Get ready for fall, and all the change that comes with back to school, the falling leaves, and the refreshing chill in the air! The "Change is in the Air" Blog Series is hosted by Reactine. Share your experiences about the coming fall season in the comments below for your chance to win some great gift certificates - perfect for updating your workplace wardrobe - and learn how to manage your fall seasonal allergies thanks to our friends at Reactine.
School's starting soon, and that means that work's starting again for me, too. As a substitute teacher, I usually don't go to work in the same place for two days in a row. Sometimes I like that about my job: there is a certain thrill in going to a new place every day (if I'm lucky enough to work every day), and I always enjoy getting to know a new group of students and staff when I'm in a new school. Plus, I get most of the perks of being a teacher without the hardest part of the work: the planning, prep and evaluation.
The truth is, though, that there are a lot of challenges in my line of work, too. Many kids will try to take advantage of substitute teachers, and sometimes I find myself stepping into a workplace where the teacher I'm replacing hasn't prepared well enough for me and I need to improvise more than I'd like. Of course I've developed a pretty good bag of tricks for both kinds of situations, but there are still occasionally those days that manage to throw a curveball at me, no matter how well-prepared I am.
Take, for instance, the day that I filled in for a French teacher at a school not far away from where I live. The grade 5/6 homeroom class were a bit rowdy, but I soon had them essentially under control and in order enough to complete the plans their regular teacher had left me. For the last period of the day, however, I was to teach French to a group of grade 4 students from the class next door. The moment they saw me, they were like a group of wild animals. One boy ran around the class, jumping from desk to desk (yes, on top of them) and picked up his classmates pencils, snapping almost all of them in half. While I tried to get him under control (and back on the ground) one of the girls in the class attacked her neighbour with a pencil box. When I took it away from her, she hit me! I sent her to the office, but she refused to move, and tried to give me a fake name. The jig was pretty much up, though, when she didn't know how to spell the name she had invented for herself. A quick call to the office put a stop to their hijinks, but I will admit to having second thoughts about filling in for that teacher again!
Then there was the time when I went through two boxes of tissues because I was so allergic to the dusty and musty basement classroom I was placed in. My eyes were watering so badly that a few of the girls approached the desk to ask me if I was crying! That was so embarrassing that I learned to take a Reactine before heading out to work every day, just because I never know what kind of environment I'm going to find myself in. I have even found myself in classrooms that still have blackboards and chalk instead of the more common whiteboard and SMARTboard combinations (for the record, SMARTboards are awesome and every classroom should have one).
At the end of the day, I love my job, despite all the little challenges I face. I'd be thrilled to have a permanent classroom of my own, but until that time, I'll continue to get up and look forward to a new adventure at work every day.
DON'T LET RAGWEED INTERFERE WITH YOUR BUSY FALL SCHEDULE
Back to school is a busy time of year for families, but the coming of fall is a time of transition beyond just heading back to regular school and work schedules. With the bulking up of daily routines and extracurricular activities, having to deal with allergies is just one more thing that can make the fall season a challenging time. As many know all too well, ragweed runs rampant in the fall months resulting in itchy and watery eyes, runny noses and sneezing.
Whether you're heading back to school or heading back to the office, these symptoms can often pose as a major distraction, detract from one's productivity and interfere with daily activities - all things that busy families just don't have time for!
To help you manage these symptoms and better understand one of the major causes of fall allergy season, here are a few key facts about ragweed and how the whole family can avoid this pesky allergen:
· Many people often mistake goldenrod for ragweed - but the two are very different plants. Goldenrod, with its yellow blooms, is often blamed for causing seasonal allergies, when the unremarkable ragweed plant with its toothed green leaves and small, inconspicuous flowers is the real culprit. Keep on the look-out during quality family outdoor time!
· Ragweed is often found along the road, in fields and vacant lots in urban centres. It's a stubborn plant and since its pollen can travel for hundreds of kilometres, it's difficult to avoid.
· Having a good antihistamine on hand is also a must. Non-drowsy options can be most beneficial for moms on the go, like Reactine which can start to work in as little as 20 minutes and lasts a full 24 hours.
