Tag: work from home

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Adulting Home How To Work From Home

How To Work From Home And Make It A Success

successfully work from home

With all of the changes in recent years, many people turned to work from home. Now that things are starting to reopen, you may have noticed that people are not running back to the office. Let us be clear, people want to work, but they want to work from home. With this in mind, here are some ideas about how you can successfully work from home.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Successfully Work From Home
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How to Successfully Work From Home

Organize Your Child’s Day

During the pandemic, many parents had to work full time from home and manage their children’s homeschool activities. The full-time employee/full-time parent routine was tough, but many parents worked hard to make it work for everyone. Now the kids are going back to school, and the disruptions that they cause should be minimal. Organizing your kids and getting them ready for school is a great time to reorganize yourself and get prepared to work more efficiently. As you plan and work to make their day flow, it will help you do the same in yours.

Coffee

If you miss grabbing your coffee on the way to work, there is no reason you can’t visit your local coffee shop. If you have to leave the house to get your kids to school, you could swing by the local coffee shop drive-thru and grab a latte. Or you could invest in a good coffee machine so you can make your own. You could invest in many kitchen gadgets that will allow you to create a cafe-inspired lunch in your own home.

I use the Keurig K-Duo coffee maker because it has the option to make a single cup or a full 12-cup carafe of coffee. I’m obsessed with it, and it’s super cute! For my coffee, I use Bean Box because they have so many flavors and options.

Upgrade Your Home

Many people found themselves working from the kitchen table during the pandemic, believing it was a temporary measure. Now, it looks like it could be a permanent thing, so we need to change our homes around. Buying mid-century homes and converting one of the rooms into an office is a trend we can get behind. Having a separate office space is necessary so you can keep your kids out of your spreadsheets and the good pen collection.

Pets

There was an increase in the number of adopted pets at the start of the pandemic. Now, unfortunately, many of them are being handed back to shelters. Working from home can be lonely if you live by yourself, and having a furry companion can make all of the difference. Also, having a pet can be a great distraction for the kids. 

Food

If you work full time, there is a chance that you live on take-out food. We have all been there, so no judgment. However, not traveling to work has freed up some time in your day, so now you can focus on what you are eating. In the morning, throw some food into a slow cooker, and let it cook all day. Or you can have a bit of extra time to prepare and make a healthy meal for you instead of buying a Chinese. 

Successfully Work From Home

While working from home has problems, you can successfully work from home by considering these tips. Make it comfortable and effective for your schedule, and then bask in all of the perks of working from home.

What would you add to this? Leave a comment and let us know! 🙂

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Adulting Finances How To Life

5 Clear Signs that your Business is Failing And What to Do About It

Your Business is Failing

Entrepreneurs have endless creative ideas and passion, so people falsely assume that business comes easily for them. With that being the case, you must be realistic about your business if you want to come out on top. Sometimes this means that you need to recognize the warning signs that your business is failing and make some changes to fix it.

your Business is Failing
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Signs That Your Business is Failing

1. You Haven’t Spoken to a Customer in Weeks

Talking to potential customers is the only way to build your business. While you might dread it and think it’s hard, there isn’t much to it. All that you have to do is get out there and start talking to people. Since you already have the ideas and the passion, start talking to potential customers about it. To successfully talk to customers and bring business your way, do the following:

What to do About It

Talking to potential customers is the only way to truly build your business. While you might dread it and think it’s hard, there really isn’t much to it. All that you have to do is get out there and start talking to people. Since you already have the ideas and the passion, start talking to potential customers about it. To successfully talk to customers and bring business your way, do the following:

-build trust by listening, keeping the conversation about the customer, keep the conversation going

-ask the right questions, typically open-ended questions ensuring an honest answer

-recognize and note the stand-out parts of each conversation to help with lead generation and understanding what’s most important to each person

2. Nobody is Talking About You

If no one leaves reviews about your company, or if your community has no idea that you exist, it’s a bad sign. One thing that you should be concerned about is online reviews. Reviewing businesses online is the norm. If you want to improve the quality of your reviews, but it isn’t happening, then this could indicate that you have an underlying problem with your company.

What to do About It

To get people talking about you and your business, do the following:

-build trust and a good reputation by asking for word-of-mouth recognition

-always do your best job, offering first-rate product and service

-ask for feedback and constructive criticism

-request online reviews from current or past customers

-don’t rely only on social media because real-world interaction is best

-try to gain at least one high-profile satisfied customer

-give back to your local community

-build relationships with your customer by sending newsletters and direct mail

-always respond on social media

-say thank you to each customer

–start a blog to give potential customers insight into your knowledge

3. You Keep Making the Same Mistakes

CEOs and business owners don’t tend to do things like this on purpose. If you keep making the same mistakes without acknowledging them, then your company may not be doing too well. You might think that you have solved a problem, only to witness the same outcome that you see repeatedly. The mistakes could be through analytics, or it could be through client responses. If you haven’t figured out why you keep making the same mistakes, then your business is likely on its last legs.

