Tag: Play

As a young widow of 19, Sofi Tucker sold her shea butter and skin salves to support her family in the Sierra Leone countryside. Years later, her grandchildren founded Shea Moisture — with a promise to ethically produce natural, organic products that love both people and communities.

In that vein, Shea Moisture founded Community Commerce, to support the people that source key brand ingredients — including training and infrastructure to ensure high quality goods and a fair price. In fact, 10% of Community Commerce sales give back to women-led businesses, the broader community and the Sofi Tucker Foundation.

The product line extends to moms, men, kids and babies. They offer skincare, haircare and cosmetics — all paraben free.  We like.

BTW, their products are also available at Ulta — if you’d prefer to touch & feel them, first hand. They also have an entire back-to school line. Just in time.

Shea Moisture’s Coffee Scrub: https://www.sheamoisture.com/raw-shea-butter-ground-coffee-scrub-restoring.html

The Rich Earth Palette (The colors are simply beautiful): https://www.sheamoisture.com/sheamoisture-cosmetics-rich-earth-palette.html

Shea Moisture Lipsticks: https://www.sheamoisture.com/products/cosmetics/lip.html

Men’s Shave Line: https://www.sheamoisture.com/products/men.html?product_collection=405&cat=102

The Manuka & Honey Collection: https://www.sheamoisture.com/products.html/?product_collection=251

Are you fan of Shea Moisture? Share your favorite products in comments.

Live.Work.Think.Play shares observations concerning a wide array of topics from running a company — to the fragrance. It is designed to share lessons learned from a variety of perspectives.

We didn’t have the opportunity to take a vacation this summer.

For some reason, the stars just didn’t align.

A few things contributed to the situation. I have a new role (along with my other commitments) and we are also renovating an older home. (As you might expect, our resources have been diverted to goals such as staircases and a functional HVAC system.) Then we just couldn’t agree on when and where to go.

“Re-charging” just was not in the cards.

The outcome of this neglect feels very real. A little like pulling an all-nighter — with no desire to sit for the exam.

The research has shown that many of us fail to take time off, even when we have earned vacation days to do so. For some odd reason, we don’t like to admit that time off is necessary — or we fear we’ll look weak — or uncommitted to our work. This lack of attention to rest, is costly in so many ways. I can only say, that if I’m representative of what it is like to not have a break, no one should skimp.

Sustaining “us” — is in part our own responsibility. We shouldn’t need to be reminded that we are important.

Here’s what has happened:

• I’m observing signs of burn-out. Yes, I lack my usual level of enthusiasm for the tasks I normally love. I’ve resorted to coaching myself to care, as the “Joy Factor” has taken a dip. That’s a sad commentary.
• I’m losing my sense of humor, especially where work is concerned. I don’t laugh nearly enough — and laughing is vastly under-rated. We need these moments to off-set stress.
• I’m a bit of a pain in the a##. I’m sure it has to do with the above. No further explanation needed. Sorry for the implied language.
• Inspiration is waning. In my role new sources of stimulation helpful to stay at the top of my game. A change of scenery always does great things for me. We really shouldn’t expect to be at our best, after completing a year-long “Stay focused” marathon.
• I’m starting to fantasize about a new career. Many of us take these feelings as a sign that our role is the problem. It’s likely not.

Here is what I’m doing:

• I’m exploring my local environment. I’m unchaining myself from my desk and getting out there (cell phone muted). I’m stopping by the Farmer’s Market, and checking out the museums and gardens (See examples here and here). Inspiration is really all around us.
• I’m aiming to meet more people face-to-face.  I’m completely inspired by the career journeys of others. I’m making a point to visit college campuses this fall, to talk to students about their future work lives. (let me know if you’d like me to visit yours.)
• I’m exploring a series of shorter weekend trips. Nothing works like the real deal. Michigan is beautiful in the fall and I’m determined to see it.
• I’m telling founders, managers and leaders to take their vacations (and to let everyone know.) Nothing cements a needed change more completely, than a strong message that time off is a respected practice.

You still have time to schedule that break.

Do it.

What are your strategies to take a break when vacations are impossible to schedule? Share your thoughts.

Read more about it:

This post was originally posted at The Office Blend.

Live.Work.Think.Play shares observations concerning a wide array of topics from running a company — to the perfect fragrance. It is designed to share lessons learned from a variety of perspectives.

Here is another brand worth the conversation.

