Fortunately, there are ways to pinch pennies while finding your ideal position. Try these seven techniques for stretching your emergency fund while you transition to the next stage in your career.

1. Assess Your Inventory

If you haven’t cleaned out your closets during the pandemic, now is the time. You need to get your documents in order, but you need more than a resume to land your dream job. You’ll require the right interview attire, fuel to get to and from appointments, and possibly a portfolio.

Write a list of what you have and what you need. Then, get creative with your budget to afford those things you lack. For example, if you don’t have any proper shoes to wear to an interview, can you borrow some from a friend who wears a similar size? Can you babysit for someone in exchange for enough cash to buy a pair?

2. Evaluate Your Spending Habits

Maybe you quit your $6 a day latte habit during the shutdown, but chances are, there are other ways you can save. If you haven’t downloaded an app to help you track monthly expenses, do so now. You will likely discover multiple subscriptions you can cancel. If nothing else, you can use a budget app to see where you spend the most.

Get creative with reusing objects, too. Do you need to spend money on doggie bags to scoop the poop when you take Fido for a walk when you recycle the plastic ones from the store? Can you use that kale that’s ready to turn bad in a soup that you freeze for the fall?

3. Embrace Free Learning Resources

Furthering your education is a fabulous way to increase your value to potential employers. However, you don’t have to spend a bundle or take out student loans to pad your resume. You can listen to free career and business podcasts without spending a dime.

If you have some spending money, you can find low-cost apps for everything from learning new programming languages to mastering a foreign tongue. If given a choice, opt for the annual fee over monthly subscriptions. This practice saves you money, but it also helps prevent unexpected charges from draining your checking account — when you have an interview and your gas tank is dry.

4. Locate Budget-Friendly Wardrobe Resources

If you are disadvantaged, don’t think you can’t get a job because you can’t afford an interview suit. Organizations such as Career Gear and Dress for Success provide both men and women with appropriate attire. You can also hit up your local thrift store. You can often find designer duds for mere dollars if you have the means to travel to those in more affluent areas.

5. Get on an Income-Based Student Loan Repayment Plan

If you have student loans that you repaid faithfully before your layoff, you can qualify for temporary relief. Apply for income-based repayment to lower your monthly bill to zero in some cases. You might also be eligible for a temporary deferral or forbearance based on economic hardship.

The worst thing to do is fail to pay the bill. Doing so will devastate your credit score, making it harder to rent an apartment or find a job. Some employers will request a copy of your report. It also renders you ineligible for future aid if you do decide to return to school to pursue a different career path.

6. Look into Transportation Alternatives

Maintaining a vehicle takes money. If you don’t have enough for gas, you might hesitate to accept an interview in the next town — but that could mean missing out on your dream job.

Identify the public transportation options available in your town. Also, look into rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. These have expanded to more rural areas, and short trips often cost only a few dollars.

7. Use Your Network

Some experts believe that as many as 85% of new jobs arise through networking, not searching internet job boards. Talk to your colleagues and former supervisors about any leads they might have for new positions. Attend virtual conferences and use the chat room to interact with other attendees about opportunities. Tell folks on social media that you are looking for work, and show some love and gratitude when they send tips.

Save Money During Your Job Search

It’s challenging to find a new job, and tight financial resources don’t simplify the process. However, with a few simple tips, you can find your ideal new position without spending a bundle.

No matter how much you love your morning routine, you can always make it better. Try incorporating one or all of the five tips into your practice, and watch your productivity soar.

1. Positivity meditation

What is the first thing you do when your alarm rouses you? If you grab your cell phone and automatically check emails and the news, you miss out on prime time for programming your brain for success in the day ahead. During the twilight zone between sleep and full wakefulness, your mind is like a sponge, ready to absorb suggestions.

If you want to improve your mood and gear yourself up to tackle anything, make your first act each day to tune into a brief positivity meditation. You can find these for free on YouTube, and many videos last as few as five minutes. When you program your brain to see the opportunity in any challenge, you develop the confidence you need to build your dreams.

