Pearls are very much back in fashion these days. As a result of this, you’ll find that the rules about when and how they should be worn have changed. No longer are you restricted to wearing them on that special occasion? You can wear pearls whenever you like.

Their simple yet elegant appearance makes them a wonderful accessory for any outfit you wear. Whether it’s lunch with your friends, to work or a night out with your partner.

When worn in the right way they can help you look more sophisticated and elegant, yet fashionable. In some ways, some women would argue that wearing pearls is better than diamonds. They are so much more understated and will add a touch of elegance to any outfit without drawing attention to themselves.

If you are going to be looking at wearing pearls when you go to work there are certain rules you need to take into consideration. Below we offer up some advice that you may find useful on how to wear pearls when you go to work.

As you want to maintain a professional look at all times at work then you should only choose to wear simple understated pieces. It is best if you stick to wearing just one strand of pearls, as this will add a touch of sophistication to your complete outfit.

Also, it is best if you stick to wearing just one piece of pearl jewelry at any time. So if you are going to wear a set of pearl earrings, then avoid wearing a pearl necklace or bracelet as well. Remember you want not just your colleagues, but also your clients to focus on your work rather than what you are wearing.

If you are intending to wear a necklace that is made up of pearls then avoid ones that are too long. To keep looking smart and professional avoid wearing any kind of pearl necklace that is going to fall past your bust line.

Of course, instead of wearing a long pearl necklace in a conventional way there are other ways to incorporate such pieces into your work outfits. Take a long strand of pearls and wear as a bracelet. Simply wrap the strand around your wrist several times. Try and avoid allowing the bracelet to be too loose on your wrist or you may find it becomes a distraction whilst you are working.

When it comes to wearing earrings again it is best to keep things as simple as possible.

For a really sophisticated look, you should choose to wear a pair of pearl stud earrings only. Yes, plain white pearl stud earrings similar to those worn by celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Audrey Hepburn and the late Princess Diana look stunning. But why not take it up a notch and go for a pair where they’ve used say lavender, rose or silver pearls instead.

Of course, they don’t need to be plain some adornment around the pearls is perfectly acceptable. But keeping them small will help to ensure that people continue to focus on the work you do rather than what you look like.

Although most women would say stick to wearing say pieces of jewelry with white or cream pearls, you can be a little more out there if you want. There are some beautiful pieces now that have been created where the use of coloured freshwater pearls is favoured. The great thing about such pieces is that they can add a new dimension to the outfit you are wearing, but still add that touch of elegance as well.

If you really want to make a statement when it comes to pearls then wearing a piece made with Tahitian black pearls is something worth considering. Such pieces would really look stunning when worn with a crisp white blouse and a smart skirt or trouser suit. In fact, wearing such jewelry with trousers really helps to create a more feminine look to any business outfit.

As you can see when it comes to wearing pearls to the office there aren’t any real restrictions on how they should be worn. Really what is important is that you wear pieces of pearl jewelry that complement the rest of your outfit. Also, you wear pieces that won’t distract others around you and yet still add a touch of elegance and sophistication to the outfit you are wearing that day in the office.

Nutrition teamwork between vitamins and minerals

Vitamins and minerals are team players, so if you want the most nutritional value from each meal, consider which foods work best together. Iron and Vitamin C are the best known nutritional “team” as they work together to increase each other’s absorption. So eating salad with your steak ensures greater absorption of both iron and Vitamin C.

Calcium and Vitamin D are another great team, although combining them into one meal takes a little more forethought. Dairy products are the chief nutritional source of calcium, while our bodies can create Vitamin D from sunlight. We can also absorb Vitamin D from food such as avocado or eggs, so if you don’t fancy drinking a milkshake while basking in the sun, throw a beaten egg into the milkshake or blend an avocado into a cup of Greek yogurt to make avocado dip (add lemon juice and garlic for extra flavour).

Nutrition “teams” can also consist of two minerals. Potassium and magnesium work together to maintain heart function and the neurological system. Magnesium also assists in the transportation of potassium around the body, so a magnesium deficiency can lead to a deficiency in potassium. Both minerals are readily available in most meats, fruits and vegetables, so the right levels can generally be achieved through a balanced diet. Coconut water is a rich and refreshing source of both potassium and magnesium, if you are concerned that you are not achieving the right levels through your everyday diet.

