Release:
December 2, 2020

Women of NATE Today Newsletter
Volume 2, Issue 11

While thinking of what to open this month’s newsletter with, the first thing that came to my mind was obvious: 2020 has been incredibly challenging for everyone, with the challenges applying to every part of their life. The most taxing element of our situation is the unknown… and it is specifically the extended period of unknown which hurts us the most. Modifications to the way we interact, do business, and attend school change on what sometimes seems like a daily basis. It is difficult to develop new routines and establish a baseline for “normalcy”, and because of this we have been stuck in a nine-month long fright-or-flight mode. People are not designed for prolonged periods of high anxiety and high stress. The pandemic is not healthy in itself, and the residual effects of long-term stress are just as damaging.   

In order to minimize the damaging effects of long-term stress, I encourage all of you to do what you can to bring peace to your life. If you find that the pandemic has brought more free time to your schedule, use it to listen to motivating podcasts, or spend some time on a hobby you enjoy. Having a healthy body and mind are two proven ways to reduce stress. 

If you do not already have a morning routine, develop one. I personally find morning routines to be so beneficial for lowering stress, that I actually get up an hour earlier than needed in order to devote time to this process. My morning routine includes the hour before everyone else in the house is up, and that time belongs to me and only me. I refuel and prepare during this time using what I call the 20/20/20 method. The first 20 minutes is for prayer, acknowledging and being thankful for the blessings in my life, and letting my problems go while listening to music. The second 20 minutes is for exercise and the last 20-minute segment is for organization. I find that when I declutter my workspace and outline the day ahead of me to include my goals for the day, that I am much more efficient with my day and therefore feel more accomplished and happier-which helps to reduce stress!

Whether it is spending extra time on hobbies, implementing a morning routine, or something else that works for you, the key is to plan something that fits within your lifestyle. The way that we relax and de-stress looks different for everyone, and it’s important to keep in mind that there’s no right or wrong way to go about it- the important part is to try until you find something that works. The key to remember is that we are not all the same. How boring would it be if we were!

Happy Holidays and remember to enjoy your life today!

Shama Ray is a member of the Women of NATE Committee and the Owner & CEO of Above All Tower Climbing, LLC in Bonne Terre, Missouri. She can be reached at shama@abovealltower.com.

WON Profile: Jessica Reich

Where will you find the Women of NATE?

Take Women of NATE with you!

Are you traveling for work or taking a leisure vacation? Take a creative photo holding a Women of NATE (WON) logo in front of a landmark that lets us know where you are. 

About the Watertown Salvation Army

In a little back room in the Salvation Army building in Southeast Watertown sits an area that is a lifeline for many who depend on it. It’s an area that many don’t think about until they have no choice, yet it’s probably one of the most important rooms in the building. It’s the food pantry. 

This is the time of the year that the food pantry at the Salvation Army begins to look a little bare. As the holiday season approaches the need for food assistance grows for many families in the Watertown area. This year is no exception.  

Lieutenant Karissa Zumwalt is with the Watertown Salvation Army. She says they are seeing a higher than normal need this year due to the pandemic and tough economic situations that many families are facing.

Zumwalt says in a typical month the Salvation Army distributes around 300 food boxes to those in need but now she says they are doing around 350 per month.  

KXLG has teamed up again this year for the FEED THE NEED promotion in an effort to help stock the shelves with food at the Salvation Army. Zumwalt says the “Feed the Need” food drive will help feed over 150 families again this year.

Last year, Zumwalt says about 15,000 pounds of food was donated during the FEED THE NEED food drive. She says this year anticipates the community will come out once again to donate.

In 6 years, KXLG listeners have donated over 25,306 food items and raised over $8,214.31 for the Watertown Salvation Army.

Upcoming Events

Women of NATE (WON) is proud to announce the establishment of the WON Education Scholarship. The scholarship was designed to encourage and inspire more women to enter the tower and communications infrastructure construction, service and maintenance industries.

Women play a prominent role as leaders and visionaries in the advancement of wireless and broadcast communications. Through the establishment of the WON initiative, the Association is proud to recognize the vital contributions of men and women in the diverse tower and communications infrastructure industry. Two separate scholarships valued up to $1,000 each may be awarded to two different applicants.

To stay apprised of recent event updates and to view the most comprehensive events listing visit the NATE WIN (Wireless Industry Network) website at www.natewin.org. 

Recent Event Highlights

    5 Healthy Tips to Boost Your Work Productivity

If businesses want constant growth, they should encourage healthy lifestyles both in and out of the workplace

The Thrive Global Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform. We publish pieces as written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Community stories are not commissioned by our editorial team and must meet our guidelines prior to being published.

By Eunice Njuguna, Digital Marketing Writer, Content Creator

Boost Productivity

Healthy living habits are becoming a common subject of discussion in work environments, and it’s for a good reason. In today’s world, health plays an equally important role in work productivity just as motivation does.

It is a fact that employees who take care of their physical, mental, and social wellbeing are more productive and most preferred in workplaces. Employees that eat healthily, sleep well, and exercise have the best energy, memory, and output in any business. Such employees arrive to work on time, spend their days offering the best services, and rarely have avoidable sick-offs.

