Tag: quality of life

4 Ways Millennials Improved the Workplace

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Collaborative post – may contain affiliate links

Millennials have brought a different kind of vibe to the workplace. They are more tech savvy than their predecessors, and the way they view work and the structure of work is radically different. Where once they were seen as the young crop of newcomers, they are now the mature leaders of today. As they begin to lead us through the next few decades of our lives, here are four practices millennials have implemented into our work culture that made things better.

Work-Life Balance

Once upon a time, the harder you worked and sacrificed determined your success. People who didn’t want to work so hard were seen as lazy, but that kind of mentality doesn’t serve the working world anymore and it’s all because of millennials. Millennials were the first group to realize that having time with family and friends is just as important as being at work. When that balance is achieved, workers perform better and their productivity is higher. People also feel that they are better supported at home because they are more present at home helping out and being available. Both areas of a worker’s life are harmonious.

Remote Offices

The rat race was seen as the place to be if you were making moves and changing the world. Not so much anymore. With the growth of technology and virtual meetings, the average worker doesn’t have to wear themselves thin commuting for hours a day to do work they can do from home. The home office or the remote office is where many millennials thrive. Being in an environment of your own making helps keep a person focused and without commuting, a lot of people work earlier and faster and their day can be freed up to relax, take care of errands, and curate a life where work doesn’t seem to dominate all. 

Stop Problems Before They Start

Many people would just let things slide in the office because they were afraid of upsetting the status quo. Not so much with millennials who aren’t afraid to put a stop to things that are just out right wrong. Associations like the Whistleblower Info Center were created because more people are speaking up more than ever about illegal activities or activities that are a detriment to those who do work hard. Millennials have set the precedent for self-respect and promoting a healthy work space.

Quality of Life

The workforce used to put quality of life second, but millennials have changed that conversation. Quality of life has now become the top priority in the working world. When people apply for jobs or consider job offers, quality of life is always the number one question asked in interviews. Millennials want to know how easy it is to take time off for mental health relief and rest. Are hours flexible so that when life issues arise they can be tended to? Millennials know that work cannot rule their lives and that when they feel they are seen and appreciated they can perform better.

Your Office, Anywhere

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Collaborative post – may contain affiliate links

You’ve decided to take the plunge. You’ve left your corporate structured, nine-to-five job with its regular income and its stability. There was scope for progression there, but somehow it might feel that ploughing your heart and soul into somebody else dreams is not for you. For you, the joy of business is planting the seed yourself; then watching your dreams grow large as you nurture them.

So, you’ve got your idea. You’ve even managed to pull some savings together to get you off the ground. You have reordered your lifestyle to accommodate the personal risk you’re taking and you’re off. You are in business! Now comes the real challenge, the hard work and, if you play it right, the freedom to live as you want while your business flourishes.

The type of business you are operating will largely dictate the type of physical space you need to operate in. Obviously, if you need a space where your customers need to come to you, like a restaurant or store, then real estate is pivotal in your planning. But for so many types of businesses these days, such as web design, copywriting, and so many service-based industries, it is less about the physical office. With the growth of cloud computing, a lot of your work can be done from anywhere in the world. It might sound cliche to say that you want your office to be a sun bed on the beach of some idyllic Greek island, but with a laptop, internet connection and good online business support, you can connect with your customers or provide your services remotely.

This kind of freedom does sound amazing though. There’s no boardroom, no need for a tie. If you want to set a business with partners in other cities, or even on the other side of the world; there are so many online collaboration tools out there. You could have face to face conferencing, brainstorming sessions, have PowerPoint presentations, set agendas and deadline reminders for your team.

You might be supplying a product which you never need to handle, manage warehouse facilities for or ship yourself. By outsourcing fulfillment, you are free to be where life suits you. There’s no need to pay rent on a building that frankly depresses you. There’s no worry about hiring or firing teams to handle your stock. It almost feels like virtual reality.

The returns in terms of quality of life from making this kind of switch can be immense. You would have the flexibility to live your life how you need to; if you have a young child, you can be around as they grow up instead of stuck in a building away from them for most of your waking life. But, there are some things to consider. With the conventional nine-to-five, it’s much easier to leave your work at home. It is very important to set yourself rules, work during set times, and be sure and always find the time to enjoy life as much as possible.

How Working Remotely Benefits Your Health

Scott Asai2 Comments

Remote-working

Employing remote workers increases the pool of talent for your company. Telecommuting, once thought of as a perk, now levels the playing field.

Theoretically it can pose challenges to management but if done right, supervision shouldn’t vary much. At the heart of managing remote workers is trust. It is literally impossible to micromanage remotely, yet there’s the temptation to in person.

There are several books and online articles that cover managing a remote staff, but few address the benefits health-wise. Here are three ways:

1. Lack of germs – Experiencing the flu can make you a germaphobe, but in a shared workspace it’s almost impossible to avoid the common cold. Working remotely means you’re communicating virtually, but working independently. Not only does the lack of commute save time, but eliminating travel and interaction equates to less trips to the doctor annually.

2. Increased efficiency – Meetings are a waste of time, especially when they’re run poorly. Two brains are better than one, but distractions decrease performance rapidly. No matter how social of a person you are, working alone produces a much higher rate (and usually with less mistakes). With less scheduled interactions, more quality work gets done.

3. Self-leadership – Strip management from the room and there’s a fear of completed tasks. But shouldn’t you be motivated to get stuff done without someone breathing down your neck? As an entrepreneur, the first thing to go is structure when free from the corporate world. Your responsibility is to create order or risk wasting time. A hard lesson to learn initially, self-accountability means you can be trusted.

More and more companies choose to hire remote workers meaning new leadership practices must be implemented. Quality of lifestyle is becoming the most important factor professionally. The more you are informed about the benefits of working remotely, the easier the transition will be to make. Your body, mind and emotions will thank you for it later.

Keep Calm And…

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keep calm

Have you ever said something and wish you could take it back? Words come easy, but taking action is hard. What have you been putting off for a long time that is affecting your quality of life? 

Out of college, most people dive into their careers regardless if it’s in their study of major, but then you hit a point where your priorities change. It’s harder to meet people and unless you want to try a work fling or an online hookup, panic starts to arise (usually in your 30’s). It’s this ever-changing pendulum called work life balance and it’s hard to keep level.

It’s also nearly impossible to tackle alone, so that’s why I’m leading an 8-week online bootcamp to help you achieve work life balance. Not only will you have the help of others, but you’ll also come out of the program a better version of you! So make the personal investment and sign up now, you won’t regret it!