Today is not a day to whimper — today is a day to roar with delight! According to the World Wildlife Fun and the Global Tiger Forum, tiger populations are finally going up after over 100 years of decline.
This puts us at about 3,900 wild tigers — about 700 more than the 2010 estimate.
Seven tiger-inspired things to remember this week that'll help you succeed at work and in life:
1. Don't let others talk over you. Raise your voice and be heard!
Photo by China Photos/Getty Images.
You know who ignores a tiger? You know who interrupts a tiger during a work meeting? No one, that's who! If you were a tiger, your roar would be heard nearly two miles away.
2. Don't be afraid to show off your stripes — the things that make you unique!
Image from J. Patrick Fischer/Wikimedia Commons.
Every tiger's stripes are unique — no two are alike! You shouldn't feel the need to hide your stripes either. Customize your workspace with pictures of your family or favorite hobby. Find cool wallpapers or desktop apps like Rainmeter to make your desktop your own.
3. If you've got a problem, jump right in and start swimming.
Photo by Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty Images.
Tigers aren't scared of water. In fact, they're basically at home in it and can swim for miles!
What does this mean for you? If you're got a job or assignment, don't procrastinate. If it feels too large, find a small part of it you can do now and try working on it for just 10 or 20 minutes. If you can keep doing that, no problem is too big (or too wet) for you.
4. Don't let others take advantage of you. Own your space.
Image via Paul Mannix/Wikimedia Commons.
Someone asking to borrow your stapler or eyeing your lunch again? Tigers can claim more than 200 square miles as territory. What's yours is yours. Don't be afraid to let people know it or be afraid to say no (politely, of course). If you do loan something out, set clear expectations of when you want it back.
5. Be social! But respect the space and time you need to chill out.
Image via Paul Mannix/Wikimedia Commons.
Tigers have their own territories and tend to live on their own but do often roam larger areas as well, which means they can keep track of what their neighbors are doing.
"Solitary tigers actually have a rich social life; they just prefer to socialize from a distance," says the National Zoo's website.
You can balance your private and social life as well. Set time limits for social media. Feel free to turn your Slack or Gchat status to away or busy (or invisible!). You'll be more productive, and it'll mean that when you do meet up with your friends, you can leave work at work and focus on them.
6. If you don't succeed at first, don't give up. Keep trying until you get it right.
Image from China's Tiger/Wikimedia Commons.
Even though tigers are powerful hunters, only about 1 in every 10 hunts is successful. That's OK, though, because does the tiger give up? No! So don't get discouraged. Take a break, relax, analyze what went wrong, and try again.
And when a tiger succeeds, they know how to make the most of a good thing, chowing down on up to 90 pounds of food in one sitting. You should savor your victories as well, after all, you've earned them!
7. Finally: Take your sleep seriously.
Image from Ltshears/Wikimedia Commons.
If you've been working like a tiger, you've also got to take care of yourself like one. After all, tigers can sleep over 16 hours a day.
Make sure you're getting a healthy amount of sleep each night, set specific bedtimes, don't drink caffeine in the evening, and — if you're feeling really wild — remove all screens from your bedroom. Your sleep is precious, and you need every minute of it.
So channel your inner tiger this week and spread the good news!
Tigers are still endangered and disappearing in some areas, but the increased numbers are a giant sign of how amazing tigers are and how much people want to keep them around!
