How to stay focused at work during the holidays

How to stay focused at work during the holidaysEvery year, as the weather gets colder and holiday shopping ads departure appearing on TV (though admittedly those start showing up around Labor Day now), even the fruchtwein diligent and focused employees find their attention wandering a bit. Theres a lot going ontravel plans, potluck food appearing like magic in the office, everyone feeling a little more festive and socialand the daily grind can get lost in all of that. So how do you keep on top of your actual job, despite holiday disruptions? googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Be prepared to shut out distractions.This doesnt mean you have to hunch over your desk like Ebenezer Scrooge, frowning disapprovingly at your cheerful slacker colleagues. It just means finding ways to keep your own attention focused on the daily tasks you need to accomplish. For some, that means wearing noise-canceling headphones while working on a project or platzdeck chenting blocks of head down time where you dont allow yourself to be distracted by things like online shopping, social media, or extracurricular conversations with coworkers. Its time to be honest with yourself and figure out what works best at keeping you on-task. If that means setting calendar reminders for everything, do it. If it involves using an app to keep you from wandering to particular distracting websites, go for it.Try to avoid multitasking, because that can lead toflexible attention span. If youre giving all of your effort to a particular task, youre more likely to get it done. Even if youre usually an A+ multitasker, try to limit the number of things youre doing at once.Lean in to (some of) the distractions.This may seem counterintuitive to 1, but its also important to embrace the non-work stuff as part of your day. Its far more realistic to plan for small bursts of non-work activity than to think youll be able to shut it out completely. Be koranvers to schedule some breaks when you can check those flight prices or stop and grab a cookie with a colleague. If you start making the down time part of your workday (in small chunks), itll be easier to move from holiday mode back to work beast mode. Moderation is key hereits not an hour of work, hour of goofing off proposition. Think of it as more like a standard coffee break, but instead youre taking a few minutes to check out your Facebook friends pets in various holiday sweaters.Come up with a rest of year plan.Chances are, your workload has a combination of things that will need to be accomplished either now or in the near future, and things that can reasonably wait until January. Its time to sit down and make a comprehensive list of must-dos, should-dos, and can-do-laters. Your to-do list should be realistic and have milestones/deadlines included wherever possible so that you can plan your time. If you need to, talk through your end of year priorities with your boss to make sure youre hitting ever ything you need to do before everyone checks out. This has the added benefit of showing your boss how organized and driven you are, even as everyone else might already be starting to slip a little.While youre making the list, also make note of what youll need from other people. This time of year people can be in and out of the office, so if theres something important that youll need from Andy by mid-December, start thinking (and talking) about it now in case Andys planning on taking time off. If youve waited until the last minute and then youre faced with Andys Bye, see you next year Out of Office message, its too late.Reset your work-life boundaries.Setting a clear line between your work day and your personal time can help you stay focused at work if you know you can get all the fun stuff or personal logistics accomplished later. If youre usually a stay late kind of person, start leaving at a set time every day. If youre usually a wander in a little late in the morning kind of pers on, start putting in extra effort to get to work on time. And whenever possible, you should avoid taking work homeinstead, set a realistic workload and to-do list for the official workday. That way, family/friend/personal time gets its own spotlight in your day, separate from work, and youll feel less inclined to catch up on the outside stuff while youre at work.Dont forget to take care of yourself.The time leading up to the holidays can often take a physical toll as well, if youre indulging in special food, more drinks than usual, and/or later bedtimes to account for social activities. All of those can set you up for failure at work and make you feel lousy, so try to set up some extra healthy habits to compensate this time of year.Take short walks and exercise breaks instead of coffee breaks.Stay hydrated (and not with egg nog).Practice some desk yoga.Aim for half an hour more sleep.Bring a healthy lunch so you can sneak in some extra calories later.These can all help you feel bett er during the workday and more ready to devote your time and mental sharpness to accomplishing what needs to be done.No matter what the distractions are between Thanksgiving and the New Year, staying organized is not a lost cause. Its all about being realistic and developing some extra coping mechanisms to defeat those its the holidays, woo impulses and stay productive. Fully embrace the good cheer of the seasonjust make sure its on your to-do list, next to all the other things you want to get done.

