AUGUST 2017
A man without education is like a building without foundation.— Anonymous Don't judge
everyday by the harvest You Reap, But by the Seeds You Plant.— Robert L. Stevenson
Now Open: 2017 National Call Small Town America's 100 Most InfluentialGetRuralLeaderMag.com People | AUGUST 2017 1
Contents Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing extraordinary things nationally and abroad. www.RuralLeaderMag.com www.GetRuralLeaderMag.com
Guest Contributor Samuel Williams, III, M.D. Primary Care Physician and Geriatrician
5 Getting ready for back to school: How setting goals can help Generation Z Students excel in the new school year 6 How the state you live in affects your college savings strategy 9 Three Reasons to Go Cashless 12 Five secrets of success: Traits to help you live without fear and reach your full potential
18 Five ways to help kids start the school year strong 14 Six Tips for Decoding College Financial Aid Award Letters 16 Five Steps to Creating Happiness in Your Workplace 20 Creating Happiness in Your Workplace 23 Tips for taking the stress out of ‘back to after school’
15 Five Ways to Help Kids Start the School Year Strong
Contact Us Rural Leader Magazine, LLC 400 West Peachtree Street Suite #4-529 Atlanta, Georgia 30308 info@ruralleadermagazine.com 1-866-293-1162
Join Today! Visit GSAACC.org Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent. Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermagazine.com
2 RuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017
Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine. By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview. Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at info@ RuralLeaderMagazine.com—
Editor’s Note Dear Readers, Inside this issue, there are a number of great articles about leadership best practices, building positive self-esteem and productivity! We hope you enjoy this issue. As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, and LinkedIn. Thanks again for your continual support! Sincerely,
Photo Courtesy of TieFotos
Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
What you do matters. GetRuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017 3 @RuralLeaderMag
4 RuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017
Getting ready for back to school: How setting goals can help Generation Z Students excel in the new school year Generation Z, born between 1995 and 2012, is the first generation to grow up with a widespread use of digital tools. While technology is now part of everyday life, it’s important to remember that writing things down can be the first step to getting them done, especially when it comes to identifying and achieving goals for the upcoming school year. David Stillman, coauthor of “Gen Z @ Work,” speaker and generations expert, explains that this generation lives in a “phigital” world - they seamlessly combine their digital and physical surroundings. “While Gen Z has grown up in a world full of the latest technology, when it comes to education, we find they value a combination of both analog and digital tools to help them achieve goals and get through daily tasks,” Stillman says. According to a recent study commissioned by the Post-it Brand, 79 percent of Gen Zers write down their goals on paper. Jonah Stillman, a recent Gen Z high school graduate who writes and speaks about Gen Z with his father David, adds, “While I use technology all day long, when it comes to lists and goal setting, when I write things down it signals that it needs to be done and it’s not as easy to forget.” To help Gen Z prepare for back to school, David and Jonah offer tips for parents to help their students excel in the new school year. Combine the analog and the digital. Getting and staying organized is easier when students have the tools that work best for them. “When it comes to education and learning strategies, analog tools can complement the digital tools that Gen Z is so entrenched in,” states David Stillman. Post-it Super Sticky Notes are an easy way for students to jot down quick, digestible thoughts as they are studying and with two times the sticking power, they stick and restick so information can seamlessly be organized and rearranged. Keep track of to-dos. According to the same study from the brand, 89 percent of Gen Z respondents reported they forgot to do a task or missed a deadline specifically because they didn’t write it down. Having List Notes on hand can help students keep track of their tasks and they are easy to take on the go to keep to-dos front and center.
