Tips on How to Get Out of a Grouchy Mood

Have you ever felt grouchy and didn't know why? Many of us have gone through this. We aren't able to pinpoint a reason for the grouchiness we just know that we feel grouchy. In this article I would like to give you a few ideas on how to overcome your grouchiness for the day. Instead of just moping around doing nothing and feeling sorry for yourself I am going to give you some fun things to pull you out of your mood. Each of these things does not take too much energy and they will not cost an arm or a leg. The first thing that you can do is to grab a great book to read. If you don't have extra money to purchase one then you can borrow one from a friend. Another thought is to go to the public library and choose a few to read. This might be a  better idea because you will have two to choose from if you don't like one of them. After you have gotten your books you can get into your night clothes and just be lazy. Sometimes we get grouchy just because we are overworked and we need some downtime. Before you start reading your book you might want to pop yourself some popcorn. Now it time to go cuddle up with your blanket and get comfortable. This is a time to spoil yourself so there should be no interruptions. Make sure that your phone is off and that everyone in your household knows that this is your time.

The second idea that I have for you to help you to get out of a grouchy mood is to watch a comedy. Again if you don't have the money to rent one then borrow one from a friend. You can also borrow some from your local library. I'm sure that there are plenty of movies out there that you haven't seen yet. This might be a time to have some friends over so that they can laugh with you. This will take your mind off of whatever is bothering you. Have your friends to bring some treats and you all can spoil yourselves. When your friends are over do not allow yourself to discuss anything of importance. Sometimes we just need to forget about our responsibilities for a while. Too much stress can bring on grouchiness. Watching a movie with your friends is a great stress reliever and it can help you to be in a good mood for a couple of days.

A third idea that I have for you to help you to get out of a grouchy mood is to take a drive somewhere. You can drive to the beach or to the mountains. Go somewhere where you can enjoy nature. Many times when we see the beauty of nature we start to realize that life is beautiful. We start to realize that life does not have to be all about work. There can be play times as well. We can also be encouraged when we look around and realize that there is someone bigger than us that made all of the things around us. This can put life back into perspective and many of the worries and grouchiness will go away.

The last idea that I have for you as a way to help you to get out of your grouchy mood is to go and buy yourself a little something. It does not have to be something expensive. An example of this is if you go and buy yourself some new shampoo or conditioner. You may have wanted to try a different brand and have put it off. Well now is the time to try it. It is a time to give to yourself because you deserve it. This can put you in a great mood. After you get home from your purchase you can take the time to spoil yourself with a nice warm bubble bath and then you can try your new products on your hair.

It does not cost a lot of money to help you to get out of a grouchy mood. There are so many things that you can do for yourself. Some other ideas that I have for you are to have your spouse rub your back with some oil or you can play with your dog, or you can even fix your favorite dinner. All of these things are stress relievers and will help to get you in a better mood very quickly. We all go through the occasional bad mood and I know that these ways are going to help you to get past yours really soon.

Instructions: How to Write Guides for Busy, Grouchy People

People hate reading instructions, and will only glance at them when they are hopelessly lost. By then, they will already be frustrated and behind schedule. For this reason, you should organize your instructions carefully, phrase them clearly, and make them as brief as you possibly can.

This document introduces five basic principles about writing instructions. Any professional writing textbook will have a long section on writing instructions and manuals, but the basics are as follows:

---

1. Know your audience.

Most college assignments are written for an ideal reader — an expert whose job includes scrutinizing and pondering everything that you write.
Don’t expect your audience to read your document as carefully as you or your English teacher would. People in the real world read instructions when they are impatient, fatigued, or even terrified.
Your writing must be clear enough that readers can understand with minimal effort. This does not mean using baby language or avoiding complex details; it does mean using vocabulary appropriate to your audience, and including details that your readers need to perform the immediate task.

2. Provide a brief introduction.

Help your readers determine, even before opening the brochure or downloading the web page, whether this document will help them do whatever it is they want to do.
State in plain language, what task your document describes: “Installing and Operating the Canon BJ-200ex Bubble Jet Printer.”
In a few sentences, state the purpose of the document; who should read it, and under what circumstances? If it will help your reader, you might also explain what your document does not do.

Practically speaking, most users will skip the introduction and go right to the first numbered step. (Don’t put anything vital in the intro!)

If you wish, you may place extended background information in a subordinate position (a marginal note, a sidebar, or a completely different document) that does not interfere with the user’s access to the list of required actions.
Note: Technical support documents are no place for marketing slogans — the reader has already got the product, and is probably annoyed with it at the moment.

3. Write each step as a command.

Use the the imperative mood — that is, phrase each step as if your reader has just asked, “What should I do next?” Answer by giving a direct command: “Add two cups of flour.”

