Big Words start conversations and open doors to new places.
Author: anwaryusef
Anwar Y. Dunbar is a Regulatory Scientist. Being a naturally curious person, he is also a student of all things. He earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Michigan and his Bachelor’s Degree in General Biology from Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU). Prior to starting the Big Words Blog Site, Anwar published and contributed to numerous research articles in competitive scientific journals reporting on his research from graduate school and postdoctoral years. After falling in love with writing, he contributed to the now defunct Examiner.com, and the Edvocate where he regularly wrote about: Education-related stories/topics, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Financial Literacy; as well as conducted interviews with notable individuals such as actor and author Hill Harper. Having many influences, one of his most notable heroes is author, intellectual and speaker, Malcolm Gladwell, author of books including Outliers and David and Goliath.
Anwar has his hands in many, many activities. In addition to writing, Anwar actively mentors youth, works to spread awareness of STEM careers, serves on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the David M. Brown Arlington Planetarium, serves as Treasurer for the JCSU Washington, DC Alumni Chapter, and is active in the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Ministry at the Alfred Street Baptist Church. He also tutors in the subjects of biology, chemistry and physics.
Along with his multi-talented older brother Amahl Dunbar (designer of the Big Words logos, inventor and a plethora of other things), Anwar is a “Fanboy” and really enjoys Science-Fiction and Superhero movies including but not restricted to Captain America Civil War, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Prometheus. He is a proud native of Buffalo, NY.
Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. One of the most powerful things you can do is to make money out of your home. There are several ways and advantages to this. The following contributed post is entitled, The Best Ways To Make Money Out Of Your Home.
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Your home is a gold mine. Not literally of course, but you can make a ton of money out of it with just a few of the right moves. After all, real estate is in high demand, and all you need to do is rise to meet that demand with a spare room or a bit of outdoor space of your own. Check out the points below if you’re looking to make some extra money this year, and you’ve got plenty of room left in your property to do so.
If you’ve got a parking space in front of your house, or backyard space you’re not really using, you can rent them both out for a bit of cash. Do so during peak times of year, such as concert and festival periods as well as the summertime – people will pay big bucks for the privilege of staying close to a venue without the premium price tag!
Bring in Tenants
Have you got a spare room? Then it’s an idea to rent it out. Of course, you could always try buying to let, if you’ve got some funds in the bank to do that. But if you’ve just got a bit of space, use it to full effect.
You can bring in both temporary and long term tenants here. The former could be those on vacation who need a place to stay for a week, and the latter college students that will be low on funds for the next 3 years. This is a good source of income for padding out your account; you could very easily form an emergency fund with weekly rent!
Think About Selling Your Property
If you’ve been thinking about selling your home for a little while, but never gave it serious thought, maybe this is the perfect time to take the plunge? Pick your moment just right and you could sell my house fast and be off the market within a matter of weeks.
And selling your property is the best way to get a big chunk of money in the bank. It’s not a source of renewable income, but it does allow you to start afresh, as well as squeeze some extra value out of your four walls. You could get at least 20% on top of the original sale price with a few quick renovations!
Start Up a Home Business
Running a business from home practically eliminates overheads, which makes it a very viable option for making money. You just need some spare space, a good internet connection, and a hardy business idea.
And a home business can expand very rapidly. Think about it: you don’t have to commute, and you can spend as many hours as you like at your desk, meaning you’ve got twice the amount of time to grow compared to office-based entrepreneurs.
If you want to make money out of your home, these are the best ways to do so.
Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. In addition to your business running at maximum efficiency, you want it’s appearance to be as impeccable and appealing as possible. The following contributed is entitled, Keeping Your Business Premises Presentable.
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Business premises of any kind should always look presentable. Whether you welcome clients or customers to your premises or it’s just your staff who sees them, it’s essential to keep your premises looking smart. It projects a good image of your business, and it helps to keep up morale among your employees. Maintaining your premises is something that can be very easy to neglect if you’re not careful. You’re focused on what seems like more important matters, so it might not be at the top of your list. But there are several things you can do to make sure your business is presentable at all times.
