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Festive period is here! Whether you are jingling bells all the way, stuffing a sock, getting a tree or decking the halls…It is starting to look a lot like Christmas. Finally, it is that time of the year when Santa comes bearing gifts. The kids are excited. The big family is coming together. Friends will reunite. Workers pull a curtain on the working year and everyone is happy.
It is no news that a lot happens during Christmas and the end of the year. There are so many events; family parties, concerts, charity and general acts of giving. The point is one way or the other, you will do a lot of spending. The real talk here is not about the spending, at least you have been working towards it the whole year, but the most important thing is how to keep your finances in check for the New Year.
Like we know, January is annoyingly long. Maybe because it is 31days and it is the first month of the year after a period of festivities and relaxation. It feels like a whole year in just a month. Without fully preparing, the slower the days get the more anxious you are about not having enough money to get things done. Read more
Preparing for Christmas and New Year is very important. Here’s a few tips we put together to help you keep your finances in check and get you ready.
Festive Period: 3 Ways to keep your finances in check for New Year
- Draft a plan: This is the most important thing. It is a careful and deliberate planning process. You have to know what exactly you want to do for Christmas and New Year. The things you are likely to spend on. The activities you have outlined for yourself and your family or your friends. The places you would like to visit, maybe. The gifts you would like to send to family, friends and colleagues. Christmas decorations for your home. A lot of people like to go with the flow without having a plan, whatever comes up. It is not might not end badly for some people but most times it is a bad idea. You end up spending more than you ever imagined or bargained for.
2. Have a budget: After planning, another important thing is having a budget. Putting a price limitation on those activities and things you have outlined. In other words, you must know the total amount you are willing to spend during the festive period. You do not just want to spend on anything and everything. It is the festive period, there will definitely be temptations of impulse buying and spending. But if you have a strict budget and you are clear on your plans for the festive period, you will not fall victim of impulse buying and spending. Also, settle your debts. Include payments of outstanding debts in your budget.
3. Eliminate debts: Avoid running into debts in the festive period. One of the good things about having a budget already is to curb your spending so as to not run into debts. Make sure you pay off your pending debts as included in your budget. You do not want to carry debts over into the New Year.
4. Invest: It is important to invest every time not just festive periods. If you have extra money, make sure you invest it. When you invest, you have returns on your investment and you can make better use of the money. If you have money laying around at your disposal during festive period, you might want to use it impulsively. If you invest it, you will be able to keep your finances in check. Read more on effective personal finance.
It might not be easy because we all have tendencies to splurge because it is festive season and we are hyper. Preparing well enough for festive season will get you ready for the New Year.
Good inter-personal communication is the exchange of information between two or more people. It is the process of sharing messages clearly and concisely to achieve mutual understanding. Good communication is about understanding instructions, acquiring new skills, making requests, asking questions and relaying information with ease. Communication is not a one way process. It is a two-way process. The sender is as important as the receiver and the receiver is as important as the sender. To achieve mutual understanding, both parties have to be involved.
Most people struggle with good inter-personal communication because they do not consider the other party. They are only interested in passing the message across without making sure the other party understands. A lot of people don’t have good inter-personal communication skills. It is harder for those who also lack inter-personal relationship skills (introverts and anti- social people) but that doesn’t mean extroverts have better communication skills.
Inter-personal relationship covers written messages, verbal messages, including body language. For written messages, your messages must be clear, concise, coherent, complete, and correct. You do not want to confuse the recipient of the message (the reader).
Verbal message, you have to be mindful of your tone and language. You might be saying something that is totally harmless but because of the manner in which you raised your voice, the wrong message might be conveyed to the person you are speaking to.
Your body language is also very important during inter-personal communication. Your gestures and facial expressions say as much as your words. Avoid restless behaviors. Relax and maintain eye contact.
