25
Stuck at Work
Compared with the rest of the world, Americans don't get much time off--a mere 13 days
on average. Take a few long weekends and a
week to go to the beach, and you're out of
time.
Compare that with Italy, where, on average,
employees get 42 vacation days. In France,
employees get an average 37 glorious days,
while the Brits enjoy an average 28, according
to a 2007 study by the World Tourism Organization.
Before you pack your bags and move abroad,
there are ways to enjoy the summer sun--and
make it feel like you're on vacation--even
when stuck in your dark cubicle.
If you must go into the office, why not enjoy
the cool summer mornings and evenings by
biking there? 'When it's beautiful outside you
get to enjoy the weather on the way to and
from work on a day when you have to be
stuck inside,' says Tim Grahl, owner and operator of commutebybike.com. 'It's something
to look forward to.' (Not to mention biking's
other benefits: Riders get two cardio workouts
daily and save money on gas.)
The idea of biking to work--especially if it involves busy roads--can be intimidating. But
there are ways around that. First, figure out
which back roads to take into the office.
Google Maps has a function that allows
users to reroute their trip to local roads.
From there, find a buddy to bike with.
Having someone behind or in front of
you is nice support, especially someone
who has biked to work before.
And before you invest hundreds of dollars in a shiny, new bike, use an old or
borrowed one. Just get it tuned up at the
local bike shop.
If you're worried about having that not-sofresh-feeling, drive your work clothes, deodorant and other toiletries into the office at the
beginning of the week. Just leave some extra
time to wash up and change before getting to
your desk. Another option: Bring baby wipes.
If biking into the office isn't your thing, try
working from home a few days a week. Sure,
you still have to get the work done, but isn't
working in your sunny backyard on a lounge
chair more appealing than sitting in the office?
'It changes up the mood and contributes to
decreasing stress,' says Tom Musback, managing editor of Yahoo! Hot Jobs.
Many offices are willing to let employees take
a four-day week if they put in extra hours. If
this isn't already a company policy, ask your
How to bring your family closer
come back and state how you
feel.
Yelling at children is rarely effective. Children usually fail to understand
when you yell, either out of fear, or simply
because angry parents are not usually very
skilled in using words. Often they are so angry
that they can not choose age-appropriate
words. They end up not making sense to the
child. If you are angry about your child‟s behavior, which will often happen, refrain from
reacting. Tell your child that you are angry
and can not talk right now. Take time to calm
down, think and then act. This way you are
making sure you are fair and reasonable. By
doing this, you are also teaching your child
how to manage anger.
1. Express your love.
In a strong family, the members love each
other unconditionally. Feeling loved gives
every member confidence and a higher sense
of self-esteem, and this makes the family
stronger as a unit. Children need food to
grow, but they need love to blossom. They
need unconditional love. Do not tell your child,
„If you eat your food I will love you‟ or „I will not
love you if you hit your bro \