The end of the year can be a busy time. On top of that, the seasons are changing which can affect your physical and mental health. You can’t forget to take care of yourself! With shorter days and colder weather coming, it’s important to continue healthy habits. And that means doing more than just bundling up. Here are some ways to stay healthy during cold weather:

1. Wash your hands often. Winter is peak season for contagious illnesses, such as the cold and flu. The most effective way to remove and avoid the spread of illness-causing germs is to wash your hands frequently. When washing your hands, remember to get a good lather of soap on your hands and scrub for at least 20 seconds with warm water.
2. Eat for immunity. As part of your plan to stay well and avoid the cold and flu this winter, it’s important to eat healthy foods that support your immune system. Foods that are good for the immune system are foods that are high in antioxidants; such as mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, peas, and citrus fruits.
3. Keep your body moving! The winter months can be a challenging time to stick to your exercise routine. Holiday parties and gatherings can leave you feeling drained. The cold weather can also be a deterrent to getting outside for some exercise. To stay active during the winter, try hitting the gym or working out at home. It’s important to exercise regularly, even if only for 15 minutes a day!
4. Get enough rest. Sleep is key to keeping your energy up and maintaining a good immune system. You should get enough sleep to allow your body to recover and reenergize. For the best results, have a regular sleep schedule and stick to it. This will help your body to know when it’s time to sleep and make it easier to get the rest you need.
5. Keep stress to a minimum. Studies have linked high stress levels to making a person more susceptible to catching colds and flu. Minimize your stress by working reasonable hours at your job. Aim for at least one night per week to spend with friends and family. 
6. Stay connected. Socializing helps strengthen your immune system by staying active you reduce your stress levels. Avoid the temptation of cuddling up with your blanket. See friends, enjoy the local night life, even dress warm and go for a walk with your family.
7. Get some sun. While the availability of sunlight is restricted during the winter months, it’s important to spend some time outdoors even when it’s cold. Sunlight has been shown to help improve your mood by boosting the release of a hormone called serotonin. Exposure to sunlight is especially important to those suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression.
8. Maintain good skin health. Cold weather can cause havoc on your skin, causing dryness, flaking, cracking, and in some cases, eczema. To keep your skin healthy through the winter, be sure to drink plenty of water, hydrate your skin with moisturizer, and use sunscreen whenever you’re out during the day. Exposure to the sun’s rays, even in the winter, can still have damaging effects on your skin.

Despite your best efforts, you still can feel like you’re “coming down with something.” 

Some things you can do to help your body recover more quickly:

• Eliminate dairy products.
• Eliminate alcohol.
• Eliminate grains (bread, rice, pasta, etc.).
• Boost your Vitamin C intake when you initially feel something coming on.
• Boost your intake of Zinc.
• Increase the amount of water you drink (even more than normal!).
• Eat less food as this will give your body a much-needed rest from digestion and give it a chance to concentrate on fighting off potential illness.
• Add herbs like Echinacea, Goldenseal and Grapefruit Seed Extract to your diet.
• Get more rest than normal. If you normally get 6 hours of sleep a night, try increasing it to 7 or 8.

These are just some of the simple things you can do to strengthen your body’s immune system, so that you can stay healthy and well during the winter season! 

Job searches can be tedious and complicated. Recruiters are job search experts who know the ins and outs of getting the “job” done. Literally. A lot of job seekers are confused about how the hiring process works when working with a recruiter. It’s vital to recognize their purpose and how the procedure works. This will help to make the entire process much more successful.

What is a recruiter’s function?

First, recruiters are not career coaches. Don’t expect a recruiter to look at your resume and immediately understand where you would fit into an organization.  It is your job to know what you want to do and to tell the recruiter where you are best suited, which jobs you want and, hopefully, which part of the business structure that would fit you best. Although, you both have the same goal: finding you a job with a great employer that fits your skills, culture, and background.

Recruiters are not for hire by job seekers.

