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Most human resources representatives could keep you entertained for hours with stories of disastrous job interviews. Some of these interviewees may have simply been nervous; others may have come unprepared.

Unfortunately, these mistakes are all too common in the job interview world. Do your best to become someone who interviewers will rave about by avoiding such slip-ups. Here are six of the most common mistakes job interviewers make, courtesy of CareerBuilder.com.

1. Appearing uninterested
Displaying positive body language is one of the most important factors to remember during a job interview. Sit up straight, remain attentive throughout the interview and strive to give thoughtful answers that display your interest in the position.

2. Answering a cell phone or texting
As soon as you enter the building for your interview, turn your phone off and put it away. Don’t even think about taking a call or texting a friend – either before or during the interview. For that matter, if you feel like taking a call during the interview, you might as well walk out and never come back because no employer will hire someone who can’t even focus on a job interview.

3. Dressing inappropriately
Standard attire for a job interview is a business suit or “business casual” outfit, such as a collared shirt and dress pants. The goal is to look professional, so the interviewer will focus on your interview answers instead of your clothing.

4. Talking negatively about a current or previous employer
In general, it’s best to stay positive during your interview and focus on how your past experiences have helped you grow and learn. Show appreciation for past employment opportunities and assert that the current opportunity is preferable.

5. Not providing specific examples
Vagueness is the enemy during a job interview. Employers want specific answers that show them how you’re the most capable fit for the position, so do your best to provide details about your past accomplishments and experience.
 

Getting the job you want is hard enough – don’t hurt your chances by making any of these mistakes.

Sometimes, 24 hours in a day just isn’t enough. Between work, family, school and whatever other responsibilities you may have, wouldn’t it be great to have just one extra hour a day to get things done?
 

While you can’t change time, you can carve out a little extra space in your day to take care of things you just don’t have time for right now. Follow these tips from Ellen Goldman, Health and Wellness Coach at SparkPeople.com, for reclaiming an hour of your day.

Learn to delegate
Often, the people in your life would be happy to help you out, if only they knew you needed it. Sometimes all it takes is speaking up. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, ask your spouse, family member, friend or other acquaintance to lend a hand in the area you need it most. From taking out the garbage to picking up the dry-cleaning, many people would jump at the chance to help, provided you can occasionally return the favor, of course.

Bundle your chores
If your to-do list seems to be building, completing one item at a time may end up wasting more time than you’d prefer. For example, plan a driving route that allows you to accomplish all of your errands at once, rather than checking off one per day throughout the week.

Create a meal plan
How many times have you caught yourself staring aimlessly into the refrigerator, wondering how you can combine pickles, mustard and cheese into an edible meal? Do yourself a favor and take 20 minutes at the beginning of the week to create a meal plan. Use this plan to guide your grocery shopping and ensure that you’re not scrambling to assemble dinner while your stomach is grumbling.

Use delivery services
Many businesses offer time-saving services designed for busy people like you. From online banking and shopping to dry-cleaning and other delivery services, you can accomplish a lot of tasks without ever leaving your home. For a small fee, some supermarkets even allow you to create a list online and pick up your groceries at the curb.

You can’t add time to the day, but you can find ways to get more out of your 24 hours. Follow these tips for a more productive life.

Spring is a time of renewal, so perhaps it’s time to breathe life into your living space with some spring cleaning. But this year, try incorporating a few green cleaning methods that will benefit both you and the environment. Here are six environmentally friendly cleaning tips, courtesy of Liza Barnes, Health Educator at SparkPeople.com.

1. Hang-dry your laundry
In addition to being harsh on the fabric in your clothing, electric and gas dryers require a lot of energy to run. Consider installing an outdoor clothesline to harness the power of your sun. You’ll reduce pollution, cut your energy bill and extend the life of your clothes.

2. Bring the foliage inside
Houseplants can act as natural air filters and create a more pleasing living space. Some efficient air-cleaning houseplants include Spider plants, English ivy, rubber plants and peace lilies.

3. Thin out your wardrobe
Admit it: You probably have plenty of clothing that you haven’t touched in years. Donate gently worn items to charity, and convert torn or stained items into rags you can use around the house.

4. Use green paint
Do your walls need a fresh coat of paint? Look for low- or no-VOC paints, such as Eco-Spec by Benjamin Moore, Clarity by Dutch Boy, Enviro-Pure by MAB Paint, American Pride Paint or BioShield Milk Paint.