Vitamin A is an independent player, easily absorbed from highly coloured vegetables such as spinach and sweet potato, as well as from meats, eggs and dairy products. Once Vitamin A is stored in the liver, it relies on zinc for transportation into body tissues, so a lack of zinc will increase the risk of Vitamin A deficiency. The most common symptom of Vitamin A deficiency is night blindness, when vision fails to adjust to darkness. So if you lie awake at night feeling as if you’ve been blindfolded, consider a bowl of pumpkin soup before lunch and dinner to supplement your intake. (Stir a spoonful of tahini paste into the soup or nibble on the pumpkin seeds afterwards to ensure you also have enough zinc).

You can have fun matching your favourite foods with their strongest team-mates, but when this seems too complicated, consider some of the foods which work single-handedly as a complete “team”. Blueberries, for example, are a great source of both iron and Vitamin C. Milk contains Vitamin A and zinc, and salmon provides both Vitamin D and calcium. With a wide range of fresh foods available, there is a nutritious “team” to suit everyone at any time of the day.

Some people don’t like where they work… at all. They may even despise who they report to. And since their work environment is so “toxic”, they choose to withhold their best quality of work. “THIS PLACE does not deserve the best I have to offer. I will come to work, only do what is expected of me, collect my paycheck, and go home.” Do you know anyone like that?

Bare Minimum

The problem with that line of thinking is that if you repeatedly choose to give the bare minimum, then eventually you will be comfortable giving the bare minimum. Yes, you would have unknowingly formed not only a habit, but a bad habit. At some point, you may not even know what excellent work looks like… and begin to think that you are not capable of being excellent. To be excellent is what you are called to be, and to be exceptional is what you are called to.

Hot Tea

During a recent hotel stay, I decided that I wanted to have some hot tea late one night. Since it was a limited service hotel, ordering room service was not an option. It was around 11PM, and I called the front desk to see where I could possibly get some tea from. The employee told me, “Our restaurant has already closed, so tea will be available in the morning for breakfast”. Click.

Now, I obviously knew that tea and hot water had to be available somewhere on the property, but I decided to wait and speak to the manager in the morning. When I spoke with the manager the next morning, he was upset about what happened and even showed me the employee mini-break area that was only a few feet behind the front desk. The break area had a refrigerator, and the refrigerator was stacked with… wait for it… tea! All types of tea.

So, here are a few reasons why the front desk agent may have responded the way he did:

a) He legitimately didn’t know there was tea available (yeah right).

b) He is only comfortable working within the strict parameters of his job.

c) He doesn’t like his job and/or where he works and has chosen not to do one more ounce than he absolutely has to.

Your Zeal

You cannot allow anyone (or any work environment) to rob you of your zeal to be exceptional. As difficult as it may be, you must push through any disdain you may have and honor your role, honor who you are serving and honor yourself. At some point, each person has to make a decision about how exceptional he/she wants to be, regardless of the work environment. Eventually, it can be quite fatiguing to constantly strive for excellence in a work environment that you can’t stand to be in.

In that case, see if you can address your discontentment with the appropriate people, or find somewhere else to work. But don’t just find “any place” to work. Search for a company that has values which mirror your own.Ultimately, it’s important to work for a company that you believe in.

Adjusting Your Service

Some people have a habit of adjusting their service based on how important they believe a particular customer is. One of the reasons that is so dangerous is because you really never know who you are serving or what their circumstances may be. We have no right to treat anyone like they are “just a customer”. That is simply wrong, and even immoral. Every customer has a story and it is our obligation to honor that customer regardless of what the story may be.

Never again be lulled into the fallacy that it’s OK to give the bare minimum. Savagely fight that fallacy with everything you’ve got. Be exceptional despite the work environment. Stephen Covey wisely wrote, “Be an island of excellence in a sea of mediocrity”. While that certainly can happen, try to find a team, manager and company that allow you to work among many islands of excellence in an ocean happy to have you there.

In the end, service has a purpose, and a noble purpose at that. We serve because serving is a good thing, and good things are worthy to be exalted. There is significance to your role. There is purpose to your role. If you truly understand what that means, then you have the ability to impact lives, one customer at a time.

