The way that you start your day can greatly impact your mental ability to handle stress and stay productive throughout the day. Read about these 5 morning rituals that successful people practice before they leave for work. You will be amazed how much more equipped you feel to take on daily work pressures after you develop these new habits.

1. Wake Up Early – Don’t wake up 30 minutes before you have to be in the office and don’t hit the snooze button, it will make you less alert and productive later in the day. Make it a priority to go to sleep early in order to get at least 7 hours of sleep. Download the Capsule FM app, this alarm gently wakes you up by telling you the daily weather, news and by playing your favorite songs.
   
   
2. Exercise - Entrepreneur Magazine recommends just 7 minutes of exercise in the mornings. Seven minutes is short enough that it won’t throw off your morning routine but long enough to get your heart pumping and mind ticking. Download the 7 Minute Workout app, it works all major muscle groups in just seven minutes.
   
   
3. Eat The Right Breakfast at the Right Time – It’s important to eat a healthy breakfast within 1 hour of waking. Consuming a healthy breakfast soon after waking will help to stabilize your blood sugar levels and give you the energy needed to take on the day. Green smoothies or plain Greek yogurt with fruit are a great quick option.
   
   
4. Take Time to Reflect – Before the demands of the day consume you, take a few minutes to reflect in prayer with some uplifting music and a cup of coffee. You will be amazed how much those few minutes will elevate your mood and help you feel ready to seize the day.
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5. Limit Unnecessary Time Consuming Decisions – Just like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg wears the same clothes everyday. Stress is primarily caused by having an overwhelming amount of decisions to make everyday. Cut down on stress by wearing the same color shirt every day. If that’s not possible, choose outfits for the week on Sunday night.

*Photo taken from thrivewire.com

One of the greatest mistakes an employee can make is to fail to thoroughly review the employment agreement. An employee agreement defines how bound you will be to your employer, and it may put limitations on your future that you are not prepared for. Below are four key areas you should take note of before negotiating.

 
1)      Non-compete and non-solicitation clauses.
Look for post-employment restrictions. Non-solicitation language prohibits patient solicitation once the employee leaves. The non-compete clauses will prevent the employee from getting a job within a certain radius. When reviewing this section of the contract, note that it is not legal for the non-compete covenant to be in effect for several years, and the distance cannot be excessive. Any non-compete and non-solicitation clauses must be reasonable.

 
2)      Benefits
The types of benefits offered will differ between employers, but regardless of which benefits are offered, employees are entitled to the same benefits as other employees in the same situation.  These benefits could include paid time off, health insurance, disability insurance, malpractice insurance, gas reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, etc. A few questions to ask yourself when looking through the benefits section: What holidays are included? How many PTO days are offered? Are sick days included in PTO?

 
3)      Salary
Will you be on salary or paid by the hour? Are RVU/productivity bonuses spelled out in the agreement? If so, who will decide whether or not you've met the criteria for productivity bonuses?  Is that criteria objective? If the employer offers a sign on bonus, will you need to pay it back if you decide to leave before a certain amount of time? Will you receive a W-2 on 1099?

 
4)      Term and Cause for Termination
How long is the contract? How much notice are you required to give when you decide to leave? Are you an "at will" or "fixed term" employee? Every state except for Montana has "at-will" employment laws. This mean that an employer can fire an employee at any time and for any reason.  However, some employers have "fixed-term" policies that require good cause to fire and therefore provide employees with some job protections. 

  

Factors to consider when considering a new position in addition to salary/bonuses/productivity. 


-         What portion will your employer contribute to your medical insurance premium?  Carefully evaluate the quality of the new medical plan.

-          What percentage will your employer contribute to your retirement fund or pension?

-          Does the PTO include the vacation time, sick time, holidays, extended sick bank, CME time (and money), and family leave time that you want? 

-          Is it a better clinical fit or a setting you would rather work in? Is this a good career step? Is this a good challenge for you?

-          Does this company cultivate a culture, philosophy, and stability that benefits its employees?  Often it is better to sacrifice a little money to be in a better work environment.

-          Does your salary cover the actual hours that you will work, or will you be paid for 40 hours a week when you actually work 45 or 60?

-          Does this position schedule you in shifts that are better for you and your family?

-          Is the commute shorter?  If so, how much gas money and time will you save with the new route?

-          Finally, be sure to consult a cost of living calculator such as the one at http://www.bestplaces.net/col/ .   $100k per year in Chicago, IL can decrease to $78,116 per year in Mount Vernon, IL to maintain the same standard of living.

