For Students and Professionals

The forums in this category are suited for both professionals and students. Topics are general, and some forums contains subjects geared directly to HR students.

1. CHRM Community: This forum is just one portion of a portal filled with resources and tools for HR professionals. Topics include personal development, coaching and mentoring, and other subjects suited to both professionals and students.
2. HR Exchange: This forum seems fairly new, but active. Topics include careers, jobs, strategy, and employment law.
3. HR.BLR.com: This forum can prove a great resource for students and professionals, as it covers compliance tools for human resources. HR.BLR.com provides the advice and answers you need to complete your human resources tasks faster and easier.
4. Human Resources Forum: This is a public board that often contains relevant information for discussion.
5. People HR Forum: This forum aims to provide a platform for sharing knowledge, new ideas and best practices amongst HR professionals, consultants and students.
6. SHRM Communities: Become a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) to take advantage of their community programs. They have a special focus on students.
7. Social Zeus Groups: Students and professionals might find a niche group here…currently, 49 groups are listed, including groups on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
8. Your HR World Management Forum: The “Human Resource Zone” seems very active, but the HR Career section has great resources for students or recent graduates in this field.

For Professionals

Although students can learn much from the forums in this category, the answers usually come from highly-seasoned professionals unless stated otherwise.

9. CiteHR Human Resource Management: CiteHR is a community that let’s you put your office or work related issues in front of a large group of peers. You must register to use the site.
10. CLC HR Social Media Discussion Forum: The Social Media Discussion Forum allows professionals from Human Resources and other functions to share questions, insights, and advice on strategies to leverage social media and social networking.
11. Human Resources Forum: Discuss issues relating to the workplace. Human resources, management, organization development, work relationships, leadership, and professional development are examples of issues to discuss in this forum.
12. HR Marketer Message Boards: Read reviews and comments from HRmarketer.com members about their favorite (and least favorite) media outlets, journalists, analysts, conferences, expos, and more.
13. HR Professionals: Sponsored by the HR Examiner, this forum currently contains 182 discussions, but few of the newest questions and topics have replies. Still, some of the topics seem interesting.
14. HR Space: A public space for professionals to ask questions and answer issues pertaining to the HR community.
15. HR Talk: This is a public forum for members to share HR-related information and experience with other SHRM members in a professional manner. This is not an area for posting job announcements, marketing products or soliciting resumes.
16. HR.com Communities: Plus into the discussion of your choice to connect, learn, network, and share with peers. Members have easy access to the shared knowledge on best practices, trends and industry news that allow you to develop your company’s most important asset – it’s people.
17. Labor Law Talk: This public forum is geared toward employers, managers, and human resources personnel.
18. Legal Workplace Message Board: This public message board focuses on legal obligations required in human resources. You must register to participate.
19. Workforce Forums: This forum covers the general workplace, but also covers topics such as legal issues, benefits and compensation, recruiting and staffing, and technology.

HR Special Forums

The forums in this category are geared toward specific regions or HR groups geared toward accounting, government, recruitment, and software.

20. Accountants World Discussion Forums: This forum focuses on payroll, vacation tracking software, HRM, and other issues that deal with human resources and accounting.
21. AHRI HR Connect: The Australian Human Resources Institute conducts a forum for students, including mentoring, debate, networking and Q&A among students.
22. Govloop Human Resources Discussions: This forum is pretty, but it doesn’t appear to be very active. With that said, the questions are intriguing.
23. HR Buzz: This is an Australian forum that might provide insights for students and professionals. Topics include careers, recruitment, workplace safety, and technology.
24. HR Generalist Jobs Forum: Offered by Indeed, this forum focuses on general human resources jobs, with lots of questions from recent graduates.
25. Human Resource Project Management Community of Practice ListServ: This community discussion forums lets you interact with your peers around the world. Ask a question, share insights and experiences, and develop best practices.
26. Northern California Human Resources Forum: This LinkedIn group is very specific regionally. If you live in another part of the country, look for another LinkedIn group that might fit your HR needs.
27. Oracle HRMS: Oracle has an open public forum for their human resource management programs.
28. Recruiter.com: Ask your recruiting questions on this forum, and get answers from other recruiters.
29. SAP Network Forums: Questions regarding ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Human Resource Management development and implementation are discussed here.
30. The HR Library Discussions: You must log in to view and comment, but it might be worth the effort. Topics here include archives of many of the discussions included in this list, as well as blogs, region-specific HR discussions, newsgroups, message boards and e-mail group lists.

General HR Career Videos

1. Careers in Human Resources: The University of Toronto UTM Career Centre offers a video that talks about HR management.
2. Federal Judiciary Careers: Human Resources: The U.S.Courts’ Human Resources (HR) professionals provide frontline services to the federal court workforce.
3. Human Resource — Business Administration: This video by Western explains the seven key areas of human resources: safety, employment law, training, HR management, compensation and benefits, international human resources and staffing.
4. Human Resource Management Career Overview: Watch this short video to learn what a career in HR management really entails.
5. Human Resources 101 Online Course — Universal Class: Enhance your career opportunities by learning how to manage a human resources department in this UniversalClass online course.
6. Human Resources Career Opportunities: JobsCareers.info offers a brief overview about jobs available in a human resources career.
7. HR Advisor Jobs, HR Advisor Vacancy, Human Resource Advisor Jobs: Employment Crossing provides ideas and resources about HR advisory positions.
8. HR Career Exploration: One of several videos offered by the Upstart HR YouTube network.
9. My Career Opportunity in HR-1: This is the first of over ten videos about a training program in HR, delivered by Dr. Salah ElKashef.
10. Project Management Fundamentals — Human Resources: Project Management Certification is for professionals looking to become certified in Project Management as a Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM).

