Author Archives: kate

Jun3

Why Consistency Is The Key To Achieving Your Goals

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Why Consistency Is The Key To Achieving Your Goals

When we see successful people, we may think that they probably are able to spot opportunities at every turn and act on these opportunities accordingly. Successful people may have inspirational stories of overcoming adversity, having incredible natural abilities, having access to resources, or having pure luck. Sure, it can be one or all of those. It can also be great genes, the perfect environment, or serendipity. The stars have aligned perfectly for them.

It’s easier to think that the universe conspired to make these billionaires, athletes, world leaders, and any other famous person successful because it takes the responsibility of having to work for our success off of our hands. Here’s an open secret: consistency in practicing goal-aligned behaviors is the key to success. THAT is something we all have control over, and we can choose to practice.

The brain does not like uncertainty. It looks for order, predictability, and regularity. This is why your brain finds comfort in consistency, because consistency reduces uncertainty and makes things regular and predictable.

Don’t get me wrong, your brain also loves things that are new…and easy. It’s wired to learn but also wired to find the easiest path to success. So if you struggle to stay consistent, let these tips help you:

Be clear about your goals

We always hear about creating SMART goals. That is actually based on sound science. When you have goals that are too vague, the brain depletes its resources in trying to figure out things. Essentially, you are not doing your brain any favors by creating vague goals.

Don’t create your own obstacles

To stay consistent, you have to remove all the stuff that makes reaching your goals hard. Make it as easy on yourself as possible to reach your goals. Prepare your environment. For example, if you want to consistently practice yoga every morning, make it easy by laying out your gear and mat the night before. All you have to do is wake up and practice yoga.

Don’t be too focused on the outcome

Outcomes are important when you’re trying to reach a goal BUT you have to allow room for flexibility. It helps you to be able to think on your feet and re-adjust when necessary.

Don’t rely on willpower alone

Routine and regularity help with consistency for this reason – you will never have to use willpower if you establish a routine. Willpower is a finite resource. Conserve for important scenarios such as decision-making etc. Also, help yourself by eliminating temptation. For example, if your phone is causing you to be distracted at work – put it away or download an app that will block certain social media sites for a while. If you have a serious phone addiction, contemplate locking it in a safe that has a timer to help you stay off your phone while you get work done.

How about you, what are your consistency tips? In which instance has consistency helped you successfully achieve your goals? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

May17

5 Tips To Power Up Your WFH Productivity

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5 Tips To Power Up Your WFH Productivity

The recent pandemic has resulted in major disruptions in the way we work. Lockdowns forced employees to adopt a remote working or work from home work style. What was once offered as an employee benefit or a reward for tenure, has now become a viable option or a necessary way to work. The transition was not met without difficulty as a lot of businesses struggled with transitioning from a traditional and office-based work style to a more agile one.

The good news is that we’ve learned to adapt. By now, we have learned the lessons from “the great work from home experiment” and hopefully have chosen to use the take-aways to adapt a more flexible and productive remote working setup. If you’re still working from your home office, here are 5 tips to help you boost your work from home productivity.

  1. Take responsibility for your work schedule:
    Set aside time for deep uninterrupted work and to coordinate and communicate with your co-workers. Let them know when they can expect you to be online so they know when they can reach you for questions or updates and when they should leave you alone to enjoy your personal time. Your workplace is, basically, unsupervised and would require motivation, self-discipline, and accountability from you. Set yourself up for success with a routine and a work schedule.
  2. Value your personal boundaries:
    Keep your work separate from your own personal time. Just because your home has now become your workplace, your work should not take over the entirety of your homelife.
  3. Take regular breaks between tasks:
    Don’t try to work all day without breaks. Be sure to rest your eyes, drink water, and take regular breaks to stretch in between long periods of sitting down. Remember that people work best when they perform in their best shape physically and mentally.
  4. Have a dedicated workspace:
    Just like it was back at the office, it is important to maintain a working environment that is conducive for efficiency and productivity. Carve out a nice, cool, quiet space to claim as yours. Make sure it has good lighting and great ventilation. More importantly, make sure that it exposes you to the most minimal distractions.
  5. Be mindful of your accomplishments:
    Stay motivated by being aware or making a list of what you are able to achieve at the end of each day. Isolation comes with working from home, so it is important that you keep yourself motivated and psyched for work.

