13 Ways to Cheer Up

13 Ways to Cheer Up

If you’re like most people, you experience moments of feeling down, depressed, or blue. First of all, it’s okay to feel that way. We all do sometimes. Some of us may feel down more often than others, and that’s okay too. If you’re experiences are preventing you from functioning in your home, work, or social life, you may need some extra help. If this is the case, please contact a mental health professional in your area.

If you’re just having a bad day (or week) and need to cheer up, try some of the following. I hope you feel better soon!

1. Make your own CHEER UP book. If you’re experiencing lots of days of feeling down, you might benefit from creating your own “Cheer Up” book. Create a list (like this one) of every activity you can think of that will cheer you up. Type it up, add some pictures, print it out, and have it bound. I created a book like this for my husband, and it has worked out very well. Whenever he’s feeling, he just grabs his book and within a few activities, he’s feeling much better about life.

2. Breathe. Deep breathing is a relaxation technique that releases tension from the body and clears the mind. You tend to breathe shallowly or even hold your breath when you are feeling anxious. Many people do this and are not even aware of it. Shallow breathing limits your oxygen intake and adds further stress to your body, creating a vicious cycle. Breathing exercises can break this cycle.

What to Do:

1. Sit up straight. First exhale completely through your mouth. Place your hands on your stomach, just above your waist. Breathe in slowly through your now, pushing your hands out with your stomach. This ensures that you are breathing deeply. Imagine that you are filling your body with air from the bottom up.

2. Hold your breath to a count of two to five, or whatever you can handle. It is easier to hold your breath if you continue to hold out your stomach. Slowly and steadily breathe out through your mouth, feeling your hands move back in as you slowly contract your stomach, until most of the air is out. Exhalation is a little longer than inhalation.

3. Water. Drink some water. Mmmmm…water. Dehydration can cause a variety of problems, including imbalances in your noggin. So fill up a glass with that clear liquid and take it down. While you’re at it, why don’t you take a multivitamin just for good measure? Don’t stop at that one glass. Be sure to have a few through the rest of the day.

4. Hugs. If a friend or loved one is available, go snag a hug from them. You have to give a hug to get one. Sometimes all we need is a good old fashion hug. A study by University of North Carolina researchers found that hugs increase the “bonding” hormone oxytocin and decrease the risk of heart disease. Touch also releases two feel-good brain chemicals, serotonin and dopamine.

5. Play with a dog. If you don’t have one, go get one! When I say play, I mean really play. Get down on the ground, chase her around, throw her “ball” and have a good old time. You’ll be spreading some love, exercising, and making both you and her feel better.

6. Caffeine. Go get a soda or coffee (iced or hot). Caffeine is a natural mood enhancer. J Not only does it taste good in coffee and soda and make you feel better – it also helps to get out of the house to get some fresh air. For a couple dollars, this is a cheap and pleasurable pick-me-up.

7. Call a friend. Open up that cell phone, and start going down the contact list. If you’re not willing to call them (unless it’s a professional contact), then maybe you should delete them. Family members and friends should be available to support one another. A good old-fashion chat will add a new perspective on life in general, and it might provide some pleasant distraction from whatever is getting you down.

8. Watch a funny movie. If you have the time, slip in one of your favorite comedies or go rent one. And when you get to the funny parts, give yourself permission to laugh and laugh hard. Laughter is very good for you, especially when you don’t think you can.

9. Go for a walk. You know yourself best. Do you feel good around green trees, water, or lots of people? Go for a walk near something that rejuvenates you. Yes, even if you have to drive there. Commit to just 15 minutes, and you’ll be surprised how much you’ll want to keep going after your 15 minutes are up. The fresh air, rejuvenating surroundings, and exercise are all things that are sure to cheer you up.

10. Bath Time. Draw yourself a bath – with candles, music, bubbles, and duckies. Time to spoil yourself! You can soak, relax, and have a little fun while you’re at it. Who says bubble baths are only for kids and ladies??

11. Cheap fun. Go to the dollar store and buy 5 fun items. You have such a variety of options! Decorations, cards, games, stickers, ribbons, bags, books, food, glasses, toys, coloring books, and SO MUCH MORE!! If you can’t spare $5, allow yourself to spare $2 or $3. And pick something fun!

