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January 24, 2022

How to Improve Your Health and Fitness While You Make Money From Home

As a new year dawns, many people set health and fitness goals. It’s certainly a popular theme around our virtual water cooler, and we bet it’s trending in your life, too.

You know the basic advice–make health and fitness a priority, move more, sleep better, plan meals. But, working at home throws up some challenges to even the best-laid health and fitness plans. 

With years of collective experience working at home and working to stay fit, we’ve put our heads together to share our best tips for success. In each category, we include our favorite small changes that make health and fitness success easier from a home office and build up to more significant changes that have helped us find success on our fitness journeys.

It’s easy to let caring for yourself slide down the priority list as you manage home and work concerns. Sometimes slipping 15 minutes of extra work into your day instead of doing something for your wellbeing is the difference between meeting a deadline or missing it. We get that. But, we also know that ignoring your health can backfire, which is why it’s critical to make it a priority. We hope these tips help you on your journey.

Move more

Working at home offers many advantages, including the 10-second commute, the flexibility to address family issues, and the ability to work comfortably in casual clothes. But, it also offers challenges, like easy access to a kitchen and fewer reasons to go outside or move much. 

At home, it’s easy to avoid the type of incidental movement that happens organically when you work in an office. For example, you don’t have to walk in from the parking lot or train station. You never need to stroll down the hall to see a coworker or dash across town for a meeting. In addition, popping outside for a quick walk is more difficult if you have a sleeping baby or a young child who needs you nearby.

Scheduling a workout as part of most days is the surest way to prioritize exercise. We understand this doesn’t always work–and can be a little demoralizing if you miss a workout. But, it’s still essential to move. Here are some of our tips for quickly adding movement to your day:

  • Prop your computer up so you can stand for a portion of your workday. Standing while responding to email or doing light reading can help you feel more powerful and in control of your time.
  • Walk around your house while chatting on the phone. You’ll be surprised how many laps you can take around your home office during a 10-minute chat. Bonus: You won’t be tempted to multi-task by checking emails or sneaking a peek at your favorite website.
  • Set a timer to remind you to get up each hour. When the timer goes off, walk around or stretch for five minutes.
  • Learn two yoga poses you can do in your home office space. Do one when you start working and one when you stop working. If you work in spurts throughout the day, this light approach to exercise can pay off while helping you get more focused.
  • Keep light dumbbells next to your desk. Pick them up for some curls or chest presses when your hands are free. 
  • Do 20 jumping jacks between tasks. You’ll get your blood flowing, switch tasks more quickly and find that your focus is better when you return to work.
  • Start and end your workday by doing planks. Use the time to transition from mom mode to work mode.
  • Use your office wall to do standing push-ups.
  • Sprint up and down your stairs a few times between calls or projects.

When you finish work, scoop up your kids and head outside for fresh air and fun. Even if it’s not a full-on workout, a little light movement with your kids can help you transition back into family mode and give everyone a chance to reset and destress from a busy day.  

Plan your meals and snacks

Working at home means unfettered access to your kitchen. This can be a great money saver because you can always brew your coffee and make your lunch. But, it can also lead to mindless snacking and stress eating. Paradoxically, we sometimes find ourselves skipping lunch because we are really in the flow of work. This sets the stage for heavy (and often unplanned) afternoon snacking, sabotaging health and fitness goals.

Here are our best tips to avoid the pitfalls of having such easy access to all of your groceries all of the time.

  • Make a list of healthy snacks and meals that you find satisfying and have them on hand. We like pre-portioned items because they are easy to grab and having a pre-portioned amount makes it easier to control your portion size.
  • Pack your lunch and snacks the night before so you don’t have to make eating decisions during the heat of the business day.
  • Take a planned lunch break, especially if you work a full day. Leave your home office to avoid eating at your desk during your lunch break and multi-tasking through your break. You’ll enjoy your lunch more and will feel more refreshed. Bonus if you do a few exercises at the start and stop of each work period, as you’ll add two workout segments to your day.

Also, we have found that it’s essential to have a meal game plan at the start of each week to avoid a scramble for an evening meal. Apps, meal planning services, and grocery delivery can help you work smarter, not harder, in the kitchen and make it easier to achieve your fitness goals. Check out these tips to help ease family meal planning.

Finally, let’s talk about how the food needs of other family members can derail your plans for healthy eating. If your kids are like ours, you likely frequently answer questions about what’s for dinner and what snacks are available. Stops and starts to field snack inquiries can distract from your work and make you hungry. 

We’ve found that creating a weekly menu that covers all meals and snacks and hanging it on the refrigerator helps make this easier.

Direct your children to the menu when hunger strikes. (Make sure that some of the snacks can easily be grabbed and opened by young kids. For really young kids, include pictures of items they can select and make them easy to reach.) Having a posted menu reduces the discussion around what’s available to eat, eliminating a distraction for you as you work. Frankly, this one action will buy you untold peace of mind, help you reclaim time every day and make it easier not to snack every time a kid asks for one.

