and women volunteer their personal time to assist other union members and their families who are experiencing personal difficulties. EAP coordinators do not make clinical diagnoses or clinical evaluations, However, they are trained to make a basic assessment of your situation and refer you to an appropriate resource for a more detailed evaluation. EAP coordinators will follow up to ensure you have been able to access services that addressed the difficulty you were experiencing.