What to do About It

-switch up your routine to inspire you to do things differently

-visualize the process and brainstorm entirely different ideas

-look at things from a different point of view

-avoid doing conventional things and learn to have fun while coming up with creative solutions

4. Your Business is Failing if You Are Not Paying your Bills

A successful company should be able to pay the bills on time. Paying expenses should be a priority. This doesn’t mean that you are in a slump. Instead, it means that you have a severe issue that requires your immediate attention. It also requires that you reflect on what you need help with.

If you need some help with your business money collection, then you may need to think about contacting a cannabis collection agency, if you work in that field or a debt collection agency. Whatever business you are in, start thinking of other ways you can bring money in.

What to do About It

-consider your income goal and determine what it needs to pay for you to pay the bills

-trank income and expenses correctly so you can highlight areas that need to change

-lower your expenses until your income increases

-make sure you’re pricing for profit and adjust as needed

5. Your Business is Complacent

Again, this is something that can go unnoticed until it is far too late. If you look back on the last year that you’ve had, and you don’t feel like you have changed anything in your company, then this could mean that you are heading towards failure. Even the top companies have to experience some degree of change and innovation to keep things moving. Lack of change can be scary because it is easy to miss.

What to do About It

-make a plan for improvement and growth

-outsource time-consuming or problematic tasks

-upgrade your software and equipment

-implement new marketing techniques

Signs that Your Business is Failing And What to Do About It

If your business isn’t generating profit, you must make changes to turn it around. Ignoring the signs that your business is failing won’t make it go away. You already have the ideas and passion, so start finding the problem areas and plan for a positive change.

Do you have any other ideas for what to do when your business is failing? Let us know in the comments! 🙂

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Adulting Finances How To Learning Life

7 Things to Do When You Suddenly Realize Your Career Is Going Nowhere

Getting locked into a career that’s going nowhere is never a positive experience. You feel like you’ve traveled a long way, but there’s no room left to run. You have a choice of sticking it out or starting all over again, making things look bleak. It’s never a good feeling when you realize your career is going nowhere, but there are some things you can do.

Fortunately, you’re not the only person to have ever encountered this situation. Every year, millions of people find themselves in careers that prevent them from getting the lives that they want. 

It’s not just the money that’s the problem either. Some people see themselves in dead-end careers if the work is uninspiring and turning their entire lives into a chore. 

Being stuck in a job you hate can cause mental distress and even panic. One day, you suddenly wake up and realize “this is it; this is my life.” And that can be a depressing experience. 

So how should you respond in situations like this? Let’s take a look. 

Your Career Is Going Nowhere
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1. Go Deep and Look Outside Your Job

Before you start making life-changing decisions, try going back to what made you start your career in the first place. Try to work out whether the idea came from inside you or from external forces. 

Usually, people fall into work that they think they should take, not what they want to take. They get an idea from an authority figure and then pursue it as though it were their authentic choice. More often than not, this ends in disaster. You wind up in a career that doesn’t inspire you. 

If your job was your choice, think about what changed. How did it differ from what you were expecting? Have your priorities changed over the years? 

The more of these questions you can answer, the better position you put yourself in to choose a better path in the future. You may find that the problem is not with the work but your approach. Perhaps no job will ever be what you are looking for. 

If your job makes you feel depressed about your future, start exploring things outside work. Your life doesn’t have to revolve entirely around your primary occupation. For example, exploring new interests, like taking up violin lessons for adults, could be a transformative and fulfilling way to broaden your horizons beyond the confines of your current career.

Engaging in things you love outside your job gives your life a new focus. Suddenly, your work is just a tool you’re using to enjoy the rest of your life more. It’s a necessary evil.

However, when you look outside your job, you also increase your options. Suddenly, you have opportunities to pursue things that you never imagined that you could before. You might be able to turn a hobby into paid work if you get good enough at it.

2. Switch Up Your Role

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Sometimes you don’t have to stick with the exact same role for years on end. Managers often look to promote people – or just give them something different to do. If your problem is boring work, then ask whether you can try something else. Prove that you can do a great job and you may find that new roles open up to you in the future. 

