Tag: Business Tips

Identifying organizational gaps is one of the biggest hurdles facing HR professionals and leaders. In today’s competitive job market, there are many candidates applying for every position, each bringing their own set of skills, values, and experiences.

To ease this hiring process, a company can recruit internally. As a result, this ensures the selected candidate is suitably qualified and fosters talent development.

But what exactly is internal recruitment? Are there any advantages or disadvantages? Is there a specific process to follow when you recruit internally? Well, let’s answer those questions.

What is Internal Recruitment?

Essentially, internal hiring or internal recruitment refers to hiring existing employees to fill a vacancy over recruiting new workers from outside the company.

In other words, you circulate information regarding openings internally instead of posting them publicly. Typically, this occurs through internal communication channels or mediums within your team or across the organization. Compared to hiring externally, it saves time, resources, and human effort.

Don’t believe me? Numerous studies have looked at hiring costs.

• As reported by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the average cost per hire was almost $4,700. According to many employers, hiring a new employee can cost three or four times the salary of the position.
• Depending on your industry, it is likely that you should aim for an average time to hire. According to a LinkedIn study, companies in engineering and other technical fields in research and finance take the longest time to hire employees (up to 49 days). Comparatively, the sales and customer service industries have much shorter hiring times (around 33 days on average).

Some of the most common types of internal recruiting include:

• Promotions. One of the most popular forms of internal recruiting is promotion.
• Transfers. Typically, a transfer involves moving to the same position at a different location or to a similar position in another department.
• Temporary to Permanent. An intern or temporary position holder is promoted into a full-time position, similar to a promotion.
• Employee referrals. Often overlooked by hiring managers, internal recruitment is a hiring manager’s dream. Employee referrals are an effective, cost-effective way to reach hiring managers with qualified candidates. You can attract a constant stream of employee-referred candidates if you implement a system to encourage and gamify the referral process.

The Advantages of Internal Recruitment

It is more efficient to hire internal candidates than to recruit externally:

You keep your best talent.

Whenever you promote from within your company, you send a very strong message to your team as a whole. When they learn that there’s a clear path to advancement, they’ll see that working at the company can be a career rather than just a job.

As a result, your organization that has a clear pathway for career advancement is far more likely to retain your best talent.

Streamlines the hiring process.

Recruiting externally involves finding candidates, evaluating them, and, if all goes well, convincing them to join your team. Suffice it to say, this takes both time and money.

On the other hand, internal candidates already belong to your organization, so finding and engaging them takes much less time and money. Additionally, assessing internal candidates is easier because:

• They’ve already been prescreened to ensure they are culturally compatible.
• You can easily access their track record.
• There may not always be a need for full management interviews. As an example, the department head already knows the candidate if the candidate is moving within the department.

Basically, internal candidates fit the company’s culture no matter what their role is, and they’re already known to hiring managers. Plus, you know their strengths and weaknesses, as well as how they work.

Reduces onboarding.

It is possible for current employees to start a new job within the same company without needing an extensive onboarding or training period. After all, it’s likely that they already know most of the policies, procedures, and expectations of your company. As they’ve been working together for some time, they may also need fewer meet-and-greets with colleagues.

For promotions or job changes within the same team or department, hiring internally may also require less time to understand the context and content of a new role.

It costs less.

According to research, external hiring costs 1.7 times more than internal hiring. When you hire from within, you usually do not need to:

• Place ads on job boards. Your company’s internal newsletter or email are great ways to inform internal candidates about job openings. If all your employees work at the same location, you could also post job ads on a bulletin board.
• Become a member of resume databases. If you’re looking for passive candidates, ask your managers about their team members or check your HRIS to find coworkers who might be suitable.
• Pay for a background check. When you hire internal candidates, you may have already conducted background checks. According to their manager or employee records, you know whether they are in good standing.

Risk reduction for performance.

A company that hires from within has more information about the candidates they are considering. From their own files, they can view current employees’ records and performance reviews. It may be easier for businesses to contact coworkers and supervisors since they can access more reliable references.

A job change or promotion is unlikely to affect an employee’s personality or behavior as they are already a part of the organization’s culture.

Enhance employee engagement.

It shows your employees that you value them and want to invest in them when you promote them from within. A good way to boost morale is to give employees opportunities for advancement or to move into similar positions.

The reason? The knowledge that similar opportunities may exist in the future is gained by employees who change roles, and others are aware of such opportunities. As a result, employees are engaged and retained due to a culture of trust.

The Disadvantages of Internal Recruitment

It is important to remember some things regarding internal recruitment, despite its many benefits.

Employees and managers will become resentful.

If an employee who was considered for a role is ultimately hired, they may feel bitter. It is also common for managers to feel uncomfortable losing good team members, and they may even obstruct the promotion or transfer of good team members.

Echo chambers can be created by it.

Working practices can stagnate if you rely too heavily on internal promotions. Rather than coming from within your company, new ideas and fresh perspectives are more likely to come from outside of it.

New hires bring fresh eyes to the company. As a result, you’ll get fresh insights from them.

The talent pool is reduced.

Choosing internal recruitment reduces the number of candidates a company can choose from. Existing employees may make the best fit in some cases, but external perspectives might be better in others. The role and team may benefit from innovative skills and fresh ideas brought by a new employee. Employee complacency and stagnant company culture could also result from an overreliance on internal recruitment.

Further, an internal candidate may not succeed in a new position. It is possible that their skills and experience will not translate effectively, and a change of position may affect their attitude or behavior at work. As opposed to an external candidate who knows the role in question, they may need additional training.

Inflexibility in the workplace.

A more traditional or standard culture can be promoted by hiring internally. Culture-fit employees could become stuck in routines or habits because they are too comfortable with current practices.

The problem may be more acute in leadership roles. The organization may be able to introduce new practices and perspectives by hiring externally.

It is not always possible for fast-growing companies to hire internally.

Recruiting new employees within a company may not be feasible for small or growing companies. When companies grow rapidly, there may not be a sufficient variety of internal candidates to choose from, forcing them to look outside the company for candidates.

There is another gap to be filled.

Recruiting internally may result in another gap elsewhere in the organization. To take over the role of the previous employee, external hiring may be necessary, resulting in time and cost issues. If a company’s talent pool is too small for internal hiring, small and fast-growing companies may not be able to hire at all.

By implementing workforce planning processes, HR managers can ensure that there are no unforeseen gaps within an organization. Leaders or the HR department can ensure that the right people are working on rigs by analyzing business objectives and workforce capabilities.

FAQs

1. What’s the difference between internal and external hiring?

Traditionally, external recruitment involves sourcing candidates outside of your business, perhaps through online job boards or recruitment agencies, as opposed to internal recruitment.

In contrast, internal recruitment involves hiring or promoting current employees within your organization.

2. How and when should internal hiring be considered?

Many HR and business leaders are still debating the answer to this question. A company usually looks for or attracts potential candidates from outside when there is a vacancy.

Despite its numerous benefits, it’s also important to hire internally.

You will find someone with experience in multiple disciplines who can add unique capabilities to your business. The bottom line, however, is to ensure that your business stays true to the core goals and values that you and your employees have worked so hard to achieve.

You should, however, also provide your employees with ample opportunities for career development and growth as a responsible business leader.

Further, there’s the trust factor to consider. Those who have earned your trust by working for the organization and being integral to its success will be trusted.

The next question is when should you consider hiring internally?

When it comes to filling job vacancies at your company, internal hiring might be your best option.

• An in-depth understanding of the company’s internal operations is necessary for the position.
• You can’t afford to hire and onboard external employees.
• Within the existing workforce, most employees already possess the qualifications needed for the vacant position.
• Your current employees are eager to prove their worth once again and take on the vacant position.
• A vacant position must be filled as soon as possible without much time for external talent exploration.

3. In order to minimize the disadvantages of internal recruitment, what could you do?

To avoid resentment, cultivate trust, and ensure effective hiring, you could:

• Ensure promotions and job changes aren’t the only means of recognizing or advancing employees. Offer training, job shadowing, and rotational opportunities. Establish a frequent reward system for employees as well.
• Ensure that the process is transparent. Describe the hiring process and why internal candidates weren’t selected. To ensure future success, it is important to give them feedback on their interviews or pointers on what skills to develop.
• It’s important for managers to help their team members advance in their careers. Assist managers in thinking about possible career moves for their team members and ask them to contribute to the succession planning process. As a result, you could consult your plan immediately if a position becomes open.
• If you have a candidate in mind, don’t communicate the opening. By communicating an open position, you give employees hope. Rather than encouraging others to apply, hire teams should reach out directly to candidates they already prefer.
• Recruit both internally and externally. Decide whether you want to recruit internally, externally, or both when you need to fill a position. You should base your decision on your company’s needs for a culture addition and the job requirements.

Image Credit: Cottonbro Studio; Pexels; Thank you!