12. Music. Do you enjoy music? Slip in your favorite tunes, turn the volume up, and sing your heart out. Feel the music surround you, and just let the good stuff soak in. Bathe yourself in the songs that makes you feel good.

13. Dance. Along the lines of music – put on some of your favorite up-beat tunes, close the blinds, and dance. If you’re home alone, dance around the whole house. If you think this is stupid, set the timer for 5 minutes. Commit to only 5 minutes, and see how you feel afterwards. If you don’t feel better, stop. If it works, you don’t have to tell anybody.

These are only 13 ways to Cheer Up. Plenty more activities exist. I highly recommend #1!

14 Ways to Survive Graduate School

1. Non-thesis option. Plain and simple, it’s easier. Program that provide this option typically have a higher focus on application rather than research. If you love research, than definitely go with the thesis, but for those that can’t stand it - non-thesis programs do exist.

2. Friends. Make (smart) friends in the program. They’ll come in handy for stress-relief, homework reminders, and they’ll make the graduate school experience fun. Don’t lock yourself up in your house or stay so busy working to pay for school that you forget to kick back and have some fun.

3. Take breaks from the internet. Staying off and avoiding the internet can save you tons of time. It’s the only way I got through the last couple weeks of graduate school recently.

4. Get online more. Perhaps the internet is your social network. If that’s the case, stay connected and ask your friends for motivation and encouragement.

5. Significant Other. There are two schools of thought on this topic. Be single and don’t be single. I prefer the latter. It’s easier to get through something as challenging as graduate school with a partner who will help to keep you sane and steady throughout. I suppose the key is having an amazing partner. The ones who just cause headaches should be left at the curb.

6. Make time for fun. It doesn’t matter what you choose, everyone (graduate student or not) needs some rejuvenation time. Select something that re-energizes you. Depending on your personality-type, that might be going out with friends or staying in with a movie. Extroverts are typically re-energized by socializing with others while introverts are typically re-energized by quiet alone time with maybe one or two special people.

7. Time management. If you can manage your time wisely, you’ll be stress-free a majority of the time while your classmates are busy completing stuff the night before. I personally never quite mastered this one, and I survived ok. But it would have been easier with some more productive time management.

8. Up your deadlines. This relates to time management, but it’s a great way to avoid procrastination. Simply increase your deadline. If you’re the type of person who only needs one or two solid nights to complete big projects, then set an artificial deadline for yourself. And make it very soon - as in a day or two. You’ll end up spending the same amount of time on it, but you’ll be able to actually enjoy your free time without that assignment weighing you down.

9. Physical. It’s time to get physical, physical. Exercise is the first step to physical health and mental health. It will relieve stress, anxiety, tension, insomnia, and so on. Commit to at least 30 minutes each day. If setting aside 30 minutes seems impossible - try 10 minutes in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Be mindful of the changes in your mood and body.

10. Sleep. Getting enough rest will help you stay healthy. The last thing you want to do is get sick during graduate school. On occasional cold, sore throat, or flu is expected - but getting enough rest will help you avoid illness by boosting the strength of your immune system.

11. Counseling. If you never took advantage of the free counseling available during your undergraduate program, now is the time. Even though you are obviously a high-functioning, intelligent, successful, and amazing person - there’s probably at least one thing about yourself you might like to change. And even if you are perfect, counseling can help you get through graduate school by providing a non-judgmental person to be there to talk to or vent as necessary.

12. Make your own list. Do you think there are some better ways for you to survive graduate school? Type up your list, print it out, and hang it by your computer. When you feel like you’re getting stressed out, check out your list.

13. Get to know your professors. Your adviser, professors, instructors, and assistants are going to be the individuals who you will rely on the most. Starting on day one, get to know them - and let them get to know you. These will be the people who will be writing your recommendation letters down the road. The better they know you, the better the letter will be. And if you encounter any hardships during your graduate school experience, they’ll be there to get you through it - and it probably won’t change their thoughts on you. If you’re shy, talk to your counselor about ways to be more outgoing and to relieve the anxiety of talking to your administrators.

14. Push yourself. You will encounter opportunities to do the bare minimum. Don’t be tempted to the dark side. You’re better than that. Push yourself to be as productive as possible. Create your best work each time. At the end of your program, you’ll be happy you did. You’re paying for this - get your money’s worth!

