A little laugh for this slow news week. If you’ve got an item for Shorelines — a personal celebration, a story of excellent customer service, or a tip about the great job a coworker did — share it with us at shorelines@northshorebank.com.

North Shore Shape Up

Keep a journal, get healthier. More and more research suggests that you can improve your health — both your mental and physical health — just by keeping a journal of your daily experiences, thoughts, and feelings. As Maud Purcell writes at Psych Central: “University of Texas at Austin psychologist and researcher James Pennebaker contends that regular journaling strengthens immune cells, called T-lymphocytes. Other research indicates that journaling decreases the symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.” Keeping a journal can also help you clarify your thoughts, know yourself better, reduce stress, solve problems, and improve your personal relationships, especially during times of conflict.

Purcell advises: “Your journaling will be most effective if you do it daily for about 20 minutes. Begin anywhere, and forget spelling and punctuation. Privacy is key if you are to write without censor. Write quickly, as this frees your brain from ‘shoulds’ and other blocks to successful journaling. If it helps, pick a theme for the day, week or month (for example, peace of mind, confusion, change or anger). The most important rule of all is that there are no rules.” Health.com also has some tips for effective journaling.

Internal Job Postings

• Retirement Plans Representative, Shorewood, full time, 40 hours/week. Referral bonus: $500. Internal closing date: TODAY.
• Investment Representative, North Region, full time, 40 hours/week. Referral bonus: $500. Internal closing date: Jan 26.

For a complete list of internal job postings and to apply for one, go to nsbcareersforyou.silkroad.com and click on “Internal Openings” at the top. To refer an external person to an opening, go to our intranet page. You can earn cash and prizes for a successful referral!