Tagged Laura Donovan:

Don’t Stress: Making your stress levels work for your life.

L(L) staff writer Laura Donovan dishes on how stress can act as a positive force in your life with the right mindset and management tactics.

Before moving to New York City last year, I received the best advice of my life from a senior colleague.

“The greatest way to guarantee a stress-free existence is to do nothing and avoid risks,” my coworker and mentor, Matt Lewis, said to me over a celebratory lunch after my offer from the Levo League arrived. “You won’t achieve anything big, but you’ll have no worries either.”

The thrill of scoring an amazing job in my dream city had been slightly overshadowed by the logistics the job came with: I’d have to move, break my lease, snag an apartment, cancel my electricity and cable accounts…

In a nutshell, a stress-free existence is a sterile, dull one. When you lead an exciting life, stress follows. The good news? You’re completely in control of how you handle it.

The WSJ this week carried a front-page Personal Journal story that resonated with me: that moderate stress levels can actually do you some good, according to research at UCSF [via The Wall Street Journal]. A certain level of stress can energize you and help you reach goals. Try not to always put stress in a negative light, as it can serve a valuable purpose: to help you get things done and ultimately bring a sense of fulfillment.

No matter how much you have on your plate, stress management is going to make things easier. Here are a few suggestions for keeping it in check:

Exercise!

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: You’re not a polar bear, so prioritize exercise as you’d prioritize work. With all the endorphins flowing through your system, exercise will serve as a de-stresser when you feel you have too much to do.

At times, this assessment may seem incorrect. I’ve caught myself saying, “I barely have time to complete my work to-do list, let alone exercise” many a day, but working out is a staple of good health and happiness, so set aside some time each week to break a sweat. You’ll literally feel the stress leave your body as you push yourself physically, and suddenly your office-related worries won’t seem so grave.

You may spent the majority of your hours at a desk, but with some effort, you can make room for a work-out in the morning or nighttime. Pre-work grogginess or evening exhaustion might deter you from hitting the gym or going for a run, but I promise you’ll feel incredible afterward, and you’ll also see that it’s quite possible to make time for non-work activities!

Keep to-do lists

Every time I’ve been advised to make a to-do list, I’ve been tempted to make fun of the person who suggested it. I cannot, however, deny the effectiveness of to-do lists, as they are a visual reminder of all the things I need to take care of.

Anytime you feel overloaded, jot down everything you must do on a sheet of paper. Write out all your tasks —- even stuff as minor as cleaning your desk —- so nothing will fall through the cracks. You’ll probably find that there’s less for you to worry about than you initially thought.

You’ll also experience feelings of accomplishment and relief upon checking off the things on your list, and with all you have on your plate, you deserve to acknowledge your successes. It’s also wise to categorize your to-dos by category so you remember which ones to prioritize first.

Communicate with your higher-ups

It’s crucial to stay on the same page with your managers, so maintain close correspondence with each of your supervisors to understand their expectations. If you don’t know how to prioritize all your duties, ask your bosses which to-dos should be at the top of your list.

If you believe you lack the bandwidth to take on everything you’ve been tasked with, set up a meeting with the higher-ups so they can help you sort out the situation, possibly delegate some of those duties, and get in control of what’s going on. They may not be mind-readers, but bosses can tell when you’re tense, so consult them if you’re not sure how to go about tackling everything that must get done. Just be thoughtful and calm in your approach. Keep your cool, even if you feel like the world is crashing down on you, so you can discuss the circumstances rationally.  

Make friends with your coworkers and turn to them for advice

Don’t underestimate the value of a close colleague. Chances are, these folks are just as swamped as you are, and the two of you can have cathartic chats about office concerns and take things off each other’s hands if necessary. Coworkers can be good friends, helpful employees, and trusted confidants, so make sure there’s at least one person at the office you trust. They’ll get you through rough times and be there for you during exciting moments as well.

Get some sleep

If anything can turn me into Grumplestiltskin, it’s lack of shut eye. Sleep deprivation has been found to affect mood and learning ability, so keep your brain, body, and mind healthy by getting at least seven hours of sleep a night. You may believe you have too much to do for this to be possible, but the more well-rested you are, the happier and more productive you’ll be at the office. Imagine working a 12-hour shift on three hours of sleep. Exhaustion could further stress you out, make you short-tempered, and decrease the quality of your work, so get a decent amount of sleep each night so you’ll be rested enough to do everything expected of you.

Remember that everyone around you is stressed

You may feel like you take on more than you can actually manage, but here’s another way of looking at your workload: your colleagues are almost certainly in the same boat. Your colleagues still have jobs because they produce quality work— so they probably have the same amount of work as you do. If you change your mindset to accommodate this reality, you’ll see you’re not the only one who is doing too much and also recognize that work gets dumped on your coworkers as well. If your workload is dragging you into a negative mindset, an easy pick-me-up is to foster compassion and empathy in your office—to remind yourself that you’re carrying the workload together.

When I found out I’d be moving to New York, my to-do list was endless. It gave me such a headache that I could barely enjoy my macaroni and cheese (side note: if I were a guy, I’d be considered a “man child”). But I was allowing my to-do list to dictate my stress level, and allowing it to produce anxiety instead of excitement. The fact of the matter, though, is that I had found an opportunity to level up in my professional life: and the excitement of my progress could have helped me power through the inane chores that came along with that move. Stress can be managed with the correct perspective and techniques.

——————————————————————————

Tell us, L(L): How do you manage your stress levels? What works? What’s the worst stress-management technique you’ve ever heard of or tried?
Jan 26
Don’t Stress: Making your stress levels work for your life. L(L) staff writer Laura Donovan dishes on how stress can act as a positive force in your life with the right mindset and management tactics. Before moving to New York City last year, I received the best advice of my life from a senior colleague. “The greatest way to guarantee a stress-free existence is to do nothing and avoid risks,” my coworker and mentor, Matt Lewis, said to me over a celebratory lunch after my offer from the Levo League arrived. “You won’t achieve anything big, but you’ll have no worries either.” The thrill of scoring an amazing job in my dream city had been slightly overshadowed by the logistics the job came with: I’d have to move, break my lease, snag an apartment, cancel my electricity and cable accounts… In a nutshell, a stress-free existence is a sterile, dull one. When you lead an exciting life, stress follows. The good news? You’re completely in control of how you handle it. The WSJ this week carried a front-page Personal Journal story that resonated with me: that moderate stress levels can actually do you some good, according to research at UCSF [via The Wall Street Journal]. A certain level of stress can energize you and help you reach goals. Try not to always put stress in a negative light, as it can serve a valuable purpose: to help you get things done and ultimately bring a sense of fulfillment. No matter how much you have on your plate, stress management is going to make things easier. Here are a few suggestions for keeping it in check: Exercise! We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: You’re not a polar bear, so prioritize exercise as you’d prioritize work. With all the endorphins flowing through your system, exercise will serve as a de-stresser when you feel you have too much to do. At times, this assessment may seem incorrect. I’ve caught myself saying, “I barely have time to complete my work to-do list, let alone exercise” many a day, but working out is a staple of good health and happiness, so set aside some time each week to break a sweat. You’ll literally feel the stress leave your body as you push yourself physically, and suddenly your office-related worries won’t seem so grave. You may spent the majority of your hours at a desk, but with some effort, you can make room for a work-out in the morning or nighttime. Pre-work grogginess or evening exhaustion might deter you from hitting the gym or going for a run, but I promise you’ll feel incredible afterward, and you’ll also see that it’s quite possible to make time for non-work activities! Keep to-do lists Every time I’ve been advised to make a to-do list, I’ve been tempted to make fun of the person who suggested it. I cannot, however, deny the effectiveness of to-do lists, as they are a visual reminder of all the things I need to take care of. Anytime you feel overloaded, jot down everything you must do on a sheet of paper. Write out all your tasks —- even stuff as minor as cleaning your desk —- so nothing will fall through the cracks. You’ll probably find that there’s less for you to worry about than you initially thought. You’ll also experience feelings of accomplishment and relief upon checking off the things on your list, and with all you have on your plate, you deserve to acknowledge your successes. It’s also wise to categorize your to-dos by category so you remember which ones to prioritize first. Communicate with your higher-ups It’s crucial to stay on the same page with your managers, so maintain close correspondence with each of your supervisors to understand their expectations. If you don’t know how to prioritize all your duties, ask your bosses which to-dos should be at the top of your list. If you believe you lack the bandwidth to take on everything you’ve been tasked with, set up a meeting with the higher-ups so they can help you sort out the situation, possibly delegate some of those duties, and get in control of what’s going on. They may not be mind-readers, but bosses can tell when you’re tense, so consult them if you’re not sure how to go about tackling everything that must get done. Just be thoughtful and calm in your approach. Keep your cool, even if you feel like the world is crashing down on you, so you can discuss the circumstances rationally.   Make friends with your coworkers and turn to them for advice Don’t underestimate the value of a close colleague. Chances are, these folks are just as swamped as you are, and the two of you can have cathartic chats about office concerns and take things off each other’s hands if necessary. Coworkers can be good friends, helpful employees, and trusted confidants, so make sure there’s at least one person at the office you trust. They’ll get you through rough times and be there for you during exciting moments as well. Get some sleep If anything can turn me into Grumplestiltskin, it’s lack of shut eye. Sleep deprivation has been found to affect mood and learning ability, so keep your brain, body, and mind healthy by getting at least seven hours of sleep a night. You may believe you have too much to do for this to be possible, but the more well-rested you are, the happier and more productive you’ll be at the office. Imagine working a 12-hour shift on three hours of sleep. Exhaustion could further stress you out, make you short-tempered, and decrease the quality of your work, so get a decent amount of sleep each night so you’ll be rested enough to do everything expected of you. Remember that everyone around you is stressed You may feel like you take on more than you can actually manage, but here’s another way of looking at your workload: your colleagues are almost certainly in the same boat. Your colleagues still have jobs because they produce quality work— so they probably have the same amount of work as you do. If you change your mindset to accommodate this reality, you’ll see you’re not the only one who is doing too much and also recognize that work gets dumped on your coworkers as well. If your workload is dragging you into a negative mindset, an easy pick-me-up is to foster compassion and empathy in your office—to remind yourself that you’re carrying the workload together. When I found out I’d be moving to New York, my to-do list was endless. It gave me such a headache that I could barely enjoy my macaroni and cheese (side note: if I were a guy, I’d be considered a “man child”). But I was allowing my to-do list to dictate my stress level, and allowing it to produce anxiety instead of excitement. The fact of the matter, though, is that I had found an opportunity to level up in my professional life: and the excitement of my progress could have helped me power through the inane chores that came along with that move. Stress can be managed with the correct perspective and techniques. —————————————————————————— Tell us, L(L): How do you manage your stress levels? What works? What’s the worst stress-management technique you’ve ever heard of or tried?

Step Away From the Jammies! How to Have the Best Weeknights Ever.

By Laura Donovan

Some days, I get home from work and have the urge to swaddle myself in a Snuggie and watch Modern Family on Hulu. Correction: most days I have this urge (I also own the boxed set of Modern Family).

Though I can’t get enough of Phil Dunphy’s unending failure to be a cool dad, I miss out on worthwhile activities whenever I get home from the office and plop down on my couch to giggle at a fictional character’s social ineptness. My time would be much better spent productively— catching up with a friend over dinner or drinks, huffing and puffing on a treadmill, or working on the standing collection of essays that will one day cement my place in history as the next David Sedaris— than zoning out and cackling in front of my television.

Though it’s understandable to want to turn one’s brain off after an 8+ hour work day, sloth sessions won’t contribute to your personal growth or development and could actually be detrimental to your health. If you go down for a nap upon arriving home, you’ll likely have issues sleeping when your designated bedtime rolls around and increase your chances of feeling tired the following work day. Sitcoms, reality shows, and soap operas can be nice escapes from stressful work projects, but you’ll gain a lot more from actually socializing with someone than expecting the television to entertain you. As exhausted as you may feel when at the end of your workday, resist the temptation to indulge in laziness. Here are some suggestions for making the most of your post-work time.

Stay away from bed

If you do go straight home from work, don’t kill your momentum by climbing into bed right away. It may look and feel a million times more comfortable than your office swivel chair, which you just spent at least eight hours glued to, but your mattress is not your friend, at least until you need shut eye.

 

We love naps. But don’t take naps within two hours of your actual bedtime. Late-evening naps disrupt your resting schedule and could consequently hinder your work performance, especially if you suffer from insomnia. Long naps (or as I like to call them, coma naps) can interfere with your nighttime sleeping patterns, so hit the hay early on in the night rather than napping as soon as you get back home.

You’re also better off using the bed solely for its intended purpose: sleeping (there’s obviously some wiggle room in this definition, but you get the idea). Don’t invite your gadgets into bed, watch TV in bed, or make phone calls from bed (unless you’re dating Ryan Gosling and he’s talking you to sleep by phone. Do that). Get a change of scenery by doing these things in another spot. I currently reside in an apartment that lacks a living room; the result is that when I want to interact with my roommates, I linger in the kitchen. It’s not ideal for having a relaxing conversation or reading my novel, but is less likely to make me doze off.

Plan for dinner

Sometimes your evening plans can get chaotic, and it’s easy to push off dinner til you get home late at night. But late night munching habits are linked to weight gain and sleeping problems— so whether you’re staying in or going out in the evening, make sure to eat at least a few hours before you tuck in for the night.  

If you’ve got evening plans, make sure to include actual food during the course of your night instead of pushing it off until you get home. And if you’re staying in, plan your dinner before you arrive home so that you’ll be prepared to eat well before bedtime. If you have roommates, perhaps they can enjoy the meal as well. This will give each of you a chance to talk about your day and socialize whilst satisfying your stomachs.

Exercise!

Let’s be frank: most of us work from a desk. We’ve made no secret of our love for exercise and good health, so it should come as no surprise that we suggest breaking a sweat after a long work day to increase endorphins and remain active. You can try to counteract the health risks of your desk job by undergoing a semi-rigorous or intense workout at the end of your day. Gathering up the motivation to lift weights or fight the crowds at gym rush hour can be tough, but you’ll feel energized and recharged after getting in some quality exercises. An added benefit of regular physical activity is that it wakes up your metabolism and normalizes your sleep schedule.

Visit with friends

As earlier noted, there’s no substitute for human contact—and Phil Dunphy doesn’t count. Especially if you’ve moved to a completely new city post-graduation, the working world can seem unbecoming from a socializing perspective. The pattern of working constantly and letting your social life take a backseat is a slippery slope. But especially for urbanites, it can be just as easy to come out of a social funk and invigorate your social life by inviting members of your social network to dinner, drinks, a movie, or coffee. Better yet, find an activity that multiple friends can attend. That way, you won’t feel like the only folks you ever talk to are your coworkers. Even if they’re awesome, they’re not enough to make you a well-socialized human.

Ditch the pajamas!

If there’s any place in which you can choose comfort over style without social backlash, it’s home. But don’t give in to your pajama-donning impulses. Your work attire may feel suffocating at the end of the day, but going from suit to nighty is a surefire way to signal to your body that it’s done for the day.

Our advice? Follow the Field of Dreams code: if you build it, they will come. Even if you have no plans to go out, change from office attire into plainclothes until you’re ready for bed. Maintaining dress decorum in your own domicile will also incentivize you to go out on the town or accept a drinks invitation should it present itself to you. Be ready for whatever the night may bring. Dress as if you have something to look forward to, and (especially in New York) you soon will have something to look forward to.

Write a list of things you’d like to achieve at home

Towards the end of your work day, take some time to think about the house chores you still need to take care of. Are you overdue for a visit to the laundromat? Is your bathroom out of toilet paper? Is your kitchen trash can overflowing? Have you been neglecting your New Years Resolutions? Are you itching to go for a 2-mile run or have a reunion hangout with a good friend?

Before you check out of the office for the day (mentally or physically), write down everything you’d like to achieve at home so you’ll remember to take care of these things once the work day is over and you’re back in your living space. Divide your tasks into errands and chores, and make a rough mental hour-by-hour plan for your evening. Sometimes just forcing yourself to verbalize your plans for the evening will make you realize that there are things you could be adding to that list.

Challenge yourself once a week

Rather than going straight from work, try doing something new once or twice a week. That could mean reaching out to someone in your professional network for drinks, exploring the rock climbing studio in your neighborhood, taking an evening coding or language course, attending an advanced yoga course, participating in an office-wide sports match with your colleagues, or checking out the museum you’ve always wanted to experience. Keep your week interesting and different by veering away from your nightly routine once a week. You may be tired at the start of your endeavor, but you’ll probably feel very rewarded in the long run. 

—————————————————————

Laura Donovan, Levo Editor
Jan 24
Step Away From the Jammies! How to Have the Best Weeknights Ever. By Laura Donovan Some days, I get home from work and have the urge to swaddle myself in a Snuggie and watch Modern Family on Hulu. Correction: most days I have this urge (I also own the boxed set of Modern Family).Though I can’t get enough of Phil Dunphy’s unending failure to be a cool dad, I miss out on worthwhile activities whenever I get home from the office and plop down on my couch to giggle at a fictional character’s social ineptness. My time would be much better spent productively— catching up with a friend over dinner or drinks, huffing and puffing on a treadmill, or working on the standing collection of essays that will one day cement my place in history as the next David Sedaris— than zoning out and cackling in front of my television. Though it’s understandable to want to turn one’s brain off after an 8+ hour work day, sloth sessions won’t contribute to your personal growth or development and could actually be detrimental to your health. If you go down for a nap upon arriving home, you’ll likely have issues sleeping when your designated bedtime rolls around and increase your chances of feeling tired the following work day. Sitcoms, reality shows, and soap operas can be nice escapes from stressful work projects, but you’ll gain a lot more from actually socializing with someone than expecting the television to entertain you. As exhausted as you may feel when at the end of your workday, resist the temptation to indulge in laziness. Here are some suggestions for making the most of your post-work time. Stay away from bed If you do go straight home from work, don’t kill your momentum by climbing into bed right away. It may look and feel a million times more comfortable than your office swivel chair, which you just spent at least eight hours glued to, but your mattress is not your friend, at least until you need shut eye.   We love naps. But don’t take naps within two hours of your actual bedtime. Late-evening naps disrupt your resting schedule and could consequently hinder your work performance, especially if you suffer from insomnia. Long naps (or as I like to call them, coma naps) can interfere with your nighttime sleeping patterns, so hit the hay early on in the night rather than napping as soon as you get back home. You’re also better off using the bed solely for its intended purpose: sleeping (there’s obviously some wiggle room in this definition, but you get the idea). Don’t invite your gadgets into bed, watch TV in bed, or make phone calls from bed (unless you’re dating Ryan Gosling and he’s talking you to sleep by phone. Do that). Get a change of scenery by doing these things in another spot. I currently reside in an apartment that lacks a living room; the result is that when I want to interact with my roommates, I linger in the kitchen. It’s not ideal for having a relaxing conversation or reading my novel, but is less likely to make me doze off.Plan for dinnerSometimes your evening plans can get chaotic, and it’s easy to push off dinner til you get home late at night. But late night munching habits are linked to weight gain and sleeping problems— so whether you’re staying in or going out in the evening, make sure to eat at least a few hours before you tuck in for the night.  If you’ve got evening plans, make sure to include actual food during the course of your night instead of pushing it off until you get home. And if you’re staying in, plan your dinner before you arrive home so that you’ll be prepared to eat well before bedtime. If you have roommates, perhaps they can enjoy the meal as well. This will give each of you a chance to talk about your day and socialize whilst satisfying your stomachs. Exercise!Let’s be frank: most of us work from a desk. We’ve made no secret of our love for exercise and good health, so it should come as no surprise that we suggest breaking a sweat after a long work day to increase endorphins and remain active. You can try to counteract the health risks of your desk job by undergoing a semi-rigorous or intense workout at the end of your day. Gathering up the motivation to lift weights or fight the crowds at gym rush hour can be tough, but you’ll feel energized and recharged after getting in some quality exercises. An added benefit of regular physical activity is that it wakes up your metabolism and normalizes your sleep schedule. Visit with friendsAs earlier noted, there’s no substitute for human contact—and Phil Dunphy doesn’t count. Especially if you’ve moved to a completely new city post-graduation, the working world can seem unbecoming from a socializing perspective. The pattern of working constantly and letting your social life take a backseat is a slippery slope. But especially for urbanites, it can be just as easy to come out of a social funk and invigorate your social life by inviting members of your social network to dinner, drinks, a movie, or coffee. Better yet, find an activity that multiple friends can attend. That way, you won’t feel like the only folks you ever talk to are your coworkers. Even if they’re awesome, they’re not enough to make you a well-socialized human. Ditch the pajamas!If there’s any place in which you can choose comfort over style without social backlash, it’s home. But don’t give in to your pajama-donning impulses. Your work attire may feel suffocating at the end of the day, but going from suit to nighty is a surefire way to signal to your body that it’s done for the day. Our advice? Follow the Field of Dreams code: if you build it, they will come. Even if you have no plans to go out, change from office attire into plainclothes until you’re ready for bed. Maintaining dress decorum in your own domicile will also incentivize you to go out on the town or accept a drinks invitation should it present itself to you. Be ready for whatever the night may bring. Dress as if you have something to look forward to, and (especially in New York) you soon will have something to look forward to.Write a list of things you’d like to achieve at home Towards the end of your work day, take some time to think about the house chores you still need to take care of. Are you overdue for a visit to the laundromat? Is your bathroom out of toilet paper? Is your kitchen trash can overflowing? Have you been neglecting your New Years Resolutions? Are you itching to go for a 2-mile run or have a reunion hangout with a good friend? Before you check out of the office for the day (mentally or physically), write down everything you’d like to achieve at home so you’ll remember to take care of these things once the work day is over and you’re back in your living space. Divide your tasks into errands and chores, and make a rough mental hour-by-hour plan for your evening. Sometimes just forcing yourself to verbalize your plans for the evening will make you realize that there are things you could be adding to that list. Challenge yourself once a weekRather than going straight from work, try doing something new once or twice a week. That could mean reaching out to someone in your professional network for drinks, exploring the rock climbing studio in your neighborhood, taking an evening coding or language course, attending an advanced yoga course, participating in an office-wide sports match with your colleagues, or checking out the museum you’ve always wanted to experience. Keep your week interesting and different by veering away from your nightly routine once a week. You may be tired at the start of your endeavor, but you’ll probably feel very rewarded in the long run.  ————————————————————— Laura Donovan, Levo Editor

Highlights from the Women’s Entrepreneurs Festival

By Laura Donovan

While attending New York University’s Women Entrepreneurs Festival, which showcased dozens of highly accomplished females in business at NYU last week, a fellow attendee asked if I aspired to ever become an entrepreneur myself.

Without hesitation, I laughed and said, “I’m a writer for life, but I recognize that female entrepreneurs make it possible for me to do my job in many ways.” And for someone who, as a writer, relies on changemakers for new content and perspective, it’s very true— female entrepreneurs are a growing force in the US economy.

