The year is coming to end and never in recent history, have we all collectively worked from home for this long. But now employees are finding a little delight in this new work approach.  

Among its innumerable benefits – zero commuting time and working in your most comfortable clothes, it still poses some challenges. One of them being a lack of productivity.

So if you fall asleep in the middle of your work, or take frequent breaks, here are 11 insane work from home productivity hacks for you.

1. Desk over the bed

While working from your bed might provide you with great comfort. But with it, comes the ordeal of battling the temptation of a deep slumber. And most often, we succumb and fall back to sleep.

Therefore it is important to set up a desk or workstation for yourself. Maintaining a straight and firm posture as you sit would further help you concentrate more.

Additionally, you can take a 2-5 minute walk to chase away the slumber if it knocks you on your desk.

2. Make a plan/ schedule 

If you used to plan your day when you worked in the office, what’s stopping you now? It’s important to keep in mind that only your work location and timings have changed but the professional obligations remain as it is.

Therefore, set targets for the day, set proper mealtime, and rest time, and don’t take too many breaks, this is all you need to stay productive.

3. Don’t assume too many changes. 

Work from home essentially comes with the perk of flexibility. However, being so flexible that you wake up at 11 isn’t a go-to approach if you want to boost your productivity. The reason being, your mind would so much be at leisure that you’d feel lazy when you start working.

But, it’s fine if you give yourself an hour more to sleep. For example, if you used to wake up at 7 am to reach the office by 9, (1 hr to get ready + 1 hour to travel). You can cut the commuting time and wake up at 8.

4. Note and analyse

One highly dependable method of boosting productivity is to work as if you are experimenting upon yourself.

In simpler words, note the time you take to complete a task. When the next time you do it, try to complete it much quicker than you did before.

5. Stay away from distractions

If there is anything other than laziness and lethargy that can prevent you from being productive, it’s the little distractions you find yourself submitting to.

What is chiefly meant by distraction in this context is your urge to check your social media every five minutes. Every five minutes you waste this way, eventually piles up to become an hour. I am sure you can do better than that.

Therefore, if you cannot keep your phone away, turn off the internet while you work to minimize distractions.

6. Maintain a semi-work attire (Disclaimer: Completely subjective)

Working from home allows you to work in your most comfortable clothes. For some, it boosts their productivity but for others, it does otherwise. The reason being, it robs them of the work-related, formal, and professional vibe they need to be productive.

Hence, consider wearing a combination of clothes that are both formal and comfortable.

For example, Top – formal shirts, Bottom – Loose formal pants. Skip the heels.

7. Make use of writing pads

Whether it is school or work, noting things down has always had the upper hand. The reason being, it helps you to be structured and systematic.

So if there’s something you feel you should note down, feel free to grab a paper and get down to writing.

Lastly,

If you think work from home is a challenge, it is not. In fact, this is what these hacks are for, to help you through this change. Just think that there is a change in the situation and you are working like before.

How do you conquer a lack of productivity while working from home? Or do you love it?

 

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The world around us is now becoming more and more cautious about the environment. The usage of eco friendly products is something that everyone is trying to do in order to save the environment. Though Christmas is all about giving presents and being happy, we can all make small changes for a more sustainable Christmas this year.

The amount of waste generated during Christmas is ridiculous. While we celebrate Christmas with friends and family, we also have to be careful about not damaging the environment. The best way to do that is by having an Eco friendly Christmas celebration. Here are some ways in which you can have a better Christmas by going green this season. 

1. Decorate your house with more sustainable options

Decorating the house is definitely a huge part of getting ready for Christmas. Often while decorating we forget to look at the amount of waste we are creating.

One way of avoiding this is to go for Christmas decorations that will last for a long time. This way you won't have to throw them out each year and be away from creating a big amount of waste.

Going for Christmas ornaments made from glass or metal instead of the ones made from plastic can also be a good idea. Not using non recyclable materials to decorate is a good step to take towards an eco friendly Christmas. 

2. Pay special attention to the way you wrap presents 

This is another part where a lot of waste gets generated unknowingly. How you decide to wrap your gifts can be another important thing in being environment friendly. 

You can always use reusable paper bags instead of the traditional wrapping paper or plastic bags. If you want to be with it, you can use fabric to wrap your Christmas gifts as well. 

Even if you do end up deciding on wrapping paper, use something that can be recycled easily. Top tip: Remember if it stays crumpled when you scrunch it, then it can be recycled, if it doesn't then it can't!

3. Select eco friendly or long lasting gifts for your loved ones

Going Christmas shopping is another occasion when you have to think about being eco friendly and choosing the correct presents. Anything that can potentially harm the environment should be avoided as much as possible. 

Just like decorations, think of Christmas gifts that will last a long time.Avoid things made from any kind of non recyclable and disposable material if you can.

We have recently been working with SaveMoneyCutCarbon and they have a *Sustainable Swap Box and Home Club membership as a great gift idea, so the recipient will be saving money and helping the planet from the moment they open the box!

4. Using reusable utensils if you plan to host a party

Christmas dinners are also a very common part of celebrating this holiday. If you plan to host a party at your house, you have to make sure it is as eco friendly as possible. 

Make sure you use reusable silverware to serve the food. Plastic utensils often end up in the trash and thus increase the waste you produce.  

Search online on how you can be as sustainable as possible during these social events. Set a good example so you inspire others to have an eco friendly Christmas as well. 

