fun at work

Dec

2021

Christmas Gift Ideas for Less

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Need Christmas gift ideas for less? Just a short time before Christmas day is upon us. If you’re still not done with your gift list, you might be stressing out. But all is not lost yet. There are still some gifts that you can make for your loved ones and friends without having to splurge. Some of them you can make at home too.

Your gift doesn’t have to be expensive for it to be appreciated. Personalized gifts are always much appreciated. It gives the gift a sentimental value that commercial items cannot convey no matter how pricey. Here are some gift ideas for less that you can create at home for your loved ones.

Recipe Jars

This is a nice gift for friends and loved ones who love their pancake, waffle or brownies. Just pick a recipe, measure all the dry ingredients and place them in layers into the glass jar. Try to alternate the ingredients in such a way that the colors make an interesting pattern.

Print out the recipe on sticker paper and paste unto the side of the jar. Or print it on cardboard paper and tie to the neck of the jar as a gift tag. You can also use this for chocolate drink mixes or coffee blends.

DIY Kits

Got a family member who loves drawing and coloring? Gather different coloring and drawing materials; a sketchpad, pencils, erasers, a ruler and sharpener. Put everything in a handy file folder that they can conveniently carry with them.

For a friend who loves making her own jewelry, gift them with more beads and trinkets for their jewelry-making collection. You can get them the special beads, or a tool that they’ve been wanting to buy; but just can’t get their hands on. This is one of the Christmas gift ideas for less that’s always appreciated by young students. They are the ones who are passionate about their hobby but can’t afford all the materials.

You can also gift friends with a kit for getting rid of negative energy in their homes and work places. This gift does not only benefit them personally but the people in their space too.

Personal Coupons

If you’re broke but really want to make the effort; then gift your family members and friends with your time and energy instead. This is one of the Christmas gift ideas for less that doesn’t even cost you anything.

Design your own personal coupon stating a service that you will offer for a certain duration of time. For example, you can give your mom several coupons for a neck and shoulder massage for 20 minutes. You can give your dad coupons for washing the car and so on. Give the gift of a memorable experience that you will all recall with a smile later on.

For friends, you can give coupons for accompanying them to shopping errands. They can then claim these coupons any time of the year. Make sure that you state in the terms and conditions that they have to schedule these events with you first.

Use Your Talents

If you’re good at crocheting or knitting; make a scarf, or a beanie, or a pair of mittens, for a good friend or loved one. If you’re good at sketching, drawing or painting, then gift one of your creations to a valued friend.

Got a talent for writing poems? Create one for a special friend and print or write by hand on special paper. It would be great to present this gift by reading it to them aloud. Preparing this kind of gift is a fun process too. Plus, the result can be a very memorable experience.

Are you good with a camera? Take candid photos of your friend, select the best ones and display in a special picture frame. You can also put these in a scrapbook. Label each photo to tell a story about your friendship. Or just showcase your friend’s endearing character or unique personality. You get the idea, so go ahead and start planning for your next creative gift.

Use Available Resources

If you’re not too confident about your talents yet; then the next best thing that you can do is to use your resources to create a personalized gift. Get on your computer and go online.

For a friend who loves their tunes, download them a collection of their favorite songs. Transfer to a USB so they can load it on their laptops and mobile phones. Got a friend or relative who is too busy to take care of putting together a business card? Get your design skills to work and gift them with a simple calling card. Now, they don’t have to write their contact details on a piece of paper whenever they meet clients.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

You know the saying that one man’s trash can be another man’s treasure? If you’ve got stuff just lying around and gathering dust; think of who these might be of more use to and give that item to that person as a gift. Not only will you reduce your clutter, you get to reuse stuff and recycle them for a purpose.

You might have a friend who’s been pining to have a jacket or bag just like what you have. If you’re planning to buy a new one anyway, why not give your old jacket or bag to this friend? You might have a friend who loves your sense of style. If you’ve got a top that you already have several iterations of; why not give away the one you don’t use most often to your friend?