Arianna Huffington, the keynote speaker at the festival, launched the Huffington Post in 2005. The site’s success and wide appeal encouraged me to scrap my dream of working in newspapers and enter the online media industry, which I’d doubted prior to HuffPo’s glory days. Barbara Pantuso, a founder of Hey, Neighbor! (a digital network for trusted neighbor connections) and panelist at the event, spoke about the importance of fostering community interaction and bonding, a huge interest of mine. 

These are just two memorable female entrepreneurs from the WE Festival, but many of them made comments that are helpful for women of all professions and points in there career. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or an entry-level employee, the event was bursting with great advice and inspiring individuals. In case you were unable to attend the valuable event, here are some highlights from the WE Festival:

On taking risks and being proactive

“Entrepreneurship is jumping off a cliff and building wings on the way down” - Caren Maio, CEO of Nestio (@carenmaio)

On thinking positive and not dwelling on flubs

“Don’t waste energy looking over your shoulder or self-judging. Free up your energy” - Arianna Huffington, editor-in-chief of Huffington Post (@ariannahuff)

“Learn by doing, put yourself out there, and use negative situations as a way to grow up” - Jennifer Hyman, CEO of Rent The Runway (@jenn_RTR)

“It’s not a lack of confidence to recognize the things you don’t do well. It’s an opportunity” - Edwina von Gal, principal of Edwina von Gal + Company.

On owning your work and believing in its inherent value
 
“We know we are not appealing to everyone, but appeal to a wider message that will grow overtime” - - Allison Floam, co-founder of thefix.com (@afloam) on her editorial focus: addiction.

On winging it (sometimes)

“I make it up as I go along - not a bad roadmap for an entrepreneur” - Arianna Huffington

On dealing with unfortunate realities and having supportive people in your life

“Women more than men are asked to do things for free. Be careful of that” - Britta Riley, co-founder of Windowfarms (@brittariley)

“Make sure you have someone to talk to, whether it’s a boyfriend, friend, co-founder, etc. You have to have someone to cry to. At least you’re not crying alone” - Ayah Bdeir, founder of littleBits (@ayahbdeir)

On achievement and trying new things

“The more milestones you can get to on your own, the better your business will be in the long run” - Britta Riley

“Building a biz is really hard work. No silver bullet. No overnight success” - Joanne Wilson of The Gotham Gal (@thegothamgal)

“Every day presents a new opportunity to do something different” - Erin Newkirk, co-founder of Red Stamp (@redstamp_erin)

On feedback

“You will get so much bad advice. Say ‘thank you’ and take a piece of what they said” - Britta Riley

On failing and trying again

“Failure is not the opposite of success; it’s a stepping stone to success” - Arianna Huffington

“Don’t be afraid to ask. If they say no, you ask another person” - Malene Barnett of malene b carpets (@malenebcarpets)

—————————————————————

Laura Donovan, Levo Editor
Jan 24
Highlights from the Women’s Entrepreneurs Festival By Laura DonovanWhile attending New York University’s Women Entrepreneurs Festival, which showcased dozens of highly accomplished females in business at NYU last week, a fellow attendee asked if I aspired to ever become an entrepreneur myself. Without hesitation, I laughed and said, “I’m a writer for life, but I recognize that female entrepreneurs make it possible for me to do my job in many ways.” And for someone who, as a writer, relies on changemakers for new content and perspective, it’s very true— female entrepreneurs are a growing force in the US economy.Arianna Huffington, the keynote speaker at the festival, launched the Huffington Post in 2005. The site’s success and wide appeal encouraged me to scrap my dream of working in newspapers and enter the online media industry, which I’d doubted prior to HuffPo’s glory days. Barbara Pantuso, a founder of Hey, Neighbor! (a digital network for trusted neighbor connections) and panelist at the event, spoke about the importance of fostering community interaction and bonding, a huge interest of mine.  These are just two memorable female entrepreneurs from the WE Festival, but many of them made comments that are helpful for women of all professions and points in there career. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or an entry-level employee, the event was bursting with great advice and inspiring individuals. In case you were unable to attend the valuable event, here are some highlights from the WE Festival: On taking risks and being proactive “Entrepreneurship is jumping off a cliff and building wings on the way down” - Caren Maio, CEO of Nestio (@carenmaio)On thinking positive and not dwelling on flubs“Don’t waste energy looking over your shoulder or self-judging. Free up your energy” - Arianna Huffington, editor-in-chief of Huffington Post (@ariannahuff)“Learn by doing, put yourself out there, and use negative situations as a way to grow up” - Jennifer Hyman, CEO of Rent The Runway (@jenn_RTR)“It’s not a lack of confidence to recognize the things you don’t do well. It’s an opportunity” - Edwina von Gal, principal of Edwina von Gal + Company.On owning your work and believing in its inherent value “We know we are not appealing to everyone, but appeal to a wider message that will grow overtime” - - Allison Floam, co-founder of thefix.com (@afloam) on her editorial focus: addiction.On winging it (sometimes)“I make it up as I go along - not a bad roadmap for an entrepreneur” - Arianna HuffingtonOn dealing with unfortunate realities and having supportive people in your life“Women more than men are asked to do things for free. Be careful of that” - Britta Riley, co-founder of Windowfarms (@brittariley)“Make sure you have someone to talk to, whether it’s a boyfriend, friend, co-founder, etc. You have to have someone to cry to. At least you’re not crying alone” - Ayah Bdeir, founder of littleBits (@ayahbdeir)On achievement and trying new things“The more milestones you can get to on your own, the better your business will be in the long run” - Britta Riley“Building a biz is really hard work. No silver bullet. No overnight success” - Joanne Wilson of The Gotham Gal (@thegothamgal)“Every day presents a new opportunity to do something different” - Erin Newkirk, co-founder of Red Stamp (@redstamp_erin)On feedback“You will get so much bad advice. Say ‘thank you’ and take a piece of what they said” - Britta RileyOn failing and trying again “Failure is not the opposite of success; it’s a stepping stone to success” - Arianna Huffington“Don’t be afraid to ask. If they say no, you ask another person” - Malene Barnett of malene b carpets (@malenebcarpets) ————————————————————— Laura Donovan, Levo Editor
Wake up your legs! A guide to stretching in the office

By Laura Donovan

We exist in a culture of desk jobs. And when work piles up during the day, we sometimes forget to attend to basic human necessities— drinking water, eating lunch, and paying visits to the restroom, much less stretching out taut muscles.

But towards the beginning of each afternoon, I slip out of the office to perform an invisible ritual— my stretching routine. I prefer privacy, which abounds in our office space, to stretch first my arm and then my leg muscles, which haven’t really moved in five hours. I roll my neck and ankles, reach for the sky, and grab my toes, feeling a rush in my calves and burst of energy. On the rare occasions I work remotely, I stretch whilst writing articles (multitasking queen here!) and do the splits. The stretches get me energized and are a nice break from conducting research.

Oh, and did I mention? It takes five minutes. Far less time than the average cube-dweller spends on Facebook daily.

“We just aren’t really structured to be sitting for such long periods of time, and when we do that, our body just kind of goes into shutdown,” Dr. Toni Yancey, a professor in health services and co-director of the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity at the University of California, Los Angeles, told NPR last year.

Sitting down all day can also lead to “less desirable” levels of cholesterol, blood sugar, and triglycerides, said epidemiologist Steven Blair, who added that these effects can up a person’s chance of getting heart disease, diabetes, and a slew of other health problems. If you feel like you lead too hectic of a life to go to the gym before or after work, try sprinkling stretching regimens into your work week toboost blood flow to your muscles, relievelower back pain, potentially improve your performance in physical activities, increase flexibility, and feel semi-active during an otherwise sedentary day. As an office stretching maven and aspiring yogi, I’ve compiled some a list of ways to stretch and stay moving throughout the day.

Two 5-minute stretching sessions each day keep the numbness away

Ever develop neck pain or sore knees from sitting too long? Us too. Your body deserves more than that! After the first few hours of your working day (or even on the hour, if you can build it into your schedule), step away from your seat to stretch out your legs. Find a private room somewhere in your building (spacious stalls in the company restroom will do!) to focus on muscle care. The intense surge of energy and movement in your limbs will allow you to return to your work area in a better physical state than when you left it.

Your legs aren’t the only parts of you that need love. Remember your arms and hands, which probably spend a significant portion of time hovering a computer. You can do the Mayo Clinic’s recommended shoulder stretch and upper arm stretch in under a minute.

Typing all day can also be hard on your fingers, so when you finish stretching your legs and arms, end your quick workout with hand exercises. Put one arm atop the other and walk your fingers in the air. It’s similar to the tickling motion and will release tension all the way up your neck.

Back in grade school, did you have that one obnoxious physical education instructor who made you and your other whimpering classmates hold a stretch for 30 seconds or a minute? According to a 2008 New York Times piece, your teacher may have been more detrimental than helpful, as doing the same stretch for half a minute can have the effect of weakening your muscles. Cut down the time on your individual stretches so you can fit more exercises into your brief session.

Do stretches at your desk

Are you too dedicated to your work to take several walk/stretch breaks during the day? If you enjoy being chained to the desk, you can still do a series of arm or leg exercises from your chair. You can tilt your head, roll your neck or ankles, place one leg over the other to stretch your behind area, and even stretch out your legs in front of you. Getting in a good stretch doesn’t require abandoning your workspace.

Take a walk

If you think it’s a little weird to flee your office to stretch in secrecy for five minutes, substitute the physical activity with a brisk walk outside. Clear your mind, possibly break a sweat, and and get moving. Unk would advise, in his rap-sagacious way, to “Walk It Out.”

Use the stairs

The greatest perk of an elevator is also its downside. Thanks to this useful contraption, you don’t have to huff and puff all the way up to the ninth floor of your building. If you always avoid stairs, however, you’ll be breathless when the elevator undergoes maintenance or encounter a building that only has stairs.

To test your physical abilities and get the blood flowing to your legs, take the stairs on your walk up to work to start your day with a bang. After you go out for lunch or go on a stroll, use the stairs again. If you do this enough in a day, you may feel soreness in your derriere the following day.
Jan 17
Jan 17

Wake up your legs! Stretching in the office

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By Laura Donovan

As young professionals flock to citiesto pursue their careers and career dreams, they often leave behind their parents, brothers and sisters. By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, many of these folks don’t have the resources or flexible schedule to see family. Air travel during Thanksgiving has declined since the beginning of the Recession, and is now down a full 12% from its peak in 2006. It makes sense: plenty of people cannot go home for the holiday for financial reasons, lack of vacation days, or both. Last year, even Lindsay Lohan found herself unable to make it back from rehab in time. Jobless individuals are less likely to pay airline fees as well— and nearly 6.5 million members of the work force in the U.S. do not have any form of employment (meanwhile, the number of people that have entered the category of “not in the labor force” in the last six months alone is over a million). It’s dire times, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of if you can’t make it home this year.This will be my first Thanksgiving away from my northern California home. I’ve just started a new job, and braving Transportation Security Administration requirements seems stressful and traumatic enough without having to deal with the traffic of the busiest day of the year.

I spoke with some other non-travelers to get their thoughts.Our very own Isabelle Mitchell, who hails from Europe, isn’t too keen on riding solo for Thanksgiving despite the fact that she never celebrated it in the motherland. “I am from Switzerland and don’t have the vacation days or the money to go home,” Mitchell said. “I haven’t seen my mom in two years and I am not particularly looking forward to December. Being in a country that is holiday-crazy doesn’t help much…I definitely feel lonelier [around Thanksgiving]. Everyone is in a certain cheery mood, people talk about meeting their family, taking time off, cooking and eating! These are some of the greatest activities in the world— and I do love Thanksgiving food!”

Alec Weisman, an Alumni for Liberty employee based in Washington, DC, will not be flying to his home state of California for the holiday either.

“I decided against going home because I wanted to conserve money for gifts to friends and family during the holiday,” Weisman, a 2011 graduate of the University of California- San Diego, said. “Being away from family for Thanksgiving for the first time will definitely be a unique experience. I probably will not put in much effort to celebrate the holiday now, but my return home in December will be much richer for having waited. I feel ambivalent toward spending Thanksgiving alone, as it is the atmosphere of the holiday that makes it special.”

If you don’t have the funds or freedom to reunite with family members for Thanksgiving, take our advice into consideration. Here is what you should do if you can’t bond with relatives during this family-oriented day:

Visit a soup kitchen

If you’re bummed about being by yourself on Thanksgiving, explore your town or city for a soup kitchen that will be distributing meals to the less fortunate. Volunteer your services, help the needy, and interact with the others. Giving back never felt so good! If you like cooking, this could give you an opportunity to show off your culinary skills. Non-cooks like me can simply smile and serve food.

Organize an “orphan dinner” with friends

Surely you’re not the only one of your friends who can’t go home for the holidays. Round up the troops and get everyone together for an “orphan Thanksgiving.” Prove the 20-something critics wrong by putting together a delicious, grown-up meal with everybody. Take photos to give your family members peace of mind and remind yourself that there is more than just one type of family.

Attend local events

There are countless things to do on Thanksgiving besides scarf down turkey. If you’re a New Yorker, head on over to the famous annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Chicago residents can go to the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade on State Street. Folks in the nation’s capital can set foot in the 10th Annual Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger in which they’ll have the chance to simultaneously get a good work-out and assist the hungry. Get involved with the community. There are tons of people who will be out and about, so join them as they make the most out of November 24. You could meet someone special at one of these get-togethers, whether it’s a new friend or significant other. During the holiday season, anything could happen!

Catch a movie or do something low key with a buddy

If you’re friends with someone from another country, he/she probably isn’t going to celebrate Thanksgiving. Invite him/her out to the theater, which will definitely be open because Thanksgiving weekend is big at the box office. The cinema may not be your thing, but you can go out for a bike ride, go to church or a synagogue if you’re both religious, play board games, take a walk (take the opportunity to laugh at people doing a post-feast work-out!), or whip out a deck of cards. Make Thanksgiving a play day. Get in touch with your inner carefree self, especially since you work so hard the rest of the year.

Call or Skype your family

If you have a playful family, you can probably sell them on the concept of Skype during or before Thanksgiving dinner! The idea of talking to a laptop while they munch on stuffing might be strange, but your family may miss you enough to agree to this. It’ll allow you to have a presence at your family’s gathering. You won’t be the only one resorting to Skype, so don’t feel bad about doing it! If you’re without a webcam (or find the concept of a Skype Thanksgiving too bizarre to follow through with), have an extra long phone session with family members. They’ll be thrilled to hear from you, especially if you don’t usually call home!

Take a nap or chill out

Not everyone is depressed about being alone on Thanksgiving. Introverts, this could be an ideal day for “me time.” If your idea of a good holiday entails catching up on reading, working out, and repose, spend a portion of your day doing your favorite solitary activity. Sleep deprived folks may want to go down for a cat nap. Workaholics who never have time to exercise can go for a jog in the neighborhood, where they’ll probably cross paths with well-fed trotters. Crack open the intriguing novel that has been collecting dust on your coffee table for months. Take a few moments for yourself and then see if anyone is available to engage for a bit.

Laura Donovan is a staff writer and editor for Levo.
Nov 17
Nov 17

A Very Skype-y Thanksgiving: What to Do When You’re Not Going Home

By Laura Donovan

From time to time, it’s painful to say congratulations.

You face many occupational hazards as a young professional, but among the hardest is trying to applaud a close coworker who gets a promotion after you’ve been denied one, especially if the two of you deliver identical results and have been employed at the organization for the same amount of time. As excited as you may be for your tireless buddy, internal questions like, “Why him/her and not me?” and “Why couldn’t we both get the recognition we deserve?” cloud your thoughts and may even discourage you from putting forth your best effort.

When your contributions appear less valued than those of another staffer, it’s easy to mentally check out of your position, resent your superiors, and gripe about being unappreciated.

“No one likes to be overlooked and outshined, especially at work,” career expert and bestselling author Nicole Williams told the Levo (League).

Complaints and negativity won’t help you move forward, however, and they have the potential to even get you fired, so here are our suggestions for getting ahead in the aftermath of an office BFF scoring the raise you’d been eyeing forever. Remember: One person’s accomplishments say nothing about your own worth, so try to stay positive as you sort through your emotions on the matter.

Be your buddy’s cheerleader

When a friend gets promoted and you don’t, you experience several feelings. You’re thrilled for your buddy but unsure why you couldn’t have been in his/her place. I’m familiar with the bittersweet duality of being happy for friends moving up and onto greater pastures and sad that I remain unexciting. If one of your friends earns a promotion or salary increase, cheer your pal on and invite him/her out to lunch to celebrate (but ask him/her to foot the bill!).

“If you are relatively happy in your job you do not want to overreact,” Lynn Berger, a career coach in New York City, told the Levo (League). “Simply congratulate your co-worker and try to understand why they got the raise. After a brief period of time you may want to meet with your boss and discuss how and when you can earn a raise not focusing on why the other person got the raise but how you can achieve success.”

It’s wonderful and inspiring to see officemates thrive, even if you have yet to tackle your own world domination plans, so be thankful that someone at work is succeeding. It’s great for your working environment and could even boost morale. You’ll have your day and shining moment, but until then, send good wishes to your buddy.

Don’t change your pace

When you feel your efforts have been ignored, you may lose incentive to produce high quality work. Don’t go down this road. Continue with your rock star ways and maintain an open attitude.

Lindsay, Cross, a writer for professional women’s site The Grindstone, told the Levo (League) that she knows how it feels to be overlooked for a promotion.

“To be honest, getting passed over for the promotion was extremely difficult,” Cross said. “I had a hard time working with the person who got the job. But…I could understand why my company made their choice and I really just wanted to prove that they had made the wrong decision. In that circumstance, I needed to stay and continue to work hard. The person who was given the job actually didn’t last through their 90-day review and I was promoted after they left. However, if I had been passed over numerous times for a promotion, then I think you need to start looking at other options.”

Step up your game

Growing up, my father would advise me to “get mad at it” any time something upset me. When I was unhappy about making minimum wage at my high school food service job, he told me to “get mad at it” and put in more hours rather than mope about being underpaid. That’s the philosophy you should employ at the office, even when extremely disappointed. Think of tenacious California girl, Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde” as she proves to her ex-boyfriend and Harvard law classmates that she’s just as intelligent as any other Ivy league student even though she’s a Los Angeles blonde and sorority princess. Rather than let the flak and discrimination weigh her down, she works extra hard.

For many jobs, the possibilities for growth are endless. If staying the same isn’t doing it for you, muse about ways in which you can alter and improve your work habits. Let’s say you’ve spent a year making sales calls for a company and would like to alter your duties. Chances are, your job still needs to get done and you can’t switch to another department, but approach your supervisor about different tasks you can take on in addition to your expected responsibilities. Get creative, be willing to pick up more work, and increase your stamina.

Ask what more you can to do get a raise/promotion

After you’ve healed from the wounds of being shut down, inquire about what more you need to do to earn the raise you’ve wanted for a long time. If the business budget is tight, say you’d like to know how to get an earnings boost once your company is in a position to provide you with a higher paycheck. Show that you have a good attitude and won’t let this kind of rejection discourage you from working hard.

Williams noted that it’s normal for bosses to forget about your accomplishments because they’re busy overseeing everything else going on. Hence, take initiative and approach your superiors about your hard work. They don’t have time to hover over everyone 24/7, so remind them of what you’re doing.

“If you don’t remind her of all of the achievements you’ve worked [hard] to accomplish – both the ones that have benefited your own growth and those that have served the company – she’ll never fully realize your true worth,” Williams said. “Remember, in the majority of cases, the only person stopping you from getting that raise or promotion is you! Have you sat down with your boss and talked about your position, projects and yearly goals? You can’t sit back and wait for a raise to come to you – you have to fight for it. In this suffering economy, raises and bonuses are scarce – there are only so many dollars to go around. You need to speak up and ask for what you deserve.”

Interview your buddy about what he/she did to get the raise

You may think you deserved to move up just as much as your coworker, but obviously, they took a slightly different path than you to get ahead. Ask your friend what he/she thinks ultimately landed them the reward and you can perhaps do the same. Take their advice into account and you may be able to get a career boost sooner than you originally anticipated.

After you’ve had this conversation, spend some time mulling over other ways your coworker got ahead. Judith Gerberg, a career counselor based in New York City, says employees should ask themselves what their coworker did to earn the raise in the first place.

“What had your colleague contributed to the company? Was her raise (separate from yours) justified?” Gerberg said. “If I was denied a raise I would probe to see what you would need to do to receive one going forward.”

Williams offered similar advice and suggested putting the disappointment and letdown to good use by working twice as hard.

“In terms of your colleague, take a look at the way she performs and consider if you can take a cue from her,” Williams said. “At the end of the day, jealousy isn’t pretty.  Use your frustration as a source of inspiration.  You want that raise and really dislike how you feel?  Give your work all you’ve got and make sure you don’t miss out the next time around.”

Present the data and facts

If a promotion or raise are really important to you, compile evidence of your results and contributions for your employer. Social media managers can explain how much the company Twitter and Facebook pages have grown in popularity since taking on the role. Internet scribes can print out Google Analytics page view data to show readers love their work. Saleswomen can list their number of clients. Your supervisors can’t monitor the entire staff’s performance 24/7, but if you remind them of what you’re up to and present the facts, your chances of getting what you want go up.

Shop around your resume

Working a job that’s not right for you is similar to dating a guy who just isn’t the one. To achieve ultimate happiness, you’re eventually going to have to move on.

In some cases, there’s nothing you can do to receive an increase in pay or promotion. Perhaps your skills only suit the company at your current level. If you find you cannot get ahead because your talents will always and forever only work in a specific position at the office, think about applying to other organizations and companies that will optimize your abilities and provide you with opportunities for growth and advancement.

If you’re not ready to leave your job yet but need some time to yourself, ask your boss for a few extra vacation days. It’s the least they can do if they’ve slighted you.

“If you DO think you have done an exemplary job and deserve some compensation, don’t forget to inquire about perks,” Williams said. “You could ask for an extra vacation day, flexible hours, work from home options…Companies want to keep their valued employees happy and should be willing to compromise.”

