Home Based Office Tips | FreedomVOICE Systems

Home Based Businesses: Mother's Day Presents Marketing Possibilities

Sun, 11 May 2008 11:25:40 -0400

Small businesses and entrepreneurs tie-in Mother's Day with promotions and public relations

Okay, so it’s Mother’s Day, and we’re all placing phone calls to our mothers, honoring significant females in our lives, and boosting the floral business with our credit cards. It’s a great day, and women everywhere feel recognized for the time and energy they spend mothering and nurturing children.

It’s also a day that has become big business. Greeting card companies, florists and restaurant owners are thrilled with this occasion, as it brings in big bucks to bottom lines. I glanced at the paper today and saw specials going on at grocery stores, car dealerships and shopping malls, all in honor of mothers and the money that they and their relatives spend.

I also saw home businesses, like photographers, jewelry makers and purse designers, trying to tie in their goods and services to this weekend of appreciation. If your home business has anything to do with moms, relatives of moms, or products and services that moms enjoy, you’ll be interested in the following, as provided by the U.S. Census Bureau:

The idea of Mother’s Day started in 1908 with Anna Jarvis of West Virginia, honoring her recently departed mother who had hoped that sometime there would be a day to commemorate all mothers.
By 1911, every state observed Mother's Day and three years later, Congress made it a national event.
There are nearly 83 million mothers across the U.S.
Each year, about 4 million women have babies.
Of those, teen mothers have 435,000 children, and women 40 and older, 112,000.
The odds of a woman delivering twins are one-in-31.
More births occur in August than any other month, and Tuesday is the most common birthday.

So if you have anything at all to do with mothers and the markets they represent, you’ll want to start planning a promotion for next year! Mother’s Day is a booming business, and whether you like it or not, it’s an opportunity for big sales! Now, when is Father’s Day?

Home Business Tips: Mental Health And Nature Go Hand In Hand

Wed, 07 May 2008 14:15:36 -0400

Home based business workers can feel isolated, alone but mental health tips can help

As a home-based professional, have you ever had days on end of meeting deadlines, skipping showers and missing out on much needed sleep? Or have you gone hours at a time typing at your computer, answering phone calls and tending to business without actually seeing another human being for days at a time? Sometimes I really think that the disconnect we experience from working out of our homes can take it’s toll, both mentally and physically.

Here are some statistics that may surprise you, according to the World Health Organization:

In 1960 the average age of onset of depression in North America was 55-years-old, but in 2007, the average onset age of depression in North America was 24-years-old.
Depression is expected to be the second largest single cause of disability in the world by 2020.

So if you find yourself feeling down, depressed or hopeless as you go through the day-to-day motions of managing your home business, consider the suggestions offered by Dr. Kathleen Hall, lifestyle expert in stress and work-life balance, and founder and C.E.O. of The Stress Institute and The Mindful Living Network. According to Hall, getting out in nature can help boost our moods and change our outlook. Why? Because researchers suggest that:

We make nature and social connections with animals, trees, clouds and our surroundings.
Sensory stimulation, like colors, sounds, fresh air and wind, all stimulate our senses.
Activity, like walking or making motions helps us produce endorphins and serotonin.
Escaping from our busy lives helps us reflect, think and come home to our self, which de-stresses and nourishes us.

Dr. Hall offers ways to incorporate "Ecotherapy" into your life:

Take a walk in nature during your lunch, after work or before bed.
Listen to nature sounds on a nature sound disk or machine a couple of times a week at work, or purchase a nature DVD for your television and computer with your favorite scenes.
Keep photos of you in nature around your office to remind you of how you love to connect with nature.
Keep a plant in your office, create a porch garden or visit a local park regularly.
Get an animal or keep a small aquarium. Animals nourish our lives, reduce depression and the risk of many diseases.

Home Business Trends: Women and Entrepreneurship Contributions To Global Economy Reflect Gender Differences

Tue, 06 May 2008 11:50:17 -0400

New study shows women's entrepreneurship makes big impact in world, nation

When it comes to entrepreneurs, gender plays a part in current global and national trends. In fact, new findings show that women's entrepreneurship matters -- women are creating and running businesses around the world, contributing to economies that represent more than 70% of the world's population and 93% of global GDP (2007). Women's entrepreneurship is a key contributor to economic growth in low/middle income countries, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean according to The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2007 Report on Women and Entrepreneurship released by The Center for Women's Leadership at Babson College.

