Mike McRitchie | Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writer | Telecom Marketing Content Writer

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How to organize your digital space

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Having an unorganized workplace, especially when working from home can put a toll on your productivity. But when we think of messy, digital clutter usually doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Having your devices filled with files, apps and emails can not only impact your work but also put your information at risk.

Digital clutter is the disorganization of your data and files in your digital devices, whether that is a full storage, a crowded desktop or hundreds of unread emails, it can not only slow down your devices but it can also slow you down.

If you’re looking to find ways to achieve digital minimalism and increase productivity, here are some tips to deal with digital clutter:
Declutter the desktop
With increased device storage it’s easy to start accumulating files in your desktop and lose track of the amount of stuff you have saved. To start decluttering your desktop, think of it as organizing your garage, remove any files or apps you no longer need, then start creating folders such as utility, documents, photos, and drop all your floating files into a designated spot.

Organize your phone
Your phone is great for communicating with friends and family, keeping memories and even using it for work, so it’s easy to start accumulating unused photos and apps. If you want to free up storage space, and have your phone looking like new, you can start by going through your list of apps and deleting the ones you don’t need anymore. You can also backup your photos and delete any screenshots that are taking up space.

Purge your email
A lot of us might be guilty of keeping our inboxes full of unread and spam emails, which not only makes it an eye sore but it can also make you miss important emails. To help minimize this clutter, create an email account dedicated to messages you might want to see but don’t necessarily need to reply or check often. Adding labels and categorizing emails, such as “follow up” and “urgent” can be a great way to keep track of important messages that need to be addressed.

Decluttering your digital space is very important for your productivity and safety, but keeping it organized can be a struggle. Schedule monthly digital decluttering sections and delete any unused apps and files, and make sure to add files to a specific folder when downloading them.

If you want to find out more ways to deal with digital clutter and the benefits of having an organized device, you can check out The Zebra’s infographic below:

https://www.thezebra.com/homeowners-insurance/



Dealing with Digital Clutter

12 Steps to Save for Retirement While in the Workforce

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When you’re still in the workforce, planning for retirement might not be your top priority. However, the key to creating your ideal retirement situation is starting early. From discovering innovative ways to make money to opening a retirement account, there are lots of steps you can take to prepare for a satisfying future.

To help you figure out your own plans, we explain how to save for retirement during each decade of your working life. Keep reading to start mapping out your dream retirement plans today.

In Your 20s

Although you might want to work on eliminating debt and spending money on fun experiences in your 20s, this decade is also a great time to start planning for retirement. Here are a few early steps to take:

  1. Open a retirement account: Evaluate the differences between accounts such as 401(k)s, Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and SEP IRAs, then choose one that’s right for you.
  2. Automate your savings: After opening your account, set up recurring automatic payments so you can invest part of your paycheck every month.
  3. Create an emergency fund: In addition to a retirement account, it’s a good idea to set up a savings account with emergency funds for rent, food, and other necessities.

In Your 30s

After you’ve set the retirement planning groundwork in your 20s, here are some steps you should take in the next phase of your life:

  1. Add to your emergency fund: To account for big life changes, add more emergency funds to cover three to six months of expenses.
  2. Boost retirement savings: In addition to automated withdrawals from your paycheck, you can add to your retirement savings by cutting unnecessary spending, eliminating debt, requesting raises, or pursuing side jobs.

In Your 40s

Once you hit your 40s, it’s generally best to have three times your annual income in your retirement savings. To make sure you reach that benchmark, use these tips:

  1. Rethink goals: After examining the progress you’ve made thus far, adjust your retirement goals and figure out which areas need improvement.
  2. Invest more: If you take more investment risks at an earlier age, you’ll have more time to accumulate rewards and recover from unsuccessful investments.

In Your 50s

In addition to having six times your annual income in your retirement savings, keep these steps in mind once you’re in your 50s:

  1. Use catch-up contributions: Depending on your retirement account, you might be able to add catch-up contributions if you’ve fallen short of your retirement savings goals.
  2. Plan for healthcare costs: Based on your current health, you may be able to anticipate some of the healthcare and assisted living costs that could come down the road.

In Your 60s

At a minimum, you should have eight times your annual salary in your retirement savings when you’re 60. Here are some other retirement planning tips for this decade:

  1. Set a retirement budget: Figure out how much your monthly expenses will cost and create a retirement budget accordingly.
  2. Wait on Social Security benefits: Although you’re eligible for retirement benefits at 62, waiting to receive them until you’re 67 can increase your Social Security benefits.
  3. Purchase an annuity: To prevent you from outliving your savings and fund your retirement, you may want to purchase an annuity.