Jewelry can take any wardrobe from ordinary to amazing — and an inspired jewelry designer can bring more to your wardrobe than just outward beauty. One such maker is Mirabelle, a British based Fair Trade* company with pieces are created with “love and soul”. (We can all use a bit of that on a daily basis).

Founded by Veronique Henry, the daughter of a Parisian silver maker, Mirabelle Jewellery Ltd exudes a quality of understated elegance. Worn by many, including the Duchess of Cambridge (she chose the Lolita Earrings,) the brand has been seen on numerous editorial pages.

As described at Mirabelle’s site, pieces are created:

“With a strong belief in the power of jewellery to uplift the spirits, collections are imbued with symbolism and meaning, from crystal stones to ancient talismans.”

The brand includes a number of curated collections, including a British made charm collection, a fair trade collection and a natural pearl collection. All include wonderful, easy to wear pieces.

Here are the links to our favorite picks. (BTW, these items are affordable.)

Our Earring Picks: (Quite difficult to narrow the choices! See the entire collection here.)

• Acorn Gold Plated Earrings.
• Lolita Gold Plated Hoop Earrings.

Charm Collection Picks:

• Gold Cockle Shell Pendant with Pearl.
• Pineapple Charm on Biba Chain.

Let us know if any of the pieces spoke to you.

*From Mirabelle’s website: Fair Trade is a tool for reducing poverty in developing nations. It’s a form of Trade that builds equitable and long-term partnerships between producers in developing regions of the world and consumers in the north.

Fair Trade Guarantees many things including the following :
“…producers “receive a minimum set price for their goods, financial and technical support, healthy and safe working conditions, economic development of their communities, and educational opportunities for their children.”

Live.Work.Think.Play shares observations concerning a wide array of topics from running a company — to the perfect fragrance. It is designed to share lessons learned from a variety of perspectives.

“It is my belief, you see, that thinking is a double phenomenon like breathing.” – Isaac Asimov

In life and work — our attention has become infinitely divided.

Because of this, we must become acutely aware of the need to leave room for our minds to ponder and expand. To let go. To make connections and settle internal arguments. To create.

However, the ultimate justification rests deep within our brains.

While we possess the ability to switch between tasks — we simply do not have the ability to attend to all of them effectively. (Research at Stanford has shown that heavy multitaskers have trouble mastering even the simplest of tasks.) Often “down time” is the difference between solving or struggling with a problem. As further discussed in this article, you truly require unstructured time to let your brain flourish.

So, I’d like to pose the question: Are you carving out devoted time to let your brain rest?

A daily walk may be just the mechanism you need.

Some of the most incredible individuals of the last 400 years, spent a portion of their time walking. (See Mason Currey’s, Daily Rituals below). While their areas of expertise were varied (and remarkable), there was one link among many of them: From Milton to Tchaikovsky, many set aside time for a daily walk. A few ventured alone. One with family.

Shame on us — we know better.

Walks rock.

Here are just a few of the benefits:

• Digestion. I’m not referring to gastronomy — I’m referring to all of the information you’ve taken on-board today. It’s difficult to see patterns and develop linkages when your brain isn’t allowed the time to process effectively.
• Fresh air. I love my office, but a change of scenery does help me to feel rested and refreshed. Unfortunately, I don’t have access to a beach or a handy mountain range to view, as some of my colleagues. But the breeze is just as refreshing here in the mid-west — the birds just as vocal.
• Lowered anxiety. With our busy work lives comes our unshakable friend, anxiety. Physical exercise has great way of managing this nagging work life by-product.
• Device reprieve. Not sure how much time you must spend in front of a computer or with a cell phone perched to your ear — but I do a lot of my work on-line. At times, I simply forget there is more to life than Power Point.

Commit 20 minutes each day this summer to get out and walk. Whether it’s a stroll around your office building, a nearby park or a quick trek to grab lunch and back, I challenge you to do so.

Take a tip from Amadeus Mozart and keep paper and pencil handy.

Write us here and let us know what happens.

Mason Currey’s Daily Rituals:How Artists Work  gives us a glimpse into the lives of many creative giants.*
(Click on photo to learn more.)

Want to read more about this topic?
Problem Solving and Rest: Another Look at the Eureka Phenomenon https://marlagottschalk.wordpress.com/2012/04/19/the-psychology-of-effectiveness-another-look-at-asimovs-the-eureka-phenomenon/

Marla Gottschalk is an avid blogger and Industrial/Organizational psychologist. Live.Work.Think.Play shares observations concerning a wide array of topics — it is designed to share lessons learned, from a variety of perspectives.