When life is all work and no play!

All work and no Play

All work and no fun make Jack and Jill a very dull couple indeed! The number 1 regret people have when they look back on their lives, is that they took it too seriously. What’s missing for so many people is PLAY, the ability to have fun. Playing is not reserved only for children It’s what keeps us young at heart, passionate in our work and allows our relationships with others to thrive and grow. When we do take time to relax and enjoy life, we are consumed with guilt that we are wasting time and should be doing something more constructive. 

We need to realise that we cannot afford not to play. If we constantly suppress our natural and instinctive tendency to have fun - it can manifest in unhealthy ways e.g. having an affair, using drugs, eating or shopping compulsively. We need to constantly remind ourselves what play is, then actively choose to do it.

Work and play needn’t be separate activities, finding enjoyment in your daily slog helps you get through the day. Limit how much work infiltrates your playtime e.g. the over use of cell phones – we walk and talk, eat and talk, relax and keep talking. Constant availability has become a liability.

When you do play do it for pure pleasure, not for any gain. You don’t have to always beat your squash partner. Your sewing skills don’t need to be boutique perfect. If you have too many expectations and goals - you will change an activity you love into a chore. Having fun requires no agenda, apart from providing you with pleasure. So what if for the next hour you just lie on the grass and watch the clouds make patterns in the sky? Playtime can be solitary, involve friends or loved ones, may even be time spent with a favourite pet, but it must take you away from life’s seriousness.

So go ahead and Play

• Read the comics before the financial indicators
• Instead of your normal healthy muesli have a bowl with something luridly coloured, preferably out of a packet that includes a toy!
• Have to wear a conservative suit all week? Buy yourself some fun underwear to wear underneath
•  Hold a games party – anything from Monopoly to 30 Seconds. Have a murder party and make everyone dress up
• Be more spontaneous – say “Yes” to invitations you may have previously felt too busy to accept
• Don’t wait for conventional holidays to celebrate – have a 17th day of the month party. Why? Just because …
• Bring out the good glasses and china for your family to eat off
• Make mud pies in the garden – even if you don’t have children
• Buy chocolate cake mix. Mix and eat raw!
•  Build a kite, a model airplane and then try and make it fly
•  Spend time with those you care about, but remember time just for you. To do what you want, when you want to, for whatever reason. Nothing can slow down the aging process but if we keep playing we will remain forever young inside.

Abundant Joy

Indulge your senses with joy

• Save on electricity–spend an entire evening reading, eating by candle light
• Visit an art gallery, a museum, go to a concert, even just visit a flea market and let the creativity of others fill you with joy 
• Do something silly, like dancing in the rain, wearing those ghastly paper crowns found in Christmas crackers, have Ghost Pops for supper 
• Stand outside after the rain and smell the fragrance of the earth 
• Luxuriate in a lavender scented bath, surrounded by candles, glass of wine in your hand and the children watching a video! 
• Listen to soothing music (Josh Groban, City of Angels) a change from the often mindlessly, repetitive music played on the radio 
• Plant and watch something grow, even if it is a sunflower or a mini herb garden on your back window sill 
• Go ahead and indulge yourself, forget the calories have a double thick choc nut milkshake with cream and a Flakey  

Try doing something challenging

• Phone someone you haven’t spoken to for a while and make their day
• Clear out your cupboards, oh! the joy of actually finding things again 
• Laugh at yourself when the going gets tough. Ask yourself; “Will I even remember this crisis 1 year from now” 
• Make a list of 10 hope inspiring items e.g. a drop in interest rates, the generosity of fellow South Africans. Next week add 10 more. If you keep your eye on the Good News around you, you will spend your life being joyful. 
• Express your gratitude to those that mean a lot to you in a letter, poem or picture.

Click here for further tips!

 

A consultation with Miss SA Bokang Montjane

On Monday 28 March we conducted an in-depth personalized consultation with the vivacious MISS SA -Bokang Montjane. She was a "cool" lady as her best suited colours had cool undertones. On Friday next week I will be taking her shopping to Jenni Button and Europa Art Shoes. Will keep you posted!

Take a look at our previous events and workshops here

10 Investment Dressing Strategies

10 Investment Dressing Strategies

•  Don’t indulge in every fad on the dress rails.

•   Choose versatile items that can be worn season after season, dressed up  or dressed down.

• Buy less clothing, but better quality.

• Ensure clothing fits perfectly.

• Choose items that make you feel confident, younger and slimmer (if that is your objective).

• In the words of Valentino “Wear clothes that make you feel alive”.

• Try on everything in your wardrobe that is winter-wearable. Take those items that don’t fit you and have them altered (if possible). Having a pair of pants tailored is far cheaper than buying a new pair, not to mention you don’t have to spend the time shopping for new ones.

