Friday, November 29, 2019

Open plan offices are so terrible that a new company is selling workplace tents

Open plan offices are so terrible that a new company is selling workplace tentsOpen plan offices are so terrible that a new company is selling workplace tentsIn an open office plan, you are surrounded by co-workers, buffeted by the winds of their noisy company, whether you like to hear it or not. A new device wants to offer you a one-person escape pod from the tyrannies of this setup.time-out Pod, which markets itself as the worlds first private pop up space suitable for all your relaxation needs, was launched as a Kickstarter campaign in April, and now can be bought in its prototype stage.The Sweden-based entrepreneurs said they were inspired by the blanket forts we used to build when growing up.It looks like a child-sized tent, it functions like a tent, so what makes it different than a tent? Thats the big question.Like other tents, Pause Pod uses light-reducing fabric, portability, easy pop-up construction, spacious pockets, and ventilated openings to keep you comfortable. Unlike most other tents, it also has a fold-out leg compartment so that you can stretch your limbs and become a living, breathing hazard on your office floor for bemused co-workers to step over.If youve always wanted a leg den for your indoor office needs, Pause Pod is the tent for you. For additional upgrades to your portable cave of solitude, you can get an ear mask and ear muff, also known as the Mini Pause.Testimonials of workers who have used Pause Pod say that it can function as a breather from the distractions of noisy, busy workplaces.Pause Pod is not the first gadget to attempt to disrupt the workforce with a promise of peace and quiet. There are nap tents for your desk and noise-blocking astronaut helmets you can take Skype calls on that make this grand promise, too.The promise of solitude has gained more traction in recent years as more of us are forced to reckon with each other outside of the closed comforts of rooms with doors.According to the International Management Facility Association, nearly three-quarters of U.S. employees work in open plan offices. And that frustrates us. A 2013 study found that public sounds were the biggest frustration for employees in open cubicles.So if youre ready to forsake your dignity for inner peace, go ahead and pitch your tent. When your co-workers chatter is driving you to the edge of your sanity, an indoor tent that can buy you back some inner peace - at the cost, perhaps, of your dignity.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Why money actually can buy happiness (and how)

