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May 12, 2022in From the Web by

Eight Financial Tips for Startups

Home Business Magazine Online

As a startup business, it is vital that you are smart with your finances. Many startups fail within the first few years because they run into cash flow problems. This means that many of these companies fold before they really had a chance to succeed. Therefore, you need to be smart with your finances so that you stay afloat during the challenging early period and achieve early success. There are a few useful financial tips for startups to keep in mind that make all the difference in improving your bottom line. Read on to find out more.

1. Calculate Startup Costs

First, you need to have a firm figure in mind for how much money you need to get the business up and running to a high standard. You do not want to start a business without enough money, as it makes it hard to achieve success because you can run into money issues before long. Determine what your startup and ongoing costs are. Then, wait until you secured this amount before getting started.

2. Find the Best Funding Option

Continuing on, you have a number of choices when it comes to funding your startup. You need to weigh up the pros and cons to find the best option for you. You can also combine a few funding options together to hit your target. The main options to look into include:

Personal savings
Loans from friends and family
Bank loans
Crowdfunding
Angel investors
Venture capitalists
Grants

3. Use Accounting Software

You need to stay on top of your accounts from day one to both manage your finances and pay your taxes accurately. These days, using accounting software is often the best way to do this and can be more affordable than hiring an accountant. Choose high-quality accounting software and make sure that you keep your financial records up to date at all times.

4. Find Cheap Office Equipment Online

It costs a lot of money to get a business set up, especially when it comes to tech, equipment, and IT. Fortunately, you can always make savings by shopping around online. You can easily find cheap office printers online from the major brands. This means that you are not sacrificing quality but are still able to make savings on your startup costs.

5. Keep It Simple

When starting a new business, you need to keep it simple and basic. You need to be able to offer quality so that you succeed, but you need to do this in the most fundamental and affordable manner possible. Once your business starts to succeed, you then make upgrades and improvements to your business and operation.

6. Start Remotely

Following from the previous financial tips for startups, if you are able to, it is a good idea to start your business remotely. This allows you to forego paying for a commercial space (a major cost), plus you hire people regardless of their location. Later, you could lease office space if required, but these days, many businesses operate entirely online. This helps you to make big savings over the long term.

7. Outsource Instead of Hire

When it comes to staffing your business, only hire when necessary. Many tasks and entire departments can be outsourced. This is much more cost-effective than paying a full-time salary and other employee costs. These days, it is easy to find individuals and organizations to outsource, which saves money, gets the work completed by specialists, and frees up time and energy for you to focus on other areas.

8. Build an Emergency Fund

Finally, it is important to have an emergency fund in place in case you encounter any difficulties along the way. As COVID-19 proved, the unexpected happens. Businesses that have an emergency fund to keep them afloat for a few months are well-prepared to deal with whatever comes their way. In addition to financial protection, this also provides peace of mind.

Hopefully, these financial tips for startups come in handy and help you to be smart with your financial management as a new business. Cash flow problems often cause a business to fold before it has a chance to succeed. Therefore, you want to avoid this at all costs and be smart with your financial management.

The post Eight Financial Tips for Startups appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Author: Editor

May 12, 2022in From the Web by

13 Ways To Set Boundaries At Work When Working Remotely

Why is it that setting boundaries at work is so hard? Are we afraid we’ll get in trouble or lose our job? Or are we worried about what others will think of us if we create and stick to our boundaries?

On the flip side, what happens if we don’t create boundaries? We can get overwhelmed, burnt out, and put everyone else’s needs before our own, which may mean saying a lot of “no’s” to things we actually want. This may be especially hard if you’re working remotely or at home.

How to Set Boundaries At Work When Working Remotely

As hard as they are to set, boundaries at work is crucial to our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The good news is, with the right steps and practice, it gets easier.

So, what are those steps?

Here are 13 ways to set boundaries at work when working remotely.

1. Have Strong Motivating Reasons Behind Creating Boundaries

What could you do differently if you had more time and energy in your day? How would it feel? Would you get to spend more time with the people you love or try new or fun activities?

Find a reason or two that will compel you to create and maintain boundaries, something that’s worth the effort. Having a strong motivation to do something helps us push ourselves to work harder for that goal. Strengthening our motivation makes us more resilient and strive harder to accomplish what we want to do, such as making plans, developing our talents, and even creating boundaries.^[1]

When you work remotely, sometimes you can feel like you’re not working enough or doing enough. Creating boundaries also means knowing when to clock out and enjoy life after the workday is done.

2. Identify Any Fears or Beliefs You Have Around Boundaries

One of the primary reasons we aren’t good at setting boundaries at work is because we’re afraid of the consequences: losing our job, missing out, hurting someone’s feelings, etc.

For this step, list all of the fears or beliefs you have around boundaries, and then rate them as to how rationale they are. For example, will you actually get fired if you don’t immediately respond to your boss’s email after working hours? Or is that just a story you tell yourself?

Note any realistic or rational beliefs that could be detrimental to you, as you may need to tweak the upcoming strategies to adjust for them. As you’re working remotely, plan a weekly check-in with your boss or team to ensure everyone’s feelings are being heard and needs are being met.

3. Create Your Ideal Schedule

One of the perks of working remotely is creating routines around your work schedule. If you could create your ideal schedule, what would that look like? How does it fit within your working hours? Does it align?

Setting boundaries also mean carving out time for lunch breaks. Although working from home can tempt you to bring your meals to the desk, remember to ask yourself if this is something you would do if you were in the office.

Carve out meal times, meditation sessions, or even a quick workout throughout your day. Creating boundaries also means taking care of your physical and mental health.

4. Block Off Your Calendar to Align With Your Ideal Schedule

Taking your ideal work schedule, update your calendar to reflect it.

Block off the times you don’t want to be available. This removes the chance of someone booking you for a meeting during your “off hours” without checking with you first for permission.

If someone does book you during your blocked time, kindly remind them that you’re not available and ask them to reschedule for when you are.

5. List the Top 5 Priorities in Your Life, Personally and Professionally

Take a moment and think of the five most important things to you at this moment.

The next time you get a work request, take a moment before responding to check it against your priorities. If it aligns, great. If not, go back to the person and see if another solution could be worked out.

