8 Tips to Set Up Your Home Office for Serious Productivity

Productivity flourishes in environments where creative thoughts bloom, distractions are minimized, and healthy atmospheres invigorate us. Many modern workplaces are cleverly designed for employee productivity, but our home offices lack these innovations. Luckily, those of us who work from home can learn a lot from the revolutionary designs of green, organized, and innovative workspaces.

Whether you’re starting your own business, you work from home full time, or you occasionally conduct business from your home office, you can benefit from optimizing your workspace for serious productivity using these tips.

1. Incorporate Your Own Style

According to a study from the University of Exeter, making design decisions about your workspace improves productivity, as well as health and happiness. In fact, the participants were found to have increased productivity of 32%.

Before you hire an interior designer to make design decisions for you, think about your personal style. Do you like urban decor, art deco, modern country, or shabby chic? What types of personal items inspire you in your workspace? Do personal keepsakes make you motivated and happy? These individual touches will make you more comfortable in your space, which boosts productivity.

2. Apply Principles of Feng Shui When Positioning Your Desk

If your workspace is making you feel sluggish rather than energized, consider rearranging it according to Feng shui practices. Feng shui is a practice that applies spatial arrangement and energy balance for optimum design and layout. The Chinese have been utilizing it for 6000 years. Feng shui practitioners believe that positive energy comes from the flow of good chi, and if the arrangement of your workspace blocks the flow of it, energy levels are negatively affected.

According to Feng shui practitioners, it’s important to place your desk in a “commanding position.” This position requires that your back does not face the door and that your desk isn’t near the door. The best position is diagonal to the room’s entrance with you facing the door. It’s preferable to have strong backing placed behind you, such as a solid wall, rather than an opening or window.

3. Utilize the Color Green in Your Home Office

Choosing the right paint colors for your home office can stimulate your creativity and productivity. According to Feng shui, green is associated with growth and decisiveness. Green brings forth feelings of calm. Moreover, a study from Stephanie Lichtenfeld at the University of Munich concludes that the color green might awaken creative performance. In the study, researchers found that a glimpse of green spurs “the type of pure, open (mental) processing required to do well on creativity tasks.”

If painting your entire office green doesn’t please you, you can still reap the benefits by painting an accent wall green. Plants and other accessories are also excellent additions for introducing green into your home office.

4. Include Natural Light and Proper Lighting in Your Home Office

A study from Carnegie Mellon University indicates that higher lighting levels and daylight simulating fixtures can improve productivity. Furthermore, in a study investigating daylighting in schools, students who studied in classrooms with the largest windows progressed 15% faster in math and 23% faster in reading than those with the lower levels of daylight.

When working from a home office, you have the luxury of choosing where your office is located to optimize light levels and natural light. Locating your office where you receive natural light is a great strategy to boost your productivity. For example, windows that face towards the south give you abundant sunshine, which is especially important during the winter months.

Improper lighting can cause eye fatigue and drowsiness, which hinders productivity. The hue of light is also a factor to take into consideration. Warm color temperatures are calming, while cool color temperatures stimulate productivity. Choosing an LED task light that allows you to change color temperature settings gives you the flexibility to select a suitable light for the task at hand.

5. Incorporate a Standing Desk

You might believe that using a standing desk is a just a trend, but did you know that it can actually increase productivity? According to this article, sitting during most of the day can decrease productivity significantly due to obesity, cardiovascular issues, and our relaxed frame of mind while sitting.

However, many who have incorporated standing desks report foot and back pain as well as achy legs. The key to avoiding this type of fatigue is to alternate standing with sitting throughout the day. Slowly work up to a goal of standing approximately four hours daily. Furthermore, choose appropriate footwear with proper support when standing. Utilize a motorized standing desk that can be easily adjusted to a standing or sitting position. Although, these motorized desks can be expensive. As an alternative, you can purchase a standing desk on wheels to use on and off throughout the day. Another option is a tabletop standing desk that sits on top of a traditional desk.