Switching up your role also makes you more attractive to other employers. Broadening your skills base can be a great way to find companies that offer better career prospects. Remember, the problem may not be your industry but rather the organization you work for. 

3. Invest In Yourself

Investing in yourself is a great idea, regardless of whether you’re happy with your career. As you improve your skills, you become more valuable, which is always a bonus.

How you invest in yourself is entirely up to you. Generally, there are two paths that you can take. Either you can: 

  • Train in something that will improve how you perform in your current role
  • Build a new skill

What you choose depends on your circumstances. If you are in a low-skill job, then training likely won’t help much. However, if you are in a high-skill field, then training can be a great way to enhance your overall career prospects.

In many cases, you’ll want to build an entirely new skill. That’s because some careers offer substantially more opportunities than others. 

Take https://www.abcksmo.org/training/plumbing-program/, for instance. This program allows you to train to become a plumber, which is a great occupation for anyone who likes to work with their hands. It’s also higher paid than low-skill service sector jobs, making it a great option for anyone who wants to progress financially. 

You can also invest in yourself by taking online courses that prepare you for high-value roles. Things like nutrition or sports therapy are great options because they are in high demand. 

You can also try investing in personal growth. You might think you are in a dead-end job, but there are almost certainly better, higher-paying positions in your organization that you could potentially occupy. Often, the problem isn’t the firm itself, it’s your self-limiting beliefs. If you can overcome these, you are much more likely to get the roles you want.

4. Network With People Who Do Work You Love

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Try networking with people who do work that you love – things that really excite you. This way you can get your foot in the door and register your interest. Many people will see that you have a passion for the work, even if you don’t have a history with it. And that can be sufficient to make them want to explore working with you further. 

You never know the career opportunities available to you before you start exploring. Roles come up all the time that allow entry-level people currently working in other careers to get their foot in the door. 

When you speak to people already in the industry, you also find out whether the work is a good option for you. Building out your network allows you to get important insider information about what it’s like to work for particular firms and how they might be able to provide you with a more fulfilling professional life. 

5. Look At Why You Feel Stuck

Before you start making life-changing decisions about which career path to pursue, take some time to think about why your career is going nowhere. Is it because of the way you are approaching it, or is it rigged against you in some way? 

When you feel angry, frustrated, or bored, it is tempting to give up and let it all go. You can’t see any positives from your work and you imagine that things will be better somewhere else. 

But when you dig deeper, you often discover the real reasons for your feelings. Having a boss that you don’t like, for instance, can make you feel like the whole job is grinding you down, even if it isn’t. You may also feel like your work is no longer challenging, and that’s becoming a problem. Or, you might be angry because somebody else got a promotion and you didn’t. 

Take some time to think about what you need to do to get unstuck in your career. Be honest about whether other aspects of your life are affecting how you feel. Are you doing everything you can to be the best human being that you can be? Are you eating the right foods, spending time with the right people, and getting enough sleep? 

If you’re not, it could have profoundly negative consequences for your psychology. You may actually be in a role that suits you well, but your behaviors elsewhere are harming your enjoyment of it. For example, staying up late drinking on nights before work makes your job far less enjoyable. 

6. Don’t Panic If Your Career Is Going Nowhere

Many people panic when they realize that their careers are going nowhere. They feel like it is robbing them of their dreams and they don’t know what to do. 

If you can, try to stay calm. As you have seen in this post, there are plenty of options for people in your position. Just because your career sucks right now doesn’t mean that you’re stuck with it forever. Transitioning to a new career may take several years, but making it happen is easier than you think and something that people do all the time. Sort out the rest of your life and just focus on making the changes that you need to make. 

According to https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-to-do-when-you-realize-youre-in-the-wrong-career, many people immediately jump to the worst-case scenario when they realize they are in the wrong career. They imagine that they will still be working in it up until retirement and beyond. But, of course, that’s rarely the case. Shifting to a different occupation takes five years at the very most, and usually much less than that. 

7. Consider A New Career

If you end up feeling as though your current career isn’t right for you, then it might be the time to consider a new one. That could be relatively minor, such as choosing to work for reputation management companies rather than a more traditional marketing firm. 

It could also be a major change, like turning from teaching to becoming a virtual assistant or blogger. Regardless of how large of a change this is, there’ll be more than a few things to keep in mind. Changing careers could be relatively tricky, after all.

The most notable aspect is to have a look at what your current skills and passions are. You can use these to determine what the most appropriate new career is. If you can’t think of one right away, don’t worry.

Instead, it’s worth spending time considering what the most rewarding path forward will be for you. Once you’ve decided on that, it’ll be time to get moving. You should keep a few steps and tips in mind when you’re doing so.