A yes to something is always a no to something else.

6. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

It can be harder to communicate in a remote world, so this step is especially important. The last thing you want is to have your boundaries get you in trouble.

So often, it’s not that you have a boundary that annoys your coworker, it’s that your coworker didn’t know where you were or the status of a certain task or item.

If you’re logging off during the day, let your team know how long you’ll be unavailable and when you’re expected to return. Whether you need to step outside to clear your head or have an emergency come up, sending your manager or team a quick message can ease workplace tensions or miscommunication.

7. Have a Buddy System

Depending on the industry, some people may have urgent requests come in that need to be handled. In this case, see if there’s a buddy system that can be put in place.

Creating boundaries is assessing how much work you can handle without jeopardizing your personal and mental health. With a buddy system, you’ll encourage and help one another if either person’s plates are too full.

Communication is also key.

8. Say No

Why is saying no so hard?

Because this is where all those fears and beliefs could become true—the keyword here being “could.”

One way to work on this fear is to practice saying no. Start with something small and gradually work your way up. Over time, it will become easier, and soon you’ll have a reputation for sticking to your boundaries, a quality many will admire about you.

Remember, when you say no to someone or something, you’re saying yes to something else—something likely on your priority list that will fill up your cup.

9. Set an Example

Boundaries are admirable and something we desire in other people.

Sometimes it’s about mirroring those traits and implementing them yourself. Have an open conversation with your boss or project leader on the different ways of setting boundaries as a remote team.

Most of the time, employees need examples and are prone to following their manager’s lead. Creating healthy boundaries together can lead to more engaged and happy employees as a result.

10. Delegate

In addition to saying no, delegating tasks to other team members is another challenge people may have, especially when working remotely.

I get it. Everyone has a lot on their plates, and working from home makes it harder to understand everyone’s workload.

A feeling that may come up when delegating tasks may include feeling guilty for potentially adding to someone else’s plate. Pick a few items to delegate to your team, especially if it works better for operation.

Also, don’t decide what a team member can or can’t handle. That’s on them and their ability to stick to their boundaries and communicate otherwise.

11. Ask for Help

Following the advice above, if you’re finding your workload too heavy to manage or that all your deliverables are due at the same time, ask for help. Sometimes while working remotely, we tend to take on more than we’re able to handle.

Your manager and the leadership team are paid the big bucks for a reason—to help their employees problem-solve. Meet them halfway by tracking your tasks and seeing how much time a single task or project may take.

Managers can then better prioritize your workload, adjust deadlines, or take some items off your plate.

12. Turn Off Work at the End of the Day

Working remotely has made it hard to turn off work at the end of the day.

Part of creating boundaries includes saying “yes” to you. Close and put away your computer. Turn off work notifications on your phone.

Imagine plugging your phone to charge, yet disconnecting it every five minutes; the battery is not going to fully charge. Our minds and bodies work the same way. We need to disconnect from work to re-energize and also enjoy the world outside.

13. Evaluate and Tweak

Just like how new products go through numerous iterations, so can our strategies and plans.

Test out some boundaries to see what works. Tweak any that don’t feel right and then test again.

The last thing working remotely should trigger is anxiety or burnout. Find a system that works for you and ask your coworkers how they manage their work boundaries.

Final Thoughts

Setting boundaries at work is hard, especially in a remote world when we feel that we should be more readily available. But it is also essential to look after our well-being.

What’s key is setting and sticking to boundaries that benefit you and identifying any obstacles along the way. Don’t forget to communicate your work and personal needs, and tweak as you go.

Featured photo credit: Surface via unsplash.com

Reference

[1]

Positive Psychology: The Vital Importance and Benefits of Motivation

The post 13 Ways To Set Boundaries At Work When Working Remotely appeared first on Lifehack.

Author: Shannon Talbot

May 12, 2022in From the Web by

How to Raise Happy Kids in a World Full of Uncertainty

If you are raising kids today, chances are you remember what it was like to spend your childhood free of technology, rewinding cassette tapes, talking face to face with friends, asking your parents for a ride, and agreeing on a pickup time because there were no cell phones.

While it may have seemed easier back then, there were still challenges. War, violence, inequalities, and bullying existed back then, too. Everything always seems easier looking back, and we often forget the difficult parts.

Raising kids in a world of uncertainty presents new challenges that require thoughtful planning but also provides a unique opportunity to bring families back together and make your home a safe haven for your loved ones. Keeping kids happy has little to do with what we are giving them and everything to do with the time we are spending together.

While life may have gotten more complicated, we have more tools and awareness than ever before to overcome obstacles and support our children’s emotional development rather than sweep their emotions under the rug. It is an opportunity to evolve emotionally, grow in spirituality, and heal our families. Growth doesn’t happen without struggles.

While we live in an era where overpacked schedules, technology, and social media are commonplace, many families are looking to slow down and reconnect. Here are 10 simple ideas to make raising kids in a world of uncertainty less stressful.

1. Accept and Validate Your Children’s Emotions

Accept and validate any emotions your children are experiencing. When you are upset and a well-meaning family member tells you to relax, how does it make you feel? Usually not any better!

If your child is feeling anxious about going to school, it won’t take those emotions away by telling them that they are okay or to not worry. What we can do is try to understand why they are feeling that way and then arrange for a confidence-boosting activity or one-on-one time during breakfast to help them feel secure and loved.

Resist the urge to tell them not to feel this way (this can be difficult!) even if you know they have nothing to be worried about. Share a time when you felt the same way and how you got through it.

2. Be Their Safe Zone

This is not about having the perfect family or home situation or being a pushover. Being their safe zone means your child can be themselves in their home without judgment. This one may require all siblings to be on board.

If they have an unusual hobby, ask them what interests them about it or how they feel when they are working on it. This benefits the whole family and encourages everyone to leave their stress outside and lead with their heart.

Give them some responsibility in the home to contribute that is not tied to an allowance or reward. If there are changes in your family or living arrangements, keep kids in the loop. They generally want to know how any changes will impact them. Keeping as much structure and predictability as possible will comfort them.

3. Limit Social Media and Stick to Your Technology Comfort Zone

Children are attracted to technology like a magnet. How do you feel after scrolling on your phone? Most would say not any better, but our children often lack the self-awareness to know when something is not making them feel good.

