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    I’m Not Giving Up My Summer Fridays Just Because It’s Fall—Here’s How

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    In juxtaposition to the summer, the fall is when we get serious about work. After all, there are fewer places to go and people to see as the weather gets colder, so it only makes sense that we’d put more effort into our careers and kiss those summer Fridays goodbye. The problem with this? The five-day workweek is becoming an outdated concept. It commonly depletes our mental resources, which hinders us from working at peak performance. The only logical solution to this IMO is to continue to streamline our workweeks. Sure, we might have to be online on Fridays now, but that doesn’t mean that Fridays all of a sudden have to go from days off in the sun to jam-packed with to-dos.
    Thankfully, it’s not that complicated to continue having stress-free Fridays. You can, in fact, achieve all of your goals and close out the year strong by implementing a few simple intentions Monday-Thursday. Ahead, we’re sharing how you can maximize productivity and efficiency so you can optimize your work and enjoy an easy Friday at the office.
    1. Plan your week before it even starts
    Before leaving work the week prior, during your Sunday reset, or before you clock in on Monday morning, you need to create a plan of action for the week. Ask yourself what you have coming up and what needs to get done before you clock out on Thursday. Be sure to take a look at your personal and professional calendar to see what meetings or appointments might take up some of your time. Doing this before your week starts allows you to hit the ground running Monday morning and not waste any of your precious time.
    Planning will help you manage your time better, boost your focus, and help you complete your tasks seamlessly and efficiently. Plus, if something pops up at the last minute, you already have a full view of what your week looks like, so you can decide where you can fit it in rather than letting it derail your week completely or become a Friday to-do.
    2. Shorten meeting times
    Although meetings are important for fostering connection and ensuring all employees are on the same page, long meetings are unnecessary, and yes, some meetings really could just be emails. Not only do some cut into your day and prevent you from getting things done, but they can also be mentally draining, making it harder to be productive. To combat this, identify meetings you can shorten and meetings you can cut altogether. Shorter meetings will give you more time during the week for tasks you need to get to before Friday. Plus, your meetings will be more productive since you won’t have time for long tangents and chit-chatting about the newest TikTok trend before diving into the meeting agenda.
    3. Reattach to your work every morning
    We’ve all had mornings where we frantically dive into work because we overslept or got stuck behind a school bus on our commute. And on those mornings, we have a harder time staying focused. Apparently, there’s a reason for this. Studies show that taking the time to reattach to work in the morning is the secret to higher work engagement, better use of job resources, and more positivity. Essentially, this means that by taking a few minutes to settle into our workday, we are more likely to get shit done. Try doing a career meditation, visualizing a positive workday while sipping your coffee, or journaling before clocking in for the day. Likewise, you can also imagine how you’ll spend your after-work hours knowing you checked off everything on your to-do list. This always motivates me to knock out more tasks since I’ll be rewarded for my hard work.

    During your time away from your desk, rest and renew properly. That way, you can operate at peak performance when it’s time to get to work.

