The word ‘holiday’ conjures up serene images of rest and relaxation, far, far away from the piles of paperwork and e-mails. But today’s technology has resulted in 24/7 office accessibility, even when you’re on your dream island getaway. Nanzinc.Com shows you how you can put (most of your work) behind you while on that much-needed break, and get that much-deserved recharging that you deserve! By: Sharlene Tan Give advance notice Let your superiors, colleagues, subordinates and clients know weeks in advance about your travel plans so that...

Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines. They’re piling up all around you and you feel like you’ve barely got enough time to eat or sleep. But working through the night and skipping meals is one of the easiest ways to let your body down, and could result in bigger health problems in the long run. By: Sharlene Tan According to the World Health Organisation, the workplace is one of the key environments that affects one’s mental health. When the assignments are piling up around you, you might get headaches, have little appetite, problems sleeping,...

People are complex beings. Psychologists have likened the individual to an iceberg – what you see is just the surface, the tip of the iceberg. It’s no wonder, then, that working in a team can be tough. Interpersonal conflicts can make or break a team. By: Dorothea Chow Whether it’s an in-your-face shouting match or an undercurrent tension that affects your mood, all of us will have experienced conflict at work in one form or another. Managing such sticky situations requires you to understand your own temperament as well as your team’s...

Like a trapeze act, changing careers calls for patience, some know-how, a safety net and at the end of the day, the willingness to take that courageous plunge. By: Sharlene Tan Many of us dream of escaping the mundane, meaningless corporate drone life and finding a career that makes us excited about going to work in the morning. But few of us will actually act on that dream. After all, it’s daunting to have to start over from scratch. Of 14,000 US job changers surveyed in 2004 by career transition consultant Right Management, only 5% started...

Impressions count, like it or not, and in the workplace it could mean a promotion or closing a deal. You want your makeup to look appropriate for the office, without going overboard. Nanzinc.Com takes a look at makeup tips for the workplace. By: Lianne Ong Assuming that you’re not working in the fashion or entertainment industry, you wouldn’t be wearing makeup that is loud and sparkly, topped with fluttery false eyelashes on a daily basis.  Yet you want to look polished, awake and pretty (but not slutty).  It helps you look and feel confident,...

Are you spending too much time in the office? Do your family and friends feel neglected? Take this quiz to see whether work has become your one and only. By: Ng Lin-Li If I don’t work for a day, I feel like: I am a failure and my company will fall apart without me. I might inconvenience my colleagues but they will manage somehow. It’s OK. I’ll be working the rest of my life anyway. At night and on weekends: I forget all about work to relax with family and friends. I would rather go in earlier the next day than bring...

Bad days at work are inevitable, even if you actually like your job. The worst thing that you can do after a bad day is to take all that frustration and stress home with you, where it could boil over and potentially hurt your marriage and family life. Instead, take up these ideas from Nanzinc.Com that can help you avoid a major meltdown. By: Sharlene Tan Yelled at by your boss? Kick away the blues Physical activity pumps up endorphins, which are the feel-good neurotransmitters produced in your brain. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular exercise...

Most work environments come with one or two of such people — co-workers that just get on your nerves with their egotism, mood swings, or lack of communication. Here are some ways to deal with them and make your work life easier. By: Ng Lin-Li Stay calm Losing your temper at that difficult colleague is likely to make the situation worse, making them more emotional and out of control than they already are, and maybe even making you look as unstable as they are. Instead, take the high road and stay calm, and that difficult colleague may start...

When your proposal gets shot down at work, it can hurt. It’s hard to not take it to heart, especially if you’ve poured your blood and sweat into that project. But allowing work to get too personal can frustrate and distract and cause you to overlook your responsibilities at work. By Sharlene Tan It’s great when you give your 100% to your job. But there is a line that should not be crossed— when everything about work becomes personal to you. From that comment your boss tossed to your colleague to the fact that your client didn’t...

If you’re always feeling like you’re getting the short-end of the stick at your workplace, Nanzinc.Com gives you some pointers on how you can assert yourself more effectively with your bosses and colleagues. By: Melanie Lee Say No. Many workers feel that it’s hard to counter whatever our bosses say. After all, won’t it just reek of bad work attitude and lack of co-operation? As such, many take on tasks even when stretched to the limit or pretend to agree with whatever decision the management makes. Rather than stew in resentment with the...