Administrator

How to Maintain Work-Life Balance When Working from Home

April 8, 2021 By Administrator

Whether you have spent years working from home or this is new to you, staying productive can be challenging. Plus, there is a thin line separating work life and family life.

That said, here are eight productivity tips that can help you achieve work-life balance:

Start Your Day Early

One of the work-from-home perks is that you can start work whenever you feel like it. Nonetheless, it would be best to start your day early.

That does not mean you have to be part of the 5 AM Club, but doing so lets you maximize your day.

Have a Morning Ritual

Aside from making the most of your day, you need to have a sense of normalcy while working from home. And one of the ways to do that is to set a morning routine.

Your morning routine can include waking up like usual, taking a bath, having your breakfast, and dressing up as if you were going out to work.

If you tend to walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes before starting the day, so be it. What’s important is that you get the right mindset so that you can boost your productivity.

Dedicate a Suitable Workspace

One thing that blurs the line between work and life is your workspace. Hence, it is essential to have a dedicated workspace.

It can be a spare room, an awkward corner in your living room, or an unused table you placed near a window. No matter where it is, your workspace should house all your equipment. It should also be a space where you can work undisturbed.

Lastly, only use this space for work—no lunch break and binge-watching on your work computer.

Manage Your Day

Now that you have a suitable workspace, the next step is to manage your day. It can be as simple as using task management apps to update your to-do list every morning.

Task management apps let you keep track of what you need to do for the day. Thus, you are on top of your priorities and deadlines.

However, there are other ways you can manage your day. Some prefer to do bullet journaling to organize their tasks, some use Google calendar, some use their smartphones.

The key here is to look for task management tools and techniques that will work well for you.

Specify Your Work Hours

With your day organized and laid out, you should specify when you should do your tasks.

Sure, working from home means flexible work hours. But it does not mean you can spend all 24 hours just working. You still need to eat, take a break, sleep, rest, and spend time with your family.

Thus, the rule of thumb is to spend the bulk of your workload when you feel more productive.

If you are a content writer who feels more creative in the morning, you should consider writing a lot in the morning. You can then spend the afternoon on ad-hoc tasks, like scheduling social media posts or responding to emails.

Stand Up and Stretch

As mentioned earlier, you should include breaks and rest time in your work hours. After all, we tend to sit for hours when working.

Mind you, sitting for long periods can lead to heart disease and weight gain (especially in your mid-section).

To mitigate that, CUErgo recommends having a workspace that promotes good posture (standing desk). You should also stand up every 20 – 30 minutes to stretch.

Taking at least 30 minutes to walk around the house can also help.

Know When to Clock Out

When working from home, it is vital to know when you should clock out. Turning off your desktop computer or laptop and not thinking about work is essential to achieve work-life balance.

If you find it challenging to do, we suggest developing a “clock out phrase.” Think of it as a mantra that you say to yourself to signal your brain that you are done with work.

Another tip is to write whatever work-related stuff is bothering you. That way, you can clear your head and tell your brain that you will deal with these things the following workday.

Lastly, you have to be deliberate when clocking out. Telling yourself that you are done for the day is one thing. Turning off and staying away from your computer is another.

Clean and Declutter Your Workspace

Once you shut down your computer, do not forget to clean your workspace. Doing so allows you to start the following workday afresh.

As the Planet Maids Cleaning Services NYC people point out, clutter and mess can inhibit your productivity.

For one, clutter makes it cumbersome to look for things when you need them. Imagine having to spend five minutes looking for a pen. If your work desk is clutter-free, you could have used that five minutes to pick the pen, sign a document, and put back the pen.

Simply put, an organized workspace reduces work-related stress. Hence, take a couple of minutes of your day to clean and declutter your workspace.

Conclusion: Get Rid of “Work Creep”

When working from home, your career can invade your personal life. But it can only happen if you let it.

The tips listed above can help prevent that from happening. As a result, you can be productive and achieve a work-life balance while working from home.

Guest post by Andrew Chu

6 Creative Tips for Designing the Perfect Home Office

February 10, 2021 By Administrator

By Andrew Chu

Following the COVID-19 outbreak, big companies encouraged their employees to work from home. This includes Twitter, Microsoft, and Amazon.

Such corporate action also renewed the emphasis on working from home.

But whether it is due to the pandemic or not, working remotely can be challenging. More so if you are new to this concept. Luckily, having a dedicated workspace at home can help you get past the hurdles.

Thus, follow these x tips in designing the perfect home office if you want to be a productive remote employee:

Have a Functional Desk

Of course, a proper work desk is integral for a home office. This means having an office table and chair of the right size and height.

The goal here is to look for office furniture that can house your home office without compromising your comfort. Otherwise, poor ergonomics can lead to issues later on. We are talking about shoulder and back pain, lethargy, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Should you go for a standing desk? You can if you want to.

