How to keep work from ruining your life

How to keep work from ruining yur lifeHow to keep work from ruining your lifeIn our ever-connected world, the good thing is you can work from anywherbeie. The bad thing is you can work from anywhere.That constant accessibility can make it feel like there are no boundaries between personal and work life. And in some professions, such as working in investment banking, at a start-up or a job that requires a lot of travel, work hours easily extend beyond 9 to 5, Monday to Friday.The good nachrichten is you can take back your life. Be proactive on priorities, communicate with anfhreres and clients, platzset schedules these can all help, as does recognizing signs of bad-fitting jobs.Figure out prioritiesBecause we are so connected to work, that its possible to work 24 hours a day 365 days a year, were losing a key connection in our life and that is the connection to ourselves. Well never be able to set boundaries if we dont have that foundational awareness of what we want, said Alison Mil ler, partner at career-coaching firm Tiara International.Start by making time to consciously unwind, she said, which might be difficult at first. When people are relaxed, its easier to remember what matters outside of work. That may give them the backbone to start forming these boundaries.Marti? Konstant?, a career growth analyst and founder of The Agile Careerist Project, said many people dont even try to set boundaries.Testing the waters is very important We dont have the saatkorn flexibility (as other coworkers) because we dont negotiate the same, she said.Feeling too insecure at work to set boundaries? Miller said that may be a sign of disconnection.Our minds are creating a mental prison in which we live. We have a story that we have to do all these things or well get fired, she said. Weve never examined, is that true?Sometimes when jobs change, it comes with a heavier or different workload, and its up to individuals to talk with supervisors on how to avoid burnout, Konstant sai d.Karl Setzer, a commodity trading adviser and risk management team leader at MaxYield Grain, a grain cooperative, said when electronic trading started, markets became open almost 24 hours. He found himself working day and night trying to keep customer orders straight. He, and his firm, realized that couldnt continue.To start, the firm established specific hours for client contact, including a night answering system, and flexibility to come into the office or not. Setzer said he and his wife, who also works in the same industry at another firm, also set boundaries at home such as not checking email at night.We might get on our mobile devices and check social media, and we might look quickly to see how the markets opened (at 7 p.m. local time), but if its not an emergency, I tend to not check too much after hours, Setzer said.Know when and where to set boundariesJody Michael, chief executive officer of Jody Michael Associates, a career-coaching company, said some professions require employees to be present at certain times.The marketplace is a good example. Its open certain hours and you be responsible and reactive in the moment and youre not going to change that, she said.Even with those schedules, employees can find boundaries, she said. Corporate culture will dictate how companies treat workers no matter the profession.Michael said the relationship many bosses have with employees can be divided into two camps distrust until and distrust still.The distrust until boss wants the employee to prove he or she can be trusted. To earn that trust, employees should seek out conversations with their direct supervisor to understand how the supervisor will measure performance.Employees with the distrust still boss will never let you earn their trust.It doesnt matter what you do, theyre not going to trust you because they have strong beliefs that this doesnt work, she said.In that case, its time to look for a new job, Michael said.Steve Vasilion, founder of Vasilion Arch itects, said he promotes his flexibility with his clients, but he also has rules with overdemanding clients.In some respects, clients can be more demanding (than supervisors). They expect you to be at their beck and call. Part of what I promote is I am accessible and available and work will be done on time. Theres a balance that has to be struck there. With any long-term client, weve developed a rhythm that works for us. Any client that is not flexible in that way or is overly demanding is maybe someone who shouldnt be a repeat client down the road, he said.For employees who need extra flexibility because of special situations outside work, get a plan in writing, if only to protect yourself.Sue Carpenter (her name has been changed to protect her identity), thought she had a flexible job since the small marketing firm she worked at allowed her to occasionally leave early for acting auditions. But when she was diagnosed with cancer, the laid-back atmosphere changed.I pretty much kept the office informed whenever I had new information, because I recognized the impact it was going to have. Once Id had the what to expect conversation with my oncology team, I asked for a meeting with my boss to relay that info and ask what kind of contingency plan he wanted to create. He declined to plan anything, and told me he wasnt going to penalize me for being sick and wouldnt even keep track of my sick leave, Carpenter said.Nothing was put in writing regarding new work schedules or expectations for her job. However, three months after starting chemotherapy, she said her boss fired her over a weekend for missing too much work.I never saw it coming, and since it was over a weekend, I was unable to get back in the office to print out emails or gather other documents for lawsuits, Carpenter said.Put the phone down. Now.Konstant said because smartphones are such a big part of our lives, people are always on, even at a personal level. But theres a difference between being always on and always available.Its your choice to take the call when out, she said.Drew Marshall, founder of Primed Consulting, concurred. He has global clients, so theres a lure to be constantly available. Many people are their own worst enemies when it comes to technology, he said.The phone habit has crept in like an information Trojan horse. People often find themselves working after hours or on email because its there. They have the device in their hands and they can do it, he said.When it comes to phone usage, its important to set rules, said Marshall and AndrewHaller, co-founder and co-chief executive officer of AirDev, a software design firm start-up.Establish explicit rules, routines, and rituals (There are) no exceptions Breaking your rule once sets an example for yourself - and others - that it isnt that important, Haller said.Telling others that you have a goal to set these boundaries can help to break the phone habit, too, they said. Enlist friends and family to remind you to st op doing work on the phone can help.Marshall communicates clearly to clients his schedule, and hes created rules for himself to keep technology from running his life. He doesnt check it when exercising or eating, and when hes out, depending on whats going on, hell put the phone on airplane mode.No one I know who is a CEO of a business needs to be available 24/7. If something requires a response, someone will find a way to get in touch. But being available just in case needs to get in touch is a fools errand you will just make yourself insane, he said.

