I sometimes find myself getting too stressed about work. The corporate world can be harsh and doesn’t truly empathise with our personal life. Managers keep pushing us to achieve goals and to progress in our careers, but the way that they do it leaves us feeling like if we don’t present objectives we run the risk to become obsoletes.
What is wrong with us just being good on what we’re doing? Maybe we’re just not prepared to move on at a given moment, maybe our true career objectives don’t match the opportunities we’re offered, maybe we’ll be better off drawing our own path?
Lunch break n the office grounds
I’m happy with the job I’ve got at the moment and to stay where I am right now, when I’ve got personal matters to resolve that require my focus and because of that I’n not in a position to be facing new challenges. Is that so wrong? My multitasking skills are limited to a certain area, if tasks differ too much I will burn out, and I really can’t afford to. The job I’ve got provides me with financial stability, doing a good job (in a near autopilot mode), offers good perks (a good team spirit, a good location, hybrid work) whilst allowing me to place my focus in other areas of interest. One of the work-balance premises is certainly self-preservation, wouldn’t you say
“It is important to clearly detach from all other similar forms of advertising”
Mind promenade
It’s been a while. This last month, for the first time (luckily after three jabs) I caught Covid. I hoped I could be one of those rare cases of immunity, special enough to remain untouched. The kids had both had it. But it wasn’t until my partner caught it that I got it passed on. With everything that is going on, it’s impossible to dodge it. We have come down all the way, from the beginning of 2020, through the sensible way of prevention as far as we could. How long can we possibly postpone it? We live together, we sleep on the same bed, it was bound to happen. So obviously, this has put our progress with the house works on hold.
My main symptoms of Covid have been lethargy and a VERY persistent cough. I started my Covid still well enough to keep work (remotely, of course). I was already working from home, due to my partner having tested positive. A couple of days later, I had this out-of-the-blue dry cough and started feeling the typical cold and flu shivers, so decided to test. And there it was, that second bold stripe as if it was a pregnancy test.
Of course, I was still feeling ok to work, after all, the type of work I do isn’t physically demanding, so I pushed it. I asked to stay out of the phone queues, so I wasn’t forced to speak, as it would trigger it. But the cough quickly got more persistent and by lunchtime, I didn’t even need to speak to cough, just breathing would do it. So I called it quit for the day. Yes, I surrendered. Sometimes we just have to stop completely, have a lie-down, and literally force ourselves to recover.
For the next 8 hours, between toilet visits and healthy snacks, coughing was all I did. Our bedroom was full of at least 3 types of cough syrups and lozenges, and none of them seemed to be relieving my cough. The little I could smell, through my partially blocked airways, was the smell of a hospital room. A mix of medicine and disease. The coughing got me so tired that my body finally gave in to sleep.
The following day my body felt like it had been beaten with a stick. I was feeling drained, and sore from my throat to my lower back. My diaphragm felt like I had submitted it to 300 abs without a warm-up. On the third day of recovery, I felt that lack in the sense of smell and taste. Don’t get me wrong, I still had an appetite. I had a ringing in my ears but I feel like the worst has now passed. First priority: opening the windows and a big load of washing to bring the sterilised feel back in.
Remote Work
In case you missed it…
Whilst scanning for articles that explore the pros and cons of remote work, I thought it would be fun (and even logical) to through other topics into the mix. Although the topics are not all directly related to remote working, they are of interest to most people as they resonate with us all. And because I tend to read about it, I get more feeds and it then prompts me to write my view on it too—another form of purging my thoughts.
One of the articles I found – about doom-scrolling – was on LinkedIn. Mind you, I don’t spend an awfully long time on LinkedIn because I find it boring. I understand the reason for its existence – networking and all that – but I don’t really identify with its organics. I go there, probably once a day, to check the Daily Rundown, and other news bots I follow. I find LinkedIn is like a second version of Facebook, only there people brag about their jobs instead of their holidays.
