Tips on handling morning rush madness when youre a working mom

Tips on handling morning rush madness when youre a working momTips on handling morning rush madness when youre a working momFor working mothers, trying to get yourself and your kids ready, and get out the door on time takes a lot of juggling and planning. Its essential to keep an organized morning routine to avoid surprises, but sometimes you also need a little luck.Your toddler might be moody and just wont cooperate in doing the simple task of dressing, or you cant seem to find your keys.Here are some time-saving tips to handle the morning rush madness.Wake up early enough and make your bedMaking the bed automatically sets the tone for a productive day. It will be the first task of the day which youll schliff successfully, so it will give you extra motivation to see it nice and tidy. It builds the momentum to move on with the other tasks of the morning.Make sure you feel more awake with a cup of coffeeThis step is quite important for a good start of the day Its even scientifically p roven that caffeine helps with the feeling of grogginess you feel in the morning. Plus it makes you feel less tired, which can often happen to a new mom that wakes up multiple times at night with her baby OR to a mom that had extra work to do from home and stayed up late.Once you drink your coffee and the caffeine is absorbed into the bloodstream in the brain, various aspects of brain function like memory, mood, energy levels, vigilance are improved. And all of us could use an energy boost to start the dayIf youre not a coffee person, you can still have your beverage of choice. Lemon water is also filled with antioxidants.Maintain a consistent routineMake every step of the morning predictable to yourself and your kids. Consistency is key when trying to make habits, especially when it comes to kids.Pre-preparation is crucialAlways prepare lunch boxes for you and the kids the night before. This way you only plek them up before leaving the house.The weekend is your friendThe preparati ons that you do on your days off work are lifesaving for the busy week that comes ahead in the life of a working mother. Use it to plan outfits for the whole week. This way you dont lose time every morning figuring out what to wear, or looking for those black tights, OR the worst for ironing.Also, use the weekend to go grocery shopping in order to make sure you have all the basic food items for lunchboxes and breakfast you usually use every morning.Know where everything isPlace everything in the same place every day. Keep the lunch boxes close to the refrigerator and your diaper bag to give to the nanny somewhere in sight. As for jackets, backpacks, and shoes, keep them near the front door. And dont forget about your purse, phone, and keys. Take special care in especially knowing where your keys are One misplacement and there go 5 minutes of precious time looking for them.Assign responsibilities to spouse and kidsAll of you are in a rush to go to work/school/kindergarten, so all of you should help out in making the process easier. One can help with breakfast, one can help with setting the table, and so on. But dont hesitate in asking for help.Breakfast rulesKeep breakfast light with as few used dishes to clean as possible. Also, dont let your kids use electronics in the breakfast table. Itll slow them down. Watching cartoons in their iPads will cozy them up too much that theyll eat slower. Plus theyll want to finish the episode, which is out of the question because time is limited.Apart from your kids, you need to go tech-free too. Try to keep your phone on sleep mode until after 8 when you leave the house for work. If you work from home or have a part-time job that starts later, then the better for you you are more flexible in making your own tech rules.Try to make mornings playful for kidsTalk with them about their daily agenda, but also try to make morning as fun as they can be for them. If you put too much pressure on them, they become even more sluggish a nd unmotivated. Having to convince them that they have to get dressed in other clothes besides pajamas makes it harder for us to handle the morning rush madness. Instead, make games like Whos getting dressed faster? Losing in this game works perfectly for usLearn to do a staple under-10-minutes hairstyle and light make upKeep a routine that works for you the simpler, the better. Besides, only looking well put together is enough for going to work. Keep the dark eyeshadows that take long to blend for evening occasions.Also, make sure to keep the products youre taking with separately in a small bag. Dont forget the hair ties having to look for one when in time pressure is frustrating.Make a DIY kitchen command centerYou can use a large calendar where everyone writes their plans for the month so that there are no surprises. This way if they have afterschool activities that you have to drive them to, you know. You can put To-Do list stickers on the side too.Take the time on a weekend to also arrange a couple of organizers under the calendar board as space where you sort out everything and know where they are when you need them. This way you have all your necessities handy before leaving the door.Make a mind list and double check it before leaving the houseThe final tip for when there is enough time left is double checking if you did everything and have everything picked up. Nothing worse than having to drive back home when youre already short on time because you forgot to pick up something, is there?Mornings arent supposed to be torture. They should be something you look forward to and enjoy, which you will once you create a morning routine that works for you as a mother and for your kids. As soon as you do, be consistent with it, and it will become a habit mornings wont be madness anymore, although they alliterate.Ujbardha Bekolli is a writer for SAHMjobs a job portal designed to bring together stay at home moms and recruiters. The platform also brings helpful art icles in the Blog section regarding mothers who want to return to the workforce.