Set Standards for Staff
Your staff needs to be able to pitch in and keep your premises clean and tidy. You might not expect them to carry out cleaning duties, but it’s still reasonable to expect them to help maintain tidiness and cleanliness. You definitely don’t want them doing anything that actively makes the place messier, so it’s reasonable to expect them to clean up after themselves. Make sure you set certain standards for your staff so that they know what’s expected of them and what responsibilities they have to help keep your business looking smart.
Regular decluttering is a must for any business. It’s something that you might think to do at home but don’t consider when you’re at work. Lots of different types of clutter can start to accumulate, from cardboard boxes from deliveries of supplies to old pieces of equipment that aren’t useful anymore or paper records that you no longer need to keep. Decluttering at least once or twice a year will help to ensure you get rid of anything that you no longer need. Unwanted items can be recycled or perhaps even sold to recoup some money from them.
Use a Cleaning Service
For many businesses, it makes sense to hire cleaners and maintenance people. Using a janitorial company to help keep your premises clean is smart if you want to keep up appearances. It can also help to ensure you are always stocked up on essential supplies for bathrooms or other areas of the business. Many companies can offer daily or weekly services, as well as less regular cleaning options. If you need carpets or other flooring cleaned occasionally, they can often help with that and other tasks that might be required now and then.
Stay on To of Maintenance
Good maintenance is also important if you want your business premises to look presentable at all times. Anything that looks rundown or isn’t working as well as it should can make your business look scruffy. Take care of any problems as soon as you can to ensure they don’t get worse over time. By staying on top of maintenance problems, you can keep your premises looking smart and inviting. Sometimes you need a fresh coat of paint or a quick repair.
Your roof
Your roof is one of the most important aspects when it comes to maintaining your business premises. Neglecting the roof can cause a lot of problems, including dampness or leaks entering your premises. Make sure your roof is checked regularly, and any necessary repairs are carried out promptly. You should also check that the guttering is in good condition, as debris can build up and cause blockages.
Get in touch with a metal roofing contractor to ensure your business premises remain to look presentable and in top condition. This will also help to protect your premises from the elements and reduce any potential problems that might arise from poor roof maintenance.
Keep your business premises presentable and they will be better for your employees, customers, or any other visitors.
Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you own a photography business, you want to figure out how to get it off the ground and grow your client base. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Get Your Photography Business Off The Ground And Attract A Ton Of Clients.
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Starting a photography business can seem intimidating. But with a little hard work and some helpful tips, you can get your business off the ground and start booking clients in no time. That said, here are some tips on getting your photography business off the ground.
Before you start your photography business, it’s essential to do your research. This means figuring out what kind of photography you want to specialize in, what equipment you need, what the going rates are for your services, and more. Once you have a good understanding of the industry, you can start putting together a business plan.
What kind of photography do you want to specialize in? What are the going rates for photographers in your area? Who is your target market? Answering these questions will give you a good foundation for starting your business.
2) Create a portfolio
A key part of marketing your photography business has a strong portfolio. This will show potential clients what kind of work you can do and help them decide if you’re the right photographer for their needs. So take some time to put together a portfolio that you’re proud of. Make sure to include a variety of your best work, and don’t be afraid to showcase your unique style.
3) Market your business
Once you have a portfolio and an understanding of the photography industry, it’s time to start marketing your business. There are a number of ways to do this, including creating a website, writing blog posts, setting up social media accounts, and more.
The important thing is to get your name out there and let people know what services you offer. The more you can get your name in front of potential clients, the better chance you have of booking jobs.
4) Stay organized and keep track of bookings
As your photography business starts to take off, it’s important to stay organized and keep track of bookings. This can be done using a simple spreadsheet or software like 17hats. Keeping track of your bookings will help you stay on top of your business and make sure you’re getting paid for your work.
Also, don’t forget to keep track of your expenses. This includes things like camera equipment, software, marketing costs, and more. Keeping track of your expenses will help you understand where your money is going and how much profit you’re making.