The post The Advantages and Disadvantages of Internal Recruitment appeared first on Calendar.

A business rarely follows a linear pattern. You’ll have days where the lobby feels like a ghost town and others where the same space looks like a sardine can. Supply, demand, and interest all fluctuate, and your business has to be prepared for the slow season and busy seasons.

Luckily, most businesses can tell you when their busiest time of year is. This allows business owners to plan and prepare for that specific time each year. Otherwise, the sudden influx of customers might cause them to fall right on their behinds.

Whether you’re a new business preparing for that first rush or a seasoned company trying to become more efficient, there’s almost always something you can do to plan better for busier seasons. Here are a few tips that can help you out in the near future:

1. Set Up Automation

Any tasks or processes that you can automate will make life much easier when business starts to pick up. Those tasks will continue to be completed without needing any supervision. Instead of getting more people on staff to keep those processes running, they can help control the rush while they complete themselves.

Think of what aspects of your business could be automated if they aren’t already. For example, lots of appointment-based businesses have automated their scheduling. Customers can browse booking options and create their own appointment without an employee needing to give them extra attention. Staff members can more fully focus on the customers that are present for their appointments instead.

Paperwork, such as billing and record-keeping, is another example of automation that works for businesses of all shapes and sizes. There are also automation tools for project management, supply chains, and even human resources. Experiment with some solutions and see what you can do to lighten the load on your business.

2. Create Projections

One type of automation that can be extremely helpful during your busiest months is data analytics. All you need to do is set up a system or plug in a software program that constantly tracks the data your business generates on a daily basis. This can include everything from sales data, customer demographics information, social media outreach, and even the changing prices of the materials you use.

With this data at your disposal, you can make predictions and projections for the coming months, focusing especially on your busiest seasons. Based on previous data, you can see which of your products and services are in the highest demand during the busy season. With this information, you can concentrate on producing and preparing what you need for that expected demand.

At the very least, use this upcoming busy season to generate your data. When the next busy season comes around, you’ll have enough data to make accurate assumptions and game plans to deal with the business. The more data you have, the more effective it will be when implemented into your strategy.

3. Get Staffing in Order Now

If you have a general idea of when your busy season is, you should start arranging your staffing calendar now. If you wait until the last minute to try and get a schedule pinned down, you’ll likely run into more resistance. You’ll have employees who have made vacation plans already, who can’t work extra shifts, and who have already gotten their time off approved.

Start making arrangements for your busy season as soon as possible. Ask who is willing to work certain shifts and consider increasing the number of people you have on the clock on a single day. Be sure not to overwork any of your employees unless they’re specifically asking for overtime hours. Otherwise, you might drive some of your best workers away, making the next busy season that much more difficult.

One option a lot of businesses like to use is hiring part-time, seasonal workers. For instance, delivery companies such as Amazon and UPS will hire drivers to work throughout December when the volume of packages is at its peak. This ensures that they have the roster necessary to handle the influx at work without having to create long-term commitments with a bunch of new hires.

4. Stay Competitive

Your business won’t be the only one that’s making plans for the upcoming busy season. Every other company in your area and industry will be making similar preparations. You can’t just wait for the busy season to come to you. You need to take advantage of the high consumer activity and stay competitive in your field so that you get your fair share of the market.

Think of ways to set your business apart from the rest during the busiest time of the year. Let’s pretend you’re a clothing store that gets really busy right before the new school year. With so many families looking for back-to-school outfits, how do you get your threads to stand out? If you successfully planned out a promotion over the summer, you can release it right before the fall of the year — with full effectiveness.

Other layers of competitiveness are pricing, inventory availability, store hours, and customer service. The more you can boost up these aspects of your organization before the busy season hits, the more success you’ll have when it finally arrives.

5. Start Training Early

If you work in retail, you know how crazy certain times of the year can be. Black Friday is one of the best examples of the busy season being a completely different animal than working on a regular day. You can’t expect a new employee to take that pressure head-on without any sort of preparation, nor should you want them to try.

If your busiest season is in the summer, don’t wait until beach weather to begin your training. Use the slow winter months to give your team the training they need to tackle future challenges head-on. Trying to fit in training during the busiest time of year is just asking for more stress and fatigue to build up.

There are lots of different training regimens that could be useful, even for tenured employees. Customer service training is always a good review, especially when the high stress of the busy season makes it more difficult to keep composure. You can also offer sales training or instruction on how to use a new system you’re hoping to get integrated before the busy season arrives.

6. Take Care of the Little Things

There are a lot of small details that may not be considered essential to your business but are still important. These little items are often left on the back burner when your business is being slammed by activity. Those little details can quickly pile up and become bigger nuisances if left unchecked.

Instead of stressing about tiny details during your busiest hours, take the time during your slow season to get ahead. Get some deep cleaning done, finish your file organization, and fix up the office before it’s too busy. Even the most basic things can be a lifesaver when you’re too swamped to even think about those little things.

Nothing is going to stop the busy season from arriving on your business’s doorstep. How successful you are is entirely dependent on the planning and preparation you put in during the months prior. Get started today so that when your busy season is here, there’s nothing stopping you from reaching new heights.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Taryn Elliott; 

The post 6 Ways Businesses Can Plan for Busier Seasons appeared first on Calendar.

Just because April showers bring May flowers doesn’t mean you have to spend the whole month staring out a rainy window. Unless, of course, that’s your go-to springtime activity; and then, by all means, go for it.

Rainy window enthusiasts aside (represent!), April is actually jam-packed with fun events, holidays, and springtime activities. The weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer, and most people are anxious to go do something. So here are a few ideas for fun springtime activities that you can add to your calendar in the month of April.

Attend Jazz Shows and Festivals

Did you know that April sees some of the best jazz shows of the whole year? That’s because it’s JAM, or Jazz Appreciation Month. Many beloved jazz musicians, such as Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, and Ella Fitzgerald, celebrate their birthdays in April. So, it’s the perfect time to put on your favorite jazz playlist or dust off your favorite record.

It’s also the perfect time to go out and see a live show! There will likely be tons of jazz concerts at venues near you throughout the month. Musicians, both old and new, will be giving it their all during this month. It’s also a great time to pick up an instrument and feel the rhythm yourself! You might be surprised how rewarding and enjoyable playing even just a few simple notes can be.

Can’t find any musicians putting on a show or offering lessons in your town? Just head on down to New Orleans, one of the jazziest cities in the country. You’ll find people moving to music so prevalent and infectious — it will seem like the very buildings are singing.

Read Poetry

Just like jazz, poetry is an art form that allows for expression by playing with its structure. It’s fitting that, in addition to jazz, April is also National Poetry Month. Poets and artists around the world tend to release their new work to the public around this time.

You can look for poetry readings and book signings at your local bookstores. They likely have already lined up events throughout the month. And, if they don’t, you could set up your own poetry party with your friends! Gather together and read your favorite passages from your favorite poets. Or, if you’re so inclined, stretch your own poetic muscles and see what words flow from your own muse.

If you’ve never delved into the world of poetry, there’s never been a better time than April. You’ll likely find lots of different workshops available, both online and in person. If you try it, you may find that poetry can provide some solace from the ever-looming anxiety of the world.

Celebrate International Children’s Book Day — April 2 and Beyond

Poetry readings aren’t the only kind celebrated in April. That’s because April is also home to International Children’s Book Day, falling on the second of the month. If you’ve needed an excuse to make some time to read with your kids, look no further.

Don’t know what to read? You can always reach for childhood classics like “Frog & Toad,” “Goodnight Moon,” or “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” Or open your shelves to new stories like “The Circles All Around Us,” “Busy Betty,” or “Just Try One Bite.” And because April 2 is Children’s Book Day, April sees lots of new kid’s books released throughout the month. You’ll probably even find live readings you can bring your kids to at your local bookstore or library.

These days, there are more children’s books than ever before. If there’s a certain message or kind of world you want to share with your kids, it’s probably there. Reading with your kids can really kick-start their cognitive development. And, if anything, it’s a great nightly tradition that you’ll be able to look back on with fondness later in life.

Do a Scavenger Hunt, Egg Hunt, or Escape Room

One of the great springtime joys of childhood is searching your world for brightly colored eggs with hidden treasure inside. And it’s one that you can fairly easily recreate for your kids. Even if you’re not religious, Easter weekend is a great time to set up an egg hunt. It’s a fun springtime activity that you can also invite your kids’ friends to join for added memory-making potential.

And don’t worry if you don’t have any kids, religiosity, or a penchant for neon ovals. You can still set up a good old-fashioned scavenger hunt. All it takes to make a scavenger hunt is a good location, a prize, and some clever wordplay. Gather up your best friends, break them up into teams, and see who can solve your grand mystery.