· Avoid peak pollen times in the fall, which are generally in the early part of the day. Best to schedule a trip to the park in the afternoon.
While ragweed may be a nuisance, the good news is the suffering will end with the first frost. While we desperately cling on to what is left of the summer months, families suffering from allergies can happily look forward to the first cold night of the year!
And to help YOU update you make your workplace a little brighter - whether it be your office, your home office, or at the park with kids, we have a $50 Winners card up for grabs! Your comment on this post is your entry to win, it can't get any simpler! So fill in this blank in the comments: The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is __________. The winner will be chosen randomly by random.org. Good Luck!UrbanMoms.ca members are eligible to win so don't forget to sign-in. Not a member yet? Click here to join!
Click here for contest Rules and Regulations.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is to open the blinds and let the sun shine in. I find that it is hard to work when it is gloomy but if you add a bit of natural light you feel uplifted. Just like that old kids song goes that we all know, "Mr. Sun, Sun Mr. Golden Sun Please shine down on m."
i would like to make my workplace brighter by having a workplace! :-) my "home office" is a corner of the breakfast table and wouldn't mind a shelf or two!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is a window! Sunshine makes everything happier.
I painted my home office recently and it makes all the difference in the world. It's now a very cheerful room in which to work.
...add my "signature" wallpaper!
babylove818 has got it right! I'd make it mandatory for everyone to open their blinds!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is put more windows and colorful wall art
Add some colour to it! The cubicle walls are grey, along with the carpets, and the walls are a bland beige!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is more natural light.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is get a nice festive bright overhead light
I am not working at the moment. But at my last job I brought some of my wind chime collection. I used some of the "quieter" ones and stuck with the sea and nature themed beauties I owned. The slightest stir would set off quiet bell sounds and made everyone feel like we were outside sitting on the porch. Everyone loved them. I gave many away when I left because no one could stand to be with out them. They were a lovely personal touch, that brightened my work space with colour, music and were an instand mood lifter.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is add more windows.
New paint on the walls and more lighting sure bright everything up!!
I work in a hospital, so flowers, more windows etc aren't an option. So, to make it brighter, I would have to say to add more humor to the workplace. We need to lighten up more in the hospital setting.
more natural light
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is paint all of our offices something bright and sunny. I work in a library at a college and all of our offices are done in faded moss green and it is terribly depressing
One thing would be a vase of real flowers from my garden:)
I would paint the walls a bright colour and open up the blinds for more sunlight.
introduce a meditation room - everyone could use even 5 minutes of rest, away from the hectic workplace environment, it would better our well being, making us work more efficiently.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is the art work and a brighter paint on the walls:)
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is a new paint color for the walls. They are now bluish gray and I would like to change to a pale green.
I would add lots of plants to bring life and colour to my workplace.
Cool pens and paper...I'm a sucker for an awesome fountain pen, and nice paper to write on.
My office is in desperate need of fresh paint in a bright colour to make up for the lack of light in the winter.
My workplace would be a lot brighter if I was able to bring my foster animals into work with me! These little kittens have a way of making anyone's day a little brighter with their sweet faces and adorable personalities!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is placing vases with fresh flowers everywhere possible!
My workplace would be alot brighter if I could get them to paint it. The walls are a steel gray with these hideous stripes in orange and red bordering the top. It has been like this for a very long time. I have been there 8 years and it was like that long before I started working there. It would be much more cheerful with some fresh bright paint.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is plants and art work
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is a fresh coat of paint on the office walls to brighten the place.
the one thing i'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is lots of punches of colour, paintings accesories etc
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is actually having a workplace!! ;)
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is curtains :)
windows we don`t have enough
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is a big red leather chair of my own design
To have my wife visit me at least once a week, she always brightens me up!
My office would definitely be brighter and more sneeze-resistant if we reduced some of the clutter Paper, books, paper, binders, paper, AAAH Choo!
The one thing I'd add to make my workplace a little brighter is allow a little fun decorating. We are a closed office, with no real contact with the outside world, so a fun workstation wouldn't be "unprofessional", but it would do a lot to lift a person's spririts
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is some new windows. Since I dont actually work outside the home....I'm just refering to the ancient single pane, wood frame windows throughout our house. One day they'll get updates.
I'd add an inspirational quote to the wall, to get me through the day.
By having more fresh flowers!
Add more color as the pale beige is boring and not stimulating and add more natural light
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is to add me to it -- I'm looking for a job! LOL!
My regular workspace just got a makeover but since I'm on Mat leave I won't need to brighten it for 8 more months.
Would be some new colourful paint on the walls to brighten mine and my students' day!!
I would add some flowers and colour to make my workplace a little brighter
A new water cooler - fresh water and a good excuse for good conversation with co-workers!
add a comfy, bright sofa with soft cushy pillows
I would definitely add another window to my home office so I can enjoy the sunshine all day.
Right now, I just get the morning sunshine. When it moves around to the other side of the house, I wish it were still shining in.
There is nothing like sunshine to brighten a day at work!
My home office is in the basement, with one tiny window. Although I painted the walls bright colours, and added a sunlight light fixture, it is still not bright enough. I would love to have another window at the side to let more light in.
I work in a classroom- so I would need to say better lighting and fresh paint would brighten and freshen up my workspace.
Adding colour. Everything is gray in my office and it makes it very depressing. The only colouring I ever get in there is my clothing.
I think that I could brighten things up with some fabulous new colours.
Putting some pictures frames up filled with loved ones.
I would get new flowers every week. Lovely to look at and lifts your spirit.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is getting some natural light as my home office is in the basement with a small window.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is open the blinds a little more.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is more sunshine.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is more time to clean my kitchen windows! That would surely make my workplace a little brighter! (i'm a baker!)
Quite literally, my workplace would be better with better lighting! The other floors of our building have these nice diffusers on the fluroscent light fixtures, but our floor is just the bare bulbs and it's waaaaaaaaay too harsh!
A designer desk lamp from Winners would spice up my work place.
to make my workplace a little brighter I would host cocktail hour every afternoon in my cubicle ;)
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is to move it out of the basement. Daylight promotes productivity.__________.
To not have to work 16 hour days 7 days a week :(
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is to add better lighting and more palatable colours.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is some new curtains (the ones we have are awful).
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter are coworkers who are old-fashioned and don't believe in the benefits of working from home sometimes.
The one thing I'd like to fix to make my workplace brighter is to get rid of clutter, both on my desk and on the bulletin board.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is have more plants.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is open the blinds and buy a new flower, no violet didn't make it though the summer so I need to get a new flower to look at.
With this super hot summer & no central air at our wok place, it has been a challenge to say the least! We have a couple of window style air conditioners but they only do so much in the large space we have. Once you walk into the back, where we manufacture things, it really has been un-bearable at times. Add to that a manager leaving after almost 20 years without warning (he actually quit on facebook), another manager venturing into something new in a couple of weeks, and the busiest summer we have had in about 5 years, my work life is ALL challenge right now.
more windows
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is have bigger windows in the office and to have people smile more
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is my chair. It's dark, ugly and uncomfortable. I would get a nice stylish one instead!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is remove some of the clutter that seems to pile up on a daily basis!
Well, like a lot of people have already mentioned, I would definitely add more windows. More bright colours and I would change the style of storage cabinets and countertops.
SMILE MORE!!! :D:D:D It really works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is some bright coloured walls. The lunchroom to be more colourful too.
I would move my workplace outside and to the tropics to make it a little brighter in winter.
a skylight
I will keep bringing in more of my garden flowers for others to enjoy and make my days go by happier till no more of such flower left. Then it will be time to put up the Christmas lights and decorated the cubicals so that it remains happy time till I find other ways to brighten up the no-window office!
A coffee cart that comes to your work station.
... add more chocolate.
I'd like to get a fridge in my lunchroom that doesn't stink!
Lighter paint.
That everyone has to wear a colorful shirt and/or outfit on MONDAYS!!!!
Color goes a long way...some colors scream happiness!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is to have some fresh colourful flowers at each person's desk.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace brighter is to add some art! Some bright and cheerful artwork would go a long way to making it more enjoyable.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is to have a nicer/cleaner break room. Mine is very crowded and it seems always messy. We need to have chairs that create more space and window blinds/temperature control that work!
smile more a smile makes everything brighter.
I would remove some of the clutter. It is terribly messy in a very small office. That will be my winter project while we are in our slow season!!
I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is a skylight!! Thanks for the chance to win
would be to get new furniture in there!!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is to have windows or a skylight installed. I'm not sure how to do it, as my office is an "interior" office completely enclosed by other rooms/offices and an attic/loft overhead! Would some enterprising designer like to take this on as a challenge?
The one thing I would fix in my workplace is definitely more light! I have a home daycare and I spend most of my day downstairs with the kids. We have a window, but a wall of windows would be much better!
Put up a picture of my family since they make me smile.
I have a very bright home office in my basement. The colour is bright as are my surroundings. It could only be better if my husband would get the door on so I could have a little piece and quiet. That would make me feel like my space was perfect. And I'd get more work done = more money = bigger house where I don't need an office in a basement ;)
I work in a very cold, industrialized factory in the office. I would bring in beautiful, air-cleaning plants to bring some life into this place.
I'm a stay-at-home mom so my home is my workplace. Better lighting would certainly brighten it up. The kitchen has those old flourescent lights (the long bulbs) and I hate the light it shines.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is add flowers, plants and other greenery; make the place come alive. I would also love to add more photos to my space contained in beautiful frames. Thanks!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is more colourful paint on the walls - tired of white!
I would change the decor, definitely stuck in the 1950's!
The one thing that I would fix to make my workplace at home a little brighter is to have fresh flowers delivered every week.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is add a beautiful, scented flower. I believe everyone works better in beautiful surroundings.
I would love more natural light
There is but one thing missing in my workplace and that thing is a beautiful bright window to look out of. That is the one thing I would fix to make my workplace brighter by adding a window to my work area. Now I am in a cubicle with wall on all sides. A window would most certainly brighten my day and make it brighter and more beautiful.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is windows! We work in a basement setting as its a book warehouse and there are no windows. Id also love to add some colourful art peices from our local thrift store. Nothing fancy, its just so bland at work.
sandytsk The easiest thing \i can think of to make my workplace a little brighter is to keep the windows a little cleaner.
A new coat of nice paint and some fresh flowers would make my workplace a little brighter.
I'd add at least 2 great big windows to my office to let in more cheery sunshine.
Better lighting
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is set up monday morning coffee outside.
I'd add lots of cheerful colour...and better lighting :)
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is big windows, bright pictures, and lots of light! .
I would like some pretty flowers around my desk.
I would love some flowers placed around my desk for colour.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is fix the flourescent lights that constantly flicker.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is for teh girl who works there to mind her own business. She is a very nosy co-worker and it gets old really fast!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is a window near my desk!
To make my workspace brighter, I'd put in a skylight.
Foster more team spirit!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is and endless supply of chocolates and pop.
I would have flowers delivered weekly.
I would try to enforce the scent-free policy!!
Bonuses for those who really do their jobs!
Get someone to clean up after the kids and steam clean the poop out of the carpets (ON DAILY BASIS!!!)
The one thing I would change to make my workplace a little brighter is to get rid of all the grumpy people!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is have some plants and flowers. We never have any.
to make my workplace a little brighter would be hard to improve as my little preschoolers always brighten my day no matter how gloomy the weather may be outside. Their smiles sunshine my day!!!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is have PUPPIES to pet & hug & just help take the stress away. How can you be grumpy with PUPPIES around?!?!
I'm lucky to work in a sunny corner office but the air in our old building is terrible
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is to add a ton of candles!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is add some beautiful art from Winners or Homesense!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workspace a little bright is to add some colorful paintings on the wall and some cool bright rug on the ground so it doesn't feel so cold!
Thanks!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is maybe a little more color . I just work here so not my say but I think every business needs a little decor!