5) Invest in quality equipment
The quality of your equipment will have a direct impact on the quality of your work. So if you want to produce high-quality photos, you need to invest in quality equipment. This doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune on the latest and greatest gear. But it does mean investing in quality equipment that will help you take better photos.
Some essential pieces of photography equipment include an emotimo motion control system, a DSLR camera, lenses, tripods, lighting, and more. As you start to book more clients, you can slowly add to your collection of gear.
By following these tips, you can get your photography business off the ground and start booking clients in no time. Just remember to do your research, create a strong portfolio, market your business, and stay organized. If you do all of these things, you’ll be well on your way to a successful photography career.
Two focuses of my blog are Home/Living Discussions and Home/Property Discussions. Many of us have home offices. You can make the space extraordinarily productive by improving its aesthetics. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Breathe Life Into Your Home Office.
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Are you feeling a little cramped in your home office? Are the walls starting to close in on you? If so, it might be time to give your home office a makeover. Adding some greenery, incorporating technology, and making a few tweaks to your workflow allows you to breathe new life into your home office and help get more done. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Add Some Greenery
Adding some greenery is one of the best ways to breathe new life into your home office. Plants can help purify the air, boost mood, and improve concentration. Plus, they can make your space feel more alive and vibrant.
Something to keep in mind when selecting plants for your office is to choose varieties that are easy to care for and can tolerate low-light conditions. Some good options include snake plants, spider plants, philodendrons, and peace lilies.
If you’re unsure where to start, consider visiting your local nursery or garden center for guidance. They can help you select the best plants for your space and give tips for caring for them. If you don’t have a green thumb, opt for low-maintenance options like succulents or cacti.
In today’s digital world, there’s no excuse for not incorporating technology into your home office. However, adding a few key pieces of equipment can make your space more efficient and productive.
For example, if you don’t already have one, invest in a quality pantum p2500w printer. This will be handy for printing documents, boarding passes, and other items. You might also want to consider investing in a scanner to digitize important papers and reduce clutter.
Another piece of technology to consider is a wireless router. This will allow you to connect all your devices to the internet without using unsightly cords and cables. Most routers are relatively inexpensive and easy to set up.
Make A Few Tweaks To Your Workflow
If you find yourself constantly getting interrupted or sidetracked, it might be time to make a few tweaks to your workflow. One way to do this is by implementing a “Do Not Disturb” policy for yourself. This means setting aside specific times when you will not answer the phone or check email or social media. This will help you stay focused and get more done.
Another way to improve your workflow is by batching similar tasks together. For instance, if you need to write a report and create a presentation, do all of the writing for the report first and then move on to the presentation. This will help you stay focused and avoid having to switch gears constantly.
Finally, try to create a schedule for yourself and stick to it as much as possible. Having a daily routine will make you less likely to waste time and be more productive overall.
If your home office is starting to feel a little cramped, try implementing some of these tips. By adding some greenery, incorporating technology, and making a few tweaks to your workflow, you can breathe new life into your space and help get more done.
Three focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Home/Living Discussions and Home/Property Discussions. One of the biggest financial questions we all face is whether continue rent or buy a home. In some instances homeowners ponder whether it’s more feasible to downsize and rent. The following guest post is entitled, The Pros and Cons of Renting vs. Buying a House.
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If you’re like most young professionals, you probably dream of owning your own home one day. But is that the right move for you? There are pros and cons to renting and buying, so it’s crucial to weigh your options carefully before deciding. Keep reading to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
Renting Pros
More flexibility
One of the main benefits of renting is that it’s much more flexible than buying. If your job transfers you to a new city, you can easily move out without worrying about selling your house. This is helpful when you’re first starting in your career and you’re not sure where you’ll be long-term.
Additionally, having more flexibility is great if you’re not ready to commit to an area. Maybe you want to live in the city for a few years before moving to the suburbs. Or maybe you want to try out different neighborhoods until you find one you love.