2. A healthy breakfast

While some experts no longer consider breakfast the most important meal of the day, you can find yourself distracted by hunger well before lunch if you try to run on java alone. Even though you’re at home, you can still prepare healthy grab-and-go freezer meals, like breakfast burritos made with vegetables. If you have a bit more time, why not sit down with the family while you enjoy your avocado toast and orange juice?

3. A rev-me-up workout

If can’t get to a gym right now, that doesn’t mean you have to abandon your fitness goals. You can do plenty of workouts in the privacy of your home. Start your day with a few minutes of jumping rope, followed by some calisthenics and perhaps a yoga flow or two.

Regular exercise offers a host of health benefits and prevents many chronic diseases. Research even shows that regular exercise can help your mind and body recover from stressful or traumatic events. If you struggle to motivate yourself, you can find many popular workout apps, such as Nike Training Club, Aaptiv and Zwift, some of which offer exclusive deals.

4. A to-do list

Part of your end-of-day routine should be to compose a to-do list for the following day. When you sit down to work in the morning, review this list and prioritize the most challenging item on it first. Once you manage the most intensive task of the day, the rest of your work hours feel like strolling downhill.

Plus, to maximize your productivity, you need to tackle the things that weigh on your mind the most first. Until you do, they will haunt you with whispers from the corners of your brain, and you won’t be able to maintain complete focus on any other tasks.

5. A colleague check-in

When you work in an office, you exchange pleasantries with colleagues every morning. One of the most challenging aspects of remote work is loneliness and a sense of disconnection from your team. If your workplace uses apps such as Mango or Slack to maintain communication, make checking in one of the items on your to-do list. Even a brief, “Hi gang, how is everyone today?” can make you feel less alone.

Also, it’s a wise idea to check in with your manager periodically. Set a reminder on your calendar to touch base with your immediate supervisor. Ask questions like, “Is there anything you would like me to do differently or improve?” to demonstrate your commitment to career growth despite the changing environment.

Add these five items to your work-from-home routine today

Even if you feel at home with your current telecommuting routine, you can always make it better. Employ these five methods to supercharge your productivity and feel better about your entire day.

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However, working from home entails a whole new level of distractions. With no boss hanging over your shoulder, the temptation to waste time on social media can eat up precious hours. Here’s how to bolster your productivity as you navigate the transition.

1. Define your workspace

Virginia Woolf once wrote that a woman needs a room of her own to write. Whether or not you’re female or a scribe, you need a dedicated workspace. Even if you live in a studio apartment, you can create an office zone with wall storage dividers or a screen. This defined area makes it more natural for you to indicate to other family members that you’re at work — when you go into your office, they should consider it as if you left for the day.

2. Use a planner system

Why plan to fail by failing to plan? Take a few minutes at the beginning or end of each day to write down your tasks for the coming 24 hours and establish a priority system for how you’ll accomplish them. It doesn’t matter if sync your planner electronically or use a paper book — as long as you choose a system and stick with it. It’s a wise idea to spend some time on Sunday evening, plotting your schedule for the coming work week.

3. Make a “do not disturb” sign

Sometimes, other household members forget that you’re telecommuting, even when you enter your office. Interruptions cost the U.S. economy an estimated $588 billion per year. Your spouse may think he only has one quick question — but it can take several minutes to restore your train of thought once the distraction occurs. If your children are old enough to read, you can use a printed sign. If they’re younger, or if you have noisy roommates whom you can’t shush, a pair of noise-canceling headphones can do the trick.

4. Keep open communication lines

When you work remotely, your boss doesn’t know if you’re running late on an assignment due to technical difficulties or illness unless you communicate. Make sure you know how to reach key members of your organization — preferably, they provide an emergency number to call in case of an internet or power outage. Also, regularly send your supervisor status updates, especially if a project takes more or less time than anticipated.

5. But set limits

That said, you might feel tempted to remain available at all hours of the day and night — after all, you might work in your PJs, anyway. However, using devices in the bedroom interrupts the production of melatonin and can make catching your Zzz’s more challenging. You can’t focus efficiently when you run yourself ragged. Set limits such as no work-related calls or emails past 8 p.m., and stick to them.