Good inter-personal communication is very important. It fosters great relationship between people. It reduces friction and conflicts. It enhances productivity (in the workplace). It helps to build strong connections. It can boost one’s credibility. You become more open and transparent to others if you communicate well. Read more.
In every conversation, each party involved already has their opinions and prejudice that makes it harder for them to communicate effectively. Here is a few ways to communicate better;
Good inter-personal communication: 3 ways to communicate better
- Listen- It is said that most people listen to reply, they do not listen to understand. Listening is paying close attention to details of a particular information or message to understand the intent of the sender and the meaning of the information. Listening in communication is basically paying attention to absorb information. To communicate better, you have to calm down to pay adequate attention to the other party. Do not filter pieces of the information that you are interested in. Listen to the message as a whole. When you do not listen, you will easily misunderstand the messages being conveyed. Without listening, there will be communication breakdown.
2. Explain- It is very important to explain during inter-personal communication. You have to understand the other party cannot read your mind or your intent. If you do not explain, they will not understand. Do not assume the other person is on the same page as you and they ought to understand without you explaining. Always explain unless the other person makes it clear to you that they truly understand the information you are trying to pass across. Explaining just makes it easier to absorb information and establish clarity.
3. Understand perspective- This is similar to the collaboration approach in conflict resolution. Everyone cannot have the same stance, opinion or view on topics or issues. Never try to show superiority or show the need to be right in a conversation. Taking a look at the other person’s perspective to understand their view makes communication easier. Your perspectives might be different but that doesn’t mean one party’s right or better and vice-versa. The best way to achieve mutual understanding is to respect and accept the perspective of the other party.
A positive attitude is a right attitude or behavior towards others. It is also being optimistic about situations, interactions, and yourself. Positive attitude is important at home, work, school, church etc. People with positive attitude are generally likeable. They are easier to relate with. They are sweet and helpful to others. They are courteous and friendly. They are not rude or salty towards others.
There is no doubt that skills and experience is required to get a job but only a positive attitude can keep the job. A positive attitude is highly recommended in the workplace. It fosters great relationship, communication and cooperation among members of staff that enhances productivity in the workplace. It also reduces conflicts and hatred among employees. Read more.
You do not want to be the boss that is totally unlikeable. The co-worker nobody trusts to get work done. The one that is not diligent or punctual. You do not want to be that employee that is always fighting. The one nobody wants to associate with or invite to office parties and gatherings. There is no good in having bad relationship with your co-workers due to your lack of maintaining a positive attitude in the workplace.
Your attitude determines your actions. Your actions determines your accomplishment –John Maxwell
Having a positive attitude at work does not guarantee immunity against stress, pressure or frustration at work. It only means better management and control of the situation. Not letting difficult situations make you act irrationally towards others. You might not be the most skilled or most experienced but having a positive attitude improves your value in the work place.
4 Positive Attitudes to imbibe in the Workplace
- Be committed to the job- Above everything, your commitment to your job matters and you should not make any decision that affects your job negatively. When you are committed to your job, you will avoid situations that involves you fighting with your co-workers, getting to work late or spreading office gossips and rumors etc. Show strong dedication and passion for your job. Be very professional but very relatable.
Know that your success is based entirely on your attitude, your commitment and self-discipline- Ellen Mensap
2. Respect others- Every office consists of a diverse group of people with different opinions, beliefs and ideologies. No matter who it is, whether it is your boss or a junior colleague. Respect everyone at work. Be polite and humble. Do not be over confident or condescending. Regard your differences and cooperate with others. Always be ready to learn from everyone.
3. Be a team player- The reason you are in that work environment is to get your job done. By getting your job done, you have to work with others. Being a team player simply means to be easy to work with on a team. A team player is someone who actively contributes to their group in order to complete tasks, meet goals and manage projects. Understand your role. Embrace collaboration. Be accountable. It is not easy working with others, you have to be open minded and tolerant. Read more on how to work better with a team.