Maintain a good sleep schedule

We often advise rising early or burning the midnight oil to squeeze extra work into the day, reduce child care expenses and make the most of your days. However, that advice comes with an asterisk that you are still getting the sleep you need to be productive. Sure, it’s possible to rise before dawn or stay up well past your bedtime occasionally. However, making a habit out of it will leave you feeling depleted and tired. Here are some of the ways we make sure to get enough sleep:

  • Set a bedtime for yourself and stick to it. If you know you need to get up at 6 to add some work time to your day, be sure to count back and make sure you get to bed early enough to get enough sleep.
  • Maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Try to go to sleep and wake up around the same time most days. This will help you feel better and make deviations easier when they do happen.
  • Turn off all screens an hour before bedtime. Transitioning to a book or other non-screen activity makes it easier to fall asleep.

Please share!

Please tell us what tricks work for you! How have you found success working from home while focusing on health and fitness? 

 

 

 

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November 22, 2021

Feeling stuck? Practice Gratitude to Love More and Feel Better

As Thanksgiving rapidly approaches, you are likely counting your blessings. Maybe you’ve even participated in a social media gratefulness challenge and spent the entire month listing all the ways you are grateful.

But, as a mom or business owner, you may also be counting your tasks. You could be feeling a little overwhelmed by the prospect of preparing a feast or traveling and then turning around to start the work that goes into making holiday magic.

The HireMyMom team understands these conflicting feelings well. Sometimes, it’s easier to count irritations than blessings. Raising a family while nourishing a career is a lot of hard work. And, let’s face it, the last two years have been A LOT. COVID-19 has upended virtually every aspect of life, and that takes a toll.

But, research shows that practicing gratitude and showing it to others has profound and lasting benefits for you and those around you. In the spirit of the season, today’s blog focuses on how to turn your list of “have to’s” into a list of “get to’s” and (we think) convincing data about why it makes sense to pursue a path that includes the practice of gratitude. 

 

Understanding gratitude

Gratitude is the act of noticing the good things in your life–even in the face of adversity–and putting your focus there for at least a few minutes each day. 

Many of us are familiar with feeling grateful in fleeting moments. Gratefulness comes from a lot of places–a neighbor stops by with vegetables from her garden, a friend sends you a birthday card, a stranger offers a compliment. All of these things can lead to a short-term feeling of gratefulness.

Likewise, many of us are in the habit of offering a thank you throughout the day. We do it at the grocery store, while running errands, and at the end of calls. But, that can feel more transactional–something we say reflexively rather than a true feeling of gratitude.

As moms, we know that feeling and sharing gratefulness is a critical skill. We train our kids to say thank you to the people around them. We insist they write thank you notes after birthday parties and to grandparents. 

Gratitude is different than these experiences.

Practicing gratitude means you proactively look for the good things in your life each day. Shifting to a mindset of gratitude doesn’t mean you are ignoring issues. It just means that you are reframing your focus away from what vexes you and onto the positive.

Why gratitude matters

According to Harvard Health Beat, people who regularly express gratitude are happier, healthier,  enjoy stronger relationships, and better deal with adversity. In one study, a group of people wrote about things they were grateful for each week, and another group wrote about the things that irritated them each week.

After ten weeks, those who practiced gratitude were more optimistic, reported feeling better about life, had exercised more, and made fewer visits to the doctor. 

We bet this is a feeling you recognize from your own life. When we take a few minutes to step back and consider the larger context of our lives in a positive light, it’s easier to have a sunnier outlook. 

Several different studies show that practicing gratitude can lead to a wide range of benefits, including:

  • Greater feelings of calm.
  • Better sleep and better health–both physical and mental.
  • Reduced stress and better emotional regulation.
  • Improved relationships at home and work.
  • Increased empathy and less aggression.
  • More relationships across all areas of life.
  • Greater career success and more opportunities.

Clearly, practicing gratitude is good for us.

How to practice gratitude

It’s one thing to know that regularly practicing gratitude can lead to a slew of benefits. It’s another thing to start doing it. The idea of shifting our thinking and practicing gratitude can feel foreign in a society that tends to focus on problems and issues instead of blessings and opportunities.

We talked among the staff and scoured the internet for ideas to get started. Here are some easy-to-try ideas.

Things to think about

  • Think of three things you are grateful to have in your life before you get out of bed each morning. If you aren’t sure where to start, tick off a warm bed, followed by slippers and coffee to start your practice.
  • Spend a minute thinking about the blessing of the modern, American bathroom as you move forward with your morning. Hot water and indoor plumbing are certainly reasons to feel gratitude.
  • Marvel at the conveniences available in your kitchen. Chances are you have an appliance that keeps food at the right temperature, another one to cook food, and a machine to wash your dishes. These tools are the unsung heroes of everyday life, especially the holidays. 
  • Consider the gift of good health and the way it makes your life more pleasant and more manageable.

Things to do

  • Say thank you more. Thank your family members and children throughout the day. Aim for three thank yous to each family member every day.
  • Set aside five minutes a week to send a note to a co-worker thanking that person for their work. Be specific and express your heartfelt appreciation for the ways your coworker enriches your life.
  • Offer compliments to those around you. Tell your neighbor that you noticed her holiday decorations and appreciate the way they brighten up the street.
  • Keep a journal on your nightstand and spend the last few minutes of each day recalling the good things that happened during the day. Recall the sweet moments with your spouse or kids, the funny things said over the dinner table, and even the excitement your pet displayed when you came back from a short walk or running an errand.
  • Take a walk and pause to admire the beauty around you. Breathe in the fresh air, look up at the sky, listen to birds singing, and take in the majesty of nature.
  • Give up complaining for 21 days to see how you feel. 

We are grateful for you

While we are discussing gratitude, we’d be remiss if we didn’t take this opportunity to share how grateful we are to you! Whether you are a small business owner or a mom professional, HireMyMom wouldn’t exist without you. 

We are grateful for the chance to provide this forum for people to connect as they pursue passions, grow businesses, and raise families.

We wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving.

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April 12, 2021

Ready, Set, Sizzle! How to Plan Your Summer of Fun and Relaxation Now

Summer is around the corner. If you’re a working mom–especially a work-from-home mom, it’s time to make a plan. 

The prospect of planning a summer’s worth of activities is always daunting. But, let’s take a minute to acknowledge that it’s more complicated than usual this year. In many parts of the country, COVID-19 led to school disruptions for all or part of the school year. What’s more, many locations remain in restricted mode due to COVID infections. So, some typical summer activities, like in-person camps, are still up-in-the-air in many places. Understandably, different families have different perspectives on what activities are safe or will be in June. 

All that said, summer is still coming. And, if we ever needed a collective chance to exhale and have fun, it’s this summer. Here are my best tips for considering your options for work and play and making a plan that works for you and your family. 

 

Grab Your Calendar

When you work at home, a summer plan is the key to success, and the first step is mastering the calendar. Map out your summer by:

  • Confirming school start and end dates.
  • Crossing off any dates that you know are already taken with family commitments, vacations, visits, or sports. 
  • Identifying weeks that are likely to be extra busy based on professional obligations, personal commitments, or deadlines. 

 

Think About What You Want

Next, it’s time to think about your desires for the summer. It’s been a long road, and prioritizing yourself now can pay dividends in the long run. There’s no shame in carving out some personal time. Consider:

  • How are you feeling after this crazy pandemic year?
  • What are your goals for the summer?
  • Do you want to work more to make up lost ground? Or are you interested in working less? If so, is it feasible?
  • How do you want your schedule to work? 
  • What are your child care needs?

 

Talk With Your Family

Start by checking-in with your spouse to set goals and discuss summer plans more fully. Then, ask your kids how they’d like to spend the summer. Creating a summer bucket list is a fun way to start this conversation. Identify the “must-do” items you all agree that want to fit in this summer. 

As you generate the list, include a wide variety of experiences that range from big goals, like going on vacation, to smaller goals, like having family game nights. If you expect to have child care for the summer, mix in some options that take advantage of that help. For example, a goal to visit each park in your town or visiting six different parks in one day can make for fun and focused activities for your child care provider.

 

Find Child Care

Now that you have a better sense of how the summer may unfold, it’s time to source the proper child care. Luckily, summer can offer a wide variety of options, from private care to camps. Here are some ideas to consider.

  • Enlist family members to help. If you have local family members who are willing to step in and help with child care, reach out and sign them up now. The sooner, the better to get on other people’s calendar. This is a low-cost way to know that your kids are in good hands. However, some people find it stressful to have family members managing child care. So, weigh the pros and cons before you commit to this approach to child care, especially if you need a lot of help this summer. 
  • Hire a high school or college student to work as a nanny. Many students are looking for summer jobs, and taking care of younger kids is often a popular option. While this may be more expensive than some other options, it can be economical if you have several children. In addition, it tends to offer the most flexibility and gives you the most control over virus exposure since your child care bubble is small.
  • Form a co-op with other families. If you have schedule flexibility and are willing to share child-care duties with another family, a co-op arrangement may be right for you. In this scenario, you and like-minded families will trade-off child care duties based on an agreed-upon schedule. This keeps costs down and provides built-in playmates for your kids. However, it does require you to do some extra work in coordinating and caring for additional children for a portion of the summer. 
  • Sign up for summer day camp. Day camps are a tried and true part of summer child care. They are often offered locally by a wide variety of groups. In many cases, the kids stay outside and busy or are deeply engaged in activities they enjoy. It also creates large blocks of the day for you to work. On the flip side, availability can be limited, prices vary, and getting out the door each day can create some crazy mornings.
  • Send the kids to a trustworthy overnight camp. A week (or more) of summer camp can be the perfect solution for some families. Going away to camp offers a great experience for kids, lets them build new social muscles (vital after a year with limited or interrupted school), and meet new friends. It also gives you and your spouse a short vacation from active parenting so you can pause and get refreshed and maybe even take a real couple’s vacation. Or, if you have a week that looks extra busy at work, an overnight camp can help make that week easier for you. However, it can be an expensive option, and some camps may be operating on a limited basis. 
  • Consider summer school. After a crazy COVID year, summer school might be an excellent way to stem learning loss. It can also be a low-cost way to keep kids busy while you work. Check with your local school district to determine what they are planning for the summer term and who is eligible to attend. Many schools plan to offer expanded summer school options this year, and the sessions are often free or very low-cost. Many children may welcome the break from Zoom school and the sense of normalcy that comes from going to school, even if the season seems out-of-sync.

Share Your Ideas!

The long days and warm nights of summer will be here before you know it. Enjoy the process of planning for your summer. Please drop me a line and let me know how you will enjoy summer this year.

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March 15, 2021

Work and Family Colliding? Top Tips to Set Boundaries Like a Pro

When you love your work and have a family, it can be challenging to set the boundaries that help you succeed in both realms, especially when you work at home and the lines can easily blur. With more and more people working from home and with online and hybrid learning in full swing (and sometimes in flux by the week), the question of setting boundaries for personal and professional obligations has never been more critical. 

After years of working from home and learning to set boundaries between the work I love and the family I adore, here are my tips for successful boundary setting.

 

Accept that Every Week will be Different

Recognize that your highest priority for any given week (or day) will vary, and that’s normal.

Sometimes work obligations will be front and center. Enjoy those times and the feeling of your throwing yourself into professional work. Try not to let guilt about what you might be missing weigh you down. Enlist help from family and friends to help you free up space and time to work as effectively as possible.

Likewise, sometimes family obligations will outweigh professional work. Enjoy those times, too.

Try to be present in the moment and not distracted by what you might be missing at work. If it helps ease your mind, ask a trusted co-worker to alert you to any emergencies that may occur when you’re focused on your family. 

Balancing the day-to-day and week-to-week flow of work and life will help you find greater equilibrium between your dual roles as a mom and a professional.

 

Know Your Priorities 

Setting priorities is an essential part of establishing boundaries and working effectively. Thinking of your priorities over different time horizons helps to balance workload. Here’s how to do it:

  • Create a list at the beginning of each month. 
    • Think about the large commitments you know are on the horizon in each area of your life.
    • Write them down along with the week they are due.
    • Consider if you need to call in extra help for any upcoming week.
  • Review the list at the start of each week.
    •  Cross off things that are complete.
    •  Identify the most important things for that week to make sure your priorities don’t take a back seat.
  • Look at your weekly list to find your daily priorities. 
    • Consider if any tasks or meetings can slide, if needed.
    • Juggle your day to make things work.

Overall, be realistic about what you can accomplish in a specific time frame. If you have a big project due one week, avoid volunteer commitments that overlap during the same timeframe. If you have school-aged kids, keep an eye on the school calendar as you pace your work. 

 

Plan and schedule! 

When managing personal and professional obligations, planning is critical. Armed with your priority list, work your to-do list or planning app to its maximum capacity.

If you use a paper-based to-do list, draw a line down the center of the page and label one column personal and one column work. Then, list your commitments side-by-side. A comprehensive list in one place makes it easier to see what’s cooking for any given day and see your obligations at-a-glance.

Once you have a to-do list, schedule your time to know when you will be managing personal vs. professional obligations. The schedule is a key to more freedom. When you know when you’ll be working, it makes it easier to say yes (or no) to personal opportunities that pop up. Likewise, it can help you assess what professional work you might want to add or decline, based on the schedule.

As you make your schedule, embrace odd hours, if needed. If you’re a morning person, set aside some early morning time to get work done. If burning the midnight oil works for you, maximize those hours. Fitting work into corners of your day can help you maximize your time and feel more in control.

 

Get Help and Silence your Inner Critic

When you’re managing personal and professional obligations, help and support matter. Sometimes it comes from family, friends, and coworkers. But sometimes it comes from your phone and the wonders of technology. Outsource as much as you can. Check out the Five Awesome Ways for the Exhausted Mom to Save Time and Sanity blog for tips to make life easier through apps and services.

As you go through your days, remember that you aren’t alone. All working moms are in the same boat, managing a large number of personal and professional obligations. Asking for help and extending a hand to others can help create a supportive culture. Ask your partner, children, and coworkers for help. Also consider joining our free community here. 

Above all, be kind to yourself as you manage an impressive portfolio of work and family commitments. You can do it!

 

Tell me how you do it! 

I’d love to hear your best tips for managing personal and professional obligations. Drop me a line with your ideas and share your success stories.

 

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February 22, 2021

From Chaos to Harmony: Focusing on Opportunities for Growth

Whether your kids are at school as normal, attending on a hybrid schedule, or doing full remote learning, chances are this has been quite a school year.  A few weeks ago, we published tips to help parents thrive. With winter coming to a close and a load of collective experience under our belts, it’s time to revisit the topic and add a few tips. 

 

Tips for Managing School

With school attendance taking many new forms this year, the regular cadence of school days and afternoon practices and clubs is on hold for many families. This change from expectations can lead to a head-whipping range of feelings that range happiness for the opportunity to enjoy a slower pace to the stress as you try to squeeze work, school, and family life into one bucket with no real separation. 

If you had a chance to create a back-to-school plan, look at it, and see how the reality compares to your expectations. Consider:

  • Is school unfolding as you expected? 
  • How’s it going for you and your students? 
  • Are you still on the learning curve for the process, trying to master Zoom calls or turn-in procedures? 
  • What’s your daily time commitment to keep the kids on track?

If the plan still looks good,  re-ground yourself in the process now that you have more information about how school works. Consider small tweaks like adding treats to inject some fun into your days. Perhaps offer your kids an incentive to stay engaged as they move into more of a routine or surprise your family with treats to celebrate progress and dedication under new circumstances.

If you find that your reality is significantly different than the expectations you had over the summer, it may be time to toss that plan and start over. Shake it up if you need to find a new way. Talk to a trusted teacher about your struggles and see if options are available. Consider if other schooling options might work better right now. Let go of normal expectations and accept that grades may be lower than usual. Praise the effort your kids are putting in and look for ways to celebrate small victories.

 

Tips for Managing Relationships

If all this time together strains your family relationships, a few check-ins can help put things back on track. Start with your spouse to get a sense of how you can help each other now that you both have a good understanding of how your time and work responsibilities are shaping up for the next few months. Revisit any agreements you might have in place for housework and child care duties and explore if they still make sense or need to be tweaked. Discuss paid work responsibilities for the next few months and consider if you need to change your respective work/life balance loads. Circumstances can change quickly, and getting out ahead of potential issues can help make them easier to address.

Next, check-in with your kids to get their perspectives.

  • Ask how they feel about the current school situations. You might be surprised by their answers.
  • For older kids, ask if there are things you can do to help them be more successful.
  • Ask if they are satisfied with how they have adapted to their school year or if they’d change anything.

If you have older kids, share how you are doing. If you are struggling, let them know that and ask for help in ways that will be meaningful for you. Above all, share your faith in their ability to thrive under any circumstances. 

 

Take Care of Yourself

Remember, these times are complicated, and we must acknowledge that it’s ok to struggle. Finding ways to replenish your energy each day can help you keep moving and doing everything that keeps your family running. Make time to exercise, soak in the tub, or talk with a friend managing a similar load. 

Finally, remember the power of extending grace to your kids, your spouse, teachers, and yourself as we all continue to navigate new and unchartered territory. While we don’t know how or when life will return to normal, let’s be confident that it will.  Drop me a line sharing your tips for finding success and peace this fall.

 

 

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February 15, 2021

How to Cope When Working from Home Makes You Miserable

You did it! After months (possibly years) of dreaming and planning, you finally made the leap and are now working at home–congratulations! You’re living the dream of a five-second commute, more time with your kids, and working in pajamas when the mood strikes. There’s just one problem: you are miserable. 

Don’t despair. Any significant change can lead to a feeling of unease and even regret. But, take heart, with years of experience working from home and after talking to many others in your shoes, here’s my best advice for combatting your woes and emerging strong and confident in your decision to work-from-home.

 

Discover the True Issue

First, try to determine what’s wrong exactly. Change is tricky–even good change. And the adjustment period can feel like an eternity. Before you abandon your plan to work from home, take some time to assess what’s really bothering you. In my experience, it’s usually one (or a combination) of four things–growing pains, environmental issues, ambiguity about the decision, or unrealized expectations.

 

Growing Pains are Real

Starting a new job or making a radical change to your working conditions is bound to lead to growing pains. While uncomfortable, these pains are a normal part of the process. Even new projects that are outside your traditional wheelhouse can make you question your skills and choices. 

When this happens, take a breath and reflect on the times you’ve felt this way in the past. New jobs and new skills take a while to develop. The discomfort is part of the growth process. You’re meeting new people, learning new ways of connecting, new systems, new skills, and new processes. It’s a lot to take in. Give yourself grace for slip-ups that might happen along the way.

If there’s one particular aspect of a new job that’s troubling you, consider ways to address it. For example, if learning a new technology is stressing you out, seek other ways to conquer it. Look for YouTube videos or webinars to help. Or, try setting small goals to make progress on specific elements of the transition. 

When it comes to growing pains, they can be uncomfortable and can last a while–even up to a year for new jobs. But, just as surely as they are part of the process, they will surely fade. One day you’ll be doing the task that once caused you angst, and you’ll realize that you’ve grown into the role and feel confident in it.  Look forward to that day and the renewed sense of wellbeing that comes with it. Until then, hang in there.

 

Spruce Up Your Home Office

Don’t underestimate how improving your physical workspace may enhance your experience and outlook. Transitioning to working-from-home often involves trial and error when it comes to your actual work setup. If you’re hunched over an ironing board trying to work in the dark closest, you are likely to be miserable.

Look around your house and consider if you might be able to set up a work location in a place that’s easier to work productively. Ideally, you can find a site that includes:

  • Natural light or a place for suitable lamps.
  • A roomy desk or table. 
  • A comfortable chair.
  • A door that can be closed.

Once you have your spot, personalize it with plants, pictures, or artwork that you really like. Consider banning toys or kid homework from the space. All of these things can help make working from home more comfortable. 

 

Banish Ambiguity

It’s natural to have second thoughts about any significant decision. But, nothing will sink your confidence faster than an endless round of asking yourself what if. 

All the reasons you identified for wanting to transition to home-based work are still valid. And, in all likelihood, you’d be second-guessing your decision to work in the office, too. When you sense ambiguity rearing up, vanquish it by grounding yourself in all the reasons that led to your choice.

 

Check Your Expectations

When you consider any new adventure, you envision it unfolding in a certain way. Working from home is no exception. When considering the possibility, you probably saw yourself training for a marathon while living in a spotless house, with perfect children and a steadily growing career. In reality, you may be up before dawn, still wearing yesterday’s clothes, and finishing up a project while you dream about taking a shower. Both ways work, and the reality is that both scenarios may happen for you at any given time. Like life, working from home has ups and downs, and it tends to ebb and flow accordingly. 

Embracing the real lived experience is the key to success here. Holding your day-to-day up to an idealized vision is a recipe for disappointment. Change your expectations to have a better experience.

 

Share Your Experiences

How have you battled the work-from-home blues? Drop a line and share your tips.

 

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January 11, 2021

7 Ways To Start Your Workweek Right

After the weekend comes and goes it can be difficult to find the motivation to get back to work. We’ve put together our top tips to help kickstart your workweek right.

Eat Right

It’s important to eat properly throughout your workday. All too often we tend to reach for the sugar-laden snacks and drinks for a quick energy fix only to find ourselves in an energy slump by midday.  It’s important to have healthy snacks and meals on hand to keep your body and mind healthy and full of energy for improved concentration and overall work productivity.

Take Set Breaks

It’s easy to get caught up with your daily to-dos but if you aren’t taking any time to regroup, you can lose steam quickly, make mistakes more frequently, and be at risk for burnout.  Common workplace practices are two 15-minute and one 30-minute lunch break per 8-hour shift. If you’re putting in full days, these suggested break increments are put in place for a reason and are backed with plenty of research on the benefits.

Get Outside

Some people find working from home to be isolating which can also lead to feeling “cooped” up or trapped inside. When the weather is nice, get outside and take your breaks with some fresh air. You can go for a walk or have tea on your patio for example.  Whatever you choose to do, as long as you’re getting away from your home office, it will help change up the environment you see every day.

Set The Mood To Work

When you work from home, it’s important to have a good environment to work in.  Setting the right mood can make you more productive and efficient. Paying attention to the little details is the key – from music to decor to furniture and organization aids. Adding your personal touches will make your home office feel more welcoming and inviting and easier to perform your work in.

Create a To-Do List

When you work from home, it can be very easy to lose track of your workday. Before you know it, you could be faced with tight deadlines, overlapping projects, and inefficient use of time if you’re not careful. A great way to start the day off right is to have a to-do list. This should be done the night before each workday. Having a sense of what needs to get done from the start sets you on the right path plus it’s gratifying when you’re crossing those to-do’s off and seeing your progress.

Utilize Time Increments

Complimenting the to-do list suggestion, time increments can help you stay focused and on task, plus, it breaks up the workday so it doesn’t seem so long and drawn out.  Setting your time increments the night before can help you determine your work start time, stop time, and checkpoints in between.

Use Daily Affirmations

There’s a reason why motivational videos and phrases are some of the most shared on social media. Inspiration and motivation go hand in hand and can help set the tone for each day.  You can find mugs, posters, pens, and notebooks with motivational phrases on them or, you can sign up to an inspirational blog site where you will receive positive messages in your inbox daily.

How do you kick off your workweek? We would love to hear from you. Visit our Facebook Group for more information and to share your tips with us.

 

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May 18, 2020

Healthy at Home: Our Immune System is our Best Defense Against Illnesses

Almost three-quarters of a million people die each year because of an unhealthy diet. We are currently at about 10% of that death rate for COVID. And while COVID is a deadly virus, the numbers in New York show that 90% of those that died had underlying health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, an “unhealthy diet contributes to approximately 678,000 deaths each year in the U.S., due to nutrition- and obesity-related diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. In the last 30 years, obesity rates have doubled in adults, tripled in children, and quadrupled in adolescents.”

While I know not everyone who has those health issues is a result of unhealthy diet, the numbers are still staggering. I wonder how much money is spent on prescription drugs and hospitalizations due to illnesses that are diet-related.

 

Would Coronavirus and other illnesses be less of an issue and cause less fear if we had stronger immune systems?  I believe the answer is yes and here’s why…

 

My Better Health Journey

My better health journey began in 2013 when my 18-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Grave’s disease. It was the summer before her freshman year in college and she began experiencing all kinds of strange health issues from full body rashes to hallucinations to a dangerously rapid heartbeat. The infirmary at her school called me to get her to the ER or an endocrinologist immediately. After evaluating her, the endocrinologist wanted to put her on prescription drugs for her thyroid “probably for the rest of her life” as well as heart medications and possibly remove her thyroid.

I could not accept that diagnosis for my then 18-year-old so I began researching other options. That road led me to a holistic / wellness doctor and taking a closer look at the causes of her poor health.

It did not happen overnight, but I am happy to say my daughter no longer takes any prescription drugs, still has her thyroid and is leading a healthy life by eating whole healthy foods, taking natural supplements and taking care of her body the natural way — the way God intended.

 

From Multiple Health Issues to Virtually None

I am not the only one who has learned the benefits of a natural approach to health. Shonna found herself on her own path to wellness. She was struggling with a variety of issues including an autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and a son who had social and academic struggles.

She decided to make some changes and take a more holistic approach to foods, personal products and household products. As a result, in time her son went from non-social with somewhat uncontrollable emotions (Aspergers), multiple learning diagnosis, sleep and bronchitis issues to a healthy young man who did all dual credit his senior year and just finished his freshman year with a 3.75 GPA.

She and her family are another vibrate example of how healthy whole foods are medicine for your body. It has become such a passion of Shonna’s that she now coaches others. You can read more about her story here.

 

Strengthening our Immune System

Through all of this, I recall my wellness doctor telling me we needed to strengthen our immune system. Probably something the majority of America needs to do. When illnesses like COVID come, having a healthy immune system is your best defense for staying healthy.

Dr. Hotze, an outspoken Holistic doctor, shares, “the typical American diet consists of packaged and processed foods that are depleted of most of their vitamins and minerals. Vitamins and minerals provide the nutritional foundation for a healthy immune system; yet, most of us do not get what we need from the foods we eat.”

 

Here are a few tips on strengthening your immune system:

  • Eat healthy whole foods, not processed foods,
  • Take high-quality natural supplements including vitamin D and vitamin C,
  • Get good sleep,
  • Don’t fear or panic as stress weakens your immunity,
  • Walk and get outdoors for some exercise,
  • Reduce or eliminate white sugar. It increases risks for diseases,
  • Get some sun which offers natural vitamin D,
  • Have faith; it helps with not fearing / panicking.

I would add to make sure you drink lots of clean water for overall health. Some health professionals recommend half of your weight in ounces. And while you may not be able to make every change in a day, you can start somewhere and clean up your diet so that healthy, whole foods can become medicine to your body.

 

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April 5, 2020

The Resources You Need to Get Through Coronavirus

No matter who you are, where you live or what you do, we all share COVID-19 in common now. We are all  living history, and not the kind of history we hoped to be living. It feels more like a Hollywood movie we’d all like to see end soon and end with a happy ending. 

One of our daughters is a recent graduate in nursing. She began her nursing career in February, and in March, she began treating COVID patients. She is one of our front line heroes. For the rest of us, we’re at home like most of you. I have worked from home for 24 years so that part is second nature to me. Having my spouse and two of my kids at home with me while I work is not nor is being in isolation from the rest of the world. 

So as we journey through this Corona season, I’ve compiled some great resources for mental health, faith, hope, fun, finances, kids, fitness and more that I hope bring hope, help and fun to you all.

 

Business & Finances

 

Mental Health / Sanity

 

Faith & Hope

Kids

 

Fun

 

Fitness / Health

 

Good News

 

So we take this one day at a time, looking for ways to bring hope and encouragement to others. For our family, our hope and encouragement comes from our faith in God. We know that God is our protector, our provider, our hope and our peace. He is our sovereign, powerful, faithful and trustworthy Father. No matter what hard times we go through, we know that in all things He works for the good of those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

If you have other resources to suggest, have questions or need prayer, please feel free to contact me. 

 

 

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April 1, 2020

5 Ways Working From Home Promotes Healthy Work-Life Balance

One of the greatest benefits to working from home is the flexibility. Because you can work from anywhere, remote work has been for the longest time, considered a luxury.

Now however, remote work is a necessity. A few months ago, the world was hit with COVID-19 and suddenly, many businesses were faced with the decision to either close down completely or find a way to transition their staff to remote work.


For today’s blog, we’re going to talk about how this new situation can promote a healthy work life balance. 

 

The Importance Of Work-Life Balance

Having a good work-life balance is important for your overall happiness and ability to stay motivated and driven to produce your best work at all times.

If you find that you are constantly working and have little time left over to take care of yourself, socializing with friends, and spending time with family, this can really impact your mental, physical, and emotional well being. 

Finding a healthy work-life balance has always been a difficult thing to do, especially when the average person puts in an 8 hour work day and factors in commuting time on top of that.

With remote work becoming the new frontier for employment sustainability, it’s never been a better time to embrace and adapt to this new way of work.

For those of us who weren’t expecting to be working from home, keep in mind that for many years, remote employees have reported seeing a great improvement to their emotional, mental, and physical health as a result. A study from Staples found that those who work from home experienced 25% less stress. 


Here Are 5 Ways Working from Home Promotes a Healthy Work-Life Balance

 

Working from Home Allows You To Create The Office Environment You Want

How many times have seen those cubicle style office spaces featured in movies and tv shows? The truth is, that those spaces depicted have been a reality for many people over the years.

The average office space consists of 3 portable walls, a desk, computer, phone and maybe a filing cabinet. Paint color, artwork, and the type of chair you have are all depicted by the employer. Workers are expected to be in their “office” for 8 hours a day or more.

With remote work, your office can be as big as you want, your chair can be as comfy as you want, the color of your walls, artwork and accessories can all be determined by you. Your home office space can be as bright and cheery as you want and can reflect your own unique personality. You can even bring in some natural light by putting your office in a room with windows. The world is your oyster when you work from home and this can lead to both comfort and contentment.

 

Remote Work Provides Flexibility For Personal Time

Because remote work is flexible, you can start earlier or end later depending on the routine of your family and the needs of your clients or employer.

When school and extracurricular activities return to normalcy again, you’ll be able to drop off and pick up your children from school and/or daycare as well as take your kids to their gymnastics, soccer games and attend school functions. You won’t have to ask or request the time off from your employer just as long as you are providing consistently good work, delivering it on time and it doesn’t interfere with calls,  meetings or deadlines.

 

Working from Home Minimizes Socialization Stress

Let’s face it, there’s nothing more disruptive than someone barging into your office, or you getting caught in the “water cooler conversations” when all you wanted was to refresh your coffee.

Though it’s healthy to have a social life, it can be very distracting and disruptive to your workflow throughout the day.

Working from home gives you the perfect balance of isolation and socialization. You can chat with co-workers during conference calls and in your online communications but now, the social gossip is at a low and more productive conversations are at a high.

This improved level of working means you get more done in less time. In fact, a study by ConnectSolutions reported 77% report greater productivity while working off site. This can lead to your work day wrapping up sooner, giving you more time to spend with your friends and family.

Having said this, it’s important to expand your social network when you’re a remote employee. There are many online groups you can join that offer encouragement and share ideas on how you can improve your remote work lifestyle. At HireMyMom we have an online community on Facebook to help members connect and have a virtual support team.

 

Remote Work Eliminates The Stress And Time Loss From Commuting

Let’s address the elephant in the room … commuting. The time lost, the cost, and the stress of commuting has been one of the biggest realized benefits to working remotely.

Before remote work ever came to be, we were all forced to find a method of transportation to get to work each day.

For some of us, this meant driving during rush hour traffic with honking and shouting from other drivers and for others, this meant getting on buses or trains being exposed to hundreds of fellow commuters (and whatever communicable illness they could be carrying). 

Being exposed to less stress, less sickness, and gaining more personal time as a result keeps us healthy and happy on all levels.

 

Working from Home Allows You To Take Breaks When You Need Them The Most

It’s really great that during a typical work day for the most part, we get lunch and a 15-minute break however, depending on the location of your employment, you were most likely taking those breaks in a lunch room or worse still, at your desk.

It’s so healthy for us to be able to get up and move around. Sitting in the same position for long periods of time is bad for our posture, our circulation and more.

When we work from home, we can move our office as needed (for example you can start your work day at the kitchen table and move into your designated office space in the afternoon). You can stretch as you need to and your 15-minute breaks can be a walk around the block.

You also can take your breaks when you need them the most. Rather than being dictated on the time frame, you can go with your body’s natural rhythm and flow.

This includes lunch breaks as well. For those who didn’t before, you now have access to a fully equipped kitchen so that fresh, healthy meals can be prepared right at home daily.

This minimizes the desire for grabbing “lunch to go” at a fast food chain. Not only is there a cost savings to doing this, but it’s also much better for your physical health too.

 

The reality is that COVID-19 isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. This new way of working might be hard for a lot of people, but it’s necessary in order to flatten the curve. The benefits of remote work even before this crisis situation occurred was so great that most considered this as being the “dream” lifestyle.

We now have a chance to come together and work towards a better future, an overall healthier lifestyle, and more time with the people in our lives that matter most. If you are searching for work from home options, check out our most recent job posts here.  And if you are a small business seeking to hire virtual professionals, click here to post your job. 

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