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Do Writers Really Need To Study Writing At University?

May 13, 2022 By Administrator

Guest Post By Lucy Wyndham

There are an estimated 281,300 people employed as writers, editors, and authors, according to Student Scholarships. The organization also predicts that this number will grow by more than 12% over the next decade. While it’s impossible to know how many of these individuals have a writing degree under their belts, there are plenty of respected writers who never went to university, including H.G Wells and Charles Dickens. So, just how crucial is a university degree when you’re an aspiring writer?

Benefits of a writing degree

The truth is that bagging a writing degree at university isn’t going to guarantee you a job, but it does come with many advantages. The beauty of studying writing is that you’ll constantly be surrounded by like-minded people that you can bounce ideas off. You’re also likely to build up a network of people within the writing industry, including publishers or content marketers, who you may be able to call upon during your career. Having a writing degree may also help you get noticed when applying for writing gigs and may mean you won’t have to start off taking free or low-paid posts. However, to get work you’ll need a solid portfolio behind you regardless of whether you’ve got a degree or not.

But you can also do it without a degree

Writing isn’t an easy job and you’ll need to possess multiple skills, including good grammar, effective communication, the ability to conduct deep research, and be able to self-edit your work. But these skills can all be learned without having to commit to a four-year year university course and $26,900 of debt on average. Alternative options to help you build the skills you’ll need to succeed as a writer include signing up for creative writing courses, enrolling in online training, joining writers’ forums, and starting a blog. You can even further your writing career without the GRE as there are plenty of accelerated online courses that allow you to study for a degree from the comfort of your own home. This is beneficial if you want to avoid uni life, fast track your career, and start professionally writing as soon as possible.

Feedback could be the persuading factor

All writers will receive rejection throughout their careers. J K Rowling was famously rejected by 12 different publishers before her Harry Potter series was picked up, while Stephen King’s Carrie was turned down by 30 publishers. Feedback is an important thing for any writer, but how you process feedback, including negative criticism, could help you decide whether studying writing at university is for you or not. If you’re keen on feedback on every single thing you write and want a hand-holding experience then university could be perfect for you. On the other hand, if having your work compared to your peers’ sends a shudder down your spine and you’d much rather learn as you go, then skipping university might be the better option.

There’s no denying that there are benefits for writers that wish to study for a writing degree at university. However, university doesn’t guarantee success and there are plenty of options for writers to succeed in the industry without having to go uni every day for years.

10 Things to Look for Before Choosing the Best Home Care Assistance

April 19, 2022 By Administrator

What Should I Look for When Choosing Home Health Care?

Guest Post by Nicholas Rubright

As your parent or loved one gets older, you may notice signs that they need home care assistance. Maybe they are having memory problems, or they are no longer able to keep up with day to day tasks like housekeeping, bathing, and preparing meals. These are all good indicators that your loved one could use some extra help. Choosing a home care assistant can be challenging. You want someone who gives the best assistance possible for your loved one, but it can be difficult to know if you are making the correct choice for them.

Here are 10 things to look for before you make a decision.

1. Reviews and References

Some companies may sound good on paper, but it is important to check for references. Gather a list of companies in your area and visit each website. Read the reviews and patient testimonials.

Ask your family and friends, neighbors, coworkers, an elder law attorney, or anyone you trust if they have experience with a loved one receiving care from the agencies you’re considering—and what their experiences have been like.

If you are worried about the legitimacy of the reviews, you can check if they are accurate with the Better Business Bureau or with a third-party website. You can even use a plagiarism checker to see if the same review has been posted on multiple sites.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

2. Care Certification and Licenses

Before you hire a company, it’s important to make sure that each staff member and the company are licensed. Read about your state’s specific requirements and double check that the agencies are legitimate and regularly monitored.

Typically, only certified licensed personnel are allowed to administer medications. This includes everything from prescription painkillers to CBD oil, like nurses can administer.

3. Screening Procedures

Who exactly is taking care of your loved one? How do they vet potential caregivers? You want to check if the agencies perform thorough background checks on their caretakers, including local and national criminal records, before you make a decision on an agency.

