Category: Once Upon a Line

Why You Are Not Wealthy, Fit, & Happy

Published on by gamechangerjoLeave a comment

Change is challenging for several reasons:

  1. Habits are strong and pervasive. The average person has far more habits than they realize. Each morning, you wake up and follow the same routine. You take the same path to work. You think the same thoughts as you did the day before. Much of your day and night is a repeat of the last 500.
  • When you feel bored, you soothe yourself in the same 2-3 ways each time. You only eat a few foods regularly. You talk to the same people.
  • Habits avoid thinking. They’re done automatically. Anything that minimizes thinking seems to be your brain’s preference. The fewer decisions, the better.
  • To change, you must be certain that change is in your best interest. Otherwise, your habits will always win.
  1. Change is hard because it’s uncomfortable. You already know how to lose 25 pounds or how to find a better job. But the thought of taking the actions necessary to accomplish those goals creates discomfort.
  2. What you’re doing is already working, sort of. Your brain is preoccupied with your survival. Our brains are programmed to resist change, because what you’re doing is allowing you to live. Any change could potentially lead to death. You might be unhappy today, but you’re still alive!
  • Most of us prefer misery than facing uncertainty.
  1. You’ve tried to change in the past and failed. You’re no dummy. If you’ve tried to change several times and failed, part of you says, “Obviously, I can’t change. What’s the use in trying?”

It isn’t easy to change, but change is possible. The primary issue keeping you from following through on your plan to change is attempting to change too much, too soon. Smaller changes are easier to accomplish and to maintain.

  1. Be prepared to change. Expect that change will be challenging. Your odds of success improve if you’re prepared. Have a plan.
  2. Start small. To minimize the discomfort that change creates, only change a little each week. Meditating for two minutes each day is easier than starting with 60 minutes. The key is to get in the habit of doing the new behavior each day.
  3. Have patience. It can take months to make a change permanent. It’s often quoted that a new habit requires 30 days to instill. That’s not true. Studies show that it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the habit and the person.
  4. Be willing to change yourself and face the consequences. Changing yourself is scary, because you don’t know what the results will be. Accept that your life will change in some way. Discomfort isn’t always a bad thing.
  5. Expect to relapse. Falling off the wagon is to be expected. Attempt to enhance your approach and keep going. Aim for 90% compliance. That’s all you need. Perfection is an illusion that will only serve to destroy your confidence.

Change requires patience with yourself. Choose to make changes slowly and incrementally. Imagine how much you could change over the next year, if you changed just a tiny amount each week. The results would be staggering! 

To Your Success,

Juan

Are We Doing This or Not?

Published on by gamechangerjoLeave a comment

The beginning of a new year is a wonderful time to commit to making changes in your life. What changes are in store for you? Ignite your passions, and experience a more vibrant existence by making changes now. Here are a few strategies to help you get going:
Pay special attention to your health. Revitalize by eating well, exercising vigorously, and getting proper sleep. Take care of your teeth, hair, and skin. When you start feeling more beautiful, you’ll boost your self-esteem. Let yourself get excited.The changes you’re making regarding your body and overall health, will pay off.
Read more. Although you may prefer other activities, reading is one pastime that expands your mind. Focus on reading about topics you enjoy or want to learn more about. Do you love to travel? Read travel guides and stories set in the places you’d like to visit. Do you have a dog? Find out more about the breed, training techniques, and how to care for your pooch’s health. Reading expands your intellectual horizons. This will help you become a more interesting person who has plenty of things to converse about with others.
Each week, have a date with the love of your life. Dates are meant to enhance your closeness and make your relationship stronger. They also add an element of fun to your partnership. Whether it’s a Tuesday evening pizza and movie at home or a Saturday night dinner followed by dancing, spend special time each week with your partner. Ignite the fires of passion and change your lives for the better.
Set priorities and keep them straight. For example, if your priorities are family, work, and self, be sure to consider each one when making decisions. The key is to be aware of your priorities. Start this year by behaving in ways that demonstrate your priorities. Maintain your focus on what’s important to you throughout the year. Match your existence matches your priorities. You’ll become passionate about what you’re doing at home, at work, and on your own.
This year do something you haven’t done before. Nothing gets the juices flowing like engaging in a novel activity. Will it be that ten-day trip to Europe you’ve wanted to take, or finally moving into those new condos with the fitness center and swimming pool? Maybe your new experience will be something you’ve wanted to do for years ,or something you’ve just decided to explore.
Put your best foot forward at work. If you’ve reached the point where you’re bored with work, it’s up to you to spice it up. Strive to excel at your job this year. Volunteer for that new project, take on an undesirable task, or simply expand your efforts each day. Skip the gossip sessions at the water cooler. Offer extra help to your supervisor when she looks like she could use it. Document your efforts. When the chance for a promotion arises, step up. Be confident and let the boss know why you’re the best person for the job.

