2015 Is The Year To Shape Up Or Ship Out

A nine hour desk job can wreck havoc on a person's health and well-being. Musculo-skeletal disorders, weight problems, digestive tract ailments and decreased visual acuity are just some symptoms of deteriorating health. Shift workers usually lack sleep which makes these symptoms seem worse for them.

How can we squeeze in a little bit of exercise in our day? It is recommended that we stand and walk around once for a few minutes during our shift. Take the stairs instead of the elevator when going up and down a few floors. Walk a few blocks to the bus stop, or get off two blocks and walk the rest of the way.

We can also do isotonic exercises while sitting by flexing certain muscle groups. Stretch our arms and legs, rotate our shoulders, wrists and ankles. Just keep moving!

Eating healthy, doing exercise, and getting enough sleep can jump start our journey to gain fitness and better health. Thanks to technology, we can now better track the number of calories we burned, the distance we have walked, and the number of hours we have slept. 

Check out these gadgets. It will definitely motivate us to push ourselves to the limit and achieve our goals. 2015 is indeed the year to shape up or ship out!

A Fitness and Sleep Tracker Watch

Start getting credit for your daily activity with the Timex IRONMAN Move x20 Mid-Size fitness tracker. It works seamlessly with your iOS or Android smartphone to provide an incredibly convenient way for you to track your steps, distance and calories. There’s also a workout mode that displays your elapsed time and pace. It holds 30 days of daily data, 30 workout files and 10 days of sleep data. With easy-to-read, illuminated characters, you’ll always be able to check your progress.
Timex - Women's Timex 'Ironman - Move x20' Wireless Fitness & Sleep Tracker Watch (Small) - $99.95, Free shipping - Available at Holabird Sports

A Scale To Keep Track Of Your Progress

What more could be more essential in keeping track of your progress than a scale that not only tells you how much you weigh, but also gives you other health-related metrics? Step on the Vivitar platform and, like other scales or a freelance carnival guesser, it will tell you how much you weigh. But, as its name implies, the scale also determines other key health-related metrics, such as body fat, hydration levels, muscle mass, and bone density. Up to 10 people can put their basic personal information—age, gender, and height—into the system. Next, the scale uses this info and bioelectrical impedance analysis, a technology that sends a low-level electrical signal through the feet, to take its readings.

Replenish From Start To Finish

Replenish your body reserves with a healthy snack. Each 86 gram bar of TigerBillsBest High Protein Energy Bar is gluten and soy free, contains 21 grams of whey protein, and 22 grams of fiber. Its natural sugars provide quick energy while the complex carbs in the snack provide lasting energy. What could be more satisfying than a treat that not only tastes good, it also feels good inside. 

Let's move that body! It is never to late to start. 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links provided by Postpresso.

Changes And The Corporate Slave

Organizational change. Big words. Huge impact.

In business, it is so true that "the only thing constant is change." Changes are being made to improve the business process, to increase the company's financial gain and to be able to serve the customers better. Careful planning must be done to avoid a negative impact on the company's front-liners. These people are the ones working to keep the business afloat, therefore, implementing poorly thought of changes will cause employee unrest - and the business suffers.

What should be done to effect change and yet keep the employees happy? Here are some of the factors that should be taken into consideration:

Financial Impact:

What motivates your employees to go to work everyday? The number one reason is compensation. A rank and file employee knows that as long as they work 40 hours a week,  they will get paid. Should they exceed their targets, they know they will be receiving incentives for exemplary work. They know how much they expect to receive and they have carefully planned out the family budget until the next payday comes.

If the proposed change will affect their finances, think twice before you initiate your plan. If you ignore this, then you will be looking at dissatisfaction at work, increased number of absences, and worst, attrition. Organizational change with salary cuts is not good at all.

"If you pick the right people and give them the opportunity to spread their wings—and put compensation as a carrier behind it—you almost don't have to manage them."

— Jack Welch

Transparency:

The best way to reduce the negative impact of organizational change is to be honest. Talk to your employees. Inform them of the changes that management is planning to implement. Changes should NOT be kept secret until the day of implementation. Your front liners are the ones who have put money in your fat bank account. Why should they be left out in the planning? The key point here is to involve them in the decision making process.