Less responsibility
When you rent a house, you don’t have to worry about things like painting, repairs, or landscaping. You also don’t have to worry about property taxes, homeowners insurance, or HOA fees. This can be a relief if you’re not interested in taking on those responsibilities.
Renting a house also means you don’t have to worry about the long-term maintenance of the property. Over time, all houses need new roofs, new appliances, and other major repairs. As a homeowner, you would be responsible for those costs. But as a renter, your landlord would have to foot the bill.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that there are no responsibilities at all when you’re renting. You’ll still need to take care of the property and keep it clean. And you may be responsible for small repairs, like fixing a leaky faucet or changing a light bulb.
Renting Cons
No Equity
One of the disadvantages of renting is that you don’t build equity in the property. When you buy a house, you gradually pay off the mortgage and eventually own the property outright. But when you rent, you never really own anything.
This can be a problem if you ever want to move or if you need to sell your house. If you’re renting, you’ll have to find a new place to live and may not get as much money for your house as you would if you were selling it.
Rental fee changes
If you’re a renter, one thing to be aware of is that your rental fee can change at any time. Your landlord may raise the rent due to inflation or because they need to cover increased costs (like property taxes or repairs).
This can be frustrating if you’re on a tight budget. But it’s important to remember that landlords are businesses, and need to make a profit to continue renting out their properties. Try to budget for possible rent increases, and be prepared to move if you can’t afford the new rate.
Buying Pros
Builds equity
One of the benefits of owning a house is that you gradually build equity in the property. Over time, you pay off the mortgage and eventually own the property outright. This can be a huge advantage if you ever want to sell or if you need to borrow money against your house.
Additionally, owning a house can be a great investment. If you ever decide to sell, you can usually make a profit on the sale. And if you keep your house for a long time, the value will continue to increase.
Lower long-term monthly fee
Mortgage payments are lower than rental fees in the long term for a few reasons. First, when you buy a house, you are essentially borrowing money from a bank to purchase the home. With this, you can spread the cost of the home over a longer period, which results in smaller monthly mortgage payments.
Mortgage lenders also only require that you make monthly payments until you have fully paid off your mortgage. This means that you will own your home outright in a relatively short time, depending on the terms of your mortgage.
Additionally, as you make your monthly mortgage payments, you are building equity in the property. This means that over time, your home will become more and more valuable, and you will be able to sell it for a higher price than what you initially paid for it.
Conversely, your monthly expenses will always be the same, regardless of how long you stay in the property. As a result, renting can be more expensive in the long term than buying a house.
Buying Cons
Mortgages can be complicated
Mortgages can be complicated because they involve a lot of legal and financial terminology. You need to understand all the details of the mortgage contract before signing it, or you may end up in a lot of debt.
Mortgage lenders may also require that you meet certain requirements, like a minimum credit score or down payment amount. If you don’t meet these requirements, you may not be able to get a mortgage at all.
More responsibility
When you own a house, you are responsible for all costs related to the property. This includes things like repairs, replacements, and property taxes. If something goes wrong with the house, it’s up to you to fix it.
This can be a lot of work, and it’s essential to be prepared for it before you buy a house. Make sure you have the money saved up for repairs and be prepared to budget for them in the future. Additionally, make sure you know what your local property taxes are and how much they will increase each year.
Owning a house also means that you are responsible for maintaining the property. This includes things like mowing the lawn, trimming the bushes, and shoveling the snow. If you don’t want to do these things yourself, you’ll need to hire someone to do them for you. All of this extra responsibility can be a lot to handle, so make sure you are ready for it before buying a house.
Whether you decide to rent or buy a house, there are pros and cons to both options. Consider the pros and cons before making your choice. Ultimately, the best option for you will depend on your specific circumstances.
A key focus of my blog is Technology. No matter what type of operation you’re running, it certainly helps to have a tech consultant nearby to help you with any issues or the ever-emerging technologies. The following contributed post is entitled, Why Hire Tech Consultants.