When people go to work, they often go to play. Sure work is a serious place for many, and I’m not talking about childish play, but the serious work of the self serving band of people who this it is okay to take advantage of their naive colleagues. People who have a strong sense of integrity often find themselves out maneuvered and destined to arrive gazing at the podium from a distance as the winners show of their trophies.

You’ll be surprised how simple it is to equip yourself with self defence knowledge and skill. Since writing “21 Dirty Tricks at Work” I have been delighted with the way avid readers have studied and been able to learn the techniques to win with integrity.

The priority is to build your awareness. Here are some of the more common dirty tricks that get played in the office…

Creative Magpie: Exaggerating involvement in the ideas and good work of others or blatantly stealing them whilst hiding the originators worthy contributions.

Development Opportunity: The tactic of motivating someone to take on a task, project or assignment they might reasonably refuse, by pretending it is a development opportunity.

Email to the Gods: Using email to shame or coerce another. This is usually an email arriving from a colleague (which includes either true or false information) leveling accusations of blame, which are also copied on to bosses, directors, customers, suppliers etc.

Then you need to learn how to protect yourself. Here are my top 5 tips…

Tip No. 1: Get curious and ask questions. Don’t ask them in an accusing manner. Make sure and keep it light and keep asking until you get to the bottom of what is really going on.

Tip No. 2: Control your emotions. Sure you may be angry when you spot a “Fall Guy” dirty trick heading your way, but if you lose your temper you will find it more difficult to cope. So keep a cool head.

Tip No. 3: Try to figure out why they are doing it. There must be a reason – what benefit do they get if you fall for the trick? If you can work this out you may be able to deploy the next tip more easily.

Tip No. 4: Get constructive. Once you have asked lots of questions, try to come up with some creative solutions where you can both win.

Tip No. 5: Try to maintain your own integrity. Don’t get tempted into playing dirty tricks back – chances are they will see this coming and be ready to trip you up.

If you practice these tips, you’ll soon begin to realize how quickly you can make progress without getting into an argument. You’ll find out that you don’t have to be a victim to office politics. And the more positive action you take, the less your more Machiavellian colleagues are likely to try a game on you. So take heart, there is something you can do to cope with political games and dirty tricks without joining in!

Working with troubled youth as a child psychologist, youth sponsor, social worker, or friend can be an exhausting, thankless job. Why would anyone choose to work at such a job? After all, the pay is usually nothing or next to nothing, the hours are often long and unpredictable, and sometimes you don’t even get to see the end result of all your labor. Well, there are actually several good and worthy reasons people choose to work with troubled youth, and here are the top five:

1. There’s a Huge Need: As the divorce rate skyrockets, drugs and alcohol are made ever more available, and television and songs portray more and more anger and violence, it’s no wonder that more teenagers and young adults are feeling lost and alone and are acting out against the people and systems they feel have put them in their terrible situation. One excellent reason to work with troubled teens, then, is that the need is great and that it is getting greater each and every day.

2. It’s Rewarding: Working with troubled kids is tough. It takes everything you have and then a little bit more. It’s not your typical nine-to-five job because when you really care about the kids you’re working with, you are either constantly thinking about them or almost always available to them. This is tiring, but it is also incredibly rewarding to know that you’ve made a difference in someone’s life.

3. It’s a Learning Experience: One would think that working with troubled youth would make you the teacher and the youths the learners, but this is very rarely the case. As with all good relationships, a relationship with a at-risk youth is a relationship of give and take. Even in the worst of times, working with troubled youths can help you learn to open up, be more patient, and let go of your petty little anger. Besides this, working with troubled youth can improve your communication skills, your listening skills, and your sense of understanding and empathy.

4. It’s Never Boring: Sitting at a desk all day answering phone calls and pushing papers can get stale in about five minutes. Working with troubled youth, on the other hand, never grows dull. Every day, you have to dig deep to find the strength you need to build solid relationships with troubled youth. Because no two kids are the same and one kid can become a different person between Monday and Friday, you never know what to expect, either. If you’re sick of doing the same exact thing day in and day out, working with troubled youth as a full-time job or a part-time passion might be a great solution for you.

