Guest Post - Working From Home? 5 Ways To Stop Procrastinating

Well, we all have been guilty of this at least once in a while. It is almost as if we have been cultured to this practice ever since we were students who instead of doing the homework right away would keep on toing and froing whether we should already start. They say the first step is always the hardest, that is true but is it really that bad to procrastinate until such time you are ready? From a dictionary’s perspective, procrastination is the trouble of convincing and persuading yourself to do the things you are supposed to do. As a result of this, however, you find yourself preoccupied with other trivial things and instead just let you veer away from your primary objectives. This makes it hard especially when you are committed to a goal but do not seem to have enough motivation to do it unmonitored.

It is even harder when you are distant from people who can help you overcome procrastination like in the work-from-home setup. Given that many of us were forced by the disruptions and changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority took telecommuting to their advantage. As such, employees were provided with the liberty of time and an opportunity to make a perfect work-life balance but on the other end of the rainbow, this only made procrastination even more possible. It is more difficult when you have formed it as a habit already and just like what we were taught in grade school, habits only stop when we avoid practicing them. You need to control yourself and start by learning how to say no to the temptations of doing other things that are subliminal in value. Opportunities do not always present themselves, you know. Here are a few ways on how to break this cycle:

1. It is all in the mind. If you stick with your plans as indicated on your to-do list, you will not have a hard time following through with what you need to finish because your mind will be conditioned that if you are done, you have all the time for yourself to enjoy. Mental conditioning is an important factor in performing any function as it will signal you and your body with what it is supposed to be doing. Focus on getting the task done, not avoiding it, and always think of the prize that awaits. Think of it like when you are living in a new apartment unable to determine who should be liable for mold because you started to be a couch potato while your backlogs are waiting. Perhaps you might want to skip Netflix for the night and make it your reward tomorrow.

2. Ponder on it. Upon receiving a task from your boss through your work chat app, act on it in small ways. You may not do it right away if it is not urgent but already get your mind to thinking how you can address it. As soon as a task arises, reflect on how you can go about it. Take it as an opportunity to examine and come up with possible ways to make it work. Consider innovating or finding steps in order to get it done fast but with accuracy. Research on some remote work hacks which can save you time and effort. There is always a way to do things around if you only spend enough time studying it. Do it now rather than pile it up for another day. Besides, you are still going to do it anyway.

3. Eat right to boost your productivity. Your motivation level can be affected by what you eat. A heavy meal after lunch can potentially ruin your workflow after some carb loading. When you feel heavy, you are more likely to slouch, lounge, and play around instead of working on something. If you eat right, your body will recognize the energy your meals give and this should be helpful with your performance. If you cannot skip the smorgasbord, recognize it as a reward when the day is over.

4. Mind what you say. Remember, the law of attraction. It believes that any positive or negative thoughts you tell yourself can bring positive or negative experiences into your life so if you keep saying it is hard, it will most likely be. Also, negative thoughts allow for disempowerment and can only make your willpower go spiraling down. 

5. Disconnect before it is too late. Ditch your phones, social media, and friends for a while. Timing is everything. If you keep on accepting their temptations and invites, you are derailing yourself from the plan. Distractions in your home office should be limited as well. Detach yourself from anything that can make you lose focus. Respect your time paid to work.

Analyze each task by looking at its meaning, significance, and relevance so you can, on your own, increase its value, and will be very easy for you to make a decision. All in all, it is only a matter of whether or not you can handle the consequences of procrastination. Make sure you are ready by then.

About the Author:

Bash Sarmiento is a writer and an educator from Manila. He writes laconic pieces in the education, lifestyle, and health realms. His academic background and extensive experience in teaching, textbook evaluation, business management, and traveling are translated into his works.

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10 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Office Furniture

Buying furniture is never an easy job, be it for the house or the office. There are so many factors that have to be considered across the board for things to fit; these factors range from the budget available, the space, the needs and the number of people who will be using the furniture. This is not a decision that you make overnight, and it is easy to make mistakes even with all things thought out thoroughly. But that shouldn’t be the case.

We will be looking at the most common mistakes that people make when purchasing furniture for their offices and provide some solutions and recommendations that should help you make the right choices. If you are planning to open an office anytime in the future, then this is for you.

Going for Looks over Comfort

Having an office that looks like a palace is all good, but that shouldn’t be the priority because looks don’t get the job done, but comfortable furniture will get you further. A good looking office chair will mean nothing if it inflicts back and neck pains on your employees. Consider going for a comfortable and ergonomic chair with a headrest that will make things easier for the people who use the office and the visitors who may drop by.