Laura Donovan is an editor and writer for Levo.
Nov 14
By Laura Donovan From time to time, it’s painful to say congratulations. You face many occupational hazards as a young professional, but among the hardest is trying to applaud a close coworker who gets a promotion after you’ve been denied one, especially if the two of you deliver identical results and have been employed at the organization for the same amount of time. As excited as you may be for your tireless buddy, internal questions like, “Why him/her and not me?” and “Why couldn’t we both get the recognition we deserve?” cloud your thoughts and may even discourage you from putting forth your best effort. When your contributions appear less valued than those of another staffer, it’s easy to mentally check out of your position, resent your superiors, and gripe about being unappreciated. “No one likes to be overlooked and outshined, especially at work,” career expert and bestselling author Nicole Williams told the Levo (League). Complaints and negativity won’t help you move forward, however, and they have the potential to even get you fired, so here are our suggestions for getting ahead in the aftermath of an office BFF scoring the raise you’d been eyeing forever. Remember: One person’s accomplishments say nothing about your own worth, so try to stay positive as you sort through your emotions on the matter. Be your buddy’s cheerleader When a friend gets promoted and you don’t, you experience several feelings. You’re thrilled for your buddy but unsure why you couldn’t have been in his/her place. I’m familiar with the bittersweet duality of being happy for friends moving up and onto greater pastures and sad that I remain unexciting. If one of your friends earns a promotion or salary increase, cheer your pal on and invite him/her out to lunch to celebrate (but ask him/her to foot the bill!). “If you are relatively happy in your job you do not want to overreact,” Lynn Berger, a career coach in New York City, told the Levo (League). “Simply congratulate your co-worker and try to understand why they got the raise. After a brief period of time you may want to meet with your boss and discuss how and when you can earn a raise not focusing on why the other person got the raise but how you can achieve success.” It’s wonderful and inspiring to see officemates thrive, even if you have yet to tackle your own world domination plans, so be thankful that someone at work is succeeding. It’s great for your working environment and could even boost morale. You’ll have your day and shining moment, but until then, send good wishes to your buddy. Don’t change your pace When you feel your efforts have been ignored, you may lose incentive to produce high quality work. Don’t go down this road. Continue with your rock star ways and maintain an open attitude. Lindsay, Cross, a writer for professional women’s site The Grindstone, told the Levo (League) that she knows how it feels to be overlooked for a promotion. “To be honest, getting passed over for the promotion was extremely difficult,” Cross said. “I had a hard time working with the person who got the job. But…I could understand why my company made their choice and I really just wanted to prove that they had made the wrong decision. In that circumstance, I needed to stay and continue to work hard. The person who was given the job actually didn’t last through their 90-day review and I was promoted after they left. However, if I had been passed over numerous times for a promotion, then I think you need to start looking at other options.” Step up your game Growing up, my father would advise me to “get mad at it” any time something upset me. When I was unhappy about making minimum wage at my high school food service job, he told me to “get mad at it” and put in more hours rather than mope about being underpaid. That’s the philosophy you should employ at the office, even when extremely disappointed. Think of tenacious California girl, Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde” as she proves to her ex-boyfriend and Harvard law classmates that she’s just as intelligent as any other Ivy league student even though she’s a Los Angeles blonde and sorority princess. Rather than let the flak and discrimination weigh her down, she works extra hard. For many jobs, the possibilities for growth are endless. If staying the same isn’t doing it for you, muse about ways in which you can alter and improve your work habits. Let’s say you’ve spent a year making sales calls for a company and would like to alter your duties. Chances are, your job still needs to get done and you can’t switch to another department, but approach your supervisor about different tasks you can take on in addition to your expected responsibilities. Get creative, be willing to pick up more work, and increase your stamina. Ask what more you can to do get a raise/promotion After you’ve healed from the wounds of being shut down, inquire about what more you need to do to earn the raise you’ve wanted for a long time. If the business budget is tight, say you’d like to know how to get an earnings boost once your company is in a position to provide you with a higher paycheck. Show that you have a good attitude and won’t let this kind of rejection discourage you from working hard. Williams noted that it’s normal for bosses to forget about your accomplishments because they’re busy overseeing everything else going on. Hence, take initiative and approach your superiors about your hard work. They don’t have time to hover over everyone 24/7, so remind them of what you’re doing. “If you don’t remind her of all of the achievements you’ve worked [hard] to accomplish – both the ones that have benefited your own growth and those that have served the company – she’ll never fully realize your true worth,” Williams said. “Remember, in the majority of cases, the only person stopping you from getting that raise or promotion is you! Have you sat down with your boss and talked about your position, projects and yearly goals? You can’t sit back and wait for a raise to come to you – you have to fight for it. In this suffering economy, raises and bonuses are scarce – there are only so many dollars to go around. You need to speak up and ask for what you deserve.” Interview your buddy about what he/she did to get the raise You may think you deserved to move up just as much as your coworker, but obviously, they took a slightly different path than you to get ahead. Ask your friend what he/she thinks ultimately landed them the reward and you can perhaps do the same. Take their advice into account and you may be able to get a career boost sooner than you originally anticipated. After you’ve had this conversation, spend some time mulling over other ways your coworker got ahead. Judith Gerberg, a career counselor based in New York City, says employees should ask themselves what their coworker did to earn the raise in the first place. “What had your colleague contributed to the company? Was her raise (separate from yours) justified?” Gerberg said. “If I was denied a raise I would probe to see what you would need to do to receive one going forward.” Williams offered similar advice and suggested putting the disappointment and letdown to good use by working twice as hard. “In terms of your colleague, take a look at the way she performs and consider if you can take a cue from her,” Williams said. “At the end of the day, jealousy isn’t pretty.  Use your frustration as a source of inspiration.  You want that raise and really dislike how you feel?  Give your work all you’ve got and make sure you don’t miss out the next time around.” Present the data and facts If a promotion or raise are really important to you, compile evidence of your results and contributions for your employer. Social media managers can explain how much the company Twitter and Facebook pages have grown in popularity since taking on the role. Internet scribes can print out Google Analytics page view data to show readers love their work. Saleswomen can list their number of clients. Your supervisors can’t monitor the entire staff’s performance 24/7, but if you remind them of what you’re up to and present the facts, your chances of getting what you want go up. Shop around your resume Working a job that’s not right for you is similar to dating a guy who just isn’t the one. To achieve ultimate happiness, you’re eventually going to have to move on. In some cases, there’s nothing you can do to receive an increase in pay or promotion. Perhaps your skills only suit the company at your current level. If you find you cannot get ahead because your talents will always and forever only work in a specific position at the office, think about applying to other organizations and companies that will optimize your abilities and provide you with opportunities for growth and advancement. If you’re not ready to leave your job yet but need some time to yourself, ask your boss for a few extra vacation days. It’s the least they can do if they’ve slighted you. “If you DO think you have done an exemplary job and deserve some compensation, don’t forget to inquire about perks,” Williams said. “You could ask for an extra vacation day, flexible hours, work from home options…Companies want to keep their valued employees happy and should be willing to compromise.” Laura Donovan is an editor and writer for Levo.

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By Laura Donovan

It’s easy to long for the idyllic days of elementary school, when one of life’s only concerns was maintaining a spotless desk and pencil box organizer free of lead markings.


Fast forward fifteen years and you’re a busy, fabulous working woman. And while you have much more suave and sophisticated items on your desk than erasable pens and magenta tubes of Lip Smackers, you can resurrect childhood simplicity by making a squeaky clean desk a priority. There are many benefits to tidiness in the workplace: for one, you’ll dodge the reputation of being the office slob and likely increase your productivity level.


Common complaints excusing away office slobbery include “I work too hard to take the time to clean.” But there’s a paradoxical effect of working hard: if you’re doing it in an organized way, you’ll actually have more time to make sure that your workspace is organized. It becomes a priority, because it makes your productive life easier. Conversely, you may find that during times when you don’t have a lot to do, your space gets messier— because there’s just no reason to keep it organized.

An organized workspace increases your ability to be more productive with less effort

According to a 2010 survey by Brother International Corporation, 87 percent of workers reported feeling less efficient in a messy work area, and 66 percent reported taking up to a half hour a week digging around for lost items. This leads to more than three days and $177 billion in losses a year. That’s a lot of time and money to sacrifice for inanimate objects.


“It’s in the interest of a consumer-facing business to be neat,” Standolyn Robertson, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers said in 2008. “If things look like they’re in disarray, people will make the assumption that you’re in disarray as well.”

At the Levo (League), we recognize that work demands trump desk aesthetics, but would like you to know that a tidy workspace can actually save you time and resources and possibly help you get ahead. Here are some key ways to keep your desk clean.

image Invest in filers or folders

Offices everywhere are bursting with loose (and often useless) papers, some of which are too important to float freely. Take a good look at the stack of papers on your desk and put the pieces into a document filer or folder. Your sheets of paper will be secure and clean, and you won’t have to worry about them flying away or wrinkling.  Plus, you’ll be able to easily see which are useful and which can go into the shredder.

Purchase post-its

Take charge of your chaotic schedule by writing to-do lists on sticky notes. To avoid clutter and stay consistent, designate one spot on your desk to stick your notes. For a convenient reminder of your tasks, place the post-its beside your computer. Every time you glance away from your laptop screen, you’ll remember what you have to do and get your life together. Post-its are also great for message taking if you answer phones.

Get a pencil pouch or organizer

On your quest to have an immaculate desk, you’re going to need somewhere to store all your pens. Buy a pouch or pencil box to keep your writing utensils in one place. You’ll minimize desk clutter and office pen theft.

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Buy a planner

In the event that Gmail goes down again and you lose access to Google calendar, have a classic planner as back-up for jotting down upcoming appointments, staff meeting times, long-term goals, and to-do lists. Keep schedule-related papers in a bound planner so you won’t misplace the really important stuff.

Bring an extra tote bag to work

Dedicated walkers, take note: If you’re tired of traveling to work in stilettos or heels, make the journey in walking shoes and throw them in a tote bag once you get to the office. Don’t be the girl who flings her dripping wet tennis shoes or rain boots on the floor for all to see (guilty!). No one will know you prefer comfort over style if you have a bag on hand, and you’ll keep the area below your desk tidy.

Clean your desk after every meal

Are you among the 62 percent of people who have lunch at the desk? If you catch yourself eating in front of your computer, wipe down the area after you gobble up your food. Check your seat, laptop keys, and desk for crumbs and spillage. To expel everything, clean the desk with Lysol and paper towels. You’ll remove food remnants, and possibly germs. According to a summer Huffington Post piece, your desk may be home to 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet bowl. Yuck. On that note, get some hand wipes for the edge of your desk.

Clean your desk weekly

If you don’t have time to fix up your desk several times a day, you’re not alone. The same Huffington Post story reports that 64 percent of people clean their desks monthly or less. Set a realistic expectation for yourself and try cleaning your workspace once a week. Take everything off the desktop, rub the surface with a dampened cloth, and get all the dust away from your workspace. If you’re a mouth breather, prone to asthma attacks, or a deviated septum victim (guilty again!), you may have an easier time breathing at your desk.

Laura Donovan is an editor and writer for Levo.
Nov 04
Nov 04

Organizing Your Workspace: Bringing the Fun Back to Tidiness

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By Laura Donovan

It was 5:20 a.m., and I was already late for work. My neighborhood plowman hadn’t yet cleared the road, which was covered in ice and resembled a skating rink, so I glided through the potentially hazardous street in my boots, praying I wouldn’t fall face first like I had the morning before. The journey would have been much simpler had I not gone to bed three hours earlier and been so sleep deprived, but I’d had tons of articles to complete that evening and was determined to maintain my tireless work ethic.

Nearly a year after that blistering cold winter day, I still work beyond my capacity— but have a much healthier and more normal approach to employment. I’m in a profession I love but have adopted the “work to live” mentality and set aside my post-college “live to work” philosophy, as my old habits were unsustainable and detrimental to my health and career, which I considered abandoning altogether as a result of burning out.

Of course, I join pretty much the rest of the nation in working more than eight hour days, covering the weekend shift, and staying late to get ahead. With an unemployment rate of 9.1 percent, working folks are lucky to be able to pay the bills, but why do we push ourselves so hard by default?

According to a 2004 report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of annual hours worked by United States employees have been on a steady increase for the past few decades and eclipsed those of many Western European countries. Last month, a Towers Watson Talent Management and Rewards Survey found that of the 316 North American companies surveyed, nearly 65 percent of participants reported that workers have been putting in more hours over the past three years. One in three businesses reported that their employees have been using less of their vacation and personal days off over the same time span. We’re not giving ourselves the restoration period we need to detach from professional responsibilities. Some would call this admirable, but it’s also pretty unhealthy and unbalanced.

How working too much can hurt you and your company

Workaholics can and do endure much worse fates than being scolded by family members for leaving the dinner table to pick up an important phone call. In addition to taking flak from others, workaholics are susceptible to lots of health problems. Many mental health professionals consider “workaholism” a condition that can have both physical and mental effects.

“The stress that goes along with working too much has been shown to lead to substance abuse, sleep disorders, anxiety and ultimately to physical problems like heart disease,” Diane M. Fassel, author of “Working Ourselves to Death,” told the New York Times in 2007.

On the surface, workaholics seem like dream hires, but they may tire or move on to something else quickly, so their habits can have a negative impact on their places of employment.

“In the short run, having employees work extra hours can increase productivity, but in the long run, extended hours can negatively affect employee well-being and retention,” said Laurie Bienstock, North America leader of rewards consulting at Towers Watson. “Employees at many organizations are already suffering from change fatigue.”

Health conditions arise from working too much

Humans weren’t meant to sit hunched over a computer for the majority of the day. “Our bodies have evolved over millions of years to do one thing: move,” Dr. James Levine of the Mayo Clinic told Glamour magazine in 2009. “As human beings, we evolved to stand upright. For thousands of generations, our environment demanded nearly constant physical activity.”

Times have changed since our days of running through forests and over to bodies of water in search of nourishment. A poll by the Institute for Medicine and Public Health found that we spend around 56 hours a week chained to our work desks, behind the wheel of our cars, or in front of the television set. Such a sedentary routine puts us at a greater risk for heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

In our culture of getting ahead, it’s understandable why so many people overextend themselves and do more than the bare minimum. Putting in a little extra effort isn’t so harmful either, according to research conducted last year by the University College London and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

As reported by The Guardian, one or two hours overtime had no effect on workers’ health, but three or more hours resulted in a 60 percent heightened risk of coronary heart disease.

“If we’re stuck in the office we’ve less time to relax, get a good night’s sleep, and take enough physical activity, all of which have been found to help reduce stress levels and protect against heart disease,” said Cathy Ross, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation.

Allow yourself to slow down

There comes a point where you must resist the temptation to consistently put in 10+ hour days and weekend shifts. If you finding yourself clocking in so many hours that you don’t have the energy to enjoy your own life or see your loved ones, you may begin to resent your work. Though I loved my first post-college job, I threw myself into it and stopped hanging out with friends, so I slowed down my pace and began to complain that work was too demanding. In reality, I expected more from myself than the others did, and all I needed was to let myself take it easy to have a better outlook on my professional life.

Even if you’re a proud workaholic, devote yourself a half hour or more each day to at least non-work related activity that puts a smile on your face and serves as an escape from office responsibilities. If you love books, designate reading time for yourself at the end of each day. Athletes can wake up early to break a sweat before heading to the office. For a small portion of every day, let yourself engage in something besides work, even if you live to work like so many other people.

Take lunch and coffee breaks at work

If you eat lunch at your desk (you’re not alone— 62 percent of employees do it), step outside the office a couple of times a week to get away from the grind. There’s nothing like an eye-straining laptop screen to diminish the tastiness of a much-anticipated lunch, so stay away from your computer when you want to indulge in good food as a midday reward.

Ross offered another suggestion on dealing with desk jobs: “[T]here are simple ways to look after your heart health at work, like taking a brisk walk at lunch, taking the stairs instead of the lift, or by swapping that biscuit for a piece of fruit.”

Don’t try to be Superwoman!

Because women have more professional presence than ever before in history, it’s easy to try to make up for lost time by juggling numerous tasks, working constantly, and proving to male colleagues that we can do anything. If you try to be on top of your game all the time, you could be unnecessarily hard on yourself the days you cannot or will not overachieve. Rather than beat yourself up for not being perfect each day, give yourself a break a handful of times a month and make no apologies for needing recharge time. If you consistently produce quality work but show up to the office an hour and a half late on one occasion, shrug off the tardiness instead of agonize over how it could make you lose your workhorse façade.

Go home before 6 p.m.

Exceptional performance is not always the result of the number of hours you put in during the day, but the quality of work you complete. If you accomplished a lot one day, don’t feel bad about packing up before your coworkers and being out the door before the flood of commuter traffic. There will be days and even weeks in which you’ll do far more than you signed up for, so head home at your scheduled leaving time every once in a while if you could really use some time to yourself. The Grindstone writer Lindsay Cross said it best in her summertime piece titled “Pardon Me But I Refuse To Work Past 5 O’Clock.”

“All day long, from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, my job gets to be my main focus,” Cross wrote. “But outside of those hours, I reserve the right to concentrate on my home life. I purposely set up my job to make that possible.”

Laura Donovan is an editor and staffer for Levo.
Nov 04
Nov 04

GO HOME! The Case for Taking it Easy at Work

By Laura Donovan

Though intimidating, self-promotion is an effective —- and possibly the most important —- tool for advancement in the workforce. A new report by nonprofit organization Catalyst ties self-promotion (i.e., talking about one’s accomplishments) to compensation growth for women. Aside from the monetary benefits, women who self-promote also catch the attention of others and spread the word on their work and accomplishments.

At the Levo (League), we understand that self-promotion can seem impossible to master and scary, so we’ve put together a list of our favorite female self-promoters whose techniques are easy to emulate. You may not have the audience as some of these well-known gals, but you do have access to some of their key platforms —- Facebook, Twitter, major blogs —- so study up on the strategies of these success stories to see how you can become an expert self-promoter yourself.

Leslie Bradshaw: Co-founder of creative agency JESS3, Forbes blogger

Industry: Tech, entrepreneurship

Self-promotion strategies: Personal website, Forbes blog, Twitter

Why her techniques work: The president of creative agency JESS3 does a little bit of everything. The young entrepreneur, who resides in the Washington DC area, has a personal website and Twitter page in addition to her Forbes blog, which allows her to write and conduct interviews with other successful career women. Bradshaw is a strong self-promoter for dabbling into multiple areas of social media and having an active, pervasive web presence.

How you can use her tactics too: In the words of Bradshaw herself, be great at something before you promote yourself on social media. “Not just good, but great,” Bradshaw told The L (L). “I’ve focused on being great at three things in my 29 years of living and they are: working really hard and working really smart, building and doing, and arming myself with theory, strategy and philosophy that spans many belief systems and experiences. When social media hit hard about five years ago, I was able to take what I am, what I do and what I stand for and port it into social. As a result of being great, you have great things to talk about. Building your presence will come naturally from there.”

Not everyone has a Forbes blog, but WordPress and Blogger offer free blog services. Play around with their different complimentary layouts to decide which ones work for you, and use the blog to promote your message. If you’re a businesswoman like Bradshaw, contact blogs and sites of that nature (i.e. The Grindstone, Levo League of course!), present your business model, and inquire about becoming a contributing writer.

Bradshaw’s big secret for snagging a blog at such a prestigious publication?

“Simple answer: I asked,” Bradshaw said. “Many people go through life complaining about being left out or left behind, pointing to their peers and saying ‘why don’t I have that?’ and ‘why does he make more than me?’ Most of the time, all you have to do is ask. Granted, you have to have a compelling pitch and the depth to backup your request (in this case, qualified to write for an outlet with such a distinguished reputation as Forbes), but when you do and when you are great at something, it will come through in your pitch.”

Hilary Mason: Chief scientist for bit.ly

Industry: Tech

Self-promotion strategies: Employing self-deprecating humor on personal website

Why her techniques work: The smiley, self-proclaimed “data scientist and hacker” has a charming way of sharing her accomplishments with the world. Through her personal website, Mason posts updates on her latest interviews, appearances, and speeches alongside funny anecdotes. Upon informing readers in a blog post that she made Fortune’s “40 Under 40” list, Mason wrote, “My world domination clock is ticking.” In her blog post about being featured in Glamour magazine, Mason wrote, “It’s exciting to think that people who never would have picked up an article about a bunch of nerds will be reading and thinking and being inspired.” Mason simultaneously keeps readers posted on her impressive achievements and jokes around, so she’s both entertaining and interesting to follow.

How you can use her tactics too: Have a little fun with your site. Sprinkle your blog posts or website updates with jokes and sarcasm. If research that humor relieves stress and helps maintain well-being is correct, Mason is doing all the right things to resonate with and lift up readers. Her jokes also give off the impression that she doesn’t take herself too seriously, and people always appreciate a funny, down-to-earth girl. Though Mason declined to be interviewed, she wrote in an email that her sense of humor is not an intentional promotion tactic, but a way to “manage the attention [she gets] in a positive way and to be a good role model and support [her] company and friends.” Most people are responsive humor, so it’s a fairly effortless, simple tool for reaching out to one’s audience.

On her website, Mason also includes a sidebar titled “Latest Updates”, which includes links to her blog posts and lists her recent achievements. Follow Mason’s lead and highlight your accomplishments on numerous places on your site.

Catherine Connors: Director of Community and Social Good at Babble.com, mom blogger

Industry: Parent blogging

Self-promotion strategies: Twitter, blog

Why her techniques work: A mother of two toddlers, New York City resident, and top mom blogger, Catherine Connors is the real-life version of Sarah Jessica Parker’s character in “I Don’t Know How She Does It,” which follows a career mom who tries to balance parenthood and a well respected job in finance.

“The ‘personal tidbits’ are everything - people get invested in the story of my personal life (especially when it involves things like moving to NYC,” Connors told The L(L) of the key to writing a successful parenting blog, adding that she appeals to a large audience of when she shares her own stories. “My self-promotion is not just promotion of self, it’s promotion of a whole narrative, so there’s a lot to work with.”

Though swamped with the responsibilities of a parent, Connors updates her blog consistently, tweets several times a day, and contributes to other sites. She details her accomplishments, awards, and skills in her website’s “About” section, which reveals that she has been featured in highly revered publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The London Times among others. Connors does not hesitate to mention her accolades and lists her email addresses on her site, making her easy to reach. She diversifies her Twitter posts with links to new blog posts and her site, updates on her goofy children, and yfrog and Instagram photos. With 14,000 Twitter followers, the ability to share her achievements with the world, and a trendy, widely read personal site, Connors has become an influential figure of the parenting blogosphere.

How you can use her tactics too: Maintain an active Twitter account and make your brand and niche clear in the “About Me” portion of your website and Twitter page. If you tweet on a regular basis and follow people of a similar mission and career path, you may eventually be viewed as an established member of your specific field. Retweet and tweet at your favorite public figures in your area of interest and they may respond, which could inspire their followers to follow you and see what you’re all about. While we’re on the topic of mom bloggers, let’s use Connors as an example. If she wanted to boost her credibility in her industry, she would follow parenting sites such as Mommyish, Babble, The Stir, Dooce, and more. Bottom line: Stick to your core focus so people know what to expect from your Twitter feed, but don’t be afraid to publish the occasional frivolous tweet about movies, television, or something silly your mom said.

Use social media analytics site, Klout to learn what sort of influence you have on the Twitterverse. If you’re low on the spectrum, which ranges from 1 to 100, narrow down the topics about which you tweet and focus on specific subjects to maintain consistency. Earlier this year, Michael Sunden of Landor Associates branding firm told tech site Mashable that establishing one’s brand is key on Twitter. “You need to find a mission, principles and a standard for what drives your brand,” Sunden said. “All those personality descriptions.”

Priscilla Gilman: Author of memoir “The Anti-Romantic Child”

Industry: Writing

Self-promotion strategies: Facebook

Why her techniques work: Earlier this year, the former Yale and Vassar English literature professor published a book about the ups and downs of raising a boy with a rare developmental disorder. Though she promotes her book on Twitter, Gilman’s book has gotten more traction from its Facebook page, which has nearly 28,000 fans. Gilman includes family photos, inspirational quotes from other writers, appearance information, personal tidbits about her life, articles about her book, and more on the book’s Facebook wall. She also responds to those who write notes on the book’s Facebook wall, and such correspondence is crucial to maintaining a fan base. The Facebook page isn’t all about her product either, as she likes to post relevant links about family life and the suffering of children. Gilman’s correspondence with readers, inclusion of information and links not directly related to her book, and broad range of Facebook content make her a highly effective self-promoter.

