Preparing for a Mock Interview

1. Do your research. Act like you’re preparing for the real thing, starting with comprehensive research. Identify the industry and the type of position you want. It may be helpful to use an actual job description from a specific company to keep you focused.

2. Rehearse answers to common questions. Put together a list of questions that are likely to get asked in an interview. Practice a brief opening statement describing your qualifications. Later, you can customize this for each situation. Go over your job history to extract several success stories that demonstrate your abilities.

3. Develop your own questions. Brainstorm relevant questions you can ask to demonstrate your interest and knowledge about the job opening. Find out how industry trends are affecting your potential employer. Clarify aspects of the organizational culture that may not be described in its written materials.

4. Choose your mock interviewer carefully. A friend who works in human resources may be an ideal choice. People with a managerial position in your chosen field can also be helpful. Look for someone who can devote adequate time and take the task seriously.

5. Discuss your goals. Have a preliminary talk with the person who’s helping you. Share what you want to achieve with them. Let them know that you appreciate candid feedback on your entire performance, from body language to verbal responses. An outside observer can help you identify any distracting mannerisms you may have.

6. Select a neutral setting. Try to hold your interview in the same type of setting you want to work in. If you’re looking for an office job, visit your friend’s office before work or book a meeting room at a local restaurant.

7. Dress the part. Wear your interview suit. It will help to put you into the right mindset and give your friend a chance to confirm that you’re dressing appropriately.

Conducting a Mock Interview

1. Record your session. A video or audio recording provides helpful documentation. You’ll be able to see how much you really fidget or how often you insert the word “like” into your sentences.

2. Repeat as often as possible. Schedule as many drills as you need to get comfortable and competent with the interview process. Ask your friend to vary their questions and approach each time. Keep track of your progress.

3. Work on your greeting and closing. Everything you do contributes to the impression you make on your potential employer. Learn to shake hands smoothly while you’re carrying a briefcase. Prepare concise closing statements that sound natural while expressing your gratitude and enthusiasm.

4. Finish up with a debriefing. Review every session with the person helping you. Gather all the advice you can. Write down what you need to work on, as well as the areas where you succeed in making improvements.

5. Watch yourself in a mirror. It’s best to train with another person, but using a mirror is the next best thing if no one else is available. You’ll be able to see whether you look poised or anxious. Watch your hand gestures and observe your facial expressions. Even if you do have someone to help you, practicing with a mirror is a valuable supplement to your mock interviews.

6. Consider professional services. If you want to go a step further, explore professional services. Most universities offer a wide range of support through their career
service centers. Employment agencies are another resource to explore.

The more you practice, the better you’ll perform at your actual interview. Mock interviews can make you stand out as a better candidate in this competitive job market.

Major Reasons to Make Family Memories

1. Honor your parents. Older people benefit from remaining mentally active and connected to others. Help them share their wisdom, and let them know they still make an important contribution to the family. Everyone wants to feel recognized and respected. Your efforts will add to your parents’ quality of life.

2. Enjoy the time you spend with your parents. Pressures build up when you’re caring for your parents and your own children. Sharing positive memories is one of the best rewards for all this hard work. Looking back may also help you to heal past conflicts that might interfere with a closer relationship.

3. Preserve memories for your children. Keep precious family customs, traditions, and rituals going strong from one generation to the next. Grandparents enrich your children’s lives with an abundance of love and attention. Make the most of the time they spend together.

How to Capture Your Memories

1. Reminisce. Encourage your parents to talk about their lives. Select a comfortable setting and a time free from interruptions. Ask open-ended questions and listen attentively. Remember to be sensitive to their reactions. Some subjects may be too painful to discuss.

2. Record your sessions. Video and audio recordings create priceless reminders of your loved ones. Make sure to get their permission first. Some people may find audio recordings more comfortable than video. Others may prefer filming the whole family rather than being the sole subject.

3. Eat together. Family dinners are a powerfully bonding ritual. If you live close by, set aside one night a week for dining together. For longer distances, take full advantage of holiday gatherings and other special occasions.

4. Cook together. Go one step further and prepare special dishes together. You’ll be ensuring that all those favorite family recipes get passed along. For a lasting memento, assemble a cookbook with step-by-step instructions and photos.