Got an old lamp that you’ve never even used? Check if the bulb still works and replace if necessary. Give to a friend who has just moved into a new house; or who has been wanting to make-over their bedroom. This is another one of the Christmas gift ideas for less that will definitely be appreciated by the receiver.

Give with Love, Receive with Gratitude

These are just examples of what you can do with your skills and talents. Some creative thinking is needed to make a personalized gift that your loved ones and close friends can appreciate. But before rushing for supplies; set aside some time to do some writing. Make a list of what gifts you can create or find in your own home. Think of what gift would suit the tastes and personalities of certain friends and loved ones.

As a last note, some of your friends and relatives might be giving you these kinds of gifts too. Remember to be grateful and appreciative of all their efforts. After all, it’s the thought that counts. Bonus! You can add gift-planning to the list of things you can do for fun.

DIY gifts take time and effort. Because of this, they truly communicate your appreciation for the person you are giving them to. So go ahead and give these DIY gift ideas a try.

Updated. Republished 2020.12.03. First published on Pinoy Smart Living on 2018.12.17.
Featured Image: Original Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash.

Dec

2020

Home-Based Business Ideas

Reading Time: 5 minutes

People have worked on many home-based business ideas during their isolation. Some have even decided to make it their full-time income source and not go back to their regular jobs. After all, having a home-based business while taking care of the kids does require all your attention.

If you’re thinking what business you can do from home as a sideline, or as a full-time job; here are some ideas you can consider. Keep in mind that you need to embrace going digital to fully enjoy this experience.

1. Freelance Writer

If you have a knack for writing, then you can earn from your skill. As a freelance writer, you should be able to write about any topic and in different formats too. Some research is involved to source your information.

You should be able to write in different POVs (points of view) as well as tone and style. Writing for a fashion magazine will need a different style than writing an article on a business website. You may be tasked to write some technical stuff too. If you love writing challenges like this, then you will enjoy this job. Just remember to avoid procrastination so you don’t miss your deadlines.

There are specialized writing jobs that you can offer if you have more experience in these fields.

Content Writing
Copy Writing
Grant Writing
Researching / Fact Checking
Translation Services

2. Social Media Specialist

Everyone is on social media these days. If you enjoy spending time in those platforms; then this job can be your sideline or full-time hustle. First, you need to be active on these platforms yourself and build an audience of your own. Then you can offer your services to potential clients.

As a social media specialist, your main job is to build your client’s online presence on different social media platforms. You can be provided these materials or create your own. Scheduling what content to publish on which channels is an important part of the job. You will be helping your clients create a strategy for pushing their content to their audience in the different channels to meet their business goals.

You may also be tasked to reply to queries on these channels. Inform yourself thoroughly of your client’s business, offerings and processes in handling their customers’ concerns so you can respond appropriately.

3. Web Designer

Was your previous job designing websites or is that a side hustle of yours? This is one of those home-based business ideas that costs you nothing but will fully satisfy your passion for creating.

First, you need to have your own website. Showcase your portfolio of web design projects so your potential clients can see what you can do. Have a brief description about each project to show what businesses you’ve worked with.

Display your self-designed business card on your website, as well as your other design projects, if you want to offer your clients a design package.

If you wan’t to specialize in a different field of design, then here are some home-based business ideas to consider:

Graphic Design
Digital Prints
Illustration
Theme Designs (e.g., for WordPress and other similar platforms)
T-Shirt Design

4. Video Editor & Music Composer

Are you good at creating videos or making music? Get yourself known by publishing some of your creations and attracting your audience. Create a YouTube or Vimeo account where you can display your projects for potential clients to spot. This is one of those home-based business ideas that you can do at your own pace. If you’re a night owl, then this job is perfect for you.

For video editors, it helps to see what’s viral on YouTube and create your own version. Or you could go as basic as editing a dance or music video of you and your friends having a good time. Or maybe offer to edit a wedding video for one of your colleagues who is getting married.

