Holiday office etiquette: The dos and donts of the season

The holidays are a wonderful time, but when it comes to the office, there are some dos and don’ts you should definitely follow. Before you buy your boss a gift, put that nativity scene on your desk, or have a third glass of wine at the office party, watch this!

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

Are you an introvert or an extrovert? And how does that play out in the workplace? Find out what you are and how you can work it to your advantage in this week's "Let's Talk Live" episode.

The five keys to success in the new economy

It's still a very tough market out there. But there are five keys that can help you succeed: Accept change, develop strong networks, advance diversity, play well with others, and take responsibility. This is the A.D.A.P.T. model of success, and workplace guru Mary Abbajay walks you through it:

What to expect the first year of your new business

I'm not going to sugarcoat it: The first year in business is the toughest. But if you know what to expect you can sail through with success. Watch this episode of "Let's Talk Live," where we wrap up our Summer Business Series on how to start your own business with the final installment: What to expect the first year.

Why you shouldn't multitask, and 7 ways to stop

These days, everyone is a multitasker. We talk while we drive, we answer text messages or e-mails during meetings, we return phone calls while surfing the Internet, we work on different docs in different applications all at once, and we cook dinner while talking on the phone.

 But instead of being a hallmark of efficacy, multitasking is actually a detriment to productivity. In fact, research says that performance actually decreases when we do more than one task at a time. Multitasking is counterproductive, our work is poorer for it, and we have to learn to stop doing it.

 Now, this is tough, as we have all taught ourselves that doing only one thing at a time is somehow lazy, less desirable, or a luxury of some sort. Why just sit there reading a report when you could also be checking your e-mail? Why just sit in that meeting listening when you could also be sending texts? Sound familiar? Multitasking is a habit that’s hard to break, but there are a lot of strategies you can use to help you stop:

1. Answer e-mails only at a certain time. Don't check constantly throughout the day. If the little icon announcing a new e-mail is too tempting, close the program.

2. Answer or return phone calls at a certain time, as well. Only take a call if it is imperative to do so, otherwise, let it go to voicemail.

3. When you are on the phone, shut out other distractions, like your computer screen or paperwork, and focus on the phone call.

4. Make it easy to succeed by limiting distractions. When you are working on something, turn off, mute, or stow other gadgets, screens, projects, papers, reports, etc.

5. Make sure your workspace is well organized and free of clutter. A cluttered space can lead to a cluttered mind, so you want to be sure your space lends itself to focused thinking and activity.

6. Same thing for your computer. Don't open too many programs on your screen. Keep your computer desktop organized, too. Try to keep it simple so you can focus.

7. Appreciate the bottom line. Understanding that shifting or splitting your mental attention actually costs you efficiency and time will help you stop multitasking. 

Multitasking is really just a bad habit that can be broken with a little understanding and a little discipline. You learned how to multitask, and you can learn to stop, too. Trust me, your work and your mood will improve.

Mary talks vacations (and why you should take one!) on News Channel 8

Everyone needs a vacation, and in this segment on News Channel 8, Mary talks with host Bruce Depuyt about the importance of taking a much-needed break from the office.

Why you should take a vacation

Did you know that more than 1/3 of working Americans will not take their allotted vacation time this year? And if they do, half of the time they take work with them? What kind of vacation is that? What gives?

With so much economic uncertainty, plus high gas prices and a tough job market, many workers reason that they can't afford to take a vacation, financially, career-wise, or both.

That's a mistake, and here’s why: taking a vacation is a proven way to reduce stress and rejuvenate yourself. Vacations are an absolute physical and emotional necessity. You may be afraid to take one, but you will be better for it.

Studies show that vacations—appreciable time away from the demands of work— reduce stress, promote creativity, stave off burnout, strengthen personal and familial relationships, and help job performance. They are restorative—we sleep more, eat better, try new things, engage in favorite activities, and maybe even exercise a bit.

Management gurus say it all the time: taking frequent breaks from work promotes better brain activity and creative thinking. When someone is exhausted, stressed, and overworked, their mind shuts down and they are no longer productive or effective. Breaks are essential to productivity. Many forward-thinking companies have this figured out, like Zappos, which is why they feature lavish and funky break rooms with baristas, couches, scooters, massage therapists, and video games to help their employees disconnect and recharge.

The yearly two-week vacation is the equivalent to the fifteen-minute break in the workday; it is an essential component to one’s mental and physical health and the hallmark of a productive person.

But not all vacations are created equally. You have to make sure you choose the right vacation for you. That may sound obvious, but it’s not. Some vacations may actually cause more stress. Like to lie around and do nothing? Then a beach house is probably preferable to an ambitious trek through the cathedrals of Europe. Conversely, if you are a type A who loves to go-go-go, then two weeks at a remote lake house may make you crazy. The vacation you take should match both your interest and your energy level.

Whatever you do, don't take your work with you. Unless you are running your own business where you might need to stay connected, you are not getting paid to respond to e-mails and voice mails. So leave the work and the gadgets behind.

However, for some people, just knowing that they can stay connected might help them alleviate the anxiety of even taking a vacation. In that case, by all means, take your gadgets with you. Remember: the point of a vacation is not necessarily to do nothing. The point is to disconnect and disengage yourself from your work, so that you are recharged, refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to reconnect, both at work and at home.

So, what are you waiting for? Happy vacation!