Graduate Careers in HR

11. 12 Graduate Careers in HR: Grad Ireland provides information about twelve possible HR careers for individuals who pursue a graduate degree in this field.
12. Graduate Careers in Human Resources — Musgrave: This educational video focuses on graduate careers in HR.
13. HR graduate degree: Endless possibilities: Cornell University ILR student, Karen O’Rell, talks about returning to school for her graduate degree in HR.
14. Securing a Graduate Placement: Phil Wells (Human Resources Manager, WHK Horwath, Sydney) and Caroline Henshaw (Graduate Recruitment Manager, Deloitte) share their tips on securing a placement and highlight the importance of finding the right placement to match your career goals with the company best suited to you.
15. Vania, current HR Grad talking about the Telstra Graduate Program: Offering 18-24 month programs in a number of areas, the rotations open many doors to explore and determine the parts of the business that you connect most with.

Career Advice

16. Career Advice On Becoming A HR Administrator by Gemma French: This is the full version, lasting almost five minutes. Determined, independent and driven Gemma is relishing her responsibilities as HR administrator with her company.
17. Employee Performance Risks: Anne-Marie Orrock of Corporate Canary Human Resources Consulting shares how to identify the human resources risks within your organization. Find out how employee performance is critical to company success and that having an effective performance appraisal process can achieve up to 23 percent in profit margin.
18. For all Human Resource Specialists: A quick must-see video for all forward looking human resource professionals.
19. Human Resources: Dealing With Lack of Motivation: Discover how documentation can help to correct a lack of motivation with help from a certified personnel consultant in this free video on human resources.
20. Human Resources: Employee Performance Appraisal Samples: Discover why the 360 is an effective performance appraisal with help from a certified personnel consultant in this free video on human resources.
21. Human Resources: Writing Employee Goals for Performance Appraisal: Find out why coming across as competent is important when writing goals for employee appraisals with help from a certified personnel consultant in this free video on human resources.
22. HR: 25 Things I’ve Learned in Human Resources: Drawn from both personal screw-ups and successes. “No need to reinvent the wheel.”
23. HR Career — 25 Lessons I’ve Learned in 25 Years in Human Resources: A veteran HR career specialist offers advice after a quarter century in the field.
24. HR Career — Building Your Human Resources Network: This video talks about the seven types of people you must have in your HR network if you want to advance your career in human resources.
25. HR in the New Economy: How will you handle HR in the “New Economy”? Let the kids of HR.com provide you with some of their insight and suggestions.
26. HR that works for you, not your company: This video offers career advice, promotions, career advancement, salary negotiations, workplace harassment, discrimination, job interviews and much more.
27. The Future of HR: Workforce Canada offers a visionary look at the future of HR and HR careers.
28. USC Marshall — John Boudreau Interview: USC Marshall Professor John Boudreau discusses his book, Beyond HR, and its implications for human resources, managing talent and strategic leadership.

HR Interviews and Career Focuses

29. Angelic — Human Resources Careers at Harrah’s: Angelic Huey, recruitment coordinator, talks about her job at Harrah’s and offers advice on how to enhance your own HR career.
30. Career Advice — Recruitment and HR: Alan Whitford, founding partner of RCEURO, shares his advice on how best to achieve a successful career in the recruitment industry.
31. Career Ambassadors — Specialist, Human Resources: Russel Mercredi is Specialist, Human Resources for Cameco, and he talks about his career and job responsibilities.
32. Employee Wellness Magazine Interview with Alan Waltars, HR Director, Unilever: Employee Wellness Magazine interview with Alan Walters, HR Director at Unilever UK & Ireland to find out what the secrets to success are behind their highly commended workplace health and wellbeing program “Fit Business,” which currently is being rolled out to all 17 of their sites.
33. Human resources interview: Philippa Hird: Former group HR director of ITV Philippa Hird talks to HRzone.co.uk about HR’s role within a recession – and how it can prepare for the eventual upturn.
34. Human Resources Managers — Career Profile: Learn about how to plan, direct, and coordinate human resource management activities of an organization to maximize the strategic use of human resources and maintain functions such as employee compensation, recruitment, personnel policies, and regulatory compliance.
35. Human Resources Organizational Development Consultant: An organizational development consultant discusses her typical day at work, the qualifications needed for the job, the best and worst parts of the job, and advice that can be used by students considering this line of work.
36. Interview with a Human Resources Manager at Mattel Canada: Lauren from TalentEgg gets a chance to sit down and talk to a human resources manager at Mattel Canada to see what they’re looking for in the next Mattel intern.
37. Interview with Ann Best, Chief Human Resources Officer for HISD: Ann Best works as chief human resources officer for the Houston Independent School District.
38. Interview with Patrick Dubert HR Senior VP: The Alstom Foundation campaigns to improve the quality of life in local communities across the globe. Patrick Dubert, Human Resources Senior Vice President, talks about the aims and motivations of the Foundation, including how important it is that Alstom employees are involved directly in every project.
39. Interview with Peter Malinga, Human Resources Agency, Rwanda: Peter Malinga discusses engaging middle managers in governance reform.
40. Mr. Leon Menezes, GM Human Resources Shell Pakistan: Mr. Menezes shares his views on the ROZEE.PK Campus Career Portal initiative which will connect 87 HEC accredited universities with 15,000 employers in Pakistan (2008).

If you want help in your job as a HR professional, technology has provided a way for you to find what you need. From web apps to apps that you can operate from your smart phone, there are a number of helpful resources for your use. Here are 25 great software applications for HR professionals:

Employee and Talent Management Software Applications

Whether you are screening potential employees, or whether you need to keep track of the talent of current employees, these applications can help. These software applications will help you stay organized, and keep tabs on what is happening with your human capital.

1. The Interviewer: Improve your interview skills. This will help you make better hires as a manager. You can also keep track of the applicants you have already interviewed.
2. Open Applicant: Want to keep track of job applicants? This is a great tool that not only helps you keep track of your potential employees, but actually helps you assess them.
3. ApplicantStack: Simplifies employment screening and applicant tracking. Also great for using when it comes to recruitment. A great HR software application when looking for new talent.
4. OrangeHRM: One of the most popular open source web apps available for human resources management. Helps you set up job descriptions and other important information, while providing you with other administrative abilities.
5. RAMCO: One of the best human capital management tools around. You can use this HR resource for training, performance reviews, workforce management and more. Includes plenty of features to help you manage your employees from the day they are hired until the day they leave.
6. Star Tracka: This is all about managing your human capital in a way that allows you to retain the most talented people.
7. Jobscience: You can try a free trial of these software application that is great for helping you manage your talent — known as human capital. Perfect for most HR professionals.
8. The Human Equation: Allows you to set up industry specific training modules and more. Perfect for managing human capital in a way that is customizable.
9. The Influencer: iPhone app meant to help you be a better mediator. It’s a practical software application, that you can carry with you anywhere, to improve your ability to work with employees and solve their problems. Great relationship building application.

Payroll Software Applications

You need to keep track of who is being paid what — and when. From time clock management, to automatic withdrawals and direct deposits, these applications can ensure that you are on top of all of your payroll needs.

10. Softworks: Payroll and employee time management software. Helps you keep track of benefits, hours, pay and other items related to compensation. Includes a great workforce analytics feature.
11. Sage: Focuses on payroll solutions that can help you keep track of pay and benefits. Also includes other features related to human resources management.
12. VistaHRMS: Manage payroll, employees, and more. Perfect for your company’s needs for payment and more. Also includes benefits administration features.
13. Web TimeSheet: Great time sheet that allows you to track employee work hours digitally. Plenty of time management features, as well as payroll help. You can also use this time sheet to track accrued days off, and let employees request time off.
14. TimeTrex: Another time sheet that helps you keep track of employee work time, as well as other items. Payroll functions, job costing and even invoicing are available with this great HR software application.

Time Management and Scheduling Software Applications

If you are interested in making sure that your time is efficiently used doing your duties, these software applications can be quite helpful. Also includes scheduling and meeting applications that can make it easier to connect with others.

15. WebEx: This is great meeting software. If you are managing employees in different company locations, this is a great tool. You can have meetings and training sessions, as well as share presentations.
16. Doodle: Meant to help you with scheduling. You can quickly schedule meetings with others. You can confirm dates and times. Includes customization so that you can schedule meetings in your own style.
17. CyberMatrix Meeting Manager: Not only can you schedule meetings and appointments, but this software application allows you to schedule conference rooms and other facilities. Perfect for managing different meetings and rooms. No more meeting room conflicts!
18. TimeBridge: Meeting scheduler that also helps you plan an agenda and get everyone on the same page for meetings. Great scheduling software application. Can help you arrange trainings and other HR related events.
19. OnTime: A great mobile app for your smart phone that acts as a calendar, to-do list and meeting schedule all in one. You will be on time for your meetings, and you can prioritize tasks. A great planner for the HR professional.
20. GooSync: If you use Google Calendar, this is a great smart phone app. You can sync your mobile device to the calendar, as well as other devices. Your tasks, contacts and more can all be kept in one place. Perfect for the HR professional on the go.

Career Development Software Applications

Pay attention to your own career, and connect with other HR professionals. With the help of these applications, you can explore new opportunities, and stay on the alert for for others who might be looking for a job.

21. Dictionary of Human Resource Management Terms: A great app for anyone who wants to stay on top of their game.
22. LinkedIn: If you are interested in keeping a professional profile, making connections and being ready for the next opportunity, you can have your LinkedIn profile at your fingertips.
23. Beam Me: You can send your digital business card to anyone with the help of this software application. From job applicants to other HR professionals met at conferences, this great app can help you share your contact information.
24. Recorder: Make sure to keep track of your calls. Can protect you in the event of accusations, and can be a great way to keep track of what was said in meetings.
25. Documents To Go: Your productivity can be a big deal when it comes to your HR career. This mobile application can help you stay on top of your workload — no matter where you are.