Schedule “non-digital” time. While technology is an everyday presence, it can also be disruptive. Fifty-seven percent of Gen Z explain they are often distracted by TV and social media, so it’s important to take a physical and mental break from electronic devices. Encourage students to set aside “non-digital” time each day to read and have face-to-face communication. Students can use this time to focus on studying, school work or the goals they are trying to achieve. Mark what’s important. Encourage students to use Flags and Tabs to help them mark important information, whether it’s a new fact to study from their notebook, key material from a textbook or even a goal in their planner that they are working toward. Marking essential information will ensure that no time is wasted getting to the right page and gives more time to focus on the task at hand. Write it down to achieve it. Research has found that you’re 42 percent more likely to get something done if you write it down. At the beginning of the school year, sit down with students to help them identify and write down their goals. Check in regularly about their progress and visit Post-it.com to check out additional tips on goal setting and how students can #makeitstick this school year. Survey details: The Post-it Brand Gen Z Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www. wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,000 U.S. “Gen Z” respondents ages 13-21, between June 7 and June 15, 2017, using an email invitation and an online survey. Matthews, G. (2007). The impact of commitment, accountability, and written goals on goal achievement. Paper presented at the 87th Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.—BPT
GetRuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017 5
How the state you live in affects your college savings strategy
The cost of a four-year college degree now hovers around the $100,000 mark, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. While high college costs seem universal these days, college savings strategies are far from a one-size-fits-all. Many factors influence how you’ll save for college, including your children’s ages when you start saving, what schools they might want to attend, and how old you’ll be when they enter college. The factor most people don’t know about, however, is that the state you live in actually can dramatically affect how you save for education. “Because states offer different incentives for college savings, the state you live in can play a large role in how you prioritize different savings opportunities,” says Nick
Holeman, a certified financial planner with independent online financial adviser Betterment. “Tools like 529 savings plans, state tax credits and matching savings programs vary by state, creating a checkerboard of different savings opportunities.” Why states affect college savings: 529 plans The central reason why states have such an impact on college savings strategy is because of a special college savings account, created by the Internal Revenue Code, called a 529 plan. States administer the plans, and so, different states can choose to offer different incentives for improving their residents’ college savings. In general, there are two types of 529 plans: pre-paid tuition plans and savings programs. Pre-paid tuition plans allow you
6 RuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017
to pay for your child’s tuition, in advance, years before he or she will go to college. This allows you to pay current tuition prices, rather than the going rate when your child attends school in the future - when costs could be even higher. Compare that to savings plans that allow you to put money away for college, invest it so your money can grow, and forgo paying federal income tax on the earnings from your investment when you withdraw money to pay for college. In general, 529 accounts are a great option for college savings because of their tax advantages. However, those tax savings also come with restrictions. Depending on where you live and your personal preferences, you may find these restrictions don’t outweigh the benefit of your state’s 529 plan. Important questions to ask
when building a college savings strategy Because 529 plan incentives play such a big role in developing a college savings strategy, Holeman points to five key questions that savers should answer about their state before opening any accounts. 1. Does the state offer a match program? According to SavingforCollege.com, 10 states currently have programs that provide matching dollars for contributions made to 529 savings plans held by low- and middle-income families. These programs may match contributions dollar-for-dollar up to a certain amount (as in Kansas) or have a tiered structure that increases the match for families with lower incomes (as in Arkansas). Other states allow employers to offer 529 matching dollars as a benefit to their employees. However, 529 match programs are only available for in-state account-holders, so if you have a 529 from Arkansas, but live in Ohio, you won’t be eligible for Arkansas’ program. If you’re eligible for a 529 match, you should consider contributing at least enough to max out that match. 2. What types of 529s does the state offer? In addition to pre-paid tuition and savings accounts, a third type of 529, called 529 ABLE, helps people with disabilities save for college and other expenses without affecting other government benefits they might receive. Further, each of those three types of 529s can have structural differences from state to state. Some states may offer all types of plans, while others may offer only one or two. If your state doesn’t offer the type of 529 you’re looking for, you can opt for another state’s 529. Be aware though that you will likely miss out on any state tax benefits if you go with an out-of-state 529 plan. 3. What is the maximum account balance permitted? While 529s can be a great way to save money for college, they do have limits. Every state sets a maximum account balance, and if your 529 reaches that