Do everything you can to live your best life, starting now. You’ll soon discover that you’re feeling more vibrant, interested, and passionate in all aspects of your life. Happy New Year!

To Your Success,

Juan

Glad This Year is Over…

Published on by gamechangerjoLeave a comment

Dear Readers. I’m Back! But first…. If, like me, the last twelve months brought excess stress, strained relationships, calamity, or upheaval to your life, you may be thinking “Good riddance” as you end this tumultuous year. Rather than allowing the New Year to be a reminder of all the things that went wrong this past year, embrace it as a brand new opportunity to put the past behind you and move joyfully forward. In order to close out one year and start another in a positive way, you must let go of any negative thoughts you’ve been harboring about the events of last year. Avoid thinking that nothing will change in the New Year, or that things will always be undesirable. A New Year is a clean slate. What happened is in the past and before you lies a new future. The key is to set your mind on how things will be better this coming year. By focusing your mind on what you want, as opposed to what you don’t want, you’ll be able to see last year’s setbacks in a different light. Seeing a setback as a challenge that you can overcome, even if it takes some time, will allow you to continue moving forward, even when things aren’t going your way. Even the happiest people have challenges. Just like you, at times they struggle and feel beat down. The difference is that they get back up again and focus on solutions rather than problems. Focus on Letting Go of the Past. When you release what you’re struggling with from the closing year, you free yourself to move forward without its heavy trappings. Even if something hurt you or made you upset, and even if people were unfair to you or treated you wrongly, today can be a new day for us. There are several ways to let go of past hurts. Experiment until you find what works for you. The good news is that if you keep trying different approaches, you’ll find something that helps you succeed in this endeavor. Try the following for a new, fresh perspective and direction:
  • Visualize your hurts and worries as balloons, and release them to the sky.
  • Make a list of the upsetting events from the last year and set the list on fire.
  • If you’re religious, pray and ask for release from the pain or challenges you face.
  • Spend time in quiet reflection so you can find more peace in your life.
  • Take the time to consciously forgive others for what they did, even if it’s hard to do.
  • Be honest about any changes you could make to improve the quality of your life.
Move Forward Into the New Year. Once you’ve found the right way for you to let go of the past year, it’s time to get ready for 2022. What do you want? Write them down. Take a hard look at them. Have you left anything out? Have you added things that really belong to others, and what they want for your life?Adjust your list to reflect what matters the most to you. Prioritize it with your most important objectives at the top. Break down your list into manageable segments, with small steps that you can accomplish one by one, and then you can move forward with the confidence to achieve great success in the New Year. To Your Success, Juan

The Snowball Effect

Published on by gamechangerjoLeave a comment

                                                                Photo: Yay Images

When I moved back to the US in 2016, I had to work really hard to rebuild my credit. Shortly before I left in 2010, I was a victim of identity theft. It’s practically impossible, trying to get the IRS to respond to requests when you live abroad. A good credit profile includes a combination of different types of credit (installment, revolving, etc). It’s so damn easy to get into debt. Getting out is another matter. I used the snowball effect to pay off high balances, which meant I had a better-looking credit profile.