• Know yourself: Not every program is right for every volunteer; in fact, you can contribute positively to any program only if you’re whole-heartedly interested in its cause and mission. For example, you may volunteer to educate people about disease and ill health, but if you’re squeamish and faint at the sight of blood, you would fare badly in a camp that collects blood samples and offers free testing. So know what you’re interested in and what you’re passionate about, and look for volunteer programs that will allow you to give vent to and develop these interests. This way, you’re doing yourself and the community you’re serving, a great service.
• Choose organizations that make a difference: Some organizations run volunteer programs just for the publicity – they don’t really care about making a difference. Others however are more philanthropic and focus on giving to the community even as they garner free publicity for themselves. It’s the latter kind you must choose if you want to make a difference, one that means something to you and which will help you further your professional ambitions as well.
• Training programs help: Even volunteer work requires some kind of skill, so if you’re keen on joining the program but lacking in the necessary skills, choose programs that offer training sessions before they kick off. This way, you learn something new and also perform more efficiently when on the job.
• Opt for skilled volunteering tasks: There are levels of volunteers in each program, and the more experience you have as a volunteer in similar situations, the higher you can climb in future programs. Opt for supervisory or management tasks because they provide more of a challenge and keep volunteering interesting and educational.
• Practical considerations matter too: And last, but certainly not the least, choose programs that are at locations ideal for you and of durations that don’t cut too much into your regular schedule. Also check the prerequisites required before you sign up – some programs may take up too much of your time or require too much effort on your part just to get to the designated location every day.

• Climate: When you’ve moving to a new place, especially one with a new environment and climate, ensure that this is what you really want. If you’re moving from a hot climate to a cold one and vice versa, spend a week living in the new place in extreme climate conditions to see if you can cope with the weather.
• Help: Do you know people nearby who would be willing to help out regularly and in times of emergency? If you hardly know anyone in the neighborhood and if people are not too sociable, you could find the going tough and long to go back to where you came from.
• Health: Does your overall health condition permit you to live alone? Do you need access to medical care, and if so, does your benefit package allow you to seek care in the place of your retirement? Also, check to see if quality care is available to treat your specific problem, if you have one.
• Expenses: Can you afford your retirement home? Take into account not just the expenses required day-to-day life, but also taxes and other miscellaneous costs that are sure to pop up. Some places are notoriously high in taxes, so ensure that you know how much it will cost you before you decide to move.
• Social life: If you’re the kind who loves to go out and meet and mingle with people, check out the social life in the place you’ve chosen for your retirement. Or if you prefer to spend quiet evenings at home, ensure that you don’t choose a holiday location that’s always filled with raucous crowds.
• Hobbies: You may want to stay busy or keep yourself occupied in some way or you’re going to feel bored, especially if you’ve led an active life up till now. So check out the activities that are available locally and if you’re interested in them.
• Proximity to family: And last, but most important of all, if you’re close to your family and have to move far away from them, you’re not going to get to see your children and grandchildren as often as you’d like. If you will miss them terribly, stay close enough so they can visit during holidays, yet far enough that you have your privacy and independence.

It’s not such a great idea to leave behind all that is familiar in your retirement move because you’re at a point in your life where you could find it difficult to adjust to new people and a completely new life. So know exactly what you want out of retirement, and choose your new home accordingly.

1. Content matters: Your blog’s USP is its content, not the jazzy photographs that make the page look more attractive. Of course, if your blog is about photography, then the pictures matter; and while you can always use appropriate photos to augment your writing, your main focus must be on the content of your blog. Choose a niche, identify a few tags that will direct visitors to your blog (for example, if your blog is about cooking, your tags could be recipe, eating, fine dining, home cooking, healthy recipes, fat-free recipes, and so on), and provide content that is related to cookery. While a slight deviation once in a while is ok, for the most part, stick to your niche when writing content.
2. Update regularly: You cannot afford to succumb to laziness or boredom if you want your blog to be successful. Most part-time bloggers fail because their blog is an afterthought, one that they devote time to if they don’t have work or social commitments. If you want to achieve success as a blogger, you must update your content regularly, at least once every day. If you’re going on a vacation or taking time off for personal reasons, get the services of guest bloggers to fill up your empty space while you’re gone. This serves more than one purpose (continue reading for the advantages of exchanging links and guest blogging).
3. Exchange links and fraternize with other bloggers: Blogging is a social media, one that depends on interacting and networking with other bloggers and helping them boost their blogs even as they help in popularizing yours. When you link to other blogs, they are more open to linking to your blog; this way, your blog is mentioned all over the web and your ranking climbs higher with the search engines. Respond to reader comments on your blog, and leave genuine and appropriate comments on other blogs along with links to your website. However, be careful not to adopt this practice indiscriminately as you could be accused of spamming.
4. Write guest posts: When you write the occasional guest post and other bloggers are willing to publish it on their site, you get to display a link to your site on their page. The more number of guest posts you write, the wider your links are spread over the web. Focus on sites that have a high PR when looking to publish your guest posts, and make sure you write great copy that advertises your writing skills and brings you new visitors.

Remember, while social media may help bring in new visitors to your blog, it’s your content, personality and attitude that holds them there and keeps them coming back. So focus on getting these right, and you can bet that your blog will be successful in its own right, without having to lean on social networks.