3 Invaluable Career Lessons Every Leader Could Learn From My Interns

3 Invaluable Career Lessons Every Leader Could Learn From My Interns3 Invaluable Career Lessons Every Leader Could Learn From My InternsI have a special place in my heart for interns and all the optimism and fresh perspective they bring to the job. Recently, with college students finishing their internships and going back to school, I reflected on the unique value that internships offer for both the intern and the company. Tzu siches no doubt internships can be incredibly valuable to someone in terms of helping inform what she wants her career to be. And, as importantly, what she doesnt want her career to be. Ive written in past blogs about how two internships shaped my career in a significant way. The first one- at a major Wall Street law firm- showed me that despite the prestige and great money the job offered, I actually wanted to launch my career in a different way. And I arrived at that conclusion because my other internship (at a global multi-line insurance company in Connecti cut) offered me immediate exposure to many areas of the business and allowed me to gain mora substantive responsibilities much more quickly.But internships can also be a valuable source of insight, perspective, and even career advice for the people who employ them. Ive made it a habit of spending time with the interns at Fidelity to get feedback about their experiences- what delights them in the corporate setting, what frustrates them, and what would energize and inspire them to do their best work. It never fails- I always leave those sessions with new learnings and perspective on how we can enhance the associate experience.Their feedback can also be channeled into great career advice for anyone who takes the time to really listen and learn from interns. These are some of the observations I had this year.1. Be Open to Learning Something New Every DayThe interns I spoke with this year- both individually and in group settings- were so open and candid. They wanted to offer their perspe ctives on how to make things even better and understand how they could add value every day. They were intensely curious, not taking anything as a given, and thereby stretching the boundaries of conventional thinking- which is a necessary precursor to creativity and innovation.Leaders at all levels can learn from this genuine level of openness- they dont have all the answers. In fact, one of their very important obligations is to ask really good, penetrating questions in order to push the thinking and boundaries of the organization. And another obligation is to be open to feedback and fresh ideas, and to empower people to act on these positive ideas. The traditional command and control style just wont work in most organizations anymore. In this fast-paced and quickly changing world, strong leaders will need to demonstrate the intense curiosity that these interns bring to the table. It can be uncomfortable for many leaders to make this transition. In order to do so, you have to admit you dont have all the answers, and you have to allow yourself to empower the people around you to act on their good ideas, instead of simply looking to you for answers. It requires that we check our egos and pride at the door and invest in the best ideas and perspectives of every team member.By being a leader whos open-minded and willing to listen and learn, youll sharpen your vision, connect more deeply with those around you, and empower your people to make a real difference.2. Get Real- Less Bureaucracy and More ActionThe traditional corporate practices that are now second nature for so many of us are completely foreign to interns. I heard some common refrains from interns, such as, Why are there so many meetings? Why arent there more informal and unscheduled discussions? Why do things feel so complex? Why cant we break down the cubes to allow ideas and discussion to flow more freely?Of course, theyre right. Fortunately, Fidelity has taken this feedback to heart and were well on o ur way to busting bureaucracy and creating a more energizing work environment. And we need to continue working at it. Bureaucracy is the enemy of progress and empowerment. It sucks energy and creativity from people and inevitably slows things down. I wholeheartedly embrace the energy and spirit that interns bring forward to liberate us from bureaucracy. Their fresh perspective not only keeps us honest, but it prevents us from thinking too small or acting too incrementally. 3. Climbing the Corporate Ladder Is Not What it Used to BeCompared to seasoned employees, interns are much less likely to focus on where theyll be in X years or what the promotion plan is. Some of that is to be expected, but I think theres something deeper afoot. Interns (and Millennials in general) are more focused on enhancing their skills than their titles. They intuitively grasp the fact that the world is quickly changing and they will need a diverse set of skills to enjoy a long and successful career. Theyre open to the jungle gym approach to development instead of the hierarchal ladder.Once again, I think theyre on to something. While ambition and career development are clearly very important, theres a new world order developing before our very eyes, and the traditional approach to career growth is narrow and limiting. Ive had multiple discussions with interns and our own employees about the skills needed for future advancement. Ive encouraged them to learn the basics of coding (at a minimum) and to have an internship that provides digital immersion of some sort.Establishing a broader foundation of skills will serve you well in this quickly evolving world.Chart Your Own CourseExperience and expertise are important in any career. And if you have a job, youll inevitably gain both. But the mindset you choose to employ throughout your career is yours and yours alone. Consider what your intern brought to the table- optimism, exuberance, energy, excitement. Theyre qualities anyone could bene fit from.This article was originally published on LinkedIn. It has been republished here with permission.Photo of meeting courtesy of Hero Images/Getty Images.