5. It’s Worthwhile: Unlike some jobs that make you feel like you’re just a corporate cog, working with troubled youths allows you to really make an impact on the world, one kid at a time. With each life you change, you’re making the world a slightly better place, making the job all the more rewarding and interesting.

Unfortunately, too many employers see a transitional duty program, also known as a return to work program as a "make work" situation for both the employer and the injured employee. This approach to a return to work program often ends in frustration for both employer and employee.

A successful return to work program is much more. Having the right return to work attitude, as well as understanding the various transitional work programs are the first steps to a successful program.

Alternate or Light Duty Programs

Alternate or light duty programs allow employees to work at less demanding jobs until they are physically able to resume their original work duties. For example, an employee who normally does physically demanding labor could work in a more sedentary capacity, such as answering telephones, marketing campaigns or assisting junior or new employees

Modified Duty Program

Here the injured employees' original jobs are modified through engineering alterations of the workstation. Employers use these programs to prevent aggravation of the injury. For example, an employer could install a high raised desk. This could be used for an employee who cannot sit for long periods of time or for an employee with a back injury by adding seats with added back supports and foot rests to relieve discomfort.

Work Hardening

"Work hardening" is the third type of transitional work program. In these programs, employees perform their usual job-related tasks in steps of increasing difficulty until they regain the physical ability needed to perform their original jobs. This allows the injured employee to remain at work, although at reduced hours. This type of re assignment allows the employee to preform simulated assignments close to the task they would do under their regular job duties.

Note: Design your back to Work Program to benefit both Employer and Employee. Try to provide a position that can function as a transitional position even if the employee may not able to return to the exact same duties quickly. The employee will be working and the company will be providing a service. Try to make the return work a win win for all.

During the return-to-work process, companies need to consider the employee's physical limitations. If injured workers exceed their physical abilities, they may experience a recurrence of the injury causing unnecessary pain and suffering for the employee and needless additional workers' compensation costs for their employers. Also, although employers can use transitional work programs for temporary illnesses and injuries, it is important to remember all absence and disability programs must be integrated with the requirements of the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Teachers learn a variety of different skills and strategies throughout their college education. Once employed, teachers hone their skills by finding out what really works in the classroom for them. Many teachers also further their education by attending graduate school or other professional development workshops and seminars. In so doing, teachers keep abreast of the most effective teaching strategies. The most recent trend among teachers of all kinds is Cooperative Learning. Cooperative Learning can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people. Cooperative Learning in its true meaning is probably occurring a fraction of the time that a teacher thinks it is in their classroom.

Cooperative Learning in its true form has groups of students working together to achieve a common goal or task. The problem is we usually end up with group work. Group work is drastically different from Cooperative Learning. When group work is occurring, students are usually bored, unmotivated and not actually cooperating much at all. One student may do all the work and give the answers to the other members of his/her group. Other times, each student may do a few questions each and then give the answers to everyone else in their group. The bottom line is, group work does not allow all students to gain as much as they can from the lesson. It is an unstructured learning experience where some students did a lot of the work and others did very little or none. Because of the lack of structure many students also feel left out.

In true Cooperative Learning, students are given a structured task where everyone is involved and individual accountability is built in. Students are working together to achieve success and have a positive learning experience. They all will participate equally so individuals aren’t left out or stuck doing the majority of the work. In following through with these basic principles, students can become successful learners and more involved in achieving certain life skills that they can hold onto throughout their school years and careers. Teachers must rid themselves of the same old group work routine and begin challenging their students to be a part of the process so that everyone can benefit from the success of the class.

Cooperative Learning is not the almighty solution to the education of our students, but it provides a framework ensuring that all of our students can be the best they can be. This set-up not only allows for a positive learning environment where everyone is engaged, but it also closely mimics the “real world” that our students will be thrown into. The majority of careers involve people working in teams to complete a common task. Our children must learn the value of cooperating with each other to be effective throughout the course of their lives.

The educational process may seem stagnant over time, but it should never remain still. Educators need to continue to further the variety of strategies that they use in the classroom throughout the course of their teaching careers. Ironically enough, teachers hold the key. Spreading the word of what works and what does not is achieved by educators sharing ideas. Whether it be veteran teachers or first year teachers, everyone must help out in a collegial setting to accomplish a common goal: Education of our youth by the best means possible.

