How Parents Influence Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is one of the foremost causes of emotional dysfunction within a family. It is nearly impossible for a child to be reared in an environment of addiction or substance abuse and not suffer from the effects. Substance abuse creates instability, inconsistency, chaos, and abuse in a family, regardless of which family member is abusing the substance.

Parents who abuse substances have a significant influence on whether their children will use substances. Children have a tendency to generalize behaviors. For example, if a parent smokes cigarettes, children, usually adolescents, generalize that behavior to believe that smoking marijuana is also acceptable. They may also generalize the behaviors to the smoking of any substance, including cocaine and heroin.

The children of parents who drink alcohol often generalize that behavior to the use of cocaine and marijuana. Parents may excuse their own substance use with excuses like they are old enough, or they are using a legal substance. Adolescents often do not buy into those excuses, and they rationalize in their minds that their own substance use is justified. I have had countless cases of adolescents who were admitted to the hospital for making suicidal statements after an argument with one or both parents about the child’s marijuana usage just to learn that at least one of the parents had been smoking marijuana at home in front of the children. The overwhelming excuse was that the parent had a marijuana card. Adolescent children are much more sophisticated than that and will not buy into such an excuse. This is the same with expecting a child to wait until he is eighteen years old to start smoking cigarettes or twenty-one years old to start consuming alcohol when the parents are using these.

It is difficult for a parent to keep his child from a behavior in which the parent engages, regardless of the age of the child or the frequency of the behavior. A parent does not need to be an alcoholic to imprint the use of alcohol on his teenage child. The rule of thumb on these types of issues is if a father does not want his child to engage in a behavior, then the father should not engage in the behavior himself.

When a father abuses substance(s) (including prescribed drugs), the amount of damage he does to his family can be long lasting and far reaching. The type of abuse that often accompanies substance use is physical, verbal, neglect, or a combination of the three. Even in cases where the parent is a “functioning addict” (including alcohol, drugs, or other addictions), whereby the father seems to the outside world to function normally, the home-life is generally very chaotic and abusive by naturE

Statistics indicate that 75% of domestic violence is from a person who abuses alcohol or drugs. This violence in the home, whether specifically directed at a child as well or not, is extremely damaging to the children who witness spousal abuse by their fathers. Male children who witness domestic violence are seven times more likely to abuse their own wives. They are also six times more likely to sexually abuse their own children than fathers who were brought up in a home without domestic violence. An example of the functioning addict is a case where the father goes to work every day, pays the bills, and does everything he is supposed to do in order to maintain his job and income. Then he comes home from work, sits in front of the television, and drinks beer until he becomes intoxicated. In this example, the father is not physically or verbally abusive; he merely drinks himself into a coma every night. However, his wife and children live in the home, and this father is there physically but is not emotionally available to his family. This would be a case of a father who neglects his children, which can be as damaging as physical and verbal abuse.

The above example is from real life, and this man’s wife and children were very angry. In fact the fifteen-year-old son was finally hospitalized because he could no longer accept his father’s neglectful behavior. The father could not see that his drinking was a problem; after all, he did everything he thought a husband/father was supposed to do. He worked, and did a very good job of providing the necessities for his family.

The issue in this case is that the father, who has significant influence, was sitting in the living room watching television every night, as well as all weekend, and the children could not access him. His wife was ready to leave him, and his son was homicidal and hospitalized for wanting to kill his father.

This may seem like an extreme reaction from the child. However, living with a father who remained unavailable and uninvolved while his family was in a state of dysfunction finally became too much for the son. The boy’s mother tried her best to be both parents while the father sat and watched television while drinking, avoiding any interaction at all with the family. The father’s response was, “She’s the one who wanted the children”. He saw no problem with his behavior.

Parents who abuse substances have a significant influence on whether their children will use substances.

In this particular case, the family had to accept the fact that the father was not going to change. They also could not allow the failure of their father to become a failure for themselves. The children had to make the conscious choice to understand that they needed to take responsibility for their own lives, without any positive input from their father, and get on with life. This would include doing well in school, obeying the rules, getting a job when they were old enough, and not following the example of their father, which was to start drinking, or using any substance at all.

By Dr. George Cave(Recovery Rehabs)

Why You’re Not Supposed to Know What You Want to Do When You’re in Your 20s

People my age seem to be having a reactionary moment: We’re telling young people, “Just pick something and stick with it.” What? This is the wrong advice. I say, have courage to start and finish many chapters.

