<![CDATA[CoffeyTalk - Career and Finance Articles]]> An office with no windows creates a LOT of stress. We need natural light, and that connection with nature. So if you’re stuck in one of those offices on the inside wall of the building, you’ve got to work to bring nature in to you! An office with conflicting personalities also creates a lot of stress, as do deadlines, budgets and overly long meetings. What to do? Make your personal office your sanctuary!

1. Chances are that plants won’t thrive, so bring in silk plants for the same green, airy feeling. If there’s room, make it a leafy tree! Or have fresh flowers sent to your office once a week – then you also have the benefit of a beautiful fragrance.

2. Whenever possible, avoid florescent lighting, which is unnatural and stress producing. Bring in your own lamps and bulbs, preferably ones that are “full-spectrum” and more like sunlight.

3. The sound of water can be both relaxing and cooling – so when tempers flare, a little desk-top fountain will help mellow you out. Another good way to bring the element of water into your office is with a little fish bowl and some fish. Even feng-shui says that they don’t have to be REAL fish (don’t stress yourself further by having to clean the tank!) – just the IDEA of fish is enough to make things feel calmer. And goldfish represent prosperity, another added benefit!

4. Decorate with colors that you love, that reflect your personality. Avoid the red/black combinations, which tend to produce more stress and anxiety – but other than that, pretty much anything goes. Just use combinations that make YOU feel good. Cool tones like blue are cooling and healing, earthtones are warm and grounding, yellow helps you pay attention and concentrate, orange is happy and joyful, green is balancing.

5. De-clutter. Follow the OHIO rule: Only Handle It Once! Don’t get buried under a pile of papers. You want to be able to find things easily – so keep files, rather than piles.

6. Keep ONE calendar and write everything down. And have it with you always! Then you won’t get stressed out from forgetting something important.

]]> <![CDATA[De-Stress Your Office]]> An office with no windows creates a LOT of stress. We need natural light, and that connection with nature. So if you’re stuck in one of those offices on the inside wall of the building, you’ve got to work to bring nature in to you! An office with conflicting personalities also creates a lot of stress, as do deadlines, budgets and overly long meetings. What to do? Make your personal office your sanctuary!

1. Chances are that plants won’t thrive, so bring in silk plants for the same green, airy feeling. If there’s room, make it a leafy tree! Or have fresh flowers sent to your office once a week – then you also have the benefit of a beautiful fragrance.

2. Whenever possible, avoid florescent lighting, which is unnatural and stress producing. Bring in your own lamps and bulbs, preferably ones that are “full-spectrum” and more like sunlight.

3. The sound of water can be both relaxing and cooling – so when tempers flare, a little desk-top fountain will help mellow you out. Another good way to bring the element of water into your office is with a little fish bowl and some fish. Even feng-shui says that they don’t have to be REAL fish (don’t stress yourself further by having to clean the tank!) – just the IDEA of fish is enough to make things feel calmer. And goldfish represent prosperity, another added benefit!

4. Decorate with colors that you love, that reflect your personality. Avoid the red/black combinations, which tend to produce more stress and anxiety – but other than that, pretty much anything goes. Just use combinations that make YOU feel good. Cool tones like blue are cooling and healing, earthtones are warm and grounding, yellow helps you pay attention and concentrate, orange is happy and joyful, green is balancing.

5. De-clutter. Follow the OHIO rule: Only Handle It Once! Don’t get buried under a pile of papers. You want to be able to find things easily – so keep files, rather than piles.

6. Keep ONE calendar and write everything down. And have it with you always! Then you won’t get stressed out from forgetting something important.

]]> <![CDATA[5 Step Plan for Shopaholics]]>
1.  Cut up all credit cards.  Only pay for items in cash.  This works really well because then you can't shop online, either!  Give yourself a cash budget per week, and once you run out, you're out - no going to the ATM!
2.  Clean out your closets and cupboards.  Anything you haven't worn, or used, in a year, goes in a separate closet.  You can "shop" from that closet!  For every item you take out of the closet, donate a dollar to charity.  For every item you donate to charity, give yourself a dollar to spend.
3.  Hold yourself accountable.  Write down every item you purchase, time, date, place and cost.  Find out just where your money is going and why. Keep a journal and write down how this item made you feel as you were buying it, and how you feel about it now, what you will do with it, etc.
4.  Find activities to keep you occupied during times you would normally shop.  Volunteer.  Visit with friends.  Clean.  Read.  Write.  Exercise.  Start an art project.  Take a class.
5.  No more secrets, no more lies, no more hiding.  Get a friend or relative to help you.  Whenever you buy something, tell that one person.  Be totally honest about the item and the price and it's purpose.

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