Are you having fun in your work and life? If not, you might be on a path toward burnout.

Are you having fun in your work and life? If not, you might be on a path toward burnout.Anyone whos spent time camping in the woods will likely recognize Smokey Bears admonition: Only you can prevent wildfires. As the incidence of burnout rises steadily in our profession, its important that we learn to become more aware of the early signs of burnout. With this increased awareness well be better equipped to make the changes needed to keep ourselves (and perhaps others) from going down in flames.

According to two of our VetPartners colleagues, Tiffany Schaible and Melissa Supernor, burnout is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion caused by long-term involvement in emotionally demanding situations. Clearly, we cant expect to be at our best as human beings if were at risk or are actually experiencing the symptoms of burnout. Burnout is antithetical to the flow state that weve been exploring in this column.

If its not fun, its not sustainable. Guy Dauncey

Earlier this year, I (Jeff) attended a business conference where Kim Jordan, a co-founder of New Belgium Brewing, shared Guy Daunceys quote, which she said represented a key element of her companys culture of engagement. The quote resonated with me and got me thinking, How much fun am I having right now? My honest answer: Not much.

Realistically, for some time I had been feeling a declining amount of energy for my work. Metaphorically, I was on a high-speed treadmill where I was endlessly working but not going anywhere. I sensed that maybe I was following someone elses formula for success, not my own, and I was tired of doing things (especially related to marketing my business) that I thought I should be doing but didnt necessarily want to do. At some level, I was beginning to realize that the path I was on was not sustainable.

No surprise then when a few weeks later an online article by Shelly Tygielski caught my eye. (Read Is It a Bad Day or Is It Burnout? at http://bit.ly/2Zr096j.) Tygielski wrote, Burnout is something that creeps up on you. I wondered at the time if it might be creeping up on me.

Heres how she contrasted a bad day from burnout: What makes a bad day (or collection of days) differ from burnout is that you know in your heart you can bounce back. Even in these tough patches, you can see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, and you can resume (albeit not always easily) your life and still derive enjoyment from it. Burnout is not so kind. Genuine burnout leads to an inability to successfully function on a personal, social and professional level. It steals hope. It squashes motivation. It, quite literally, sucks the life out of you.

Tygielskis explanation made me sit up and take notice. As the article went on to describe the three telltale symptoms that almost all burnout sufferers face, I made a mental checklist:

After conducting a self-assessment, I thought that soliciting my wifes perspective might be a good idea. I explained the nature of the article and openly wondered if I might be experiencing some degree of burnout. I began sharing the checklist one item at a time. As I read the first two symptoms, I added Check after each one. When I read the third one, detachment and cynicism, before I could say anything else she jumped in with an emphatic, CHECK! Diagnosis confirmed!

As a consolation, at least one thing in Tygielskis article was encouraging. After sharing her burnout experiences, she stated, If you learn to recognize the onset of burnout, you can minimize the effects and possibly prevent it. I realized that navigating my way out of burnout would involve being willing to make some changes. I was ready.

Here are some practical tips for recognizing the flame and extinguishing the fire of burnout:

1. Know your early warning signs.

Make Smokey Bear proud by paying attention to the small, quiet voice inside of you that whispers, The trajectory that Im on is not sustainable. As always, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

2. Make work less central.

Hustle less and avoid busyness. This was a big one for me. Go faster. Do more. Hustle. Hustle even more. Sound familiar? These are the prevailing messages we hear in our Western work culture. That, coupled with the fact that many of us, especially men, derive a large part of our identity from our work, produces a predictable recipe for workaholism and burnout. The entrepreneur Andrew Thomas provides a contrary view: The antidote to always hustling is slowness. It sounds crazy, but slowing down can be the difference between success or failure, or between thriving and burning out.

3. Get off the treadmill and take time for yourself.

This will look different to different people, but it involves disconnecting from your daily routine in some way for varying realistic periods. It might mean being in nature, sleeping more, reading, exercising or simply not doing anything. For me, it meant taking a three-week sabbatical from everything, including work and family, so that I could stop focusing on all the things I was doing and reconnect with who I wanted to be.

4. Commit to a daily meditation or centering practice.

This will help you reduce daily stress, become more in tune with your emotions, and hear what your heart, mind and body are telling you. See some of our previous columns at http://bit.ly/2lSHE8A for ideas on how to do it.

5. Lean on your allies.

This is not the time to go it alone. Reach out to the people in your inner circle who you know have your back and discuss your burnout concerns with them. Also, consider professional help if you sense this is something beyondthe scope of your personal support group.

6. Try a digital cleanse.

Take a short or long break from social media and other digital distractions. Ninety-nine percent of digital distractions are just noise anyway, so consider replacing them with silence and solitude so that you can get back in touch with whats important and regain your balance.

Are you having fun in your work and life? If not, you might be on a path toward burnout. But hey, join the club, weve all been there! By recognizing the flames and being willing to make changes, you, too, can extinguish the fire and return to your natural flow state.

Go With the Flow co-columnist Trey Cutler is an attorney specializing in veterinary business matters. Co-columnist Dr. Jeff Thoren is the founder of Gifted Leaders, a company offering leadership and coaching services. He serves on the Todays Veterinary Business editorial advisory board.

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Douse the flames of early burnout - Today's Veterinary Business Magazine

Dr Alex has a secret to reveal to Raffy (Picture: Channel 5)

Justin (James Stewart) has rushed out into the water to save Raffy (Olivia Deeble), who went out on her own and had begun to drown. Mason (Orpheus Pledger) and John (Shane Withington) help to pull her to shore and put her in the recovery position, where she begins to cough up water.

They take her to hospital, where Dr Alex (Zoe Ventoura) asks her what happened. However, Raffy isnt able to say anything for herself as Justin, John, Marilyn and Mason interject and answer everything for her. Alex asks for a moment alone with Raffy and tries to figure out what led her to go into the water alone. Raffy explains that she just wants to feel normal again, and Mason runs Alex through Raffys medical history. He says that the cannabis trial was really working for her, but now its gone.

Alex gives Raffy the all-clear to return home after an x-ray reveals theres no fluid in her lungs, but is concerned about her mental state. The Morgans, John and Marilyn tell her that Raffy feels the epilepsy is taking over her life. However, when Raffy is discharged, Alex suggests that they should stop mollycoddling her and let her make her own decisions.

Speaking to Raffy before she leaves, Dr Alex says its possible to live a normal life with epilepsy. Raffy is doubtful, but Alex reveals that she herself suffers from epilepsy. In fact, she suffered a seizure during a HSC exam.

Raffys worldview changes and Alex becomes her role model. She decides its time to turn over a new leaf shes going to step up and take control of her life. Raffys loved ones agree to take a step back, while she shocks them with her change of heart and new positive attitude about her treatment moving forwards.

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Home and Away spoilers: Dr Alex reveals a surprising secret at the hospital - Metro.co.uk

Hundreds of people who were arrested for their part in the peaceful Extinction Rebellion (XR) protests in April are being taken to court charged with public order offences under section 14.

Here we talk to some of them and hear why the scale of the climate crisis means they were prepared to risk arrest.

