Stress @ work

I was reading a very interesting blog post about Stress @ work. I know that nowadays this is an unavoidable fact of life but it can affect your body, thoughts and feelings if its not dealt  on time. I really like this post because it gives a possible solution on how to reduce stress.

Accepting that you are stressed is not easy. Some people think that it can be seen as a sign of weakness and an inability to cope, and won’t readily admit to it. 
However, it's very important that you address the symptoms as soon as possible — and in order to do this you need to recognise the signs.

Psychological symptoms

• Inability to concentrate or make simple decisions
• Memory lapses
• Becoming rather vague
• Easily distracted
• Less intuitive & creative
• Worrying
• Negative thinking
• Depression & anxiety

Emotional symptoms

• Tearful
• Mood Swings
• Extra sensitive to criticism
• Defensive
• Feeling out of control
• Lack of motivation
• Angry
• Frustrated
• Lack of confidence
• Lack of self-esteem

Physical signs

• Aches/pains & muscle tension/grinding teeth (Stiff neck)
• Frequent colds/infections
• Allergies/rashes/skin irritations
• Constipation/diarrhoea/ IBS
• Weight loss or gain
• Indigestion/heartburn/ulcers
• Hyperventilating/lump in the throat/pins & needles
• Dizziness/palpitations
• Panic attacks/nausea
• Physical tiredness
• Menstrual changes/loss of libido/sexual problems
• Heart problems/high blood pressure

Behavioural signs

• No time for relaxation or activities that you enjoy
• Prone to accidents, forgetfulness
• Relying on alcohol, smoking, caffeine, recreational or illegal drugs
• Becoming a workaholic
• Poor time management and/or poor standards of work
• Absenteeism
• Self neglect or change in appearance
• Social withdrawal
• Relationship struggles
• Insomnia or waking tired
• Reckless
• Aggressive/anger outbursts

Reducing the strength of these symptoms is usually a more viable option than eliminating them entirely. The good news is that once that you've identified the triggers, there is so much you can do! (exercise, meditation, counselling, etc.) 
Remember, pressure at work can be good sometimes. Stress is definitely NOT. 

Why London is great to raise kids

I came across this article, and to be honest I couldn't disagree more.
I believe any country in the world has its bad and good points. I am not saying UK is the best place to bring up children, but the worst? That is a bit harsh. 
I am an expat living in London and yes, weather is better where I was born and perhaps people are more social, but opportunities here are fantastic, education is outstanding (and not so expensive) and believe me it is safe here. 

From my point of view, these are the advantages of raising your kids in London. Are any of these important to you?

1- Free Healthcare: If you are a UK resident, you are eligible for free healthcare. I had a baby in London, I was hospitalised for 4 days because I had an emergency C-Section. I didn't spend a penny and the service was, honestly, very very good.

2- Children Centres: Children’s centres are intended to be one of the main vehicles for ensuring that integrated and good quality family services are located in accessible places and are welcoming to all. They aim to support young children and their families, they offer a lot of free activities (some of them require a donation of £1). Luciano and I go to music classes, he loves them and it is a great chance for me to meet other local mums.
Find Children Centres close to you

3- Green London: London has a lot of green and open spaces. There are approx 1,700 parks here. Some of them even have paddling pools for kids, in summer this is great! And free!

4- Rural London: In such a large city, it is nice to have a rural day out with kids.
There are many urban farms that you can visit. Check them out, some are free.

5- Diversity: From school to the tube station, our kids can meet people from all walks of life. Their group of friends could hail from dozens of different countries. And they can try any cuisine. Our favourite is Italian. Kids learn how to respect different cultures. How cool is that?  

6- Baby changing facilities: Most restaurants have one. Also all the shopping malls. and some other shops like Mothercare, Boots etc. There is a phone app you can download that I found extremely useful.

7- Bike friendly: London's public bike scheme started in July 2010, there are 8,000 bicycles distributed across London.

8- Free Childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds kids: 3 and 4-year-old kids in England are entitled to 15 hours of free early education each week for 38 weeks of the year. From September 2013 some 2-year-olds will be eligible as well.
 
9- Pram friendly. London Buses have access and space for prams. Streets are really prepared as they have ramps and most restaurants have a buggy area.

10- In the future, they can study in great universities that are internationally recognised.

Tips for mums returning to work

1- Know what you want. Have clarity on what is more important to you: your career progression, a decent salary or to have flexibility. I am sure this priority was different before having a baby. Make sure you identify a reason, it will help you to evaluate the options you have.

2- Update your CV keeping it relevant to the job you want, learn new skills. There are lots of free/cheap courses on the Internet that will only need an hour a day. It will increase your confidence.

3- Sort out Childcare ASAP, do not wait until you have a job offer, in order to properly interview and get a feel for the facility and the childcare workers. There are loads of reviews online but also trust your gut feeling in this one. 

4- Stay in touch with other adults, ex colleagues, friends and classmates. They might know of a job vacancy and will keep you updated of what is going on in the industry. Do not rely on websites only to apply.

5- Do not wait for the right time. Having a baby, this right time doesn't really exist. Put yourself out there now, at least start evaluating the market. Apply and get feedback from prospective employers. If you are lucky to get a job offer,  if possible start on a Thursday so it will give your baby ease to settle.

6- Prepare for the interview.

7- Don't be scared of full time positions. Remember that if the company wants you, there is always room for negotiation. Plus you can suggest a few other things like compressed hours, working from home, etc. Explore all the options and do not be scared of asking for flexibility.

8- Have a back up plan in case your baby is sick and you can't ask for the day off, or if you have to stay longer hours at work due to an important project and your nanny cannot stay.

9- Time management is key now! Buy food and groceries online. Pay your bills by direct debit etc, thinks that you will be able to spend that time with your family.

10 - Do not feel guilty and be happy with your choices. It is OK to have an identity, it is OK to like your job, it is OK to return to work. Your baby will be fine, believe me.

Do you have any other tips to share?

Good Luck!

Having babies

Having babies

I was always told that having a baby changes your life. They never told me how big that change was. I now realise, it is huge. So, are you REALLY prepared to have a baby?  It all depends on what you want out of life. You shouldn't have children unless you want the experience of being completely responsible for raising and nurturing another human being. You shouldn't have children unless you are prepared for years of hard work and sacrifice. If it's what you want, I assure you it is the most rewarding and fulfilling experience possible.What do you think?