Starting 2012 with a Clean Slate
Monthly news from the CCA Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team
It's the beginning of a brand new year – a time to assess, plan and set personal and professional goals. Did you know that the first month of the year is dedicated to making positive changes on multiple fronts? After all, January is National Get Organized Month, National Mentoring Month, Financial Wellness Month and International Quality of Life Month. Each of these special observances is related to self-improvement and new beginnings. Here's a bit more about them:
National Get Organized Month – We always can be more organized, whether it's in our personal lives with home and family schedules or with professional obligations. This may involve prioritizing responsibilities or better budgeting time.
National Mentoring Month – We have all benefitted from mentors, and we can give back by being a positive, involved influence on others. In many instances, this can be as simple as making phone calls to give encouragement.
Financial Wellness Month – It's important to not only meet our financial needs today but to also look to the future for ourselves and our loved ones. This may mean saving a small amount from every paycheck, saving change (which adds up quicker than you may think), or enrolling in CCA's 401(k) plan, for instance.
International Quality of Life Month – This is about making sure we're balanced in every area of our lives, including family, spirituality, health, leisure, community, education, work and finances. Again, time management is critical to maintaining this balance, and it starts with you.
There are so many tools you can use to start your new year strong. Put them to good use for yourself and for others. When you improve yourself, you help others around you. Make 2012 a better, stronger year, which will result in a more balanced you.
The CISM program's mission is expanding to include topics that may be of interest to staff dealing with stress in everyday life, and not just at work. Be sure to check back for new articles each month.
January 11, 2012