And, if you’re not in the mood to create an elaborate Rube Goldberg machine of clues, don’t fret. You and your friends can try your hands at an escape room. Escape rooms are places that make it their business to craft elaborate, immersive, and fun puzzles to solve. It’s an engaging way to spend your afternoon, especially in good company.

Laugh During National Humor Month

When was the last time you laughed so hard that you cried? Really — that long? It’s no secret that the winter can be rather dreary, especially in the latter months of January through March. Cold, wet, and dark days can really take a toll on your mind after a while. The world can seem rather grim after all that darkness, so why not lighten things up a bit?

As they say, laughter is the best medicine. Good thing, then, that April is National Humor Month! Throughout the month, many comedy clubs will be booked with shows. There will be plenty of funny people and, admittedly, not-so-funny people testing their wit on stage. Going to a comedy show is a great reason to get out of the house and have a laugh.

And, if you’ve been working on your own routine for a while now, perhaps it’s time for your debut. You’ll never know how good your material is until you go onstage and find out. Plus, even if you bomb, you won’t be alone. And the only way to get better is to try, fail, and try again. April may be your time to shine.

Volunteer for Earth Day – April 22

By the end of April, Spring will be in full swing. Trees and flowers, just recently buds and bulbs, will flourish with scents and colors. Sweet birds and fanciful insects will flutter about in a whirl of sound and life. And you’ll also hear the harsh, phlegmy achoos of many an allergic person wishing that Earth Day was over already.

Despite how beautiful Spring can be, it’s also delicate. And as the years march on, protecting and healing the warming climate is increasingly important. So if you’ve been looking for some time to give back to the planet, April 22 is your day. It’s Earth Day, and volunteers around the world will spend their time cleaning up.

A little digging online, and you’ll likely find groups organized in your town or city. And, even if you can’t find a group project, you can make your own. Earth Day volunteering is as simple as cleaning up trash on the side of the road. So invite some friends to put on gloves and pick up the residue of humanity. The birds will thank you with their song.

Make A Party of It

As social creatures, people love to share their fun with each other. So you could take any of these ideas and make a party of it!

Have other friends who are parents with kids? Get together and do a scavenger hunt sleepover with a book-reading session to wind things down. Love jazz but can’t find any live events near you? Have people over to stream a live event or host a listening party of your own design.

Almost every springtime activity that you can enjoy alone, you can enjoy together. And, April 3rd also just happens to be World Party Day. There’s pretty much no better excuse to have people over and celebrate something.

Featured Image Credit: Pexels; Thank you!

The post Fun Springtime Activities to Add to Your April Calendar appeared first on Calendar.

It’s 2023, people! With all the new, energy-efficient technology out, it’s easier than ever to be ecologically conscious. That doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy an electric car tomorrow, though. There are many simple ways to help conserve energy, starting in your own home. All you need to start is some scheduling software and a willingness to help the planet. Keep reading to learn some easy ways to use your calendar app that will help you be more eco-friendly.

Set Reminders

When it comes to being energy-efficient, it’s a good idea to use all your resources available. Having a calendar or some sort of scheduling software can be more useful in these situations than you might think. Utilizing your calendar to set reminders for energy-saving practices can help you be eco-friendly and save money at the same time.

To Adjust the Thermostat

One easy way to use less energy? Lower your home’s temperature when you’re not at home. Using central air conditioning all day to regulate the home might not be beneficial if it’s just empty all day. Even if you have pets, you can lower the temperature enough to make it comfortable, just not at full A/C.

Consequently, you can do the reverse of this during chilly months. You can turn down the heat while you’re away from home. However, make sure you’re not turning it down too low. You don’t want any frozen pipes damaging your home. Plus, it’s not fun to walk inside what feels like a fridge. Basically, keep it within reason.

If you have a smart-home system, you can simply do this with the press of a button on your phone. If not, make sure you set that reminder to go off before you’re supposed to leave the house. That way, you’ll be notified well before you’re on the road and away from the thermostat.

To Notify You about the Weather

Looking up the weekly forecast in advance is a good way to stay in-the-know. And no, not just about what you’ll be wearing that week. Knowing the weather can help you determine when you’ll need to use your heating or cooling in your home.

Keeping up with the changing temperatures can help you stay on top of what days to tamper with your thermostat. And, setting reminders to remind you about this will help you take energy efficiency one step further. It’s relaxing to feel comfortable throughout the day without having to reach for a blanket or, on the other hand, feel sweaty.

Try to set reminders for the next few days’ expected forecasts, reminding you how to adjust the thermostat accordingly. For example, if tomorrow will be hot, set a reminder to turn up the A/C a bit before bedtime. Or, if the temperature will drop, your reminder will let you know to turn off the A/C when you wake up.

To Double-Check Your Smart-Home Software

Having smart-home devices is known to help improve energy-efficiency. They can have temperature sensors to adjust the thermostat on their own. They allow you to monitor your home remotely from your phone. And they’re known to help save you money with this new technology.

However, sometimes tech can have a mind of its own. Your internet might temporarily go out, or there could be a glitch in the system. Whatever the reason, it’s not always reliable. That doesn’t mean using smart-home technology is a bad idea, though. You just need to check up on it every once in a while.

Use your calendar to send you reminders now and then to monitor your smart-home devices. Are they doing their job? Do you need to manually adjust anything? All it takes is a minute or two to check. You’ll have a better peace of mind staying in control and on top of your home’s environment.

Schedule Energy-Related Home Improvement

It’s the little things that can be easy to forget, especially when it’s related to maintaining a home. You might not remember how often you need to replace parts or have systems checked. However, this is another part of being a property owner that can be simplified by using your calendar.

Get Your Windows Checked

Windows aren’t always air-tight. When outside air gets inside, it can affect the temperature of your home. Additionally, an air leak means rainwater could get inside, doing further damage.. Whether it’s due to poor installation or an older house, you should get your windows checked for leaks regularly.

There are multiple reasons why air could be getting in through your windows. It might be as simple as the caulk seal or weatherstripping needs redoing. Or, it could be that your windows are old and need to be replaced. If replacement is necessary, make sure to get energy-efficient windows installed. These let in less of the outside temperature (and/or light) so that your home environment stays balanced.

Use your calendar to schedule regular window check-ups. Not only is this important for saving energy, but also for the maintenance of your home. This kind of service is more necessary than you might think, and it will make a big difference.

Change Your HVAC Filters

Here’s another maintenance job you probably forgot about. Did you know that your home’s furnace (HVAC) has air filters? These filters help sift through any debris, like dust or pet dander, before blowing air through your vents.

Another tidbit you might not know: these filters should be replaced about every three months. Although, environmental conditions can affect how often you need to change your filters. Living in a city with smog or air pollution, for example, might require you to replace your filters more frequently.

Filters that have gone too long without a change can actually use more energy than normal. When debris has caked up on the filter, it’s harder for the air to pass through. That means your furnace has to work harder to do its job, which can cause overheating. Luckily, these filters are pretty easy to install yourself, so make sure you set reminders on your calendar.

Install Solar Panels

Want to take your energy-efficiency a step further? Make the switch to solar energy for your home. Powering your house through the sun isn’t as scary as it sounds. In fact, it’s relatively cheap to install, and the product doesn’t require much energy to make. In other words, solar power is one of the most energy-efficient and eco-friendly forms of energy out there.

Go ahead and schedule a consultation on your calendar. It doesn’t hurt to get information and a price quote. Making the appointment is the first step in your energy-saving journey. And don’t forget to put your installation day in your calendar, too.

It’s All About Starting Small

Being energy-efficient doesn’t mean you have to reconfigure everything about your lifestyle. Making the small changes mentioned above can add up to a bigger impact than you might expect. If everyone saved just a little bit more energy, the results would be extremely beneficial to Mother Earth.

And until the new, eco-friendly technology becomes cheaper, try implementing these more-affordable solutions to help the planet. Being eco-friendly doesn’t require you to be rich. Anyone can pitch in to save this beautiful planet for generations to come. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and save the world.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Photo by Andrea Piacquadio; Pexels; Thank you!

The post Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient with Your Calendar appeared first on Calendar.

Spring break vacation is an amazing time to finally get away from it all and have a ton of fun. You can take the opportunity to travel to somewhere you’ve never been before and potentially have life-changing experiences. But a lot of planning goes into such a big trip, so it’s better to start your plans sooner than later. Here are seven ways you can begin planning for your upcoming vacation now.

1. Set a Budget

Spring break can be just as expensive as it is fun. One of the biggest things between you and your dream vacation is your wallet. Plane tickets, regional cuisine, and pocket money can add up more quickly than you think. So it’s important to make sure you establish how much you can spend on your trip ahead of time.

Take a good, hard look at your bank account and see what you’ve got rattling around in there. It may be more or less than you initially thought when you and your friends were throwing around Thailand as a destination. Map out your likely expenses, once-off and recurring, and see how much you can realistically afford to spend on a trip. And don’t forget to look at different travel sites that can bring down the price of big-ticket items like airfare and rental cars. Budgeting might not be the most fun activity, but it can help you fully enjoy fun activities with abandon.