As a music composer, you can provide music for music or dance videos, as well as ad jingles. You could publish a recording of your gig as a DJ. Or why not publish a whole album of your music creations online? You can offer some of your compositions free for download so your audience gets a taste of your work.

5. Private Tutor / Trainer

One of the ways to gain a greater understanding of your skill or talent is by sharing your knowledge. Or if you’ve always wanted to teach but didn’t end up as a teacher, then tutoring online is your next best option.

As a tutor, you can specialize in one subject. You can teach writing basics, video editing, music composition, playing the guitar, drawing, etc. Tutoring students in academic subjects is also a much-needed service nowadays.

You can also teach adults. Business people may need someone to teach them how to improve their PowerPoint presentations or how to do basic accounting. You can also talk to businesses about how they can make their brand known to more people if you’re a social media specialist.

6. Online Seller

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. If you’ve got things in your home that you’ve never used but are still in good condition, then why not sell them online. Use your social media channels to start selling.

If you have a jewelry-making hobby, know how to sew clothes, love crocheting, sell them online. Sell your creations and get even more inspired to create more of the things you are passionate about. You can sell your art, photographs and paintings.

Sell to your friends and colleagues and have them pay for shipping costs. You can also sell other people’s stuff for them on a consignment basis. They will send you their stuff, you will display it for your customers, and you pay them only when the item has been sold off.

You can also sell specialty items. If you love specialty items that you know your customers will also love, then find a supplier who sells these items. Buy them in bulk so you get them at a cheaper price and sell them per piece. You can also do drop shipping instead.

7. Gardener

If you have a green thumb, then your plants will bring you extra income. Check out what indoor plants are popular and grow those in your garden. Search for groups that are dedicated to gardening and offer your plants there.

Sell your plants to plantitas and plantitos. Offer tips on how to care for them so you can always keep in touch with your customers. Share videos of you tending to your plants to build your brand even more.

As you’re starting out, don’t forget to show your plants and yourself in the best light. Invest in cute and pretty pots for your plants. Get some pretty accessories such as an elegant looking watering can to add a nice touch to your photos or videos. You can even sell these accessories too.

These are just some of the home-based business ideas that you can try to create extra income. They are all low-cost and can be done online, on your own. All you need is your computer, a good Internet connection, your own workspace, a bit of digital savvy, and the passion to continue learning. Your clients will surely notice you and appreciate your dedication to your new business.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Anthony Shkraba from Pexels.

Nov

2020

5 Tips for Creating Your Home Work Space

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Keep these 5 tips in mind when creating your home work space. Some of us may be surprised to suddenly transition from going to the office to working from home. Creating your home work space is an important part of the new normal.

One of the benefits of working from home is that you don’t have to scramble out the door and wade through traffic every morning just to get to work. There is a downside to this setup though. If you don’t have the proper environment for working, then you will greatly lower your productivity.

1. Pick the Right Spot

It is important that you have a stable Internet connection in your home work space. Choose an area in your home where you can get the strongest WiFi connection.

Ideally, your working space should be away from distractions. So if you need to close a door while working, do so. Or use a large piece of furniture to separate your work area from the rest of your living space.

Try to pick a spot near electrical outlets. Keep a dedicated power outlet for work use so you can plug in and charge your devices conveniently.

Finally, your home work space should also have a lot of natural light. Placing your work table near a window should be ideal for getting natural light as well as for receiving a strong WiFi signal. If this is not possible, then make sure to get yourself a desk lamp to provide adequate lighting while you work.

2. Prioritize Your Comfort

Invest in comfortable furniture when creating your home work space. You will be spending a lot of time in this space so comfortable furniture is very important.

Pick a sturdy desk with a smooth surface and at the right height when you are sitting. You should be able to comfortably rest your hands on the keyboard. This should help you prevent any wrist problems due to poor hand positioning.

Your work chair is also important. It should also be the right height for working. If you can’t get that ergonomic office chair for now; use pillows to add comfort and height. Use a thick, comfy pillow as cushion as well as to support your back while sitting.

