Tag Archives: Working from Home

Keeping Energy Bills Low this Winter

November 16, 2016 By in Lifestyle, True Stories Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , 30 Comments

The heating finally came on this month. We held on for as long as we could, knowing fully well, we would have the heating on for about 5 months now. And I hear the chill is back in full force from today..

 

Christmas Night In

 

I remember this time 3 years ago, I was pregnant with my twins and boiling. I was walking around wearing only a t-shirt and leggings, and I couldn’t feel the chill. We saved lots of money then because I was a walking radiator, I didn’t need any extra heating. But as soon as I gave birth, I felt the chill so bad. Oh the joys of pregnancy!

Heating up a house can be very expensive, especially for people like us who work from home with no office to run to. Back in my employed days, I use to look forward to going to the office (not the commuting) during winter. It meant my heating was only on few hours in a day. But that is no longer the case. My home is my office, and my kids are yet to start nursery so we have to keep warm at home, which means the heating has to come on at some point during the day.

I am always on the look out for energy-saving tips. I recently came across an article written by Premier Bathrooms and I found the energy-saving tips very useful.

Here are 4 energy-saving tips I will be trying this winter:

Time your heating

Our central heating comes in at various times during the time. I find it easier to control our energy usage with a timer. I am always too lazy to go down in the morning to turn it on (when it is freezing) and I sometimes forget to turn it off, so having a timer is the way to go.

Dressing Warm

So my jumpers, onesies and my socks are my best friends this season. Dressing warm ensure body heat is retained and the chill is no felt as much. Having the right bedding – winter duvets and flannel bed sheets, also helps at night.

 

Hot Chocolate

 

Eat warm meals

Eating warm meals and taking hot drinks like the delicious cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows above is a smart way to stay warm this winter.

 

Shop around for best deals

Shopping for the best energy deals available is a smart way to keep costs down. Many people would save hundreds of pounds by switching energy providers, so it makes sense to shop around. I just switched!

 

How will you be keeping your energy bills low this winter? Please sound off in the comment section, let’s chat.

 

*This is a collaborative post.

Self-care for the Self Employed

August 25, 2016 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , 61 Comments

Fashion and Style Police Blog Image

 

Self-care is something I have thought a lot about in the last couple of weeks. I even wrote a bit about my struggles to find the time to unwind some days ago. And it is like the universe is trying to tell me something because everywhere I turn, it is a well-being blog post video, or podcast. I find it very hard to remember to care for myself because I am busy caring for everyone and everything else. But I had a reality check some days ago, and I have decided to focus on my well-being a lot more in order to get things done effectively and to be in the right frame of mind.

A happy, healthy person is a go-getter, but it can be very tricky to care for yourself when you are self-employed. When you work for yourself, from home, you will likely find it so hard to switch off. I know I do. I find it hard to get my mind off my work. I find myself working every spare moment I get, even late in the evenings and weekends. And when I am not working, I am thinking about what I need to do. But I have now realised I am doing myself a disservice by not relaxing. So I have decided to take action. Here are some ways I will be looking after me some more:

 

Exercise

My daily steps target is 10,000. Some days I am close to hitting my target, I exceed the target on few days, but most days I struggle to get past 8,000 steps. I will continue to aim to hit my daily target of 10,000 steps. Going for long walks and jogging helps me hit the easily so I will be doing more of that when I can.

Apart from daily steps, I will also continue my Fitness Blender workout on YouTube. The feeling after a good work out is heavenly, no wonder many are addicted to working out. Besides the amazing feeling and what it does to my body, I am more productive after a good work out session or after a good jog.

Many self-employed people work from home, and hardly get the time to go out, which is so bad for their health. The first step in self-care is to have daily exercise, and get out of the house some more.

 

Diet

Sometimes I can work for 4 hours straight without stopping to take a drink of water. Many times, I skip a meal while working. This is sad but it is the reality for many self-employed people. The hustle is real, and it is a jungle out there, but food and water should not be forgotten because of work. Our diet plays a major role in our health and state of mind, so we all have to pay attention to it. Eating small portions of food and drinking regularly is the way forward.

