Worry Free Finances

“If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting.”
– Benjamin Franklin

This is the time of year when many people resolve to turn over a “new leaf” and make important changes in their lives.  For a lot of us, that includes changing the way we manage our money.  With the over-spending that tends to occur around the holidays, it’s easy to decide to make a budget – but the hard part is sticking to it.  Below are some online tools to help you do just that.

www.mint.com

www.kiplinger.com/tools/budget

www.mvelopes.com

www.budgettracker.com

If you feel like you would benefit from more personalized help getting started, you may consider checking with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org ) for accredited financial consultants in your area.

Happy New Year!

~The HealthPsych Team

Holiday Safety: Alcohol

Visit our Blog  Visit our Website Past Newsletters Holiday Safety: Alcohol  December 27, 2010 The holidays are filled with reasons to celebrate. December has almost come and gone but the holiday festivities aren’t done yet and in four short days we will be celebrating, once again, to the welcoming of a New Year. We soon will be raising our glasses and toasting to everything 2010 brought us; in the same toast we cheers to a prosperous year to come, hoping that 2011 comes with good health, better luck and the determination to tackle those New Year’s resolutions.  But before you throw up the streamers, take a minute and read this week’s communication. It can be easy to get carried away with the holiday spirit but it’s critical to be prepared and aware of how much “fun” you are having. Make sure you take the proper precautions to keep you and those around you safe. Have fun, be safe and cheers to a Happy New Year. Read more on this topic here… Britney Kirsch  Account Manager

Psychology of Performance – 20 – Early Attachment and Adult Performance Implications

Our early attachments to our primary caregivers may have significant implications for our ability to perform throughout our lives. The good news is that there are mindfulness techniques that can help integrate the information and energy associated with the various attachment categories so that as adults our performance does not have to be limited by the early learning associated with these attachments.

Siegel &  Hartzell, M.Ed., (2003, p.102-112) in their book, Parenting from the Inside Out, describe four patterns of attachment derived from the work of researchers such as Mary Ainsworth, Mary Main, and Erik Hesse, among others. As infants we most likely have one of the following patterns (which can vary by caregiver): Secure, Insecure-Avoidant, Insecure-Anxious/Ambivalent, or Insecure-Disorganized.

Secure attachments are described as having a parental interactive pattern characterized by the parent being emotionally available, perceptive, and responsive. The child sees the parent as being a source of comfort during times of distress, a safe haven, being available, and a secure base. This creates a sense of well being from which the child can go into the world to “explore and make new connections with others” (p.104).

Insecure-Avoidant patterns are associated with parents who are emotionally unavailable, imperceptive, unresponsive, and rejecting. These children avoid closeness and emotional connections to the parent (p.104).

Insecure-Ambivalent patterns are described as having parents who are inconsistently available, perceptive, and responsive and intrusive. The child cannot depend on the parent for attunement and connection. The child develops a sense of anxiety and uncertainty about whether they can depend on their parents (p.105).

Insecure-Disorganization patterns are created by parents who are frightening, frightened, chaotic, disorienting, and alarming to the child. This pattern is often associated with abuse. This creates a situation in which abuse is incompatible with a sense of security. The child develops coping responses that lead to difficulties in regulating emotions, trouble in social communication, difficulties with academic reasoning tasks, a tendency toward interpersonal violence, and a predisposition to dissociation – a process in which normally integrated cognition becomes fragmented (p. 106).

The good news is that for those with insecure attachments there are mindfulness techniques described in Siegel’s book, Mindsight, that can help the individual integrate the insecure attachment memories, patterns, and information in a manner that frees them up from “automatically or habitually” engaging in the pattern in their adult relationships.

The implications of early attachment for the psychology of performance are significant. Secure attachments allow for a base of security which in adulthood can manifest in collaborative interactions in the business environment, for example. The social psychology of group performance is enhanced when members can communicate directly and problem solve from a position of trust. Contrast this with an avoidant attachment pattern in which a team member has a fundamental approach to relationships that is one of distrust and self-reliance. This team member is there in name only and will be perceived as not cooperating, being a maverick, and “not playing well in the sand box.” The anxious attachment style may show up as an accommodating or pleasing style. This person sacrifices their own opinions so as to fit in, may frequently be checking in with the “boss” for approval and reassurance. The group loses this person’s gifts as the person may give in rather than be proactive on a decision point. The disorganized attachment style may contribute to significant disruption in a work group or team’s performance because the person will become overwhelmed during a conflict with either a chaotic or rigid response, either of which can disrupt the flow of energy and information needed for higher performance.

