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Stay ultra productive at work with these simple and affordable tips:

1. LIGHT IT UP

A well-lit room increases concentration and effectiveness. In fact, a study by National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that employees who were exposed to natural lighting stayed focused on the task longer that their “sun-deprived” counterparts.

Replicate the effects of this study by positioning your table by the window or by placing a bright table lamp on your desk (here’s an IKEA table lamp for only S$4.90).

2. EMBRACE ERGONOMICS

Although most of our lives are spent while sitting, we are not designed to sit at desks all day. This is why people who are working a full-time job at the office may experience occasional back pains and other long-term problems. Avoid this and the costly hospitalization costs by investing on ergonomic chairs. Ergonomic chairs are designed to support your posture and boost your comfort while you work.

Purchase yours at LAZADA for as low as S$49.90!

3. STAY FOCUSED

Stay focused by eliminating all the unnecessary distractions such as noises and social media. Avoid online distractions by closing tabs that you do not need, keeping your phone on silent, and by not logging onto your social media accounts. Afterwards, drown out the background noises by wearing earplugs or headphones.

4. KEEP IT CLEAN

Excess litter and scattered rubbish can make you feel overwhelmed and distracted. Clean up your work space by organizing important documents inside drawers or labeled boxes. Also, organize your files with descriptive folders in your laptop or computer.

5. EXERCISE REGULARLY

Aiming for better time management skills and increased ability to beat the deadlines? Consider spending 30-60 minutes of your time per day to exercise. According to science, keeping your blood pumping at work may elevate your productivity for about 15%!

6. PAINT THE SPACE

The colors of your workspace automatically stimulates you and induces color-motivated behavior. Thus, you must alter your space based on your desired goals. If you want to boost your alertness and creativity – go for yellow. For improving reading and relieving stress and fatigue – go for green.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

And if you want to reduce your feelings of aggression and irritation (with your demanding co-workers or horrible boss), decorate the space with nothing but pink!

Sources: 1, 2, 3 & 4

How To Deal With The Infectious Workplace Bullies

Whether you are wrongfully accused or verbally abused by your boss or colleagues, workplace incivility shall be treated with maximum seriousness.

Surprisingly, statistics have shown that 1 in 4 Singaporeans have suffered from workplace bullying with the top aggressors being their bosses (62%) and their clients (21%). To make matters worse, Singapore was one of the few countries with the highest acceptance of workplace bullying (alongside Hong Kong and Taiwan).

With high acceptance for this issue, it only makes sense that fewer people address matters associated with it. Thus, the unacceptable behavior prevails.

A study that surveyed 6,000 people in Sweden showed that being subjected to “rudeness” spreads if the workplace environment did nothing about it. Rudeness in this context is defined as a way of violating the norm of mutual respect. For example, it can be as petty as excluding someone from the informed circle or as greater as taking credits for the work of others. As people often imitate and support the behavior of the dominant, there is a risk that rudeness will spread like wildfire and later on lead to bullying.

This is why it is important to identify and address bullying as it happens.

Here are 3 ways you can deal with it:

1. IDENTIFY WORKPLACE BULLYING

Bullying causes physical deterioration in work performance as well mental distress. It is generally categorized into three, namely:

a. name calling, malicious teasing, or pranks
b. sabotaging the colleagues performance (e.g.,spreading rumors)
c. forcing, causing self-imposed exclusion, or intimidation

Identification of workplace bullying is vital as some organizations may not want to acknowledge its existence while some people may not recognize that it is already happening to them.

2. SPEAK UP MORE

Sometimes the person who bullies you is your boss himself/herself. This is called an abuse of power. In our Asian context, there is an underlying culture of not defying the authorities and simply complaining about the issue in our smaller circles. As a result, any behavior from the boss is considered as acceptable and rarely excessive. However, you can only tolerate such behavior to a certain extent.

Once you have recognize that inappropriate behavior occurs, it is time to talk to the H.R. department or your boss about it. Steps to disclosing bullying shall include stating the observable behavior, describing its subjective impact, and validating the nature of the problem.

3. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

If all else fails, you can always turn to the law. In November 2014, the Protection from Harassment Act 2014 together with 2 accompanying subsidiary legislation are equipped to protect the rights of every working individual.

It states that:

“No person shall, with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress to another person, by any means —

a. use any threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior; or
b. make any threatening, abusive or insulting communication, thereby causing that other person or any other person harassment, alarm or distress”

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

More importantly, this Act covers the online world too. So you must not undermine cyber-bullying!

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4,& 5

5 Ways To Return To Work And Combat The Post-Holiday Blues

Whether you like it or not, the Holiday Season is almost over.

After a substantial amount of time away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it is time to get back to your “normal” life. Gone are the few days of feast and serenity!

As you return to your regular routines at work, school, or home…you may feel stressed, uncomfortable, and disoriented. This unwanted feeling is called Post-Holiday or Post-Vacation Blues. However, with a bit of conscious planning and other strategies, you can actually ease back to normalcy without feeling its burden.

1. PLAN AHEAD

Instead of having the stress of last-minute preparations, it is best to come back from your overseas trip on Saturday instead of Sunday. The extra day will give you enough time to fix your things, to pick up a few essentials, and to browse your emails. Thus, it will lessen the impact and load of your “first” working day.

2. REVIEW YOUR CALENDAR

Since you have been away for quite some time, you will probably need to be reminded about what is going on. Regularly browse and mark your calendar for the next couple of days to stay updated with the upcoming projects, meetings, and other concerns. By doing so, you will be able to come prepared and avoid the embarrassment of being caught off guard.

