Digital Nomadism: How to Work and Travel at the Same Time?

Digital Nomadism: How to Work and Travel at the Same Time? Vlad Badmaev Digital nomad with 3 years experience February 27, 2024 | Remote Working Tips Hello!My name is Vlad, I’m a marketer, and I work remotely from different countries. In this article, I’ll share how to combine work and travel, how to save money on trips, and how to make friends all over the world. Table of Contents: Digital Nomadism Thousands of years ago, people led a nomadic lifestyle, moving from place to place depending on the season or availability of resources. Some peoples still live like this, in constant motion. In recent years, this has also become popular among remote workers. People who live in a state of constant travel are called digital nomads. You’re probably used to having a home – a place you constantly return to (and that’s great!). But digital nomads don’t have a home – they constantly move from place to place, changing cities and countries, and never staying long in one place.This is how I live now, starting from March 2021. The pandemic allowed me and many of my colleagues to work from home, so I started traveling – first every 3 months, then every month. Eventually, I moved out of my rented apartment and bought a one-way ticket. In this lifestyle, you’ll be able to see many interesting places, travel half the world, and meet amazing people. On the other hand, it requires more effort, nerves, and money – and constant travel can become tiring at some point. Are you ready to become a digital nomad? Let’s answer to these 4 questions. Do I need a remote job? Yes.Almost all digital nomads I’ve met work remotely, doing SMM, video editing, graphic design, or product development. But in reality, the list is much longer than it seems. You can also work remotely as a lawyer, sales specialist, psychologist, and even an English teacher! Is it hard to travel alone? No.For some people, traveling alone is more comfortable because you’re more free and can go wherever you want.However, it’s also worth noting that everyday problems are easier to solve if you’re traveling with a group of friends or a partner (including reducing your accommodation expenses). Plus, you’ll feel better in a foreign country if you have a companion to have fun with.On the other hand, traveling with children is much more difficult. Online education cannot replace live interaction with peers for your children, and it may be difficult to find a nursery, school, or football club in a new country. Is constant travel expensive? Not always.Yes, travel costs money, but there are many ways to save, such as: using flight aggregator websites like Skyscanner or Google Flights;using airline bonuses (free miles);participating in couchsurfing and staying with locals;choosing hotels away from tourist spots;participating in hotel booking loyalty programs like booking.com (for example, the Genius program offers discounts of up to 20% on hotels; The minimum amount with which you can be a digital nomad is $600 per month. And virtual assistants can earn this income if they have just 2 clients and work 2-3 hours a day. Can I live with just one suitcase? Yes.In fact, you don’t need many things for a comfortable life. It’s enough to have a few sets of underwear, shoes, and necessary medicines – everything else will either be in your room/rented apartments (towels, hairdryer, robe), or you can buy it on-site for a small amount. Travel teaches you to get by with little! Working While Traveling It should be noted that work during travel differs significantly, and opportunities are limited. Sightseeing and transfers are usually done on weekends to avoid problems with the work process.Here are some tips to avoid work issues: always check the internet connection; it’s important to have a stable and fast connection. In case there are problems with the hotel Wi-Fi, get a local SIM card with a data package; keep track of your schedule; if you’re moving to a country with a different time zone, inform your clients or colleagues about your schedule, and if necessary, reschedule meetings and conferences; set up a workspace; choose rooms that have a large, comfortable desk, a soft chair with a back (not a stool or an armchair), and good lighting; Conclusion Many of us dream of traveling – but in reality, it’s not always convenient. Some travelers miss home and family, some get tired of constant moving, and for others, travel affects their budget. Plus, working full-time, you’ll likely spend most of your time in a hotel room.But it can definitely be said that it’s an interesting and exciting experience, and it’s worth trying at least once in life. And the most important thing you’ll need for this is remote work. Kickstart Your VA Career Today! Not sure if this profession is suitable for you? Join our free webinar and learn 5 steps of becoming a Virtual Assistant. Try Out Free Webinar Explore Paid Course

Is Virtual Assistant a Good Side Hustle?