"Leaders who make it a practice to draw out the thoughts and ideas of their subordinates and who are receptive even to bad news will be properly informed. Communicate downward to subordinates with at least the same care and attention as you communicate upward to superiors."

— L. B. Belker

Mental Stress and Demotivation:

This is to be expected in any organizational change, especially if an employees' finances are affected and their life-work balance is disrupted. When this happens, the first thing that management will notice is a decrease in productivity. Employees may then start coming in late, taking longer than usual lunch breaks, or even skip work. The "devil may care" attitude hovers over the work place like an ugly dark cloud. Employee morale is a very fragile component of the work environment and this should always be taken into consideration. Managers should put themselves in the shoes of the front-liners. Work to create a win-win situation in every proposed organizational change. 

“If you slave away every day at a job you hate and come home drained and frustrated, what is that teaching your kids?” 

― Alexander Kjerulf, Happy Hour is 9 to 5

Situation in the Home:

Are your frontliners the breadwinners in the family? Do they have to attend to the care of a child, or an aging parent after work hours? Are their working hours beneficial for them to maintain efficiency at work, attend to family responsibilities and still get enough rest? Will the proposed organizational change significantly alter their life outside of work? It is true that there is no single formula that would work for everyone, however, constant communication and feedback from the employees will provide valuable information to arrive at a decision where everyone will be happy.

"A company that pays attention to the family unit is a successful company. We don't isolate the family. We don't make rides that say, 'Hey mom, dad, you go sit on the bench.'"

- Michael Eisner

I am but one of the millions of corporate slaves working in a call center. I have hungered to find contentment in my job. I thirst for acknowledgment of my sacrifice. I do not need certificates, gift checks or what-nots. I need to feel satisfied in what I do, get paid for my efforts, come home happy and stay healthy. I know it is only a dream and a that there is no perfect job that ever existed, and will never exist.

An upcoming change will be rolled out at work. The reasons are unbelievably shallow and has no business impact. I may be wrong, who knows? Everything is kept secret. "This is all I can tell you," is the trending sentence. As much as I voice out my opinions (or protest), I know I will never be heard. If I push my concerns, I would be at risk of losing my job. I could get a memo for insubordination. It is a death trap. Take it or leave it - that's the rule.

What do you think I would do? As always, I'd take everything with a grain of salt.

Why? Because that's just the way it is. I am a corporate slave.

Perfect Wedding Anniversary Gifts

A wedding anniversary is marked red on a woman's calendar. It is such an important date in a woman's life and she deserves a well-thought of gift. Here is a guide on finding the perfect gift for every 5 years of marriage bliss. So whether you are gifting your wife, or your mother, sister, grandmother, these gifts would surely bring a tear of joy to their eyes.

My parents would have celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary if my father was still alive. Nevertheless, we still celebrated their special day with a small family get-together. 

I am truly happy to see couples who have been together and stayed married for a long time, especially couples in their 80s and 90s who still lovingly look at each other and hold hands. Hats off to them!

Since wedding anniversaries happen everyday, here is a motif guide on finding the perfect gift for every 5 years of marriage bliss. 

First Year Anniversary - Clocks

A first year wedding anniversary is as special as the wedding day itself. What could be more symbolic than a beautiful clock to keep track of the lifetime a couple will have together. 

Bulova - Cranbrook Wall Clock by Bulova

Fifth Year Anniversary - Silverware

Five years married. People would say that couples who have stayed together for five years are still in the honeymoon stage. A fitting gift for a wife who has learned to whip up superb dishes in the kitchen is a silverware set. Perfect for those surprise candlelight dinners.

David Shaw Silverware

Tenth Year Anniversary - Diamonds

Diamonds are a girl's best friend. Ten years into the marriage, raising children, working a full time job and running a household can take a toll on a woman's self-esteem. Show how much you love that woman in your life and surprise her with a simple yet elegant diamond necklace.

Ross-Simons - .10 ct. t.w. Diamond Bar Necklace in Sterling Silver

Fifteenth Year Anniversary - Watches

Watches is the motif for the 15th year wedding anniversary. A couples watch would be a great gift to mark this milestone. 