Mother told us to always have the initiative, so we grew up asking “Can I help?” when it came to work duties. Truly, we were blessed to be surrounded with people who loved work and valued it with integrity. And while we loved to assist most of the time, we have learned about accepting duties.

When we were students, some of us were taught to obey parents and finish the course they preferred for us. Often, we did not like that way but still abided. I remember I told my mother “I do not like your teaching profession because it is boring and common. It earns so little and it is not even glamorous.”

I was blasphemous at that. I am sorry. I did not even consider her love for work. And because of her noble teaching profession we were able to finish college (she was widowed at 37). She paved her way to the fulfillment of our goals teaching her students well.

Now I am a teacher. And of course, I also pursued on becoming a writer.

Writing was my main profession in my days of work and younger years where I found fulfillment. I remember for many years I taught at the seminary half day and I reported for magazines and newspapers half day as a contributing writer. In the evening, I tutored foreign students online or man to man. I thank God for giving me the grace to love my work, not for rewards but for the inspiration it offered me to live my daily grind day after day. There were times I slept for only three or four hours and I never regretted this. I embraced all the circumstances that came with my duty in the thought of also serving the teachings of God.

Work is something from the heart you offer. It is not just for money, but serving God. It fills the vacuum in the heart and gives you zeal. The fruits of its labor becomes pure when it is done out of that sacred oath to duty, so that is why we pray for what we dream or want to be when we grow up.

The stories of Woolworth and Og Mandino counting cents and going the extra mile show us examples of good work habits. The leadership and success books of Napoleon Hill and Hopkins encourage people to get rid of laziness and focus on goals.

To make kids aware of their duties, I tell them the story about the Lazy Juan. The story of Lazy Juan is a Filipino folktale. Juan always laid down under a guava tree and waited for the guavas to fall so he could eat them. He was so lazy that he wanted comfort all the time, even telling the crabs to walk home instead of carrying them in a basket.

So what is it to work with love? Kahlil Gibran says, “It is to charge all things you fashion with a breath of your own spirit, and to know that all the blessed dead are standing about you and watching.”

Sometimes, it is not working at all when you love your duties. It comes out naturally in your day to day life with the aid of angels.

Lord, sustain us and let us serve you well.

This history of glow in the dark (GITD) materials goes back to the 16th century and is still very common today. These materials need energy to work, usually in the form of light. They are charged through that source of energy, after that they glow. You must have often seen people wearing bracelets and bands in different fluorescent colours like yellow, green, orange pink, etc that glow in the dark.

Glow in the dark bracelets can be created in different styles. Light colours can be used to create the ‘glow in the dark bracelets’. Usually ‘glow-in-the-dark’ bracelets are made with silicon. These bracelets glow in the dark and are usually worn by players, and even by celebrities and important people to promote their team, party, or business.

Sometimes they are just worn for fashion. When these bracelets are charged, they last from seconds to hours depending on the amount of light that the bracelet has to activate and the temperature present. Usually, the ‘glow in the dark’ bracelet glows for about 10 minutes, while some new ones now may last for hours. Usually it is not a very bright light and you need to be in complete darkness to see it.

These ‘glow in the dark’ products have phosphors. This material spreads out visible light after being energised. Usually phosphors are commonly used in TV screens and fluorescent lights. In a TV screen, an electronic beam hits the phosphors and energises it. These ‘glow in the dark’ products also contain phosphors, which charges and emit light in the dark. Phosphors have three features;

o Type of energy that are required to be energised

o The colour of the visible light that they create

o The amount of time they glow for after they are charged

To make a glow in the dark bracelet you need a phosphor that is charged with normal light and has a very long persistence. These phosphors are mixed into plastic, and are made into the shapes of a bracelet. Zinc Sulfide and Strontium Aluminates are the example of phosphors that helps these bracelets to glow in the dark.

Strontium Aluminates is rather new and when used in products they glow in the dark for a long time. You must be wondering now that you have a bracelet that does not need to be charged. They glow without charging. You are right. These products use phosphors mixed with a radioactive emission and charge the phosphor continuously, but this is quite an expensive method used in expensive watches only.