	“Tab A should be inserted into slot B.”
	A reader consults a set of instructions in order to find out what actions to perform, but this phrasing De-emphasizes the action.  Who or what is supposed to insert the tab? Is this a value statement, akin to “The world’s precious resources should be conserved”? One might agree with that assertion, but still have no idea how to go about performing the action of conserving. For this reason, commands should employ the active voice.
	“Insert tab A into slot B.”
	This revision begins with a verb that specifies what action the reader is supposed to perform.

Note: most readers will skip the introduction and start reading at the first numbered step. If your user will have to know a lot of background information before beginning, put the vital information into the form of a checklist, rather than a long, discursive essay.

4. Use numbers for commands, bullets for options.

Since some readers will only need help for one section of a larger operation, divide up your instructions according to discrete subtasks.  If you want your reader to perform tasks in a specific sequence, number the steps. If you want your reader to choose from among a list of options, bullet the options (otherwise the reader won’t know when to stop). Write brief introductions to each section, to clarify whether a list of steps is supposed to be sequential or optional.

Making A Lime and Coconut Drink These instructions describe how to make one serving of the beverage described in the “Lime in the Coconut” song.  It also explains what to do if the drink makes you sick, and suggests ways you might try to get the annoying tune out of your head.  I. Preparing the Drink You will need one (1) lime and one (1) coconut. Take lime. Take coconut. Put the lime in the coconut. Drink it right up. II. If You Get Sick Drinking the lime and the coconut may result in indigestion. In case of a bellyache, do the following: Call the doctor. Wake him up, if necessary. Say, “Doctor! Is there nothing I can take, I say Doctor! To relieve this belly ache!” III. Suggestions for Getting the Tune Out of Your Head You might try any or all of the following.  Repeat as necessary, until the ringing in your ears drowns out the song, or until you lose consciousness. Hit yourself on the head with the coconut, or Listen to a Britney Spears album, or Dwell in misery upon your misguided, sinful life.

5. Plan to Test and Revise.

Instead of investing your resources into polishing your first draft, create a prototype and conduct usability testing on it. You’ll be surprised at how much you can learn.

1. As closely as is practical, simulate the environment in which you intend your audience to follow your instructions.
2. Find a volunteer who represents the intended audience, and ask him or her to follow your instructions.
3. Keep quiet and take careful note of any problems.
4. Revise your document, and then try again with another volunteer.
5. Repeat until you are satisfied with the results.

 

 

Great Customer Service is Not Grumpy,
Grouchy or Gross 

It's common wisdom that it costs less to keep existing customers than to find new ones, but how much effort do you really put into making sure your current customers are happy? Here are seven things you can do to build customer loyalty.

Most businesses spend more time and energy trying to find new customers than retaining and making their current ones happy.  The logic behind customer retention management (CRM) is simple -- It costs far less money to keep customers happy than to spend much more money replacing the unhappy ones with new customers.  If you take care of your customers they tell their friends about your business and will in the long run end up spending more money.  It is not rocket science.  Let me provide you an example of what I am talking about.

I dread eating at airports. If you travel as much as I do, you are probably familiar with the "Three G's" as it applies to airport fare—Grumpy, Grouchy and Gross.

Recently, I had an early flight to catch at the Ontario, California airport. I found myself standing outside the closed and gated doorway to an Applebee's restaurant ten minutes before opening time. I just knew they would be late opening the doors and I expected to receive the usual grumpy service common at most airports. I was wrong!

Bam! The clock struck five, the lights popped on and this charming and professional person opened the doors. She greeted me with a smile, a warm "hello" and told me to sit anywhere I wanted. I never had seen such a positive attitude at 5:00 in the morning.

As I enjoyed my meal, I watched her cheerfully greet customers, many of which she called by their first name. They were the "regulars" she said. Felicia was the remarkable person who made that small restaurant pleasant and memorable. Next time I return to the Ontario Airport, I guarantee you this is the place I will go to first.

Here are seven steps to build customer loyalty.


1. Select the right people. In the book, From Good to Great, Jim Collins said, "People are not your most important asset, the RIGHT people are." Most businesses do a miserable job hiring people. They hire just anyone, provide little or no training and place them on the front-line with customers. Spend more time recruiting and hiring the right people with good personalities. Focus on those who are friendly and demonstrate an interest and enthusiasm for the job.

2. Sensationalize the experience for your customers. Good service is not good enough.  A Gallup survey showed a customer who is “emotionally connected” to your place of business is likely to spend 46% more money than a customer who is merely "satisfied" but not emotionally bonded.

3. Set performance standards. Outline the behaviors of how employees should act, speak and respond to customer needs and requests. One of our clients developed twenty customer service commandments outlining the actions and behaviors he wanted his service people to provide to customers.

4. Sustain on-going training and reinforcement. Good customer service skills are not natural for most people. Effective customer service training must be reinforced and taught on a recurring basis. For example, the Ritz-Carlton hotels provide a thorough customer service training program for all of its employees during their orientation. Then each supervisor conducts a daily "line-up" to review one of the commandments with his employees ten minutes before each shift.