5. Ditch the disposable products
Don’t bother with expensive single-use mop pads, such as Swiffer products. Reusable mop heads can be washed in your washing machine and hung dry, cutting down on waste while offering the same cleaning power.

6. Forget paper towels
How would you like to save money, cut down on waste and maybe even spare a few trees? Doing so is as simple as using washable cleaning and dusting cloths – or even old rags made from towels, sheets, T-shirts, etc. – in place of paper towels.

Green up your spring cleaning routine by using these simple tips, and rest assured that you’re helping the earth in the process.

Beach season is just around the corner, so now’s the time to really start watching what you eat. Here are eight simple strategies from Beth Horn, personal trainer and former American Gladiator, for improving your health – and your beach body.

1. Plan ahead
You probably have a busy life, so it may not always be easy to put a healthy meal on the table. That’s why it’s so important to plan ahead. Think about your desired meals before you go to the grocery store each week, and create a plan of action each morning to avoid excessive snacking throughout the day.

2. Keep your cabinets stocked
Don’t go too long between grocery store trips. Keeping plenty of healthy food in your kitchen will ensure that you quell those afternoon cravings with a nutritious snack instead of hitting the drive-through.

3. Keep a water bottle handy
Most people don’t drink enough water, despite the fact that it can help you feel healthier and more alert. So try to keep a reusable water bottle on your desk, as well as in your car.

4. Kick the carbs
Try to cut down on starchy carbohydrates like white bread, pasta, white rice, cereal and potatoes. Instead, opt for whole-grain breads, brown rice, sweet potatoes and oatmeal.

5. Slow down on soda
A 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola contains 140 calories and 39 grams of sugar. Drinking three or four cans a day is overkill, to put it lightly. Cut back your usage, and try to eventually use soda as a special treat.

6. Skip the fast food joints
You know that eating fast food regularly isn’t ideal for your health, so it’s up to you to show some self-restraint when cruising past the drive-through. If you’re in a pinch and need a quick meal, choose a salad or low-calorie option instead of a greasy burger.

7. Eat smaller portions
Instead of gorging yourself, try to eat more frequently, but limit your proportions. This can be especially tough when eating out, but make it your goal to take some leftovers home with you to eat the next day.

8. Give yourself a break
You’re not a robot. When trying to eat healthy, allow yourself one or two cheat meals per week. Having an occasional treat will make it much easier to stick with your healthy plan.

Making a few tweaks to your diet can help you feel better, look better and even live longer. Make today the day you change your life by changing what you eat. Then celebrate how great you look with a trip to the beach.

More than canvases for paint and embellishments, your nails can be a window into your health. Ideal nails are smooth and pink. Anything else could be a sign of a health problem. Here are a few of the most common nail conditions that warrant your attention:

Denting
Dents or depressions in the nail are a common sign of psoriasis – a skin condition that causes redness and irritation.

Clubbing
Nails that curve up like a spoon are said to be clubbing, and this can be a sign of low oxygen in the blood. Clubbing can also indicate heart disease, liver problems or inflammatory bowel disease.

Darkness
If the tips of your nails have dark bands at the end of the nail bed, it could be a sign of a liver or heart problem, or diabetes.

Lines
Horizontal lines across the nail are called Beau’s lines, which are caused by a disruption in nail growth. Nails can sometimes stop growing when the body needs to preserve energy to fight a high fever or infection. Once the body feels healthier, the nails start growing again.

Separation
Fingernails loosening from the nail bed can indicate infection. Thyroid disease and psoriasis can also cause nail separation.

Discoloration
Yellowing of the nails can be a sign of a respiratory disease, nail fungus or, in some cases, skin cancer. Liver failure and kidney problems can also change your nail color.

Although nail changes can be natural, especially as we age, changes in nail color and growth patterns are worth a doctor’s visit.

For pictures of the nail conditions above, visit mayoclinic.com.

The positive effects of massage therapy can be seen from athletes to expectant mothers to cancer patients. Whether used to treat an injury, stress and anxiety, or fatigue and chronic pain, massage therapy has become an integral part of today’s health and wellness and continues to evolve with new varieties.
 

Here are three common problem areas massage therapy can help remedy:
 

Headaches

As technology has continued to expand, you may find yourself in a job where you are required to look at a computer screen for extended periods of time throughout the day. Headaches, migraines and jaw tension can result from staring at a computer screen all day combined with the stressful nature of day-to-day work responsibilities. Massage therapy can help relieve stress and tension that has built up and taken a toll on your overall well-being. Clinical trials have revealed that acupuncture is a an effective treatment for headaches with a recommended six to eight trial sessions for individuals suffering from migraines or chronic headaches; one known practice is Shiatsu, which is a Japanese form of massage therapy that applies pressure to acupuncture points with the fingers, thumbs, and palms.
 

