Tips for Finding Work-Life Balance When Working Remotely

The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have permanently changed life in the workplace for many Americans. While working remotely began as a temporary solution to aid with social distancing and minimizing contact with others during the early days of the pandemic, it is now a more permanent practice for many people across the country working in a variety of fields. While the option to work from home was helpful for some, and many are excited to have the opportunity to continue remote work moving forward, there is no denying that it can have negative consequences, especially for those who have a lot going on at home or were already struggling to find a good work-life balance. For parents, working from home can mean having difficulty separating time for household responsibilities from time for their employer, as well as time for their family once the day is done. While working from home can mean having the flexibility to spend more time with family, it can also mean having difficulty setting firm boundaries and only doing work during work hours. 

Image:pexels.com

If you find yourself struggling to find a balance between work and your home life as a result of working remotely, here are a few tips. 

1. Develop a Strong Morning Routine

When working in a traditional office setting, it is likely that you have a morning routine that centers on yourself and your family as opposed to work. When working from home, it can be easy to blur the lines between work and home and begin your morning by checking emails, making phone calls, etc. instead of giving yourself time to wake up before heading into “the office.”

While working remotely, you should begin each morning by getting dressed, spending time with your family, and having breakfast. This will make the work days you spend at home feel more “normal,” while setting a firm boundary that your time in the morning is still yours, and leaving work to be done within your designated office hours. 

2. Set Up an Effective Office

The key to maintaining a balance between your personal and professional life while working remotely is setting up a home office that is completely separate from the rest of your home. Limit personal distractions such as a TV or your children’s toys to signify that this room is for business only. Having good office furniture from a company like Key Interiors is also key to making your space look more professional and keeping you on track. Try to limit the number of family members who are allowed to pop in during office hours, and try not to leave your office except for lunch and other short breaks to limit distractions such as housework or tasks that could otherwise disrupt your workday. 

3. Set Firm Hours

One part of working remotely that can lead to a disruption in work-life balance is the fact that work can often be done asynchronously with your coworkers allowing you to work at your own pace, meaning you are likely to be less productive during the day when distractions are present but must catch up at an inopportune time when you wouldn’t normally work. Limit work hours to your typical schedule, and refrain from doing any business outside of those hours, including things as simple as checking your email or making a call. This is an important boundary to set, and will be one of the most effective ways to strengthen your balance between work and personal life.

Read more...

How to Choose the Right Knife for the Job

Knives are extremely versatile pieces of equipment that are used in a variety of applications other than cooking. Especially within the kitchen, these knives might play various functions since different variants are designed to execute specific tasks. 

Image:bestjapanitems.com

1. Types Of Knives

It is critical to use the proper knife for each culinary activity—a knife that's too big or too little might result in a cut from too much power or overcutting, and a knife with the wrong edge for the work could result in a slip that results in a cut. As there are simply too many general-purpose knives to cover, we'll concentrate on kitchen knives. A chef's armory often includes a paring knife, a santoku knife, a bread knife, and a cleaver. These are the most basic and often used knives, while there are many more for specific applications and others that are variants on the most commonly used blades. A petty knife is an excellent choice for a general-purpose knife that can aid you with everything in the kitchen. A deboning knife is a preferable solution if you need to handle something specific, such as filet a bone-in piece of meat.

2.  Features Of Knives

Even with a single type of knife, like a chef's knife, there are several variations, each with slightly different alternatives that make them more suited to specific tasks. One notable distinction is the knife's construction material. When looking for the best alternative for the knife's blade, deciding between vg10 steel and s30v steel might be challenging. The blade material is also an important component in the pricing of a knife; particular metals may be expensive. Knives also range in appearance, with some made of conventional materials such as sturdy plastic, making them ideal for professional use. Some, on the other hand, have ivory handles and are more suited for exhibition than practical work knives.

3. Purpose Of Each Type

Some variations in knives, like handle material, are just cosmetic; others have an utilitarian purpose. Many people seem to believe that a beef knife is curved solely for aesthetic purposes, yet this form is necessary while cutting meat to prevent the meat from being ripped or shredded by the blade. This is why having the correct knife for the job is important, but one thing that is necessary for any knife is how sharp it is and how well the blade can retain its sharp edge. One of the numerous advantages of having high-quality steel blades is that, while they are tough to sharpen, they grow exceedingly sharp and may keep that fine edge for a long time.

4. The Situation

Occasionally it's just not practical or appropriate to use the knife you want, and sometimes the knife you're using won't do the job no matter how skilled you are. Certain situations necessitate quick fixes. For example, if you're going camping, using a full-sized chef's knife without a cutting board may be more of a problem than a convenience. Conversely, if you need to open an oyster, no matter how talented you are, you are unlikely to succeed with a bread knife. In this case, there is a significantly greater possibility that you may injure yourself and fail to complete the task.

5. Price

There are cheap knives and expensive knives, even among practical everyday knives. You may not comprehend the importance of these pricey knives as a home cook, but after you use one, you will understand why chefs are so serious about their knives. While pricing might vary greatly, when it comes to knives, you usually get what you pay for.

Conclusion

Whether you want to acquire a knife for a specialized task or an everyday knife to use in the kitchen, ensure that it can be maintained. Buying a high-end knife isn't just about the blade; you also need to know how to sharpen and maintain it correctly to get the most out of it. Finally, you should be comfortable with the knife you're using, but just don't anticipate being without practice. 

Read more...

Self Care Tips for New Moms

After having a baby, everything changes. Whether you are a first time parent or just gave birth to your fourth child, welcoming a new baby is one of the most challenging (although rewarding) experiences one can have. For new moms, it can be hard to prioritize self care in the midst of caring for your new child and adapting to the changes in your home and family life. Without taking the time for self care, however, new moms are at risk for more serious symptoms of postpartum depression, and are more likely to  experience burnout which could lead to further mental health related problems. 