A gender gap persists -- both significant and systematic -- in new venture creation and business ownership, but the gender difference is more obvious in high-income countries but exists throughout all regions, with Europe and Asia showing a greater gap than Latin America and the Caribbean.

GEM data suggests that:

women who are employed and have built a social network of entrepreneurs are more likely to become entrepreneurs.
social and economic benefits of working are driving women's entrepreneurship more than increased education or household income.
women's level of optimism and self-confidence in starting a business is highly influenced by the culture and social norms of their native countries.
women entrepreneurs have less fear of failure than women who are not involved in entrepreneurial activity; yet they express a greater fear of business failure than men starting businesses.
fear of failure is also higher for women in all country groups compared to their male counterparts.
women in Europe and Asia low/middle income countries had the highest fear of failure rates (40.3%) compared to women in Latin America and the Caribbean (34.2%), and women in high-income countries (27.1%).

"Women's entrepreneurship varies widely across the globe," says Babson Professor Elaine I. Allen, principal researcher of the study, "It's a surprise that developing countries in Eastern Europe have low rates of women's entrepreneurship, closely resembling their highly developed European neighbors, while the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean have rates of women's entrepreneurship two and three times higher."

For more information on this subject, you can view the report at: http://www.gemconsortium.org/about.aspx?page=special_topic_women

Home Business News: Online Shopping Habits Remain Steady For Consumers

Sun, 04 May 2008 17:20:51 -0400

New survey reflects shopping trends for consumers in current economy

I was putting gas in my car last week, and I envisioned myself having a meltdown right there at the pump. I fantasized for a moment, just wondering what would happen if I began crying, screaming, and ranting about how I’d much rather spend that much money on a new summer outfit or a great night out. Of course, using that gas money on a night out or a trip to the shopping mall requires yet more money for the gasoline that I have to put in my tank in order to get there.

This train of thought led me in the direction of asking, "I wonder if I could actually do all my shopping online, and invite all my friends over to my house, in order to look good and have fun without having to pay for the gas." I figured I could purchase almost everything I needed online, except I couldn’t pick out my own fresh fruit. As for my friends, well they love me, but my living room doesn’t offer the ambiance of Tuscany or the entertainment of a live zydeco band. Go figure.

So what does this have to do with home business owners? Well, if you offer a product or service that is available online, this might just be the perfect time to pump up the sales efforts and try to entice your customer base with more online shopping benefits. After all, who can really afford these days to spend a Saturday hopping from place to place in order to complete the shopping to-do list.

If you’re wondering how consumers are feeling, take a look at these findings from a recent survey, 2008 Online Shopping Habits: What is Affecting Your Spending? The survey was conducted by Safe Home Products to learn how outside factors in the economy, fuel prices, and weather have and will affect online shopping habits for consumers in 2008.

"We gained some valuable information from the consumers who participated in this survey, for example over 56% of consumers believe fuel prices will affect their shopping habits in 2008, but the majority will not change their online shopping habits," said Barbara Staib, president of Safe Home Products. "This tells us that consumers plan to change their shopping behavior in other areas, but not in their online shopping. The majority of the consumers, at nearly 59%, plan to shop the same amount in 2008 as in the previous year. This is positive news to us as it means the internet retail economy should remain stable."

The study found that those who favor online shopping will continue to do so, and that consumers see online shopping as a way to save money. What this means for home business owners is that we have an area in which to focus. All we need to do is figure out a way to show value, savings and benefits when it comes to our products or services being offered online.

It might sound like a challenge, but if you take a look at your marketing plan, evaluate your advertising dollars, and tap into the online shopping market, you may just provide much needed relief to those consumers that are contemplating hissy fits at the pump. Just a thought.

Home Business News: Self-Employed Women Show Wage, Salary Earning Diferences

Fri, 02 May 2008 11:11:30 -0400

Women that work for themselves tend to be older, better educated

Sometimes when I'm in my office at home, staring at the computer screen and praying to the inspiration gods to hit me with what they've got, I wonder if I'm alone. "Is there anyone else out there like me, self-employed and burning the midnight oil to stay ahead?"

If you're in the same position, you'll be interested in the findings of a new report that provides a glimpse into the lives of us female entrepreneurs. According to the findings, self-employed women differ from their wage and salary earning counterparts in several human capital areas. Most notably, self-employed women tend to be older, are better educated, and have more managerial experience than wage and salary earners.