1. Volunteer. Volunteers are needed on days besides Thanksgiving and Christmas. People forget this and tend to give back, only during the season they feel it’s needed most. When you aren’t sure what to do with yourself, the best thing you can do is give back. Do a search online for a local kid’s charity or art program and see if you can spend Valentine’s Day or the days leading up to it helping kids create Valentine’s Day cards for their friends and family members. Kids are usually in a cheery mood when handling art supplies, so even if you’re the type who normally shies away from children, it’s worth trying out.
2. Snuggle up and take in your favorite TV show. Most of us wish we had more time on our hands and seldom get to sit down and watch our favorite TV show. This Valentine’s Day, grab a season of your favorite television drama and get sucked in for a few hours. With the blood feast on Dexter or the inappropriate sexist remarks on Mad Men, you’re sure to forget the lovey dovey holiday and just immerse yourself in the drama.
3. Cook a decadent meal. This one may seem like it’s fit for two, but if you’ve ever tackled a three or four course meal, you know it isn’t something that should be done with a date, at least not the first time around. By decadent, we mean from scratch. This usually takes guesswork, elbow grease and you end the ordeal looking as though you’ve spent the day in the kitchen. Indulge yourself by consuming your decadent meal in your pajamas while watching TV, something that most couples therapist warn against for fear of killing “the mood.” Since you’re alone, you can kick your feet up and not feel guilty!
4. Take a kid out for the day. If there’s a kid you love, like a niece or nephew, or even neighbor, offer to play babysitter for the day or evening. Take the kid to a museum, grab a few art supplies and take him or her out for ice cream. Kids love being away from their parents, even if it’s just a short time and it’s likely the kid’s guardian will enjoy the break.
5. Go to a fancy restaurant alone. There’s nothing that says confidence like eating a meal alone in public. This goes for any venue, even McDonald’s! When it comes to Valentine’s Day, you up the ante by eating in public at an upscale restaurant. These dinners are usually pricey, but it probably isn’t something you do all of the time. Take the time to dress up, make a reservation and order anything off the menu. You’ll come back from the meal full and ready to enjoy your comfy bed, all to yourself (after all, who wants to be bloated in bed with someone else in it?!).
6. Troll the Internet. We don’t mean troll, as in jump around the Internet destroying chat rooms or spamming messageboards. We mean indulging yourself to play around online, reading sports news or gossip pages. Whatever gets your mind off the stresses of every day life are on the agenda and there’s no time limit on how long you can hang out online. Keep your favorite beverage nearby and relish the fact that you don’t have someone bugging you to get off the computer because you aren’t really spending time with them (trust us, married folks will envy you).
7. Spruce up your home. Projects take time, which is why most around-the-house projects are put off for an indefinite amount of time. Take care of something around the house you’ve been meaning to do, like frame and hang new photographs or rearrange a room. This newly decorates space will take time and get your mind off the fact that it’s Valentine’s Day. Plus, at the end of it, you can cross it off your to-do list! Scour the Internet for interior decor ideas in the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, so you have all the supplies needed to revamp your space.
8. Go to the movies. Jerry Seinfeld once made a joke about going to the movies with people. He reasoned that watching a movie with another person doesn’t make the film more enjoyable since we can’t talk during a movie. Going to the movies by yourself means you get to choose the movie. If you want to take two buses to the indie theater or drive across town for a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show, you can do it when you’re alone. There’s no way telling you you have to wake up in the morning (which you’re probably aware of) or that there will be too much traffic. Pick the movie you want, grab popcorn and candy and have about two hours to lose yourself in a movie.
9. Have a Sandlot day. Now depending on your age, you may not get this term, but let us explain. In the film, The Sandlot, the characters in the film wake up early each morning and do as they please. In their case, it’s play baseball until dark. Do the same. Let the day take you anywhere, instead of planning each moment of your day (which so many of us are used to, due to tight schedules). Wake up and go to a fabulous brunch and play it by ear from there. Hit your favorite boutique, go to a movie, watch A&E all afternoon; the choices are endless and at the end of the day, you’ll feel satisfied in having done things on your own watch for once.
10. Hit a museum or art gallery. This is a great way to spend a day if you live in a big city. Most of us forget about culture, even if we do have access to exceptional museums and galleries. Check hours and prices online (most are affordable) and lose yourself in learning. It may be years since you’ve seen dinosaur fossils or a Bosch painting. Take the guided tour if you’re moving at a leisurely pace and you’ll come out all the wiser with fabulous conversation for your next cocktail or dinner party. Who doesn’t love an intellectual?
11. Lounge around the house. This means eating whatever you want, wearing whatever you want and doing things on your own schedule. Stay in your robe all day and cuddle up with a stack of magazines or your favorite book. Take a long shower or bath with your favorite soaps and go to sleep early to get your beauty rest. Lounging around the house is something that’s severely overlooked in today’s fast-paced society, but sometimes you need to take a moment to look around and appreciate what you have.
12. Watch a string of romantic comedies. While some articles tout this as being bad for your self-esteem, we say it’s essential for the woman who’s confident in herself and knows that the men in those Jennifer Aniston and Julia Roberts flicks do not exist. There’s no such thing as the perfect man, so go ahead and indulge in fantasizing about one that a clever Hollywood writer concocted to make women swoon. Just be realistic and don’t carry these fairytale dreams over to your dating life.
13. Blast the tunes. As your lounging or enjoying your day along at home, don’t forget the music! For many of us, music from our youth conjures up the trouble making days when you thought you were the coolest thing since sliced bread. Blast music that reminds you of this time and you’ll feel far too cool and young to bother feeling sorry for yourself because it’s Valentine’s Day.
14. Have a spa day. If you have money and a few hours to spare, have a spa day. No one will pamper you like trained professionals at a spa. It’s an amazing experience whether you’ve been 1000 times or have never had a series of treatments at a spa. A massage and a manicure and pedicure are great for a spa day, but do whatever works for you. If you feel you’re in need of a facial, book that. Many spas run Valentine’s Day specials, so you’ll save yourself some green and treat yourself in one shebang.

