Staying Responsible For Your Children's Future

 Being a parent is hard - we all know that! Whether you’re working from home whilst looking after your children, or you’re juggling childcare and work-related needs at the same time, you’ve got it difficult! Getting through the day-to-day is a real achievement when you’ve got so much responsibility on your plate, but unfortunately, your work doesn’t end there. 

There are so many future considerations to keep in mind whilst raising your kids to be good, safe, and kind people. After all, you’ve got to ensure your kids are ready for the world and to do that, you’ve got to have responsibility in mind at all times. And with that in mind, here are the top three things you’ll need to do right now to make sure your kids do well when they hit the age of 18 and beyond. 

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Teaching Your Children How to Handle Their Emotions

You don’t have to make your children happy at all times, of course, but you do need to show them what to do to handle their emotions. Handling emotions is a big deal, and a lot of adults can’t even do it! This is why it needs to be something you pass onto your children; teaching them to be productive with their feelings will lead to them being well-adjusted adults, and it’d certainly help them to stay close to you as they grow and become more independent. 

Focusing on Your Children’s Financial Future

Of course, you can’t work for them, but you can set them up with the right habits (and the right background resources), to ensure your children spend and save well when they’re all grown up. Giving them their own bank account, which you control, is a good way to introduce them to such a concept in the long term. 

You could also think a little more about taking out a life insurance policy - it’s a big step, but it’s a good idea if you’re not sure if your current savings would be enough to keep your family going if something happened to you. But you need to work with an insurance company you trust! For example, check out some National Life Group reviews before you buy anything, and be sure to compare what’s on offer with other companies. 

Showing Your Children a Good Example

Finally, your own thoughts, actions, and behaviors come into it. You need to be the person they look up to and keep in mind when making decisions - you’re their whole world right now, and as they get older, they’ll take the lessons you give them to heart. Make sure you’re showing them to behave in a way you’d be proud of, and would ensure their health and happiness when they’re finally out there on their own two feet. 

Your children need to learn a lot before they grow up and move out - make sure you keep the above ideas in mind as they grow, because they really matter! 

10 Ways To Keep Busy In Quarantine

 

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If you are having trouble finding ways to fill your time throughout quarantine then take a look at our suggestions below.

1. Start a journal or blog

If you like writing, then why not think about starting a journal or blog. Writing down your thoughts and feelings can be very therapeutic. If you have an interest or hobby that you think other people would love to hear about then creating a blog online for people to read is the way forward.

2. Complete odd jobs around the house

Do you always find a task to start and find you never quite get to finish it, while the world is quiet, now is the best time to complete all those odd jobs around the house. Just think how much better you will feel after, knowing everything is in working order and looking normal again.

3. Catch up on all your programs

At the moment we find ourselves confined to our homes, so what better way to make use of our time here to catch up on all our local tv shows. Take advantage of streaming sites such as Netflix and catch up channels. 

4. Get organized 

Whilst you have a bit of downtime it's a good chance to start getting organized and planning for your future. Whether that's a business plan for work, choosing what schools to attend or planning your next family holiday. If you are planning on starting a business this year or are looking to expand your current one then start writing your business plan for the year now, clearly outline your goals and targets and refer back to it throughout the year. If you are deciding what way to move forward academically then take this time to research colleges and courses. There are many sites you can get information on, whether it's for the best online mba programs or local art classes.

 

5. Be Active

When we are cooped up inside all day it can be hard to find the motivation to stay active. Try and exercise each day for a minimum of 15 minutes, this can be in the form of walking, running, cycling, swimming or any other activity that gets your heart beating faster. Staying active isn't just about how you feel physically but can also be beneficial to our mental health. Getting out into the fresh air has been proven to help with our mental wellbeing and it is sometimes nice to have a change of scenery. Consider taking part in the couch to 5k challenge to get you started on your fitness journey.

 

6. Learn a new skill

Have you always wanted to learn a new skill, it might be learning a new language or a musical instrument, if so then why not start now. Find a local class or head over to youtube, there are many online videos to help get you started. 