The largest of these are:

  • Have an action plan.
  • Use your professional network.
  • Consider educational resources and opportunities.
  • Stay motivated.
  • Rebrand yourself.

While changing careers can still be relatively complicated, you can simplify it significantly with each of the above. It should be seen as a last resort if you realize that your career is going nowhere. If there’s no other way to rectify the issue appropriately, then it may be worth considering.

Recap: When You Feel Like Your Career Is Going Nowhere

Don’t sit around hating your life when you feel like your career is going nowhere. Remember that you are in control of your life, and you can make any changes that you desire. Use these tips to help figure out why you feel like your career is going nowhere, and then make the necessary changes.

Have you ever changed careers because you felt like yours wasn’t going anywhere? Leave a comment and tell us about it!

Do you want to make money blogging like I do? Check out this post —-> How to Start a Blog in 3 Easy Steps (and what to do next!!)

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For the Home Home Organization

6 Smart Uses For Your Pool House

Uses For Your Pool House

After spending money on a swimming pool, the idea of ​​spending more money to buy a Pool House seems daring. However, what most people don’t realize is that the pool house is not part of the pool. Instead, it is an additional function of your home that can bring you many benefits. In terms of cost, a pool house can be a complex structure with various facilities and spaces, or it can be a simple cabin where you can change clothes. Either way, there are many smart uses for your pool house that make it functional year-round.

Uses For Your Pool House
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Before we discuss the benefits of the pool house, it is important to understand its basic function: convenience. Owning a pool also means having extra items such as poolside chairs, goggles, umbrellas, snorkels, pool toys, and so on. Not only can the pool house be a great place to store these items, but it can also be a convenient place for friends and family to put on bathing suits before enjoying the pool.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Uses For Your Pool House

1. Winter Storage

What will happen to your patio and pool furniture in winter? If you invest in a pool house, you can use it as an off-season storage room to store all outdoor patio furniture and accessories. Since you will not use the swimming pool at the end of winter, you can store everything in the pool room until you need it again. 

2. Home Gym

If space permits, you can install a home gym in the pool house. Not only can you save space in your home, but you will not disturb your family when you exercise in the morning. If you choose this route, you can also enjoy the pool house all year round, which is a huge benefit if you are worried about a lack of space in the cold winter. 

3. Guest Room

If your budget and space allow it, why not build a guest room that turns into a pool house? Add a bedroom and bathroom, and you have the option to let guests stay the night. Your visitors can live in a beautiful and luxurious environment by the pool, and you can protect your privacy. 

4. Store Hazardous Goods

You can use chemicals to clean the pool and balance the composition of the water. These chemicals can be toxic and dangerous, and it is best to store them safely in the pool room to prevent accidental ingestion or misuse. This is a benefit for families with young children who climb up the counter and rummage through the cabinets. 

5. Party Venue

If you own a swimming pool, you might entertain people there at some point. The pool house allows you to hold a party in the backyard instead of inside the house. As the poolside facilities are fully equipped, guests won’t need to enter your home to use the bathroom or get food and drinks.

6. Home Office

Work-from-home has new meaning nowadays, so a workstation in your pool house might be the answer. In addition, this feature will add to the value of your property in the future.

Beneficial Uses For Your Pool House

Your pool house doesn’t have to be an unutilized space. With many uses for your pool house, you can use it all year as a guest house or entertaining space. Which of these uses sounds best to you? Leave a comment and let us know!

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Adulting Life Parenting

Working Mom Wellness: Top Tips To Help You Stay Healthy and Fit

Stay Healthy and Fit

Juggling the daily grind, raising a family, staying connected with your partner, and maintaining a social life is difficult. When you are attempting to operate a business on top of that, it is even more challenging. You always manage to pull it off, but at what cost? Before you burn out, you need to take a step back and re-evaluate the situation. Working mom wellness is important for the entire family, and finding ways to stay healthy and fit is essential.

Here, we look at some tips to help working moms stay healthy and fit while juggling everyday demands.

Stay Healthy and Fit
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Tips To Help You Stay Healthy and Fit

1. Take a Time Out When You Need To 

No matter how busy you are, you must set aside a few minutes each day to disconnect from the outer world. This could be something you do at your desk or when you get home from a hard day. However, you must ensure that you will not be interrupted, which involves turning off your cell phone and ignoring the email pings for a while. 

Allow all of the tension to leave you, focus on your breathing, close your eyes, and let your thoughts pass past you without focusing on them. Meditation can help you in a variety of ways. It can help you relax and focus by reducing tension. 

