Whether you're a telecommuter, work on contract, or own your own business, more and more of us are working from a place traditionally seen as a retreat from work and reserved for family; our home!
Personally, I wouldn't have it any other way. I've been working out of my house for almost two years and I have to say that I'd have trouble adjusting to a regular 'be in the office at 8, half hour lunch, leave at 5' routine, all the while being chained to my desk.
That's not to say that working from home is without challenges of its own, far from it. But those challenges are definitely outweighed by the benefits.
Challenge #1 - buy THE most comfortable chair you can afford.
Before you buy anything else, buy a chair. You may have your eye on a gorgeous cherry wood desk and an antique lamp that's to die for, but stop yourself from buying it. If you don't have enough left in the budget to ensure that you'll be comfortably seated you will regret it, and so will your back, your butt, and your shoulders.
In fact, an uncomfortable chair will not only leave you with physical aches and pains, it'll distract you from the very thing you're trying to accomplish, your work.
Challenge #2 - Dedicate one room for an office.
If you have the luxury of space where you're living such as a spare bedroom, do set up your home office in a separate room, particularly if you have small children.
If all the bedrooms are occupied, consider transforming a corner of the basement into an office. You may need to spend a bit of money, or call in some friends to give you a hand, but the end result will be well worth it.
Hand in hand with the room is a door. Sounds rather basic, but we all need time 'away' from the office. When that office is in your home, the only way you're going to really be away is if you can close the door. This way you won't see the piles of paperwork on your desk every time you walk by.
Setup your workspace so that everything you need on a daily basis is easily accessible, just as you would in a traditional office setting. Keep the location of electrical outlets in mind when setting up your space. You don't want to be tripping over computer cables or extension cords.
Challenge #3 - Work time vs. play time
This one is a bit trickier. Working from home affords flexibility, which is why it's so popular with many people. However, it is easy to let your working hours creep over into your private time.
Make sure you discuss your expectations with your partner so that working from home doesn't become a source of stress in your relationship.
This article was written by Shawn Wilson, a member of the customer support team at Datepad, where internet dating is always free. Datepad has a massive directory of informative dating articles along with a great list of dating site reviews on their dating blog.
Stress Management - Getting To The Root Of The Problem
Stress Management is a relatively new phenomenon that was brought in for the purpose of preventing, managing and treating anxiety ridden illnesses among workers in a commercial establishment. Stress or anxiety has come into the limelight in the fast moving world of business where intense competition and the drive to achieve targets nearly wreaks havoc on a persons emotional and physical balance. In fact, a stressful and anxiety filled life and all its attendant evils take place when an employee is depressed in his work place or his job and is unable to get a grip on everyday life.
The causes of stress are numerous and in workplaces it can result from fear of meeting targets, strain, sleeplessness, fatigue, bullying mentality on part of seniors, job dislocation, family problems, fear, overwork and poor diet. Stress, if gone unchecked can have serious implications on a workers life, output and creativity. It is mainly in high growth business societies that stress, off late, has emerged as one of the prominent health issues affecting the life of an employee. The UK undoubtedly, has a significant challenge in containing this menace as its industries, service sectors and IT sectors have grown phenomenally over the past few years.
Stress management involves prevention, control and taking remedial measures in places of occurrence and can either be treated with medication or counseling. Stress can either be physical or emotional or both. Again one can lead to the other and vice versa. Among the different options of managing stress the most prevalent ones in the UK are social or professional counseling, medication or hypnosis by systematic oral suggestions. Professional counseling has grown in importance and used to stress upon time management, effective communication, relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, meditation, problem solving, modifying ones behaviour, getting rid of anger, thinking positively and learning to say no.
However, this is good when the initial symptoms are mild. When the illness assumes serious to chronic proportions medication is advised. The use of depressants or drugs must be taken under the supervision of a medical doctor as many of these drugs have side effects besides being drawn to addiction. At times, stress can pave way to other form of illness like headache, migraine, insomnia, partial coma and a host of other illness. Therefore it is all the more necessary to consult a physician. The relatively lesser therapy is hypnosis or suggestive art therapy. According to CBI studies in the UK 6.7 million work days are lost every year due to stress disorders and it is believed that 54% of self reported illnesses are due to stress alone.