Remaining Sane
Doomscrolling
The Psychology of Your Scrolling Addiction, on Harvard Business Review
How do we get sucked onto a continuous, mind-numbing, video (and stories) stream for hours and hours on end? This brings memories of the old movie Poltergeist. I’m pretty sure that if a new version was made, the phenomena would kick start from a smartphone, and the consequences would be far more devastating and scary. This article covers research on the rabbit hole of the bite-size content binging urge, once you start. Again, the way I see it, it’s only about disciplining ourselves by scheduling times to do these things, to not lose control over what someone is sharing with us. We set the emergency and our priorities so, unless it’s someone in a real-life danger and I receive that video, it’s not getting watched until I find the time for it. It goes straight into the “Watch Later” category.
Common wellbeing sense
Future of Work, on Forbes
To keep the remote working side of things possible, it needs to be recognised that mental health has become a major part to make the life-work balance work effectively. Loneliness, isolation, stress and social anxiety build-up is a reality. There is no point in forcing this dynamic if the team leaders are not willing to acknowledge that our mental health being is essential for our work to be completed effectively. In the same way, as our computers need an update every so often, or a tool we use reached the end of its life cycle, our brains are our most important tool. It is the only tool that is used ALL of the time, the one that never gets to switch off (even when we’re sleeping). I’m no expert on this matter, but it seems pretty simple to me. And leaders that are not willing to accept time off for this reason – or even to proactively arrange for regular well being sessions (whether these are meditation, yoga, or Zumba, it doesn’t matter) that will help bring their team members down to earth and stay in sync with their environment – do not have leading material. This is crucial. Then there is the opposite side of the coin, where being forced to return to work from the office is causing people to quit their jobs because they are now starting to feel like they can no longer cope. After getting used to a more flexible work approach induced by the pandemic, they now feel like it is too much having to go back to commuting, full-time office work and all the stresses that come with it.
Teamwork makes the dream work. Or not…?
An interesting approach to how the team members feel about each other and the work they think they are doing (or skipping) whilst working remotely. It is true that we can’t see what the others are doing, but I feel it comes down to the level of transparency, cooperation and trust in the team and how these are maintained by the leadership. Leaders need to be creative when finding ways to do this without micromanaging. KPIs are there to show all levels of productivity and we all need to be grown-ups to stand by ourselves.
Motivational Landscape
In Ideal Home
It surely comes as no shock that our surroundings can play a part in our productivity. Remote work doesn’t have to be necessarily just working from a cupboard to make ends meet. It should be, let me reword that, IT MUST BE enjoyable.
Lighten it up, bringing some creative workspace (and tools) ideas that could positively contribute to improving our WFH. Because if working from home is pleasurable then our work will be done better (and faster). I’m sure you agree with me here. Finding any little tools that can help us complete our daily tasks can make a lot of difference. And obviously have a huge impact on our mental health (motivation is soooo important!).
Minding my business
(Click the images to learn more)
If I mind yours…
and you run a charity…
Running a charity must be a hard job. It relies a lot on people’s empathy and generosity. It is ultimately teamwork. Trying to reach out to people in a world where networking is virtual, where there is no actual human contact, in an environment where people use “Likes” and hearts to show empathy without commitment feels like an impossible task. Learn more
“… we cannot rely on AI to do anything for us in any tasks that require common sense, judgement and creativity.”
Mind promenade
Comparison, comparison and more comparison. It is ongoing. It doesn’t matter where we are or what we’re doing, every individual insists on gauging his successes by other people’s. We tend to forget that we all have totally different experiences and paths. We will all have different outcomes.
Again, the busier our surroundings get – whether it’s in traffic, at work or on social media – the more of that white noise we allow in, the more it will affect us. We know it’s easier said than done. It’s easy to say it aloud, not so easy to interiorize it.
It’s important to have a positive supporting network of people that nurture our potential, and that identify and welcome our skills.
The way I see it being a successful (copy) writer is about hitting the nerve. It’s about being brave and knowing how to use words the right way to state the obvious, to be bold and clear to say what everybody thinks. This creates resonation. And from resonation comes attachment: “Well, here’s someone that calls things by their names.” Common attracts. All working niches must be common. They must be an intersection of things people relate to, common things but not in the sense of the regular common, common for a particular group of people.