I Turned Down a Candidate Because of Their Social Media These are the Mistakes They Made

I Turned Down a Candidate Because of Their Social Media These are the Mistakes They Made Before Vicki Morris was the CEO of Face to Face Marketing, she worked for abedrngnisherbei company as their social media and PR manager. Morris was responsible for interviewing and hiring new employees to join the companys social team. She found one candidate that felt like she would be a promising, based on her resume.A few days before the interview, Morris decided to look up the applicant on Facebook and Instagram.She had a huge following, which I thought would be an asset for the position, Morris said.As Morris began looking at the candidates posts, she found several nude photos of the eignung hire from a planned photo shoot. She also noticed profanity used in the captions. While certain body parts had been blocked out in the photos, Morris realized that the candidate did not have an image that would be a fit to represent the family-friendly business.Our social media posts often highlighted t eam members, so we could not risk a potential client finding this information on social platforms about one of our employees, Morris says. That would be a potentially huge credibility hit to the company.In 2018, a survey from CareerBuilder revealed that seven in 10 employers research job candidates via their social media platforms. More than half of these employers have also found content on these accounts that prevented them from hiring the candidate.What can candidates applying for jobs do to clean up their social accounts? Quickly tackle these areas first so your online brand is reflected in the best possible light.1. Put yourself in their shoes.Put yourself into a potential employers shoes when posting on social media platforms. What would they think if they saw you getting into arguments with other users on Twitter or blogging about how your boss is the worst on Tumblr? Its time to put a cap on negative online rants. Think before you post and imagine how a future employer might perceive this content out of context. You may even consider KonMari-ing certain accounts and mass deleting old posts that are no longer representative of the person you are today.2. Change your privacy settings.One of the fastest ways to clean up your social accounts according to Laura Handrick, Senior Careers and Workplace Analyst at Fit Small Business, is to change who has access to your accounts. Ideally, everyone should not be able to access your photos and posts.Ask yourself what kind of social media account settings can I change that will limit the general public from viewing content and photos on my account?, Handrick says.3. Hit refresh on profile photos, background photos, and descriptions.Are you half naked in your Instagram profile photo? Is your background transparent photo on Facebook taken at a party? Does your Twitter bio include risqu song lyrics or vulgar words? Handrick advises quickly overhauling all of these potential liabilities on your social accounts.The simp lest way to switch everything out is to make your replacement photos benign photos. For example, Handrick says you can use images with you with family members, pets or taken on vacation.Its likely that a hiring manager will take only a quick glance at these images, rather than looking for and scrolling through all your posts going back to your college partying days, Handrick says.4. Make 30-year social media posting decisions.What does this mean? Morris says to ask yourself if what you post today on social accounts is something youll be proud of if you saw it 30 years later. If yes, go for it. If no, its not worth posting.Morris also notes that its very possible that controversial social media posts, if not deleted or secured through privacy settings, may be brought up during a job interview. If this happens, Morris advises that candidates do not lie about what they have posted in the past. Instead, be honest and acknowledge that you did share this content. Then, tell the interviewe r what youre doing (or have already done) to clean up the pages. This shows youre being proactive about your social footprint and are working to establish good character on and offline.

