The WorkLife Monitor

Work/Life Nation: Right Livelihood with Rick Jarow

When you rise from your morning stupor, is the first thought on your mind the delight of the day ahead at work - or the demise of your human experience in business? It's a question that Vassar History professor and career counselor Rick Jarow tackles daily. He's the author of Creating the Work You Love and has been a mentor of mine for years. Through a creative lens he helps others find meaning and value in their work. Rick and his ideas are profiled in this weeks Work/Life Nation Podcast.

Defining your right livelihood eludes many who have taken the corporate train over the last few decades, but not all. When I say right livelihood, I mean work that consciously feeds your soul and your pocketbook equally. Perhaps a better journey on the road to worklife balance, and meaning and value in your worklife culture in general.

Consider the lucky ones who have stepped across the front door of Google. The mammoth search engine is known for its dynamic workplace environment and exalting the merits of creating a fun work atmosphere. In fact, Google has been a feeder engine for other lauded companies and yielded successful entrepreneurs who have taken technology into the stratosphere with creative - out-of-the-box ideas. Check out Adam Lashinsky's Fortune article, Where does Google go next?  Has Google gone too corporate to hang onto the thriving brains that it cultivates? Doesn't really matter. It's doing something right and the world outside of the doors of Google is benefiting.

We can debate right livelihood till we're blue in the face. But there's some history and some psychology behind it that Rick Jarow has tapped into that might be of great interest to you. Take a listen in this Work/Life Nation Podcast with Rick Jarow. You can catch more Work/Life Nation at JudyMartinSpeaks.com.

Exercise at Work: A Mood Booster?

May is Mental Health Month and with that comes more evidence that exercise is good for your mental health at home and at work. Just ask Elizabeth Hashagen of News 12 Long Island who anchors live for about 2 consecutive hours, five days a week. With a call-time of 4am, exercise in the workplace is crucial to lifting her energy and her spirits.

"Exercise improves my mental clarity. That influx of oxygen gets my adrenalin flowing after hours of being in the studio," says Elizabeth who can be found taking a power walk around the building or using her resistance bands in her office three days a week. It's part of her work/life balance routine.

She makes exercise a priority and a number of studies suggest that exercise can give a jolt to your mood. The University College London recently looked into the habits of 20,000 men and women in a Scottish health survey. It examined their mental health and physical activities, finding that those who were the most active, were less likely to suffer with anxiety and stress which boosted their mental health.

For Elizabeth, taking that break at work to exercise improves her capacity to concentrate and in fact makes her more effective and engaged at work. It also creates a solid foundation for her workload during the rest of the week.Wellness programs in companies have been addressing the connection between anti-stress programs and effective workplace behavior, but there is more anecdotal rather than hard statistics. But Elizabeth says the benefits of that uptick in activity manifests on personal level. Along with the energy boost comes a boost in mood. The little things roll off her back a bit easier even in a breaking news environment.

"I think you have to set a goal that you know you can shoot for," says Elizabeth who adds that as you meet that goal and start to see the benefits of exercise at work, you'll see a marked difference in your sustained energy level. Elizabeth says a little discipline will go a long way, giving you something to shoot for and allowing you to measure your results in muscle tone, and in reduced stress at work.

Work/Life Nation: The Great Merge

A new perspective on Work/life Culture is emerging. A new multi-faceted vision of how we work, live and thrive in our 24/7 world.

The working and living experience, separated for so long, have merged. We have become part of a Work/Life Nation, thus the new title of my newsletter - Work/Life Nation, the release of Work/Life Nation media programs, and the re-launching of JudyMartinSpeaks.com. For nearly two years, this blog has brought you information on Success & Serenity in the Elusive Quest for Work/Life Balance in a 24/7 World. And now that work is evolving as we witness more debate on this concept called Work/Life Balance.

We are much more than just human capital. As part of this emerging culture of awareness that is reaching critical mass, many are feeling an urgent call to live and work from a deeper sense of alignment, meaning and purpose. It's challenging to stay grounded in the world, while living up to our highest potential in a competitive marketplace and an ever changing workplace.

