work from home Archives -

March 22, 2021February 24, 2021

One year anniversary of COVID-19

Believe it or not, March marks a year since our lives changed drastically. At the beginning of March 2020, COVID-19 spread throughout the world, requiring individuals to forgo their usual routines and adapt to a new lifestyle. Now, a year later, we are living our lives very differently.

Not only are we more conscious of our surroundings, but we are more hygienic. For example, if you go to a store or a gym, you will see employees or trainers sanitizing equipment and merchandise every few minutes. We spend more time washing our hands and taking care of ourselves than we ever did before.

“I forgot my mask!” is a common phrase you catch yourself saying, and traveling out of the country or state is an all-too-real distant dream. With all the isolated time we have been given during the pandemic, we have learned how to slow down, organize our homes and closets way too many times, bake banana bread, and enjoy the outdoors.

With all these new hobbies we have acquired, all we want to do is to continue living our lives the way we did a year ago, but it is not that simple.

University of Michigan senior, Donna Neuman, longs for an in person graduation ceremony more than anything. “I really just want a graduation and nothing else right now is important to me. My friends and I have turned a lot of negatives into positives; for example, instead of going out with friends we hang in together. Those things are replaceable, but graduating is not.”

Our lives have changed in many more ways than one. As we sit and reflect on the one-year anniversary of COVID-19, it is hard to believe that it has only been a year.

When I think about the timeline it almost feels like a century. Masks are a part of our uniform and getting tested for COVID is the new trend.

Since it is risky for older adults with health restrictions to spend time with their younger loved ones, we have utilized FaceTime or Zoom to still get our personal family time.

Fortunately, the vaccine has been distributed to many essential workers, and soon to the rest of the world.

With the new year, all we can hope for is to say goodbye to COVID-19 and hello to living. By March 2022, I hope for good health, love, and for our lives to be more adventurous and spent with the ones we love most.

March 15, 2021February 23, 2021

Organize your work area at home

Creating an organized work area at home is essential to make your space productive and efficient. Here are a few tips to help you achieve your goals:

If possible, set up your workspace where you have ample natural light. Surround yourself with things that make you comfortable and happy such as pictures, candles, and plants. Simplicity is key – try to keep your workspace simple and uncluttered by placing your office essentials in desktop organizers. To keep power and network cables at bay, use power strips and cable wraps or ties to keep them out of sight. Move valuables and keepsakes to shelves so they are out of harm’s way.

Utilize a filing cabinet, rolling file cart, desktop sorter, or file box to store important documents. Organize your paperwork by type and category so they are easily accessible. Also consider the frequency of access when creating your filing system. To maximize the usefulness of your system, consider scanning and storing your documents electronically in a secure online service for universal access.

Set the mood for your workspace to inspire productivity and your creative juices will start to flow!

Lisa Haubenstock is a professional organizer and the owner of LisaTheOrganizer, LLC. Serving Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties.

December 2, 2020December 1, 2020

Are blue light glasses a work-from-home essential?

Since many of us are working from home during the pandemic, and are spending more time on our devices, our eyes are becoming tired and strained.

With the help of blue light blocking glasses, individuals are able to shield their eyes from their bright LED screens and keep the Advil in the medicine cabinet.

According to Weston’s All Eyes Optical Optometrist, Dr. Vito Guario, “The main benefits that blue blocking lenses have are the reduction of strain and fatigue on the eyes. Werecommend the blue tech lenses to everyone.”

Blue light glasses have a blocking lens fi lter that helps minimize the amount of light refl ected away from the eye. Not only does it protect your eyes, but it reduces glare.

“Since the onset of the pandemic, there has been an increase for blue light lenses for anyone utilizing the computer or digital screens for work or academic necessity. Patients can work longer on the computer with more focus secondary to the reduction of blue light emitting from all computer or digital devices,” Dr. Guario said.

Greg Sarkin, Owner of Abaco Polarized in Palm Beach Gardens, says “since COVID-19 and the increased amount of people that work from home, sales have increased for blue light glasses tremendously.”

According to a 2017 study done by the University of Houston, they found that participants wearing blue light glasses showed a 58 percent increase in their nighttime melatonin levels.

Abaco offers lightweight and fashionable glasses, standing behind the products that they sell. And if you need prescription lenses but don’t want to commit to purchasing a pair before knowing how you like them, Amazon offers blue-light clip-ons for as little as $10.99.