limit, whether through contributions, investment growth or both, you won’t be allowed to make any more contributions to it. Limits vary from state to state. For example, Pennsylvania’s 529 max is $511,758, while Mississippi’s is less than half that. If you’re planning on saving for a private college or graduate school, these limits can become a factor. 4. Does the state offer a tax deduction for its 529s? Some states offer full or partial tax deductions for 529 contributions, while others don’t. Most states only offer the tax deduction if you choose your state’s 529 plan. If you do get a tax deduction, it likely makes sense to stick with your state’s 529. If not, the tax benefits are much less. 5. What is the quality and quantity of schools in the state? While most 529 funds can be used anywhere, there can be additional benefits to using 529 funds in the account’s home state. Before you commit to a 529 savings plan from any state, explore the availability of higher education in that state. For example, Texas has great public schools, so their pre-paid tuition program might make sense. For other states, the savings plan can make more sense though. The key takeaway is that the state you live in can affect how beneficial a 529 plan is for you. Some people may even decide a 529 is not worth the added restrictions and instead opt to save for college in a standard taxable account. To learn more about 529s and how they can help you save for college, visit www.savingforcollege.com. The most effective college savings strategies are part of a personalized financial plan. Learn more about setting goals to help maximize your savings at Betterment.com/financial-planning.—BPT
GetRuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017 7
8 RuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017
Three Reasons to Go Cashless The dollar, the euro, the pound, the yen... the currency people use around the world has many different names, but it all shares something in common. Paper forms of currency are out and digital payments are in. The security and convenience of card based electronic payments and digital payments are driving a global shift away from cash. As consumers and merchants around the world become more and more digitally connected this shift will continue to accelerate. All over the world, the shift toward cashless payments is well underway. On the beaches of Cabo San Lucas, taco and tamale vendors are starting to offer their delicious food to customers with the swipe or tap of a card on a mobile phone. In Singapore, consumers can rent bikes, pay for their morning coffee and split their dinner bill without ever needing cash, and in Warsaw, as cashless payments are becoming increasingly accepted, tourists can start to tap and pay their way around the city without carrying cash. Changes abroad, changes at home The United States is seeing similar changes. Cash and checks are on their way out and swiping, dipping, tapping and clicking are filling the void - benefiting consumers and businesses alike. A recent Cashless Cities study from Visa, set to be released later this year, finds that if businesses in the top 100 U.S. cities transitioned from cash to digital
payments, those businesses and their cities would experience net benefits of $312 billion per year. Businesses in New York City alone would net $6.8 billion while saving more than 186 million hours in labor. But the benefits of taking checks and cash out of the system do not stop at labor cost efficiencies. They include: * Convenience. Consumers and businesses alike benefit from the speed and convenience of electronic and digital payments. Faster checkout times mean more sales for businesses and more time to spend on the important things in life for consumers. * Security. Accepting cash payments has always placed businesses in a bind; as their revenue increases, so does their risk of falling victim to theft. Transitioning to cashless payment options enhances security and reduces risk for businesses and their customers. * Reduced costs. Cash payments must be counted, stored and transported. There are costs associated with all of these processes. Adopting cashless payments saves businesses time and money. Moving forward to take advantage of cashless opportunities Many businesses across the country are already benefiting from going cashless, but for companies particularly small businesses that have yet to take the Con'td on page 10 GetRuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017 9
Three Reasons to Go Cashless, cont'd from page 9 leap - now is the perfect time to make such a change. Visa is announcing The Visa Cashless Challenge, a call to action for small business restaurants, cafés or food truck owners to describe what cashless means for them, their employees and customers. Visa will be awarding up to $500,000 to 50 eligible U.S.-based small business food service owners who commit to joining the 100 percent cashless quest. Business owners can learn more about the challenge and the other benefits of going cashless at www.visa.com/cashless. Complete rules and information will be available on the website on Aug. 15.— BPT
10 RuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017
Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers cordially invite you to the
Military Family Summit hosted by the Congressional Military Family Caucus The Military Family Summit provides an opportunity for all Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve service members and their families from all branches to discuss the most pressing issues facing military families, such as pay and benefits, community integration and transition, and ensuring the health and well-being of their children, with Members of Congress, Department of Defense officials, and others.