A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results.- Wade Boggs
4. Be approachable- Everyone wants to work with a friendly person. You have to be approachable; nice and easy to talk to. Take your personal grievances aside and be helpful to others. Smile always. Show empathy. Express care and concern. Be mindful with your words; use the right language and actions; control your emotions.
With a positive attitude, you can fit in any environment you find yourself.
Home maintenance is as important as home ownership. It is not enough to own a home, you have to maintain it after. Home maintenance is maintaining the structure, fittings, fixtures and ensuring your home looks good, safe and secure. Home maintenance is like going to a doctor for routine health checkup. It is not a one-time thing. It is something that should be done often and consistently; could be fortnightly, monthly or quarterly depending on the extent of maintenance being done. It is very important for you to take proper care of your home. Home maintenance increases the value of your home. It saves you money in the long term and it improves your living experience. Read more
The state of your house and environment has a strong influence on how you are perceived. Imagine being negligent about maintaining your house, leaving it in a deplorable condition. It sends a wrong notion about you to your friends, neighbors and co-workers who visit you often. If you cannot maintain your home; your personal space where you live. Then you cannot be trusted with maintaining important tasks or jobs.
You might think maintaining your home is just doing minor cleaning often. Home maintenance is not as basic as sweeping, cleaning, wiping surfaces etc. Those are just regular cleaning routines but there is more to maintaining your house than that. It could be technical, you might be needing extra hands or a handyman to get it done or it could be simple maintenance you can get done yourself. Here’s a few home maintenance tips/ideas;
7 home maintenance tips/ideas
- Check for leakages- Certain things are known to leak easily in every house. Check for holes in your roof, leaking pipes or faucets. Rusty roofs, pipes and faucets tend to leak easily. Fixing this mostly requires the service of a handyman. Failure to check these things out puts your house at a risk of being flooded. It could affect other appliances in the home or your fixtures.
2. Check for cracks in walls- It is important to check for cracks in your walls especially the ones around the window and door corners. Insects such as bugs can hide in those cracks.
3. Clear out drains and gutters- Make sure your drainage system is not clogged. Dirt and wastes in or around the house can block the drain and gutter. A clogged drain or gutter can cause the house to be flooded or harbor insects. Be sure to clean it out thoroughly.
4. Trim shrubs away from your house- leaving shrubs around your house will only invite rodents and pests. It is okay to have vegetation in your house but make sure it is properly groomed.
5. Always replace burned out bulbs- There is need for proper lighting inside and outside the house. When you notice a bulb is burned out, replace it whether it’s in a major spot in the house or not.
6. Replace broken windows and furniture- Inspect your windows and furniture. Replace all broken windows and fix the broken furniture. Leaving broken windows and furniture around the house can cut or injure anyone, especially visitors that are not aware.
7. Touch up on the paint- Over time the paint of your house will wear out. Although you are not expected to re-paint your house weekly or monthly. You could do it yearly. It makes your stay beautiful and attractive. Almost as good as new.
Getting a house is not easy. Therefore, Protect, maintain and preserve your house. A house that is not properly maintained is a threat to its owner. If you fail to maintain your home. You might lose your home.
Home. What does it really mean to you? Home is different things to different people. We all hold our different ideas and definitions based on our feelings which is why the popular saying goes thus “Home is not a place…it’s a feeling. To a person it could be the warmth of family and to another it could be a space or shelter. It is said to be a haven for safety, comfort and security. Click here to read different perceptions of people.
Home should be an anchor, a port in a storm, a refuge, a happy place in which to dwell, a place where we are loved and where we can love.- Marvin J Ashton.
Everyone wants to feel secure. Everyone deserves security and comfort. The sense of having a place to call your own; to create and recreate and a space to harbor so many memories is a feeling that can likely never be compared to another.
Someone might be having a bad day and you hear them say “I just want to go home” and sometimes they are having a great day and they still say “I can’t wait to go home”. There are so many emotions within the walls and confines of a home. There is a different sense of belonging that comes with being at home that’s why people are more comfortable there than any other place because it is their personal space. They feel most secure there.