6. Ask for feedback

Do you want to continue to advance in your career? You need to communicate your aspirations to your supervisor the same way you would if you still worked in-house. Ask for feedback on your performance on a routine basis. It’s okay to directly say, “I would like to advance to the next level. What do I need to improve to achieve this goal?”

7. Set your alarm clock

If you work in a customer-facing role, albeit virtually, you might follow a set schedule. However, if you’re an accountant or programmer, you might set your hours as you wish. Pass on the temptation to sleep in until noon. Many peak performers get their start early in the day. It’s okay to work with your body’s natural rhythms, but maintaining a regular sleep schedule is critical to overall productivity.

8. Eliminate distractions

Do your phone’s pings create a Pavlovian response in you? If you have to respond to every alert, lock that puppy in a drawer while you work — or keep it elsewhere in the house. The average U.S. adult spends 38 minutes a day on Facebook alone. If you check in during the workday, that’s considerable time lost.

9. Prioritize self-care, too

When you telecommute, the lack of defined structure can make you slip into unhealthy eating and exercise habits. You might graze your way through an entire bag of crisps before you realize you skipped lunch. Set a defined time to eat, and strive to take 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of more vigorous movement each week. Keep up with healthy meal-prepping on your off days, so that you don’t feel tempted to snack on junk at your desk.

You can stay productive when working remotely

If you’re new to working remotely, you have much to look forward to — and adaptations to make. By following a few simple tips, you can supercharge your productivity while skipping the commute.

How can you learn how to leave work at the office? One technique involves creating a “shut down” routine to serve as a bridge between your two worlds. Such a practice can alleviate stress and help you reclaim your time.

Why you need a “shut down” routine 

Compared to their comrades around the world, Americans spend a disproportionate amount of time at work. The European Union requires member countries to extend citizens at least 20 paid days of vacation annually, although many countries go much further. The United States, conversely, doesn’t mandate a single day of paid leave. As a result, many Americans never get any meaningful downtime. 23% of the population gets no paid vacation at all, and 22% can’t even enjoy a federal holiday without a corresponding drop in pay.

As a result, many Americans feel levels of burnout unheard of in previous generations. The strain is taking a toll on mental health. Approximately 18% of adults in the U.S. suffer from some form of anxiety, and a significant source of this tension is constant workplace pressure. Untreated stress can contribute to a host of health issues and even cut your life short. Everybody needs a way to unwind.

Ideas for shutting down after work 

Now that you understand why you need a routine, what can you do to unplug? It all begins with setting healthy boundaries. It’s one thing to stay late during crunch time. However, if you habitually stay “just ten minutes” to wrap things up, only to look at the clock an hour later, you must learn when to say no. Determine a reasonable hour to punch out and stick with it. Then, try one of these ideas to decompress:

Unplug during your commute

How do you get to the office? If you live within a reasonable distance, why not bike or walk to work instead of driving? The physical exercise involved with getting yourself home gives your brain time to focus on something other than that expense report. Plus, moving your body in the great outdoors can ease stress and depression as effectively as medications in some cases.

If the weather or distance poses a barrier, consider using public transportation. Instead of fighting traffic, you can read or even catch a quick nap. If that’s not possible, try unwinding with a positivity podcast while you head home.

Hit the gym 

Exercise releases endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. These alleviate tension and leave you relaxed and refreshed. How can you get a boost in these opioid-like substances? Hit the gym! It doesn’t matter whether you run on a treadmill or pump iron — if it elevates your heart rate, it will do the trick.

Create a docking station 

If the temptation to check your work email via phone proves too much to bear, create a docking station and a ritual surrounding it. Always unplug your devices before sitting at the dinner table and at least 30 minutes before bedtime. You’ll likely find you catch more Zzzs if you keep electronics out of the bedroom. Exposure to blue light can suppress the release of melatonin, a critical sleep hormone.