10 Ways to cope with missing a funeral

This entry is inspired by a good friend of mine who recently had to miss a funeral of someone she loved. Unfortunately, there are times when some of us will not make it to the funeral of a loved one. Circumstances such as money, distance, timing, and major events can interfere with the intention to attend. This seems especially true of college and graduate students, who are usually broke, away from home, and often tied into serious obligations (national exams, oral comps, etc).

Many people may think - it doesn’t matter what’s going on, you should go no matter what. Kudos to those folks for making it work. For those who didn’t…

10 Ways to Cope with Missing a Funeral

1. Funerals are designed for the living. Just because you’re missing the funeral doesn’t automatically mean you are disrespecting or dishonoring the dead. Before you use any other methods to cope with your situation, accept this notion. Check out this article on Funerals are for the Living.

2. Have your own private funeral. Just because their body will not be present doesn’t mean you can’t throw your own private funeral for them. If you’re worried about disrespecting them for not attending (see number one), just imagine how flattering it would be to receive multiple funerals when you’re gone. Select a time (or make a time) when you can be alone and uninterrupted. Re-enact the components of a funeral that you think are the most valuable. You can even re-enact the “burying” part by finding or creating a symbol of that person (a letter, story, picture, painting, etc) and burying/burning it. Include other aspects like prayer, and don’t forget the eulogy! You’re up and on the spot!

3. Dedicate. Select one activity you’d like to accomplish and dedicate to them. The activity could be anything, but to make it more special you could choose something they enjoyed (cooking, sports, writing, knitting, etc.). Commit to accomplishing that activity (well) and dedicate it to them. Not only is it a fun way to honor them, it will give you more motivation to succeed. As a bonus, when you’re done be sure to take a picture and frame it - a reminder for yourself to honor them through your life and actions.

4. Create. Creative expression is a cathartic activity to help relieve pain. Ideas: Write a poem, write a story, write a letter, draw a picture, make a painting, make a macaroni man, write a song, play a song, make a mixed CD. Whatever you do, express yourself. Your creative expression can be whatever you want it to be and it can mean whatever you want it to mean. Check out this site about creative grieving.

5. Photographs. If you don’t already have a picture of this person, find someone who does and ask for a copy. Ideally, you would be in the picture with the person but it isn’t necessary. Frame this photo and put it up. This person will always be a part of your life.

6. Pick up the phone. Call or talk to someone who doesn’t know the person who just died. Choose someone who will be a good listener, then let it all out. Why pick someone who doesn’t know the person? They will be able to provide you stable and positive support. Sometimes those experiencing their own grief aren’t always the best ones to lean on.

7. Pick up the phone. Call or talk to someone who knows the person who just died. Share memories, experiences, grief, and pain. Listen to that person and provide as much support as you can. By supporting someone else, you will feel stronger and more connected.

8. Write a letter. Not to the deceased, but to the living. Write a letter to the person who is closest to your loved one. Share your happy memories, how much you will miss the person, and how thankful and grateful you are that they were part of your life. This doesn’t only help you - it will help the one it’s hitting the hardest. Just imagine how wonderful it would be to receive such a letter.

9. Pray. Or meditate, or do whatever you spiritually feel comfortable with doing. You can use prayer to talk to the person who is gone. Talk to them. Out loud. It’s ok. (Although you might want to choose a private time to do so to avoid appearing nuts).

10. Be happy and celebrate. How many times have you heard someone say, “I don’t want people to be crying at my funeral - I want them to celebrate my life!” Maybe you haven’t heard that one, but I have. And how true is it? Yes you are sad. Yes you are grieving. But right now you have an opportunity to celebrate the life of someone you loved. Throw a party in their honor! Eat, drink, and be merry!

How to be Nice to people you Hate

Of course you don’t hate anyone. Hate is such a harsh and ugly word. At least that’s what I’ve heard people say. Personally, I believe honesty trumps liking everyone. So yes, there are individuals I hate. The beauty of reading this blog right now is that you can agree that you hate people, too, without feeling guilty about it or being pressured to lie about it. (Or you can stick to your values and claim to only dislike people).*

10 Ways to be Nice to People you Hate

1. Don’t be. In the ideal world, we would all be nice to one another and treat one another with love, kindness, and respect. Unfortunately, there are some folks out there who may not deserve any of that. If you don’t have to interact with the person you hate, bingo, problem solved. You don’t have to be nice to them. Think as many nasty thoughts about them as you like. However, if you actually interact with people you hate, then it’s going to be a lot harder. The bottom line is that you don’t need to go out of your way to be nice. Just be civil.