Giorgio Armani - Emporio Armani Couple's Collection watch #AR9020

Twentieth Year Anniversary - Platinum

Staying together for 20 years is true love. At this time, couples have grown children and have established stability in their lives. To celebrate the big 20, a pair of platinum earrings would be a perfect gift.

Blue Nile - Hoop Earrings in Platinum (9/16") 

Twenty-Fifth Year Anniversary - Silver

Silver is the motif for the 25th wedding anniversary. I remember my dad giving my mom silver jewelry during their 25th anniversary. We celebrated it in style, my dad had an exclusive party for family and special guests at a function room in a high end steak house.

Blue Nile - Infinity Love Knot Pendant Sterling Silver 

Fiftieth Year Anniversary - Gold

Fifty solid years of marriage! These couples have been together through thick and thin and are enjoying their lives in the company of their children and grandchildren. Gold is the motif of the 50th wedding anniversary, which truly describes this event. Simply precious and blessed. 

Daniel's Jewelers - 14K Gold over Silver 24-inch Miami Cuban Link Chain

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links provided by Postpresso.

Brave The Shave! Fresh New Scents To Make Your Man Enjoy Shaving

In a few weeks, it will be Valentine's Day once more. The malls will be full of shoppers wanting to find a perfect Valentine's Day gift for their loved ones. Honestly speaking, I am what others might call "the practical gifter." I go for things that a person can actually use. I always think it is better to find a gift that would be useful other than one that can only be stashed away in a closet.

Okay ladies, I have a gift suggestion for you. You might want to check out the special after-shave splash by floid. This well known product  is made in Spain and has been around since 1932. It is a sought after choice by master barbers and is known for its distinctive, masculine scents. 

To compliment this special after shave splash, you might as well get their shaving gel too. It is a non-foaming transparent gel so shaving would be easier. I know these would not appeal to the younger generation as gifts for their boyfriend, but I am absolutely sure your husband, father, uncle and grandfather would thank you immensely for these products. I know my hubby will!

Another Blog Idea? Join #BlogWithNuffnang!

A few months ago, I joined Nuffnang and I have been loving it since. Nuffnang is not only a great platform to promote products we commonly use; it is also a "go-to" site for learning valuable tips from established bloggers.

I love their contests because it appeals to the Filipino lifestyle, giving us bloggers a chance to collaborate, network and grow in our chosen fields. Nuffnang also ensures that they have equal opportunities for every niche under the sun. From kiddie activities, to food, to fashion, to gadgets, events and services. It is indeed rare that we find a blog advertising community that can do all of these. All we do is to make our creative juices flow and Nuffnang does the rest!

Since November last year, I have been contemplating on starting another blog. I have narrowed down my choices to the following niches - raising kids, call centers, or travel. Of these three choices, I opted for a travel blog. What in heaven's name am I thinking? I have never traveled more than 100 kilometers from home for the past eight years and I am going to do a travel blog? That was my motivation - to travel as much as I can - only in my mind. 

I have been limited by the responsibilities of handling a full time night job, of being a mom and going through the financial stress of sending two children to college.  There are days that would look at pictures of beautiful places I wish I could visit, read a lot about them and then sit back and dream. I thought, if I cannot go out and see the world, I will have to make do with experiencing the world come to me through writing. I know I share this sentiment with a lot of busy mothers out there, so I am going to be bringing them the world through a well-organized travel blog. I have named my new blog - "Wondering Where To Wander," currently hosted by blogger. As of the moment, I only have one entry. Soon there will be more. I have a lot of drafts lined up, categorized into the following - The Great Outdoors, Modern Marvels, Culture, Persons of Interest and Traveling Safe. I am so excited!

Now, in order to turn this dream into reality, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I would be given the blessing of being one of three (3) lucky Nufffnang bloggers to be chosen to be awarded a domain and one year of hosting free! That would be the best gift to start the year and to propel my travel blog to a higher level! You too can join! If you are a registered Nuffnang blogger from the Philippines, log in to your account to learn more about the contest. Not a blogger yet? Don't worry! You too can join. Nuffnang recognizes the potential in each and every one of us. That's what they're here for - to help us connect with brands and eventually help us reach our dreams.