7. Read a book

If you work all day on computers the last thing you might want to do is come home and stare at another screen. Why not pick up a book instead, we have come out of touch with the pleasures of reading. Whether you are reading for pleasure or educational purposes, it's always good to spend time improving your reading skills.

8. Stay in touch with loved ones

During this time we have become aware of how important it is to stay in touch with our loved ones. Take some time to contact family or friends to check in and make sure they are doing fine. We are so privileged to be able to see our friends and family from all around the world via video call. So take advantage of the technology and call your loved ones today.

9. Practice yoga

Sitting at a desk all day then heading straight to the sofa at home can be bad for our posture. Practicing yoga can help you with stretching your muscles and realigning your core. There are a range of yoga styles out there, do some research and see which one fits your goal the best. For a more intense and stretch focus yoga, hatha or vinyasa yoga are the best options.

10. Self-care

Our day to day lives can get busy and we can forget to look after ourselves. Take a couple of hours each week for some ‘me time’. What you do with your own time is up to you, you might use this time to have a bath, read a book or have a nap. Whatever it is, make sure you are uninterrupted during this time to really focus on yourself.

While you are here check out our 10 Ways To Transform Your Life This Year

How to Stay Relevant as a Work-From-Home Mom

 

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Balancing work, parenting, and sometimes, even schooling at the same time can take a significant toll on work-from-home moms. The pressure to remain relevant in uncertain times, such as the pandemic season, is real and challenging. According to the US census department, working women make up 32% of all employed mothers in America. As significant as this is, it doesn’t take away the fact that you need to adopt measured strategies to remain relevant. Fortunately, we’ve created this list below to help.

1. Be up to date with technology

For most women, the best technology is knowing how to operate a smartphone and a computer. If that is you, you’ll need an immediate paradigm shift on what technology is and how it influences your performance as a work-from-home mother. Make a deliberate attempt to get a basic understanding of digital systems and procedures used in the office, which aided your previous career. More importantly, now that your office setting is the home, apply this knowledge to enhance your performance.

Furthermore, because technology continues to evolve at lightning speed, you cannot afford to be left behind. Besides, there is a possibility your current status may change and would require going back to the office to work. There are simple but effective ways you can stay abreast with technology. For example, instead of using the traditional way (pen and paper) to record your expenses, try Google Sheets to input your monthly budget and track expenses. 

Secondly, you can back up your phone’s operating system to cloud storage and learn the ins and outs of this digital method. The objective is to find innovative ways to optimize your knowledge in technology and digital systems.

2. Enroll in professional development classes

This shouldn’t be too difficult to do, especially when you understand why you must do it. Staying at home to work does not in any way take you out of the labor force. The only difference is where you operate from, even though that includes keeping your toddler from punching your computer’s keypad. Staying relevant in your profession is almost synonymous with self-development. Education is a continuous process; this explains why people who look forward to upgrading their skills prioritize further learning.

Fortunately, several universities and colleges in the US have made a significant commitment to moving some courses online. Some examples are:

• Baylor University (Texas)

• Simmons University (in Massachusetts)

• University of Denver (in Colorado)

Courses such as digital marketing, business writing, design, communication, and languages are useful in your career development. Another virtual course currently making waves is the Masters’ in social work program. If you have a passion for helping people and communities, then maybe you can learn more about an online msw program. The universities listed above (and more in the US) offer this program, and you will find it convenient to study at your pace.

3. Set realistic goals for yourself (daily, weekly, monthly)

Wouldn’t you have set daily targets for yourself if you were working from the office? Then working from home shouldn’t be any different. Targets are meant to guide you and prevent you from losing focus. So, whether you have to hook your tiny tot to the hip and type your work to meet deadlines, that’s what you’ve got to do. Nonetheless, take it easy on yourself by planning your day and setting realistic goals. How can you do this?

First, make a list of every important task you need to complete in a day. Remember to group them in the order of ‘important and urgent’ and ‘important but not urgent.’ This guideline will set the platform to tackle urgent tasks while making time to finish with those that aren’t. Admittedly, this is not easy to do with kids in the home.