Remote work – In case you missed it…
Remote/hybrid work is increasingly gaining more and more support from both employers and employees. As time passes, we are starting to see a wider acceptance and stronger trust in the systems in place. We have to come to terms that it is a more affordable way of working for everyone and it should be promoted as a company perk, for computer-based roles. Especially if an employer wants to avoid/postpone salary increases for a couple of years. The fact that an employer is willing to acknowledge the importance of the work-life balance AND promote mental well-being alongside it can be recruiting game-changing.
I had an interesting experience last week when I was “forced” to choose a video banking appointment as opposed to an in-person one. Let’s face it, when it comes to our money, we prefer to speak to someone physically. But it’s all part of adapting to this new remote working world, and to be fair, in an era where we are using contactless cards and phones to pay for things (either by storing our bank details or by scanning) having a physical appointment at our local branch is no longer a need.
Considering that the next available appointment was only in two months’ time, it made practical sense to just sit in a video banking queue, where I get an appointment on the same day. And it was quite a positive experience, I must add. Nowadays, we have the technology to make it work. There are platforms to allow people to be verified and even sign electronic contracts. It should be the same to be seen by a doctor. Not only do we save time and fuel, but the entity is also more productive. We already “sign” contracts, we just see it as a means to an end, and we normally don’t read it all the way through. We just tick that we did.
There are still industries where this type of work will never be applicable, at least until such point when AI takes over. Construction, manufacturing, maintenance and reactive type of jobs still require working in the field. And more than ever those jobs should level up in pay rates and working conditions so that we still see a good part of the population sees them as jobs worth applying for. It will probably be important to review the current academic system to convert it into one that makes choosing these roles both personally and financially rewarding, rather than incentivizing the coming generations to study for a more “cushy” job.
Here’s my selection of articles on remote work from the past few weeks. How is remote work evolving and what are the most pressing concerns. As remote work spreads across the globe, so does the risk of security of the personal information companies manage. It is important to review policies and adapt and put measures in place that are compliant with individual privacy. Should rates vary or not depending on the worker’s geographical location? The way I see it, the workers’ location shouldn’t even be part of this equation. Another article on the subtle mistrust in remote work. Again, do we not know what we are all doing, when working from home? Companies set SLAs and KPIs. It should be easy to measure if the work we’re doing is of benefit to the company. Nothing a spreadsheet won’t resolve.
It can be scary to look for a job. It can be even scarier if you’re looking for your first job. Do you remember when you had to put together your first CV? Read more
“A virtual print proves your existence, shows who you are, what services you provide”
Mind promenade
A week late. It has been hectic: overtime, partner away for a couple of days and daughter slipped with school attendance again… You know, life.
Progressing
Contracts. Work commitment. What can they do for both the client and the freelancer? They protect. They help prevent potential disputes.
We want to be prepared. We want to make sure we are on the same page as the client concerning the rate, the time we are offering and the availability. The client will also want to ensure he gets value for his money: results. Results that ideally translate into new and strong leads.
A contract helps preserve diplomacy in the working relationship, it’s an agreement that both can refer to when something is not quite right. A verbal agreement is easy to dodge when things go wrong. As much good faith, we may want to put on the other party, the contract ensures the good health of the business relationship.
Regressing
To a time when war was simple. Only joking. I don’t think there was ever such a time. As humankind evolved, relationships just got more and more complicated, a very real game of thrones. All in the name of money and power.
When any likely war seemed to point in the way of a virtual or bioweapon, we are currently on the brink of a nuclear one. Clearly, humankind does not learn the wise easy way.
Remote work – In case you missed it…
Some interesting reads this week. And one I missed last week, that popped up on my Chrome Newsfeed. The article I missed was the one about the 10 best places to work remotely. I couldn’t feel prouder but all are good choices, all for the best reasons.
Responsibility and communication go hand-in-hand and are key to making remote work possible and productive. Read about “Solving the hybrid paradox” in the Canadian Financial Post. I can’t argue against the savings remote working brought to my petrol bill, but I find hybrid holds the balance between the savings and the social connections essentials. The Insider says it’s no longer about the virus, people have just grown accustomed to working remotely, even though the best employee may be the one in “sweat pants”.