2. Choose A Destination

Now that you’ve got a good idea of how much you can spend, you get to make the exciting decision of where to go! Just like you budget your money, be sure to budget your time. Further off destinations take longer to travel to and return from, so you’d need to factor that in. If you’re traveling with friends, family, or a significant other, make sure everyone’s on board with where to go. You’ll have to make more compromises when traveling with others, but it can be well worth the companionship and shared memories.

If you’re having trouble figuring out where you want to go, take stock of your interests. Snowboarders will love to hit the best powder of the year in the Rockies, while melatonin-starved beachgoers might prefer the Florida Keys. You can also look for big annual events that happen during typical spring break times, like the mega-massive music festival SXSW. Alternatively, if your budget allows for it, close your eyes, throw a dart, and let fate do the picking for you.

3. Choose Your Companions (Wisely)

When planning your big spring break, another big decision to make early into the process is who you’ll be traveling with. Many great adventure stories feature companions who travel alongside the protagonist through thick and thin. Who would Frodo be without Sam? Finn without Jake, and Dora without Boots? Anakin Skywalker betrayed his companion, and it didn’t exactly turn out very well for him. This goes to show that it’s important to choose your travel buddies wisely.

All that said being your own travel buddy can lead to incredible personal adventures. While spring break is often pictured as a group activity in media, it doesn’t have to be. You’ll grow a lot from the experience, and you’ll also have unparalleled flexibility. Go into that weird store or try that random restaurant or meditate on the beach for three hours without worrying about what anyone else wants to do. And if you do decide to travel with someone, just make sure it’s not someone you’d rather leave limbless on a lava bank.

4. Make Reservations Ahead Of Time

So you’ve decided that this is the year you’re finally going to go scuba diving in the Bahamas. Congratulations — you’re really making it happen after all this time! You can’t wait to feel the warm water on your skin as you swim with schools of radiant fish. You take your flight, get to your hotel, and start looking for a local instructor. The only thing is, you’re not the only one who decided to fulfill their underwater dreams this year. In fact, so many other people have already booked ahead of time that the instructors are full-up until next month. Whoops.

Avoid this by booking your reservations ahead of time. You never know how many other people might be planning to do the same activities in the same places at the same times that you are. Well, actually, you’ll have a pretty good idea by looking at the available reservations. Plus, there’s a (good) chance that prices will increase as you get closer to your intended date of departure. So, avoid the headache and just book as much as you can ahead of time.

5. Map Everything Out On A Calendar

As you start making more reservations, you might notice that it can be tricky to keep track of them all. What time on what day of what week was your flight, what was the trip ID, and who was going to drive you again? And then, after you land, how exactly are you getting from the airport to your hotel, and what was that reservation number? You can only keep so much in your head at the same time, and forgetting or losing any of this vital information can bog down your whole vacation.

Rather than set yourself up for frustration, smooth out the road bumps ahead of time by storing important information on a calendar. So many calendars are online nowadays, and you can update them from anywhere. As soon as you make a reservation or agree to meet someone at a certain time and place, just add it to your calendar. The difference between the travel experience of having vital info at a moment’s notice and not — is night and day. Setting everything up takes relatively little work that will pay you back exponentially in the convenience you’ll experience your entire trip.

6. Prepare Appropriately

Depending on the kind of trip you’re going to take, you’ll want to make sure you’re well prepared. No two trips are created equal, and some require more preparation than others. You don’t want to be sunbathing in a parka or snowshoeing in a bikini, after all. Or, maybe you do. If heat stroke and hypothermia sound like your cup of tea, then more power to you, but neither is exactly well-advised.

For each activity you have planned, do a little research and figure out how best to equip yourself for it. Stocking up on the correct “equipment” might even mean packing plenty of water and sunscreen for the beach. Or it could mean making sure your climbing harness still fits and your ropes haven’t frayed. It could even mean researching crime rates in the area you’ll be spending time in and planning exit routes in advance. Safety isn’t always fun, but the fun is more fun when you’re ready for anything.

7. Temper Your Expectations

Travel is full of various highs, lows, and unforeseen challenges. You can plan as much as you want, but the reality is that not everything will go according to that plan. A night of stargazing might become a night of rain, and a delicious delicacy might turn into a rumbling rush to the bathroom. It can be incredibly frustrating when it feels like everything is falling apart, especially after you’ve worked so hard to set it all up.

Set aside some time before you actually leave for your trip to temper your expectations. The Stoics practice a meditative technique called negative visualization that can help you do just that. It might sound counterintuitive, but meditating on things going wrong can prepare your mind for if and when things actually do. And sometimes, when things go even better than you could have imagined, well, isn’t that just grand?

Set Yourself Up For Success

A big part of what makes a spring break vacation a success is preparing for it ahead of time. Admittedly, planning can take a lot of up-front work. But that initial investment will pay dividends in priceless memories for you and anyone you travel with.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Kampus Production; Pexels; Thank you!

Photo by Leah Kelley: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-looking-at-the-map-3935702/

The post 7 Ways to Start Planning Spring Break Vacation appeared first on Calendar.

Winter might be bleak, but spring is always just around the corner to infuse the world with some much-needed color. No matter where you are on this irregularly-shaped ellipsoid called Earth, humans have created fun ways to celebrate life’s renewal. Some springtime festivals are linked to the place where they originated. Others have gone global and are now celebrated around the world. Here are eight amazing spring events to add to your calendar in advance so you don’t miss them!

1. Holi — India, March 28-29

Speaking of adding some color to the world, perhaps none do it better than those in India at the annual Holi festival. Holi is quite literally the festival of colors, where people throw brightly saturated herbal powders in clouds throughout the streets. Smells of incense and marketplace dumplings float through the air as cheers and laughter ricochet with the flying colors. The night before Holi, a bonfire is lit to celebrate good’s triumph over evil.

Although Holi was originally a Hindu tradition, it is now celebrated in many places around the world. However, you’ll still want to schedule a flight to India to get the authentic experience. It’s a festival that’s truly unlike any other, uniquely Indian, and is a beautiful sight to behold.

2. Songkran — Chiang Mai, Thailand, April 13-15

After all that color-fun, you might need a bit of a rinse. Thankfully, Songkran in Thailand’s got you covered if you’re willing to wait a few weeks. Otherwise, maybe take a shower. Songkran is a massive water fight to celebrate the new year in Thailand.

Every year in April, Chiang Mai becomes a water war-zone, with people of all ages carrying around squirt guns, water balloons, and homemade water-flinging catapults. Thailand can be incredibly hot and humid in April (around 95 degrees Fahrenheit), so the chilled water fight is a welcome relief. Just make sure you’re prepared if you plan on visiting Chiang Mai in mid-April.

3. Hanami — Japan, Spring

Perhaps it’s because life is fleeting that it’s also beautiful. You can’t capture the best moment of your favorite song because, as soon as you pause it, the music stops. In a similar manner, Hanami is a spring festival throughout Japan where people picnic and enjoy the transient beauty of the cherry blossoms.

The sakura cherry blossom trees of Japan are famously beautiful, but short-lived. Rather than hold onto the moment in futility, Hanami picnickers simply enjoy the beauty while they can. At Hanami, you can hear clinks of tea sets paired with delicious Japanese sweets as soft pink and white petals flutter lazily in the breeze. Japan is a thin but long country where spring rolls down from north to south. If you’re going to try and catch the sakura blooms in their delicately short window of time, make sure you schedule appropriately!

4. Tulip Time — Holland, Michigan, May 1-9

Holland is famous for its beautiful tulips, and Tulip Time is their annual celebration of these colorful flowers. Over six million flowers transform the landscape, dotting it with so much color it rivals Holi. So pack your clogs and book a trip to Amsterdam for — wait, where is this again? Michigan? Huh.

So pack your clogs and book a trip to Holland, Michigan, USA. Like the sakura of Japan, tulip blooms are also rather short-lived compared to other plants. Tulip Time is a great option to get some springtime color, especially if traveling internationally just isn’t in the cards this spring. As an added bonus, you’ll get to tell everyone you got to visit Holland!

5. Cimburijada — Bosnia, March 21

Do you like eggs? I mean, do you really, really like eggs? If your answer is yes, then consider heading over to Bosnia on the 21 of March. All over the country, Bosnians celebrate the advent of spring with a scrambled egg festival. Yes, scrambled egg connoisseurs have finally found their time to shine.

Traditionally, Bosnians will make their way to a nearby river to break their morning fast. You’ll hear the scraping of cast iron pans and smell the wafting of fresh coffee as the sun glistens on the moving water. In Bosnia, eggs symbolize new life and the promise of warm weather as the sun returns to its higher position in the sky. People will be handing out free scrambled eggs all morning, so make sure to bring your appetite with you.