But the opposite also happens. Many businesses suffer because of the unhealthy lifestyle choices of employees. Often, unhealthy people suffer from various diseases, and this results in a loss of revenue and work-time for businesses. It is a situation that most companies dread. An event most businesses seek a solution. But with great leaders, a business can create a dependable workforce, by adopting these easy-to-follow healthy tips.

1. Eat Healthily

It is important for any workplace to encourage proper nutrition. Organizations have a responsibility to create a learning program that educates employees on the importance of improved energy levels brought about by eating healthily. Every team member needs to know how to balance their diets to help increase their ability to remember and learn.

It is a fact that if you eat proper foods, your body and mind get nourished and performs better. The human body thrives on a variety of nutrients and you need to consume foods rich in energy, immune boosters, and brain development nutrients for the body to function properly.

There are a variety of healthy foods you can consume. Nuts, fruits, and vegetables are a good example. Carbs and sugar should also be included but in minimal quantities.

Also, team members need to craft proper feeding routines. A feeding routine helps the body absorb all the nutrients it needs from every food you consume.

Please note that it is never enough to eat healthy foods if they cannot be absorbed by the body. Healthy foods are only beneficial if taken at the right time, in the right amount, and are of the right type.

2. Exercise

Take a walk, run down the street, or join a gym. Whatever you have to do, just make sure you get your body moving. Exercise helps boost memory levels. Exercises are the triggers that make your brain become more alert. When your brain orders the release of endorphins, during practice, you think critically and become more creative.

And what does this mean for your business?

Well, when employees think logically, you can expect fewer conflicts in the workplace. The exercises will encourage better relationships and greatly reduce stress levels. Reduced conflict and stress levels mean more time for productive activities that increase business revenues.

Exercises are also suitable for the heart. They help lower the risk of chronic heart diseases and other ailments that keep you away from the workplace. With exercise, you will avoid or reduce sick days and get more time for work, physical, and social activities.

3. Sleep Enough

“Sleep well,” they say. “It is good for your mental well-being,” they quote. But how accurate can these statements be? Research shows that sleep helps soothe the brain. Good sleep reduces stress and relaxes the body, mind, and soul.

On average, an adult requires 7-8 hours of sleep every day. But due to the many daily activities, a slight number get the opportunity to sleep well. The effect of this is poor job performances, inconsistency, and increased stress levels.

But here is what you can do if you have trouble sleeping or have inconsistent sleep hours. Create a routine that ensures you get regular sleep or naps. The routines can include habits like meditation or reducing your caffeine intake a few hours before bedtime to ensure you sleep well.

It can also include specific hours of regular sleep and a few hours of short naps, throughout the day, to ensure you catch up on lost sleep. When you have a clear routine, you can be sure that sleep deprivation will not affect your work productivity.

4. Plan Ahead

You should plan before beginning any work. Planning allows for better routines that save a lot of time. With proper planning, you can prioritize the most productive aspects while reflecting on the results of completed tasks. That way, you do not have to overwork your brain with the back and forth of pending and completed tasks.

For better productivity, have a daily, weekly, and monthly schedule. Carry out a single activity at a time to avoid confusion and help improve your concentration. Avoid multitasking.

Multitasking can be good at times but on most occasions, it reduces productivity. It creates confusion and leads to a slowdown in completing tasks. The only exception to multitasking can be when you have an emergency and need to address the issue fast.

For every schedule, make sure you have a clear plan on how to handle various activities. The difficult tasks are best handled first thing in the morning when there are fewer distractions, and the level of concentration is high. Simple tasks can be set for later in the day but should be labeled clearly to ensure the successful completion of every activity.

5. Drink More Water

Give your body a refreshing feel by drinking more water every day. Water helps cleanse the body. Water can improve brain activity and lower the chances of contracting diseases. Depending on your body mass index, keep your water intake at a minimum of eight glasses every day.

To ensure consistency, have your glass of water every time you take a toilet break. Water is essential for the right functioning of the body, but so are constant breaks. Apart from helping you relieve yourself, breaks help relax the mind. To accomplish more, have regular intervals of work, water, and breaks.  

It takes time to encourage healthy lifestyles. For overall success, have the habit of managing what you eat, when you sleep, and how you plan the day. Keep your goals straightforward and achievable. Understand that boosting your work productivity requires constant improvement.

Please send recipes with photos to Nikki Gronau at nikki@natehome.com.

How to Get Involved with Women of NATE

Become Involved with Women of NATE:

• Sign up as a Women of NATE Participant
• Join the WON Mentorship Program as a Mentor or Mentee
• WON Event Sponsorship Opportunities
• Attend and Sponsor the 2021 WON Leadership Summit – Thursday, September 23, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois
• Subscribe to the WON Newsletter – Women of NATE Today
  - Send in photos for “Where will you find the Women of NATE” section
  - Submit articles
  - Send in photos of events you have attended 
  - Send submissions to nikki@natehome.com
• Engage with WON on social media platforms by liking, sharing and submitting items to be posted (listed below)
• Attend WON hosted webinars
• Join WON for an Open Call (twice a year)
• Network with WON at the Meet & Greet at NATE UNITE
• Join WON for a group photo opportunity at NATE UNITE
• Visit the WON booth at NATE UNITE
• Join WON at the annual TFF golf event (WON is a hole sponsor)
• Attend industry event that WON members are presenting at, sponsoring, and/or exhibiting
• Submit suggestions or ideas for upcoming WON events or programs
• WON Education Scholarship