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How to Indicate a Sabbatical on Your Resume

04/30/2013 By 30 Comments

sabbatical-resumeHow do you indicate a sabbatical or other gap on your resume, whether to smell flowers, travel, write, or more? Reader M wrote in, wondering:

So: any recommendations for indicating a sabbatical/career break on the resume? I am taking this time to volunteer (and travel some, but will emphasize volunteering) and I am proud of that. Face to face it has been easy for me to explain this. My job wasn’t working out, I had some savings, had always wanted to volunteer, and so I quit. How do you think I should indicate this current volunteering time on the resume?

Great question, because I think more and more people are taking sabbaticals. I’m curious to hear what the readers say, but some notes from poking around the Internet:

- “Sabbatical” can mean a lot of different things to different people, and hiring managers will raise an eyebrow at it [Read more...]

Filed Under: Happiness, Interviewing, Transitions, Travel

How to Fit Exercise Into a Busy Day

03/18/2013 By 84 Comments

midday-workoutsAfter we linked to our last open thread on midday workouts, a bunch of readers expressed an interest in having another discussion on how to fit workouts into a busy day.  For my own $.02, in my ideal world I get my exercise out of the way first thing in the morning, my socializing in with friends in the evening, with a long day in between to do lots of work.

But of course, that’s easier said than done.  You may have work commitments in the morning, or prefer to use the time for other personal development.  And as a new mother, the thing I’ve realized since having a baby is that your concept of “me time” changes drastically once you have a kiddo.  Particularly that “morning/evening” time — if it isn’t already committed to work, that time quickly becomes blocked as “family time” — either because you genuinely want to see your child(ren), or you literally have no one else on hand to care for them (unless you have a nanny around the clock, lucky you).  So a midday workout is the only way a lot of people can fit in exercise at all.

So if you have to have a midday workout, here are a few ideas: [Read more...]

Filed Under: After-Work Activities, Energy, Exercise, Happiness, Lifestyle, New Mom, Weight Control

Laughter, Anxiety, and the Overachieving Chick

01/14/2013 By 70 Comments

"Baby trashes bar in Las Palmas"I’ve been thinking lately about how important laughter is — specifically, how important it is to have an honest-to-god giggle fest or a nice deep belly laugh. For my $.02, I feel like it helps me manage anxiety and stress, and for some reason it puts things in perspective. Even if I’m having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, a bit of laughter reminds me that it isn’t quite so bad. At various points in my life I’ve tried to ensure that I get at least one good chuckle a day — in college it was watching a Simpson reruns; in later years it was reading TiVoing The Daily Show, or reading The Onion or Go Fug Yourself.  It’s a habit that has fallen by the wayside as life got busier, but that I’d like to pick up again.

So, ladies, which are your favorite spots for a good chuckle or pick-me-up? I swear, I am keeping the Banana Slicer bookmarked for my next rainy day — and I hate to admit it but this video (“Baby trashes bar in Las Palmas”, embed below) makes me die laughing every time. A few other favorites I’ve linked to in the past:
- Mean Kitty
- Target Women: Yogurt

What are some of the funniest things that you’ve seen on YouTube, or read on the Internet?  Where do you go for a good dose of laughter? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Happiness, Personal Care, Stress

Making Real Change…With Just One Thing

01/02/2013 By 54 Comments

My number one, originally uploaded to Flickr by Snowflakesarewhite.Can changing just one thing make a big impact in your life?  It’s my plan of attack for my New Year resolutions, so I guess we’ll see…

I was reading this article in Working Mother with tips from top executives, all of whom happen to be mothers, and I was intrigued by the “One Thing” program at Bank of America, as described by Cynthia Bowman, Senior VP in Leadership Development:  “Each of us identifies the single thing that would be the biggest help in achieving work life balance. My ‘one thing’ is protecting my weekends.” (Pictured.)

I mentally bookmarked it and said, ah yes, we should talk about that at some point on the blog.  But this somehow got conflated with my New Year resolutions in my head… and now I think I’ve got a pretty good idea: [Read more...]

Filed Under: After-Work Activities, Happiness, Lifestyle, Organization, Productivity

Navy Skirts… and Tights?

12/18/2012 By 63 Comments

1What color tights do you wear with a navy suit? Reader B wonders…

I’m a skirt suit kinda girl, in part because I prefer to commute in flats and then switch to heels at the office. (Since I’m short, most of my suit pants are hemmed for heels.) Winter isn’t a problem for my black and grey suits; I just trade the hose for black tights. (Side note: the Commando tights you recommended are now my absolute favorites.)

Here’s the issue: two of my favorite skirt suits are navy or navy pinstripe (similar to this J. Crew and this Banana Republic). Pairing navy tights with a navy suit seems crazy monochromatic, and most of the heather or grey tights I’ve seen feel a bit casual for the office. So I end up wearing plain old hose, and my legs freeze on the way to work.

Hmmn.  Great question — this is actually the combo that led me, many moons ago, to wear purple fishnets to work (pictured, in a random picture I happened to take that day – navy sweater, navy wool skirt, purple fishnets, purple shoes), although the last time we took a poll on fishnets at the office readers were really against ‘em.  (Although, if you want, you can get a pair of purple fishnets here, or a crochet set here.) Poking around a bit online, here are a few more ideas: [Read more...]

Filed Under: Commuting, Family Planning, Happiness, Jewelry, Layering Pieces, Outerwear, Pantyhose, Reader Favorites, Stress, Suits, Tights, Wear to Work, Weather

Open Thread: Hiring a Cleaning Lady

02/27/2012 By 253 Comments

Cleaning supplies, originally uploaded to Flickr by AnnieGreenSpringsReaders, have you hired someone to clean your house or apartment? What are your best tips for how to hire a cleaning lady?  When did you first hire them? (Right out of school, after you reached a certain salary, after you got married or had kids… when?) What have you learned about the process, such as how to be a good boss, how to communicate your wishes, and how to get what you want?

You see, for years, I’ve ignored the advice that every older working woman gives every younger working woman: hire a cleaning lady. It makes returning home after a long day spa-like! It saves marriages! It is the easiest thing to outsource! (Pictured: Cleaning supplies, originally uploaded to Flickr by AnnieGreenSprings.)

And yet, I thought: I don’t like people touching my stuff. Or, God forbid, “organizing” my stuff. Particularly while I’m not home! And then if I am home while someone else is cleaning my house… gee, where are the palm fronds and the four buff guys to carry me around?  Also, I thought, I don’t have time to “clean for the cleaning person” — if I did then I would just go ahead and clean the apartment myself.

[Read more...]

Tagged With: , , , Filed Under: After-Work Activities, Happiness, Just Starting Out, Lifestyle, No Time, Organization, Productivity