2. Ignore them. Don’t speak unless spoken too, and avoid eye contact at all costs. Sure, that tension will indefinitely grow and make others uncomfortable. But sometimes, ignoring a person is the most respectful thing you can do.

3. Avoid them. Is Jack having a party and inviting the guy you can’t stand? Don’t go. Who cares about hurt feelings? Jack will understand. The key to avoidance is accurate anticipation. If you know that person is going to be there, it’s pretty simple to avoid them. You can always show up and avoid them while you’re there. I think we all know how to play the avoidance game.

4. Save it up. Be as civil as you possibly can, maintaining all your problems and frustrations with this person. When you get home, let it out - and move on.

5. Don’t stoop. This person probably knows the exact buttons to push to get you going. Don’t take the bait. Keep telling yourself that you will not let yourself stoop down to their level! Your mother will be proud!

6. Find something deeper. Yes, you hate Andy because he pushes your buttons, but there might be something deeper underlying your negative feelings. Think hard and ask yourself if Andy reminds you of someone from your past. Does he remind you of yourself in some way? Exploring some deeper issues surrounding your negative feelings may lead you to something completely unrelated to Andy. If you find that the person you dislike reminds you of yourself or someone else, find ways to resolve those issues, and you will likely feel those negative feelings towards Andy dissipate.

7. Don’t take it personally. If the reason you are having problems with this individual is because they treat you a certain way or they dislike you, don’t take it personally. Chances are that it has very little to do with you and a lot more to do with them. You have no idea what lead up to this for them, and you have no idea what’s going on in their lives. Maybe Rick just cheated on her and she doesn’t know where to put all that anger - so you’re getting it. You never know, so don’t take it personally.

8. Call a Truce. Is it mutual? If there is an outward struggle between you and another individual, it is usually incredibly clear that you dislike, or perhaps even hate, one another. When a relationship gets to this point and you have (both) tried everything you can think of to work it out, call a truce. Acknowledge to one another that you will never get along and you truly dislike one another. Agree to be ok with that and to be civil to one another. This is especially important if you have mutual friends or work together. Agreeing to hate one another can be surprisingly liberating.

9. WWJD? If this is up your alley, use it. The question, What Would Jesus Do, is really just a way to manipulate you into using your beliefs to do what’s “right.” In this case, the manipulation is positive. If Jesus isn’t for you, try Mother Theresa or Martin Luther King, Jr., or some other amazing person. For me, it’s sometimes my best friend, Mary. What would Mary do? To approach an individual I hate from her perspective automatically makes me nicer. WWNPHD? What would Neil Patrick Harris Do? Neil Patrick Harris is awesome (see How I met your Mother, Harold and Kumar). Acting as he does could save your life and solve all your problems.

10. Compassion. Stop seeing this person for all the reasons you hate them. While you are with them (or even before) mentally lock up all the reasons you hate them. As you start to interact with them, and all those negative feelings start flooding through you, pause, and remind yourself of some things. Try the following compassion exercise that comes from Harry Palmer’s fascinating book, Resurfacing: Techniques for Exploring Consciousness.

1. With your attention on the person, repeat to yourself: “Just like me, this person is seeking some happiness for (his or her) life.”
2. With your attention on the person, repeat to yourself: “Just like me, this person is trying to avoid suffering in (his or her) life.”
3. With your attention on the person, repeat to yourself: “Just like me, this person has known sadness, loneliness, and despair.”
4. With your attention on the person, repeat to yourself: “Just like me, this person is seeking to fill (his or her) needs.”
5. With your attention on the person, repeat to yourself: “Just like me, this person is learning about life.”

Have some better ideas? Leave a comment and I’ll update the list and give you credit!

From Huckleberries Online commenters:

Pray for them. What kind of prayers can you offer up? Give them humility, kindness, strength, healing, or any other positive things. Or maybe you’d like to shoot up a prayer asking for them to spill their lunch all over themselves. Either way, prayer can be a helpful tool.