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As a smaller business you may not be equipped to be able to take on a full in-house IT staff. It makes sense, because in a smaller business your profit margins on your budgets are usually much smaller than larger enterprises, so you need to figure out how you are going to get the best IT support without spending the biggest budget. consulting services can be extremely beneficial for plenty of businesses and for a number of reasons.
You can go here and learn all about how a tech consultant can help you with managing some of the biggest problems in your business, but even as your business grows you might decide to continue with tech consultants over hiring an IT staff in-house. There are plenty of good reasons to go ahead and do just that, and we’ve got a few of them sprinkled for you below.
● Small businesses often don’t have much money. While it is true that you will have to spend some kind of money on a consultative service, it’s not going to be as much money as the annual salary, benefits, pension and other support systems you need for an IT team. A whole team of people can cost a lot more money in hiring, training and support than a consulting fee can. With the right consultant you’ll be able to increase your profitability and maybe you can grow into having a team. If not, that’s OK too. ● You will have access to the best. One of the best reasons to pay for a consultant is because you get to have skilled services from knowledgeable experts in the industry working with you. These other professionals have what it takes to keep your business on course, which means you can find success when you want it. If you even have one expert on your side, you can see the benefits to your business and you’ll be able then to grow your contractor base rather than hire a team. As this still works out cheaper, and you will be able to hire the best people from anywhere around the world, it’s often the best option. ● You seriously reduce your risk. As a small business there are a lot of risks out there in terms of cybersecurity and hackers. Even the largest enterprises end up being taken over by a hacker who holds their information and data to ransom. That doesn’t have to be the case for you, and a consulting service can help you by giving you the best and most valuable advice on how to protect your business from all different kinds of threats. ● They are available. Reputable consulting firms will be available for your business whenever you need them to be. You can get the help that you need, when you need it, and the answers are given to you as efficiently as possible. There are plenty of consultants that offer services just like this so that you don’t have to wait as their client.
Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A major key to running businesses is confronting challenges and problem solving. The following contributed post is entitled, Here’s How To Stay Ahead Of New Business Challenges.
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Are you worried about how new business challenges could impact your business? If so, then it’s important to take steps to stay ahead of the curve with your company. Here are some of the options that you should consider to meet this goal.
First, you need to make sure that you are keeping your business as flexible as possible. One of the reasons why the COVID-19 pandemic was so difficult for a lot of companies is that there was little to no flexibility in their business models. They couldn’t adapt to the changes that quickly spread through the economy. One of the ways that you can keep your business flexible is by ensuring that you do work from home or adapt to a hybrid work model instead of running your company from an office. An office will always lead to a large unnecessary expense for your company.
Keep Up To Date With Industry News
Another way to stay ahead of challenges in your business would be by keeping up with industry news and changes in your respected business sector. The way you do this will often depend on the industry that your business is a part of. For instance, you can explore pharmacy news by retailpharmacymagazine.com.au. This can also provide useful updates about the retail industry as a whole including changes in demand and trends that you should be thinking about when you are adapting your business model. You can also use social media networks and the profiles of key influencers to gain updates about the industry too.
Eliminate Wastage
Next, you should make sure that you are taking steps to eliminate wastage in your business model. If there is too much wastage, then your business will be running at a lower level of efficiency. One of the ways that you can avoid this is by making sure that you do reduce time wastage in your company. Time wastage can be caused by a variety of issues. For instance, it’s possible that you are wasting time because of the tech that you are using. To avoid trouble here, you should consider updating the tech being used throughout your company.
Prepare For Disasters
Finally, you must make sure that you are preparing for the disasters that could impact your business. There are lots of examples to consider and keep in mind here. For instance, you may want to prepare for a power outage. Power outages will lead to downtime in your business model and can cost your company thousands. Luckily, they are easy to manage. You just need to make sure that you have a backup power system in place at your business property. These come in all different sizes so are suitable for a variety of budgets and choices. You can learn more about these on sites such as https://www.caps.com.au/.
We hope this helps you understand some of the key steps that you can take to stay ahead of new challenges in your business model. By exploring the right options here, you can keep your company on track and secure your longevity.