Ask if they conduct drug screening, and how often they screen current caretakers.

A good caretaker should be compassionate, trustworthy, attentive to your loved one’s needs, patient, and respectful.

4. Caregiver Training

Proper training is a necessity for adequate care. Some states require more hours of training than others for caregivers to receive certification. Look up what the requirements are for your state, ask them questions to check their knowledge, and make sure their caregivers are able to provide first aid, CPR, and other treatments related to your loved one’s health.

The caregivers should be able to assist with walking and transferring from bed to wheelchair, assisting with using the toilet and incontinence care, and providing medication reminders.

They should give status reports to you and your family regularly. If they fail to do these things, it can be considered elder neglect. Improving your loved one’s home by removing clutter and perhaps replacing heavy decor that may fall with custom tapestries or posters may also help them move around the house freely when a caregiver isn’t available.

5. Replacement Caretaker Options and Procedures

Your loved one will most likely require more than one caregiver to assist them, especially if they require assistance around the clock. The company that you choose should have a replacement procedure in place to cover their employees’ vacations and work-hour limitations.

At night when your loved one needs to rest, if they are not receiving 24-hour care, they are likely to be alone. They may get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom or get a glass of water, putting them at risk for falls or other accidents.

Having a medical alert necklace or bracelet can be useful to ensure they get immediate care if an accident occurs.

6. Caregiver Supervision

You may want to ask how they will supervise the caregivers assigned to your loved one to prevent the possibility of elder abuse. Some agencies may use cameras, or they may have a trained nurse supervising the visits.

Once you choose an agency, make sure you regularly check in with your loved one to make sure they feel safe and are satisfied with the care they are receiving.

7. Financial Planning

COVID-19 has affected many things and devastated so many families. It has especially affected the cost of in-home care and assisted living.

According to this survey, the median annual cost of in-home care in the U.S. in 2020 was $54,912 for a home health aide and $53,768 for a homemaker. The lowest hourly rate for a home health aide was $17 in Louisiana, and the highest was $33 in Minnesota.

It can be hard to figure out how to afford proper care for your loved one, but there are ways to find financial assistance for long-term care. Learning finance basics on your own will also help you make a more informed decision and help you with your own retirement plans.

8. Caregiver Selection

It can be hard to talk about preferences when it comes to caregivers, but they are necessary to ensure your loved one’s home care experience is a good one. They should provide caregivers who have experience handling specific conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Your loved one may be more comfortable with a caregiver of a specific gender, or they might need someone who speaks a particular language or is knowledgeable about their culture.

9. COVID-19 Precautions

With COVID being a persistent presence in our lives and seniors being at an increased risk of complications or dying from COVID-19, ask what health and safety measures are in place to protect your loved one.

Some methods might include daily health screenings to check for fever, shortness of breath, dry cough, vomiting, or chills, and whether the caregivers have had exposure to anyone who has tested positive with the disease.

You should also inquire on how they handle caring for elders showing symptoms of COVID, or elders who are confirmed to have COVID.

10. Interview the Agencies

Once you have narrowed down the options to three agencies, give them a call and set up in-person interviews to cover any further questions or concerns you may have. This will ease any second thoughts and help you make the best choice going forward.

How Hiring Freelancers Can Save a Solopreneur’s Sanity

February 1, 2022 By Administrator

Guest Post by Lance Cody-Valdez

If you’re a solopreneur, you may be wondering if you’ll ever have any free time again. The daily demands of your business can take all of your time, sometimes causing stress, damage to personal relationships, physical and mental fatigue, and lower-quality work.

Part of scheduling your daily workload should include taking time for yourself. If you haven’t already, consider using freelancers to take some of those daily tasks off of your full plate.

How Does Hiring Freelancers Benefit You?

You’re the boss, but you’re also a human with needs. Be careful not to allow your business to overwhelm you; that’s almost certainly going to lead to being burned out quickly. You need assistance in tasks you can’t complete yourself. Since you have no business partners, that means hiring an employee, right? Not necessarily. Hiring freelancers can solve your need for help without having to pay regular wages and benefit costs. Many freelance tasks are done remotely, meaning that you don’t have to provide office space.