How you can use her tactics too: Take advantage of Facebook’s fan page offerings. Last spring, AOL site TechCrunch published a story on building engaging Facebook fan pages and explained to readers, “Facebook allows you to change the traditional boring tabs to be more exciting, original, and relevant.” Add apps to your page and establish a concrete publishing schedule for posting your content so others can always expect to find something new on your page. Use the “Notes” section to provide information on upcoming appearances or other great milestones. Make it a point to respond to fans’ public wall posts so it’s clear that you value the feedback and communication of your following.

Laura Donovan is an editor and writer for Levo.
Oct 28
Oct 28

Superstars of Self-Promotion

image By Laura Donovan Step aside, children: Halloween Costume Day isn’t just for energetic elementary school students anymore. The L(L)’s Laura Donovan makes some great suggestions for how to pull off a festive look that’ll charm your coworkers.

If you work in a laid-back atmosphere, among festive PYPs, you can dress up on the job on October 31 (It’s a Monday, so your office may have mutually decided to celebrate it on the previous Friday, October 28). With an estimated 17.5 million people under 24 in the labor force, youthful attitudes and practices pervade many offices, so get excited to see your colleagues decked out for All Hallows’ Eve towards the end of the month.

“Halloween is a great opportunity to show off your creative side, whether you work in a creative environment or not,” Meg Hemphill, a style writer for The Huffington Post, told The Levo (League), adding that there are plenty of clever, memorable costume ideas for PYPs to choose from.

Here at The L(L), we’re young at heart and eager to celebrate one of the most eventful days of fall as a unit, so check out our list of top ten best Halloween-at-work costumes that will foster office bonding, create humorous and enjoyable memories, and promote teamwork.

1. Where’s Waldo?

As a little kid, did you pat yourself on the back every time you spotted Waldo buried in a crowd? You’re in good company. By dressing up as the stiff, stripes-loving cartoon, you can chat with co-workers about the pride you felt upon finding Waldo on every page and connect over other favorite childhood books. Halloween falls on a Monday this year, and it will probably be a fairly slow day in the professional world, so be sure to play at least one round of “Where’s Waldo?” with colleagues. It’s been done before, so keep the game alive if you secretly miss hide-and-seek.

2. Chef

Every office has a resident cook (Caroline Ghosn here at The L(L)!), and if you’re this person, put your skills to good use by dressing up as a chef for Halloween. The costume requires little more than an apron and a hat, so you can use the extra primping time to whip up snacks for the staff. Surprise them with baked goods, mini sandwiches, or one of your favorite light dishes. You’ll have the pleasure of making tasty food, showing off your kitchen talents, and rewarding co-workers, so everybody wins.

3. Restaurant server

The waitress costume serves a similar purpose and is easy to pull off. If you want to be timely, channel Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs’ cheery waitress outfits in new sitcom, “2 Broke Girls”. To go above and beyond, put pieces of Halloween candy on your server tray and drop the treats off on each of your co-workers’ desks.

4.  A “Pan Am” flight attendant

Addicted to ABC drama “Pan Am”? Emulate your one of the show’s smiley, bright-eyed stewardesses in costume form. You’ll remind colleagues of a time when flying was pleasurable, relatively new and exciting, and worth dressing up for. If you’re feeling particularly ambitious, read our recent interview with a former Pan Am stewardess to acquire some insight on what it was actually like to be part of a flight crew in the early 70s.

5. Twister girl

Almost everyone has had funny experiences with Twister, the hands-on game that requires physical balance, flexibility, and a sense of humor. With the Twister costume, you can reminisce about such stories with colleagues. Consider it another icebreaker, and bust out the actual Twister mat if you’d like. This costumes shows you don’t take yourself too seriously and can joke around.

6. Adele

Does anyone else have a mega girl crush on British soul singer Adele, or am I the only one? The record-breaking musician resonated with many this year with hit single, “Rolling in the Deep”, so she’s a relevant person to dress up as for Halloween. Adopt her trademark bob, wear all black, purchase long fake eyelashes, and you’re set. If you enjoy singing (like our very own Elizabeth Burke), belt out one of Adele’s many romance tunes when productivity declines towards the end of the day.

7. Female politician

Female politicos have been hot news items this year, especially with Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann eyeing a 2012 run and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton taking second place on Forbes’ 2011 list of World’s Most Powerful Women. Ysolt Usigan, a CBSNews.com lifestyle and tech editor, suggests showing up to work as a well known political figure. It takes minimal effort but can be the source of many laughs.

“You can dress like Sarah Palin or Hillary Clinton by putting on the most professional skirt suit you have,” Usigan said. “Accessorize with plastic-rimmed eye glasses for Palin and a blonde bob for Clinton.”

If you want to go further with the Palin costume, don her signature red suit or throw on some hunting gear and tote a fake plastic gun. Ever wondered what a pantsuit feels like? Steal Clinton’s look and decide for yourself whether it suits you (no pun intended!).

8. Solid black

Halloween-at-work is what you make of it, so costumes can be spirited or low-key as you’d like. Both Usigan and Hemphill advise the solid black outfit for those who don’t have the funds or time to come up with an intricate costume.

“If you have nothing in your closet to transform into a Halloween costume, just pick up some cat ears from the drugstore and wear all black,” Usigan said.

Hemphill agrees that you can’t go wrong with the low-maintenance cat look.

“You can go simple with an all-black outfit (keep it sophisticated), cat ears and whiskers drawn on with eyeliner,” Hemphill added.

9. College sports fanatic (or player)

Fall is a nostalgic time for PYPs, as many of them long to visit their alma maters during Homecoming and big football games. If you went to a sports-oriented university and gladly camped out to watch highly-anticipated athletic games (looking at you, Berkeley alumna and L(L) founder Amanda Pouchot!), wear your school colors and disguise yourself as a spirited student. Body paint, dangling necklaces, and foam fingers are welcome for the costume. Here’s your shot to play college kid again and give your colleagues a glimpse into your past. Dressing up as a pro league player can also spark conversation. But be careful to be sensitive to your work environment in this one— if your job is client-facing, or even if your coworkers are reserved about the occasion, this is one of the louder options.

10. Lady Gaga circa 2008

There are dozens of ways to dress up as Lady Gaga for Halloween, but the tamest approach would be to copy her “Just Dance” music video look. It sets you up for discussion about the singer’s rise to stardom and dramatic change in style over the years. In the afternoon, you can even blast some of her greatest hits in the office.

“For something simple, a wig would be fun or even a pair of sunglasses,” Alison Coglianese, creator of fashion blog Chain Strap Purse, said of the costume, which requires no explanation.
Oct 21
Oct 21

Levo (League)’s Top Ten Halloween-At-Work Costumes

By Laura Donovan

Every night before bed, I crave IHOP.

At the end of the summer, my roommate and I moved to an apartment complex across the street from the 24-hour breakfast joint. When we first arrived at our new residence, I jumped for joy at the prospect of having chocolate chip pancakes whenever I pleased.

Of course, timing is everything, and even the tastiest of pancakes aren’t so wonderful if you’re anxious about something. Last week, my roommate and her Georgetown sociology graduate school friend, Keith invited me to IHOP late at night, when they had finished their homework and were ready to socialize. I, meanwhile, had worked and bantered with co-workers all day and was in need of some shut-eye. Exhausted, I declined the offer but said I’d be happy to take them up on it over the weekend.

“You’re such an old lady,” my roommate quipped.

When one leaps into the professional world with a full-time job the change can feel instant (and drastic). You suddenly abide by a daily routine, must wear business attire to be taken seriously, and inevitably cut down on weeknight fun. Most of all, you need a bedtime to function. Why else would happy hour, which starts around 5 p.m. and ends before 8 p.m., take place so early in the evening?

Life as a PYP is centered on structure, establishment, and paying dues. Graduate school, while often more rigorous than undergrad, comes with a less defined schedule; and especially for law, medical, and business students, class schedules vary and aren’t always on the same 9 to 5 shift with which most PYPs are familiar.

Where graduate students and PYPs differ

While twenty-something age graduate students and PYPs may have different lifestyles, the bigger issue is that they don’t understand each other at a more fundamental level. My graduate school friends, for example, can’t see why I need to be asleep by 11 every night to feel energized for work; meanwhile, I don’t really get why they chose to take out loans for another degree when they could have started a career.

Jen Dziura of The Grindstone, a website about women and careers, exemplifies this lack of understanding but means well in her recentcolumn, “What I Wish I Had Known When I was 18.” Dziura opined earlier this summer that she wished she’d taken a less glamorous view of graduate school during her first year of undergrad.

“Later, I learned that a lot of masters programs are just finishing schools for people with rich parents. And also, of course, ways to delay the real world,” Dziura wrote. “Unless you specifically need a masters or PhD for an actual job that you have a reasonable chance of obtaining (clinical psychologist, social worker, professor, etc.), please don’t be a 24 year old who’s never held a job or run a business or had a client. It looks terrible.”

Dziura is far from the first person to knock on graduate students for seemingly running away from reality and burning cash. I’ve certainly held Dziura’s views on graduate school in the past, especially when graduate student buddies have visited from out of town and complained that I couldn’t take several days off work to show them around town. Long lunches, which definitely raise eyebrows at many offices, were the most I could budget.

“I can’t drop my daytime responsibilities to go sightseeing,” I told my friend. “It’s not like skipping class. I’d face serious consequences.”

Many have scorned the lack of structured scheduling that graduate student lifestyle holds. Popular sitcom “30 Rock” has joked that “grad students are the worst!” There’s even a Facebook page dedicated to the line.

Why graduate students remain in school

Of course, there’s plenty of credit to give to graduate school and its students—even beyond the benefits of higher education and expertise grad school can provide. Last year, New York Times writer Robin Marantaz Henig penned the extensive article, “What Is It about 20-Somethings?” to explore why people in their early twenties are taking much longer to advance and achieve independence than earlier generations.

Psychology professor Jeffrey Jensen Arnett calls this phenomenon “emerging adulthood,” which among other things was caused by, “the need for more education to survive in an information-based economy.” Graduate students aren’t all pursuing more schooling to “delay the real world” or because they have enough financial cushion to hold off on making money, but because they need an edge in the current market and, for the first time in history, they have the resources available to provide extensive higher-level education.

Unlike undergrads, graduate students don’t always have the privilege of picking their courses. Joey, an MBA student at George Washington University, has class once a week. On the surface, you’d think he hit the jackpot—but his courses take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday when most people are relaxing or enjoying themselves. The university compiled his schedule for him, so he misses out on televised baseball games and Friday night social activity. Where graduate students can finagle schedule flexibility, it looks like their victory—but the commitments they make to a graduate degree take first priority.

How PYPs can be more understanding of graduate students

Occasionally urging a friend to sacrifice one night of sleep to hang out when not necessarily convenient is admissible in a friendship between a PYP and a graduate student—but until that diploma makes its way onto the wall and you feel like you’re leading similar lives again, it’s important to recognize that schedules differ, and finding an overlapping time convenient to everyone is the only way to go.

For the time being, I can have late-night IHOP excursions once a week— the very evening that Joey is unavailable, and my grad school friends are spent from the fun they had Monday through Thursday. Someday soon, we’ll be in the same boat again. My graduate student friends will have full-time jobs and I’ll have upgraded from green PYP to seasoned professional. Maybe then, when we all have similar duties and expectations to fulfill, will we fully understand each other and get back on the same wavelength.

Laura Donovan is an online editor/entertainment writer at The Daily Caller in Washington, D.C. and a wannabe New Yorker. A proud northern Californian and graduate of the University of Arizona, Laura left sunny skies, delicious Mexican cuisine, and dry heat last year for a high-energy journalism career on the east coast. Her work has appeared in Business Insider, The Washington Times, Townhall Magazine, and many other publications. She wants to be David Sedaris. 
Oct 06
Oct 06

Can graduate students and PYPs relate to each other?

The Levo League

Posted on Thursday January 26th 2012 at 12:13pm. Its tags are listed below.

Don’t Stress: Making your stress levels work for your life. L(L) staff writer Laura Donovan dishes on how stress can act as a positive force in your life with the right mindset and management tactics. Before moving to New York City last year, I received the best advice of my life from a senior colleague. “The greatest way to guarantee a stress-free existence is to do nothing and avoid risks,” my coworker and mentor, Matt Lewis, said to me over a celebratory lunch after my offer from the Levo League arrived. “You won’t achieve anything big, but you’ll have no worries either.” The thrill of scoring an amazing job in my dream city had been slightly overshadowed by the logistics the job came with: I’d have to move, break my lease, snag an apartment, cancel my electricity and cable accounts… In a nutshell, a stress-free existence is a sterile, dull one. When you lead an exciting life, stress follows. The good news? You’re completely in control of how you handle it. The WSJ this week carried a front-page Personal Journal story that resonated with me: that moderate stress levels can actually do you some good, according to research at UCSF [via The Wall Street Journal]. A certain level of stress can energize you and help you reach goals. Try not to always put stress in a negative light, as it can serve a valuable purpose: to help you get things done and ultimately bring a sense of fulfillment. No matter how much you have on your plate, stress management is going to make things easier. Here are a few suggestions for keeping it in check: Exercise! We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: You’re not a polar bear, so prioritize exercise as you’d prioritize work. With all the endorphins flowing through your system, exercise will serve as a de-stresser when you feel you have too much to do. At times, this assessment may seem incorrect. I’ve caught myself saying, “I barely have time to complete my work to-do list, let alone exercise” many a day, but working out is a staple of good health and happiness, so set aside some time each week to break a sweat. You’ll literally feel the stress leave your body as you push yourself physically, and suddenly your office-related worries won’t seem so grave. You may spent the majority of your hours at a desk, but with some effort, you can make room for a work-out in the morning or nighttime. Pre-work grogginess or evening exhaustion might deter you from hitting the gym or going for a run, but I promise you’ll feel incredible afterward, and you’ll also see that it’s quite possible to make time for non-work activities! Keep to-do lists Every time I’ve been advised to make a to-do list, I’ve been tempted to make fun of the person who suggested it. I cannot, however, deny the effectiveness of to-do lists, as they are a visual reminder of all the things I need to take care of. Anytime you feel overloaded, jot down everything you must do on a sheet of paper. Write out all your tasks —- even stuff as minor as cleaning your desk —- so nothing will fall through the cracks. You’ll probably find that there’s less for you to worry about than you initially thought. You’ll also experience feelings of accomplishment and relief upon checking off the things on your list, and with all you have on your plate, you deserve to acknowledge your successes. It’s also wise to categorize your to-dos by category so you remember which ones to prioritize first. Communicate with your higher-ups It’s crucial to stay on the same page with your managers, so maintain close correspondence with each of your supervisors to understand their expectations. If you don’t know how to prioritize all your duties, ask your bosses which to-dos should be at the top of your list. If you believe you lack the bandwidth to take on everything you’ve been tasked with, set up a meeting with the higher-ups so they can help you sort out the situation, possibly delegate some of those duties, and get in control of what’s going on. They may not be mind-readers, but bosses can tell when you’re tense, so consult them if you’re not sure how to go about tackling everything that must get done. Just be thoughtful and calm in your approach. Keep your cool, even if you feel like the world is crashing down on you, so you can discuss the circumstances rationally.   Make friends with your coworkers and turn to them for advice Don’t underestimate the value of a close colleague. Chances are, these folks are just as swamped as you are, and the two of you can have cathartic chats about office concerns and take things off each other’s hands if necessary. Coworkers can be good friends, helpful employees, and trusted confidants, so make sure there’s at least one person at the office you trust. They’ll get you through rough times and be there for you during exciting moments as well. Get some sleep If anything can turn me into Grumplestiltskin, it’s lack of shut eye. Sleep deprivation has been found to affect mood and learning ability, so keep your brain, body, and mind healthy by getting at least seven hours of sleep a night. You may believe you have too much to do for this to be possible, but the more well-rested you are, the happier and more productive you’ll be at the office. Imagine working a 12-hour shift on three hours of sleep. Exhaustion could further stress you out, make you short-tempered, and decrease the quality of your work, so get a decent amount of sleep each night so you’ll be rested enough to do everything expected of you. Remember that everyone around you is stressed You may feel like you take on more than you can actually manage, but here’s another way of looking at your workload: your colleagues are almost certainly in the same boat. Your colleagues still have jobs because they produce quality work— so they probably have the same amount of work as you do. If you change your mindset to accommodate this reality, you’ll see you’re not the only one who is doing too much and also recognize that work gets dumped on your coworkers as well. If your workload is dragging you into a negative mindset, an easy pick-me-up is to foster compassion and empathy in your office—to remind yourself that you’re carrying the workload together. When I found out I’d be moving to New York, my to-do list was endless. It gave me such a headache that I could barely enjoy my macaroni and cheese (side note: if I were a guy, I’d be considered a “man child”). But I was allowing my to-do list to dictate my stress level, and allowing it to produce anxiety instead of excitement. The fact of the matter, though, is that I had found an opportunity to level up in my professional life: and the excitement of my progress could have helped me power through the inane chores that came along with that move. Stress can be managed with the correct perspective and techniques. —————————————————————————— Tell us, L(L): How do you manage your stress levels? What works? What’s the worst stress-management technique you’ve ever heard of or tried?
Don’t Stress: Making your stress levels work for your life. L(L) staff writer Laura Donovan dishes on how stress can act as a positive force in your life with the right mindset and management tactics. Before moving to New York City last year, I received the best advice of my life from a senior colleague. “The greatest way to guarantee a stress-free existence is to do nothing and avoid risks,” my coworker and mentor, Matt Lewis, said to me over a celebratory lunch after my offer from the Levo League arrived. “You won’t achieve anything big, but you’ll have no worries either.” The thrill of scoring an amazing job in my dream city had been slightly overshadowed by the logistics the job came with: I’d have to move, break my lease, snag an apartment, cancel my electricity and cable accounts… In a nutshell, a stress-free existence is a sterile, dull one. When you lead an exciting life, stress follows. The good news? You’re completely in control of how you handle it. The WSJ this week carried a front-page Personal Journal story that resonated with me: that moderate stress levels can actually do you some good, according to research at UCSF [via The Wall Street Journal]. A certain level of stress can energize you and help you reach goals. Try not to always put stress in a negative light, as it can serve a valuable purpose: to help you get things done and ultimately bring a sense of fulfillment. No matter how much you have on your plate, stress management is going to make things easier. Here are a few suggestions for keeping it in check: Exercise! We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: You’re not a polar bear, so prioritize exercise as you’d prioritize work. With all the endorphins flowing through your system, exercise will serve as a de-stresser when you feel you have too much to do. At times, this assessment may seem incorrect. I’ve caught myself saying, “I barely have time to complete my work to-do list, let alone exercise” many a day, but working out is a staple of good health and happiness, so set aside some time each week to break a sweat. You’ll literally feel the stress leave your body as you push yourself physically, and suddenly your office-related worries won’t seem so grave. You may spent the majority of your hours at a desk, but with some effort, you can make room for a work-out in the morning or nighttime. Pre-work grogginess or evening exhaustion might deter you from hitting the gym or going for a run, but I promise you’ll feel incredible afterward, and you’ll also see that it’s quite possible to make time for non-work activities! Keep to-do lists Every time I’ve been advised to make a to-do list, I’ve been tempted to make fun of the person who suggested it. I cannot, however, deny the effectiveness of to-do lists, as they are a visual reminder of all the things I need to take care of. Anytime you feel overloaded, jot down everything you must do on a sheet of paper. Write out all your tasks —- even stuff as minor as cleaning your desk —- so nothing will fall through the cracks. You’ll probably find that there’s less for you to worry about than you initially thought. You’ll also experience feelings of accomplishment and relief upon checking off the things on your list, and with all you have on your plate, you deserve to acknowledge your successes. It’s also wise to categorize your to-dos by category so you remember which ones to prioritize first. Communicate with your higher-ups It’s crucial to stay on the same page with your managers, so maintain close correspondence with each of your supervisors to understand their expectations. If you don’t know how to prioritize all your duties, ask your bosses which to-dos should be at the top of your list. If you believe you lack the bandwidth to take on everything you’ve been tasked with, set up a meeting with the higher-ups so they can help you sort out the situation, possibly delegate some of those duties, and get in control of what’s going on. They may not be mind-readers, but bosses can tell when you’re tense, so consult them if you’re not sure how to go about tackling everything that must get done. Just be thoughtful and calm in your approach. Keep your cool, even if you feel like the world is crashing down on you, so you can discuss the circumstances rationally.   Make friends with your coworkers and turn to them for advice Don’t underestimate the value of a close colleague. Chances are, these folks are just as swamped as you are, and the two of you can have cathartic chats about office concerns and take things off each other’s hands if necessary. Coworkers can be good friends, helpful employees, and trusted confidants, so make sure there’s at least one person at the office you trust. They’ll get you through rough times and be there for you during exciting moments as well. Get some sleep If anything can turn me into Grumplestiltskin, it’s lack of shut eye. Sleep deprivation has been found to affect mood and learning ability, so keep your brain, body, and mind healthy by getting at least seven hours of sleep a night. You may believe you have too much to do for this to be possible, but the more well-rested you are, the happier and more productive you’ll be at the office. Imagine working a 12-hour shift on three hours of sleep. Exhaustion could further stress you out, make you short-tempered, and decrease the quality of your work, so get a decent amount of sleep each night so you’ll be rested enough to do everything expected of you. Remember that everyone around you is stressed You may feel like you take on more than you can actually manage, but here’s another way of looking at your workload: your colleagues are almost certainly in the same boat. Your colleagues still have jobs because they produce quality work— so they probably have the same amount of work as you do. If you change your mindset to accommodate this reality, you’ll see you’re not the only one who is doing too much and also recognize that work gets dumped on your coworkers as well. If your workload is dragging you into a negative mindset, an easy pick-me-up is to foster compassion and empathy in your office—to remind yourself that you’re carrying the workload together. When I found out I’d be moving to New York, my to-do list was endless. It gave me such a headache that I could barely enjoy my macaroni and cheese (side note: if I were a guy, I’d be considered a “man child”). But I was allowing my to-do list to dictate my stress level, and allowing it to produce anxiety instead of excitement. The fact of the matter, though, is that I had found an opportunity to level up in my professional life: and the excitement of my progress could have helped me power through the inane chores that came along with that move. Stress can be managed with the correct perspective and techniques. —————————————————————————— Tell us, L(L): How do you manage your stress levels? What works? What’s the worst stress-management technique you’ve ever heard of or tried?

Don’t Stress: Making your stress levels work for your life.

L(L) staff writer Laura Donovan dishes on how stress can act as a positive force in your life with the right mindset and management tactics.

Before moving to New York City last year, I received the best advice of my life from a senior colleague.

“The greatest way to guarantee a stress-free existence is to do nothing and avoid risks,” my coworker and mentor, Matt Lewis, said to me over a celebratory lunch after my offer from the Levo League arrived. “You won’t achieve anything big, but you’ll have no worries either.”