Schedule playtime with friends

Make sure to make time in your week to see friends, family or bond with your partner. Do anything to reconnect and remind yourself why you tolerate the daily grind. Find time for fun and being playful like you’re a kid again.

Cook a nourishing meal 

Cooking nourishes both your body and your soul. Learn how to meal prep on your days off. That way, you’re not tempted to hit the drive-thru on your way home. Preparing the family meal becomes a healing post-work ritual instead of a headache of washing and chopping veggies.

Shut down from work and clock into life 

Once you begin your after-work shut down routine, you should develop a sense of calm and improved satisfaction with life. You deserve time to rest and unwind!

You may start out feeling like it’ll be relatively easy to keep up your energy when you have an entire day of work to tackle, but do you ever notice things start to slow down after your lunch break?

It’s natural to feel less energetic after a busy morning, but you still have to work through the end of the day.

Around 3 p.m., it can seem like you’ll never make it back home! 

Instead of fighting the urge to fall asleep at your desk every day, try these six proven ways to slay that afternoon slump. Whether you have a packed schedule or a laid-back day ahead of you, you’ll stay awake and alert well through dinner.

1. Walk around the block

Think back to when you spent much of your time walking. It might have been in college, when you walked to your classes from your apartment. Maybe you walked your new dog around your neighborhood multiple times a day. During those times, it would have been much more difficult to get tired and fall asleep while you moved.

You can easily enjoy the same benefit by taking a quick stroll at work. Trek around the office if it’s large enough, or walk around the block during your five or 10-minute break. When your body starts moving, your increased blood flow and heart rate will wake you right up and leave you exhilarated for whatever you need to accomplish next.

2. Try a creative activity

After you feel your usual afternoon slump begin, consider what you’re doing. Are you staring at the same presentation you’ve been working on for two hours? Take a break for a few minutes and do something creative.

A Harvard study found doodling improves your focus and energy, even if you only have a few minutes to draw. It engages a different part of your brain that helps you wake up. You might prefer to write a stream-of-consciousness journal entry or fill out an adult coloring book page. Try whatever creative activity interests you to see how it helps.

3. Listen to upbeat music

When you hear a catchy, upbeat song, it’s hard not to jam along and dance in your seat. Grab your headphones and listen to up-tempo music if you want to wake up in your office chair. Once you start your chosen playlist, you’ll increase your daily productivity because the music energizes you and helps you focus.

4. Sit in the sun

As soon as you begin to feel sleepy in the afternoon, sit in the sun. Even if you’re inside by a bright window, the sunlight will boost your serotonin production, making you happier and ready to work. Something as simple as opening the blinds by your desk can make a significant difference in your day.

5. Enjoy a nutty snack

You might be a food-driven person who schedules their day around when they eat. If so, a healthy afternoon snack could be the most useful trick for waking yourself up. Choose a treat centered on almonds or cashews. Unlike peanuts, they won’t spike your blood sugar and cause a sugar crash later on. You’ll also gain natural, healthy energy from the omega-3 fatty acids, which your brain will use to work more efficiently.

6. Get good sleep

It’s important to get sufficient sleep every night since a lack of sleep affects your body in more ways than lowering your energy. Make sleep a priority in your schedule, and make it a habit to shut down electronic devices early enough at night that they won’t disrupt the quality of your sleep.

If you’re getting 8+ hours of sleep and still feeling tired, you might want to visit a doctor to see if an underlying disorder could be causing your sleep issues. For example, did you know that of the over 90 million people who snore at night, about half get diagnosed with sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a chronic disorder that disrupts your breathing, causing poor sleep even when you get enough of it. A quick chat with a doctor could solve your temporary exhaustion and help you find the cause of a more significant issue.

Try something new every day

There are many different ways to slay the afternoon slump and even stop it from being a problem in the future. Try a new trick every day to see which ones work best for you. Eat an energizing snack, do some doodling or take a quick walk. Once you find what helps you, you’ll never dread your old 3 p.m. sleepiness again!

There is one problem, though — you’ll have to trade in your comfy pants and your short commute to your couch. You’re giving up the freelance life to return to the 9-to-5 grind.