Back pain

In the morning your posture may start out straight and upright, but as the day continues we all fall victim to slouched shoulders and rounded backs. Lower back pain is the second most common reason (after cold symptoms) people visit the doctor. The National Institutes of Health reports that 70-85% of people experience back pain at some point in their lives, and it is the most frequent cause of limited activity in people under age 45. Physicians have suggested massage therapy, as well as acupuncture, as a means to quell lower back pain and provide fast relief. For those with chronic back pain, deep tissue massage therapists focus on using slow and forceful strokes that reach the muscles, tendons and other tissues under your skin. Deep tissue massages can relieve back muscle injuries, including back sprains.  
 

Athletic injuries

Athletes experience a variety of injuries all over the body. Athletic injuries often result from soft-tissue strains as well as muscle stresses that can be painful and uncomfortable for extended periods of time if not treated. Massage therapy and acupuncture can relieve the pain and chronic joint inflammation that often accompany athletic injuries. Swedish massage has a reputation for helping athletes build muscle tone and can serve as a form of injury prevention. In many cases, injury is a result of fatigued muscles that have become strained; Swedish massage therapy works to lengthen the muscle, thus relieving the pain.
 

If you’ve had a stressful week at work, sprained your back moving furniture or suffered a sports-related injury, there is still good news: the pain doesn’t have to linger with today’s wide variety of massage therapy. 

In today’s competitive business industry, it is important to be able to describe exactly what you do and why your product or service is necessary. An “elevator speech,” or pitch, started as a 30- to 60-second business proposal given to the occupants of an elevator in the amount of time it took to reach their floors. Today, an elevator speech can happen anywhere, but the rationale behind it remains the same. The ability to effectively convey your own idea/business/service/product is one of the most important skills businesspeople can possess.

Quick tips:
• Focus on the big picture. The listener should be able to walk away from the conversation and know exactly what you pitched

• Share your goals and strategies. What are your goals for your business? How do you plan to accomplish them? Why is your product or service better than your competitors’ products and services?

• Know your audience. What unique aspects about your product/service are most important to those hearing your speech?   

• Write down your elevator speech to make sure your message is clear and concise.

• Run through the speech in front of a mirror at least twice before your first delivery. The more comfortable you are with your speech, the more apparent your confidence will be to your audience

• Don’t try to memorize your speech word for word. The overall goal and key strategies that support it matter most. Focus on those

• Don’t overdo it. Avoid loading your elevator speech with industry jargon, statistics, data, etc. It should be informative and interesting in a conversational tone

You never know when you will have the opportunity to put your elevator speech to use. It is better to be prepared and have your speech fine-tuned because you never know who just might be interested in hearing more.

It doesn’t take expensive oils and lotions endorsed by celebrities to maintain healthy-looking skin. In fact, taking care of your skin can be completely natural and expense free. Here are five tips for healthy skin and a healthy lifestyle.

1.  Know your SPF

The sun can be one of the most harmful contributors to damaged skin. Overexposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and put you at risk for developing skin cancer. Solutions: When exposed to the sun, always wear sunscreen and reapply every two hours. If you are going to be in the sun for extended periods, find a shady spot and wear protective clothing.
 

2.  Don’t smoke

Smoking can also contribute to wrinkles as it depletes necessary oxygen and nutrients from the skin. Collagen and elastin fibers are also damaged, causing our skin to sag as it loses its elasticity.
 

3.  Daily care

Since we cleanse our skin each day, it is important to consider what soaps we use and how often we cleanse. Keep your contact with hot water short because it removes oils  that keep skin moist – try using warm water instead. Avoid strong soaps and pat dry when drying off; it’s also necessary to use a light moisturizer after cleansing to replenish the skin’s natural hydration.
 

4.  Junk in junk out

Fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains are rich in vitamin C and low in unhealthy fats. This diet combination can help your skin continue to look younger, smoother and healthier as you grow older. Avoid foods that are high in sugar, salt, caffeine and dairy. Naturally-occurring growth hormones are found in dairy products, which can lead to blemishes; salt causes your tissue to swell and make your face appear puffy; sugar damages your collagen and elastin; and caffeine dehydrates your skin.
 

5.   Get rid of stress

Stress is often the dominant contributing factor to breakouts and other skin problems. It is important to set limitations for yourself and understand there is only so much you can accomplish in one day. Take time to do things you enjoy and that relax you. You may begin to see your skin appearance improve.

A common ailment for many people is dry skin. Often occurring during the winter months and in places with drier climates, dry skin can be irritable and even painful if left untreated for long.

Learning the basics of preventing skin dryness and healing it if it does occur are good skills for anyone to have.  Follow the dry skin tips below, and look forward to having healthier skin all year long.

Short- term solutions:

Make time to moisturize.
Applying lotion or moisturizer to your skin throughout the day can help eliminate dryness. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, products containing petrolatum or lanolin are most effective.

Limit your exposure to water.
Taking shorter showers and wearing gloves while washing dishes are two things that can help keep your skin feeling moist. Overexposure to water and harsh soaps can dry out your skin. Use milder soaps when possible, and leave a small bottle of lotion at your work desk or in your car in case of emergencies.

Buy a humidifier.
A common cause of dry skin is lack of moisture in the air. If you suspect the air in your home to be short on moisture, take a trip to the store and buy one of these. Humidifiers are relatively inexpensive. Place them in rooms where you spend a lot of time. The family room or your bedroom are good places to start.     

Long-term solutions:

Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate.
While applying lotion regularly is a good place to start, it won’t help much if you’re applying it to dead skin cells. Exfoliating regularly removes dead cells from the surface of your skin to reveal younger and fresher skin, hiding beneath. It can also remove dirt and oils that clog pores, help prevent skin irritations such as acne and even-out your skin tone.  

Drink plenty of water.
Besides being good for your overall health, staying well-hydrated can help add moisture to your skin. It’s especially important during colder months when the air is naturally lower in humidity. Try drinking six to eight glasses of room-temperature water a day to keep your skin feeling fresh.  

Strive for a healthy, balanced diet.
Eat foods high in Folate and Zinc (beans, spinach, peas, red meat and poultry), and get a good mix of vitamins in your food. Think ACE: Eat foods with a sufficient amount of Vitamins A, C and E.

Vitamin A acts as a barrier to viruses and bacteria. It also helps speed up the cell renewal process.  Cantaloupe, carrots, apricots and dense green foods are all good sources.

Vitamin C can help you maintain a healthy immune system, protects cells from damage and can help you recover from dry skin. Eat citrus-loaded fruits, such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruits to get your daily fill.

Vitamin E also helps protect your cells. Good sources are almonds, peanut butter and sunflower seeds. Did someone say PB&J?

By following these simple steps, you could be ready to rid yourself of dry skin. Try applying them to your routine over the next couple of days and record your findings.

Whether you’re currently unemployed, you’re getting ready to graduate or you’re looking for a new job because your old one isn’t cutting it, searching for a new gig can be stressful. Learning to manage that stress can help make the whole experience that much more bearable. By applying the following five tips to your job search and other areas of your life, you could be well on your way to living with less stress.

Move your body.
Do you enjoy dancing? How about running? Whichever kind of exercise you prefer, make time to move around a few times per week. Getting your blood flowing can help you feel positive about yourself and release mood-boosting endorphins.     

Talk to a friend.
Keeping your thoughts all bottled up is a surefire way to make your stress level rise. Next time you’re in a bind, consider calling a friend. Letting go of the day’s frustrations and talking to someone who supports you can be comforting. Just be sure to return the favor when it’s your turn to play doctor.

Put your thoughts to paper.
A lot like talking to a friend, writing your thoughts down can help you alleviate pent-up feelings about your day or situation. If the job search is making you frustrated, jot down whatever’s bothering you. By taking notice of your issues, you can begin to address them one at a time.  

Have a little fun.
Whether it’s going to a movie, playing a board game with the family, taking in a ballgame or playing a little basketball at the local gym, making time to do things you enjoy is important. It’ll take your mind off your current preoccupations and help you unwind.

Make time to snack.
Yes, you read that right. Sometimes all we need when we’re feeling down is a quick pick-me-up. Eating small, healthy snacks when you’re feeling hungry can help you keep your energy up and stress at bay. Like you needed another reason to eat?
 

If the job search is getting you down, try applying these simple tips to your daily routine. Best case scenario, your job search becomes less aggravating and you land the position you’re vying for. Worst case scenario, you make a little more time for yourself and for your friends while continuing your search. Either way, it’s a win.