3. Create a Storage System

Some of us still need to go to the office once in a while and bring home documents. Depending on your type of work, create a filing and storage system that helps you organize all your documents in your home work space. This will streamline your work flow and keep you productive.

You can repurpose a bedside table to store your files. Or use plastic bins with wheels so you can easily slide it under your table. Get yourself an In and Out box or folder container. Place it on your desk for easy access to the files you usually need for work. You need space to store your school supplies too such as pens, index cards, paper clips, etc.

Have a dedicated space in your storage system for your gadgets and devices. This is where you keep your chargers, USBs, external hard drives, extra batteries, and other accessories for your personal computer.

4. Invest in Helpful Accessories

The right accessories helps in keeping you productive in your home work space. They also ensure that you are comfortable while you work so you can work longer.

Invest in a good laptop or desktop stand to ensure that your monitor is at eye level. This prevents you from straining your neck and back while working. Get a separate bluetooth keyboard if necessary for a more comfortable typing position. Add a bluetooth mouse to complete your setup.

To prevent distractions, a good pair of ear phones or a headset is a good investment. An external hard drive is a must-have accessory if you are working with a lot of documents. Think of your work flow and what accessories you need to make working more convenient.

5. Create a Good Ambiance

Your home work space needs to have the right ambiance to ensure a productive work day. This can be done by adding decor and personal items that inspire good vibes whenever you see them.

Keep your work desk uncluttered by adding minimal decor. You can display your favorite picture in a frame. A flower vase, your favorite book, a small painting, a jar of scented candle or a scent infuser, an indoor plant are some of the things you can add to prettify your work space.

To enhance your work environment even more, create a music play list to help you focus while working. Try out different playlists to see which suits you best. Classical music, instrumental music, jazz and r&b music are just some of the playlists that you can try out.

We hope that these tips can help you work comfortably from home. Remember to take breaks and have fun once in a while to ensure that your work day is not too stressful.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Ben Kolde on Unsplash.

Nov

2020

5 Classic Board Games

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Playing these 5 classic board games is one of the best ways to combat stress. Sometimes, it is necessary to do something fun to stop ourselves from dwelling too much on negative thoughts and emotions. Do you find yourself taking life too seriously? It’s time to bring out your favorite board game.

Break away from stress and anxiety thru play. Keep a positive atmosphere at home with these fun and entertaining board games.

1. Battleship

2 Players

Children and adults alike enjoy this as one of the classic board games. Popular since the 1930s, this game from Hasbro has taken on many different forms since then. This is a naval battle game where each player tries to sink the opponent’s ship to win.

In an ultimate battle of wits, players start off the game by secretly placing their battleships own grids that only they can see. Each player then chooses specific coordinates to fire a missile and see if it hits the any of the other player’s ship. They do this in turns with the goal of eliminating as many of the opponent’s ships before they hunt yours down

2. Boggle

Multiple players

This word game made its debut in 1972 and is still popular today. It’s a simple board game that involves players wracking their brains to come up with words. Be sure to have a dictionary ready to check if a word actually exists!

The game starts off by shaking the cube to rearrange the letters inside. Once the lid is off, players have 3 minutes to make up as many words as they can from the 16 letters on the 4×4 tray. Having the same word as your opponent eliminates that word from your list right away. So be sure to listen what the other players are saying so you don’t’ use the same word. You can play by teams too.

This portable word game is tons of fun. The only downside is that it will be quite noisy when you play this game. Make sure you don’t shout too much so your neighbors don’t complain.

3. Checkers

2 players

Checkers is one of the oldest, classic board games. Even Greek writers Homer and Plato mention it in some of their works. The board consists of 64 alternating red and black squares where players can place their black and red checker pieces. There are other color variations available too.

This strategy game involves jumping over various squares to get to your opponent’s side of the board. You can do this by jumping over your opponent’s checker pieces and removing them from the board. Each piece can move only on the black square and only 1 diagonal square forward each time. You need to jump over your opponent’s piece to move 2 squares.