    4. Implement monotasking
    Monotasking is essentially the antidote to multitasking and emphasizes focusing on one task at a time until it’s completed. While this isn’t a groundbreaking concept, it’s a hard one to master. We live in a world filled with distractions that cause our tasks to take two to three times longer than they should. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have time for that when I’m trying to have relaxing Fridays for the foreseeable. To prevent distractions and use monotasking to your advantage, you need to eliminate anything from your work environment that might cut into your focus. I place my phone in another room or put it on “do not disturb” during my workday. You could also wear noise-canceling headphones to block out outside noise or even set parameters on your phone that don’t let you check social media.
    Different tricks work for different people, but try your best to play to your strengths and weaknesses; if you can hear a notification on your phone without picking it up, you might be able to leave it on “do not disturb” or keep it on your desk. Implementing this has been a serious game-changer in my ability to cross tasks off my list before Friday. I complete assignments so much faster when I’m not stopping every 10 minutes to refresh Instagram. Who knew?
    5. Consider extending your work hours
    If you’re struggling to get the majority of your work done before Friday, consider extending your work hours Monday-Thursday. Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to work all day long—because you absolutely shouldn’t, and that’d impede your mental well-being. Rather, it’s similar to what you do when you’re taking PTO on a Friday. You work a little longer, so everything that needs to get done is before you’re OOO.
    Instead of working four eight-hour days, try working four 10-hour days, especially on weeks you’re busy AF. During your non-busy weeks, you can finesse your schedule accordingly; you might start and end work a half hour earlier or later on one day, clock out normally for four days, and so forth. Working longer hours might not sound ideal, but an earlier start in the mornings is always worth it when Friday rolls around. It allows me to accomplish all my tasks without sacrificing my mental health and well-being, and for that reason, I highly recommend it.
    6. Prioritize your well-being
    Your life outside of work affects your life at work. It’s almost impossible, at least it is for me, to show up as my best self in the workplace when I am not showing up for myself outside of it. We all have a lot of responsibilities, personally and professionally, that take up our mental resources (or our sanity, depending on the week). By prioritizing time to yourself in the hours you’re not working, whether that’s enjoying a yoga class after a long day or (dare I say it??) sleeping in on the weekends, you’ll have a better chance at tackling all your to-dos.
    Getting all of your work done in four days time isn’t always easy, but it is a lot easier when you don’t feel so damn depleted all the time. During your time away from your desk, rest and renew properly. That way, you can operate at peak performance when it’s time to get to work, and you’re less likely to have work spill into your precious Fridays.

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Arianna Reardon, Contributing Writer
    Arianna is a Rhode Island native, professional blogger, and freelance writer. She’s passionate about helping women develop healthy relationships with money, become financially independent, and invest in themselves for the future. Arianna is a firm believer in going after what you want, taking time to stop and smell the roses, and the importance of a good cocktail. More

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      Everything You Need To Move Your WFH Days Onto the Patio

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      With remote work still thriving on the job scene, many of us find ourselves going about our work day in the comfort of our own homes. But, sometimes, the spaces we find ourselves in for day-to-day tasks make it hard to separate work and relaxation. It’s easy to fall into the habit of working from your comfortable couch or bedroom, but these spaces do not do your productivity any justice and can deter you from your best work. Being inside all day can also have detrimental effects and can stop you from getting your necessary daily dose of Vitamin D.
      By optimizing your workspace to something designed intentionally for you and your work day, you can increase your productivity and focus. And weather permitting, working from outside might be the best way to keep you focused and enjoying the work day a little more. Here are some of our favorite pieces to create the perfect Work-From-Outside setup:

      This 24-ounce stainless steel tumbler will keep your drink cool and you hydrated no matter the temperature outside.

      Bucket hat girlies, this is the perfect work-from-outside hat. It features a wide brim to keep your face and the back of your neck protected from the sun all day long.

      This lap desk fits most any computer size and also includes a power bank and charging cable, which can keep you from trying to find an outdoor outlet or a ridiculously long extension cord.

      Amazon | danpinera

      This green side table adds a fun pop of color for your setup. It’s also anti-rust and waterproof, so you can leave it outside no matter the weather.

      Amazon | F FORITO

      This anti-glare and anti-blue light screen protector is a must-have when working in direct sunlight. It will keep your eyes protected and your screen visible so that you can actually use your laptop in the sun.

      Amazon | Big Joe

      This round cushioned ottoman is the ultimate footrest, keeping you comfy while you lounge and work in the sun.

      Citronella

      This five-wick candle really brings the space together and will keep you feeling cozy and comfortable in the outdoor setting. Bonus: It features citronella, so it will keep the bugs at bay while you enjoy the sun.

      Beachcrest Home

      These light wood cushioned chairs are sturdy and comfortable, perfect for sitting outside for a few hours while you type away on your laptop. Place your beverage of choice and some snacks on the small side table and this setup has almost everything you need.

      Play your lo-fi work playlist (or Taylor Swift album of choice) outside with this portable bluetooth speaker. Whether you’re trying to capture all the summer vibes or simply need a relaxing backtrack while you focus, you’ll love the sound quality of this little speaker.

      Amazon | Abrotain

      Small space? That’s no problem with this patio shade cover. It offers privacy while shading you from the sun, perfect for apartment balconies or small decks.

      Amazon | Veradek

      Keep your snacks and drinks cool and protected in this outdoor cooler that doubles as a side table. 2-in-1? Yes, please.

