Does Your Skin Have Holiday Hangover

Does Your Skin Have Holiday Hangover It’s holiday time again. Although Thanksgiving has passed, the “booziest” holidays such as Christmas and New Year’s are yet to come. This post-Thanksgiving period between now and the New Year are when even average people tend to binge drink.  What many people don’t realize is that drinking alcohol in excess can have a negative impact on your appearance. Alcohol dehydrates your body including the skin- your body’s largest organ. This happens every time you drink. Extra cocktails can be adding years to your face in the form of wrinkles, poor texture and lack of radiance. Dr. Stanley Poulos a board-certified plastic surgeon explains  that, “frequent alcohol consumption is also thought to deprive the skin of vital vitamins and nutrients. Over time, drinking heavily can have other, more permanent, detrimental effects on your skin. Rosacea, a skin disorder that starts with a tendency to blush and flush easily and can eventually lead to facial disfigurement, is linked to alcohol. Since  alcohol increases your blood flow, it often causes blood vessels in your face to dilate (sometimes permanently) and often burst, leaving behind broken capillaries and  red spots that are difficult to get rid of,” offers Dr. Poulos. Here’s a look at what alcohol can do to wreak havoc on your appearance, and what to do when libations give your skin a holiday hangover. Brittle hair. Whats worse, drinking too much doesnt only affect the appearance of your skin; it will dehydrate your hair, making it more prone to breaking and split ends.  Weak, brittle hair in addition to premature wrinkling, can easily add 10 years to someone’s appearance. Dark circles, bloodshot eyes and even blindness. In much the same way that alcohol causes broken capillaries on your face, it irritates and enlarges the tiny blood vessels on the surface of your eye (the sclera) causing a bloodshot appearance. If vanity doesn’t get your attention, how about blindness?  â€œBecause excessive drinking robs the body of some nutrients required to maintain eye health, it can lead to a condition called alcoholic optic neuritis, which impairs eyesight and, over time, can result in blindness,” cautions Dr. Poulos. Tips To Avoid Skin Hangover  Stay hydrated. Aside from giving up booze altogether, Dr. Poulos says it is possible to minimize the unwanted effects of alcohol by constantly staying hydrated.  â€œThat means drinking a full glass of water for every cocktail you have. Drink even more water before you go to bed to flush the alcohol out of your system, so you wake up less dehydrated, puffy and flushed,” he advises. Take care of your skin before bed. Taking care of your skin before hitting the sack is also crucial. Dr. Poulos advises fully washing your face and then applying a moisturizer, like a hydrating serum before getting into bed.  â€œSleeping with dirty skin makes it prone to clogged pores and acne.” Prop pillows and use tea. One of the best ways to minimize the eye and face puffiness is to sleep on two pillows, slightly propped up.  In the morning, rubbing ice cubes all over your face helps, too.  â€œOne of the best ways to deflate eye puffiness and reduce the redness is to place cold tea bags over the eyes.  The tannins in the tea help constrict blood vessels,” adds Dr. Poulos. Cover up what you can’t cure. To camouflage the redness in the face, use a green-tinted primer before applying makeup, which should help neutralize any redness. If you must use foundation, look for a lightweight, moisturizing formula.   Avoid powders, as they are often more drying.  Consider lasers. When at-home remedies aren’t making much of a difference. There are pricier measures you can take to minimize the effects of alcohol. “Certain laser treatments can reduce redness and spider veins on the face. It’s important to see someone who is well trained to administer the laser treatment,” suggests Dr. Poulos.  Choose your booze wisely. If you are going to consume alcohol know that different alcohols have different effects on the skin, but as a general rule, the clearer, the better. Vodka, gin, and tequila leave your system quicker. “If you’re going to drink anything, drink vodka that doesn’t have a grain in it, like potato vodka. It’s a lot clearer and smoother, so it gets in and out of your body quickly,” says Dr. Poulos.  Most physicians agree that although everyone metabolizes alcohol differently, if you can remember to drink in moderation and stay hydrated, you can save your skin. Reach for Caffeine Grab an extra-large coffee, then give your skin a little caffeine boost, too. Caffeine helps constrict blood vessels and is a good option after a night of drinking, since alcohol dilates blood vessels. This can make the area around your eyes look puffy and bloated, explains Dr. Poulos, who recommends keeping an eye cream with caffeine handy. Go for Yogurt Dr. Poulos advises slathering it on as a face mask and to make sure it’s plain yogurt.   Because its anti-inflammatory, it will help soothe redness, another side effect of drinking too much, especially for those who have rosacea, he notes. Leave it on for five to ten minutes before rinsing. Put Your Face on the Rocks. “Take the ice cubes out of the freezer, put them in a hand towel and rub them over your face,’ says Dr. Poulos.   He suggests doing this to minimize puffiness and swelling. Use cold teaspoons to de-puff around the eye area. About Dr. Stanley Poulos Dr. Poulos is a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon and Co-Founder with Ingvar Hvistendahl, M.D of Plastic Surgery Specialists recognized as one of the premier aesthetic surgery clinics in Northern California.

