life Archives - Page 7 of 22 - Oh, Hello Living

What My Work Day Looks Like Right Now

Working from home has always had a bit of a weird schedule attached to it, but now that quarantine and COVID-19 are a regular norm, my daily work day looks quite different. Plus we’ve expanded our business services to doing boutique branding for companies which adds a whole new slew of changes. So here’s what my work day looks like right now. Of course it changes from day to day, but on average this is what a regular day at home for me looks like.

8:00am: Wake up, get ready, and make myself a chai tea latte. We got a milk frother right before quarantine started and my life has been 100% improved by it.

8:45am: Sit down at my desk in my studio and start on emails. I rarely work in bed anymore and I feel like I’m officially adulting. Gone are the days of bed desk mostly because I have a blazing fast desktop computer now.

10:00am: Team meeting to talk about current projects, what everyone is working on, and goals for the week. We find ourselves doing a lot more team meetings now that we manage a handful of clients’ marketing. We also have two rock star interns for the summer that we check in with regularly.

11:00am: client meeting. Sometimes there are a few in a day, but we often have at least one video meeting with a client. We’ll go over what we’re currently working on for them, get approval on things, and make plans for the next steps.

12:00pm: More emails. A lot of my life revolves around back and forth messages to get information, approval, and complete projects. It’s really not quite glamorous. Mostly me typing away and looking out the window behind my computer at people walking their dogs.

12:30pm: Lunch time. This is where I’ll play with the cats, change over a load of laundry, and eat (obviously). I’ve been going outside on our deck or the front porch to get some fresh air while I try to eat healthier.

1:00pm: After lunch it gets pretty quiet and I can buckle down and get the majority of my projects done. I do a lot of website design, content creation, and graphic design.

3:00pm: Now this doesn’t happen every day, but a lot of my committee meetings happen in the afternoon. I’m on a committee for the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s annual gala, a wayfinding committee for signage downtown, as well as an ambassador council for the Chamber of Commerce. These committees help me feel like I’m still connected to the downtown although I’m not there in person.

5:00pm: If I’ve gotten through my emails and made headway on projects, I’ll usually spend the last few minutes of my work day preparing for tomorrow. I’ll look at my project boards and write up a to do list for tasks to complete the next day. That way I can feel like I’m ready for the morning and can enjoy my evening.

The rest of my day consists of hanging out with Alex, baking, working on personal projects, and playing a whole lot of Animal Crossing.

What does an average day look like for you these days?

Snapshots of the Studio

Now I’m not saying I’ve permanently retired “bed desk,” but I’ve found myself spending the majority of my working hours in my office. How intrepid, right? My gallery wall is finally finished and it feels like everything is in its place.

Check out the video above to get the full tour of my counter top, what’s in the drawers and cabinets, and other hidden gems in my office. Who doesn’t love a good poke around someone’s space? I know I definitely do…

Six Years Working from Home | My Tips & Tricks

With more and more businesses like Twitter and Square letting employees work from home permanently, it seemed about time I threw my hat in about working from home. I’ve been working from home since 2014 and have developed tons of tips and tricks to make working from home, work.

1. Have your own space preferably with a door. One of the biggest problems with working at home is work/life balance. It’s going to be such a huge topic for months to come as people try to figure out all of the new world changes. Whether you have a special corner in the kitchen or a designated office space, have somewhere you work that isn’t where you live.

2. Take scheduled breaks. Put a couple of breaks into your schedule to get up, move around, and get away from your work. Go for a quick walk, eat lunch outside, or watch an episode of television. The most important part is to have a stop time to your break so you don’t end up binge watching an entire season of Community on Netflix. There’s so much value in taking a break to refresh your brain. You’ll end up being more productive over time than if you worked through that break anyway.

3. Have a start and stop time that you stick with like your life depends on it. Live by this schedule. Whether it means scheduling a meeting at the start of your work day to guarantee you’re at your computer or setting a million alarms, do whatever it takes to get to your workspace on time. The same is true with quitting time. It’s so easy to just keep working after five because you live where you work now. The workspace with the door makes it easy to close work off when it’s the end of the day, but regardless of your work environment, have a firm stop time.

4. Forgive yourself. Often. Because working at home is hard. Once the glamour of wearing pajamas and being close to snacks wears off, it takes a ton of focus and dedication to get shiz done. Some days will be easier than others. Be flexible and prepared to go with the flow.

5. Make a To-Do list the night before so you know what’s on the docket that morning. It’s so much easier to jump into the day than having to figure out your schedule the morning of. Plan ahead to give your future self a break. Plus once you finish all of the to-do list items you planned the night before, you’ll feel a strong sense of accomplishment.

There’s no perfect solution to working from home. It’s hard, changes daily, and what works one week won’t work next week. Following these tips will make the transition to working remotely a bit easier. Respect your time as much as possible because no one else will do it for you. In a way you’ve become your own boss. Sure you may have an actual boss, but no one’s watching you work when you’re at home. You’re responsible to get things done.

Now throw on those pajamas, clear off that catch-all desk in the spare room, and get to work.

In a world that has no end…

24 hours. 24 hours ago I crumpled into my husband’s arms outside of my parents’ house. Police cars and an ambulance surrounded the house. I knew before my husband spoke through his own tears. I knew someone was dead.

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My dad died yesterday. At 57 he just didn’t wake up. The man that walked me down the aisle at my wedding. The man who was always there to help me when I couldn’t figure something out. The man who bought me a hot pink tool set when I moved out of the house. The man who loved fiercely without so many words. The man who has left a huge hole in my heart.

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Life will go on without him. That’s the thing about life. It has a magical way of carrying on even when someone’s world ends. It doesn’t care if your dad just died. It doesn’t care about you, in a beautifully tragic fashion. And you know what? That gives me comfort in some strange way. Life will go on. Day after day will continue to trudge by. I know that in time I won’t want to shrink into a tiny ball until I blink out of existence to go find wherever dad went without me.

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My dad would always say, “Welcome to my world.” I’m looking forward to the day when I’ll get to hear him say it to me again. In a world that has no end.

My Goals for 2020

I feel like “resolutions” has become a dirty word this time of year. Sure most resolutions are given up by the middle of February, but I still love the concept of resetting, refocusing, and picking goals for the start of the new year. It all comes down to creating a good plan that’ll help you stick with it throughout the next 365 days.

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MY GOALS FOR 2020

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Lose 20 pounds to regain a healthy lifestyle and build more self confidence

Take a yoga class in a studio

Put at least $5,000 into savings

Spend at least 2-3 days a month with girl friends

Spend one day a month with my family doing an activity together

Create 50 different sticker packs for Oh, Hello Co.

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So how am I going to actually achieve these things? Simple. I’m going to put them in my planner and make time to do them. Like purposely set time out in my day in order to do yoga. I’m mildly obsessed with the new Erin Condren Softbound Planners* as they’re so easy to throw into a bag and travel with. The quality is top notch but I don’t feel the pressure to make it hella cute to post on social media.

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Plus I’ve given my goals clear benchmarks for success. I don’t just want to “save money.” I want to save a certain amount so that when I know when I have an extra $5,000 in savings, I’ve hit my goal. It’s so important to know exactly what constitutes a goal accomplished.

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What are some of your goals (ehm…resolutions…) in 2020? Do you have a word for your year? I’m thinking mine is going to be purposeful.

Five Things I Learned from Dog Sitting for Two Months

Now if I had to pick a team, I’m definitely team cat. But after two months of watching Cadence, Alex’s parents’ dog, it’s hard not to have a soft spot for pups. It’s been a few weeks now that she’s returned home after their move to Virginia, but she’s definitely left a lasting impression on me and taught me a few things I didn’t expect…

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1. Dogs truly know how to be happy. Like all the time. Cadence couldn’t wait to go for a car ride, got excited at every turn, and wanted her head out of the window any chance she got. Happiness just spilled out of her and it’s impossible not to get swept up in it.

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2. Definitely get a dog before having kids. I know people say it, but I never knew how true it could be. A dog teaches you a lot more responsibility than cats do.

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3. Dogs keep you healthier. I went on so many walks, got myself out of the house, and enjoyed the fresh air so much more thanks to Cadence. Even if we were just hanging out in the backyard, she pushed me to get some air every once in a while.

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4. You become weirdly obsessed with their bathroom habits and overall routine. I can’t tell you how often I found myself saying, “Oh she definitely has to poo.” Like my lord. And you know what, I felt proud knowing that information. She became my girl for two months and I learned her every like and dislike.

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5. Older dogs are something special. Cadence is nearly a decade old and I loved having an older pup around. She’s so smart, well trained, and listens. Definitely a must. Sure puppies are cute, but there’s just something about a loyal dog who is more than happy to take a nap with you in the middle of the afternoon.

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I miss this girl. I’m sure she’s having a blast in Virginia exploring her new home, but I wouldn’t mind if she came back to stay again…