Still, it would be best to get out of your home office and take a walk from time to time. Walking is a fantastic way to add some movement to your routine, and a change of scenery can help you recharge.

Make Room for Essentials

Once you have the right office desk and chair, the next step is to place your work essentials. Whatever you put on your office table will depend on the nature of your work.

For a graphics design, that would mean having a space for his drawing tablet. If you are a virtual assistant, you might want an area where you can place your phone.

For someone who is into data analytics, he might need dual monitors. But if you are a web content writer, you might only need your laptop and extra space for pen and paper when jotting down content ideas.

Whatever it is, only place items on your desk that are essential for your work. According to Cleaning Exec Home Cleaning Services NYC, doing so is the first step to making your home office clutter-free.

Have Proper Lighting

Other than your desk and work essentials, your home office should also have proper lighting.

According to Cornell University professor Alan Hedge‘s study, natural light can decrease the following symptoms by 84%:

Headaches
Blurred vision
Eyestrain

And these symptoms can hinder you from being productive.

But what if you have a windowless home office? Then, you must use adequate lighting.

And when we say “adequate,” it means your light is neither dim nor harsh.

Dim lights force your eyes to work harder to see things clearly, leading to eyestrain. This can result in drowsiness and lack of focus. On the other hand, harsh lights are believed to trigger migraines.

So, what can you install for your home office? We recommend LED lights.

According to the researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, short-wavelength (blue) light can help you perk up and be productive. And LED lights are abundant in short-wavelength light, which mimics daylight.

However, there is an on-going debate on how blue light affects our sleep. Until smart lighting technology can catch up with such nuances, it would be best to turn off your devices one hour before sleeping.

Get a Bit of Green

According to a 2014 study, adding house plants in the office makes employees 15% more productive. But living in a city apartment means you are out of luck.

Just adding a small pot of plant somewhere on your desk can work wonders in your productivity. Mind you, there are small plants that can thrive in a small windowless room.

But if you are not fond of tending a plant, consider hanging a poster or painting of a lush garden.

Pick an Inspiring Color

Speaking of a windowless room, you can repaint the walls of your home office with something inspiring.

Some say painting the walls blue can give you a productivity boost. That’s because it is a soothing color that helps you increase your concentration.

You can also opt for any hues of green since it does not strain the eyes. If you are the kind who faces your computer for eight hours a day, green might be the paint color that suits you.

Meanwhile, if you want a color that uplifts your mood without being too loud, consider repainting your walls with orange. It combines red and yellow, which are ideal if you have a physically-demanding job and want your creative juices flowing.

Keep it Clean and Clutter-Free

Lastly, you should maintain your home office’s cleanliness. This could mean cleaning your work essentials before or after working.

Another way to do it is to clean your home office regularly. But if you are pressed for time, consider hiring a professional home office cleaner.

Having a dedicated workspace does not mean you need to occupy a room. Placing a desk at a quiet corner should suffice. What’s important is that you are free of distraction and clutter, you can work in peace, and you know when to call it a day.

How to Organize Office Supplies to Boost Workplace Productivity

January 23, 2021 By Administrator

By Jacky Xu

This might be your first time to hear it, but we will repeat it: A cluttered workspace is a cluttered mind.

For one, clutter makes it difficult for you to focus. That’s because there is a mess on your table that is taking your attention.

It can also hamper your productivity. Because instead of picking up a pen, you have to spend a minute or two searching for it.

Whether you work in an office or at home, it is imperative to have a clean and organized work desk. Other than being inviting, it also motivates you to get things done.

That said, here are six tips on how you can organize your office supplies to boost workplace productivity:

Choose the Right Desk

If you work in an office, you may have nothing to do with the desk provided to you. But if you are working from home, the first step to a productive workday is to choose the right desk.

Choose a work desk that is large enough to accommodate your laptop and tools that you use often. However, you do not need something that takes too much space. Hence, you should also consider the area where you will place your desk.

Consider Your Workflow

Here’s the thing: The reason you have a messy office table is because you are not using about half of the items on it. The key to organizing your work desk is to consider your workflow.

Robert Half suggests that you remove all the items on your table on a Monday morning. As you work through the day, add the items you will need to get work done. That way, you will only accumulate things that you are using on your desk.

As for the remaining items on the floor, consider finding a new home for them. Anything that is of no use should be disposed of.

Limit Your Personal Knick-knacks

As mentioned earlier, the majority of clutter on your desk are items you are not using. If you want to make the most of your workspace, we suggest that you go easy on your personal knick-knacks.

Sure, it is okay to have a photo frame of your loved ones on your desk. It can also help if you have a space for a small air purifier on your office table. But too many trinkets and souvenirs can be distracting.