5. Go on outings. If your parents are up to it, include them in planning your next vacation. Even with limited mobility, there may be day outings that you can all enjoy. Look for family movies or lecture series at local museums.

6. Take a trip to your parents’ hometown. For an unforgettable outing, take a trip back to where your parents grew up. This adventure is bound to trigger a lot of memories, so you may learn interesting things you never knew about the people who raised you.

7. Plan a family reunion. Maybe your parents would be thrilled to bring everyone together in one place. The internet makes it easier than ever to locate distant relatives. Delegate responsibilities so everyone can participate without getting overburdened.

8. Organize old photos and home movies. Sit down with your parents and sort through the old albums and movies a little at a time. With a home scanner, you can digitize the images yourself or save time by taking them to a photo lab. Store the originals in archival quality albums or boxes. Using acid-free paper will slow down the deterioration process.

9. Fill in your family tree. Sketch out your family tree and ask your parents to fill in as many names and details as possible. If this whets your curiosity, there are many resources online or at the library to guide you through further research.

10. Enjoy keepsakes. Ask your parents for the stories behind the objects they collect and the souvenirs they’ve accumulated. Look through the attic for forgotten treasures.

Sharing family memories draws us closer together across the generations. Help your parents enjoy their elder years and share their wisdom with you and their grandchildren.

Scientists have been studying Zen monks to learn how meditation helps them cope with both chronic and occasional pain. While some of their accomplishments depend on their faith, many of their techniques can be used by anyone. Whether or not you already have a meditation practice, the suggestions below can help you get relief from pain.

Tools for Meditation

1. Appreciate the mind-body connection. There’s a growing understanding that our health depends on a wide range of factors. Our mind and body interact closely. The pain we experience due to physical conditions such as arthritis also affects us emotionally.

2. Reduce apprehension. Your reaction to pain can become exaggerated if you anticipate that it’s going to occur. Fear of pain is a good thing when it helps you avoid dangerous situations. It’s less helpful if you dwell on how your back will keep hurting. Mindfulness meditation helps you live in the present moment and take a break from worries about the future.

3. Manage anxiety. Studies show that experienced meditators feel pain but experience less emotional impact. Even beginners can use meditation as a useful distraction. With practice, you can become more skilled at noticing the affected body part but declining to get upset about it. You may be able to notice the sensation of pain without judging it as unpleasant.

4. Fight depression. Depression is known to make pain worse. When meditation helps you to feel happier and more peaceful, it’s also giving you greater protection from all kinds of afflictions.

5. Loosen up. Many people feel some tension around an injured body part. If you’re nursing a stiff neck, you can focus on relaxing the area and opening it up. Imagine that your breath is flowing across the muscles, where it warms and heals them.

6. Engage the pain. Pain may command all of your attention when it becomes severe. In such cases, trying to resist it may just make things worse. Some patients find relief by taking an active role in rating the relative intensity of their symptoms or observing how they increase and decrease over time.

7. Get an early start. It’s a lot more challenging to learn to meditate when you’re in the middle of recovering from back surgery. By starting your practice in advance, you’ll be better prepared to cope with medical issues or the common aches that come with aging.

When You’re Not In Meditation

1. Understand the relevance of meditation breaks: You’ll probably spend most of your life away from the meditation cushion. By learning to access the states of mind you attain while meditating, you can take advantage of those benefits anytime you want.

2. Use pain as a cue. Even if you need to keep working when a headache hits, you can guide yourself with constructive reminders about how to deal with it. Use everyday discomforts to check in with yourself and see if anxiety and apprehension are building up.

3. Guard against depression. Depression can strike anybody, but you can lower your risks. A healthy lifestyle and positive attitude can make it easier to stay on track.

4. Reduce other sources of stress. Living with chronic pain can take a heavy emotional toll. If possible, build a strong support network and avoid taking on too many obligations.

5. Talk with your doctor. If symptoms of pain continue, talk with your doctor about other available methods of treatment. Fortunately, meditation can be used to complement conventional approaches.

Meditation is an affordable and effective method for treating physical and emotional suffering without harmful side effects. Your skills will improve with practice so you can spend less time worrying about pain and more time enjoying life.