6. Clear Your Home Office of Clutter

When your workspace is free of clutter, your mind can think clearly. The first step in clearing your office of clutter is to simply rid yourself of items that you don’t need.

As for the items you wish to save that you don’t use every day, there are many organizing products that are specifically designed to organize them. Clustering your items into groups helps you find items when you need them because it’s easy to remember where they’re located. Utilize filing cabinets, decorative baskets, and other holders. These organizing items can be both pleasing to the eye and functional. Hence, attractive and organized spaces improve your happiness and productivity.

7. Ensure Your Home Office is a Dedicated and Private Space

Distractions from family members, pets, and televisions can hamper your productivity. Have you ever participated in a conference call from home and your dog barks at a delivery person or your children interrupt you? It’s embarrassing and it hinders productivity of the entire team involved. For these reasons, if you work from home, a private office is a necessity.

Set up a dedicated home office in the quietest area of your home, which is away from the bustle of everyday life. If a private office is not possible for you, consider purchasing a room divider or shoji screen to cut out the distractions at your home. Ensure family members respect your private time by using a visual cue, such as a “Do Not Disturb” sign, especially when participating on audio and video calls.

8. Improve Your Home’s Air Quality

According to a study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and SUNY-Upstate Medical School, those who work in green environments with better air quality have higher cognitive functioning scores, compared to those working in conventional airtight environments with poorer air quality. The green buildings use low emitting materials and increase outdoor air, which result in reduced VOC (volatile organic compounds) and CO2 (carbon dioxide) exposures.

In most home environments, these chemicals are found to be low. However, if you want to improve indoor air quality, there are small things that you can do. For example, the use of indoor plants improves air quality. In addition, keeping your environment clean through frequent vacuuming using a HEPA filter and dusting with non-toxic cleaners results in better air quality. Furthermore, letting in fresh air by opening windows and using ceiling fans to improve air circulation can also be also beneficial.

Featured photo credit: blupics/Home Office | San Francisco via flic.kr

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5 Ways to Excel in Life Regardless of Obstacles

What’s the difference between people who excel in life, and people who never seem to get ahead? Successful people tend to have daily practices that build over time, with consistency and determination. You can excel in life, regardless of any obstacles you come across, by following these five practices:

1. Morning Routines Create Your Future

Does it have to be morning? YES. If you want to set your day up right, you need to set the tone with daily routines. Starting your day with a positive routine such as meditating, gentle stretching or visualizing can set you up for success in whatever you do. Add goal setting to this potent time of the day in order to achieve what you want. A morning routine can be as simple as rolling out of bed, sitting on the floor and lighting a candle. You could use this time to write down your dreams, or journal your thoughts, hopes, wishes and dreams.

2. Successful People Meditate

Many celebrities and high profile humans take the time to meditate every day. Meditation allows you to treat each day as a new one, and to reset your thinking from yesterday. When you take the time to sit quietly, you allow yourself to start the day restfully and with awareness, and you give yourself the opportunity for a fresh beginning. A few meditative celebrities: Clint Eastwood, Liv Tyler and Steve Jobs.

3. Successful People Who Struggled

Many people who are successful did not start out that way. In fact, many of them were hit by rejection, denial, and near-defeat. Some of these include: Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Jim Carey, Oprah Winfrey and Fred Astaire, to name a few. What would our world be like if these formidable humans had quit before they realized their potential? Do not quit before the race is over. Get yourself on the starting line and keep going, no matter what.

4. Know What You Want – Review Goals Daily

Having a vision for your life is perhaps the greatest tool that you can utilize in order to get what you want. Identifying what gets you excited can be a complicated process, but the secret is that your needs and wants will change as time goes on. This is a necessary part of the process to figure out what you want and don’t want in your life. In short, you are not going to make a mistake by creating a vision, because it is supposed to change as you grow and evolve.

5. Be Stubborn and Control Your Memories

Get knocked down 4 times, get up 5 times. Ignore the “No’s”, and focus on the successes in your life. When you focus on all of the good things that are coming to you, effectively you are asking the Universe for more of the same. You cannot always ignore the things in your life that are going wrong. However, you do have the power to change your perspective and your thought process.