The WorkLife Monitor Blog continues as the news and opinion venue of all things worklife, but I felt it was time to share the work of so many people who are the innovators on the cutting-edge of worklife culture in new ways and in new mediums such as radio.

In this months Work/Life Nation Newsletter, you’ll find links to my recent NPR story on Phased Retirement, and an article which reflects some of the messages in my blog WorkLifeMonitor.com regarding meditation and work. In the Work/Life Minute, an actor who glides through work with grace. In the Work/Life Nation Podcast, a conscious approach to business through the eyes of Deepak Chopra. Finally, some guidance to infuse more awareness into your workday in this month's Practical Chaos Tips: 7 Laws of Work/Life Evolution.

The great philosopher Carl Jung once said, "What is not met by consciousness is met by fate." I invite you to join me at Work/Life Nation on a journey to make Work/Life integration a positive, conscious journey of exploration, that will sustain us in our world - which transforms in an instant.

Here's to being human. Warmly, Judy

Quantifying Career Chaos in Recession

Everyone and their brother is writing about, talking about, blogging about  - job security. Are the job numbers a harbinger of "the worst is yet to come?" Whether they are or not, if we get caught up in the glass half empty approach, we're bound to manifest some chaotic episode in our careers or in the workplace.

A passage of the ancient I-Ching philosophy states, "By ones thoughts, one commands." I'm not talking about "The Secret" or the stuff of the "new age," but instead the simple state of being at work and how we show up. If thoughts of, "Am I going to be fired?" are running through your head the minute you walk thought the door, it's more likely that you will react from a place of fear every time your boss glances your way. This disposition sets a tone that then becomes habit. Fear of losing ones job becomes familiar and soon it's the most comfortable place to live. But it's a road to certain burnout.

I'm not making light of the job market. Job layoffs are mounting in certain industries. There is reason to be concerned, but not to give up the ship. Since your yearly review comes so infrequently (if at all these days), YOU - are your best resource to assess your career or job. You can do this without setting off red flags of paranoia by taking an objective look at where you stand in your career, your company and in your daily chaos. This is not an easy task, but by contemplating these questions, you might shed some light on whether you might really be in the hot seat, or just creating more worry for yourself.

1. Do you feel you are valued in your position at work? Make a list of your direct and unique contributions. This includes how you implement your people or leadership skills at work.
2. Do some colleagues directly depend on your work in order to keep pace with their own responsibilities? If so, does it appear that they are satisfied with your working relationship? There might be ways to improve upon this through better communication with your colleagues.
3. How often do you interact with your immediate superior? If you haven't seen that corner office for a while, ask yourself why. Are you purposely trying to stay off the radar? If so, is there a good reason why that needs to be addressed?
4. How are you managing your time? When concerned about job security, one of the most important tasks is to prioritize your workload. If you're finding that you are distracted, coming in late, or burning out, your performance might suffer. While you're at it, what is your work/life balance like these days?
5. Perfectionism. If you are checking and rechecking everything you do, is this in reaction to your own insecurities, or because you've been taken to task in the past? Are you meeting your deadlines while delivering good work? If so, why all the worry?

We are living in an era of uncertainty but a frank contemplative look at your career might stave off the worry and burnout.

Recession, Depression and Their Impact in the Workplace

A less than rosy picture of the economy was painted today by the The National Association for Business Economics. A survey released by the Washington, D.C.-based think tank reveals that 30% of the panelists expect gross domestic product to decline in the first quarter. 70% have a more gloomy outlook of the year than they did in January. Talk of recession is on the rise, but few are dishing about the impact on the workforce: the human capital.

We get so caught up in the numbers that we often forget the look beneath the P/E ratios, profits, and pontificating of the economists. What about the cogs in the wheels which allow the companies to operate? Tough times aren't just hitting the spread sheets, but the minds and dispositions of the workers. Furthermore, the pressures of the economy in general, our 24/7 existence, and daily family challenges fuel the fires of chaos. It's not an easy road on all counts.