Here are nine tips for what to expect!

1. You’ll make friends with your alarm.

Hopefully, you practice positive sleep hygiene techniques by going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time each day. However, when you work from home, chances are, you don’t catch too much flak for adjusting your start time slightly. Once you return to office life, you’ll need to become accustomed to punctuality.

It’s one thing to show up at 9:10 a.m. when the only thing waiting for you is your computer. It’s quite another to miss an important meeting because you hit snooze once too often!

Not to worry — people who have succeeded at remote work are often some of the most self-motivated people by nature, meaning they have a strong ability to set goals and stick to them. Even if getting up early isn’t fun the first few days, power on. Your body will eventually feel better once you’ve established a routine!

2. You’ll need to update your wardrobe.

When you work remotely, nobody but your cat Squeakers sees you lazing about in your Rick and Morty pajamas. Chances are, she doesn’t care, but your boss will. When you return to an office environment, you’ll need to dress for professional success.

If you’ve been freelancing for a while, you might lack the budget to go on a shopping spree. However, if you carefully select a few quality pieces, you can mix and match your way to office appropriateness. The old advice to dress for the promotion you want is somewhat passé in today’s casual climate. However, you should avoid anything too revealing or worn.

3. You’ll have first-day jitters.

Remember the butterflies you got in your stomach on the first day of school? Your first day back in the office will feel like that. You’ll have the impression that everyone is looking at you — and hey, some of them might be. They’re likely just excited to get to know you!

You’ll have to experience the awkwardness of not knowing where to pick up your mail or where to find the restroom. Do you remember the joy of the cafeteria when you didn’t know who to sit with? Get over that nervousness now by dining in the breakroom instead of eating at your desk. Yes, you want to give the impression that you work hard, but it’s also vital to introduce yourself to colleagues.

4. You’ll relearn social skills.

Speaking of feeling awkward, if you’ve freelanced for a while, you might not have had much contact outside of your computer screen. Now, though, you have to connect IRL with your co-workers. Don’t stress — come prepared with some office-appropriate icebreaker questions and your best listening skills. You’ll make new acquaintances quickly — everyone enjoys talking about themselves.

5. You’ll remember why traffic reports matter.

If you’ve forgotten about the joys of commuting, surprise! You’re about to become best friends with the traffic report on your morning newscast. Alleviate the urge to express road rage before you feel it. Arm yourself with a good audiobook or positivity podcast for the drive.

6. Your feet may feel sore.

Telecommuting means rarely having to put on shoes. If you haven’t worn any except athletic trainers for a while, expect your feet to feel sore after your first day. Invest in a comfortable pair you can walk in, and you’ll minimize blisters.

7. You’ll up your meal-planning game.

Depending on your office location, your 30-minute lunch break could fly by before you find a meal. Learn how to meal prep on the weekend, so you have easy grab-and-go lunches for the workweek. You can also dice vegetables and other food items for meals and store them in single-serve containers. That way, they’re easy to toss in the pan or wok when you’re exhausted from a long day.

8. You’ll get possessive of “me” time.

Going back to work at an office requires more time than the hours you punch on the clock. You need to groom yourself daily — few people care if you don’t comb your hair when you freelance. You’ll need to leave time for traffic jams.

While you might find it easier to segue between work and personal time, you will grow possessive of what you have to spend off the clock. Remind yourself that it’s normal to feel aggravated sometimes. However, do count to 10 to prevent yourself from doing anything you’ll later regret.

9. You’ll also feel happy about your good fortune.

Finally, when payday rolls around, you’ll likely breathe a sigh of relief. You got paid on time without having to invoice anyone! You’ll feel even better once you realize the full benefits of returning to 9-to-5 work. Fully 25% of Americans receive no PTO, for example, including those in the gig economy. The first time you clock out to attend a doctor’s appointment without worrying about coming up short on rent, you may find yourself wanting to dance for joy.

Yes, you can adjust to the 9-to-5 grind.

It can be tough to go from a freelance career to a 9-to-5 position. However, the payoff can be worth it!