The thrill of scoring an amazing job in my dream city had been slightly overshadowed by the logistics the job came with: I’d have to move, break my lease, snag an apartment, cancel my electricity and cable accounts…

In a nutshell, a stress-free existence is a sterile, dull one. When you lead an exciting life, stress follows. The good news? You’re completely in control of how you handle it.

The WSJ this week carried a front-page Personal Journal story that resonated with me: that moderate stress levels can actually do you some good, according to research at UCSF [via The Wall Street Journal]. A certain level of stress can energize you and help you reach goals. Try not to always put stress in a negative light, as it can serve a valuable purpose: to help you get things done and ultimately bring a sense of fulfillment.

No matter how much you have on your plate, stress management is going to make things easier. Here are a few suggestions for keeping it in check:

Exercise!

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: You’re not a polar bear, so prioritize exercise as you’d prioritize work. With all the endorphins flowing through your system, exercise will serve as a de-stresser when you feel you have too much to do.

At times, this assessment may seem incorrect. I’ve caught myself saying, “I barely have time to complete my work to-do list, let alone exercise” many a day, but working out is a staple of good health and happiness, so set aside some time each week to break a sweat. You’ll literally feel the stress leave your body as you push yourself physically, and suddenly your office-related worries won’t seem so grave.

You may spent the majority of your hours at a desk, but with some effort, you can make room for a work-out in the morning or nighttime. Pre-work grogginess or evening exhaustion might deter you from hitting the gym or going for a run, but I promise you’ll feel incredible afterward, and you’ll also see that it’s quite possible to make time for non-work activities!

Keep to-do lists

Every time I’ve been advised to make a to-do list, I’ve been tempted to make fun of the person who suggested it. I cannot, however, deny the effectiveness of to-do lists, as they are a visual reminder of all the things I need to take care of.

Anytime you feel overloaded, jot down everything you must do on a sheet of paper. Write out all your tasks —- even stuff as minor as cleaning your desk —- so nothing will fall through the cracks. You’ll probably find that there’s less for you to worry about than you initially thought.

You’ll also experience feelings of accomplishment and relief upon checking off the things on your list, and with all you have on your plate, you deserve to acknowledge your successes. It’s also wise to categorize your to-dos by category so you remember which ones to prioritize first.

Communicate with your higher-ups

It’s crucial to stay on the same page with your managers, so maintain close correspondence with each of your supervisors to understand their expectations. If you don’t know how to prioritize all your duties, ask your bosses which to-dos should be at the top of your list.

If you believe you lack the bandwidth to take on everything you’ve been tasked with, set up a meeting with the higher-ups so they can help you sort out the situation, possibly delegate some of those duties, and get in control of what’s going on. They may not be mind-readers, but bosses can tell when you’re tense, so consult them if you’re not sure how to go about tackling everything that must get done. Just be thoughtful and calm in your approach. Keep your cool, even if you feel like the world is crashing down on you, so you can discuss the circumstances rationally.  

Make friends with your coworkers and turn to them for advice

Don’t underestimate the value of a close colleague. Chances are, these folks are just as swamped as you are, and the two of you can have cathartic chats about office concerns and take things off each other’s hands if necessary. Coworkers can be good friends, helpful employees, and trusted confidants, so make sure there’s at least one person at the office you trust. They’ll get you through rough times and be there for you during exciting moments as well.

Get some sleep

If anything can turn me into Grumplestiltskin, it’s lack of shut eye. Sleep deprivation has been found to affect mood and learning ability, so keep your brain, body, and mind healthy by getting at least seven hours of sleep a night. You may believe you have too much to do for this to be possible, but the more well-rested you are, the happier and more productive you’ll be at the office. Imagine working a 12-hour shift on three hours of sleep. Exhaustion could further stress you out, make you short-tempered, and decrease the quality of your work, so get a decent amount of sleep each night so you’ll be rested enough to do everything expected of you.

Remember that everyone around you is stressed

You may feel like you take on more than you can actually manage, but here’s another way of looking at your workload: your colleagues are almost certainly in the same boat. Your colleagues still have jobs because they produce quality work— so they probably have the same amount of work as you do. If you change your mindset to accommodate this reality, you’ll see you’re not the only one who is doing too much and also recognize that work gets dumped on your coworkers as well. If your workload is dragging you into a negative mindset, an easy pick-me-up is to foster compassion and empathy in your office—to remind yourself that you’re carrying the workload together.

When I found out I’d be moving to New York, my to-do list was endless. It gave me such a headache that I could barely enjoy my macaroni and cheese (side note: if I were a guy, I’d be considered a “man child”). But I was allowing my to-do list to dictate my stress level, and allowing it to produce anxiety instead of excitement. The fact of the matter, though, is that I had found an opportunity to level up in my professional life: and the excitement of my progress could have helped me power through the inane chores that came along with that move. Stress can be managed with the correct perspective and techniques.

——————————————————————————

Tell us, L(L): How do you manage your stress levels? What works? What’s the worst stress-management technique you’ve ever heard of or tried?

The Levo League

Posted on Tuesday January 24th 2012 at 11:53am. Its tags are listed below.

Step Away From the Jammies! How to Have the Best Weeknights Ever. By Laura Donovan Some days, I get home from work and have the urge to swaddle myself in a Snuggie and watch Modern Family on Hulu. Correction: most days I have this urge (I also own the boxed set of Modern Family).Though I can’t get enough of Phil Dunphy’s unending failure to be a cool dad, I miss out on worthwhile activities whenever I get home from the office and plop down on my couch to giggle at a fictional character’s social ineptness. My time would be much better spent productively— catching up with a friend over dinner or drinks, huffing and puffing on a treadmill, or working on the standing collection of essays that will one day cement my place in history as the next David Sedaris— than zoning out and cackling in front of my television. Though it’s understandable to want to turn one’s brain off after an 8+ hour work day, sloth sessions won’t contribute to your personal growth or development and could actually be detrimental to your health. If you go down for a nap upon arriving home, you’ll likely have issues sleeping when your designated bedtime rolls around and increase your chances of feeling tired the following work day. Sitcoms, reality shows, and soap operas can be nice escapes from stressful work projects, but you’ll gain a lot more from actually socializing with someone than expecting the television to entertain you. As exhausted as you may feel when at the end of your workday, resist the temptation to indulge in laziness. Here are some suggestions for making the most of your post-work time. Stay away from bed If you do go straight home from work, don’t kill your momentum by climbing into bed right away. It may look and feel a million times more comfortable than your office swivel chair, which you just spent at least eight hours glued to, but your mattress is not your friend, at least until you need shut eye.   We love naps. But don’t take naps within two hours of your actual bedtime. Late-evening naps disrupt your resting schedule and could consequently hinder your work performance, especially if you suffer from insomnia. Long naps (or as I like to call them, coma naps) can interfere with your nighttime sleeping patterns, so hit the hay early on in the night rather than napping as soon as you get back home. You’re also better off using the bed solely for its intended purpose: sleeping (there’s obviously some wiggle room in this definition, but you get the idea). Don’t invite your gadgets into bed, watch TV in bed, or make phone calls from bed (unless you’re dating Ryan Gosling and he’s talking you to sleep by phone. Do that). Get a change of scenery by doing these things in another spot. I currently reside in an apartment that lacks a living room; the result is that when I want to interact with my roommates, I linger in the kitchen. It’s not ideal for having a relaxing conversation or reading my novel, but is less likely to make me doze off.Plan for dinnerSometimes your evening plans can get chaotic, and it’s easy to push off dinner til you get home late at night. But late night munching habits are linked to weight gain and sleeping problems— so whether you’re staying in or going out in the evening, make sure to eat at least a few hours before you tuck in for the night.  If you’ve got evening plans, make sure to include actual food during the course of your night instead of pushing it off until you get home. And if you’re staying in, plan your dinner before you arrive home so that you’ll be prepared to eat well before bedtime. If you have roommates, perhaps they can enjoy the meal as well. This will give each of you a chance to talk about your day and socialize whilst satisfying your stomachs. Exercise!Let’s be frank: most of us work from a desk. We’ve made no secret of our love for exercise and good health, so it should come as no surprise that we suggest breaking a sweat after a long work day to increase endorphins and remain active. You can try to counteract the health risks of your desk job by undergoing a semi-rigorous or intense workout at the end of your day. Gathering up the motivation to lift weights or fight the crowds at gym rush hour can be tough, but you’ll feel energized and recharged after getting in some quality exercises. An added benefit of regular physical activity is that it wakes up your metabolism and normalizes your sleep schedule. Visit with friendsAs earlier noted, there’s no substitute for human contact—and Phil Dunphy doesn’t count. Especially if you’ve moved to a completely new city post-graduation, the working world can seem unbecoming from a socializing perspective. The pattern of working constantly and letting your social life take a backseat is a slippery slope. But especially for urbanites, it can be just as easy to come out of a social funk and invigorate your social life by inviting members of your social network to dinner, drinks, a movie, or coffee. Better yet, find an activity that multiple friends can attend. That way, you won’t feel like the only folks you ever talk to are your coworkers. Even if they’re awesome, they’re not enough to make you a well-socialized human. Ditch the pajamas!If there’s any place in which you can choose comfort over style without social backlash, it’s home. But don’t give in to your pajama-donning impulses. Your work attire may feel suffocating at the end of the day, but going from suit to nighty is a surefire way to signal to your body that it’s done for the day. Our advice? Follow the Field of Dreams code: if you build it, they will come. Even if you have no plans to go out, change from office attire into plainclothes until you’re ready for bed. Maintaining dress decorum in your own domicile will also incentivize you to go out on the town or accept a drinks invitation should it present itself to you. Be ready for whatever the night may bring. Dress as if you have something to look forward to, and (especially in New York) you soon will have something to look forward to.Write a list of things you’d like to achieve at home Towards the end of your work day, take some time to think about the house chores you still need to take care of. Are you overdue for a visit to the laundromat? Is your bathroom out of toilet paper? Is your kitchen trash can overflowing? Have you been neglecting your New Years Resolutions? Are you itching to go for a 2-mile run or have a reunion hangout with a good friend? Before you check out of the office for the day (mentally or physically), write down everything you’d like to achieve at home so you’ll remember to take care of these things once the work day is over and you’re back in your living space. Divide your tasks into errands and chores, and make a rough mental hour-by-hour plan for your evening. Sometimes just forcing yourself to verbalize your plans for the evening will make you realize that there are things you could be adding to that list. Challenge yourself once a weekRather than going straight from work, try doing something new once or twice a week. That could mean reaching out to someone in your professional network for drinks, exploring the rock climbing studio in your neighborhood, taking an evening coding or language course, attending an advanced yoga course, participating in an office-wide sports match with your colleagues, or checking out the museum you’ve always wanted to experience. Keep your week interesting and different by veering away from your nightly routine once a week. You may be tired at the start of your endeavor, but you’ll probably feel very rewarded in the long run.  ————————————————————— Laura Donovan, Levo Editor
Step Away From the Jammies! How to Have the Best Weeknights Ever. By Laura Donovan Some days, I get home from work and have the urge to swaddle myself in a Snuggie and watch Modern Family on Hulu. Correction: most days I have this urge (I also own the boxed set of Modern Family).Though I can’t get enough of Phil Dunphy’s unending failure to be a cool dad, I miss out on worthwhile activities whenever I get home from the office and plop down on my couch to giggle at a fictional character’s social ineptness. My time would be much better spent productively— catching up with a friend over dinner or drinks, huffing and puffing on a treadmill, or working on the standing collection of essays that will one day cement my place in history as the next David Sedaris— than zoning out and cackling in front of my television. Though it’s understandable to want to turn one’s brain off after an 8+ hour work day, sloth sessions won’t contribute to your personal growth or development and could actually be detrimental to your health. If you go down for a nap upon arriving home, you’ll likely have issues sleeping when your designated bedtime rolls around and increase your chances of feeling tired the following work day. Sitcoms, reality shows, and soap operas can be nice escapes from stressful work projects, but you’ll gain a lot more from actually socializing with someone than expecting the television to entertain you. As exhausted as you may feel when at the end of your workday, resist the temptation to indulge in laziness. Here are some suggestions for making the most of your post-work time. Stay away from bed If you do go straight home from work, don’t kill your momentum by climbing into bed right away. It may look and feel a million times more comfortable than your office swivel chair, which you just spent at least eight hours glued to, but your mattress is not your friend, at least until you need shut eye.   We love naps. But don’t take naps within two hours of your actual bedtime. Late-evening naps disrupt your resting schedule and could consequently hinder your work performance, especially if you suffer from insomnia. Long naps (or as I like to call them, coma naps) can interfere with your nighttime sleeping patterns, so hit the hay early on in the night rather than napping as soon as you get back home. You’re also better off using the bed solely for its intended purpose: sleeping (there’s obviously some wiggle room in this definition, but you get the idea). Don’t invite your gadgets into bed, watch TV in bed, or make phone calls from bed (unless you’re dating Ryan Gosling and he’s talking you to sleep by phone. Do that). Get a change of scenery by doing these things in another spot. I currently reside in an apartment that lacks a living room; the result is that when I want to interact with my roommates, I linger in the kitchen. It’s not ideal for having a relaxing conversation or reading my novel, but is less likely to make me doze off.Plan for dinnerSometimes your evening plans can get chaotic, and it’s easy to push off dinner til you get home late at night. But late night munching habits are linked to weight gain and sleeping problems— so whether you’re staying in or going out in the evening, make sure to eat at least a few hours before you tuck in for the night.  If you’ve got evening plans, make sure to include actual food during the course of your night instead of pushing it off until you get home. And if you’re staying in, plan your dinner before you arrive home so that you’ll be prepared to eat well before bedtime. If you have roommates, perhaps they can enjoy the meal as well. This will give each of you a chance to talk about your day and socialize whilst satisfying your stomachs. Exercise!Let’s be frank: most of us work from a desk. We’ve made no secret of our love for exercise and good health, so it should come as no surprise that we suggest breaking a sweat after a long work day to increase endorphins and remain active. You can try to counteract the health risks of your desk job by undergoing a semi-rigorous or intense workout at the end of your day. Gathering up the motivation to lift weights or fight the crowds at gym rush hour can be tough, but you’ll feel energized and recharged after getting in some quality exercises. An added benefit of regular physical activity is that it wakes up your metabolism and normalizes your sleep schedule. Visit with friendsAs earlier noted, there’s no substitute for human contact—and Phil Dunphy doesn’t count. Especially if you’ve moved to a completely new city post-graduation, the working world can seem unbecoming from a socializing perspective. The pattern of working constantly and letting your social life take a backseat is a slippery slope. But especially for urbanites, it can be just as easy to come out of a social funk and invigorate your social life by inviting members of your social network to dinner, drinks, a movie, or coffee. Better yet, find an activity that multiple friends can attend. That way, you won’t feel like the only folks you ever talk to are your coworkers. Even if they’re awesome, they’re not enough to make you a well-socialized human. Ditch the pajamas!If there’s any place in which you can choose comfort over style without social backlash, it’s home. But don’t give in to your pajama-donning impulses. Your work attire may feel suffocating at the end of the day, but going from suit to nighty is a surefire way to signal to your body that it’s done for the day. Our advice? Follow the Field of Dreams code: if you build it, they will come. Even if you have no plans to go out, change from office attire into plainclothes until you’re ready for bed. Maintaining dress decorum in your own domicile will also incentivize you to go out on the town or accept a drinks invitation should it present itself to you. Be ready for whatever the night may bring. Dress as if you have something to look forward to, and (especially in New York) you soon will have something to look forward to.Write a list of things you’d like to achieve at home Towards the end of your work day, take some time to think about the house chores you still need to take care of. Are you overdue for a visit to the laundromat? Is your bathroom out of toilet paper? Is your kitchen trash can overflowing? Have you been neglecting your New Years Resolutions? Are you itching to go for a 2-mile run or have a reunion hangout with a good friend? Before you check out of the office for the day (mentally or physically), write down everything you’d like to achieve at home so you’ll remember to take care of these things once the work day is over and you’re back in your living space. Divide your tasks into errands and chores, and make a rough mental hour-by-hour plan for your evening. Sometimes just forcing yourself to verbalize your plans for the evening will make you realize that there are things you could be adding to that list. Challenge yourself once a weekRather than going straight from work, try doing something new once or twice a week. That could mean reaching out to someone in your professional network for drinks, exploring the rock climbing studio in your neighborhood, taking an evening coding or language course, attending an advanced yoga course, participating in an office-wide sports match with your colleagues, or checking out the museum you’ve always wanted to experience. Keep your week interesting and different by veering away from your nightly routine once a week. You may be tired at the start of your endeavor, but you’ll probably feel very rewarded in the long run.  ————————————————————— Laura Donovan, Levo Editor

Step Away From the Jammies! How to Have the Best Weeknights Ever.

By Laura Donovan

Some days, I get home from work and have the urge to swaddle myself in a Snuggie and watch Modern Family on Hulu. Correction: most days I have this urge (I also own the boxed set of Modern Family).

Though I can’t get enough of Phil Dunphy’s unending failure to be a cool dad, I miss out on worthwhile activities whenever I get home from the office and plop down on my couch to giggle at a fictional character’s social ineptness. My time would be much better spent productively— catching up with a friend over dinner or drinks, huffing and puffing on a treadmill, or working on the standing collection of essays that will one day cement my place in history as the next David Sedaris— than zoning out and cackling in front of my television.

Though it’s understandable to want to turn one’s brain off after an 8+ hour work day, sloth sessions won’t contribute to your personal growth or development and could actually be detrimental to your health. If you go down for a nap upon arriving home, you’ll likely have issues sleeping when your designated bedtime rolls around and increase your chances of feeling tired the following work day. Sitcoms, reality shows, and soap operas can be nice escapes from stressful work projects, but you’ll gain a lot more from actually socializing with someone than expecting the television to entertain you. As exhausted as you may feel when at the end of your workday, resist the temptation to indulge in laziness. Here are some suggestions for making the most of your post-work time.

Stay away from bed

If you do go straight home from work, don’t kill your momentum by climbing into bed right away. It may look and feel a million times more comfortable than your office swivel chair, which you just spent at least eight hours glued to, but your mattress is not your friend, at least until you need shut eye.

 

We love naps. But don’t take naps within two hours of your actual bedtime. Late-evening naps disrupt your resting schedule and could consequently hinder your work performance, especially if you suffer from insomnia. Long naps (or as I like to call them, coma naps) can interfere with your nighttime sleeping patterns, so hit the hay early on in the night rather than napping as soon as you get back home.

You’re also better off using the bed solely for its intended purpose: sleeping (there’s obviously some wiggle room in this definition, but you get the idea). Don’t invite your gadgets into bed, watch TV in bed, or make phone calls from bed (unless you’re dating Ryan Gosling and he’s talking you to sleep by phone. Do that). Get a change of scenery by doing these things in another spot. I currently reside in an apartment that lacks a living room; the result is that when I want to interact with my roommates, I linger in the kitchen. It’s not ideal for having a relaxing conversation or reading my novel, but is less likely to make me doze off.

Plan for dinner

Sometimes your evening plans can get chaotic, and it’s easy to push off dinner til you get home late at night. But late night munching habits are linked to weight gain and sleeping problems— so whether you’re staying in or going out in the evening, make sure to eat at least a few hours before you tuck in for the night.  

If you’ve got evening plans, make sure to include actual food during the course of your night instead of pushing it off until you get home. And if you’re staying in, plan your dinner before you arrive home so that you’ll be prepared to eat well before bedtime. If you have roommates, perhaps they can enjoy the meal as well. This will give each of you a chance to talk about your day and socialize whilst satisfying your stomachs.

Exercise!

Let’s be frank: most of us work from a desk. We’ve made no secret of our love for exercise and good health, so it should come as no surprise that we suggest breaking a sweat after a long work day to increase endorphins and remain active. You can try to counteract the health risks of your desk job by undergoing a semi-rigorous or intense workout at the end of your day. Gathering up the motivation to lift weights or fight the crowds at gym rush hour can be tough, but you’ll feel energized and recharged after getting in some quality exercises. An added benefit of regular physical activity is that it wakes up your metabolism and normalizes your sleep schedule.

Visit with friends

As earlier noted, there’s no substitute for human contact—and Phil Dunphy doesn’t count. Especially if you’ve moved to a completely new city post-graduation, the working world can seem unbecoming from a socializing perspective. The pattern of working constantly and letting your social life take a backseat is a slippery slope. But especially for urbanites, it can be just as easy to come out of a social funk and invigorate your social life by inviting members of your social network to dinner, drinks, a movie, or coffee. Better yet, find an activity that multiple friends can attend. That way, you won’t feel like the only folks you ever talk to are your coworkers. Even if they’re awesome, they’re not enough to make you a well-socialized human.

Ditch the pajamas!

If there’s any place in which you can choose comfort over style without social backlash, it’s home. But don’t give in to your pajama-donning impulses. Your work attire may feel suffocating at the end of the day, but going from suit to nighty is a surefire way to signal to your body that it’s done for the day.

Our advice? Follow the Field of Dreams code: if you build it, they will come. Even if you have no plans to go out, change from office attire into plainclothes until you’re ready for bed. Maintaining dress decorum in your own domicile will also incentivize you to go out on the town or accept a drinks invitation should it present itself to you. Be ready for whatever the night may bring. Dress as if you have something to look forward to, and (especially in New York) you soon will have something to look forward to.

Write a list of things you’d like to achieve at home

Towards the end of your work day, take some time to think about the house chores you still need to take care of. Are you overdue for a visit to the laundromat? Is your bathroom out of toilet paper? Is your kitchen trash can overflowing? Have you been neglecting your New Years Resolutions? Are you itching to go for a 2-mile run or have a reunion hangout with a good friend?

Before you check out of the office for the day (mentally or physically), write down everything you’d like to achieve at home so you’ll remember to take care of these things once the work day is over and you’re back in your living space. Divide your tasks into errands and chores, and make a rough mental hour-by-hour plan for your evening. Sometimes just forcing yourself to verbalize your plans for the evening will make you realize that there are things you could be adding to that list.

Challenge yourself once a week

Rather than going straight from work, try doing something new once or twice a week. That could mean reaching out to someone in your professional network for drinks, exploring the rock climbing studio in your neighborhood, taking an evening coding or language course, attending an advanced yoga course, participating in an office-wide sports match with your colleagues, or checking out the museum you’ve always wanted to experience. Keep your week interesting and different by veering away from your nightly routine once a week. You may be tired at the start of your endeavor, but you’ll probably feel very rewarded in the long run. 

—————————————————————

Laura Donovan, Levo Editor

The Levo League

Posted on Tuesday January 24th 2012 at 11:52am. Its tags are listed below.