The importance of a home cannot be over emphasized especially owning your own home. Someone once said, “Owning your own home is one of the best feelings ever. It can’t be described in words, it can’t be quantified in money. It is a feeling that makes life’s daily grind worth facing. It assures you that after all the ups and downs, you have a place to go to…a place that will never judge you and always invite you with open arms.” The process starts with you getting a house.
Doubts and fears about getting a house is very normal. It isn’t a smooth sail, it never is but it is a sail that leads to a fruitful and profitable venture in the end. There are certain things you need to know or put in place to get you started ;
What you need to know about Home ownership
- Research: It is important to have background knowledge about housing and properties to come up with a plan. Basically conduct a research; seek the help of professionals in the field, ask questions then come up with a plan that works for you.
2. Draft a plan: You need to draft a plan after conducting your research. Based on your research you have to decide what type of house you can afford, the location and type of environment you want the house. The facilities you want the house to have. If you want to get the house on mortgage or pay out-rightly. If you would like to purchase a land and handle the building and structuring by yourself. All of these things should be put in consideration while drafting a plan.
3. Start home ownership savings: Once your plan is ready, you need to start saving up immediately. You already have a budget so set a target to be reached weekly or monthly as the case may be. Saving guarantees you the financial security you need when working towards home ownership. Click here to read more about getting started on the savings.
As long as you are adequately prepared and informed, then there is nothing to worry about. It is everything you ever imagined and more. Aspire to own a home, it’s worth it.
I don’t travel a lot, in fact I hate traveling or should I say I used to hate traveling. The idea of being in transit for hours to a destination never really seemed fun to me. Maybe it’s because I’m restless and I hate being confined to a particular space or position. Traveling was a big red flag till one experience changed my orientation completely. I went on a road trip with my family one Easter, did I mention how much I hate traveling by road? Well I really do.
We travelled four hours from the city we live to a small village to climb a historical mountain with waterfalls. The idea wasn’t fun to me at first, of course I thought “why would anyone travel four hours just to climb a mountain with waterfalls”, till we arrived at our destination.
The environment was serene. The ambience was different; the chirping birds and trees, the water from the falls felt so soothing; clear and calm. Climbing the mountain to the top for about three hours was a challenging and tedious one but it felt so different from everything I’ve ever done in my life. The view from the peak of the mountain is one of the most beautiful views I’ve seen in my life. Everything about that experience was a whole new feeling; the villagers we interacted with, the food and the small villages we encountered on our way. After everything, I said to myself “I’d love to do this again” because it was worth it.
Traveling-it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.- Ibn Battuta
It is funny how some people don’t think they have really travelled or it is really worth it if they aren’t leaving their country to a different region or continent. Travel is simply visiting another location, it could be another city or state within your country or another country or continent. You do not have to leave your country or continent to get that travel experience you hope for. The beauty of it are those little things; the little details you don’t see or experience in your everyday life. Traveling is an activity that eases the mind.
A major travel deal breaker is the expenses. It’s okay to visit places you can afford before you move on to other more expensive places. To visit expensive places, deliberate planning is mostly required. You would have to save up for the trip or journey. That is why it is important to adopt a saving culture. Also, some people conclude there are bad travel experiences, yes there are because there are ups and downs at every point in life. No matter how bad the travel experience is, you will still discover a new world different from what you usually see and learn a thing or two. It is something that is worth it, it will always be. Read more
Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves a mark on your memory, on your consciousness, on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, leave something good behind.- Anthony Bourdain.
5 important reasons you should travel more
- Discover cultures- Culture Is the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a particular people or society. There’s so much to discover and learn in life and traveling is one of the easiest ways to discover more. Culture is a mirror; a reflection of generations of history, generally accepted values and beliefs of a group of people. Culture encompasses food, art, music, fashion and so much more. Discovering cultures is basically taking a peek into the lives of other people, their identity; what makes them who they are. By discovering cultures you will find what you have in common with a group of people and a lot of things that differentiates your way of life from theirs.