Although a great deal has been done to introduce stress management as a way of work life, it would be worthwhile for the British industries and services as a whole to get to the grass roots of this problem. Notwithstanding the fact that there are a host of remedial centres and clinical efforts in existence, it may be worthwhile to look at life as a whole in connection with employment and business.
Richard Reid of
Pinnacle Proactive, Specialists in the
Employee
Assistance Program,
Stress Management,
Staff Retention & Absenteeism. Take a Proactive Approach in Growing Your
Organisation
The causes of stress are numerous and in workplaces it can result from fear of meeting targets, strain, sleeplessness, fatigue, bullying mentality on part of seniors, job dislocation, family problems, fear, overwork and poor diet. Stress, if gone unchecked can have serious implications on a workers life, output and creativity. It is mainly in high growth business societies that stress, off late, has emerged as one of the prominent health issues affecting the life of an employee. The UK undoubtedly, has a significant challenge in containing this menace as its industries, service sectors and IT sectors have grown phenomenally over the past few years.
Stress management involves prevention, control and taking remedial measures in places of occurrence and can either be treated with medication or counseling. Stress can either be physical or emotional or both. Again one can lead to the other and vice versa. Among the different options of managing stress the most prevalent ones in the UK are social or professional counseling, medication or hypnosis by systematic oral suggestions. Professional counseling has grown in importance and used to stress upon time management, effective communication, relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, meditation, problem solving, modifying ones behaviour, getting rid of anger, thinking positively and learning to say no.
However, this is good when the initial symptoms are mild. When the illness assumes serious to chronic proportions medication is advised. The use of depressants or drugs must be taken under the supervision of a medical doctor as many of these drugs have side effects besides being drawn to addiction. At times, stress can pave way to other form of illness like headache, migraine, insomnia, partial coma and a host of other illness. Therefore it is all the more necessary to consult a physician. The relatively lesser therapy is hypnosis or suggestive art therapy. According to CBI studies in the UK 6.7 million work days are lost every year due to stress disorders and it is believed that 54% of self reported illnesses are due to stress alone.
Although a great deal has been done to introduce stress management as a way of work life, it would be worthwhile for the British industries and services as a whole to get to the grass roots of this problem. Notwithstanding the fact that there are a host of remedial centres and clinical efforts in existence, it may be worthwhile to look at life as a whole in connection with employment and business.
Richard Reid of
Pinnacle Proactive, Specialists in the
Employee
Assistance Program,
Stress Management,
Staff Retention & Absenteeism. Take a Proactive Approach in Growing Your
Organisation
Be Happy And Healthy! Take a Vacation
Did you take a vacation this year or skip it because of high gas prices? According to an Expedia poll a third of all Americans do not take all their vacation days. The Bureau of Labor Statics says that one quarter of all Americans get no paid vacation! That was a surprise to me although as a business owner in a solo practice I get no paid vacation either.
A recent New York Times article by Alina Tugend entitled "Vacations Are Good For You, Medically Speaking" makes the point that recent studies show that vacations are necessary for good health. The article sites two different health studies (one with females and the other males) that showed a high percentage of coronary problems occur for those who do not vacation regularly.
A vacation gives you time to unwind. It allows you to de-stress and relax. There is research evidence you sleep better during and after your vacation. I have always been amazed that the feeling of relaxed vacation calmness lasts for a few days when I return.
By the way for those who carry cell phones and Blackberries to check on work back at the office on their vacation, there have been studies to show that you are less likely to receive the benefits of vacation according to the NY Times article.
So if you didn't take your vacation yet, now is the time to do it. If you are the type to check in with the office, find a place where cell phones and Blackberries don't work so you can truly relax. (It can be hard to unhook from the cell phone/Blackberry addiction! but worth it.)
If you have young children, vacations with them can be exhausting. That is not the kind of vacation that relaxes! Young families need to take two vacations, one with the family and one for the parents alone.