A raise doesn’t necessarily mean more responsibility or a new job title. Instead, it ensures your salary keeps pace with inflation. You can also negotiate a deal beyond money. If you work for a small company, get creative when making your demands.

Why ask for a raise?

Before you march into your boss’s office, make sure you deserve to move up on the salary scale. Why do you deserve a raise? Being a hard worker doesn’t cut the mustard. Think concrete, relatable. Did you increase production output by 50%? If so, that’s a reason to make more than your current rate.

In business, results speak louder than words.

It’s harsh to accept, but your boss doesn’t care how much you struggle to pay your bills. They care about how much you benefit the company’s bottom line.

What kind of raise do you want?

What if you work for a smaller startup without a lot of capital? You might ask for a raise, and your request might align with the going rate for your industry. Yet if your organization lacks the funds, you’ll hear a no. Now is the time to get creative.

Ask for health insurance

In the U.S., nearly one in 10 people are uninsured. Going without health insurance can mean letting minor issues become major down the road. Many insurers will pay for an annual exam that can catch problems, such as high blood pressure. Without coverage, one trip to the ER can result in bankruptcy. Instead of a bonus or raise, ask your employer about a plan.

Request paid time off

We’ve all had to clock out for a doctor’s appointment or call out for mental health day. Unfortunately, the U.S. lags woefully behind in paid leave. In the United Kingdom, for example, employees have 28 days of paid annual leave and nine public holidays — a total of 37 days off. In comparison, the U.S. mandates no minimum paid leave and has 10 public holidays. Leverage your skillset for a few bonus vacation days.

Explore flextime and telecommuting

If you could save hours each week by not driving, why wouldn’t you? Unless you work in a customer-facing role, chances are you can telecommute — at least part of the time. If you need to travel to the office for client meetings, doing so on a flextime basis can help you avoid traffic. According to one survey, 88% of workers say flexible hours would make up for less pay. Consider this request when asking for your next raise.

How to make your pitch

Your boss’s jaw won’t hit the floor when you make your request. They expect you to ask for a raise. Still, they expect you to do so the right way. Schedule a time to speak. Ten minutes should cover most presentations. Try to do this on a Friday afternoon or a time that isn’t hectic.

Prepare in advance and lay out your case. Stay focused on what the company needs and how you can help. Showcase what you’ve already achieved in terms of business growth and profits.

How to know when to wait

Timing can mean the difference between no and yes in salary negotiations. For example, say your company recently underwent a round of corporate layoffs. You’d want to wait before making your pitch.

If your company recently underwent a round of corporate layoffs, wait before making your pitch. If you committed a major blunder that cost your company money, next Tuesday isn’t the best time to ask for a salary bump.

Ready for a raise? Get paid what you’re worth

The business world turns on results. If you help your company excel, you deserve a slice of the pie. Follow the guide above to get the salary you deserve.

Relax! It doesn’t have to be that way. You can build career connections in a relatively painless way, and you can totally forget about the term networking.

Follow the seven suggestions below to grow your connections and reap the rewards that come with forming bonds.

Prep for events in advance

You’ll feel awkward at networking events if you don’t prepare in advance. If you prepare a mental list of conversation starters, you’ll always have something interesting to say. Ask people questions about themselves to get them talking. Plus, if you ask their name and what they do, they’re more likely to remember you.

Dress to impress at any event. You may not need to dress up in business formal, but keep it business casual. If you wear jeans, make sure they’re neat and freshly pressed, as well as free from holes. People tend to notice shoes, so invest in at least one quality pair.

Strike up a conversation while waiting in line

When you stand in line at the grocers, do you page mindlessly through celebrity gossip magazines? Why not use the time to improve your networking skills? Strike up a conversation with someone else. After all, you have plenty of news headlines you can use for fodder.

For example, point to a magazine featuring a tasty recipe and comment to the person behind you, “Wow, that looks amazing, doesn’t it?” If all else fails, you can always chat about the weather — after all, it affects everyone.

Reach out to industry leaders

The professionals you admire worked their way to the top through connections with others. Luckily, most are happy to share success tips. Reach out to industry leaders via email.

