Saturday, May 30, 2020

How to Achieve a work-life balance

How to Achieve a work-life balance by Amber Rolfe Feeling burnt out? Check your work-life balance… Whilst having a successful career is an important part of many people’s lives, it’s also important to find a good balance between your job and your personal life. Not only is this great for your wellbeing, it also ensures you’re getting the best out of both aspects of your life.Here’s everything you need to know about work-life balance (and our advice on how to achieve it):  What is a work-life balance?Put simply, a work-life balance is the amount of time and focus a person gives their work versus other aspects of their life â€" whether its raising a family, hobbies, relaxation, or anything else.By maintaining it, youll improve your overall happiness and wellbeing, and in turn contribute to a healthy environment whilst at work.The exact balance you have between your work life and personal life may vary depending on your age, career goals, and other commitments but no matter what work you do or what you r responsibilities outside of work are, its absolutely key to keep the balance as even as possible.  Why do I need a work-life balance?A lack of work-life balance can take its toll in many ways; physically, emotionally and financially. Not only could it cause a break down in relationships, it could also impede your work performance.Here a few reasons to pay attention to your work-life balance:To avoid burning out. In addition to creating problems in your personal life, working too hard could also affect your career. After all, you never do your best work when you’re exhausted (and/or short-tempered). It also doesn’t look good from your boss’ perspective.To reduce stress: A person who doesnt achieve a satisfying work/life balance can end up generating extra stress in their life. As we all know, stress, when allowed to linger, often causes side effects that can lead to health issues and personal distress.To fulfil your personal and career goals. Whilst it might seem like the har der you work, the more you’ll succeed â€" this isn’t always the case. In fact, not giving yourself a break could actually mean the quality of your work decreases, therefore jeopardising your progression opportunities.Five benefits of work-life balanceHow can I achieve a better work-life balance?The first step to achieving a better work-life balance is to think about the current demands of your professional and personal life.Then, you’ll be able to establish your own set of rules that allow you to strike the right balance between each one.You can do this by:Creating realistic boundaries between work and non-work items. Whether it’s by giving yourself a clear working day (e.g. eight hours) and ensuring you don’t overdo it, or resisting the urge to check your emails on your days off â€" there are a number of ways to keep your work and personal life separate.Prioritising tasks and events within both. From setting achievable goals to organising your tasks, there are many key wa ys to ensure your focus on always on the most important/time sensitive thing â€" whether it’s at work or at home.Setting time aside for you. Give yourself a break to relax and enjoy yourself at least once a day. Whether you go for dinner with friends or simply catch up on your latest Netflix series, it’ll do wonders for your wellbeing.Learning to say no. It can be easy to overwork yourself simply by saying yes to every task that comes your way â€" but don’t feel like you have to do everything. Instead, figure out if you really have the time and energy by assessing your workload first. It’s OK to say no sometimes.Six tips to improve your workplace wellbeingSix things productive people do every dayWhy would my employer encourage this balance?It’s not just you who’ll benefit from a good work-life balance.Your employer also has a vested interest in your happiness, and will strive to encourage it in any way possible.This is because:A happy workforce results in increased produ ctivity for a companyIf an employee leaves the company due to being overworked, there are costsOffering a range of flexible working options are a great way to beat the competition and attract the best candidatesStill searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs now Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Life At Work Work-life balancefeatured

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Coaching Yourself Problem Solving