Don’t feel bad when your kids get upset with whatever rules you put in place. We have heard from countless kids that say they are happy their parents limit their social media and technology time. Although they may not admit it now, someday they will thank you!

4. Keep Connected With Centering Activities

Children and teens often need guidance to get out of their own heads. Family walks, yoga, church, and mindfulness activities are all great ways to connect and rebalance.

Mindfulness sounds more complicated than it is. It is doing anything using your full attention, and the benefits are vast. Art, cooking, listening to music, essential oil diffusers, and game night are just a few ideas to bring mindfulness and calm into your family time.

There are countless activities your family can do together to benefit from this practice. Consider theme nights where each family member gets a night to pick an activity for the family.

5. Get Involved Locally

What are some ways you can volunteer in your community as a family? Are there any neighbors that could use a hand? Check out school clubs.

While your child might not jump at the chance to join a school activist club, urge them to give it a try. They might just take interest in something new!

6. Help Your Family Develop a Growth Mindset

Not every day will be sunshine and roses, and it is not in our children’s best interest to make it that way. Mistakes are essential for growth. Challenges are needed to instill grit and determination.

Parents who praise their toddlers’ efforts instead of their talent were shown to have more positive mindsets five years later. These children believed their abilities could develop and improve with hard work.^[1]

Comment on effort and perseverance, rather than a perfect result. Instead of them relying on outside praise, help them notice how their effort made them feel.

How did it feel to keep going and figure that math problem out? What did you do when things got challenging? Are you proud of the result?

While no parent wants their child to suffer, sometimes it’s best to allow them to work through an issue themselves, knowing they have your love and support.

7. Guard Family Time

As our kids get closer to adolescence, they may show a preference to be with friends instead of at home. Try to guard at least one or two days a week for family time.

Again, no matter what they say now, they will thank you later. Take advantage of that time together to connect and do something fun like game or movie night, cook dinner together, or take turns picking an activity.

8. Help Your Children Take Charge of Their Well-Being

Help your child develop the skills to take charge of their well-being. Living in a world where our external environment is not always peaceful or within our control, it is essential to teach kids to take ownership of their inner world.

While every child is different, it is vital to help them explore activities that develop confidence and make them feel good. Sports, the arts, journaling, yoga, and meditation are just a handful of engaging options to help them find empowerment.

9. Resist Overscheduling

It is amazing that the word “no” is circling back into our vocabulary.

Kids will say yes to every activity if they could. It’s up to parents to limit commitments. Even too many fun activities in a week contribute to stress and burnout.

10. Develop a Morning Routine

Whether your children are at home or heading to school, our morning sets the tone for the day.

What would be a reasonable routine for your family? Fifteen minutes can make all the difference in the world to set your kids and yourself up for a great day.

Here are a few ideas:

Affirmations – Work with your child to create a meaningful affirmation. Encourage them to say their affirmation with feelings and close their eyes and visualize what it feels like. Discuss how they will apply this in their day.
Morning dance party – Pick an uplifting song to start your day.
Prayer or gratitude practice – This instills hope and reminds your child that they are not alone. Our brain has a negativity bias, which means we tend to focus on problems rather than good things.^[2] It is helpful to make it a practice to notice the good. There is a lot more of it than we think!
Conversation starters – Grab a deck of conversation starters and do one each morning at breakfast.

Finally, know when to get help. Having professional support to navigate challenging situations can make all the difference so that you and your children have someone to guide you.

Final Thoughts

Raising kids in a world of uncertainty certainly poses new challenges that we need to be mindful of. However, it also presents a unique opportunity to reclaim family time and create a home environment that is supportive and welcoming.

What changes can you make to your weekly routine to reconnect or fill each other’s emotional buckets? You may hear some grumbling as you make adjustments, but your kids will thank you later!

Featured photo credit: Robert Collins via unsplash.com

Reference

[1]	^	Harvard Graduate School of Education: Growth Mindset and Children’s Health
[2]	^	verywellmind: What Is the Negativity Bias?

The post How to Raise Happy Kids in a World Full of Uncertainty appeared first on Lifehack.

Author: Stephanie Cantu

May 11, 2022in From the Web by

Six Most Popular Programming Languages in 2022

Home Business Magazine Online

As a software developer, one should be aware of the most sought-after programming languages to pick the right ones. Some are currently the most marketable languages, while others are on the rise in popularity and have a bright future. This article based its research on both factors and concludes with the following languages:

1. Javascript

JavaScript is used for:

Mobile apps
Web development
Game development
Building web servers

A survey conducted by Stack Overflow reveals that JavaScript is the most common language, with 69.7% usage. In addition, it is the most in-demand language by employers in the Americas.

JavaScript allows programmers to create animated graphics, buttons, and interactive maps. Together with HTML and CSS, it gives programmers more website control and creates a user-friendly website.

In addition to these uses, its easy-to-learn nature as a programming language made it the most common language. Its popularity shows in online academies offering JavaScript courses and packages.

2. Python

Python’s areas of application:

Data science
App development
Backend development

Python allows programmers to create programs using functional, reflective, and object-oriented programming. Some popular apps and platforms, such as YouTube and Google, were coded using Python.

It also coded 2D imaging and 3D animation packages such as Blender, Autodesk, and Inkscape. Additionally, video game developers use it to create games. Python is also a good backend language for betting software and bots.

According to HackerRank, it is the second most sought-after language by employers in the Americas. More than half of the employers prefer programmers with proficient knowledge of Python. Therefore, Python is a programming language worth learning in 2022.

3. HTML

HTML in full means HyperText Markup Language. It formats how information on a website displays. Its main purpose is to develop and design a website, and it differs from the other programming languages in terms of functionality.

It is an easy yet vital language to learn if you want success as a programmer. According to Stack Overflow, it is the second most used language alongside CSS.

4. Java

This programming language with an object-oriented structure writes applications on all operating systems. Therefore, it runs on all platforms, whether mainframe data centers or smartphones.

Its application areas are web development, app development, and big data. In addition, it is the backend language of reputable websites such as Google, Twitter, and Amazon. Java is also used to develop many applications.