As a Grandmother I am always delighted to be asked to baby sit while my daughter and son-in law go on vacation. I once went to Disney World with the whole family so they could have time with each other and I could watch the children. If you have this option, you get a rest and please your parents too.
For my vacation this year, I participated in the Berkshire Choral Festival. I enjoy vacations where I do something I don't get enough of during the year. For me that is singing. I spent a week learning and rehearsing "Carmina Burana" and then with a group of other singers we performed it on July 19th for an audience. Both the rehearsal and the performance were an absolutely exhilarating experiences. I'm planning to do it again next year.
Whether you like adventurous vacations, learning vacations, traveling vacations or just sitting by the pool vacations, it is important to change your environment once or twice a year and just have some fun. (What is all that work for?) Where you go or what you do isn't as important as just enjoying yourself and letting go for a bit. If you haven't scheduled your vacation yet, do it today.
Take Action
1. Vacations don't have to be exotic. How many of us have gone abroad but never visited the interesting places tourists from other countries visit near our own home. Make a list of the places close by that you have always wanted to visit and plan your vacation around them.
2. Are you an email junkie even on vacation? Start to think about ways to cut down on checking even when you are not on vacation. It wastes time anyway. Make a list of things you can do to eliminate a lot of email while you are on vacation and implement your ideas before vacation.
Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.
A recent New York Times article by Alina Tugend entitled "Vacations Are Good For You, Medically Speaking" makes the point that recent studies show that vacations are necessary for good health. The article sites two different health studies (one with females and the other males) that showed a high percentage of coronary problems occur for those who do not vacation regularly.
A vacation gives you time to unwind. It allows you to de-stress and relax. There is research evidence you sleep better during and after your vacation. I have always been amazed that the feeling of relaxed vacation calmness lasts for a few days when I return.
By the way for those who carry cell phones and Blackberries to check on work back at the office on their vacation, there have been studies to show that you are less likely to receive the benefits of vacation according to the NY Times article.
So if you didn't take your vacation yet, now is the time to do it. If you are the type to check in with the office, find a place where cell phones and Blackberries don't work so you can truly relax. (It can be hard to unhook from the cell phone/Blackberry addiction! but worth it.)
If you have young children, vacations with them can be exhausting. That is not the kind of vacation that relaxes! Young families need to take two vacations, one with the family and one for the parents alone.
As a Grandmother I am always delighted to be asked to baby sit while my daughter and son-in law go on vacation. I once went to Disney World with the whole family so they could have time with each other and I could watch the children. If you have this option, you get a rest and please your parents too.
For my vacation this year, I participated in the Berkshire Choral Festival. I enjoy vacations where I do something I don't get enough of during the year. For me that is singing. I spent a week learning and rehearsing "Carmina Burana" and then with a group of other singers we performed it on July 19th for an audience. Both the rehearsal and the performance were an absolutely exhilarating experiences. I'm planning to do it again next year.
Whether you like adventurous vacations, learning vacations, traveling vacations or just sitting by the pool vacations, it is important to change your environment once or twice a year and just have some fun. (What is all that work for?) Where you go or what you do isn't as important as just enjoying yourself and letting go for a bit. If you haven't scheduled your vacation yet, do it today.
Take Action
1. Vacations don't have to be exotic. How many of us have gone abroad but never visited the interesting places tourists from other countries visit near our own home. Make a list of the places close by that you have always wanted to visit and plan your vacation around them.
2. Are you an email junkie even on vacation? Start to think about ways to cut down on checking even when you are not on vacation. It wastes time anyway. Make a list of things you can do to eliminate a lot of email while you are on vacation and implement your ideas before vacation.
Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.
Time Management Strategies to Improve Your Career Prospects
Using an activity based formula to measure how much time you spend on certain tasks each week can help you manage this time more effectively.
If you're spending too much time in one area, but not enough in others, you may have to take work home with you in the evenings or you may have to work on the weekend just to catch up. If this occurs often, taking a look at how you spend your time at work and tracking it for a month or longer can help you determine the best ways to make changes.