Veterinary Technician Anesthetist Career

Veterinary Technician Anesthetist CareerVeterinary Technician Anesthetist CareerVeterinary technician anesthetists are specially trained and certified to assist veterinary anesthesiologists and surgeons with procedures. Duties Veterinary technician anesthetists assist veterinarians with surgical procedures performed on a variety of animals. Routine tasks may include pre-anesthetic preparation, evaluating patients, giving fluids, administering anesthesia, managing ventilation, maintaining sedation, monitoring emergence from anesthesia, post-anesthesia care, and performing equipment maintenance. Vet techs, including anesthetists, may be required to some work nights or weekends depending on the schedule of their clinic or the attending veterinarian. They must also take precautions to minimize the potential for injury from animals that are in the process of being sedated. Career Options Veterinary technician anesthetists most frequently find employment with veterinary clinics, ho spitals, and emergency clinics. They may also find positions in some zoos, animal parks, marine parks, and research labs. Techs may specialize by working with a specific category of patients such as small animals, large animals, equines, or exotics. Some veterinary technicians choose to move into other positions in the animal health industry, such as veterinary equipment sales or veterinary pharmaceutical sales. Anesthesia technicians are particularly well suited to market surgical equipment and devices, particularly anesthesia devices. Education Licensing There are over 160 accredited veterinary technician programs in the United States that can grant two-year Associate degrees to their successful graduates. After graduation from an accredited program vet techs must also pass a licensing examination in their state of residence. State certification is granted through the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), though some states may have some varying additional requirements. The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) is the certification authority that recognizes 11 veterinary technician specialist (VTS) certification areas. The currently recognized specialties for veterinary technicians include anesthesia, surgical, dental, internal medicine, emergency critical care, behavior, zoo, equine, clinical pathology, clinical practice, and nutrition. The Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthetists (AVTA) offers VTS specialty certification to licensed vet techs that have completed at least 6,000 hours (3 years) of vet tech experience, with at least 75 percent of that time (4500 hours) spent administering anesthesia and related care. Additional requirements to sit for the exam include completion of at least 50 cases during the year of application, four detailed case reports, 40 hours of documented continuing education within the past five years, completion of an advanced anesthesia skills checklist, and two letters of recommendatio n. Veterinary technicians meeting unterstellung rigorous requirements are eligible to take the AVTA certification exam that is administered once each year. Veterinary hospitals may prefer to hire candidates who hold specialty certification in the field of anesthesia, as these individuals will have advanced skill and significant training in the field. Salary According to the employment site Indeed.com, vet tech anesthetists earned an average salary of $45,000 in 2012. This is quite a bit higher than the $30,290 ($14.56 per hour) mean annual wage for all veterinary technicians reported by the BLS in 2012. The BLS also reported that the lowest 10 percent of all techs earned less than $21,030 per year, while the highest 10 percent of all techs earned more than $44,030 per year. Benefits for vet tech anesthetists may include salary, medical insurance, dental insurance, paid vacation days, a uniform allowance, or discounted care for the techs animals at their home clinic. As with any position, salary is commensurate with the level of experience and level of education. Specialists usually can command the top end salaries due to their advanced levels of expertise. Career Outlook According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 84,800 vet techs employed during the most recent salary survey of 2010. The BLS projected a steady annual increase of veterinary technicians, with approximately 4,000 new licensees expected to enter the field each year. The BLS also projects that the rate of expansion for the profession will expand much more quickly than the average for all professions at a rate of 30% (from 2012 to 2022). The limited supply of new techs entering the field, combined with the even smaller number of techs that will achieve specialty certification in anesthesia, should result in very strong job prospects for certified vet tech anesthetists.