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Sorting out the clutter within and around your workspace may seem less like a tool to improve your efficiency as a remote worker, but it is what it is.

Decluttering can be satisfying and when properly done, it gives you a sense of control that is absolutely empowering.

A lot of times we keep things around because we used to need them or think we might need them but that’s not how it always goes and most of these things just end up taking space. When this happens, the joy of having them around fades into some sort of irritation and frustration but by then, we are already too attached to let go. Still, you have to.

Living with or working around excessive stuff can cause you to constantly feel overwhelmed and lead you to procrastination because you already feel exhausted before getting to the things that need to be done.

So, first, think of decluttering your workspace as a way to put your life in order. The same reason why you wouldn’t want irrelevant things or persons to get attached to you is the same reason why you need to let go of anything in your workspace that no longer serves you. And, that reason is as simple as you need to breathe.

Although papers always seem handy and useful, they are one of the easiest ways to clog your workspace and since you work at home with no janitor to pick up after you, it’s very easy to pile them up.

Gather all the papers and carefully look through them to determine what stays and what goes. You may want to keep that piece you doodled on while having a crazy negotiation but remember that if it is not important, it has to go.

If you’re the type who manages stress by doodling, you should consider getting a sketch pad to keep all your doodles in one place instead of having pieces of paper or sticky notes filled with them lying around.

Getting rid of pens can be quite challenging but not only does keeping old pens around take up space, they can be very frustrating when you need one the most. So, save yourself the stress of having to search for a pen that works from a pile of old pens in the middle of a meeting on a sunny Monday afternoon.

Breaking ties with the past can be very difficult but letting go of damaged cables, outdated documents, broken gadgets and lots more, can show you that it’s okay to let go of other bigger things in your life that you’ve held onto for so long.

Also note that decluttering doesn’t always mean throwing things away. Sometimes, all you need to do is sort and organize things accordingly. Doing this helps you to know where to look when you need a thing instead of wasting your time.

Decluttering helps you get organized, manage space appropriately, save time, and working in such an environment is great for your ultimate productivity. Find time to declutter this month, you’d be glad you did.

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Everyone loves a day off but not everyone spends the day productively. Just because it’s a no work day doesn’t mean you can’t do something exciting and productive. After all, being productive is not limited to your day job alone.

I understand that for a lot of people work is only fulfilling and enjoyable as long as it pays the bills, and as a result you may be not be thrilled at the thought of a day off.

This is absolutely relatable especially if you’ve got your hands full with kids and a side hustle or small business running aiming to thrive at all cost, then chances are you never truly get the day off because you either spend your days off checking your social media analytics, working on your accounts, or attending to emails from school teacher to suppliers.

Let’s not get into how unhealthy it is for you mentally and emotionally to not cut yourself some slacks and take a break. I’m sure you know your general wellbeing is affected when you don’t find time to relax.

So, in this piece, we’re going to explore 3 highly productive and exciting ways for you to enjoy your days off as a 9 to 5 worker.

First, do something you love. Day in day out, you are stuck with things you have to do – to survive. This time, do something you love to do, something that would be worth remembering in years to come.

If there’s a cause you’re passionate about, make enquiries about volunteering opportunities in that regard that fall on your day off and just do it. It may sound like work but if you’re really passionate about it, you’d take it as an opportunity to help the world in your own way,

You may also schedule some random acts of kindness that don’t require you to be part of any organization. For example, you may want to lend a hand in a community project, visit a children’s hospital, or care home, to read them stories or play any instrument of your choice to put a smile on their faces and yours.

Another way you can productively manage your day off is to schedule some me time. This maybe a little difficult if you have kids but with adequate preparation, you can sort that. You can start the day with scented candles, calming music, and deep meditation then take a trip to the spa for some relaxing massage – your joints and muscles will be grateful! Or, go shopping – buy yourself something that you have always wanted. You can also cook your favorite meal or try a new recipe if that’s something you’d love.