2. Have Regular Health Checkups

Being busy is no reason to neglect your health. You should see a doctor and a dentist on a regular basis to ensure that you are in fighting shape. Do not leave it if you are stressed or if you suspect anything else is wrong. The best thing you can do is have things looked into as soon as you suspect a problem. This goes for making appointments at https://www.prairiehawkdental.com/, booking your smear test, mammogram, having sight tests, and any other necessary checkups, depending on your health status and age.

3. Think About Your Diet and Exercise Routine

Avoid grabbing food when on the fly. It is difficult to keep track of what you are eating in this manner. You have no idea how much sugar and fat are in it, which might have a detrimental impact on your mood. It also means you aren’t eating regularly, which means your body isn’t in sync, as your blood sugar levels spike and fall at inconvenient times, which is bad for your health over time.

Exercise is also essential for hardworking moms, as well as for everyone else. However, it would be beneficial if you had a way to release all of the cortisol and adrenaline that you have accumulated as a result of your efforts in building up your business. For some women, that is going for a long run, for others, it is pounding away at the gym for an hour. Many women prefer something a little less strenuous, and would rather spend some time doing yoga. There is no right or wrong way – find something that works for you. 

Working Moms: Stay Healthy and Fit

Staying healthy does not just benefit your health, but it benefits your business too. The healthier you are, the more productive and successful you will be. If you have any other tips to stay healthy and fit, let us know in the comments!

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Adulting For the Home Home How To Learning Life

3 Ways to Improve Your Laptop Experience at Home With These Simple Tips

If you’re like most people, then you’re used to using a laptop regularly by now. While many of us were using desktop computers at work, we’ve had to get used to working on a laptop. Whether it’s because you don’t have an office or they’re still not open yet due to the pandemic, it is hard to accommodate. Sadly, it can take a little time getting used to a laptop, and once you do, it’s not always the most pleasant experience and can introduce some bad habits. While laptops are convenient to use when we’re out, using them at home can occasionally be a pain. Here are a couple of tips to help improve your laptop experience at home.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Improve Your Laptop Experience
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How to Improve Your Laptop Experience

Invest in Another Monitor

A second monitor has many uses. You can keep your emails and messaging programs on it to immediately see and respond to notifications. Or, the second monitor can be your main display if your laptop screen is too small.

A second monitor is reasonably inexpensive, and it’s the perfect way to improve your overall functionality at home. You can get inexpensive portable monitors with a battery so that you don’t always require a power outlet.

Get Yourself a Stand or Something to Raise Your Laptop

One of the first tips we recommend is finding something that will raise your laptop. The purpose of raising it is to bring the screen to eye level. Having it at eye level means that you’re less likely to bend your neck down, which can cause discomfort. It can lead to developing bad posture habits, especially if you have to work for several hours at a time. A simple extendable laptop stand is perfect for the job, but you can also use a stack of books and boxes for an immediate solution.

When you raise your laptop, you’ll also need a few extras to ensure you can actually use your laptop comfortably. For this, we suggest getting a wireless keyboard and mouse. You can get Bluetooth ones for a low price, and you can even get a wireless mechanical keyboard to improve your typing experience and make work less fatiguing.

Consider Getting a Longer Power Cable

While many people take advantage of the battery in their laptops, it’s best to stay near a power outlet. Keeping a charge isn’t as important if you have great battery life on your laptop and you’re not using it for intense tasks such as video and image editing. However, if working from home regularly drains your battery, it helps to be near an outlet. You can invest in a longer power cable so you can move your laptop anywhere and still work.

3 Ways to Improve Your Laptop Experience at Home With These Simple Tips #laptop #improvelaptopexperience #workfromhome #tips #home #work

Improve Your Laptop Experience

If you can improve your laptop experience, you will have an easy time working from home. Make sure that you are comfortable and have everything you need to work efficiently. Leave a comment and let me know what you would add to this list!

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Adulting Finances Home How To Life

The Ultimate Guide For Working From Home: 9 Realistic Tips

Working From Home

Even before the pandemic, more people were deciding to work remotely. Working from home is ideal for better family life or to say goodbye to the commute. Remote work is appealing for lots of good reasons, but it has its challenges, too. You can master it, though, with this realistic guide to working from home.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

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Tips For Effectively Working From Home

Whether you work remotely a few days a week or full-time, it’s important you are set up to be productive. Setting up for productivity includes having a workspace with the right technology, a way to handle disruptions, and a schedule that works. Here are a few of the best strategies and tips to be successful as a remote worker. 