Be Thankful You Dont Have These 5 Jobs

Be Thankful You Dont Have These 5 JobsBe Thankful You Dont Have These 5 JobsBe Thankful You Dont Have These 5 JobsThese wacky jobs may not be for everyone, but someones got to do themDistasteful, nauseating, pungent, dangerous, and deadly are only a few of the adjectives used to describe these five strangest jobs. These positions represent some of the wackiest careers on the fruchtmarket, and you probably didnt even know they existed. So next time the cheap coffee in the break room gets you down, remember these five jobs and think Hey, it could definitely be worse.Pet Food TasterWhile its true that dogs may eat anything, its important that they get food that is both delicious and nutritious. After all, even pets have refined taste buds. Thats where pet food tasters come into play. Tasters come up with ideas for the smell, feel, consistency, ingredients, nutrients, and all the other elements that go into making a pet food product fit for a king. Theres one catch, though. Naturally no pet lover will trust their four-legged friends stomach to theoretical recipes. Tasters must, well obviously, taste the food.Job StatsIncome $34,000 - $117,000Education Bachelor to DoctorateJob Notes Pet food tasters must be able to think outside the box to take pets taste buds into consideration.Maggot FarmerAs disgusting as it may sound, maggot farming is a lucrative career and the competition is fierce. Businesses verpflegung to fly-fishermen and greenhouse workers pay big bucks for those little critters, and maggot farmers are all too happy to play nursemaid for a few hours each day. Farmers harvest the tiny larvae from fly eggs. Its really not as dirty as you would think, though. Those farms are actually multimillion dollar laboratories with incubation rooms and special ventilation systems to keep workers from breathing dangerous chemicals and byproducts.Job StatsIncome $35,000+Education NoneJob Notes Maggot farmers work in high-tech laboratories, harvesting larvae from fly eggs .Snake MilkerThis career gives new meaning to Got milk? Snake milking is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, and for good reason. Milkers dont gather actual milk from these slithering animals they extract deadly venom from the mouths of some of the most poisonous snakes in the world. No, these professionals arent just daredevils looking for adventure. Snake venom is a crucial ingredient for its counterpart, antivenom, which doctors use as a kind of antidote to rescue the lives of snakebite victims. Patients would die without the help of snake milkers. Using tools and techniques not too pleasant for the snake in question, they hold the snakes mouth open, shock it with electrodes, retract the fangs, and place vials to collect the venom.Job StatsIncome $40,000+Education None to DoctorateJob Notes Most snake milkers are zoologists who work for national zoos and animal conservation agencies.RelatedWhat to Do When Your New Job Isnt Your Dream JobChicken SexerSome may wonder if th is profession is fact or fiction. Surprise, chicken sexers do exist. However, the job isnt as simple as lifting a chickens leg and declaring Its a boy A chickens sex is rather mysterious at first there are no external glands or identifiers to mark and chicks, of course, are too young to lay eggs. To solve this problem, farmers hire trained experts to determine whether chickens are female or male. Those experts have two simple methods to make their decision, but those techniques come with a price. One requires plucking feathers to determine gender, an unpleasant ordeal for the chick. The other, less preferable method requires the chicken sexer to check the birds feces for identifiers. Pet food tasting is starting to sound a lot better, right?Job StatsIncome $20,000+Education None to Certification ClassJob Notes Chicken sexers look at feathers and poop to determine the chicks gender.Armpit SnifferAnother I cant believe thats a real job profession is the infamous armpit sniffer. Thoug h, if you really think about it, the thought of this one is pretty logical deodorant companies must determine if their products work. After all, if Degree claims its famous stick lasts all day, they must be able to back it up. We declare this one of the strangest jobs because armpit sniffers are required to stick their noses in other peoples business. Those who shun computers and think technology is taking away real people jobs will rest easier because no computer will ever outperform a human in this job.Job StatsIncome $35,000+Education Chemistry DegreeJob Notes Armpit sniffers use science and a nosey sense of tools to determine the effectiveness of deodorant and other cosmetic products.If any of these unconventional professions pique your interest, its best to prepare for your career by researching the industry. Start by visiting the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics website. Information about stress level, dangers, and other factors that may have you running the other way are included with the list of benefits. Librarians and career centers also have specialized resources designed to help you train for your new career.Applying for a strange job? Make sure your resume is up to par with a free resume critique.Recommended ReadingSkills You Can Learn on the JobTop 5 Most Stressful ProfessionsStarting a New Job? 7 Tips to Ensure Your Success

