Getting back to office post delivery

Getting back to work after having a baby is a Herculean task - not just in terms of you proving to your organisation that you are still capable of doing the same tasks you did before pregnancy, but also in terms of accepting the unexpected changes that may await you at office.

Even if you thought it would be a smooth transition to work post delivery, some bosses make it tough for you. Sometimes besides the hormonal changes and emotional turmoil, you may also have to battle to get back your position at office. Here are a few tips for a smooth transition, assuming your organisation acknowledges your worth.

1. Do not compromise on work just because your boss thinks you should be given lighter work post pregnancy. If you are not happy with the task entrusted upon you at office, put your foot down and say what you want

2. Remember your organisation gives you your bread and butter, so show in many ways than one that you still have the same interest and zeal you had before delivery

3. Don't take too much time to settle down, once you get to do what you love the most, start with a bang

4. Keep yourself updated on the industry trends

5. Also, plan for baby care before you resume work; at least you don't have to worry about your baby's safety which can become a major distraction at work

6. Work smart, but be flexible. Work is as important as the baby back home, so never say 'no' to anything because this may also be the perfect chance for your boss to call you inefficient

7. Take on responsibilities, give your best and prove you are still worthy

8. Get used to the new routine. It's not easy to be active after sleepless nights with your baby. But will power is the word and it's only a matter of months before your baby's sleeping patterns change Post partum depression and fatigue are inevitable. But get your boss to empathize with you and also on your part, give your best. Remember health too is as important as your work, so make sure you don't lose your peace of mind over anything. But as the saying goes, 'when the going gets tough, the tough gets going'.

10 Tips for a healthy heart

A strong heart is a result of healthy lifestyle choices. Be active and stress-free

Today's fast-paced life and workplace pressures escalate stress levels, taking a toll on one's heart. We must realise that the healing power of the body decreases when under stress, leading to many complications like hypertension and poor immunity. Today, even youngsters are prone to heart ailments. So, it's very important to stay healthy and manage your stress levels by understanding the risk factors - high cholesterol levels, stressful lifestyle, smoking, and lack of exercise - following simple changes in lifestyle.

Avoid smoking
Smoking reduces life expectancy by 15-25 years. If you are a smoker, you are twice more likely to have a heart attack than a non-smoker. The moment you stop smoking, the risk of heart attack begins to reduce.

Cut down on salt
Too much salt can cause high blood pressure, which increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease.

Watch your diet
Try to have a balanced diet. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, starch foods such as wholegrain bread and rice.

Monitor your alcohol
Too much alcohol can damage the heart muscle, increase blood pressure and also lead to weight gain. Avoid intake of alcohol or at least limit it to one to two units a day, gradually decreasing the consumption.

Get active
At least aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. Keeping yourself fit not only benefits the heart but also improves mental health and well-being.

Monitor your BP, blood sugar and cholesterol levels
Routine medical check-ups will ring an alarm, if you need medical help.

Manage your waist
Cholesterol deposition in blood vessels begins in the first decade of life. Carrying a lot of extra weight as fat can greatly affect your health. Make small but healthy changes in your diet.

Manage your stress level
If you find things are getting on top of you, you may fail to eat properly, smoke and drink too much. This may increase your risk of a heart attack. Practice yoga/meditation. Take a vacation.

Check your family history
If a close relative is at risk of developing coronary heart disease from smoking, high BP, high cholesterol, lack of physical activity, obesity and diabetes, then you could be at risk too.

Laughter is the best therapy
Laughter anytime will work wonders for you. It is an instant way to unleash the pressure and it makes you feel light.

(Inputs by Dr Kushagra Katariya, chief cardiothoracic surgeon, Artemis Health Institute, Gurgaon)

Aging, obesity no bar to happiness

Here's a piece of good news for the elderly and the plump -- gathering years and obesity are no bar to happiness or well-being, says a cross-cultural study.

Researchers from the University of Warwick Medical School found that people reported better mental quality of life as they age, despite aches and stiff bones.

They analysed lifestyle and health patterns of more than 10,000 people in the US and Britain and their links to participants' mental and physical quality of life and health status, the European Journal of Epidemiology reported.

Saverio Stranges, who led the study at Warwick, with Kandala Ngianga-Bakwin, said: "It's obvious that people's physical quality of life deteriorates as they age, but what is interesting is that their mental well-being does not deteriorate - in fact, it increases."

Quality of life was evaluated using a measure which takes in eight different factors, including perception of general health, pain, social functioning and mental health, according to a university statement.

This is in line with previous research, for example by Andrew Oswald, professor at Warwick, which suggests that happiness levels follow a U-shape curve with their lowest point in the mid-40s after which they rise as people move into older age.

Supportive results were found in this cross-cultural comparison study in the US and Britain - two countries which have different welfare and health-care systems, factors which could impact on people's quality of life.

Researchers also found that being overweight or obese did not have a significant impact on mental well-being levels, with people having a body mass index (a height to weight ratio) of more than 30 showing similar mental quality of life levels to those considered to be a healthy weight.

For women in the US, low levels of physical exercise did not appear to impact on their mental well-being. This was not the case for men, where limited physical exercise had a significant adverse impact on their mental quality of life.

Don't just talk, listen too

Effective communication is the most vital component in today's corporate world. Purnima Goswami Sharma tells you about the art of getting your message across effectively

Effective communication is one that includes clarity in expression and exchange of ideas and emotions. It is an art to get your message across successfully. To get a message across clearly means that the thoughts and ideas are communicated clearly and there is no miscommunication between the sender and the receiver.

It's an office

According to Shilpi Kapoor, Founder, BarrierBreak Technologies, "At your workplace, it is important to keep in mind that it's an office! You are in office to 'play a certain role' and the communication objectives are very clear to ensure that you are able to do justice to that role. While being formal with superiors happens more by design than choice, it always helps to keep a formal tone at the workplace with your juniors too. This is a huge psychological booster as the minute you transcend to an informal space, you cannot ask authoritatively for accountability on results."

Plain in advance

Remember that when in office, the communication has to be strictly professional. So, you must have proper documents of all the points to be covered while communicating with other employees. Best communication starts with good planning. Include everything that you want to communicate, as missing out on even a single important point might create a problem.

Keep it simple

"In such a scenario, where everyone is connected with everyone else, how you communicate and get your point across has the potential to make or break your career," says Ranjeet Deshpande, divisional manager (West), Indian Institute of Job Training.

"People squander away a great point by over explaining it. Think carefully what you need to say. Avoid using ambiguous words and jargons. Also, be transparent - people respect those who speak honestly without any hidden agenda," adds Deshpande. Consistency is the key; you are entitled to change your opinion but do it too often, and others will only dismiss your views.

Don't just talk, listen

The ability to listen carefully to what someone else is saying is a vital communication skill to have. "Listen to each other. If you constantly talk and rarely listen, you have failed," states Roopali Sundar, head, talent management, Avaya India.

Avoid being personal

Adopt a problem-solving mindset, rather than a negative confrontational one. When negative language is used, it puts the receiver on the defence right from the start, focus on the issue is lost and it becomes personal. Instead of "you", phrase it as "we" have a problem. "Put a positive spin on the message you wish to convey. No one likes to be told that they are wrong. However, if genuine and heartfelt appreciation is shown, it makes the criticism more palatable. It's not personal; at the end of the day, business is about diversity of opinions and your opinions will not find acceptance always," adds Deshpande.

Choose your medium carefully

Plan and choose the most effective communication channel like e-mail, notice board, team meeting, teleconference and so on. According to Kapoor, "Communication is verbal (words), visual (body language) and vocal (tone). While researchers may have affixed percentages to each of these aspects to explain effective communication, the fact remains that each of us has to find our own mix. For instance, a certain employee may have a strong personality and excellent body language, but use fewer words to communicate. Others may rely completely on verbal communication and feel that they are better on the phone or e-mail than in person. We all need to play on our strengths at the workplace."

"Personal discussion is the foundation of communications. Once this foundation is established, it enables all the other forms of communication. All conflicts ideally should be resolved only in person; never on phone or email," adds Kapoor.

Without the ability to communicate effectively, you cannot accurately convey messages, let others know what you think or feel, build partnerships, motivate others or resolve conflict. Thus, it is paramount to get your message across with utmost clarity.

The top 10 ways to impress a woman

When attempting to woo a woman, every man must remember that the slightest comment can make a big difference - it could either flatter her to no ends, or offend her in ways that you didn't think was possible.

10.Look her in the eye: Remember, if she catches you staring at her chest when she's telling you how much her mom means to her, you'll look like a creep.

9. Be well groomed: Women want their men to be well groomed. They want them to look and smell good all the time. That doesn't mean you necessarily have to be clean-shaven, but any facial hair you do have should be well maintained, reports Fox News.

8.Help her with her coat: Women love old-school displays of chivalry. Helping her put on her coat is a great example. It's a kind, courteous act that's not so common anymore. It's also a good way to increase her comfort level with you as it allows you to get close to her without

getting too close.

7. Socialize with her friends: Women are attracted to likable, social, charming men, the kind of guys their friends and families will love. So, engage in conversation with her friends even as you're working your magic on her. Impress them and you'll impress her. Just make sure it's clear that she's the one you're interested in.

6. Ignore your phone: Nothing says, "You're not that important.... " like taking a call from someone else or checking a text in the middle of a conversation. The culture of texting has

gotten way out of hand. Too many men think it's perfectly acceptable to take a phone call or fire off an e-mail while you're on a date or in the middle of a conversation. When you're talking to a woman, let her see you silence your phone or turn it off completely-show her she has your undivided attention.

5. Ask her questions: Just about every woman likes to talk about herself. It's a subject on which she has a lot of expertise, after all. Asking her questions about her past and

her favorite things will allow her to open up and feel comfortable, while simultaneously showing her that you're interested in more than just her looks.

4. Open doors: Opening the door for a woman is a classic gentlemanly gesture. The otherwise admirable push for gender equality has largely eliminated acts of chivalry like this one.

3. Compliment the way she looks: Give this a shot: Compliment the way she looks in her outfit. Say something like, "You look great in that dress." It's a great way of telling her she looks hot without rerunning the same old compliment and it also communicates that you're attracted to

her in a way that, "Cool jacket!" does not.

2. Ask for advice: It shows her that you value other people's opinions-in particular, her opinion. Be careful not to come off as clueless here, though; you don't want to act like you know nothing.

For example, does she think you should move into a townhouse or a loft? This kind of question allows her to easily express an opinion, and hopefully sparks a more extensive conversation.

1.Compliment her positivity: Telling a woman she gives off a "happy" vibe will make her feel good.It also allows you to then ask her about the things in her life that make her so happy, which will make her feel even better, positive feelings that she'll ultimately associate with talking to you.