Lastly, go on a road trip. Nothing beats new sights, scenes, places, people, etc. Don’t think about it too much, just pack a bag and some groceries, get on a train or drive yourself, alone or with your family and/or friends, and go somewhere you’ve never been too.

This is a perfect way to spend your day off productively because you leave everything behind and get lost in the beauty of the roads ahead. It is re-energizing and can help you clear your head for fresh ideas.

In essence, the next time you get a day off, don’t just spend the entire day in front of the TV on the couch, do something different.

Have you ever considered why you miss deadlines and fail at certain routines? Whether as a student, 9-5er, or freelancer, you are probably looking for the best ways to achieve your daily goals within 24 hours. What if I told you 24 hours is enough to achieve your goals? Yes, you read that right. Whatever you want to achieve, or become, there is enough time.

The truth is proper time management is essential to growth. Using an effective time planner, schedule list, and setting reminders can help you achieve any goal you have in mind. Spending each minute in the day properly will help you experience maximum productivity and enjoy great personal organization. Ideally, everyone is capable of time management if they practice healthy habits. Nevertheless, if you don't have enough discipline to help you become efficient, you need time management. Most importantly, you may need some time management resources to help you plan your time and daily activities.

Here are some time management tips for you.

1. Use a time planner

The first time management tool you need is a time planner. You need to organize your day, schedules, activities, and many more. There are several available options for time planners, which includes the electronic versions available for smartphones. Interestingly, these time planners can be used for all activities. For example, executives may need planners for their meetings, conferences, or reminders for follow-up. On the other hand, remote workers or stay-at-home mums might need planners for daily exercise reminders, etc.

2. Work From A List

Every successful executive works from a duly master list. Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Mitchell Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and many others have often shared how they spend each. Having a daily list is a powerful tool because it helps you discover your minimum and maximum productivity level in the day. To create your daily list, start by writing down each task you plan to achieve at the end of the day. This will increase your effectiveness by 25%.

3. Focus on things that matter.

According to Eisenhower's decision strategy, it is possible to stay productive every day of the year with simple organizations. Using the decision matrix, you can separate your actions based on four possibilities:

Urgent and important (tasks you will do immediately).
Important, but not urgent (tasks you will schedule to do later).
Urgent, but not important (tasks you will delegate to someone else).
Neither urgent nor important (tasks that you will eliminate).

Examples of urgent and important tasks may include making breakfast for your kids or delivering a pitch to a prospective client who is never available. While some tasks may seem very urgent, they are not important, hence you must understand where each task falls. Setting your work schedules every day helps you prioritize the important activities.

3. Leverage project management apps.

Several project management apps allow you to create detailed projects that you want to assign to your team or complete. Whether you need apps for team structuring, management, or virtual meeting reminders, there are all available for smartphones.

For example, Trello allows you to work on tasks alongside your team. It has some features that allow you to divide your tasks into 'to do, 'in progress, and 'completed'.

Another app to help you break down large tasks into smaller milestones is the My Life Organized. If you get easily overwhelmed with your daily tasks, you might need the MyLifeOrganized app to navigate your daily activities. Utilizing time management apps is important, more so, many of them are free of charge. This way, nothing is stopping you from checking them out.

Finally, if you are looking for the best way to improve your daily productivity, you should identify priorities, and avoid distractions.

It is summer, another time for water play, playground activities, and some family fun. While summer is a time for some fun, playing, and catching up with friends in the neighborhood, it can be difficult for parents. Starting with home accidents, sunburn, and dehydration, these things can happen during summer. This is because summer is warmer, and many children have the backyard, playground, and pets to themselves. However, there are certain items that you need to put in place to help your kids make the best use of summer.

Firstly, there is a need to protect your kids' skin from the sun. While spending time in the sun is good, the excess sun can be harmful to your skin. Hence, there is a need for some sunscreen to protect their skin from getting sunburns. On the other hand, the skin is not the only thing to protect during summer. If your kids love water play, getting them water shoes is a must-have. Water shows protect their little feet from getting wet and cold. Interestingly, water shoes are always handy even if your kids don’t like water plays. This is because they are sturdy and slip-resistant when the ground is wet.