These findings are contained in a report, Human Capital and Women's Business Ownership, just released by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. "Human capital factors such as education and experience have long been known to have a positive correlation with entrepreneurship," said Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist for the Office of Advocacy. "This report delves deeper into women's business ownership and shows that factors such as occupational skills and entrepreneurial preparedness are essential to women's entrepreneurship."

The report, written by Business Development Advisors with funding from the Office of Advocacy, also compares human capital factors of self-employed women and men, as well as between self-employed whites and minorities. Comparing self-employed women to other working women, the authors found that:

Self-employed women have greater educational attainment.
Self-employed women are more likely to be in managerial occupations.
Self-employed women are more likely to work in non-traditional occupations.
Self-employed women are likely to be older.

For more information and a complete copy of the report, visit the Office of Advocacy website at http://www.sba.gov/advo.

Home Business Resource: Marketing, Networking Site Provides Tool For Business Owners

Thu, 01 May 2008 09:44:27 -0400

Social networking site helps home based business owners connect with local community

We’ve talked before about social networking, and how home based business owners can utilize such resources to work for them. So I’m always on the lookout for new sites that allow smaller companies to market their products and services. With this in mind, I heard about a new local business review site, "Yelp for Business Owners,” that has been launched. It’s a suite of free features that allows business owners to be a part of Yelp's online community.

"Every day thousands of consumers discuss local businesses on Yelp.com, and until now it has been difficult for business owners to constructively participate in the conversation," said Jeremy Stoppelman, Yelp's co-founder and CEO. "With the launch of Yelp for Business Owners we've completed the positive feedback loop, so local businesses can connect with their most vocal customers in a positive and productive way."

If you want to check it out, here's the scoop. By logging on to http://biz.yelp.com business owners can:

Message customers who have reviewed their business.
See how many prospective customers viewed their business page.
Update business information instantly (i.e. hours of operation, categories).
Receive new review email alerts.

Prior to this launch, Yelp's community of reviewers served as a basic resource for local businesses in cities around the U.S., in some cases enabling small mom-and-pop operations to become, as company representatives say, “overnight successes.” It might be a good resource for your business.

Social networks can be a valuable tool for home businesses, because they can allow business owners to get connected. This is sometimes a difficult task when you’re not going to an established large company with networking opportunities already in place. Home business owners have to take the extra step to make those connections and build a rapport with community leaders, buyers and customers.

There are a variety of networking sites available that can help with marketing and promoting your business. Ask your colleagues and business community members what sites they have found work best for them. Look for a site that connects with your target audience, and utilize it in order to raise your visibility and company brand.

Home Business Tips: How To Fight The Stress Bulge

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:24:06 -0400

Gaining weight in times of stress can lead to workplace anxiety for home based business owners

Okay, we’ve all been there. We’re stressed because clients owe us money. We’re stressed because our supplier just went bankrupt. We’re overwhelmed because we have a deadline looming, or we’re fretting about getting more business. Ugh. It’s enough to make you reach for a box of Ding Dongs. Or a gallon of ice cream. Or both.

Stress at work is hard enough, but it also caused some of us to reach for the junk food. In fact, when we’re facing a particularly difficult week, we often skip meals, go through the drive-thru to save time, or pig out as a way to cope. Which leads to weight gain, an unhealthy body, and sometimes depression over gaining weight and feeling unhealthy. It’s a vicious cycle.

Here are some tips to help battle the stress bulge, and stay healthy while remaining productive:

Clean your cupboards. When you work at home, you have immediate access to all the junk you have in your cabinets. That bag of chips is just too easy to get to. So if you have ice cream, candy bars and all the other items that a trainer would have a heart attack over, get rid of them and keep healthy food items available for snacks.
Take a walk. Schedule a couple of twenty minute walks in your day. Take your cell phone and make a quick call while you walk. Or dictate a to-do list as you strut your stuff. Find ways to get active, and substitute activity for stress-eating.
Cut down on caffeine. Oh, it’s so hard to pass up that third cup of coffee or can of soda when you’re running on fumes. But all those servings of coffee, tea or soda contribute to frayed nerves. Try to back down on the amount of caffeine you’re taking in, and substitute with flavored water or caffeine-free versions.
Get some sleep. Yea, right! Sleeping is a coveted luxury, isn’t it? As hard as it might be, allow the time you need to get a full-night's sleep, as often as you can. Sleep-deprivation not only takes a toll on you physically, it can affect your perspective and good-judgment.
Socialize. It’s easy for entrepreneurs to get so busy and caught up with meeting deadlines and sealing deals, that we become isolated. Stay in touch with colleagues and friends. Schedule social outings or lunches. By maintaining contact with others, you’ll be able to get out of your office and feel connected to other humans.