6. Falles — Spain, March 1-19

Scrambled eggs and flowers are nice, sure, but if you’re looking for something a bit rowdier, head on over to Spain this spring. Fallas is a festival commemorating St. Joseph and the Spring Equinox. It’s loud, and it’s fun, and, most uniquely, it’s smokey. Patrons build puppets or dolls, sometimes massive, called ninots that are often bawdy and satirical in nature. These effigies are paraded around through street parties before being engulfed in roaring flames at night.

Party-goers dress in colorful attire, dancing and drinking throughout the festival. Though the whole festival takes place from the beginning of March, the main events are held over five days, from the 14-19. You can enjoy savory Spanish tortilla and drink cups of delicious sweet melted chocolate.

7. Rio Carnival — Brazil, February 17-22

Perhaps Falles seems like child’s play to you. A great festival, to be sure, but you’re looking for something even bigger and louder. Well, when it comes to festivals, few are bigger or louder than the Rio Carnival in Brazil. Carnival is a Christian-tinted festival with Pagan roots held every year before Lent. It is also quite literally named “The biggest show on Earth.”

While there are Carnivals all over the world, the Carnival in Rio steals the show. Over two million people flood the streets of Rio de Janeiro to dance, sing, and drink for almost a week. Stupendous floats helmed by dancers of various Samba schools roll in procession at massive events. The Samba dancers are dressed ornately and expressively, putting on shows they train all year for. The explosive music, cheers, and vibrant atmosphere are unique and unforgettable. That is, of course, unless you drink too much while you’re there.

8. Wildflower Blooms — California, Spring

California’s environment gets lots of press for its notorious wildfires and increasingly dry deserts. However, there is a good period of time, from late February to early April, when California’s rolling hills are in bloom. It doesn’t happen every year, but when the conditions are right, wildflowers carpet the hills in various spectacular colors, stretching for miles on end.

Looking at the wildflower tapestries, lupines, daisies, and the aptly-named Indian paintbrush stretch across your vision in pleasing color. The smells of spring permeate the air in the gentle weather of California spring. While the blooms don’t have a particular festival associated with them, they offer a good opportunity to enjoy local foods and wines.

Party Around The World

Winter is often one of the hardest seasons for anyone to endure. The lack of warmth and sunlight can take a real toll on your mental health. This is nothing new, however — people have been enduring winter for countless generations. The return of spring has been celebrated and revered throughout history by people all over the world.

Many cultures have created festivals to mark the changing of the seasons, often based around natural phenomena, like flower blooms. Some of these events and festivals can be enjoyed around the world, but some are inherently linked to their physical location. If you’re looking to celebrate the renewal of life, plan a trip and pack your bags for these timeless celebrations of life.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Alesia Kozik; Pexels; Thank you!

The post 8 Spring Events to Add to Your Schedule Beforehand appeared first on Calendar.

Having a good work ethic and pursuing a worthwhile career are both important benchmarks in life. However, it’s also important to make sure you have a life outside of the office. A good work-life balance helps to ensure longevity. You can better manage stress and fatigue if you’re not always on the clock, both mentally and physically.

Whether your goal is to cash in on more paid time off or simply leave work at work, front-loading your tasks can help you accomplish your goals. Front-loading refers to the process of getting ahead on your work before leaving the office. This way, you won’t have unfinished projects left on your desk to worry about or a massive backlog of tasks waiting for you to return.

Learning how to front-load tasks doesn’t require you to attend some lengthy seminar or pay for an expensive training guide. Front-loading tasks is more about how you choose to organize your time and efforts. Here are some simple yet clear examples of how you can begin to front-load your tasks right away:

Set Uninterrupted Focus Time on Your Shared Calendar

When you know you’re going to be spending an extended period of time out-of-office, leverage your calendar to get stuff done. This is especially effective if you’re using a shared online calendar with the rest of your team. Using this platform, you can block off certain stretches of time where you won’t be bothered, and you can focus entirely on getting stuff done.

Let’s say you just want one hour of uninterrupted work time to get your last stack of papers completed before the weekend. Create an event in your online calendar that designates that hour for personal work. Anyone who can see your schedule here will know that you won’t be available for those 60 minutes. During this block, you can focus all of your time and attention on front-loading the tasks you need.

This is a practice you can follow throughout the workweek, not just when you have a big trip coming up. Time blocking is a proven technique used to increase your drive and focus during a short period of time. This can help you leave the office early to make it to a child’s piano recital or meet your sales quota by the end of the month.

Set an Out-of-Office Reply

A common email reply you may have received in the past is an out-of-office message. This automated reply is set up when someone knows they’re not able to be contacted and wants to let people know when they plan to return. While this is a convenient setting to flip on when you’re on vacation, it can also help when working toward front-loading your tasks.

What setting an out-of-office reply will do is prevent your task list from getting any bigger in the moments leading up to your actual time off. You won’t be worrying about emails getting sent to you at 4:59 PM on a Friday or little questions being asked while you’re trying to enjoy the California beach.

Your out-of-office reply doesn’t need to be an essay explaining every detail of why you’re unavailable and detailing your itinerary while you’re away. Just be sure to hit the most important points, like when you’ll be back and who can be contacted for urgent matters. When you return from taking time off, you can take care of what remains left to be done.

Complete Tasks in Order of Priority

Your out-of-office reminder and other measures you put into place to enjoy your time off shouldn’t come at the complete expense of your job and business. There will always be something to do, and it’s true that some tasks can be left on the backburner for a while. However, some tasks are vital for business operations. These tasks should be high on your priority list when front-loading before your time off.

Write down all of the pressing items on your to-do list and order them from most important to trivial at best. Your goal should be to knock out as many items from the top of this ordered list as possible before leaving the office for your next stretch. With these high-profile tasks out of the way, you won’t feel guilty about the time you’ll soon be taking off or worried about the office while you’re away.

You may have been wanting to tidy up your office for some time. At the end of the day, should this be the highest priority on your list? Finishing up paperwork for a new client or ensuring that a shipment of products leaves the warehouse on time should probably be taken care of first. You’ll be able to make these types of decisions when you have a proper list.

Delegate Tasks While You’re Out

For those tasks that are lower on the totem pole, you can feel better leaving them behind. If you still want to see them accomplished before you get back, you can delegate them to other members of your team. You can do this if you’re in a managerial position or if you have a close friend in the organization who is willing to cover for you while you’re away. Just be sure you’re willing and able to do the same for them down the road.

These tasks can be as simple as answering the phone when your clients call while you’re out of town. This ensures that someone stays in contact with them and informs them of your trip if they were unaware of your departure. Covering invoices, responding to certain emails, and even taking over a meeting are other options you can discuss.

If you’re a regular floor member, try talking to your supervisor about how your workload can be delegated while you’re away. Present a solution that works not only for you, but for any of your team members needing some time off. The purpose of a team is to support each other and enable these types of breaks.

Work Extra Hours

No one wants to be told to work more, but there’s actually some merit to the suggestion here. There are ways you can front-load your schedule by only shifting your time. With some simple schedule adjustments, everything else can fall into its proper place.

If you have the flexibility, try frontloading your hours to the beginning of the week. Working ten or more hours on Monday means you can, in theory, get enough done to take off a couple of hours early on Friday. The more you get done in the early hours of the week, the sooner you can close up shop.

If you have a long trip coming up and don’t want to fall behind, consider clocking in a few extra hours before your trip. This helps ensure you’re wrapping up your most important projects before you leave. With those boxes checked off, you can take your time off in peace. This may even be a system you try to implement all the time. Some people would rather work four 10-hour shifts and get an extra day off than clock in five days a week.

Try front-loading your tasks on a regular workweek to see how you like it. Mess around with your execution until you find a system that works well for you. When you need to front-load for a major absence, you’ll know exactly what you need to do to be successful both before and after your respite.

Featured Image Credit:

The post How to Front-load Tasks When You’re Out-of-Office appeared first on Calendar.

Work is an essential part of life. Through employment, one can earn the funds needed for the many essentials. Everyone has a project or more to take care of the next time they clock into work. However, as necessary as it is, work can overtake our lives and leave us feeling tired, burnt out, and even unmotivated.

The key to longevity and contentment in life is to achieve the right work-life balance that works for you. Home projects can add some new flavor to your life and add the variety you need to stop yourself from going insane. There’s also a lot of fulfillment in accomplishing things at home, the place where you spend the majority of your time.

Work-life balance is something everyone will struggle with. While to some, it might seem like an impossible task, there are several ways you can try and balance the scales out as much as possible. Here are a few ways you can make time for all of your work projects while still having plenty of time to use at home:

Leverage Your Calendar

You have the perfect tool for balancing all of your projects right on your mobile device. An online calendar is an essential time-management helper, especially when you’re trying to improve your work-life balance. Here you can outline and detail all of your important tasks and projects and arrange them in a way that works for your schedule.

