Los Suenos Institute
3 Differences Between an Engaged Employee and a Workaholic
by Sueños on 01/12/17
Work is Enjoyable Not Compulsory
In another paper by Malissa A. Clark, published in The Journal of Management, she notes that workaholism "involves a preoccupation and compulsion regarding one’s work." Because of this, she further notes, some think of it as an obsessive-compulsive disorder, as the behavior, working, is elicited in response to anxious and repetitive thoughts. Work engagement, on the other hand, "is a positive, fulfilling, work-related state of mind that is characterized by vigor, dedication, and absorption," according to Dr. Maša Tonkovi? Grabovac's study on work engagement of dual-working couples. She also notes that,"Work engaged individuals not only function better at work, but also transfer these benefits to home." In essence the experience of working is overall enriching to the person's life.
An Engaged Employee is Self-Regulating
Given the above information, it's no wonder that an absorbed employee uses their time well. In astudy by the Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, it was found that employees who ranked higher on measures of employee engagement also ranked higher on measures of effective time management. When the same test was given to a group of full-time employees in Australia and managers in the U.S. in a study by Sandy Jackson, those who exhibited signs of workaholism (lower enjoyment of job, compulsory attitudes towards work, etc.) scored lower on the measures that were positively associated with effective time management.
Engaged Employees Enjoy Their Time Off
As cited above in Dr. Grabovac's study, engaged employees often saw the benefits of rewarding work spill into other avenues of their life. This compounded in a study by Lieke L.ten Brummelhuis, and Arnold B. Bakker who found that evening, low-energy. leisurely activities increased vigor in next day performance. Meanwhile, in a meta-analysis conducted by Malissa Clark et al. on workaholism's lasting effects, she found that it often led to work-life conflict as well as a decrease in mental and physical health.
So, what we come back to is that in an engaged employee, work is a source of pleasure, while in a workaholic it feels like a penance. It is important for any management staff to effectively engage their employees, rather than create an environment that fosters workaholism. This not only reduces burnout, but also serves as an overall benefit for any business.
This is a guest blog by one of our coaches Diego Andreas. If you like what you read, check out his blog. www.wonderingintomyself.com
Laughter The Re-centering Hack
by Sueños on 01/11/17
With the extreme cold we received in Utah my heated water supply to my travel trailer froze. When my girlfriend woke up to get ready in the morning, water didn't come out of the faucet. She shrugged it off, and we both left for work. I came home to find my travel trailer looking like it had seen a flash flood. As the day warmed up, the water in the water supply melted allowing water to flow all day into the gray water tank. Toiletries littered the floor, and water was pouring out of every loose floor board. I looked around at the electrical work that would probably need some repair, the carpet that now needed to be replaced, and the water damage showing on almost every wall. What did I do? I laughed, in fact I laughed so hard I thought I was going to cry. Here's why.
Had I chosen the opposite response, had I gotten mad, what good what it have done me? I could have blamed my girlfriend, who already felt terrible, but all that would do is hurt her feelings. That still does nothing to deal with the water damage, carpet, or wiring. Even if I was the most mad I had ever been, I would still have to mop up all the water and clear it out of the RV.
Anger, as an emotion, is only useful for protecting oneself from bears, and wild animals. However, when it comes to dealing with the highly cognitive world we live in, it almost always makes the situation worse. After I was done laughing, I was able to think about the problem more critically. Something I wouldn't have done, had I been angry. I got busy at pulling up the carpet, drying the floor and walls, and in just a couple of hours we were all clear.
When we are faced with adversity, it can be very easy to allow anger to be our go to emotion. However, I'm sure you can think of several instances where your anger got the better of you and the outcome was less than extraordinary. In almost all cases I find that laughter is the best alternative. It will always bring you back to center, and that's where your best solutions lie.
This is a guest blog by one of our coaches. If you like what you read, check out his blog at www.wonderingintomyself.com
I Spent a Whole Day Trying to Uplift Everyone I Met. This is What Happened...
by Sueños on 01/10/17
I woke up on Saturday and proceeded with my normal routine. 30 minutes of meditation, a few sun salutations, a brush of the teeth, and then it was time to meet up with some friends for breakfast. We hit out favorite spot, a small diner that used to be a Japanese restaurant, now priced for college students. After ordering coffee and a pancakes, my total came to five dollars. Now our server had been exceptional, especially for how busy they were, however, I try to tip well in general. (Food Service ain't easy folks). Because my bill didn't come out to much, I left $20 on the table and headed out. She chased me down in the parking lot to see if I needed change. When I explained to her that I left her a $15 dollar tip she gave me a huge hug, almost slipping on the ice. I couldn't help but walk away from the encounter with a huge grin on my face.