A timely report was just released by the UK-based Depression Alliance that speaks to the challenges of depression and its impact in the workplace. The Inside Story: The Impact of Depression on Daily Life, gives an international overview of depression, the economic burdens, costs to health care and in fact how it knows no socio-economic or cultural boundaries.

Research published by the World Health Organization in 2007 supports the urgency of addressing this chronic illness. In fact, in 1997 the WHO considered depression the second greatest cause of disability in the world. The impact of depression on work is backed up with statistics measured in the report in terms of absence, higher health care costs and loss of productivity.

But lets take a deeper look at the indirect costs. In the report, which was funded by Servier Laboratories Limited, "79% of people diagnosed with depression in the UK felt that disclosing their condition to colleagues would have a detrimental impact on then and nearly a third believe they have been turned down for a job." It also revealed that many workplaces do not have the structures in place to support their employees. We have to learn to educate beyond stigma and sterotype. Depression is a real problem in our sensory overloaded world.

The pressure is building and creating stress for everyone to perform in a competitive 24/7 marketplace. The elusive quest for worklife balance, will remain just that - elusive - unless we start taking a closer look at the impact of the greater worldly challenges on the daily life of our human capital.

Jobs Reports: A Work/Life Stress Indicator

Job security isn't just a walk on the beach. I received a phone call yesterday from a dear friend who with shallow breath immediately began to review a dream from the night before. It was one that put thoughts of job security on the front burner.

"So, here I was clothing shopping in Bloomingdales and right in the adjacent department was my boss in the shoe section. I quickly hid behind a rack of clothing, but he saw me," she told me in a stressful tone. My friend went on to tell me that she tried to explain to her boss that she had the day off and that it was Saturday, but he still ridiculed her telling her she should be working weekends - if she wanted to keep her job.

Only a dream? Maybe for now - but it's one that I bet a load of Americans are having these days. Here's the deal, everyone I know is concerned about impressing the upper brass. There's good reason:

• March numbers mark a three-month run on employers slashing jobs.
• Unemployment is at 5.1% . While historically low it's still worst than analyst expectations.
• Bellwether Citibank just posted a $5.1 Billion loss and expects to lay off another 9,000 people

The real news here isn't news at all. Groceries are more expensive, it costs more to fill up your tank, and the job market is in the dumper. Sitting tight waiting for the "R" word to be revealed through the lips of Fed Chair Ben Bernanke isn't going to change a thing. It's time to hunker down and cultivate some work/life resilience to battle the stress build-up. Exercise, meditation and a walk in the woods will help calm the mind and body, but a switch in perception will help you from moment to moment in the workplace.

Here are Judy's 7 Laws of Work/Life Evolution:

1. Change is the only constant. In our 24/7 world there is a consistent flow of unprecedented dramatic shifts in the way we do business and the people we encounter. Accept it.
2. Positive intent drives evolution. Coming into work with a smile - even if you have to use crazy glue to make it happen is a good start. Flip your perception. How do you show up at work? What is your general disposition?
3. Out of silence comes creativity and vitality. Take even five minutes out of your workday to slow the wheels of the mind. From that small break might come a great idea or just a quick nap which is recharging.
4. What we resist, persists. Go through the stack of papers that you are least attracted to. It's a heavy weight on the eyes and more work to avoid it every day. Plus it just gets bigger.
5. Intent with integrity. We all want to impress the top brass, but working well with your colleagues and giving someone else a pat on the back will raise the level of kindness and consciousness in the workplace.
6. Be present and aware of those you work with. As Herman Melville once said, "We cannot live for ourselves alone. Out lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers our actions run as causes, and return to us as results."
7. When we transcend and include we elevate the workplace. Be conscious about your actions in the workplace. Are there behaviors you can demonstrate that you can embrace to create better worklife balance ? It might be as simple as getting a few colleagues to go for a walk at lunch. That kind of behavior catches on and by osmosis, others will follow your lead.

