Posts Tagged ‘self-help’
What your cubicle says about you?
I’m a news junkie. Years living on the road accentuated the habit. Back when CNN was a news channel.
One of my morning habits is reviewing news being covered on TV; then, switching over to my favorite sources on the Web to look deeper into the stories, finding the stories sharp enough to be ignored by the clueless breed that owns the Fifth Estate in the United States.
“My cubicle tells others three things that are of utmost importance to me — faith, family and my small business,” says Carmin Wharton, an educator from Tampa, Florida.
Among the items: family pictures, a floral centerpiece from her daughter’s wedding reception, small spiritual books, file folders for her business and stone-like plaques with single words such as “harmony” and “rejoice…”
“When decorating a cubicle, consider corporate/office culture,” notes Deborah Brown-Volkman of East Moriches, New York, a career coach and author of “How to Feel Great at Work Every Day.”
“You want to be an individual, but you also want to fit in. The goal is to find a blend between the two…”
A tidy space can make workers appear more productive and competent — and oftentimes they do indeed perform better…
Even if you aren’t the kind of worker who has a specific place for every document, giving the appearance that you do could improve your reputation…
The article goes on and on, including examples, anecdotes.
There is no shortage of Americans who only live and work like prairie dogs. Since they’re not in danger of extinction – other than at the hands of the politicians they elect to office – they don’t need or deserve special protection.
I guess that’s who this article is aimed at. But, self-help instruction passed off as “news” is sophistry I resent as much as corporate publicity releases, political handouts and authors with a new book showing up on news shows as experts the day before release of their tome.
The article is crap. CNN distributing it is crap. They get themselves off the hook – they presume – by identifying the source as a business partner of theirs. Doesn’t make it smell better.
Tai Chi may ease Fibromyalgia symptoms (more effectively than stretching exercises)
The ancient Chinese practice of tai chi may be effective as a therapy for fibromyalgia, according to a study published on Thursday in The New England Journal of Medicine.
A clinical trial at Tufts Medical Center found that after 12 weeks of tai chi, patients with fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, did significantly better in measurements of pain, fatigue, physical functioning, sleeplessness and depression than a comparable group given stretching exercises and wellness education. Tai chi patients were also more likely to sustain improvement three months later.
“It’s an impressive finding,” said Dr. Daniel Solomon, chief of clinical research in rheumatology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, who was not involved in the research. “This was a well-done study. It was kind of amazing that the effects seem to carry over.”
Although the study was small, 66 patients, several experts considered it compelling because fibromyalgia is a complex and often-confusing condition, affecting five million Americans, mostly women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since its symptoms can be wide-ranging and can mimic other disorders, and its diagnosis depends largely on patients’ descriptions, not blood tests or biopsies, its cause and treatment have been the subject of debate.
If you suffer from fibromyalgia, take a look at this and tell me if you find it interesting. Thanks.
