HOLIDAY ETIQUETTE

Illustration by: Sterling Griffin

"I think I'm dying," I gasped as my head spun and my stomach lurched. What was wrong with me? I'd only had a couple of glasses of champagne, well maybe three. Little did I know at the time, but I had broken one of the cardinal rules of holiday party etiquette: Beware the bubbly!

As we get older and have more holiday obligations of both the business and family variety, proper etiquette allows us to treat others with respect and represent ourselves well.

When celebrating, it is customary to raise a glass of champagne to toast a special occasion; however, it is never wise to guzzle glass after glass since champagne is one of the most intoxicating beverages on the market. Champagne has an alcohol content between eight and twelve percent and some experts believe that its affect is hastened through the bloodstream by the carbonation.

"Well, I'm not sure about that, but it is certainly tasty," said Connie King LPN, "and that makes it easy to drink quickly." Drinking a glass of water after every cocktail serves a dual purpose of increasing hydration while giving the body time to process alcohol.

Gift giving is another minefield of holiday etiquette. When gifts are exchanged, remember Murphy's Law, "Anything that can go wrong will." and resist the urge to regift. "It's just uncouth," said Victual Communications' Etiquette Consultant Andria Holub. "And I say this having received a regifted, dusty, dollar store candle once."

When presented with an unsuitable gift, first try to exchange it for something more appropriate: a different size, another color or another item. If the item cannot be returned, find a charity that will distribute it to someone who needs, or at least wants, it.

The holiday season would not be complete without overnight guests. These adult versions of the sleepover can present a variety of challenges for both guest and host. It is important to remember that no two homes are exactly alike. Pets, children and living arrangements all play a role in the overnight experience. The ideal overnight guest is respectful above all else.

"If two lifestyles are different enough to cause conflict," said Holub, "a hotel may well be the answer.

So, as the holidays approach, invitations arrive, gifts are bought and travel arrangements made, remember: etiquette equals respect.

RETENTION
“We rarely forget that which has made a deep impression on our minds.” (Tyron Edwards)
I walk into the room and stand there, dazed and confused. "Why did I come in here?" I think. This happens more often than I would like to admit, and I can't attribute it to old age since it has been happening all my life. I instead blame the fact that I have so much on my mind that thoughts are leaking out my ears. However, I've learned that there are things that I can do to stem the tide.
Memory can be visualized as a jungle, and while all memories are in the jungle, not all are accessible. Just like critters who frequent a favorite watering hole in the woods, we must create a path in our minds to return to a particular memory. These memory trails are known as neural pathways, and creating a neural pathway is the key to retention. By purposefully returning to a piece of information at specific intervals, in specific ways, retention can be greatly improved; just as in the jungle, returning to a particular place becomes second nature.

By mentally visiting information at specific intervals we can insure productive results. This process is called reinforcement and can more than double the amount of information retained. This does not necessarily dictate a full study session complete with text and notes, but instead a quick, mental visit will do. Simply think, “What was that about?” While a review is not out of the question, it is not always necessary. Very often we can remember vivid details if we just try. This may seem simplistic, but it works! The first mental reinforcement should occur approximately 20 minutes after exposure to the information.

There are two kinds of memory, short term and long term. Short term memory works on a resonance theory, meaning a piece of information will resonate between twenty seconds and twenty minutes; therefore, a mental review should be attempted inside the first twenty minutes.

The second important interval comes at the two hour mark. Once again, reinforcement is key; simply bring the subject to mind and remember as much about it as possible.
The next and final interval is somewhat flexible depending on the time of day. At the six hour mark or just before bed (whichever comes first), another mental review is productive. This time, remember as much as possible and review notes or texts that might strengthen understanding.
This last interval is important for two reasons. Of course, it reinforces the material, but it also prepares the body to convert the information from short to long term memory.

Sleep is key to memory. Information is processed from short to long term memory during deep sleep. Therefore, the last thing reviewed before bed is the first thing in line for processing. Anyone not sleeping well is not processing information properly. So regardless of how much we study or how often we review, if deep sleep does not occur, memory suffers.

So, while the occasional forgetful moment is inevitable, targeted reinforcement can enhance memory dramatically with very little actual effort. Good to know!

For more of Victual’s Keys to Effective Communication, visit See The Keys at http://www.victualkeys.blogspot.com/
For event information visit
http://www.victualevents.blogspot.com/
For more about Victual Communications visit
http://www.victualcommunications.com/

ORGANIZATION

“Clutter is an outward expression of an inner condition,”
Anonymous.
In today’s turbulent economic environment, many individuals and businesses alike find their income reduced while expenses and transportation costs soar. Therefore, productivity is key to healthy home management as well as business operations. Optimum productivity depends on simple skills that can be introduced and reinforced with proper training.

The first key to a productive lifestyle is organization. Start small by developing a daily schedule, being realistic. Then prioritize things into one of three categories: essential tasks, those which must be done today; important tasks, those which must be done within 48 hours; and significant tasks, those which must be done when time allows. Do the essential tasks first, followed by the important items and when time allows, finish up with as many of the significant as possible.

During the day, beware of distractions. Electronics such as televisions, computers and telephones can steal precious hours from any day. Internal distractions hunger, thirst, emotional issues, etc. and external distractions such as noise, room temperature and lighting also whittle away at productivity. Some things may be corrected simply by remembering to take a jacket or a snack, while others may be addressed with meditation or other relaxation techniques.

At Victual Communications we specialize in productivity training. We introduce concepts affecting individual success and organizational productivity today. With more than 15 years experience in the field, we offer training valuable to both individuals and groups.
Visit us on the web: http://www.victualcommunications.com/