Roundup

BEFORE YOU SEND THAT ANGRY EMAIL, READ THIS...

FIRING OFF THE WRONG EMAIL IN A FIT OF ANGER COULD COST YOU BUSINESS.

BY HANNAH MASSEN

E

Every now and then a client, coworker, or even a friend will say something that rubs you the wrong way big time. We’ve all been there. And in the olden days, you would probably walk down the hall to have a quiet chat. Well, maybe more like a loud conversation, but you’d be less likely to throw too many verbal punches while looking someone straight in the eye. But this is 2022, and when something ticks you off, you might be tempted to start typing an email.

Whether your wording is blunt and curt, you add one-too-many passive-aggressive emojis, or you insert a swear word, the reader gets the message: you’re not happy. But within seconds of hitting send, you hear a whisper in the back of your mind, should I really have sent that email? You might attempt to recall the email, but once the reader has seen it, the damage has been done.

The best way to write an angry email is to never hit send. You’re less likely to be mindful of your language and tone when you’re sitting in front of a computer screen instead of an actual person, but according to an article published in Scientific American, an angry email can still be a serious blow to the recipient’s confidence. In a simulated work experiment, participants who received angry messages from their bosses experienced more negative emotions, found it harder to stay engaged in work tasks, and answered fewer questions correctly than the control group. And as for your clients, would you want to continue working with someone who spoke to you like that? So before you hit send on your next angry email, try these three strategies instead.

1. WRITE THE EMAIL BUT LEAVE THE “TO” FIELD BLANK.

Sometimes, you just need to rant. Go ahead and write an angry email while you’re still fired up (complete with, “IS THIS A JOKE??? CALL ME NOW,” in the subject line) – but remember to leave the “to” field blank. Having to enter a real email address once you’ve gotten everything out of your system will serve as another check before you hit send.

2. WAIT AND REVIEW.

If you’re on the fence about sending the email, save it as a draft and wait a full 24 hours before opening it again. Once you have a clear head, decide whether it’s too harsh or could be worth sending with a few toned-down tweaks.

3. CHOOSE A DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION METHOD.

There are times when you really should address your concerns. But instead of listing your grievances in an email, consider a different communication method. Having serious conversations face-to-face is always best, as you can make sure that you and the other person are in a distraction-free room and you are able to read their body language. Over the phone is fine, too, as long as you treat the call as you would an in-person meeting. ■

Retirement is possible

FIVE CONSIDERATIONS TO MAKE YOUR YOLO A REALITY

BY DONNA PETERS

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YOLO, which stands for “You Only Live Once,” has become a popular expression and is a convincing argument for retiring younger. Besides what you want to do when you retire, there are several things to consider before you retire. You need financial security so you will know how to retire and live your YOLO dream. Here are the most basic considerations to bring that dream closer.

1. Budget now. You can’t retire if you don’t know your budget. Simply put, a budget is a summary of your income and expenses but is easier said than done. Once you know your current expenses and have an idea of the lifestyle you want in retirement, you will need to figure out where to adjust to make early retirement more than a dream.

PRO TIP: Contribution to a retirement fund early or a job that has a pension can make a big difference. If you didn’t start early enough, a financial planner could help with other strategies to manage your money. If your kids still listen to their parents, this may be the best advice you give them.

2. Plan for your dependents. If you have children, set up an education fund early as this can be a game-changer (assuming you want to help pay for their education). A 529 plan is a great way to save for schooling and is simple to administer. Tuition costs can be daunting and something you will want to have saved for over the years so that student debt doesn’t become your debt. In some cases school debt comes due around the time your children tell you they are getting married. Unfortunately, there is no government-sponsored marriage-saving fund. It is your dependents’ life events like these that can deplete what you thought would be your own retirement savings. 3. Don’t let possessions own you. If you own your home, there is a possibility to downsize and take out some equity that can be used to fund your retirement. This may seem like a big step but is also an opportunity. If you have a large house, chances are you have also accumulated a lot of "stuff" over the years. "Stuff" may include art, excess furniture, bikes and even vehicles.