Java is more challenging than most programming languages but still is in high demand. Therefore, java programmers created an online community to help each other learn the language. According to TIOBE, Java ranks third on the list of popular coding languages.

5. R

The primary purpose of R is to calculate statistics, draw statistical graphs and report the data. Luckily, this software is free. These factors make it the go-to language for statisticians and data miners when analyzing data. Statistical software also has its codes written in R.

R runs on several operating systems such as UNIX, Windows, and macOS. According to Purdue, it ranks at position 14 in terms of popularity. The estimated annual salary of an R programmer is $93,000. However, it has a flipside that lacks strict programming rules, unlike other programming languages.

6. SQL

Unlike other programming languages featured in this list, SQL is instead a query language. From this nature is why it draws the name structured query language. It became the preferred language by database administrators to query and manipulate data in the database.

Database administrators also use it to write queries in the database management system. When used with other programming languages, SQL allows foreign software to retrieve data in the database.

Conclusion

Out of the many available programming languages, the above are worthy of learning. Whether you want to begin programming as a career or diversify your expertise, these languages suit your transition. Online sites offer courses depending on the mastery of the programming languages you intend to learn.

The post Six Most Popular Programming Languages in 2022 appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Author: Editor

May 11, 2022in From the Web by

Four Sports Statistics You Need to Know

Home Business Magazine Online

If you want to be a better sports fan, you need to start thinking like one. One way to think like a sports fan is by understanding the statistics that cover all levels of professional, college, and youth sports. There are so many statistics out there. So, it is often overwhelming for people who don’t have a background in math or don’t use a sports statistics platform. The good news is the four sports statistics below provide insights into the game’s important players, teams, and scores.

Field Goal Percentage

When studying odds and stats widgets, pay attention to goal percentage statistics. Goal percentage is a statistic that measures the success rate of an athlete in making a field goal. This calculates dividing the amount of successful field goals from the total amount of attempted field goals.

Field goal percentage is important in many sports which use field goals, such as basketball, football, and soccer. It is also important for other sports where players throw or kick objects at goals.

Field goal percentage is one of the most important statistics for athletes in sports using field goals. Many teams and coaches try to improve their team’s field goal percentage by practicing more or getting better players.

Free Throw Percentage

The free throw percentage is a simple statistic to understand. It is the number of free throws that a player makes divided by the total number of free throws he attempts. For example, if a player takes 100 free throws and makes 60 of them, his free throw percentage is 60%. This means that he makes 60% of his total shots while shooting from the line.

The statistic goes up or down depending on how many free throws the player makes. If a player misses two shots out of three attempts, the free throw percentage goes down by one point/ This is because one out of three missed shots are not made.

In most cases, a player’s free throw percentage is higher than his field goal percentage. This is because there are fewer defensive players on the court during free throws. The only person defending during free throws is the opposing team’s center (or sometimes power forward).

Since centers tend to be taller than other players, it is more difficult for them to block shots from smaller guards and forwards taking the shot.

Rebounds

Rebounds in basketball are somewhat unique among sports statistics. They are not necessarily a measure of how good a player is at any one thing, like assists or points. Instead, they are a measure of how much a player is involved in the game.

A player’s ability to grab rebounds does not necessarily say anything about his skillset or athleticism. It just indicates that he uses those attributes to stay engaged with the game.

Rebounds are awarded when a player on either team successfully prevents the ball from hitting the ground after a missed shot. The ball then hands off to that player’s team where they try shooting again.

It is also possible to get offensive rebounds. These occur when one scores a basket right after getting the rebound without passing it to another teammate first. The related statistic is called offensive rebounds per game.

Assists

Assists, or “dishes,” are statistics awarded to players that directly contribute to a goal. Much like hockey, where an assist is awarded for a pass that leads to a goal, the same goes for soccer. The player who passes the ball which leads to a goal is credited with an assist only if the player receiving the pass, then shoots the ball into the goal.

If the player receiving said pass proceeds to score after more than two touches, no assist is awarded. Lastly, if there is any doubt about whether a pass leads directly to a goal, there is no assist credited.

Sports statistics are extremely informative and entertaining. There are dozens of different kinds to learn about, and they all paint a picture of what happened in a particular game or tournament.

The post Four Sports Statistics You Need to Know appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Author: Editor

May 11, 2022in From the Web by

Boutique Explorer Founder Andres Zuleta Shares Top Tips for a Stress-Free Business Trip & More

Home Business Magazine Online

Andres Zuleta is an esteemed entrepreneur who is making waves in the travel industry. He is the founder of Boutique Explorer, a company that plans unique and beautiful travel experiences in Mexico, Colombia, and beyond. Boutique Explorer plans private custom trips with a culinary and cultural focus. Their unique itineraries are perfect for unpretentious travelers who seek off-the-beaten-path experiences, love food, and appreciate local style — with just the right amount of luxury.

Recognized as a top travel specialist by Condé Nast Traveler, Zuleta has spent years living in Japan and enjoyed long-term stays in locations including Medellin, Oaxaca, Chiang Mai, Havana, and Lisbon. Home Business Magazine recently had the opportunity to chat with him all about his business. He was happy to share insight on his entrepreneurial journey, his top tips for a smooth and stress-free business trip, and more!

HBM: Tell us about Boutique Explorer. What is your company all about?

AZ: “Boutique Explorer offers private luxury trips around the world. We work primarily with couples and families (but also solo travelers and small groups of friends) to plan completely customized trips to countries in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Our trips tend to have a cultural and culinary focus, but since each itinerary is completely customized (based on traveler interests and priorities), every single trip is unique. This year so far we have planned trips for clients to Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Spain, Greece, Italy, Peru, Ecuador, Portugal, and Scandinavia, among others.”

HBM: How did you come up with the idea for Boutique Explorer?

AZ: “The idea came about organically thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. I’ve run a company called Boutique Japan since 2013, but because of COVID-19, we were inspired to pivot. I had personal and professional experience in planning trips to other countries (in addition to Japan), and so did some of my employees. Plus, thanks to our collective decades of experience in the travel industry, we already had a wide-ranging network of trusted contacts in a number of countries around the world.

We had no idea how the COVID-19 situation would evolve, and Japan ended up being one of the last countries in the world to reopen to tourists. So we are very fortunate that we spent so much of our time during the pandemic developing Boutique Explorer. It’s been a huge focus for us over the past couple of years.”