• At the same time have your winter boots and shoes re-heeled, re-soled and polished. They will look brand new again.

• Make sure your jerseys; cardigans are closely “shaven” to avoid the “bubble” look.

• Now, evaluate your wardrobe. Buy a few new pieces that will coordinate with what you already have and will also freshen up your existing wardrobe.

  

For further tips on dressing strategies and wardrobe tips click here

E-mail Netiquette

E-mail quick check

Set Your System Clock Right-make sure you don't send messages from 1981.

Mind Your Manners-think of the basic rules you learned growing up, like saying please and thank you.

Address people you don't know as Mr., Mrs., or Dr.-only address someone by first name if they imply it's okay to do so.

Talk About One Subject per Email Message Only-Don’t confuse the issue, for another subject, start a new email.

Use a meaningful subject-eg when you send an email requesting information about a product e.g. “Product A information” rather than “product information.”

Use cc: field sparingly-this can be confusing since the recipients might not know who is supposed to act on the message. Only cc someone if you have made sure the recipients will know why they are receiving a copy.

Do not overuse Reply to All-only use Reply to All if you really need your message to be seen by each person who received the original message.

  

The body of an e-mail

Watch Your Tone-Merriam Webster defines tone as an "accent or inflection expressive of a mood or emotion." At all times you want to come across as respectful, friendly, and approachable. You don't want to sound rude or demanding.

Be specific- Instead of: “Please send me the latest sales figures” rather say, “Please send me the sales figures for the period June-July 2007.” Being more specific might help you find the information faster.

Use Proper Grammar-You can write in a conversational tone but pay attention to basic rules of grammar.

Punctuation Matters-comma, colon, hyphen and semicolon — all exist for a reason: they make it easier to understand the intended meaning of a sentence.

Be Sparing of Exclamation Marks-one exclamation mark is certainly enough!!

Do not write in CAPITALS-AS IT SEEMS AS IF YOU ARE SHOUTING. This can be annoying and might trigger an unwanted response.

Avoid long sentences-keep your sentences to a maximum of 15-20 words. When a person receives an email that looks like a dissertation, they will not even attempt to read it! Make use of bullet points to ease reading.
No Slang, Jargon in Emails-Whatz up, dude? Seen as unprofessional.

Make it personal-remember you are not talking to a computer-a human being is reading your message on the other side. Eg “Hi, Thuli can we meet on Friday at 14h00?” instead say, “Hi, Thuli. Best of luck for your presentation tomorrow. Can we meet on Friday at 14h00?”

Use active instead of passive tense eg instead of saying…“A decision will be taken by management” rather say “Management will take a decision.” The latter sounds more personal and less formal.

Avoid using email to discuss confidential information- this should be done face to face or over the phone. You never know where that email may land up.

Answer swiftly-e-mails should be replied to within at least 24 hours, and preferably within the same working day. If you are not able to obtain the answers/info needed during that time-let the person know.

Do not overuse the high priority option-if you overuse the high priority option, it will lose its function when you really need it. Your message will also come across as slightly aggressive.

Compress attachments Files/pictures-to avoid lengthy download time for the receiver.

 

Forwarding E-mails

Don't ever send or forward emails containing libelous, defamatory, offensive, racist or obscene remarks-even though they may be not your ideas, phrases-it shows you are supporting them. If you don't want an email to be displayed on a bulletin board, don't send it.

Do not forward chain letters-they are irritating and time wasters.

Remove All Email Addresses When You Forward a Message-share the message, not email addresses when forwarding an email.
Use Current Antivirus Software, Keep it Up to Date-Make sure you're not spreading viruses via email or act as a vehicle for spreading spam-this will tarnish your credibility.

Add disclaimers to your emails-this protects your company from liability.

The Ending of an E-mail

Proofread Your Emails-don’t over-rely on spell check. You can often find typos or misplaced commas when proofreading on the screen.
Keep Your Signature to 5 Lines of Text-"Signature" is a synonym for brief and unobtrusive —, overly long signatures in emails are an annoyance.
When in Doubt, End Emails with "Thank You"-If you don't know how to say good-bye at the end of an email, there's one thing that will almost always be appropriate. Thank You.

Wait to the end to Fill in the "TO" Email Address-Sometimes we can press the send button by mistake. In this way you are assured that you have completed your message and proof read it.

Do not request delivery and read receipts-this will almost always annoy your recipient before they have read your message. 

Dressed to Impress

Neutrals and Bright Accessories

Bold Brights

 Corporate Combination

For tips on investment dressing and dressing for success click here

Speaking in Colour.

Reveal Your True Colours

Colour has a profound influence not only on how

attractive you look but also how you feel.
Ever looked in the mirror and felt you look dull, boring?
Are you confused about which colours suit you best?
A personalized colour consultation will determine the most 
suitable colours for you.