Working out of your home can have so many benefits, but as with anything else, there are downsides as well. Succumbing to stress and the negatives that come with it is a trap that you can’t afford to fall in.

Home Business Resources: Young Entrepreneurs Benefit From Mentoring, Resources

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:05:15 -0400

New online resource offers business information, entrepreneurship advice and career tips

For those of you who are starting a new company or testing the waters in the world of entrepreneurship, it’s sometimes hard to know what to do and where to go for help. Young entrepreneurs, in particular, can benefit from the advise and experience of seasoned professionals. With this in mind, SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business” has developed a new section specifically for young entrepreneurs at the SCORE Web site, www.score.org. The new content area offers valuable mentoring and resources to help high school, college-age and 20-something small business owners succeed.

Visitors to www.score.org/young.html will find the following resources:
Insights for Young Entrepreneurs features key articles on:

Entrepreneurship as a career choice; Web site design; university assistance; and how to start smart.
Resources for Young Entrepreneurs lists more than 35 organizations, groups and Web sites that offer news, strategies and assistance.
Competitions for Young Entrepreneurs features eight awards that help encourage and recognize business success.
Stats on Young Entrepreneurs provides the latest research and facts on Generation X and Generation Y entrepreneurship.
How SCORE Can Help You highlights SCORE’s free online and face-to-face counseling, low-cost workshops and free eNewsletters.

Here are some ways entrepreneurs have benefitted from these services:

Since her college days, Celina Duffy has run her own painting, graphic design and greeting card business called Tagline Communications. For help growing her business, she received advice and mentoring on building a portfolio, business planning, marketing and accounting.
University of Oregon student Scott Jones couldn’t afford a fleece jacket, so he learned to make one himself. Encouraged by friends, he turned this into a successful and growing business, Beyond Fleece. Willamette SCORE counselors helped him with his business plan, financing, bookkeeping and marketing.
After graduating from his hometown university, Ryan German decided to open a restaurant that focuses on Mediterranean food and homemade Italian ice cream. Before starting his business, SCORE counselors helped him fine-tune his business plan, find a location, obtain a bank loan and design a logo.

Home Business News: Award Winner Inspires Entrepreneurs

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:28:34 -0400

National Small Business Person of the Year proves that starting small can mean big business

If you ever find yourself sitting at your home office, staring at your computer, and wondering if it’s all worth it, take notice of those who have found success from starting small. A perfect example is a story of a young lawyer who recognized a business niche when a friend had trouble finding an internship, and was just named National Small Business Person of the Year for turning his idea into a multi-million dollar Web site. The announcement was made last week during ceremonies at the U.S. Small Business Administration's celebration of National Small Business Week 2008.

"Shawn Boyer is a perfect example of the creativity and inspiration it takes to become a highly successful entrepreneur in America today," said SBA Administrator Steve Preston. "He identified an unmet need and filled it, and today, barely eight years later, his company, SnagAJob.com, has become a hugely successful site for posting and finding hourly and part-time jobs, connecting millions of registered job seekers with active job postings. In doing so, Shawn demonstrated the qualities that make small businesses such a powerful force in the American economy, and in their communities," Preston said.

First runner-up is Angela R. Timm, founder and CEO of Cottage Garden, Inc., in Bainbridge, Ind. Two entrepreneurs tied for second runner-up: Deborah Moore, founder and CEO of AccuStat EMR of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and George Burciaga, founder and CEO of smarTECHS.net, of Chicago, Ill.

The National Small Business Person of the Year and runners-up were selected from among the 53 state small business winners, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, who are being honored last week in Washington, D.C, as part of National Small Business Week.

The top winner, Shawn Boyer, 36, was working as a transactional attorney for a Washington, D.C., law firm when a friend asked him to go online to help look for a summer internship. He was surprised not to find many sites geared towards internships or hourly jobs, and thus was born his idea. When it became obvious that no one was fulfilling this need, Shawn researched the business, left his job as a lawyer and started the company.

