Work-Time-Fun

Christmas time comes once a year, so enjoy it and do what you can to spread that Christmas cheer!  The Christmas season is in full bloom and you can see the signs as you pass all the lights in your neighborhood, the manger scenes at the local church, or the decked out North Pole at the mall.  Christmas Trees are being sold at gas stations, pool parking lots, firehouses, and hardware stores (Home Depot – $29.95).   People are being a little bit nicer, they are opening up their hearts, and the Christmas Spirit is gaining momentum. 

We dont have to leave that joyful spirit in our cars when we pull into the parking lot on Monday morning.  It doesn’t just have to feel like Christmas when you get home and watch TV by the tree & presents with a nice glass of Egg Nog.  I would be one to argue that there is no better place to extend the Christmas Spirit than the workplace.  Think about it, the Christmas Spirit is described by words like Peace, Love, Joy, and selflessness.  YES, YES.  I want more of that Monday-Friday instead of the typical crap: Stress, Gossip, Greed, Rudeness, and Disrespect. 

Here are a couple of simple ways you can help spread that Christmas Spirit to the scrooges and grinches of your office. 

• Do like the Who’s in Whooville do and decorate everything! Ok, maybe not everything, but spruce up your office a bit.  Buy a mini Christmas tree and slap some ornamentos on it.  Put up a wreath on your door or string some garland up.  Some Christmas decorations will quickly be noticed by your co-workers. 
• Offer some Holiday Treats.  Everybody likes treats.  Maybe some delicious gingerbread cookies.  Maybe some of those York Peppermint Patties wrapped in Christmas wrapping.  Peppermint Hot Chocolate?? Christmas M&M’s? The possibilities are endless.
• Give the gift that keeps on giving.  A Christmas Card.  The more random the better.  Maybe Flava Flav dressed up like Santa.  Or…you dressed up like Flava Flav dressed like Santa. 
• Do something out of the ordinary.  Like bring in a dozen donuts and some coffee for your department.  Might cost you $10 but it will brighten somebody’s day up.

Last but not least…Just be nice.  This holiday is all about selflessness and sacrifice.  Its about a joyous occasion.  It is a time of year to celebrate.  Take that with you as you go through your work weeks.  A little positivity can go along way and if you have that joyful spirit, trust me, it will rub off and brighten up your office space.

The world today is vastly different than it was ten years ago.  I got my first cell phone when I was 16 and it was as basic as they came…yet still technologically advanced.  Today, nearly every tween, teen, young adult, adult, and senior citizen owns a mobile phone.  It is to the point where our phones are used every 5 to 10 min, whether it is to check the score of a game, see the weather forecast, get directions, upload our facebook status, text a friend, and yes…get this…even to make a phone call every now and then.  Unless you are on AT&T, then you don’t get the priviledge of making phone calls.  Nearly everyone in our society uses their phone to such an extent that if they lose it or are without it for a day, they feel naked, like they have lost something very dear to them. 

I am no different and thought I would share a few of my favorite apps that I get from the Android market.

1) The FML App

• This App gives you a good amount of laughs as you can read different FML (F my life) posts.  Users share various stories that make them hate their life.  It can be quite entertaining if you have 5 or 10 min to read through the masses of posts.

2) iSyncr App

• If you are like me and you constantly need music in your life then this App is a must.  It allows you to sync your phone with your iTunes on your computer.  You can select certain playlists to be copied onto your phone.

3) Pandora

• Everyone should know what Pandora is…it is the Internet radio that allows you to customize your own radio station.  You select one of your favorite songs or artists and it creates a station that plays music similar to your selection.  This is great if your work blocks internet streaming on your work computer.  Just hook up some headphones, turn on Pandora, and your day just got a little bit better (assuming you have good taste in music).

4) Homerun Battle 3D

• A game that simulates a Homerun Derby.  You can choose among various modes, such as classic, arcade, training, or online matchup.  You can compete against yourself, your friends, or other users online.  You gain golden balls which allow you to upgrade your character’s equipment, thus upgrading your character.  Very addicting!

Many more to come! So check back later for some more. 

Enjoy!

Here at W-T-F, our target audience is the working class of this great country.  So when I refer to those “in our old age”, I am generalizing and making a statement about all of those people who are out of college and knee deep in the real world.  The real world is a tough and cruel place to be; your time becomes scarce and increasingly more valuable, your energy is constantly drained, stress piles up, and you are living for the weekend.  Within this lifestyle, it is very easy to give in to the simple scenario and try to rationalize everything.  “I had a long day at work and all I want to do is watch How I Met Your Mother because my feet hurt and I have a headache.”  That decision is reasonable for 2-3 times a week, but it becomes dangerous once you make it your religious routine.  If plans aren’t made to stay active, these wonderful bodies we have been given can deteriorate in health and aesthetics.   Living an active lifestyle is so important to keeping your body in shape and in good health.  Make that choice.

One great way to stay active is to join a gym and build a consistent routine you can follow through the week.  Joining a gym today gives you access to cardio equipment, weight lifting equipment, racquetball, basketball, swimming, cycling, yoga, dance classes, etc.  (Hip Hop dance class is by far the best…I’m learning how to fully utilize my badunkadunk.)   If you are timid and don’t know where to start once inside the gym, consult one of the trainers and they will help you on the right path.

Typically, our weekends are reserved for everything we don’t have time to do during the week, so they tend to be booked solid.  Utilize the weeknights to get some good cardio activity in.  One great way to do this is to get involved with a community organized sports league.  Most counties have multiple leagues set up for sports such as Soccer, Lacrosse, Basketball, Softball, and many more.  These leagues have a range so that they can fit your skill level.  There are co-ed leagues and over-30 leagues, beginner leagues and premier leagues.  They have leagues on multiple different days during the week, so you can find that one night of the week where you are free and can commit to your teammates. 

I encourage everyone to work hard to stay active as it will pay dividends both right now and well into the future.  Your health will improve.  Your energy level will increase.  You will look better.  You will feel better.  You will be more confident.