Brijmohun, having finished an MA in politics, philosophy and economics, had been planning to do a PhD in global poverty and inequality last autumn.

But as he began to research his subject in more detail, he came across a wealth of papers about the impacts of the climate crisis.

I thought I knew what climate change was it was one of the things alongside, say, homelessness and poverty that we needed tackle urgently. But as I began to read these academic papers, which calmly and without emotion described what 3C warming would look like, what would happen to people and entire ecosystems, I could not believe it. It left me with a calm sort of panic and everything changed.

Brijmohun found himself going down a rabbit hole of citations, being directed from one academic paper after another.

It realigned all my priorities and focus in life I realised that if we dont solve this crisis nothing else global poverty and inequality can be meaningfully addressed.

A section 14 notice allows the police to impose conditions on a static protest in other words, one where a group of people gather in one place and stay put rather than marching somewhere.

During the Extinction Rebellion protests in April 2019, police imposed a section 14 order stipulating that activists should clear the protest sites at Waterloo Bridge, Parliament Square and Oxford Circus and move to nearby Marble Arch if they wished to continue protesting. Those who refused were liable to arrest for breaching the order

At the same time, he saw an XR post on Facebook and went to a meeting in Sheffield. I met people from all sorts of backgrounds who were sacrificing so much I decided to it was the right thing for me, too This is our civil rights struggle but even more urgent because time is running out.

I have always thought: Who were these people who lived through the civil rights movement but thought: Thats not for me, I am too busy or I have got other stuff to do? I dont want to be that person.

Shipp helped found the XR group in Lewisham, south London one of the most active in the country, with more than 300 members. She has long been an environmental campaigner with Greenpeace but had become increasingly frustrated about how governments seemed to be ignoring the escalating crisis. When she heard about XR, she saw it was acting with a real sense of urgency and joined the protests.

It has been just amazing what we have achieved in such a short space of time, considering no one knew about this group a few months ago. I have been campaigning about the environment for years but no matter what people did from climbing the Shard to boarding oil rigs nothing really changed.

Then, in a few days, this group seemed to shift the whole debate It is terrifying what we are facing and every week the news gets worse but with this at least it feels like something is changing.

Former paratrooper Possnett became interested in environmental issues in the late 1980s signing petitions and writing stuff, but remained on the periphery of the green movement. As the environmental crisis worsened and meaningful government action failed to materialise, he became increasingly disillusioned.

I had sort of given up really then I heard about Extinction Rebellion and that just struck a bell with me. I thought: This is our last chance. What am I doing with my life? This is where I am going to put my energy. What greater thing to do? It is in the same way as when I was 16 or 17 and decided I was prepared to defend the country with my life by joining the Paras sometimes you have to be stand up and be counted and this is one of those times.

Possnett said that his interest in environmental issues meant he was known for a long time among his friends as the slightly crazy one.

A lot of the people I know are small business owners and and that type of thing and for a long time they thought I was a bit crazy, a bit of tree hugger. But now it is completely different; they all view me as the sensible one, they wish they had the guts to stand up and do something and they will support me in whatever way they can.

He said that change in attitude had happened in the past 10 months because of XR, the IPCC report warning there are only 12 years left to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change, and Greta Thunberg and the school strike movement.

It has all come together and the change has been rapid and remarkable now we need to change not just attitudes but the actions of governments. We have come a long way but we still have so far to go. That is why we need to step it up.

Lafferty has worked in Palestine and spent time in Syria during the revolution as well as various cities across Europe. She says she has witnessed first hand the impact of the climate emergency on the refugee crisis and she feels she has a lot to learn from people around the globe who have been fighting exploitation and destruction of the natural world for decades.

You can still just about close your eyes to this crisis if you live in the UK but in other parts of the world that is now impossible. I have worked at a theatre in Jenin refugee camp, Palestine, for 10 years and each summer it is getting hotter and hotter. Each winter the flooding is worse. This year, I returned to the UK in February to temperatures of 20C I couldnt ignore it any more.

Now the challenge for us is to join the dots, to make the connection between the systems of power that create war, exploitation and oppression and are only serving a very few people and the accelerating environmental crisis.

Marden had been concerned about the environment for years, writing letters to her MP, signing petitions, getting involved in local groups and even being one of the original crowdfunders for The Age of Stupid, a film set in an environmentally devastated future where the protagonist asks why earlier generations had not acted when they had the chance.

But as the signs of climate breakdown accelerated, she felt increasingly frustrated and fearful that no commensurate action was being taken by those in power. I have five grandchildren and it is no exaggeration to say that thinking about what their future will be like keeps me awake at night she says.

When she heard about XR last year, she arranged for a representative to give a talk, Heading for Extinction and What to Do About It, in the library in Primrose Hill. Thirty people in the affluent area of north London turned up and since then Marden has not looked back, setting up a local affinity group and organising civil disobedience training in the community centre.

She was arrested in April for breach of a section 14 order and is due in court in December.

The future is very scary as it stands but I still believe that if we can get this right now, there remains time to avoid the worst of the impacts of the crisis and create a better world for future generations, in terms of the quality of our lives, our mental health, pollution levels, community, happiness, she says. I have never been in any trouble before I am not really a natural rebel but, when I think of my grandchildrens future, I know this is the right thing to do.

Link:
Time is running out: Extinction Rebellion activists on why they risked arrest - The Guardian

By Kleopatra Kivrakidou, Channel Marketing Manager at Ergotron

Happiness at work hasnt always been a great prerogative for employees and in fact still isnt in some cases. Fennande van der Meulen and Maartje Wolff, the co-founders of Happy Office, feel this should change, which is why they declared the third week of September every year the International Week of Happiness at Work. They believe that workplace happiness should be a top priority for all organisations - large and small, national and international.

Over the past decade, happiness at work has become a progressively hot topic. According to Benefits Pro Magazine, over 50% of employees in the US now place more importance on workplace happiness than pay. With trends from the practical, like bike to work schemes, to the slightly more outlandish, like slides in the office (Googles handiwork), workplace contentment has almost become fashionable. Organisations are using it to create a brand, or reputation, for being fun and supportive employers. But the stakes are much higher and burrow much deeper than just a bit of fun in the office. In a recent report, Gallup found that more than half of employees are open to new opportunities, largely pre-empted by feelings of discontent. The promise of workplace happiness has clearly become a key contender for prospective employees when job-hunting.

But what are employees actually looking for? Is it slides that can save them a walk down a flight of stairs? Is it even more tangible perks like free lunches delivered to the office? None of these sorts of benefits offer anything more substantial than a fleeting moment of pleasure which, as Greater Good Magazine rightly points out, cannot constitute for long-term happiness. Happiness must be defined as more an overarching richness of life, where you experience a mixture of emotions, from contentment to anger, all while maintaining a sense of purpose. Businesses should be taking this psychology into consideration when they are brainstorming new initiatives and schemes to achieve happiness at work. One way of looking at this is to think about the four keys to happiness: purpose, engagement, resilience, and kindness. All of these can be promoted via different training, design and cultural choices, that will have longer term benefits as a result.

