Summer is here and it is time for vacation! Or is it? The topic has come up with a few of my coaching clients about whether or not they should (ugh…hate that word!) take a vacation. Travel is expensive and money is tight. Some fear their employers will question their commitment, others wonder if it is fair to burden their coworkers by leaving, even for a few days.

So here’s the question….

What are your plans to escape, relax and recharge your battery?

If a full blown vacation isn’t in the cards there are still a few things you can do to get away this summer. If you are interested, grab your calendar. Choose one week of the month and boldly label it “My Week”. During that one week, follow these simple rules:

1. Do not go into the office early and do not stay late. You have plans. It is only for a week remember, you can do this.

2. Do not check your personal or business e-mails at night. They will all be there waiting for you in the morning.

3. Do not make or take any personal or business phone calls at night. You are simply not available and will happily call them tomorrow.

4. Do not work that weekend…period. No cheating on this one!

5. Extend all the invitations you want, but do not accept any invitations from anybody for any reason…unless you really, really want to! This is your week and just like being on vacation, you make all the plans.

6. Do as little cooking, cleaning and laundry as humanly possible. If you don’t have a cleaning lady, hire one for that week. It’ll be worth it, I promise!

If you will do these few things just one week a month through the summer, you will recharge your battery, reconnect with your family and feel like you have had a vacation…maybe not from work, but from the overwhelming obligations that consume precious hours a day.

Faithfully committing to this simple plan for the next few months will help you lower your stress level, recharge your battery and reconnect with the important people in your life.

As a business and personal performance coach, Jean-Ann Cooper offers a complimentary session allowing you to experience the power of the results driven coaching process designed to dramatically enhance the quality of your life.

For more visit http://www.cooperworldwidecoaching.com
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Most of us would know what exactly an MP3 file is. MP3 music files are compressed files, which allow the user to store more files in the limited storage area of a music player, a disc, mobile or a computer. Almost all modern phones come with mp3 players and great sound quality. There are various options of getting these files into your phone.

For instance, if your mobile is capable of using internet, then you can download mp3 files from the internet, you can transfer them from your computer to your mobile using a USB cable, if your mobile is Blue-tooth enabled then you can transfer music files from other Blue-tooth enabled devices as well. Players, in mobiles, allow you to organize your music files by making various playlists or artist list.

Almost all modern phones from companies like Nokia, Motorola, and Sony Ericsson etc come with built-in MP3 players. Some mobile phone can even play mp3 files on additional headsets. These headsets consist of stereo earphones, MP3 player, and microphone and memory module as well.

There are some Bluetooth enabled mobile phones that are capable of making connection with stand-alone mp3 devices. Other phones can also make connection with a desktop stereo as well. Some come with an additional feature of full-music ringing tones. These phones can actually play the song as a ring tone.

Martin Smith is a writer providing advice on Nokia 7205 if you have time drop by his site for some tips and information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Smithonline casino

Not like a very fresh video, but every time I see them, those cats make me smile…

Good social skills are key to getting along with others and they help us to connect with the people around us. They’re not about conforming, but having a healthy respect for others.

There are many, many different elements to social skills and if you’re looking for an all-in-one, short-and-sweet, how-to lesson on them, you’re going to be disappointed. There’s no magic formula for good interpersonal skills, no Social Skills Potion #6.

Social skills encompass a wide variety of verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Fortunately, social they can be learned and, with practice, you’ll reap the benefits in your career and personal life.

Building Social Skills
Here are three basic non-verbal tips for improving interpersonal interactions.

Smile
First thing’s first: smile. Smiling is a great way to make people comfortable around you and make you appear approachable. Try it when you enter a room, meeting, or event and see how it automatically creates a friendly rapport.

It’s not like you should paste a phony grin or a forced smile on your face – we can all see through that. Just a simple, sincere, greeting smile that is welcoming and appealing. If you’re not a “smiler,” at least be aware of your facial expression.

Make Eye Contact
In Western culture, making eye contact shows an interest in someone and what they’re saying while avoiding eye contact can show disinterest or boredom.

Eye contact should be friendly, attentive and relaxed. It doesn’t mean staring intensely into someone’s eyes – this can be uncomfortable for the other person.

If looking into someone’s eyes makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to look directly into them. Try looking in that general area – their eyebrows or the bridge of their nose. At the very least, look at their face as opposed to your shoes.

Listen
This is probably one of the least developed social skills. Listening is different from hearing. Listening is making sense of and understanding what is being said; hearing is a physical ability. We tend to be good “hearers” but not always good listeners.

Listening goes beyond using your ears. It involves your entire face and even your body.

Your facial expressions let the speaker know that you’re listening and whether or not you’re following and understanding what he is saying. Focus on the person who is speaking by maintaining eye contact, nodding your head, using verbal cues such as “uh-huh” and “I see,” and standing or sitting still to reduce distractions.

Also, don’t interrupt. We tend to want to be the speaker and say what’s on our mind. You’ll have your turn to talk when the speaker is finished. Speakers need listeners and vice-a-versa.

Notice that these three tips don’t include talking. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t talk at all, far from it. These three skills have been isolated to emphasize their overall importance as good social skills.

Being aware of non-verbal skills is part of good social skills. If your goal is to have better interactions with others, simply keep these in mind.

Author Resource: Laurie Wilhelm manages the Express Yourself to Success website, a one-stop e-source with information and techniques on interpersonal and social skills, public speaking, networking and conflict resolution. Achieve your success by working effectively with others. Find out how you can boost your career and get a free white paper, What Everyone Needs to Know About Social Skills, by going to мебелиwww.expressyourselftosuccess.com.