But my article of choice was one that showed up on my LinkedIn Daily Rundown. This one article is about a job interview by a chatbot. I like to think I am a progressive thinker in what relates to the human-AI partnership, but I’m not convinced this concept will have legs. we can’t deny there is a benefit for AI to screen keywords, years of experience, education, etc. But there are too many variables when it comes to a face-to-face interview. I wouldn’t rely on AI to make a character judgement. Plus, once someone cracks the algorithms that’s a door open to whomever, qualified or YouTube “trained”…
Another interesting article from Benjamin Laker, on Forbes, focuses on the way remote work may be letting our younger generations down when they are starting their employment journey out. He speaks of the need for “handholding” and how the lack of trust by today’s senior management is preventing them from adapting to the new remote work/hybrid culture, particularly from their onboarding. The way I see it this is not happening just to the youngsters, this is happening to anyone who is starting a new job, following a redundancy, taking a new leap onto a new career. Anyone starting now will be feeling daunted by this new normality. Equally, anyone taking in new staff will be mistrusting at the start, until they get to know them.
There are productivity measurement platforms out there nowadays, there is no excuse for mistrust over employees working remotely. However, remote work (whatever shape it takes) should not replace or block physical social interaction. It is important to have one or two days a week where you re-group and ground the team down. This is why I find hybrid is a much healthier way to work. We need that social interaction and no Teams can replace that. In my opinion, the success of remote (or hybrid) work relies on people’s ability to be responsible adults, the same way as they are expected to be when it comes to protecting themselves and others during this whole pandemic. We are all grownups and are expected to act as such.
Minding my business
(Click the images to learn more)
#life
A SPA on the horizon
Since January, I have volunteered to work an average of 10 hours overtime a week more. This may not sound much, but when we’re talking totals of around 45 hybrid hours/week, still looking after the house and the kids (this last one has been overwhelmingly hard)… I am shattered. I need a quality day off.
#Family
Where did I fail as a parent?
Two whole weeks and two days of consecutive full-time attendance and she decided to take the rest of the week off school. How do we talk a teenager into what’s in their best interest? Even the side treats to keep her going don’t seem to have convinced her. I have tried to remain reasonable, giving her the benefit of the doubt countless times. She says she hates school. All she enjoys doing is spending time playing on the computer, or on her phone, which we got her, with the main purpose of keeping in touch with her when needed. And she doesn’t even answer the bloody thing!
#food
Dave
I try preserving that traditionalist taste for things that are so typical of me. I like old towns, I like handcrafted, homemade, old arts, and town markets. I am invariably an irreparable nostalgic. Since I moved to Whittlesey, I have always looked for local produce. Because the big commercial surfaces have suffocated in unaffordability, and although people keep trying, they don’t tend to stick around for very long. I would love to help these businesses. But how can you compete with the “big dogs”, when they can provide more, cheaper and quicker?
#goals
The easily dismissed art of repurposing content
At times like the one I had this past week, one of the things I still dismiss, while busy dealing with everyday life, was that I have posts from previous blogs from which I can drink from when time gets scarce. There is so much potential in revisiting old posts. I have quite a few that I posted that I took down because either these didn’t have any interest or that I just didn’t publish because I didn’t find it ticked the boxes.
Last week…
If I mind yours
and you run a Dental Practice or Service…
We all go to the dentist at some point in our lives. In fact, going to the dentist for a check-up has become the norm. It is recommended by all dentistry health professionals that we keep our smiles in check, rather than waiting for that nasty pain to get in the way of our schedules.
“You can (and you should) always focus the offer on the demand. “
Mind promenade
Small businesses like the one I’m trying to build are so hard to promote. I see so many posts of sole traders struggling to self-promote, on a daily basis. It’s the lack of confidence and information, I guess, that it comes down to. It’s ironic, really, especially coming from a business whose primary purpose is to promote other businesses.
I make sure that all my posts are at least 98% original. We cannot deny that platforms such as Canva are time-savers when it comes to affordable (or free), quick, user-friendly and still professional presentation templates. But it is equally important that authenticity plays the main role. Photos and words should be, wherever possible original, and mirror a truthful representation of the business, at all times.