Hence, just like with your office supplies, only place personal knick-knacks that you will need. After all, your office table is meant for working and for displaying your collections.

Go Easy on Sticky Notes

We know how important it is to be reminded of your to-dos. However, too many sticky notes on your desk can create visual clutter.

One alternative you can do is use your laptop or desktop sticky notes feature. You can also use productivity apps or tools to receive mobile notifications of your tasks for the day.

Bullet journaling is also growing in popularity when it comes to making people organized and productive. So, if you still cannot let go of pen and paper, perhaps using bujo is the way to go.

Always Have an Empty Space

In case you have everything in order and still have ample space, we suggest not filling it with any items.

In fact, it would be best to have a space near your dominant hand. It should be large enough to accommodate a legal-sized paper. This space could come in handy when you need to sign documents or take down notes.

Declutter Regularly

Of course, the best way to organize your office supplies to improve productivity is to declutter. And it is something that you should do regularly.

For one, it is inevitable to collect things over time. You need to replace old supplies, documents will pile up, and your drawers will start to fill up with unused items.

Hence, at Maid Sailors Home Cleaning Services NYC, we reiterate the importance of regularly decluttering your space. It can be as simple as dusting and wiping off your belongings. Or you can also hire a professional home cleaner so you can spend the free time instead of bonding with your family.

What’s important is that you include regular maintenance into your schedule.

Conclusion: A Clean Office Desk is a Productive Office Desk

An organized office supply and clutter-free desk are more than just having a visually-pleasing space to work. It allows you to reap the following benefits:

Focus and efficiency
Maximized time in doing things that matter
Streamlined work process
Improve health and work-life balance
Positivity

If you are not achieving any of the benefits listed above, then it is time to do a major clean of your office desk. That way, you will have a clean and sanitized workspace.

And with a clean office desk comes an elevated quality of work, a boost in your efficiency, and improvement in your productivity.

Ways Photography Helps You To Manage Stress And Anxiety

December 17, 2020 By Administrator

By Lucy Wyndham

Amateur photographers David Crook & Judy Crook Vorfeld@ Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix

3 Ways Photography Helps You To Manage Stress And Anxiety

Over 70% of individuals who experience stress and anxiety every day say it affects their lives moderately, according to ADAA. Everyone deals with mental and emotional stress at some point in their lives. It could be work-related stress or life stresses like getting married, divorce, financial problems, and chronic illness. Luckily, you can overcome stress and anxiety if you take time out to refocus and gain a new perspective about life. And there is no better way to do so than engaging in photography.

Photography acts as a distraction that eliminates negative thoughts and helps you change your way of thinking. The moment you stop to capture an image can significantly transform your life because you begin to evaluate your surroundings through a new lens. Besides, you don’t need expert guidance on stress management using a camera. Here’s how photography helps you manage stress and anxiety.

Allows You To Reframe The World

The simple act of taking photographs helps you relieve stress because you can re-imagine your surroundings. This means you can place personal values, interests, and thoughts to reframe the world with what you want to see and feel through photography. In short, you have the freedom to choose what you pay attention to and what you eliminate from the frame. The satisfaction that comes with reframing the world around you creates self-awareness, mindfulness, and positive insights. Nurturing mindfulness improves your mental wellbeing as you’ll start viewing things objectively, instead of jumping to conclusions.

Photos Trigger Emotions

Images have the power to evoke positive and negative emotions. For example, looking at photos that depict happiness makes you cheerful, just like inhaling warm scents reduces cravings for unhealthy snacking. On the other hand, viewing photographs that display sadness triggers negative thoughts and stress. This is because the repetition of the same photos affects how you feel. That’s why you should always focus on photography practices that trigger positive feelings in your mind. Taking pictures of nature, architecture, and anything that uplifts your moods lowers anxiety levels, reduces stress, and makes you feel relaxed, peaceful, love, and compassionate.

Improves Focus And Life Experiences

While therapeutic photography does not require you to take perfect shots, you still need to put your attention outside the mind. Doing so distracts you from thinking about unpleasant events or situations that trigger anxiety. Instead, you focus on viewing things deeply, from a different angle, and connect more with what you hear, feel, and think. Embracing photography as a self-therapy tool also helps enhance life experiences, which evokes happiness. Elements that once seemed ordinary become more meaningful. For instance, a simple rose flower can transform into a breathtaking gift of nature when you capture it on camera as it begins to bloom.

Therapeutic photography entails capturing, evaluating, and using photographs for self-healing, expression, growth, and understanding. Whether you do it consciously or unconsciously, photography enables you to reframe your environment. It also evokes emotions and helps improve focus and everyday experiences. When viewed from different angles, the simple things in life become meaningful.