Highlights from the Women’s Entrepreneurs Festival By Laura DonovanWhile attending New York University’s Women Entrepreneurs Festival, which showcased dozens of highly accomplished females in business at NYU last week, a fellow attendee asked if I aspired to ever become an entrepreneur myself. Without hesitation, I laughed and said, “I’m a writer for life, but I recognize that female entrepreneurs make it possible for me to do my job in many ways.” And for someone who, as a writer, relies on changemakers for new content and perspective, it’s very true— female entrepreneurs are a growing force in the US economy.Arianna Huffington, the keynote speaker at the festival, launched the Huffington Post in 2005. The site’s success and wide appeal encouraged me to scrap my dream of working in newspapers and enter the online media industry, which I’d doubted prior to HuffPo’s glory days. Barbara Pantuso, a founder of Hey, Neighbor! (a digital network for trusted neighbor connections) and panelist at the event, spoke about the importance of fostering community interaction and bonding, a huge interest of mine.  These are just two memorable female entrepreneurs from the WE Festival, but many of them made comments that are helpful for women of all professions and points in there career. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or an entry-level employee, the event was bursting with great advice and inspiring individuals. In case you were unable to attend the valuable event, here are some highlights from the WE Festival: On taking risks and being proactive “Entrepreneurship is jumping off a cliff and building wings on the way down” - Caren Maio, CEO of Nestio (@carenmaio)On thinking positive and not dwelling on flubs“Don’t waste energy looking over your shoulder or self-judging. Free up your energy” - Arianna Huffington, editor-in-chief of Huffington Post (@ariannahuff)“Learn by doing, put yourself out there, and use negative situations as a way to grow up” - Jennifer Hyman, CEO of Rent The Runway (@jenn_RTR)“It’s not a lack of confidence to recognize the things you don’t do well. It’s an opportunity” - Edwina von Gal, principal of Edwina von Gal + Company.On owning your work and believing in its inherent value “We know we are not appealing to everyone, but appeal to a wider message that will grow overtime” - - Allison Floam, co-founder of thefix.com (@afloam) on her editorial focus: addiction.On winging it (sometimes)“I make it up as I go along - not a bad roadmap for an entrepreneur” - Arianna HuffingtonOn dealing with unfortunate realities and having supportive people in your life“Women more than men are asked to do things for free. Be careful of that” - Britta Riley, co-founder of Windowfarms (@brittariley)“Make sure you have someone to talk to, whether it’s a boyfriend, friend, co-founder, etc. You have to have someone to cry to. At least you’re not crying alone” - Ayah Bdeir, founder of littleBits (@ayahbdeir)On achievement and trying new things“The more milestones you can get to on your own, the better your business will be in the long run” - Britta Riley“Building a biz is really hard work. No silver bullet. No overnight success” - Joanne Wilson of The Gotham Gal (@thegothamgal)“Every day presents a new opportunity to do something different” - Erin Newkirk, co-founder of Red Stamp (@redstamp_erin)On feedback“You will get so much bad advice. Say ‘thank you’ and take a piece of what they said” - Britta RileyOn failing and trying again “Failure is not the opposite of success; it’s a stepping stone to success” - Arianna Huffington“Don’t be afraid to ask. If they say no, you ask another person” - Malene Barnett of malene b carpets (@malenebcarpets) ————————————————————— Laura Donovan, Levo Editor
Highlights from the Women’s Entrepreneurs Festival By Laura DonovanWhile attending New York University’s Women Entrepreneurs Festival, which showcased dozens of highly accomplished females in business at NYU last week, a fellow attendee asked if I aspired to ever become an entrepreneur myself. Without hesitation, I laughed and said, “I’m a writer for life, but I recognize that female entrepreneurs make it possible for me to do my job in many ways.” And for someone who, as a writer, relies on changemakers for new content and perspective, it’s very true— female entrepreneurs are a growing force in the US economy.Arianna Huffington, the keynote speaker at the festival, launched the Huffington Post in 2005. The site’s success and wide appeal encouraged me to scrap my dream of working in newspapers and enter the online media industry, which I’d doubted prior to HuffPo’s glory days. Barbara Pantuso, a founder of Hey, Neighbor! (a digital network for trusted neighbor connections) and panelist at the event, spoke about the importance of fostering community interaction and bonding, a huge interest of mine.  These are just two memorable female entrepreneurs from the WE Festival, but many of them made comments that are helpful for women of all professions and points in there career. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or an entry-level employee, the event was bursting with great advice and inspiring individuals. In case you were unable to attend the valuable event, here are some highlights from the WE Festival: On taking risks and being proactive “Entrepreneurship is jumping off a cliff and building wings on the way down” - Caren Maio, CEO of Nestio (@carenmaio)On thinking positive and not dwelling on flubs“Don’t waste energy looking over your shoulder or self-judging. Free up your energy” - Arianna Huffington, editor-in-chief of Huffington Post (@ariannahuff)“Learn by doing, put yourself out there, and use negative situations as a way to grow up” - Jennifer Hyman, CEO of Rent The Runway (@jenn_RTR)“It’s not a lack of confidence to recognize the things you don’t do well. It’s an opportunity” - Edwina von Gal, principal of Edwina von Gal + Company.On owning your work and believing in its inherent value “We know we are not appealing to everyone, but appeal to a wider message that will grow overtime” - - Allison Floam, co-founder of thefix.com (@afloam) on her editorial focus: addiction.On winging it (sometimes)“I make it up as I go along - not a bad roadmap for an entrepreneur” - Arianna HuffingtonOn dealing with unfortunate realities and having supportive people in your life“Women more than men are asked to do things for free. Be careful of that” - Britta Riley, co-founder of Windowfarms (@brittariley)“Make sure you have someone to talk to, whether it’s a boyfriend, friend, co-founder, etc. You have to have someone to cry to. At least you’re not crying alone” - Ayah Bdeir, founder of littleBits (@ayahbdeir)On achievement and trying new things“The more milestones you can get to on your own, the better your business will be in the long run” - Britta Riley“Building a biz is really hard work. No silver bullet. No overnight success” - Joanne Wilson of The Gotham Gal (@thegothamgal)“Every day presents a new opportunity to do something different” - Erin Newkirk, co-founder of Red Stamp (@redstamp_erin)On feedback“You will get so much bad advice. Say ‘thank you’ and take a piece of what they said” - Britta RileyOn failing and trying again “Failure is not the opposite of success; it’s a stepping stone to success” - Arianna Huffington“Don’t be afraid to ask. If they say no, you ask another person” - Malene Barnett of malene b carpets (@malenebcarpets) ————————————————————— Laura Donovan, Levo Editor

Highlights from the Women’s Entrepreneurs Festival

By Laura Donovan

While attending New York University’s Women Entrepreneurs Festival, which showcased dozens of highly accomplished females in business at NYU last week, a fellow attendee asked if I aspired to ever become an entrepreneur myself.

Without hesitation, I laughed and said, “I’m a writer for life, but I recognize that female entrepreneurs make it possible for me to do my job in many ways.” And for someone who, as a writer, relies on changemakers for new content and perspective, it’s very true— female entrepreneurs are a growing force in the US economy.

Arianna Huffington, the keynote speaker at the festival, launched the Huffington Post in 2005. The site’s success and wide appeal encouraged me to scrap my dream of working in newspapers and enter the online media industry, which I’d doubted prior to HuffPo’s glory days. Barbara Pantuso, a founder of Hey, Neighbor! (a digital network for trusted neighbor connections) and panelist at the event, spoke about the importance of fostering community interaction and bonding, a huge interest of mine. 

These are just two memorable female entrepreneurs from the WE Festival, but many of them made comments that are helpful for women of all professions and points in there career. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or an entry-level employee, the event was bursting with great advice and inspiring individuals. In case you were unable to attend the valuable event, here are some highlights from the WE Festival:

On taking risks and being proactive

“Entrepreneurship is jumping off a cliff and building wings on the way down” - Caren Maio, CEO of Nestio (@carenmaio)

On thinking positive and not dwelling on flubs

“Don’t waste energy looking over your shoulder or self-judging. Free up your energy” - Arianna Huffington, editor-in-chief of Huffington Post (@ariannahuff)

“Learn by doing, put yourself out there, and use negative situations as a way to grow up” - Jennifer Hyman, CEO of Rent The Runway (@jenn_RTR)

“It’s not a lack of confidence to recognize the things you don’t do well. It’s an opportunity” - Edwina von Gal, principal of Edwina von Gal + Company.

On owning your work and believing in its inherent value
 
“We know we are not appealing to everyone, but appeal to a wider message that will grow overtime” - - Allison Floam, co-founder of thefix.com (@afloam) on her editorial focus: addiction.

On winging it (sometimes)

“I make it up as I go along - not a bad roadmap for an entrepreneur” - Arianna Huffington

On dealing with unfortunate realities and having supportive people in your life

“Women more than men are asked to do things for free. Be careful of that” - Britta Riley, co-founder of Windowfarms (@brittariley)

“Make sure you have someone to talk to, whether it’s a boyfriend, friend, co-founder, etc. You have to have someone to cry to. At least you’re not crying alone” - Ayah Bdeir, founder of littleBits (@ayahbdeir)

On achievement and trying new things

“The more milestones you can get to on your own, the better your business will be in the long run” - Britta Riley

“Building a biz is really hard work. No silver bullet. No overnight success” - Joanne Wilson of The Gotham Gal (@thegothamgal)

“Every day presents a new opportunity to do something different” - Erin Newkirk, co-founder of Red Stamp (@redstamp_erin)

On feedback

“You will get so much bad advice. Say ‘thank you’ and take a piece of what they said” - Britta Riley

On failing and trying again

“Failure is not the opposite of success; it’s a stepping stone to success” - Arianna Huffington

“Don’t be afraid to ask. If they say no, you ask another person” - Malene Barnett of malene b carpets (@malenebcarpets)

—————————————————————

Laura Donovan, Levo Editor

Wake up your legs! Stretching in the office

Posted on Tuesday January 17th 2012 at 12:00am. Its tags are listed below.


Wake up your legs! Stretching in the office

Wake up your legs! A guide to stretching in the office

By Laura Donovan

We exist in a culture of desk jobs. And when work piles up during the day, we sometimes forget to attend to basic human necessities— drinking water, eating lunch, and paying visits to the restroom, much less stretching out taut muscles.

But towards the beginning of each afternoon, I slip out of the office to perform an invisible ritual— my stretching routine. I prefer privacy, which abounds in our office space, to stretch first my arm and then my leg muscles, which haven’t really moved in five hours. I roll my neck and ankles, reach for the sky, and grab my toes, feeling a rush in my calves and burst of energy. On the rare occasions I work remotely, I stretch whilst writing articles (multitasking queen here!) and do the splits. The stretches get me energized and are a nice break from conducting research.

Oh, and did I mention? It takes five minutes. Far less time than the average cube-dweller spends on Facebook daily.

“We just aren’t really structured to be sitting for such long periods of time, and when we do that, our body just kind of goes into shutdown,” Dr. Toni Yancey, a professor in health services and co-director of the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity at the University of California, Los Angeles, told NPR last year.

Sitting down all day can also lead to “less desirable” levels of cholesterol, blood sugar, and triglycerides, said epidemiologist Steven Blair, who added that these effects can up a person’s chance of getting heart disease, diabetes, and a slew of other health problems. If you feel like you lead too hectic of a life to go to the gym before or after work, try sprinkling stretching regimens into your work week toboost blood flow to your muscles, relievelower back pain, potentially improve your performance in physical activities, increase flexibility, and feel semi-active during an otherwise sedentary day. As an office stretching maven and aspiring yogi, I’ve compiled some a list of ways to stretch and stay moving throughout the day.

Two 5-minute stretching sessions each day keep the numbness away

Ever develop neck pain or sore knees from sitting too long? Us too. Your body deserves more than that! After the first few hours of your working day (or even on the hour, if you can build it into your schedule), step away from your seat to stretch out your legs. Find a private room somewhere in your building (spacious stalls in the company restroom will do!) to focus on muscle care. The intense surge of energy and movement in your limbs will allow you to return to your work area in a better physical state than when you left it.

Your legs aren’t the only parts of you that need love. Remember your arms and hands, which probably spend a significant portion of time hovering a computer. You can do the Mayo Clinic’s recommended shoulder stretch and upper arm stretch in under a minute.

Typing all day can also be hard on your fingers, so when you finish stretching your legs and arms, end your quick workout with hand exercises. Put one arm atop the other and walk your fingers in the air. It’s similar to the tickling motion and will release tension all the way up your neck.

Back in grade school, did you have that one obnoxious physical education instructor who made you and your other whimpering classmates hold a stretch for 30 seconds or a minute? According to a 2008 New York Times piece, your teacher may have been more detrimental than helpful, as doing the same stretch for half a minute can have the effect of weakening your muscles. Cut down the time on your individual stretches so you can fit more exercises into your brief session.

Do stretches at your desk

Are you too dedicated to your work to take several walk/stretch breaks during the day? If you enjoy being chained to the desk, you can still do a series of arm or leg exercises from your chair. You can tilt your head, roll your neck or ankles, place one leg over the other to stretch your behind area, and even stretch out your legs in front of you. Getting in a good stretch doesn’t require abandoning your workspace.

Take a walk

If you think it’s a little weird to flee your office to stretch in secrecy for five minutes, substitute the physical activity with a brisk walk outside. Clear your mind, possibly break a sweat, and and get moving. Unk would advise, in his rap-sagacious way, to “Walk It Out.”

Use the stairs

The greatest perk of an elevator is also its downside. Thanks to this useful contraption, you don’t have to huff and puff all the way up to the ninth floor of your building. If you always avoid stairs, however, you’ll be breathless when the elevator undergoes maintenance or encounter a building that only has stairs.

To test your physical abilities and get the blood flowing to your legs, take the stairs on your walk up to work to start your day with a bang. After you go out for lunch or go on a stroll, use the stairs again. If you do this enough in a day, you may feel soreness in your derriere the following day.

A Very Skype-y Thanksgiving: What to Do When You’re Not Going Home

Posted on Thursday November 17th 2011 at 12:00am. Its tags are listed below.


A Very Skype-y Thanksgiving: What to Do When You’re Not Going Home

image

By Laura Donovan

As young professionals flock to citiesto pursue their careers and career dreams, they often leave behind their parents, brothers and sisters. By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, many of these folks don’t have the resources or flexible schedule to see family. Air travel during Thanksgiving has declined since the beginning of the Recession, and is now down a full 12% from its peak in 2006. It makes sense: plenty of people cannot go home for the holiday for financial reasons, lack of vacation days, or both. Last year, even Lindsay Lohan found herself unable to make it back from rehab in time. Jobless individuals are less likely to pay airline fees as well— and nearly 6.5 million members of the work force in the U.S. do not have any form of employment (meanwhile, the number of people that have entered the category of “not in the labor force” in the last six months alone is over a million). It’s dire times, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of if you can’t make it home this year.This will be my first Thanksgiving away from my northern California home. I’ve just started a new job, and braving Transportation Security Administration requirements seems stressful and traumatic enough without having to deal with the traffic of the busiest day of the year.

I spoke with some other non-travelers to get their thoughts.Our very own Isabelle Mitchell, who hails from Europe, isn’t too keen on riding solo for Thanksgiving despite the fact that she never celebrated it in the motherland. “I am from Switzerland and don’t have the vacation days or the money to go home,” Mitchell said. “I haven’t seen my mom in two years and I am not particularly looking forward to December. Being in a country that is holiday-crazy doesn’t help much…I definitely feel lonelier [around Thanksgiving]. Everyone is in a certain cheery mood, people talk about meeting their family, taking time off, cooking and eating! These are some of the greatest activities in the world— and I do love Thanksgiving food!”

Alec Weisman, an Alumni for Liberty employee based in Washington, DC, will not be flying to his home state of California for the holiday either.

“I decided against going home because I wanted to conserve money for gifts to friends and family during the holiday,” Weisman, a 2011 graduate of the University of California- San Diego, said. “Being away from family for Thanksgiving for the first time will definitely be a unique experience. I probably will not put in much effort to celebrate the holiday now, but my return home in December will be much richer for having waited. I feel ambivalent toward spending Thanksgiving alone, as it is the atmosphere of the holiday that makes it special.”

If you don’t have the funds or freedom to reunite with family members for Thanksgiving, take our advice into consideration. Here is what you should do if you can’t bond with relatives during this family-oriented day:

Visit a soup kitchen

If you’re bummed about being by yourself on Thanksgiving, explore your town or city for a soup kitchen that will be distributing meals to the less fortunate. Volunteer your services, help the needy, and interact with the others. Giving back never felt so good! If you like cooking, this could give you an opportunity to show off your culinary skills. Non-cooks like me can simply smile and serve food.

Organize an “orphan dinner” with friends

Surely you’re not the only one of your friends who can’t go home for the holidays. Round up the troops and get everyone together for an “orphan Thanksgiving.” Prove the 20-something critics wrong by putting together a delicious, grown-up meal with everybody. Take photos to give your family members peace of mind and remind yourself that there is more than just one type of family.

Attend local events

There are countless things to do on Thanksgiving besides scarf down turkey. If you’re a New Yorker, head on over to the famous annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Chicago residents can go to the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade on State Street. Folks in the nation’s capital can set foot in the 10th Annual Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger in which they’ll have the chance to simultaneously get a good work-out and assist the hungry. Get involved with the community. There are tons of people who will be out and about, so join them as they make the most out of November 24. You could meet someone special at one of these get-togethers, whether it’s a new friend or significant other. During the holiday season, anything could happen!

Catch a movie or do something low key with a buddy

If you’re friends with someone from another country, he/she probably isn’t going to celebrate Thanksgiving. Invite him/her out to the theater, which will definitely be open because Thanksgiving weekend is big at the box office. The cinema may not be your thing, but you can go out for a bike ride, go to church or a synagogue if you’re both religious, play board games, take a walk (take the opportunity to laugh at people doing a post-feast work-out!), or whip out a deck of cards. Make Thanksgiving a play day. Get in touch with your inner carefree self, especially since you work so hard the rest of the year.

Call or Skype your family

If you have a playful family, you can probably sell them on the concept of Skype during or before Thanksgiving dinner! The idea of talking to a laptop while they munch on stuffing might be strange, but your family may miss you enough to agree to this. It’ll allow you to have a presence at your family’s gathering. You won’t be the only one resorting to Skype, so don’t feel bad about doing it! If you’re without a webcam (or find the concept of a Skype Thanksgiving too bizarre to follow through with), have an extra long phone session with family members. They’ll be thrilled to hear from you, especially if you don’t usually call home!

Take a nap or chill out

Not everyone is depressed about being alone on Thanksgiving. Introverts, this could be an ideal day for “me time.” If your idea of a good holiday entails catching up on reading, working out, and repose, spend a portion of your day doing your favorite solitary activity. Sleep deprived folks may want to go down for a cat nap. Workaholics who never have time to exercise can go for a jog in the neighborhood, where they’ll probably cross paths with well-fed trotters. Crack open the intriguing novel that has been collecting dust on your coffee table for months. Take a few moments for yourself and then see if anyone is available to engage for a bit.

Laura Donovan is a staff writer and editor for Levo.

The Levo League

Posted on Monday November 14th 2011 at 12:00am. Its tags are listed below.