That spring in our step
I could be referring to the season as well since it’s getting close, and making it the detox season for my writing. I feel like I have now reached the maturity that allows me to talk about things as they are. I don’t want to be worried about punctuation. I don’t want to be worried about the number of paragraphs but I also don’t want to write a dissertation-long post. Like any reader, I as a writer, too, have a very short attention span, so it should work well.
For many years I have had blogs on and off. I ended up deleting them, always unhappy with the end result because of how obsessed I was with the formalities. Today, I understand that any writing needs to come out naturally. I should not have to worry about pleasing others, because primarily it is about enjoying it myself.
Remote work
Whilst for some remote work may bring more balance between their work and life balance, for others it adds pressure. If the household organisation relies on us, it adds pressure. If you live in a partnership and the household maintenance is shared, then it could make productivity sense to do it.
For me working from home has been a work in progress. It’s been hard to set boundaries. Yes, I have breaks, but do I actually take them? No, I WILL find something useful to do. I swear to God when I’m working from home all my washing is caught up.
Either way, I feel like it will settle in and it in the long term it will be beneficial for both employers and employees. Let’s hope the cutting of overheads allows employers to offer employees (contractors or freelancers) a good deal. It may also allow a fairer, diverse and more uniform workforce, where discrimination will eventually stop being a thing
Back to the Liby it was this weekend. Nice and quiet…
Catching up with the latest on remote work…
Bloomberg published an interesting article on the future vision of “remote work”. Much like co-existing alongside a pandemic, it will become the new normal, or in other words, just work.
Minding my business
#life
That garden room
My thoughts on the new house have been very focused on our garden house. The office, the leisure hub, the sleepover hut, the snug room, call it what you like. For me it will be my little peace oasis, where I will be able to write non-stop, get some peace and quiet, away from the uncivilised home environment.
#Family
Where did I fail as a parent?
Two whole weeks and two days of consecutive full-time attendance and she decided to take the rest of the week off school. How do we talk a teenager into what’s in their best interest? Even the side treats to keep her going don’t seem to have convinced her. I have tried to remain reasonable, giving her the benefit of the doubt countless times. She says she hates school. All she enjoys doing is spending time playing on the computer, or on her phone, which we got her, with the main purpose of keeping in touch with her when needed. And she doesn’t even answer the bloody thing!
#food
Tastes and smells similar to coffee
Breakfast: Check!
“Just not hungry”.
“I will eat on the way to work”.
“I’ll just grab something later”.
People underestimate the power of breakfast. It really does kick me off to a better start to my day. It helps me take control of my daily cravings.
#goals
A Quick Portuguese Guide
So long, technicalities.
Yeah, learning a language when we don’t have a linguistic background can be daunting and put you off from learning. Being born into an open-minded culture can be a huge advantage, where you are brought up with learning, reading books and watching movies in their original languages, (not dubbed) subtitled, so that you acquire that multitasking skill of keeping up with the movie while reading.
If I mind yours
and you have a Property Management Service…
The prospect of a new location, a new house, sometimes new shops, a new commute, can be really stimulating. Most of the time moving – if by moving by choice – can be – should be – really exciting. Being the biggest (non) investments of our lives…
“Over time boredom can lead your customers to look for something else, even the loyal ones.”
Mind promenade
We grow up and old, we change our tastes and our perception of things. We all learn and evolve. Customers are us. Some businesses take us for granted. A business should neither underestimate nor be condescending to customers. Not only can customers tell but on many occasions, they know more than they let us in. The best first approach is listening.
People nowadays look either for value or entertainment. If a business cannot provide one or the other it will become obsolete. I am a firm believer that simple will always do it, and that we don’t always have to spend an obscene amount of money to get a business moving forward. Sometimes, a little change in habits, that little extra mile can go a long way. Hell, it can cross countries!
That spring in our step
Nothing starts until you take that step. It can be a game-changer but you won’t find out until you take it. We feel as if we’re not ready. Ever. But what does “ready” feel like? Is there a “ready” standard feeling? How can we tell we reached it? I think it’s a feeling similar to falling in love. We’re enthusiastic to get things done, we’ve got something to look forward to every day, we don’t mind working that extra hour (or to) just for that satisfaction of seeing a task completed. Would you not say that is what it is?