2. New perspective- Everyone needs a new perspective at some point in their life. Having a new perspective makes you open minded. You are ready to learn new things. You are able to adapt to any situation. Having a new perspective gives you a better relationship with others. It makes you understand others more; you are able to step into their world and relate with them.
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.-Saint Augustine.
3. People and networks- Meeting new people exposes you to so many opportunities. Traveling gives you a chance to meet with an endless list of people. Networking is tapping into connections you have to help you get the right opportunities. Every time you leave your usual geographical location to another, you meet different people with access to different networks and opportunities. You have to use your communication and inter-personal relationship skills to secure connections; you should get to know other people, what they are about and how they can be helpful to you.
4. Memories and adventures- There is so much to do when you travel. Different destinations hold their own experience. Everything that happens while you travel is an adventure on its own; the experience, the cuisine, the sites, the luxury. Remember to hold on to those memories; Take lots of pictures. Make videos. Write if you can. One of the sweetest parts of it the memories it brings.
5. Innovation- Sometimes all you need to get fresh ideas and inspiration is to travel. The reason you are having a creative block may be because your mind is tired of your usual environment and you need a change of environment. Have you heard people talk about their success story and they say what led to their major breakthrough was an idea they got during a trip? Yes that’s the power of traveling. Do not limit yourself, there’s so much to discover!
“I travel because it makes me realize how much I haven’t seen, how much I’m not going to see, and how much I still need to see.”-Carew Papritz
Buying a house in Nigeria seems like a scary endeavor especially when you are a first time buyer. There are so many purchases that have been made that have also been regretted, it may be a gadget or some form of clothing. However the cost implications of minor purchases can not to be compared to the cost implications of purchasing a property that you will end up regretting. Unfortunately, many people have made really bad mistakes and have taken wrong decisions in trying to purchase a house. Guard yourself with this information to prevent costly mistakes and get the best out of your purchase.
THINGS NOT TO DO WHEN BUYING A HOUSE
NOT BEING WISE WITH DOCUMENTATION: In buying a house, you need to be knowledgeable, smart and practical with the documentation processes. It is very important that you pay close attention to the application processes, giving the right information to the bank about your earning capacity, patterns and expenses. This information will be needed by the bank before they can tell you how much they can advance you.
GETTING EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED; In trying to purchase a home, it is advisable that when shopping, do not get emotionally attached to a house that you have not yet purchased as this might hinder your honest judgments of the house and most times close up inspections will not be taken as important and this might spell problems for you in the long run. Buying a house is one of the most important purchases you will make in your life. Relax and shop without getting emotionally attached.
SPENDING MORE THAN YOU CAN AFFORD: One of the biggest mistakes first-time home buyers make is not knowing what they can afford and overspending past their limit. In buying a house, it is advisable to get pre-qualified before you even start looking at houses. After pre-qualification has been done to ascertain how much you can afford based on your earning capacity and expenditures, you can properly begin to assess and shop for houses. Otherwise you could end up disappointed.
UNDERESTIMATING THE FULL COSTS OF BUYING A HOME: Another big mistake that first time home buyers is failing to realize that the acquisition of a house is just the beginning of expenses. Many home buyers fail to budget for the entire costs that are associated with buying a house. There will be additional expenses like payment of property taxes, insurance against disasters, payment of some particular neighborhood development fee let alone moving in and furnishing. In order to ensure that all these additional expenses do not catch you off guard, it will be safe to set aside a budget for them.
NEGLECTING HOME INSPECTIONS: Before you buy a house, you need to be sure that you are buying a well built and well maintained property. You do not want to sign those dotted lines and a month down the line, you discover leakages and floor creaks in your house. With that being said, it is crucial to have a professional house inspector examine your house of interest thoroughly. In fact, some banks have this as a requirement before they can formally approve your home loan.