Is Virtual Assistant a Good Side Hustle? How to Decide if It’s Right for You Athika Rahma SEO Specialist Virtual Assistant at SGBVA October 15, 2024 Remote Working Tips It’s no secret that earning a decent income is essential to living a better life and enjoying the things we love. Often, one income stream isn’t enough, which is why many people turn to side hustles. One of the most popular side hustles today is becoming a Virtual Assistant (VA). You’ve probably heard this term on various platforms. As a VA, you have the opportunity to work remotely from anywhere. But the question is: is virtual assistant a good side hustle? Table of Contents The Opportunity of Becoming a VA To determine whether becoming a VA is a good side hustle, it’s important to first understand what a virtual assistant does. A virtual assistant is a remote worker who provides administrative, technical, or creative assistance to clients, either part-time or full-time. VAs offer their expertise to help businesses meet their needs. So, is it like being a personal assistant, but online? Not exactly. There are many types of VA roles, including: Social Media Management (SMM) VA: Helps public figures or businesses promote their products or services on social media, building engagement with ideal clients or customers. Administrative Task VA: Assists busy individuals (such as business owners or people juggling multiple projects) by managing their administrative tasks. Project Management VA: Helps businesses manage their client projects efficiently. Email Marketing VA: Supports business growth through email marketing campaigns. Lead Generation VA: Helps businesses generate consumer interest in products or services with the goal of converting interest into sales. And that’s just the beginning! There are many more opportunities in this growing field. The Growing Demand for VAs With so many types of VA work, is there really a high demand for virtual assistants? According to a report by INSIDEA, the global virtual assistant market is projected to reach $25.63 billion by 2025, with an impressive annual growth rate of 30%. This growth is being driven by several key factors: More Remote Businesses Than Ever Before These days, more and more companies are going remote or adopting hybrid work setups, and that’s where virtual assistants (VAs) come in handy. Businesses still need help but often don’t want the hassle of hiring a full-time person to work in an office. That’s why VAs are becoming a go-to solution—companies can get the support they need without the commitment of a full-time hire. The Gig Economy Is Booming With so many people looking for flexible work, the gig economy is bigger than ever, and VAs are right at the center of it. Virtual assistants offer their services on a freelance or contract basis, which is a win-win for both sides. Companies can hire a VA just when they need one—for specific projects or tasks—without any long-term obligation. This is especially appealing for startups and small businesses that have fluctuating workloads. A More Affordable Option One of the biggest perks of hiring a VA is that it’s often cheaper than bringing on a full-time employee. For businesses in countries with high labor costs, hiring a VA from places like the Philippines, India, or Indonesia can be a real money-saver. It’s a cost-effective way to get the help they need without breaking the bank. Demand for Specialized Skills Is on the Rise The role of a VA has grown way beyond just managing emails or scheduling. Now, businesses are looking for VAs with specialized skills like digital marketing, social media management, content creation, and project management. As more companies rely on digital tools to grow, they need talented VAs who can help manage these important areas. A Lifeline for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses If you’re a small business owner or entrepreneur, you know what it’s like to juggle a million things at once. From marketing to customer service to handling finances, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Hiring a VA can be a game-changer—it frees up your time so you can focus on growing your business and working on the big-picture stuff, while the VA handles the daily tasks. No wonder so many entrepreneurs are turning to VAs for help. Saving Time Where It Counts  Business owners, especially those in startups, often find themselves buried in routine tasks like managing emails, scheduling meetings, and handling customer service. It can eat up hours of your day. This is where VAs step in, taking on those time-consuming jobs so owners can focus on more important things, like innovation and strategic decisions. The more business owners see how much time they save with a VA, the more popular this service becomes. The World Is Your Talent Pool Thanks to globalization, businesses aren’t limited to hiring people in their local area anymore. They can now tap into a global pool of talent, meaning they can find the perfect VA from anywhere in the world. For virtual assistants, especially those in developing countries, this opens up huge opportunities to work with clients across the globe. It’s a big reason why VA services are booming internationally. Why Now is the Right Time to Start VA Business Given the growing demand for virtual assistants, now is the perfect time to start your VA business. You can build your brand and develop your skills, so you’re ready to take full advantage of the booming VA market as it continues to expand. Before 2025, you have the chance to establish yourself in this rapidly growing industry. As businesses increasingly rely on virtual support, those who are well-prepared with the right skills and experience will have a competitive edge. Whether you’re skilled in administrative support, social media, project management, or other specialized areas, there’s a high demand for your services. The growing market, combined with the flexibility and freedom that comes with being a VA, makes it one of the most attractive and viable side hustles today! How Much Can You Earn as a VA? Virtual assistants play a

