*This is a collaborative post  

After the pandemic, home-working skyrocketed, whether that be businesses trying it out or people venturing out and running their own businesses. Working from home has been great for people's work-life balance, and with people being at home and having more flexibility, the productivity of employees has seen a real increase.

However, for those that have not worked from home before it can be hard to know where to get started and what to do to make sure you can work from home effectively. If you are one of those people, then these top tips could help you to understand how to set up for home-working and make sure you can get your work done. 

This is a collaborative post.

Are you one of those people who never seem to get a break? You're not alone. Most people find it difficult to take time off from work. But did you know that vacations are actually good for your health? Not only do they allow you to relax and rejuvenate, but they can also help improve your productivity when you return to work. So if you're looking for ways to ensure you get a vacation every year, keep reading! Here we will discuss four tips that will help make sure you get the break you deserve.



Schedule your leave ahead of time

The best way to ensure you get to take your vacation time is to schedule it in advance. This way, your boss will be more likely to approve your leave, and you can plan around work commitments. If possible, try to schedule your vacation during the slower times at work. This will minimize the impact on productivity and help you get the most out of your time off. Additionally, take advantage of long weekends and public holidays to extend your vacation without using too much leave.



Consider timeshare

If you enjoy traveling to the same place every year or want the option to travel to multiple locations, you may want to consider timeshare. With a timeshare, you essentially purchase the right to stay at a specific resort for a set period each year. You can read Sapphire Resorts reviews to find out more about timeshares and if they're the right fit for you. This is a great option for people who want to have the same vacation spot each year but don't want to purchase a second home. Most touristy areas offer timeshare options, and you can likely even get a deal, free tickets, or cash just for touring the resort. And who knows? You may decide it’s the right option for you. 

This is a collaborative post. I am not a mental health professional.

Believe it or not, a little anxiety can be good for you. For example, being anxious before a big test or job interview encourages you to be more prepared or studious, which can improve your chances of success. However, anxiety becomes a problem when it interferes with your life or becomes a constant fixture in your day.

If this is the case, the first thing to be aware of is that you are not alone. Each and every one of us is on a mental well-being journey, and anxiety and related conditions are increasingly common. In fact, a recent study found that Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) affects 6.8 million adults in the US alone.

With that in mind, if you feel as though anxiety controls or dictates your life, here are some steps you can take to take back control!



Find a type of therapy that works for you

 

This is a collaborative post  

Self-confidence is an integral part of life, and sometimes it can take a dip for various reasons. The world can be challenging, and it’s not always easy to hold your head high when you’re bombarded with negativity from all angles. Strong self-confidence makes it easier to live with courage, trust yourself, know your worth, find happiness in new experiences, and deal with rejection and criticism easily.

Self-confidence isn’t something that just happens overnight; there are small things we can do daily to build our confidence. The more you invest in yourself—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—the stronger and more secure you’ll feel as a person. Believe it or not, even some of the most successful people in the world struggle with low self-esteem regularly. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to boost your confidence and get the best out of life.


Be proud of who you are

The first step in boosting self-confidence is to be proud of who you are. Take some time to reflect on your life and all the things that you’ve accomplished so far. I’m a big fan of a reverse bucket list. Identify the things that make you proud to be you — maybe it’s a certain skill you have, a hobby you enjoy, or even just the fact that you care for others or do your best to help those in need. Once you can identify what makes you proud, it becomes much easier to be proud of yourself as a whole. Being proud of yourself will do wonders for your self-confidence and overall happiness.



Develop a habit of speaking positively

When you develop a habit of speaking positively, you’ll notice that you begin to set the tone for the rest of your day. Instead of focusing on the negatives, you’ll set yourself up to think about the things you’re proud of and the things you’re excited about. This sounds pretty obvious, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. It can be challenging to break the habit of thinking negatively, especially if you’ve been doing it for years. However, once you get into the positive thinking routine, you will feel much more confident and happy with who you are. 

 

*This is a sponsored post.

I cannot believe that it’s been over two years since my husband and I bought our first home. It’s quite a wild ride of a story. Once we decided we were ready to purchase, it took us nine (NINE!!!) months to find a house, have an offer accepted, and have a solid inspection. House hunting can be fun, until suddenly it’s not. It’s exhausting, frustrating, and really discouraging at times.

While the market was already really tough when we were looking, it’s much worse now. We were lucky we bought when we did. I literally took a day off from work to sign all the closing documents, and didn’t go back into the office for a year and a half. I definitely had the time to get to know our new house. I was able to create a fun space that I love to spend time and work in.

So how do you make a space that makes sense for you?



Have a vision for your space

Are you a vision board kind of person? Check out magazines, print out pictures, cut and paste to your heart’s desire. I’m a Pinterest type of girl, so here I am to advocate for pinning everything you can find that you enjoy. You don’t have to love all the elements in one picture’s space, but you can take different elements that you enjoy as inspiration for your Pinterest boards.

Photo from Ben Harris Atlanta Real Estate

Check out your space

Where are you at? Do you already have an apartment, house or condominium? Are you considering checking out 1010 Midtown Condos for sale or are you planning to rent? If you’re looking to buy or sell, check out Ben Harris Atlanta Real Estate for your needs. But you don’t have to have a new space (believe me, I lived in places I didn’t love for a long time) - you can put together great little nooks and crannies that you love regardless of how big or small your space is. Find a place in your home that’s big enough to “make your own.”



Take inventory of your wants

What makes sense for the space you’ve chosen? It may not make sense to have an entire fluffy armchair, but maybe there’s space for several pillows. Maybe it’s just a corner of your sofa that you have for your “space.” That’s okay! Head back to your inspiration, physical or digital, and check out some of the things you really love. How can you incorporate some of those things into your space? It can be pops of color, vintage pieces, or one specific statement piece. Just make sure you’re able to add in something that really brings joy to your space. I am a maximalist, so when we bought a house, I made an entire room into my happy place. I have a wallpaper-covered statement wall, a floor to ceiling corner bookshelf with color-sorted books, and tons of plants. List out the things you want for your space, then differentiate between what you already have, what you absolutely need for your space to feel good, and what would be nice to have. Once you have those things, get ready to go shopping.



Find your items

Once you have an inventory of the things you have, need, and want, get to shopping. Maybe you’re an online shopping fiend, or maybe you love to go in-person. Maybe, like me, you love to thrift, or perhaps you’d prefer to hit up boutiques. Whatever your preferences, go out hunting for what you’re trying to add to your space. Consider your budget and how to make this work out for you. You don’t have to buy everything all at once. Maybe you add one piece to your space every month until you’re satisfied. Maybe you’re “moody” and want to change your area up based on your mood or what you’re reading - it’s entirely up to you. Seriously, make the space your own and do what you want with it. My room has gotten fuller and fuller, and I’m intending to move things around soon and take out some pieces that don’t fit my vibe anymore. We’re all evolving creatures who are allowed to change our minds. Allow yourself to do just that. You don’t have to minimalize or maximalize your space, but allow the things around you to bring you joy - because ultimately, that’s all we’re trying to get out of life.