Boutique Explorer Homepage — The Boutique Explorer homepage.

HBM: How do you stay productive each day?

AZ: “It fortunately feels easy to stay productive, as I love the process of working on and constantly developing the business. Since I know my most productive hours tend to be in the morning, I follow my natural rhythm and do my best to prioritize deep work in the mornings (this being said, it can take a little while for the coffee to kick in, so I often begin with a few easy tasks or emails).

At the end of each day, I always go through my tasks and priorities for the following day, so that when I start tomorrow I already know what to prioritize.”

HBM: What are your top 5 tips for a smooth and stress-free business trip?

AZ: “While we specialize in leisure travel at Boutique Explorer, I take several business trips a year and these are my top 5 tips for a smooth and stress-free itinerary:

1. Less time, more structure. To make the most of my time, I typically plan short but highly efficient business trips. For example, I’ll often go to Mexico City for just 2 days, or Tokyo for 4 days. I find that with less time, I’m able to achieve more with less energy. To make this happen, I organize my days strategically, usually scheduling meetings for each meal (for example, a breakfast or coffee meeting, a lunch meeting, and a dinner networking session). This makes my trips extremely productive, and I still have some time in between to rest, exercise, or catch up on other work.

2. Book comfortable accommodations. You might be tempted to just book budget accommodations. After all, you won’t be spending much time there. But personally I find it’s so much more restful to stay somewhere comfortable (whether it’s a hotel or Airbnb). This way it’s also a treat to head back to the hotel to recharge in between meetings. Obviously, location is essential, too, to save time and energy shuffling back and forth!

3. Book pleasant flights. What’s the point in exhausting yourself with various connections and layovers, if it will cause you to be less fresh for your business trip? I always go for nonstop flights when possible, to minimize travel time and maximize my own time and energy, even if it costs a bit more. It’s a worthwhile investment.

4. Enjoy yourself. Since I’m in the travel industry, my business trips are intrinsically enjoyable: I’m usually meeting guides and local experts, checking out hotels and restaurants, and exploring cities, all for research. Even so, I find it valuable to break up meetings with other fun activities, whether seeing friends where possible, splurging on a massage, or doing something else to take a break from pure business.

5. Plan, plan, plan. I’m a planner by nature and profession, and admittedly the logistics are part of the fun for me. I don’t mind winging certain things, but for the most part I find it essential to have a really organized itinerary. It’s nice to have some unstructured windows of time, but for maximum impact I keep these to a minimum during business trips. I usually end my trips pretty tired but fulfilled!”

For more info about Boutique Explorer, visit boutiqueexplorer.com.

The post Boutique Explorer Founder Andres Zuleta Shares Top Tips for a Stress-Free Business Trip & More appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Author: Editor

May 11, 2022in From the Web by

7 Ways To Cope When Adult Friendships End And Move On

Breaking up with friends is hard. Sometimes, it can be because you are both different people and are growing in different directions, or it can be something darker like they are a toxic influence on you. Whatever the reason, sometimes adult friendships need to end and it can be hard to know what to do, how to move forward, and move on.

Don’t underestimate the struggle of a friendship breakup. It can be just as painful as a romantic breakup, and you shouldn’t fall into the trap of pretending it isn’t as painful as it is. We can often trust our friends more than anyone, which means it can feel even more devastating when the relationship ends.

However, like all breakups, it isn’t the end of the world. You will heal, you will feel better, you will move on in time, and you will find more friends. But while you are processing this, there are things that you can do to help you cope when an adult friendship ends.

Here are seven ways to cope when adult friendships end and move on:

1. Remind Yourself That People Come and Go for a Reason

Life is not linear. You may meet someone and it may go well, but that doesn’t mean you are supposed to be with them forever.

Not all people are supposed to be in your life. Sometimes, they come into your life for a reason and leave when the lesson is learned.

There is great peace in thinking that people come in phases and when their time is up, they move on. There is no rhyme or reason, no right or wrong. It just is.

As you grow and change, so will your adult friendships, and letting go of the idea that you have to be best friends with everyone you have ever met in your life is incredibly freeing. You have lost a friend, and it is hard. But the reality is that now, there is more space in your life for someone else to come in.

2. Learn and Understand the Grieving Process

You have experienced a loss⁠—a breakup. Understanding and learning the grieving process can be exceedingly helpful if you feel the loss consuming you. You are grieving the loss of your friendship, and understanding why you go from denial to anger in a split second can help bring back control over what is happening to you.

Remember that grieving is not a linear process either. You can process emotionally in one area, like the loss of day-to-day chatting and contact, and then five months later, you may realize that another aspect of your friendship is over and the grieving process starts again.

It is a continuous cycle as the loss hits you in layers. There is nothing wrong with this. It is important to feel your feelings and process them.

Don’t pressure yourself to be immediately healed and happy and put on a good face for others. Take your time, process your emotions, and let them go.

3. Keep a Journal to Process Your Feelings

Breakups are messy, romantic or not. You will have to process a lot of feelings, and the best way to cope with the loss and pain is to get it out of your head and onto paper.

Get an app, journal, or even a standing weekly appointment with someone to talk to and process your feelings. Get them out of your head and into a safe space.

If they remain in your head, it is easy to obsess over them. It is like walking around with a book in front of your face. You keep re-reading the same page and get frustrated that you can’t see where you are going, and the story isn’t advancing. There is no closure.

Put the book down, and process your feelings. This is an incredibly important tool when dealing with feelings of anger, shame, loss, and pain. If you don’t process them, they will build up and you will explode at someone close to you and regret it.

Take five minutes when you feel overwhelmed, and just write out how you are feeling. Don’t be shy either—let it all out.

Your journal should be a safe space to express yourself unconditionally. There is no need to pull your punches. Get it all out.

4. Reach Out to Good Friends and Lean on Them

You have other adult friendships in your life. No matter who you have lost, there are others who will still be there for you.

There is a great Dr. Seuss quote that says, “those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

You are going through a loss, and one of those losses might be regular contact with a friend or someone to do things with daily. Most of the time, it will be habitual. You don’t have to let that habit go, just reach out to other people to attend events, hang out, or chat with you.