10 Reasons Volunteering Is Great for Job Seekers

10 Reasons Volunteering Is Great for Job Seekers10 Reasons Volunteering Is Great for Job Seekers10 Reasons Volunteering Is Great for Job SeekersOne of the best parts of Martin Luther King Day is that, after the frenzy of the holiday season, it helps put our focus back on serving others. Volunteering your time and talents has obvious benefits to the people you servebut if youre unemployed, it provides some pretty major benefits for you, too. And theres no resume required. Because, as Dr. King saidEverybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You dont have to have a college degree to serve. You dont have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.... You dont have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.Heck, you dont even need that Even if your motives are purely selfish, volunteering is a great way to pump new life back into a stagnant job search.Here are 10 reasons every job seeker sho uld volunteerIt gives you a place to go.It keeps your skills fresh and teaches you new ones.It takes your mind off your own troubles.It shows you there are worse things than being unemployed.It gets you out of your own head and reminds you of the things youre good at.It makes you feel valued and appreciated.It introduces you to new people, who can become friends and part of your network.It gives you recent experience to put on your resume.It gives you something impressive to talk about at job interviews.It kills time a lot better than playing solitaire.Isnt it ironic that, when were employed, theres never enough time for friends, family, and social life? But when were unemployed and have the time, we often avoid those things because of embarrassment or lethargy. We endup with no work and no life.Volunteering is the perfect way to rebuild your confidence, do something good for the world, and help yourself feel like you once again have something of value to offer friends, family, and employers. BesidesYou may not have saved a lot of money in your life, but if you have saved a lot of heartaches for other folks, you are a pretty rich man. Seth ParkerReady to volunteer, but not sure where to begin? Contact local schools, nursing homes, hospitals, or veterans services, or do an zugnglich search for volunteer opportunities. Web sites like Volunteer Match and United We Serve can match you up with volunteer needs in your community.