Have recently started working from home and need to get rid of the clutter in my office to make my workspace brighter.
bring people into the office. More and more people are working from home and it's lonely in the office.
In my home office, I would have some space for flowering plants that the dogs can't reach to knock over.
a new hat
I need a brighter lamp
is I would get everyone to smile more often!!
I randomly bring in flowers and place 1 in vose on each person's desk when the office is a little too drab!
paint the lunch room.
I need better air conditioning.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is bring in some bright colourful artwork.
NO MORE PERFUMES IN THE WORKPLACE! Too many suffer with this allergy. This would make a workplace brighter and nicer to work in.
I would like to add a desk lamp. All the light at night comes from behind me and creates shadows.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is a window
Some organization and the time to organize it. With 2 little ones at home, playing with them takes precedence so the office is not organized at all, it a bit of chaos, but it's all mine.
I work in Er as a nurse. We have no windows in our department . It is gloomy and I think if I could zi would add a ray of sunshine to help brighten the lives of my colleagues and our patient. IT SURE HELPS TO LIFT YOUR SPIRITS TO BE ABLE TO SEE AND APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS,
I would paint the room.
put up pictures
Have a comfortable chair and add lamps and pictures
As I work in an office with no windows I have added plants and a couple of pictures of my family.
I have pictures of my wife and children and have also added plants
...the air - it is a small stuffy room with no air circulation, hot temperatures and very unhappy workers - especially in 35degree weather.
...if it were possible, I would change the staff morale. it is so low where i work that it is simply depressing to go to the office and be surrounded by others who dislike their position and are unhappy with their employer. Can that be done with the start of one smile? That, I can do.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is by adding brighter colours and not having to look at cement walls.
I would add lots of folk art paintings Love them !
I love "happy colours" - i find it lifts the spirit and is a great motivator....so. to improve my workspace I'd have bright fresh flowers
Having plants around the office can make the place so much brighter
Put a nice plant in the lunchroom.
I would add some colour to the walls by painting.
My workplace is my van, would love a new one, LOL
Some new paint to brighten it up and maybe some nice pictures on the wall too
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is ___a fresh new do for my hair_______. Brightening up the hairdo and adding some colour to my dull drab hair would colour it up!
The one thing I'd change in my workplace is the air exchanger. i work in a room with no windows and it is so stuffy.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is one of those large lamps that looks like a Chinese lantern.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is by smiling more.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is a fresh coat of paint in a brighter colour.
pictures and plants in my office would make it a little brighter!
Paint! Everything is grey. It's so sad!
New scarves to brighten my wardrobe
To make my workplace brighter, I would replace all of the negative people with positive ones!
more natural light, fresh flowers and no dust anywhere.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is to have flowers/ plants and soothing music playing in the backround to help relax!
I like to have natural light so I like the blinds up. I think paint in a nice colout would cheer up my workplace.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is to paint the walls...right now they are grey!! I would like something a little brighter and cheerier!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter bring in plants and flowers to liven the place up.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is having the bathrooms cleaned more frequently.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is always wearing a smile on my face -smiles are contagious :O)
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is to have some of my favourite photographs up so that I could smile whenever I saw them. Thank you
a brighter office would help me work better,,,
air-conditioning!
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is to put some flowers and plants ! :)
I would paint and make the place brighter and get rid of alot of items that are no longer needed.
Having more storage solutions would make my office a little 'brighter' from the psychological perspective. :)
I would like my workplace to acknowledge employees' birthdays. Give a tiny gift with a card of appreciation.
It's probably an unrealistic dream but I would appreciate it if all workplaces were scent free (ie:perfume) places.
I'm a stay at home mom, but I do a lot of work on personal projects. The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is to de-clutter and organize. Right now my workspace my a small wooden desk with poor lighting, limited storage/organization, and no proper desk chair (I sit on a hard wooden dining chair gets uncomfortable rather quickly)! I could use a real filing cabinet, for one thing!
I would bring in fresh flowers on a weekly basis
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is to have casual Fridays.
The one thing I'd fix to make my workplace a little brighter is a window that opens!