✅ Today’s checklist:
- Why you should be documenting at work
- How to advocate your care at the doctor
- Recipe of the week: Apple Crisp In A Mug
🤔 Trivia: What is the dot over the letter ‘i’ and ‘j’ called?? Find out.
👀 See all of the September 2024 Wellness Wednesday Trivias.
🗓️ Don’t Forget: Join us tomorrow Thurs 9/26 at 2PM PT for a free webinar where an expert EA spills her best tips to streamline business travel. Register here.
QUICK LINKS
🧠 Leadership: Learn about the four stages of psychological safety.
💪 Health: Perimenopause is having a millennial moment.
📋 Productivity: Automate routine work with forms and rules using Asana.
👗 Fashion: The rise and fall of fashion trends and what’s coming back.
ORGANIZATION
Documenting At Work 101
Documentation isn’t just for the perfectionists—it’s a workplace essential that drives clear communication and operational efficiency. Whether you’re capturing meeting action points or ensuring consistent project workflows, documentation keeps everyone aligned and accountable.
Why You Should Always Be Documenting:
1. Keeps things running smoothly: Clear documentation ensures that when staff changes happen, new team members can jump right in without any loss in productivity or quality.
2. Speeds up training: Well-documented processes get new hires up to speed faster, reducing time spent answering the same questions.
3. Guarantees consistency: Standardized processes mean fewer mistakes, making sure tasks are completed correctly across the board.
4. Saves time: A solid reference document eliminates guesswork and prevents rework. It also simplifies the creation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
5. Ensures compliance: For industries with strict regulations, detailed documentation makes audits and compliance checks straightforward and stress-free.
How to Do It Well:
- Leverage the right tools: Using the right tools makes all the difference. Google Drive is perfect for collaborative storage and editing. Notion offers flexible documentation, task management, and note-taking. For project tracking, monday.com keeps everything organized, while Salesforce keeps customer data up-to-date and accessible. 📂
- Structure smartly: Organize your docs with clear overviews and step-by-step instructions. For longer documents, use a table of contents so everything’s easy to find.
- Build a documentation culture: Make documentation part of your team’s DNA. Regularly update key documents and create a culture where everyone knows how to use the tools and values good documentation.
- Keep it accessible: Store everything in one central place and make sure the team knows how to find it. A quick reminder of where things are can go a long way.
It may feel like extra work now, but documenting processes actually saves you time in the long run—fewer interruptions, less confusion, and no more scrambling to answer the same questions over and over. Your future self will thank you.
TEAM BUILDING
Most Team Building Events Suck—This One Doesn’t
Do your eyes roll when you hear “team building”? The Escape Game will change that. Forget the forced bonding and awkward icebreakers—your team will dive into mind-bending puzzles and immersive themed rooms that make collaboration feel like an adventure. It’s team building, but with adrenaline, excitement, and actual fun.
With 45+ locations, it’s perfect for corporate events, group outings, or just a memorable team hangout. Plus, every location is near top restaurants, making it easy to pair your escape with a team lunch or dinner.
Prefer to go virtual? The Escape Game’s Remote Adventures bring the same excitement online, with a live Game Guide leading your team through the experience on Zoom.
Don’t settle for boring. Take your team on an adventure they’ll actually enjoy.
MEDICAL
How To Champion Your Care At The Doctor
I recently watched a troubling story on my friend’s Instagram about her day at the pediatrician. Her son was diagnosed with serum sickness, a rare reaction, and sent to hematology for further insights. Unfortunately, instead of support, she faced reprimands for her timeliness and left without answers.
This echoed my own daunting experiences with the medical system, where I navigated through misdiagnoses and confusion before uncovering mercury toxicity as the real culprit behind my health issues. I had to advocate for my own solutions by researching, testing, and seeking out providers who actually listened. I learned that you have to be strong, confident, and resilient in your position.
Here’s some tips for you if you ever find yourself a victim of our medical system:
- Don’t be passive if your concerns are dismissed. It’s crucial to communicate clearly and assertively with your healthcare providers. If they’re not responsive, express dissatisfaction.
- Remember, you can switch doctors. Not every physician will be the right fit for you. If your concerns are consistently ignored or belittled, it might be time to look for a healthcare provider who values your input and gives you the attention you deserve.
- If you believe that specific tests are necessary, insist on them. If you’re told that insurance won’t cover the tests, tell them you’ll worry about that and take the initiative to find billing solutions. Sometimes, coding the request differently or filing an insurance appeal might work.
- If progress stalls, ask for a differential diagnosis, which is a list of possible conditions that could explain your symptoms. If your doctor refuses to consider further possibilities, ask them to document their refusal in your medical record, ensuring you get a copy.
- Utilize online communities. Platforms like Reddit and Facebook Groups host communities where individuals share experiences and advice that might resonate with your situation or lead you to resources you hadn’t considered.
- Explore all avenues. Consider triggers like gluten allergies or environmental factors such as exposure to black mold, and don’t overlook the profound impact of stress. Explore holistic and Eastern medicine practices. Keeping an open mind to all potential causes can guide you toward unexpected solutions.
The road to managing my health wasn’t easy, but it taught me to never stop advocating for myself. If you’re facing diagnosis frustrations or exploring new treatments, don’t be afraid to stand your ground. Championing your health is a battle always worth engaging in.
Thania (TA Content Mgr.)
HOLIDAY PLANNING
Time to Plan Your Holiday and Event Swag 🎁
Having managed close to $1M in swag budgets for marketing events, employee gifts, client gifts, and holiday gifting, I can tell you one thing: now is the time to start planning.
Whether you’re gearing up for the holiday season or prepping for upcoming conferences, early planning is crucial—vendors need extra lead time due to high demand.
Keep in mind:
- For Holiday Gifting: Plan now for personalized gifts that’ll stand out during the busiest time of year.
- For Events: High-quality or highly useful swag at conferences makes your brand memorable, but timing is everything—start early to avoid rush fees.
- Shipping & Delivery: Ensure you have updated addresses and allow for longer lead times.
Here are some of my go-tos when it comes to events:
- Branded socks (always a hit)
- EOS lip balm
- S’well tumbler
- Eye mask
- Power bank
And some trending holiday gifts:
Don’t wait—work with swag.com to create unforgettable, high-quality swag.
Joanna (TA Co-Founder)
STAFF PICKS
Stuff We’re Loving This Week
⚽ Cameron (our newsletter ops manager) swears by this versatile peanut ball, perfect for getting knots out of your back or neck.
🤖 Get access to this on demand AI course on AI & ChatGPT (for free).
🎮 Bring your team together with Outback Team Building’s Virtual Friendly Feud.
👚 Add this cute color block knitted top from Amazon to your fall wardrobe.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
🚨 Job Ops: Visit our job board here.