If you have not heard of the snowball method, this blog post is an excellent summary. Debt can pile up quickly, becoming overwhelming before you know what to do with it. Fortunately, there are strategies you can employ to pay down your debts, without going broke or insane in the process.

The snowball effect is an easy and convenient method of paying down debts, regardless of how much debt you have. Can you imagine what it would be like to live without debt? Your money would be yours, to do with as you please, instead of feeding the wallets of the rich. You’ll look forward to enjoying guilt-free vacations – paid for with cash – and buying your next car with cash, instead of credit. Picture the life you deserve in your mind and feel the feelings of relief. Next, make a plan to move toward this life, and put your plan into action.

Follow these tips to use the snowball effect for paying off your debts:

  1. Pay off your smallest debts first. When you pay the smallest debt off first, you start a small amount of momentum that’ll build quickly. Write down all of your debts from smallest to largest, and then create a plan to pay off the smallest one first.
  2. Small wins add up. Your personal finance strategy will be more successful if you feel motivated, which is why small wins are so important in the beginning. When you start paying off your smaller debts, you’ll find yourself feeling motivated to maintain your debt-reducing strategy.
  3. Pay off the next smallest debt. Once the smallest debt in your list is completely paid, add whatever you were paying on that debt to the payment for the next debt in the list, essentially doubling your monthly payment on that debt. Once you tackle this debt, you have another win under your belt.
  4. Eliminate all debt. Use the debt snowball to eliminate the rest of your debts from smallest to largest. As each debt is paid, add those payments to the next debt. Don’t worry about term lengths or rates unless two different debts have similar payoff amounts, at which point you should pay off the higher interest rate debt first.
  5. Keep building momentum. Let the momentum continue, repeating the debt repayment process for each debt as you work your way closer and closer to financial freedom. Every payment moves you closer to your goal of being financially free.
    • As you’re attacking the smaller debts first, maintain the minimum monthly payments for everything else. Do whatever is necessary to focus your attention on maintaining your plan and keeping this momentum going.
    • Keep stepping up from bill to bill, paying off the next smallest, then the next smallest, and so on. After your credit card debt is taken care of, you can focus on other debts as well – to where even your mortgage is paid off.

The snowball effect is an effective debt repayment strategy. Utilizing this method of debt repayment will help you keep the momentum as you repay your debts so that you can get the job done and enjoy a life free from the constraints of debt.

Until the next post,

Best,

Juan

Avoid Common Budget Busters And Increase Your Savings

Published on by gamechangerjoLeave a comment

If the balance in your savings account isn’t growing fast enough, a common budget buster might be to blame. Sadly, you’re not alone in missing your financial goals. According to a June 2014 survey conducted by Bankrate.com, 75% of Americans have no savings and live paycheck to paycheck! Are you one of these?

Thankfully, there are steps that you can take to get your finances back on track. Use these strategies to stick to your budget and achieve your financial goals:

  1. Avoid impulse shopping. If impulse shopping is your weakness, resist the temptation. If you go shopping for a needed item, take a responsible friend with you to help strengthen your resolve. Make a list before you shop and then buy only the items on your list. Leave your debit and credit cards at home and only bring enough cash to pay for the needed items.
  2. Seek to understand what triggers your overspending behavior. For example, if you find that you are more tempted to abandon your budget when you’ve had a difficult day, only go shopping when you’re well-rested and under less stress.
  3. Get organized. Adopt a new method of organizing your important papers and receipts. Do “forgotten bills” seem to constantly surface and derail your spending goals? If you forget to pay a bill, you may have to pay a late fee and interest. Those extra charges can add up quickly! Set reminders to cancel memberships and other subscriptions before they auto-renew to avoid paying for services you no longer use.
  4. Shop for better rates. Just because you’re satisfied with your current service provider doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t periodically shop for a better rate. Every few months, review your expenses and seek ways to reduce the amount that you pay for many common services, such as your telephone bill and car insurance. When you contact your provider, ask if you’ll save money by bundling services, or cut back on features that you seldom use. While your provider may not reduce your bill, it doesn’t hurt to ask.
  5. Watch for unusual spending. Periodically review your expenses and see if you can identify an area where you frequently overspend. Most of us typically overspend in a specific category. Challenging categories for most folks include clothing, entertainment, transportation, travel, food, and housing. Once you’ve identified a category of expenses that seem to break your budget, seek ways to make smarter, less expensive choices when you buy things in this category. Reducing your spending in a specific category can be very challenging. 
    For example, if your housing costs are eating up too much of your budget, your only solution may be to move to a smaller or less expensive location. 
  6. Identify specific items that are hard for you to resist and do all you can to avoid them. If there is a certain store or website where you consistently seem to go over your planned spending, find new, less tempting locations to shop.
  7. Get outside advice. If you find that you’re frequently over budget or have difficulty meeting your financial goals seek professional help. Most accountants and financial planners can offer sound advice to help you learn how to plug the holes in your budget and gain control of your finances. You can find lots of free and low-cost advice on budgeting and financial planning online. Many organizations, such as churches and local chambers of commerce, offer free or low-cost credit counseling and financial planning courses to members.

Becoming aware of common budget busters, and selecting a strategy to deal with them, can help you to stick to your budget and increase your savings.

Until the next post,

Best,

Juan

Financially Adjusting to Divorce

Published on by gamechangerjoLeave a comment

                                                          Photo: Yay Images

Dear Readers,

The COVID pandemic has forced us to take a very uncomfortable look at our finances. In the US, images of people waiting hours in incredibly long food lines, have been distressing. No one dreamt it would take such a devastating toll on multiple areas of our lives. There is a new sense of urgency to be better prepared for the next crisis. The average person would not survive a financial apocalypse of sorts when emergency funds disappear. As someone who works with the homeless, I see it all day, every day. Millions are just one or two paychecks away from being homeless. Over the next few months, expect posts surrounding, money, credit, remote working etc, all valuable lessons I have learned over the years, or from people around me.

I believe in ripping the bandaid off in one fell swoop, instead of suffering bit by bit. Let’s face it, divorces happen every day. I watched a recent news report, showing how much divorce rates have skyrocketed since COVID. All of a sudden, husbands and wives have to work from home, all day, every day. Throw 24/7 kid care and chores into the mix. If the marriage was already shaky before, the pandemic pushed many over the ledge. A divorce can dramatically change your socio-economic circumstances, but, like everything else in life, requires us to take an inventory of our lives.

Are you going through a marital breakup? If so, you might feel like you’re in a whirlwind. You’re worried. Will you be okay financially? Take a look at the following points to recognize you’ll likely make it through, with a few adjustments here and there.

