|
| | | ✅ Today's Checklist: Get ahead of review season Spot the signs of seasonal depression before they hit Set it and forget it: Crockpot Spicy Queso Beef Chili
π€ Trivia: What percentage of eligible U.S. voters cast ballots in the 2020 presidential election—the highest turnout in over a century? Find out. |
|
| | | | | | | Don't Wait for the Calendar Invite—Start Your Review Prep Now |
|
| Performance review season is around the corner. If you're waiting for your manager to schedule it before you start preparing, you're setting yourself up to undersell your year.
The people who walk out of reviews feeling good about their results aren't necessarily the ones who worked harder, they're the ones who came in ready with proof.
When you rely on memory, you forget half of what you accomplished. When you rely on your manager's memory, you forget even more.
Why Starting Now Matters
You'll forget your wins. Think you'll remember that crisis you managed in March or the client you saved in June? Not with the clarity and specifics that make your manager take notice. Our brains aren't designed to catalog every achievement for future performance conversations.
Recency bias is real. Managers remember what happened last month far better than what happened nine months ago. If you wait to compile your accomplishments, you'll focus on recent work too. Starting now ensures you capture the full picture of your year.
Evidence beats memory. "I think I did a good job" is weak. "I increased customer retention by 18%, brought in three new clients worth $200K, and mentored two junior team members" is powerful.
How to Prepare Right Now
Create a wins document. Open a Google Doc today and spend 30 minutes brain-dumping everything significant you've done this year. Projects completed, problems solved, metrics improved, skills developed, positive feedback received. Be specific with numbers and outcomes.
Save the receipts. Dig through your emails and Slack for positive feedback. Screenshot compliments. Document before-and-after metrics. Gather evidence of your impact while you can still find it.
Organize by impact. Group your accomplishments into themes that align with your company's values or your role's key responsibilities. Leadership. Revenue. Efficiency. Innovation. Make it easy for your manager to see your value.
Quantify everything possible. Numbers are memorable and credible. How much time did you save? How much revenue did you generate? How many people did you help or train?
Prepare your ask. Based on your contributions, decide what you want. A raise? A promotion? New responsibilities? Be ready to make a specific request backed by evidence.
The reality is that preparing well won't guarantee a fair review if you have a bad manager or a struggling company. But it will ensure you've done everything in your power to advocate for yourself. And if you're not valued appropriately, you'll have the documentation to confidently pursue opportunities elsewhere. |
|
| | | | Simplify Training with AI-Generated Video Guides |
|
| Are you tired of repeating the same instructions to your team? Guidde revolutionizes how you document and share processes with AI-powered how-to videos.
Here's how:
1️⃣ Instant Creation: Turn complex tasks into stunning step-by-step video guides in seconds.
2️⃣ Fully Automated: Capture workflows with a browser extension that generates visuals, voiceovers, and call-to-actions.
3️⃣ Seamless Sharing: Share or embed guides anywhere effortlessly.
The best part? The browser extension is 100% free.
Check out Guidde. |
|
| | | | Am I Depressed or Are the Seasons Just Changing? |
|
| I'm a pretty happy-go-lucky person. But three years ago, I moved to Idaho after being a California native my whole life. It was exciting! Four real seasons! Snow! Cozy sweaters and the whole aesthetic of it all.
Then winter hit, and something felt off.
I must be getting sick, I thought. But the cold never arrived. Maybe it's PMS. But it wasn't that either. Then I stopped wanting to go to the gym. I only wanted to eat carbs and sleep more. I felt heavy.
Before I knew it, my then-boyfriend asked, "Have you been taking your vitamin D supplements?"
No, I said. Why would I be?
He looked shocked. "Babe, you've got to take vitamin D in the winter or you're going to be majorly depressed. It's the winter blues."
Depression? That seemed dramatic. But I started supplementing with vitamin D and researching seasonal depression.
Turns out, you can be mentally and chemically "normal" but still suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. It's a type of depression related to changes in seasons, and it's surprisingly common. For most people with SAD, symptoms start in the fall and continue through winter, sapping energy and triggering moodiness.
What Does SAD Look Like?
Common signs include feeling listless or sad most days, losing interest in activities you once enjoyed, having low energy, sleeping too much, craving carbohydrates, weight gain, difficulty concentrating, and feelings of hopelessness.
Sound familiar? That was me, plus I was indulging in an extra tequila shot on NFL Sundays and an extra slice of pizza without reason.
Why Does This Happen?
The cause isn't fully understood, but several factors contribute. Reduced sunlight disrupts your biological clock (circadian rhythm), leading to depression. Less sunlight also causes a drop in serotonin, the brain chemical that affects mood. Plus, seasonal changes disrupt melatonin balance, which impacts sleep and mood.
Basically, shorter days mess with your brain chemistry. So no, it's not "all in your head." It's just biological.
How to Protect Yourself This Winter Get enough sunlight. Spend time outdoors daily, even for a short walk. Morning sunlight helps regulate your circadian rhythm. Use a light therapy box. These mimic sunlight and can significantly improve mood. Use for 30-60 minutes daily, ideally in the morning. Exercise regularly. Physical activity releases mood-boosting endorphins. Even 20 minutes makes a difference. Take vitamin D supplements. Many people are deficient during winter. Talk to your doctor about the right dosage. Maintain a healthy routine. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep, eat balanced meals with fruits and vegetables, and manage stress through yoga or meditation.
If lifestyle changes aren't enough, consider Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address negative thought patterns, or talk to your doctor about medication.
The point is this: if you're feeling off during winter, you're not weak or broken. SAD is a real condition with biological causes and real solutions. Understanding what's happening is the first step to feeling like yourself again. |
|
| | Thania (TA Content Manager) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | Stop Letting Payroll Hijack Your Week |
|
| You're managing people, culture, compliance, and somehow still fixing payroll errors at 9PM.It's not sustainable.
Manual spreadsheets, late filings, and confusing systems don't just eat time, they drain your focus and your team's trust. A better setup gives you both back.
✨ Paychex is great if your team's growing fast or you're juggling HR, benefits, and compliance in one place. It helps prevent errors before they start.
π§ OnPay shines when you need something intuitive. It handles garnishments, contractor payments, and multi-state taxes without the usual chaos.
π΅ Patriot Payroll is ideal if you're on a tight budget but still want something dependable. It flags inconsistencies and simplifies tricky deductions.
You've got people to support, policies to manage, and a culture to protect. Payroll should just work, so you can get back to leading. |
|
| | | | | | | Stuff We're Loving This Week |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | Your Next Gig = One Click Away |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | Here's how to update your preferences in just a few quick steps: Click the link below and on the "Update Your Preferences" page, click the "Email me a link" button. Open the email with the subject line "The Assist Subscribers: Update Profile" and click the link inside. Choose the weekly email newsletters you'd like to receive from us (Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat). Click "Update Preferences" to save your changes—and you're all set!
π Update my subscriber preferences here.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
VHAVENDA I.T SOLUTIONS
0 Comments
VHAVENDA IT SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOUπ«΅πΌπ«΅πΌπ«΅πΌπ«΅πΌ