Valentine’s Day spent alone doesn’t mean crying over exes or wishing for Mr. Right. While many singles choose to go out with other single friends on this romantic holiday, spending it alone can boost your self-esteem when you treat it like any other day. Remember that it’s primarily a holiday for greeting card companies and chocolate manufacturers, so if you’ve never understood it’s message, you’re probably better off.

• Talk to a superior: If it’s your coworkers who are the problem, talk to your superior without sounding like you’re telling tales. Explain your problem and why you feel that their behavior is detrimental to your productivity. If it’s your superior itself who is the problem, go to someone higher up in the chain of command or confront him/her directly.
• Confront the bullies: Most bullies are not really courageous; they only pretend to be so. And when confronted, they back off more often than not. It’s only because people don’t stand up to them that they continue to harass people who they know make ideal victims. So break free of your stereotype and tell them that you will not stand for such behavior and that if they don’t stop harassing you, you’re going to complain to your superior.
• Ignore them: This is easier said than done, but when you really focus on your work and treat the bullying like water off a duck’s back, your bullies don’t get any pleasure in their acts anymore. The satisfaction of bullying lies in the response of the victim, so when you feign indifference, your bullies stop harassing you and move on to a new victim. The best way to stop bullies in their track is to pretend that they don’t affect you.
• Work efficiently: Bullies act the way they do because they want to discredit you and make you look bad in the eyes of your superior. The only way to prevent them from getting their way is to do your work efficiently and step up your productivity. This way, you boost your popularity with your superiors and negate the attempts of the bullies to pull you down.
• Form your circle of friends: No matter what the bullies do or say, continue to socialize with people who are your friends and ensure that you don’t let them alienate you from the rest of your colleagues. When you put on a brave face and show that you are capable of shrugging off the bullying and carrying on with your life, you put a stop to the harassment.

Bullying must be dealt with as soon as possible if you don’t want to suffer lasting effects, so work up your courage and take charge of your life before it’s too late.

Ok, so you’ve assembled a team and made plans for each of them to execute; you think that everything is going to go according to plan now? No, not at all, because the human factor comes into play in every plan and messes it up. The people who are responsible for carrying out the plan are only human, and this means that they’re likely to be affected by personal issues. So the only way your plan is going to succeed without too many hitches is to understand how people work and act accordingly. If you’re wondering how you go about do that, read on:

• Don’t be too rigid: When you set deadlines, include a certain amount of leeway so that you don’t have to scramble at the last minute and work at a frenetic pace in case things go wrong. This way, you don’t have to be too rigid with your workforce and drive them hard. When you’re perceived as inflexible, your team suffers because it is put under stress. And although a certain amount of stress is necessary for performance, when there is undue tension, productivity suffers. Take into account that people may have personal crises that don’t allow them to work to their full potential if you want everything to go according to plan.
• Coax work out of your team: While direct orders may work, what works better is the gentle approach. When your team works because it is scared of the repercussions, you can bet your last dollar that no work is going to get done when you’re not around to look over their shoulders and monitor them continuously. Encourage them to work rather than ordering them to if additional effort is needed, if they need to come in on weekends during the close of the project or if they have to work longer hours. Cajoling and incentives work better than orders and threats.
• Don’t micromanage: When you have a team, you need to learn to trust them to know what they’re doing instead of telling them what they should be doing every minute of their time. Micromanagement leads to resentment and laziness; your team stops thinking for itself and you find that you have more on your plate than you can manage. Look at the results achieved instead of controlling how they are achieved.

People are the lifeblood of any organization, so treat them as your most valuable asset and you will be suitably rewarded.

With Mixed Martial Arts becoming a phenomenon, so too has popularity of Jiu Jitsu, also called Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, risen along with it. If you are interested in taking class, already studying for the next belt, or competing at the tournament level, there are loads of resources for you on the internet. To prove it, we have gathered the top 50 Jiu Jitsu blogs below.

Top Jiu Jitsu Blogs by a Pro

These bloggers often teach Jiu Jitsu in addition to practicing it.

1. Rafael Lovato Jr.
Rafael’s path began by studying Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do Concepts, Escrima, boxing, and Thai Boxing under his father and Richard Bustillo. In August of 2004, shortly after turning 21, Rafael became the youngest American to receive a black belt in BJJ at that time. His blog is full of thoughts, tips, and items on daily life.

2. The Jiu Jitsu Brotherhood
The Brotherhood refers to all who practice Jiu Jitsu, no matter what their reasons are. Nicolas Gregoriades is currently head instructor for Jiu-Jitsu at the Budokwai in London. Popular posts include the Animal Drill Workout and nutrition post-workout.