Why money actually can buy happiness (and how)Why money actually can buy happiness (and how)Okay, bear with me here. Its true, money provides a whole lot of problems, and thats well known in psychology studies. Theres even a term for the phenomenon of money misery, describing the feeling of never being satisfied in ur society, we never feel like we have enough - enough clothes, enough Instagram followers, enough money. Once we reach a goal, we immediately make a new one. And all of that can be attributed to this chase for mora money.So, to clarify, happiness is notlagedependenton money. Potential to be happy doesnotincreasewith your salary. Havent you heard Notorious B.I.G? Mo money, mo problems But what if we rewired our idea of the happiness and money relationship tothink that more money does not equal more happiness, but instead, the money you already have can be rearranged andbudgeted to help you be happy? No matter your income, money can be used to give you a healthier,easierli festyle, depending on what is best for you. And thats bound to make you happy.Heres how to use your money to buy happiness (kind of)Rethink your spending habits.Im guessingyou already have a budget (and if you dont, thats a differentstory). No matter the size of your salary, you know the cost for rent, utilities, groceries, benefits, bills, etc. You have your payment plans for student loans or debts, and you budget. So Im guessing you also have a spendingbudget that you allow yourself.In buchen to use money to buy happiness, you must first know what you spend this money on. Do you orderPostmatesfor dinner a few nights a week? Do you buy a matcha latte every morning, or craft beer when youre out on weekends? Do you Uberpool to work when you dont feel like taking the bus? Do you buy a new sweater, or spend $300 on Nordstroms Anniversary sale?The only relevance of knowing what youre spending your money on (however much or little that is) is not to judge your spending habits, but rather to think about if these things are really making you happy. Are theybringing you peace, content, ease, and lasting joy? If they are, good for you But if not, maybe reconsider your spending toget rid of all the things that dont make you happy, to provide for the things that will.Reevaluate the items that bring you happinessWeve all had the experience of coming upon a new purse or dress and feeling like we justneedto have it. After however much or little deliberation (no judgment), we buy it, and then are on a shopping high for about a day or two when we get to wear our brand new item. However, we also all know the moment when the shopping high comes down and the newness becomes normalized. This item is no longer exciting or making you happy, and you even start seeing it as just another thing in your closet, as you pine after Madewells new collection or the dress you saw in Nordstroms store window.This is what they mean when they say money cant buy happiness. Possessions are fleeting , and we have trouble appreciating what we have.But thats not always the case. Make a list of the things you really truly love - the hobbies that bring you enjoyment time and time again, the things you love to learn about. Think about what passions and interests are not fleeting, when its not the newness that youre attracted to. Instead of buying for newness, buy based off this list.If you love art, walking by a painting you really love hanging up in your dining room really can make you happy every single day.If you lovemusic, a vintage record player or a signed poster of your music idol will likely bring you joy time and time again. Instead of buying new clothes here and there or dozens of drugstore beauty products you dont end up using, save up to invest in the pieces that will make you happy to own, no matter how old they get.Spend money eliminating the things you hate doing most.Of course, we all hate chores and the things we need to do. Thats just called adulting. But sometime s, we have that one chore that we justreallyhate. For example, laundry is a weekly occurrence, right? (Or, if youre like me in college, you can spread it out a few extra weeks longer than you should.) Imagine how much time in your life is spent doing laundry if youdespiselaundry. What if you took a little extra money out of your spending account to pay for someone to do your laundry every other week? Or if youreally dread grocery shopping, splurge, just a little, for a service likeInstacartthat will do the shopping for you, orBlue Apronthat sends the ingredients to your door.Dont feel bad spending your money on things that you could do yourself because itnotonly would eliminate those chores from your regular to-do list, but will give you more free time. And then spend thistime wisely - dont use the extra few hours sitting around and watching TV. Learn something new, catch up on work, spend time with your kids or the friends that make you happy.Buy experiencesSometimes it can be har d to spend money on these bigger budget items. Buying a $15 lunch a few days a week seems much less daunting or scary than a $1000 trip. But guess what - buying $15 lunch just 3 days a week adds up to over $2000 a year. So if youd rather a trip than your takeout habit, budget accordingly, and then actually plan the trip, no matter how scary a big sum of money at once may seem.Spending your money on traveling or classes in something youve been wanting to learn, like a cooking class or learning a musical instrument, has clinically been proven to increase feelings of contentment with your life.Bonus happiness spend your money on experiences with someone you care about. Getting to experience something like a trip, a concert, or a class with a loved one is shown to not only increase emotional connection, butmight also become memories and photographs that mean a lot to you. This also goes for gifting too - if your sisters birthday is coming up, dont just buy her apair of shoesyou know s hell like or a nice candle. Buy tickets for the two of you to a festival shed love or a concert with her favorite artist.Not only will you have a lot of fun together, but the experience will mean more to her,long after the candle wouldve gotten lost on her shelf or the shoes wouldve worn out.Budget for indulgences that really matter to youIndulgences may not be something you do on a regular basis. But think about the times you actually feel content or at peace when youve splurged in your life. Was it after a really good krpermassage? During an impeccably good meal? When you took a greatyoga class that had fancy towels andessentialoils? These things may seem frivolous and unrealistic, but if you know its financially smart to invest in stocks, its also emotionally smart to invest in yourself care.Give yourself the indulgences that will actually increase the quality of your life and wellbeing,because these are the things worth saving money for.Think about how you can readjust the way y ou spend money in your life now to allow for these occasional indulgences. If afacialputs you in a state of bliss for days, try to see where you can find the money for it, at least once every few months. This might be as simple as using a Keurig instead of your $3.50 Starbucks every morning,packing lunch instead of buying it, or pulling from your clothing budget.In the moment, alatte in the morning might seem more financially stable and necessary than a facial, but if that indulgence makes youfeel at peace(and your skin glowy), its worth reevaluating whats worth the money.Actually spend the money when you canSure, you need to save up and be financially smart about the future, but life is meant to be enjoyed. Dont feel guilty if you do spend a bigger sum of money on a vacation or a yoga studio membership. If you know you can afford it, think of it as investing in your happiness,like you would invest at the bank.If all were doing is working and not really living, what kind of life is that? Be smart, budget, and most importantly, live the life that makes you happy.This article first appeared on The EveryGirl.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

6 life-affirming ways to lift your morale when things are melting down around you