5. Shower good employees with rewards and recognition. It is hard to find and keep good employees.  So do everything in your power to retain and motivate them.  Sure, employees want to be paid well, but they also want to be treated with respect and shown appreciation. The front-line supervisor has the greatest impact on motivating and retaining employees.

6. Survey your customers and reduce your defection rate. On average, businesses lose 15-20 percent of their customers each year to their competition. All businesses encounter this, but few do much about it. To improve retention, one client sends out a customer service report card to its top customers every month. This requires an evaluation based on four specific criteria. They tally the results and make sure employees see the scores. This motivates the employees to do a better job.

7. Seek customer complaints with enthusiasm. For every complaint there are at least 10 other customers that visited your business who have the same criticism. A portion of those 10 people just took their business to your competitor. Look at customer complaints as an opportunity for improvement.

 

Stop being grouchy 

More cantankerous than a cactus? Sure, it’s tempting to blame other people and situations—neurotic friends, bad bosses, psychotic boyfriends, a tough childhood—for your irritable mood, but it’s possible that it’s not really your life but your attitude towards it that is bringing on a case of the bitchies. In other words, have you ever considered that you could be responsible for muddling up your own life? “The truth is that everyone has to deal with bad news, difficult people, and disappointments,” says Richard Carlson, author of Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff... And It’s All Small Stuff.

“But it’s not really the stuff that happens, but how you deal with it that really matters.” Basically, you can overreact, blow things out of proportion, and believe that everything really is a big deal, or you can change a couple of habits and makes life seem easier and the people in it more compatible. From your attitude to what you’re eating (no joke!), we’ve ID’d nine not-so-obvious reasons you’re such a porcupine, plus ways to bring that smile back...

Your ‘In Basket’ Is Always Full
Got a long list of important phone calls to be made, projects to be finished, and things to get done? According to Carlson, looking at life as if its purpose is to somehow get everything done can make anyone restless and grouchy. That’s because it’s a vicious cycle: “Often, we convince ourselves that our obsession with our ‘to do’ list is only temporary—that once we get through the list, we’ll be calm, relaxed, and happy,” says Carlson. “But that rarely happens. As items are checked off, new ones simply replace them.” Ultimately, if you’re constantly obsessed with getting everything done, you’ll never have a sense of well-being.

The solution: “Remind yourself that everything can wait and that very little in our work lives truly falls into the ‘emergency’ category,” says Carlson. “In the end, nothing is more important than your own sense of happiness and inner peace and that of your loved ones.” Instead of spending all your energy trying to get tasks done, spend time doing things that you’ve always wanted to: hang with friends, spend time with your family, and do something worthwhile every day.

“Remember, when you die, there will still be unfinished business to take care of,” emphasises Carlson. “And you know what? Someone else will do it for you! Don’t waste any more precious moments of your life getting bugged about pressures.”

You Want All the Glory

Ever interrupted a pal because you have a better story to tell? Or shown someone down to prove that you’re superior? Everybody’s been there! And while it’s only human to want to feel important and have people notice you, when you’re constantly seeking to prove that you are better than others, you get caught in a rat race that only ends at Snappy Town. “Most of us have an ego-centered part within us that wants to be seen, heard, respected, considered special, and that’s often at someone else’s expense,” says Carlson. “It’s the part of us that interrupts someone else’s story, or impatiently waits her turn to speak so that she can bring the conversation and attention back to herself.”

But constantly engaging in oneupmanships will leave you—and the person you’re speaking to—irritable, restless, and feeling competitive. The next time a friend toots her horn and you feel the urge to say something about yourself in response, have the quiet confidence to be able to surrender your need for attention and instead share the joy of someone else’s glory. “Rather than jumping right out and saying, ‘Once I did the same thing’ or ‘Guess what I did today’, bite your tongue,” says Carlson. “Ironically, when you surrender your need to hog the glory, the attention you used to need from other people is replaced by a quiet inner confidence that is derived from letting others have it.”

 

Grouchy Smurf (original French name Le Schtroumpf Grognon) is one of the main characters of the Smurfs comic books and the Smurfs cartoon show, who has appeared on the show throughout its entire run.

Character

He is usually considered a sourpuss since he barely says anything except what he hates. His catchphrase throughout the entire show is "I Hate [Insert whatever the last person said]". Most of the time, it's all he says throughout the whole show.
No matter what you say or suggest, Grouchy will be against it on principle. From his corner, he interrupts the other with systematically negative comments such as: "I hate..." On the face of it, you'd think he likes no one or anything. But deep down, he has a heart of gold. Grouchy has a soft spot for Baby Smurf, Puppy, Papa Smurf and flowers.

 

Role in the Village

Grouchy is rarely seen working, as all he does is stay in the background and say how much he hates whatever is going on.
During events where the Smurfs have to retrieve something, Grouchy does offer some help and he doesn't seem to get as scared as the others do.