The clients of recruiters are the employers, not the jobseekers (in general-there are some agencies which will charge the candidates.) Some of them will go out of their way to help you, if they can, but do not expect them to guide you in your job search. They’re hired to save companies time and money in hiring by narrowing the choices to a few top contenders. They source, screen, and connect companies to great talent.

Clear and effective communication.

Be open and honest about the type of role you are seeking, the size of company you prefer, and the type of culture you see yourself succeeding in. Check your email, text, voicemail and get back to them ASAP – you never know if you’ll miss out on an opportunity because you didn’t respond quickly enough. Be truthful and don’t suddenly end communication with your recruiter. If you are no longer interested in an opportunity you discussed with your recruiter, let them know. There may be other positions you are qualified for they can direct you towards.

Establish your ability/skill set.

Recruiters participate heavily in the candidate selection. They usually have no say when making a hiring decision, however, they submit the best candidates for the position. Recruiters will be looking for you to demonstrate these abilities. You don’t want to simply name your skills as if you are writing a grocery list. Instead, take this opportunity to explain your proficiency in utilizing each skill on the job. The way you interact with the recruiter gives them an idea of how you would present yourself to their client.

Make it easy for recruiters to find you.

Since many prefer not to be contacted unless they have an active position, you’ll want them to be able to find you when the right job presents itself. Recruiters will do their best to work around your schedule to make it convenient for you both. However, once you’ve agreed to be a candidate, be sure to see the process through. Don’t engage with the recruiter if you’re not serious about this opportunity. You will quickly be removed from the list of viable candidates and the recruiter will move on to another candidate.

Recruiters are not in control of the hiring process.

Recruiters are not the decision makers as to whether you get a job offer. Their job is to find good candidates and try to keep the process moving forward. They actually have little input in the decision. They are the person who delivers the good or bad news. But someone else, often a group or the hiring manager, makes the hiring decision.

Thank your recruiter at the end of the process.

A good recruiter can be your biggest ally in the job hunt and there are many ways to influence your relationship with your recruiter. Failing to express gratitude is a significant mistake. A simple thank you goes a long way toward strengthening your relationship with the recruiter. By thanking the recruiter for their time and informing them you’d be interested in anything similar that comes along leaves the door open to you working with them in the future.

Please forgive me while I take a moment to rant. I truly try my best to be so kind and thoughtful when I interview people, however I don’ t understand why I don’t receive that in return! Please don’t tell your recruiter that you are interested in a position, or that you accept the position, or lie about your background or that you can’t pass a drug test. Recruiters truly love what they do, and we find helping people find meaningful employment very rewarding. If you are the candidate being interviewed, please do not be rude to your recruiter. We are here simply to help you. There, I could go on, but I’ll stop here, for so many reasons. Be kind, people!

Let’s face it. Conducting an interview is not easy. Not easy on the applicant and not easy on the interviewer. You, the interviewer, have been tasked with the responsibility of finding that perfect employee. The one who has the right education, skill set or experience. The ones that’s going to report to work every day on time. That one employee who will work well within your company, be a contributor and succeed in the role. No pressure, right?

Below are a few guidelines to help you conduct a successful interview.

1. Being prepared will help you to establish a rhythm to the interview: Carefully read the candidates resume and cover letter shortly before the interview. It will help you formulate the right questions and gain insight into the candidate’s skills and experience.
2. Hold the interview in a place where you can maintain a private one-on-one conversation. A quiet place without distractions. Make sure everything is set up prior to the interview to ensure a smooth and effective experience.
3. Prepare a list of questions in advance. The number of questions depends on how long you expect the interview to take. Be sure to include open-ended behavioral questions so candidates can elaborate on their skills and experience. Other types of questions to consider asking include brain teaser questions and unique questions. These are an excellent way to see how a candidate handles pressure.
4. Interviews should be conversational, not confrontational. Ask how they are doing and if they had any trouble finding the location. Make a positive impression and make them feel comfortable. Interviews should be two-way street so be sure to leave enough time to answer any questions they might have.
5. Explain the interview process and the next steps. Explain your hiring process. Be clear what the next steps will be. Should they expect a call? How long will it take for a decision?
6. Follow up after the interview. Even if you decide not to hire, it’s important to let them know. Follow up shows that you respect their time and effort and can give a positive reputation and candidate experience.