At NP Now, we make it our priority to find exciting professional environments for our NPs, we also take very seriously the presentation of our candidates to their potential employers.  Below you will find helpful guidelines for the interview process that have consistently proven to be successful.  Please be sure to review this information as part of the preparation for your interview.

1)      Be ENTHUSIASTIC!  Showing enthusiasm and energy at an interview is very important.  It is quite common that the most qualified individual will not to be offered the job because they do not covey the enthusiasm, excitement, or sense of urgency that a group is looking for. Leave the interview conveying strong desire, energy, and enthusiasm to work for that group.


2)      Do your homework.  Research the interviewing group, read recent news releases about the group and prepare questions to ask the interviewer about themselves and their company.  Be sure to ask specific questions about the duties and expectations of the position.  Write down 3-5 questions that will help you decide if this is the right opportunity for you. 

Here is good example of an opening question to ask:

“Thank you very much for meeting with me today. I am somewhat familiar with Company X and your great reputation. I’ve had a chance to look at your website and have read about your latest achievements (be specific) in the Wall Street Journal. Can you tell me a little more about the company, and the skills that you are looking for in someone to do the job that I am interviewing for?”      Be an effective communicator.  Be thorough in your answers, but word them concisely.  1-2 minute answers are ideal!.  Stay on topic with relevant conversation.  Maintain eye-contact with the interviewer.  


3)     Be confident.  Determine the 3 most important assets that you bring to an organization above and beyond your colleagues (WRITE these down before the interview so you don’t forgot them and be prepared to give specific examples of how you have exemplified these 3).   Examples may include creativity, work ethic, decision making, related to patients, working in a team, etc.  What are the 3 things that you want the hiring manager to know about you that separates you from your peers? 


4)      Be patient.  DO NOT bring up or ask about salary, PTO, or other benefits until you are offered the position.  We will happily consult you on those aspects of the position.  However, it is highly recommend to say this at the end of the interview:

“Mr. Smith, I want to thank you for taking time to meet with me today. I want you to know that I am very interested and excited about this opportunity. In your opinion, do my skills meet the requirements that you are looking for?”  If the answer is yes, you can ask what is the next step in the process.
Or
“I like what I have heard today and am very interested in moving forward.  I understand you are looking for someone in this role who has (A,B, and C) and as we’ve discussed, I have (specific experience with A, B, and C).  Before I leave, are there any more questions about my background or qualifications that I can answer or clarify for you to better assess my fit within your team?


5)      Use good judgment.  NEVER speak ill of past or current employers or coworkers. When they ask: “Why you are looking for a new position?”  This is an opportunity to SELL  yourself.  Reflect on what this new role requires and contrast what your current position doesn’t have that this new role does have. Never state that you are looking for more money.  


6)     Listen well.  Lack of focus and attention is apparent to any prospective employer.  Plus, this is all information you need in order to make the best decision for your career.


7)    Say “thank you!”  Shake hands and thank the interviewer for the opportunity.  A follow-up thank you note also helps to reinforce your interest in the position. 


8)    Do's and don't's.  

Do: Show up 5-15 minutes before your interview. 
Don't: Show up 20 minutes or 3 minutes early

Do: Chew mint gum or a breath mint before entering the building
Don't: Chew gum during the interview.

Don’t: Take your cell phone into the interview

Do: Print directions to the interview, as well as the person’s phone number in case you run late, 2 copies of your resume, a notebook/notepad with a pen

Do: Wear a navy, black or dark grey suit is appropriate for most positions. All make-up, nail polish and accessories should be subtle.  
Don't: Wear perfumes or cologne.

With a family of 6 and a small business to grow and manage, time management is a very important topic to me!  As we look at the year ahead, it is always a good idea to see if our work life and family life is balanced.  Here a few things I have learned from others and trial/error. 

1. Turn it off at the end of the work day.  Checking emails and voicemails after hours will take a toll on you and your family.  Your family can tell when you’re not fully present (you may be missing out on precious moments). 
2. Try to stop working at 40 hours a week. Research shows that every hour worked past 40 hours a week is at a much lower productivity level. In addition, workers are more likely to make more mistakes.  Give 100% during work hours so that there are no regrets at the end of the day or week. 
3. Make a list of what you need to do the next day so you don’t think about it all night while you are with your family.  Then start working on the list as soon as you get to work in the morning. 
4. What do you think about?  When you are home, do you find yourself thinking about work a lot?  Then maybe it’s time to really reflect on what your priorities really are and make an adjustment.
5. Take at least 2 weeks off per year. You have to take a break a few times a year to be your best during work time.  Vacation time is a great time to spend time with family and friends and get back a proper perspective on life. 

Picture from https://www.learnvest.com/2013/01/3-steps-to-creating-balance-between-work-and-family/