Calendars are useful for listing items such as deadlines, meetings, and events for your children. With each item explicitly listed on your calendar — you can do a better job of avoiding overlaps. You can go out of your way to make sure there’s still time at the end of the day to clean the house with your spouse by blocking off the work side of your calendar.

Other useful online calendar features include event sharing, time analytics, and color-coding to keep your events separated. Test out a few different features to see which ones can help you balance your schedule. With all sorts of useful add-ons, you can find a combination that works for you specifically.

Leave Work at Work

What often threatens your work-life balance is when you have to take work home with you. If you find yourself on your computer completing work projects after hours, you’re obviously not going to have time for personal endeavors. When at all possible, you should leave work where it belongs; at work. Don’t come home with plans for a couple of hours of work before bed.

List the work tasks that you often find bleeding into your personal time. What can you do to make sure all of your loose ends are tied at the end of every shift? Consider turning notifications off on your phone when you get home so you’re not disrupted by after-hours emails and phone calls. This way, you can focus on what’s at home rather than lingering on office issues, information and work concerns.

So what do you do if you work from home? The office is only a few steps away at all times, and it can be pretty tempting to step in periodically to check your email or get a head start on the day ahead. In cases like this, you need to set proper boundaries for yourself. Consider setting specific times when you’ll work and leave the other times for personal activities. With proper planning, you should successfully keep the boundaries from being blurred.

Take Some Time Off

Your employer should be offering paid time off based on hours accrued while working. These hours aren’t meant to be worn as a badge of honor; they’re meant to be used! There’s no easier way to make time for your home projects than by taking time off of work to do so.

Even taking a single day off every once in a while can make a huge difference. A full weekday to finish staining the back deck doesn’t come around all that often. Trying to cram all of your home activities into a weekend can end up being stressful. If you can take a Wednesday off to finish something, your weekend has more time for rest and relaxation.

If your workplace discourages taking time off, it might be worth browsing through classifieds to find a better employer. Being overworked can lead to burnout, extreme levels of stress, and even injury in some cases. You deserve a lot better than that when you’re dedicating a significant portion of your life to an organization.

Try Working From Home

Not all professions are able to pull this off, but working from home can add a lot of desirable flexibility to your life. Working from a home office means you don’t have to commute to work, and you can shift your schedule as you see fit, as long as you’re still making deadlines.

Even a shift to hybrid work can create more opportunities to work on home projects. If you spend a day or two a week at home instead of at the office, you can easily fit in a few steps of a home project during your regular break time.

Of course, one of the dangers of working from home is that your home projects start to overtake your career. The joy in remote work is feeling more integrated into your home and family. However, you still have a job to do and a salary to earn, so that balance needs continuous management no matter which way the scales tip.

Ask Someone for Help

You don’t have to juggle all of these different projects on your own. There’s no shame in asking someone or multiple others for assistance with certain projects. A coworker or a family member can help take the load off of one side of your life so you can focus more fully on the other when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Let’s say over the summer, you’ve let your yard get out of hand. You need to do a bunch of mowing, trim some bushes, and plant some flowers. You can try to do this all on your own, but you’ll have an easier time asking for some assistance. You can pay the neighbor’s kid to help with the mowing and invite some friends over for dinner and have them help you with some quick planting.

You can do the same thing at work. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a work project, delegate some tasks to your team members who are able and willing to lend a helping hand. When your load feels light, you can also reciprocate that assistance by offering to help others manage their work projects as well.

Learn How to Say No

It will be difficult, but sometimes you’ll just have to decline certain projects if it’s within your power. If you’re biting off more than you can chew, you’ll never feel like you’re catching up on your balancing act. It’s important to know your limits and not push them too hard.

While it’s easy to push off home projects, declining work projects can be a tricky challenge. You’re employed to do a job, and you need to do that to the best of your abilities. Nevertheless, you may be able to decline overtime hours or extra projects being handed down to help maintain your work-life balance.

Very rarely will you feel like your life is in perfect balance all the time. However, that shouldn’t stop you from keeping things in order. The more you try to balance your work and home projects, the more you can accomplish while undergoing less stress.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by life._.kor; Pexels; Thank you!

The post How to Balance Work and Home Projects appeared first on Calendar.

Everyone loves a good family reunion, but no one really enjoys planning one. Not all on their own, anyway. There is a lot of work that goes into organizing a reunion, and as the family gets bigger every year, it becomes an even greater logistical challenge.

If you’ve drawn the short stick or even volunteered to organize the next family reunion, you’re going to need all the support you can get. All of your success starts in the planning stage. If you set out with a good plan, it won’t be a full-time job to organize and execute a high-quality family reunion.

If you have no idea where to start, you wouldn’t be the first. This article aims to point you in the right direction, so that family reunion planning doesn’t drive you mad:

Consider All Ages

A family reunion will gather people of all ages, from the littlest tykes to the oldest of grandparents. There are a number of activities that everyone can participate in, but interests will vary greatly from age group to age group. You need to keep this in mind when you start planning your next family reunion.

Let’s say your next family vacation will be in California, next to a renowned vineyard. The adults in your party would love to go wine tasting as part of the festivities. However, this excludes anyone under the age of 21 from participating. This is fine as long as you’re also compensating with an equally exciting activity for the younger group. Perhaps during the wine tasting, the younger squad can be sent to a local theme park to pass the time.

As a general rule, if you’re struggling to come up with ideas of things to do, just ask! Send out a quick poll to the family and ask for suggestions on things to do. You’ll hear straight from the kids and the adults what they’re interested in, and you can use those ideas to create a plan that works for everyone.

Delegate Responsibilities

One person shouldn’t be put in charge of every aspect of a family reunion, especially if you have a large extended family. All of that pressure and stress can be too much for one person to bear if they also hope to enjoy the reunion to the fullest.

There are plenty of people who would like to be involved in planning and organizing if you simply ask them. An uncle might have a really fun game that he’s been itching to teach everyone. Grandma might be ecstatic to hear that the family wants her to be in charge of weekend desserts. They will feel happy that they could contribute something, and the designated organizer won’t have to do everything by themselves.

Even some of the little ones can be given some responsibilities. Smaller children can help set the table for any meals that you prepare and eat together. They can also be encharged with picking up a certain number of toys and garbage before bed each night, so the need to clean doesn’t get out of control.

Leave Some Time Unscheduled

Sometimes the best plan is no plan at all. Some family members haven’t seen each other in a long time and just want some time to catch up. Kids can come up with all sorts of games and activities without instruction. These periods of unstructured time can create some of the most enjoyable family reunion memories.

The best part about this unscheduled time is that it requires little to no work. You can concentrate your planning and organizing on other activities without being spread too thin. You may even consider planning one major activity per day and letting the family use the rest of the time the way they want.

Don’t go overboard on the unstructured playtime. Organized activities and events are what bring the whole reunion together. When making your final plans, try to strike the perfect balance between the two.

Have a Back-up Plan Ready

No matter how well you plan and organize an event, something is bound to go wrong. It will never be a bad idea to have a backup plan in place for the various events and activities you have planned for a family reunion. This way, a plan falling through will never end up in complete chaos and can be quickly replaced with an appropriate fallback plan.

For example, some of your planned activities may occur outdoors. If that’s the case, what will happen to your itinerary if it happens to rain? A rainy-day backup plan will ensure that some unfortunate weather doesn’t completely derail the reunion as a whole. Think about having some board games stocked up or all the fixings for a game of charades while you wait for the rain to pass.

Pretty much everything can use a backup plan. Have preparations ready for when meal plans fall through, shows get canceled, or flights get delayed. When it comes to a large-scale trip like this, it’s always better to be safe than to be sorry.

Plan Out a Budget

Family reunions can get expensive. Not all families at the reunion have the same income to work with. You can’t reasonably plan a family reunion in Hawaii, knowing full well that you’re excluding certain people from being able to attend. As you go about your planning, you should keep a general budget in mind that can accommodate everyone as best as possible.

Any time you talk about food, travel, or an activity, attach a dollar sign to it. Make sure you are aware of what everything costs before you make any purchases or bookings. You may even consider running certain things by family members before making bookings, like for hotel stays or excursions. Stress over finances can quickly sour what would otherwise be an enjoyable reunion.

Budgets can be flexible. You don’t have to stick to a hard cap if you don’t want to. However, it’s sound financial practice to at least keep a running total of what costs should be and what to expect. Perhaps make certain activities that may cost a lot of money optional and provide sufficient substitutions for anyone who opts out.

Latch Onto Traditions

Every family comes with its own unique traditions. Some are simple, like hosting an annual barbeque for the Fourth of July. Others are a bit more strange, like hiding a pickle in the family Christmas tree. When all of the extended family comes together, there are more opportunities to create long-lasting traditions.