In barely eight years, SnagAJob.com has become a hugely successful part-time and hourly job-posting site, connecting millions of registered job seekers with active job postings. The business started in 2000 with two full-time employees crammed into a 1,000-square-foot space in a medical office park. Today it boasts 110 full-time "snaggers" in a 35,000-square-foot SiliconValley-like facility overlooking a lake in Richmond. Revenues have grown each year, and the company became profitable after its fourth year. Yet Shawn's passion goes beyond the bottom line, leading him to a level of volunteerism and community involvement that has become a big part of the drive behind his company's success.

The winners are selected on their record of stability, growth in employment and sales, financial condition, innovation, response to adversity and community service. For more information on these companies and on the rest of the state Small Business Person of the Year award winners, visit the SBA Web site at http://www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com.

Travel Tips: Delays Can Mean Work Out Time for Stranded Professionals In Airports

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:21:28 -0400

Entrepreneurs and home business owners can take advantage of delayed flights, airport work out facilities

It seems like the airline industry is plagued with flight delays, frustrated travelers and endless complaints. And most of us know from first-hand experience what it’s like to be the travel warrior, getting stuck for hours on end, trapped with thousands in a terminal and nowhere to go.

Who knew that you could take advantage of that down time by working out? And I don’t mean walking the terminals, dodging children and hurdling luggage. Some of the major airports across the country offer fitness clubs that allow you to work out, and work off those frustrations that come along with delays.

The workout facilities, which are either in the airport, or in a hotel attached to a terminal, often offer day passes that range from $10 to $15, which compared to the price of airport food and beverages, isn’t at all a bad deal. Here are some of the airports that offer gym access:

Boston. The Hilton Boston Logan Airport is connected to the terminal and features a fitness center, saunas and steam rooms, a whirlpool, walking and running paths, and a lap pool.
Chicago. Another hotel connected to the terminal, the Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport features a pool and fitness center, along with a pool and sauna.
Detroit. A workout gym is located in the Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport , which is connected to the terminal.
Las Vegas. The first of its kind located inside a major U.S. airport, 24 Hour Fitness offers shower and locker room facilities, dry sauna, a cardiovascular workout area complete with big screen TVs, and a full compliment of exercise equipment.
Vancouver. At the Fairmont Vancouver Airport, you can enjoy a three-lane lap pool, saunas, whirlpools and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

Working out is never easy, and traveling makes it that much harder. But being able to go workout when you’re stuck in the airport may just help you relieve your angst, and be healthy at the same time.

Home Based Office Tips For Helping The Environment

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:40:46 -0400

Home business owners can follow earth-saving tips to honor Earth Day 2008

In case you’ve been working so hard you haven’t stopped to breathe, you might be surprised to find out that today is Earth Day. So in case you manage to take a break, I’ve put together some suggestions just for you that can help make a difference in our world.

Take a moment to relax, and read up on some of the things you can do around your home to honor this special day:

Think toilets. Granted, it’s not glamorous, but rethinking the way you flush can make a huge difference. If you’re in the market for a new toilet, consider buying a “low-flow” toilet. If you have an older toilet that works just fine, you can actually fool it into using less water. Take a 2-liter soda bottle and fill it up with water. Place it in your toilet tank. This method displaces 2 liters of water, which saves the same amount every time the toilet is flushed.

Take a shower. For you bath takers, it might feel good, but try to limit them and take a shower instead. Why? Because showers use roughly half as much hot water as baths. Also, try to shorten your showers, aiming for five minutes or less. You will save gallons of water.

Insulate. Most homes have drafty areas, particularly in the basement or attic. In colder weather, cold air is drawn in through the basement, while the warmer air escapes through the attic. You can find out just how drafty your home is by having a home energy audit done, which you can schedule through your utility company or state energy office. This procedure will help you identify energy-wasting areas of your home, which allows you to insulate properly and cut down on wasted energy, and high utility bills.

Use natural daylight. If you can, locate your office, and particularly your work surfaces, close to windows in order to utilize the daylight. Refrain from turning on the lights in your office if you can, and only flick the switch when evening hours approach.

Make smart updates. As you update your home office, or other areas of your abode, do your research and use eco-friendly products. For instance, choosing linoleum, which is made from wood flour, resins and linseed oil, is much better than using vinyl, which is considered to be a toxic building material. Also, look for zero-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints when freshening up a room.