Google wasnt too far off when it decided to install the slides, then. The environment in which we work heavily affects our mood and attitude towards work. Since the introduction in recent years of benefits such as working from home and flexible working, the traditional office environment has come under much scrutiny. According to Gallup, 37% of employees say they would change jobs for one that offered them the ability to work where they want at least part of the time. Now more than ever before, workers are searching to find a healthy work-life balance. In correlation with societys improved understanding of mental health, so too do concerns over poor mental health and stress levels. Having the choice to work where you want, when you want, can help contribute to this.

To match this, the office space itself must also become more flexible. Many companies are investing in ergonomic principles and furniture as a route to achieving this. Focussing on the individual ergonomic principles of comfort, safety, efficiency and productivity can help businesses analyse their office environment objectively in order to see what changes need to be made. The four core values of ergonomics run much deeper than an offer of a free sandwich - and are very closely linked to the four keys to happiness mentioned earlier.

Ergonomic products, such as sit-to-stand desks and adjustable monitor arms, help bring these principles to life. They are flexible to employees needs, which helps boost productivity and keep workers engaged for longer. When comfort levels are increased, it becomes easier to build up physical resilience. And perhaps most importantly, movement-friendly furniture is kind to mental and physical well-being. Encouraging a deeper sense of happiness at work leads not onto to day-to-day health but also to productivity and ultimately career advancement, all of which are truly in the interests of both the business and employee.

While the workforce continues to shape and shift as older generations leave it and millennials and Generation-Z enter it, so too are attitudes towards work. Soon, companies who dont provide better benefits and schemes for their employees will be left behind. There is no better time than right now for businesses to start placing great importance on happiness at work. In the words of van der Muelen and Wolff, happy people perform better.

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What can businesses learn from this year's International Week of Happiness at Work? - Bdaily

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Financial institution marketing has long focused on the milestones of life first big job, marriage, homebuying, retirement. But that legacy focus may soon be eclipsed by the concept of financial wellness. Major life events clearly are still important, but are becoming just one part of a much larger priority.

Financial well-being is not exclusive to those financial moments when consumers make purposeful decisions on their finances, writes Jan Bellens, Global Banking and Capital Markets Deputy Sector Leader for EY. It is driven largely by everyday behavior and decisions some big and binary (such as deciding to get a college degree), some small and gradual (such as going to the gym).

Traditional financial institutions have not typically played a big role in these everyday financial decisions beyond handling transactions and providing loans and in some cases providing transaction-related notifications. Money management tools mainly center around the monthly financial statement and call-center help. All important services, but pretty unexciting, Bellens observes.

Some financial institutions have launched mobile apps or chatbots that proactively help consumers manage their finances or put aside money (RBC with Nomi, Fifth Third with Dobot, Bank of America with Erica). And while some of these tools have the ability to incorporate a consumers full financial picture, the majority of banking apps are still restricted to the banking ecosystem, EY observes.

Nomi, Dobot and Erica

In 2018 research conducted for Fiserv, The Harris Poll found that exactly half of U.S. consumers say they want a budgeting tool to help them save and track spending, and almost half (44%) want a service that consolidates account information from multiple organizations (for Millennials, the latter figure was 66%). Further, the research uncovered that just over a third (34%) of all U.S. consumers want to be able to manage all their financial accounts in a single, online location or app, and real-time access to their financial information is desired by the same number.

Financial institutions able to meet this changed expectation can increase customer loyalty at a time when people are able to switch banks more easily. This means banks that embrace financial well-being as a core principle must demonstrate how their digital products and services create lasting value for their customers, EY states.

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The August 2019 launch of the Apple Card was as example of this point. The mainly virtual card combines money management elements with a credit/debit/instant rewards product residing in your phone.

Financial institutions have an opportunity to leverage data and technology in new ways, EY maintains, including the use of predictive analytics and machine learning to help customers find ways to save money and avoid recurring fees. Connecting an AI-powered chatbot or app to a digital wallet could be very powerful. It would allow a financial institution to track spending and use that data to make recommendations.

Imagine walking into your local supermarket and not only having your phone identify where you are, but also speak to your digital wallet and banking app to identify the trades-offs you could make based on your shopping list, or your historic preferences, EY states.

Gamification in the app could encourage consumers to maximize saving. Then, at the end of the week, the $5 they have saved compared with their typical supermarket visit would automatically be swept into a savings or investment account. A key point is that consumers dont need to think about it, according to EY. They dont need to actively engage with a financial service provider. It all happens seamlessly in the background.

This is essentially what the Apple Card does, except that the money saved is a cashback reward versus smarter spending.

Indeed, Bellens warns that While existing banks have a window of opportunity to lead in [financial wellness], they will need to move faster if they want to stay at the forefront of this amazing opportunity.

On the plus side, banks and credit unions remain trusted institutions for protecting and securing customer data, the consultant points out. The bad news, he adds, is that traditional banking providers have been much slower in implementing the means to manipulate, analyze and leverage the data for the customers benefit.

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Research indicates there is increased need for financial guidance. Many consumers struggle to get a handle on their personal financial situation. Only 37% say they are satisfied with their financial health, well behind their rating for other areas of life, according to Fiserv.

EY envisions a closer connectivity between technology, financial services and health care industries given the fundamental connection between physical, mental, emotional and financial health.

Health-care firms, the consultant states, will use patient-specific data from wearables and mobile phones to build real-time pictures of a patients health status, recommending targeted interventions.

On the financial institution side, A rich array of data and analytics would enable hyper-personalized interactions that involve nudging, visualization and incentive tactics such as gamification to help consumers maximize their lifetime financial well-being.

Getting to this point will be difficult for many legacy financial institutions as they must overcome internal technology and organizational silos along with rising standards for data security and privacy. The danger here, according to EY, is that as this broader wellness scenario unfolds, platform operators like Amazon, Google and Apple could be the ones to coordinate an ecosystem of businesses including banking, around the consumer.

This would force todays financial services firms to decide whether they want to be the provider of the service or part of the ecosystem that is called upon to create curated solutions for individuals, EY states. In other words, will your firm be the aggregator, or be aggregated?

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Assuming a bank or credit union decides it would prefer to be more than an aggregated data source, the path for most institutions will likely be partnering with a fintech to provide the necessary capability. Even tech-savvy Radius Bank opted to partner with Wallit, a rewards-based savings app for families and teens. Outright acquisition is another option for some, like Fifth Third did with the Dobot app in 2018.

Either way, that step tees up a larger strategic question, according to EYs consultants.

To deliver hyper-personalized experiences, the financial services industry needs to shift its focus away from individual products and toward propositions their customers truly value, the firm states. It explains that this involves unbundling and then re-bundling products to deliver a tailored experience addressing three primary financial needs:

This re-bundling moves banks and credit unions toward a subscription model in which consumers pay for bundles of tailored products and services with fixed-fee pricing certainty and convenience, according to EY. This shifts revenue streams from product-focused to user-focused.

There are two ways to approach this, according to the firm:

Both strategies rely on a foundation of trust, says EY, adding that to truly establish trust, financial institutions must demonstrate to consumers they are doing right for them in all situations.