There’s so much emphasis on putting people in boxes and getting it right the first time. But when I was starting out, I never once thought, “Well, if you do this, you’re stuck for life.” I happened to have lucked into the software industry, where it wasn’t that uncommon to work somewhere for two or three years and then move on. But I know that attitude isn’t common in other industries.

After studying electrical engineering and computer science at MIT, I started a career in programming. After a short time, I realized I was more interested in business and moved over to the business side of tech. Since then I have had many roles: Customer service, engineering, sales, marketing, operations and product management. I’ve worked in different companies large and small. I’ve done it all! And I think it makes me a better manager because I understand how every piece of the company works.

The core skills I took away from my education have stuck with me throughout my life. I don’t program every day; heck, I haven’t programmed anything in years. But my engineering training taught me how to solve problems. It doesn’t matter if the problem is why my washing machine is broken or how the Electoral College is broken—I use that skill 27 times an hour as a businesswoman. And even though I don’t program anymore, I can have pretty intelligent conversations with my programmers and I understand their work.

My time trying (and finishing) lots of different chapters and jobs has helped me determine my strengths. I’ve learned as a founding CEO for several companies that I’m not the idea person. I’m not the person who starts on a blank piece of paper. But give me a subject line, and I will fill out that page for you. And it’s OK that I’m not good at everything. No one can be amazing at every skill. That’s why you build a team—or find a team—that’s good at the things you are not. Plus, you can learn from those people who have skills that you lack.

Life is actually pretty long. You should try new things in different industries, business sizes, locations, what have you—and don’t worry because you will eventually find something you want to stick with. In the meantime, all of those different experiences will help you learn more along the way.

Stefania Mallett is the CEO of ezCater.

The Untold Story of the Enslaved Black Man Who Taught Jack Daniel How to Make Whiskey

Celebrating its 150th anniversary, the Jack Daniel’s whiskey brand is opting to share a part of its history that has never been told before.

Up until now, the company’s history has been centered on the notion that revered founder Jack Daniel learned to distill his now famous whiskey from a minister named Dan Call. Tour guides at the company’s Lynchburg, Tennessee distillery are now telling a different story; Daniel was actually taught to distill by Nearis Green — an enslaved Black man owned by Call.

In an undated photograph, Jack Daniel, center white hat, and to the left, a man who could be a son of Nearis Green, who taught Daniel how to make whiskey. Photo by Handout/New York Times

According to The New York Times, this version of Jack Daniel’s history has never been a secret, but it is one that the company has only recently begun to embrace through tours of its facility, marketing campaigns and social media.

“It’s taken something like the anniversary for us to start to talk about ourselves,” said Jack Daniel’s in-house historian Nelson Eddy.

Green’s crucial role in the Jack Daniel’s whiskey-making process was referenced in the 1967 biography, “Jack Daniel’s Legacy,” by Ben A. Green. In the book, Call reportedly tells his slave (Green) to teach Daniel everything he knows.

“Uncle Nearest is the best whiskey maker that I know of,” the book quotes Call saying.

The art of whiskey making has long been deemed a “lily-white affair,” but the South’s dark history of slavery and whiskey are totally intertwined. Enslaved men made up the bulk of the distilling work force and often had crucial skilled roles in the whiskey-making process, The New York Times reports.

Enslaved Black Americans had their own traditions of alcohol production, too, traditions that traced all the way back to West Africa.

Many see Jack Daniel’s decision to reveal its ties to slavery as a move to appeal to younger drinkers who are more socially aware of America’s hidden racial politics. Others see it as a genius marketing tactic.

“When you look at the history of Jack Daniel’s, it’s gotten glossier over the years,” said Peter Krass, author of “Blood and Whiskey: The Life and Times of Jack Daniel.” “In the 1980s, they aimed at yuppies. I could see them taking it to the next level, to millennials, who dig social justice issues.”

The company said it is simply trying to set the record straight.

A year after slavery ended with the ratification of the 13th Amendment, Daniel opened his own distillery and employed two of Green’s sons, The New York Times reports. However, as corporate history-keeping was an uncommon practice at the time, the crucial roles and contributions of Green and his sons eventually slipped into the background.

“I don’t think it was ever a conscious decision” to leave the Greens out of the company’s story, said Phil Epps, the global brand director for Jack Daniel’s at Brown-Forman.

According to the news publication, Jack Daniel’s decided to share Green’s contributions after years of researching the company’s various origin stories. Green’s vital role at the company was one that couldn’t be ignored.