Learn how to Handle Distracting Coworkers

Learn how to Handle Distracting Coworkers Whether you are trying to keep up with your growing pile of paper work, make a few contacts over the phone, or simply take a quiet break at your desk, sometimes it seems there is always a face hovering over your cubicle wall wanting to chat, gossip, or otherwise distract you from you need to, or rather would be doing. Going to work can often seem like an affair of endless socializing at the expense of productivity and time for personal reflection. Fortunately, there are ways to politely mitigate the effects of chatty coworkers in order to create a more relaxing and hospitable work environment. One way to potentially scare of the less assertive (read intrusive) of the coworker bunch is simply to wear a pair of headphones. Whether or not you are actually listening to music, the perception of you in your own world may aid in adding a subtle Do notlage Distur b sign to your cubicle wall. For the purposes of ridding yourself of unwanted visitors, it is probably more useful to wear highly visible (though not necessarily bulky) headphones so that you are more obvious. Earbuds may be easily overlooked, or even ignored, by anyone seeking your attention.If your workplace doesnt allow for even the appearance of listening to music at your desk, or youd just prefer not to wear a pair of headphones all day, you may want to consider developing a few trigger phrases or conversation traps to end coworker interactions through the use of languageDuring particularly busy times, let the intruder know that you are pleased that they stopped because it has given you the opportunity to ask him or her to help you catch up on tasks that you wouldnt otherwise complete due to your increased workload. Cash in a favor and send them away with work to do. Not only can this potentially help you achieve more work but also sends a message that if a coworker wishes to i nterrupt you during peak hours they can expect to be solicited for help.Focus your conversation topics on subjects that you know your coworker knows little about or dislikes. While you may still be stuck participating in a conversation, there is a good option that it will be much more brief than if you engaged your colleague in a topic that he or she loves.In a similar vein, explicitly state to your coworker that you are not interested in whatever it is that he or she is talking about. This is sure to shorten the conversation because it will devolve into a one-sided conversation of explaining why the initial conversation topic is interesting to begin with. And odds are that after enough attempts at conversing with an uninterested person, he or she will look elsewhere to find two-sided conversations.If the passive-aggressive nature of these strategies is too much of a turn off for your personality, you can always simply be up front with your desire to be left alone. Being assertive d oesnt require that you be rude or mean. Its just a matter of remaining calm, composed, and polite while you explain to the person that it is important that you be left alone to focus on your work.

4 Times Quitting a Job Can Hurt Your Career -The Muse

4 Times Quitting a Job Can Hurt Your Career -The Muse4 Times Quitting a Job Can Hurt Your CareerIf youre like some of the unhappy professionals I know, Sunday nights can quickly turn into an evening of dreadthe weekend is over, the work week looms ahead. You have the Sunday Scaries. In fact, the only thing keeping you from reaching your breaking point is the fact that youre applying to jobs and lining up bewerbungsinterviewing. However, if youre anxious to the point that youre exploring roles that dont make any sense for you, then its time to take stock of whats really going on here. It doesnt matter if youve been in the role for six months or two years- theres still such a thing as quitting too soon if your move involves taking the first job offer you get. I understand The urge to jump ship probably seems like an easy way to ditch the inner turmoil youre dealing with. Any job other than this one must be better, right? The urge to get out of a bad situation is great, perhaps primitiv e. After all, were wired with a fight or flight survival instinct, and as someone who managed a human resources function for several years, Ive seen this in action. But quitting too soon could prove to be a terrible career move- here are the four biggest reasons why1. Youre Wrong About the Grass Being GreenerThe new gig may be worse than the job you just left. Its easy to justify your reasons for leaving when your situations difficult to endure. And all it takes when youre feeling desperate is a convincing hiring manager. But have you really thought about what youre doing? If you just accept anything on the grounds that it gets you out of what youre in, chances are, youre bound to experience regret and maybe even long for your former situation.To that point, have you made a list of pros and cons in your current job? You might surprise yourself with the pros.