Three focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Health/Wellness. While there are numerous advantages and payoffs to being an entrepreneur, it can also be very stressful and adversely affect your life if you’re not careful. The following contributed post is entitled, Looking For Ways To Reduce And Stress Anxiety As An Entrepreneur; Here’s 4 Tips To Get Started.
As an entrepreneur, you wear a lot of hats. You are responsible for your own success, and you often have to juggle many different tasks at once. This can be a stressful and anxiety-inducing experience. Therefore, it is important to find ways to reduce stress and anxiety so that you can stay focused and productive. In this blog post, we will discuss four tips that will help you get started!
Get organized and Take breaks:
One of the best ways to reduce stress and anxiety is to get organized. Creating a schedule and sticking to it can help you stay on track and avoid feeling overwhelmed if you know what tasks need to be completed and when you will feel more in control and less stressed. It is also important to take breaks throughout the day so that you can recharge your batteries. Taking a few minutes to yourself to relax and clear your head can make a big difference. Maybe try listening to some calming music or going for a walk outdoors.
Set realistic goals and delegate tasks:
Another way to reduce stress and anxiety is to set realistic goals. Trying to accomplish too much in a short period of time can be overwhelming and lead to burnout. Taking things one step at a time is important, and focusing on what is most important. Prioritize your tasks and give yourself reasonable deadlines. This will help you stay on track without feeling overwhelmed.
As an entrepreneur, it can be tempting to try to do everything yourself. However, this is not sustainable in the long run. Learning to delegate tasks and ask for help can be really beneficial. There are likely people who are happy to help you with your workload. By delegating, you can focus on the most important tasks and avoid burning yourself out.
Use natural products to reduce stress:
There are many natural products on the market that can help reduce stress. Some of these products include essential oils, herbs, and teas. Essential oils can be used in a diffuser to help calm the nerves and reduce anxiety. Herbs such as cannabis, chamomile, and lavender have been shown to be effective in reducing stress. Teas and Delta 9 Gummies made from these herbs can also be helpful in reducing stress levels. This might be a good option if you don’t like the taste of essential oils. If you need access to some quick and easy guidance around natural products for stress, you might find visiting an online pharmacy helpful, as there should be plenty of handy resources on there for you to read and review.
Get enough sleep:
One of the most important things you can do to reduce stress is to get enough sleep. When you are well-rested, you are better able to handle stressful situations. Make sure to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night so that your body can properly recover. You may also want to consider taking naps during the day if you are feeling particularly stressed. You should also avoid working late into the night as this can make it harder to fall asleep.
By following these tips, you can start to reduce stress and anxiety as an entrepreneur. Creating a healthy lifestyle for yourself is crucial to your success. When you feel good, you will be more productive and better able to handle the challenges that come your way.
A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. The winter months are tricky and can have adverse effects on our personal health and wellbeing if we don’t know how to take care of ourselves. The following contributed post is entitled, Great Ways To Look After Your Appearance In Winter.
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The winter season is a bad one for your appearance. It can dry out your skin, make your lips all chapped, and it can take ages to recover once the springtime rolls round. And even when it does, the hotter weather can affect you in different harmful ways!
So, maybe it’s best to learn how to take better care of your overall appearance when it’s cold out? Don’t worry – that’s not as difficult as it might sound. There are some great little ways to stay hydrated and keep the cold weather out; here are the tips you’ll need for the upcoming months.
Even though it’s cold outside, and it’s been raining for most of the month, it’s more crucial than ever to top up on your water. Even though you drink loads during the hot times of the year, you may need to drink more during the winter thanks to the wind and dry air pulling most of the moisture out of you. For example, if you’re usually fine on a liter per day, you may need to go up by a half-liter for better results. Of course, only drink when you need to, but keep this potential deficit in mind.