3. Street Sports
Renato Magno has been involved with Jiu-Jitsu for nearly 30 years. During this time, he has earned numerous distinctions during his career such as Pan-American gold medalist. Check out his blog for the latest in tournament performances and even instructionals.

4. Fifty/50 BJJ Cailin
She is teaching the first women only BJJ class in Northern Virginia. Her goal is to show all women what the sport can do for them. A shoulder injury was recently discussed.

5. Jiu Jitsu Sensei
Lori holds a 4th degree black belt in Can-ryu Jiu-jitsu. She also runs her own dojo and uses the blog as a way to record her training and teaching experiences. One of the most recent included five ways to improve your own martial arts.

6. Meerkatsu
Seymour Yang lives and works in London. For over ten years he trained and ran his own club in Japanese-style traditional Jiu Jitsu. He now trains in the sport and has interviews, reviews, and more on his blog.

7. Aesopian
This blogger can go a while between posts, but is still worth a look. Scroll down to get instructional videos and techniques. Answers to reader’s questions are also tackled.

8. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Tips
Although the blogger keeps secretive about themselves, they do share loads of tips for learning Jiu Jitsu. Choose from beginning Jiu Jitsu, theories, videos, and even tutorials. One of the most recent posts was on Open Mat.

Top Jiu Jitsu Blogs by a Group

These bloggers collaborate to write more about the art of Jiu Jitsu.

9. The Jiu Jitsu Fighter
This blog is part of Roseberry’s Martial Arts Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. They are dedicated to the serious study of Jiu-Jitsu but also throw a little humor in. The blog features a video selection, gallery, articles, and even entries specifically on techniques.

10. University of Jiu Jitsu
The blog is full of posts on everything from the sport for kids and adults. You can also get the latest team updates. Be sure not to miss the main site with more.

11. Dartford BJJ
This program was established in 2004. Located in Kent, they have the latest updates on classes on the blog. You can also get entries on grappling, competition, and videos.

12. Family Mat-ters
See how you can learn Jiu Jitsu together with the help of this blog. Tom, Jennifer, and two kids have been training together since 2008. They recently had a wedding anniversary and share more.

13. United States Jiu Jitsu Federation
Visit here for the official site of the USJJF. Topics include what’s new, national programs, resources, and much more. Members also post loads of useful photos and videos.

Top Jiu Jitsu Blogs by a Student

Learn more about the practice of Jiu Jitsu from those practicing it in these blogs.

14. The Inner Game of Jiu Jitsu
Sam is currently a purple belt in BJJ and a level five under Gokor Chivichyan and Gene Lebell in Paragon, Hollywood. His blog stands out for offering everything from techniques that work, those that don’t, and related thoughts.

15. Steve’s BJJ Blog
Steve Zacher has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since November, 2006. After 15 years of too much living, he decided to join his son in martial arts classes, and this blog was the result. The blog also offers reviews, art, tips for health, and more.

16. Drac’s Blog
Get online Jiu Jitsu tutorials from Vinicius Magalhaes here. Technique and curriculum is also included. There is also more about the training center included.

17. Slidey Foot
The Beginner FAQ is reason enough to visit this blog. The blogger began training in 2006 and shares loads more about it. Essential reads also include training, BJJ for women, and a rolling guide for beginners.

18. Resilience Jiu Jitsu
Visit here for the blog of a beginning Jiu Jitsu student. Ashley is from Ontario where she is working with a white belt. She is also pursuing a master’s degree and shares more.

19. Catface BJJ
She is a blue belt in BJJ and a graduate of Brighton University. Rachel also just got back from a year of working and training overseas in Bahrain with Alliance Middle East. Hear about it all on her blog.

20. My BJJ Training Blog
Get a look at a journey from “a deluded Taekwondo Blackbelt and BJJ Noob.” Kintanon shows his weightlifting goals and other progress. A roadmap to purple belt was recently discussed.

21. The Jiu Jitsu Blues
Dolph is from Atlanta where he chronicles the journey of a BJJ purple belt. At only 118 pounds, he is determined to complete. Popular posts include why he trains and an annual performance review.

22. BJJ and Fitness
John Logan is doing P90X and starting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In the past he has done other forms of martial arts. The blog focuses on BJJ in Japan plus ways to keep fit and healthy.

23. Arcanum
The title means special or hidden knowledge. Skinny D is addicted to BJJ and keeps the blog as a record of his training. A recent post was on a particularly useful submission move.

24. Heavy Training
Stop here for the blog of “a young-ish man living, working, and training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Philadelphia.” The blog is intended to help set goals and record insights gained along the way. Thoughts on “The Biggest Loser” were recently shared.

Top Jiu Jitsu Blogs by a Woman

Proving that Jiu Jitsu isn’t just for men, check out these ladies’ blogs.

25. BJJ Grrl
This blogger isn’t afraid to post goals and quotes that help her reach them. She is a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Tim Mannon. Topics on the blog include an FAQ, advice, techniques, and even tips just for women.

26. Georgette’s Jiu Jitsu World
She features ramblings on her addiction to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Occasional diversions include culture, politics, and anything related. A recent fight on UFC was the topic of a post.