You may be required to report funds paid to non-employees who perform services for your business to the Internal Revenue Service. It’s a good idea to check with the IRS to be certain you comply with applicable requirements.

What Kinds of Tasks Can You Outsource?

There are things that you need to do yourself, but there are a number of business needs that can be met by using freelancers:

Business communications, including editing, proofreading, and formatting emails, website verbiage, and issues caused by using English as a second language
Website building and maintenance
Social media marketing campaigns
Bookkeeping
Brand development

Many of these tasks require specialized knowledge, and all of them can take considerable amounts of time. One person can only do so much; if you need help, decide which tasks make the most sense to outsource.

Factors to consider include the amount of time you’ll save not having to do a specific job, the cost of hiring a freelancer, and how effective — or ineffective — you are doing it yourself. If you’re not familiar with social media advertising, for example, that can be a good task for knowledgeable freelancers to boost your business.

Where Can You Find Qualified Freelancers?

There are several online job boards you can utilize to find both domestic and overseas remote freelancers:

Guru
Indeed
Fiverr
Upwork
FlexJobs

Using technology, it’s easy to work with people in other countries, especially freelancing hubs like India. Opening your job postings to Indian applicants can give you access to many more qualified candidates than if you only post your position domestically. Many times, you’ll save money by using freelancers from India.

You may want to hire freelancers from a certain country. Using Guru, for example, you’re able to narrow your search to find candidates in India. Keep in mind the sometimes-drastic time differences and be sure that freelancers from abroad can be available when you need for them to be.

Some of these job boards allow you to pay for freelance services through that site. If that’s not an option, traditional payment methods can be costly. Instead, consider using a money transfer service like Remitly.

Sending funds to some countries with Remitly involves no or low fees for the sender. To send amounts over $1,000 to India, for example, costs nothing. You can choose transfer speed, but exchange rates and fees are subject to change.

Are You Ready?

Hiring capable remote freelancers is easier than ever, and you’ll receive many benefits from doing so. Decide the best tasks to outsource and give it a try; you’ll be glad that you did.

Image via Pexels

How to Achieve a Healthy Work-Life Balance

December 20, 2021 By Administrator

December 2, 2021

Guest post:

Teresa Siqueira

If you have a busy career, attaining a healthy work-life balance can be a real challenge. There are many benefits to finding a good balance between work and home life, including less stress and increased productivity. Other benefits include improved relationships with family and friends and improved mental health. Once you follow a few simple steps, gaining the correct work-life balance is easy. Read on to discover some tips and tricks that will help you deal with the stress of a demanding job so you can attain the level of balance that works best for you.

Tips to Prioritize

When you establish goals and prioritize tasks, you can get more done while gaining more free time. Try these techniques to help you set goals so that you can be more productive.

Try SMART Goals: The term SMART goals is an acronym that stands for keeping things Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Start by being very specific with your goals, then work on them in a meaningful and measurable way. Always be sure that every goal is completely attainable and that they’re reasonable and relevant to you. Finally, give each goal a set time limit so that you’re not spending too much of your time on just one thing. Write down how you’ll accomplish each letter of the acronym and separate each task into “buckets” so they’re easy to manage and achieve separately.
GTD: The term GTD stands for Getting Things Done and involves moving all of your tasks out of your mind, then separating each item into smaller chunks that are easier to achieve. With the GTD method, you’ll need to attach a time limit to each task. This makes it easier to do more in a shorter period of time without putting too much focus on any one particular thing at once. The main mantra of GTD is to “capture, clarify, organize, review, and engage.” Follow each of these steps carefully, and you’ll be able to prioritize your tasks more effectively.
Journaling: Another easy way to prioritize tasks is to write them down on paper. Make a list of all work and home-related goals, then separate each by the due date or in order of importance. Determine how much time you’re willing to spend on each goal or task, then allot your time accordingly. When you write this down, it’s much easier to eliminate tasks that aren’t really necessary while focusing more on the things you can actually achieve.

Organization 101

Good organization is the key to a successful work-life balance. Here are some tips to help you stay organized whether you’re at the office or doing hybrid or remote work.