1. Know The Ground Rules

If you’re still working for a company rather than for yourself, check whether you have to stick to a nine-to-five schedule or whether you can have more flexibility. Are you allowed to work on public WiFi? Which tools will you need, such as Zoom, Slack, or Microsoft Teams for video meetings or group chats?

If you are working for someone else, it’s important that your employer clearly lays out the ground rules and makes sure that you have the right equipment. Some of the equipment you might need includes a reliable laptop, network access, passcodes, and instructions for safe remote login.

Do some trial runs of your set-up, and figure out any problems that might impact your ability to work. If you work for yourself, you might need a lot of these same tools anyway. 

2. Set Up A Functional Workspace

Find somewhere to work in the house by trying some different ways to convert a spare room into an office. Not everyone has a home office, but you need to have a private, quiet space to work. If you can, separate your work area from your personal space. Use that space only for work, not other activities. 

3. Get The Right Internet Speed

If you have children, their internet habits could slow down your speeds. Sitting as close as you can to the router can help, or you could swap to an ethernet connection. You might need a dongle to do this, as most laptops don’t have ethernet ports anymore. You’ll also need an ethernet cable to connect your computer to the router. 

4. Use Phone Apps

If you need to make calls, Google Hangouts, Skype, and Whatsapp all let you call over the internet. These apps can be used globally and are inexpensive. If the person you’re calling is on the same service, it’s free. 

5. Minimize Distractions

If you have a loud dog or a noisy neighbor, buy yourself some noise-canceling headphones. If your children are at home and you don’t have childcare available, take turns with childcare with your spouse. This might mean you have to talk to your boss about adjusting your working hours, though. 

If you need some activities for kids that are stuck at home, check out this post: 15 Ways to Keep Kids Busy at Home

6. Plan Extra Social Interactions

Some people like working alone, but even the biggest introverts can start to feel lonely after a few weeks. Be prepared for this to happen.

Try to schedule some time to connect with the outside world, at least occasionally. Consider a lunch date, a phone call with a friend, or an exercise class after work. 

Tips For Finding Balance While Working At Home

Being your own boss, setting your hours, and working at home has some definite benefits, but it comes with some drawbacks too. Whether you’re telecommuting or self-employed, there are some tips to manage a healthy balance. 

7. Stick To Your Work Schedule

Everyone that works from home will deal with some lack of understanding from other people that think working from home isn’t really working. You must set your working hours, stick to them, work during these hours, and not let anyone interfere with that. 

Homelife comes with its own distraction that can soon eat up your important working hours and put you behind on important projects. Along with typical interruptions like vendor calls, accidents, or child needs, there are some personal boundaries that will be pushed too. 

Your family must understand that you can’t help them during the workday or stop and talk on the phone. Setting these limits can be hard if you have children at home. However, your children seeing you work on something you love can be a positive influence on them for their futures. 

8. Beware Workaholic Tendencies

Flexibility and efficiency are two of the biggest reasons that people want to work from home. Additionally, they long for the possibility of shorter hours because you can accomplish more without being interrupted by emails or daily staff meetings.

Sometimes the extra flexibility can be too much of a good thing, though. When your office is always there and you have a deadline looming, it can be hard to leave work alone. Many people that work from home find themselves logging more hours, not fewer, and working at night and on weekends because they struggle to ignore their work. 

Many remote workers do manage to keep a five-hour day, but this might not mean that they work less. Hours are usually calculated as ‘billable hours‘. This means that for every hour you spend on a task you charge for, there’s lots of time spent doing admin tasks that you can’t charge for. 

9. Don’t Bet On Saving Money

Without a commute, lunches, and the cost of office clothing, you might think working at home will save your budget. However, other costs can come up.

The expense of setting up an office will include laptops, internet services, a printer, cell phones, business cards, web hosting, software, and more. You can’t use your existing equipment for your business if you plan to claim the full cost as a tax write-off. Personal and business purchases must be kept completely separate under tax law. 

For example, you can only deduct your home office if you’re a freelancer or a contractor. You can’t deduct non-reimbursed work expenses if you’re an employee, including deducting for a home office. This makes it even more important to try to get any extra costs covered by your company. 

Check what is allowed before you try to deduct half of your mortgage or your office rent. There are very strict limits on what can be claimed as a tax deduction on your tax return. You can deduct valid work-related expenses, but only the percentage that is actually used for your work.

If your internet is used by your children and spouse, or even by you for non-work-related reasons, you can’t deduct the whole cost. You can only deduct the estimated portion that is only used for work. The same is true of bills, utilities, and office supplies. 

If you’re an independent contractor, you will also need to pay your own social security tax and payroll taxes. This means that a sole proprietor won’t see particularly major cuts on their tax bill. 