The guy behind the counter at the gas station near my house was the next stranger I bumped into. The store seems to have a hard time keeping people, but no matter, it's a small town and it's good to get along with everyone. I noticed he had a Bronco's phone case, and I decided to compliment him on it, even though I know close to nothing about American Football. We talked a bit and joked around and introduced ourselves. Now, whenever I go to the gas station, we chat a bit toss some jokes around, and always have a good laugh.
The final group I ran into that night was a friend's party. When I walked in, the boredom at the party was palpable. Few people were interacting with one another. Most were staring at their cups, while music blasted all around them. This was unacceptable. So, I did what I like doing most, just started dancing. Some would say that's brave, but the bravest person in a large social group, is the first person to join the crazy dancing guy. That person is essentially reinforcing to the whole group that they agree with the crazy dancing guy. Luckily, I have some pretty crazy friends. By the end of the first song, we had recruited 5 people to our ranks. By the end of the second, the entire house was dancing. It was some of the most fun I've had, and everyone was grinning ear to ear.
A community is made of its members. People talk about how they miss the day when they used to know the milkman, and everyone who worked at the closest coffee shop. However, those days are not behind us, we just have to put in a little more effort. Uplifting people will always give back so much more than it takes. In this case I gave money, time, and my pride, in exchange I received something worth much more -- love.
This was a guest blog by one of our coaches Diego Andreas. If you like what you read check out his blog at : www.wonderingintomyself.com
IT HAS ONLY BEEN 9 DAYS! DO NOT FALL BACK INTO THE RUT, IT’S A NEW YEAR!
by Sueños on 01/09/17
For most us Monday is the true beginning of our New Year. It is when most of us return to work. And there it starts. Will you stay true to the promises you made yourself during the holiday, whether it was a healthier diet, exercise, time with your family, not eating at your desk, or not checking e-mails on weekends? Or will you return to habits who’s predictability give you comfort but are killing you professionally and personally. Habits which are sucking the life energy and joy out of your daily experience. I have one comment for you, “Do not fall back into the rut!” Whatever you do. Do not go back. Stay out of the rut. Do not jump back into the rut. Let go of the old habits. Replace them with new healthier habits. Ones which will fill your life with joy and bring out the best of who you are. Know in advance it will neither be easy nor a strait line. New habits are like a new pair of shoes it takes a while before you feel comfortable in them. You will be tempted to go back to your old pair but you know they are worn out and they will not be able to take you to where you want to go. Let go and go forward.
Have a fantastic New Year! Here is to new habits in 2017 and with that a new life!
The Difference Between Anxiety and Healthy Worry
by Sueños on 01/06/17
This was my first and only anxiety attack, thank God, but for a lot of people the slightest, most unrelated topic can send them on a tidal wave of worry and anxiety. Now it's healthy to think while driving home, "I have presentation next Friday, I should start working on it Monday." What isn't healthy is having that thought 5, 10, 15 times. It doesn't do you any good. In the case of me being in class not only was I a tad behind on my physics work, but now I was also behind in English, because I wasn't paying attention. Some people are so paralyzed by anxious thoughts, that they feel overwhelmed when they try to take action against what's causing the anxiety, so they engage in a diversion, like watching T.V. This, of course, makes them more anxious because now they have even less time to do what they were supposed to. In that sense it's a lot like feed back in a sound system.
Now I never like to present problems without a solution, so if you find yourself in this predicament often, let me make a suggestion for you. Start meditating. It's showing incredible promise in the treatment of a variety of anxiety disorders. Even if you don't find yourself having severely anxious thoughts like those described above, I'm certain you've watched Netflix instead of working on a project or cleaning the house. Start trying to move your mind towards the present, because that's all that's really going on. It's okay to remember, but try not to obsess. If you find yourself obsessing over something, call yourself out on it.
Okay, you might say, but what if something bad actually does happen? Well chances are what ever happened, would have happened whether or not you worried about it. I continue to work with a lot of students, and one of the top issues that resurfaces it test taking anxiety. However, what I am going to say can be used for any type of performance anxiety. How you are going to perform has already been determined by the way you practiced, or the amount you studied. When you sit in that seat, or get ready to deliver that presentation, you will perform as you have practiced. Accepting that will make all the difference in the world. However, if you are worried about your performance, if you're anxious about it, then that's exactly what will come through.
Acceptance of what's actually happening, is true performance. That's what it means to be "mindful." Anxiety comes from getting caught up in the details of imaginary situations. Your meditation practice gives you the tools to mentally navigate away from these. If you find yourself feeling anxious, push yourself away from what you're doing, and take a few moments to breathe. There's nothing more important than maintaining your center.