(And you might that a lot of the cons are pretty fixable.)2. Youre Possibly Missing a Growth OpportunityYour present state of d iscord could actually be good for you in the long run, but if you leave too nicht weit davon entfernt sein, youll never know. Its said that growth occurs when were out of our comfort zone. Is it possible youre overlooking challenges that might be developmental? If your boss is supportive, then try to dig deep and understand the cause of your misery. Usually good and honest communication can help uncover the source. Perhaps you need additional training or exposure to come up to speed on a required skill. Or you just need to know that you have your boss approval to stretch yourself and give you time to grow in the way theyre asking you to.3. Youre Not ReadyOK, so technically you may be ready to leave your job, but are you really ready for the next one? Are you eager to leave because you believe you deserve more (money, recognition, and responsibility)? Running after titles or status without, dare I say earning them, will only bring you a stretch of uncomfortable unease. This can start a course of panic or self-doubt, whichll get you nowhere fast and only lead you to the feeling that you need to get out again- fast. And if you havent strengthened your skills or maintained a high level of self-confidence in the meantime, youre going to struggle when you begin yet another job search. Instead of assuming the problem is your boss, your company, your team, take a look within yourself. Lets say youre frustrated with a lack of promotion- is there anything you can do to earn that? 4. Youre Risking Your ReputationIf you give up without working through a challenge or for reasons you didnt process and you jump into a situation that provides a similar challenge, youll soon be facing the same sense of dread. A new organization can surface other issues and you may find that your difficulty processing constructive criticism, for example, brings you down wherever you land. The time to change jobs should be a well thought-out decision, not one you make because things are starting to feel desperate. Its worth riding out a challenging situation for a few weeks or months so that you can better understand whats contributing to your discontent. Id say this is especially true if your organization does a decent job growing careers. If youre experiencing on-the-job anxiety, can you speak to someone in HR or communicate to your boss whats going on?Its OK to interview for other jobs to get a feel for whats out there and what you could be doing, but its not OK if its your escape method. Before you make any fast moves, spend time sorting through what you like about your job and paying attention to factors that have you dreading it, such as negative feedback or a taxing project. If you have unused vacation days, maybe nows the time to take a mental health day and practice some self-care. It may be true that after a period of reflection you really do need to quit. Just make sure you know what youre doing and why.

Why boredom (and not being bored) is so powerful in your life

Why boredom (and elendlage being bored) is so powerful in your lifeWhy boredom (and elend being bored) is so powerful in your lifeAre you bored or just experiencing boredom?The difference between the two can determine your life satisfaction. Boredom is not lack of stimulation. Ironically, the mora distractions and external stimuli we pursue, the more bored we get.Boredom is a clean slate. Being bored is escapism - its a mental state that we choose to avoid self-reflection.We feel bored because, deep inside ourselves, we know we can give more. Boredom is the pain of unused potential its a disconnection to everything we can offer the world and vice versa.Boredom is a powerful tool that invites you to rethink your relationship with the world.Boredom is an acquired tasteI am never bored to be bored is an insult to ones self. ?Jules RenardSome psychologists believe boredom is a trait. The Boredom Proneness Scale measures our propensity to feel bored. By contrast, the Multidimensional St ate Boredom Scale measures a persons feelings of boredom in a given situation - our state boredom is dynamic, not fixed.Boredom is not external its how you engage with the world.John Eastwood, director of the Boredom Lab at York University believes that boredom is a crisis of meaning. It invites us to reflect on how we engage with the world.Eastwood debunked the misconception that only boring people get bored. The Canadian professor found two distinct fonts of personality that suffer from boredom, and neither is particularly dull.The first type of people have an impulsive mindset and are continually looking for new experiences. The world isnt enough of a rollercoaster - its chronically under-stimulating.The second kind has the opposite problem the world is a fearful place. They try not to step outside their comfort zone. Their high-sensitivity to pain makes them withdraw. However, they dont feel satisfied with being comfortable, and chronic boredom takes over.The origin of boredom We live in an overly entertained society, yet weve never suffered from boredom as we do now.Boredom is a social disease.Ages ago, when people were busy trying to survive, boredom wasnt a choice. They spent all their time securing food or shelter they didnt have time to get bored.We are now overstimulated - easy access to infinite entertainment options is feeding boredom rather than discouraging it.As Dr. Sandi Mann, the author of The Upside of Downtime Why Boredom is Good, explains The more entertained we are, the more entertainment we need to feel satisfied. The more we fill our world with fast-moving, high-intensity, ever-changing stimulation, the more we get used to that and the less tolerant we become of lower levels.We crave for more time. However, when we have free time, we dont know what to do with it. Nothing seems exciting enough to deserve our valuable time. We end doing nothing and get bored.Friedrich Nietzsche said is life not a thousand times too short for us to bore o urselves?Our ideas about how things should be are our most significant distraction. We