Get over it and Grow UP! As they say, act your age - not your shoe size.  Life is to precious to be wasting time and energy on people you don’t get along with it.  For those of you aren’t old enough to appreciate the full meaning of this, use the above list to get by.

Put it into perspective. As one commenter noted: “There is so much more going on in the world that matters and is of concern than some petty fight. Darfur. Iraq. A domestic economic crisis. Family. Friends. Spouses. All of these things are more important than not getting along with someone. While some people are busy bickering over what amounts to very little someone else in the world is starving. Someone else is dying. Someone else has a problem that truly matters.”

Want some additional ideas? Check out these blogs:

What does it mean to be civil? 10 rules

Being nice to rude people

A call for compassion

Quads and Compassion

It’s OK NOT to be nice sometimes

*This list is not meant to offer advice on dealing with the kind of hate that leads to hate crimes, racism, bigotry, or the like.

10 Ways get Motivated for Homework

*This article is probably most applicable to college and university students*

Different obstacles exist for individuals who are professional procrastinators or who are simply losing motivation to finish (or start) homework. Here are some ways to overcome some of those obstacles.

1. Turn off the television. It’s pretty hard to get excited about school when you’re favorite (or even not so favorite) television show is enticing you to sit and enjoy a relaxing time. Solution? Turn off the television and set a time to watch the program online the next day. Multiple benefits include: more likely to get some work done, save some electricity, and experience minimal commercials when you watch it online. It’s a win/win situation!

2. Set the timer for online fun. I realize you need to check facebook, myspace, e-mails, and your favorite blogs (like this one). I definitely support that. As you know, though, it’s pretty easy to spend hours upon hours online and not even realize it. Solution? Set the timer on your cell phone for a reasonable amount of time, like 30 minutes. As soon as it goes off, get off that addicting website, and jump into your school work. The sooner your homework gets done, the sooner you can get back online.

3. Long or Short sessions. You know yourself best. Ask yourself: would I rather spend 5 hours Monday to get my work done for the week and 5 hours Thursday night to get my work done for the weekend? OR would I rather spend 2 hours each night (including either a Sunday/Friday night)? The benefit of long sessions is that it gives you stress-free days ahead, but it can be exhausting. The benefit of short sessions is that shorter seems easier, but it might feel more stressful as you’ll probably be finishing only tasks that must be done by the next day.

4. Drink some coffee (or anything with caffeine). I realize caffeine can appear as the evil drug that should be avoided at all costs. Simply put, it’s not. A caffeine boost will give you an extra bit of energy, will sharpen your mind, and will improve your mood. Those are 3 things essential to motivation.

5. Go with a classmate to the library. Having someone else around who is also working will increase your productivity. Why the library? You’ll be less likely to get chatty with the encouraged silence typical of libraries. Make weekly homework dates/meetings and reward yourself afterwards by going to the pub, or to get some (more) coffee, or playing some guitar hero with your buddy.

6. Why should I? Open a word document, and ask yourself only one question: Why should I do my homework right now? List every single possible reason you can muster. Don’t even consider reasons why you shouldn’t. Some examples: pass the class, be better than my slacker classmates, want to graduate, need the points, I might learn something, to prove to the professor I’m super awesome, to appear smart, because I can, I’m paying to be here, want to make a good impression for future recommendations, so I can stop worrying/thinking about it, etc. Make the list exhaustive. Now read over it a few times. This should create some positive energy toward your homework assignments.

7. Call a friend/acquaintance. There are two types of people you can call to get yourself motivated: slacker and achiever. Select a friend you know is financially struggling because they can’t get a decent job. Talking to them will likely motivate you to do your best in school for two reasons: 1) it’d be an insult to that individual to take your opportunity and screw it all away and 2) you don’t want to be in their situation. Another benefit to calling that friend is to offer some support to that individual - you’re not just here for yourself! The second type of friend to call is the over-achieving friend who is likely doing way better than you. These individuals motivate you for a couple reasons. You might think to yourself, if this person can do it, I definitely can. No one likes feeling inferior, so you’re likely to get that little push that says, get your butt in gear or you’re going to be looking up to this person the rest of your life.

8. Try some dorky and positive affirmations. I say dorky because affirmations seem kind of silly. But try it. As you’re sitting there run some incredibly positive thoughts through that stressed out brain of yours, like: I’m amazing, I can do this, I am smart, I am capable, I can pump this out in no time, and then repeat. Like I said, I know it sounds dorky and silly, but just do it for a minute or so as an experiment. You’ll likely be surprised at how much better you feel. And when you feel good and have a positive attitude, motivation is easier to find.