6 life-affirming ways to lift your morale when things are melting down around you6 life-affirming ways to lift your morale when things are melting down around youHumans may be a civilized species, but a primal fear and instinct takes over when a company is in a crisis like animals fleeing open spaces before an earthquake, humans panic and huddle in cubicles and amtsstube kitchens when their company is facing tough times.Most experienced professionals know the drills Instead of productive work, the office is overtaken with furtive gossip and speculation about layoffs, numbers in the red, gallows humor and more panic at berichterstattung that your fourth team member in a month has just quit.These are all events that can toss a company into chaos- but you dont have to follow suit. Whether youre a manager or you have soft influence in the office, you can make sure that the panic and chaos leads to clear thinking and better plans, not willy-nilly destruction. While certain things will be out of your control, as a professional, there are parts of this situation you can individually control and address. Heres how to motivate your co-workers and yourself in tough times.Lead yourselfWhen fear hits the air, you need to put on your oxygen mask first and help yourself before you can rescue others. That means leading yourself.Process your own emotions about whats happening, so you dont unduly unburden your stress and panic onto your colleagues and create an unhelpful anxiety loop.Easier said than done, right? Here are a few tips that may help.First, identify your greatest worries by writing them down. Whats the worst possible outcome? Is it job loss, financial panic, something else? Dont run away from that. Life coach Raphael Cushnir has a short ritual he advises in his book The One Thing holding-gesellschaft You Back Identify the emotion youre feeling, then scan your body to find out where its sitting. (It may be, for instance, a lump in the stomach.) Dont run away from it or distract yourself. Instead, allow yourself a few minutes to picture and live in the worst-case scenario, thoroughly allowing the emotion to do its work and noting the physical changes in your body. Then ask yourself could you accept that outcome? Usually, you can. That helps move the worry off your plate. Cushnir provides guided meditations for free on his website that help guide you through the process.Leading yourself also means getting informed and doing your own reporting about the crisis. Understand as much as you can thats factual about whats going wrong, so you can make decisions with as much information as possible at your disposal. That way, when you communicate information to your team, its well-researched and pragmatic, not hyperbolic.Also, remember to take care of yourself. During unhappy days at work, make sure each day includes something you enjoy. Keep a gratitude journal, take breaks and go outside. These are necessary reminders that theres a wide world beyond yo ur office walls.Praise your teams workYou may not be able to control the direction of your company, but you can make sure to know that your employees work is still valued. Recognize small and big wins early and often. Giving consistent, specific credit to your colleagues creates positive feedback loops and makes everyone feel appreciated. And youll need all the good vibes you can get in tough times.Talk to co-workers about how their work still matters. More than a paycheck, employees want their work to matter and be recognized. You cannot fix their views of the company as a whole. But do not wait for the CEO to solve that problem. Shift the focus to something that you can controlthe good that their unit does. You can help them see how that still contributes to peoples lives, Harvard geschftlicher umgang Review recommends.Signal your valuesWhat are we here for? Living up to your values - preferably honesty, transparency and mutual respect - sends a clear message to employees that exp ectations will meet reality.Whatever external forces are at play, you can platzset the tone about how it will be handled. Look to the CEOs of the nations top automakers, GM, Ford, and Chrysler, in 2008. After the CEOs were criticized for using private jets to go to Washington and seek bailout money, they changed their tune. They drove their own cars for the next Congressional hearing. It was a positive public relations move, yes. But it also showed that the CEOs were owning up to their mistakes, and it allowed them to show off their companies fuel-efficient vehicles.Address the gossipIf there is no reliable information, there is a vacuum for communication- and that vacuum will be filled with negative gossip. One of the best ways to manage morale is to nip rumors in the bud. Talk to your co-workers about what you know and dont.But remember bediscreet about how you talk about the state of the company to your team members and to people outside of it. What you share will shape your comp anys story to future employers and may make it harder or easier for you to find new opportunities.No false promisesIt can be tempting to brush away concerns and say its all gonna be okay. But that would be a lie you cant know that, and its a bad move to set up expectations that get dashed.Instead of setting up unrealistic expectations about the companys future, you can help people make commitments to themselves, to do their best work while they can. Those promises will last longer than any one job.Remind your close teammates that you will support their careers, and follow through on that promise. Take those colleagues to coffee, offer to be a reference, go to networking events together, and review resumes.You cant promise your co-workers that their jobs are secure. You can promise them that that whatever happens, they will be able to handle it.Put the crisis in perspectiveRemember that you work for a business, and that demoralizing events like pivots and disruptions are business dec isions, not personal ones. If you find yourself overwhelmed by whats happening around you, take a step back and put these events in perspective. Recognize that your work doesnt define you. You are bigger than this one bad month, disappointing result, or job.Today may be tough, but there will be brighter tomorrows.