Tuesday, October 17, 2017 8:30am to 1:00pm at The National Infantry Museum 1775 Legacy Way Columbus, GA 31903 Register for this event at https://goo.gl/pdm3Pd For additional information, please contact Patrick I. Newbold at patrick.newbold@mail.house.gov or Hilary GetRuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017 11 Ranieri at hilary.ranieri@mail.house.gov
Five Secrets of Success: Traits to help you live without fear and reach your full potential Do you ever wonder what’s holding you back? A lot of people have all the skills and opportunities they need to reach their personal and professional goals, yet they fail to truly succeed. In reality, the path to success isn’t so clear, and when you add fear and doubt into the mix, it’s easy to lose drive. Smart entrepreneurs know that success is more than just raw ability; it comes from having certain traits and staying dedicated through all the highs and lows of the journey. Connie Tang is the perfect example of someone who’s harnessed fear, set difficult goals and reached success throughout her life. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Tang became the first woman president and CEO of Princess House, a premier direct selling company of unique and exclusive cookware, food storage and home and entertainment products. Throughout her career she’s learned to be strategic, intentional and resilient. Her book, “Fearless Living: 8 Life-Changing Values for Breakthrough Success,” offers insight into specific traits that, when put into practice, will enable anyone to navigate through virtually any business or personal situation with grace and without fear. Tang shares some of the most important aspects of those traits to help people reach their full potential: Determination: Do what needs to be done even 12 RuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017
when you don’t feel like doing it. One of the most crucial elements of determination is daily discipline. Set small, achievable goals for each day and set out to crush them. Do not procrastinate! Putting things off can snowball and cause you to become overwhelmed and lose focus. Accountability: Own and take full responsibility for your decisions, your actions and your results good, bad or ugly. Don’t play the blame game or the victim card. Understand that you can rise above your circumstances and demonstrate ownership in order to achieve the results you want. Drive for results: Equip yourself to do whatever it takes to achieve your goals. Put together a plan of action and allow it to become a living document, referencing it often. Execute daily action to make your goals a reality. When things change or don’t go as planned, be agile and resilient. Seek solutions and be a problem-solver. Passion: Passion is often sparked by something you’ve experienced or maybe something you’ve heard or read. It rises up from deep within to becoming a driving force in your life. Let your passion rage like a fire. It’s one of the most important elements of success, and when it’s truly present, work rarely feels like work. Continued on page 14
GetRuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017 13
5 secrets of success, Continued from page 12 Collaboration: You can’t do it alone. You must collaborate and come together with others to bring projects and strategic initiatives to fruition. Successful outcomes are easier when it’s a team effort. Collaboration allows you to maximize the knowledge and expertise of the people around you, which can be incredibly satisfying. Want to learn more about these traits and others? “Fearless Living: 8 Life-Changing Values for Breakthrough Success” is now available online at www.8fearlessvalues.com. The website also includes an opportunity to join the Fearless Living movement and receive a free fearless bracelet. The book is also available for purchase on Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and booksamillion.com.—BPT
14 RuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017
GetRuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017 15
Five Ways to Help Kids Start the School Year Strong
The beginning of the school year isn’t just about getting backpacks and school supplies ready. It’s also a time when parents check to make sure their children are ready for success in their next classroom. According to a national survey of K-8 parents conducted by the parent organization Learning Heroes, parents are uneasy when it comes to raising their children, with peer pressure and their children’s happiness at the top of their worries. In fact, three of five parents say it is more important their child be happy and not overly stressed than to do well academically. When it comes to academics, nearly all parents nine in 10 - believe their children are performing at or above their grade level. In reality, however, only about a third of American students are performing at the level they need to be to succeed in school. “As a mother of two teen boys, this disconnect is a heartbreaking wake-up call,” says Bibb Hubbard, founder of Learning Heroes. “Parents are all in when it comes to their children’s happiness and success, owning the responsibility for how well their children perform in school. It’s clear that most parents lack an accurate picture of their children’s progress, as they aren’t getting clear, understandable and actionable information they need to best support their children’s learning and growth.”