What Makes An Impressive Business Leader

What Makes An Impressive Business Leader Anyone can become a good leader, but to truly be an impressive leader is a feat that only few can accomplish.There is a great importance on leadership in any organization, especially when a business is concerned, because leadership is the catalyst for achieving a business’ maximum efficiency, capacity, and potential.Organizational goals can only be met if there is a strong, effective leader at the helm, guiding and working together with the team until those goals are achieved.evalA truly impressive leader is someone who can unlock the true and hidden potential of the business and lead it to true success.As John Maxwell says, “People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.”This only means that a good business leader should be the person that can initiate action, motivate the employees, provide much-needed guidance towards the completion of tasks and the growth and development of those around him and working with him, create confidence to build a stronger and more ac tive team, boost morale when it matters the most Here are the key takeaways on what makes an impressive leader from the infographic by Healthy Business Builder:Great Listening SkillsGreat Decision-Making SkillsKnows How to Move Forward GracefullyLeverages NetworksStrong Desire to Reach the Next LevelEmotionally StablePowerfully PassionateTo learn more about these characteristics, such as how they manifest in a truly impressive business leader and how you can learn to be a more effective business leader, check out the infographic now.Infographic Credit â€" healthybusinessinsider.com

Too Shy To Network Get Over It. - Pathfinder Careers

Too Shy To Network Get Over It. - Pathfinder Careers Too Shy To Network? Get Over It. A week ago, I attended a business mixer sponsored by the Portland Business Journal, and was immediately reminded about something. As I walked into the crowded room of about 200 professionals, I remembered that keeping up the art of networking requires you to keep working at it. Like exercising a muscle, you need to keep flexing it in order to keep it in shape. Not that I have any excuse I have been (ahem) a little negligent myself  lately in getting out into true networking situations where I dont know anyone.  A heavy client load and multiple projects have kept my time constrained to running from appointment to appointment, with no time (or energy) to commit to going to any after-hours networking events. Ive been too exhausted. But that is no excuse. I realized it had been awhile since the last networking event that I had attended, and silently resolved to get myself back out there. So as I entered that room, I suddenly realized how flabby my networking muscle was.  And Ill admit it: I was scared since I knew a total of two people out of that crowd. Why was I scared? Because deep down, I am actually a horrifically shy person.  And when anyone who is shy is thrust into a setting where it is densely packed and they dont really know anyone, the natural instinct is to clam up and find a corner of the room for shelter. It was all I could do to force myself into the heaving crowd.  But I did it. When people reveal to me that they are shy or have a hard time networking, I know that pain personally. But  you CAN get past it and it can open up new doors in ways you couldnt have imagined. During the event, I pushed myself past the shyness envelope, made eye contact with strangers, and stuck out my hand to say hello.  I met a lot of people that night through the power of networking. One gentleman  I met was interested in resume writing services for himself (he contacted me later to follow up- a good sign); another was slipping past a door I was standing near and I jokingly said, In order to pass, you need to introduce yourself.  Turns out he was an executive coach and after chatting, we set up a meeting the very next day to figure out how we could refer business to each other. And a client of mine (one of the two people I knew at the event) was chatting with another gentleman to whom she introduced me turns out he was involved with a workforce board and we had a lot to discuss. Since then, we have met in person over coffee and shared ideas over email. So if you say that you are shy and that is the reason why you arent good at networking, that is a self-imposed barrier you have put up in front of yourself.  Yes, it can be uncomfortable.  But here are a few quick tips for you to get through that initial awkward conversational stage and transform the people that you meet at events into powerful contacts in your network: 1) Be fearless. Walk up, stick out your hand, introduce yourself, ask them about what they do, then shut up.  People love to talk about themselves. So let them.  Being quiet means you dont have to come up with things to talk about and you can take their conversational lead! 2) Be well-read.  Keeping up with current events and business trends gives you a treasure trove to draw from in terms of conversational topics. 3) Initiate a call to action. If you want to learn more, theres only so much you can chat about comfortably in a crowded room. Suggest to meet the person over coffee in a less busy setting.  Youll both be more relaxed and the ideas can flow more freely. 4) Follow up in 24 hours. Dont shove the persons card in your drawer and call it good. Thats not networking. Thats called disposing of your contacts (I am not talking about the kind you stick in your eyes).  Email messages are good, but even a nice little hand-written note can lend some distinction to your thoughtfulness. 5) If the conversation isnt working out very well, release the person.  You can always excuse yourself if they have lost interest or there isnt any rapport building.  (Or if they are looking over your shoulder!)  Say, Well, it was nice meeting you and we should both probably mingle a little more thanks again for chatting! and then let them go.  Sometimes, shy people have a habit of clinging to people that they are able to talk to and then never letting them go.  Dont be one of those networkers!  The purpose is to meet as many people as you can. Dont let yourself become your own worst obstacle to networking.  Get out there, and get a networking workout the more you do it, the easier it will become!

