How-To 7 Pros Of Working From Home With Tips 7:15 AM If you love what you do, it isn't your job; it is your love affair. -Debasish Mridha If you can work in the comfort of your home...Doing what you love to do...Earning more than what you're currently getting...Having more freedom of time...Why wouldn't you? Working from home is not stress-free. There are still challenges. But deciding to do it was the best career change I've made in my life. Because the advantages of working from home are more significant than the downside. Here are 7 pros of working from home that I've discovered. 7 Pros of Working from Home with Tips 1. No dress code You still need to look decent when you have a video call. You can dress up if you want to, but that's the advantage of working from home. No one will judge you even when you're in your sweats or pajamas all day.Let's face it, not having to wear a bra also feels more freeing. 👀 As long as you deliver your work, your clients won't ask whether you've showered or not. (Though I do shower to wake myself up. Just thought I'd let you know before you presume I work like this 👇) Gfycat When working from home, you can wear anything comfortable without worrying about breaking any rules. Because you make the rules. 💡 WORKING FROM HOME TIP: Invest in a good blazer or a presentable top/shirt that you can wear during an interview or conference call. Giphy 2. Commute or drive to work no more The distance between your workplace and your bed is just a few steps away. Some even have their bed and their home office in the same room. No more hassle of waiting for the bus or cab. No more long lines and fighting your way in the crowd so you won't miss the train. No more danger of getting robbed on your way to and from work.You don't have to worry about arriving or coming home late because you're stuck in traffic. Most importantly, no need to brave the weather just to get to work for fear of being reprimanded by your waterproof boss. Call Center Life 💡 WORKING FROM HOME TIPS: Don't work as much as possible in your bedroom, especially on your bed. This will help you stay productive and avoid the temptation of taking a nap during your working hours. It also conditions your mind that your bedroom is for relaxing and sleeping. So when you step inside the bedroom, your mind knows it is time to take a snooze.Keep your home secured at all times. It may be safer to work from home, but it doesn't mean you have to be lenient regarding security.Don't forget to invest in security, such as antivirus software to protect your computer work from hackers and a sound home security uk alarm system to protect you from thieves. This will give you peace of mind whether you're working at home or taking a break.It's hard to focus on both if your home safety is in question, right?How is your daily commute to work? Share your craziest story in the comments.Disclaimer: I wrote this post pre-p a n d e m i c 2018 and edited 2019. Please don't get offended by this gif. Giphy 3. No office politics or challenging people to deal with Don't we all have that annoying person at work we dread seeing? Have you not put on your headphones and blasted music in your ears to block the noise of nonsense gossip around you? And does it not irritate you when someone who works less gets recognized more just because they're drinking buddies with the boss? Is your boss a toddler trapped in an adult's body, throwing tantrums when things don't go his way? How many times have you faked a smile or tried to look calm even when you feel like throwing a fit yourself? Sarcasmlol When you work from home, you eliminate this kind of toxicity in your life. Giphy ⭐ LIFE TIP: If it costs you your peace, it's too expensive.Unsubscribe from other people's drama. Some people are not worth your time and emotion. 4. Choose your view Whether you want to work in front of your window, in the kitchen, or anywhere in your house, you can. Bring your work outside or in the coffee shop for a change (that aroma of freshly baked bread and coffee is a good stimulus). Giphy Or better yet... 5. Travel with your work You can bring your work wherever you go as long as it's convenient and you know you can still be productive. If there's a good internet connection and electricity, you're good to go. New place, fresh ideas. 💡 WORKING FROM HOME TIP: If you need to bring your work on your trip, set aside a day and time for work. You don't want to ruin a beautiful holiday. I don't advise bringing your work when you travel for leisure. Not only will it add to your luggage, but it also beats the purpose of vacation. Pinterest 6. More time for yourself You can finish your work either at the time agreed with your client or whenever you want, depending on your arrangement. Since you don't have to take the time to commute from home to the office and vice versa, and no colleague is inviting you to unwind after a stressful day at work, you have a lot of extra time in your hands. If you want to keep your day productive after working, you can run errands, clean your working area, organize your files, update your blog if you have one, watch a tutorial or inspiring speech or learn from other people in the same field. Or relax. Sleep. You need it. Catch up on your reading. Take a walk. Meditate. Work out. Serve the community. Get a massage. Find a new hobby.If you like to earn more, you can use your extra time to look