“As we dug into it, we realized it was something that we could be proud of,” Epps said.

Jack Daniel’s is taking things slow for now, remaining aware that the story of an enslaved American making whiskey might not be a huge selling point for its customers.

“The Green story is an optional part of the distillery tour, left to the tour guide’s discretion, and the company is still considering whether it will flesh out the story in new displays at its visitors center,” The New York Times stated.

source :NEW YORK TIMES

Professor who donates sperm in city bathrooms has sired 22 kids

On a busy night last week at the Target on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, Ari Nagel, 40, emerged from the men’s bathroom looking a little flushed and quite pleased with himself.

“It’s better when it’s fresh,” he told them.

“It” is Nagel’s semen, and it’s in demand. The 6-foot-2 CUNY Kingsborough math professor has served as a sperm donor for dozens of locals, siring 22 kids over the past 12 years with 18 women of various backgrounds.

For lesbian couples and single ladies looking to have a baby without the expense of going through a sperm bank (which can run in the thousands of dollars), he’s the No. 1 dad.

“This isn’t time-consuming, and I’m doing it anyway,” he says of his hand-on hobby. “It’s very easy for me to do.”

His oldest child, now 12, was conceived with a woman he was in a committed relationship with, but all of his offspring since, he says, have resulted from his donations.

About half the time, he provides his seed the old-fashioned way. Sometimes, a lesbian looking to conceive will have her partner in the bed for moral support while she and Nagel engage in intercourse.

“She’s never slept with a guy before, so the partner’s in bed, holding her hand,” Nagel explains. “Sometimes, it could be a little painful, then after a few times, they’re comfortable to do it on their own.”

Other times, he supplies his goods in a cup, which he prefers.

Modal Trigger

“I’m not doing it for easy action,” Nagel says. “Isn’t that what Tinder is for?”

He often uses public bathrooms, like those at Target and at Starbucks shops, to procure his samples and hand them off to ovulating women.

“You don’t want to do it in one where people are knocking,” he notes.

He will also offer his services in his home near Downtown Brooklyn, but mama wannabes are often more comfortable meeting in public.

Once a location is chosen, Nagel will go into the bathroom, pleasure himself while watching porn on his iPhone — “You can’t connect to Target Wi-Fi if you’re connecting to a porn site, so I use my cell service,” he says — and ejaculate into an Instead Softcup, a type of menstrual cup.

He then delivers the specimen to the woman, who goes into the ladies’ restroom and inserts it into her cervix.

“I can keep it in for 12 hours,” says Dege, a 40-year-old lesbian from The Bronx who was one of the women meeting Nagel at the Target last week.

Dege, who declined to give her last name, had tried a few times before using Nagel’s sperm, but hadn’t yet conceived.

Modal Trigger

A semen-filled cervical cup can be worn internally for up to 12 hours.Photo: Annie Wermiel

This time might do the trick. The prolific professor is often successful, which he attributes to a high sperm count: 85 million per milliliter.

“It’s off the charts,” he boasts. “The clinic said they’ve never seen anything like it.”

(The Mayo Clinic says normal sperm density ranges from 15 million to greater than 200 million sperm per milliliter.)

Nagel made his first foray into professional baby-making eight years ago with a friend — a single, straight Jewish woman in her late 30s and living on the Upper West Side.

“I actually tried to fix her up. I had a friend who I thought would be a better match as a sperm donor,” he says. “He got cold feet at the last minute.”

So Nagel went with the woman to the fertility clinic.

Then he helped out two lesbians seeking a donor on Craigslist. Other women have heard about him through friends and Known Donor Registry, a free Web site for those looking for sperm donors.

‘I’m not doing it for easy action. Isn’t that what Tinder is for? … I just love seeing how happy the moms and kids are. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.’

 - Ari Nagel

Women who have used Nagel’s services — which he provides for free — say his good looks, personality and high sperm count are a draw.

“He’s a lot of fun to be around, he loves people, he’s outgoing, and he’s gorgeous,” says Tiffany Harrison, 41, of New Jersey, who with her wife, Yvonne, has a toddler daughter, Zoe, sired by Nagel.

As for his own motivations, the big daddy insists he just likes spreading his seed.

“I just love seeing how happy the moms and kids are . . . That’s why I do this,” he says. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

And Nagel, who grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family with six siblings, says he gets the benefits of having a large brood without the hassle.

“I feel like [I’m] getting all the joy, but also getting a good night’s rest,” he says.