      World Market

      This floor mat will help bring your work from outside space to life and make it a place where you enjoy working!

      Amazon | KEVLANG

      This acrylic tray is perfect for holding any of your day-to-day necessities, but could even be filled with your favorite snacks and drinks to keep you energized throughout the day.

      Anthropologie

      This denim baseball cap is perfect to keep the sun and hair out of your face and is casual enough to add to any outfit you have on during your work-from-outside days!

      Arlmont & Co.

      Yes, you’re working, but who says you can’t relax while doing so? This functional outdoor daybed features detachable footrests that can also be used as a side-table for customizable use.

      Amazon | YPRNM

      This lap desk is great if you are looking for something more sturdy, with standing legs on both sides. The desk splits into an adjustable laptop tray and a small side table tray, perfect for your favorite drink or a small notebook!

      Amazon | Thermacell

      Nothing can ruin a day outdoors quite like bugs, and we haven’t forgotten that. This mosquito repellent will keep the bugs away and let you work outside in peace.

      Amazon | Sweetfull

      This portable misting fan will help keep you cool and refreshed on those hot days, and works great to keep you awake and productive!

      This SPF 45 face mist is a necessity for being outside on a sunny day. It keeps your skin protected and hydrated throughout your work day!

      Hampton Bay

      This patio umbrella is a major addition to creating this workspace, allowing you to bathe in the warm sun, but also retreat to the shade as much as you’d like to during the day.

      Amazon | Javasok

      This cup sleeve is perfect for those who need a quick coffee run before work. It will keep all the condensation from your cup away from your electronics or paper and keep your hand from getting cold as well!

      Keep your lips hydrated with this editor-favorite lip oil. It also includes SPF 30, so not only will your lips feel great, but they’ll also be protected. More

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      This App Makes Managing Self-Employment a Total Breeze

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      Almost six years ago, after years of working as a freelance writer on nights and weekends, I quit my salaried job and started working for myself full-time. As could be expected, it took a while for me to build my client base and fill my schedule with assignments (shoutout to The Everygirl for being the first publication to join my newly self-employed roster!). Keeping track of a handful of article assignments didn’t require an intricate organization system at the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey, but it wasn’t long before I started to lose track of my tasks as my workload increased.
      Fortunately, things began to change quickly for me and my business as I expanded my client base and started offering a greater variety of content creation and digital marketing services, but unfortunately, that meant my to-do list was overflowing and became overwhelming and difficult to manage. Knowing my clients wouldn’t be impressed with missed details or deadlines, I turned to Todoist (a task management system) for help, and let me just say that I’ve been hooked ever since.
      While you don’t have to be self-employed to get a lot out of Todoist, I’d be doing every other entrepreneur out there a disservice if I didn’t walk you through specifically how this task management system helps me stay on top of my self-employed game. I’m breaking down its features along with how I use it to be an efficient business owner ahead.
      What is Todoist?
      Todoist is a task manager and to-do list app that makes it easy to keep up with all of your tasks, no matter how big or small they are. Since it can be integrated with over 80 apps and is accessible across a variety of operating systems and devices—including desktops, smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches—its main job is to keep you organized. As a Mac user, I love that the app syncs on my phone, tablet, desktop, and laptop computer, so I can tackle my to-do list no matter where I am or what device I’m using.
      Features
      Within the tool, you can create projects, priorities, labels, tasks, sub-tasks, reoccurring due dates, reminders, and more. Flexible views allow you to keep a bird’s eye view of upcoming work or focus on what you need to do on a certain day, depending on how you like to visualize your workload. Similarly, you can switch between list, calendar, or board views for easier planning and tracking. For example, if you are working on a project for a client, you can view where each task lies on a calendar view or just take a look at your to-do list for the day (or upcoming days) to see what tasks you need to tackle to keep your project on track.
      One of my favorite (and most used) features is the ability to drop important notes and details into a task description that I don’t want to slip through the cracks. It’s incredibly useful to keep tasks open on my phone via the app when I’m on client calls, so when a client is throwing a bunch of small details and deadlines my way, I can jot them down in tasks that they apply to. No matter how you prefer to view and keep up with your work or how detail-oriented your work tasks are, features like this one, plus the features previously mentioned, make focusing on your most pressing to-dos a breeze.
      Pricing
      For many entrepreneurs, the free version of this app offers enough features to seamlessly manage your work; however, there are two paid options if you want more capabilities. The Pro plan is $4 per month and gives you access to more projects, an AI assistant, a longer activity history, and some of the more helpful features like setting reminders. The Business plan is $6 per month and gives you access to all of those things, plus the ability to create a shared team workspace and collaborate with team members. I try to keep my business expenses nice and lean, but after using the free version of this tool and realizing it was the saving grace, I upgraded to the Pro plan, which, to me, is a small price to pay for how organized it keeps me.