4. Chinese Checkers

2-6 players

Despite its name, this game was actually invented in America in the 1920s. In fact, it’s based on an earlier Victorian game called Halma which was originally played on a 16×16 square, checker or chequer board.

It has evolved into the hexagonal board that we are familiar with today. The holes on the board form the shape of a 6 pointed star. Each point forms a triangle with 10 holes. The hole is where players place their 10 pegs. Players have 6 different colors to choose from.

The goal of the player is to be the first one to move all 10 pegs into the triangle opposite them. Players take turns to move a single peg at one time. If less than 6 players will play, they must do so in pairs. They will place their pegs on opposite sides on the board.

5. Chess

2 players

Chess is another one of the oldest, classic board games in the world and one of the most familiar to adults and kids alike. Apparently, it appeared in the 16th A.D. century in India and spread to other parts of the world from there.

This game of strategy and wits is both fun but also mentally challenging. Even as a spectator to this game, you can feel the anticipation of each player’s next move. It’s the strategies that professional players use to win the game that makes watching a chess match truly amazing.

Try your hand at this game just for fun. The goal of this game is to put the opponent’s King in checkmate. If you don’t know what that means, then it’s time to learn the basic rules. See if you can come up with a strategy to hinder your opponent’s progress as you try to advance your pieces on the board. Who knows, you might discover a hidden talent for this game while you’re learning it.

If you are a parent, playing these board games with your kids will not only be fun. It will make your kids feel closer to you in many ways. This will also help them open up their thoughts and feelings to you so you can help them achieve their dreams. Plus, it will help train their minds and creative skills so more opportunities will open up for them in future. You experience the same benefits too.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash.

Aug

2020

Take Back Your Life and Have Fun Again

Reading Time: 2 minutes

A well-balanced life is important to keep us healthy and motivated to reach our goals. However, most of us have become too focused on work-related matters that life becomes just a daily grind. Why not make it a goal to take back your life and have fun again?

As adults, we have come to view stress and struggle as a normal part of life. Most of us have forgotten how it is to have fun like children do. It is important to have fun even at work. There’s a very big chance that we will just quit at whatever we’re doing if we’re not having fun. Many people have resigned from high-paying jobs just because it wasn’t fun for them anymore.

Launch Challenge

Challenge yourself daily. Ask yourself: how can I make my day more fun?

There are many ways to make your life more fun again. If you’re stuck at home, try out these 10 things to do to have fun. Fancy yourself as a sporty or athletic type? Then try out these non-contact sports you can enjoy even during quarantine. Want to find out what your special powers are? (No, we don’t mean the type that the X-Men have.) Try unleashing the genius within you.

In taking up this challenge, a very important aspect to keep in mind is to maintain a childlike attitude at all times. Not childish, but childlike. Here are some tips on how to maintain a childlike outlook or attitude as you try to take back your life and have fun again.

Slow Down

Having more fun shouldn’t feel like you’re trying to beat a deadline. Allow yourself adequate time to enjoy living life and appreciating what it has to offer. All that rushing sucks the energy and fun out of the day.

Children know how to take their sweet time. Learn to prolong your time for enjoying things instead of prolonging your agony by worrying.

Be Unpredictable

Step out of your ordinary routine and out of your comfort zone and see what happens. Life can take interesting turns if you let it unfold on its own. Learn to loosen up on the reigns once a while and see where it takes you. We sometimes have a very tight grip on everything that we end up stressed about the smallest reasons.

Be like a kid and try to go with the flow sometimes. This way, you don’t close yourself off from receiving and experiencing many of the wonderful things that life has to offer.

Break the Rules

If you want to have fun, you need to learn to break some rules. Kids often hurt themselves trying to do things they think they can do. As adults we are better equipped to judge our own limits and capacities. However, this also makes us scared to try new things, especially if they don’t follow the norm.

Be like a kid sometimes and try to break the rules. If it doesn’t hurt, go for it and enjoy the moment.