Are you considering visiting the park any time soon? You need a bug spray (mosquito repellant). There are several mosquito repellants in the stores, but the ideal product is a hypoallergenic and DEET-free bud spray. However, if you want your kids to spend the summer indoors, because of accidents and falls, an indoor playground is essential. The playground can be kept in your playroom, so your kids can play during the rain or when it is hot. Most playgrounds are mobile, and they are durable and sturdy.

Meanwhile, if your kids are under 3 years, getting them a balance bike can make their summer the most enjoyable. Your kids can drive through the street and your compound without getting injured or falling. A balance bike is the perfect “first bike” for every child. For kids who do not fancy bikes, getting them a scooter is important. While scooters are for everyone, both adults and children, allowing your kids to own a scooter can be a great way to keep them busy during summer.

Finally, if you are worried about your kids' health this summer, you might consider visiting the hospital to discuss the best ways to prevent different child diseases. Vaccinating your children against certain epidemic diseases such as chicken pox, and flu (influenza) during this summer is also important.

Working from home to stay, and we are here for it. If you happen to enjoy not having to deal with the stress of commuting or tolerating annoying co-workers for at least eight hours every work day, you’re going to love this piece.

Despite being a great feeling to work from home, oftentimes it can be bothersome having to set up a place to work inside the house because at the office, all you need to be productive and comfortable is usually provided by the management. But when you are a remote worker, it is all up to you.

So, how do you make your office space more attractive and comfortable?

The first thing to consider is the amount of space you need to design your office and work with it. You don’t have to use up all the space there is, nor do you have to give up on owning a home office due to lack of space.

Once you have figured out how much space you need and compared it to what you have, next think of the lighting. Some people love dark mode and their creative juices flow better in a dark room, but it’s not the same for everyone. Also, you may need to jump on video meetings once in a while, and you don’t want to appear like a shadow on the call.

So, you might want to consider picking a space close to a dependable source of lighting – be it artificial and natural. Once settled, pick your colors. Most offices are painted in the brand’s colors or grey or white etc., but you may want to do something entirely far from that, especially if bad memories from working in an office still haunt you. So, pick a color that allows you to breathe and be your best while at work.

Another thing to consider is the nearness of cable ports. Depending on the kind of job that you do, you might need to plug in a lot of stuff and you don’t want to be travelling around the house to connect your computer or print out a mail. So, ensure the sockets are close by.

Next, invest in your comfort and get yourself a comfy chair and table. You are probably going to spend the most time sitting at your table, so don’t skip this part. One of the ways to remain productive at work is to be in good health, and you don’t want to be dealing with any form of discomfort in your back, neck, or buttocks while at it. Also, consider getting a back pillow for additional comfort.

Once you have your table and chair, set up your table by arranging your stationery and other necessities for easier reach. Also, endeavor to make the room as personal as possible (there’s no nosy co-worker to deal with, so why not?). This part is necessary because you need to feel at home in your workplace, and bringing a few personal things to the space can ridiculously transform your remote office.

Bring some nature into the room with some green plants, like the Spider plant and peperomia plant. Having some plants will spice up your mood and brighten your day. Moreover, placing some inspiring art and quotes on your mood is also capable of elevating your mood. Coffee lover? Bring in a coffee maker and a music player to get over those anxieties and creative blocks while working.

Do you know pleasant scents can influence your brain activity and improve productivity? Whether you like some essential oil, air fresheners or candles, amazing scents can make your office comfortable.

In summary, if you consider carefully the options listed above, your office space will look professional yet give you room to be as casual as possible. Just ensure you never get caught in a video meeting in your pajamas.

Rest is good for the body, but if we are being honest, a lot of us have become couch potatoes in the name of resting. Truthfully, there is a thin line between what we call resting and a sedentary lifestyle. But our bodies are not meant to decide for us what to do with them, instead, it should be the other way round. We are in the best position to take care of our bodies, and today we are going to look at some simple exercises to combat a sedentary lifestyle and improve activeness.

But first, why is a sedentary lifestyle detrimental to our bodies?

According to National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPH), not getting enough physical activity can lead to heart disease, raise a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes, or increase the risk of many cancers, including cancers of the breast, colon, and uterus. Also note that living a sedentary lifestyle can cause you to burn a few calories less than your body requires, leading to weight gain. You can also lose muscle strength due to not using your muscles enough. Poor blood circulation, weak bones, and not-so-strong immune systems are also some other downsides of being inactive physically.

Now, this is not to scare you, but as much as we always keep it positive on this end, we need to keep it real as well. We need our bodies in the right shape to be able to function in business, family, careers, etc. and as such we have to wage war against physical inactivity. As we already know, the disadvantages of a sedentary lifestyle include health risks as we have mentioned earlier and that means that getting it fixed promises us a healthier lifestyle.

However, creating a new normal is going to require some conscious effort. If you have a daily routine of moving less and sitting or lying more, try to cultivate the habit of taking a walk. The goal is to transition from immobile to mobile, so get up and walk. You can walk around your house or down the street or from one room to the other, just ensure you get up from that bed or seat and walk. This may sound simple, but it is very easy to forget that you need to walk so, set timers to remind you to walk – to get groceries or back from the movies. You can take a walk with friends, walk your dog, or walk alone, but if you work from home and have to sit throughout the day, this is highly recommended.

Likewise, if you spend most of the time in an office with a bit of movement here and there, you might want to use the stairs – if available – rather than an elevator or escalator. Your body needs an adequate amount of movement to stay in shape and as much as you want to live the soft life you have been working for, you cannot afford to be too soft on your body. Another thing to do is to develop a new hobby that would grant you enough room for physical activities such as gardening, swimming, jogging, dancing, or biking.

Lastly, suppose you are finding it difficult to combat your sedentary lifestyle and improve activeness with any of these tips, you can try making yourself accountable to a friend or relative who can keep tabs on you. After all, what are friends for?

Running a business, and managing a career, can be a burden for anyone. For most career women, their days feel filled with so many interruptions like meetings with the boards, interviews, and pitches. Besides these workloads, women constantly juggle between their commitments to their families and work, making balance difficult. Owning to the fact many women are climbing the strata of success in the corporate world, questions on work-life balance has become a major issue for women in general.

Over the years, different women across the globe have succeeded in maximizing both their personal and professional life. Some of these women are business leaders, entertainment moguls, fashionistas, athletes, and entrepreneurs. This article is focused on sharing lessons on how the 3 most influential women manage their lives.

Michelle Obama: Former First Lady of The United States of America.

Have you ever imagined what it would feel like to be the First lady of a country? The national responsibilities to shoulder. Regardless, of these roles, Michelle has proved that a work-life balance is possible. The big question is how did she achieve that?

To begin, prioritize the help of people around you. These people could be your partner, parents, or siblings. This allows room for you to keep an eye on your physical and mental health. Like Michelle once said. ‘If I am healthy and happy, then I am going to be a better support to my spouse and children'. Therefore, start by working on your physical and mental health. Create some personal rules to govern your choices, and learn to consider your kids as you climb your strides.

Sheryl Sandberg, Former COO of Facebook

Most workplaces place a disproportionate burden on female workers. Meanwhile, women are still fighting labor and salary disparity in their organizations. However, Sheryl has not only succeeded in a male-dominated industry but also managed to inspire younger women on the best ways to lean in and explore their potential.

Every woman is capable of becoming frontiers in their organization. Consequently, making child support or hiring extra staff accessible. Undoubtedly, managing the home proves to be difficult because of financial restrictions. Hence, scaling your career to increase your income makes work-life balance realistic. In the same manner, negotiate with your colleagues and bosses to provide opportunities that improve your relationship with your spouse and kids.

Melinda Gates, Cofounder Gates Foundation

Career advancement is a big deal, especially for women with younger children. Sometimes, these women are trying to fit into an aggressive environment and intense work. On a contrary, you can experience a great career push without an aggressive-toxic environment. Moreover, you must discover where you fit in. Ask questions about your industry, explore options and make the right choices. Learn to trust your instincts, find your way and develop your leadership style. Do not be scared of leaving when you don’t fit in.

In summary, it is refreshing to see women leading. Thus, I believe finding work-life balance is possible with a handful of successful women across the globe.

From the moment they are born, kids begin to feel things that they communicate in their own way and in responding, the parents also communicate back to them. But over time, as the excitement of having them dwindles and the reality of raising them sets in, communication suffers. Most times, everybody is talking but nobody is communicating.

Communication between parents and kids is having conversations that mentally stimulate and help to develop both parties emotionally. It also helps to build and strengthen the bond between kids and their parents. I can imagine someone rolling their eyes and thinking, “but I don’t have time for small talk.” I understand, and I am not saying it is easy to make this happen, but if you’ve been around me for a while, you’d know by now that I am for team “give it a try” and “baby steps”. So, don’t worry. If you are willing to put in some effort and take some baby steps, I believe you will get it right.

Also note that communication is not always verbal, and we’d be looking into both verbal and non-verbal communication in this piece. Here are some tips to help you communicate effectively with your kids irrespective of your schedule.

Recognize and Acknowledge Their Feelings: We all have different emotions but the difference between adults and kids is that we’ve had these emotions longer than they have. Did their pet die? Did they fail a test? Lose a tooth? Or, did their best friend find a new friend? Ask them questions to help them figure out the emotions behind each event that happens in their lives and acknowledge each feeling.

Get Them to Talk and Don’t Interrupt: If you’ve had a long day and your kid wants to share the events of their day with you, chances are you already know how the story ends. But to help them become better communicators, you have to listen. Kids watch and imitate you; you can’t train them to listen if you don’t listen to them. You can also get them to talk by starting the conversation and seeking their response. If you think your child is lying, don’t attack them; instead, ask open-ended questions that allow them to say more and explain themselves so you can intervene accordingly.

Use and Observe Body Language: Understanding your child’s body language will help you communicate better with them. Through their body language you can tell if they are comfortable in a place or with a person or not. With this information, you can now proceed to have a verbal conversation to verify your assumptions. Also, as a parent, kids can read your body language so be sure you’re passing the right messages because unlike you, they may not verify why you are being the way you are. If your kid takes their bike out against your wish and they get hurt in the process causing you to rush home in the middle of work or spend an unbudgeted amount on getting them treated, don’t create a hedge of fire around yourself with your attitude. They may miss the point. Instead, make them know you are displeased with them and you might need a moment to let off the steam. You are human; they’d understand as they grow.

Make Time for Them: You can only make communicating with your kids happen if you make time for it. Yes, you’re busy, but having conversations on your way to pick up groceries, on a drive back from school, on a walk with the dog, or while cooking can help strengthen your bond and develop their communication skills. Above all, kids need to feel safe and secure and having a strong relationship with them where communication is encouraged helps them to feel safe and valued.

Finally, having a relationship where trivia issues can be discussed is a foundation for big and serious issues to be shared without fear of being ignored, disbelieved, or silenced. If you make time to improve communication with your kids, I can assure you that your worries would be reduced because you can be sure that they’d tell you anything and everything.

Goals differ from business to business, but over time, conversations have been about the actual amount of sleep business owners should have if they want to succeed. In some gatherings, especially on the internet, if you mention that you wake up anywhere after 4 am, you’d be roasted, toasted, grilled, whatever, name it! And, eventually, you’d be considered “unserious.”

All over the internet, there are stories of successful business owners who do not stay in bed. A lot of folks can’t wait to see the day break so that they can be up before the cock crows doing yoga, and checking emails.

The first step to figuring out how much sleep you need to smash your goal is to break down your goals. Although depriving yourself of sleep sounds like the ideal thing to do, how much work you get done while you are awake is what matters in the end.

Defining your goals should not be limited to only your entrepreneurship goals; you should also define your personal goals. How much of your life do you want to be in control of? Do you want to work round the clock with no time for yourself or your family? Do you want to suffer health issues related to sleep deprivation later on in life, or do you want to avoid that by ensuring you get enough sleep to reduce the chances?

After answering those questions, another thing to consider is how you will determine that YOU are having enough sleep. It’s all about you, and depending on your obligations within and outside of work, you can measure the worth of your sleep by how much fuel it gives you to go about your day.

Picture a mom who needs to drop off the kids at school in the morning and has clients in a different time zone. Now, imagine there’s another mom whose children are all in college and whose customers operate within the same time zone. Do you think their sleep patterns would be the same?

This is to say that the activities you need to carry out will determine how much sleep you need to get. If you have to drive a far distance in the morning to meet up with a client, you may need to get up earlier to make the meeting in time while also getting enough sleep to drive safely on the road.

It’s up to you to balance it all out, and this could mean going to bed an hour or two earlier than usual so you can rise early to do some chores around the house, make breakfast for your kids, walk your dog, or do some exercises before getting on the road.

How much sleep you need to smash your entrepreneurial goals depends on you. While you are awake, are you putting in quality work to achieve better business results? If your answer is yes, you don’t have to focus on getting up as early as others. But, if you think you can make do with less sleep than you’re currently having, by all means, go for it.

Being a single mum can be one of the most challenging things you ever have to deal with as a woman. Still, irrespective of the circumstances that led you to this point, I believe that you are strong enough to succeed as a single mum.

However, with loads of things like work and bills demanding your attention, it can be easy to ignore the importance of ensuring that your kids engage in enough physical activities, which I bet you’d agree with me is necessary to improve their general wellbeing.

According to a WHO report published in 2020, 1 in 4 adults does not meet the global recommended physical activity levels. I believe that this could have been curbed if these adults had imbibed the culture of being physically active from childhood.

In case you’re wondering what this is all about, physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by the contraction of skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. It is highly beneficial for the heart, body, muscles, bones, joints, and mind. It also enhances thinking, learning, and judgment skills. It can help reduce the risks of anxiety, high blood pressure, and a couple of other illnesses later in life.

NHS recommends that kids under the age of 5 should not be inactive for long periods, except when asleep. And adolescents from 5 to 18 should do at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous-intensity physical activities each day.

While all these are beneficial to your child, you may currently be thinking of saving up money for their education, a new car, or even a home. Still, the truth is, you don’t need to break the bank, and here are three cost-effective ways to raise physically active kids.

1. Choose activities based on their age – Your preschooler does not need to cycle. Instead of getting a bicycle for the grown-ups, you can make them walk to school or the library, depending on the distance.

Instead of buying a trampoline, you can bring out a mattress and let the kids bounce off it as they attempt to paste sticky notes on the wall to see who can aim the highest. They still get to jump, and you get to save money. Whatever you choose, ensure that it is appropriate for their age and they are safe while at it.

2. Be a role model and play with them. Children repeat behaviors that they see, and the best way to encourage them to get off the couch is by hitting the floor. Another cost-effective way to raise your kids to be physically active is to lead by example.

Going for a run? Let them come with you. Want to walk the dog? Let them join you. Carry the kids along if there’s a new routine you’re trying to learn in your aerobic classes. You can as well ditch the car and go shopping. When you do this, you become healthier, you get to bond more, and your relationship with the children thrives.

3. Make time for exercise and plan – Physical activities require intentionality. Create a list of activities (such as playing fetch with the dog, hula-hooping, or going for a hike) that fit their definition of fun and decide which would be easiest to achieve the next day or week.

For adolescents, limit screen time and set rules for access to immobile activities such as video games. Once you have their attention, get them involved and ensure that you put safety measures in place. Being a single mum is a superpower, and you have all it takes to balance it all. Need to talk more about work-life balance as a single mum? I’m here to help; book a consultation.

Here are some time management tips for you.

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