Make Your Skincare Routine More Sensitive
The winter can make our skin more prone to blemishes, rashes, and spots. That means our skin is feeling much more sensitive than usual and needs to be handled gently. You can do that by swapping out your skincare products for ones that are lighter, or made for more sensitive, redness-prone skin. And if you don’t have a skincare routine at all, now could be a very good time to put one in place. Even if you don’t keep it up for any longer than wintertime, you’ll be doing wonders for your appearance.
Invest in Light Therapy
Light therapy is very good for both your brain and body. Not only will it beat the darkness blues you may be feeling, but it can help your skin to recover from any wintertime damage. Take red light therapy as a good example here. If you’ve got patches of dry skin and chapped/bitten lips, you can switch on the red light to help hasten the healing process. Check out The best red light therapy devices if you’re interested, and then use your light for at least half an hour every day for a month.
Don’t Forget Your Hands
Your hands are going to receive the biggest battering during the winter months. You use them to interact with everything, and if you’re not constantly wearing gloves as you go, these will dry out too! But thankfully we’ve got an easy fix: you just need some hardy moisturizer. Put it on morning and night to get a consistent cycle going, and then top up whenever your palms feel dry.
Your face, hands, and skin can suffer during winter simply due to the weather changes. Use these tips to prevent dehydration.
Two focuses of my blog are Organizational/Management Discussions and Workplace Discussions. Workplaces can very chaotic and competitive in nature. If you have a staff of employees, one of your most important jobs is making sure that they feel appreciated. The following contributed post is entitled, 7 Practical Ways To Show Employees You Appreciate Them.
When was the last time you did something for your employees? You could assume they’re there simply to do their job and earn a paycheck. That often isn’t the case. Instead, they’re there because they’re passionate about your business. They actually care about it and its success.
If they don’t receive the same kind of recognition in return, they’ll likely stop caring. That could end up in them doing the bare minimum in their roles, and they might even consider leaving the company. You’ll naturally want to avoid that.
By using a few ways to show your employees you appreciate them, you can do exactly that.
Importance Of Showing Your Employees You Appreciate Them
Before you find out how to show employees you appreciate them, it’s worth looking into why you should do it. Showing employee appreciation boasts multiple benefits, many of which will affect your entire company. They’re more than worth the effort you’ll put into showing your employees you care.
Some of the largest benefits of showing employee appreciation are:
● Better Productivity – If your employees feel like you don’t care about them, they’re less likely to put as much work in as they can. They’ll simply do the bare minimum. Once they know you care, however, they’ll be more likely to go above and beyond. You’ll have a more productive workforce before you know it. ● Improved Brand Reputation – Your branding doesn’t just affect how potential customers see you. It also affects who wants to work for you. The better your brand, the better-quality of candidates you should have applying to open roles. By putting effort into appreciating your current employees, you can attract a stream of high-quality candidates. ● Building Trust – The more your employees trust you and your company, the smoother your business will operate. The opposite of this is also true. There are quite a few ways to build trust with employees, but showing your appreciation is one of the more notable. The more consistent you are with this, the more your employees will trust you. ● Decreased Turnover – If employees feel like they’re not appreciated, they’re not likely to work for you for long. They’ll end up getting increasingly fed up with their job and will start looking elsewhere. It’s difficult to leave a job you care about, and showing employee appreciation is one of the most notable. The more you show your employees you care, the less likely they are to leave for another company.
With the benefits it offers, it’s worth figuring out how to show employees you appreciate them. There are more than a few ways you can do this. Seven specific options stand out, as they’ll be practical to implement and will have a significant impact.
You’ll see the benefits of employee appreciation in no time once you’ve started using them.
How To Show Employees You Appreciate Them: 7 Top Strategies
1. Make A Day Out Of It
Setting aside specific days to show employees you appreciate them can be an appealing option. It sets aside time specifically for your employees and rewarding them. You can choose from countless employee appreciation day ideas, many of which will be effective.
By spending time and effort into planning this and following through with it, it’ll be more and more effective. Doing this regularly, such as once a month or even yearly, makes it something your employees will look forward to.
It could even serve as motivation for your employees to work harder.