Nagel has a Facebook album of photos of his kids and regularly baby-sits and attends birthday parties and graduations. He has even been present for a handful of deliveries.

“Single women prefer me to their mom,” he claims.

Nagel says his name appears on the birth certificate for just under half of his offspring. Some take his surname, and there’s even an Ari Jr. and two Arias. A few families have used him multiple times.

“A lot of them want another sibling for the [first] child,” he says.

Modal Trigger

Nagel with client Kanisha Butler and Aarore, the daughter he helped conceive.Photo: Kanisha Butler

And Nagel’s seed-sowing isn’t a drain on his love life. He doesn’t make a point of mentioning it on dates, but when it comes up, ladies typically don’t mind.

Modal Trigger

Nagel with satisfied customer Shaniece Cromer of The Bronx and her 11-month-old daughter, Taraj.Photo: Shaniece Cromer

“Never underestimate the desperation of a single woman on the Upper West Side,” he says.

But it’s not all sunshine and babies.

The first five women he worked with successfully sued him for child support, and nearly half of his paycheck is garnished for his offspring.

“I don’t know what’s more surprising: that five sued or that 17 didn’t,” Nagel says. “They were all well aware there was no financial obligation on my part. They all promise in advance they won’t sue.”

Crystal, a Connecticut woman who has two sons, 6 and 7, by Nagel, says she wasn’t aware of any such arrangement.

The 45-year-old mom, who took Nagel to court for child support, says that she was expecting to co-parent with him and that she didn’t know of his plans to father an entire baseball team.

“My kids got left in the dust,” says the woman, who conceived both boys through intercourse. “You can’t co-parent with 20-something kids.”

(The other four who sued could not be reached or had no comment.)

Modal Trigger

Tiffany Harrison of New Jersey holds her daughter Zoe — sired by Nagel — joined by wife, Yvonne.Photo: Stephen Yang

The big daddy says that the angry moms are just hungry for money and that there was no misunderstanding.

“I think they went in with the intention to sue,” he claims.

Still, he hasn’t bothered taking preventative legal measures, because such agreements are rarely binding.

Less-contentious baby-mama drama can begin well before a kid is born.

“Two women can be surging [highly fertile] the same day,” he says. “I have to make a decision. Do I go with the 45-year-old because she’s running out of time and every month makes a difference? Or do I go with the 30-year-old who says, ‘Am I chopped liver?’ ”

And it continues as the kids grow.

“Some of the mothers, they have attitudes,” says Shaniece Cromer, a Bronx single mom to an 11-month-old girl, Taraji, whom she conceived with Nagel via in-vitro fertilization. “The jealous moms feel like their kids don’t get enough time with him.”

Nagel’s progeny isn’t limited to the tri-state area. He has kids in Florida, Illinois, Virginia, Connecticut and Israel. Some he sees once a week, some he sees once a year, some he’s never met.

Despite the court cases and child-support payments, Nagel says he has no regrets. He’s open to more kids and says he’s in talks with several women looking to conceive, although he admits he’s getting a bit old for the job.

“Financially, it’s bankrupted me, but I’m still very happy with the way things turned out,” he says. “I got 22 million in the bank — in my kids.”

Modal Trigger

source :-New York Post

Anger Management for Young Children

Managing anger

The goal of anger management is to reduce negative feelings. This can help reduce the negative physiological changes caused by anger. Like other emotions, anger can cause physiological changes such as a rise in blood pressure, and an increase in your energy hormones like adrenaline.

There are three main ways your child can deal with angry feelings:

• expressing anger
• suppressing anger                                         
• calming anger
• 
  

Expressing anger, understanding emotions

The more a child expresses anger, the less likely he will have an angry outburst. Expressing anger requires him to communicate. He needs to be able to start sentences with phrases like, “I’m mad because…” or “I’m feeling angry because…”. Children need to express what their needs are. They need to express how their needs can be met without hurting others. Parents can help their children understand their emotions by asking them how they are feeling when they are calm and happy. Then can ask how their children feel when they are mad. It may also help to point out other people’s emotions or feelings, such as “that man on TV looks angry.”

Suppressing anger: accept and redirect

Anger can be suppressed and converted into another emotion. This can occur if your child focuses on something else that is positive. This is a good technique for older children or teenagers.

The technique here is to help your child recognize his anger, and then convert the anger into something positive and constructive. You could ask your young child to draw pictures how he is feeling. An older child may write a note. He may confront whatever is causing the anger by offering an alternative solution to the problem.