Consider going for a friendly and comfortable chair like the Soutien Ergonomic Office Chair that is built with all the features that provide comfort in the form of a reliable, ergonomic chair with lumbar support system, armrests, padded seats and the best part; it comes with an amazing design that will make your office look classy and refined.

Ignoring Budgeting

Having the funds to get any furniture you may want is not an excuse to go in blindly when purchasing furniture for the office because you may end up buying what you don’t need. Budgeting helps you go through several options, measuring the pros and cons of each potential buy to come with an exhaustive list that grants you the best value for money.

You have to understand that expensive does not always correspond with quality and vice versa. When you create a budget, you are able to make a mental evaluation of a piece of furniture even before the price is spelt out for you. A budget is simply a way for you to reign in on your spending so that you don't go overboard or end up with furniture that doesn't fit your needs.

Buying Furniture Without Warranty

When making big purchases that will affect the health of your business, it is only sensible that you go for products that come with warranties. You must have the freedom to return the products and get your refund without any issue coming up if they don’t align with your needs.

You must also get the full information on the after-sales care that the company handling the furniture sale plans to offer you. Do they cover repairs and maintenance in the first 12 months? Can they provide spare parts when the need for them arises? Office furniture is a lifetime investment, and you have to do everything in your power to ensure that you get the best deal out of the buy.

Ignoring Space Limitations

The office space available is a foremost factor that people consider first before deciding on the furniture they need. The bottom line is that you can only fit what the space allows, so you can’t go around buying furniture that is twice as big as the office space available. Before walking into any furniture dealership, make sure you have the measurement details of your office space.

Going in blindly without that information will only lead to you spending money on the wrong furniture, and if they don’t come with warranties, you will be forced to resize them, which is another added cost. Save yourself the headache by getting furniture that can fit. Consider empty space, too as that is also part of the office setting.

Mismatching Furniture

When it comes to buying furniture, the common practice is to source everything from one dealer; this, way; you ensure that uniformity is adhered to and you get the same quality of furniture for the entire office. But there are moments when someone ends up getting furniture from more than one place leading to imbalances in the office.

Picking different furniture pieces from different suppliers will only end with your office looking like a jumbled mess of different products, and that would not be a good look. You need to get all your furniture from a single source to enjoy the full benefits of warranties, repairs and maintenance services, among many other after-sale perks.

Buying Without Physical Checks

We live in an area where purchases can be made online and the items shipped to the buyer without both parties even coming into contact with each other. That has brought a level of convenience never seen before, but it has also opened a Pandora's box as far as delivering what was bought is concerned. 

Many furniture shops have online stores and websites where they display beautiful photos of their products. Buying the furniture based on the images you see is not recommended. A serious office furniture buyer visits the dealership physically to inspect what they want to ensure they are getting value for their money. Therefore, when furnishing your office, go to the shops personally to check everything out first.

Buying Fixed Furniture

Fixed furniture is the type that cannot be adjusted; you use it the way it arrived. This has its perks; for starters, you have the benefit of using solid furniture that is constructed to last without any moveable parts. On the other hand, you lack the flexibility to switch positions when working, something that is quickly becoming very important in the modern working space. So what’s the best way forward?

You will be better served by adjustable office furniture. The type that allows you to change the height, adjust the desktop and even switch from sitting to standing. In this regard, the best option for you would be a sit-stand desk, and currently, there is none that comes close to what a Vici Duplex Standing Desk has to offer. It is a two-tier height adjustable standing desk that comes with a control panel for switching between sitting and standing on top of being pressure sensitive when weight is applied to it.

Going for Cheap instead of Good

Setting up an office is hard and costly work. You have to handle the rent and pay the goodwill months in advance, and you have to splurge on computers, printers and other machines necessary for work to be done. By the time you sit down to budget for the furniture, you are stretched beyond your limits, forcing you to go for the cheapest furniture you can get. That’s a mistake that will be costly down the road.

The problem with cheap furniture is that it is never designed with any purpose in mind; they are made to simply fulfil the basic need of workers sitting down and doing their work. Very little ergonomics of comfort, style and functionality is incorporated. They don't last long either. It will not be long before you find yourself in the market again shopping for new furniture. 

Don’t compromise on office furniture. Get the best by all means and close that chapter for good to concentrate on other things that may need your attention.

Thinking Short-Term

Anyone who starts a business of any kind always wishes to see it grow at some point down the line, and they do everything in their power to ensure that this comes to pass. When choosing furniture for your new office, you have to think long term with your choices. How soon do you see yourself expanding? Do you have the space for adding more furniture as more workers join the setup? 