      How you can use Todoist to manage self-employment
      Keeping up with deadlines
      I love a good digital organization tool, but I am also a paper planner lover through and through. The physical and visual element helps me to stay clear-headed. However, if I tried to write down every to-do I had on the horizon, my planner would just overwhelm me.
      This is where Todoist comes in. I don’t use it to track my biggest deadlines, like the final product of an article. Instead, I use it to tackle all the tiny deadlines that lead up to a big one. For example, let’s say I need to interview a dermatologist for an upcoming skincare story. I would write the article deadline down in my planner, but I would add mini deadlines about the interview to the app: a deadline for when I need to reach out to potential interview subjects, a deadline for following up with them, and a deadline for prepping for the interview. Adding all of those tiny deadlines to my planner would be overkill, but it’s quick and easy in Todoist.
      It may seem a bit overkill to use a paper planner and a digital task-planning app, but I find having these two systems in place helps me avoid missing any deadlines. By putting the final project deadline in my paper calendar, I always know what big to-dos are on the horizon, but Todoist makes it so much easier to stay on top of the smaller tasks that make up those big projects. I like that I can easily shift around mini-due dates digitally, which would be a mess if I tried to constantly make changes in my physical planner. That being said, many people will find that Todoist is all they need to stay organized—especially since you can sync it with a digital calendar. I just can’t help my love of paper planners.
      Managing admin work
      On top of assignment deadlines, I also have a lot of admin-related deadlines that can be easy to let slip through the cracks. Working with a lot of different publications and brands (we’re talking around 30 every year) is very fun, but also requires staying on top of different admin deadlines—like remembering what day of the month each client likes to receive invoices. Any time an admin request comes through from a client (like signing up for new software or sending them a professional bio), I add it to the app ASAP so I don’t forget about it.
      On top of client-related admin tasks, I keep track of all of my personal admin tasks in Todoist that keep my business running smoothly, such as:

      Quarterly tax payment deadlines
      Canceling free trials or subscriptions to software
      Following up with clients on overdue invoices
      Following up with prospective clients, interview subjects, etc.
      Circling back with past clients to re-engage 
      Cleaning up my inbox
      Checking in with my accountant
      Refreshing my business website

      Organizing bigger projects
      My favorite element of Todoist is how you can organize your tasks into a “project” instead of having one massive list of tasks. This feature doesn’t have to apply to a specific project you’re working on (although it can)—instead, it allows you to break your work into categories. For example, I create a project for each client I work with, a project specifically for my personal admin work, and a project that houses all of my invoices. I find breaking down my tasks by project (or category) helps me stay more organized. In fact, one of the reasons I pay for a subscription is because it gives me the ability to create even more projects.
      Some of your assignments might be simple and won’t require you to build out a project, but let’s say you’re working on an ebook for a client, for example. You could name your project “[client name] ebook” and then create a series of tasks that could include creating an e-book outline, researching topics, submitting the first draft to the client, making necessary edits, and so on.
      By keeping all of my like tasks together, I find that it’s easier to view the status of a project and see where I might be falling behind. Similarly, I can easily view a project and update a client on its progress. Whether you have a lot of project-based work or just simply like to organize your work into buckets, you’ll really love this feature.
      Balancing responsibilities outside of work
      When you work for yourself, it can be easy to let the hustle and bustle of running your business distract from your personal life. This is why I also use Todoist to stay on top of personal tasks. For example, I have tasks to set doctor appointments or buy birthday presents for loved ones. I even have tasks that remind me to pay my bills or cancel subscriptions.
      Life gets busy, so having one clear place to stay organized and friendly reminders to nudge you along can be a big help. If you’re planning a wedding, overseeing a home renovation, or tackling any kind of big personal endeavor, creating a project within the app to house all of your to-dos will be a game changer.
      It’s so easy to grab a Post-It note or random notebook, write down things you need to get to, and promptly forget about them. Having my responsibilities front and center (and in one place) has made managing both my professional and personal life more efficient. Plus, it saves me a lot of time and helps me achieve a better work-life balance, and who doesn’t want that? More