  1. Do the math. Figure out if you can support yourself financially with the dollars you now earn. Remember to include other funds that will be coming in, such as child support, alimony, or stock dividends.
  2. Act now. If you’re going to need a new or different job or additional income, start doing something about it now. If you begin bringing in additional dollars right away, it’ll take some of the pressure off later.
  3. Determine monthly expenses. How much are your monthly outgoing expenditures? Can you count your basic expenditures on one hand: mortgage or rent, car payment, utility bill, food costs, and phone/internet charges?
  4. On the other hand, you’ll have insurance, entertainment, and savings. If you have a lot of monthly payments like 2 or 3 credit cards and more than one car payment, it’s time to consider spending cuts.
  5. Don’t panic. If you need to make some reductions, decide what you’ll cut out. Maybe you can sell one of the cars to eliminate a car payment and reduce your car insurance. Perhaps you’ll decrease cell phone charges or cut out paying for your phone landline.
  6. Maybe you can combine your 2 or 3 credit card payments all onto one card for 1 monthly payment for everything you owe. If you must, cancel your Netflix account or whatever extra accounts you can do without, at least for now.
  7. Once you have your expenses under control and know how your money situation will be, you can add back services you want.
  8. Take an honest look. Are you living equal to or below your means financially? Do you and your child really need to live in a 2,700 square foot home? Or could you be perfectly happy in a home that’s half the size? Consider this: you’d be paying half the electric bill (you now pay) every month plus lower rent.
  9. Once you get some time as a single person under your belt, you can upgrade your standards later.
  10. The point is to ensure you’re not living right up to the edge of what you make. If you are, it can make for a rather nerve-wracking life. With some planning, you might be able to reduce your expenses and still live a financially comfortable life.
  • Heads up regarding your tax return (if living in the US). If you’re not yet divorced as of the last day of the year (12/31), you can still file jointly if you both agree to do so. Also, if you’ll have custody of your children the most, ensure your attorney declares in your divorce decree that you can claim them as dependents.
    If you’re paying alimony, have your attorney include that in your decree. This way, you can claim the amount you pay as a tax deduction.
  • Take care when splitting up retirement funds. This issue gets sticky. Talk with your attorney about the best way to handle such funds because, depending on your age and how you do it, you might have to pay early withdrawal fees plus taxes on the withdrawn amount. There are ways to do it without paying these penalties.

When it comes to making it through a divorce financially, recognize millions of people have survived it and you can, too. Can you recall the toughest financial times you’ve had? The smarts you possess got you through. If you follow the above suggestions, you’ll be well on your way to successfully surviving the financial consequences of a divorce. You will be okay!

Until the next post,
Best,
Juan 

#isolationchallenge

Published on by gamechangerjoLeave a comment

Several major US blue-chip companies have recently announced employees will continue working from home for the rest of the year.  Last month, several news outlets reported Twitter employees can now do so permanently! Sounds like a dream, right? Living in NYC, on any given day, you share the subway with millions of straphangers. The service operates 24/7 (until a recent temp change, due to COVID), no matter what time of the day or night, commuters ride the trains. I would welcome this transition, but can I do it permanently? I am not sure. So many pros and cons. I recognized working from home will be part of the new normal, as employers scramble to keep their workforce safe while operating. 

If like me, you’ve been working from home for the past several months, you will agree, that one of the pitfalls of working from home, is how isolating it can be. When you’re used to working in an office setting surrounded by colleagues, it can suddenly feel quite lonely working by yourself. That’s why it is important to keep connected to the outside world. So, how can you stay connected when working from home? Consider the following tips.

Host regular group chats with colleagues
As you won’t be seeing your colleagues face to face, it’s important to keep in touch digitally. Hosting regular group chats can really help. Ideally, you’ll want to set aside specific times to do this. Having a group chat first thing in the morning before you start work is a good idea. That way, you’ll be able to get clarification on any projects you’re working on together.

Take advantage of social media
While you’ll want to limit social media while you’re working, it can still prove useful for staying in touch. To ensure you don’t waste time on it, a good idea is to set aside specific social media times. This gives you the opportunity to keep in touch with friends, family, and colleagues without it negatively impacting your productivity. 

Utilize video calls
Technology has come a long way over the past decade. You don’t need to be in the same room, to keep in touch with clients and colleagues. Instead, you can utilize video calling software. Whether you use something like Apple’s Facetime or Skype, the ever-popular Zoom, you can feel much more connected to people. The ability to hear and see them can make a big difference in limiting how isolated you feel.

Set reminders for birthdays and events
You can still celebrate special occasions and events such as birthdays, by setting yourself calendar reminders. This will ensure that even when you’re out of the office, you still stay connected with colleagues during these special times. I had a birthday during the lockdown. Since I had to cancel my trip to Central America, I decorated my space with traditional colors from each country, ate like locals do, listened to their music, and watched travel stories. I tried to follow the day’s exact schedule of activities as much as I can, virtually.