There are many more tips that you can find in Green Building & Remodeling for Dummies, by Eric Corey Freed. It’s a great resource for those of us who want to update our surroundings while thinking smart … and green.

Home Business Owners: How To Make The Right First Impression

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:23:09 -0400

Handshake types and what they might say about you

I attended a meeting the other day that was held for community volunteers, and I only knew a few of the people there. I was introduced to a dynamic, stylish and outgoing woman. I was so impressed with her, as I had seen her “working the room,” so when I reached out my hand to meet hers for a greeting, I was shocked to be on the receiving end of what could have been a mannequin at the mall. Cold….lifeless….limp. It was really weird. And my earlier impression of her immediately came into question.

What is it about a handshake that speaks volumes? Does it really portray who we are? And if so, is your handshake serving you well, or doing you a disservice? For fun, here are classic handshakes that may or may not be yours. Check them out and see if you identify with any of them:

The Dead Fish. This dreaded style usually consists of a limp, wimpy hand that sends a negative signal. No matter how the person appears, this handshake leaves the impression of a less than flattering personality.

The Bone Cruncher. This person serves up a handshake that leaves you seeking an emergency room. The intent is probably to convey confidence and warmth, but ends up conveying insensitivity and agressiveness.

The Pumper. This type of handshake usually presents awkward moments for the receiver, because the pumping of the hands goes on forever. Let go already! You may end up feeling that your arm is attached to a water pump. This style leaves the other party feeling embarrassed and put off, and the pumper appears insecure and overeager.

The Scaredy Cat. This person usually only puts three or four fingers in your hand, barely makes contact, and withdraws right away. The signal this person sends out is either that they’re scared, timid, shy or afraid of catching communicable diseases.

The Overbearing Handshaker. This type of shaker invades your space, clasps not only your hand, but usually your arm, shoulder or other body parts. They may try to hug or touch shoulders when you don’t even know them. Space invasion is their specialty. This is okay if you’re at a funeral, but that’s the exception. This person can come across as “creepy,” inappropriate or condescending.

The Just-Right. This is the type of handshake that makes a good impression, and conveys the appropriate message. Eye contact is made, a smile is conveyed, and a hand is extended. It’s that simple. Then, a warm, firm and palm-on-palm handshake is made while a brief greeting is offered. The handshake should end after a quick pump takes place. You will convey confidence, friendliness and competence.

You may think your handshake is perfect, but it’s always better to test it out with a trusted friend. Seriously, seek feedback from someone you know who will be honest, and then practice if you need to. This is a seemingly small issue that might be leaving big impressions with potential clients, and you want to make sure it’s a positive one.

Home Business Owners: Get Healthy At Work

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:35:05 -0400

Walking At Work Day presents home based business owners an opportunity to get healthy

For those of us who work out of our home, we know how hard it is to schedule in exercise. We get so involved in our projects … meeting deadlines, returning phone calls and trying to make money … that our own health easily takes a back seat.

Thanks to the American Heart Association, you may feel motivated to implement a little exercise schedule during your day. According to statistics, heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the U.S. And physical inactivity doubles the risk of heart disease and stroke. So what can you do?

You can support the fight against heart disease by participating in National Start! Walking Day, Wednesday, April 16. According to the website, www.americanheart.org, on this special day you can:

Show your support and wear your sneakers to work.
Take a 30-minute walk during the day.
Make your pledge to live a longer, healthier life.

Here are some additional tips to help you get walking, and get healthy, even when you work out of your home:

Break it up. If you can’t afford a solid 30 minutes to get a walk in, break it up into two different 15-minute walks during breaks throughout the day. It will help you feel better, clear your mind, and increase your focus at your desk.

Wake up and walk. If you take a brisk, 20-minute walk before breakfast, studies indicate that you can increase weight loss. Try waking up earlier and getting your walk in before you munch on your bagel and drink your coffee.

Make small changes. You can find little ways to add activity to your day by parking far away from shop entrances and walking that extra distance. Take the stairs instead of the elevator when you can, or take five minutes and climb the stairs in your house or apartment building as a quick workout.

Home Office Management: Spring Office Cleaning

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:52:24 -0400

Home based office tips to clean up your environment, increase productivity and maintain a tidy office

Okay, take a quick look around you office. Can you see the top of your desk? Is your floor covered with piles of invoices and expense receipts? Is there a layer of dust on the screen you are now using?