Beyond that, however, is the growing attitude among consumers, particularly younger generations, of preferring companies that have an ethical and moral approach to doing business. Mintel reports that 66% of U.S. consumers report that it is very important to them that a company acts morally and ethically. Financial wellness plays into that mindset, in contrast to high-cost overdraft plans, for example, or high-fee/high-rate credit cards.

Institutions choosing the platform approach can establish trust by protecting clients data and using it to better understand their needs and preferences. However, this option will likely only be viable for the largest financial institutions on their own or in concert with a big tech company. EY predicts that big tech players will begin to win over financial services clients looking for wellness services, because of their unprecedented expertise in leveraging data to optimize client experience.

Its no longer enough to simply offer accounts, savings or loans, EY maintains. If we want people to be more broadly served financially, then we need to engage them in a digital dialogue and be more proactive in helping customers achieve lasting financial well-being.

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Financial Wellness Strategies Crucial for Bank & Credit Union Growth - The Financial Brand

Your employees are the lifeblood of your business. Their engagement, motivation, and efforthelpdrive your results, and quite often, they are thepotential future leadersof your company.

However, even when you providemeaningful work opportunities, there is no denying that the day to day grind can wear down on you and your team. Burnout is now recognized as an officialmedical diagnosisby the World Health Organization, and it can rapidly deplete your team's productivity.

In other situations, your team may need some extra motivation for taking on a daunting challenge. As Zig Ziglar famously said:

As a leader, you have the responsibility to energize your team and help them get motivated to be at their best.

The good news is that boosting your employees' enthusiasm isn't necessarily as hard -- or time-consuming -- as you might expect.

Mantrasmay only be a few words long, but they can have a powerful motivating impact. After studying great leaders different industries, it's clear they tap into the power of them to help motivate their team. I refer to these inBuilding the Best: 8 Proven Leadership Principles to Elevate Others to Successas "Maximizing Mantras." A maximizing mantra provides energy to the team even before you achieve the results. With just a few words, you create the inspirational drive that helps inspire future successes.

One of the most recent (and well-known) maximizing mantras was college football coach P.J. Fleck's "Row the Boat," that helped bring the previously overlooked Western Michigan football team into the limelight with a winning record and a spot in the 2017 Cotton Bowl. The mantra has come to define the coach and his teams, even after he moved to a new job at the University of Minnesota.

In an interviewwith MLive, Fleck explained that the mantra referred to three parts: the oar, which provided the energy, the boat, which represented the sacrifices that team members, administration and fans were willing to make for the program, and finally, the compass, which symbolized the direction the team wanted to go. Combining all these ideas into a single phrase served as a powerful motivator for the team.

When you find short, simple phrases that encapsulate big ideas, you can quickly inspire your team to work harder and with more intensity than they've ever had before.

Since you lead a team at work, there is a good chance; not everyone is motivated by the same things. For some, all it takes is the almighty dollar, and for others, it could be public praise and recognition.

The best leaders know why their people get out of bed in the morning and continuously look to leverage those personal motivations to reach higher levels of performance.

If you are going to motivate your entire team daily, it's critical you have a clear goal. But not just any goal; one that has a clear objective + completion date + carrot. The most important part here is the carrot because the carrot is something your teammates will benefit from once the goal is achieved.

Sometimes, your employees just need to have fun. Giving your team a way to blow off their stress can help them feel re-energized and better equipped for the challenges coming their way.Exercise is a phenomenal way to do this.

For example, I received an unusual tip from Cody Neer, founder of eCommerce Brand Academy, during a recent conversation about his team of 50 employees.

His company relies extensively on remote teams, but this can limit communication. To address this, he does a live Zoom video exercise challenge with his team after lunch. Together, they'll do ab planks (or something similar) to get blood flowing and have a laugh. This keeps everyone engaged and connected while eliminating the productivity lull that often occurs after lunch.

While strange, studies have proven this might not be a bad idea-- as the Wellness Council of Americanotes,excess stress increases absenteeism and turnover, while also hurting workers' productivity and overall health. Giving your team unique opportunities to relieve that stress will help mitigate these common issues while also getting those activity trackers on their Apple watches moving a positive direction.

Energizing and motivating your team isn't something that consistently happens in strategy meetings or one on one performance evaluations. It happens in the small things you do each week to help foster a positive, forward-thinking culture. By taking a little time out of your schedule to use these unique motivational tactics, you can give your team the drive they need to succeed.

What's Your Leadership Style?Join over 40k leaders and discover how well you are leveraging love and discipline as a leader and find out your current leadership style forfree.

Preorder the Book:Building the Best: 8 Proven Leadership Principles to Elevate Others to Successis being published by McGraw-Hill and is due out November 15th. Preorder today and receive over $200 in gifts including the first two chapters immediately, Acts of Accountability Online Course, and a live webinar taught by John.

About the Author:John Eadesis the CEO of LearnLoft, a leadership development company which exists to turn managers into leaders and create healthier places to work. John was named one of LinkedIns 2017 Top Voices in Management & Workplace and was awarded the 2017 Readership Award by Training Industry.com. John is also the host of the Follow My Lead Podcast, a show that transfers stories and best practices from todays leaders to the leaders of tomorrow. You follow him on instagram@johngeades.

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How the Best Leaders Motivate Others on a Daily Basis - BBN Times

Photo courtesy Richard WholfPagosa Springs resident Patsy Troutner is the first recipient of the new Star of the Year award. She received the honor at the 127th annual session of The Grand Chapter of Colorado, Order of the Eastern Star, held Sept. 19-21 in Aurora, Colo.

By Richard WholfSpecial to The SUNPagosa resident Patsy Troutner was thrilled to be the first recipient of the new Star of the Year award. She received the award at the 127th annual session of The Grand Chapter of Colorado, Order of the Eastern Star (OES), held Sept. 19-21 in Aurora, Colo.Troutner was recognized by the Worthy Grand Matron Lydia Wingate and Worthy Grand Patron Mike Brewer for her outstanding leadership in organizing and inspiring men and women to establish a new Eastern Star Chapter in Pagosa Springs.More than 240 representatives of the 4,600 Colorado OES members gave Troutner a standing ovation during Saturdays administrative session. The last Pagosa OES chapter ceased to exist about 20 years ago. In addition, the Pagosa chapter, Peace and Harmony No. 158, is the first new OES chapter in Colorado in over 16 years.Troutner said, I did not do this by myself. I feel that the award is recognition of all the Peace and Harmony Chapter members, their hard work and dedication. They worked very hard to meet all the requirements for the chapter to be instituted under dispensation and then receive its charter.OES is the largest fraternal organization in the world to which both men and women may belong. Worldwide, there are currently more than 1.2 million members under the General Grand Chapter. It is believed to be the fastest-growing fraternal organization in the world.From the website of the OES Colorado: Although not a part of the Masonic fraternity, membership is based on a Masonic affiliation or relationship, a belief in a Supreme Being, and a desire to acquire additional knowledge and self improvement. While this is an Order composed of people of deep spiritual convictions, it is open to all faiths, except no faith The degrees of the Order of the Eastern Star teach lessons of fidelity, constancy, loyalty, faith and love and build an Order which is truly dedicated to charity, truth and loving kindness. The stated purposes of the organization are: Charitable, Educational, Fraternal, and Scientific.The Grand Chapter of Colorado supports the statewide community though the collection of stuffed animals for traumatized children, annual youth scholarships, young womens organizations such as Jobs Daughters, the Order of Rainbow for Girls, along with DeMolay for Boys. Collectively, millions of dollars are raised by OES members throughout the General Grand Chapter for its various charities each triennium. Colorado OES supports Service Dogs.The Eastern Star is also a social organization with frequent formal events and ceremonies. Being a member is a wonderful and fulfilling way of life. If this sounds interesting to you, or for more information, contact: Troutner at (505) 927-9182, Gayle Hawkins at 731-2028 or Donna Kummer at 946-8201.