There is a danger to this technique. If your child does not convert the anger, the unexpressed anger can harm his health. Unexpressed anger may cause high blood pressure or depression.

You should not be so afraid of suppressing your child’s anger that you begin to allow unacceptable behaviours. Children who are ‘rewarded’ for temper tantrums will continue to have them. Unacceptable outbursts should calmly be met with natural and logical consequences. For example, if they break a toy in a fit of rage, that toy should not be replaced. If they break a family members’ object, they should pay for it through their allowance or by doing additional chores.

Calming down, taking time out

Every child needs to learn how to calm their emotions. This helps them to control their outward behaviour. Helpful exercises include:

• taking deep breaths
• walking outdoors
• spending time alone
• doing yoga, martial arts, or other forms of exercise
• 
  

When to seek medical assistance

If you believe your child’s anger is really out of control and affecting how he interacts with his family and friends, see the doctor. Your family doctor can refer you to a psychologist, or other licensed mental health professional. They can work with your child and the family. They can help develop ways to change your child’s thinking and responses. This can help improve his behaviour.

How you can help your child

Here are some tips you can share with your child. They can help your child control his angry feelings:

Take a “time out”

Go into another room. Have him take a break from the situation that is making him angry. Let the emotions subside.

Learn how to communicate angry feelings

Once your child is calm, encourage him to express his frustration in a non-confrontational way. For example, have your child complete the sentence: “I’m feeling angry because…”.

Practice relaxation techniques

Some children respond well to discipline classes. These include karate or other types of martial arts. Other children respond to classes that encourage relaxation such as yoga and meditation. They focus on breathing and stretching.

Key points

• Anger is a normal emotion. Uncontrolled anger can lead to aggression.
• Anger management can help a child learn better ways to cope with angry feelings.
• A psychologist can help develop ways to change your child’s thinking and responses.
• Encourage your child to express his anger through talking or help him convert his anger to other emotions.
• Some children respond well to karate or other types of martial arts. Others respond to yoga and relaxation classes.

Anger Management Ways Tame your Temper

   

Keeping your temper in check can be challenging. Use simple anger management tips — from taking a timeout to using "I" statements — to stay in control

Do you fume when someone cuts you off in traffic? Does your blood pressure rocket when your child refuses to cooperate? Anger is a normal and even healthy emotion — but it's important to deal with it in a positive way. Uncontrolled anger can take a toll on both your health and your relationships.

Ready to get your anger under control? Start by considering these 10 anger management tips.

1. Think before you speak

In the heat of the moment, it's easy to say something you'll later regret. Take a few moments to collect your thoughts before saying anything — and allow others involved in the situation to do the same.

2. Once you're calm, express your anger

As soon as you're thinking clearly, express your frustration in an assertive but nonconfrontational way. State your concerns and needs clearly and directly, without hurting others or trying to control them.

3. Get some exercise

Physical activity can help reduce stress that can cause you to become angry. If you feel your anger escalating, go for a brisk walk or run, or spend some time doing other enjoyable physical activities.

4. Take a timeout

Timeouts aren't just for kids. Give yourself short breaks during times of the day that tend to be stressful. A few moments of quiet time might help you feel better prepared to handle what's ahead without getting irritated or angry.

5. Identify possible solutions

Instead of focusing on what made you mad, work on resolving the issue at hand. Does your child's messy room drive you crazy? Close the door. Is your partner late for dinner every night? Schedule meals later in the evening — or agree to eat on your own a few times a week. Remind yourself that anger won't fix anything and might only make it worse.

6. Stick with 'I' statements

To avoid criticizing or placing blame — which might only increase tension — use "I" statements to describe the problem. Be respectful and specific. For example, say, "I'm upset that you left the table without offering to help with the dishes," instead of, "You never do any housework."

7. Don't hold a grudge

Forgiveness is a powerful tool. If you allow anger and other negative feelings to crowd out positive feelings, you might find yourself swallowed up by your own bitterness or sense of injustice. But if you can forgive someone who angered you, you might both learn from the situation. It's unrealistic to expect everyone to behave exactly as you want at all times.

8. Use humor to release tension

Lightening up can help diffuse tension. Use humor to help you face what's making you angry and, possibly, any unrealistic expectations you have for how things should go. Avoid sarcasm, though — it can hurt feelings and make things worse.

9. Practice relaxation skills

When your temper flares, put relaxation skills to work. Practice deep-breathing exercises, imagine a relaxing scene, or repeat a calming word or phrase, such as, "Take it easy." You might also listen to music, write in a journal or do a few yoga poses — whatever it takes to encourage relaxation.