Good health and peace of mind are always essential for a healthy work-life balance. Your personal well-being is just as important as your work productivity. Sometimes, it could be quite a challenge to find the right balance between the two. Hopefully, these 5 tips will help.

Do you have any tips for boosting your work from home productivity while improving your wellbeing at the same time? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

May11

Practical Life Hacks: Tips to Keep Your Energy Bill Low While Working From Home

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Practical Life Hacks: Tips to Keep Your Energy Bill Low While Working From Home

During the pandemic, working from home was no longer a perk or privilege – it was a necessity. While most corporate employees have returned or are getting ready to return to the office, a lot of us still work from home. 

Back when people were still going to the office, electricity consumption was still regulated by how long people were out for work. That means if you work a 9 to 5, you’re not likely to leave the heating or AC on during those times. Things like light bulbs, gadget chargers, and TVs contribute very little to your overall energy consumption. The real things to look out for are items that have a heating or cooling component – like water heaters, air conditioner, or the fridge. 

Aside from desktops and or laptops, you probably have the AC or the heater (depending on the season and which part of the world you’re in) on for the most part of the day. Here are some tips to reduce your energy bill while you work from home:

Keep the fridge full. 

Freezers work most efficiently when packed as full as possible. Here’s why: your fridge uses a lot of energy to replace all the cold air that flows out every time someone opens the door. By keeping the fridge and freezer at least 2/3 full, only 1/3 or less of that air can leak out.

Clean it up.

Clean your fridge by brushing dust and dirt off the condenser coils and also defrost it regularly. Make sure there’s space between the fridge and the wall so air can circulate and ensure that it’s not overworked. Don’t forget to clean the outside and brush the coils of your AC, too. Cleaning them improves the appliances’ efficiency by 30%.

Use the fan whenever possible.

If you need cooling and you’re not in an area where it’s hazardous to open your windows (safety, noise, pollution, etc.), then use a fan. Place a fan near a window so that it can suck in the cool breeze from outside and distribute it inside. You can also create a DIY air conditioner using a fan by placing a shallow bowl (like a roasting pan) full of ice in front of a fan. The breeze will pick up cold water from the ice’s surface as it melts, creating a cooling mist.

Use natural lighting when possible.

Turn off the lights during the day. Light bulbs give off heat, and you’ll need to offset that heat with the AC or a fan. If you have windows that let sunlight in, open those and take advantage of longer daytime during summer, when you can afford to keep the lights off till 8 or 9 at night.

What about you? What are your WFH energy-saving tips? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

May3

Why Having Diversity In Your Teams Is Important

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Why Having Diversity In Your Teams Is Important

“According to a recent demographic analysis conducted by the Pew Research Center, by 2055, the U.S. will no longer have a single racial or ethnic majority. This shift towards a more diverse population will have major impacts on the workforce and how organizations address diversity in the workplace.” -PeopleScout

Diversity in workplaces is a common topic among recruitment professionals, hiring managers, and human resources departments. Workplace diversity is having employees with a wide range of characteristics and experiences and understanding and accepting those unique characteristics that set them apart from each other. Advocates have been building the case for workplace diversity for decades but just in a few years, the movement has grown by leaps and bounds. Workplace diversity is no longer just about hiring diversely unique individuals, it is also about making sure that there is equal participation among the diverse workplace. In short, diversity should go hand in hand with inclusivity and empowerment. There are a lot of actual benefits to having a diverse team.