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Pagosan receives special award from the Order of the Eastern Star - Pagosa Springs Sun

Published 4:00pm EDT, Monday, September 30, 2019

Van Gogh Seen Through the Artists Eyes lecture, Oct. 6, 4:30 p.m. workshops, Oct. 7 and 8, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Silvermine Guild Arts Center, 1037 Silvermine Rd, New Canaan. Lecture and two-day intensive oil painting workshop led by plein-air artist Jill Steenhuis. Cost: $500. Talk only: $10. Registration/Info:silvermineart.org, 203-966-6668, ext. 2.

Van Gogh Seen Through the Artists Eyes lecture, Oct. 6, 4:30 p.m. workshops, Oct. 7 and 8, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Silvermine Guild Arts Center, 1037 Silvermine Rd, New Canaan. Lecture and two-day intensive oil

Photo: Silvermine School Of Art / Contributed Photo

Van Gogh Seen Through the Artists Eyes lecture, Oct. 6, 4:30 p.m. workshops, Oct. 7 and 8, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Silvermine Guild Arts Center, 1037 Silvermine Rd, New Canaan. Lecture and two-day intensive oil painting workshop led by plein-air artist Jill Steenhuis. Cost: $500. Talk only: $10. Registration/Info:silvermineart.org, 203-966-6668, ext. 2.

Van Gogh Seen Through the Artists Eyes lecture, Oct. 6, 4:30 p.m. workshops, Oct. 7 and 8, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Silvermine Guild Arts Center, 1037 Silvermine Rd, New Canaan. Lecture and two-day intensive oil

Literature, science or art theres a lecture coming to Fairfield County

Art & Architecture

Artist talk: Artist Torrance York and Art Historian Arianne Faber Kolb, PhD, Oct. 3, 6 p.m, Gores Pavilion, Irwin Park, New Canaan. Closing reception, Oct. 18. Discussion will focus on Yorks current solo exhibition, Common Ground: Irwin, on display until Nov. 3. Info: info@nchistory.org, 203-966-1776.

Van Gogh Seen Through the Artists Eyes, lecture, Oct. 6, 4:30 p.m.; workshops, Oct. 7 and 8, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Silvermine Guild Arts Center, 1037 Silvermine Rd, New Canaan. Lecture and two-day intensive oil painting workshop led by plein-air artist Jill Steenhuis. Cost: $500. Talk only: $10. Registration/Info:silvermineart.org, 203-966-6668, ext. 2.

ArtScapades lecture: Abstract Expressionism: The Colorists, Oct. 17, 6-7:30 p.m., Norwalk Public Library, 1 Belden Ave., Norwalk. Info: ArtScapades.com, 203-899-2780, ext. 15133, clahey@norwalkpubliclibrary.org.

Crafts

Paint Along with Mari Gyorgyey, Oct. 8, 6:30-9 p.m., Rowayton Arts Center, 145 Rowayton Ave., Rowayton. Participants create a Matisse-inspired painting. Fee: $45. Info/Registration: rowaytonarts.org/registration, 203-866-2744, ext. 2.

Ladies Night Out: Glass Jewelry Making Workshop, Oct. 11, 7-9 p.m., Darien Arts Center, 2 Renshaw Rd., Darien. Fee: $70. Registration/Info: darienarts.org, 203-655-8683.

Brookfield Craft Center, 286 Whisconier Rd.; brookfieldcraft.org: classes, open studios in clay, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal. Gallery Shop open Sat., 11-6, and Sun., 11-5. To learn more, visit brookfieldcraft.org or call 203-775-4526. Gallery hours: Tues.-Fri., 12-5; Sat., 11-5, Sun., 12-4.

The Nutmeg Woodturners League, local chapter of the American Association of Woodturners, promotes woodturning as craft and art form. Meeting at Brookfield Craft Center on second Monday of every other month (January, March, May, September, November). All welcome.

Dance

Beginner Square Dance Lessons, Wednesdays, 7-8:30 p.m., Wilton Congregational Church, 70 Ridgefield Rd., Wilton. Enrollment period for new students ends Oct. 2. Cost: $5. Info: squarebears.net.

Film

Norwalk Public Library, 1 Belden Ave., Norwalk. Subsequent programs: Oct. 4 and 11, 6:30 p.m., main library. Info: 203-899-2780, ext. 15133, clahey@norwalkpl.org.

Norwalk Public Library offers Kanopy, a cinema streaming service, which has 30,000 award-winning films, including The Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, PBS and thousands of feature and festival films. Kanopy can stream on your phone (Apple or Android), tablet, computer or Roku device. You can stream up to 6 films per month. For step-by-step instructions, visit Kanopy page on NPLs website, norwalklib.kanopy.com/welcome/frontpage, or stop by library, 1 Belden Ave., Norwalk. Info: Cynde Bloom Lahey, director of library information services, 203-899-2780, x15133, or clahey@norwalkpubliclibrary.org.

Gardening

Greater Bridgeport Mens Garden Club monthly meetings, Sterling House, 2283 Main St., Stratford. Members normally meet third Wednesday of each month to discuss various gardening issues, share in plant swaps, DVDs or speaker presentations. Beginner gardeners and anyone with interest in gardening, plants and landscaping welcome. Info: Joe, 203-339-2701 or Art, 203-261-9771.

Seed Library at Norwalk Public Library, 1 Belden Ave., Norwalk. Now, everyone from avid gardeners to newbies can check out free vegetable, flower and herb seeds along with getting support for growing and saving seeds. Brochures available on how self-service procedure works. Info: Laurie Iffland, reference librarian, 203-899-2780, x15114 or iffland@norwalkpubliclibrary.org

Health

St. Vincent's Breast Health Center in Bridgeport offers free and low-cost digital mammography screenings through its mobile mammography coach for women age 40 and older. No prescription needed but appointments are required. Walk-ins welcome. For those who have insurance, bring card and photo ID at time of visit. Appointments: 203-576-5500.

History & Antiques

From Corsets to Suffrage: Victorian Women Trailblazers exhibit, through Nov. 3, Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, 299 West Ave., Norwalk. Admission $6-$20. Info: lockwoodmathewsmansion.com.

Keeler Tavern Museum, 18th century historical building at 132 Main St., Ridgefield, 203-438-5485, keelertavernmuseum.org. Museum has begun docent training sessions.

Weir Farm National Historic Site, 735 Nod Hill Rd., Wilton, 203-834-1896 or http://www.nps.gov/wefa: grounds open daily dawn to dusk.

New Haven Museum, 114 Whitney Ave.; newhavenmuseum.org or 203-562-4183.