Respond to communication quickly
If you receive emails from colleagues and clients, make sure you respond quickly. When you’re working in isolation, waiting hours, or even days, just to get a reply can be tough. So, ensure your colleagues and clients don’t feel ignored by responding as quickly as you can to communication.

Look into networking opportunities. There are meetup groups, business networks, and other opportunities to get together with other like-minded people. You might even grow your business (if self-employed) through these activities. Get out of the house on a regular basis and mingle. Go to meetup.com and get started.

Create a routine. It might not make sense, but having a routine can help to beat feelings of isolation. It’s easy to sit and stare out the window when you work alone. Having a schedule prevents this. You’ll also know when your next dose of human contact is coming. Make a routine and force yourself to stick with it.

Get a pet (if you can). Consider getting a dog. A fish or cat might be more your style, but dogs are more interactive. Your dog will always be happy to see you. The cat might not care. No one will understand just how brilliant you are more than your dog.

These are some of the best ways to stay connected when you’re working from home. It isn’t always easy, but if you make the effort, you’ll feel much less isolated. It can be a real shock to the system moving from office to home working. So, allow yourself a period of adjustment to deal with the changes and adopt a more flexible working approach. Isolation and self-employment, and or working from home, don’t have to go hand-in-hand. With a little planning, you can find plenty of people to share part of your day. You don’t have to suffer just because you work at home. There are options for enjoying regular human contact. Take advantage of them and leave your isolation behind.

Until the next post,
Best,
Juan

#officeessentials

Published on by gamechangerjoLeave a comment

Let’s be real, the pandemic caught many people with their pants down. The list is long. There is more than enough coulda, shoulda, woulda, to go around. Millions were not prepared to work from home. However, we managed, we quickly adapted to our new normals. Have you now made plans to change how you live and work? Do you no longer want to be tied to your 9-5 desk? Reopening NYC will take place in stages, however, we are getting close, and it looks like sometime next month, the majority of us will be back on the road. Last month, the only Birthday promise I made to myself, was to not let the next one, find me slaving away for an employer. No sir. I am getting ready for a full-time self-employed role, working from home!

So, how do you and I set up the “office” environment to accommodate the new and emerging trends? If you want to boost your productivity levels when working from home, it helps to set up an office. Having an area purely dedicated to working will help you to separate work from leisure. The question is, how can you set up an effective home office environment? Here, you’ll discover some of the best ways to do so, and other key things to consider.

Consider how long you’ll be working from home.
The first thing you need to think about is how long you’ll be working from home. If it’s only a very short period of time, it would be pointless investing in an entire home office set up. In this case, it would be better to invest in just the essentials. However, if you have the budget, and plans to continue working from home, it could be worth setting up a permanent home office. Do it once, in the right way, and it will pay off in the long run.  

Making sure you have the right equipment.
You’re going to need some level of equipment to work from home. At the very least, a laptop or desktop computer and a desk. If you aren’t setting up a permanent home office, you can use things such as the dining room table or a makeshift bedroom office. Some people are even getting creative and using an ironing board as a stand-up desk option. Space needs to be dedicated to working and away from general foot traffic. Chances are you will be accessing private information for companies and other employees. Don’t be fooled into thinking that because you are home, it’s okay to leave your computer unlocked, when you step away. Consider how you would react if you found out, your personal information was left unprotected. Another important thing to consider is a reliable, secure internet connection. So many American companies are now requiring WFH employees to use a wired, Ethernet connection. Personally, I hate slow internet connections! Last year, I upgraded to 1Gig speed, I can’t go back. 

You need natural sunlight.
When you’re stuck indoors, you won’t be getting as much natural sunlight as you usually would. This can have an impact on how productive and motivated you are. Numerous studies have revealed the damaging impact limited natural daylight can have, on workers in an office setting. The same applies to the home. Try to set up your home office space in a part of the home, which helps you to benefit from some form of daylight. If there isn’t a space available, you might want to consider investing in a daylight bulb. These are designed to replicate natural daylight.