Working From Home

If you work from home, you already know the perks and the downfalls. People that don’t work from home don’t always understand the details, but you must stick to your schedule anyway. Use these tips to stay focused and to make working from home an enjoyable, efficient experience.

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4 Helpful Tips For Parents Who Work From Home

Tips For Parents Who Work From Home

Working from home can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging when you’re a parent. Being a parent is a tough job, and throwing work into the mix makes it even more complicated. There are ways to make it an enjoyable and productive experience, though, with some helpful tips for parents who work from home.

Not only can you make it enjoyable and productive, but there are other perks, as well. Every minute of the day is important for parents, so working from home saves you time from your commute back and forth. While that doesn’t seem like much, it quickly adds up to hours each week.

It takes some adjusting, but working from home as a parent can be fulfilling. Remember the benefits, and bask in the comfort of watching your children learn and grow even as you work. You can make it work for your family, and you will be glad you did after you implemtn some of these tips for parents who work from home.

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Tips For Parents Who Work From Home

1. Keep the Kids Entertained

If you’re a mom then you know kids love to have a good time and play. If you want to get anything done then you must find ways to keep them entertained. For instance, consider buying them a favorite toy such as the camp coral [patrick plush toy] or turning on their favorite cartoons. Another idea is to let them do some arts and crafts activities while you focus on your work tasks. Mix it up so each day is unique and different and they don’t become easily bored day after day.

2. Take Care of Yourself

Working and being a mom without any breaks or self-care will take a toll on you and your well-being eventually. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to commit to taking good care of yourself each day and creating more balance. It may require you to get up early to shower or exercise or mean that you rearrange your day a bit to fit in doing something for you. No matter how difficult it becomes to put yourself first you must always do so if you’re going to be able to work from home and care for your kids all with energy and a positive attitude.

3. Get in A Routine

Kids love routines and get pretty good at following them once they learn them. Therefore, one tip for moms who work from home is to get in a daily routine you can all follow as a family. For example, get up around the same time each day, get the kids ready and eat breakfast together. Take breaks for lunch and naps and step away from your computer every so often. Give your kids some structure to their day by planning it out for them and making sure they know what’s coming next.

4. Ask for Help When You Need it

Remind yourself that there’s no shame in asking for help when you need it as a working mom. Reach out and let others know what you need and what they can do to take some stress and pressure off of you. It may be that you need a day off from work here and there or that you have a nanny come into your home or pick the kids up a few days a week. You might also consider asking your spouse to cook or pick up dinner when you’re tired and don’t have the time or energy to prepare your evening meal. You’ll find speaking up and asking for what you need help with is better than bottling up your stress inside and trying to do it all yourself.

Tips For Parents Who Work From Home

Are you a parent that works from home? What are some of your best tips? Share them in the comments!

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4 Helpful Ways to Overcome The Challenges Of A Long-Distance Move

Long-Distance Move

A long-distance move is something many people dream of. There are so many beautiful places in the world enticing people to move, and some people choose to move because they want to have better opportunities. While this idea can be exciting, the process itself can come with some challenges that you will need to overcome.

Long-Distance Move
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How to Overcome The Challenges Of A Long-Distance Move

1. Moving Your Possessions

Moving all of your things to a new place is hard, but it is especially challenging when moving long-distance. You can’t take things like furniture on a normal passenger plane, making it worth looking for companies like Sky Van Line to go through this process for you. Using vans, boats, and planes, you can move all of your possessions to your new home easily.

Another option is to sell your large furniture and buy new once you get to your new home. When deciding which route you want to take, consider the cost of each option.

2. Finding Work

Finding work in a different place can be a daunting prospect, especially when you factor in the cost of moving. You can find a job before you move, with options like online freelance work for those with the skills. If your move is a while away, you can consider starting a blog and monetizing it before moving.

Other times, you can get hired by a company before your move, with a start date after the move. Some employers will even be happy to help you move if it means that you can work for them.

3. Finding A Home

Looking for a home when you don’t speak the language or can’t visit the place can be tricky. It leaves you in the hands of your real estate agent. Thankfully, modern technology has solved this sort of issue, with virtual viewings being possible from a wide variety of companies.

You may need to look for options that offer this service, but it will be worth the search. With this service, it is easy to get a feel for a place before you decide to move.

Consider mortgages as well because getting mortgages in a different country can be difficult. It is worth talking to your bank about this ahead of time, too.

4. Keeping The Family Happy

Keeping your family happy through this process should always be a priority. It is important to make this decision with your partner and discuss it thoroughly. When it comes to your kids, the best time to move is before they have started school and made friends. You can still move if your kids are older, though, but you should enable them to maintain their old friendships.

Long-Distance Move

Overcome The Challenges Of A Long-Distance Move

A long-distance move should be exciting, so make sure you prepare to overcome the challenges. If you follow these tips, you will feel ready to take on the challenge of a long-distance move.

This process can be great, giving you new opportunities and a chance to enjoy a new life. It will also provide your family with experiences that can only be gained when you’ve lived in more than one place.

Have you ever moved long-distance? What are some of your best tips? Leave a comment and let me know!

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3 Ways Going Remote is Good For Families

going remote

As much of the world has employees working from home and children learning virtually, life seems to be a bit uncertain. Whether you are enjoying the remote lifestyle or you’re hating it, it is something we are all dealing with. Luckily, there are a few reasons that going remote is good for families.

Location is a primary concern when it comes to choosing workplaces and schools. In fact, it’s not uncommon for families to consider moving for work or school. Living closer to places of interest can give parents and children a better chance of finding high-quality education and employment. Now, however, location doesn’t seem to be so important.

Some parents were already familiar with the advantages of remote schooling by enrolling their children in online charter schools. Online charter schools have been integral to the homeschooling experience for many families, even before the pandemic.

Unlike the unexpected digital teaching approach that many traditional schools have had to implement in 2020, online charter schools have already mastered the art of providing high-quality digital education. They provide access to some of the best teachers in the world, making the location of staff and students irrelevant.

Consequently, they have become more popular during the covid crisis since safe and effective schooling methods have been essential. It has been a rocky road for most of us, but going remote isn’t all bad. There’s much to gain for families who choose to remain in digital work and school environments.

going virtual
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How Going Remote is Good For Families

1. It Fits into Your Lifestyle

According to a survey, most Americans want to keep working from home. This includes even after covid vaccines are safely rolled out to the population.

Working at home makes employment and education an integral part of your lifestyle, without causing disruptions. For many parents, their kids’ school schedule is one of the major issues when it comes to maintaining a full-time job. When parents have to see their children off to school and then be there when they get home, it is hard to work full time.

With going remote, however, parents can work in the morning before their kids leave (or start their virtual school work). Plus, parents can continue working after they get the kids home for the day. This gives parents the opportunity to work more hours while still being an active, supportive parent.

Think about it this way – if you aren’t remote and have to go to the office every day, are you able to be there for your kids while still working full time? You may be able to, but the majority of Americans are struggling with this. Going remote can change that, however, because you can be there for your children WHILE bringing in a full-time income. Win-Win, for sure.

While flexible work arrangements are available in some places, it’s easy to see how digital technologies can eliminate disruptive schedules for parents and children. 

If you are a work-from-home parent, read this post for Easy Tips on Working From Home With Kids.

2. It Helps Separate Households Share Custody Rights

When families do not live together, such as divorced or separated parents, it’s tricky to make everybody’s schedules fit. More often than not, one parent gets most of the custody rights, ensuring the safe continuation of education for their children.

However, when you replace physical schools with online institutions, both parents can share custody rights equally. It’s a new challenge for family lawyers, but many are willing to embrace it for the sake of families.

Additionally, it can also change the approach to the whole settlement process – you can see more about it here to understand how going remote can make the transition easier for children. In a remote world, there’s no need to worry about changing jobs or schools when one parent moves out. 

3. Going Virtual Makes Time to Explore Together

Families that travel together stay together. It is a silly statement, but one that is true. Sharing memorable experiences with your partner and children strengthens your bonds.

In the past, traveling has been extremely limited for families due to time constraints. Children only get so much time off school, and adults get even less time off work. This makes it difficult to plan long trips or to truly explore the world.

With going remote, however, there is no need to plan trips around school breaks and week-long vacations from work. Plus, when you travel during school breaks, tourist areas tend to be expensive and crowded. If your family is remote, you can plan these trips anytime of the year.

Of course, you will still have to work, but if you can take a longer trip, it wouldn’t matter if you had to spend time working during it. So, in this case, going remote is a good thing! It doesn’t matter when you embark on a trip, which saves you money and unnecessary stress! 

There is still a long way to go for families to get used to going remote for employment and education. We are only at the start of the path! But, there are already plenty of advantages that could improve our lifestyles and family lives.

We are on a learning curve to make our world safer and better for all, and perhaps digital workplaces and schools could play a significant role in that. If you have been against going remote, I hope these reasons that going remote is good for families will help change your mind!

What are some of the reasons you think going remote is good for families? Tell me about it in the comment section!