Literature

Demeter and Persephone: The Message and Meaning of a Myth From Ancient Greece to Modern America, Oct. 3, 10:30-noon, Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Rd., Wilton. Advance registration required. Registration/Info: 203-762-6334, wiltonlibrary.org. By registering for the first session you will automatically be registered for all eight sessions.

Author Talk, Oct. 3, 1 p.m., Fairfield Public Library, 1080 Old Post Rd., Fairfield. Award-winning NPR correspondent Aarti Shahani talks about her newly released memoir, Here We Are. Light lunch. Registration required. Info: fairfieldpubliclibrary.org.

Debut Authors Night, Oct. 3, 7 p.m., Fairfield University Bookstore, 1499 Post Rd., Fairfield. Featuring Neile Parisi, Stevie Fischer and Laura Del Gaudio, all published authors with Green Writers Press. Info: 203-255-7756, fairfieldbookstore.com.

Author Talk: The Making of a Racist: A Southerner Reflects on Family, History and the Slave Trade, by Charles Dew, Oct. 5, 3-4 p.m., Mark Twain Library, 439 Redding Rd., Redding. Registration/Info: marktwainlibrary.org/read-together-lead-together/, 203-938-2545.

Maurice Sendaks Truth in Fiction, presented by Jen Mathy, Oct. 6, 2 p.m., Ridgefield Library, 472 Main St., Ridgefield. Info/Registration: ridgefieldlibrary.org, 203-438-2282.

Sendak Books Merit Grown-Up Conversation, Oct. 9, 6:30 p.m., Ridgefield Library, 472 Main St., Ridgefield. Casual presentation and book discussion for teens and adults presented by Kristina Lareau the librarys head of childrens services. Info/Registration: ridgefieldlibrary.org, 203-438-2282.

Clinical Psychologist Adelia Moore, Oct. 10, 7 p.m., Fairfield University Bookstore, 1499 Post Rd., Fairfield. Book discussion on Being the Grownup: Love, Limits and the Natural Authority of Parenthood. Free. RSVP: FairfieldUBookstoreEvents@gmail.com.

Author Talk: Truth Worth Telling: A Reporters Search for Meaning in the Stories of Our Times, Oct. 17, 7-8:30 p.m., Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Rd., Wilton. Former CBS Evening News anchor and 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley recalls and reflects upon some of his most dramatic, moving, and inspiring encounters in the field. Free. Registration/Info: 203-762-6334, wiltonlibrary.org.

Author and Stage IV Breast Cancer Survivor, Caryn Sullivan, Oct. 17, 7 p.m., Fairfield University Bookstore, 1499 Post Rd., Fairfield. Sullivan talks about her cancer guide journal, Happiness Through Hardship: A Guide and Journal for Cancer Survivors, Their Caregivers and Friends During an Initial Diagnosis. Free. Info: 203-255-7756. RSVP: FairfieldUBookstoreEvents@gmail.com.

Book Discussion: Motherland, by Elissa Altman, Oct. 18, 7-9 p.m., Bethels Byrds Books, 178 Greenwood Ave., Bethel. Info: byrdsbooks.indielite.org, 203-730-2973.

Senior Center Book Discussion: Jack London: An American Life, Oct. 22, 11-noon, Comstock Community Center, 180 School Rd., Wilton. Registration/Info: 203-834-6240.

Wilton Library Readers Less, by Andrew Sean Greer, Oct. 23, noon-1:30, Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Rd., Wilton. Professional book discussion leader Susan Boyar discusses Less, by Andrew Sean Greer. Registration/Info: 203-762-6334, wiltonlibrary.org.

Booked for Lunch: Bringing Down the Colonel: A Sex Scandal of the Gilded Age and the Powerless Woman Who Took On Washington by Patricia Miller, Oct. 24, 12:30-1:30, Wilton Historical Society, 224 Danbury Rd., Wilton. Free. Registration/Info: info@wiltonhistorical.org, 203- 762-7257.

Author Talk and Signing: Architect Donald M. Rattners My Creative Space: How to Design Your Home to Stimulate Ideas and Spark Innovation, Oct. 24, 7 p.m., Darien Library, 1441 Post Rd., Darien. Info: darienlibrary.org.

Book discussion groups at Cos Cob Library, 5 Sinawoy Rd.; info: 203-622-6883.

Miscellany

YWCA Darien/Norwalk, 49 Old Kings Highway North, Darien; ywcadariennorwalkk.org or 203-655-2535: Job Search Support Program for Women, incl. computer classes, info., katefywcadariennorwalk.org.

Meditation Sessions, Sat. and Sun., 10-11:30 a.m., open sessions; Mon. and Wed. eves., 7-8:30 p.m., Tues., 12:30-2 p.m., Thurs., 9:30-11 a.m., open sessions; Family Program, ages 4-12 yrs., usually 2nd and 4th Sun. of the month, 10-11:30 a.m.; Redding Center for Mindfulness & Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd., West Redding; info., 203-244-3130 or visit reddingmeditationsociety.org.

The Compassionate Friends, Stamford Chapter, non-denominational selfhelp group for bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings; meets 2nd Mon. of each month at 7:30 p.m.; Tully Center, 32 Strawberry Hill Ct., Stamford, main floor; info., 203-329-2796 or 203-323-2617.

Music

The Ridgefield Songwriters Circle, monthly gatherings to play new songs and discuss them; for info, call Dave Goldenberg, 203-438-4521.

Nature & Science

The Mt. Kilimanjaro Experience with David Mestre, Oct. 2, 6:30 p.m., Fairfield Public Library, 1080 Old Post Rd., Fairfield. Free. Registration/Info: fairfieldpubliclibrary.org.

Back Yard Beekeepers Association, last Tuesday of the month, 7:30 p.m., Norfield Church Community Room, 64 Norfield Rd., Weston. Free. Info: backyardbeekeepers.com.

Planetarium Show/Telescope Viewing at the Westside Observatory and Planetarium at Western CT State U. Westside Campus, 43 Lake Ave. Ext., Danbury; wcsu.edu/starwatch/ or 203-837-8672.

Woodcock Nature Center, 56 Deer Run Rd., Wilton; center open 9:30-5, Tues.-Sat., two-plus miles of trails open daily, dawn to dusk; reg. in advance for programs, 203-762-7280.

New Canaan Nature Center, 144 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, 203-966-9577; satellite site for NY Botanical Garden programs (800-322-6924 or nybg.org/adulted); buildings open Mon.-Sat., 9-4 (closed major holidays); Programs for Kids & Families: First Saturdays, 1st Sat. of the month, free guided activities for visitors, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Free Live Animal Presentations, Sat. at 3, lasting 15-20 min., different animal each week.

Audubon Greenwich, 528 Riversville Rd., Greenwich; 203-869-5272: program fees: $3/adults, $1.50/children, srs. (incl. adm. to Center & Grounds); trails open dawn to dusk weekends; Kimberlin Nature Center open daily, 10-5; trails and grounds open daily sunrise to sunset, occasionally unavailable till 9 a.m.; 203-869-5272 or email greenwichcenter@audubon.org.