However, if your significant other is available, plan with them to help you both fulfill your work and home responsibilities. If it’s just you, you could consider starting your day several hours before the kids wake up in the morning. Whatever works for you, the fundamental principle is to minimize or eliminate non-performance.

4. Take needed breaks and set flexible schedules into your routines

Not everyone can control their work hours and keep it strictly free from interruptions. For work-from-home moms, you may need a magic wand for that. This is when you should build some flexibility in your work schedules. Without it, you have a higher chance of losing focus on work and affecting your relevance as a professional working from home.

A flexible schedule should include using your breaks to attend to pressing home and childcare responsibilities. For example, feeding the kids, doing the dirty dishes, or other chores you deem necessary. Indeed, taking breaks from work gives your brain a chance to rest and rejuvenate. It creates the needed balance you require to be effective in your professional life.

It is not an easy path to take, but with your tenacity, you will be happy with your achievements. Avoid getting into a routine that downplays your importance and renders you ineffective, especially in your career or side hustle. Hopefully, these points will help you stay relevant as a work-from-home mom.

10 Ways To Transform Your Life This Year

 

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Are you ready to transform your life? Have you been thinking about making changes to your daily life or working towards a future goal? When you’ve been having these thoughts, you may start to realize that they’re just not going away. Because unless you’re ready to do something about them, you may find that you just keep wishing you could make changes. And this doesn’t have to be because you’re not happy now or you’re feeling down. It might just be that you know that you want to take your life in a new direction or that there’s more you can achieve. And that’s so true. If any of us have goals and dreams, we are certainly able to want to go after them and achieve them. But you have to decide that you want it enough.

 

Now, the thing to bear in mind is that changing your life doesn’t have to be this big and scary thing or something that you do to make huge changes. Sometimes, it can come from the smallest changes. It’s also something that doesn’t have to affect every area of your life. Sometimes, you just want to make changes that are going to really turn around just one part of your life. But this can then go on to make such a big difference in how you feel and how you live in general. This can cover off your health and body, mind and work, home life, family life, money, dreams, hobbies, and so much more. So let’s take a look at a few ideas that might inspire you.

1. Wake Up Earlier

To start with, you’re going to want to think about how you wake up. One of the best ways for you to transform your life, feel more energized, get more done, and start to get closer to your dream is to wake up earlier. When you have a good morning routine in place, it can really have a knock-out effect on other areas in your life.

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2. Get Into Fitness

You don’t have to have been the most athletic person in your life to want to start working out and energizing your body. But when you do regular exercise, it can be great for your health. It can motivate you, give you energy, and help you to feel so much better about yourself.

3. Work On Your Mind

Something that goes hand in hand with that is the idea of shaking up your fitness is working on your mind too. Stress and anxiety can really damage your health and life in general too. So actively choosing to calm your mind, be more mindful, speak to someone, or do whatever you need to to find mental peace is a great idea.

4. Shake Up Your Career

Or maybe the area you really want to work on this year is your career? When that’s the case, you might want to think about the different ways you can change your career this year. If you know that there’s something you really want to be doing, why not work on the steps you need to take to get there? It could be that moving into a new field is exactly what you want to do to really make a positive change this year.

5. Learn Something

As a step on from that, maybe you want to improve your knowledge, learn a new skill, or even boost your education to then help your career? When this is the case, you’re going to want to look into different courses, like the best online communications degree or schools for the skill you want to learn. Sometimes, to get to where you want to be, you have to learn new things. And this could help you to transform your life this year.

6. Transform Your Finances

Another idea for you could be to think about transforming your finances a little. Sometimes, you want to reach your goals – and that can require money. Maybe you want to pay off your debt or you love the idea of buying a house? When this is the case, you might want to take a look at your financial habits and see what work you need to do? This could be your mission for the year.

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7. Work On Your Home

Sometimes you also want to take a look at your home. Do you want to change the décor? Renovate? Move? There are lots of goals that you might have that relate to where you live. So can you start to think about working on them now?