GETTING A MORTGAGE YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND: In buying a house, a mortgage is a very important tool that will help you achieve your goal of owning a house with little or no stress. It is important to understand the mortgage that you are signing up for. If a mortgage seems complicated or confusing, getting professional help should be your next point of call before signing or agreeing to anything.
Mortgage with adjustable rates may become unaffordable with time and as these rates go up. You need to know the right questions that you should be asking. Questions like what the starting payments are and how the interest rate works are great questions to ask when you do not understand the mortgage terms.
With cooperative mortgage bank, you can be rest assured of getting professional advice and you can be sure that you will be provided with high quality housing with ease of payments. Remember that if you do not understand the terms, do not sign.
Health and hygiene is a vital phenomenon for a healthy and hygienic life, as it plays a crucial role in the prevention against the spread of diseases and germs.
Health according to the World Health Organization [WHO], is the state of complete physical, mental and social well- being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Therefore, if a person is free of diseases or in a good physical condition, but under stress, tension, anger and greed, he is not considered healthy. Health, however is a positive state of well-being in which all body parts and mind remains in harmony and proper balance. Hence,” Health refers to having a healthy mind in a healthy body.”
According to the World Health Organization [WHO], Hygiene is a series of practices performed to preserve health. Hygiene also refers to conditions and practices that helps in maintaining health and prevent the spread of germs and diseases.
Hygiene is mostly perceived as cleanliness. Cleanliness, however is the state or habit of being neat, while hygiene is a choice of making personal habits consistent.
5 BASIC PRACTICES THAT PROMOTES POSITIVE HEALTH AND HYGIENE
“Take care of your body, it is the only place you have to live”
JIM ROHN
Proper grooming and healthy personal habits help ward off illness, as cleanliness is the foundation to promoting positive health and hygiene.
Below are basic health and hygienic etiquettes to imbibe:
1-BODY HYGIENE: Body hygiene is an essential factor towards achieving a positive health and hygiene. Body odor is the decomposition of sweat by bacteria which is caused due to moistened and dried sweat on dried skins, making dirt stick on the skin and cloth surfaces. Keeping the body clean, prevents numerous medical conditions. While taking a bath regularly with soap and warm water, washes away dirt and bacteria responsible for many diseases and body odor. The use of antiseptic , and body deodorants, as well as washing clothes and underwear regularly in disinfectant, helps fight against body odor.
2-ORAL HYGIENE: The mouth is full of bacteria and is a perfect environment for bacterial growth, prone to collecting harmful bacteria and infections .Oral hygiene is one of the crucial etiquettes in maintaining a positive health and hygiene ,but widely underrated. The process of breaking down food into particles begins in the mouth cavity, which leaves debris sticking on the surfaces of our teeth and gums. Keeping the teeth and gums healthy requires , regular brushing and flossing. Mouth washes , sprays and flavored mints, help clears food particles and plaque responsible for tooth decay, various gum diseases and bad breath .If oral health problem persists, seeing a dentist for proper oral healthcare services is advised.
3-HAND HYGIENE: Hand hygiene is another health and hygienic practice that is often disregarded. Most infections, especially cold and gastroenteritis-[an intestinal infection marked by diarrhea, cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever] , are contracted when unwashed hands containing germs are kept in the mouth .However, hands and wrists must be washed with clean soap and water, using a brush if the fingernails are dirty, as well as drying the hands with clean towels or hot air dryer.
Hand washing must be done;
-After using the toilet
-After handling pets i.e Animals
-Before making and eating meals
-After been around persons with symptoms of cough and cold.
4-NUTRITIONAL HYGIENE: Nutritional hygiene is a branch of health and hygiene that studies the problems of complete and sound nutrition of the healthy human .It studies human nutrition in relation to sex, age, occupation, climatic conditions and other factors. The practical tasks of nutritional hygiene is the development of sound nutrition in work groups and for children in pre-schools and other institutions. Nutritional hygiene develops prophylactic nutrition for workers in enterprises, and work out methods of effective sanitary control in public eating places and food industries, in order to prevent the possible development of harmful substances in food products.