5. Last but definitely not the least - your Christmas tree!

Yes a lot of people don't buy a tree but if you do, make sure you buy the best one for the environment. Find some eco friendly alternatives if you want. 

Using a natural tree is always a better choice as the trees made from plastic can cause a huge damage to the environment. It is also easy to recycle the live trees without affecting the environment much. 

Choose a tree which has a reduced carbon footprint as an extra measure to be eco friendly this festive season.

Conclusion:-

Collectively, if we all make small changes then we can make a big impact at Christmastime and beyond.

 

* Note: We have been gifted a SaveMoneyCutCarbon Sustainable Swap Box but had no obligation to write or advertise their products. The inclusion within this post is purely on its merits.

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We have been having a discussion this week about whether guest blogging a dead technique and we don't think so. It is no longer just about getting backlinks to boost traffic on your website. Guest blogging is also about expressing your authority while writing for other businesses and thus gaining confidence and acknowledgement from clients. 

Ranking on Google and other search engines depends heavily on the type of content you are offering and your individual touch to the website. In reality, people don't usually have time to spend on refining each blog post. That is exactly where guest blogging comes into the picture. Today, let's talk about some ways in which you can make guest blogging work for yourself.

1. Look for guest blogging opportunities on search engines

As said before, a lot of people are looking for bloggers who can write quality content for their website. One better way to find such people is to research on search engines - especially on Google. 

You can search for something like "guest blogging opportunities" or "looking for guest bloggers" along with the niche you are interested in guest blogging for. See what the people offering are looking for and convince them how you can help them using your skill palette. 

2. Focus on providing content that is worth something

As a guest blogger, your main motto is to write a blog post that provides some kind of valuable information. You should not focus on promoting your website when you are writing a guest post for someone.

The website owner for whom you are writing the post will take the responsibility of mentioning your name or your website. You don't have to specifically keep pointing to it in every other sentence of your content. If you want to link something relevant to the topic, then you can go ahead and do that though.

3. Make sure your blog is ready for the traffic as well

Just because you are spending a lot of time guest blogging for someone else, doesn't mean you can completely ignore your website. Because then you won't be able to make the new visitors stay for a long time.

Keep your blog up-to-date with blog posts based on the latest trending topics and also pay attention to the overall look and feel of your site. Your website has to be interesting enough to keep the viewers coming back for more. 

4. Instead of stuffing the post with keywords, focus on satisfying the searchers. 

When it comes to writing a guest post, it doesn't demand a lot of keywords to be present in the content. The reason for that is simple - guest blogging is more about answering questions. 

Instead of focusing on trending keywords or phrases, try to write content that solves a problem or answers an industry-specific question. People are more likely to enjoy reading your content when you are helping them solve a mystery. 

5. Try to write for blogs you have never guest blogged for before

It is always an easy idea to pitch to authors for whom you have already written. But that doesn't really allow you to spread out and seek new viewer dynamics.

Try to write for blogs that you have never connected to before. It is great exposure for you and your website as well as a great new way to learn something new. 

Conclusion:-

In this article, we have suggested some ways in which you can make guest blogging a thing for you in 2020. Using these smart ways, we hope that you can write amazing guest posts and showcase your authority in the blogging world. 

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We have been pumpkin picking this week as Halloween is just around the corner, and if you always end up with more pumpkin than you can put to use, we have you covered with a few tricks and ideas. Read on to discover some cool fun and creative ways to make use of this versatile Autumn fruit. 

Pumpkin Face Masks

Pumpkin face masks are exactly what you need for a baby soft and silky skin. You can also try teaming up pumpkin puree with honey, milk, or eggs depending on your skin type. Not only is pumpkin loaded with antioxidants, but it also contains fruit enzymes that help in naturally exfoliating dead skin cells. As pumpkins are a rich source of vitamins A, C, and E, they also help combat skin damage, prevent wrinkles, and improve skin texture.

Pumpkin Crafts

Pumpkin candle holders are an easy DIY craft that you can make with the leftover pumpkin as a beautiful thanksgiving centerpiece. Simply carve out the stem portion of the pumpkin in the shape you want and add some melted was with a wick; alternatively, instead of adding melted wax to your pumpkin, you could carve out pumpkins and use a tea light candle.

Pumpkin Pickle

Pumpkin pickle is a delicious addition to all your meals and is a great source of beta- carotene which is responsible for a healthy immune system, skin and mucous membranes. As pumpkins are loaded with fiber, they help eliminate toxins from your body; therefore, making it a good addition to a detox diet. Most carving pumpkins are edible but using the sugar pumpkins that are small and round have better flavor and consistency. Interestingly; pumpkin pickles, if stored correctly, can stay good for up to 6 months.

Pumpkin Planters

Love the Halloween look on your house? Enhance the Halloween look by using pumpkins to plant your favorite plants and flowers. Pumpkin planters set up in an outdoor arrangement will remain good for up to a month, just dab some petroleum jelly on the outside to keep the pumpkin looking fresh for longer. Additionally, you can make good use of pumpkins as bird feeders. All you need to do is clean the inside, add two sticks to act as bird perches, and finally, add some bird feed. When you are ready to discard these pumpkins, you can proudly compost them.

Pumpkin Soup Bowls

Why spend on ceramic soup bowls when you can make your very own pumpkin soup bowl using real pumpkin? Making pumpkin soup bowls is quick and hassle- free. Slice off the top of the small pumpkins, scoop out the pumpkin flesh and bake these miniature pumpkins to use them as serving bowls. You can use larger pumpkins for serving juices, appetizers, salads, or desserts.

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