Advance Planning

1. Know when your child needs to stay home. School nurses advise keeping a child home if they have symptoms that would interfere with participating at school or could spread illness to others. Colds can be contagious for 2 days or more. Once a fever has been gone for 24 hours without medication, most kids can go back to class.

2. Discuss sick day arrangements with your spouse. You may want to agree in advance on which parent will stay home when your child gets sick. Deciding factors will likely include who has more flexibility and what you’ve got scheduled at the office.

3. Enlist additional help. Grandparents who live close by might enjoy an extra visit with their grandchildren. Neighbors with flexible schedules may also pitch in. After all, looking out for each other helps build a network where everyone can cope better with small emergencies.

4. Stay up to date on school policy. Most schools explain their policies in their handbooks and websites. Find out whether you need a doctor’s note to cover a prolonged illness and stay tuned for updates during flu season.

5. Understand your workplace culture. A family friendly workplace depends on the informal culture as well as the formal policies. Talk with your employer in advance to address their concerns and find solutions you both can live with.

6. Make a written agreement with your daycare center. Ensure your daycare agreement spells out their practices for sick children. Determine whether they charge full price for sick days and what criteria they use to assess whether a child is sick.

7. Research community resources. There are services especially designed to take care of sick children, so see what’s available in your community. Large daycare centers may have nurses on staff. Check on programs at your local hospital or at agencies for visiting nurses.

Staying Home With Your Child

1. Contact your child’s school. Let them know your child is staying home and warn them if it looks like it may be something contagious. Teachers and classmates can pass along missed assignments, and the school nurse can help answer any questions.

2. Arrange coverage at work. Take work home that you can do while your child is sleeping. Use phone and email to stay in touch with your office. Build a support system for exchanging favors with co-workers.

3. Enjoy quiet activities. Take advantage of the extra hours together by reading with your child. Limit television viewing and other screen time that can interfere with getting adequate sleep and rest.

4. Serve comfort foods and lots of liquids. Depending on the nature of your child’s illness, be prepared with foods that are easily digested like bananas and low fat yogurt. You can make the common cold feel less miserable with plenty of water, juice, and clear broths.

5. Follow your doctor’s instructions. Call your pediatrician if you have any questions, or if your child has a cough or cold that lasts more than a few days or is accompanied by a fever. If you use children’s over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, follow the directions closely.

6. Disinfect everything. Keep your family healthy by doing a thorough cleaning once your child recovers. Wash the sheets and wipe down surfaces including doorknobs, towels, keyboards, phones, and toys. Keep your hands clean and dispose of used tissues immediately.
Being prepared for sick days makes them less stressful for the whole family. With a bit of advance planning, you can spend some special time together and help your child get well soon.

Try these methods to help with your grief and move forward:

1. Surround yourself with support. Initially, you may want to be left alone with your thoughts or you may be afraid to love anyone else again. Those feelings are completely normal and even expected. Eventually, though, isolating yourself can be unhelpful to your recovery.

* Accept the support of others. Sure, people may sometimes say the wrong thing, but most of them sincerely want to help. Seek companionship and be open about your feelings. When people offer to bring you a meal or spend an evening with you, accept it. Everyone needs support through difficult times.

2. Keep it real. Be honest with yourself about how you feel and accept your feelings. There’s no right or wrong way to feel when you’re mourning. Part of the healing process involves you allowing your emotions, however intense, to come out freely.

3. Express yourself. Feel free to talk about your loss with your support network. If you’re not ready to discuss your feelings face to face, start a journal or join an online community of people with similar experiences.

4. Take care of yourself. Stay as true to your daily routine as you can. Regular exercise and good nutrition contribute to your overall emotional health. Go above and beyond your normal nurturing routine and treat yourself to a relaxing massage, a walk in nature, or some time to listen to soft music.

5. Educate yourself. Research the topic of grief to learn the signs and strategies for coping with it. Educating yourself on the subject can be essential to the healing process.

* As you do your research, you’ll begin to understand your feelings. You’ll discover that others who have lost someone they love also feel your feelings and you’ll learn about what others have done to work through grief.

6. Take it one day at a time. When you’re faced with death, all you may see is a blank wall in front of you. Looking beyond the event and imagining life without your loved one may feel extremely challenging. Your feelings may be so overwhelming that they cloud your view.