I joined this contest because I really want to make 2015 my year of change. Only Nuffnang can help me turn my dreams into reality! Visit www.blog.nuffnang.com.ph for details! 

Are You Really Rich?

It is a sad reality that we have been engulfed with a false sense of fulfillment brought about by materialism. We immerse ourselves in work to be able to get the latest gadgets, and flashy clothes. The phrase "one day millionaire" is so true when payday comes. We try to convince ourselves that it is not at all bad to partake in good times because after all, we earned our keep. True? Very.

During the Papal Visit, there were so many lessons I have learned by listening to Pope Francis' messages. I have learned not to shun the convenience of technology, but to use it to do good. Compassion towards the less fortunate, learning to weep for the marginalized, and "learning to offer your hand out of your very own poverty."

The street child, the homeless and the abandoned elderly who do not own much are those who we can turn to for wisdom. How they have learned to survive, how they never lose hope, and how they can still love despite being in dire straits. They are those that are truly rich.

I know New Years Resolutions are nothing but wishes, I hope that one day, this year 2015, I will be able to do something for someone in need. I am still coping to survive financially in this corporate jungle, however, money is not the end all and be all. I really really want to be a Messenger of Light. I would want to be able to pay it forward. This is not my wish. This will be my goal.

I am at a loss for words, just thinking of how many children are now laying down cardboard boxes on the sidewalk. How many of them will go to sleep with an empty stomach. How much more are forced to do things against their will just so that they can survive another day. Let us open our hearts to our brothers and sisters, those dressed in tattered clothes, curled up on the sidewalk, begging for food. 

We can do without most of our worldly possessions and yet be rich in faith and trust in the Lord. Let us be feel and be one with the less fortunate. They may be able to give us life lessons better than any gadget can.

James 2:5 - Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the Kingdom he promised those who love Him?

Dean Electric Guitars: Easy on the Budget, High on Performance

Are you currently looking for a great sounding, easy on the budget electric guitars? Look no further. The Dean Vendetta XM Electric Guitar is a lightweight, high performing electric guitar you can use for practice, jamming, and small venue performance. 

Its body is handsomely crafted out of the finest paulownia hardwood, with a bolt on maple neck and rosewood fret board. Other that its visual appeal, the sound is just great. You cannot get anything better that this for the price it is currently offered. Did you ever experience first love? If not, then you surely will when you hold your very own Dean Vendetta XM Electric Guitar. 

The Very Touching Homily Of Pope Francis For The Survivors of Typhoon Yolanda

My country has been blessed by the arrival of the Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis. Although I did not have the chance to go to the places where he will be celebrating Mass, I watch the live, uninterrupted coverage of his visit on television. 

Seeing his smile, watching him hug the children, wave to the crowd is enough to bring me to tears. This is as close as I can get to God. There is such a strong emotion that moves me, that tells me of God's love for me. Early this morning, Pope Francis celebrated Mass at the Tacloban airport. It is this province that suffered the most damage and loss of lives during Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Typhoon Yolanda). At this time, a storm made landfall in the same place. Nevertheless, this was not considered an obstacle. The Pope donned a raincoat and continued to celebrate Mass and bless the hundreds of thousands of people in attendance.

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I am sharing with you the homily of His Holiness, Pope Francis.

I prefer today to speak in Spanish. I have a translator, a good translator. May I do it? [crowd responds ‘yes’] Thank you very much.

As delivered by translator

We have a high priest who is capable of sympathizing with our weaknesses. Jesus is like us. Jesus lived like us and is the same us in every respect, except sin because he was not a sinner. But to be more like us he assumed our condition and our sin. He made himself into sin. This is what St Paul tells us. And Jesus always goes before us and when we pass an experience, a cross, he passed there before us. And if today we find ourselves here 14 months afterwards, 14 months precisely after the Typhoon Yolanda hit, it is because we have the security of knowing we will not weaken in our faith because Jesus has been here before us.

In his Passion he assumed all our pain. Therefore he is capable of understanding us, as we heard in the first reading.