Career Impacts when You Dont Get Enough Sleep

Career Impacts when You Dont Get Enough Sleep Waking up from a poor night’s sleep and hitting the snooze button, swearing to myself that I’ll go to bed earlier the next night is a really bad habit of mine. I vow to get 8 hours, yet almost every night when the time comes to hit the hay, I’m telling myself “just one more post” or “just one more episode.” And then I regret it the next day when I’m groggy and can’t focus. It’s a vicious cycle most of us are stuck in. Of course, a mid-day nap would be great, if only you had time. “I’m too busy” we often tell ourselves. But it’s time to make the time for more sleep, because a lack of quality sleep will do more than make you feel sluggish. It’ll seriously damage your health, happiness and your career. Here’s what happens to your career when you don’t get enough sleep: 1. More Sick Days More sick days are a result of getting too much or too little sleep. Ideally, you should be getting seven to nine hours of restful sleep every night. However, those who sleep more than 10 hours or less than five are more likely to stay home sick for 4.6 to 8.9 more days. After stress and other factors are removed, this link between proper sleep time and illness remains. 2. Missed Creativity Creative ideas and problem-solving result from a time of incubation. It’s important to not disturb your REM cycles, because mental fogginess during the day will disrupt that period of necessary development and impede your innovation. 3. Productivity Plummets The less quality sleep you have, the less productive you are. Employees who sleep six hours or less are significantly less productive, affecting reaction time and cognitive performance. 4. Costs Your Employer and the Economy That loss of productivity and other important skillsets due to a lack of sleep is costing the U.S. economy up to $411 billion per year. Increasing sleeping hours from six to seven hours nightly could boost the economy by $226.4 billion. 5. Diminished Confidence Is your confidence lacking due to sleep deprivation? Less than six hours of sleep is closely linked to decreased levels of self-esteem and optimism. Comparatively, seven or eight hours of adequate sleep is proven to control depressive symptoms. 6. Crabby Attitude Sleep deprivation shortens your fuse and is linked to greater emotional reactivity, depression and less empathy. If you’re experiencing sleep loss, limit work on frustrating tasks and social interaction until you get back on a proper sleep schedule. Repeated instances of irritability could give you bad marks on a job review, citing â€" or worse. 7. Lessened Ability to Assess Risks Sleep loss will affect your ability to make decisions, lessening your ability to assess risks accurately. When you’re working and sleep deprived, there’s less activity in the area of the brain that weighs negative outcomes and increased activity in the area of the brain that analyzes positive outcomes. You’re more likely to focus on short-term and not long-term consequences, increasing your willingness to accept risk. 8. Inhibited Memory A primary function of sleep is that it consolidates long-term memory by strengthening particular neural connections and getting rid of unimportant ones. All the neural connections made throughout the day aren’t worth saving, and sleep is when the brain determines which ones are necessary. The neurons activated when learning a new task are activated again during non-rapid eye movement sleep, integrating the information into long-term memory. When you get proper sleep the night after learning multiple tasks, you’re more likely to remember that information accurately. Without a proper night’s sleep, mental fogginess affects your ability to recall what you’ve learned and will reflect in your job performance. 9. Increased Risk of Injury While certain jobs come with obvious risks, sleep deprivation increases the likelihood of work-related accidents. Lack of sleep leads to mental fogginess, slowed reaction time and dizziness, among other symptoms, increasing the probability of injuries at work. In fact, workers with sleep problems are 1.62 times more at risk for injury on the job than those without sleep problems, and 13 percent of work injuries are linked with problems sleeping. How to Get Better Sleep and Stay on Track You need proper sleep to function effectively at work and continue to excel on your career path. Fortunately, there are proven ways to get better sleep and stay on track: 1. Form a Bedtime Ritual When your mind is wound up on stress, it’s going to be difficult to drift off to sleep. A bedtime ritual prepares your mind and body for rest. It sounds hokey, but many successful people in business have bedtime rituals that work. They use meditative activities, like reading a book or taking a walk. Find what works for you and make it a habit to help prepare your mind for sleep. 