Connecticuts Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Ave., Bridgeport; adm. $14/adults, $11/children 3-11 and seniors, free for children under 3; open daily 9 to 4; Carousel and Peacock Cafe, winter hours: Gift Shop, daily 9:30-4; New World Tropics Building, daily 10:30-3:30; 203-394-6565, http://www.beardsleyzoo.org.

Wolf Conservation Center, 7 Buck Run, South Salem, N.Y.; 914-763-2373, nywolf.org. Live webcam at website shows either Ambassador, Mexican gray or Red wolves.

Self Improvement

SCORE, Service Corps of Retired Executives, offering free seminars and workshops to entrepreneurs. SCORE offers Free Business Counseling bit.ly/SCOREMentor Questions/Comments: score.fairfieldcounty@gmail.com or call 203-831-0065 or visit https://fairfieldcounty.score.org.

Theater

Darien Arts Center, 2 Renshaw Rd., behind Town Hall in Darien. Info: darienarts.org or call 203-655-8683. Educational programs, including many new offerings, in theatre this fall for children, teens and adults, such as Creative Dramatics, Beginning Acting, Improv for various age groups, etc. Reg. at website or call for details.

Writing

Indie Author Day, Oct. 12, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Norwalk Public Library, 1 Belden Ave., Norwalk. Authors are invited to speak and read for a 10-minute slot, beginning at 10:30 a.m.; childrens authors will be scheduled to read in the Childrens Library. Space will be available for authors to display and sell books. Registration/Info: 203-899-2780, ext. 15133, clahey@norwalkpl.org.

CT Poetry Society Workshop, Oct. 12, 2-4:30 p.m., Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Rd., Wilton. Registration required. Registration/Info: 203-762-6334, wiltonlibrary.org.

Writers Group workshop, Saturdays, 1-3 p.m., Stratford Library, 2203 Main St., boardroom. New writer's workshop group open to both new and experienced writers in all genres. Workshop will support the creative process through writing prompts, offer opportunities for participants to share their work and gain feedback and provide some introduction (or for experienced writers, refreshers) on essentials in crafting poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction/memoir. Jennifer A. Hudson, who has MFA in writing with honors from Albertus Magnus College, to work with group. Free and open to public.

Send listings to tinamarie.craven@hearstmediact.com at least two weeks in advance of desired publication date.

Original post:
Literature, science or art there's a lecture coming to Fairfield County - The Ridgefield Press

The motivations of Chinese luxury travellers are not very well understood, and little studied, but with persistence they can be determined. Having reviewed the literature on the topic in a recently published study, Ph.D. student Elaine Yulan Zhang and Dr Tony Tse of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University argue that "a subset of relatively wealthy Chinese luxury travellers" are driven by the desire for "status, interpersonal relationships, relaxation and hedonism, self-improvement and perfection". These may seem incompatible with traditional Chinese Confucian values, but by examining the motivations behind the desire for luxury the researchers explain how such values shape the differences between Chinese and other luxury travellers. With such information in hand, tourism practitioners will be much better able to understand this under-researched market segment.

One of the key features of the global hospitality and tourism industry is the rise in spending power of Chinese travellers abroad. Indeed, the researchers note that China is the world's "number one tourism source market in the world" in terms of expenditure. In 2016, for instance, Chinese international tourists spent more than US$261 billion, "way ahead of Americans" at US$122 billion. Many Chinese tourists are what can be termed "middle to high-end" consumers, including wealthy tourists for whom luxury travel is a popular activity as well as a growing number of less wealthy tourists who save up to enjoy luxury holidays and customised travel services.

This increase in spending on luxury travel has been accompanied by an expansion in the development of travel agents providing dedicated high-end travel services in China. The researchers provide several examples of the kinds of trips offered by such agents, including a round the world trip for RMB1,280,000 and a package tour via private jet for RMB972,000. These luxury travel agents also attend the increasing number of "luxury travel themed events", such as the International Luxury Travel Market Shanghai, and participate in preparing industry reports such as The Chinese Luxury Traveller.

It is clear, then, that the tourism sector is strongly interested in Chinese luxury travel, but the researchers reveal that there has been "very little discussion" of this market in the academic literature and no adequate explanation of the "new trend of luxury travel among Chinese". Nevertheless, there have been numerous considerations of the motivations for travel and for luxury consumption in general, so the researchers suggest that our understanding of the Chinese luxury travel market can be "enriched by integrating knowledge" about luxury consumers, travellers and Chinese.

Luxury consumption, they note, refers to products such as "haute couture and accessories, perfume and cologne, jewellery" as well as "boutique hotels, fine dining, great wines, champagne and cognac". Luxury travel can thus be classed as a type of luxury consumption, and it presumably has similar motivations. Hence, the researchers sought to analyse the "motivations of luxury consumers together with travel motivations" while considering Chinese cultural influences to offer a deeper understanding of Chinese luxury travellers' specific motivations.

To identify relevant previous studies, the researchers searched various online databases using the keywords "luxury", "travel", "motivation", "tourism", "conspicuous consumption" and "Confucian", identifying 299 articles from 135 journals, 7 conference proceedings and 3 book chapters.

After an initial review, these were sorted into three categories according to their topics: luxury consumption, travel motivations and Chinese travellers or consumers. As some of them could be grouped into more than one category, three overlapping categories were also identified: luxury consumption by Chinese, motivations of Chinese travellers and luxury travel.

The researchers found that status was the most frequently mentioned motivation for both travel and luxury consumption. The term "conspicuous leisure" was coined in 1899 to refer to a small group of people (the "leisure class") who were so wealthy that they had no need to work and "signalled their status by spending their time on non-utilitarian leisure activities". The concept gradually expanded to "conspicuous consumption", reflecting the increasing trend toward spending on unnecessary luxury goods "for display purposes".

Status is a strong motivation for luxury tourist activities such as bird watching, extreme sports, cruises and shopping. As the researchers explain, birdwatchers are driven by status and they will "travel long distances to see a rare bird" that their peers have not seen. Similarly, extreme sports enthusiasts seek out dangerous activities that give them high status among like-minded travellers.

Uniqueness motivates luxury consumption because luxury goods tend to be unique and highly exclusive travel destinations are considered the most prestigious. The uniqueness dimension is also related to status, the researchers note, and Chinese luxury travellers in particular may seek "unique and exclusive" travel experiences that set them apart from other tourists.

Interpersonal relationships are also a strong motivation for travel, such as visiting friends and family, socialising with other travellers and making new friends. Relationships have been shown to provide motivation for luxury consumption, as some consumers seek what the researchers term a "sense of belonging" when purchasing luxury goods and consider their families' opinions about their purchases.

Relaxation is, of course, a strong motivation for travel, as people seek to escape from the stress of daily life. The researchers also note that relaxation has been identified as a motivation for purchasing luxury goods, which can serve as a means of stress release. Luxury travel, then, is likely to be motivated by a "desire for optimal relaxation" and the enjoyment of "hassle-free facilities and services". Similarly, hedonism is an important dimension of both luxury consumption and travel, which provides opportunities for "excessive indulgence and comfort".