16 RuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017
To help parents get their kids ready to start the school year on the right foot, Learning Heroes offers parents five easy actions they can take to help get a more accurate picture of their child’s academic progress. Start strong. As part of your back-to-school routine, help your child get ready for his or her new grade. You are the expert on your child. Check the Readiness Roadmap (https://bealearninghero.org/ readiness-roadmap/), which Learning Heroes designed after hearing from many parents, to know what’s expected of your child this year and how to support your child at home. Review your child’s annual state test results from last year. If you haven’t received the results yet, ask your child’s teacher or school. Look at this information and your child’s end-of-year grades from last year to see where your child is doing well and where more support is needed. Partner up. When you meet with your child’s new teacher, bring your child’s state test results from the past school year and ask what they mean for the year ahead. Ask your child what he or she is excited and nervous about and why, and let the teacher know. Share your goals and expectations for your child’s learning and growth for this upcoming year. Find out
what’s expected of your child and what you can do at home to help. Make it fun! You know your child best and you can help make learning enjoyable for him or her. Read together to discover topics that interest your child. Find math problems in everyday life and turn it into a game. Practice subtraction, measuring and division when cooking together or while grocery shopping. Celebrate hard work. Our attitudes about learning - called “mindsets” - have an impact on how our children learn, how they feel about making mistakes and their self-confidence. Promote a “growth mindset” at home to help your child see that hard work is what leads to success. Congratulate your child for the hard work and effort put into completing a task. This will help your child feel less nervous about taking on new tasks or subjects. Encourage life skills along the way. When it comes to your child’s potential and happiness, focus on the whole picture. Strengths like being able to communicate, problem-solve, show patience and act independently will help your child in school and life. Talk openly with your child about how he or she is feeling and reacting to situations at school, on the playground and at home.
Back to school is an important time for both kids and parents, and these five tips can help provide a strong kick-off to a successful school year. By taking actions - big and small - every day to support your child’s learning, you can be a learning hero. Share your advice, stories, and questions using #bealearninghero. For more tips, ideas and activities (in English and Spanish), visit bealearninghero.org/super5.—BPT
GetRuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017 17
Five Ways to Help Kids Start the School Year Strong
The beginning of the school year isn’t just about getting backpacks and school supplies ready. It’s also a time when parents check to make sure their children are ready for success in their next classroom. According to a national survey of K-8 parents conducted by the parent organization Learning Heroes, parents are uneasy when it comes to raising their children, with peer pressure and their children’s happiness at the top of their worries. In fact, three of five parents say it is more important their child be happy and not overly stressed than to do well academically. When it comes to academics, nearly all parents nine in 10 - believe their children are performing at or above their grade level. In reality, however, only about a third of American students are performing at the level they need to be to succeed in school. “As a mother of two teen boys, this disconnect is a heartbreaking wake-up call,” says Bibb Hubbard, founder of Learning Heroes. “Parents are all in when it comes to their children’s happiness and success, owning the responsibility for how well their children perform in school. It’s clear that most parents lack an accurate picture of their children’s progress, as they aren’t getting clear, understandable and actionable information they need to best support their children’s learning and growth.” To help parents get their kids ready to start the school year on the right foot, Learning Heroes offers 18 RuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017
parents five easy actions they can take to help get a more accurate picture of their child’s academic progress. Start strong. As part of your back-to-school routine, help your child get ready for his or her new grade. You are the expert on your child. Check the Readiness Roadmap (https://bealearninghero.org/ readiness-roadmap/), which Learning Heroes designed after hearing from many parents, to know what’s expected of your child this year and how to support your child at home. Review your child’s annual state test results from last year. If you haven’t received the results yet, ask your child’s teacher or school. Look at this information and your child’s end-of-year grades from last year to see where your child is doing well and where more support is needed. Partner up. When you meet with your child’s new teacher, bring your child’s state test results from the past school year and ask what they mean for the year ahead. Ask your child what he or she is excited and nervous about and why, and let the teacher know. Share your goals and expectations for your child’s learning and growth for this upcoming year. Find out what’s expected of your child and what you can do at home to help. Make it fun! You know your child best and you can help make learning enjoyable for him or her. Read