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      Tech Support: 7 productivity apps to download to keep you focused

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      Lifeby Camille Macawili9 mins ago Revolutionise your life with the apps designed to deliver a more mindful and productive approach to your days.ArcushFor time-blocking and smarter planningA daily planner and calendar app that helps build a balanced and smarter schedule for a productive day. The efficiency lies in its minimalistic visuals and interface so you can colour code and structure your day with time blocking to get the right things done.Download hereOne SecFor eliminating digital distractionsSocial media is designed to give you instant dopamine boosts in small increments – hence it’s so addictive. Gain back precious time that could be spent more effectively with the help of One Sec, a focus app de- veloped with the help of psychologists and user experience experts. This game-changing app gives you the chance to pause and think twice before you get sucked into an hour of doom scrolling by making you wait longer for the social media app to open. It has “Focus Sessions” which does not allow you to open any of the configured apps – and there’s nothing you can do about it but focus and get things done.Download hereBlacklaneFor productive travellingBlacklane, the leading chauffeur-hailing service offering a premium experience, is an essential for convenient transport within and outside of Dubai. You can seamlessly schedule your pickups in advance via the app and your chauffeur will turn up.Download hereOpenFor on-the-go mindfulnessStress less, do more. Make a practise of re- setting and aligning – especially during a busy day – with mindfulness practises that can help de-stress the mind to avoid digi- tal burnout and improve focus on the day’s tasks and goals. Open, with its aesthetically pleasing user interface, is a subscription- based app equipped with breathwork and meditation courses and guides in three modalities: Breathe, Move, Meditate.Download hereFloraFor building life-changing habitsFocus on building discipline through creating positive and life-enhancing habits that can increase your productivity daily whether it’s listening to a podcast, doing an online course, or moving mindfully. Flora is a to-do list app with a built-in gamified habit tracker designed to reward as you complete your daily habits.Download hereNotionFor completing work tasks and collaborative task managementA productivity and note-taking app developed by Notion Labs Inc. that blends your everyday work apps into one providing an all-in-one connected workspace for you and your team, so you stop switching between apps and tabs to get work done effectively. Some of the useful organisational tools include project tracking, task management, and even integrating your favourite third-party work tools like Asana, Figma, Google Drive, Slack and more.Download hereFlow LabFor positive-thinking habitsTrain your mind to be active and get more things done with Flow Lab, an app with mental training techniques and guided meditations by personal coaches to develop a growth mindset that fuels productivity and motivation.Download hereFebruary’s – The Tech Issue with Christiana Maxion  – Download Now– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and InstagramFeatured Image: Instagram @cassdimicco More

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      Are you entitled to the new 4-day work week in the UAE?

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      Life

      by Sarah Joseph
      2 hours ago

      UAE federal government employees will soon have a three-day weekend.
      Per the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, UAE Federal government employees will be entitled to switch to a four-day work week under the latest rules.
      The official rules come into implementation on July 1, 2023, allowing government employees to choose their set weekly hours for the week. According to the latest law, they are entitled to no more than 10 hours per day or 40 hours per week, in both an employee and employer agreement.
      Last year, the UAE government moved to a four-and-a-half day workweek, working half-day on Fridays with flexible working hours and work-from-home options on Fridays.
      This law has been incorporated to ensure that government agencies are much more efficient had productive during the four-day work week. However, No rules have been laid for private sector employees.
      Following the footsteps of the UAE’s cultural capital, employees and students in Sharjah have been adjusting to the four-day work week since January 1, 2022.
      The results were reviewed in an official meeting in February 2023 by the Sharjah Executive Council (SEC), showcasing how this emirate has seen a rise of about 90 percent in job performance, happiness and mental health.
      – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Supplied & Feature Image: Instagram @walkovertheworld More