By Laura Donovan From time to time, it’s painful to say congratulations. You face many occupational hazards as a young professional, but among the hardest is trying to applaud a close coworker who gets a promotion after you’ve been denied one, especially if the two of you deliver identical results and have been employed at the organization for the same amount of time. As excited as you may be for your tireless buddy, internal questions like, “Why him/her and not me?” and “Why couldn’t we both get the recognition we deserve?” cloud your thoughts and may even discourage you from putting forth your best effort. When your contributions appear less valued than those of another staffer, it’s easy to mentally check out of your position, resent your superiors, and gripe about being unappreciated. “No one likes to be overlooked and outshined, especially at work,” career expert and bestselling author Nicole Williams told the Levo (League). Complaints and negativity won’t help you move forward, however, and they have the potential to even get you fired, so here are our suggestions for getting ahead in the aftermath of an office BFF scoring the raise you’d been eyeing forever. Remember: One person’s accomplishments say nothing about your own worth, so try to stay positive as you sort through your emotions on the matter. Be your buddy’s cheerleader When a friend gets promoted and you don’t, you experience several feelings. You’re thrilled for your buddy but unsure why you couldn’t have been in his/her place. I’m familiar with the bittersweet duality of being happy for friends moving up and onto greater pastures and sad that I remain unexciting. If one of your friends earns a promotion or salary increase, cheer your pal on and invite him/her out to lunch to celebrate (but ask him/her to foot the bill!). “If you are relatively happy in your job you do not want to overreact,” Lynn Berger, a career coach in New York City, told the Levo (League). “Simply congratulate your co-worker and try to understand why they got the raise. After a brief period of time you may want to meet with your boss and discuss how and when you can earn a raise not focusing on why the other person got the raise but how you can achieve success.” It’s wonderful and inspiring to see officemates thrive, even if you have yet to tackle your own world domination plans, so be thankful that someone at work is succeeding. It’s great for your working environment and could even boost morale. You’ll have your day and shining moment, but until then, send good wishes to your buddy. Don’t change your pace When you feel your efforts have been ignored, you may lose incentive to produce high quality work. Don’t go down this road. Continue with your rock star ways and maintain an open attitude. Lindsay, Cross, a writer for professional women’s site The Grindstone, told the Levo (League) that she knows how it feels to be overlooked for a promotion. “To be honest, getting passed over for the promotion was extremely difficult,” Cross said. “I had a hard time working with the person who got the job. But…I could understand why my company made their choice and I really just wanted to prove that they had made the wrong decision. In that circumstance, I needed to stay and continue to work hard. The person who was given the job actually didn’t last through their 90-day review and I was promoted after they left. However, if I had been passed over numerous times for a promotion, then I think you need to start looking at other options.” Step up your game Growing up, my father would advise me to “get mad at it” any time something upset me. When I was unhappy about making minimum wage at my high school food service job, he told me to “get mad at it” and put in more hours rather than mope about being underpaid. That’s the philosophy you should employ at the office, even when extremely disappointed. Think of tenacious California girl, Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde” as she proves to her ex-boyfriend and Harvard law classmates that she’s just as intelligent as any other Ivy league student even though she’s a Los Angeles blonde and sorority princess. Rather than let the flak and discrimination weigh her down, she works extra hard. For many jobs, the possibilities for growth are endless. If staying the same isn’t doing it for you, muse about ways in which you can alter and improve your work habits. Let’s say you’ve spent a year making sales calls for a company and would like to alter your duties. Chances are, your job still needs to get done and you can’t switch to another department, but approach your supervisor about different tasks you can take on in addition to your expected responsibilities. Get creative, be willing to pick up more work, and increase your stamina. Ask what more you can to do get a raise/promotion After you’ve healed from the wounds of being shut down, inquire about what more you need to do to earn the raise you’ve wanted for a long time. If the business budget is tight, say you’d like to know how to get an earnings boost once your company is in a position to provide you with a higher paycheck. Show that you have a good attitude and won’t let this kind of rejection discourage you from working hard. Williams noted that it’s normal for bosses to forget about your accomplishments because they’re busy overseeing everything else going on. Hence, take initiative and approach your superiors about your hard work. They don’t have time to hover over everyone 24/7, so remind them of what you’re doing. “If you don’t remind her of all of the achievements you’ve worked [hard] to accomplish – both the ones that have benefited your own growth and those that have served the company – she’ll never fully realize your true worth,” Williams said. “Remember, in the majority of cases, the only person stopping you from getting that raise or promotion is you! Have you sat down with your boss and talked about your position, projects and yearly goals? You can’t sit back and wait for a raise to come to you – you have to fight for it. In this suffering economy, raises and bonuses are scarce – there are only so many dollars to go around. You need to speak up and ask for what you deserve.” Interview your buddy about what he/she did to get the raise You may think you deserved to move up just as much as your coworker, but obviously, they took a slightly different path than you to get ahead. Ask your friend what he/she thinks ultimately landed them the reward and you can perhaps do the same. Take their advice into account and you may be able to get a career boost sooner than you originally anticipated. After you’ve had this conversation, spend some time mulling over other ways your coworker got ahead. Judith Gerberg, a career counselor based in New York City, says employees should ask themselves what their coworker did to earn the raise in the first place. “What had your colleague contributed to the company? Was her raise (separate from yours) justified?” Gerberg said. “If I was denied a raise I would probe to see what you would need to do to receive one going forward.” Williams offered similar advice and suggested putting the disappointment and letdown to good use by working twice as hard. “In terms of your colleague, take a look at the way she performs and consider if you can take a cue from her,” Williams said. “At the end of the day, jealousy isn’t pretty.  Use your frustration as a source of inspiration.  You want that raise and really dislike how you feel?  Give your work all you’ve got and make sure you don’t miss out the next time around.” Present the data and facts If a promotion or raise are really important to you, compile evidence of your results and contributions for your employer. Social media managers can explain how much the company Twitter and Facebook pages have grown in popularity since taking on the role. Internet scribes can print out Google Analytics page view data to show readers love their work. Saleswomen can list their number of clients. Your supervisors can’t monitor the entire staff’s performance 24/7, but if you remind them of what you’re up to and present the facts, your chances of getting what you want go up. Shop around your resume Working a job that’s not right for you is similar to dating a guy who just isn’t the one. To achieve ultimate happiness, you’re eventually going to have to move on. In some cases, there’s nothing you can do to receive an increase in pay or promotion. Perhaps your skills only suit the company at your current level. If you find you cannot get ahead because your talents will always and forever only work in a specific position at the office, think about applying to other organizations and companies that will optimize your abilities and provide you with opportunities for growth and advancement. If you’re not ready to leave your job yet but need some time to yourself, ask your boss for a few extra vacation days. It’s the least they can do if they’ve slighted you. “If you DO think you have done an exemplary job and deserve some compensation, don’t forget to inquire about perks,” Williams said. “You could ask for an extra vacation day, flexible hours, work from home options…Companies want to keep their valued employees happy and should be willing to compromise.” Laura Donovan is an editor and writer for Levo.
By Laura Donovan From time to time, it’s painful to say congratulations. You face many occupational hazards as a young professional, but among the hardest is trying to applaud a close coworker who gets a promotion after you’ve been denied one, especially if the two of you deliver identical results and have been employed at the organization for the same amount of time. As excited as you may be for your tireless buddy, internal questions like, “Why him/her and not me?” and “Why couldn’t we both get the recognition we deserve?” cloud your thoughts and may even discourage you from putting forth your best effort. When your contributions appear less valued than those of another staffer, it’s easy to mentally check out of your position, resent your superiors, and gripe about being unappreciated. “No one likes to be overlooked and outshined, especially at work,” career expert and bestselling author Nicole Williams told the Levo (League). Complaints and negativity won’t help you move forward, however, and they have the potential to even get you fired, so here are our suggestions for getting ahead in the aftermath of an office BFF scoring the raise you’d been eyeing forever. Remember: One person’s accomplishments say nothing about your own worth, so try to stay positive as you sort through your emotions on the matter. Be your buddy’s cheerleader When a friend gets promoted and you don’t, you experience several feelings. You’re thrilled for your buddy but unsure why you couldn’t have been in his/her place. I’m familiar with the bittersweet duality of being happy for friends moving up and onto greater pastures and sad that I remain unexciting. If one of your friends earns a promotion or salary increase, cheer your pal on and invite him/her out to lunch to celebrate (but ask him/her to foot the bill!). “If you are relatively happy in your job you do not want to overreact,” Lynn Berger, a career coach in New York City, told the Levo (League). “Simply congratulate your co-worker and try to understand why they got the raise. After a brief period of time you may want to meet with your boss and discuss how and when you can earn a raise not focusing on why the other person got the raise but how you can achieve success.” It’s wonderful and inspiring to see officemates thrive, even if you have yet to tackle your own world domination plans, so be thankful that someone at work is succeeding. It’s great for your working environment and could even boost morale. You’ll have your day and shining moment, but until then, send good wishes to your buddy. Don’t change your pace When you feel your efforts have been ignored, you may lose incentive to produce high quality work. Don’t go down this road. Continue with your rock star ways and maintain an open attitude. Lindsay, Cross, a writer for professional women’s site The Grindstone, told the Levo (League) that she knows how it feels to be overlooked for a promotion. “To be honest, getting passed over for the promotion was extremely difficult,” Cross said. “I had a hard time working with the person who got the job. But…I could understand why my company made their choice and I really just wanted to prove that they had made the wrong decision. In that circumstance, I needed to stay and continue to work hard. The person who was given the job actually didn’t last through their 90-day review and I was promoted after they left. However, if I had been passed over numerous times for a promotion, then I think you need to start looking at other options.” Step up your game Growing up, my father would advise me to “get mad at it” any time something upset me. When I was unhappy about making minimum wage at my high school food service job, he told me to “get mad at it” and put in more hours rather than mope about being underpaid. That’s the philosophy you should employ at the office, even when extremely disappointed. Think of tenacious California girl, Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde” as she proves to her ex-boyfriend and Harvard law classmates that she’s just as intelligent as any other Ivy league student even though she’s a Los Angeles blonde and sorority princess. Rather than let the flak and discrimination weigh her down, she works extra hard. For many jobs, the possibilities for growth are endless. If staying the same isn’t doing it for you, muse about ways in which you can alter and improve your work habits. Let’s say you’ve spent a year making sales calls for a company and would like to alter your duties. Chances are, your job still needs to get done and you can’t switch to another department, but approach your supervisor about different tasks you can take on in addition to your expected responsibilities. Get creative, be willing to pick up more work, and increase your stamina. Ask what more you can to do get a raise/promotion After you’ve healed from the wounds of being shut down, inquire about what more you need to do to earn the raise you’ve wanted for a long time. If the business budget is tight, say you’d like to know how to get an earnings boost once your company is in a position to provide you with a higher paycheck. Show that you have a good attitude and won’t let this kind of rejection discourage you from working hard. Williams noted that it’s normal for bosses to forget about your accomplishments because they’re busy overseeing everything else going on. Hence, take initiative and approach your superiors about your hard work. They don’t have time to hover over everyone 24/7, so remind them of what you’re doing. “If you don’t remind her of all of the achievements you’ve worked [hard] to accomplish – both the ones that have benefited your own growth and those that have served the company – she’ll never fully realize your true worth,” Williams said. “Remember, in the majority of cases, the only person stopping you from getting that raise or promotion is you! Have you sat down with your boss and talked about your position, projects and yearly goals? You can’t sit back and wait for a raise to come to you – you have to fight for it. In this suffering economy, raises and bonuses are scarce – there are only so many dollars to go around. You need to speak up and ask for what you deserve.” Interview your buddy about what he/she did to get the raise You may think you deserved to move up just as much as your coworker, but obviously, they took a slightly different path than you to get ahead. Ask your friend what he/she thinks ultimately landed them the reward and you can perhaps do the same. Take their advice into account and you may be able to get a career boost sooner than you originally anticipated. After you’ve had this conversation, spend some time mulling over other ways your coworker got ahead. Judith Gerberg, a career counselor based in New York City, says employees should ask themselves what their coworker did to earn the raise in the first place. “What had your colleague contributed to the company? Was her raise (separate from yours) justified?” Gerberg said. “If I was denied a raise I would probe to see what you would need to do to receive one going forward.” Williams offered similar advice and suggested putting the disappointment and letdown to good use by working twice as hard. “In terms of your colleague, take a look at the way she performs and consider if you can take a cue from her,” Williams said. “At the end of the day, jealousy isn’t pretty.  Use your frustration as a source of inspiration.  You want that raise and really dislike how you feel?  Give your work all you’ve got and make sure you don’t miss out the next time around.” Present the data and facts If a promotion or raise are really important to you, compile evidence of your results and contributions for your employer. Social media managers can explain how much the company Twitter and Facebook pages have grown in popularity since taking on the role. Internet scribes can print out Google Analytics page view data to show readers love their work. Saleswomen can list their number of clients. Your supervisors can’t monitor the entire staff’s performance 24/7, but if you remind them of what you’re up to and present the facts, your chances of getting what you want go up. Shop around your resume Working a job that’s not right for you is similar to dating a guy who just isn’t the one. To achieve ultimate happiness, you’re eventually going to have to move on. In some cases, there’s nothing you can do to receive an increase in pay or promotion. Perhaps your skills only suit the company at your current level. If you find you cannot get ahead because your talents will always and forever only work in a specific position at the office, think about applying to other organizations and companies that will optimize your abilities and provide you with opportunities for growth and advancement. If you’re not ready to leave your job yet but need some time to yourself, ask your boss for a few extra vacation days. It’s the least they can do if they’ve slighted you. “If you DO think you have done an exemplary job and deserve some compensation, don’t forget to inquire about perks,” Williams said. “You could ask for an extra vacation day, flexible hours, work from home options…Companies want to keep their valued employees happy and should be willing to compromise.” Laura Donovan is an editor and writer for Levo.

By Laura Donovan

From time to time, it’s painful to say congratulations.

You face many occupational hazards as a young professional, but among the hardest is trying to applaud a close coworker who gets a promotion after you’ve been denied one, especially if the two of you deliver identical results and have been employed at the organization for the same amount of time. As excited as you may be for your tireless buddy, internal questions like, “Why him/her and not me?” and “Why couldn’t we both get the recognition we deserve?” cloud your thoughts and may even discourage you from putting forth your best effort.

When your contributions appear less valued than those of another staffer, it’s easy to mentally check out of your position, resent your superiors, and gripe about being unappreciated.

“No one likes to be overlooked and outshined, especially at work,” career expert and bestselling author Nicole Williams told the Levo (League).

Complaints and negativity won’t help you move forward, however, and they have the potential to even get you fired, so here are our suggestions for getting ahead in the aftermath of an office BFF scoring the raise you’d been eyeing forever. Remember: One person’s accomplishments say nothing about your own worth, so try to stay positive as you sort through your emotions on the matter.

Be your buddy’s cheerleader

When a friend gets promoted and you don’t, you experience several feelings. You’re thrilled for your buddy but unsure why you couldn’t have been in his/her place. I’m familiar with the bittersweet duality of being happy for friends moving up and onto greater pastures and sad that I remain unexciting. If one of your friends earns a promotion or salary increase, cheer your pal on and invite him/her out to lunch to celebrate (but ask him/her to foot the bill!).

“If you are relatively happy in your job you do not want to overreact,” Lynn Berger, a career coach in New York City, told the Levo (League). “Simply congratulate your co-worker and try to understand why they got the raise. After a brief period of time you may want to meet with your boss and discuss how and when you can earn a raise not focusing on why the other person got the raise but how you can achieve success.”

It’s wonderful and inspiring to see officemates thrive, even if you have yet to tackle your own world domination plans, so be thankful that someone at work is succeeding. It’s great for your working environment and could even boost morale. You’ll have your day and shining moment, but until then, send good wishes to your buddy.

Don’t change your pace

When you feel your efforts have been ignored, you may lose incentive to produce high quality work. Don’t go down this road. Continue with your rock star ways and maintain an open attitude.

Lindsay, Cross, a writer for professional women’s site The Grindstone, told the Levo (League) that she knows how it feels to be overlooked for a promotion.

“To be honest, getting passed over for the promotion was extremely difficult,” Cross said. “I had a hard time working with the person who got the job. But…I could understand why my company made their choice and I really just wanted to prove that they had made the wrong decision. In that circumstance, I needed to stay and continue to work hard. The person who was given the job actually didn’t last through their 90-day review and I was promoted after they left. However, if I had been passed over numerous times for a promotion, then I think you need to start looking at other options.”

Step up your game

Growing up, my father would advise me to “get mad at it” any time something upset me. When I was unhappy about making minimum wage at my high school food service job, he told me to “get mad at it” and put in more hours rather than mope about being underpaid. That’s the philosophy you should employ at the office, even when extremely disappointed. Think of tenacious California girl, Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde” as she proves to her ex-boyfriend and Harvard law classmates that she’s just as intelligent as any other Ivy league student even though she’s a Los Angeles blonde and sorority princess. Rather than let the flak and discrimination weigh her down, she works extra hard.

For many jobs, the possibilities for growth are endless. If staying the same isn’t doing it for you, muse about ways in which you can alter and improve your work habits. Let’s say you’ve spent a year making sales calls for a company and would like to alter your duties. Chances are, your job still needs to get done and you can’t switch to another department, but approach your supervisor about different tasks you can take on in addition to your expected responsibilities. Get creative, be willing to pick up more work, and increase your stamina.

Ask what more you can to do get a raise/promotion

After you’ve healed from the wounds of being shut down, inquire about what more you need to do to earn the raise you’ve wanted for a long time. If the business budget is tight, say you’d like to know how to get an earnings boost once your company is in a position to provide you with a higher paycheck. Show that you have a good attitude and won’t let this kind of rejection discourage you from working hard.

Williams noted that it’s normal for bosses to forget about your accomplishments because they’re busy overseeing everything else going on. Hence, take initiative and approach your superiors about your hard work. They don’t have time to hover over everyone 24/7, so remind them of what you’re doing.

“If you don’t remind her of all of the achievements you’ve worked [hard] to accomplish – both the ones that have benefited your own growth and those that have served the company – she’ll never fully realize your true worth,” Williams said. “Remember, in the majority of cases, the only person stopping you from getting that raise or promotion is you! Have you sat down with your boss and talked about your position, projects and yearly goals? You can’t sit back and wait for a raise to come to you – you have to fight for it. In this suffering economy, raises and bonuses are scarce – there are only so many dollars to go around. You need to speak up and ask for what you deserve.”

Interview your buddy about what he/she did to get the raise

You may think you deserved to move up just as much as your coworker, but obviously, they took a slightly different path than you to get ahead. Ask your friend what he/she thinks ultimately landed them the reward and you can perhaps do the same. Take their advice into account and you may be able to get a career boost sooner than you originally anticipated.

After you’ve had this conversation, spend some time mulling over other ways your coworker got ahead. Judith Gerberg, a career counselor based in New York City, says employees should ask themselves what their coworker did to earn the raise in the first place.

“What had your colleague contributed to the company? Was her raise (separate from yours) justified?” Gerberg said. “If I was denied a raise I would probe to see what you would need to do to receive one going forward.”

Williams offered similar advice and suggested putting the disappointment and letdown to good use by working twice as hard.

“In terms of your colleague, take a look at the way she performs and consider if you can take a cue from her,” Williams said. “At the end of the day, jealousy isn’t pretty.  Use your frustration as a source of inspiration.  You want that raise and really dislike how you feel?  Give your work all you’ve got and make sure you don’t miss out the next time around.”

Present the data and facts

If a promotion or raise are really important to you, compile evidence of your results and contributions for your employer. Social media managers can explain how much the company Twitter and Facebook pages have grown in popularity since taking on the role. Internet scribes can print out Google Analytics page view data to show readers love their work. Saleswomen can list their number of clients. Your supervisors can’t monitor the entire staff’s performance 24/7, but if you remind them of what you’re up to and present the facts, your chances of getting what you want go up.

Shop around your resume

Working a job that’s not right for you is similar to dating a guy who just isn’t the one. To achieve ultimate happiness, you’re eventually going to have to move on.

In some cases, there’s nothing you can do to receive an increase in pay or promotion. Perhaps your skills only suit the company at your current level. If you find you cannot get ahead because your talents will always and forever only work in a specific position at the office, think about applying to other organizations and companies that will optimize your abilities and provide you with opportunities for growth and advancement.

If you’re not ready to leave your job yet but need some time to yourself, ask your boss for a few extra vacation days. It’s the least they can do if they’ve slighted you.

“If you DO think you have done an exemplary job and deserve some compensation, don’t forget to inquire about perks,” Williams said. “You could ask for an extra vacation day, flexible hours, work from home options…Companies want to keep their valued employees happy and should be willing to compromise.”

Laura Donovan is an editor and writer for Levo.

Organizing Your Workspace: Bringing the Fun Back to Tidiness

Posted on Friday November 4th 2011 at 12:00am. Its tags are listed below.


Organizing Your Workspace: Bringing the Fun Back to Tidiness

image

By Laura Donovan

It’s easy to long for the idyllic days of elementary school, when one of life’s only concerns was maintaining a spotless desk and pencil box organizer free of lead markings.


Fast forward fifteen years and you’re a busy, fabulous working woman. And while you have much more suave and sophisticated items on your desk than erasable pens and magenta tubes of Lip Smackers, you can resurrect childhood simplicity by making a squeaky clean desk a priority. There are many benefits to tidiness in the workplace: for one, you’ll dodge the reputation of being the office slob and likely increase your productivity level.


Common complaints excusing away office slobbery include “I work too hard to take the time to clean.” But there’s a paradoxical effect of working hard: if you’re doing it in an organized way, you’ll actually have more time to make sure that your workspace is organized. It becomes a priority, because it makes your productive life easier. Conversely, you may find that during times when you don’t have a lot to do, your space gets messier— because there’s just no reason to keep it organized.

An organized workspace increases your ability to be more productive with less effort

According to a 2010 survey by Brother International Corporation, 87 percent of workers reported feeling less efficient in a messy work area, and 66 percent reported taking up to a half hour a week digging around for lost items. This leads to more than three days and $177 billion in losses a year. That’s a lot of time and money to sacrifice for inanimate objects.


“It’s in the interest of a consumer-facing business to be neat,” Standolyn Robertson, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers said in 2008. “If things look like they’re in disarray, people will make the assumption that you’re in disarray as well.”

At the Levo (League), we recognize that work demands trump desk aesthetics, but would like you to know that a tidy workspace can actually save you time and resources and possibly help you get ahead. Here are some key ways to keep your desk clean.

image Invest in filers or folders

Offices everywhere are bursting with loose (and often useless) papers, some of which are too important to float freely. Take a good look at the stack of papers on your desk and put the pieces into a document filer or folder. Your sheets of paper will be secure and clean, and you won’t have to worry about them flying away or wrinkling.  Plus, you’ll be able to easily see which are useful and which can go into the shredder.

Purchase post-its

Take charge of your chaotic schedule by writing to-do lists on sticky notes. To avoid clutter and stay consistent, designate one spot on your desk to stick your notes. For a convenient reminder of your tasks, place the post-its beside your computer. Every time you glance away from your laptop screen, you’ll remember what you have to do and get your life together. Post-its are also great for message taking if you answer phones.

Get a pencil pouch or organizer

On your quest to have an immaculate desk, you’re going to need somewhere to store all your pens. Buy a pouch or pencil box to keep your writing utensils in one place. You’ll minimize desk clutter and office pen theft.

image

Buy a planner

In the event that Gmail goes down again and you lose access to Google calendar, have a classic planner as back-up for jotting down upcoming appointments, staff meeting times, long-term goals, and to-do lists. Keep schedule-related papers in a bound planner so you won’t misplace the really important stuff.

Bring an extra tote bag to work

Dedicated walkers, take note: If you’re tired of traveling to work in stilettos or heels, make the journey in walking shoes and throw them in a tote bag once you get to the office. Don’t be the girl who flings her dripping wet tennis shoes or rain boots on the floor for all to see (guilty!). No one will know you prefer comfort over style if you have a bag on hand, and you’ll keep the area below your desk tidy.

Clean your desk after every meal

Are you among the 62 percent of people who have lunch at the desk? If you catch yourself eating in front of your computer, wipe down the area after you gobble up your food. Check your seat, laptop keys, and desk for crumbs and spillage. To expel everything, clean the desk with Lysol and paper towels. You’ll remove food remnants, and possibly germs. According to a summer Huffington Post piece, your desk may be home to 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet bowl. Yuck. On that note, get some hand wipes for the edge of your desk.

Clean your desk weekly

If you don’t have time to fix up your desk several times a day, you’re not alone. The same Huffington Post story reports that 64 percent of people clean their desks monthly or less. Set a realistic expectation for yourself and try cleaning your workspace once a week. Take everything off the desktop, rub the surface with a dampened cloth, and get all the dust away from your workspace. If you’re a mouth breather, prone to asthma attacks, or a deviated septum victim (guilty again!), you may have an easier time breathing at your desk.

Laura Donovan is an editor and writer for Levo.

GO HOME! The Case for Taking it Easy at Work

Posted on Friday November 4th 2011 at 12:00am. Its tags are listed below.


GO HOME! The Case for Taking it Easy at Work

image

By Laura Donovan

It was 5:20 a.m., and I was already late for work. My neighborhood plowman hadn’t yet cleared the road, which was covered in ice and resembled a skating rink, so I glided through the potentially hazardous street in my boots, praying I wouldn’t fall face first like I had the morning before. The journey would have been much simpler had I not gone to bed three hours earlier and been so sleep deprived, but I’d had tons of articles to complete that evening and was determined to maintain my tireless work ethic.

Nearly a year after that blistering cold winter day, I still work beyond my capacity— but have a much healthier and more normal approach to employment. I’m in a profession I love but have adopted the “work to live” mentality and set aside my post-college “live to work” philosophy, as my old habits were unsustainable and detrimental to my health and career, which I considered abandoning altogether as a result of burning out.

Of course, I join pretty much the rest of the nation in working more than eight hour days, covering the weekend shift, and staying late to get ahead. With an unemployment rate of 9.1 percent, working folks are lucky to be able to pay the bills, but why do we push ourselves so hard by default?

According to a 2004 report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of annual hours worked by United States employees have been on a steady increase for the past few decades and eclipsed those of many Western European countries. Last month, a Towers Watson Talent Management and Rewards Survey found that of the 316 North American companies surveyed, nearly 65 percent of participants reported that workers have been putting in more hours over the past three years. One in three businesses reported that their employees have been using less of their vacation and personal days off over the same time span. We’re not giving ourselves the restoration period we need to detach from professional responsibilities. Some would call this admirable, but it’s also pretty unhealthy and unbalanced.

How working too much can hurt you and your company

Workaholics can and do endure much worse fates than being scolded by family members for leaving the dinner table to pick up an important phone call. In addition to taking flak from others, workaholics are susceptible to lots of health problems. Many mental health professionals consider “workaholism” a condition that can have both physical and mental effects.

“The stress that goes along with working too much has been shown to lead to substance abuse, sleep disorders, anxiety and ultimately to physical problems like heart disease,” Diane M. Fassel, author of “Working Ourselves to Death,” told the New York Times in 2007.

On the surface, workaholics seem like dream hires, but they may tire or move on to something else quickly, so their habits can have a negative impact on their places of employment.

“In the short run, having employees work extra hours can increase productivity, but in the long run, extended hours can negatively affect employee well-being and retention,” said Laurie Bienstock, North America leader of rewards consulting at Towers Watson. “Employees at many organizations are already suffering from change fatigue.”