get bored with our repetitive thought pattern.Avoiding boredom can be more damaging that ennui itself.Research has shown that, in response to a monotonous lab situation, participants voluntarily self-administered electric shocks. The shocks served to disrupt feeling bored - it was the only available external source of stimulation.In everyday life, we default to less-intrusive antidotes to boredom company. We associate being in the company of others with having fun. For most people, being alone and not being bored sounds counterintuitive.We have a hard time having fun in our own company.Thats why people embrace busyness - you dont realize you are bored when you are running from one place to another. Being busy is a tricky gestalt of entertainment - we dont feel the boredom, but it isnt fun either.Thats the danger of not facing our boredom it can cause more damage if it gets out of our mind.Face this subtle enemyHe who fortifies himself completely against boredom fortifies himself against himself too. He will never drink the most powerful elixir from his own innermost spring. - Friedrich NietzscheBeing bored is a damaging state of mind.By trying to escape from it, you get caught in subtle traps. Once you realized the side effects, its too late - tiny behaviors have turned into a habit.When you feel bored, you lose focus. Chronic attention problems such as attention deficit or hyperactivity disorders are connected to monotony.Chronic boredom, continually feeling bored, has a direct relationship with compulsive behaviors.Research shows boredom to be responsible for increased risk of overeating, gambling, alcohol, and drug abuse, among others. Individuals with high boredom-proneness scored significantly more prone to suffer from anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression.Boredom can drive to procrastination. When people get bored in a meeting, conference or analyz ing a report, their performance drops dramatically. Chronic boredom is one of the leading causes of depression in the workplace too.Not addressing boredom is dangerous - it keeps you away from seeing yourself clearly, as I wrote here.Your mind creates boring thoughtsBoredom is neutral - its up to you turn into something positive or negative.Sakyong Mipham, the author of Turning the mind into an ally, identifies three kinds of boredom.The first type has an undercurrent of anxiety. We are not comfortable with ourselves. We are so used to being amused by external stimuli - fun means doing something with someone else. We believe that the antidote to boredom should be external. We need Netflix, a device, company or an object to rescue us from boredom.The second type of boredom is rooted in fear. We are afraid of being alone with ourselves because we cant relax our mind. Confronting ourselves in solitude forces us to pay attention to who we are. Loneliness is an honest mirror - it ref lects both our good and wrong sides.The previous two types are driven by our desire for things to be different from how they are.The third type is the realization that what really makes us feel bored is our thoughts, not reality itself. We start accepting that boredom is part of the landscape. We realize that its not that the world is predictable, our thoughts about it are repetitive.Boredom is a state of mind getting bored is when we cant deal with our repetitive thought pattern.Turning the idle mind into an allyWhen we feel bored, we crave for more entertainment and distractions. However, that will create more frustration and disappointment.To defeat boredom, you need less, not more, stimulation and novelty.Friedrich Nietzsche referred to boredom as the unpleasant calm that precedes creative acts.Embrace boredom as a positive force. It seems paradoxical, but feeling bored now will make you less bored in the future - its a pause to make magic happen.You are in charge.People with h igher self-awareness and self-control are less prone to feeling bored. Meditation is a powerful tool to let your repetitive thought pattern free. Once you stop resisting boredom, its no longer threatening. As Sakyong Mipham says Boredom is no longer needy its spacious, comfortable, and soothing. My father called it cool boredom. You need a pause. Enjoy it.Silent is the think tank of the soul. Boredom, like silence, is not just the absence of noise - it invites the presence of focus. Noise keeps you busy. Remove distractions and start listening. What is boredom trying to tell you?Boredom feeds creativity.Your brain likes to escape from the feeling of boredom instead of providing external stimulation, let it feed on internal elements. Mind wandering invites creativity rather than trying to focus on external stimuli, let it find its own way shifting from one idea to another.Avoid technology when you feel bored.Entertainment snacks will make you crave for more rather than controlling y our boredom, your need for distraction will never be satisfied. Technology is anything but a boredom cure.Recover the joy in performing mundane tasks.We are so comfortable that our mind rejects doing chores. They feel boring, definitely not for us. Recovering the pleasure of performing small duties builds a sense of pride and achievement. Turn doing chores into meditation, as I wrote here.Train your mind to realize that boredom is not about what you do, but how you do it.Boredom helps you rethink your relationship with the world.Monotony lies within your mind.Free resources to fight boredomReceive my weekly Insights for Changemakers Sign Up NowDownload my free ebook Stretch Your MindThis article first appeared on Medium.