For example, if you maintain a blog and link to an article written by someone you admire, shoot them an email and let them know. If they share advice on LinkedIn, message them a thank you for imparting their wisdom.

Use social media to find like-minded groups

Social media is much more than a digital time-waster. Look for groups of like-minded people interested in similar causes or business interests. Before you join, scroll through the group’s posts. Identify the overall vibe — is it uplifting and positive, or do members engage in flame wars?

Facebook is home to more than 620 million groups, meaning it will be easy to find one in your niche. Stick to groups that make you feel encouraged and determined, not those that drag you down. Remember, the internet is forever, so exercise caution with what you say online.

Organize a neighborhood event

If you’ve considered hosting a yard sale, why not knock on your neighbors’ doors and see if they’re interested in a community event? You’ll have people to help make signs and keep an eye on items during the actual event.

Alternately, consider hosting a community meet-and-greet. You can make it a potluck, so you don’t have to cook all the food yourself. If you have a neighborhood park or green belt, you can host the event there.

Embrace continuing education

You don’t need to enroll in a costly graduate program to advance your education. Take advantage of free or low-cost webinars at community recreation centers and libraries to grow your skills and build your professional network.

If you must earn education credits for professional certification, try to take some coursework in the classroom, not online. You will have more opportunities to mingle with others and build connections.

Do the world some good

Consider getting involved in a volunteer or fundraising effort. You’ll speak to countless people, and have an excellent reason for approaching strangers — you want them to help.

Whether you’re passionate about helping the homeless or saving the environment, you can get involved in organizations in your community that advance these causes.

Building career connections can be fun and rewarding

Yes, you can have fun while building career connections. By following a few simple tips, you can grow your network and establish yourself as a respected professional in your field.

Being responsible for a team and leading everyone to success is a huge responsibility. It’s why leaders should always be aware of and mindful of ways to improve. As you continue to grow, so will your team.

Read on to learn six mindful habits of an excellent leader that you can adopt into your own leadership lifestyle. They’ll help you grow into a stronger and more effective leader, while building trust and a better relationship with the people you work with.

1. Develop mindful listening skills

As great as it can be to hold a leadership position, it’s also stressful. It’s easy to hear news from your team members and react out of emotion to however the news affects your plans.

People need to trust in their leader, which means you need to listen before you react. Keeping a calm frame of mind while dealing with bad news will make people look up to you and trust that no matter what they have to report back with, it’ll be okay.

2. Demonstrate your beliefs

What core values does your company or team have?

As a leader, it’s your job to be mindful of those beliefs and lead by example. If you tell your team members that communication is key, but then fail to communicate updates with them every day, you won’t be an effective leader.

Instead, demonstrate your beliefs by letting your actions speak louder than words. Watching you lead by example is how you’ll help your team members stick around for the long term.

3. Practice confidence, not arrogance

A good leader knows they have the skills to get something done right the first time, but an arrogant leader will believe they can do it on their own.

Your team members are there to help you, which means that no project would be complete without them there. While you develop confidence in your leadership skills, share the successes with the people who helped make them a reality. That will boost everyone’s confidence and make future projects easier to handle.

4. Recognize team member achievements

Everyone on your team gives each project their best effort. Sometimes that means they work overtime, learn new skills or take on their own leadership role within their workload.

If you don’t take the time to recognize team member achievements, it’ll lead to resentment in your team members. Give them a shout out after any kind of extra effort or hard work you see them do and consider rewarding them.

A team lunch for a job well done is great for morale, as well as small gift bags. You don’t need to go big on rewards, as long as you take the time to call them out for a job well done.

5. Work on strengths

Another great quality that excellent leaders have is their commitment to continually work on their team’s strengths. These can be developed through activities that encourage your team members to use essential skills.

A great example of a fun team building exercise is a memory wall. Once your team has had some time to work together, sit them all down with sticky notes and pens. Have them write down memories they share and put them up on the wall as they talk about them. Activities like this can inspire more gratitude and mindfulness in your employees. This creates a more welcoming environment and reaffirms positive relationships.

