Menage the stress

Work can be a stressful place, wherever you earn your living, whether in an office, a factory, or a school. Some stress is good. It motivates us and makes us stronger. Too much stress is bad. It makes us irrational and it can, quite literally, kill us. Fortunately, there are specific things you can do that will help you reduce your stress at work and better cope with it.

Here's How:



Friday, February 15, 2008

My First Morning Glory

The name "morning glory" comes from the fact the flowers open every morning.

When to Plant
Plant seeds outdoors after all danger from frost has passed. Soak the seeds overnight before you plant them. The seed coats are very tough.

How to Plant
Plant in full sun. Plant the seeds 1/2 inch deep. Space the seeds twelve inches apart.

Special Care
Morning glories will grow to ten feet tall. They will need some kind of support (trellis) to grow on. They will grow up a chain link fence, but not a wall.
Posted by at No comments:

My First Petunias

Native to South America. The name "petunia" comes from the Brazilian word "petun" which means tobacco.

When to Plant
Plant transplants after all danger from frost has passed.

How to Plant
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Space plants twelve inches apart.

Special Care
Pinch out (deadhead) dying blooms. In mid-summer cut the plants back. They will grow back with new flowers.
Posted by at No comments:

My first Pansies

Native to Europe.

When to Plant
Plant transplants in the spring and fall. Pansies grow best in cool temperatures. They can stand spring and fall freezes.

How to Plant
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Set plants six to eight inches apart. Do not overwater or their stems will rot at the soil line.

Special Care
Remove dead blooms to keep them flowering. Pansies planted in the fall will often survive the winter and bloom again in the cool, spring weather.
Posted by at No comments:

Outdoor Bonsai Tree Winter Care

Outdoor Bonsai Tree Winter Care

Tropical bonsai trees are grown indoors while varieties of trees from temperate zones can be grown as bonsai trees outdoors. Whether your outdoor bonsai tree is an evergreen or deciduous tree, extra care has to be taken in the winter months. An ordinary outdoor tree has its roots protected by the soil. A bonsai tree rooted in a shallow bonsai planter is exposed to the worst the winter has to offer.
Guarding Your Treasure

If you live in an area with potentially violent winter weather, your outdoor bonsai tree might do well indoors. Some trees won't tolerate a heated home well but could flourish in an unheated garage or shed. A deciduous tree - one that loses its leaves in the winter - should be allowed its dormancy. A warm winter home might get it to continue growing at the wrong time of the year. Whatever you do, don't bring the tree in after the cold weather sets in and then take it out again into the cold. Whether your outdoor bonsai tree remains outdoors or is put into an unheated shelter, the protection usually provided to the roots by soil should be imitated with mulch.

You can pile mulch up to the branches if necessary. Don't forget to water your tree, especially if the winter is dry. Whatever kind of protection you choose, make sure you begin before the freezing weather starts. By the same token, your outdoor bonsai tree should continue its protection into the spring, well after any chance of freezing is past. Never fertilize in the winter as you don't want to encourage growth during the cold months. When you return your outdoor bonsai tree to its usual place, allow it some shade at first to help it adjust to its sunny home.

Once spring arrives, you can begin working on it. This is the best time of the year for such chores as repotting, wiring and pruning. Pruning is always best done after the buds are set but still closed. The tree can recover from these stressful activities best in the spring. Remember that pruning the branches requires a balanced pruning of the roots as well. Every season of the year brings new rewards from your lovely outdoor bonsai tree as well as stress and different needs. When you fulfill the seasonal needs, you will be sure to receive the seasonal rewards for the life of the tree.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Here is How

  1. Improve your time management and organization skills.
    Of the many things you can to in this area the best ones include getting a to do list that works, learning to say "no", asking for help when you need it, and stop setting unrealistic goals for yourself.
  2. Relax and breathe deeply.
    Whether you are feeling overwhelmed by the amount or work you have to do or if someone is "in your face", a good thing to do is to "breathe through your nose". You can't get as worked up if you force yourself to breathe through your nose. Your body simply can't maintain the same level of energy without that extra oxygen you get when breathing through your mouth.
  3. Take more breaks from your work.
    Even a five-minute break will help. Get away from your desk. Go for a walk - outside is better, but up two flights of stairs and back down is good too. Getting more exercise in general will help you reduce your overall stress levels and that will make it easier to reduce your stress level at work.
  4. Lighten up.
    Smile more. We all know laughter reduces stress. You will be amazed at how much more pleasant the people around you are when you make an effort to be pleasant yourself.
  5. Learn to listen better.
    Rather than getting upset when others disagree with you, listen actively and find the areas of agreement. Be assertive and stand up for yourself, but don't be rigid.
  6. Fix your environment.
    Make whatever adjustments you need to the lighting, temperature, noise level, and other controllable factors in your office.
  7. Don't sweat the small stuff.
    Realize that there are some things that just aren't worth worrying about and there are some things you just can't change. Don't waste time stressing over the things in either category.
  8. Get more sleep.
    This is another of the things you can do to reduce your overall stress that will have benefits at the office as well. In addition to reducing your stress, it will increase your energy level and your ability to concentrate.
  9. Find a mentor
    or a friend. Having someone to talk to can take a lot of stress off you.
  10. Spend more time with optimistic people.
    Negative people will pull you down to their level. Choose to work with people who have a positive attitude instead.