The culture of an organization often is set by the leader of the organization. Part of the definition of culture is the shared set of assumptions as to how we do business. From this, it is possible to see how the impact of the leader’s attachment could influence the culture of the organization. For example, if the leader has an anxious attachment, the organization may have a strong press to accommodate customers, resulting in a high emphasis on customer service which could range from being useful to problematic if taken to a dysfunctional level.

Have a day filled with mindful integration,

Robert A. Mines, Ph.D.
CEO & Psychologist

Planning Your Company’s Holiday Party

It’s that time of the year again; time to plan the company holiday party!  What are your company’s plans?  Company holiday parties are important because they allow for team building, employee appreciation, and interaction in a social atmosphere.  But with publicity about lawsuits and keeping budget constraints in mind, planning the company holiday party can be a stressful endeavor.  Don’t worry, balancing employee expectations and morale with the realities of finances and liabilities can happen!

The holiday party here at MINES was held last week.  To start, the party planning was opened up to everyone throughout the company and ended up consisting of four party planners.  We made the decision to hold the party on site in a conference room to save on funds and utilize open space.   In order to dress up the conference room a bit, the party planning committee met off site one afternoon and purchased inexpensive decorations from stores such as Safeway and King Soopers.  Employees from all over the company made suggestions for activities and food, and we ended up with the famous White Elephant gift exchange and ordering Chinese food from Yen King with a potluck dessert table.  The party was a success, complete with a thankful speech from our CEO, visits from previous employees, holiday songs thanks to a musically-inclined employee, and hilarious gifts passed around including a “grow your own therapist” and a funky metal pig that was a hot item and stolen many times.

Here are some tips to make your holiday party inexpensive, fun, and non-alcoholic:

• Invite everyone to join in your party planning and encourage ideas for food and activities from everyone – you will be amazed at the creativity!
• Consider supporting local charities by holding a toy or coat drive or perhaps even voluntary monetary donations.  MINES’ employees always enjoy participating and it’s a great way to give back during the holiday season.
• Spread out the seating area and include activities that encourage everyone to move around and mingle with coworkers they don’t know very well.
• Hold the party during the workday.  Not only will this save money, but will lower the expectations for alcohol.  Plus, employees appreciate the long break!
• Encourage the President/Owner/CEO to give a thankful speech.  Likely they will plan on it, but ask anyway. Hearing thanks for a busy year really means a lot to everyone!
• Don’t hang mistletoe! Yes, when I read and heard this before, I thought it was silly…but consider what mistletoe might bring and which policies could be violated.
• Be sure to insist that the holiday party is voluntary.

If you are considering serving alcohol at your company party, click on the following link for helpful information from the U.S. Department of Labor:  http://www.dol.gov/asp/programs/drugs/workingpartners/sp_iss/send.asp

Dani Kimlinger, MHA
Human Resources Specialist

Start Some Healthful Holiday Traditions

Visit our Blog  Visit our Website Past Newsletters Start Some Healthful Holiday Traditions  December 20, 2010 Every family follows their own traditions during the holiday season. One of my favorite traditions was writing the letter to Santa. I always asked him about his reindeer and told him how good I had been that year, while politely mentioning my wish of THE Barbie Dream House. I never unwrapped the Dream House, but it was still magical to imagine that Santa was reading my wishes all the way in the North Pole. Two decades later my Mom is continuing the tradition with my nine year old brother.  On my brother’s list to Santa this year was a Lego game and since my family lives in a small town I was given the task of hunting this gift down. I thought to myself, “Simple task, right?” Wrong. After the 5th toy store I walked into, I was starting to feel like I was playing a game and I was losing miserably. Finally, at the last store, a clerk walked up to me and offered her assistance. She explained that this was a very popular game and I could try back at 6am. I mean, I love my brother, but that is crossing the line. Then she explained to me that they will be open 24 hours a day starting on the 21st, and I could try anytime because they get in new inventory every day.  As she kept talking to me about my different options, I started looking around and my eyes widened. There were adults everywhere with a piece of paper in their hand, frantically looking for toys on their list. Where did that tradition go wrong? I immediately walked out of the store and decided to get him art supplies; he can design his own game. If, like me, you feel the stress of the holidays, start by make some healthier traditions with your family this year. Read more on this topic here… Britney Kirsch  Account Manager

When You’re Smiling

The Whole World Smiles with You!

Facebook Connections Worldwide

Obviously you cannot literally get the whole world to smile when you smile, but the concept brought up in this song, which was made famous by Louis Armstrong, may not be too far off-base.

Consider a study using data from the Framingham Heart Study that has been studied by the writers of Connected; The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives.

The Framingham social network reveals that drinking behavior clusters to three degrees of separation, as do smoking and obesity.