2. Track Your Sleep Use a FitBit or other tracker to track your sleep. You wouldn’t be the first to do so â€" many have already given it a shot and had a lot of success. Once you know your sleep times, take steps to increase your hours and improve your sleep quality. 3. Limit Technology Before Bed Reading before bed is a great bedtime ritual, but if you read from a light-emitting device, your sleep is suffering. Your REM phase is shorter, and it takes longer for you to go to sleep and wake up. Short-wave blue light emitted from your tablet limits the production of melatonin, which begins its release in the evening. Those who read from a tablet before bed will be wide awake and have problems getting to sleep and staying asleep. Limit technology an hour before bed, and ideally use the bedroom for sleeping only. 4. Use Ambient Lighting in the Evening The sun sets and rises daily, and the human body must keep its circadian rhythm intact by following the cycles of light and dark. A few hours before bed, begin cutting down on bright light sources. Use ambient light an hour or two before bed to adjust your eyes and prepare your body and mind for sleep. 5. Lower the Temperature Your internal body temperature also regulates your body clock. Just as the sun sets and your body needs darkness to fall asleep, your body temperature is also adjusting. Help your body acclimate by lowering the temperature in the room between 60 to 67 degrees for sleep-inducing conditions. Cool, dark and comfortable bedrooms are key. Darkness signals melatonin production, and melatonin cues your body clock that it’s time for bed. 6. Block Out Bright Street Light Excessive streetlight keeps everyone awake in this 24/7 world of technology and electricity. If you live in a bigger city, you can probably relate. City-dwellers report dissatisfaction with sleep quality and fatigue at higher rates and are 6 percent more likely to get only 6 hours of sleep. Blackout curtains or thicker fabric curtains will help block bright streetlight. You can also try turning your bed away from brightly lit windows. 7. Don’t Oversleep You may try to “catch up” on sleep whenever possible, but oversleeping only worsens your quality of sleep. Getting too much sleep leads to an increase in anxiety and depression, affecting your ability to do your job. Instead, set your body clock by waking up at the same time every day. This conditions your body to feel tired earlier and keep your circadian rhythm â€" and career â€" on track. Don’t let your career suffer by letting sleep problems get out of hand. Getting restful sleep isn’t something nice you used do. It’s something your mind and body needs to be healthy and successful in life. What are your bedtime rituals and tips to get a restful sleep? Keep the conversation going: Leave a comment and subscribe to Punched Clocks! #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:100%;} /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ Join over 700 readers! Get expert career advice sent straight to your inbox!

Resume Writer Review - What To Look For

Resume Writer Review - What To Look ForThere are many things to consider when you're looking for a resume writer to help you with your job search. It's important that you find someone who knows what they're doing, who has experience, and can write what you need them to write.There are a number of factors to consider when you're deciding whether or not to hire a resume writer. First, you'll want to make sure that they are a member of the American Writers Guild. If you don't know if they are, look on the Internet for their website. It's not a good idea to hire someone who isn't a member.Secondly, you'll want to find out their previous experience. One way to do this is to ask them. Another way is to research how many resumes they've written and the number of clients they've handled.Consider your budget. A resume writer needs to charge for their services. If you don't have money to pay for the service, you should probably think about not hiring them. However, if you're looking for assist ance with your job search, this may not be a problem.Finally, ask for a free consultation with a resume writer. Ask them if they can give you an hour or two to talk over the process. You want to make sure that you're working with someone who will help you with your job search.When you've decided that you want to work with a resume writer, they'll likely be in contact with you throughout the job search. They'll likely be checking your resume. They'll likely be calling potential employers. It's in your best interest to work with a person who can show you what needs to be done and to give you advice as to how you should proceed with your job search. In conclusion, there are a number of questions to ask yourself when you're looking for a resume writer. Make sure that you're choosing someone who has experience, who has written for other people before, and who can give you a free consultation with the writer.