* Certainly, life will never be the same, and you must learn to adjust to living with the absence. However, there’s a brighter picture hiding behind that wall, which you’ll eventually be able to see.

Have realistic expectations regarding your progress. Grieving takes time and energy. Pace yourself: set small goals and celebrate milestones. Expect challenges when special holidays, anniversaries, and birthdays roll around. But be ready to continue on your journey to recovery.

Life After the Death of a Loved one

It’s common for people who survive a loved one to feel guilty about having fun. You may ask yourself, “How dare I enjoy life without my loved one present?” But in reality, you’re not betraying your loved done by having fun. In fact, the best way we can honor those who have passed away is by living our lives to the fullest.

While planning is an important part of bringing your dreams to life, avoid dedicating more time to the mental preparation than to action. If you spend your entire life planning for the future, then when will you actually start living?

Try these strategies to help jumpstart your goal-achieving actions:

1. Actions speak louder than words. You’ve probably heard this statement before, but have you really considered the meaning? Taking action and achieving are more powerful than simply planning for the future. Start taking steps in the right direction while planning, instead of waiting for every detail of your plan to be complete.

* Keep in mind that you can accomplish your goals as long as you’re moving in a forward direction. It may take some time, depending on how large your goal is, but moving forward will get you where you want to be. Taking action, regardless of how small, moves you forward.

2. Consider the language you use. Which is more effective, “I am going to lose weight,” or “I am losing weight”? How about the difference between “I am planning on going to school,” and “I am currently attending school”? The differences in these statements may have a profound impact on whether you’re actually going somewhere, or just thinking about it.

* Try this: Rather than saying “I am going to lose weight” (which is something you could say for years without shedding a pound!), take action to lose a little weight; then say: “I have dropped a few pounds and I am still going!”

3. Break goals into smaller bites. Rather than creating a lengthy plan that will take several years to fully realize, why not break your goals into smaller pieces that you can achieve one at a time? Setting goals too far into the future can hamper your ability to take small steps in the right direction now.

* For example, say you want to lose 100 pounds. Try setting goals to lose 1% of your body weight per week until you reach your final goal. Achieving several weight loss goals over a period of time will help keep you motivated rather than struggling endlessly for that one far-off goal.

* Perhaps you want to achieve something over a period of time, such as graduating from college in four years. In this case, you can break your goals into quarters or semesters. This will help you feel a sense of success with your progress as you work toward the larger goal of graduating with a degree.

Sometimes you may feel challenged to build the momentum you need to achieve goals and get where you want to be in life. Raise your standards and expect action from yourself instead of just thoughts and words.

If you’re struggling to move from planning to actual accomplishments, try breaking your goals into smaller pieces. You’ll be amazed at how motivational a little success can be!

Be aware that you don’t have to simplify all at once. You can take it one-step and one day at a time until you’ve conquered the mountain. You’ll get there eventually, and you may even enjoy yourself along the way. In the end, you’ll discover that a simple life can be the most fulfilling!

Try these strategies to help simplify your life:

1. List your top priorities. Create a small list of the most important four or five things that you want to accomplish in your life. What are your priorities? Where do you most want to devote your attention? Keep this small list with you at all times so you never forget where you want to be.

2. Drop one of your commitments. Find a commitment that takes up your time without giving you much value. Perhaps it’s something you dread doing or simply no longer enjoy. Take action today by dropping that commitment from your load.

3. Start with a single drawer. Choose a single drawer or shelf in your home to begin your purge with. Empty everything out of the area into a single pile; then select only the important stuff you really want to keep. Get rid of everything else, either by throwing it away or donating it.

* Clean out the drawer, simplify it, and organize it, and then you have your foundation for a simpler and more organized life. Ensure that everything remaining is put back in an orderly manner. From here, you can try another drawer or shelf.

4. Simplify daily routines. Take a look at your daily routines and to-do list. If you’re trying to fit more than 10 tasks into your list for a day, then there are probably ways for you to simplify things. What can you eliminate, delegate, outsource, or even ignore? Shorten your list as often as you can by focusing on what really matters.

5. Free up your time. Simply put: Find at least 20 minutes each day when you can sit down and think about simplifying.

6. Clean up your desk. A clean desk can completely change how you’re feeling, and this is a simple task to complete, as well. Clean everything off your desk, creating a pile. Process your pile from the top down, one object at a time. Deal with each item individually. File it, route it to somewhere else, note it on a list of to-do items, or trash it.