How Much You Can Earn as a Virtual Assistant

How Much Can You Earn as a Virtual Assistant? Oni Lestari Virtual assistant, copywriter, SEO-expert Remote Working Tips After the Covid-19 pandemic, more opportunities have emerged to work remotely, without the need to go into an office. One great example is becoming a virtual assistant. You can work from home, or anywhere you like, and set your own schedule. However, many people are still ask: how much money can I make as a virtual assistant? Can you really charge $10 per hour for your services? What if that’s too expensive for some clients? On the other hand, what happens if you set your rate too low? To answer these questions, let’s dive into the explanation in the article below. Table of Contents: Who is the Virtual Assistant The definition of virtual assistants is partners who help businesses with administration, management, or creative tasks from the online space. This role is not new, it started in 1996 when Anastasia Stacy Brice pioneered this job as a full-time secretary working from home for her international clients. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the virtual assistant industry, as it contributed to remote work and de-urbanization trends. This made virtual assistants more popular and increased demand. As businesses adapt to the demands of the digital age, they are cultivating new needs, especially in technology and those skilled in it. Today, virtual assistants play a key role in increasing brand visibility through digital marketing, providing technical support, handling managerial tasks such as project management, and much more. The various duties and responsibilities of a virtual assistant are also tailored to the client’s needs. So, the services of a virtual assistant for one client may be different from another client. Fees for virtual assistant services vary based on many factors, such as: Experience and reputation Specialized skills Project type and complexity Software and equipment Market demand Geographical location Fees for services like digital marketing and other services that require additional skills and knowledge are usually higher than administrative support or personal assistance services. Basic administrative tasks may range from $5 to $10 per hour, while specialized services like digital marketing or project management can command higher rates, often ranging from $10 to $25 per hour in the Southeast Asia region. Calculating Potential Earnings for a Beginner VA With businesses relying more on virtual help for remote work, being a virtual assistant is a smart choice. Here’s the exciting part; recent stats say the virtual assistant industry grew by 41% in 2020, and it’s still going up in line with the emergence of many online businesses (source: truelist.co). If you’re considering starting out as a beginner virtual assistant, you might wonder about how much you can earn. Just like any other job, the fees for virtual assistants also vary based on many factors, such as experience and skillset. Virtual assistants typically charge clients based on hourly rates, project-based rates, or even monthly packages. The chosen structure often depends on the nature of the tasks and the preferences of both the virtual assistant and the client. How do you figure out your niche? This question can be one of the most challenging aspects for beginners. We’re going to explain what a niche is and how to decide on your niche. But before we delve deeper, let’s make it clear: you don’t have to lock yourself into a niche. The best part of being a virtual assistant, or a business owner of any kind, is the flexibility to pivot your business as needed. If you choose a specific niche now, you can change it anytime. To figure it out, you can start by answering these two questions. One, “what skills do I already have that I can use to serve clients?” and two, “what type of tasks do I want to be doing as a virtual assistant?” Hourly Rates As a beginner, setting a competitive yet reasonable hourly rate is crucial. From our survey, the hourly rate for a beginner virtual assistant is $10 per hour or $300 per month from one client. If we calculate, you can get that amount with 1-2 hours of work a day. Because of that, you still have plenty of time for other clients, or to upgrade your skills so you can increase your rates. Project-Based Rates For specific projects, virtual assistants might charge a flat fee. Project rates vary widely based on the complexity and duration of the task. For example, a landing page project starts with 24 hours of work or a week (source: onix-systems.com). If we calculate with hourly rates of $10 per hour, you could get $240 for a landing page project. A well-calculated project rate ensures fair compensation for the virtual assistant’s time and effort. Monthly Packages Offering monthly retainer packages is another approach. These packages provide a set number of hours for a fixed monthly fee, ensuring a consistent income for the virtual assistant. Let’s take an example of a monthly package that includes social media services, creating 4 posts per week and a total of 16 posts for the month. If it requires 30 hours a month and the hourly rate is $10 per hour, then $300 will be invoiced to a client every month. Again, it only takes 1-2 hours of work a day for one client, and you still have plenty of time for other clients, for family, or to upgrade yourself. Imagine you’re helping three clients. Two of them pay you monthly for managing their social media for 30 hours, and the third one pays for a project, like creating a landing page, which takes 24 hours. In total, you could earn $840 each month by working 4-5 hours a day. Set Up Minimum Acceptable Rate (MAR) Minimum Acceptable Rate (MAR) is a baseline that ensures services are not undervalued. It represents the minimum amount that a virtual assistant is willing to accept for an hour of skilled assistance, considering factors such as expenses, taxes, and desired income. There are steps on