 

Regular Breaks

Taking regular breaks while working is needed. Usually, I find myself working on the couch for hours at a stretch with no breaks. This is horrible for my health and productivity. I find that when I do take regular breaks, I achieve a lot more and I feel better too. So I could write a post for an hour, then do some household chores for 20 minutes that involves moving around the house, and then send some emails for another 30 minutes. Regular breaks with some activity helps greatly.

 

Beauty Sleep

I have written a few times about the importance of having our beauty sleep, but I need to take my own advice a bit more. I don’t sleep as many hours as I should, and that has to change. A good night sleep almost guarantees a good day, so it is important we get sleep for as many hours as we need to be productive.

Having power naps during the day also work for some but it doesn’t for me. It makes me feel weird for a good few hours when I wake from a power nap, so I only have 1 if I had no bad night, up with the kids, and so on.

 

Schedule Some ‘Me’ Time

Scheduling some ‘me’ time is so important for our well-being and I rarely schedule time just for myself, but going forward, I am going to start scheduling some time regularly just for myself. We all need some time to cool off and recharge our batteries, doing what we love to do.

 

How are you? How do you look after yourself?

 

The Pros and Cons of Working from Home

June 17, 2016 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , , , 69 Comments

 

Summer Outfit Image

 

Working from home is a wonderful experience. I’ve got more freedom to work and play as I please. The thought of being stuck in a cubicle from 9am to 5pm is scary for me now. I won’t trade my laptop lifestyle for anything in the world! Of course, every rose has its thorns. Having a 9 to 5 job has its perks too. I must admit there have been are times when working from home has been a complete nightmare.
Although over the years, I have been able to strike a comfortable balance. Striking this balance was not easy. I had to play around with my routine and do a lot of trial and error, but I am happy with my work/life balance now, kind of.
I am been working from home for over 2 years now, so I know all about the pros and cons of working from home, for me anyway. I must warn you, my working from home experience may not be the same as yours, but I hope I’ll be able to hit that sweet spot where we can all relate with.
Let me start with the positive side of working from home:
1.    Flexible Work Schedule
When you work from home, you can work at any time you like. Unlike working in an office where you start and close from work a fixed time, working from home gives you the liberty to start work and close from work at any time of the day. I usually work at mornings and at nights, on most days. I like the fact that I can still work even when I don’t feel so good.
2.    You Can Spend Time With your Family
Being a freelancer is a lifestyle choice for me, rather than a career choice. I needed to stay at home with my kids, and I love the fact that my job gives me that freedom to that. Working from home gives me the opportunity to take an active part in the lives of your loved ones. I can care for my kids, and watch them grow. This ‘pro’ alone is the main motivator for me.
3.    You Get to Save Money
The money I would have spent on commuting to work and back, and lunch at a café can be saved. I no longer need to face the dreadful rush hour commute, since my business is anywhere I want it to be.
4.    You’re Safe from Office Politics and Gossip
Let’s face it, when you’re at the office you have to constantly watch your back. You never know what your boss or co-workers could use against you. When you work from home, you can be yourself. You no longer have to worry about what others think or say about you. You are your own boss. This is another major motivator for me because I can’t handle unnecessary drama at all.

 

Outfit Post Jumpsuit Picture

 

So that’s just one side of the coin. Let’s have a look at the negative side of working from home:
1.    You Tend to Work Long Hours
This is a major ‘con’ for me because I work very long hours. Working at the office gives you a well-defined schedule: start at 9am and close at 5pm, and that is it until the next working day. When you work from home you can work late into the night. Sometimes you find yourself working more than 8 hours a day, even on weekends.
2.    You Need to Have Self-discipline
I am lucky I don’t get easily distracted. When I need to work, I work, and nothing would distrate me, except my children. So when I am working at night, and everyone is fast asleep, I don’t get tempted to go on social media or put on the TV, because I know I need to get work done.

Working from home gives you a lot of freedom that, at times, you may get tempted to just relax. But if you are focused, you won’t have a problem.
3.   No Adult Interaction
Staying at home all day can be boring sometimes. When you’re at work, the office is always bustling with lots of activities, and the change of environment and meeting different people helps your state of mind. That’s something you don’t get working at home. I am a bit of a loner, a full introvert, so I don’t struggle much with this working from home issue.
So there you have it! If you had a choice, would you work from home or work in a structured office?

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