* Repeat the process until your desk is clear and your pile is empty. Complete this process at the end of every day so that your desk is always clean, organized, tidy, and most of all, simple. If you do this daily, it will take you only a few minutes each time.

7. Slow down. Stop rushing through the day and start living at a slower pace. Work on simplifying your life by doing less and living much more consciously. Walk, drive, eat, and even work more slowly. Learn how to live in the moment, to be present, and to think simply.

8. Avoid multi-tasking. Rather than multi-tasking, strive to do one thing at a time. Remove any distractions, resist the urge to check your email, and focus on one task at a time until you complete it. This will boost your productivity and reduce stress.

You can begin taking small steps toward living the simple life today. Know that you can learn to get by with less than what you have, and you can live well in the process – perhaps even better than you did before!

The Benefits of Exercising:

1. Maximize your range of motion. People with arthritis often try to cope with the pain by holding their joints in bent positions that feel more comfortable. Unfortunately, this causes further loss of mobility Exercise helps to keep your joints as flexible as possible and prevent further damage.

2. Strengthen your muscles and bones. Strong muscles and bones provide more support and protection for fragile joints. Weight bearing exercises build up muscle and thicken your bones.

3. Lose excess weight. You burn a lot more calories when you’re moving around, which of course helps with weight loss. A more active lifestyle will help you reach and maintain your ideal weight without resorting to dangerously low calorie diets.

4. Improve cardiovascular fitness. Endurance exercises that are gentle on your joints will make your heart work more efficiently without aggravating your arthritis. You’ll feel more energetic and reduce your risk for many health conditions including heart disease and obesity.

5. Make daily activities easier. Stiff joints interfere with daily pleasures and tasks, from playing with your grandchildren to just buttoning a shirt. Exercise improves your ability to function and live independently.

6. Boost your mood. Living with chronic pain may cause depression. Physical activity elevates your mood and helps you sleep better. You can even make new friends by enrolling in group classes like tai chi or water aerobics.

Top Exercises for Arthritis:

1. Design a balanced program. A well-designed fitness program includes exercises for flexibility, strength, and endurance. Stop what you’re doing if you feel any sharp pain. This conventional wisdom for exercisers is even more important when dealing with arthritis.

2. Stretch. Daily flexibility moves will help restore your range of motion. Warm up with a little walking in place and do these exercises in a controlled manner. One simple stretch for fingers is to massage your hands. Then, alternate extending and closing your fingers into a loose fist.

3. Train for strength. Strengthen your muscles with resistance exercises using weights, elastic bands or your own body weight. For example, target your knees by sitting in a chair and slowly straightening and bending each leg.

4. Perform low-impact aerobics. Walking, aqua aerobics and stationary bicycles are just a few examples of endurance activities that are easy on your body. Exercising in warm water is especially good because the temperature and buoyancy protects damaged joints.

Additional Safety Tips:

1. Talk with your doctor. Be sure to talk with your doctor before beginning an exercise program to find the best approach for your type of arthritis. Your physician can recommend safe activities and help you avoid injury.

2. Build up gradually. Start conservatively and progress gradually. When you’re comfortable with walking in water, you may want to add more intense movements like leg lifts.

3. Modify your workouts during flare-ups. Your doctor can advise you about exercising during flare-ups. You may need to rest or modify your program to alleviate pressure on the affected joints.

4. Find the best time of day for you. Many people experience morning stiffness, so experiment to find the best time of day for you. Taking a warm shower first or using a heat pack may also make exercising more comfortable.

5. Work with physical or occupational therapists. Therapists with experience working with arthritis can provide more guidance. They can help you learn to move safely during your workouts and all your daily activities.
Exercise makes it easier to live with arthritis. Manage your pain and stay healthy with safe and regular workouts using activities that you enjoy.

Benefits of Spending Time Outdoors

* Fresh air and sunshine can help you regain focus. Spending a brief period of time outside in-between work tasks can benefit you greatly.

* The sun’s light is a powerful source of energy for the human body. Because it provides you with the essential nutrient Vitamin D, sunlight can benefit the strength of your bones, your moods and your overall health.

