Spiked Spirits
Conniving Co-worker
As cliche as it may sound, the phrase "Knowledge is power" rings true in virtually every aspect of life — especially at work. Sometimes you have direct access to valuable information, other times you have to surreptitiously coax it out of the person who has it with drugs and alcohol. At least that's what a man in Shanghai recently did.
Last week a Chinese man was sentenced to more than three years in prison for secretly using "truth serum" to extract confidential work plans from a colleague. The man invited his coworker to dinner on three separate occasions, each time spiking his drinks with a substance that was supposed to "make people tell the truth." Instead, it made him dizzy, nauseous, and unconscious.
After the third incident and subsequent trip to the hospital, the victim realized he only felt sick after dining with his colleague, but he had no proof — until ER doctors confirmed his hunch with toxicology tests on his hair and urine. They both came back positive for clonazepam and xylazine, a pair of strong sedatives that affect the central nervous system.
Apparently quid pro quo was too slow for Sneaky Pete, and now he's on an "extended vacation" thanks to the Shanghai Jing’an District People’s Court. It's safe to say he's not getting an invite to the next happy hour.
I'm all for obtaining as much knowledge as I can to do my job well, but I don't want so much info that my colleagues try to hack my frontal lobe with illicit drugs. When it comes to trade secrets, I wanna be on a need to know basis — and I don't need to know.
Time Off
With August peaking at us from around the corner, it's safe to say that summer is basically over. While it lasts the same amount of time as the other seasons, summer always seems to fly by much faster at work. That's probably because my hopes of taking advantage of a slow pace due to a lighter workload usually evaporate quicker than rain puddles after a fast-moving summer thunderstorm.
Although I took a little time off last week, I don't usually take PTO until the end of August or beginning of September. As a result, I essentially get stuck holding down the fort all summer while my colleagues soak up the sun. But I'm actually cool with this approach, because when they return from their exotic adventures in Vacationland and get caught behind school busses that stop at every corner in the neighborhood, I get to enjoy the tranquility of less crowded, kid-free environments. Not that I have anything against kids.
As much as I love time away from the office, I seem to always develop an acute case of what I call PPTOSD, Pre-PTO Stress Disorder, which is not to be confused with PPTOSD, Post-PTO Stress Disorder. Yes, I know the initials are the same, but so are the symptoms — rampant anxiety over uncompleted work resulting in equanimity erosion before, during, and after PTO.
If any of that sounds vaguely familiar, you, too, may have experienced PPTOSD or PPTOSD at one point or another. But now there's hope thanks to Leevital — a new mindful approach to integrating peace into your PTO.
The benefits of using Leevital can be seen before you even step foot out the office the day before PTO commencement. Leevital compels you to reflect on the question — “How do I want to feel during this time away; relaxed, playful, disconnected?” — then urges you to write one word that describes your intended feeling in a location you'll see repeatedly the week before you leave.
Leevital guides you to make peace with unfinished business by reminding you that not everything will be wrapped up ahead of departure — and that's ok. Recurring thoughts like, "This can wait" or "The team will adapt" begin to flood your mind, instilling a sense of calmness from letting go before you go.
Upon return, Leevital continues to produce theta waves that extend feelings of deep relaxation by causing you to reflect before you react. It helps you gain valuable self-insight by inspiring you to ask questions like, "What did I notice about myself during the break?" and "What do I want to keep from that energy once I resume working?"
Armed with those answers, you won't feel the need to sprint out of the gate and jump head first into the deep end of the unfinished work pool. Instead, you'll be driven to check in with curiosity, not panic, and calmly determine what needs your immediate attention first.
So, the next time you have a PPTOSD flare up before you leave the building like Elvis for an extended PTO, remember to try Leevital and leave it all behind. You'll be glad you did — and so will anyone who vacations with you.
Leevital is not recommended for those who enjoy anxiety because it is clinically proven to produce extreme equanimity. Side effects may include a recharged mind and body and a re-centered sense of balance. Use with abandon.
