Work from Home Tips

June 29, 2015 0 Comments

5 Effective Stretches You Can Do at Your Desk

Working at a desk – whether you work from home or not – can be taxing on the body. Experts say that even if you workout, it’s still important to get up and move around throughout the day.

Back pain is one of the most common causes of missed work every year, and it’s incredibly important to keep yourself out of pain and feeling limber, alert, and stretched out throughout the day. In this post, we’ll explore some effective stretches that you can do without leaving your desk.

1) Shoulder Stretch via MayoClinic.org

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Standing or sitting for long periods of time can take a toll on your muscles. To prevent or reduce stiffness and pain, try simple office stretches throughout the day. Perform these stretches several times throughout the day to help keep your muscles from feeling sore and tight.

Start by stretching the back of your shoulder:

Place one hand under your elbow.

Lift your elbow and stretch it across your chest. Don’t rotate your body as you stretch.

Hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds. You’ll feel tension in the back of your shoulder.

Relax and slowly return to the starting position.

Repeat the stretch with the other arm.

See the stretch and learn more here.

2) Hip Flexor Stretch via LifeHack.org

Sitting truly shortens and tightens your little hip flexor muscle. It’s the one at the front in the crease of your hip. It runs through your pelvis to your back, so when it is tight it often presents with an achy back. To lengthen this one out while at your desk, sit at the edge of your chair but shift to face to your left. Take your right leg and extend it behind you with as straight a knee as you can. Sit tall and lift your sternum while trying to tuck your tailbone under. This increases the stretch. Repeat on the other side. Repeat both sides 2-3 times.

See the stretch and learn more here.

3) The Freedom Search via Healthline.com

Clasp hands behind your back, push the chest outward, and raise the chin. Hold for a longer period of time if you feel tension in your lower or upper back.

See the stretch and learn more here.

4) Upper Cervical Spine Flex via Men’s Health

From the chest elevation position while seated, dip your head forward slightly as if you were nodding “yes.” Feel the stretch in the neck at the base of the head. Pause for 10 seconds, then relax and repeat 5 to 10 times.

See the stretch and learn more here.

5) Seated Hip Stretch via Exercise.about.com

This move helps open up the hips and stretch the complex series of muscles in the hips and glutes.

Do it right: While seated, cross the right ankle over the left knee and sit up nice and tall. Gently lean forward, keeping the back straight and reaching out with the torso until you feel a stretch in the right glute and hip. You can also press down on the right knee to deepen the stretch. Hold for 10-30 seconds and repeat on the other side.

See the stretch and learn more here.

Written by Lesley Pyle

June 25, 2015 0 Comments

4 Top Tips for Social Media Success

Social media is a key component to a successful business and professional life. Whether you have your own business or simply want to share information via your own social media channels, it’s important to have some best practices for social media success.

While there are many tips, tricks and “rules” out there to succeed online with social media, here are some of the top professional tips for your profiles and business profiles that will set you apart.

Don’t leave it blank

Whether you started and abandoned a business or you simply lost time to update your Facebook page, do not leave blank profiles! If you know you aren’t going to ever update your business page or your LinkedIn profile is 5 years out of date, it’s best to simply delete it (or never start one to begin with, if you’re considering it!)

When business prospects or potential employers see these profiles, it can be confusing. What message are your profiles giving off? Is your business closed? Are you out of touch with online technology? Be careful of keeping profiles open that you don’t plan to use or update at least semi-regularly.

This also goes for your information – is it updated? Make sure that the image you’re giving off is reflecting what’s current and accurate in your life. It’s important that you keep your profiles up to date, especially if you’re in the job search market.

Update regularly

Updating is key to using social media as it was intended! While updates of what you’re eating can be great if you’re a food blogger, do your best to provide the best value possible. Even if you don’t have your own business, what’s an area of expertise that you can post on? You can still provide value to your audience!

This is especially crucial if you own a business, or if you’re seeking employment. Employers these days absolutely look into your social media profiles, and the more you can show your expertise, the better.

Keep it separate

Do your best to avoid sales on your personal page. This isn’t to say that you can’t be friends with your clients, but keep selling to your business page(s).

When you’re constantly utilizing your personal profiles for business, people may decide to unfollow you or at least, may become annoyed with the pushing. It’s much easier (and up to them to follow) to sell on another page that’s dedicated to your business or sales. People use personal profiles for personal reasons – keep 90% of sales and business posts to your business pages.

Decide what’s necessary

You don’t need to have a profile on every site, and doing so will likely drive you crazy and drain your bandwidth! Choose a few key profiles that you enjoy, or a few key profiles where your customers and prospects are likely to be.

The top profiles that will offer the most bang for your buck will be Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Although, there are so many industries where Twitter is irrelevant. Are you a visual company, or do your interests lie in that realm? Pinterest may be perfect for you! Look into the profiles that will help you both personally and professionally – and choose ones that you’re willing to use on a consistent basis.

(Image courtesy freedigitalphotos.net)

Written by Lesley Pyle

June 25, 2015 0 Comments

5 Tips to Land the Job of Your Dreams

When it comes to stressful moments in life, the big job interview is near the top. Author Lemony Snicket wrote, “Besides getting several paper cuts in the same day or receiving the news that someone in your family has betrayed you to your enemies, one of the most unpleasant experiences in life is a job interview.”

But a job interview does not have to be a harrowing experience. If you are adequately prepared, it is an opportunity to show your worth. That being said, here are five tips on how to impress at your upcoming job interview:

Dress Accordingly

You should dress for the pay grade above the job you are interviewing for. So, if the position calls for khakis and a polo, wear slacks and a button-up shirt. Dressing for the part also builds your confidence and helps you get into a professional mindset prior to the interview. You may think you’re safe to interview online wearing your pajamas, but keep in mind that your interviewer will be scrutinizing you closely, and that you may need to unexpectedly move from your staged position. This is also true for Skype interviews.

Make Eye Contact

Looking your interviewer in the eyes projects confidence and honesty. This simple task can prove challenging during a virtual interview, though. It’s natural to want to watch the screen during an online interview, but instead you should be looking into the camera.

Speak the Language

You already know that you need to research the company you are interviewing with beforehand to become familiar with the terminology used in that field. But, there are also several grammar cues that interviewers look for that indicate what kind of worker you are. According to Business Insider, when asked a question, never respond in second person point of view. If you are asked, “What would you do in this situation?” do not say, “You want to make customers happy, so you try to understand what they want.” Instead, first person point of view shows a more active approach and implies responsibility. A high performer would respond to this question by stating, “I want to make customers happy, so I try to understand what they want.”

Use Appropriate Body Language

You may have been told not to talk with your hands during an interview. If you are an excessive hand-talker, this is not bad advice. However, you want to use your body to show that you are engaged and alert, especially during virtual interviews where your complete stillness may make the interviewer think the screen has frozen. Measured use of body language conveys your interest without becoming distracting. Lean slightly forward, nod when appropriate and, if you use your hands, move slowly and deliberately, not frantically.

Breathe

Take a deep breath before responding to each question. Too long of a pause may indicate indecision or trepidation, but in the few seconds it takes to breathe deeply and exhale, you can calm your nerves, consider the question and respond confidently. If the interviewer seems to pause for a long time, do not be intimidated into filling the silence. The long pause is a tactic often used to see if you will become uncomfortable and begin rambling just to break the quiet, notes Business Insider.

For even more tips on how to to nail an interview, check out DriveTime’s blog has an excellent article helpful tips as well as Best Interview Practices for Job Seekers.

That dream job is not hopelessly out of reach. Consider the interview as an opportunity to shine, not an obstacle to overcome. That job can be yours with the right preparation and a few helpful tips.

Written by Lesley Pyle

June 25, 2015 0 Comments

Top Tips for Juggling Working from Home and Kids in the Summer

School is officially out in most parts of the country, and that means that your kids will now be home for the summer! It’s a great, fun time of year for moms, but it can also be complicated if you work from home.

Since your work life is very closely connected to your home life – quite literally! – it helps to have a plan in place to keep kids busy and juggle the demands of kids and work.

Plan ahead

You can prevent a lot of chaos and stressful days by doing some simple planning head! Begin your search earlier in the year, and now if you haven’t started yet.

Are your kids interested in summer camps? Some type of swim or tennis lessons? Get together with them and schedule a time to discuss what they’d like to do this summer. Although summer is a more spontaneous time of year, it doesn’t mean you can’t plan and make everyone’s time more efficient and productive.

Look into your local colleges or schools for free or inexpensive classes and discovery sessions of various activities. There are also inexpensive sports leagues that only take place in the summer and often run for most of the day. If your kids are older, talk with them about potentially getting a summer job or scheduling some activities they may enjoy.

Work ahead

Just as you can plan your kids’ activities ahead of time, you can do your best to get some work done ahead of time. Determine the time(s) of the week that you’ll be spending time with your kids over the summer break and work around that. If you know Monday mornings are your time to hit the pool or an activity together, put in a little bit of extra time on Friday to make your morning less stressful.

Another helpful tactic is to add 15-20 minutes per day so that you don’t have to spend hours at the end of the week working ahead. If you dedicate a small portion of your week to this every single day, it’s not overwhelming and can truly give you that free time that you so desire with your kids.

Allow for some space

Despite your best planning, things don’t always go as planned in the summer. Whether a storm comes up that cancels swim practice, or you have to reschedule a call to pick up your kids in the middle of the day, it’s important to allow some space for the unexpected.

This can’t really be planned for, but by working ahead as in the aforementioned tip above, you can be much more prepared for those unexpected times. Another way to allow space is to be sure that your kids understand your job, and that it requires you to work during most of the day. This is much more effective for those with older kids, as they’ll be able to entertain themselves. Create times of the day where you can do things together or offer a ride, but let it be known that you are working and you do have tasks that need to be accomplished.

When you allow for some space, keep in mind that schedule is always the #1 tip to keep things under control and juggle it all. Create a family schedule that everyone can see, along with a personal work schedule so you know you’re completing all of your work task

Written by Lesley Pyle

June 25, 2015 0 Comments

On The Go: 5 Jobs You Can Do Anywhere

We live in an age where work is no longer limited to the confines of an office or physical workplace. Now, there are a number of lucrative job opportunities that allow you to work from anywhere; whether you’re a stay at home mom, long-term traveler or simply in pursuit of freelance work to do from home. Here are a list of five jobs where you can use your talents and make money from anywhere.

Stock Photography

If you have a keen eye and a good quality camera, submitting your photography to a stock photography website is an excellent way to make money. Sites like Shutterstock accept a variety of media forms, which they offer to their subscribers. Generally, they are looking for authentic images that customers can purchase like land and cityscapes, family portraits, food and generic products. It’s easy to apply: applicants must submit 10 high-quality photos, which will be reviewed for suitability. Once you’re approved, you can upload your images to the site and will be paid out per download. Contributors can qualify for raises based on the monetary amount of photo downloads. The monetary tiers for raises are $500, $3,000, then $10,000. If you’re an avid baker with great kitchen light or a traveller who ventures to see amazing sites, capturing these moments on camera can really pay off.

Write Product Reviews

There are a number of websites that will pay you for unbiased product reviews. Products could be beauty supplies, home goods, clothing, food, technology, movies, music and/or games. Taking time to write helpful reviews that could be posted on high-volume-traffic sites, is beneficial to both you and other consumers. Ukritic is a site that will pay out when someone buys a product you recommend, whereas ReviewStream pays for review votes as well as product purchase.

Homemade Artisan Retail

If you’re the creative type who likes to indulge in crafts and homemade goods, there are a number of options for you to share your artisan goods with others. E-commerce sites like Etsy are a great way to showcase your unique product. Etsy is user-friendly with an easy-to-navigate interface. Trending items include home accents, jewelry, knitted goods, artwork and stationery. Selling your art or other product is a fantastic way to showcase your craftsmanship and profit from your passions.

Rent or Sell Clothes Online

Oftentimes, when standing in front of our closets, we are astonished by the volume of clothing we love and keep, yet never wear. Tradesy is a site where you can sell gently-used clothing and accessories for top dollar. You’ll be more apt to make a profit if your clothes are in great condition and relevant to current fashion trends. It is a simple, easy and fast process that’ll help you declutter your closet and share your beautiful threads with the world, all while making a quick buck.

Lessons and Consultations

Put your unique talents and credentials to use by offering private lessons or consultations. You can host these lessons either from your home or through an online outlet. Whether you’re a virtuoso musician, knowledgeable academic, or well-versed in the nuances of accounting, your advice and instruction could be more valuable than you think.

Written by Lesley Pyle

June 25, 2015 0 Comments

3 Tips to Use LinkedIn for Success

LinkedIn is a remarkable tool for connecting with other professionals, job searching, and featuring your past and present work. It’s also a great tool for career success, and with a few key steps, you will find that you’re reaping more and more benefits from the site.

LinkedIn is known for being more “professional” than Facebook and Twitter, and it has stayed that way for some time. Since it’s more for business, finding success on the site will look different than on others. Utilize the tips below for increased visibility and greater opportunities.

Use the Features

LinkedIn is a site full of excellent features! The Get Introduced feature is excellent, in that it allows you to contact those you do not know very well via someone you do know. It’s a great way to contact someone while having a friend or colleague in common, which always makes leads and interactions much more intimate, likely to get a response, and trustworthy.

You can also utilize the Publisher feature, which is LinkedIn’s answer to the blog post. We know that we can create short status updates, but you can post full-length blog posts with photos include via the Publisher feature. Not only does this spread your message across another channel, it establishes you as a thought leader on the site that is known for leadership, professionalism, and careers.

Be Interactive

Don’t simply create a profile and not use it! As mentioned above, LinkedIn has top notch features, but some of the true benefits lie in the day-to-day basics.

It’s important that you’re interacting – posting status updates daily or multiple times per week, liking and commenting on others’ posts, and seeking out informative articles and blog posts. You can learn a lot on LinkedIn, as well as support your fellow friends and colleagues in their workplace endeavors and accomplishments.

Work on Your Profile

Getting to 500+ connections is important, but you want to be sure that you’re only accepting people you know, or at least be discerning in acceptance. You want to keep your network as useful as possible, and the tools such as the Get Introduced feature work much better when you’re dealing with a group of connections that you actually know.

Another way to work on your profile is to be sure you have an excellent personal summary that explains who you are and what you can offer. In addition to this, list your jobs and what you were able to contribute to them. Focus on measurable results, as that’s much more helpful for potential employers to go on.

Lastly, be sure that you’re giving and receiving quality recommendations. Request recommendations from valued clients or colleagues, and be sure to give them out for a job well done. It’s important for your future employers, as well as giving you credibility in your given field. Quality, current, and accurate recommendations can truly help you in achieving a job position or being seen as an expert.

(Image courtest of talentegg.ca)

Written by Lesley Pyle

June 25, 2015 0 Comments

3 Tips to an Effective Work from Home Office

Creating your home-based office is one of the most crucial and primary steps when you begin working from home. Our work environment greatly impacts our productivity, stress level, and ability to work effectively, so it’s important to put some time, thought, and effort into creating a wonderful space.

You don’t have to go all out to create a serene office, but there are some key considerations before jumping into your work. Do you have a comfortable space? What about the chair you’re sitting in? Read along for tips on setting up a productive, supportive work station that allows for effective work and as little stress as possible.

Find the Best Location

You know what they say – location, location, location! It’s very important that you choose the best location in the house for your home-based office. Is it far from distractions? Is it in a stuffy location in the house? Does the room bring me peace and serenity?

Make sure that your comfort is included in this checklist. If you’re too close to certain things or too far from others, it can impact your workday.

Get Comfy

Spending a lot of money is not necessary! Although it will be a small investment, it’s well worth it. Do a simple search for “most comfortable office chairs” or go to your local office store to find one that suits you. There are numerous options available to you, and it’s crucial to get one that suits your body and comfort level; you’ll be spending a lot of time there! A supportive chair that keeps you in a healthy posture is absolutely key.

Another important step in setting up a comfortable office is your desk. There are also numerous desks out there, ranging from very inexpensive to quite pricy. It’s important to find something that will last and functions well for what you need. Does your job require a lot of filing? Make sure that your desk includes a filing cabinet! If your computer setup is unique, consider that as well.

Cue the Lights

Lighting is one of those things that’s not considered very often, but it can truly affect your workday. How down do we feel when we aren’t given access to sunlight or windows? It can really dash our productivity!

When you choose your office, do your best to pick a space with a window, and if you can’t do that, ensure that the lighting is top notch. Invest in a great lighting fixture or a few good lamps that produce the most natural light possible. If you cannot work near a window, be sure that you’re stepping out for fresh air and sunlight as often as you can.

(Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net)

Written by Lesley Pyle

June 25, 2015 0 Comments

4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Working from Home

When most people think of working from home, it’s a positive thing. Especially when people don’t work from home, they really see the appeal and wish they could bring that situation into their lives. Whether you’re still looking for your perfect work from home opportunity or you think you’d like to have one someday, it’s important to know if you and your lifestyle could handle it.

Before you make a big change such as working from home, make sure you’ve ironed out some of the important details of such a big transition.

Am I able to eliminate distractions?

Some of us simply don’t lead the lifestyle that will allow for eliminated distractions. Whether you cannot get the childcare or your living situation doesn’t allow for it, you need to know if you would be able to work from home.

Ask yourself if your family and living situations fit into a work from home career. In some cases, it actually works out better when work is done outside of the home. It truly depends on your individual situation, but it’s something you must consider before making the leap.

Am I motivated?

Working from home requires a lot of self-motivation and the completion of work without being directly managed, in most cases.

While it’s not a crime to lack that motivation, it’s incredibly important that you know if you’re capable of it or not. Some of us work much better in a structured environment, and actually thrive on the structure and office environment.

Am I able to provide the workspace?

Working home doesn’t necessarily require a separate room, but it’s very important to have a calm, spacious place to do your work. This can require a slight investment, some time, and the willingness to discover what works best for your comfort.

If you’re unable or unwilling to complete a setup that will make work comfortable and productive for you, working from home may not be the answer. In a traditional office, all of this is done for you, so taking on the telecommute position will require that you do this for yourself.

Am I okay without seeing co-workers daily?

Working from home doesn’t need to be an isolating experience, but it can feel that way for some. Are you okay without seeing co-workers, bosses, and people in general for longer periods of time?

Of course, if you can get out of the house from time to time, that’s great, but you will still go longer stretches without seeing people. Again, some people love this idea, and it works out well for them. Others will balance working from home with social activities and networking opportunities.

No matter what you decide, make sure that you ask the tough questions before diving in. Working from home is a wonderful concept and works for many, many people, but only you know if it’s best for you, your personality, and your unique situation.

Written by Lesley Pyle

June 25, 2015 0 Comments

Working Moms: Avoid These 4 Common Mistakes During Baby’s First Year

Your maternity leave is over, and it’s time to go back to work. In one arm, you have a newborn baby to care for; in the other, you have a laptop. First realization: You will be living a double life from here on out.

If you are fortunate enough to work from home, it will be (slightly) easier to strike a balance and remain (somewhat) in a state of harmony. Take a look at four common oversights many working moms make in their baby’s first year, so you don’t make the same mistakes.

1. They Don’t Swaddle

A fussy baby will take the wind right out of your new mom sails as persistent exhaustion sets in. Swaddling is a time-honored technique that creates a safer sleeping environment for babies. Swaddling gently supports the baby’s natural position with legs and hips flexed inside a snugly fit blanket. The many advantages of swaddling include:

Supine swaddling (swaddling and placing babies on their back) can help reduce risk of SIDS
Swaddled babies sleep better
Swaddling reduces colic and fussiness
Swaddling can help when baby is learning to breastfeed

Not all swaddles are made the same. Choose blankets that are large enough to swaddle properly and are made from soft materials like cotton flannel and cotton muslin. Swaddle blankets made by SwaddleDesigns come with instructions sewn right on the tag, so you’ll never be left scratching your head. These designs are available online or at Target stores nationwide.

2. They Don’t Preserve Enough Memories

Sixty-one percent of mothers return to work at some point in baby’s first year, according to a Child Care Aware of America study. Because parenthood, work and life in general consumes so much time, many parents are not able to preserve the memories they’d like to. Then later on, feelings of guilt crop up.

If you work remotely, you have a better chance of catching and preserving milestones. For a little help to that end, check out this Parents article featuring creative ways to preserve memories.

3. They Don’t Let Others Help

The African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” still rings true in many ways. If you are fortunate enough to have family and friends nearby, take advantage of your personal village. Here are some tips to help reduce stress:

You can’t effectively do it all. Ask your family for help.
If your spouse or other children ask to help you out, say yes. You may not realize it, but when you accept their help, they feel good about themselves. This can create a stronger family bond and reduce the stress on everyone.
If budget permits, get help from outside sources. Let the dry cleaners do your ironing or call a home cleaning service to dispel the dirt.
Delegate the things you don’t like to do.

4. They Rely on Motion to Get Their Baby to Sleep

Many parents will go to great lengths to help their child fall and stay asleep, but some of these methods are mistakes. Put an end to aimless driving through the neighborhood at midnight because your baby can’t sleep without being put in motion.

A child misses out on a deep, restorative sleep with motion-induced sleep. You don’t completely have to give up the idea of a musical swing, though. It’s okay to sooth an ornery baby with motion, but once sleep hits, stop the action and let him sleep soundly.

Being a working mom with a newborn is hard. But if you avoid these common pitfalls, it can be the most rewarding time of your life. And by swaddling, preserving memories, letting others help and teaching your baby to fall asleep without motion, you can sit back and feel a little less stress and a lot more connection.

Written by Lesley Pyle

June 25, 2015 0 Comments

3 Easy Ways to Reduce Work from Home Clutter

When you work from home, your home is your office and vise versa! Since there’s so much overlap between the two, it can be easy to see how clutter can accumulate in your work from home job.

While clutter is part of the norm in most people’s lives, it can truly reduce productivity and create a lot of mental and visual stress. When everything is kept organized and clutter-free, you’re free to focus on work. Create some of the simple systems below for organizational, clutter-reducing tips that will keep your home office stress free!

Close Your Tabs

You know all those tabs you keep open in your browser? Close them! Keeping tabs open not only makes your computer run slower, it adds mental and visual clutter. It can be stressful to open your window and realize that you have a million things “to do” or “to read” that have been sitting there for weeks.

Instead of collecting tabs, send yourself a daily or weekly email with all links of things to do or read. Get in the habit of clearing your tabs on a very consistent basis – it will both visually and literally clear up space in your mind and on your computer.

Keep it in One Space

If at all possible, keep all of your notes, appointments, calendars, presentations, and so on in one space. Google Docs is a great place to utilize documents, spreadsheets, and presentation slides, and you can integrate Google Calendar to be all under one program.

Another great tool to use is Dropbox, since it allows you to keep all of your files organized and in one place. The more you can keep things together, the better! It’s easier than searching around endlessly for files, and it keeps them from clogging up your computer’s processing speed.

Spruce Up Your Computer

Since we’re in the theme of organizing, spring cleaning your computer is important to run speed and your personal organization. We already discussed keeping browser tab numbers down, but there are other ways to keep your computer running quickly – and yourself organized in the process.

Another common place of overwhelm is the desktop. Make it a habit to clean off your desktop at the close of your workday, everyday. This way, when starting your day tomorrow, you’re not seeing tons of icons and files all over your screen.

Lastly, organize your files. When you get into the habit of clearing off your desktop daily, organizing files will become even more crucial! Create names for files that are easy for you to remember, and schedule time for filing each week. In the end, removing computer and office clutter doesn’t need to be tough or time-consuming. Making some time for these tasks each week is just another key to work from home success!

(Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net)

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