Business Plus Baby

Image: Pexels

Are you attracted to the minimalist lifestyle? Want to start but don’t know where to begin? Perhaps you are about to launch a new business and you wonder how a “less is more” mindset holds up as a business model?

If any of these questions strike a chord, then read on. Here are ways the pursuit of minimalism can help you in your business life.

Declutter your sphere.

Minimalism is a mindset, but that mindset is most often translated into actions. When your space is cluttered with non-essentials, the result is living and working in a non-streamlined space. You may find yourself taking more time than necessary to complete tasks because of this.

Kickstart your minimalist lifestyle by decluttering all the items in your universe. Donate those unused items to charity or get cash for junk cars. You will feel lighter at the end of the day and readier to take on what’s up ahead.

Focus on the important.

Do you often find yourself fiddling with busy work because you don’t want to tackle an important project? Take a minimalist approach and ask yourself what is the one task that you absolutely must complete by the end of the day. Do that thing first. You might even be able to get away with not doing the time-filler work. By eliminating the non-essential things, you can get more done.

Offer only the best.

Offering a multitude of services might be a nice bonus, but sometimes, this array of services can be a time and money drain. You may want to ask yourself: What is the one main reason customers come to me and not to my competitors? Focus on honing that aspect to where it can stand on its own, without needing the prop of additional hype or service to gain new clients or ring up more sales. The old adage rings true in business: Do one thing and do it well.

Do only what you can do.

Are you a micro-manager? Do you feel that you are the only person in the world who can fill out a form in the correct way? Stated like this, it sounds silly. Yet many small business owners and entrepreneurs fall prey to this mindset. However, if you have hired a team to help you, allow them to earn their paychecks. If you don’t have a team, consider getting one so you can outsource the nonessentials. This should free you up to focus on the heart and core of moving your business forward.

Re-evaluate priorities.

Often, where business and minimalism diverge is in how both fields view success. Businesses see growth in profits as their measure of success. Whereas, minimalism evaluates whether one has “enough.” This thinking might be hard to swallow for those entrenched in the corporate world. But it might be good to evaluate whether “more” for you will truly equal more of the things that you want in life. Aspects such as happiness and quality of life have been shown to taper off after a certain income threshold. So pursuing money for an investment in happiness makes sense only to a certain point.

In fact, trying to achieve more in business could hurt your health or relationships. Ask yourself how much business success is enough for happiness, retirement, and the fulfillment of your goals. Pursue enduring success and realize that success metrics are not rigid.

At first glance, it might seem that minimalism and the pursuit of less stuff can’t possibly overlap with one’s business pursuits. You might be tempted to think that you can keep to your minimalist ways at home, but at work it’s a different story. You’ll be happy to hear that the minimalist lifestyle’s key tenets are those of striving for simplicity over complexity. And this way of thinking can benefit you—no matter the sphere of life.

Photo: Concord90

Let’s face it. The American workplace values dedication, but it often takes things too far, while not reciprocating what it demands every time. As a result, if you feel a bit of guilt about taking time off, don’t. Whether it’s to be used for an emergency, vacation, or even a break to unwind, time off is valuable. In fact, not only can using your time off make you a better employee but even lead to a healthier lifestyle. More productivity while you’re at work, less stress and work at home, there’s plenty to use. Yet only 77% of people in America are fully using their time off. In addition, vacation days are approaching a historical low.

Why this is the case is an article in and of itself, but we can surmise is that even with opportunities to take time away from work, people won’t use it. This article will cover the two main components of time off from work:

1. Keeping abreast of what you’ve earned.
2. Making sure you don’t cause issues with work when you get back.

The Lay Of The Land

Note that technically, most organizations are not required to provide vacation, paid or unpaid, for their employees. At the same time, most employers will put together some sort of vacation package. After all, you need to appeal to potential talent if you want a business to grow. The same applies to sick leave, with the exception of a few jurisdictions. What this does mean, though, is that each company’s approach to time off will be different. The best thing you can do is speak to your human resources department or whoever is responsible for your duties. They will let you know how much time off (paid or unpaid) you have, as well as how it is earned. Some companies let you accrue it, while others provide you with a flat amount for a certain period of time. Know the policies inside and out to make sure that you’re not missing out on time you may have earned.