Pay Gap New Rules for Negotiating Pay

Pay Gap New Rules for Negotiating Pay A crescendo of recent changes aimed at closing the gender wage gap has reshaped the compensation landscape for 2017. Massachusetts just made it illegal for in-state employers to ask about salary historyâ€"a question that tends to disadvantage anyone who has been historically underpaidâ€"and the lawmaker who launched the bill says she’s heard from peers in other states looking to replicate her effort. New York City has already followed suit for municipal jobs, and a federal version of the rule is now in front of Congress. And at least 50 employersâ€"including Apple, Hilton, and Visaâ€"have signed the White House’s Equal Pay Pledge, promising to analyze company pay levels and review hiring processes to reduce bias. Use the new equal-pay efforts to reset the money talk at work. Ask for a revision Suspect you’re paid less than peers? Meet with your manager, says Marissa Peretz, of Silicon Beach Talentâ€" and bring a list of accomplishments, in case your suspicions are true and you need to show you’re not underperforming. Peretz suggests starting with something like: “I overheard someone talking about their salary, and it sounds like I’m not being paid commensurate with my peers. Can we talk about why that is?” Tell your boss you appreciate the mentorship he or she offers and want to continue working together. Then come up with a solution. Maybe you’ll set up periodic goals and evaluations, with an agreed-upon salary bump for every benchmark that you hit. Reset your negotiations Looking for a new gig? It’s still legal for most employers to ask about your pay history (even in Massachusetts, where the law won’t take effect until 2018). Yet the attention given to the legal changes may give you more cover to duck the question. You don’t need to mention the new laws explicitly, says Alison Green, a workplace consultant. Instead, say something like, “I’ve always kept that confidential, but I’m seeking a range of X to Y,” she advises.

Why Preparation Is Key In An Interview - Work It Daily

Why Preparation Is Key In An Interview - Work It Daily To quote Shakespeare, “All the world’s a stage…” When you go to an interview, you're networking your way into a company, or are even talking about your job search with acquaintances, you most certainly are on stage. Related: 2 Job Interviewing Secrets You Must Know Now! When interviewing, it behooves the job seeker to be prepared. Most people agree that dressing professionally and looking the part is a good idea. Most people totally understand that knowing where and when to show up is a good idea. However, so many resist the suggestion to rehearse what they are going to say. I can’t even tell you the number of times I’ve heard, “Oh, I interview really well, I don’t need to worry about practicing.” Oh, really? If you think you do, try answering these questions off the cuff: Pitch me in 10 seconds what you can do for me. Why should I hire you? Go. Describe yourself in seven words. What were your three biggest accomplishments at your last position? What are the measurable results from these accomplishments? Give me your 30 second elevator speech. Could you answer without hesitation in the required amount of time? Is your answer relevant to the position you are applying for? If not, you need some help with your interviewing skills (ask someone you know, or hire a professional) and developing your personal brand. If you don’t know what you’re all about and what you have to offer, or if you can’t convey it succinctly, why would an employer want to hire you? You need help figuring that out and help rehearsing it until it naturally rolls off your tongue, like an experienced actor recites her lines. In addition, think about when you are interacting with others. Imagine the conversation turns to your career. In casual conversation, do you know your Unique Value Proposition? Can you explain what you do well, the successes you’ve had and what you’re looking for? The people you know may know someone who could get you into your dream job. If you’re not confident in who you are and prepared to pitch to anyone, you may risk missing out on an opportunity. It takes a lot of insight to get good answers to these questions. Like the coaching an actor needs to learn how to get into character, you may benefit from working with a good career coach. A specialist in personal branding can help you hone in on what really makes you stellar and how that relates to your audience. They can help you pick the right words for the maximum impact, and be available to help you go over it again and again until you’ve nailed it. In the end, you’ll be able to give the performance of a lifetime! This post was originally published on an earlier date. Related Posts 5 Things To Ask In A Job Interview 6 Tips For Following Up After A Job Interview How To Conduct A Job Interview Autopsy   Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!