6. Plan to stay flexible

Every leader should have a plan, but they should also know what to do if that plan falls through. A team member may be out sick on the day before a deadline or fail to complete their part of a project.

Plan to stay flexible in situations like these. Mindfulness, flexibility and adaptability are key aspects of developing emotional intelligence, and leaders with high emotional intelligence tend to have a profound impact on creating a satisfying workplace for others. So, remember that as long as you keep a calm demeanor and talk things out with your team members, you can guide everyone through any tough work situation.

Developing these skills will help make you a more mindful leader as you continue to grow and learn throughout your career.

If you’re trying to juggle two, three or even more jobs, your life can grow hectic quickly. Here are seven tips for making the most of your hustle and taking your career to new heights even as you find your groove.

1. Select gigs carefully

There are tons of options abound. If you enjoy working with cold, hard numbers, you can take on bookkeeping clients. Enjoy writing? Many popular blogs pay guest contributors. And of course, if you love battling traffic, you can drive for Uber or DoorDash.

With all the gigs out there, you can afford to select those you love. True, if you need immediate cash, you may need to take on something like waiting tables that you don’t particularly love. Strive to find one job that pays you enough to make rent, so that you can focus the rest of your energy on selecting work you love.

2. Set boundaries

Living on-call can increase feelings of security, especially when you’ve survived a financial crisis. However, if you accept requests from Lyft any time of the day or night, you risk burnout, or worse, getting in an accident. Research shows that getting fewer than four hours of sleep nightly increases your chance of getting in a crash as much as drinking 1.5 times the legal limit of alcohol.

No matter how many jobs you work, set some days and times during which you refuse to log in. Ideally, reserve at least one full day per week off to rest and recharge.

3. Eat healthy meals

Most of your productivity stems not from your mind but from your body. You can’t function at your best — or manage the madness of your hustles — if you’re not fueled properly.

When you’re making your weekly schedule, slot time for going to the grocers and prepping healthy meals. Strive to eliminate processed meats, which experts now classify as carcinogenic, and load up on vegetables and fruits. If you choose to consume meat, stick with lean cuts like fish and poultry.

4. Get some exercise

Even though you may feel exhausted, taking on moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes most days of the week will improve your mood and boost longevity. It will also help you maintain a normal body weight.

The good news? You don’t need to join a gym to get fit. Put on your favorite jams and dance around the living room solo. Or dive into a half hour of heavy-duty house cleaning and let that count as your workout on a busy day.

5. Stick to your vision

Even if you feel trapped in jobs that aren’t really your thing (for example, working in customer service if you’re an introvert), keep your long-term career goals in mind. What is it you love to do? Is there some way to incorporate that skill into one of your current positions, or is it time to look elsewhere?

For example, if you work best behind a computer screen but you’re currently in a customer-facing role, ask your employer about transferring to a different department. If you’ve been working in customer support for a tech company, perhaps you could transfer into a programming role with a current employer instead of starting from scratch elsewhere.

6. Follow your passion

The gig economy offers you the opportunity to follow your dreams. Instead of just taking on yet another part-time job for extra income, why not start your own business? For example, it doesn’t cost much to buy a domain name, and you can learn how to set up your own website for relatively little on sites like Udemy. You can also use Fiverr to find someone to build an e-commerce site for you.

Handy with a hammer? Consider opening your own handyman service company — you need not obtain your contractors’ license if you stick to smaller jobs. Live to cook? Why not launch your own catering business?

7. Take time for you

Finally, the cliché is true — you can’t pour from an empty pitcher. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a day off to relax and recharge. Treat yourself to a massage or a pedicure. Go for a long hike at a nearby nature center, as spending time outdoors helps alleviate depression and anxiety. Do whatever you need to feel restored.

Balancing multiple jobs in the gig economy

Balancing multiple jobs can prove exhausting — or it can open up new worlds of opportunity. By following the tips above, you can enjoy a rewarding career even if your trajectory doesn’t follow the traditional path.