I’d like to tell you something close to my heart. When I saw from Rome that catastrophe I had to be here. And on those very days I decided to come here. I am here to be with you – a little bit late, but I’m here.

I have come to tell you that Jesus is Lord. And he never lets us down. Father – you might say to me – I was let down because I have lost so many things, my house, my livelihood. It’s true if you say that and I respect those sentiments. But Jesus is there, nailed to the cross, and from there he does not let us down. He was consecrated as Lord on that throne and there he experienced all the calamities that we experience. Jesus is Lord. And the Lord from the cross is there for you. In everything the same as us. That is why we have a Lord who cries with us and walks with us in the most difficult moments of life.

So many of you have lost everything. I don’t know what to say to you. But the Lord does know what to say to you. Some of you have lost part of your families. All I can do is keep silence and walk with you all with my silent heart. Many of you have asked the Lord – why lord? And to each of you, to your heart, Christ responds with his heart from the cross. I have no more words for you. Let us look to Christ. He is the Lord. He understands us because he underwent all the trials that we, that you, have experienced.
And beside the cross was his Mother. We are like a little child in the moments when we have so much pain and no longer understand anything. All we can do is grab hold of her hand firmly and say “Mommy” – like a child does when it is afraid. It is perhaps the only words we can say in difficult times – “Mommy”.

Let us respect a moment of silence together and look to Christ on the cross. He understands us because he endured everything. Let us look to our Mother and, like a little child, let us hold onto her mantle and with a true heart say – “Mother”. In silence, tell your Mother what you feel in your heart. Let us know that we have a Mother, Mary, and a great Brother, Jesus. We are not alone. We also have many brothers who in this moment of catastrophe came to help. And we too, because of this, we feel more like brothers and sisters because we helped each other.

This is what comes from my heart. Forgive me if I have no other words to express myself. Please know that Jesus never lets you down. Know that the tenderness of Mary never lets you down. And holding onto her mantle and with the power that cones from Jesus’ love on the cross, let us move forward and walk together as brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Thank you very much

Mercy and compassion is the message of Pope Francis. May we all live with renewed faith in God and continue to practice acts of kindness towards our brothers and sisters in need.

Pray for peace. The world needs it.

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The Corporate Dress Code, Make-up And High Heels: Do Clothes Really Make A Person?

Before I start ranting, I need you to understand that whatever I write here is my opinion.

I, together with around 4.5 million other Filipinos work in a call center. We provide much needed customer service, technical support, and back office processing to off-shore clients. This means work may start as early as 7:00 pm to as late as 4:00 am. Our biggest clients' businesses are based in the United States, Australia, Canada, and United Kingdom. So obviously, we are not customer-facing. We attend to our clients' customers through phone calls, chat, or email. When call center agents answer a call or respond to an email, the customer does not think about what the agent is wearing. What the customer wants is for their issue to be resolved. That being said, is a dress code really necessary to provide customer service?

Is anything wrong with jeans, a tee and sneakers?

Before I get a thousand raised eyebrows, let me explain what a corporate dress code is. This means men and women are supposed to come to work in a "smart business attire." For women, it means dresses, collared blouses, knee length skirts, slacks/dress pants, pumps/heeled shoes (open toe shoes are not allowed). For the men, it is dress shirts, slacks and leather shoes. Fine. Nothing wrong with this - if you have a day job and deal with customers face to face! Night shifters dolled up like this walking to a bus stop and waiting for a ride is like an open invitation for muggers. Of course, we can always take a cab, however, that could wreck havoc on our budget.

I understand that we have to exude professionalism, because some people tend to look down at call center workers. The phrase, "Kaya ganyan yan, kasi sa call center lang nagtatrabaho," is such a insult to us, especially if it came from people who have no knowledge of the life we have.

My opinion is that you cannot judge a person by their clothes. Efficiency is not acquired from applying lipstick. 

Integrity is not an ingredient found in mascara and eye shadow.

Professionalism does not come with wearing high heels.