8. Save For Something

From here, it could be that you want to take that idea of saving for something and get to work on it. Maybe it is a house? Or could it be a car? Even an around the world trip that you do at some point in the future? This could be a big thing for you this year.

9. Have Fun With Family

Or maybe you want to try and make changes to your family? When that’s the case, you may find that it’s a good idea to try and focus on different things you can do with your family. As much as the world might be a little different at the moment, there are still things you can do for fun. So why not think about working on those? As you start to enjoy more dedicated time together as a family and doing new things, it could really enhance your family life.

10. Do Something Just For You

 

Finally, you’re then going to want to think about what you can do just for yourself. Maybe the reason that you’re feeling a little bit lost or that you want to make changes in your life, is because you’ve lost your sense of self? When this is the case, it’s nice to be able to do something just for yourself. You’re going to want to ensure that you have something that adds value to your life and makes you happy. You may find that starting a new hobby or pastime that you’ve always wanted to do is a great idea here and gives you a new sense of purpose.

6 Ways To Treat Yourself After A Long Week

 

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Working and having a family is a big job and responsibility to undertake. You do a lot for others during the week and have many tasks you need to complete and take care of professionally speaking. It may feel overwhelming at times, and you might look forward to having some free time over the weekend for yourself.

Get your spouse to help out with the kids and commit to following through with some or all of the below ideas after a long week. You’ll be glad you did and can return to working and taking care of your kids feeling re-energized after you’ve had some time to yourself.

1. Go to the Spa

One way to treat yourself after a long week is to head to the spa and take advantage of the services they offer. Pamper yourself by getting a massage or your nails done and letting someone else take care of you. It’s a chance to relax and reset as you release any tension you’re feeling in your mind and body. Drink some warm tea and reflect on your week and the goals you have set for your future. Let your mind wander and simply enjoy being alone and not having to take care of the kids or have work tasks looming over you.

2. Take A Road Trip with Friends

Another way to treat yourself after a long week is to go on a road trip with your girlfriends. Hop in the car and travel to a destination where you can relax and put your feet up for a few days. Keep in mind that accidents happen, and being on the road puts you at risk for getting into a car crash. If you find yourself in this situation, then it’s best to contact a Personal Injury Lawyer right away that can review your case and offer you advice. First and foremost, make sure everyone in the car is okay and call for medical attention right away if necessary.

3. Go Hiking or Walking

Sometimes all you need to feel better and reduce your stress is some fresh air and exercise. Therefore, go hiking or walking after a long week and get lost in the beauty of nature. Being outdoors is an excellent way to calm a racing mind and regroup. If you have a dog, then think about bringing him or her with, and enjoy the company. Go exploring and check out a new trail in the area that will keep your interest and attention. It may help to bring along and play some fun or relaxing music while you exercise to keep you motivated to burn off some extra calories.  

4. Have A Movie Marathon

You might also like the idea of getting lost in some entertainment after a long week. Consider having a movie marathon and putting on a few of your favorite movies to get lost in. Wear your comfortable clothing and make your favorite snacks and drinks for a more pleasant and enjoyable time. Sit on the couch watching movies without feeling any guilt, and you’ll likely feel wonderful the next day because of the time you spent completely disconnecting from any worries or responsibilities.

5. Meditate

You can treat yourself after a long week by calming your mind and nurturing your mental health. Take the time to meditate and release any tension or thoughts that have been bothering you and on your mind. There are many guided meditations you can listen to right from your phone or laptop if you’re new to it. Be patient with yourself and practice meditating often to get better at it and not feel so frustrated. It may take some time before you’re able to truly feel at ease and connect with the meditations you’re playing. Notice how much better you feel and how you can think more clearly when you’re finished.

6. Get Lost in A Good Book

Reading is another way to rest and get your mind off work and your to-do list. Create a reading nook in your home or head to the library and get lost in a good book for a few hours. Another idea is to make a warm bath for yourself and read a book while you relax in the tub. Put on some quiet background music and light a few candles to help you completely release any tension and get lost in the moment. Reading will help you channel your thoughts in a new direction, and you’ll soon feel more calm and content when you’re done.