for another client or work on some extra gig. You are the king/queen of your time. You do you. Giphy 7. More time with what matters most When you're staying home, you get to see the people or the reasons why you're working. You have the luxury of spending quality time with your loved ones. Go on a date with your partner. Meet a friend. Spend more time with your pets. One of our dogs sleeping ON my foot while I'm working. Had to capture that precious moment in-between editing. Clingy dog #1 Clingy dog #2 UPDATE: Now that I'm married, I spend more time with my husband. He accompanies me when I need to work outside due to inevitable instances like a power outage. That's an unplanned and productive date right there. You can't have it all. Like everything else in life, nothing is perfect. There are still challenges with working from home. 💡 WORKING FROM HOME TIP: Google and YouTube tutorials are your friends. When I first started, no one in my circle doing freelancing. But because I was determined to make the shift, I researched it. I attended seminars. As they say, if you want something wrong enough, you find a way, not an excuse. Join a fantastic group of freelancers. Here's one I highly recommend 👉 The Freelance Movement Workshop. This is where I learned freelancing hacks. I wish I knew when I was starting. Once you've found your rhythm, you keep learning and improving your skills, and you don't forget your BIG WHY. You will find that the pros of this work far outweigh the cons. Question for you: If you're already working online, what are your struggles? What do you think are the pros of working from home? If you're not yet making this incredible career, would you like to know how?This post contains affiliate links, so I'd get a commission if you purchase through my links at no additional cost to you. This helps me maintain my site. Thanks in advance!
Life Lessons Lessons Learned On My Way To Getting There 10:25 PM If you do not know where you come from, then you don’t know where you are, and if you don’t know where you are, you don’t know where you’re going. And if you need to know where you’re going, you’re probably going wrong. -Terry Pratchett Sometimes, it’s easy to feel like life is passing you by. One day you wake up and realize that most of your peers are now getting on with their adult lives, getting married, and having babies. And here you are...still drunk in love with your being single. It could be terrifying when negative thoughts start to enter your mind. When people make you question your choices, you begin to also doubt yourself. That is if you don’t have a solid conviction of who you really are, what you want, and where you are going. On my way to getting there, I’ve learned how to make the journey light, and I’m sharing it here with you. 1. Know exactly what you want. Where exactly is your ‘there’? Living without goals is like driving without direction. You keep on going around in circles. You don’t get anywhere simply because you don’t know where you’re heading. If you know exactly what you want, you can change your strategies or change your timetable and still know it’s okay because you haven’t forgotten your destination. You have a clear vision of where you’re going so you don’t go astray. You may have stopovers or detours, but keep your eyes on the prize. What do you really want to do, and where do you want to go? Giphy 2. Be friends with people from all walks of life. Younger friends are fun to be with because their excitement and curiosity are contagious. They keep you young and updated. Friends who are about your age share the same sentiments. You can share notes about your past experiences, struggles, and plans. They are your reality check. Friends who are more mature or are ahead of you in this life journey could be amazing life mentors. They will guide you and help you avoid making the same mistakes they did. Entrepreneurs have different mindsets and lifestyles from people in the workforce. See things from different perspectives by forming friendships with business owners and employees. Every person you meet has a story, and their story comes with lessons for you to learn. Giphy 3. Do something today that your future self will thank you for.They say money speaks only one language. “If you save me today, I will save you tomorrow.”Learn how to manage your finances. The people who laugh at your frugal ways will one day come to you and ask you for help. (True story!) Take care of your health and secure your future. Learn how to be truly rich. Enjoy the present, but don’t forget to save some for tomorrow. You don’t want to be begging for money when you’re too old or maybe too sick to work. Yes, YOLO! But you only live once, so you might as well not live miserably, right? That piece of steak looks good, but is it really worth it when you know you’re putting your life at risk? Not to mention the debilitating effect of the meat industry on the environment and, of course, the suffering of the animals just for you to get your plate of juicy steak. Your future self will thank you for your choices today. Choose selflessly and wisely for your health, the planet you live on, and the future. Giphy 4. Travel more. Visit a new place. Traveling changes your perspective. You realize that you are a tiny speck in the vast universe. Your primary concern, like your change of career, what other people would think, not having