Tips for creating and following a schedule

How to start: Start creating a schedule by simply writing everything down that you need to accomplish for the week or month. Once your list is in place, shuffle the tasks by order of importance or expediency. You can do this on a calendar, a sheet of paper, or on a dry erase board in your office so you can easily see everything in front of you at once. You can find templates online if you need help getting started.
Use digital tools: There are plenty of helpful digital tools at your disposal. Consider adding your tasks to things like Google Calendars or a board like Trello to help you organize items by priority and due date.
Track your time: Keep track of the time you’re spending on each task. There are several timers you can add to your web browser that can help you see how much time is being spent every day on any one particular task.

Avoid distractions

Close unused tabs: Stay focused on work by closing out any tabs on your web browser you’re not using, like social media or news websites. This will help reduce distractions while you’re working on a task.
Find a quiet place to work: Whether you’re going to the office, doing hybrid work, or doing full-time remote work, set up your office so you can get work done in a quiet area without a lot of outside noise.
Try headphones: If you prefer to work in complete silence, consider using a pair of noise-reducing headphones to make concentrating easier.
Turn off your phone: Unless you need your smartphone for work, turn it off or put it on silent until your day is over.

Organizing your time

Try the 4 Ds: The 4 Ds method encourages you to determine what to do, what to delay, what to delegate to others, and what to delete or drop. Apply this method to each task so it’s easier to determine which items should require most of your time.
The ABC Method: Start each day with a list of tasks, then assign them the letters A, B, or C. The A tasks are your first priority, then B tasks, and so on. This makes it easier to determine which items should be done first every day.
The Pomodoro Technique: This popular technique involves breaking larger tasks into short, timed intervals known as Pomodoros. Each task should be spaced by short breaks. The idea is that this method teaches you to focus for shorter periods while you stay on top of deadlines and improve your attention span.
SCRUM: This method is team-based and encourages each member to learn through experience, self-delegate, and self-organize when working on a problem, and most importantly, reflecting on wins and losses to determine how to improve.

Organizing your home

Declutter: Too much clutter makes it difficult to concentrate, so start by decluttering every room and either selling, donating, storing, or disposing of things you no longer want or need. When you get rid of excess stuff, staying focused on the task at hand is much easier. It’s also essential to make sure your office clutter is kept to a minimum as much as possible.
Organize your files: If you deal with a lot of paperwork, use a filing system so that it’s easier to keep important information close at hand. Organize files in alphabetical order and use a locked file cabinet to store confidential information.
Keep it organized: If you do work from home, dedicate just a few minutes each day to go around your home and pick up stray items, put dishes away, and do a simple cleaning, so everything stays neat and tidy every day. When you start your day with a clean home, you’ll feel much more relaxed and able to take on your busy tasks.
Separate work and home items: Keep all of your work-related items in the home office or at the office itself, and leave home goods in their proper places. For example, keep your laptop or desktop on a desk in a separate part of the home and don’t use it while sitting on the couch. This will make it much easier to mentally separate your work tasks from doing things like spending time at home with your family.

Create more family time

The key to a healthy work-life balance is finding more time to spend with your family, so keep these tips in mind:

Communication is key: Sit down and talk to your family about your current job arrangements. It’s important to establish boundaries now so that there’s no miscommunication later. For example, if you’re busy during certain hours and can’t be bothered, let your family know in advance.
Allow others to help: Don’t be afraid to delegate certain chores to other family members or to your coworkers. Create a list of family tasks for each member to complete so they are doing their part to maintain the home.
Start a family hobby or project: Whether it’s a home improvement project or a fun hobby, come up with something you can do as a family together that’s enjoyable and fun.
Plan regular family outings: Set aside time as often as possible to have some fun family outings. Whether it’s a trip to the movies or a weekend getaway, spending time having fun together is key to a happy work-life balance.

Balancing Work and Life

Here are some tips that will make it easier for you to balance your career with your life.

