Body Language

Make-up at the office..........................................................................

Studies consistently show that business women who wear make-up advance

further and faster in their careers than women who don’t (perhaps because,

sadly, men are still doing most of the promoting). This is not to say that a

woman should apply her make-up with a trowel for the office environment.

Save that for the clubs, discos, and a hot night out. Make-up is meant to

enhance a woman’s image and to be applied in such a way that the wearer

looks healthy, not overdone.

Making up for play..............................................................................

At times, a guy and a gal want to put on the Ritz, strut their stuff, and show

the world what they’re made of. Most women, and a few men, apply make-up

to enhance what they’ve already got. They exaggerate their leisure-time look,

making their lips more prominent, their eyes emphasised, and their clothes

and accessories geared towards fun and frivolity.

Clothing: Dressing the Part .........................................................................

You can’t ignore the importance of your appearance and personal presenta-

tion if you want to succeed. Dressing appropriately for your shape, colouring,

and the part you’re playing, demonstrates that you care about how you pre-

sent yourself. You feel confident when you know that you’re well turned out.

You look credible. People are drawn to the positive energy you exude when

the clothes fit and the colours flatter.

188 Part III: The Trunk: Limbs and Roots

Stress and smoking

Studies show that smoking tobacco increases

stress rather alleviating it. Psychologist Andy

Parrott, Ph.D., of the University of East London

found that stress levels in smokers increase as

they develop a regular smoking habit. His

research also shows that when people stop

smoking (that is, break the habit) their stress

levels reduce. Professor Parrott’s studies demon-

strate that nicotine dependency heightens stress

levels, rather than reducing them. When smokers

are denied nicotine they experience tension and

irritability. When they smoke, that state is

reversed. Addicted smokers feel stressed when

they’re not smoking, and their mood is normal

when they’re smoking. In other words, for smok-

ers to feel normal, they must always be puffing on

a cigarette. When smokers quit, they may expe-

rience bad moods for the first few weeks. Once

the body is completely free of nicotine the moods

even out as the craving for the drug, and the

accompanying stress levels that come with it,

reduce.