The Incorrect Colours will make you: look tired, depressed, unapproachable, aggressive, and angry; dulls your complexion; distorts your face shape, shows up pigmentation marks; accentuates lines and dark circles under eyes.

The Correct Colours will: contour, define bone structure; improve skin texture; smooth lines, shadows; even out skin imperfections, define the eye area, lift up features.

The Colour Consultation process will indicate to you:

• A collection of colours that suit you the best
• Why certain shades complement you more than others
• How best to wear colours you already have
• A combination of colours that make your wardrobe more versatile
• Which shades of make-up items will suit you best
• What hair colour tones too opt for

To reveal your True Colours contact us at Professional Impressions

Tel: 011 467 5126   Email: prof–imp@mweb.co.za   Web: www.profimpressions.co.za

Speaking in Colour

Scientists have found that colours can influence our mood – a process called chromodynamics. When your eyes see colour, it sends a message to the brain which is transferred to your body. To see how colour affects us, we only have to look at nature. You look up at the sky and you feel somehow calmer. You sit on the grass and feel peaceful. You stand on the earth and feel grounded. 

How colour affects your body, is actually not as mysterious as it might sound. 

Dark clothing will increase your body heat because it traps and holds the sun’s energy. This will again affect the skin and if you wear black all the time you might find that your skin goes pasty. You might also feel tired because the heat generated around your body will be draining. In contrast, light coloured and white clothing will lift your mood because it allows light to flow in and out of the body. Therefore it will be better to wear white if you have cold rather than dark colours as it could help you recover faster.

Colour is like a sculptor’s pallet allowing us to create the perfect balance of light and shadow, sculpting and softening.

A Guide to Colour

Red is a color that is impossible to ignore as it can add a note of intensity and drama to any situation. If you wish to communicate passion and assertiveness, wear red. Paloma Picasso used red as a signature statement. Politicians often wear red ties to add punch to their traditional dark suits. Careful though if you are going for a job interview wearing too much red will make you appear intimidating to the interviewer. It is a physically active colour and may cause your blood pressure to rise – therefore wear it if you suffer from low blood pressure. Wear red socks and gloves in winter to help improve poor circulation.

Orange is said to be excellent for when you’re feeling listless. It’s also recommended for stimulating the immune system. If you need to complete a difficult project or dealing with difficult clients, wear rust to help you feel determined.

Yellow is a color that appears happy and sunny. It communicates high energy, originality and innovation. Wearing yellow imparts a sense of optimism and hope. It is a good colour to wear when feeling tired as it may energise. Also try wearing it when feeling depressed. Wear it if you need to concentrate (attending a course or workshop). Go yellow when you need to study or be creative as it’s a stimulating colour.

Green denotes a kind, helpful person who cares about others. It also shows you are stable and balanced. Wearing green will assist you in appearing to be outgoing and social. Green can also be worn when you’re tense and need to relax.

Brown and Beige’s can be worn to communicate a sense of substance, worth, and warmth. A shade of dark brown could make you feel more critical of others so rather choose lighter brown when having to deal with people. Wearing brown does aid physical and emotional endurance and it may help stabilise someone who is inconsistent in their behaviour.

Blue shows you’re a thinker and good communicator. People place a sense of trust in those who wear blue. Many military and airline staff have blue uniforms-representing responsibility. It may also prevent you from becoming emotionally drained.

Pink can appear tender and refined and can impart a quality of gentleness to an outfit. Pink at one point was considered totally feminine, but is acceptable in menswear as a shirt or tie color. Pink helps relax the muscles - also helps release mental tension. Wear pink to help relieve pain.

Taupe’s and Grey’s often blend into the environment and make you appear cool, composed and reliable.

Black is the negation of color but is often chosen as a color to wear in business. It can appear mysterious, intense and powerful. Wearing black encourages self-control and you’ll be able to stand your ground better when wearing black. Black does tend to send the message to stay away from the wearer. It also conveys an impression of wisdom.

White is symbolic of cleanliness and freshness. It is recommended if you feel weighed down by worry as it’s said to be uplifting.

Book your colour consulation and enjoy these benefits:

• Wearing the appropriate colours will dramatically increase confidence levels.
• Creating a professional, individual image is extremely important to climb the ladder of success. Wearing the appropriate colours will make you stand out amongst the crowd.
• Having a co–ordinated wardrobe will save you time and money.
• From now on you will be confident that everything you chose will look good together.

Contact us at Professional Impressions

Tel: 011 467 5126   Email: prof–imp@mweb.co.za   Web: www.profimpressions.co.za

My latest summer trends was featured in the Verve Magazine. Read above.