a date for Valentine’s, not having enough clothes in your closet, or not getting the latest gadget, will become insignificant. CALVIN: If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I’ll bet they’d live much differently. HOBBES: How so? CALVIN: Well, when you look into infinity, you realize that there are more important things than people do all day. Imgur 5. Help someone. Your job title, the trophies, and the rewards you received may be impressive and could give you euphoria. But there is a different kind of high when you give without expecting anything in return. Help someone who is not capable of giving you back. At least not directly. Because kindness begets kindness. The love (or hate) you give will eventually come back to you. Have you ever been a part of a ministry and witnessed God’s work through people helping other people? You will be amazed. Giphy 6. Let go. You can never enjoy the present if you keep looking back at the past. As you age, you realize that some dreams are worth pursuing and others are not your dreams but someone’s plans for you, like your parents. Let go of the people who are holding you back. Let go of your excess baggage to make your journey getting there easier and lighter. What are the things that are weighing you down? Is it guilt? Forgive yourself and ask for forgiveness. Confess. Is it an addiction? Seek help. Is it your inner critic? Learn how to silence it. Is it worrying about what people would say? Why does it matter anyway? Is it the limitation you set yourself? Change your mindset. Is it a toxic lifestyle? Learn how to live healthily and live happily. Is it fear? Do it afraid. Is it your lavish ways? Simplify. Giphy Sometimes you get to your dreams fast, and sometimes you face detours. Sometimes on your way to reaching your goals, you realize life is more than just about pursuing a career and living according to society's dictates. Sometimes you get lost and find a better dream, and sometimes you see...a better you. I’m getting to my next chapter. Just taking it slow, enjoying each step, but getting there. How about you? Where are you going? What lessons have you learned on your way to getting there?
Lux Thinking Aloud Crazy Things I Quit To Be Crazy Happy 8:31 PM You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy. -C. JoyBell C. As I grow older, there are crazy things I had to quit to be crazy happy. I have zero regrets in doing so. Are there things that are stopping you from living a life filled with joy? Quit them before it's too late. Don't get me wrong. I'm a believer of keeping on. That is, keeping on with the good things and chasing dreams. When it comes to the negative stuff, I am a quitter. Crazy Things I Quit To Be Crazy Happy Quit crying over spilled milk When things are over and done, there's no use holding on to it. When an opportunity has passed and you failed to grab it, you'll never get it back by still wishing you should have or thinking about the what ifs. Should have, could have, what if. Simple phrases with a lot of weight to carry. Quit crying over spilled milk. You can always buy another. 😛 "Kids, you can't cling to the past. Because no matter how tightly you hold on, it's already gone." -How I Met Your Mother Giphy Quit living my parents' dreams for me I don't want to cause my folks any headache, so I let them choose my career for me. But in doing so, I was slowly killing my own purpose. Needless to say, I was miserable. You can never be happy living other people's dreams, even when you're doing it for your loved ones. That's because you have a different calling. Your heart wants to lead you somewhere else. Claiming other people's dreams as your own buries your calling deep down that when you finally want to do what you really want...it will take a long time to dig it out. You'll be walking around thinking, "But what do I want? What am I supposed to do?" So a friendly reminder to parents: let your kids discover what they're good at, nurture their gifts, and support their ambitions. Because whatever it is that they keep envisioning for themselves and gives them fire in the belly, that's what they're meant to do. That's their anointing. That's their purpose. You have no idea how much they can accomplish if you let them follow their passion. Giphy Quit waiting for things to happen I've delayed a lot of things and had to choose option B many times because I needed to wait. I needed to wait for someone to be available or I had to wait for the "perfect" timing. I've allowed stress into my life by beating the deadline because I've waited for inspiration to strike. I've waited for people to pay back money they borrowed when they obviously have no intentions to do so. I've waited for someone to accompany when I can totally go on my own. I've waited for apologies from people who never showed regrets. Waiting for things to happen is wasting precious time. It will drain you in the long run. Let go of things you can't control and make peace with yourself instead. Forgive yourself for waiting and for stealing your own joy by doing so. Giphy Quit chasing people Chasing people includes forcing myself to be friends with people who obviously don't want me involved in their lives. Some people may play an important role in a certain episode of your life, but you don't need them until the season finale to complete your story. Quit chasing them! If they want to be in