9. Do NOT use fear. I don’t want to include “not-to’s” in my lists, but occasionally I’m going to. Do NOT use fear. Yes, fear can be a great motivator. But using fear too often will only create more anxiety, stress, and negative energy. What do I mean by using fear? Thoughts like this: if I don’t do this, I’ll be totally screwed; I might flunk this class if I don’t do well. Those thoughts might be true, but it’s not healthy! You’ll feel better about doing your work if you surround yourself with positive thoughts and ideas about it.

10. Choose, don’t try. This item will probably appear in many lists. Do not try to get your homework done. Try automatically implies failure. You don’t try. You either do or you don’t. You either choose to complete your homework or you choose not to. When it comes to motivation, you can either choose to be a lazy bum or choose to be a motivated and kick-ass student. It’s your choice!

Have some additional ideas/thoughts you think could add to this list? Leave a comment!

Looking for some more help on ways to get motivated for homework? Check out the following links:

Ehow

The Life of Alien

Tips on Homework

wikiHow

14 Reasons to go to Work

For those of us who are tired of working, it can be difficult to find the motivation to get to work. Some days, it may feel impossible. Why not just stay in bed all day? Why not call in sick…again? (For those of you who love your job and jump out of bed with excitement each morning, select a different topic).

Other than the obvious reason to go to work (earn money to pay the bills), why should you go to work?

14 Reasons to go to WORK

1. Social Contact. Work, no matter how tedious and dreadful it can be is a way to connect with people. Sure, sometimes those people piss you off, but social connectedness is an important factor to overall health and happiness. And if you can drop the bad attitude for a little while, you may find some coworkers you actually enjoy.

2. Work Experience. When searching for a new job, work experience plays an important role in getting hired. An employer won’t be impressed when they see an applicant who hasn’t been able to stay at a job for longer than 6 months. A good rule of thumb is to stick out, at a minimum, for a year. Any less than that, and the work experience likely won’t even be considered.

3. Mind Exploration. This one only applies if you have a fairly monotonous job. Rather than just staring blankly at the screen, files, machine, or people (whatever you monotonously work with), start spinning that brain to benefit you. Make plans, think of book ideas, see how much of a movie you can recall, or do anything that allows you to stretch your brain a little. Sometimes I fantasize about taking on my greatest enemy and kicking his butt - it relieves a lot of stress and puts a smile on my face.

4. Avoid Getting Canned. This relates to the “work experience” notion. If you get canned, you can kiss that work experience goodbye. You may end up eliminating it completely from your resume, and if you do that (which supposedly isn’t encouraged) you have to come up with a way to explain the “jobless” period of time (which gets really tricky if it’s 3 or more years). If you choose to include that job on your resume, you will not only lose a good reference/recommendation, you will likely get a bad one. Going to work today isn’t just about today; it’s about that next job that’s going to be way better than this one.

5. Use it to your Advantage. If you hate your job, a good reason to go work is to use it to your advantage. I don’t care where you work, there is always a way to get some personal gain from your job. If you work at a desk or on a computer, maybe you sneak in some time to job hunt, write personal e-mails, or play games (just don’t get caught). If you work filing all day, maybe you use some of that time to sneak in some office exercises (calf raises, squats, etc). If you’re a teacher, find some ways to use your students to do work for you. No matter what position you’re in, find a way to use that time to your advantage, and you will find a reason to go to work.

6. Keep Your Benefits. If you get benefits (count yourself lucky), you definitely don’t want to lose them before you have something lined up. Sure, health insurance doesn’t seem that important right now while you’re sitting there hating your job - but if you eat a poisonous batch of generic Oreos while watching Tyra Banks, you’re going to wish you had that health insurance!

7. Think of Ways to Stick it to your Boss. You have to go to work. You just do. Not forever, though. And while you’re hanging out thinking about all the reasons NOT to go to work, you might as well go to work and use the time to think of all the ways you can stick it your boss. Maybe you’ll do it, maybe you won’t. But thinking about the ways you actually have some power and control will make you happy.