Virtual Assistant 101: How to Begin Your Remote Career in 2024

Virtual Assistant 101: How to Begin Your Remote Career in 2024 Oni Lestari Virtual assistant, copywriter, SEO-expert April 24, 2024 | Remote Working Tips Ever dream of working from anywhere in the world, setting your working hours, and helping businesses grow? Then becoming a Virtual Assistant (VA) might be the perfect fit for you! The virtual assistant world is booming, offering a chance to put your skills to work for a variety of clients, all from the comfort of your own home. But where do you even begin? Don’t worry, this ultimate virtual assistant guide is here to break it down for you. We’ll cover everything you need to know, from discovering your virtual assistant skills to finding your first client and launching your successful remote career. So, grab a cup of coffee, get comfy, and let’s unlock the exciting world of virtual assisting! Table of Contents: What is a Virtual Assistant? First, let’s establish a clear understanding of who a virtual assistant is. A virtual assistant is a remote worker who provides administrative, technical, or creative assistance to clients. They work online, offering their services on a part-time or full-time basis. They dedicate their time and expertise to supporting business needs. Now, we’re ready to talk about how to build a strong foundation to prepare yourself before you start to approach a potential client as a virtual assistant. Sometimes when we start something new, adrenaline pushes us forward and makes us want to kick off the projects right away. But sometimes an initial idea without a clear vision will leave you with half-finished tasks. That’s why having a solid plan is crucial. So in this article, we’re gonna take a deep dive into the key steps to set you up for success as a virtual assistant. Know the Niche and Services that You’ll be Offering First things first, let’s nail down your niche and the services you’ll offer. If you’re new to this, you might be wondering what niche is, let’s talk about it in the most basic terms. Niching is choosing an area to specialize in. This helps you decide who you’ll work for and what services you’ll offer. Most of the time when you hear about a niche in the VA context, you’ll hear people say, “I work for coaches to finish their to-do list”, or “My niche is YouTubers or wellness business owners.” There are many different niches because the opportunities to work with virtual assistants are endless. Business owners, self-employed individuals, and even employees all have the possibility of needing a virtual assistant. How do you figure out your niche? This question can be one of the most challenging aspects for beginners. We’re going to explain what a niche is and how to decide on your niche. But before we delve deeper, let’s make it clear: you don’t have to lock yourself into a niche. The best part of being a virtual assistant, or a business owner of any kind, is the flexibility to pivot your business as needed. If you choose a specific niche now, you can change it anytime. To figure it out, you can start by answering these two questions. One, “what skills do I already have that I can use to serve clients?” and two, “what type of tasks do I want to be doing as a virtual assistant?” 1. List the Skills You Already Have Let’s start with the first question: What skills do you have? This can be anything, so get creative! You’ll need to brainstorm a list of all the skills you have from any previous jobs, school, or even personal hobbies. It can be something super simple, like being great at writing emails, organizing your family schedule, or having coding skills. Anything you think could be transferred to a business setting or offered as a service goes on the list. Just get it all down in front of you, whether on a piece of paper or in your notes app. If you dive deep into what you can do, you’ll be surprised at the thousands of things that could end up on your list! 2. List the Tasks You Want to be Doing The second question to ask yourself is: What type of tasks do you WANT to be doing as a VA? What are you DREAMING of doing? If you’ve considered becoming a VA, you probably already have some ideas in mind. Now’s the time to write that list down! Don’t limit yourself to what you think you can do right now. Honestly, new and exciting tasks will often pop up when you’re working as a VA that you hadn’t even considered before. You’ll be surprised by your ability to figure things out as you go. Do you dream of helping someone launch their podcast? Or maybe you’d love to work with writers to get their books out to the world? The opportunities are endless when you’re a VA! There are no rules that say you can’t work with specific clients or in specific areas just because you’re a virtual assistant. Dream big – you can make anything happen, even if it takes some time. Don’t hold yourself back! 3. Define Your Niche and Services When you have this list, you can review it repeatedly to make sure everything aligns with what you want to do, not what you feel obligated to do. This is your chance to break free from tasks that no longer bring you joy. So, choose activities that spark excitement and ignite a sense of fulfillment. Now you have two sets of answers. See which ones might work well together. For example, if you have excellent email communication skills and want to work with small businesses, then your niche might be “small business owners” and your service offering could be “customer service.” If you love to write and want to work with podcasters, then your niche is “coaches” and your service could be “coach assistant.” Being clear about this helps you