If you need to talk to someone, reach out and ask for help. It can be easy to reflexively push everyone away, but now is the most important time to lean on the people you trust.

5. Solidify Your Self-Care Routine

The first thing we neglect when dealing with an emotional upheaval is self-care. Make sure your self-care routine is unbreakable. The last thing you want is to spiral into depression or develop social anxiety.

Self-care is the easiest thing to forget, so make sure that your self-care routine is solid.

Things like eating nutritiously, drinking water, exercising three times a week, showering and keeping your environment clean, getting out into nature, speaking to yourself with kindness, and taking a mental health break are all a part of self-care.

Make sure you aren’t isolating yourself from your other friends. Reach out, ask for help, and take care of yourself. It is also a great way to keep your mind off the pain while you are processing.

6. Try New Things

Now is the best time to try something you always wanted to try and meet new people. There is so much in the world to discover and explore.

Pick a hobby you have always wanted to try, take a class, sign up for a course, or say yes the next time someone asks you to join them in one of their hobbies. You will never know what will be your next favorite thing.

When we were children, we were always growing and trying. We had a new toy or hobby every year as we got older, and that shouldn’t stop because you are an adult. Try new things and embrace the childlike quality of being new at something and meeting different people.

Mixing things up can also help break the stuck mindset you may fall into when experiencing a loss. Process your feelings, but don’t let them stop you from living your life.

7. Show Yourself Kindness, Spend Time Learning About Yourself

At the end of the day, you have experienced loss. You are not a failure or unworthy, and you need to treat yourself with kindness.

Start with self-forgiveness. Take all the time you need, but forgive your friend for the end of the friendship and forgive yourself so you can move on. Now is a great time to spend some time learning about yourself and reflect on what you want in a friendship.

It is so easy to close yourself off, but you deserve to have a thriving and happy social life. This includes friendships. Take some time to work out what kind of people you want to surround yourself with and build stronger friendships with them.

Final Thoughts

Moving on from a friendship breakup is a process, but you will recover. You will move on. It is just a matter of time, self-care, and spending quality time with yourself and others who are also in your life.

Let go of the blame and release the pressure you have on yourself, while surrendering the need to control the outcome. You have no control over their choices. You only have control over yourself and the ability to find joy and happiness in your life.

Take care of yourself, learn more about you, and find the people who truly matter in your life. While one adult friendship may come to an end, there are many other opportunities to foster connections and build new relationships in your life.

Featured photo credit: Priscilla Du Preez via unsplash.com

The post 7 Ways To Cope When Adult Friendships End And Move On appeared first on Lifehack.

Author: Jade Nyx

May 11, 2022in From the Web by

Why a Remote Workspace Will Set You Up For Career Success

It’s no secret that space has a profound impact on our productivity and many other aspects of our lives. Research shows that those who have control over the layout of their workspace are not only happier and healthier but also up to 32% more productive.^[1]

Now, remote workspaces have become part of the new normal for many of us. Therefore, it’s more important than ever to pay attention and arrange it according to one’s individual needs.

In my practice as a productivity specialist, I like to present my clients with a “to-don’t” checklist. And one of the first points that I follow up on is regarding the environment we work in since it is one of the main productivity fundamentals.

But with this freedom of choice for remote office space comes great responsibility. Following our own unique ideas, needs, and wants in a remote work setup gives us the pleasure of easing into the “work mode” much more effortlessly, creating the opportunity to become much more productive and successful.

While we are in charge, we must understand what serves us best and what should be eliminated. Without further delay, here are several important aspects of why an inspiring remote workspace will set you up for career success and how to make it your reality.

1. It Creates Focused Action

While we might understand that productivity is defined not by how much we do but by the quality of actions we take, in an office environment, distractions may derail us from effective prioritizing.

However, with an at home work setup, we already can predict our distractions, therefore, eliminate them before they occur.

How?

Step back and analyze a bit. What takes your attention to wander away from the task? What do you think triggers you to get distracted?

While there are a lot of things that distract us every day, we are not without fault here. We are the ones letting ourselves get distracted thinking, “it will just be a minute,” turning out into another hour of wrong focus.

To tackle those nasty triggers that distract us from focused action, here is your 3-step system:

Step 1: Identify 5 Senses

Sound – chit chat, pets, white noise, music
Touch – chair, clothes, table
Sight – screen, wallpaper, environment, view
Smell – coffee, nature, scent
Taste – aftertaste, what you’re eating/chewing

Your work environment should be triggered by as less of those triggers as possible, so choose wisely. To do that, you must identify what distracts you most in terms of the five senses.

Step 2: Eliminate Your Options

If you have your phone or bag of peanuts on your working desk, you will likely get yourself distracted by one of them. To avoid that, put your phone somewhere else and hide peanuts so they are not in hand reach.

It is very easy to pick up your phone when you hear that “bing” sound whenever a new message comes in or when you see notifications on the screen popping up. You know your triggers best, so use that knowledge to your advantage.

Outside distractions hugely impact our work, but we tend to distract ourselves more than we should. So, keep focusing on your tasks and eliminate your options—it’s all in your hands.

Step 3: Set Boundaries

If a laptop is your main working gadget, you obviously can’t eliminate it from your distractions list. However, to keep yourself in focus, set boundaries to spend a certain amount of time on where you should not be spending time at all.

If you are taking a break from your work for ten minutes and start to watch Youtube videos about funny cats, it can drag much longer than just ten minutes (trust me, I know!). So, instead of continuously procrastinating, set boundaries.

For example, watch only two videos, or if you are allowing yourself to do it for five minutes, make sure to set a timer on it to keep yourself accountable and productive.

2. It Unleashes Creativity

Your remote workspace should be the most inviting, motivational, and inspiring place where you are in the zone to create.

You’re at-home work setup is a safe space for ideas to flow because you’ve created it to serve you. If the space makes you feel comfortable, it allows you to be the most productive you can be.

How?

Your work performance depends on your productivity flow. So, knowing your flow is crucial if you want to better your performance, level up, and work less without sabotaging your success.

We’ve all seen people leveling up in business by getting busier as a normal progression, but how about leveling up and actually working less? That can be achieved by using your productivity flow wisely.