Your formula can be as simple as adding up all the time you spend during the day on individual tasks.
Monitor Your Time
Creating a list of daily tasks and measuring how long it takes to complete these tasks is one way to determine ways to save time. Once you've determined how long it takes to complete your list, you can begin looking for ways to shorten these amounts or ways to combine tasks so they take less time overall.
Combining tasks is an easy way to manage your time. Different from multi-tasking, which involves completing two or more tasks at the same time that may or may not be similar, combining similar tasks such as returning phone calls and making reservations for meeting rooms can be completed within the same chunk of time. Reviewing a presentation and choosing graphics for the presentation are similar tasks you can accomplish at the same time as well.
Determine Tasks that Take Longer to Complete than Others
After you determine which tasks take the longest to complete, schedule enough time during the day to complete them so you don't have to add them to your list for the next day. Depending on your schedule, you may have less to do on some days than on other days. On light days, schedule tasks that take longer to complete.
Schedule Regular Break Times
Scheduling regular break times throughout the day can help you develop a routine and prevent you from taking additional breaks that take away from your productivity. If you plan on sitting in front of your computer for most of the day, taking a short five minute break every two hours allows your body to relax and your mind to reenergize.
Delegate Your Responsibilities
If you find that too much of your time is spent making copies, updating your calendar or organizing files, try to delegate this work to another person. If you have an assistant, use them as much as possible. If your department shares an assistant, ask them when they have the time to make copies of reports and other documents. This will help you manage your time and give other people work that will keep them busy during the day as well.
Review Your Formula
If you receive a promotion or are given extra tasks, you may need to revisit your formula to include these new items. You may need to find other ways to manage your time in order to complete all tasks during they day. Monitoring your time at least two times during the year is a great way to see how you use your time and where improvements can be made.
Sharon Alexander - Claim That Job.com
For more career management information and to get a free job hunting report, visit Claim That Job.com
If you're spending too much time in one area, but not enough in others, you may have to take work home with you in the evenings or you may have to work on the weekend just to catch up. If this occurs often, taking a look at how you spend your time at work and tracking it for a month or longer can help you determine the best ways to make changes.
Your formula can be as simple as adding up all the time you spend during the day on individual tasks.
Monitor Your Time
Creating a list of daily tasks and measuring how long it takes to complete these tasks is one way to determine ways to save time. Once you've determined how long it takes to complete your list, you can begin looking for ways to shorten these amounts or ways to combine tasks so they take less time overall.
Combining tasks is an easy way to manage your time. Different from multi-tasking, which involves completing two or more tasks at the same time that may or may not be similar, combining similar tasks such as returning phone calls and making reservations for meeting rooms can be completed within the same chunk of time. Reviewing a presentation and choosing graphics for the presentation are similar tasks you can accomplish at the same time as well.
Determine Tasks that Take Longer to Complete than Others
After you determine which tasks take the longest to complete, schedule enough time during the day to complete them so you don't have to add them to your list for the next day. Depending on your schedule, you may have less to do on some days than on other days. On light days, schedule tasks that take longer to complete.
Schedule Regular Break Times
Scheduling regular break times throughout the day can help you develop a routine and prevent you from taking additional breaks that take away from your productivity. If you plan on sitting in front of your computer for most of the day, taking a short five minute break every two hours allows your body to relax and your mind to reenergize.
Delegate Your Responsibilities
If you find that too much of your time is spent making copies, updating your calendar or organizing files, try to delegate this work to another person. If you have an assistant, use them as much as possible. If your department shares an assistant, ask them when they have the time to make copies of reports and other documents. This will help you manage your time and give other people work that will keep them busy during the day as well.
Review Your Formula
If you receive a promotion or are given extra tasks, you may need to revisit your formula to include these new items. You may need to find other ways to manage your time in order to complete all tasks during they day. Monitoring your time at least two times during the year is a great way to see how you use your time and where improvements can be made.
Sharon Alexander - Claim That Job.com
For more career management information and to get a free job hunting report, visit Claim That Job.com
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