I would want to share an interesting article I have read a few days ago. The title of the article is "The Science of Simplicity: Why Successful People Wear The Same Thing Everyday," written by John Haltiwanger for Elite Daily. I was overjoyed that there was one person who shared my sentiment. The author mentioned such well known people such as Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Albert Einstein and Barack Obama. I loved how the author discussed the pros and cons of simplicity and what got me right on was this:

Yet, we might all consider simplifying our lives a bit more by reducing the amount of time we spend thinking about pointless aspects of our day. In the process, one might find that they are significantly less stressed, more productive and more fulfilled.

Oh so true!

I do not find anything wrong with jeans, as long as they are not ripped or worn "pants on the ground" style. I don't get it when sneakers or rubber shoes are not allowed at work. I really find it hard to part with my Chuck Taylors or my comfy all weather Saucony running shoes. If I had my way, the only things I would consider "inappropriate" for work are the following:

1. Leggings (yoga pants)

2. Tank tops

3. Halter tops

4. Blouses/Shirts with low necklines

5. Micro-minis/skorts

6. Statement shirts with offensive/racist designs

7. Shorts or whatever kind

8. Ripped jeans

9. Flip-flops/rubber sandals/slippers

10. Thin, flimsy or see-through shirts

In the event that clients would be doing a site visit, only then should we be required to dress in smart business attire. Don't you think this would be a better solution?

Oh well, since I am nothing but a corporate slave, I have no other option but to follow the rules no matter how much I hate it. However, I would never, as in never wear high heeled shoes. I love my feet, why should I make them suffer? Besides, I am diabetic and I am very careful not to cause any injury to my lower extremities or else... goodbye legs!

Before I end, I would want to share a video of one of my favorite local rock bands. The one speaking is the lead singer, Jay Contreras. He has been misjudged as being a bad person because of his looks. In the video, he speaks about it to his audience. 

"Hindi po lahat ng taong mahabang buhok kulot at maraming tattoo ay masamang tao...

Marami diyan, ang ganda ng damit, ang gara ng buhok, ang yaman ng dating, pero ang sama ng ugali.

Pero merong iba, mukhang adik, mukhang sanggano, puro tattoo pero grabe magmahal.

Wag nyo pong husgahan ang mga tao sa paligid nyo.."

Translation: "Not all persons with tattoos and long unruly hair are evil. There are some who have nice clothes, smooth, shiny hair, looking so rich and classy, but are evil deep inside. Its true. While those people who look like hobos, with lots of tattoos are the ones that know how to truly love. Please do not judge the people around you." 




You are welcome to share your opinion. Do clothes really make a person?

How I Got Over My Post New Year Stress Disorder

For the past two weeks, my mind was nothing but a blank blob of neurons. I couldn't write, I couldn't think. There were so many ideas and yet I could not work around creating a post. My hubby was worried about why I was not getting any drive to sit down and write. I simply had nothing to write about! I guess I went into a state of PNYSD ("Post New Year Stress Disorder")

The New Year for me brings some anxiety. What is bound to happen this year? Will I be healthy enough to get me through the next year? Will my daughter get married? Will my sons finish school? What's in for me career-wise? Will my hubby get his surgery to replace his aortic valve? Will I even have enough finances to take me through the rest of the year?

The first eight days of the year were filled with a lot of stress, so much so that I felt I was coming down with the flu. I was sluggish and unbelievably sleepy, probably a psychological reaction that would "fool" me into forgetting to think about things. It was during one of these days at work that I finally heard what I needed to hear. I was exerting extra effort to maintain my level of efficiency when I heard one of my agents say to his customer - "I'm breathing and I'm employed. As long as these two keep happening, everything will fall into place. Gotta keep the faith. I just gotta keep the faith."

It is amazing how one can find inspiration in places you least expect. I tried to backtrack the calls of this particular agent. I found out that he did have a happy disposition in life. Despite the cold artic blast, the gloomy weather and all, he still manages to uplift the spirits of his customers. In one instance, his customer was ranting about how bad the weather is in his place. When the customer asked the agent about the weather in Rochester, New York, the agent replied, 

"The weather may be bad, but I'm breathing, I'm employed and I get paid on Friday. Life is good!"

Tonight, I go back to work again. I will keep these wise words in mind. I will pray for strength and guidance. And yes, Dyquine, I WILL KEEP THE FAITH AND PUT ALL MY TRUST IN GOD.

Life is definitely all good.