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What You Should Be Looking For In a Wooden Staff

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Regardless of what your ability is in terms of hiking and walking, a wooden staff is a great way in which you can make the effort that little bit less and ensure that you have some solid support as you are hiking. I actually bough a staff from Steve Sorensen Select Staffing recently and it has dramatically helped me during my ramblings.

I have actually found that I use the stick as much for walking as I do for poking, prodding or clearing space when I hike and it is an accessory which I really wished I had bought many years before hand. You don’t have to buy a staff of course, if you are particularly handy when it comes to woodworking then you could pick one up as you are on your travels and refine it to suit you.

However you go about getting your staff however, there are some certain things that you should be looking out for so that you get a staff which suits you and which serves its purpose.

Hand Comfort

You will always be using your hand to control the staff and so you should ensure that you get a staff which has the perfect spot to place your hand. In order to do this you should make sure that it feels comfortable to hold, that it has no pieces of wood or branch sticking out which will irritate or hurt you, and that you can support the weight of the staff with your hand.

Length

Getting the right length for your staff is not easy, a general rule of thumb is that it should stand around arms-length above your head so as to give you the best support. The best way of finding out which length works for you is to simply try out as many as possible until you get it just right.

Strength

Depending on what kind of hiking you plan on doing, you will need a staff that has the strength and durability to help you through your walks. Really you should be looking for a maple or oak staff as these are known to be not only durable and strong, but also very lightweight, the perfect combination for anyone who is looking at getting their hiking boots on.

Decoration

There is nothing to say that you can’t let your personality shine through with the staff that you have chosen and you should carefully look at the design and decoration of your staff before you buy. The staff that I purchase has the horn of a sheep at the top and it has a yellow stripe in the centre, whilst these look great for decoration they also ensure that people know which staff is mine when I hike in a group.

Make sure that you take your time when selecting a staff, getting it right is tough but when you do, you will have a great staff that could last you a lifetime.

Are You The Target? Bullying In The Workplace

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You would be forgiven for thinking that bullying is a problem of the playground – name-calling and taunting probably happened to all of us – or was carried out by others – at some point during our schooldays, but as you grew up, you grew out of it – right? Not necessarily. This may come as a surprise to some, but bullying in the workplace is just as common as at school, and can even be more of a problem.

Knocking you down

Bullying in the workplace comes in many forms, and can often be more subtle than at school. There are differences between genders too; men are thought to be more openly aggressive bullies, whereas women are more likely gossip or manipulate others emotionally. It can also sometimes be difficult to realize if you’re the target, especially if it starts small and escalates over time. Think about whether it’s happening again and again, or if it’s just someone having an off day. Other sure signs include personal insults and criticism, sabotage or taking credit of someone else’s work, or intimidating and humiliating behavior.

The long-term consequences

What it is important to realize is that, as well as the immediate effect of the words or gestures making you feel intimidated, uncomfortable, or upset, is the long term effect that receiving these insults can have. This is particularly relevant for your health, and especially if long-term. Workplace bullying causes health problems including heart disease and high blood pressure, and depression is also more common. Trouble with eating and sleeping are also commonly reported problems of those suffering stress from workplace bullying.

What you can do

Finding the courage to stand up to bullies in the workplace can be really difficult; think about the situation carefully and consider your options before acting, and don’t be afraid to search or ask for help if you need it.

·         Stay confident and don’t blame yourself. This can be easier said than done, but bullying is more often about the bully than the person they target.

·         When speaking to bullies, stay calm and rational. Getting emotional and worked up serves no purpose, and will likely encourage the bully as they have got a reaction out of you.

·         Seek out support. Build friendships with other colleagues or research options of professional guidance and counseling.

·         Write notes about specific incidents in case you need to escalate the issue to your manager or HR department, and educate yourself on the company’s policies about harassment and equality.

Of course, you may well not be on the receiving end of bullying but instead see it occurring to others in your workplace. Other people may not be as confident or well equipped to deal with bullying, so be prepared to lend a hand and diffuse the situation.