Archive for August, 2010

Live In or Not to Live In?

Live In or Not to Live In?

Regardless of whether your grandmother and grandfather approve or not, live-in relationships have begun to take precedence over marriages. I say, ‘Cynics never sleep’; so if you have yourself nodding your head in disagreement claiming that ‘Marriages are still the rulers of the game’, then I have news for you. It might just be time for you to wake up and smell the sunshine without a ring on your finger. All said and done, moving in together might or might not be the best option for you and your partner. You wouldn’t want to end up singing Shaggy’s ‘It Wasn’t Me’ just because she has a pair of keys to your place now. All said and done, living with your partner is going to change the equation for you, big time! Look at some of these emotional and financial aspects before  [...]

Avoiding Baby Name Regret

Avoiding Baby Name Regret

You and your hubby were blessed with a baby girl last week; and you’ve decided to name the baby ‘Ruth’. But now that you look back at it, that doesn’t seem like the name you’d want your baby to live with for the rest of your life! If that’s the situation you’re in, fret not; because you’re not alone. A lot of parents go through this dilemma. After all, naming your baby isn’t really the easiest thing to do. You are responsible for giving your child an identity that is going to last a lifetime. If you’re in a spot wherein you’d like to give that name another shot, then we suggest you sleep over it (provided you’re getting any sleep at all). Think over the situation; and don’t take a rash decision. If you’re sure none of it is working for you, then you might want  [...]

Relocating After Marriage?

Relocating After Marriage?

You’re tying the knot. Yay!!! It’s that time of your life when you get to wear the veil (instead of the pillow case with which you practiced ever since you were a little girl); and it’s your turn to be all pretty and in the limelight. But once the day has passed, and the lights have been turned off, you’re going to realize but one thing – everything around you has changed and HOW! One of the biggest challenges that marriage might bring along with it is that of relocation; and if your man is getting you to pack your bags and move with him, then you might be up for one of the biggest challenges of your life. Sit down and breathe for a second; don’t hyper-ventilate. Moving doesn’t have to be bad; and it can, in fact, be a great opportunity for you to have the life that you’d  [...]

Kick that butt

Kick that butt

So you’ve decided to kick some butt, even if it is a cigarette butt, and we applaud your decision, o venerable one. But just like drug users go through a phase where they are going cold turkey, so too quitting cigarettes beings with it baggage in the form of nicotine withdrawal and what is termed as “quitter’s flu”.  It’s more cumbersome than anything else but it’s all smooth sailing once you do get through this stage, although no one’s going to claim it’s all smooth sailing. There are well known symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and some that are less widely known and just like two people are unique no two cases of withdrawal are the same. Cravings for cigarettes are a well-documented physical response to quitting cigarettes and increased irritability, fatigue and a degree  [...]

It’s not all about money, honey

It’s not all about money, honey

Many a time, money is one of the reasons why a couple falls out and a perfectly good marriage hits the rocks. Here’s some of the most common reasons people squabble over cash. Neglect Sometimes, everything is not what it seems and arguments about money are not really arguments about money but instead an indication of neglect and a basic lack of attention and care for the marriage itself rather than the money itself. Bringing up money issues or splurging cash is a way to paper over deeper issues and it is key that you understand the root cause of the quarrel and address it, be it monetary or emotional. Obscured reality Have you ever wondered why money is never an issue at the beginning of a relationship? The honeymoon period of a relationship is one in which nothing can go wrong but as  [...]

Ways to Beat the Workplace Blues – Part 2

Ways to Beat the Workplace Blues – Part 2

Tip # 4 – Improvement in external working conditions If you’re an extremely sensitive person, you might be incapable of working in certain kinds of atmospheres.  You might need a window to work next to or you might just be finicky about the lighting in your work area. Whatever your pet peeves; it would be possible to improve your working area and turn it from sterile to nice. You could try putting up a nice potted plant in your cubicle area. You could, alternatively, try putting up a framed person photo. According to a newly conducted research, if you look at pictures of your loved ones, it could help you reduce stress induced pain. The easiest one to begin with – clean up your desk. Tip # 5 - Getting into the ‘Right’ Zone There always comes that time in the day when you begin  [...]

Stress management and you

Stress management and you

Stress and the modern lifestyle sadly go hand in hand, and there is precious little you can do to circumvent that one fact. Your worries are not going to vanish overnight, you won’t magically be able to time travel and get more errands run during the day and your responsibilities as an adult to yourself and your loved ones is not going to change in an instant. But fret not, because even in the midst of all this doom and gloom there is always hope. There are still factors within your control that you can use to leverage or de-leverage stress, however you look at it. The human body is like a machine, and like with any machine you must assume full control in order to get maximum value out of it. Your thoughts, your emotions, your immediate and extended environment and what you make of it are  [...]

Office Gossip That Is Good For You

Office Gossip That Is Good For You

Do you feel like everybody in your team seems to know about the CEO putting in his papers? Or like they all know about the colleague who is dating the new VP? Do you sometimes wonder how everyone else seems to know and you don’t? Then here’s the secret for you. It comes from the water cooler a.k.a coffee machine gossip mongers. If we turned you off with the word ‘gossip’; too bad for you! You have no clue as to what you’re missing out on! If you do change your mind; then these are some of the stories that you might hear at the water cooler and how they’ll affect your life. The Gossip: The Company just shut down their sales office in Manhattan. The Implication: Who cares about sales? I work in the Human Resources team. Wake up and smell the sunshine. Your company just  [...]