27. Building a Legacy
This blogger is a thrill-seeking, adrenaline loving BJJ enthusiast. A relatively new blog, she chronicles her studies and thoughts. Thoughts on recent classes were discussed in the last post.

28. Gringa BJJ
Elyse Goldberg is a purple belt from Arlington, Virginia. She shares “notes on BJJ and being a gringa at home and abroad.” One of the latest posts was on what happens when Jiu Jitsu goes wrong.

29. You Want me to Put my Head Where?
This Jiu Jitsu blog gets listed for its title alone. Stephanie also stands out for bringing humorous posts on the world of “baby steppin’ it through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.” She recently met: .

30. Allie the Clear Belt
She is a youth pastor, a substitute teacher and part-time writer. She is also a student of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which has become an obsession. A recent blog entry was on her workouts.

31. Lynngineering
Her blue belt is “so new it’s crispy.” She is working on BJJ and SST. The blog is also a good choice for applying an engineer’s mind to the physical chess match of Jiu Jitsu.

32. I Believe
Felicia trains in not only BJJ but submission, kettlebells, and grappling as well. You can even view competition results on the blog. Daily life is also discussed.

33. Meg Jitsu
She is from London where she is an entrepreneur, martial artist, and mentalist. Thoughts related to Jiu Jitsu are often discussed. Some of the latest include referees, reviews, and more.

34. Julia Johansen’s BJJ Blog
She is a teacher trainer in Seoul, South Korea and a white belt in Jiu Jitsu. Her two big passions in life are not surprisingly: teaching and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Read her blog to get a beginner’s journey.

Top Other Jiu Jitsu Blogs

Jiu Jitsu and other forms of mixed martial arts are discussed in these blogs.

35. Arte Suave
Radhames Familia Jr. doesn’t just study Jiu Jitsu, he often competes in tournaments. Blog entries often discuss them in detail. He also writes about workouts, recommendations, and more.

36. BJJ Globetrotter
Christian Graugart is from Copenhagen where he is leaving everything behind. He is now traveling around the world to train and compete in various forms of grappling. You can check out his itinerary, get thoughts, and loads more on the BJJ journey here.

37. Fenom Kimonos
Get loads of Jiu Jitsu and related posts just for women here. Training, tournaments, and much more are shared. They also interview women in the sport.

38. The Grappling Dummy
Stop here for a blog about BJJ, grappling, comedy, videos, Japan, nonsense, and more. The blogger often features Jiu Jitsu related posts along with thoughts. Watch out for some adults only stuff.

39. Karate Girl
Regina discusses BJJ, karate, and other random tidbits. Tags range on everything from attitude to women and martial arts. She featured her favorites for the last year in the last post.

40. Prancing and Sucking
Valerie quit her job and sold her home in 2006. Ever since she has been training in BJJ and finding herself in Los Angeles. See how and why with a blog read.

41. Tangled Triangle
Megan is a food buff, hospital worker, travel enthusiast, and Christian. She is also making her way in the world of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at age 30. Check out her blog for daily updates on it all.

42. All Out Effort
Sam Y. is a personal trainer who specializes in weight loss, fitness, nutrition, and the martial arts. He also has a special section for Jiu Jitsu, but you don’t have to read just that one. Thoughts on fitness are often shared.

43. Combined Fighting Systems
Learn how all sorts of fighting combines on this one blog. David is a lifelong martial artist with over 26 years of experience. Labels include everything from BJJ to Wing Chun.

44. The Part Time Grappler
Liam initially started his blog to jot down ideas on grappling. However, he now devotes it to those who have a deep passion for Jiu Jitsu and other forms of grappling but cannot devote their entire lives to it. Daily life is also written about.

Top Jiu Jitsu Podcasts

Learn more Jiu Jitsu from these podcasts, audio, and videos.

45. The Fightworks Podcast
Both radio and video entries are available at this podcast. With 230 episodes and counting, be sure and make time. The most recent is on a newbie in Jiu Jitsu.

46. Jiu Jitsu Jack
Stop here to get videos on a variety of forms of Jiu Jitsu. Some of the topics include human chess, tournaments, and thoughts. You can also view by featured, new, or last viewed.

47. BJJ Tech
This is more of a video blog than anything. A fan of Jiu Jitsu posts loads of related footage on everything from fights to takedowns and beyond. A recent post was on a lost match.

48. Gracie Mag
This magazine is available in both English and Portuguese for fans of Jiu Jitsu. Check out the videos section for tips on everything from chokes to escaping. The main site also has loads more.

49. On the Mat
OTM has loads of resources for every kind of fighter, including Jiu Jitsu. Check out the podcasts or videos with more. They also offer a blog, diet, fight shop, and much more.

50. The Judo Podcast
What do Jiu Jitsu and Judo have in common? Find out by checking out the podcast. One of the most recent episodes was on the Kindergarten Sensei.

Be sure and use caution when reading the above top 50 Jiu Jitsu blogs. Although many have written by those who have and are utilizing the techniques shared, they can also be dangerous to try at home and outside of a dojo. If you need to find a class in your area, try Train Jiu Jitsu which lists over 1,300 schools across the country. Another top choice is The Gracie Academy. Click on Certified Training Centers to find an accredited Jiu Jitsu program in your area.