For more tips on Work/Life Resilience head to JudyMartinSpeaks.com and check out the Work/Life Minute, and Work/Life Daybreak. Today's picture courtesy Kim Weiss.

Work/Life Nation: A Conscious Approach to Business

"Survival of the fittest is not the criterion for evolution, but survival of the wisest."  Deepak Chopra

Those words from spiritual teacher and business maverick Deepak Chopra laid the foundation for a fascinating discussion on a conscious approach to business. My interview with Chopra also marks the launch of a new program here at the Work/Life Monitor - the WorkLife Nation Podcast. The radio series will also run on the Public Radio Exchange which is a feeder network for NPR. Every week I'll be reporting on how human values are being embraced in the workplace and in business - in a 24/7 world. From the elusive quest for work/life balance to social entrepreneurship - you'll hear from those on the cutting edge of our Work/Life Nation.

I caught up with the best selling author after he met with social, spiritual and business leaders at the Chopra Center in New York City. The event was co-convened with the Source of Synergy Foundation. The topic - consciousness and its impact on social transformation. 

In this Work/Life Nation Podcast, you'll hear Chopra's views on how business leaders are tapping into their own higher consciousness - while doing business.

Work/Life Nation with Deepak Chopra

24/7 Stress: It's Not Just a Blogger's World

If you're a Sensory Overload Tracker (a formal expertise) like myself, the cover of the Sunday Times elicited a big, "Ha, I knew it would come to this!" In Matt Richtel's article, In Web World of 24/7 Stress Writers Blog Till They Drop he chronicles the exhausting journey of "the blogger" and shares some disturbing news about the recent passing of several bloggers. He also lists the common physical ailments associated with those who make a career of blogging 24/7. So much for worklife balance.

"To be sure, there is no official diagnosis of death by blogging... and also no certainty that the stress of the work contributed to their deaths," said Richtel in his article. But one wonders. And it's not just the world of the blogger that is in danger of overload. Richtel's feature should serve as that little nudge we all need to examine our lifestyle.

Participating in the 24/7 world of the internet requires a certain stamina, regardless of whether you wear the persona of a blogger. I personally don't think 24/7 internet participation is a sustainable path unless you have the tools to handle the info-mania that comes your way, along with a proven personal method of cultivating resilience. As a meditation teacher once told me, "You have to drink as you pour." That means consistently checking in with your inner-battery to gauge whether it's real low - or about to blow a fuse. Taking charge of your fuselage requires daily maintenance so here are some tips:

1. Internet Inquiry: Examine your internet behavior. Must you surf a bazillion times an hour? I recommend taking a serious look at how much time you take surfing. For those of us who do this for a living, can you just say no during your lunch break?
2. Creating Internet-Free Zones. I have a habit of taking my computer to various rooms as Wi-Fi makes it way too easy to do. As difficult as it is, I've established my living room as an internet free zone. This stops me from surfing during commercial breaks during American Idol. (hey - it's a way to wind down)
3. Volume Vigilance: Limit your incoming information. If you need to surf the web limit your click- throughs. Unless I'm doing research on a deadline, I click through only three times. After that I put an interesting URL on a post-it to check out later.
4. Cultivating Resilience: As I said earlier - you have to drink as you pour. You must schedule the white space in your calendar. Whether it's exercise, meditation, taking a walk - you have to make time for down time or you will burnout. You have to get off the ride of our 24/7 world.
5. Human Connections: When is the last time you picked up the phone to speak with a friend let alone, visit one in person. Novel idea, human contact. It gives the fingers a rest, and the heart a little bit of TLC.

If you need a breather, check out my meditation CD; PRACTICAL CHAOS:Reflections on Resilience at JudyMartinSpeaks.com.

Work/Life Transparency From the Top Down

Summer is around the corner and soon you'll notice that the corner office might be LESS occupied into the late afternoon hours. Are there more out-of-office meetings over the summer, or is there a bit more wiggle room for an early exit for a family barbecue or an early start on a beach weekend?