8. Ridiculous Co-Workers. Unless you work alone, you are sure to have some fairly stupid and ridiculous co-workers. (If you don’t, ummm, it might be you.) If you don’t go to work, you might miss out on something hilarious from that completely incompetent co-worker (or boss). What if they start the break-room on fire and your co-worker earns the name of Fire Boy for the rest of his employment? Do you really want to miss the event that started it all?

9. Important Notices. Notice: No work on Friday. Notice: Thursday is Red Shirt Day. Notice: $100 bonus for bringing your dog to work. Whatever the notice or announcement, you do not want to miss it! It could be something incredibly important or profitable! The last thing you want when you already hate your job is to show up on jeans day wearing your 3-piece suit.

10. The Watercooler. Where else are you going to find someone to discuss all the important events of Lost or The Office? Jimbo knows his stuff, and plus, it’s a good way to get out of work for a few minutes.

11. Lost and Found. You can always be like Creed from The Office and use the Lost and Found as your own shopping mall. You might get new coats, scarves, gloves, or even an iPod (just remember not to wear or use at work). So now you have a reason to go to work, and a mission when you get there: locate the Lost and Found, then raid it.

12. To Find a new Job. Everyone knows it’s not what you know but who you know. Maybe one of your co-workers has a friend who has a cousin who’s married to the sister of the guy who owns the company of your dreams. Only one way to find out - go to work! The key to this is developing a positive relationship with your co-workers, and then putting feelers out to see what (who) they know.

13. Permanently “borrow” Stuff. Nobody wants to admit it and employers hate it, but the fact remains that employees swipe stuff from work. Hopefully we’re not talking cash or hardcore amounts of stuff. What I’m talking about here (and clearly not condoning!) are small things like sticky-notes, pens, paper, etc. Maybe you need to print something (preferably not that 500-page e-book), you might as well use the company paper and ink.

14. It’ll Give you “Character” when you obtain World Dominance. Did you know that Phil used to work at…? It’ll make you look way cooler than if you just magically jumped to World Dominance. And we all know that World Dominance is the ultimate goal of all.

Reasons to Read this Blog

Reasons to Read this Blog (Happy Lists)

1. You aren’t perfect. Who? You? I admit you are probably nearly perfect since you are brilliant enough to be checking out this blog. But for that final little bit to help you get where you want to be, this blog will help you make some positive changes in your life.

2. Fun, quick, and convenient. If you’re like me, you may be a product of our fast-paced and low-attention-span culture. I don’t hold that against you. I’ve designed this blog to meet your needs in a fun, quick, and convenient way.

3. You have a “friend” who could use some help. Check it out. Does a certain post make you think of a certain friend? Send it to them!

4. Waste time without truly wasting it. If you use the internet to “waste” time, this is the perfect blog for you. Be entertained and have fun while simultaneously getting something positive out of the experience.

5. Psychobabble is confusing and this blog is not. Sometimes blogs that address personal development contain too much psychobabble. Skip the psychobabble and get to the useful meat of the topic.

6. Ideas. You’re looking for ideas for yourself, friends, siblings, parents, children, co-workers, or strangers.

7. I need you. My goal is to make this world, and your life, better. I can’t do that without you.

8. Experience. I have experience, and you may relate to that experience or want to tap into it.

9. Doesn’t look down on you. This blog won’t necessarily teach you (at the end of the day, YOU are the expert of your own life), and you’ll get to learn along with me.

10. Genuine and Sincere. I know who I am and I don’t try to be someone else. What does that mean? I vow to always be genuine and sincere. Always.

11. Interested in you. I’m interested in you and I’m hoping you can help me make this blog as awesome as possible. Is there a topic you’re interested in? Do you have a tricky personal situation you want some ideas on? You can ask me.

12. You’re smart. I know you’re smart, and I will always treat you with the respect you deserve.

13. It’s safe. If you want to comment, I will make sure there are no playground bullies around to ruin your experience.

14. Original. Everything I write will be original. Some personal development blogs just regurgitate stuff that’s already out there. Everything you get will be 100% me, and if I use research to provide information, I’ll let you know where you can go to checkout the original source.

15. Human. I’m not sure if you realized this yet, but I’m human! This isn’t a stale source of information. It’s me. You’ll get a sense of me, and hopefully I can provide fantastic lists with a little entertainment along the way.

16. Awesome. I’m awesome and so is this blog.