3. CLEAN YOUR WORKSPACE

Upon entering your cubicle or desk, you may see stacks of unopened documents, scattered files, and untidy stationery items. Take a few minutes to take it all in. After which have a rubbish bin near you while you filter through the envelopes, emails, and files. Recognize what needs to be junked and what needs to kept. The earlier you complete this, the more time you have for other important tasks.

4. REMOVE DISTRACTIONS

To make your work as quicker and as efficiently as possible, you must remove all the unnecessary distractions such as electronic devices. Turn off your handphone and close your social media accounts for at least 20 minutes.

Use a productive writing tool such as Q10 to allow you to scribe without interruptions from your desktop clutter. Or you may install a free site blocking extension such as StayFocusd. With fewer or no distractions, use your time to focus on the task at hand!

5. SEEK HELP

In the early days of your transition, keeping up with your daily workloads may feel like a circus. Do not fret, as it is unavoidable. Ask for your co-worker or manager’s help. A well-staffed business should be more than capable to assist or even absorb your task.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Remember, you do not always have to do everything by yourself!

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Surefire Ways To Stay Productive At Work

The lack of productivity can lead to stress, missed assignments, overlooked opportunities, demotion, suspension, and even termination. Thankfully, you can gain productivity through healthy and inexpensive ways. All you have to do is to feel great. You read that right! If you feel better holistically, you become an efficient worker.

So, stay productive at work with these five tips:

1. WAKE UP EARLY

Waking up early gives you an opportunity to get more things done and to earn more in the process. Also, mornings are usually the time when your brain is most focused and alert. Not to mention, there are fewer distractions in the early hours of the day anyway so you can really achieve more things, smoothly.

2. PLEASE TAKE BREAKS

Much like a computer, your brain will needs resetting, refreshing, and de-fragmenting of data in order for the information and memory to be in order. And, if you are able to organize your memory and thoughts properly, you will be able to receive and digest new information easily. Furthermore, you can even solve the problems you had pending! A good 5-20 minutes of break will do the trick.

3. AVOID DISTRACTIONS

In a world where the Internet rules, you must avoid distractions by closing tabs that you do not need, keeping your phone on silent, and by not logging onto your social media accounts. If your browser and phone are kept away and only to be used in emergency cases then, you will find yourself to be more productive than ever!

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

4. REGULAR EXERCISE

A study found that 30-60 minutes of lunch break spent on exercise boosted the workers’ overall performances by approximately 15%. These employees reported better time management skills, increase in satisfaction, and increase in ability to meet the deadlines. Thus, taking a break to keep your blood pumping at work can elevate your productivity.

5. GET QUALITY SLEEP

Getting enough sleep brings you more energy and mental clarity. If your new sleeping arrangement does not seem to work, you can consider to take polyphasic sleep. Polyphasic sleep is a practice of sleeping multiple times throughout the day. It is usually consist of sleeping more than the two times a day. In result, you spend more time awake each day and that could make you more productive.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Sources: 1 & 2

Which Would You Choose: Money Or Passion?

“Let your passion serve as your energy source to keep you going.”

– Psychology Of Love, Money, & Life

As you may have noticed, I am a firm believer of following what you love in work and in life. Dedicating your life in search for that one thing you love and value the most is paramount. Even Philosopher Dan Dennett claims that it is the secret to unlocking happiness.

If I were asked to choose between money or passion, I would choose the latter. However, reality entails that some people fail in the process of pursuing their passion.

Let me start by discussing the benefits of following your passion…

1. DESIRE IS IMPORTANT IN VENTURING THE UNKNOWN

In venturing the unknown, it is important to do something head on with your desire. You can either be doing something you are passionate about or do something that will logically lead to the work you love. Only then will you be able to give your 100% without feeling like work is forced upon you. Furthermore, you will be more motivated to work for longer hours.

2. COMING UP WITH BETTER IDEAS

Your passion will ignite your creativity and resourcefulness. You can freely pour yourself to you work and come up with better ideas.

3. PASSION AIDS IN NEW OBSTACLES

When you are trying to attempt something new or face new obstacles in work, you do not want to give up easily. Well, passion aids in that as it acts as your motivation to keep you in your career path.

4. PASSION BREEDS FULFILLMENT

Passion will certainly give you a sense of fulfillment. In fact, research showed that people who make regular progress toward something they care about reported not only being fulfilled but also satisfied.

With its bountiful benefits, why do some people fail in the pursuit of their passion?

1. THEY FOLLOW WRONG ADVICE

Some people listen to the “so-called experts” that sells strategies to get rich quick. But let us face it, if money is your passion, you would have to work for it. There is easy way to get the pot of gold!

2. THEY DO NOT HAVE REALISTIC PLANS

To be successful while following your passion, you need to develop a well-researched realistic plan that covers all bases. You must understand what your “meaningful work” requires physically, emotionally, and financially.

3. THEY LACK COMMITMENT

Some people who quit their jobs to pursue what they love may not realize the amount of time and effort it requires. So when bad things happen, they lack the commitment and hard work to continue on.

4. THEY LACK KNOWLEDGE ON MONEY MANAGEMENT

If you cannot afford to do something you are passionate about then, you better contemplate on your decision. Before doing so, make sure that you can attend to your basic needs such as food and shelter (as seen on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs). To be financially successful, you need to appreciate and love money too, not just for the sake of making them.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

After knowing all these, analyze the Pros and Cons and evaluate your situation while keeping in mind the cost of living comfortably in Singapore.

Sources: 1, 2 & 3

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