Coaching Yourself Problem Solving Eileen Mulligan is the author of Life Coaching: Change Your Life in Seven Days.   The book is designed to help readers reassess their lives, redefine success, and set new goals.   Mulligan says that “problems are a useful and necessary part of your development.   They can reveal things that you might not otherwise see.”   Losing your job in this economy is indeed a problem, and Mulligan presents ways to make room for solutions in your life and career. Mulligan says that problems, big and small, make us feel out of control.   We all spend an enormous amount of energy trying to figure out what’s coming next â€" trying to know what the outcome of a situation will be.   It’s the impulse to read the last chapter of a novel when the suspense gets to be too much. Once you know how it ends, you can relax and enjoy the story.   And possibly pick up on more clues along the way, noticing details you might have missed if you didn’t know the identity of the killer.     In my experience, it’s the same for many jobseekers.   They struggle against uncertainty.   They want to read the last few pages so they know how their story turns out. But sometimes, the future is simply unknowable.  Here’s how Eileen Mulligan suggests you cope with the uncertainty of your situation. Her first suggestion is to change what she calls the “running order” of your thought process.   The running order of thoughts is unique to every individual, and it’s in part why what’s a problem for one person is not a problem for another.   The more rigid your running order, the more problems you’ll perceive to be in your way.   Say you decide to take up running to get into shape.   It’s going fine until you develop a stress injury.   That’s a problem if you want to keep running.   But if you open your goal to be “get into shape through exercise,” you can consider swimming as an alternative.   The problem melts away, or is at least less problematic. Is there a blind spot you might have developed without knowing it? Many successful products have been developed out of failures.  The Post-it ® note was developed when a failed glue experiment produced such a weak product that it was easy to peel paper away from a surface it was glued to.   Bad for glue, but great for another purpose.   3M employee Art Fry thought the weak glue would be a great way to hold his bookmark in his hymnal on Sunday.   It would stick through the service, but peel away easily without hurting the pages when he was done.   The “problem” of the weak glue inspired the invention of   a product that has produced billions in revenue since its launch in 1980. Mulligan also believes that most problems can be solved faster if they are repositioned so that the responsibility for the problem rests with yourself. Sounds like it would make the problem worse, doesn’t it?   But it can be an exercise that helps you look at the problem differently.   For example, if you view your problem as “no one I meet at networking events ever has any good leads for me,” it will be hard to find a solution.   You’re at the mercy of the people you meet at the event, and the guest list is out of your control.   If you restate the problem: “At networking events, the way I present my skills and goals is not resulting in strong leads,” the solution lies with you.   If you can improve your presentation, you may get more useful leads. Think of the possibilities.   “No one returns my calls” turns into “I need a more compelling way to leave a message.” Mulligan calls this process being “a spectator AND a player.”   You’re no longer passively observing other people’s (bad) behavior; you can take action to change the outcome.  What problem could you reposition today?

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Quit or Not to Quit That Is The Question - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Quit or Not to Quit â€" That Is The Question - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Some concepts to evaluate your dilemma Many jobs were eliminated during the last recession and many employees contemplated a job change but they couldn’t because of the fear that they will stay unemployed for a long time. Now, a decade later the job market has improved markedly yet, the old work conditions have not improved but often worsened.   So how do you go about evaluating whether this is a good time to quit or stay?   The following questions guide your thinking. Do you have autonomy from your boss? You really like your job and you are good at.   You receive compliments and your colleagues are congenial.   You are looking forward to go to work in the morning.   But there is a problem in your relationship with your boss.   He is constantly breathing down your neck and controlling everything you do and gives you negative feedback.   How much longer can you take this? How long have you been on this job? Depending on how long that you have been in this job, you need to ask yourself if this is not the right time to move on for a bigger job, a promotion with more money and clearly a career growth.   Traditional jobs typically provide employees a cost of living increase but that is normally minimal.   In order to make a significant jump in compensation one has to change companies.   The window of opportunity is between 3 to 5 years.   Longer than 5 years in the same job is essentially just like cruising. Ask yourself if this is the right time to take a risk for the right reward. Are your long term goals within reach at your current company? When personal goals are aligned with those of the company, people seem content and productive.   Ask yourself whether your skills match with your organization’s future.   Have a candid conversation with your boss and get a reading on her opinion.   Perhaps it is time to learn new skills? Or jump ship. Has it been a year since you started working? If people are not happy on their job it is very likely that they will leave after one year.   Others leave on their second year anniversary and yet others on their third year anniversary.   If they have not left by then their tenure most likely will be long.   Anniversaries are milestones and this is a time when people take stock and make future job decision. Are you in control of your job or it is vice versa When people feel much fulfilled on their job they perform at their peak and give always one hundred percent.   But this is conditional if they feel fully in control.   If they feel manipulated by a boss or team members their satisfaction diminishes and people question themselves how much longer to stay.   Demanding jobs without autonomy lead to burnout.   Authority and responsibility should be in equilibrium.   If they are not, one should consider leaving. Is your job boring? People want to have a job which is meaningful and it has a purpose.   Researchers found that having a job with a purpose is a higher motivation than money.   But some jobs become routine and frankly boring.   If this condition is going on for too long it is time to consider a change. Are you using your skills and feel that you are learning? You may be stuck in a position where you do not have a chance to use your skills â€" those skills that you like using and know you are good at.   Or worse, you feel that your job is repetitive and you are not learning anything new.   Ask yourself if there is a way out and have a good discussion with your supervisor.   If this seems fruitless then it is time to quit. In summary These are only several questions to ask yourself about your current job.   This list is clearly not complete.   My advice is that you do not keep these issues for yourself but rather talk it over with people you trust or career coaches who could provide you advice and mentor you.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Changing Your Lifestyle To Be More Professional

Changing Your Lifestyle To Be More Professional Have you ever looked around the office and seen colleagues that aren’t as good as you at their job? Then you might have wondered why you haven’t got the promotion that someone else did. Its okay to be a little curious, but if you ponder too long without action you can become envious and bitter. Its time you made your professional attitude and competency a lifestyle.   Changing your lifestyle to be more professional can change your future. When you become far better at what you do, its usually because you have changed your outlook on life too. Have you ever noticed how CEOs don’t really have the kind of CEO qualities you have in your mind? That’s because we think they should act a certain way but its not about acting, its about being. They are CEOs because of how they are and how they live. Their career is merely a formality, they just fit into that role because of the type of person they are.   Refine and retouch Going over a report over and over is not most people’s idea of fun. However, the best employees will double, triple and quadruple check their work before they hand it in. For example, when you’re going to be handing in a sales report at the end of the month. You should have the first draft ready by week 2 at the latest. Start to get your data in order a month out and then slowly compile it together. Then when you have 2 weeks to go, you should refine your report and retouch the areas you think are lackluster. Check it over, again and again. Inspect the wording, grammar, punctuation, and the overall detail. Give your conclusion but do so in an interesting way where you also provide solutions. Whats the point of all this? Your report becomes somewhat of a novel. Its your baby, you become obsessed with and when you do, the quality will leap off the page.   Change what you eat Changing your diet to be more brain-friendly certainly wouldn’t hurt. Smoked salmon is a great way to naturally increase your omega-3 levels. Omega-3 is fantastic for helping your brain get healthier, lubricating the nerves and improving communication between the neurons. Electrical signals and general activity becomes more efficient with fewer waste products. You should also try putting cbda oil into your food and drink. Just a couple of drops in your morning coffee would benefit your mental health. Its also been known to help lessen brain inflammation which is brilliant for those that have migraines from their work. You’ll also be able to put the oil into snacks such as biscuits and bread. You won’t taste anything abnormal but you’ll be able to reap the benefits.     Come in early If you want to get ahead, don’t turn up to work right at 9 o’clock. You should make it your mission to come in early, sit quietly and think about what you’re going to be doing during the day. You’ll settle in better and work shall become more of a relaxed task than something frantic and pressure-filled. Those that want to get ahead in their career, must try to do everything they can to make their work a part of their normal lifestyle.  

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Resume Builder Writing

Resume Builder WritingResume builder writing is a task that most online job seekers can't help but take on. They wish to improve their skills and enhance their chances of landing the job they want. This can be done easily by choosing the right type of resume that would best suit your job. As a beginner, you need to make sure that you understand how the resume builder software works.It is always better to do some practice before using resume builder writing in an actual job application. You may do this by reading through the sample resumes offered by the software. These can be found in the separate category of the application you have selected. You can then apply for one of these samples. All you have to do after you have downloaded the sample is to fill up the appropriate fields in the appropriate way.Once you are done with all the necessary information, hit the 'Submit' button to start your resume builder writing. You will be asked to upload the necessary data to be entered in the a ppropriate fields of the sample resume. You may need to upload some additional information to be added to the field which you want to be written. Keep the above stated point in mind when working on the application. You need to be sure that all your data has been properly entered.Remember that even if your data has been properly recorded, it won't do you any good if you don't know how to edit it properly. There is no better way to work on your resume except to use a software that will do this for you. This software will provide you with a preview of the possible resume that you can type into the application. Once you have edited the resume and uploaded it, you can go on to review it again.The best part about using a resume builder is that you can customize it to suit your needs. This is a much better option overwaiting for an employer to change your resume. Instead, you can make changes on your resume yourself at any time without any input from the employer. Once you've created a new resume, you can save it on your hard drive for easy access. You may need to download the software in order to do this.Resume builder writing software is available in different versions. You may choose one that is appropriate for your job requirement. Some may also come with pre-made templates. It is best to look for a program that comes with pre-made templates in order to avoid making a new template.While selecting a program to use for resume builder writing, you should consider how good the package is. Some online programs are extremely cheap while others are expensive. Only choose a program that is worthy of your money. Make sure that the software is simple to use and that you can customize it as needed.The best resume builder is the one that is the best for your needs. Asking friends and family for recommendations is always a good place to start. Online you can find many review sites which can provide you with valuable information about various programs. You can also search for reviews in the internet to ensure that you are getting the best resume builder writing software.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Will your business fail if you take today off - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Will your business fail if you take today off - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Peter Carruthers ponders the entreprenurial drive and what it does to business leaders in this article. Teaser: Most of us are bogged down with a deep guilt about our businesses. We?re uncomfortable being away from the beast for too long. Maybe it?s the way we were taught ? that we have to work hard to prosper. Maybe it?s because we?re afraid it?s really going to stop breathing. [A little like the first months as a new parent when you check the baby every few hours. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Friday, May 8, 2020

3 Ways to Overcome Face-to-Face Networking Awkwardness

3 Ways to Overcome Face-to-Face Networking Awkwardness 3 Ways to Overcome Face to Face Networking Awkwardness The problem with networking is simple: IT’S AWKWARD! Even for the most outgoing, confident and experienced networker, attending a face-to-face networking event has moments of clumsiness and discomfort. But it’s still the most effective way to start building long-term, two-way relationships â€" really connecting for mutual benefit and results. The key is to learn some tricks so you get over the hurdles and enjoy the experience. Here are some common challenges: 1. I enter the event and I’m lost and intimidated. Create a rhythm of your own and keep moving around. Follow these three steps: The introduction, the conversation and the close. Ask good open-ended questions and be genuinely curious about the person you are meeting. There’s a great phrase: “Be interested, not interesting.” Listen more than you talk. Your goal is to find great people to follow up with and talk with more at a later point in time. Here are a few questions to tuck in your portfolio: What brought you to the event? How did you get into the field you are in? Whats next for you? What excites you about what you do? 2. The business card exchange â€" what to do? First, you need to have your hands free to shake hands and exchange cards, so check your coats and briefcases at the door. Second, you need to HAVE business cards and a pen and paper. If youre not employed â€" or want to keep your job search private â€"make personal business cards. If forget your cards or run out, ask the other person for their card and be sure to send them an e-mail the next day. Do the business card exchange early on â€" at the time of your introduction. That way you can observe the information on the card and take separate notes. In many cultures, it is rude to write on the back of the card, which is why you should take short notes (remember that pen and paper?). Do NOT use your smartphone or any other device because you will lose eye contact. 3. I get home and have this stack of cards. Now what? Here’s where networking breaks down. About two out of 100 people, in my experience, follow up with a contact they just met. And I dont mean clicking “connect” on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a tool, not a way to build a long term relationship. Within 24 hours, put the contents of the business card into your contact manager or address book. In the notes section, write the date, the event where you met, and the notes you took about your discussion. “Offered to meet with me; likes toy poodles; knows somebody who works at XYZ Company.” Then send individual emails, thanking each one for his or her time and requesting a follow up 20-minute conversation. Communicate your objective in a very concise way. “I’m job-searching for an operations manager in a telecommunications company and would like your advice or “Im working on a major initiative at work that I hope you can help me with.” Once you press “send,” mark your calendar for the day that you will follow up. Ideally, it should be seven working days later. Then send three more follow-up emails, one every seven working days. If they dont respond, they are not willing or able to make the time for you. Move on.