your life, they will make an effort to be. Two things you will never have to chase: True friends & true love. -Mandy Hale Giphy Quit taking crap from others There's a very fine line between kindness and stupidity. The more you some people kindness the more they abuse you instead of appreciating and reciprocating your kindness. You have to accept the fact that there is goodness in everyone, but some people chose a different path. They've made their choice. Now, make yours. In this tough, cruel, wicked world (I like to be dramatic sometimes), you need to stand your ground or you'll be trampled over. When life pushes you around you have to push back. Quit settling I'm done settling for mediocrity. I'm done settling for second best. I'm done settling for a high paying job but is slowly turning me into a zombie. I'm done settling with housemates from hell, with friends who are pulling me down and hinders me from becoming more. I'm done settling with "just fine". I'm done accepting measly pays for my writing gigs. Giphy Quit toxic people Surrounding yourself with gossiping, procrastinating, condescending people will make you like them too. I'm not comfortable doing these things. I don't see myself doing the same things in the years to come. So I cut my ties with them. And boy, what a weight lifted off my shoulder. You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. -Jim Rohn Giphy Quit being hard on myself I used to always blame myself when things don't go well. Even in relationships where it takes two to tango, I always thought it's solely my fault. Are you still wondering why this post is called Crazy Things I Quit To Be Crazy Happy? I was crazy! Giphy Quit fixing things and people I tried to fix people who are otherwise happy with where they are no matter how messed up their lives are. I tried to make them see reason. I tried to mend broken relationships and in the process, I drained myself empty. But what's crazier is that I'v met a lot of people who are doing the same thing. This disorder is rampant. I think it's universal. We need to quit it quick. Giphy Quit fighting every battle I used to be feisty. It seems there's not a fight I would surrender to. I was fierce. Obviously, I was always exhausted and preoccupied with unnecessary things. I have little time left for self-improvement. I've realized that walking away from a fight is not cowardice, it's courage. Choosing which battle to fight is not lack of bravery, it's boldness. And some people just don't deserve your time and attention. Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. -Mark Twain Tenor Quit eating meat This is an ongoing argument in the society. And I know I mentioned here on the blog a few years ago that I went back to eating burger. But I've changed. Dare I say it, I am more enlightened now. Since I've originally written this article in 2016, a lot of things happened. From a happy carefree single gal, I got married. I quit my full time high paying job to freelance. I've traveled to different places I used to just dream about. And my dogs made me a better soon. They proved to me that animals are intelligent, sentient, kind and capable of showing love and loyalty. Sometimes, they're better than some humans. 🤷 I realized that if I will not support killing of dogs for food because they are family, why do I continue to support the torture and killing of other animals just so I can satisfy my cravings? If I will not allow anyone to hurt my dogs, why do I patronize businesses that test on animals, or use animals as commodity? It didn't make sense to say I love the planet, I support causes for the environment and I love animals when I have a dead animal part on my plate. Going vegan goes beyond diet. It's a lifestyle. It's not a hype that will go passé in the future. The future is vegan. Being vegan is about quitting cruelty and choosing compassion and kindness. I quit meat not because I'm crazy but because it's crazy to support the killing of animals for my palate's satisfaction. I quit meat because I love the earth...especially the animals. Giphy I didn't realize how crazy things in my life were making me miserable then. It took me years to finally let go most of them. I had to for the sake of my sanity. And because I have finally allowed God to fix me, and allowed myself to heal from my brokenness that caused me to do these crazy things. Loving myself more means I need to quit the things that are not contributing to my well being. I'm a quitter. And I am a damn happy one. What crazy things do you think you need to quit to be crazy happy? Gifs from Google images.