As I was spring-cleaning my G-Drive (Gosh! It was needing one!), I decided to go the business proposal way as a representation of what a business could expect from my services. It is an open and honest view from someone that has over 20 years of customer services experience and that has created a good personal rapport every single time. I don’t only look at a business from the copywriter’s eye view, I look at it from the customer’s point of view: what would I expect/like to see if I was looking for your services? I am working on something that I find could be a good gauge kick for any small/medium B2C that is considering building a web print or revamping the existing presence in some way.
We can help each other grow. Watch this space!
Remote work
As an ex-remote – now hybrid – worker, I have a natural interest in keeping up with the progress of this current concept. This week I made a new attempt. As time was more restrictive this weekend, I couldn’t get to the library, as I was hoping, so Saturday I – and my other patient half – tried making a last-minute escape to a Tesco’s Café, which was definitely a different landscape to work in… And today revisited old Dobbies to work on this Sunday’s post finishing touches. Not ideal if you can’t focus (with the background noise) but it can work as an alternative if it gets you out of the house and away from the kids. Some people might find it soothing (welcome to the ASMR world!).
View from the Tesco Café
Dobbies Garden Centre
Equally, I thought it could be interesting to share some of the latest updates that popped up for me this week.
Forbes published a debate on the effectiveness of hybrid work. “Tired of working from home or in the office? Dreaming of taking your laptop to a beach, a ski resort or perhaps a buzzing city? Workations are a growing trend and can provide a boost for your career as well as for tourism.” Check the whole article from Living Word here, it’s definitely a whole new approach to remote work. Smart Company seems to agree. Vox says “Remote work isn’t the problem. Work is.” Do you agree with Roni Molla? Last but not least, I invite you to find out 5 ways to keep tags on remote workers?
The way this is all going, we’ll be booking holidays to stay home! :D
Minding my business
#life
2022 Travel plans: BFF time
It’s time. A year ago I and my best friend (who lives in the Netherlands btw) were discussing where to travel to meet for a long break. It was exciting as well as a little bit scary. It was the first time I travelled for my very own holiday. Since I became a mum, I had never had the chance to travel on my own. I think that’s what made it scary for me. There was a feeling of guilt, of abandonment and of the independence that represented. It was nearly…
#family
The carrot
The carrot and the stick
better now than to throw fireworks before the actual party starts. Last Sunday I told her how proud I was that she managed to keep up with her school attendance for an entire week. Deep inside I think attending school is not just an achievement, it’s a duty. It’s the children’s minimum obligation.
#food
Tastes and smells similar to coffee
Wake up and smell the barley!
As a coffee lover, have you ever tried spending three days straight without coffee? If you haven’t tried yet, you should. It really wakes you up. When I went for my detox, nearly a year ago, I went through one of that’s surely one of the most painful experiences known to humankind: coffee withdrawal.
#goals
The light at the end of the tunnel
Do goals really expire?
Goals are a funny old thing. Some people hold on to them forever, only to finally find that goal was just a milestone in their journey. For one it may be to reach the highest level of his/her career, for another set up his/her own business. Sometimes…
If I mind yours
and you have a Lanscaping service…
The old school leaflet and card that come through the door are not only a little outdated on their own but they’re no longer enough to reach through to a wider customer audience. Even landscaping services need to move on with the times. Although…
And why the hell not? It’s my blog, my domain, so I can make use of it the way I like it. Cutting the middle man to get people to sign up for a newsletter sounds like a pretty good idea to me. Surely clicking the “Follow” button is pretty much the same than to sign up for information? And no interface is needed. Pretty cool, right? Why complicate what is simple?
I can publish dedicated posts, or I can post generic ones: the blog letter. Associated with the delivery format, where you actually get the blog post alert delivered to your email, it brings out the idea of the newsletter which then becomes a post when you view it through the browser. This is a relatively new concept, and I like it.