2. Recognize Winners
Some employees will put in much more effort than others, while some will be more effective at their jobs. These will be the employees that regularly outperform and exceed their targets. By having an employee recognition program, you can reward these employees based on the work they do.
Implementing this program not only rewards employees who go above and beyond, but motivates others to do more. It also serves as a fair way to reward workers based on what they do. It’ll improve your employees’ productivity more than you think.
3. Get Them Food
Everyone likes free food, so why not consider feeding your employees regularly? You wouldn’t need to put too much effort into this, and it mightn’t even cost much money. Partnering with a local restaurant could mean it won’t be expensive, and you’ll have a quick and easy way to feed your employees.
Doing this can be especially vital if employees ever need to work late. Go a step further by giving your employees the time to actually enjoy this food. Make it a mandatory break so they can take the time they need to enjoy the food. This approach can even strengthen interpersonal relations between team members, adding to the effort you put into it.
4. Move Away From The Desk
It’s not uncommon for employees to go above and beyond for the company they work for. They’ll work extra hours, come in early, and much more. In these cases, it’s worth giving back to them as much as you can. Since they could give up personal time to work these longer hours, you can give them this time back.
If they worked an extra two hours on a Monday, why not encourage them to finish two hours earlier on Friday? While this is a small and simple way to show your appreciation, it shows your employees you respect the time they put into your business, as well as their life outside of it.
While this could take some balancing with time and similar areas, it’s an effective way of showing your employees you care.
5. Get Social
You could think that showing employees you appreciate them has to be a private thing or done in front of their team members. It doesn’t have to be. In fact, it could be much more public than you would’ve thought. Sharing milestones and celebrating your employees on social media can be an effective way of showing you care.
There are more than a few things you can share online when doing this, including:
● Work anniversaries ● Birthdays ● Achieving a certain number of sales
By sharing this on social media, you’ll see more benefits than you could be aware of. Outside of showing your employees appreciation, this could be better marketing and branding for your business. It shows potential customers you care about the people you employ.
It makes them more likely to buy from you or want to work for you.
6. Send Them Shopping
If you’re on a tight budget, ongoing rewards mightn’t be financially feasible. That doesn’t mean you can’t splurge every once in a while. Sending your employees shopping can be one of the most effective ways of doing this, as it lets them pick what they buy, which could be much more appealing.
One of the more practical ways of doing this is to give gift cards to particular stores that you know your employees like. Even an all-in-one gift card can be an option. While you’ll have to keep this within your budget, it’s worth making these gift cards worth as much as possible. Your employees will appreciate it much more.
Make sure the stores you buy the gift cards are for places your employees are likely to frequent anyway. It’ll make sure they appreciate the gift cards even more.
7. Gamify It
Corporate gamification can be a great way to show your employees you appreciate them while keeping things fair. It makes sure the appreciation and rewards you give out are based on merit rather than personal opinions. The process involves giving your employees points based on what they do.
While this can be done for their core duties, you could weigh these points toward anything outside of their core tasks. By doing this, you encourage employees to go above and beyond while rewarding them for it.
The trick to this is making sure these points are tied to something tangible. Let employees cash in their points for rewards when they want. You’ll have multiple potential rewards to choose from, such as gift baskets, paid time off, and even cash bonuses.
Have your employees help come up with what rewards you should implement to make sure the rewards are something they’re actually interested in. It’ll make sure they’re motivated to earn them.
How To Show Employees You Appreciate Them: Wrapping Up
Figuring out how to show employees you appreciate them can be difficult. You’ll need to make sure whatever strategy you use isn’t just appropriate, but that it’s something your employees will enjoy. That can be a tricky line to balance.
There are a few practical ways to show your employees you appreciate them. Using a few of them can be more than enough to show them you care. While it takes some effort, the benefits of doing so are more than worth it.
Gamifying the process, getting social, making a day of it, and similar strategies can all be worthwhile. Your employees will know you care, and you’ll have a happier, more productive workforce than you would’ve had otherwise.