Focus on Comfort
Your home office should be a comfortable place to work. This means, providing plenty of support for your back if you’re working at a desk for example. If you aren’t comfortable, you’re not going to get much work done. Whatever you do, please invest in a proper chair. Thank me later. You’ll also find it beneficial to surround yourself with things that make you happiest, such as photos of the family, plants, or flowers.

Take Meaningful Breaks!
If you are not mindful, you will work five or six hours before stopping for lunch. Give your eyes a break from the screen. It’s so tempting to have your phone close by to check social media, during your break. Get up and move around. Meaningful breaks include taking a walk, doing some stretches, reading a chapter from your favorite book, meditation, listening to music, etc. Make that time count. The 3pm slump will have nothing on you, and won’t leave you feeling drained and unproductive

These are just a few basics to consider when setting up a home office. Whether you’re setting up a permanent or temporary office space, your environment should encourage productivity,  be comfortable, and gives you more than just freedom. Next week, we will look at how to deal with distractions.

Until the next post,
Best,
Juan

WFH- Now What?

Published on by gamechangerjoLeave a comment

Over the past month, I’ve had several conversations with friends and colleagues alike, struggling to cope with the transition of working from home. I thought I’d use the next few weeks to share what I hope is helpful information to help anyone who might be struggling too. Look out for posts related to time management, dealing with distractions,  working with children, staying connected,  etc. If you have additional insights, please leave a comment below, or share this post with anyone who will find it helpful.

So, you are forced to work from home due to the global coronavirus crisis? The initial joy of being able to work from home can be quickly replaced by worry, a lack of motivation, and never-ending distractions. How on earth do you get things done when there are so many distractions? Working from home has both benefits and challenges. Below you will discover some useful tips you can follow when it comes to transitioning to working from home.

Set up a quiet working space
With all of the distractions at home, it can be really hard to concentrate on work. This is especially true if you have kids. So, if you want to ensure you can get things done in peace, it’s worth setting up a quiet working space. Try and use a room that isn’t frequently used during the day. Place a sign on the door when you’re trying to work, to let others know not to disturb you. Make sure the workspace is comfortable too as you won’t get a lot done if you aren’t comfortable.

Start as early as possible
One of the main challenges that can come from working from home is delaying the time you usually start. It’s very tempting to have a lie-in and take longer to relax in the morning before starting. However, this only zaps your productivity. If you want to ensure you stay productive, you’ll want to start as early as possible. The positive side to this is that the earlier you start, the earlier you’ll finish.

Set social media limits
You’ll have a lot more time to check in on social media when you haven’t got the boss breathing down your neck. However, it’s easy to waste hours using social media accounts if you aren’t careful. Many home workers find it useful to set limits on their social media use during working hours. It could be simply committing to using it during a specific time for example. Having limits in place makes you more aware of how much you’re using it.

Maintain your usual “get ready” routine
It’s really important to try and maintain your usual routine. This means, getting ready for work in the same way you usually do. So, wake up at the same time, have your usual cup of coffee, and get dressed in your work clothes. It’s amazing how much of a difference this can make to your productivity.

These are just a few tips you can follow when transitioning to working from home. It can be a big adjustment, but there are many helpful tools and tips. Trying to maintain your usual routine, is one of the best things you can do during these challenging times. Next up, setting up the office.

See you in a few days,

Best,
Juan 

#disasterpreparedness

Published on by gamechangerjoLeave a comment

As a Social Work Contractor in one of the largest cities in the world, and the epicenter of the COVID pandemic in the USA, the last few weeks have presented unique challenges. I am responsible for more than 30 clients, each with either multiple addictions or comorbid mental health disorders. On a daily basis, I am literally putting out fires. While most of my client’s income is secured (Social Security, pension, etc), a few are self-employed, and now find themselves without an income

The IC has lost their primary sources of income, and with unemployment, website not built for millions of claims, needless to say, the backlog of claims processing has left some in “humbling” circumstances. Over the past year, I have been trying to get my clients to create an emergency fund, regardless of how much money they bring in. While this is not in my job description, I have been there, unprepared for when a disaster hits. A disaster doesn’t necessarily mean a pandemic, but differs for each of us; job loss, divorce, accident etc. How would most of us survive? Do we have at least 3-6 months of expenses stashed away? For many, the answer is “No”. 