Image: pexels.com

Despite what you might think, self care does not need to be expensive or time consuming. If you  are a new mom, here are 3 simple ideas for self care that can be done in the midst of even the  most hectic schedule. 

Take a Hot Bath

The best way to gett a little bit of “me time” even in the midst of a hectic schedule is by taking a hot bath. Use a bath bomb, scented bubbl bath, or muscle relaxing epsom salts for a little extra pampering. Light some candles, play your favorite music, and boom - your bathroom is turned into a relaxing spa. 

Focus on Fitness

While you shouldn’t feel pressure to look a certain way after giving birth, working out and creating a physical wellness routine can help alleviate some negative postpartum feelings and boost confidence. Whether you seek treatment from a clinic like ThriveMD or work with a trainer to establish a workout routine at your local gym, focusing on physical wellness after giving birth is a great way to put yourself first.

Get Support from Friends 

When caring for a new baby, you might not find yourself with much spare time to spend with friends or loved ones. Spending quality time with friends can help to alleviate stress and can help you get into a routine of doing things that you enjoyed pre-baby. If you are struggling to find time to socialize, pick one or two nights per week when your partner or another loved one can watch the baby while you go out for coffee or grab dinner with some friends. 

The best self care requires nothing more than taking time to do something for yourself that you really enjoy, even if it’s small. These 3 simple ideas can provide much needed rest and relaxation for new moms. 

 

Read more...

5 Features for Turning Your Bathroom into Utter Bliss

For some people, bathrooms are just the place where they go to get ready for the day or wash off the grime of a hard day’s work. However, with just a few changes to shake things up, it can be an area of utter bliss that not only succeeds in getting you clean but washes away the stress of the day as well. Here are five features for turning your bathroom into perfection. 

Image:pexels.com

A Tub You Could Sleep in

It’s time to get rid of your old crusty tub and replace it with one that surpasses your expectations. Finding a great tub is a matter of personal preference, but you’ll undoubtedly want a large one, possibly with jets. If tubs aren’t exactly your taste, installing an upgraded shower can transform what used to be about simply getting clean into a full-on relaxing experience.

Plenty of Sink Space

If you find yourself fighting your spouse for sink space, it might be time for an upgrade. Adding more sink space with an additional mirror room will allow you and your spouse to get ready for the day without throwing elbows. This is also a good opportunity to install a second sink with custom bathroom countertops. You’ll have enough room for all your bathroom accessories without knocking them over when you reach for your toothbrush.

Heated Floors

Do you hate waking up in the morning and stumbling into the bathroom where the cold tiles just make you want to crawl back into bed? With heated floors, you’ll never have to experience that again. By installing radiant heating on your bathroom floors, your feet will never succumb to icy titles.

The Perfect Throne

While there’s nothing wrong with the average toilet, why would you use one when you could have a throne? There are porcelain beasts with heated seating, built-in bidets, and even self-cleaning properties! Once you’ve used a toilet like this, you’ll never want to go back. Installing a toilet like this will seriously change your life.

Inviting Lighting

Lighting can transform a room from a dark dungeon into a bright paradise, or anything in between. Forget about the standard lighting that you most likely have in your current bathroom and replace it with something spectacular. There are nearly limitless options of lighting styles to choose from, along with warm, soft, bright, and dim lighting.

Pick a style that works for you and light up your new bathroom!

Why Would You Ever Leave?

Adding these upgrades to your bathroom can heighten your morning routine like never before. You’ll quickly find that with features like a heated floor and the perfect tub, there will rarely be a reason to leave your bathroom.

Read more...

3 Ways to Improve Your Home Office

Perhaps one of the only benefits of the COVID-19 pandemic is the introduction of working from home for many Americans who were not able to do so previously. Working from home is more convenient than commuting to and from an office, and can help free up time for busy employees across the nation; however, doing so comes with its own set of challenges, such as difficulty balancing work and home life for some who struggle to leave a tough day’s work at the office, now that their office is their home. This is why it is extremely important to have a solid home office set up, which keeps any supplies that you may need nearby while also creating a space where you can work separately from the rest of your home responsibilities and distractions. 

Upgrading your home office to make it a permanent space where you can work efficiently and free from distractions is the key to maintaining the perfect home and work life. Whether you seek actual office furniture from a company like Key Interiors to truly make your space feel like an office or just want to add a little extra decor to match the rest of your home, here are 3 simple ways to spruce up your home office to make working from home an even better deal.

Image:pexels.com

1. Stay Active With a Standing Desk

No matter where you’re working from, sitting at a desk all day can be boring (and bad for your back). Switch things up with a standing desk! If you’d like to get a quick workout while you work, invest in a mini treadmill and walk or jog while you type. This will improve your mental and physical health, and make every workday exciting. 

2. Ergonomic Keyboard

Say goodbye to sore wrists and discomfort in your hands or arms thanks to your bulky, company-issued keyboard; you get to choose the equipment in your home office, so it’s time to invest in an ergonomic keyboard that was designed with your maximum comfort in mind. You can get both wireless and traditionally wired keyboards that are compatible with all devices. This is a seemingly small but extremely effective upgrade for any home office. Your wrists will thank you!

3. Soft Lighting 

Bright, fluorescent lights that most office spaces come equipped with can trigger headaches and are generally unpleasant to deal with during a long workday. Good news: when you work from home, you choose the lighting. In your home office, you should opt for soft, more dim lighting as it is shown to be better for your mental health and requires less straining of the eyes during a long day of staring at a screen.  

Read more...