Health and Human Services Professional Development

Early Bird Gets the Worm…or at Least the Job by   Jill Bowers   on   July 5, 2013   Five tips for getting up early by Robin Sharma…although a few of these many not seem feasible (i.e., getting a weekly massage), his philosophy on getting up early may be useful to you/your daily routine. https://youtu.be/z6hsOLVwfFc *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

Career Exploration: Find What Interests YOU by   Roberta Kingery   on   July 9, 2013   While helping students research potential careers, one of the questions I am asked most often is, “What career fields are hot right now?”.  It’s typically an easy question to answer, but not the best way to determine a career field.  Why?  First, what’s hot now may not be “hot” in four years when most students graduate.  Many factors determine what fields are in demand, and those change, often with little warning.  Selecting a popular career field in 2013, which may or may not interest you, can create a problem if you graduate in 2017 and that field isn’t hot, or you aren’t geographically somewhere with openings in that field. A better way to determine career options is to look at a combination of things.  Career counselors may ask you to take an assessment tool to help identify your interests, abilities and values.  Discussing these thre...

What Regrets Will You Have? by   Mikki Sherwood   on   August 19, 2013 Many people have regrets. This article on Huffington Post highlights many of the important aspects of life and gives you an idea of what you might view as important when you look back on your accomplishments.  How well do you listen and value advice from parents, professors, or other adults? Do you take others’ hurtful comments/reactions to heart? Do you take sexual risks?  How have you learned from your mistakes? It’s important to think about these things now. Read the full article for tips on living life with little regret: The 20 Things I Wish Someone Told Me at 20 – Huffington Post *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

What’s YOUR Plan? by   Jill Bowers   on   August 22, 2013   Are you planning for tomorrow? Next week? Next semester? Next Year? All are vital to your career. No plan = no productivity = no job. Begin by thinking about your long-term goals and then, the shorter-term goals. Then, plan out the weekly, daily, and monthly activities that help you to reach your goals. Below is a sample plan for someone who wants to become an administrator in a domestic violence agency (as an example).    Long-term goal: Become an administrator at a domestic violence agency within 8 years. Intermediate goals: Finish bachelor’s degree in human services program administration , human development and family studies, or program that trains you in family services (4 years on average). Receive a Master’s degree in human services program administration, HDFS, business administration, or other field that will train you for an administrator role (1.5 – 3 years, depen...

Stress Management by   Jill Bowers   on   June 3, 2013 Although stress can be a normal part of life, especially for those of you who are on the job market and experiencing additional demands and pressures to succeed.  At the same time, too much or frequent stress can negatively influence your physical health (e.g., headaches or weakened immune system), mental health (e.g., mood swings, irritability, or depression), and relationship health (e.g., finding with friends, family, or romantic partners). Although everyone handles and reacts to stress differently, it is best to avoid being overly stressed. See tips for  stress management  and  how to fight stress with healthy habits  here. Source:  http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/stress-management-topic-overview  and http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/StressManagement/FightStressWithHealthyHabits/Fight-Stress-with-Healthy-Habits_UCM_307992_Article.jsp Additi...

What Do You Wish You Knew Before College? by   Mikki Sherwood   on   February 9, 2014 What do you wish you knew before you went to college? Do you have any hints for those starting an academic journey? Hannah Flom writes of the 14 things she wished she had known before college. I think her list is fun; you can go over to  Thought Catalo g to read the entire post. Some of her thoughts: • Making real friends takes time • It is hard to be away from home • Go to your professors’ office hours • Transferring schools is not the end of the world • College is a time for mistakes I especially like the fact that she allows for mistakes to be made. College is about trying new experiences. Some of those experiments are going to go very well, some….not so much. But, if you are afraid to try something new, and afraid of possible failure, you will miss so many opportunities. *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

Depression May Not Be What You Think! by   Mikki Sherwood   on   February 22, 2014 Anyone can struggle with depression.  Kevin Breel discusses depression in this Ted Talks video,  “Depression May Not Be What You Think.”  He says that everyone sees him as a typical teenager, but he sees himself differently. He is an individual that battles depression. Kevin makes the point that there are misconceptions about depression, stating that those that are depressed are not just sad when a situation is negative, they are sad when everything is going well in their lives. He explains that he was often afraid to tell people he was depressed for fear they would run away. In reality, Kevin says it is better to look someone in the eye and be truthful, saying “I’m going through hell and need help.” If you, or someone you know, is depressed, this video is a resource for helping you know that you are not alone. If you believe you are depressed and need help, here ar...

Can Physical Health Impact Happiness? YOU BETHCA!! by   Mikki Sherwood   on   March 2, 2014   The body’s natural desire is to be healthy, says Dean Ornish in this Ted Talks video,  “Healing Through Diet,”  Dr. Ornish states that optimal health, and therefore happiness, occurs when you follow a lifestyle that includes a low-fat and plant-based diet, stress management training, moderate exercise, no smoking or drinking alcohol, and the psychological support of peers. Dr. Ornish also states that it is important to be aware of behaviors that can have a negative impact on health later in life. For example, it is important to eat a well-balanced, low-fat diet consisting of all the main food groups: dairy, protein, grains, fruits, and vegetables. It is also important to stay in shape by exercising on a regular basis. On the other hand, drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes can negatively impact health.  Dr. Ornish states that it is relatively easy to...

                                                                    Omnipresence of Sugar By Shaun Hurdelbrink and Natasha Cole, MPH, RD on April 28, 2015 Are you aware of sugar’s omnipresence in your life or how much you truly consume? Added sugar is found in many foods: breakfast cereals, fruit juices, granola bars, ketchup, BBQ sauce, soymilk, energy drinks, protein bars, etc. You get the idea. Unsurprisingly, Americans consume “an average of more than 500 calories per day from added sugar alone.” 1  Not only do added sugars themselves contribute several hundred calories daily, but sugar’s low nutritional value makes people “continue to feel hungry” after consuming them. 2  Sugar not only contributes to obesity around the world, but it is also linked to other health problems such as: hypertension...