And a very down to Earth view
My idea of the world around me is a very generalistic one. Being aware of all concepts and how these concepts apply to our real world comes easy to me. I can get a quick gist of any topics thrown at me, and am confident that I’m capable to dig in and understand it in more depth but it bores me, especially if it’s a subject that I’m not very fond of, which is pretty much anything to do with numbers. :D.
I have a good understanding of all social, political and financial affairs, enough to get me through the system able to gauge the good and the written about society, but I don’t debate it. I also understand everyone comes from different walks of life and our perception of this world will differ, as a result. And that’s fine. Maybe I was brought up under a very Stoic education, but I’m very sure this obliviousness can also be acquired with maturity. It just helps me move on, despite the illogical sense of a situation that I cannot change. Levelling up in understanding, I like to think.
Minding my business
(Click on the images for the whole post)
#life
The last mile
The closer we are to the reality of having our own house the farther away it feels we are. Living in a rented accommodation limits our possibilities, therefore it forcefully narrows your vision. Because it’s not our house we cannot make any structural, long-lasting changes that we believe would be life-changing changes. Most landlords themselves don’t make changes for the same reasons: “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it”. The money goes in their pot regardless.
#family
They agree to disagree
They have a main PC – which has been literally PUT TOGETHER by Gary – because he’s a legend of a nerd and managed to tailor it to meet their gaming requirements – and laptops. They are also lucky enough to each have their own tablets AND phones. Last Christmas, we got them a Nintendo Switch. So much entertainment to choose from yet they still manage to disagree.
#food
My 5 Cheese Pizza
The pizza that we used to ask for at our old fave local, the Cookhouse. It was either that or their amazing Tex-Mex. Lush! You can make it using white flour too, like the originals. I just chose to try the wholemeal flour to start introducing healthier options, and it’s working. Everybody seems to be enjoying and not complaining.
#goals
Living on the edge… of the white noise
I’m reading an article on my computer. It’s interesting. I don’t really want to be interrupted. I get a message notification on my screen. “Oh, it’s just my mum, trying to find out if Charlotte has gone to school today… I’ll answer it later. “ Whilst I close the notification, in the back of my mind, that message will be playing on repeat, along with other voices. I wanted to let her know she went, that everything is ok. I could do that at that moment, but if she’s online, that message is going to become a chat, and potentially turn into a video one. And that will drill into my time.
If I mind yours
and you have a hair salon…
Whether it is because the hairdresser meets your hairstyling criteria or – it has happened to me before – because you know the hairdresser personally or he/she’s a nice person and makes a real effort in reaching that so desired hairstyle, we all go at one time or another. Ultimately…
My search for remote working spots continues. I feel like there’s an opportunity niche to work on here because there doesn’t seem to be enough around. In this whole new world of the remote (and hybrid), we can’t seem to find enough local places we can work from, outside our home, where you don’t need a contract or pay upfront.
If we knew there was that one local place we could go, that is relatively quiet (maybe with a little bit of music in the background for inspiration) would you not go there every so often?
My creative corner for the day
What about going old school and hitting the local libraries? Did we forget about them? Especially if you are a creative – especially in the writing area – libraries can be really stimulating places. I love the smell of books! New AND old. I always enjoyed being surrounded by them. They are comforting. They’re a hard, reliable company. I like the idea of being able to reach out for a physical book. I find it easier most time to keep track of what I’m reading and my notes.
I’ve been screening across local libraries, and as long as they are big enough to allow me to sit away from the children’s area (storytelling can get noisy) I should be able to work. There are always headphones for music or catching up with my favourite podcasts while I’m working. Next time I’ll bring a freshly brewed cuppa coffee with you and a couple of snacks to keep me going and away from any cravings or hunger.
Unlimited free time to stay, free parking, quiet to concentrate on our work and most of them are located near a park, historical city centre and beautiful inspiring location. What else could you ask for?
And since you took the time to read this post, you might as well have a look at my latest Wix random blog posts. Links below. Enjoy.
Right… I’m updating my website and adding what I call “my Wix playground”. Aiming to change what I share and the way I share my bits and bobs.
I’m actually finding Wix a more user-friendly platform for blogging. Have a scan. You may find it interesting. Click through and don’t be shy to leave me your thoughts. Any feedback is welcome.
Nostalgic Mumma 