Increase Your Wealth Easily With These 8 Money Tips for Millennials

Increase Your Wealth Easily With These 8 Money Tips for MillennialsIncrease Your Wealth Easily With These 8 Money Tips for MillennialsHave you heard the news?Millennials are killing breakfast cereals.Theyre making firm handshakes obsolete.Theyre destroying the napkin industry, canned tuna, bar soap, and even fabric softener.If you believe the headlines, millennials are pretty powerfulexcept, it seems, when it comes to their finances.WellMillennials are drowning in debts.So, if youre a millennial yourself and you want to tame your spending splurges, read onYoull get 8 money-saving tips I tested myself to keep my head above water. And they worked.Inside Millennials WalletsHeres a look at the financial picture for millennials75% of U.S. millennials have some form of debt34% are holding off on buying a home because of debt31% are holding off on saving for retirement because of debt46% of millennials say they have $0 in their savings account67% of millennials say they would have difficult y paying an unexpected bill of $1,000About 50% of millennials experience chronic stress over money.Yes, those statistics are grim. But its elend because theyre throwing their money away on avocado toast.The truth is, coming of age during the 2008 recession has set millennials back.The employment rate for younger Americans has been slow to recover. Fewer millennials are employed than their parents were at the saatkorn age.And while salaries have stagnated, the cost of education, housing, and health care has skyrocketed. Millennials have 300% more student debt than their parents and are earning lower salaries.Its no surprise that millennials are likely to be the first generation to be worse off financially than their parents.But that doesnt mean all hope is lost. There are steps you can take right now to improve your finances.Below, Ive outlined the 8 steps that I used to save up money to departure and grow Transizion, a college and career prep company.These tips will help you achieve your goals, slowly but surely. It will take time to develop new habits and change aspects of your lifestyles, but these tips are worth it.8 Financial Tips for MillennialsWant to increase your wealth, reduce financial stress, and build a more secure future? Sure, we all do. Heres how1. Evaluate your financesThe first step is to get an accurate picture of your finances. How much money is coming in? How much money is going out? And where exactly is it going?You cant start working on your finances until you can accurately answer these questions. It can be scary to finally stare your finances in the face, but its exactly what will make developing new habits so much easier.Consider every expense. For example, how many subscriptions do you currently have? How often are you really using each subscription? Are they worth it?Luckily, theres an app for that Mint. Link your credit and debit cards to Mint, and itll categorize your transactions and show you how youre spending your money. Plus, i ts freeIt can be alarming to see how much youre spending on categories like fast food, but knowledge is power.2. Build a budget (and stick to it)Once you have a clear picture of your finances, create a monthly budget.Start by listing all your expenses. Begin with the most important (rent and other bills) and end with the least important (categories like entertainment).Decide how much money youll spend on each category. Some expenses, like most bills, will stay the same every month. Others may be one-time expenses, like attending a special event or purchasing a gift. Thats why you have to customize your budget monthly.You should also budget for savings. Experts recommend saving at least 20% of your income. If thats not practical for you, decide on another percentage thats more reasonable. Treat your savings like a required bill that you must pay each month.Of course, creating a budget is pointless if you dont stick to it.Remember that budgeting doesnt mean you can never treat yoursel f. Its simply designed to prevent impulse purchases that youll regret later.If you really want something, add it to the budget for that month. Depending on your financial situation, that may mean sacrificing in other nonessential categories.If its still hard to stick to your budget, try the envelope trickPay your bills online or using your usual method.For each additional expense category, label an envelope Entertainment, Coffee, Groceries, Clothing, etc.Place the amount of money youve budgeted for that category (in cash) inside each envelope.The cash inside each envelope is the only money you can spend on that category until the month is over.If you absolutely must have more money for one category, youll have to take it from