There are also a few things to keep in mind regarding how your employer responds to your request. For example, there are no laws regulating how much your employer contacts you on vacation. In addition, they can also revoke said time off anytime, even if you get formally approved. With this said, there’s a common thread at work here. Many employers have the option to do so but often would avoid it in hopes of retaining talent and keeping them happy. Still, emergencies may happen.

Working With Your Employer

We mentioned before that there is little legal control regarding employers and how they handle your time off requests. In general, this means you may need to do a little clever talking to get your requests approved.  For the most part, especially if you are taking a day off for a mental health day or something similar, vagueness is the way to go. All you need to do is cite personal business. Mentioning something like a family illness can sound like a good idea, but what if you bring said relative to the Christmas party and get confronted with your lie?

Some people may recommend using various tools if you’re stuck against the wall, like a doctors note. Finding a doctors note template to put together isn’t difficult, but if you want to go this route, keep these things in mind.

A: Be sure you find one that fits both your needs and your medical history.

B: Don’t go to this well too often, as the more you use it, the less effective it is.

C: In general, treat these as a last resort if you need a mental health day with little notice or something similar. Time off when you need it makes you a better employee, but don’t jeopardize your job.

At the end of the day, when it comes to your time off, the best thing you can keep in your mind is that you deserve it. Like any other perk or benefit of your job, you’ve earned it. Putting it into practice may take a little bit of work, but you will ultimately be a better, more relaxed worker in the end. This is something anyone in any field can appreciate.

 

A Business Continuity Plan is essential to any business. Its main function is to highlight all potential risks that may face your business and make you think about how you’d react and survive if something major were to happen, such as a natural disaster or an IT failure.

Take a look at this infographic for an overview of what your business continuity plan should include.

Credit: Flexispace

 

If you’re a mother working from home and trying to juggle your job and your family, it will be important for you to look after yourself too. After all, there are lots of things dependent upon your health. If you’re put out of action because you feel unwell, you won’t be able to bring in an income and you won’t be able to look after your children. So, it’s important that you consider your health when you’re working from home. Here’s how to ensure you stay healthy in your home office.

Have a Dedicated Working Space

When you work from home, it’s easy to blur the lines between work and the rest of your life. There are distractions everywhere, and you may find that you’re just not able to devote the same amount of attention you would be if you were working outside of the home. However, working from home does come with more flexibility so to help you concentrate on your work, it’s best to have a dedicated working space. If you have your own office in the house, you’ll be able to close the door on everything else.

Photo credit: Bonsoni

Good Posture

Most people who work from home spend their time hunched over a computer desk. It’s important that you maintain a good posture while you’re working so you can avoid suffering from back ache. Doing some research into desk chairs will allow you to invest in a chair that’s right for you. Don’t be tempted to do all of your work from your sofa. Your back won’t thank you for it.

Move Around

It’s easy to get engrossed in your work and when you’re a working mother, you sometimes have to cram as much as you can into the time that you’ve got. But, if you’re sat at your computer desk for hours at a time, you risk poor circulation and headaches. It’s important to give your whole body a rest, including your eyes, by getting up and moving around. Leave the room for half an hour. Make yourself a cup of tea and sit in the garden for a dose of vitamin D. You’re sure to return to your work feeling refreshed and motivated.

Photo: webandi

Stick to Your Schedule

When a distraction arises, how many times have you worked through the night to get things done? Many working mothers swap sleep for work in order to meet deadlines. Although it may seem like the only way to get things done, you aren’t doing your health any favours. Here are some tips for sticking to a schedule. You’re much better off going to sleep early and waking up early, instead of trying to work when your body is tired.

Stay Hydrated

Many people who work on screens all day put their headaches down to their computers. However, the majority of adults aren’t getting anywhere near as much hydration as they need in a day. Keep some bottled water and healthy snacks on your desk so you don’t have to make too much effort to stay hydrated and avoid headaches.