Spring is the perfect time to take stock of your home office and get it into shape. Here are some suggestions to help you clean up and start out fresh, so you can face your day with a positive outlook and de-cluttered frame of mind:

Designate a clean-up time. Schedule in to your day specific times to clean up. You might need hours at first, in order to get everything organized. Once you accomplish an initial overhaul, then schedule in weekly clean-up times to stay on top of the clutter.

Stay focused. It’s easy to become overwhelmed and feel hopeless if you try to do everything at once. Start out small, by designating one hour to tackle a specific corner of "rubble," or whatever is cluttering the floor. Work your way over to your desk top the next hour, and so on, until you’ve tackled the entire office. It may take several hour-long cleaning sessions to get it all done, and over a series of days.

Create new files. Set all your paperwork to the side that you don’t have a file for. Then categorize them, in order to figure out what labels you’re missing in your file system. Create new ones, or identify labels that you don’t need anymore.

Have a designated “junk” basket. In my office, I have an rectangular basket that is about three inches deep. Whenever I get mail or other paperwork that I don’t know what to do with, I throw it in that basket in order to get it off my desk. Each week, on Friday afternoon, I force myself to clear the basket and either throw junk away or find a file to hold the paperwork. Find a system that allows you to get your “junk“ out of the way in one place, but make sure you make yourself clean it up every week.

Clean up your cords. Most of us have random electrical cords or computer wiring that we need to tidy up, but we keep putting that dreadful task off. Take the time, and enlist a friend or family member for moral support, to tackle those nasty eyesores. Tie up dangling cords together and hide them behind your desk. Rearrange your fax or printer if you need to in order to tidy up your surroundings and get those unsightly wires out of the way.

Stay on top of it. Once you get your office clean and in order, make it a weekly priority to keep it that way. Find a time during the week that works for you, and just schedule in a weekly cleaning session. It’s important for your peace of mind, and ability to be productive.

Keeping your office clean can make a huge difference to your frame of mind. Imagine walking into a fresh and tidy office setting every day, ready to conquer the world. So take the time to do some spring cleaning. You’ll enjoy the benefits for days to come.

Home Business Management: Had Any Mental Health Days Lately?

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:07:16 -0400

Home based business owners need mental break to deal with family issues

Home based business owners are notorious for immersing ourselves in our work. Oh, at first, we have good intentions. We revel in the idea of simply walking down the hall in our pajamas to get work done. We fantasize about all the days that we can take off on a whim, and we salivate at all the special time we’ll have to enjoy the no-boss-around atmosphere.

Then reality hits. As we gain more business, we become obsessed. We burn the midnight oil, we wake up at 3 a.m., drenched in sweat, and mentally add more items on tomorrow’s to-do list. And as we build our clientele list and grow our business, we forget to take care of ourselves. We sometimes see our family relationships suffer, and we succumb to stress and anxiety. Well, maybe it’s not that bad. But sometimes we fell like it is.

Maybe we need to learn from our corporate brothers and sisters who take advantage of days off. In face, almost one-third of employees say family and relationship issues are the most likely cause for a “mental health day,” or taking a day off to recover and recharge, according to a recent ComPsych Tell It Now^SM poll. ComPsych Corporation is the world’s largest provider of employee assistance programs and the worldwide leader in GuidanceResources (EAPs, behavioral health, wellness, work-life and crisis intervention services).

“With the growing complexities of family and personal life, it is not surprising that relationship and family issues tops the list of reasons for checking out of work,” said Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, chairman and CEO of ComPsych. “Whether the employee is married, a caregiver or is facing the challenges of single life, relationship stress can be a major cause of distraction at work. We at ComPsych see this every day in our work, and relationship problems are consistently among the top two reasons for calls to our employee assistance program.”

ComPsych asked employees: What would most likely cause you to take a "mental health day" (unplanned day off to recover or recharge)?

30 percent said family/relationship issues
20 percent said work stress/workload
15 percent said personal issues (financial, legal, other)
12 percent said lack of physical energy/well being
5 percent said boredom/lack of motivation
18 percent reported not taking mental health days

So the question is this: are you taking off enough mental health days? You don’t have a boss to refuse your request, and you certainly have earned it. As a home business owner, your company success depends on your ability to deal with multiple projects at once. You must be the wearer of many hats, so your mental health is important. Go ahead, take a break, and de-stress. Your job could depend on it.