PRO TIP: Selling some of these items on the internet or on consignment can help fund your future travel and entertainment coffers. At the time of writing this, there is a high demand for used goods due to scarcity, so you could get top dollar.

5. Know your burn rate and adjust.

The biggest concern when considering retirement is if you will have enough income coming in or enough savings to live on. A more important concern should be how much you plan to spend, or your burn rate, when you do retire. As obvious as that seems, when asked how much they think they need to live on, many people respond “a lot.”

PRO TIP: Whatever your burn rate is, plan to have more. It is prudent to have a rainy day fund – not only for fixing the roof but for maintaining your health and other unforeseen financial needs.

4. Get your affairs in order. Retirement is a major life step into your next chapter of life. Whether you are young or old, it is always wise to have your affairs in order. Your will and powers of attorney should be up to date, and make sure you have enough put away to cover unexpected repairs or emergencies.

PRO TIP: Set a reminder every five years to review your will and POA, as things can change over the years.

Whether your retirement YOLO dream is endless world travel or more home time with your grandkids, planning will increase your odds of living that dream. If you don’t know where to start, seek advice from a financial planner because your future is too important to risk. After all, you only live once. ■

Donna Peters studied Finance and Economics at Western University and later obtained her CFA. She joined the fixed-income Portfolio Management team at a prominent Canadian life insurance company following her graduation from university and has remained there since. She currently lives in Toronto with a loving husband, two teenage sons and an adorable poodle.

Awaken your sleep strategy

SERENDIPITOUS SLEEP AIDS

BY LESLIE T. SNADOWSKY

W

We spend so much time trying to perfect our eight-hour workday. So why are we asleep at the wheel when strategically planning our eight hours a day in bed?

“Sleep affects everything in your body,” says Dr. Frank Barbieri, DDS, MS, at 2 Sleep Well Again in Bluffton and Summerville. “There are 90 different sleep disorders listed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and people don’t realize poor sleep can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, acid reflux and a weakened immune system. If you are on the borderline of a problem and you have poor sleep, it kicks you over to the wrong side and makes that problem just grow and become worse.”

Barbieri’s Sleep Centers offer dental solutions for medically diagnosed sleep apnea, snoring and insomnia, but he says practicing successful sleep hygiene at home will give you the good night’s sleep of your dreams.

YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE

“Sleep is a pattern,” Barbieri said. “If you can get to sleep the same time every night, that’s important. And if you wake up every day at the same time, you sleep better and have better sleep quality. If you hit the snooze button, and things like that, that’s not good.”

HERE COMES THE SUN

Light signals your body to get going, whether you switch on a bed table lamp or keep the curtains open to see natural sunlight. “Whenever you wake up, 5:30 a.m. or 8:30 a.m., get out of bed and let the light get in,” Barbieri says.

WARM GLASS OF MILK

Mom may know best when it comes to tucking you in, and Barbieri says if a warm glass of milk does the trick, stick with it, but forgo a full-fledged meal before nodding off. “If you need a little something before you go to sleep, have something very small and very light,” he says. “You should not have coffee after 3 p.m. and no alcohol within three hours of when you go to sleep.”

RELAXATION MODE

Don’t exercise at night because it revs up your metabolism. Instead, get in the habit of relaxing your body before bedtime, which means switching off your phone and iPad and all blue lights. “You also want to shut the TV off about a half hour before you want to go to sleep,” Barbieri said. “No reading, no TV in bed, all those things are keeping you awake.”

CLOTHING OPTIONAL

According to the Sleep Foundation, 28 percent of the population sleeps in the buff, but wearing socks to bed may help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. “I’ve had patients in both situations,” says Barbieri. “The sleep spectrum for what people have to do to get to sleep is vast.”

SILENT NIGHT

While Barbieri encourages silence for sound sleep, he doesn’t begrudge his patients some nocturnal noise. “Some people need to hear a fan,” he says. “And you can buy sound pillows that emit soothing rhythms like running water, rustling leaves and rainforests.” ■

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