Understanding your productivity flow starts with finding your peak window. That is the time when you are more productive, most focused, more energized, and more everything.

So, look back at your days and ask:

What is the best time for me to have team meetings?
What is the best time for me to work in my zone of genius?
What is the best time for me to take calls?
What is the best time for me to do interviews?

By knowing these answers to your important questions, you will get the most out of the actions you’re doing. Plus, you will create greater impact and feel more in alignment with your purpose.

But you have to do the work because I can’t answer those questions for you. To help you a bit, I can tell you from experience that usually, it is between two to four hours every day.

Knowing this, look at your schedule and notice your energy level change from task to task. After understanding your flow, all you have to do is to fill that window with appropriate tasks.

3. It Has Your Order of Things

Order is an extremely important aspect of productive work. Without order, we would be lost and have difficulty focusing, not to mention prioritizing and management of all things work-related.

How?

By taking the time to declutter and simplify your environment, you will be way on your way to better productivity. Your focus will increase and your mind will be clearer because there simply won’t be that many distractions.

A messy working desk is a reflection of a chaotic approach to work. That can impact your clarity, decision-making, and most of all, focus.

Where to Start and How Much Declutter?

Your work desk and laptop should be your priorities on this list. After all, this is where you spent most of your working hours. The next step is to maintain those areas clutter-free consistently and make sure you have a place for everything and everything in its place.

Everything that is keeping you stuck is clutter that you no longer need because it doesn’t serve you. Things you are not sure about are usually unnecessary as well. And remember that clutter stored away in the box somewhere deep in the closet is still clutter that takes your precious space.

Simplifying Always Works in Your Favor

Simplifying works in your favor because it saves you much precious time.

So, instead of putting folders into folders into folders, reevaluate your system (either electronic or physical). Is it simple enough for you to find things when you need them? Is your order of things serving you or making you work more?

BONUS: Declutter Questions to Help You Create a More Inspiring Workspace

While there might be more than just work-related stuff in your office space, it doesn’t mean that you need to get rid of everything leaving you with empty walls. It might not be easy to understand what should you get rid of at first.

Keep in mind that a cluttered space will keep you more distracted and serve as a trigger for unproductive action.

Whenever you are in doubt about what exactly is clutter, use the following five questions to simplify the process for yourself. By answering them you will get very clear very quickly on what stuff needs to leave your office space.

declutter questions

Improved Remote Workspace Research

A 2007 study found that the usual bland grey, beige, and white paint on office walls affected employees’ moods, causing feelings of sadness and even depression.^[2]

Another research showed that the temperature, lighting, and even smells can directly impact your productivity. It was said that the optimal temperature for a typical workplace environment is around 22 °C.^[3] A 2002 study also showed that workers with natural light sources stayed focused on tasks for 15% longer than those who worked in artificial lighting only.^[4]

Moreover, employees who worked in a windowless environment reported less vitality and less sleep.^[5] Finally, according to a 2014 report, what we smell can affect our productivity for the better. A lemon scent resulted in 54% fewer mistakes.^[6]

Final Thoughts

Keep in mind that an inspiring workspace is not exclusive to those with a grand budget or extravagant ideas. You are in charge of your space, and only you can create it according to your desires.

To improve your workspace, you can add more light and your favorite colors in a form of art, flowers, panels, and shelves. The options are endless and depend on what you want to achieve.

Follow the how’s above and you will find yourself more satisfied in your remote office space than ever before. Remember that you are in charge of your productivity, therefore, it’s your responsibility to excel and let your environment work in your favor.

Featured photo credit: Kristin Wilson via unsplash.com

Reference

[1]	^	University of Exeter: Designing your own workspace improves health, happiness, and productivity
[2]	^	ResearchGate: Work week productivity, visual complexity, and individual environmental sensitivity in three offices of different color interiors
[3]	^	Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: Room temperature and productivity in office work
[4]	^	National Renewable Energy Laboratory: A Literature Review of the Effects of Natural Light on Building Occupants
[5]	^	PubMed Central: Impact of Windows and Daylight Exposure on Overall Health and Sleep Quality of Office Workers: A Case-Control Pilot Study
[6]	^	The Guardian: Tips for boosting productivity with good office design

The post Why a Remote Workspace Will Set You Up For Career Success appeared first on Lifehack.

Author: Agnese Rudzate

May 10, 2022in From the Web by

Be Better Rounded: Seven Ways to Show You Are More Than Your Title

Home Business Magazine Online

You are more than your current title — more than the sum of the Experience section of your CV (curriculum vitae). In addition, you are also more than the metrics your bosses use to evaluate your performance and more than the unique selling points that keep clients coming back for more. You are not just a professional. You are a person. Moreover, you deserve to be seen as such. What is in it for you, you ask? Why should you care that your colleagues see you as more than a headshot in the email header? As it turns out, being better rounded — mixing business and leisure responsibly — has considerable benefits for your professional standing. Here are seven ways how to do it.

1. Start a Nonprofit

The best way to show your commitment to a cause is to serve it in a way no one has so far. That is not as difficult (or crazy) as it sounds. Founding a nonprofit is not much different than founding a startup company. In addition, with the profit motive removed, running it may be easier.

That is what Green Dot founder Steve Streit did back in 2010 when he launched Patti’s Way, a nonprofit devoted to supporting single parents and their children. Named in honor of Streit’s mother, a selfless mother who raised four kids, Patti’s Way distributes “random acts of kindness” — financial grants and other forms of support — to deserving recipients across the United States.

Streit would no doubt do this work even if he did not get credit for it. In addition, so would you, surely. However, it does not hurt to be known for something other than maximizing the bottom line.

2. Volunteer with an Organization Close to Your Heart

If you don’t have time to launch your own nonprofit, then volunteer with one. There’s no shortage of worthy organizations in your area. If you’re not sure where to begin, use an impartial third-party resource like Charity Navigator to find highly rated charities that act as responsible stewards of donor funds. Then carve out a few hours each month to donate your time.

3. Be an Active Participant in Your Kids’ Extracurricular Activities

Nothing says “better rounded” or “well rounded” like coaching a youth sports team or chaperoning a model government delegation. You don’t have to concern yourself with parental politics or even managing the enterprise. Simply showing up and being a mentor are powerful stuff. In addition, you might find you get more out of it than the kids do.

4. Adopt a Worthy Cause

Starting a nonprofit. Donating your time to charity. Both are worthy pursuits if you have the bandwidth. However, not everyone does. If the best you can do is donate some of your hard-earned money, then that’s just fine.

The more you give, the better you feel. In addition, let’s be honest, the more likely the recipient organization is to tout your contribution publicly.

5. Develop a Social Media Niche That Has Nothing to Do with Your Job

Let’s move away from philanthropy and toward something (even more) fun. Focus on a hobby that you actually enjoy and that draws a following in the process. An example is Like Friday Night Zillow, a Washington-based reporter’s increasingly popular real estate-themed side project. Friday Night Zillow features some of the zaniest homes in America, from gaudy mansions to creepy compounds to what-were-they-thinking gut jobs.

You’ll probably never buy a Friday Night Zillow house. Moreover, your future followers will probably never engage seriously with whatever you choose to “promote.” However, they’ll thank you for the effort, and your reputation will thank them back.

6. Sharpen Your Thought Leader Credibility

You don’t have to spend hours at a stretch writing detailed blog posts or case studies to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry. That’s what ghostwriters are for. You supply the brief and the data. They put it together, and you get the byline and the glory. A weekly LinkedIn update or blog post goes a long way.

7. Take Weekends Off (Seriously)

It’s unfortunate that this needs to be said. However, that’s the way of the “always on” work world that we inhabit. If you’re feeling like you have no choice but to burn the candle at both ends, take a step back and remind yourself why the five-day workweek developed in the first place.

According to marketing expert Brandon Gaille, our productivity actually declines when we work for long stretches of time without breaking except to eat and sleep. Disconnecting helps to improve the quality of your work, too. Taking weekends off and disconnecting are important for both your professional life and your personal life.

Be Better Rounded and Show Your Softer Side

Perhaps you’re already working on establishing your thought leadership bona fides. Maybe you’ve been itching to get involved with your kids’ extracurricular activities. Hopefully, you take weekends off.

Whatever you do — or would be willing to do — to show you’re more than another working stiff, here’s hoping you see the value to be better rounded. Others surely will.

The post Be Better Rounded: Seven Ways to Show You Are More Than Your Title appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Author: Editor

May 10, 2022in From the Web by

The Rise of Alternative Dispute Resolutions and the Experts Leading the Way

Home Business Magazine Online

Courts across the country have been experiencing a backlog of cases stemming from the shutdown — precipitated by the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020. Judicial systems continue to experience delays and scheduling issues. These have given rise to a trusted process not utilized fully until recently. While alternative dispute resolutions have always been valuable ways for business owners to resolve problems, mediation and arbitration have been gaining popularity as alternative methods to court hearings. These two procedures have distinct differences, but they are two sides of the same coin.

Arbitration

In arbitration, parties present their cases to a neutral arbitrator or panel of arbitrators instead of a judge. During these sessions, the arbitrator listens to the evidence presented by all parties and asks any follow-up questions that they have. If needed, they also arrange for additional time to allow submission of further evidence. The arbitrator makes a decision on the case, which can be either binding or non-binding. In addition, the decision can only be appealed through the court system in very narrow circumstances.

Mediation

Mediation resolved business disputes for a long time, but following COVID-19, it is more widely recommended by courts. Mediators act as facilitators for agreements in the mediation process; they do not pass down any decisions or judgments. Their jobs are to assist opposing parties in identifying issues and determining potential avenues for resolution. The mediator may also meet with each person individually to allow him or her privacy to discuss concerns. If the parties come to an agreement, then no trial is necessary.

George & George ADR Group

Joseph George, of George & George ADR Group, has been aiding people in alternative dispute resolutions long before the COVID-19 pandemic shone a light on the usefulness of these processes. In his work as a mediator and arbitrator, Mr. George focuses on fair and mutually beneficial alternative dispute resolutions. His experience spans a diverse range of industries, which provides him with an ability to understand the challenges that business owners often face.

Interview with Mr. Joseph George

Mr. George’s wealth of knowledge provides unique insight into how the popularity of mediation and arbitration grew in the past two years.

Question (Q):

In your experience, what are the benefits of using alternative dispute resolutions for businesses?

Mr. Joseph George (JG):

Mediation is a voluntary process. It provides a cost-effective option that also allows people to have more privacy than found in a traditional court setting. From my experience, mediation lets you be more creative in coming up with a resolution, because each of the parties maintains some control over negotiations as opposed to having a judge hand down an order.

Q:

What are the most common business disputes you handle today?

JG:

The majority of the cases that I deal with involve employment disputes, contract disputes, and partnership disputes. I also handle a large number of business torts. These types of conflicts are very well suited for alternative dispute resolution. However, I have also seen the process help with a myriad of other business disputes.

Q:

How have these processes been especially beneficial for addressing these business disputes during the pandemic?

JG:

We first started to see an influx in demand for mediation and arbitration when the courts opened back up and were overwhelmed with cases. There were many types of cases well suited for alternative dispute resolutions. In addition, business owners saw the benefit of having this different approach that helps speed up the process. Social distancing was a priority, as well. Conducting Zoom mediations was also incredibly helpful to support safety protocols and help the parties get out of limbo and move forward to a settlement.

Q:

What do you wish more people understood about alternative dispute resolutions?

JG:

I want people to know how simple it is in comparison to traditional judicial processes, especially for business owners. Many businesses have started adding mediation and arbitration clauses to their business contracts with terms that allow in-house dispute resolution as a first step. In many cases, you do not even need an attorney. In situations where people think they may benefit from having someone advocate for them, they can hire a mediator or arbitrator like me and get the support of a seasoned professional without incurring exorbitant legal costs.

Final Notes

Mr. George is a subject-matter expert in the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), breach of contract, and construction fields, as well as a highly sought-after negotiator for all areas of business. He understands the importance of transitioning qualified disputes out of the court system and into alternative resolution arenas.

Because qualified professionals outside of the judicial system can lead mediation and arbitration, overloaded court systems can breathe figurative sighs of relief.

The post The Rise of Alternative Dispute Resolutions and the Experts Leading the Way appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Author: Britni Scott