While a compensation package at work may motivate us to some degree, it cannot be used as a substitute for management practices that engage employees and maximize their contribution. Sadly, however, much of corporate America is stuck in the industrial age, using the antiquated carrot and stick system that was developed to boost output on an assembly line.

With all the focus on romance and love over the Valentine’s Day holiday, the most important aspect of the heart is often overlooked — its health. February is National Heart Month and a time when Americans should remember to include heart-healthy tips on their February checklist of Valentine’s Day cards and chocolate kisses.

A blog & resource by a practicing & teaching lawyer in Pennsylvania for law students, consumers, & professionals about Elder Law, senior lifestyles, longterm care, “End-of-Life” & health care surrogate decision-making, estate & personal planning, fiduciary administrations (by agents under powers of attorney, custodians, guardians, executors/administrators, & trustees), elders’ dispute resolution, and Orphans’ Court litigation in this Commonwealth, with reference to trends nationally.

You have a nice house, a great job and healthy children, but somehow the prime of your life is starting to feel, well, less prime than you had imagined. Those Americans in the “sandwich generation” (ages 35 to 54) report the highest level of stress, according to a recent national poll by the American Psychological Association.

With the looming IRS tax deadline on April 17, more Americans are experiencing financial stressors and may be dealing with them in unhealthy ways, according to the American Psychological Association (APA). Stress related to tax deadlines can increase reliance on the unhealthy behaviors many people already use to cope with everyday stressors related to money, work, personal and family health matters and raising children. APA warns that increased reliance on unhealthy behaviors to manage stress can lead to long-term, serious health problems.

Summer vacation will officially kick off this week as schools across the country close for the year, leaving many families with scheduling conflicts. While summer vacation equals fun for many students, it may lead to added stress for parents and caretakers. Finding day care options for children out of school and even planning family vacations can leave parents feeling stretched and stressed.

In the pursuit of the perfect holiday, expectations of happiness are often unrealistically high. Contrary to the image of relaxation and joy, many people experience an increase in stress during the holidays. Women are especially affected by the rush and pressure of the holiday season–in a 2006 survey on holiday stress, the American Psychological Association (APA) found that women are more likely than men to report heightened stress levels during the holiday season as well as being less likely to take time to relax or manage that stress in healthy ways.

Mothers are the world’s best jugglers: family, work, money. They seem to do it all. However, all that responsibility can often leave moms feeling overstretched and stressed out. According to a 2006 survey by the American Psychological Association (APA), women are more affected by stress than men and report engaging in unhealthy behaviors such as comfort eating, poor diet choices, smoking, and inactivity to help deal with stress. The same survey showed women report feeling the effects of stress on their physical health more than men.

Blaming Your Gray Hairs on Your Teen? Findings show that parents of young and school-age children are becoming more stressed. The Pennsylvania Psychological Association offers parents tips for managing stress. Parents have a lot on their plate: shuffling children from school and activities, worrying about their health and well-being, and balancing the family’s budget, for example. The good news is that as your kids grow, your stress levels may actually shrink.