Your Mind Your Body

We spend a lot of time at work. So, to be unhappy at work means we spend a lot of time unhappy. No one faults a person for looking elsewhere when work starts to take a toll, and sometimes, unhappiness at work requires a change. But for a variety of reasons, before changing jobs, it might just help to re-think the one you have.

Dr. Martin Seligman, in an article on positive psychology, notes three kinds of satisfaction or happiness: pleasure, engagement, and meaning. What if you decided to say to yourself, “For now, this is the job I have,” and then pursue one or all of these kinds of happiness at your current work?

Pleasure

For instance, how might you increase the amount of pleasure at work? It might involve arranging a regular lunch with co-workers you like, or just making sure that you take your whole lunch break more often. (I guess I get most of my pleasure at lunchtime!) Imagine how your workweeks tend to go and write down ways to increase your pleasure from one day to another. Test one or two ideas out and be persistent. It might take a while to change some of the patterns that have developed.

Engagement

To change your sense of engagement at work, you might ask yourself about the chances you have to feel a sense of accomplishment. Can you set personal benchmarks that challenge you but fit your strengths, interests and assigned tasks? Can you talk to your boss or supervisor about other goals you’d like to achieve or responsibilities you’d like to take on? Can you change your approach to customers, phone calls, or deadlines as a way to change your focus or attention? Again, pick a few ideas and try them out for a while.

Meaning

Happiness from a sense of meaning reflects appreciation for something larger than the self—pursuing a cause or purpose. People who see their work as a vocation might have an easier time finding meaning in their workday. Others, however, might have to be more creative in order to find meaning at work. Can you become more aware of the end goal of your organization—the product or service it provides and the role you play in providing it? Perhaps more practically, does your organization sponsor any volunteer activities or fundraisers you could participate in or even help organize? Do you work alongside others who are also dissatisfied at work, and can you offer them something to improve their workdays?

When pleasure, engagement, and meaning all converge, it’s known as living “the full life.” Imagine living the full life—at work. After all, when you’re happy at work, you’re spending a lot of your time happy.

Photo by Te55 

Filed under: Resilience, Work/Life | No Comments »

For all of you Reality TV junkies, the latest season of Celebrity Rehab (Season 3), the brainchild of Dr. Drew Pinsky, MD, was no doubt a success.  It portrays and chronicles the addiction and early recovery process of several struggling celebrities with all the guilty-pleasure-sympathy-inducing drama that fans could hope for.  As a psychologist, one could have a field day with character analysis.  As an addiction expert, the show highlights many important aspects of addiction and early recovery.  From Tom Sizemore to Dennis Rodman to Mackenzie Phillips to Mindy McCready, to name a few, viewers are exposed to the delusions of denial and the depths of despair.  The biological, psychological, emotional and social consequences of addiction are no less dramatic for “regular folk” as we experience in our daily lives or as portrayed in the series Intervention (A&E network).  Despite it’s obvious and shameless made-for-TV disingenuousness, Celebrity Rehab and it’s spin-off Sober House have merit.  At the very least, these TV shows bring attention to the insidious nature of addiction and the hope of recovery.  This may be a controversial subject for some but I’m interested to hear your comments.

Filed under: Lifestyle & Behaviors, Substance Abuse, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

So, we have officially started the third month of the New Year. How is it going so far? Have you been able to maintain the resolutions you set at the beginning of the year? If not, do not despair because there is hope. It is never too late to make changes that could have a positive impact on your health, and every little bit helps. For this reason, I am devoting this blog to a few of the smaller everyday changes that caregivers should consider that will hopefully provide dividends down the road. So, if you are in need of suggestions for smaller, more attainable goals, this is the place for you. Here are a few resolutions that stem from lessons I have learned in working with those who spend their time engaged in caring for a loved one with dementia.

• I will make more of an effort to take care of myself. I emphasize this to the caregivers I work with during every visit. It is so easy to lose track of one’s personal needs when you are focused on caring for someone who depends on you so desperately. Unfortunately, neglecting one’s own health can lead to a decreased ability to provide the very care that keeps your loved one stable and safe. Therefore, keeping doctor’s appointments, taking medications as prescribed, and getting rest whenever possible are vital keys to success for the caregiver.
• I will continue to learn about my loved one’s disease. Whether it is Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy Body Dementia, or dementia related to vascular issues, one of the most important aspects of providing care is to know what challenges are involved with the process. Increasing your own knowledge of the various behavioral issues and cognitive limitations that are common in dementia allows one to be more prepared for the road that lies ahead.
• I will treat myself as often as possible to the little enjoyments in life. It may be recording your favorite television program so you can watch it when you have time, spending more time outside on a sunny day, or even sneaking a bite of chocolate throughout the day. Whatever it is that brings you joy, be sure you do it often (and guilt-free).
• I will acknowledge my feelings about my loved one who suffers from dementia. This may mean dealing with emotions of anger, disappointment, or regret related to the the demands associated with providing care for someone with dementia. This is never an easy process, but it is only through recognition of these feelings that a person can gain a more complete understanding and, hopefully, develop effective ways of coping with them.
• I will try to be more flexible in my approach to providing care. I often speak with caregivers who become frustrated with trying to get their loved one to complete some of the simplest tasks. Whether the struggle is over taking a pill, buttoning up a shirt, or making sure the care recipient’s hair is combed to the right side. Sometimes the best option is to take a break, step away, and either try again later or forget about it altogether.
• I understand that I am not perfect and I never will be. One thing that makes caregiving such a dynamic and difficult process is that the care being provided is constantly changing. Approaches to manage the behavioral issues associated with dementia may work one day and not the next. You may lose your temper and say things that you wish you had not. No one is perfect and these things happen to everyone. Instead of dwelling on the aspects of caregiving you wish you could have done differently, focus on the lessons learned and the many ways you show your loved one you care each and every day.

Filed under: Aging, Chronic Illness & Disease Management, Lifestyle & Behaviors, Stress | 1 Comment »