* Spending time outdoors can help relieve stress and tension. Breathe in the fresh air, enjoy the sunshine or the clouds, and take a short walk before going back inside. You’ll notice a difference in your mood.

* Going outside can also benefit your physical fitness. Whether you’re raking leaves, gardening, playing with a child, or pet or simply taking a walk, you’re sure to burn extra calories. Spending an hour or more outside every day can translate into significant calorie use throughout the week.

There are plenty of ways that you can get outdoors more, even if you usually prefer to stay inside and watch television or read.

How to Get Outside More Often

1. Take a walk. Whether you’re walking to get somewhere or simply for pleasure, the combination of fresh air, sunshine, and cardiovascular benefits make taking a walk outdoors a smart move, especially if you work it into your daily routine.

2. Play. If you have children or a pet that would enjoy playing outside, then use them as an excuse to get more play into your schedule. Try a sport, an outdoor game, going to a dog park for a game of fetch, or anything else that might get you active and outdoors during the day.

3. Get in touch with nature. Whether you go bird watching, flower picking, whale watching, fishing, or simply go out to take photographs, nature can be a beautiful place to be. Immersing yourself in this beauty is one of the greatest benefits of spending time outside.

4. Wash the car. Don’t bother taking your car to an automatic car wash. Consider the benefits of washing your car yourself. Not only will you save as much as $15, but you’ll do a much better job and get to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air at the same time.

5. Go beachcombing. If you live near the ocean, a lake, or a river, you can find plenty of interesting items as you walk along the edge of the water. Collect shells, pebbles and other trinkets from nature while enjoying some leisure time by yourself, with a loved one, or with your entire family.

6. Ride your bike. Ride to the store or work each day. Not only will this get you outside to soak up some Vitamin D, but it also offers numerous cardiovascular and health benefits, in addition to being eco-friendly.

Set a goal to get 30 minutes more sunshine outside today than yesterday. If you can meet this goal every day for a week, raise the bar again. Even half an hour of outdoors time every day can benefit your life in numerous ways.

By following the steps below, you can overcome your shyness in a healthy, gradual manner:

1. Increase your self-confidence. When you feel good about yourself, being around others is more enjoyable. When you’re secure, you actually enjoy voicing your opinion because you know that you have something valuable to contribute to the conversation.

* You can enhance your self-confidence by developing your body image, successfully pursuing your goals, and establishing a rewarding romantic relationship with a partner.

* Surround yourself with supportive family and friends. If you’re constantly around people who are negative, you may be uncomfortable in almost anyone’s company.

2. Remember that you always have choices. You’re just one person in a crowded room. If you make conversation with someone, they’ll enjoy chatting with you. You can choose to talk to many people in a group, or you can engage with just one person at a time.

* Everyone at the social gathering is trying to have fun. You can do the same! Relax and allow yourself to act naturally.

3. Focus on others. If you feel uncomfortable approaching a stranger, that’s okay. Many people feel shy about this. If someone makes conversation with you, focus the conversation on him or her. Ask questions about their life, and keep them talking until you find common ground.

* Attend the gathering with your significant other or a close friend. You’re more likely to meet people if you have mutual friends.

* When making small talk, ensure that your questions are about less personal topics. It’s okay to ask someone whether they’re married or have children. Stay clear of asking for details about their divorce or custody battle.

4. Practice. Practice often. When you’re home alone, stand in front of the mirror and pretend that you’re engaging in small talk at a cocktail party. Do this frequently, and you’ll find that conversation comes much more easily.

* Recite phrases before you say them to a new acquaintance. This will ease your nerves. You’re already used to saying the words, so they’ll roll off of your tongue effortlessly.

5. Start small. First, attend social situations that don’t require much effort from you. Events such as a comedy show, book reading, or concert are ideal. Once you’re comfortable being in a crowded environment, engage in more intimate occasions that will require your direct input.

* Focus on baby steps as you learn to feel comfortable in social situations. If it’s been a while since you’ve interacted with more than two people at once, it may feel overwhelming to go to a party where there will be many guests.

It’s normal to experience social anxiety from time to time, especially if you’re at an event where you only know a few people. But you have the power to overcome your shyness. You deserve to discover your inner confidence and experience life to its fullest potential.