Think of any family traditions that are already in place. Incorporate these into your family reunion schedule. These traditions are an easy way to take up some time when you’re trying to fill up several days’ worth of excitement. It doesn’t matter if the tradition is a chili cook-off or going to see a movie together; each tradition counts.

If you’re feeling up for it, try dabbling in some new tradition-type ideas. These can turn into permanent additions to future family reunions. It also gets you to try some new things that you may not have considered before, like having an old-timey photo shoot or going mini golfing together.

When prepared properly, a family reunion can easily become the highlight of everyone’s year. Even if there’s no set a date for your next reunion, it’s never too early to start making plans. The earlier you start, the less stressed you feel when the scheduled dates come up on the calendar.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Askar Abayev; Pexels; Thank you!

The post Organize a Family Reunion With These Planning Ideas appeared first on Calendar.

Now that we’ve jumped into the age of continual Zoom meetings and virtual hangouts, there’s a whole new universe of fashion and beauty problems to consider.

Your go-to look is great in person — but are there obtrusive or mediocre visions of you on-screen with your co-workers or friends?  Does your wardrobe suggest signs of Zoom fatigue?

Several fashion experts spoke on how to dress for virtual meetings at a fashion show with producer Amy Olson, designer Lagi Nadeau, and stylist Lisa Marie McComb. And Zoom itself has given some great help and tips on how to look better on screen.

Experts have given us time hacks, and early prep for your Zoom meetings is one way to hack your day.

Getting things started for your Zoom days

Open your blinds and drapes, and allowing the light to stream in can help you present your best self on Zoom. According to Amy Olson, the optimal lighting is towards the window because natural light illuminates your whole face.

The producer suggests that you test the lighting on camera before your video conference. Testing will ensure that the venue seems bright and that you get your meeting started properly. She suggests putting a lamp behind your computer or phone to brighten the room if you need extra light. She even suggests removing a lampshade to increase the amount of light. Olson also suggests framing the photo ahead of time by noting what’s behind you in the camera’s perspective and clearing the backdrop of any clutter.

Nowadays, you can even purchase great-looking “fake” backdrops that you can change up pre-meeting.

Outfit suggestions for a Zoom meeting

For virtual meetings, our experts recommend using vivid jewel tones. The more brilliant the color, the better. Sapphire blue, emerald green, and amethyst purple are all great choices — the brighter, the better.

Lisa Marie McComb adds that she’s generally dressed in basics — navy, grey, black, camel, and white. But she’s changed her mind about “waist-up” meetings. Wearing a magical hue boosts your mood. People see your attitude on Zoom.

Bright patterns and designs also perform well on camera, according to the stylist. She adds bold stripes to bring positive attention.

According to Olson, choose form-fitting shirts and sweaters for the most beautiful video apparel shape.

If your shirts still seem loose on camera, try tucking extra fabric behind your back and into your waistband.

Experts say the public would be surprised at how many pins people use. Pins create a shape on the body when styling professionals for photo shoots, says Olson. For Zoom meetings, the same thing might happen — you may decide to use a clothespin to drawback excess fabric and create a waistline.

Because the camera focuses on your face and neckline, Nadeau suggests using unusual clothing features. Something like a bow blouse or a camisole with a jacket and scarf.

Before your Zoom appointment, the designer suggests having a practice run on camera. When you’re on camera, things will read differently, she explains.

Wear slacks or a dress with shoes. According to insiders, you would for an in-person professional meeting or job interview. According to Olson, even if the camera doesn’t catch your lower half, it’s crucial to wear head to toe. Wearing shoes help you feel more grounded and put together.

Although it’s fashionable to wear stacked bracelets and chandelier earrings, they may cause interference with the video microphone. Stick to essential accessories to be safe, adds Olson.

Getting to know your cosmetics for Zoom screentime

You may need to add extra makeup for Zoom since the video camera may wash out your complexion.

According to Olson, the cheekbones, highlighters, and bronzers may contour the face and provide depth for the camera. Meanwhile, top eyeliner and mascara can open up the eyes.

Apply concealer beneath the eyes, on top of the eyelid, and just below the brow from the center to the edge as a highlighter. According to McComb, it will make you appear well-rested for your meeting.

According to the stylist, choose a foundation shade that is one shade brighter than your skin tone and mix it in with your makeup. Afterward, lightly dust a small layer of face powder over the T-zone to diffuse any shininess, since the camera has a tendency to magnify shine on the face.

Apply a splash of lip color, such as coral red lipstick, to complete your look. Alternatively, McComb recommends using a tinted lip balm to give your lips natural color and keep them from looking dry.

Before your meeting, comb any stray hairs back into place. The light always seems to grab and highlight wild hair flying around — “so use a hair treatment or pomade to smooth out dry or flyaway hair,” explains Nadeau.

Finally, Olson recommends using the face-correcting filters on Zoom, such as Touch Up My Appearance, to soften your appearance and level out your skin tone.

Conclusion

Whatever look you are going for, make sure to try it out ahead of time for your Zoom meetings. You want to leave the type of impression you have decided on for yourself. You won’t need to fuss with your backdrop, lighting, and work-look items once these decisions have been made and you have your Zoom studio set.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Jack Sparrow; Pexels; Thank you!

 

The post Style Tips for Zoom Meetings You Attend Virtually appeared first on Calendar.

Fewer sunny days, colder temperatures and long winter nights do not have to be a recipe for depression.

If you have short winters, you could get away with slight modifications in your routine. However, you’ve got to put in more effort if you live in a region that is mostly cold. If you don’t, both your mental and physical health can suffer. Seasonal Affective Disorder is real — and can be prevented or minimized if we understand it.

These lifestyle changes don’t have to cost a ton of money or take a lot of effort. Small and consistent is the key to seeing results. Here are a few ways you can make sure the winter does not turn you into a couch potato.

1. Bring the Gym to You

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults should workout for at least 25 minutes daily. If the roads are slick or you don’t want to layer up, bring the gym to you. Look on Facebook Marketplace and other neighborhood groups to see if someone is getting rid of their equipment. Promise yourself you’ll only watch the new show on your list while on the treadmill. So if the episode ended on a cliffhanger, you better get on the cross-trainer to see what happens next.

Get a virtual reality (VR) headset to take your fitness routine up a notch. You can choose from different settings and trainers for your workouts. The best part is that you might not even feel like you are actually exercising. It can feel more like a video game, but you’re moving more of your body than just your thumbs. Get the kids involved, too, so it’s a family bonding activity at the same time.

If you’re short on space or on a budget, you can work out without any fancy equipment. Search for home fitness workouts on YouTube, and you will be amazed at the plethora of options. Dozens of fitness experts can help you reach your goals by just using a chair, a ball, or a yoga mat.

2. Get Creative at Work

Apart from working out in your free time, you can squeeze in some activity during work hours as well. If it gets dark too soon or it’s cold for a walk during lunch, you can still make it happen.

According to a Mayo Clinic Professor, Dr. James Levine, “Sitting is the new smoking.” Sit for an extended period of time, and you could suffer from health issues. Whether you’re working in an office or from home, try using a standing desk. Standing comfortably while working helps with posture and back pain. It can regulate blood sugar levels and prevent obesity.

This is even more important after lunchtime. Studies have shown that blood sugar spiked by 43% for those who sat down for hours after lunch. This was in comparison to those who were standing. Standing desks are also linked to lower heart disease, better mood, and productivity. With all these benefits, they are a win for both employers and employees.

Once you get used to the standing desk, try out a treadmill workstation as well. Try walking slowly between meetings or during phone calls. Some people get used to typing while walking too. It’s far better than sitting on your chair for hours at a time. Some employees feel less stressed when using their treadmill desk for at least part of the day. This is because exercise produces cortisol, a hormone that can reduce anxiety and depression.

3. Stay Active with the Family

After work, get the family on board too. Some sports can be off-limits in the winter. But, you can still stay active with the children — if you choose to. It’s tempting to sink into a comfy couch with some sugary snacks, and that’s fine sometimes. But it shouldn’t be the only way you bond as a family. Get a pre-owned air hockey or pingpong table for the basement. Watch the kids cringe at first but then enjoy a family dance night together. Anything that gets you all moving.

Kids are sponges, and if you make a big deal out of the weather, they will too. If you take them sledding or try ice hockey early on, they won’t be cooped up inside all winter. Safety comes first, but just a snowball fight outdoors is good exercise for the whole family. Your grandma might disagree, but playing outdoors in the winter can boost the kids’ immune systems. They will get a much-needed dose of sunlight and vitamin D.

This may seem like more “work” for the parents, but the benefits of keeping kids away from excessive screen time is so worth it. Creativity sparks, they are healthier, and they’re less likely to fall prey to cyberbullying. They will not seek validation from strangers online when they have quality bonding time with their family.