The idea that our social networks may influence the norms and/or behaviors of our selves (and those we are connected to) has great implications.  The core thesis of the book focuses on the three degrees to which you may directly influence the behaviors of those you know and the writers lay out a number of case-studies that help to illustrate just how much influence you may have in your friends’ and families’ lives.  While the image above (a visual map of the connections between Facebook’s 100 Million users worldwide – click the image to learn more) may include many, many lines, chances are that in this hyper-connected world you may actually only be a number of hops away from any other single individual.  If we have the capacity to influence up to three degrees, and those three degrees significantly change another individual’s behavior, and then also influence their three degrees, your power to influence the world through a smile becomes contagious.

Ryan Lucas
Supervisor of Marketing

Keeping an Attitude of Gratitude During the Holidays

Keeping an Attitude of Gratitude During the Holidays

It’s holiday time. This means family, friends, food, and fun. It also means unpredictability and a break in our routines which can lead to stress. It is easy to get so caught up in the details of the holidays. Will my sister like the gift I got her? Will the company get along? Is the ham overdone? It is also a time when ongoing stressors in our lives can feel magnified. We might worry if we can afford to give our children the gifts we want, family conflict can feel unavoidable, or it may feel like everyone else is celebrating while we feel more and more isolated or alone. Whatever the reasons might be, the holidays are not always the perfect celebration we sometimes expect. So how can we cope?

Last year my mother-in-law introduced a concept to our family that shone a new light on the season: The Gratitude Jar. Every family member was given a piece of paper to write down one thing they were grateful for in the previous year. We all had to share out loud what we were grateful for before putting it in the jar. Throughout the holiday, the jar was a reminder of all of the things we had to appreciate.

Practicing gratitude can be a simple and easy way to shift your thinking and reduce stress during the holiday season. Research has consistently shown that practicing gratitude can have many stress reducing effects (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/16/AR2007111601699.html).

Although the Gratitude Jar can be a great activity to share with family and friends, there are many ways you can practice gratitude to make the holidays more enjoyable:

• Make a short list of 3 things you are happy about in your life. Keep the list in your pocket and read it over whenever you are feeling overwhelmed.
• Write a letter to someone who is important in your life expressing your appreciation
• Volunteer. Spending time with others in need can remind you to appreciate the aspects of our lives we take for granted.

I want to wish you all a happy and healthy holiday and best wishes for the new year!

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” — William Arthur Ward

~The HealthPsych Team

A Holiday Help Guide for Stepfamilies

Visit our Blog  Visit our Website Past Newsletters A Holiday Help Guide for Stepfamilies  December 13, 2010 What are you doing for the Holidays? Where are you going? These are often heard conversation starters this time of year when friends and colleagues meet. For blended/step families the answer to those simple questions may require a color coded spread sheet to keep track of who needs to where and when! Not only are the logistics often complicated, but the emotional impact can also be significant. Click on the below link for ways to help.  Britney is enjoying a little holiday this week, her excellent introductions will resume next week. Read more on this topic here… Peggy Hill  Account Manager

10 Challenges for your New Year

How to make 2011 a successful year for you and your employees

Dr. David Javitch wrote a wonderful article published at Entrepreneur.com that I would like to share.  As resolutions/goals are a popular topic at years end, his highlights can give a a great foundation for setting goals relative to your employees.

For example, he mentions that cross training employees can help motivate them and allow them to assist collegues in completing new tasks.  Their value and and responsibility will naturally increase while motivating them.

You can find the entire article and the other tips here.

Posted by Ian Holtz, Manager at MINES and Associates.

12 Ways to Keep the Holidays Stree-Free

Visit our Blog  Visit our Website Past Newsletters 12 Ways to Keep the Holidays Stress-Free  December 6, 2010 Our theme for December is “Healthy Holidays.” At the link on your left, “Past Newsletters,” you will find a printable poster for your workspace. You can also print the Fall edition of our quarterly magazine, Balanced Living, and our quarterly Supervisor Magazine, Leadership. Please check out these excellent resources!  Healthy isn’t exactly the adjective I would use to describe the holidays. From cookies and pies to shopping frenzies and family chaos; No, I am confident healthy would not be my descriptive word for the holidays. Not that there aren’t wonderful, even magical, parts of the holiday season but for myself, there is often pressure involved to make the holiday season the optimum, joyful experience. With a thousand things on your to-do list, this very well could be the most important time of year to focus on your health and well-being. Try putting the following on the top of your to-do list: Take care of me! It is the best gift you could give yourself and your family. Read more on this topic here… Britney Kirsch  Account Manager