10. Know when to seek help

Learning to control anger is a challenge for everyone at times. Consider seeking help for anger issues if your anger seems out of control, causes you to do things you regret or hurts those around you.

source :mayoclinic

7 ways employers can reduce stress in the workplace

Stress is overwhelmingly prevalent in modern society. Sleep depravation, poor health, relationship woes and financial concerns can all take their toll, however the number one cause of stress is work related pressures.

High stress levels often cause or can worsen a long list of health issues, including heart disease, obesity, depression and diabetes. In addition to paying more annually in health costs for stressed workers, employers are dealing with additional effects of stress that directly impact their profitability, such as loss of productivity, absenteeism, turnover and disengagement. 

Everyday work pressures are compounded by the current troubled economy and near constant news streams of foreclosures and layoffs, meaning employees are feeling the effects of anxiety and stress more than ever before. With this in mind, there has never been a more important time for employers to make reducing stress a top priority.

HOW CAN EMPLOYERS REDUCE STRESS IN THE WORKPLACE?

LEAD BY EXAMPLE

In order to reduce stress in the workplace, it’s important that managers lead by example. As a leader its critical you keep a lid on your own emotions; don’t let negativity, anger or stress rub off on your employees. Practice what you preach and ensure you give yourself enough time to de-stress at the end of the working day – go for a run, enjoy quality time with your family or arrange to socialize with friends. Likewise, organizing walking meetings rather than meetings in the boardroom, taking regular breaks and bookingHOLIDAY will not only put you in a better frame of mind, it will also show your employees that its okay to take some time out.

INTRODUCE WORKPLACE WELLNESS SCHEMES

It has been said time and time again, but exercise and a healthy lifestyle is extremely important when it comes to combating workplace related stress. Employee wellness schemes, such as paying for a portion of employees gym memberships or running group-wide healthy eating challenges is a good way to help employees unwind and feel better about themselves.

CREATE SOCIAL ACTIVITY

Employees spend a lot of time with their co-workers and therefore its important they get along. The more people enjoy their time at work, the better the atmosphere will be – and a better office atmosphere leads to productivity, creativity and collaboration. At least once a week set aside an hour to bring your team together in a fun environment; play a game, go out for lunch or arrange for a motivational speaker to come into the office. Social activity is good for reducing stress, boosting morale and team building.

COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES

Open communication is critical in leadership; keeping employees up to date regarding changes, expectations and their own performance not only keeps them on track but also reduces feelings of stress and anxiety – after all there is nothing worse than being kept in the dark. As a manager be sure to keep your team abreast of the latest developments and departmental changes. What’s more, open communication is a two way street and the more you converse with your employees, the more likely they are to share concerns, ideas and thoughts making for much stronger working relationships and a healthier overall company culture.   

PROVIDE A ‘CHILL OUT’ SPACE IN THE OFFICE

Sometimes people need 15 minutes to relax, re-group and disengage from technology and general work related interactions. Providing a quiet room, or a chill out zone where employees can spend 15 minutes with their thoughts can dramatically help reduce workplace stress and burnout. After taking a short break free from distractions, people often feel refreshed and re-energized to tackle the rest of the day. If you can, provide comfortable seating and paint the walls a neutral color – a pleasant environment is good for boosting happiness

THINK ABOUT THE HABITAT

What do the likes of Facebook, Google and Twitter do different? Well for starters they think about every detail including their employees work surroundings. Not every company can build its own workers village, complete with health food restaurants and indoor bike lanes, however there is always room for improvement, particularly when it could boost productivity and overall job satisfaction. Think about budgeting for some brighter, more modern office furniture, consider changing the color of the walls (out with the sludge green and in with something fresher, cleaner and brighter), introduce some plants in the office, invest in some new pictures – even small changes like new office cutlery and kitchenware will make the working environment conducive to, well, work. If you have the room, a Ping-Pong or foosball table will go a long way to boosting employee morale too. 

ALLOW FLEXI-TIME AND REMOTE WORKING

A major stress inducer, particularly for women, is stringent working hours. Allowing employees to work remotely, or even on a flexi-time scheme is proven to be good for morale and thus profitability. Not only are you saying to your employees, “I trust you,” by allowing them to manage their own time, but you are also taking away added stress such as child care considerations from working parents. Just make sure you manage this sort of flexibility with open communication and by outlining clear expectations and parameters.