together to discover topics that interest your child. Find math problems in everyday life and turn it into a game. Practice subtraction, measuring and division when cooking together or while grocery shopping. Celebrate hard work. Our attitudes about learning - called “mindsets” - have an impact on how our children learn, how they feel about making mistakes and their self-confidence. Promote a “growth mindset” at home to help your child see that hard work is what leads to success. Congratulate your child for the hard work and effort put into completing a task. This will help your child feel less nervous about taking on new tasks or subjects. Encourage life skills along the way. When it comes to your child’s potential and happiness, focus on the whole picture. Strengths like being able to communicate, problem-solve, show patience and act independently will help your child in school and life. Talk openly with your child about how he or she is feeling and reacting to situations at school, on the playground and at home. Back to school is an important time for both kids and parents, and these five tips can help provide a
strong kick-off to a successful school year. By taking actions - big and small - every day to support your child’s learning, you can be a learning hero. Share your advice, stories, and questions using #bealearninghero. For more tips, ideas and activities (in English and Spanish), visit bealearninghero.org/super5.—BPT
View the 2017 edition of Scholars of Collegiate Distinction at www.DistinctScholar.org
GetRuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017 19
Creating Happiness in Your Workplace Each workday, the average American spends 8.8 hours at work or on work-related activities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s even more time than people spend sleeping. And because we spend so much time at work, it’s in your and your employer’s best interest to make workplaces the happiest environment it can be. Workplace comfort and happiness is highly impactful in retention and recruitment, as well as an individual’s productivity, satisfaction and ultimately, a company’s or business’s ROI. It’s not just free snacks, pizza or bagel Fridays, big windows or colorful conference rooms and ping pong tables. In fact, there’s a science behind what drives happiness in the workplace and what can be done to achieve it, through light, furniture, ergonomics and movement. To ensure both employers and employees can create and maintain an ideal workplace environment, Dr. Mike O’Neill, lead global researcher of workplace strategy and market analytics at Haworth, a leading furniture company based in Holland, MI, shares five tips to improve the happiness of your work environment: * Bring order to the chaos. If you have an important meeting coming up or you’re under a lot of stress, cleaning your workspace can help. A clean workspace allows you to arrive and immediately get to your most important task without wasting time. Plugging devices in to charge, color coding your files, even fill20 RuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017
ing or cleaning your water bottle the night before can help. The more organized your workstation, the more organized you’ll be to start your day. For employers, ensure your employees have streamlined and legible space. Workstations tailored to individual and group tasks help to promote legibility in the workplace, with clear indications of space designed to promote certain activities. * Adjust your workspace to fit you. Whether it’s a height-adjustable work surface, an ergonomic chair or even a wrist base for your keyboard, simple comforts can have a monumental impact on your productivity. Take the time to adjust your workspace and posture to fit your needs instead of “making do” month after month. And don’t be afraid to ask your employer for solutions to help. The tools you need may already exist, you simply need to raise the question. For employers, be cognizant of employee needs in seating and the functionality of their space. Not all employees or tasks require the same template. Consider seating options that promote ergonomic health, desks and stands that compliment required privacy or sharing, and structure that encourages movement and healthy habits. * Let in the light. Everyone values the corner office or space closest to the window - and that’s not coincidence, as natural light is proven to provide renewed energy and vitamin intake. If your workstation leaves you lacking some sunlight, take a little time each day
to find some natural light. A quick 15-minute trip to the office atrium or even a simple walk outside can leave you feeling rejuvenated. Make a quick coffee run or take your computer outside to catch up on emails - you won’t regret it. As an employer, it can be challenging to ensure daylight options depending on real estate availability. If there is minimal natural light in the office, consider expanding to incorporate outdoor workstations, or simply encourage remote work or brief breaks to increase sunlight exposure. * Master your technology. We all recognize and understand the frustrations faulty technology can bring. And while you may have little input regarding the types of printers or computers your office uses or in who the conference call provider is, improving your technical knowledge will lower your frustration and your anxiety. Take any training sessions offered by your IT department and/or watch available videos to learn how to use any given technology more efficiently. Run that system upgrade you’ve been putting off - provided you have IT approval. Your machine will run more smoothly and so will you. For employers, it’s critical to understand the day-today technologies that impact employee productivity and happiness, for both individual and group tasks. Ensure costs have been allocated to optimize technology and training in areas that are most impactful, and cut costs in areas of least impact (or perhaps