Some forms of motivation described in the studies were related only to travel, rather than to luxury consumption. Self-improvement, for instance, has been shown to be a strong motivation because many travellers are interested in finding out about different cultures and ways of life, or in learning a foreign language. Novelty and curiosity have also been linked to self-improvement, and to inspiring travellers to seek out new and unusual places and experiences.

Focusing a little more, enjoyment of nature has been identified as a particular motivation for Chinese travellers, who the researchers note are inspired by the Confucian tenet to "seek inspiration from the landscape" and its connection to Chinese poetry, paintings and calligraphy. As all three of these motivations - self-improvement, curiosity and the appreciation of nature - are likely to be best satisfied by luxury travel services and products, they may be equally relevant to Chinese luxury travellers.

Yet how can Confucian values match with conspicuous consumption? Confucianism advocates frugality and the avoidance of extravagance, to be sure, but the researchers offer several explanations for why this does not stop Chinese people buying luxury goods.

Status, for instance, may be a particularly important motivation for Chinese luxury travellers because of the importance of "face" in Chinese culture and daily life. Rooted in Confucianism, face is a measure of social power and status, which can be signified by luxury consumption. It is an important cultural concept that explains some of the differences between Chinese and Western consumers and travellers.

For instance, some customers may seek good value, but face-conscious Chinese customers are willing to pay more for luxury products and may be put off by discounting on luxury goods. Similarly, while some customers, particularly in the West, dislike luxury products once they become too popular, in China popular luxury brands are considered indicators of social position and prestige.

The researchers also argue, for instance, that luxury consumption contributes to the Confucian ethos of "wealth equalisation", because spending on luxury goods benefits the poor. Confucianism also values group orientation and conformity, which are motivations for luxury travel. Such conformity, the researchers argue, is evident in the "bandwagon effect", or how people tend to follow other people's brand choices. Finally, they note, travel is "promoted in Confucianism" as a way of learning and enriching oneself.

Chinese luxury travellers share many of the characteristics of other luxury travellers, but distinct cultural differences do leave very important marks. Tourism practitioners should be aware, in particular, of how Confucianism underpins Chinese luxury travel motivations. Yet the researchers emphasise that these are preliminary findings, and empirical research will be needed to draw "more robust and generalisable conclusions".

Zhang, Elaine Yulan and Tse, Tony S. M. (2018). Tapping into Chinese Luxury Travelers. Journal of China Tourism Research, 14(1), 71-99.

For close to 40 years, PolyU's School of Hotel and Tourism Management has refined a distinctive vision of hospitality and tourism education and become a world-leading hotel and tourism school. Rated No. 1 in the world in the "Hospitality and Tourism Management" category according to ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2017 and 2018, placed No. 1 in the world in the "Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism" subject area by the CWUR Rankings by Subject 2017 and ranked among the top 3 "Hospitality and Leisure Management" institutions globally in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017 and 2018, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field, exemplifying its motto of Leading Hospitality and Tourism.

With 75 academic staff drawing from 22 countries and regions, the School offers programmes at levels ranging from undergraduate degrees to doctoral degrees. In 2012, the SHTM was bestowed the McCool Breakthrough Award by the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (I-CHRIE) recognising its breakthrough in the form of its teaching and research hotel - Hotel ICON - the heart of the School's innovative approach to hospitality and tourism education. A member of the UNWTO Knowledge Network, the SHTM is also the editorial home of Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, Journal of Teaching in Travel and Tourism and Journal of China Tourism Research.

Read more:
Recently Published Study: The Differences Between Chinese And Other Luxury Travellers - Hospitality Net

Most people know fruits and veggies are healthier choices than chips and cookies, and yet most Americans aren't applying that common knowledge to their lives. Nonetheless, some may be catching on, a new report suggests.

Thefindings, published in September 2019 in theJournal of the American Medical Association, analyzed 44,000 American adults eating habits from 1999 to 2016. Researchers found that refined carbohydrate intake fell by 3 percent, but low-quality carbs, including white bread, white potatoes, and processed snack foods like crackers and cakes, still accounted for about 42 percent of the typical Americans daily calories. Healthy high-quality carbs that come from vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, including brown rice, whole-wheat bread, and whole-wheat pasta, made up only 9 percent of calories consumed.

Im not at all surprised by these findings. We need to make some fundamental changes if we hope to fix our current diet, says David L. Katz, MD, MPH, founder and president of the True Health Initiative, who is based in Derby, Connecticut, and was not involved in this research. The simple fact is our culture does nothing to make eating well easy to understand, or to make healthy food choices the readily available default.

RELATED: 5 Tricks for Getting Enough Fruits and Veggies

Authors used information gathered from a nationally representative group of people ages 20 and older from nine National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles. Using information on race, gender, age, education, and family income, researchers sought to identify whether they could identify any trends in segments of the population.

To evaluate individual diets, researchers relied on people to self-report what they ate in a 24-hour period. They used a multiple-pass method, which means after the respondents made an initial list of what they remembered eating, the interviewers probed for forgotten foods and gathered details of foods they consumed.

They categorized foods accordingly:

Authors assessed the quality of a persons diet using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)from 2015. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed the HEI in 1995 as a way to measure how well Americans are following dietary recommendations. Scored from 0 to 100 (with 100 being a perfect diet), its composed of 13 components that incorporate different food groups and key recommendations, and the USDA has periodically updated it when guidelines have changed.

RELATED: 10 of the Best Plant-Based Protein Sources

Over the 18-year study, researchers observed the following trends:

Authors also noted trends in different populations:

RELATED: Whats the Difference Between Good and Bad Carbs?

The results show that Americans are still consuming too many calories from low-quality carbohydrates, and more than the recommended amounts of added sugars and saturated fat, saysShilpa Bhupathiraju, PhD, co-senior author of the study, who is a research scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and also with Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston. Our study gives us insights into where we can improve our diets, where we can make further gains to optimize diet quality, and which subgroups to target so that we can eliminate disparities in healthy eating, Dr.Bhupathiraju says.

The popularity of the ketogenic and paleo diets could help explain why carbs went down slightly and saturated fat intake remained high, says Ariana Cucuzza, RD, at the Center for Functional Medicine at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, who was not involved in the study. A Mediterranean diet would have higher polyunsaturated fats, which are the healthy fats, she says.

Self-reported recall of diet is a limitation of the study, which is a shortcoming that the authors point out, says Cucuzza. It can be hard to remember everything that you eat you can have a bite or two here or a snack there that you forget to include, she says.

Right now, much of the food supply (like low-quality carbs) in the United States are manipulated to be addictive, says Dr. Katz. Theres a lot of profit for some companies to keep the status quo when it comes to our current diet, but it comes at a massive health cost to the American public, he says.

RELATED: A Complete Mediterranean Diet Food List and 14-Day Meal Plan

Making the grade with your food choices doesnt have to be complicated. Bhupathiraju offers a few tips to get you started:

If you really want to get an idea of what youre eating, write it in a food diary or record it in an app in real time, she says. Tracking what you eat with a food diary or app can help you see where you need to improve, says Cucuzza.

RELATED: The 14 Best Weight Loss Apps to Help You Torch Calories

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Americans' Diet Is Improving, But They're Still Overdoing It on Unhealthy Carbs and Fat - Everyday Health