If you’re an optimist, you believe that any defeat is a temporary setback or a challenge. It doesn’t knock you down.
Using this theme in your life helps you move forward in your work. And a positive view helps to prevent illness, improves relationships, and increases self esteem. A study reported in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings shows the optimists live longer, are healthier, and more peaceful and calm.
When you find yourself stuck in pessimism, psychiatrists at Columbia University say there are things you can do to revive your optimistic ways. Developing certain skills can change your view of the world.
* Practice seeing yourself as being better off than someone else. You are better off than many people you see every day.
* Know that everything is not your fault. Pessimists think they cause bad events that will undermine everything, says Dr. Martin Seligman in his book Learned Optimism, How to Change Your Mind (Free Press).
* When things go wrong, realize that the situation will only affect you for a limited time. If you failed, understand that outside factors were partly responsible.
* Decide to be positive even if you don’t feel like it. If you smile, your brain assumes you feel good. Act happy, and you will begin to feel better.
* Be positive with others, and they will reinforce your optimistic attitude. Be upbeat and show interest in them.
* Carry cards with positive statements on them about your life and your future.
If you feel depressed for some time and have negative feelings you can’t overcome, see your doctor. There are many good treatments for depression.

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If you live in a city, you are probably driving to work and paying to park once you get there. One driver in Seattle pays $220 a month to park in the city.
Even if you don’t have big parking costs, it would be nice to save on auto expenses, wouldn’t it?
More than 500,000 Americans think so. That’s the number of people who are currently riding a bike to work each day, according to U.S. census data. In cities such as Davis, Calif., about 20 percent of workers ride their bikes to the workplace.
The League of American bicyclists says getting more of us to do it could reduce traffic jams, air pollution, and obesity. Riding takes only a little more time than driving in most cases. If your commute takes you through congested areas, it could take less.
There’s no need to invest in a fancy bike, just about any 10-speed will do. Whatever you ride, it’s important to have these essentials and accessories: helmet, a helmet- mounted mirror for seeing what’s behind you (About $9), good tires (plus lightweight pump and spare tube), fenders, a bright-colored waterproof vest or jacket, a headlight, a rack and panniers to carry clothes and whatever else you need.
In all seasons except summer, you won’t have to worry about getting sweaty. If you wear a layer or two, you can remove one if you get hot. In summer, some riders carry extra clothes, and some shower at work.
The rewards of riding outweigh the hassles and help keep you healthy. That could result in some cash savings as well.

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Enrollment in online universities is growing every year
State universities are taking advantage of their traditional benefit: quality education at affordable prices. They are attracting a nontraditional student body: online learners who often live out of state.
While enrollment at higher-education colleges and universities is not growing, enrollment in online programs is skyrocketing. One student at the University of Massachusetts says he takes courses from its regular faculty, gets lots of feedback, and develops friendships with classmates. He contributes to online class discussions after his children go to bed at night.
At UMass, enrollment has quadrupled to 9,200 students since 2001. Most are working adults between the ages of 25 and 50, and 30 percent are from out of state.
Tuition is slightly higher than on-campus programs because Web-based courses aren’t subsidized. On-line students pay $670 a credit toward a master’s degree in business administration. Many schools charge less, but UMass says it emphasizes quality.
According to the Alfred Sloan Foundation, 51 percent of public colleges offer online degree programs in business. Students are generally held to the same admissions standards as on-campus students who enter with some college background. They are judged mostly on their college grades and their work experience. Applicants for graduate degrees, such as MBAs, may need to take the standardized tests for such programs.
At the University of Illinois in Springfield, 92 percent of students complete their courses, close to the 94 percent retention rate for on-campus students.

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Being truly dedicated to your work is a plus no matter what your position may be. For some, however, dedication can become addiction.
It’s a fact of life that high earners work more than 50 hours a week. They are defined as people age 25 to 34 who earn $75,000 a year, or people age 35 and older with higher earnings.
Some workers at various levels work 60 hours a week. They’re on cellphones 24/7, no longer enjoy social activities, are the last to leave the office, and their families are left out of their lives.
The situation has generated support groups in cities such as Minneapolis and Denver. Work addicts share stories about how their addiction has damaged their health, destroyed relationships, and hurt spouses and children.
There have always been workaholics, but technology has vastly increased their numbers. They will even work from the shower or bath. They always focus on the next goal and worry they will fail if they don’t keep it up.
About 10 percent are working 80 hours a week, according to a study reported in the Harvard Business Review. Workaholics don’t get enough sleep, rarely exercise, tend to overeat, and may drink too much alcohol.
To curb the constant activity, these people must acknowledge the problem and realize they are a victim of their work, rather than the master of it.
They should establish specific times and days when they will not work.
It helps to have a co-worker force them to leave work at a certain time.

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The hazard is stress, but it’s not the work-a-day kind you had before you were promoted to a new job or started a new business.
Almost one out of five business leaders said in a recent survey that their “most challenging” life event was a promotion. It was so scary they ranked it above life-changing events like the death of a loved one or a divorce.
A promotion can shake your confidence for several reasons:
* You were not actually prepared for this particular job. To get support, have a meeting with the person who moved you up. Say you are pleased and excited about the new opportunity, but in order to live up to expectations you will need help in some areas. Be specific.
* It’s important to recognize the trade-offs of moving up and deal with them. You lose the comfort of a familiar role, and you may think you have inadequacies that could be revealed.
* You’ll also have to deal with a certain degree of guilt, says author Kerry Sulkowicz. Writing in Business Week, he says the promotion means you’ve defeated other contenders.
* If you stay in the same area, old friends might now report to you. The relationship changes, and you will feel a little lonely in your new responsibilities.
These feelings will pass over time. Before that happens, you may want to share them with an external confidant, a former colleague, or a professional.
Be sure to recognize your feelings. And you should realize from the start that you don’t know all you need to know about the new position.

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