another.Sometimes, its helpful to physically see and touch the money assigned to each category, especially if youre a budget beginner.3. Use technologyMint isnt the only helpful personal finance app.You might also want to tryEveryDollar The EveryDollar app uses the zero-based budget method, giving every dollar a purpose. It tracks your expenses and shows the amount youve spent on each budget item for the month and how much you have left to spend.Wally Wally is a simple, easy-to-understand financial tool. It helps you compare your income and expenses, track spending, and set and achieve personal financial goals. It allows you to scan and save receipts and see how much you can spend per day to stay on track with your goals.You Need a Budget (YNAB) If you get off track with your spending, YNAB helps you see what you should do differently to balance your budget. Online classes with a live instructor are included, and you can budget for individual projects like Christmas gifts. YNAB does carry a fee, but users say its worth it The average user pays off $500 in debt in the first month.Credit Karma A free, easy way to monitor your credit score, Credit Karma also offers useful tips for building credit. Youll learn whats affecting your current sco re and how you can make improvements.4. Reverse engineer your futureSometimes it feels scary to sit down and look at the big financial picture. But they say if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.Reverse engineer your future following these stepsThink about where you want to end up. What are your ultimate career and professional goals?Figure out how youll get there. Write down all the steps between where you are now and where you want to be.Budget for the steps in between. How much will each step cost? How will you pay for it?Determine what actions you can take now to start moving toward your goals.5. Dont be afraid to switch industriesAs you map out your future, you may find that major changes are necessary to achieve your goals. Dont be afraid to switch industries if needed.Think long-term. If you stay where you are now, where will you be in 510 years? Depending on the situation, switching industries may be a minor setback. But, in those 510 years, will you be farther along?If you make the decision to actually change your career, make sure to check out Career Change Resume Sample and Writing GuideYou shouldnt be afraid to move either. If the cost of living is high where you live, try to find a job that pays similarly in an area where the cost of living is lower. Or offer your services remotely from an inexpensive area.For real-life success stories and tips on how to start working from wherever you wish, see How to Find and Land a Job in Your Dream Location6. Manage stressSometimes, stress leads to reckless spending. And reckless spending leads to more stress, creating a nasty cycle.Trust me, while Ive been running Transizion, Ive faced plenty of stress, anxiety, sleepless nights, and self doubt. Im sure plenty of you have encountered the same struggles while pursuing your own goals.Taking action is one thing that will help you alleviate stress.Manage your stress levels with strategies likeExercisingMeditatingEngaging in enjoyable/relaxing hobbiesTalking to yo ur support systemGetting plenty of restLaughing (at funny friends, videos, shows, stand-up routines, etc.)Limiting screen timeSpending time outdoors.7. Keep building your skillsIf you want to move up the ladder (and make more money) in your industry, you have to continuously develop your skills.Subscribe to blogs and podcasts related to your industry. Keep up with the latest trends and scope out the competition. Read books, take online courses, and get relevant certifications.Youll keep improving as an employee, and your boss will appreciate your initiative. When you ask for a raise, be sure to mention your growing list of credentials.8. Dont try to keep up with the JonesesStudies suggest that millennials spend money they dont have just to keep up with their peers. Images of nice cars, designer clothes, and expensive vacations on social media likely magnify this issue.Slow down and be conscious of your motivation for spending money. Do you really need the item? Are you trying to imp ress someone? Are you buying this because itll make a great photo on Instagram?Wanting to keep up with your peers is natural. But living comfortably and without financial stress is worth much more than any number of Instagram likes.If comparison is a struggle for you, limit social media usage with apps like Offtime, Moment, and Forest.So, what do you think?What financial tips have helped you the most? How do you find the discipline to stick to your budget? Are millennials really responsible for the death of breakfast cereals?