By using the right techniques, you can quickly find the right person for the job.

Questions to ask candidates:

• What career accomplishment makes you most proud?
• Tell me something about yourself that isn’t on your resume.
• Why do you want to work here?
• What made you want to apply for this position?
• Tell me about a time you made a mistake.
• What can you offer us that other candidates can’t?

Whether we like it or not, stress is a part of our day-to-day lives. It’s important to know how to relieve stress so that it doesn’t take a toll on your mental health. Stress displays differently for each person.  Some people may experience mostly physical symptoms (such as headaches and stomach pain), while others may have more emotional symptoms (like difficulty focusing and mood swings). Without proper care, stress can lead to long term mental health issues, such as:

• Depression: Stress causes lower mood, which can increase the risk of developing depression.
• Panic Attacks: Stress leads to higher levels of the neurotransmitter epinephrine, which can trigger the fight-or-flight response responsible for panic attacks.
• Insomnia: Stress can manifest as physical tension and racing thoughts, which in turn can make sleeping difficult.
• Anxiety: A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

You can learn to manage stress and lead happier, healthier lives. Here are some tips to help you keep stress at bay.

1. Clear your schedule. Making space in your schedule will make things feel less rushed and give back your sense of control.
2. Incorporate some mindfulness. Find ways to take mental breaks during your day. Breathing techniques and exercises are an easy way to relieve your stress, even if you’re sitting at a desk.
3. Focus on your physical health. Physical activity is a great method of stress relief.  Simple activities like taking a ten-minute walk can make a difference.
4. Try self-care. If possible, self-care should be part of your mental wellbeing routine. When you’re feeling stressed out, self-care is even more important. Be extra attentive about utilizing self-care in order to relieve your stress.
5. Get enough sleep. Sleep is one of the building blocks for maintaining our physical and mental health. Protect your sleep when you’re feeling stressed. If you’re having trouble sleeping, find ways to make sure you get enough.
6. Talk to others. We’re all in this together. Family/Social support can make a big difference on how we handle stress. Lean on the important people in your life and ask for help when you need it.
7. Get a new hobby. Channel your stress and worry into learning a new activity or hobby. Even if it just acts as a distraction, a hobby can be a great way to spend the free time that you might have spent worrying.
8. Reach out when you need help. If stress is starting to interfere with your day-to-day life, it might be time to seek out medical advice. Talk to a general practitioner or a mental health professional.

Stress will always be a part of our lives. With some work, we can manage it and make sure it doesn’t take over our lives.

Coping with stress during the COVID-19 outbreak

These are certainly unusual, unchartered times we’re living in. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, confused and angry during a crisis. Feeling isolated and lonely can increase your feelings of stress and anxiety. Here are some things to remember.

It’s normal to feel stressed, sad and scared: Stay informed. Knowing the facts about COVID-19 can help reduce stress and stigma.

If you must stay home, maintain a healthy lifestyle: proper diet, sleep and exercise will help things to feel normal. Stay connected with family and friends.

Don’t use drugs or alcohol to deal with your emotions: If you feel overwhelmed talk with a health worker. Have a plan on where to go and how to seek help.

Get the facts: Gather information that will help you determine your risk. Find credible sources such as local or state public health agencies or find a trusted website.

Limit worry: Lessen the time you spend watching or listening to media coverage that is upsetting to you.

There will be good days and bad days both physically and emotionally. Keep a positive attitude. Accept that some things you cannot control. Make time for hobbies interest and learn healthy ways of dealing with the stress in your life.