Sometimes these phosphors degrade with time and the bracelets that you have may stop to glow or glow less overtime. Most of the ‘glow in the dark’ items available today are not radioactive. The items produced since the 1970s that are radioactive, are aisle markers, compasses, exit signs, watches, and weapon sights, contain tritium, but bracelets do not include that. Still care should be taken that these bracelets should not be broken or eaten in the case of children, because it will be harmful to the body if eaten.

Many of us have to work for a living. We need money to cover our overheads and responsibilities, hopefully with some left over for a few treats and incidental expenses along the way. Earning enough in the best way we can may well be the main preoccupation in our minds.

So often we feel compelled to make compromises when it comes to our work; we may take on a role we don’t especially like, feel obliged to humour a difficult boss, commute large distances, keep unsociable hours in order to retain our work position. For a time this may be a necessary negotiation, it’s vital in order to keep the different areas of our life afloat.

Some days will be better than others, so what makes a good day at work?

– Someone smiling as we walk through the door can lift our spirits, particularly if, prior to arriving at work, our day has already been rather fraught. I’m reminded of one of my clients who managed a large call centre. Her mission at the start of each working day was to identify the most frazzled member of her team, then go and sit chatting with them until they started to smile. That simple action improved everyone’s day.

– Planning the day ahead can be a good way to ensure that we start each day in the right frame of mind. Sometimes unexpected challenges or opportunities may arise, but having a to-do list can provide a structure for our efforts.

– When we achieve what we set out to do it’s always a good day at work. That may be because we’ve done something we know we’re good at. We can relax as we aim to do it exceptionally well. Yes, there’s the stress to do a good job, especially if we’re regarded as an expert in our field. There’s the motivation to excel and not let ourselves down, but when we’re comfortable with the skills required we can enjoy performing those tasks. Remember too to congratulate yourself on what you achieve.

– Feeling there’s some flexibility to accommodate new demands, emergencies and opportunities can help us manage stress and have a good day. It’s important that we’re not working to full capacity all the time. Being able to adapt whenever an unexpected or attractive new request comes along can bring an enthusiastic, motivated feeling to the day.

– When we’ve been significantly challenged and come through, perhaps had to acquire new skills and dig deep, it can really improve our confidence and self-esteem. Doing something we’re not sure about, maybe being new to a task, means that we may have to learn something in stages, undergo some training. Practising, challenging ourselves, making mistakes, moving out of our comfort zone can be uncomfortable at first but can ultimately lead to a good day at work. We can then start to feel better, more proficient, having achieved something unexpected.

– Ever put off doing something you dread or don’t like? This can impact on your health and wellbeing as those tasks are unlikely to disappear by themselves. Once you start to tackle them it can bring a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Most of us have jobs that we’re not too eager to tackle; admin and book-keeping certainly head-up my list. But doing a little each day or allocating a particular time each week to keep on top of those tasks can result in a good day at work. This helps you better manage stress, which supports your health and overall wellbeing

– Appreciation can be an important component in having a good day at work. Someone’s perhaps listened to our suggestions and taken them on board or has noticed how hard we’ve worked and has given recognition and credit where it’s due. None of us can fully appreciate the effort and sacrifices that someone may have made when undertaking a task for us. Gratitude and a simple acknowledgement demonstrates good manners and can make a significant difference to each other’s day.

– Quality interactions with others are important too, especially for those who work from home, where they may sometimes go for days without seeing a friendly face. It’s important to set aside time to meet others, perhaps through networking or scheduling a coffee or a short break to catch up and discuss challenges and experiences. Ensure you reinforce your relationships with friends and colleagues as well as at home, meeting with people who like you, are supportive and are interested in talking to you about you in a non-work-related way.

A good day at work can have many elements to it. Doing a good job, where you deliver what your client or customer is looking for, perhaps anticipating their needs and being recognised as skilled, maybe even an expert, is certainly one positive way. Also important is investing in your relationships both at work and at home, so establishing a good support network around you.

Don’t forget to allow a little time away from work for yourself, time to enjoy your hobbies and interests, read a book or maybe just sit and enjoy a coffee doing nothing. That too contributes to your day at work being all the more fulfilling and positive an experience.