frivolous add-ons that can be eliminated). Ensure employees understand training and troubleshooting that is available to them. * Stand up for storage. Adding storage solutions to your workspace is about more than simply clearing the clutter; it’s about taking ownership of the area where you spend so much time. A natural place to put your personal belongings or hang your coat makes your workspace feel more like home. As an employer, it’s important to empower employees with the control over their workspaces. Oftentimes, organizational tools and tactics can provide this - from designated compartments, shelving, cabinets and drawers. Customizable organization and storage can be critical to feeling control over the workspace and happiness in the workplace. Until the day you retire, your workplace will be an integral part of your life, so as a reminder, make it the happiest it can be. For more whitepapers, case studies, infographics and shareable ideas on improving workplace happiness for yourself and your co-workers, visit www.atworkhappiness.com.—BPT
GetRuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017 21
22 RuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017
Tips for taking the stress out of ‘back to after school’ As kids and teens head back to school, working parents are also preparing for “back to after school.” Despite the fact that 60 percent of parents report having flexible work hours that allow them to take care of their children once the school day ends, a survey from Boys & Girls Clubs of America shows 75 percent still find that after-school time causes as much or more stress than in-school time. When it comes to after-school programs and resources, the study also found parents’ top priorities are providing a safe place for their children, academic mentoring and support, as well as sports and fitness programs. As an expert in youth development that specializes in these key areas, Boys & Girls Clubs of America offers these tips to help parents take the stress out of transitioning back to after school. Safety first Each day 11 million children and teens leave school with no place to go, increasing their risk of being unsupervised, unguided and unsafe in communities across the country, according to a 2014 Afterschool Alliance study. And, since juvenile crime escalates during the hours of 3-7 p.m. according to the U.S. Department of Justice, parents have cause for concern about how their children spend their time during these critical hours. Particularly for working parents who cannot be home with their children when the school day ends, taking advantage of affordable, accessible after-school programs - ideally staffed by trained, trustworthy adult leaders - alleviates stress by providing peace of mind that their kids are safe, supervised and on a path to success. Homework help Parents perceive the biggest challenges their children face when starting a new school year are preparing for the needs of the next grade level and keeping up with homework. According to Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s survey, nearly 60 percent of parents find it difficult to ensure their children are on a path to a successful school year. By making a plan for how and when to tackle homework each day and sticking to it, parents and kids can make the most of after-school time. Whether it’s at home with support from a parent or guardian, at a tutoring facility or at a community organization with academic programming such as a local Boys & Girls Club, setting aside a specific time and place for homework will avoid headaches for parents and children alike. Explore and inspire After spending a full day in school, kids and teens
often benefit from tapping into their creative side after class lets out. Make time for them to explore art, music, dance and STEM programs to not only relieve stress but also to express themselves, explore new areas of interest and ignite potential passions that may last a lifetime. Get active With more than three out of 10 kids today considered obese or overweight according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, physical activity and nutrition education are paramount to changing this equation for future generations. After-school time offers the chance for young people to take part in sports and fitness activities that not only burn off pent-up energy but also build self-esteem and instill sportsmanship. Also, having kids help with dinner preparation not only offers an extra hand in the kitchen but also teaches healthy cooking and eating habits. Fun with friends As many adults can attest, school is a formative time for academics, as well as social growth. Spending time with friends and building relationships helps kids and teens hone social skills, unwind and simply have fun. After all, you’re only a kid once! While a structured after-school plan reduces stress, allow some flexibility to accommodate time with friends. While these best practices are based on the success of the after-school programming Boys & Girls Clubs around the country offer kids and teens, the tips can be implemented by any parent or caregiver looking to foster academic success, healthy living and character development as the young people in their lives head back to school this fall.—
GetRuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017 23
24 RuralLeaderMag.com | AUGUST 2017
