We’re happy that you reached our website. Here you will find a series of articles that promote well-being and a sustainable way of life. Explore our site so you find inspiration to make a positive change in your life. Our reading material includes travel and tips plus ways to contribute in the making of a better world.
The world has changed in many radical ways after the pandemic of 2020 and we are only slowly starting to return to normality, only that this ‘new normal’ will have many differences on how we do things. For instance, the necessity of working remotely during the pandemic has shown many businesses that employees can in fact work from home and still be productive. Bringing more work to our household will become much more common this 2021. For this reason, we have gathered some important tips that can help you increase productivity at home, while keeping space and time for family and private matters.
Set a structure
It is important that you do not mix family life and work constantly; otherwise you will not be fully present in either case. Set a schedule for the hours you are working and when you are off. Turn off your computer when you are done working and mute notifications on your phone so you can be present with your co-inhabitants and loved ones.
Build a good setting
Try to replicate the ergonomics of your workstation in the office. Make sure you get enough fresh air, good lighting and have a proper desk and chair for work. Avoid working from the couch or bed, otherwise you might experience aches throughout your body due to bad postures.
Move and stretch
Working from home means you are mainly stationary as you don’t have to get up as often as in the office for meetings, lunch breaks, conferences and the like. They say sitting is the new smoking because a sedentary life can trigger many health risks. Set rituals for going out for walks, stretch your body every hour and drink plenty of wholesome liquids like plain water, herbal tea or fruit/veggie shakes. These healthy rituals will also help you in keeping focus and avoiding ‘cabin fever’, which is quite common when you do not change the environment for long periods of time.
Save time for you
You also have to make time for the things you love. As a rule of thumb, keep evenings and weekends sacred, completely free of work. Spend time reading, watching the news, playing with your kids or making a long delicious meal in the kitchen. Productivity is not about working hard for long hours, but instead, it is about feeling sharp-minded and energized during the hours you set to work.
Be extra communicative and friendly
Some research says that communication is 55% body language, 38% tone of voice and only 7% is the actual message you are getting across. When we work remotely, we lose much of the richness of human communication. To compensate for this, it is important that you keep a friendly and positive tone in your emails and messages. It is often a good idea to add a little emoji - ☺ - when you say ‘thanks’ or ‘you are welcome’, so the recipient of the message can sense your mood and sincerity.
Quality video conferencing
Here are the top 5 tips for your online meetings:
the US in banning the use of natural gas in any new buildings. This prohibition will require new constructions to rely on the electric grid instead, and will apply to more than 54,000 homes and 32 million square feet business space that are lined up to be constructed from July 2021 onwards.
This ban will directly reduce the city’s climate impact, as natural gas is the San Francisco’s second-largest source of climate-warming pollution - around 40% of its overall emissions, and in terms of buildings, natural gas use is responsible for 80% of the city’s emissions. People will be able to breathe cleaner air, without the nitrogen oxide pollution from more natural gas machinery.
Besides avoiding building out more gas infrastructure that would increase greenhouse gas emissions in the city, the new all-electric new construction will also save money in terms of upfront costs and by avoiding unnecessary spending on gas pipes. The city could also allow some new mixed-fuel buildings if an all-electric building is physically and technically infeasible, but they hope this will not happen in the majority of cases.
Cities across the State of California are also passing restrictions to limit fossil fuel use, as well as plans to phase out gas-powered vehicles sales by 2035 and improve the electric vehicle infrastructure so they can stay charged and on the move in the highways.
The future's looking bright, and clean, for California. Let’s hope more cities and countries around the world join in!
During the current pandemic, video game sales have skyrocketed as more people are stuck at home. But spending time enjoying the newest ‘Spider-Man’ or ‘Assassin’s Creed’ title might actually be beneficial for your mental health, according to experts from Oxford University.
In this study, researchers used data from people who played two games, ‘Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville’ and ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ and found that the actual amount of time spent playing was a small but significant positive factor in people’s well-being. By asking them how they felt about their experiences after enjoying a gaming session, the team found that a player’s positive subjective experiences during play might trigger a wellbeing factor.
While it is usually thought that video games are bad for your health by increasing sedentary levels and exposing you to violence, there are other psychological components to them which have a significant effect on a person's wellbeing. They can act as a cathartic experience during times where we’re expected to stay inside more time than usual.
Games like ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’, which was used in this study and is a social simulation game populated by real online players that even features its own version of the stock market, get people closer to social interaction than ever before. These types of virtual experiences provide sources of support, reduce stress, combat depression and enhance intellectual stimulation.