4. Make the Most of AI

You might be able to rope the kids in with technology. New gizmos and gadgets can be a blessing when used correctly. Smartwatches and apps can keep you on track. Newer models of wearable fitness don’t just track steps. They can even monitor heart rate, calories burned, oxygen saturation, and more.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is also making its mark in the fitness industry. With AI, strength training apps can monitor your reps and weights and customize your workouts with increasing challenges. Some fitness equipment options, including smart TVs, can also analyze your form and make recommendations like a personal trainer would.

The app records data from millions of workouts and optimizes it for your body. With a webcam or built-in camera, it keeps track of your reps. It can even tell you how long to rest between sets. Some TVs give you a side-by-side option too. You can compare your form with a trainer on the other half of the screen. That way, you can focus on lifting, curling, pressing, and stretching your muscles without guessing if you’re doing it right.

5. Put it on the Calendar

You could use hi-tech AI or play a simple game of tag — but schedule it. When you prioritize something, it happens. When you leave it to chance, it usually slides. Whether your family uses a fridge calendar or syncs schedules on devices, add one weekly physical activity together. Sign up for an indoor sport or use your local park district gym to shoot hoops together. If it’s on the calendar, everyone knows in advance and will try to make it. Just like relationship experts say about date night — schedule it and see it happen.

Instead of competing in binge-watching popular shows, keep tabs on how many steps you each get daily. If the weather cooperates, take a brisk walk around the neighborhood to reach your step goal. If it’s pouring or freezing, window shop at the mall and get your heart rate up. Many park districts have free indoor walking tracks too. Choose a workout buddy, so you both motivate one another to show up. Time will fly when you’re brisk walking and enjoying some chit-chat with a friend.

Life Skills

Everyone has the same 24 hours each day. The person who makes time to work out regularly doesn’t magically get an extra hour. They make that time. When you prioritize a healthy lifestyle by scheduling weekly racquetball, you’re teaching your kids two life skills. They are learning the importance of staying active and how to manage time.

The number of options in choosing online trainers, fitness routines, and equipment is endless. You can mix and match different permutations. However, the equation will only show results when you add consistency. Make this the year you put in that effort!

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Julia Larson; Pexels; Thank you!

The post 5 Ways to Stay Active During the Winter Months appeared first on Calendar.

Let’s talk about bad habits. No, not the hit song released by superstar musician Ed Sheeran. We’re talking about the little things you do every day that are slowly chipping away at your quality of life and personal well-being.

Calendar – Calendar

When looking for a featured image for this article — I noted that almost every photo under “bad habits” showed an individual smoking. Smoking is awful for you and a filthy habit — but there are SO many bad habits that will take a person down a rabbit hole faster than smoking will.

The bad habits listed in this piece are “light” bad habits, easily changed to better your life.

This short list doesn’t take into account drug use, sleeping too long, going everywhere late (tardiness), driving too fast, or being distracted like an idiot (my brother was hit on his bike by a cell phone driver) — allowing yourself to dislike a person based on gender, race, or any other social issue you perceive as “incorrect.” The social issues that we face at this time in history are all bad habits that we will want to work hard to erase in our lives.

Any tribal prejudice can be changed in our own lives. Things like discriminatory behaviors in the workplace or anywhere else need to be addressed in our own life because we want to change — not because society is forcing something upon us. Behaviors or attitudes toward out-groups based on in-group thought should be faced squarely in ourselves — they are bad habits, and you can change them.

Habits come in many shapes and sizes. These range from your regular morning routine to the nervous ticks that get you through the workday. Some habits are beneficial, like refilling your water bottle often to remind you to stay hydrated. Others are not so great, like biting your fingernails, chewing on your hair, or talking too fast when you’re nervous.

There are some bad habits that are relatively harmless. However, there are others that can seriously be putting you behind in the race of life. This list outlines some of the most common and detrimental habits that can snowball into significant problems — but note — most of these bad habits are an easy fix.

1. Staying Up Too Late

Sleep is an essential part of everyday life. Without proper sleep, it’s incredibly difficult to function. Just think about the last time you worked a shift after a rough night. Did you find it difficult to remain focused and motivated? Just imagine how you would feel after several consecutive nights of little sleep.

The common culprit when it comes to tiredness and fatigue is a bad nighttime routine. Without planning to, you’ll end up watching Netflix for too long or scrolling on your phone way past your bedtime. Soon your alarm will be set for only five hours, and you’ve already set yourself up for failure in the morning.

To fix this habit, you need to exhibit a little more discipline. Set a bedtime for yourself and stick to it. If you really have to, consider setting up a personal schedule that covers everything from brushing your teeth to turning off the lights. As you successfully get more sleep, you should notice an increase in energy and morale.

2. Scrolling for Too Long

Everyone is guilty of this from time to time. You may have stumbled upon this article because you’ve been scrolling on your device for too long. Technology is a wonderful addition to our lives, but it’s also dangerously addictive. A lot of time is wasted on screen time when it could be used for so many greater things.

This isn’t to say that you should cut electronics out of your life completely. Social media does provide some high-quality entertainment and helps you stay connected to friends and family. However, you should be actively looking for ways to moderate your screen time better. You can download an app or use internal features that record and limit your screen time.

Another potential solution is to try multitasking. If you want to scroll through TikTok, try doing so on a stationary bicycle. This way, you can enjoy those funny videos you love so much while simultaneously getting some beneficial exercise. You can get really creative, like setting up your favorite YouTube stream while cooking in the kitchen or leaving your phone in a different room while at the dinner table.

3. Compulsive Snacking

This bad habit became a problem for many during the peak of Covid-19. When working from home, the temptation to sneak to the kitchen to grab a snack was always lingering. Sure, this might’ve helped keep you afloat during a very uncertain time, but it may have developed into a questionable habit leading into the future.

Compulsive snacking can quickly ruin even the most well-balanced of diets. You’re adding extra, unplanned calories that can lead to weight gain or even an unbalanced blood sugar level. As your physical health deteriorates, you’ll find it more difficult to complete regular daily activities.

There’s nothing wrong with having a snack from time to time. As with most habits, you need to exhibit some self-control. Try to incorporate your snacks into your meal planning, so your nutritional habits aren’t compromised. You can also purchase healthier snacks that contain fewer sugars and fats, which can be worrisome.

4. Slouching at Your Desk

A lot of work today is done sitting at a desk at a computer. In fact, that might be where you’re sitting right now. If that’s the case, take a moment to reflect on your posture. Is your back hunched over? How is your neck positioned?

When you’re young, bad posture doesn’t seem to affect you at all. Teenagers slouch all the time, after all, with very few apparent consequences. As you get older, however, even slight deviations from proper posture can cause pain and discomfort that derail your productivity and quality of life. Crane your neck over your laptop for too long, and you’ll be feeling stiff for the rest of the week.

Try putting up a post-it note at your workspace to remind yourself to sit up straight. A conscious effort can make quite a significant difference. You can also purchase ergonomic equipment that forces you to improve your posture. Ergonomic desk chairs, for example, work best with a straight back. A monitor stand can raise your screen to eye level, so you’re no longer straining your neck while at the computer.

5. Grinding Your Teeth

Teeth grinding isn’t usually a habit that you’re aware of. Most people with a teeth-grinding problem do so at night when they’re asleep. However, just because you’re not aware of teeth grinding doesn’t mean you’re not being affected by it.

If you often wake up with a headache, this could be a sign that you’re grinding your teeth in the night. Dealing with headaches is never fun, and looking for ways to eliminate them should be a top priority. You may also be sleeping poorly due to teeth grinding, causing you to wake up without feeling well-rested.

Consider contacting your dentist to see if they can spot signs of teeth grinding and help you overcome this nighttime habit. They may help you create a night guard that will protect your teeth from grinding together at night. For an at-home solution, over-the-counter pain medication and warm compresses can help reduce inflammation and pain in the jaw.

6. Self-Sabotaging

This may just be the worst bad habit that a person can have. It can lead to the development of a lot of other bad habits. Self-sabotaging can be defined as getting in the way of your own success and development, whether intentional or otherwise.

There are many reasons why people might self-sabotage. It could be due to a lack of self-esteem or a coping mechanism to deal with past trauma. Individuals begin to think incorrectly that they don’t deserve success and happiness. They justify poor actions due to this, turning to alcohol, video game addictions, and even simple laziness to try and fill an empty void.

If you’re a chronic self-saboteur, consider contacting a therapist who can help you. They are willing to listen to your worries and concerns and walk you through helpful recovery steps. There are also resources that can be found online that can assist you in preventing a self-sabotaging habit from developing.

Ed Sheeran was right about one thing. Bad habits lead to late nights, and not in a good way. One bad habit can ruin your sleep schedule, mental health, and even your career. Keep an eye out for any poor habits that are forming so you can keep your mental and physical health on point.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Ann Perkas; Pexels; Thank you!

The post Why These 6 Bad Habits are Putting You Behind appeared first on Calendar.