People who excel in life don’t allow the naysayers, critics and haters to control what they do next. When you realize that you are the one in control of your own life, you can begin to step into the vision that you’re creating for yourself. Never, ever give up and don’t surrender to other peoples’ visions of what they think you should be like.

You are allowed to change, grow and ultimately become the kind of person who can excel in life. All you have to do is want it badly enough, and keep going even when you feel exhausted and done. If you can heed this simple advice and stay on top of your recipe for success, you will succeed!

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Science Says A Glass Of Red Wine Can Replace 1 Hour Exercising

Are you a red wine drinker? What if I tell you sipping in a glass of wine can equate to an hour of exercise? Yup, it’s tried and tested. A new scientific study has just confirmed this wonderful news. So next time you hold a glass of Merlot, you can brag about one hour of hard workout. Rejoice, drinkers!

What the study found out

“I think resveratrol could help patient populations who want to exercise but are physically incapable. Resveratrol could mimic exercise for the more improve the benefits of the modest amount of exercise that they can do.”

(applauds)

I’m not saying this, but the study’s principal investigator Jason Dyck who got it published in the Journal of Physiology in May.

In a statement to ScienceDaily, Dyck pointed out that resveratrol is your magic “natural compound” which lavishes you with the same benefits as you would earn from working out in the gym.

And where do you find it? Fruits, nuts and of course, red wine!

Did I forget to mention Dyck also researched resveratrol can “enhance exercise training and performance”?

There are limits, of course

But, all is not gold as they say. If you’re a lady who likes to flaunt holding a glass of white wine in the club or simply a Chardonnay-lover,you have a bad (sad) news. The “one hour workout” formula only works with red wine, not non red wines. And don’t be mistaken and think you’ve managed 4 to 6 hours of workout sessions if you happen to gulp down a bottle of red wine.

And what can replace the golden lifetime benefits of exercise?Exercise is just as important as you age. Period! But hey, don’t be discouraged; look at the bigger picture here. A glass of red wine is not a bad deal after all!

The health benefits of red wine

But just how beneficial is the red alcoholic beverage to your body? As we all know red wine is a healthier choice youc an make when boozing.

Let’s hear it from a registered dietitian. Leah Kaufman lists red wine as the “most calorie friendly” alcoholic beverage. Sure, you won’t mind adding up to a mere 100 calories per 5-ounce glass of red wine after you realize it contains antioxidants, lowers risk of heart disease and stroke, reduces risk of diabetes-related diseases, helps avoid formation of blood clots and lowers bad cholesterol level.

Wantmore? Wine could also replace your mouthwash because the flavan-3-ols in red wines can control the “bad bacteria” in your mouth.To add to that list of benefits, moderate wine drinking may be beneficial for your eyes too – a recent study mentions.

Be aware of the risks, too

Having mentioned all the ‘goods’ about red wine, you cannot underplay the fact that it is still an alcohol, which isn’t the best stuff to pour into your body. What is excessive drinking going to do to your body? Know the risks and you should be a good drinker at the end of the day.

However, you don’t want to discard the red vino from your “right eating”regimen just because it stains your teeth blue. M-o-d-e-r-a-t-i-o-n. Did you read that? That’s the operative word when it comes to booze.

By the way, when chocolate is paired with wine, particularly red, they can bring you some exceptional benefits towards your health.But again, if you tend to go overboard and booze down bottles after bottles, you are up for the negative side of alcohol, and we all know what too much of sweetness (sugar) can do to our body (open invitation to diabetes and heart diseases if you aren’t aware).

Folks, the red grape beverage is certainly a good buy to have a good hour’s worth of cardio, provided you keep the ‘M’ word in mind. Cheers!

Featured photo credit: James Palinsad via flickr.com

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Everyone Can Be Great, You Just Need To Know How.

Whether you want to be a great student, a brilliant researcher, a stellar parent or a highly successful entrepreneur, you will have the same mindset. You have a goal, your values and ethics are rock solid, you persevere, and you keep victory in sight. Sounds simple, right? Well, not really. Here are some things you need to focus on to make sure you know how to be great.

1. Set big goals to empower you

If you have minor goals or objectives, you will never be great. Keep your main goal always in your mind and you will feel empowered. No harm in writing it down. You also know what your strengths are and that is key. There is also a healthy dose of self-criticism. What are your weaknesses? Can you gain new skills to deal with these?

2. Never forget your values and ethics

Above all, be aware that certain values and ethics are always the foundations of being great. You will not cheat in exams, you will not invest in shady stocks. The financial world is learning a very hard lesson in regards to toxic funds. Honesty and fair, ethical business practices will stand the test of time and are a vital component in achieving greatness. This was the conclusion of a three year study at the University of Birmingham called the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues.

3. You can handle setbacks

Read any book you want on all the great success stories of our times from Albert Einstein, Nelson Mandela, Steve Jobs, to Bill Gates. They all had one thing in common. They had to face setbacks and failure but they did not quit. The Harvard Business Review quotes a study where almost half (43%) of failed CEOs just did not bother to learn, refocus and carry on. They simply left. But you know that failure is simply not an option.

“Consider the postage stamp – its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing to get there.” – Josh Billings

4. You are disciplined

You know what steps to take to get things done. Set your daily goals which are steps on the ladder which leads to the top with that glittering prize. That requires dedication, hard work, patience and no short cuts. If you need any encouragement, read Chris Hadfield’s book An Astronaut’s Guide To Life on Earth where he will show you how to achieve greatness. He did so – imagine being on a postage stamp or coin while you are still alive! Hadfield’s inspiring message is basically that you need determination and discipline to reach your goal.

5. You make friends, not enemies

In the tough world of business and the rat race, you will be tempted to seek revenge to get even. The negative fall out from that will rebound and cause you harm. The ancient Greeks were well aware of the value of kindness and helping each other. Kindness helps you and the beneficiary. It is a sound investment and is better than status or power. Enemies will never phone you but your friends will.

6. You know how to invest your time

Time management is not just a fad, it works. How many books do you need to read to keep up in your field? How can you find time to read them all? You may be tempted to take a speed reading course, like Woody Allen.

“I took a speed–reading course and read War and Peace in twenty minutes. It involves Russia.” – Woody Allen

Technology can help you to become great. There are apps which can give you all-you-need-to- know summaries on any book in your field, like the one listed here. A great way to fill in that extra 10 minutes while waiting for a client.

 7. You know how to manage your work-life balance

In the pursuit of greatness, many people neglect to look after the emotional, spiritual, and wellness aspects of their lives on this planet. Work takes over 95% of their lives. But with small changes, you can transform the quality of your relationships and regain work-life balance. You can listen to Nigel Marsh outlining some of these small changes in the TED talk here

 “Greatness is not a destiny, but a decision.” – Byron Reese

You have decided to be great. There will be lots of decisions to make along the way which will determine your success. Above all, you have mastered the art of living a great life en route.

Featured photo credit: David Shankbone via Flickr via flickr.com

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7 Reasons Late Sleepers Are Amazing Friends

Sleeping in has negative connotations. It’s mostly because the people who consistently hit snooze are often caught running late and leaving others waiting. But sleeping in is not as big of a deal as its made out to be. In fact, people who sleep in are often better friends than those who get up early.

Here are seven reasons why:

1). You Can Connect with Them

Somebody who is well-rested is easier to connect with. People who sleep in are rarely meeting you for coffee at 6:30 AM before their big meeting. They’re also not squeezing you in between dance practice and their networking event.

Instead, people who sleep in move at a slower pace and make their connections more meaningful. You’ll never have to run a background check on a late sleeper if you have one as a friend or acquaintance because they are among the most trustworthy people you’ll ever meet, with no hidden agenda. They have more time to devote to spending quality time together. As an added bonus, that free time means that they are not thinking about other things when you’re hanging out.

2). They Remain Forever Young

People who allow themselves to sleep in aren’t caught up in the rat race. They don’t suffer from the hyper-competitiveness that plagues so many people after age 25. This keeps them feeling young and stops them from aging prematurely.

They’ve still got priorities. They’re just not so tightly wound.

Everyone needs someone like this in their life to keep you from spiraling out of control. After all, have you ever seen wrinkles and gray hairs on someone who sleeps until noon?

3). They Appreciate Their Alone Time

People who like to sleep can appreciate the time they spend alone. They’re often dreamers who enjoy spending time exploring the depths of their imaginations.

This makes them amazing friends because they can do things alone. They don’t need to call you for lunch every single day. You can take a trip together and spend some restorative time apart without questioning your friendship.

Having someone who loves you but does not need to be next to you all day is refreshing because you can grow as friends and as individuals. That is the best and longest-lasting kind of friendship.

4). They Reflect on Their Actions

Late sleepers are more contemplative than other people. It makes them great friends because they don’t jump the gun when thinking about important things. They are less likely to blame you for something you didn’t do because they thought too fast. Instead, they’re more likely to take responsibility for their shortcomings.

This translates into less drama, zero resentment and an awesome friendship.

5). They Have a Calm Aura

Everyone needs that one friend who projects a calm aura because that calmness is infectious. If you spend even a few minutes alone with them, you begin to feel better.

Their calm nature also makes them better listeners. They are more likely to listen to you when you are in distress than to jump in and offer their own advice. Then, when you’re all worked up they can bring you back down to earth with a soft landing.

6). They Work Smart, Not Hard

It is incorrect to say that people who sleep in are lazy. In fact, they’re more productive than most because they get the sleep they need and then work during their most productive hours. More importantly, they rank working smart over working hard.

It does not matter who you are, everyone can use a lesson in working productively. At the very least, it is inspiration; but if you’re not careful, your friend’s approach to sleep and life can change the way you do everything.

7). They Don’t Care What Others Think of Them

Adults who choose to sleep past 7:30 AM don’t care what other people think of them. Rather than focusing on other people’s opinions, they do what they want because who do you sleep for if not for yourself?

Having one friend who does not care about the petty opinions of others will help you remember that your ex’s mother’s sister was not right about you.

Everyone needs a late sleeper in their life. Not only do they help calm you down but they help you achieve a more balanced perspective on life. Late sleepers might often be late but they are definitely worth the wait.

Featured photo credit: Diego F. Garcia P via flickr.com

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Earn Money From Your Passions With The 5 Principles of Attraction Marketing

Wouldn’t we all love to earn money doing something we love? Earning money from our passions, with the tools and technology at our fingertips in modern-day society, is actually possible. It’s called attraction marketing.

With the explosion of the digital age and consequent social media revolution, the internet provides a vast marketplace with a size that is almost incomprehensible. There are currently more than three billion internet users across the globe, a number that is growing every second. This is almost half of the world’s population. With such a vast marketplace, there is abundant space for everyone to make money, you just need a strategy.

So, where do your passions come into this? Well, whatever it is you’re interested in, chances are there are tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands or even millions, of others into the exact same thing. We call this a niche.

Regardless of your experience online, with these interests and passions, you are in a position to be able to provide valuable information for the associated niche. And given that it’s your passion, you’re in a position to do so with energy and gusto which can be very inspiring to others, hence the term attraction marketing — your passion and character attracting similar others.

Basically, we all have something to offer in today’s world, it’s just having a strategy to make this work for you and earn money from it. That brings me onto the five principles:

1. A Website About Your Passion

Websites give you the opportunity to provide your audience with valuable information about your passion — valuable content. They can do this 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, worldwide! So if you want to make money from your passion, you need to first put it out there in some form of website. There are countless places you can do this for free or for a paid subscription. A Google search will throw up hundreds of options for you.

This website can be in the form of a blog or a landing page. A blog would consist of posts on a particular topic which give information and a point of contact. A landing page is a single page site which provides valuable information in return for a user’s email address. Both can collect potential customers around the clock. Such customers form your list of subscribers, which I will cover in more detail in principle three.

2. Advertising

It’s essential to understand that advertising online is one of the most powerful things you can ever learn to do, as it gives you the ability to put anything you want in front of anyone you want. Within minutes of building an ad, you can have your message out there, ready to provide value to an audience and make you money.

Online advertising gives you the ability to pinpoint and target your ideal customer and will underpin your attraction marketing strategy. With traditional marketing you need to convince and persuade people how amazing your product or service is. This type of promotion can immediately get people’s backs up. With targeted advertising online, you can get your products or information in front of the types of people that would appreciate what you’re offering, those who actually want what you have to offer.

Once you have provided valuable information about your passion, an ad can lead your audience directly to further information or products to buy. Alternatively, they can lead your audience to signing up and becoming a subscriber to your list.

3. List Building

A list of subscribers is simply a database of email addresses of people who have expressed an interest in the information, services, and products you are providing. Through attraction marketing, these people are those who have similar interests and passions to you or maybe people who just resonate well with your character.

Using an email management service like Aweber, for as little as $20 a month you can manage your communications automatically, using an autoresponder, to build a relationship with your subscribers and turn them from prospects into customers. This can also take place round the clock, while you sleep, automating your earning!

4. Provide Valuable Information About Your Passion

This is a critical step of attraction marketing. Once you have a list of subscribers all interested in you and your passions, it’s key to provide them with valuable content to build and develop a relationship with them. The relationship you have with your list is vital.

There are so many people and companies out there that try to convince you that their business opportunity is the best, most profitable, or has the greatest leadership, etc. But the truth is people get fed up with the bombardment and don’t buy in. It’s only once you have built a relationship by providing value that your prospects get to know, like, and trust you. It’s then that they want to buy into what you’re offering. Successful marketing should provide value 80% of the time and promote or offer 20% of the time. Using this approach of attraction marketing, you begin to stand out from the crowd.

5. Promote Offers

Once your systems are set up and you’ve built a relationship with your list, who now know, like, and trust you, you’re in a position to promote offers and people will more likely take action. That’s when the money starts to come in!

As an expert in your passion, you will be in a position to sell products or services that provide further information. There may also be affiliate offers that you could promote, too.

Let’s illustrate this with an example: if your passion or expertise is health and fitness, you will be in a position to write articles or produce videos that will provide valuable information to others in this area (e.g. Top Tips for Weight Loss or How To Build Muscle Mass, etc.). From these articles and videos, you can include a call to action, asking people to provide their email address and subscribe to further information or a monthly newsletter or video. Through your email list, you can continue to provide valuable information on health and fitness to continue to build the relationship. Now, you’re in a position to offer additional products or services. Examples may include a personalized fitness program, one-to-one personal training services, online coaching video calls, etc. If you want to go the affiliate route, you could offer other people’s products or services and receive a commission.

Now here’s my call to action: if this information interests you and you would like to learn more, check out the link in my bio at the end of this article. You can sign up for tons of free training, tools, and resources on how to make use of the internet to build a lifestyle business out of your passions.

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7 Ways To Tell if You’re Ready for a Dog

They’re cute, cuddly, loyal and smart. Recent studies even show that our canine companions are good for our health. But before you bring a dog into your family, it’s time to do a bit of soul searching to make sure you’re making the right decision—for you and the dog. Too many people impulsively get a pet when they’re not truly ready for a one. And that leads to heartbreak and too many abandoned animals in shelters.

Even if you’re responsible in all aspects of your life, you may not realize just how much time and resources are required to properly care for a dog. Do you have enough time to give them the daily exercise they require? Would you be taking care of the dog alone, or do you have family members to share the responsibility? Before you decide to bring a pooch home, consider these points so you can enjoy your new family member and don’t end up regretting your decision.

1. Is Your Yard Pet-Ready?

If you’re fortunate enough to have a yard, is it ready for a dog? Is it fenced—and is that fence secure and high enough to thwart escape artists? Dogs are family members so shouldn’t be left outside for long periods of time. But when they are outside, they should have access to a secure environment, fresh water and shelter from the elements. If you’re an apartment dweller, have you made sure that pets are allowed by the landlord? Make sure there is a park or other area nearby where you can take your dog for a walk and socialization.

2. Does a Dog Fit With Your Current Situation?

Many parents get a dog to “teach their kids about responsibility.” That’s not reason alone to get a dog. While older kids can and should help care for pets, the responsibility ultimately lies with adults. Before you get a dog, talk to your family members about what they can manage to do. Who will get up early to take Fido for a walk? Who will make sure pup is fed and always has access to water? Create a family calendar to ensure your new member is given a lot of attention, adequate exercise and the proper amount of food. Failing to create and follow a schedule could cause your pet to be overfed and not get enough exercise.

3. Where Will Your Dog Sanctuary Be?

Dogs, like humans, need their space. Consider getting a kennel that the dog can use as his “den” and retreat. It’s important to educate your children on why the dog goes to his kennel for naps and why they should never bother him there. Don’t, however, lock your dog in the crate for long periods of time. If you’re home, let the dog out of the crate immediately or they may begin to dislike their safe haven.

4. Who Will Your Dog Hang Out With?

In order to raise a dog that will have a “good head on it’s shoulders” so to speak, it should be socialized with other dogs. Otherwise, it may forget it’s manners around other dogs that pass by. A dog park is an ideal way to get your dog socializing with all types of other dogs. They are social animals by nature and most enjoy playing with other dogs. If you have other neighbors with dogs, suggest that you go walking the dogs together or set up “playdates.” An unsocialized dog isn’t a happy dog and may even become aggressive.

5. Can You Keep Your Pet Safe?

Even if you have plenty of love to give a dog, you need resources, too. Do you have the money to afford regular checkups, vaccinations and routine procedures (like spaying and neutering)? What if your dog needs major surgery to save it’s life? Veterinary bills can skyrocket quickly Before you get a dog, put some savings away in case of emergency or consider getting pet insurance of some kind. Do your homework first by doing things like checking out pet insurance reviews to find out what company offers the coverage that works best for you.

6. How Much Do You Know About Dogs?

To be ready for a dog, you need to know what dogs need. If you aren’t really sure, you have some research to do, about dogs in general and different breeds. You need to learn the basics, such as how to identify signs of illness, temperament problems, etc. Some breeds have different needs. For example, Border Collies and Labs are high-energy dogs who need lots of room and exercise. If you live in an apartment and work most of the day, these aren’t the dogs for you.

7. Do You Know What to Buy?

If you walked in a pet shop and were told to buy all the items a new puppy needs, would you know what to get? If you’re ready to get a dog, make sure you have the items you need before bringing him home. That list can be long and include dog crate, bed, collar, leash, food bowls, quality dog food, etc. It’s also a good idea to have dog treats on hand to help with puppy training. Also invest in some chew toys to deter your new friend from chewing up your favorite possessions. And borrow some baby gates so you can keep certain rooms and areas of the house off limits.

None of this is meant to discourage you from getting a dog. Dogs can improve your quality of life, and you can improve theirs. It’s just important to make sure that you know what you’re getting into before bringing a new pet into your life so that you can create a smooth transition, avoid unpleasant surprises, create a strong bond, and enjoy many happy years together. Good luck!

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8 Time Management Secrets Only Successful People Master

You work hard to provide for yourself and your family and please your boss. Is there any way you could be working harder? I have no idea, but I am sure there are many ways to work smarter. Successful people don’t necessarily work harder than you, but they do work smarter. Here are some of the techniques they’ve mastered.

1. Don’t just look busy

When the company manager walks down the hallway, everyone is on a call, in a meeting, or running errands. They look busy, but are they really busy? If you ask successful people, they will say “No.” All the above are strong signs of “mindless productivity.” This might get you lots of appreciation from your co-workers, but it definitely won’t get you a promotion — at least, not the promotion. To put it differently, working hard means you are on the track towards success, running 100 miles per hour… though not necessarily in the right direction.

2. Work smarter, not harder

The key to becoming a successful person is working smart, not hard. Quit the “robot” state and find new ways to approach each task and each project. Employ strong time management rules and software, such as TimeDoctor, and stick to cutting down the time needed to do each task. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, but you need to find new ways to use it and look at it from a completely different perspective. In time, you will be thankful for your new routine.

3. Prioritize all your tasks

Prioritization is the key for successful people – they don’t just solve all the tasks they have, they solve the most important first! Take example and find the most important tasks of the day right after you reach the office and solve them. When the most important tasks are done, you can say your day was successful, even if you don’t get to solve all the other tasks of the day. Don’t let the details drag you down, don’t procrastinate! Perfectionists often get lost in details, as they try to make everything perfect – this is a mistake, as unpleasant as it might sound. Focus on getting the large projects done, then take a second look at them, tweaking bits and pieces.

4. Gamify your work

Work gamification is a new concept, but it’s already emerging as one of the best ways to raise your engagement and change the way you work. As the name implies, gamification is the process of turning work into play, without skipping the actual work. Gamification increases your wellbeing and allows you to objectify your achievements. Just like a game, when you plan each task you can divide the work into small batches of 15-20 minutes. Then, award yourself with a treat when each task is finished. That treat can be anything you want, from a smoothie to a small walk in the park or checking your social media account. One of the benefits of gamification is you will learn how much can be done in a short time, like 15 minutes. Another benefit is the fact you are able to take some time to appreciate what you’ve just made, which is a great way to stay motivated and focused.

5. Group related tasks

The human brain is built to think of at one task at a time. When you have to do several different tasks, you need to use several parts of your brain, employing different types of thinking. If you group related tasks, your brain won’t be forced to switch from one type of thinking, such as analytic, to another, like creative, over and over again. Doing several tasks which require the same type of thinking consecutively boosts your productivity and speeds up your work. Grouping tasks is a great time management secret, as it can enhance and revolutionize the way you work. For example, if you are a writer and you have to document an ebook, document a report, then rewrite two articles and write an editorial, you’ll want to group the documentation work and the writing work. This way, you will be able to get them done quicker and easier.

6. Organize, organize, organize some more

One of the best time management hacks is organization – being organized is crucial for cutting down on the “dead” time in your workflow. Come up with a system and implement it as soon as possible. You will notice the huge difference which comes from knowing where the last week’s sale reports are and not having to spend 30 minutes looking for them.

7. Learn to refuse projects

From time to time, you need to say “No.” Overworking yourself is not the way towards success, but the way towards fatigue and exhaustion. Successful people master the ability to refuse certain tasks in order to concentrate on more important ones. Be picky and only pick tasks which mean something for you and can really give you a boost. Dedicate all your time to these projects, erasing procrastination and distractions, establishing a personal deadline for the task at hand. For example, promise yourself to complete an article in one hour. When you finish the article on time or even before your self-imposed deadline, you will feel an amazing amount of self-accomplishment. This emotion can be overwhelming and highly motivational.

8. Know when to call it a day

After all that time management, you will notice there is still a pile of work on your desk. This is the moment when you need to use the most important secret of successful people: quit it and go home. Yes, that’s right — after all the strategies to cut down the “dead” time, eliminate the excess tasks, and focus on getting the project done, you have to know when to call it a day and go home. As I’ve said, as long as you prioritize tasks and solve the most important ones, you are ready to go home. Don’t make the mistake of trying to solve everything. Instead, end your day when you are tired and you feel you’ve made a difference for someone. There will always be more work to do, but you have to live your life as well. Calling it a day is part of smart working — the most important secret of smart working, even, because it allows you to disconnect from work and enjoy life. This is exactly what makes you successful!

Featured photo credit: Flickr/Ben Smith via flickr.com

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