Unless you are a seasoned doomsday prepper, the current pandemic affecting our society may have caught you by complete surprise! Although this crisis is certainly a tragedy and should be treated as such, it should serve as a wake-up call that you need to plan for similar incidents in the future. Unfortunately, we have seen a large number of the population react to the pandemic, in extreme ways, and in some instances, even harmful to other individuals. Purchasing items in excess, and flooding the supermarkets has become normal.

Because of this trend, individuals who may need these resources far more than most, or have trouble accessing them, are suffering the most. In this post, I will address some sensible strategies, which address the current climate, as well as ensuring a future crisis doesn’t leave you unprepared and feeling hopeless.

Quality Over Quantity When Shopping
While there are some items that are essential to buy in bulk, such as toilet paper and basic medication, others can be purchased in moderation and still leave you prepared. When stocking up on food items for an emergency, focus on buying items with a long shelf life, and provide a large number of calories. In regard to water, it is certainly wise to have a stockpile of bottled water or gallon containers. However, you may want to look into some form of water filtration system. These devices are readily available and essentially provide an endless supply of drinkable water should your stash run low.

Maintaining An Emergency Fund
This tip applies to everyday life; you should always have some sort of nest egg available for unplanned expenses, such as a medical emergency or vehicle trouble. In this case of a pandemic, having an emergency fund becomes even more crucial. Consider the millions of individuals currently out of work and not receiving a steady flow of income. Having currency allocated to a situation such as the current crisis is absolutely essential.

Consider A Second Job/Side Hustle
Having worked with the homeless and formerly homeless for more than five years, I know the majority of us are one paycheck away from homelessness. No one anticipates losing their home, but it happens more often than you know! Do you have extra hours to earn a side income? What are your talents? Can you get paid to do something you love? You can use the extra money to build your emergency fund, pay off debt, go on a well-deserved vacation, invest, or save! A reputable site I have used and recommend, especially if you live in the US is Rat Race Rebellion. Currently, the US has more than 330 million people, by next month, experts estimate more than 20% of people will be unemployed-this should sober you up.

Establishing A Plan
Establishing a well-organized plan for you and your family is not something to do, in the middle of an emergency. Although it can seem quite excessive in the flow of everyday normal life, it is important you plan and discuss with your family exactly what to do, before the emergency happens. Be sure to cover the basics; where you will go, resources available, and what each person’s role will be.

Maintaining Communication
Most of us take for granted the ability to maintain communication with friends and family. We assume our smartphones, computers, and televisions will always available. However, during emergency situations, where electricity and wireless connectivity are eliminated, it is important to have a plan, for maintaining the use of these devices. Consider investing in essentials like solar-powered chargers, a generator, and rechargeable batteries.

Basic Emergency Skills
An important thing to consider when preparing for a crisis is how to minimize the damage. A gas leak or electrical issue in your household can quickly become life-threatening during a natural disaster. Do you know how to shut off certain appliances and valves around the house? Furthermore, the ability to help someone in danger using basic CPR skills can be invaluable. Once again, these things are easy to disregard in everyday life but can become critically important very quickly.

Avoiding Panic
It is a known fact that human beings do not think clearly in a panicked state. We see examples of this behavior in every crisis situation. When disaster strikes, being prepared is the best way to avoid panic. If you and your family have already discussed a well-established plan, you can eliminate rash decisions that can take a long time to rectify. It is a stressful time for many. If you have not done so yet, check out my last post for timely Resources to combat anxiety.  While these suggestions are not exhaustive, they will guide your efforts to be better prepared.

Until next week,

Best,
Juan