Life Lessons 10 Life Lessons From Maleficent Movie 8:02 PM Have you ever wondered why villains are the way they are? Only when I got older did I realize people aren’t born evil. Something pushed them. Someone hurt them. Hurt people hurt people. And that has been made clearer with my favorite Disney villain’s story. So here are the ten life lessons from the Maleficent movie and the realizations I learned. 10 Life Lessons Learned from Maleficent Movie1. Forgiveness sets you free.When we close the chapter that has long been over, a new story starts to unravel. Don’t wait for the person who hurt you to apologize before you forgive them. By then, it may be too late. Decide to forgive now for your peace of mind.Forgive yourself for allowing that person to walk through your mind with their dirty feet.Stop hanging on to the past because it’s already done.Stop beating yourself up for what happened in the previous chapter of your life when the part of that story is already over.Choose to forgive and set yourself free.2. We choose the life we want.There’s evil in this world, but it has no power over you unless you allow it to. Every day, you make a choice. Mocha or latte.Save or spend.Choose food that heals or food that harms.Spread kindness or hatred.Respond or react.Find a way or find an excuse.Smile or frown.Love or indifference.It’s up to you.What are you choosing today? It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. - JK Rowling3. What goes around comes around.Kindness begets kindness. Hate begets hate. No matter how hard you try to be kind to everyone, sometimes, someone will repay it with hostility.It may be tempting to give your haters a taste of their own medicine, but that will not heal your wound.The best revenge is success. Nothing kills your enemy more than seeing you happy and prosperous. Sit back. Relax. And let karma do her job.4. Master yourself. It’s normal to be angry when you’re hurt. It is a healthy response.It’s never okay to live with the pain and let your anger control you.Tame that angry beast inside you. Or else...You will drive the people around you away.You will have sleepless nights.You will get sick.Anger steals joy and peace.It will make you miserable. You could end up like the people who hurt you.Allow yourself to be angry. Embrace the pain. And then, let it go. (I’ve learned this one from Tuesdays with Morrie).5. Create your own happiness.Don’t make another person your source of happiness. Make your own sunshine.Choose to be happy. Stop holding on to what causes you misery or stress.Life becomes easier if you free yourself from the tt that are weighing you down. You open yourself up to better options and opportunities.6. Greed destroys. Negative and toxic feelings will eventually swallow you if you allow them.Greed will destroy you. King Stefan, in the movie, wanted more. His insatiable hunger for worldly things destroyed his family and drove him to madness. It eventually led to his death.7. Hurting people hurt people. Misery loves company. People who are wounded tend to wound others. They are screaming for help and desperate for healing but don’t know what to do. They feel empty. Their words are like knives.They are challenging to be around. They will drain your energy.You will never speak to talk more than yourself in your head. Be kind to yourself.8. Know the story behind the story. I used to think that Maleficent was born evil. Who would curse a baby?I never asked why she did what she did. What drove her to become this evil?I’ve realized that, as adults, we understand the villain more. Heck, sometimes we can even relate to them.When you meet a toxic person, do you judge them immediately to them, or do you through them right away?9. Teamwork is essential.We all need a reliable backup to accomplish our goals. A team of people to cheer us on or simply support us.We need friends who believe in us and see our potential---even when we doubt ourselves. We need friends who will point out the wrong in us. But will never walk away.Who is on your team?10. The power of wordsWords can build and destroy life. Be careful with what you say. Once spoken, you can’t take them back.How powerful are words? Dr. Masaru Emoto’s experiment showed that words can affect and change the molecular structure of water.And that’s only water. Imagine the effect of words on a person.Bonus lesson: never mess with a woman with red lipstick. 🤣 Realizations about Maleficent: Whpotenteficent?Maleficent is the most powerful fairy who lives in the Moors, a magical forest realm bordering a human kingdom. She fell in love with her first and only human friend Stefan. Stefan’s ambition and desire for power drove him to betray Maleficent, leaving her heartbroken and hateful. 1. Maleficent represents every one of us. Maleficent was born good. She believed in the goodness of men before she was betrayed. She did not hurt anyone. The concept of betrayal was foreign to her. This left her lost and wrathful. She wallowed in her pain and hatred. She shut the world out and became vindictive. I’ve read stories like this. About villains who used to be good. Until something awful happened to them. For Maleficent, it was losing faith both in love and in humanity. It was the betrayal that pushed her to be vengeful and curse the life of her perpetrator. Hurting people tend to do outrageous and illogical things. 2. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Maleficent had a choice like all f us. She lets her emotions control her or master her feelings and control her. It’s not easy to stay calm when you’ve given yourself only to be taken advantage of. 3. Life has a twisted sense of humor. What she despised and was obsessed with turned out to be why she changed. This is another proof that behind every burden is a blessing. In every trial, there lies a treasure. Final WordsI love knowing the other side of the story. The movie Maleficent is a perfect 5 for me. Have you seen Maleficent? What life lessons have you learned from it? Image and Gifs from GiphyThis post contains affiliate links. Meaning I get a commission if you purchase through my links at no additional cost to you. This helps me maintain my site. Thank you for your support!