You need to operate with the mentality that your business will be growing every six months. With this in mind, you need to go for furniture that will accommodate this growth without any need for extra spending. Think about the space available, where new employees will fit in and use that to make prior arrangements. Thinking short-term will only stunt your progress; self-confidence is everything and that should be reflected in your office furniture choices.

Conclusion

Every accomplishment in life begins with a small step, and the same applies to office furniture. At some point in the future, the business will grow, and you may require a bigger space and more furniture. However, the one thing that remains constant all through is the thought process that goes into selecting and purchasing office furniture. Take your time to avoid ending up with the wrong furniture. Cover all the bases for the best results.

Post-Storm Fix-ups: How to Get Your Home Back to Good

When a storm hits your home and causes damage it can be difficult to know where to begin when it comes to seeing to the work that needs to be done. Storm damage can cause everything from cosmetic to structural damage, destroy furniture and belongings as well as damaging both the interior and exterior of the building. In order for you to make an insurance claim and begin repairs, you are going to need to have your home accessed immediately. These are post storm steps to take to get your home back to good.

Immediately Check for Damage

As soon as it is safe to do so, check your home for any obvious signs of damage as soon as the storm has passed. Take any emergency and immediate measures necessary to secure and make your home safe, or to protect your belongings. Water damage, gas or power hazards, cracks, and other dangerous situations should be reported to emergency authorities immediately as they can cause serious harm to you and the neighborhood.

Consult Storm Damage Restoration Specialists

The next step in assessing any storm damage is to contact storm damage restoration specialists so they can thoroughly look over your home and give you a detailed report on what needs to be done to get your home back to good. They will look at exterior and interior areas, can spot roof and water damage, and recognize everything from wind damage to leaks. This inspection is vital because it will determine the amount of help your insurance will provide to you for repairs.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Contacting your insurance is the next step in getting your home back to normal and will rely heavily on the damage reports you have secured. Make sure to provide all photos, reports, documentation, and receipts for items you have lost due to the damage done. All of these items will be covered in the same claim and are rarely adjusted once it is made. An insurance agent will provide you with a report of items they are willing to cover and often work directly with anyone that you secure to provide the work on your home in order to cover all necessary expenses.

A capable and thorough contractor is able to coordinate all aspects of your home repair after a storm. With estimates in hand, secure recommendations and review previous work done by a contractor before making the best choice for you and your home.

4 Signs It's Time to Have the Pipes in Your Home Replaced

Homeowners expect their pipes to keep the water flowing. And when it comes to home improvement, replacing old pipes is usually not on the list. But if you’re having plumbing troubles, new pipes might solve the problem. Here are four signs your home might need new pipes.

The Pipes Are Old

Most things wear down over time, including plumbing. Here’s how long you can expect pipes to last:

- PVC: 70 years or more

- Galvanized steel: 20-50 years

- Copper: 50 years or more

- Cast iron: 75-100 years

- Brass: 40-45 years

- Lead: Lasts up to 100 years, but replace lead pipes in your home as soon as possible. Lead is a health hazard. Congress banned the use of lead pipes in 1986.

What type of plumbing pipes are in your home? If you’re unsure, ask a plumber for an inspection. You’ll then have insight into how long you can expect the pipes to last.

Corrosion

Are your pipes clogged more often than not? Someone is possibly pouring bad things down the drains, like grease, oil, or bits of food. Corrosion can also cause clogging. Corrosion happens most often with galvanized steel pipes. Minerals and oxygen in water build up inside the pipes and cause rust or corrosion. As the situation worsens, water runs slower and slower. The only solution is to replace the pipes.

Water Discoloration

You should see clear water flowing from your pipes. Water that is brown, yellow, or has sediment means something is wrong. In some cases, discolored water is a local water supply issue. The city is responsible for solving the problem, but discolored water could indicate a problem with the pipes in your home. Call your local water company to report the discolored water. If repairs are being done in your area, the water company should inform you of the issue. They should also tell you when to expect clear water. If no repairs are being done, then the problem is with your pipes. Call a plumber as soon as possible.

Leaking

Some leaks are simple to repair. You might just need to tighten a loose connection, but if the pipes are cracked or in bad shape, leaks can mean it’s time for new pipes.

Bad plumping can cause all kinds of problems in your home, from structural damage to health issues. Replace or repair bad pipes as soon as you can. Avoiding the problem will only make it worse and cost more money in the long run.