By taking these steps while in the workforce, you can set yourself up for a fulfilling retirement. To ensure that you meet your goals, use this printable monthly goal tracker to monitor your progress.

3 Common Mistakes New Small Business Owners Make and How To Avoid Them

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Photo by Unsplash

Approximately 20% of small businesses fail within their first year of business. While this isn’t as dismal as the often-proffered “50% of small businesses fail in the first year” stat, know that as many as 45% of SMBs fail within the first five years. Only 25% of small businesses make it to their 15th anniversary. Though there are dozens of reasons small businesses fail, some mistakes make failure much more likely. 

Below are the top three mistakes entrepreneurs make, and what you can do to avoid them.

Attempting to Run a Business Without Any Business Knowledge

Too many aspiring entrepreneurs assume that all it takes to make a business a success is an idea and the passion for bringing it to life. While passion and a vision are undoubtedly important, they’re only two ingredients of a long list. One ingredient that is often overlooked is education.

Only 44% of entrepreneurs have a college education, which shows that you don’t need a college degree to succeed in business. However, just because you don’t need it doesn’t mean you should forgo it.

A higher education can help you develop the skills and connections you need to grow your business. For instance, a master’s program in business can teach you important skills that many entrepreneurs don’t have, such as business leadership, management and accounting. It can also give you a head’s up on which mistakes to avoid so that you don’t have to learn them the hard way. An online program can allow you to obtain the education you need while still having time for your business.

Choosing the Wrong Type of Business Entity

Per the Small Business Administration website, there are nine types of business entities you can form, each of which comes with distinct advantages and disadvantages. Those entities are as follows:

  • Sole proprietorship
  • Partnership
  • Limited liability company
  • C corporation
  • B corporation
  • S corporation
  • Non-profit corporation
  • Closed corporation
  • Cooperative

You can also combine different structures to benefit from the various advantages of several while reducing the number of pitfalls. Whichever route you choose, it’s essential that you seek legal help. A good attorney can advise you on the structure that will best help you achieve your goals, how to remain in compliance with local and state laws and how you can minimize startup costs while setting yourself up for the most potential profit.

Going Into Business With a Friend

Your best friend is your biggest champion, the person who helped you develop your business idea and the person who encouraged you to bring it to life. He or she also happens to want to invest in your business by becoming a co-owner. Before you jump on the idea, consider the various reasons going into business with friends or family members is a terrible idea. Among others, those include:

  • Disagreements over everything from finances to roles to goals could cause a relationship rift.
  • Your friends and family members may struggle to remain objective and, therefore, be unable to identify risks and weaknesses.
  • You may struggle to assess your partner’s performance and vice versa.
  • If your business fails, so too could your relationship, which may cause a divide between friend and family groups.

There are dozens of mistakes you can make as an aspiring business owner, each of which may cost you your time and monetary investment. Here’s hoping your business finds success by avoiding the top three.

Upgrade your work-at-home set-up with these must-have accessories

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Working remotely has its perks. With groceries at home and no daily commute, you can save some serious cash. Plus, you can attend meetings in your sweatpants. What’s not to like? Well, a few things. For starters, your at-home setup may not be equipped with some of the many in-office supplies, accessories, and attributes that create a productive working environment. While your home can’t be turned into an exact replica of the office, you can make it a positive working environment with a few simple tips and tricks. For instance, investing in a pair of quality wireless headphones can block out external noise and help you focus. Speaking of wireless tech, a wireless keyboard and mouse (and propping your computer on a stand), can make for a much more ergonomic workspace than using a laptop alone.

Check out the graphic below to learn about the best office accessories for productive and comfortable remote working.

Managing Your Chronic Disease and Your Job

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The Centers for Disease Control define chronic diseases as those that limit the activities of daily living or require ongoing medical attention, and last at least a year or more. When defined that way, it’s not surprising that six in 10 American adults have at least one chronic condition, and four out of 10 live with two or more. These chronic conditions affect the productivity of people at work; according to the CDC, the lost productivity resulting from the seven most prevalent conditions equals a staggering 3.7 trillion dollars. 

Employers can help employees with chronic diseases in a number of ways, such as by promoting healthy activities at work. These activities may include health assessments and screenings; newsletters and other educational information about healthy lifestyles; reduced-rate gym memberships or an on-site gym; smoking cessation programs; standing desks; healthy snacks in break rooms and vending machines; and healthy, catered meals to employees.

If you are an employee with a chronic health condition, recognize that your symptoms may affect you at work. Determine how you can address them, whether that means taking more frequent breaks, working from home some of the time or managing your symptoms. Taking care of your overall health is essential. Consider whether you want to disclose your condition to your supervisor; while this step is not required, it may be beneficial. The accompanying resource details more about this.

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