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Lifestyle

5 Things to Do Before Moving for a New Job

Moving to a new city to advance your career is stressful, and because you often have to relocate on a short timeline, you may be overwhelmed by the process. Staying organized is essential for a smooth move that causes minimal time, money, and stress. Do these five things before you go to streamline the process.

1 Know Your Moving Budget

You must set a strict budget when relocating to avoid wasting money. In addition to the cost of buying or renting a new place to live, you need to pay for utility startup costs, groceries, and furnishings for your home. You may also need to buy packing supplies, sell your existing house and hire professional movers. These small expenses add up quickly, so it’s important to list out every possible cost when setting a moving budget. You may also want to ask your new company about relocation reimbursement because this perk could cover most of your expenses.

2 Create a Moving Plan

Your job may pay for professionals to pack and transport all of your belongings to your new home. If you are responsible for your expenses, you must decide if you should hire professionals or rely on friends to help. Hiring a professional moving team can get the job done faster, but you may not have room in your budget. Decide which of these options is best for you before making any other decision.

3 Find a New Home

Make a list of your desired features and amenities in a new home and start looking at listings in your new city that meets your criteria and fit your budget. In San Angelo, TX, houses are selling for under $175,000 on average, while the average rental home ranges from $500 to $1,500 a month.

According to one survey, being in a great school district is the top criterion for 78% of Americans. You also need to think about logistics such as your commute to your new job or the distance to the nearest grocery store. After narrowing down which area you want to live in, choose the perfect house and neighborhood by focusing on the following specifics:

  • Square footage
  • Sightlines
  • Number of bedrooms
  • Lot size
  • Neighborhood noise levels
  • Number of electrical sockets

4 Write a To-Do List With Deadlines

Moving to a new city on a short timeline means you need to complete numerous tasks in days or weeks instead of months. You don’t want to forget to pack some of your belongings or fail to tie up loose ends. Writing a list of all of your major goals helps you stay organized while preparing to move. Break each item into small, manageable tasks. Give each task a deadline, which helps you stay on track to reduce stress.

5 Start Packing

Packing your belongings is a huge task, and if you opt to do it yourself, it can take days or weeks. Start by pacing the items you use infrequently. Make sure to label every box so you know where the contents go once they reach your destination. Wait to pack essential items you use every day until moving day and keep them separate from your other belongings so you can locate them easily when you arrive at the new house.

Planning and preparation reduce your stress levels when you are moving to a new city for a job. Use these tips to save time and money while preparing for a smooth relocation.

Articles, Lifestyle

How to Get the Most Productivity Out of Working at a Desk

How to Get the Most Productivity Out of Working at a Desk

One common struggle experienced by many people who work a “desk job” is maintaining motivation and productivity. Sitting in one space all day repeating the same tasks can become monotonous. Despite this, there are a few ways to increase your productivity and maintain your motivation, no matter what job keeps you stuck at your desk. Keep reading to find out how!

Stay Focused on Work

A desk is much more than a desk. It’s a workspace, an environment. You have control over how you create and maintain that environment. You can greatly increase your productivity if you make your desk strictly a workspace, and do other activities like eating lunch or taking a break elsewhere. There are a number of reasons why you shouldn’t eat lunch at your desk. One of these main reasons is that if you eat lunch at your desk, you condition or train yourself to get used to not focusing at your desk. Conversely, if you eat lunch in the breakroom, you train yourself to stay focused on work while at your desk, ultimately remaining more productive.

Keep it Clean

Keeping your desk and office clean can be a key part of staying productive. Having clutter all over your desk can be distracting and hinder your productivity. If you keep your desk clean and free of distracting materials, you’ll make physical and mental space to focus on your work. Of course, you don’t have to completely sterilize your workspace—adding a fun bit of personality such as personal mementos or inspiring quotes can help you be motivated and have fun too! The main idea is to avoid distractions that hamper your productivity.

Use a Planner

In addition to optimizing your physical workspace through environmental conditioning and cleanliness, you can (and should!) optimize your mental workspace through detailed planning. When you don’t have a specific plan, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and not know where to start. This can lead to procrastination and a lack of productivity. To avoid this common pitfall, use a daily planner, and come up with a few manageable, specific tasks which you can accomplish each day to feel productive. Checking things off your list will feel good and serve as a visual symbol of your success, encouraging you to continue working hard. Set yourself up for success through environmental conditioning, cleanliness, and planning! These three suggestions will help you stay productive and make the most out of your time at your desk. With these productivity tips at your disposal, why wait? Contact us now to schedule a free day and take advantage of our amazing workspace!