You may want to play with kids once in a while to learn how they have fun. Don’t be surprised if you learn even more valuable tips or profound lessons from interacting with them. Maybe you can ask them how you can take back your life and have fun again. I’m sure you’ll get interesting answers.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Alex Alvarez on Unsplash.

May

2020

Why You Need to Have Fun To Be Successful

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Why do you need to. have fun to be successful?

The phrase “work hard, play harder” is familiar to us; but the “work hard” part is where we get stuck most of the time. We focus so much at doing well in our jobs or careers that we often forget to have fun. When we do allow ourselves to have some fun; it is usually to celebrate a major accomplishment in our lives, usually a milestone at work.

We think that having time for fun is a reward for working hard but the two can never come together. However, successful people tend to disagree. For them, work should be fun; the work should be the reward itself.

Fun is one of the most important — and underrated — ingredients in any successful venture… If you’re not having fun, then it’s probably time to call it quits and try something else.
— Richard Branson, The Virgin Way: Everything I Know About Leadership

Apparently, work and play can be experienced at the same time. We don’t need to focus on just one; because rewarding work should be fun to do and having fun at work is rewarding.

I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
— Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder

There are many successful people who think it is important to have fun at work. Here are some reasons why:

Develops Creativity

A fun, work environment, encourages people to try out different ways to do things, so they can get their tasks done more efficiently and on time.

A fun environment also provides space for constructive criticism for failures instead of imposing strong penalties. Good effort, when rewarded positively, encourages individuals to become more open to trying out new things to become better at what they do. You won’t need to force yourself to stick to the usual methods even when it doesn’t suit your style.

Sustain Interest and Focus

Do you remember how time goes by so fast when you are engaged in your favorite hobby? How did 2-3 hours of dancing and shouting at a concert pass by? Also, you were on your feet the whole time, but you didn’t really feel tired at all.

With fun activities, we are able to sustain our interest and focus in the activity for long periods of time. We do not notice how much time and effort we are spending during the activity. We only become aware when the activity ends, or when our body tells us that we need to rest.

Produce Better Results

When you are having fun doing something; excitement comes with your efforts. You become more patient and put in more effort to see things through to the end.

This is especially true when a team is working together. A fun work environment encourages each member to give their best suggestion to solve a problem. They do not feel pressured to get things done perfectly. Whatever the challenge, they eventually get things done if they are having fun. They also produce even better results; with the same amount of effort or even less, and also with little to no stress.

Encourage Good Relationships

Having fun together also helps build deeper and stronger relationships. This is why team building trips and events have become an important part of many company calendars.

Recall the last time you attended a fun, company party. Didn’t you feel refreshed and more excited to go to work the next day? When the whole team comes into work in such a positive mood; didn’t the work day seem less stressful and the work hours shorter?

You will notice that you not only completed your work for the day, but you may have done more than you usually do. Your team mates may have done the same. It’s the feeling of camaraderie, the sharing together in a fun experience, that contributed greatly to the positive environment that helped everyone’s productivity.

Better Communication, Less Conflict

An open mind is a welcome trait in resolving issues. A fun, work environment encourages and fosters such a trait. Open minded people don’t shy away from discussing issues with colleagues than they would in a strict, office setup.

When playing, everyone follows the rules of the game; but if one fails to follow the rule, the reaction is usually one of laughter and not a strong reprimand.

When people can air out their concerns by telling jokes; less stress accumulates in the work place. In this environment, they are not pressured to prove that they are right and the other person is wrong. Open communication becomes a norm and stressful conflicts are less likely to occur.

Having fun at work is an important ingredient in your success. It makes your work life a more rewarding experience. Don’t wait to finish work to have fun. Start thinking up ways to make your work more fun.

With this kind of attitude, your team mates and clients will surely notice the positive change in you. You might even be able to influence your whole team’s mindset and build stronger relationships with your clients in the process. This is one good step towards success.

Feature Image: Original Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash