OG Tuesday Issue #233

🚀 Stuck in middle management? Uncover the 3 mistakes holding you back and become VP-Ready in months, not years.

🪫 Toxic coworkers can burn us all the way out, but we don’t have to let them.

📊 Choosing the right HRIS is tough—this expert-vetted guide breaks down the best options for 2025.

🧘‍♀️ If your 2025 plan includes a wellness retreat, these are the best in the U.S.

Hormones control everything from our moods and energy to metabolism and sleep. When they’re balanced, we feel great! When they’re not, we may feel like we’re having an out-of-body experience—everything just feels “off.”

Unfortunately, the pharmaceutical industry offers limited options when it comes to safe and effective medications to support women’s hormone health. And many of those that are FDA-approved can potentially lead to other health issues like strokes, bone disease, and breast and reproductive system cancers.

This may be why more women are opting to combat Mother Nature’s peri process with organic and holistic options, like diet, exercise, and supplements.

Let’s take a closer look at our key hormones and how to support them naturally.

Key Hormones and What They Do

• Estrogen – regulates our periods, bone and skin health
• Progesterone – calms the nervous system and promotes healthy sleep
• Testosterone – supports libido and motivation
• Cortisol – the stress hormone
• Thyroid Hormones – control metabolism

Signs of Hormonal Imbalance

✅ Weight fluctuations
✅ Low energy or fatigue
✅ Brain fog
✅ Mood swings and anxiety
✅ Dry skin and/or acne
✅ Hot flashes and/or night sweats
✅ Thinning or brittle hair
✅ Tender breasts
✅ Irregular periods
✅ Trouble sleeping

What Can We Do?

What we put into our bodies plays a big part in how these hormones fluctuate. Aside from the foods we eat, these vitamin supplements can help minimize some of the effects:

• Vitamin B Trifecta B3, B6, and B12
  • B3 detoxifies excess steroid hormones.
  • B6 helps maintain balanced estrogen levels.
  • B12 supports the production of adrenaline and cortisol.
• Magnesium – reduces stress and improves sleep, but we become more resistant to absorbing it as we age.
• Vitamin D – supports our vaginal health and estrogen and progesterone production, which keep our cycles regulated.
• Omega-3 – balances cortisol levels and also helps us produce estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
• Probiotics – good gut health translates to good vaginal health.

DIY Hacks for Healthy Hormones

💤 Prioritize sleep – 6-9 hours supports cortisol and progesterone.
🍽️ Eat for balance – Protein, healthy fats, and fiber help regulate hormones.
🧘‍♀️ Manage stress – Meditation, deep breathing, and daily walks lower cortisol levels.
🚫 Ditch toxins – Reduce plastics, chemicals, and processed foods.
🏋️‍♀️ Move your body – Strength training and yoga support hormone function.

Small changes can make a big difference, but of course, if your symptoms persist, you should consult a doctor for personalized guidance.

Nobody wants to write up an employee. It’s awkward, it’s uncomfortable, and if you don’t handle it right, it can backfire.

But when performance or behavior issues start affecting the team, ignoring the problem isn’t an option. That’s where performance management done right makes all the difference.

Some infractions are no-brainers (looking at you, “borrowed company funds for a personal vacation” guy). But others? Not so clear-cut.

Here are some common reasons employees get written up:

• Chronic absenteeism – Repeated no-shows? It’s time for a serious talk.
• Poor performance – When deadlines keep slipping, and the work isn’t up to standard.
• Toxic behavior – Gossiping, hostility, or straight-up refusing to collaborate.
• Insubordination – “I’m not doing that.” Well… okay then.
• Acceptable use violations – If they’re spending work hours deep in Reddit threads instead of, you know, working.
• Sexual harassment – Creates a toxic work environment, violates company policies, and must be addressed immediately to protect employees and comply with the law.

A write-up isn’t about gotcha moments—it’s about course correction. It should be clear, constructive, and tied to real solutions.

Follow these steps when writing up an employee:

1️⃣ Document everything – Time, date, what happened, who witnessed it. The more detailed, the better.
2️⃣ Tie it back to policy – A vague “this isn’t acceptable” won’t cut it. Cite the exact rule or performance standard that’s been violated.
3️⃣ Make the next steps crystal clear – Spell out exactly what needs to change, set a timeline, and outline consequences if nothing improves.
4️⃣ Get signatures – Employee acknowledgment (even if they don’t agree) is key to keeping things official.

⭐ A Smarter Way to Manage Performance Issues

If performance issues keep popping up, waiting until things spiral isn’t the move. BambooHR makes it easy to track progress, document conversations, and coach employees proactively—so small problems don’t turn into big ones.

See how BambooHR makes management easier.

Performance reviews can be nerve-wracking or empowering, depending on how well you prepare. To ensure both parties get the most out of these discussions, we’ve designed a quick playbook to prepare for either side of the conversation.

Employees: How to Ace Your Performance Review

1. Reflect on Your Accomplishments

Before your review, take stock of your achievements. Look at this as more of a progress review vs. performance and gather evidence of your KPI contributions.

📊 Quantifiable results (e.g., “Increased sales by 15%” or “Reduced processing time by 20%”)
🏅 Successful projects and initiatives
🗣️ Positive feedback from colleagues or clients

2. Assess Areas for Improvement

Managers appreciate employees who are self-aware and proactively seek improvement instead of waiting to be pushed. Identify areas where you can grow and be ready to discuss how you’re addressing them.

3. Prepare Questions & Career Goals

A performance review is a two-way conversation, not judgment day. Come prepared with questions about career opportunities, professional development, and ways to improve your impact.

5. Practice Your Responses

If you expect harsh feedback, practice how you’ll respond professionally. Acknowledge constructive criticism, ask clarifying questions, and express a willingness to improve.

Managers: How to Conduct an Effective Performance Review

1. Gather and Analyze Real Data

Effective performance reviews are based on objective data, not just on your interactions and impressions. To ensure fairness and accuracy, review information like:

• performance metrics
• peer and client feedback
• previous reviews to track progress

2. Create a Balanced Review

The “feedback sandwich” (positive-negative-positive) is outdated, but a balanced delivery is still important. Employees tend to respond better to constructive feedback when it’s framed with specific examples and actionable solutions.

3. Encourage a Two-Way Conversation

Don’t just talk—listen. Asking for constructive feedback (including the negative) establishes a sense of trust and 360° open communication. Ask open-ended questions like:

❓ “What challenges have you faced this year?”
❓ “How can I support you in difficult meetings/situations?”
❓ “What can I do to help you advance in this organization?”

4. Set Clear Goals for the Future

A performance review is also the time for setting expectations moving forward. Work together to set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to guide their next steps.

5. Follow Up

Performance management doesn’t end with the review. Ongoing feedback boosts performance and productivity, so schedule quarterly check-ins and provide support throughout the year to keep employees accountable and engaged.

Dry, brittle, lifeless hair—it’s the ultimate mood killer. You’ve tried every overpriced shampoo, every viral TikTok hair mask, and yet your strands are still snapping like dry spaghetti. Enough is enough.

If you’re ready to get serious about transforming your hair from straw to silk, it’s time to try something that works.

Healthy hair starts at the root—literally. Hers offers access to  a science-backed approach to hair health by tackling the real reasons your hair is screaming for help. Is it over-styling? A dry scalp? Lack of nutrients? Hers dives deep to figure out what’s behind the breakage.

Here’s how it works: A licensed healthcare provider reviews your hair concerns and history. Whether your hair’s damage is from heat, coloring, or just being ignored for too long, they create a personalized treatment plan that fits your life, if prescribed.

The best part? Hers is all about simplicity and results. No endless drugstore hauls or fancy salon treatments that drain your wallet. If prescribed, your custom solutions are shipped directly to your door, with simple-to-follow instructions to keep things hassle-free. And yes, the results are real. Think stronger, shinier, touchable hair that feels alive again.

So stop settling for mediocre hair days. Hers can help you revive your strands, rebuild your confidence, and reclaim the healthy, glowing hair you deserve.

Take the free hair quiz here.

DISCLAIMER: Prescription products require an online consultation with a healthcare provider who will determine if a prescription is appropriate. Restrictions apply. See website for full details and important safety information.

“If the job doesn’t scare you, then it’s not big enough for you. In other words, if you are too comfortable, it won’t challenge you and growth requires challenges and changes.”

—Kernetha Rogers (Manager)

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💧 Big hydration for big adventures (or a weekend on the couch).

🐑 Goodbye, dryer sheets! Tumble dry the natural way.

🕯️ At the end of each candle is the beginning of something brand new.

🚿 Get smooth skin before the water even touches your body.

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