In addition, nutritional hygiene devises measures to prevent food poisoning, toxic infections and intoxication. Hence, developing means of supervision of merchandise and public eating places.
In the field of USSR scientific research, nutritional hygiene is carried out by;
-The Institute Of Nutrition
-Academy Of Medical Sciences of the USSR in Moscow
-Scientific Research Laboratory
-Department of Republic Sanitary-hygiene Institutes
-Branch institutes of the cereal, meat, dairy, canning, dried vegetables and confectionery industries.
-Practical problems of nutritional hygiene are solved by; public health monitoring organizations, by performing local sanitary inspection.
5-TRAVELLING HYGIENE-This is another essential health and hygienic practice, as it is important to keep a positive health and hygiene when travelling. Keeping the hands clean, using an alcohol based sanitizer before meals, and after using the washroom. Depending on the climate and skin type; sunblock, moisturizers and lip balm will be required. Travelling during summer requires staying hydrated and imbibing facial cleanliness. A rinse free facial cleanser, facial cleansing wipes and make-up remover are essential.
A penetrating bad breath is the worst form of odor, often encountered while travelling. However, mint gums and variety of oral care products such as; disposable mini-tooth brushes that can be used without water as well as pocket-sized mouth sprays can be used. Avoiding onions and garlics before travelling, and binging on fruits that naturally cleans the mouth, like apples and lemons may be appropriate.
Lastly, excessive body hygiene should be avoided, as this is a mental disorder called , OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER [OCD].
OCD refers to, conditions in which an individual is affected by obsession and compulsions, focused on some specific themes .OCD can also be described as, when a person feels the need to perform certain routines repeatedly , or some certain repeated thoughts , to an extent of generating distress or impairs general function ability.
To reach a balanced level of health and hygiene, the aforementioned practices must be imbibed, without a form of excessiveness.
Personal health and hygiene extends towards personal grooming, as it pertains to the maintenance of a good personal and public appearance.
“He who has health, has hope, and he who has hope, has everything.”
THOMAS CARLYLE
Team spirit is one of the pillars of success. Every successful person had the right team. The right team does not happen by luck or coincidence, it happens due to careful and positive team spirit. Team spirit is the feeling of pride and loyalty that exists among the members of a team. Team spirit is important in different social groups; at school, work, and church, even in the family.
“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success”- Henry Ford.
Some people say you can get things done without a team. Yes it is possible to do it on your own but it’s faster when you work with people. Moreover, in a competitive space, you need to work with people to achieve more. A writer once said, “We collaborate to compete…” Working with a team fosters unity, friendship and loyalty. Team work can encourage healthy work habits among employees in an organization and also encourage healthy environment in the school, church and at home.
Working together as a team also brings out the best in people. People have different talents, strengths, skills etc. that should be blended in a way that fosters creativity and enhances performance and productivity. Sometimes when we work with others we discover our endless potentials and abilities. We become more self-aware, hence, creating the desire or urge to be better. Read more
Team building is important in developing team spirit. Team building is various types of activities used to enhance social relations and define roles within teams. Team building motivates team members to perform better. Click here to read about team building skills.
“Individually, we are one drop. Together we are an ocean”.- Ryunosuke Satoro.
Team spirit: 5 Ways to Work better with a Team
- Be tolerant- Working with people is not seamless. No one said it will be easy. There will be disagreements and arguments but you have to be tolerant. You have to understand that you are not others. Don’t expect you from others. Other people might not act like you and most definitely not think like you. Respect their opinions and differences. Find common grounds and accept diversity. “Compromise to resolve…”
2. Do not condescend- Members of a team has different skills, potentials and talents. If you are more knowledgeable in some aspect than the other members of your team, do not patronize them. Do not act like you are superior or better than them. Remember it is all about team spirit, teach them and also be sure to learn from them.