Wouldn't it be great to know if your boss was hightailing it out of the office, if it wasn't frowned upon, and in fact, was an openly acceptable behavior for all - on occasion? A recent study suggests that kind of transparency might actually improve employee productivity and engagement.

Deloitte 2008 Ethics & Workplace survey indicates such transparency leads to a more ethical workplace culture. The findings show that, " ...open and honest communication channels between employees and leadership regarding work-life issues, has a significant positive impact on workplace culture overall."

According to the survey, conducted by Opinion Research on behalf of Deloitte:

• 72% of respondents agree that if their boss was more open about his/her need to take time off during regular work hours for personal reasons, it would create a more engaging and productive environment.
• 84% of respondents agree that openness by leadership contributes to a more ethical workplace culture.
• 68% said it would create a more values-based organization.

The challenges to this type of transparency are unfortunately mounting as individuals become more concerned about the sagging economy and job security. Open communication between rank and file requires a conscious shift in perception about face time and the benchmarks of accountability. If this doesn't begin with the leadership, it becomes nearly impossible for mid-level managers to adapt such a behavior which can trickle down to the typical employee.

This kind of workplace cultural change requires more than a shift in perception. It calls for a values-driven workplace and new methods of measuring productivity which include placing a higher value on employee engagement and ethics in the workplace.

The Toll Booth: The Last Frontier of Peace

My dreams of my secret peaceful work/life refuge were shattered on Friday during rush hour. I approached the line of cars in front of me which were waiting like ants to get to the top of the hill, but instead to cross the Throgs Neck Bridge. The passengers in the cars in front of me were preparing to fork over five bucks and it was an especially long ling. That excited me. Odd - right? Not for me. Even though I was exhausted and approaching burnout. This was an opportunity.

Being a part of the streaming cars - while an exercise in patience - is generally a peaceful experience because I choose to make it one. It was a beautiful sunny day on Friday. I could smell the water, the cool breeze of spring was trying to make an appearance. I make it a habit to count my breaths, because waiting on that line can be darn annoying. It stops the moment of traffic chaos and reminds to get to the stillness within, instead of concentrating on the chaos outside of me.

Generally, I let people in front of me, ignore the honking horns, and engage in some deep breathing to prepare myself for the traffic on the other side of the bridge heading into Long Island to work. I take the high road and smile at all the drivers who are enraged on the line as they head into the workplace.

Closer and closer I came to the booth and with that I entered deeper and deeper into an aware relaxed state of mind. I was successfully practicing my worklife balance technique of not buying into commuter chaos. Then the unthinkable happened. Right before the car in front of me was to pass - the toll booth collectors changed shifts.

I remained undaunted. My "enlightened" state of mind was still in the peaceful zone. I watched, car by car, the lines in the other lanes move along smoothly. "Just breath," I repeated to myself. I'm not sure what happened, but I suddenly decided that they were doing this just to get me riled up. All that peaceful meditation went out the window - albeit momentarily.

"Come on," I said to myself. Then out loud I exclaimed, "You have got to be kidding me!" Enlightenment was taken like a rug from beneath my feet. I was running just a tad late and it threw me off. Actually, I let it happen. What happened next made me squirm in my seat.

The person in front of me finally paid, but he forgot his change, so he stopped just on the other side of the booth. Suddenly, the lane went into lock down. The police stopped the traffic in the lane; I had not even made it under the awning of the booth. I had no where to go. Toll booth interruptus again. The officer in the booth put his hand up, told me to "Just stay put!" and the driver of the car in front of me slowly emerged from his car. With a soft limp, he slowly made his way back to the booth to collect his change. He looked right at me and smiled an apology. I began to soften, feeling sad for the older gentleman who was clearly challenged. And then it was my turn to pay.

The toll booth officer was completely calm. He looked at me as I handed him a five spot, "Everyone is in such a hurry, people need to slow down!" I nodded, thinking, "No, people, including myself, need to take a breath."