Unemployment Benefits - How to File a Claim

Unemployment Benefits - How to File a ClaimUnemployment Benefits - How to File a ClaimJob loss is emotionally devastating, of course, but the financial effects can be even worse. Without a regular paycheck, it might be difficult or impossible to pay your rent or mortgage, car payments, and credit card bills. Falling behind on these payments can cause you to incur penalties that will lead to future financial hardship and possibly even cause you to lose your home. Fortunately, state-administered unemployment benefits can help keep you afloat until you find a new job. Employers pay for unemployment insurance through federal and state taxes. In some states, employees pay unemployment taxes as well. Each state administers its own unemployment benefits program. Even if you think you have enough savings to get you through a job loss, or you think you will find a job quickly, it is worth filing a claim for unemployment benefits. The unexpected could occur and your period of joblessness could last longer than anticipated. This temporary paycheck could help keep you from falling into financial ruin. Here is what you need to do to file a claim and keep your benefits active for as long as possible. How to Apply for and Use Unemployment Benefits Contact the Unemployment Insurance Division of your states Department of Labor to find out if you qualify for benefits. Each state determines individuals eligibility, but generally speaking, you must have gelbkreuzgas your job through no fault of your own and must be willing and able to work. Find details, including contact information for state unemployment offices, on theUnemployment Benefits FinderonCareerOneStop, a site sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. Gather the information required to file your claim, including your Social Security number, your employers nameand address, and the exact dates of your employment. They may also want information about your previous employers.Appl y for benefits as soon aspossible after losing yourjob. A mandatory waiting period will delay your first payment for about one week after applying for benefits. Many states require online applications for unemployment benefits online, but some also allow individuals to do it by phone. Engage in a job search. Dont wait until your benefits run out. To maintain them, you must be actively looking for work. Turning down any suitable offers can mean termination of your benefits.From time to time, the unemployment office may tell you to come in for an appointment to discuss your job search progress. Ignoring these requests will jeopardize your benefits. Always be punctual and bring proof that you are actively looking for work and anything else that is required.If you decide to take a part-time or temporary job to supplement your income while you look for a full-time permanent position, check the rules in your state first to find out the maximum amount of earnings allowed. Going above the l imit can cause you to lose your benefits. Other Things to Know About Your Unemployment Insurance Benefits States pay unemployment benefits to recipients for a maximum of 26 weeks. In extremely challenging times when unemployment rates are unusually high, for example, during a recession, the federal government or state governments may extend benefits for a specified period.Your benefits will be based on a percentage of your earnings over a 52-week period. It varies by state and will not exceed a maximum amount. Unemployment insurance is meant to pay for only the essentials, such as rent or mortgage and food. Make adjustments to your lifestyle, accordingly. The U.S. Department of Labors American Job Centers, located around the country, offer free career-related services including workshops about resume writing, job interviewing, and networking. One-on-one employment counseling is also available. Job centers provide job training to individuals who need new skills to make them more employable. There is also access to local employment listings.Expect to receive your benefits by direct deposit to your bank account or a debit card.The state may reject your application for unemployment benefits. Reasons for denial may include quitting your job without a good cause, getting fired for misconduct related to your job, being unavailable to work or unwilling to accept a suitable job offer, or lying to get unemployment benefits. If you are denied benefits, you can appeal the decision. Check with your state to find out how (U.S. Department of Labor. Unemployment Benefits What If Im Denied?. CareerOneStop Worker Reemployment.).