Health conditions arise from working too much

Humans weren’t meant to sit hunched over a computer for the majority of the day. “Our bodies have evolved over millions of years to do one thing: move,” Dr. James Levine of the Mayo Clinic told Glamour magazine in 2009. “As human beings, we evolved to stand upright. For thousands of generations, our environment demanded nearly constant physical activity.”

Times have changed since our days of running through forests and over to bodies of water in search of nourishment. A poll by the Institute for Medicine and Public Health found that we spend around 56 hours a week chained to our work desks, behind the wheel of our cars, or in front of the television set. Such a sedentary routine puts us at a greater risk for heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

In our culture of getting ahead, it’s understandable why so many people overextend themselves and do more than the bare minimum. Putting in a little extra effort isn’t so harmful either, according to research conducted last year by the University College London and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

As reported by The Guardian, one or two hours overtime had no effect on workers’ health, but three or more hours resulted in a 60 percent heightened risk of coronary heart disease.

“If we’re stuck in the office we’ve less time to relax, get a good night’s sleep, and take enough physical activity, all of which have been found to help reduce stress levels and protect against heart disease,” said Cathy Ross, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation.

Allow yourself to slow down

There comes a point where you must resist the temptation to consistently put in 10+ hour days and weekend shifts. If you finding yourself clocking in so many hours that you don’t have the energy to enjoy your own life or see your loved ones, you may begin to resent your work. Though I loved my first post-college job, I threw myself into it and stopped hanging out with friends, so I slowed down my pace and began to complain that work was too demanding. In reality, I expected more from myself than the others did, and all I needed was to let myself take it easy to have a better outlook on my professional life.

Even if you’re a proud workaholic, devote yourself a half hour or more each day to at least non-work related activity that puts a smile on your face and serves as an escape from office responsibilities. If you love books, designate reading time for yourself at the end of each day. Athletes can wake up early to break a sweat before heading to the office. For a small portion of every day, let yourself engage in something besides work, even if you live to work like so many other people.

Take lunch and coffee breaks at work

If you eat lunch at your desk (you’re not alone— 62 percent of employees do it), step outside the office a couple of times a week to get away from the grind. There’s nothing like an eye-straining laptop screen to diminish the tastiness of a much-anticipated lunch, so stay away from your computer when you want to indulge in good food as a midday reward.

Ross offered another suggestion on dealing with desk jobs: “[T]here are simple ways to look after your heart health at work, like taking a brisk walk at lunch, taking the stairs instead of the lift, or by swapping that biscuit for a piece of fruit.”

Don’t try to be Superwoman!

Because women have more professional presence than ever before in history, it’s easy to try to make up for lost time by juggling numerous tasks, working constantly, and proving to male colleagues that we can do anything. If you try to be on top of your game all the time, you could be unnecessarily hard on yourself the days you cannot or will not overachieve. Rather than beat yourself up for not being perfect each day, give yourself a break a handful of times a month and make no apologies for needing recharge time. If you consistently produce quality work but show up to the office an hour and a half late on one occasion, shrug off the tardiness instead of agonize over how it could make you lose your workhorse façade.

Go home before 6 p.m.

Exceptional performance is not always the result of the number of hours you put in during the day, but the quality of work you complete. If you accomplished a lot one day, don’t feel bad about packing up before your coworkers and being out the door before the flood of commuter traffic. There will be days and even weeks in which you’ll do far more than you signed up for, so head home at your scheduled leaving time every once in a while if you could really use some time to yourself. The Grindstone writer Lindsay Cross said it best in her summertime piece titled “Pardon Me But I Refuse To Work Past 5 O’Clock.”

“All day long, from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, my job gets to be my main focus,” Cross wrote. “But outside of those hours, I reserve the right to concentrate on my home life. I purposely set up my job to make that possible.”

Laura Donovan is an editor and staffer for Levo.

Superstars of Self-Promotion

Posted on Friday October 28th 2011 at 12:00am. Its tags are listed below.


Superstars of Self-Promotion

By Laura Donovan

Though intimidating, self-promotion is an effective —- and possibly the most important —- tool for advancement in the workforce. A new report by nonprofit organization Catalyst ties self-promotion (i.e., talking about one’s accomplishments) to compensation growth for women. Aside from the monetary benefits, women who self-promote also catch the attention of others and spread the word on their work and accomplishments.

At the Levo (League), we understand that self-promotion can seem impossible to master and scary, so we’ve put together a list of our favorite female self-promoters whose techniques are easy to emulate. You may not have the audience as some of these well-known gals, but you do have access to some of their key platforms —- Facebook, Twitter, major blogs —- so study up on the strategies of these success stories to see how you can become an expert self-promoter yourself.

Leslie Bradshaw: Co-founder of creative agency JESS3, Forbes blogger

Industry: Tech, entrepreneurship

Self-promotion strategies: Personal website, Forbes blog, Twitter

Why her techniques work: The president of creative agency JESS3 does a little bit of everything. The young entrepreneur, who resides in the Washington DC area, has a personal website and Twitter page in addition to her Forbes blog, which allows her to write and conduct interviews with other successful career women. Bradshaw is a strong self-promoter for dabbling into multiple areas of social media and having an active, pervasive web presence.

How you can use her tactics too: In the words of Bradshaw herself, be great at something before you promote yourself on social media. “Not just good, but great,” Bradshaw told The L (L). “I’ve focused on being great at three things in my 29 years of living and they are: working really hard and working really smart, building and doing, and arming myself with theory, strategy and philosophy that spans many belief systems and experiences. When social media hit hard about five years ago, I was able to take what I am, what I do and what I stand for and port it into social. As a result of being great, you have great things to talk about. Building your presence will come naturally from there.”

Not everyone has a Forbes blog, but WordPress and Blogger offer free blog services. Play around with their different complimentary layouts to decide which ones work for you, and use the blog to promote your message. If you’re a businesswoman like Bradshaw, contact blogs and sites of that nature (i.e. The Grindstone, Levo League of course!), present your business model, and inquire about becoming a contributing writer.

Bradshaw’s big secret for snagging a blog at such a prestigious publication?

“Simple answer: I asked,” Bradshaw said. “Many people go through life complaining about being left out or left behind, pointing to their peers and saying ‘why don’t I have that?’ and ‘why does he make more than me?’ Most of the time, all you have to do is ask. Granted, you have to have a compelling pitch and the depth to backup your request (in this case, qualified to write for an outlet with such a distinguished reputation as Forbes), but when you do and when you are great at something, it will come through in your pitch.”

Hilary Mason: Chief scientist for bit.ly

Industry: Tech

Self-promotion strategies: Employing self-deprecating humor on personal website

Why her techniques work: The smiley, self-proclaimed “data scientist and hacker” has a charming way of sharing her accomplishments with the world. Through her personal website, Mason posts updates on her latest interviews, appearances, and speeches alongside funny anecdotes. Upon informing readers in a blog post that she made Fortune’s “40 Under 40” list, Mason wrote, “My world domination clock is ticking.” In her blog post about being featured in Glamour magazine, Mason wrote, “It’s exciting to think that people who never would have picked up an article about a bunch of nerds will be reading and thinking and being inspired.” Mason simultaneously keeps readers posted on her impressive achievements and jokes around, so she’s both entertaining and interesting to follow.

How you can use her tactics too: Have a little fun with your site. Sprinkle your blog posts or website updates with jokes and sarcasm. If research that humor relieves stress and helps maintain well-being is correct, Mason is doing all the right things to resonate with and lift up readers. Her jokes also give off the impression that she doesn’t take herself too seriously, and people always appreciate a funny, down-to-earth girl. Though Mason declined to be interviewed, she wrote in an email that her sense of humor is not an intentional promotion tactic, but a way to “manage the attention [she gets] in a positive way and to be a good role model and support [her] company and friends.” Most people are responsive humor, so it’s a fairly effortless, simple tool for reaching out to one’s audience.

On her website, Mason also includes a sidebar titled “Latest Updates”, which includes links to her blog posts and lists her recent achievements. Follow Mason’s lead and highlight your accomplishments on numerous places on your site.

Catherine Connors: Director of Community and Social Good at Babble.com, mom blogger

Industry: Parent blogging

Self-promotion strategies: Twitter, blog

Why her techniques work: A mother of two toddlers, New York City resident, and top mom blogger, Catherine Connors is the real-life version of Sarah Jessica Parker’s character in “I Don’t Know How She Does It,” which follows a career mom who tries to balance parenthood and a well respected job in finance.

“The ‘personal tidbits’ are everything - people get invested in the story of my personal life (especially when it involves things like moving to NYC,” Connors told The L(L) of the key to writing a successful parenting blog, adding that she appeals to a large audience of when she shares her own stories. “My self-promotion is not just promotion of self, it’s promotion of a whole narrative, so there’s a lot to work with.”

Though swamped with the responsibilities of a parent, Connors updates her blog consistently, tweets several times a day, and contributes to other sites. She details her accomplishments, awards, and skills in her website’s “About” section, which reveals that she has been featured in highly revered publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The London Times among others. Connors does not hesitate to mention her accolades and lists her email addresses on her site, making her easy to reach. She diversifies her Twitter posts with links to new blog posts and her site, updates on her goofy children, and yfrog and Instagram photos. With 14,000 Twitter followers, the ability to share her achievements with the world, and a trendy, widely read personal site, Connors has become an influential figure of the parenting blogosphere.

How you can use her tactics too: Maintain an active Twitter account and make your brand and niche clear in the “About Me” portion of your website and Twitter page. If you tweet on a regular basis and follow people of a similar mission and career path, you may eventually be viewed as an established member of your specific field. Retweet and tweet at your favorite public figures in your area of interest and they may respond, which could inspire their followers to follow you and see what you’re all about. While we’re on the topic of mom bloggers, let’s use Connors as an example. If she wanted to boost her credibility in her industry, she would follow parenting sites such as Mommyish, Babble, The Stir, Dooce, and more. Bottom line: Stick to your core focus so people know what to expect from your Twitter feed, but don’t be afraid to publish the occasional frivolous tweet about movies, television, or something silly your mom said.

Use social media analytics site, Klout to learn what sort of influence you have on the Twitterverse. If you’re low on the spectrum, which ranges from 1 to 100, narrow down the topics about which you tweet and focus on specific subjects to maintain consistency. Earlier this year, Michael Sunden of Landor Associates branding firm told tech site Mashable that establishing one’s brand is key on Twitter. “You need to find a mission, principles and a standard for what drives your brand,” Sunden said. “All those personality descriptions.”

Priscilla Gilman: Author of memoir “The Anti-Romantic Child”

Industry: Writing

Self-promotion strategies: Facebook

Why her techniques work: Earlier this year, the former Yale and Vassar English literature professor published a book about the ups and downs of raising a boy with a rare developmental disorder. Though she promotes her book on Twitter, Gilman’s book has gotten more traction from its Facebook page, which has nearly 28,000 fans. Gilman includes family photos, inspirational quotes from other writers, appearance information, personal tidbits about her life, articles about her book, and more on the book’s Facebook wall. She also responds to those who write notes on the book’s Facebook wall, and such correspondence is crucial to maintaining a fan base. The Facebook page isn’t all about her product either, as she likes to post relevant links about family life and the suffering of children. Gilman’s correspondence with readers, inclusion of information and links not directly related to her book, and broad range of Facebook content make her a highly effective self-promoter.

How you can use her tactics too: Take advantage of Facebook’s fan page offerings. Last spring, AOL site TechCrunch published a story on building engaging Facebook fan pages and explained to readers, “Facebook allows you to change the traditional boring tabs to be more exciting, original, and relevant.” Add apps to your page and establish a concrete publishing schedule for posting your content so others can always expect to find something new on your page. Use the “Notes” section to provide information on upcoming appearances or other great milestones. Make it a point to respond to fans’ public wall posts so it’s clear that you value the feedback and communication of your following.

Laura Donovan is an editor and writer for Levo.

Levo (League)’s Top Ten Halloween-At-Work Costumes

Posted on Friday October 21st 2011 at 12:00am. Its tags are listed below.


Levo (League)’s Top Ten Halloween-At-Work Costumes

image By Laura Donovan Step aside, children: Halloween Costume Day isn’t just for energetic elementary school students anymore. The L(L)’s Laura Donovan makes some great suggestions for how to pull off a festive look that’ll charm your coworkers.

If you work in a laid-back atmosphere, among festive PYPs, you can dress up on the job on October 31 (It’s a Monday, so your office may have mutually decided to celebrate it on the previous Friday, October 28). With an estimated 17.5 million people under 24 in the labor force, youthful attitudes and practices pervade many offices, so get excited to see your colleagues decked out for All Hallows’ Eve towards the end of the month.

“Halloween is a great opportunity to show off your creative side, whether you work in a creative environment or not,” Meg Hemphill, a style writer for The Huffington Post, told The Levo (League), adding that there are plenty of clever, memorable costume ideas for PYPs to choose from.

Here at The L(L), we’re young at heart and eager to celebrate one of the most eventful days of fall as a unit, so check out our list of top ten best Halloween-at-work costumes that will foster office bonding, create humorous and enjoyable memories, and promote teamwork.

1. Where’s Waldo?

As a little kid, did you pat yourself on the back every time you spotted Waldo buried in a crowd? You’re in good company. By dressing up as the stiff, stripes-loving cartoon, you can chat with co-workers about the pride you felt upon finding Waldo on every page and connect over other favorite childhood books. Halloween falls on a Monday this year, and it will probably be a fairly slow day in the professional world, so be sure to play at least one round of “Where’s Waldo?” with colleagues. It’s been done before, so keep the game alive if you secretly miss hide-and-seek.

2. Chef

Every office has a resident cook (Caroline Ghosn here at The L(L)!), and if you’re this person, put your skills to good use by dressing up as a chef for Halloween. The costume requires little more than an apron and a hat, so you can use the extra primping time to whip up snacks for the staff. Surprise them with baked goods, mini sandwiches, or one of your favorite light dishes. You’ll have the pleasure of making tasty food, showing off your kitchen talents, and rewarding co-workers, so everybody wins.

3. Restaurant server

The waitress costume serves a similar purpose and is easy to pull off. If you want to be timely, channel Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs’ cheery waitress outfits in new sitcom, “2 Broke Girls”. To go above and beyond, put pieces of Halloween candy on your server tray and drop the treats off on each of your co-workers’ desks.

4.  A “Pan Am” flight attendant

Addicted to ABC drama “Pan Am”? Emulate your one of the show’s smiley, bright-eyed stewardesses in costume form. You’ll remind colleagues of a time when flying was pleasurable, relatively new and exciting, and worth dressing up for. If you’re feeling particularly ambitious, read our recent interview with a former Pan Am stewardess to acquire some insight on what it was actually like to be part of a flight crew in the early 70s.

5. Twister girl

Almost everyone has had funny experiences with Twister, the hands-on game that requires physical balance, flexibility, and a sense of humor. With the Twister costume, you can reminisce about such stories with colleagues. Consider it another icebreaker, and bust out the actual Twister mat if you’d like. This costumes shows you don’t take yourself too seriously and can joke around.

6. Adele

Does anyone else have a mega girl crush on British soul singer Adele, or am I the only one? The record-breaking musician resonated with many this year with hit single, “Rolling in the Deep”, so she’s a relevant person to dress up as for Halloween. Adopt her trademark bob, wear all black, purchase long fake eyelashes, and you’re set. If you enjoy singing (like our very own Elizabeth Burke), belt out one of Adele’s many romance tunes when productivity declines towards the end of the day.

7. Female politician

Female politicos have been hot news items this year, especially with Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann eyeing a 2012 run and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton taking second place on Forbes’ 2011 list of World’s Most Powerful Women. Ysolt Usigan, a CBSNews.com lifestyle and tech editor, suggests showing up to work as a well known political figure. It takes minimal effort but can be the source of many laughs.

“You can dress like Sarah Palin or Hillary Clinton by putting on the most professional skirt suit you have,” Usigan said. “Accessorize with plastic-rimmed eye glasses for Palin and a blonde bob for Clinton.”

If you want to go further with the Palin costume, don her signature red suit or throw on some hunting gear and tote a fake plastic gun. Ever wondered what a pantsuit feels like? Steal Clinton’s look and decide for yourself whether it suits you (no pun intended!).

8. Solid black

Halloween-at-work is what you make of it, so costumes can be spirited or low-key as you’d like. Both Usigan and Hemphill advise the solid black outfit for those who don’t have the funds or time to come up with an intricate costume.

“If you have nothing in your closet to transform into a Halloween costume, just pick up some cat ears from the drugstore and wear all black,” Usigan said.

Hemphill agrees that you can’t go wrong with the low-maintenance cat look.

“You can go simple with an all-black outfit (keep it sophisticated), cat ears and whiskers drawn on with eyeliner,” Hemphill added.

9. College sports fanatic (or player)

Fall is a nostalgic time for PYPs, as many of them long to visit their alma maters during Homecoming and big football games. If you went to a sports-oriented university and gladly camped out to watch highly-anticipated athletic games (looking at you, Berkeley alumna and L(L) founder Amanda Pouchot!), wear your school colors and disguise yourself as a spirited student. Body paint, dangling necklaces, and foam fingers are welcome for the costume. Here’s your shot to play college kid again and give your colleagues a glimpse into your past. Dressing up as a pro league player can also spark conversation. But be careful to be sensitive to your work environment in this one— if your job is client-facing, or even if your coworkers are reserved about the occasion, this is one of the louder options.

10. Lady Gaga circa 2008

There are dozens of ways to dress up as Lady Gaga for Halloween, but the tamest approach would be to copy her “Just Dance” music video look. It sets you up for discussion about the singer’s rise to stardom and dramatic change in style over the years. In the afternoon, you can even blast some of her greatest hits in the office.

“For something simple, a wig would be fun or even a pair of sunglasses,” Alison Coglianese, creator of fashion blog Chain Strap Purse, said of the costume, which requires no explanation.

Can graduate students and PYPs relate to each other?

Posted on Thursday October 6th 2011 at 12:00am. Its tags are listed below.


Can graduate students and PYPs relate to each other?

By Laura Donovan

Every night before bed, I crave IHOP.

At the end of the summer, my roommate and I moved to an apartment complex across the street from the 24-hour breakfast joint. When we first arrived at our new residence, I jumped for joy at the prospect of having chocolate chip pancakes whenever I pleased.

Of course, timing is everything, and even the tastiest of pancakes aren’t so wonderful if you’re anxious about something. Last week, my roommate and her Georgetown sociology graduate school friend, Keith invited me to IHOP late at night, when they had finished their homework and were ready to socialize. I, meanwhile, had worked and bantered with co-workers all day and was in need of some shut-eye. Exhausted, I declined the offer but said I’d be happy to take them up on it over the weekend.

“You’re such an old lady,” my roommate quipped.

When one leaps into the professional world with a full-time job the change can feel instant (and drastic). You suddenly abide by a daily routine, must wear business attire to be taken seriously, and inevitably cut down on weeknight fun. Most of all, you need a bedtime to function. Why else would happy hour, which starts around 5 p.m. and ends before 8 p.m., take place so early in the evening?

Life as a PYP is centered on structure, establishment, and paying dues. Graduate school, while often more rigorous than undergrad, comes with a less defined schedule; and especially for law, medical, and business students, class schedules vary and aren’t always on the same 9 to 5 shift with which most PYPs are familiar.

Where graduate students and PYPs differ

While twenty-something age graduate students and PYPs may have different lifestyles, the bigger issue is that they don’t understand each other at a more fundamental level. My graduate school friends, for example, can’t see why I need to be asleep by 11 every night to feel energized for work; meanwhile, I don’t really get why they chose to take out loans for another degree when they could have started a career.

Jen Dziura of The Grindstone, a website about women and careers, exemplifies this lack of understanding but means well in her recentcolumn, “What I Wish I Had Known When I was 18.” Dziura opined earlier this summer that she wished she’d taken a less glamorous view of graduate school during her first year of undergrad.

“Later, I learned that a lot of masters programs are just finishing schools for people with rich parents. And also, of course, ways to delay the real world,” Dziura wrote. “Unless you specifically need a masters or PhD for an actual job that you have a reasonable chance of obtaining (clinical psychologist, social worker, professor, etc.), please don’t be a 24 year old who’s never held a job or run a business or had a client. It looks terrible.”

Dziura is far from the first person to knock on graduate students for seemingly running away from reality and burning cash. I’ve certainly held Dziura’s views on graduate school in the past, especially when graduate student buddies have visited from out of town and complained that I couldn’t take several days off work to show them around town. Long lunches, which definitely raise eyebrows at many offices, were the most I could budget.

“I can’t drop my daytime responsibilities to go sightseeing,” I told my friend. “It’s not like skipping class. I’d face serious consequences.”

Many have scorned the lack of structured scheduling that graduate student lifestyle holds. Popular sitcom “30 Rock” has joked that “grad students are the worst!” There’s even a Facebook page dedicated to the line.

Why graduate students remain in school

Of course, there’s plenty of credit to give to graduate school and its students—even beyond the benefits of higher education and expertise grad school can provide. Last year, New York Times writer Robin Marantaz Henig penned the extensive article, “What Is It about 20-Somethings?” to explore why people in their early twenties are taking much longer to advance and achieve independence than earlier generations.

Psychology professor Jeffrey Jensen Arnett calls this phenomenon “emerging adulthood,” which among other things was caused by, “the need for more education to survive in an information-based economy.” Graduate students aren’t all pursuing more schooling to “delay the real world” or because they have enough financial cushion to hold off on making money, but because they need an edge in the current market and, for the first time in history, they have the resources available to provide extensive higher-level education.

Unlike undergrads, graduate students don’t always have the privilege of picking their courses. Joey, an MBA student at George Washington University, has class once a week. On the surface, you’d think he hit the jackpot—but his courses take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday when most people are relaxing or enjoying themselves. The university compiled his schedule for him, so he misses out on televised baseball games and Friday night social activity. Where graduate students can finagle schedule flexibility, it looks like their victory—but the commitments they make to a graduate degree take first priority.

How PYPs can be more understanding of graduate students

Occasionally urging a friend to sacrifice one night of sleep to hang out when not necessarily convenient is admissible in a friendship between a PYP and a graduate student—but until that diploma makes its way onto the wall and you feel like you’re leading similar lives again, it’s important to recognize that schedules differ, and finding an overlapping time convenient to everyone is the only way to go.

For the time being, I can have late-night IHOP excursions once a week— the very evening that Joey is unavailable, and my grad school friends are spent from the fun they had Monday through Thursday. Someday soon, we’ll be in the same boat again. My graduate student friends will have full-time jobs and I’ll have upgraded from green PYP to seasoned professional. Maybe then, when we all have similar duties and expectations to fulfill, will we fully understand each other and get back on the same wavelength.

Laura Donovan is an online editor/entertainment writer at The Daily Caller in Washington, D.C. and a wannabe New Yorker. A proud northern Californian and graduate of the University of Arizona, Laura left sunny skies, delicious Mexican cuisine, and dry heat last year for a high-energy journalism career on the east coast. Her work has appeared in Business Insider, The Washington Times, Townhall Magazine, and many other publications. She wants to be David Sedaris. 

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