Any Work Is Better Than No Work--Not Always

If you are unemployed currently or have been unemployed, you no doubt have heard or even said to
yourself that "any work is better than no work." In other words--at least your working and paying some of the bills.  I have worked in all kinds of jobs throughout the years that were mentally and physically demanding.  However, not all jobs are equal in the toll they take on you.   In the past, there was one such job for me.  I would never want to do it again--call center work!  Call center work may be defined for our purposes as working in a center (or large room) that makes continuous calls through an automatic dialer to new or existing customers regarding an existing product or service.  Here are some of the pitfalls I found in call center work...

• You may find yourself working in a room of 50-60 people all talking at the same time to their customers.  The room can get very noisy with the inability to hear your customer. At times, your customer may not be able to hear you.
• Calls are put through to you by a random dialer of which you have no control over. You barely get a breather between calls.  As soon as you are disconnected from your customer, a fresh call comes through your earpiece immediately.  Little or no time to mentally prepare for the next call.
• You are expected to talk for eight hours, less your breaks and lunch.  Very little downtime is allowed away from the phones.  After two hours or less of straight talking you may begin to lose your voice.
• Since the job requires sitting most of the hours you are there, you get very little physical exercise.  Also, we won't talk about the eyestrain you also get from constantly looking at the computer screen.
• The dialing system used may repetitively call the customer at work or at home. Many customers do not like being called at work and may get irate; or do not like getting called so frequently.  Consequently, many times you will be the brunt of their frustration. Not fun...
• Depending on the company, many companies have a pay rate based on a tier system.  Low sales, despite your best efforts, will not mean much in your paycheck.
• Most call centers have intense monitoring by supervisors that critique the quality of your calls.
  New employees may already be nervous, this only adds to their nervousness. 
• A call center can be sales-driven or customer-service-driven.  Make sure your personality is a good fit for the particular center.  A wrong fit can be as disastrous as a heavy-duty construction worker wearing white dress gloves to do his job.  It just doesn't work.

I listed a few reasons why call center work is so difficult and for some people will go against their grain. Of course, different strokes for different folks would mean there are some people that actually enjoy call center work.  That's great for them.  In my estimation though it is just a tough job. 

So what should you do if you find yourself in such a job?  Move on.  It is always best to have another job though before quitting your present one. The conclusion is to remember not all work is equal.  Find out as much about the job before you take it.  Know your physical and mental likes and dislikes as well as your limits.  Yes, you just might want to pass this job up.

What is your "nightmare" job?  Most people have worked one some time in their career.  I would love to hear from you on this. 

Don't Be a Part of Workplace Gossip

Unfortunately no matter how nice the job is, you may still encounter workplace gossip. What exactly is gossip? Although by definition gossip can refer to chatty talk, it most often refers to habitually revealing personal or sensational facts about someone or rumor or report of an intimate nature.  For those of you that have been unemployed for some time, you may have forgotten how harmful workplace gossip can be.  Yes, I said "harmful."  Why is workplace gossip harmful?  How can you avoid being a part of it?

Why is workplace gossip harmful?  Here are a few reasons why you should avoid gossip:

• Factual or not, revealing and spreading personal information about someone can result in distorted or outright untruths about an individual.  A person's character and name could be orally slandered which could lead to defamation of character.
• Even if the gossip is true, is it something you want to spread?  Would you want someone spreading information around about your personal life?  Put the shoe on the other foot.
• Defamation of character, by reason of slander, can lead to a lawsuit you don't want!
• Gossip could actually cause a person to lose their job--your job and the person you are slandering.
• Gossip can create tension and uneasiness in the workplace between co-workers.
• You could be known as a gossiper. Nobody wants to be known as a gossiper. Once you are labeled, it may take a long time for people to trust in you again.
• Gossiping can lead into bullying.  Bullying of any kind is hurtful to those being abused, and is also illegal in certain states with legal penalties.
• You are paid to work for your employer; not get involved in gossip.

How can you avoid workplace gossip?

• Go to work to WORK! The busier you are the least likely you are to get involved in workplace gossip.
• If others try to pull you into a conversation that may be heading toward gossiping, try and change the subject or walk away.  
• If current employees try to persuade you to think badly of a co-worker, as a new employee, give everyone a fair shake.  Just because someone else had a bad experience with someone doesn't mean you will.  In other words, give everyone you work with the "benefit of the doubt."
• Do not be part of a click. 
• If you are privy to personal information, keep it to yourself.
• Practice the "golden rule." If you wouldn't say it or reveal it about yourself, then don't reveal it about others.
• If it isn't positive or kind, then don't repeat it.  That's pretty easy!

These are some common-sense suggestions that should be reminders to all of us in the workplace to avoid gossip.  For those re-entering the job market, you may have forgotten how easy it is to get sucked into the gossiping trap.  However, with a little wisdom and self-control, you don't have to fall into the twisting vortex called gossip.

What Are the Seven Blessings of the Unemployed?

So you haven't worked for a while, and things have not been easy.   However, despite the negatives there are many positives or blessings to be grateful for.   Here are seven reasons to be happy:

 

• With limited funds you are forced to prioritize your entire life.  How?  Realistically, with less money your budget will eliminate your "wants" and keep your "needs."  You now can focus on the more important things in your life.
• You have much more time to spend with your family; you also have a lot more time for yourself to meditate and process life's changes.  You may want to set some new goals.
• Consider new ways to entertain your family and friends.  Instead of going on expensive excursions, have family night with friends.  Game night together with some popcorn can be great fun.
• Extra time to volunteer.  Taking your mind off of your problems and looking to see what you can do to help others is another source of happiness.  There is More Happiness in Giving Than There Is In Receiving--Volunteer at a woman's shelter, animal shelter, or whatever cause moves you.  Just do it.  This may be the single most positive change in your life.
• Eat less meat and more vegetables and fruit.  Many health experts agree that less red meat is the way to go for a healthier you.  This should also fit into your budget quite nicely.
• Exercise and fresh air should be your daily routine.  No more crammed days leaves you time to get out and either walk, run, or bike.  Perhaps all three once you get your second wind!
• Time to take up that hobby you always wanted to do.  If it's too expensive, pick a new one.  I personally like to write poetry--it cost nothing but a pencil and paper.

So here are seven great reasons to be happy.  Less money can actually equal  a better quality of life.  Isn't that what we all want?

6 Tips for Getting in Shape While Unemployed

Let's face it. The first few weeks we become unemployed isn't so bad. We get to sleep in, eat when we want, and channel surf our favorite TV shows all day long in our pajamas. However, this lifestyle of the soon-to-be-poor if we don't get a job can get out of control. Before we know it bad habits set in. Before you turn that bend, there are things you can do to stop the "fat gremlin." Here are six ideas that can help kick-start you into shape for a healthier you.

1. Include Fiber in Your Breakfast
Now that you are not rushing out the door to work in the morning you have time to slowly eat a nutritious breakfast. Most of us at one time or another have been guilty of grabbing anything eatable to start our day. Why not try adding some fiber to your breakfast. Eating enough fiber may play a significant role in the prevention of some major diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Better yet, no more constipation.

2. Make an Exercise Schedule
This doesn't have to be difficult. Get a piece of paper out and enter what type of exercise you would like to do each day. You don't need to dish out money and join a gym. Save money and look around the house. Are there any old exercise tapes, DVD's, or exercise equipment getting dusty that you forgot about in your closet? If so, go for it! I discovered I had a wonderful Richard Simmons tape just waiting for me to start sweating with.  If you're not so fortunate, another option is to visit your local library. They always have fitness workout DVD's, tapes, and books.  In addition, there is Hulu Plus. At Hulu Plus you can try out free for thirty days the Daily Burn.  Or, Hulu Plus also has some other great short exercise clips you get if you subscribe with them for a small monthly fee.

3. Start Juicing Juicing is work. There are no shortcuts to juicing. However, the rewards are worth it. In time you will feel more energetic and just overall healthier. There are great juicing internet sites containing many tips for beginners like yourself. Since you have more time now to prepare, drink, and unfortunately cleanup after yourself, now is the perfect time to start juicing.  There are all kinds of juicing recipes on the internet.  Just Google away!

4. Start a Backyard Garden 
Juicing may not be for you. That's okay, just start a backyard garden with that extra time you have. You may have a minimal investment in the seeds, plants, and tools to start the project. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that for every $100 spent on gardening, yields $1,000 to $1,700 worth of produce. What a great way to save money and get great nutrition with fresh organic vegetables straight from the garden for your family. Even Michelle Obama started a White House Garden, and was quite successful. If you don't know where to start with your garden or just need some guidance, learn how Michelle started her garden, what vegetables she planted, and the process she used.

5. Drink More WaterI never drink enough water when I am working a forty-hour week. Since our bodies are made up of approximately 60-70% water, most of us need to drink more water than we do. A nutritional internet site says we should be drinking in ounces half of our body weight. If you are 140 pounds, you should be drinking 70 ounces a day. Drink an adequate amount of water, and you will be energized throughout the day.

6. Volunteer or Encourage One Person a Week
Get out of the house and volunteer. Volunteers are accepted in hospitals, wildlife organizations, and local shelters. If you don't want to volunteer, at least call or write one person a week that needs encouragement. By focusing on others you will be encouraged and aglow with a new spirit. A happy person is a healthier person.

You may be unemployed, but you don't have to feel sluggish and out of shape. Starting today you can replace bad habits with good habits. By implementing some or all of these suggestions, you will feel better. So get up off the couch and start getting in shape. The right job is just waiting for the new you!

For more healthier living tips read Feel Good--Easy Ways to Put Pep Back In Your Step .