3. Be accountable- It is important to be accountable for your behavior and decisions. You should not blame others when things go wrong. To be accountable is to be responsible. Members of your team should be able to trust you and depend on you to do what is right or what is expected of the team.
4. Be cooperative- Cooperation is the building block of every successful team. You have to be supportive of your team by working together with them. Be a team player; a team player is someone who actively contributes to their group in order to complete tasks, meet goals and manage projects.
“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team”- Phil Jackson
5. Be focused- To work successfully with a team, you have to focus. You must have clear goals and objectives and your work should be dedicated to achieving those goals and objectives. Above all, be disciplined; you must be able to behave and work in a controlled way which involves obeying particular rules or standards. Self-management skills are helpful to developing yourself to be focused.
Conflict can be described as a situation where the interests, goals and values of two or more parties interfere. Conflict resolution is very important in a workplace because conflict is inevitable as different stakeholders may have different and opposing priorities. Often, conflicts occur as a result of perception. Conflict is not necessarily bad and it can provide opportunities for growth and improvement depending on the method of resolution. In conflict resolution, different people make use of different methods and most of them have a preferred method that they use regularly.
Methods Of Conflict Resolution
There are five different conflict resolution approaches and these approaches include: Avoiding, Competing, Collaborating, Accommodating and Compromising.
COMPETING APPROACH (Standing your ground)
The competing approach is one in which the concerns and interests of the opposing party are completely ignored. It is also known as standing your ground to get your demands met regardless of the other party’s demands. This approach considers conflict as a win-lose situation where everything possible is done to ensure that a winner emerges and considers any concession as a sign of weakness. Experts, however advise that this approach be avoided as the disadvantages of this approach outweigh the advantages.
COMPROMISING APPROACH (Giving in)
In using the compromising approach, cooperation and assertiveness are two factors that come into play. This approach is just about one of the conflicting sides giving in to the demands of the other. It means one of the conflicting parties is willing to trade some of their needs for the sake of the other. This approach can be effective when both of the parties involved are equally powerful and not opposed to cooperation. In this approach, both parties have to carefully consider what they can and cannot live without as one of the biggest challenges of the approach is both parties may end up giving up too much and both of them will end up unsatisfied.
COLLABORATING APPROACH (Working together)
The collaborating approach is all about both sides of the conflict working together to ensure that they come up with suitable solutions that favor both sides. This approach sounds similar to the compromising approach but the compromising approach is all about trading some needs in hope that the other party will do same so a consensus can be reached. This approach is an excellent way to combine insights from different people who have the different perspectives. The challenge with this approach is that it is difficult to do as it involves taking into consideration the concerns and emotion of both parties.
ACCOMODATING APPROACH (Indulging the other party)
The accommodating approach is one of selflessness and low assertiveness. In this approach, one side of the conflict is willing to let go of anything to ensure that the conflict dies down and the other party is happy so as to preserve the relationship existing between them. This approach is suitable when one party knows that they are outmatched in power and know they are going to lose anyway or in a situation between a subordinate and a superior.
AVOIDING APPROACH (Withdrawing from the conflict)
This approach as the name implies involves withdrawing from the conflict or pretending not to know there is a conflict of interest. The goal of this approach is to avoid making any decision at any cost. This style is only used when the issues are not of serious concern, when both parties know that delaying in making a decision would not cause any challenges or when more information about the conflict is still forthcoming.
Conflict is an inevitable part of life, both personally and professionally, hence the need for ways of conflict resolution. Conflict resolution has a lot to do with one’s emotional intelligence so as to make sure that the conflict does not escalate. In resolving conflict, it is good to understand each approach of conflict resolution as they all have their appropriate uses and situations and it is helpful to know the conflict resolution approach the other party involved is using.