Establish boundaries with work: Learn how to say no when someone asks you to do something outside of your regular schedule. It’s also essential to learn when to disconnect by turning off your phone or determining a time of day when you’ll stop answering emails.
Hybrid Work Model: The hybrid work model has some benefits, including seeing your coworkers in person while still having days to work from home. People who need to attend occasional meetings but can achieve most tasks remotely seem to benefit from this model. Use tools like time blocking and the ABC method to prioritize your goals and achieve a good balance.
Working from Home: Not having to sit in traffic or dress in professional attire benefits from working from home. You also have more freedom and control over your schedule and how you spend your time. Try the Pomodoro method to keep your life and work in balance by putting your tasks into smaller, bite-sized chunks you can manage more easily. Find a quiet space to work where you can avoid distractions and set boundaries with your family in advance to help you get things done.
Going to the Office: A benefit to actually working from the office is that you have more personal interaction and better communication with coworkers. The downside is that you need transportation to and from work, and it tends to leave you with less free time at home. Learn how to say no when it comes to work outside of your regular hours and utilize most of your free time at home by spending it with your family.
Tips for entrepreneurs/business owners: Being your own boss is the ultimate form of freedom; however, it often requires harder work and more time to ensure things are running smoothly. If you are running a business from home, try to use the GTD technique to help you get things done in order of importance and delegate tasks like customer service or shipping to others whenever possible. Use time management tools to focus on building your business while allotting some of your precious time to spend with your family.

Create time for Yourself

The key to a good work-life balance is to make time for relaxation and self-care so you can gain some mental and physical health benefits.

Build downtime into your schedule: Always set aside time for yourself and your family and stick to it. Don’t change this time, and make sure you set boundaries to ensure you have plenty of off-time to enjoy.
Tips for a self-care routine: Practice healthy habits like eating a balanced diet, getting rest, and sleeping regularly. Feel free to relax with a hot bubble bath or do some yoga or meditation to help encourage healthy mindfulness.
Define what you need: Determine what’s most important to you, and make sure you include it in your schedule, whether it’s playing sports, going to concerts, or enjoying mini-vacations. Having time to do what you enjoy is crucial to a happy social life and successful career.
Exercise: Participate in some form of physical activity as often as possible to help you stay healthy. Carve out some time for exercise and find a workout plan that you enjoy. Try walking around the neighborhood, enrolling in a workout program, or joining your local gym.
Determine what you can do: Remember to be realistic with your time and only do the things that will make you feel the most fulfilled. Dedicate a set amount of time each week to enjoy doing what you love, whether it’s simple relaxation, working on a hobby, or spending time with your friends.
Communicate with others: Let your friends, family, boss, and coworkers know that you need some time for yourself. Set boundaries upfront and stick to your work-related and personal tasks schedule.

Take Care of Your Home

A clean, well-maintained home will help you feel better about focusing on your job. Here are some quick tips to help you take care of your home.

Change A/C Filters: Always change the filters in your HVAC system once a month. This will keep your system running smoothly and the air inside your home clean and free of dust and other particles. If you’re worried about remembering to replace them monthly, look for filters that last between 60-90 days.
Take care of the yard: Set aside some time to do yardwork so that your landscaping looks nice. Put tasks like raking leaves, mowing the grass, or gardening on your schedule and incorporate it into your routine. You can also delegate things like yardwork to your kids to help give you a break.
Practice routine maintenance: Have major components of your home like the roof, gutters, appliances, and HVAC system inspected regularly. This will not only save you time but can also save you money on costly repairs in the future.
Check for issues: Occasionally, it’s important to look around your home to see if there are any issues, such as drafts coming through doors or windows, areas that need paint touch-ups, and problems with major appliances. When you check these things routinely, you’ll be able to handle any issues that arise much faster.
Cleaning your house: Do some simple tidying up every day to make major cleaning easier. Set aside a day or specific time once a week to deep clean your home, do some laundry, and clean up the living room and kitchen. Wash linens like bath towels and sheets each week so you start your work week fresh with clean bedding and towels.

With some simple time management and organizational methods, you can achieve a better work-life balance. From going to the office each day, remote work, or the hybrid model to being a full-blown entrepreneur, the key to a happy life is to make time for the things and the people you love. Use these tips to help you stay organized, productive, and happy no matter what your career requires.