Striving to create a diverse workforce is no longer an office slogan – it is actually a sound business decision. Studies show that diverse teams turn out to be smarter. This is because they tend to bring out the best in each other. Putting a variety of talented people in the same room will produce a collaboration that challenges their thinking and sharpen their performance. It can only yield incredible benefits to your business. Here are some of them:

  • A homogeneous team is likely to generate similar ideas while a heterogeneous workforce is likely to exchange unique perspectives. This difference between perspectives allows teams to be non-conformist and dream up new concepts and ideas that result in radical innovation and unrestrained creativity.
  • Diverse teams focus more on facts because they are more aware of their own potential biases. Thus, they become better at problem-solving because they produce more solutions. They are quicker at decision-making because they generate more solutions that lead to being better informed. This gives companies with diverse teams a great advantage over competitors.
  • Diversity can also translate to increased profits. A diverse workforce is more likely to understand your customers’ needs and come up with innovative and more creative ideas to fulfill them.
  • Diversity improves employee engagement and reduces turnover. The reason is simple, employees who feel more included are more engaged. Thus, they feel happier and stay with the company longer.

Diversity is not just a hiring fad to show that employers are inclusive and socially responsible. It is also an opportunity to show that the company is a great place to work in and that attracts top talent. Diversity in your teams will not only improve your company’s profits and reputation but will also improve your organization’s intellectual potential. What other benefits do you see to having diverse teams? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp

Apr26

How to Survive Quarantining With Kids

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How to Survive Quarantining With Kids

Last week, we talked about how to create a routine that works, and why routines are important to help you be more productive and efficient throughout your day. This is especially helpful if you work from home or if you are doing shift work. 

Speaking of working from home…how many of you have the graceful blessing but the extra complication of working from home with kids? I’d understand if you’re too tired to raise your hand. During the pandemic, a lot of working parents have discovered the joys of being able to stay at home and look after their kids as they quarantine together. At the same time, a lot of working parents have also discovered that they suddenly have to work twice as hard when quarantining with kids, once as a working from home professional and twice as a stay at home parent. 

Not all work from home set-ups are created equal. If you’re a freelancer or have always been working from home pre-pandemic, chances are you have more flexibility and control over your time. If you are working from home because of the quarantine, there’s a big possibility that your office is going to expect you to stick to routines and operation hours. It will be business as usual but in a work from home setting.

This distinction is what will make or break your quarantining with kids experience. Obviously, parents who have more flexibility can work around their children’s feeding schedule, playtime, nap time, or online school activities. These tips are for the parents who find working from home with kids, more challenging.

Share the responsibility

If you and your spouse are both working from home, then you have to discuss child care first and foremost. If you haven’t, do it now before it turns into a fight. You both have to understand that child care has to be a shared responsibility and that you are going to have to take turns looking after your children.

Work child care into your schedule

If you can afford it, work broken hours so that you can incorporate your children’s routine into yours. Wake up earlier then they do so that you can get in a few quiet hours to yourself to do your morning routine or get some work done. Once they’re up, you can get breakfast together and prepare them for class. Once they’re in online classes, you can probably knock out some conference calls at the same time while they’re busy with lessons. Share your alternative schedule with your boss and ask for a bit of flexibility. 

Be an early bird

This will not work for everyone, especially those who work with teams or are sticking to business hours. The alternative is to wake up early and do as much prep as you can for the day. Here are some things that you can prep for:

  • Snacks and Meals (you can also do your meal prep on weekends)
  • Outfits (kids and yours)
  • Work/Study area (make sure gadgets are charged and earphones are available)
  • Pet food and water
  • Clean up (quick clean areas like desks and kitchen counters)

Make sure to get everyone (even the kids) onboard and create an area dedicated only for work from home related activities. That means the kids should understand that they are not allowed in that “no-kids zone”. Ask for help. You can enlist the help of older kids to take care of the younger ones as well. What are your survival tips for quarantining with kids? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp