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December 28, 2015 0 Comments

4 Tips for a Healthy Home Based 2016

It’s that time of year – resolutions and goals are everywhere! We commit to being the best versions of ourselves in the new year, and one of the items on almost everyone’s list is the health category.

We can always strive to improve our health, and when working from home, health needs to take priority. It becomes easy to sit all day, eat all of the unhealthy foods in the house, and just generally lose sight of a healthy lifestyle.

Take breaks

When you take a break, the result is really dual-purpose – mental and physical. Taking a break gives your brain a break, and you can turn it into a physical break by taking a short walk, getting some fresh air, or doing a brief workout video.

Even if you’re extremely busy, make it a deliberate point to take short breaks throughout the day – 5-10 minutes is all you need to break up the work day!

Schedule fitness

At the top of all resolution lists is fitness! Just as you schedule important tasks to complete, conference calls, and daily to do items, scheduling fitness can really keep you healthy when you work from home.

Know yourself! If you like to get things out of the way, a morning workout might be your best bet. If you need a few cups of coffee to get moving, maybe an afternoon or evening workout suits you better. It’s not important when you do it, but that you schedule it and get it done.  Not only does fitness keep your body healthy, it actually makes you more productive and effective in your home based job.

Mental fitness

Mental health and fitness begins with balance. When you’re working from home everyday, it becomes easy to stay isolated.  Schedule coffee dates and meetings out if you can, and don’t be afraid to throw in small social meetings as well.

Working from home is very different from a traditional office environment, and it’s important to keep a healthy social life.  Maintain contact with friends and family throughout your week, and be sure that you’re venturing out of the house regularly.

Keep it positive

A healthy mind and body is nothing without a positive attitude. Health begins with your attitude, and the more that you can maintain a positive one, the more you’ll be able to accomplish. Think of your positivity as the fuel to your new, healthier lifestyle!

When you combine physical, mental, and an attitude of fitness, you’ll be well on your way to a happier, healthier new year! It’s more important that you factor in healthy habits when working from home, as there is much more opportunity to sit around and eat poorly.  Adopt these simple habits and see a change in your effectiveness and health in 2016.

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December 7, 2015 0 Comments

5 Tips for Home Based Work During the Holiday Season

It can be a challenge to juggle working from home during the holiday season. You’re doing your best to complete your tasks, but since your workspace is your home environment, this can get tricky this time of year. However, working from home has its flexibility perks, and you’ll be able to attend those Christmas concerts and holiday events with just a few tweaks of your schedule.

The holidays are a special time of year, so it’s important to recognize that and participate fully. On the other hand, work can pick up before the end of the year, so read along for some tips to manage both effectively.

Keep a normal daily schedule

As much as possible, plan ahead and keep a normal daily schedule. The more you can do this in the days surrounding the actual holidays, the more relaxed you can be on your days off.  Create a schedule now and do your best to prioritize as the holiday season moves along.

Hire some help

If your workload is too demanding right now or you want more time for friends and family during the holidays, consider hiring some help. You can find a great virtual assistant right here at HireMyMom.com. Need help with kids? Look for college students home for the holidays. They can also help with wrapping gifts, organizing your home / office and even help with some home office tasks that you’ve gotten behind on. 

Make time for what’s important

Work will always be there – but the holidays won’t be. Make time for what’s important, especially this time of year. If you have to work a weekend afternoon to be able to attend a holiday event, it’s worth the extra effort. Cherish the memories that the holidays help create. You’ll look back someday and be glad you did!

Schedule something special

Since your home is your workspace, it can feel like the day goes from work to celebration central in a matter of ours! Schedule some special outings, occasions, shows, and so on for this time of year. It feels good to get out of the house, and you can still use your home for those cozy nights over hot chocolate, good movies, and gift wrapping.

Don’t stress out

Overall, don’t stress out too much! It can seem like the work is piling up this time of year and that it will never stop.  2016 will be here before we know it, and all we can do is our best to complete the rest of 2015.

Create your schedules, make time for what’s important, and minimize stress for a fun and efficient holiday season!

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November 30, 2015 0 Comments

3 Ways to Make Money Over the Holidays

There are three simple ways to make money over the holidays – and they will all put some extra cash in your pocket this upcoming holiday season! Not only will you come out with more money, you’ll gain different experiences and ways to create more income on a regular basis.

 

The holidays are known for being a time when we spend money, not make it. Although this is common as we’re giving gifts to loved ones and donating to charities we support, you can still make money around the holiday season.

 

Utilize the Online Sites

 

Online job search sites such as HireMyMom.com are great for extra income. Not only do they provide job opportunities, but all jobs can be completed remotely – or from home.

 

The holidays are already an incredibly busy time of year, and avoiding an extra commute is key to keep stress at bay. When you join HireMyMom.com, you can easily search for jobs from the comfort of your own home.  In a matter of days, you could be getting paid to do what you love in a virtual environment.

 

HireMyMom.com works with top notch companies and potential employees who are looking for genuine, legitimate jobs. Take a look around and find that job that might be helpful for the holidays – and possibly even into the New Year!

 

Find Something Seasonal

 

Seasonal work is common this time of year, as the stores need a lot of extra help with increased customers and demand. Between department stores and small local businesses, it’s typically fairly easy to find places looking for seasonal workers.

 

Also, as the job is seasonal, you can simply see it as a way to bring in extra funds.  If you also work another job, the extra hours will not last forever.  If you have a bit of extra time, finding seasonal work is a great way to supplement your income, spread some holiday cheer, and stay busy during the season.

 

Clean It Out

 

This is a great time of year to clean out your closets! Many items can be donated, but brand new items or more obscure items may be better off as sold.

 

There are numerous ways to sell your items – online via eBay, Craigslist, and so on; in person via local Facebook “buy and sell” groups, and of course, the ever-popular garage sale, which is really only applicable if you live in a warm climate!
Selling items that you aren’t using is a great way to make room for the new items you’ll likely gather from the holidays, as well as bringing in some extra cash.

 

Taking some time to look through used clothing, new clothing that you won’t use, or various household items – there are bound to be several things that you don’t need anymore.

All in all, making money over the holiday season is a relatively simple task.  Go through your unused items, inquire about potential seasonal work, and go online for home based options at sites such as HireMyMom.com. You’ll find the holidays less stressful on your bank account in no time!

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November 18, 2015 0 Comments

Career Advice from Leading Mom Executives

According to Pew Research, women only make up five percent of CEOs in the nation’s Fortune 500 companies and only 17 percent of their board members. For a woman, running a corporation while balancing a family is rife with issues from business acquisitions to missing school functions. Meanwhile, no one thinks much about how CEOs who are fathers manage to do both.

 

In a business world dominated by male leaders, the advice from leading mom executives resonates with women everywhere. Whether you’re hoping to gather some inspiration to get back into the workforce or calculate your next career move, these women leaders have insights to share.

 

Hilary Schneider

President of LifeLock, Hilary Schneider, oversees all aspects of the company’s business strategy from operations to growth and formerly held an executive role at Yahoo. Despite Schneider’s role as a business leader with a focus on strategy, she gave a speech with Arizona Women’s Leadership Forum on the necessity to focus on employee culture as a means for transformation and engagement. Schneider knows that strategy isn’t everything. Ignoring a new generation demanding a better work-life balance is detrimental to business.

 

LifeLock aligns itself with that same point-of-view with a challenging work environment that still fosters and honors work culture. Wellness rewards, four weeks of paid time off from year one, an anniversary recognition program and tuition assistance are just some of the perks extended to employees to help integrate a balance of work and play into their culture.

 

Ann-Marie Campbell

President of Home Depot’s Southern Division, Ann-Marie Campbell started at the corporation as a cashier in 1985. Campbell told Georgia State University’s alumni magazine that she loved the personal family atmosphere of Home Depot and being given challenging opportunities. She credits speaking up and staying open to opportunities as a means to get seen and mentored by people who could help.

 

Campbell believes the world is a community and developing others is truly when you succeed. Home Depot’s job page reflects those sentiments with everything from hiring events to military job seekers, volunteer opportunities and job postings. Moms looking to align themselves with a family-friendly company and emulate the success of their female leaders can set up a Google job alert to keep tabs on positions that get them closer to their goals.

 

Indra Nooyi

PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi shook off criticism when she focused on healthier snack and drink options and pivoted the company. Not one for hiding behind corporate rhetoric and marketing trends, she publicly proclaimed Pepsi needed to address obesity and stuck her ground on the long view instead of what investors wanted to hear.

 

Nooyi is fearless, but told “Fast Company” that some of the best advice she ever received was to improve yourself in order to improve your organization. Much like any mom, whether a top executive or not, it’s integral to improve yourself in order to help guide the family and create an environment poised for growth.

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October 12, 2015 0 Comments

4 Ways to Stay On Task Working From Home

 

Working from home can really free up a lot of time in your schedule and allow you more time with family.  It’s an unconventional method of working that has many benefits, but it’s still work – and work still needs to get done in your day.

 

Without the structure of an office environment, it can be more difficult to stay on task and keep productivity flowing. Although this can be a challenge to figure out at first, staying on task while working from home can be attained in a few simple steps.

 

Separate Your Space

 

We hear it time and time again, but having a separate work space is truly a big key in a less distracting home based career.

 

Set up a desk and workspace that allows you time to be quiet, work with limited distractions, and is comfortable. This also allows you to separate work from home life, which is another important part of staying on task when it is working hours.

 

Take Breaks

 

Breaks are an overlooked important part of our workdays.  When we don’t take breaks, we tend to veer off course and start surfing Facebook, Instagram, and Googling random items online.

 

Taking breaks gets your blood moving, rests your eyes from the computer screen, and gives you something to come back to with full attention.  Taking 5-minute walking breaks, getting some fresh air, or just going out in the yard with your dog can be the mental break you need to stay on task throughout the afternoon.

 

Remove Distractions

 

Distractions are the #1 issue with working from home and staying on task.  Whether TV or radio stations distract you, first you have to learn what gets you off track and remove them.  While some people can work just as effectively with the TV going in the background, others would find themselves watching a movie marathon in no time. Know what your distractions are and eliminate them!

 

While you can’t always have a child-free or pet-free home to work, you can schedule babysitters for important meetings or schedule the important stuff around nap times or play dates.  Staying on task requires a bit of effort in removing any distractions, but it’s worth it for the work that needs your undivided attention.

 

What’s Important?

 

Determine the most important tasks and do them first! When you work from home, and especially if you’re also responsible for childcare, your days can take different turns than expected.


When you complete the important items and check them off your list early in the day, you free up the rest of your time for variable time schedules and happenings.  Prioritize with a list, calendar alerts, or by scheduling meetings at times when you’re least likely to have a distraction or something come up.

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September 4, 2015 0 Comments

How to Separate Work From Home in a Home-Based Job

When you have a home based career, work and home life can start to feel like the same thing. While it’s a huge benefit to work from home, some separation is not only healthy, but necessary.

 

We all know that taking breaks and switching up your environment can be important, but there are some other small shifts you can make to make your work from home career truly feel more like a traditional office job – without the commute!

 

Mark it down

 

Do something work related to mark the end of your day.  Whether you close all work-related browsers, set your autoresponder on your email, or simply close your laptop, make sure that your work day truly ends.

 

Another trip to help with this it to set up your schedule for the next day or week.  This is very helpful mentally, since you’re looking forward and acknowledging that your work for the day is complete.  You’re giving your brain a break – a mental break and sign that you can rest and enjoy your home time.

 

Shift into something new

 

Just as you did something in the aforementioned tip to signify the end of your work day, start something non work-related when you’re finished for the day.

 

It can be as simple as starting dinner, taking a walk, or sitting outside with your family, but this physical break is also important in getting you into “home mode” when work is done.

 

Set office hours

 

Just as you have work hours in an office job, you should set similar hours at home.  While some jobs require unconventional hours, and it is nice to have the flexibility to work anytime for certain positions, setting hours keeps you from working endlessly.

 

Even if your hours are more 11-7 than 9-5, that’s just fine – stick to them as much as possible.  It’s important to choose hours that work best for you, your family, and your lifestyle.

 

If you must, log some time outside of office hours once in a while, but stick to it as a general rule. Everyone is much more mobile since we have smartphones and laptops, but those in a traditional job typically do get more “down time” when they go home for the evening; you need to enjoy this time too, so do your best to keep work to your set office hours.

 

Set up the environment

 

Make sure your environment feels like an office. It’s tempting to lay on the couch to work, but you won’t be nearly as productive, and it can feel more like a sick day than work.

 

Set up your peaceful, well-lit home office for a truly productive experience that feels like going to work.  You still get all the benefits of a home based career – no commute, more time with friends and family, and flexibility.

 

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August 31, 2015 0 Comments

5 Top Productivity Tips for Work From Home Employees

Productivity comes down to a number of things when working from home – organization, use of space, and the ability to take a break from your surroundings.

 

It’s important to utilize all three tactics when you’re trying to be more productive, especially if you work from home. Since you’re lacking the accountability of an office environment, which can certainly assist in getting things done, it’s important to put your own systems in place.

 

Stretch

 

Productivity isn’t all work related! Stretching, moving, and walking throughout your day is key to physical and mental health, which makes you more productive in the long run.

 

Set a timer or alert on your phone to get up and stretch. Even if it’s just for 2-5 minutes, it’s enough to refresh your mind, bumping up productivity for the rest of the day.  Set intervals to make this a regular occurrence in your day.

 

Get out

 

Productivity stalls when we stay at home for too long. It just becomes redundant to look at the same few walls and workspace. In an office, you have the changes among your co-workers and employees, but at home, there’s not much difference in the day to day.

 

If you’re able to do so, get out of the house a few days per week.  Whether it’s during business hours to work at a coffee shop, or in the evening at a networking event or with friends, it’s crucial to your productivity and sanity!  Make a few plans during the week, even if it’s just to work in a coffee shop for a couple hours per day.

 

Take the time

 

Do your best to set up a proper environment that will allow you to be productive.  If you’re constantly looking at a messy house, or sitting in an uncomfortable chair, you’re not focusing on what matters – your work.

 

For a few dollars and some time, you can set up a warm, comfortable workspace that allows you to focus on your daily tasks, not that uncomfortable setup. In the evenings, make sure that your space is clean and comfortable for the next day as well.

 

Communicate

 

If you work with other employees or just one boss, make sure you’re communicating.  Even if you have to send out a daily email asking for feedback or a check in, communication keeps things on track.

 

Productivity can stall when you’re waiting on a co-worker to complete a task, or if you’re waiting for approval from your boss.  Do your part by communicating and staying in the loop as much as possible.

 

Set a schedule


It all comes back to scheduling, and there’s a good reason for this.  Schedules keep things orderly as well as productive. Choose one day per week that becomes your “scheduling day” and keep to it. It doesn’t need to take more than 15-20 minutes, but set out your goals and tasks for the week.  As a bonus, it feels great to be productive and check those items off of a list during the week!

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August 10, 2015 0 Comments

4 Tips to Transition Back to Work

School is starting again soon, and if you’re a work from home mom, you might have taken a short break or lessened up on your work over the summer months.

While this is a typical practice in the summer with certain jobs, the fall brings new schedules, structure, and a return to the “normal” that we see the rest of the year.

Use the tips below to help you transition back to work and ramp up your business this fall.

Take it slow

Slow and steady is really the key here! You don’t want to rush into your new routine, since this can be jarring to your, your health, and your family.  It’s best to take it easy and do one thing at a time.

Start by laying out everything you need to purchase and do for the upcoming weeks.  From here, lay it all out, and lastly, start implementing. It’s a time to make those little changes before the big changes take place in just a couple weeks.  Although we love the freedom of summer, sometimes the structure of fall helps our productivity and effectiveness.

Take care

As schedules change and we get more and more busy, it’s important to take care of yourself.  This means getting adequate sleep, exercising and eating right.  It’s a good time to look up healthy recipes online and get a schedule in order for the fall, making it much easier to meal plan and keep healthy meals on the table.

Exercise can be as simple as evening walks with your kids while they’re still in summer mode, or getting out to take a class with a friend.  It’s all about re-establishing those healthy structures that will keep you happy, healthy, and stress-free as the school year begins.

Get things organized

Start now with your family calendars! Now is the time to get life back on a schedule.  Get yourself (and your kids!) to bed earlier, and begin to get back into your fall schedule mode. Purchase a refrigerator or desk calendar that works for the whole family. It’s best to use dry erase markers for changes, as well as any additions that might be needed.

Getting your calendar started now is the key here. It’s not ideal to wait until the chaos of school starting to get things in place – the time is now. Take a big picture look at your first few months of fall, decide on activities and obligations, and be sure to pencil them in as soon as possible.

As far as work, begin your calendar and list here as well.  Start deciding how your days will change, what work you’ll be adding, and how to balance it all with other family obligations. It’s important to get an overall view of this now, so you can avoid overwhelm in the near future.

Enjoy it

When it’s all said and done, the summer will end soon and fall will be here any minute. Enjoy summer while you can! Fall is full of fun activities and the new excitement of school, but it can be hard to realize that summer has passed.

Above it all, enjoy the last few days and weeks of summer. Even though you’ll be starting to get things back to normal and on a more regulated schedule, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on those spontaneous moments of summer. Enjoy them while preparing to make your transition forward!

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July 27, 2015 0 Comments

3 Steps to a Successful Job Search

A thorough, successful job search can seem like a part-time job! To do it correctly and effectively, you often have to dedicate a lot of time and effort into the process.

Although creating a professional is first and foremost, it is just one of several components of a successful job search; the others include: materials, preparation, and mindset.  With these three tools at the ready, you’ll be well-equipped to succeed in finding your ideal position.

Materials

As we mentioned before, materials are the first thing you must nail down. A professional, grammatically correct resume, cover letter, and any portfolio pieces are all important.  Include information that is specific and provides numerical support, or includes recommendations as part of the package.

Your cover letter should specify the desired position, what you bring to the table, and any applicable job experience.  Portfolios are necessary for most jobs these days, and you can either build one in a binder or via an online portfolio option.  Create your materials first, as you’ll need to be ready to send them at a moment’s notice.

Preparation

Preparation is the all-encompassing theme of a solid job search, and it’s something that starts at the beginning of your search and ends with the follow through.

You start preparing by creating your materials, reviewing them yourself and with a friend or family member, finalizing them, then beginning the actual search.  Your search is also something to prepare for! What kind of job are you looking for?  Do you want to work from home? THere are specific work-from-home job sites like HireMyMom out there, for the specific purpose of working from home.  There are also industry-specific job sites which can be helpful if you’re looking to stay in a particular field.

Following up is the last part of the puzzle, but one to look into right away; don’t wait until your first interview and realize you aren’t prepared with any sort of follow-up.  Start by creating the content of an email inquiring about the status of the job position, as well as the content of a thank you note for your interviewer.  Once these are at the ready, all you have to do is add in a bit of personalization for each interview.

Come up with a list of sites to search, a materials-needed checklist, and a list for follow through.

Mindset

Mindset is #1 in almost everything we do, and the job search is no different.  It can be tough out there, and sometimes job searches can go on for a very long time.   Prepare yourself mentally that it could take a while, and determine what you really want from the get go.  While your dream job might not show up immediately, it’s important that you don’t settle and take a job that you cannot see yourself enjoying or succeeding in.

Know what you want, persevere in your search, and stay positive.  If you have solid materials in place, additional necessary preparation completed, and a great mindset, your next job is closer than you might think!

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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.

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