July 14th, 2011 — 9:24am
The latest jobless claims numbers, which came one week after the Labor Department's disappointing monthly report for June, showed that fewer Americans than expected filed for jobless claims in the week ending July 9.
According to the Labor Department's jobless claims figures, applications for such benefits decreased by 22,000 to 405,000 last week, much lower than the median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg, which was 415,000.
Just as Ilchi Lee says personal change is critical to one's ability to live a balanced life, these numbers represent a positive sign for those looking to switch careers and start from the ground up in the employment search.
Bloomberg reports that the positive data from the Labor Department was supplemented by the fact that automakers experienced less layoffs than are typical for this time of year.
"Seasonal factors expected a fairly large rise in claims," an official with the agency told the news source. "There were some state-reported auto layoffs this week, but probably not as many as usual. If you go back traditionally in the first two weeks of July you have a large amount of layoffs primarily from manufacturing."
The positive jobless claims numbers also come on the heels of comments by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, who attributed the "disappointing" job numbers of the past few months partially to temporary issues such as the increased cost of fuel and supply chain setbacks from Japan in the wake of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in March, according to the news source.
While the drop in jobless claims is a positive, job seekers still need to exert effort during the summer to secure employment and enhance their personal development, and networking both online and in person can help get one's foot in the door at a company.
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June 22nd, 2011 — 5:50am
It is well known that smoking increases a person's odds of developing many health conditions, but new information about the risks associated with the habit continue to emerge. For example, a recent study out of the Harvard School of Public Health showed that tobacco use significantly increases a man's chances of developing prostate cancer.
Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee says health is a matter of reviewing all of the information that is available and making the proper choices for one's self. This new study may help convince many people to give up this destructive habit.
After surveying the medical records of 5,366 men, the researchers found that smokers were 61 percent more likely to die from prostate cancer. Additionally, they were 61 percent more likely to experience a recurrence of the condition later in life.
"These data are exciting because there are few known ways for a man to reduce his risk of dying from prostate cancer," said Edward Giovannucci, who led the study. "For smokers, quitting can impact their risk of dying from prostate cancer. This is another reason to not smoke."
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June 14th, 2011 — 8:47am
Few people would say that their work is the most important aspect of their lives, but it is undoubtedly near the top.
With this in mind, it is critical to understand when it is appropriate to separate one's work life from personal situations, and this can become particularly true during important sporting events.
While many people in the office undoubtedly watched last night's game and want to spend hours upon hours breaking it down, employees need to remember to remain focused throughout the day and maximize one's brain potential, saving the majority of the analysis for after the work day. This is particularly crucial as Ilchi Lee believes maximizing this potential can help a person become a more balanced and well-rounded individual.
Additionally, while it can be tempting to sneak away from the office a little early in order to catch games in their entirety, working a full day should be one's priority, as slacking off can have negative consequences for both the employee and the company.
Often, workers can use the lure of upcoming sporting events to focus a little extra on the day's work, making them get through what they need to accomplish and allowing them to concentrate on the big game.
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May 16th, 2011 — 9:50am
Staying in shape while traveling can be a taxing endeavor. Ilchi Lee teaches that though maintaining one's health may be a challenge, physical wellbeing is an important step in discovering one's inner self. As such, there are a number of ways that travelers can maintain a reasonable health regimen while they travel, yet the key to this process is to keep it simple.
First, travelers should set honest goals when it comes to these mid-journey exercises. Odds are good that you will not be able to complete your regular workout program during your travels, so establishing the most important exercises or perhaps focusing on a particular muscle group can help with planning your trip.
While some hotels will have gyms for their guests, travelers may want to pack a resistance band during their travels. These small, lightweight items allow for a full upper and lower body workout routine without taking up much space in your luggage.
Be sure to make the exercise fun by trying something new. If you are staying near a park, try a run in this new environment, or do some laps in the hotel pool for a nice change of pace.
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May 16th, 2011 — 9:48am
Exercise is one of the best paths to personal development, yet many of us may throw our normal routines aside when traveling. Ilchi Lee teaches that health is best maintained on a daily basis, and booking an active vacation can make this process much simpler. For those adventurers who enjoy cycling to stay in shape, a trip to one of USA Today's top biking destinations can be a dream come true.
One of the top routes in the country can be found in Katy Trail State Park in Missouri. The nation's longest rail-trail, the route leads bikers on a 225-mile ride through Missouri's wine country, allowing cyclists to celebrate a hard day's ride with a glass of locally-produced wine.
Further north, the George S. Mickelson Trail in South Dakota offers cyclists the chance to traverse the legendary Black Hills on a 110-mile trail through country roads and beautiful wooded glens. The route features a number of different natural environments, an added benefit to this healthy vacation.
Bikers looking for lighter fare may want to explore the Island line in Vermont, a 12.5-mile trail that involves a ferry trip and one of the most unforgettable sunsets you will ever see.
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April 29th, 2011 — 9:38am
By virtually every indicator the economy, or hiring at least, is trending upward in America.
According to a recent release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a large majority of the major metropolitan areas in the U.S. have experienced job growth over the past year.
Specifically, 317 of the 372 metropolitan areas in the country had a lower unemployment rate in March of this year than during the same month in 2010. Only 44 such regions saw their unemployment situation worsen, and 11 areas saw it stay the same.
The BLS reports that nation-wide the non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the country was 9.2 percent this past March compared to 10.2 percent in March 2010.
In addition, only 112 metropolitan areas reported a jobless rate of over 10 percent this March. At first glance this may seem like a high number but that figure during the same period last year was 166, according to data from the federal agency.
Being unemployed can be taxing on even the most calm person so that is why it is important to set some time aside each day for one's self to get his or her mind-body-spirit properly aligned.
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April 29th, 2011 — 4:38am
Dozens of studies have indicated that green tea may have many health benefits. However, a new investigation has shown that when the beverage is paired with a tai chi routine, it may help postmenopausal women improve their bone health.
After a six-month trial in which researchers from Texas Tech University compared individuals who practiced tai chi and drank green tea to those who did not, the results showed that those in the exercise group had significantly lower levels of oxidative stress – an important marker of inflammation and a risk factor for chronic disease – and stronger bones.
Additionally, the findings showed that those who drank green tea without participating in tai chi still showed signs of improved bone health, though to a lesser degree.
The researchers said that their findings show a clear benefit to postmenopausal women, a group that is generally at risk for bone health issues.
Ilchi Lee has said that health is about more than taking medications to control symptoms of diseases. The new findings indicate that his advice about alternative ways to preserve health may have many benefits.
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April 14th, 2011 — 4:26am
There are many ways that Ilchi Lee says a person can improve their health. While meditation and other types of mental exercises are important, taking care of the physical body is equally important. However, sometimes, things that are good for the body are also good for the mind.
For example, a recent study from researchers at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital found that regular physical activity, such as walking, can increase blood flow to the brain. This has been shown to play an important role in helping older individuals ward off the effects of cognitive decline as they age.
The researchers said that cranial blood flow is important for two reasons. First, it brings vital nutrients to the brain that help it function at its peak. Second, proper circulation has been shown to sweep the brain of toxic buildups, which are known to contribute to age-related conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
The findings confirm Ilchi Lee's beliefs that a more holistic approach to health can yield positive results. Simple exercises may be the key to both mental and physical fitness.
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