Email Etiquette: 5 Rules to Follow

Photo credit: Julianna Young
Photo credit: Julianna Young

If you do it right, email can be your new best friend and make your life SO much easier. Experts say that your email behavior has the potential to sabotage your reputation both personally and professionally.

I came up with a list of a few mistakes that people tend to make regarding emails, it’s important to be aware of these mistakes and do everything you can to use email to your advantage — and not let it get you into trouble.

1. Summarize it – Being clear and concise in an email is key. Make your most important point first, then provide more details if necessary. If you send a long rambling email, it is much less likely that the respondent will act on what you have sent or even respond.

2. Create a signature – Set up a signature that contains all your contact information. This helps the recipient obtain your contact information easily.

3. Be mindful of your tone – It’s not what you say, but how you say it that really matters. Your tone (whether its urgency, irritation or sarcasm) can be easily misunderstood via email. Keep this in mind and be sure your emails are professional, friendly and clear.

4. Understand the difference between “To” and “CC.” – The people you include in the “To” field should be the people you expect to read and respond to the message. Those included in the“CC” field are the ones who need to know about the email, but don’t necessary need to respond. People you include in the “BCC” field will not be visible to others.

5. Spelling, grammar and punctuation – Email comes with spell-check for a reason, so use it. If you misspell words, use bad grammar or punctuation, it reflects poorly on you and/or your company. It’s also a good idea to re-read your messages before you send them to be sure you are communicating clearly.

Lastly, email is great tool but it doesn’t necessarily work for every situation. There are many things that are appropriate to send via email, but there are also some things that should be discussed in person. If a conflict or difficult situation should arise, it’s always better to talk it out.

If you would like to learn some more tips and tricks on email etiquette, check out this article from INC.com.

Suiting Up for Summer

Photo credit: Ashley Allison
Photo credit: Ashley Allison

June 21, 2014 marks the first official day of summer. However, with temperatures already hitting highs ranging from the mid-80s to low 90s, Bikini Season seems to have already begun in Chico.

And while many welcome the early opportunity to float the Sacramento River in summer’s hottest swimwear fashions, there are those of us who can’t stand the thought of donning a bikini in public.

I’m one of the latter. I start spring the same way every year. I have well-intentioned plans for working out and tanning my stark-white body into something like a Greek goddess. However, as summer nears, I realize that all  I’ve managed to accomplish is overeating at Easter, leaving me looking closer to a centaur than a goddess.

So, if you’re like me and you find yourself needing that swimsuit-ready body, I’ve compiled five quick tips to get you in tip-top shape, ASAP.

1. Watch what you eat.

It sounds simple enough, but for many of us maintaining a healthy diet on a student’s schedule it can be tough.

I find counting my calories and keeping a food journal keep me cognizant of what I’m putting into my body. After counting calories for a few days, I naturally shy away from carbohydrate-heavy meals and opt for foods lower in calories that I can eat in high volumes. Meals combining lean proteins like egg whites, chicken and turkey are great choices when combined with fruits and vegetables as these meals tend to be much lower in calories than high carbohydrate meals.

2. Start interval training.

Research shows that interval training, which switches between bouts of very high intensity workouts like sprinting and very low intensity workouts like walking, burn more calories in a shorter amount of time than sustained high intensity workouts.

3. Fake it, don’t bake it.

Suntanning can cause skin cancer. Be kind to your skin this summer and opt for a sunless tanner like Jergen’s Natural Glow. It tans and evens your skin tone while hiding imperfections without all the harmful rays!

4. Find a suit that suits you!

Not all swimsuit styles are flattering on all body types. What may be flattering on someone else may not be flattering on you. Accentuate your body type by choosing a suit that is right for you and ignore the trendy swim styles that do nothing for your figure. Not sure which suit style best suits your frame? Check out Glamour magazine’s swimsuit guide!

5. Love the skin you’re in!

So what if you don’t look like a Victoria’s Secret model? Even Victoria’s Secret models don’t look like Victoria’s Secret models in real life. Don’t believe me? Google “celebrity photo retouching” and see what you find.

The point is, no one is perfect, and everyone has imperfections. So celebrate your figure. Whether you’ve got lots of curves, no curves or you’re somewhere in the middle, we’re all beautiful. Celebrate your womanhood!