Admin Tasks: The Simplest Way to Become a Remote Worker

Admin Tasks: The Simplest Way to Become a Remote Worker Author Name Virtual assistant, copywriter, SEO-expert April 17, 2024 | Remote Working Tips Dreaming of escaping the daily commute and trading rush hour for a cozy home office or your favorite coffee shop? The world of remote work offers incredible flexibility and freedom. But what kind of jobs can you do from anywhere? Believe it or not, the key might lie in a skillset you already possess: Admin tasks! But what exactly are admin tasks, and how can they translate into a flexible remote career? Read on to discover the power of admin skills and how they can be your ticket to becoming a Virtual Assistant (VA), who helps businesses thrive from afar. Table of Contents: Why Admin Skills are Great for Starting Out Now, you might be thinking “Admin tasks? Isn’t that just answering emails and filling papers?” While it can involve those things, it’s actually so much more! Basically, admin tasks are the behind-the-scenes heroes that keep businesses running smoothly. They’re the organizers, the schedulers, the email managers who take care of all the everyday tasks that free up busy professionals to focus on the bigger picture of their businesses. But here’s the best part, becoming a VA specializing in admin tasks is a great starting point for a remote career. Let’s break it down into two key reasons: Easier to get started Unlike some remote jobs that require specialized training or extensive experience, many admin tasks rely on skills you probably already have. Think about the things you do to manage your day-to-day life. You likely schedule appointments, keep track of deadlines, and stay on top of your emails. These are all valuable admin skills that businesses are constantly in need of. What matters most is having strong organizational skills and being comfortable using common computer programs. Always in Demand No matter the size of the industry, businesses are always looking for ways to streamline their operations. Like scheduling meetings, managing emails, and doing research. They just don’t have the time (or sometimes the manpower) to handle it all themselves. That’s where you, a VA specializing in admin tasks come in. You’ll take care of all those repetitive tasks that can bog down a business owner or employee, offering a helping hand to businesses in need, and freeing them up to focus on what they do best, doing tactical tasks and making decisions. It’s a win-win solution! Do you dream of helping someone launch their podcast? Or maybe you’d love to work with writers to get their books out to the world? The opportunities are endless when you’re a VA! There are no rules that say you can’t work with specific clients or in specific areas just because you’re a virtual assistant. Dream big – you can make anything happen, even if it takes some time. Don’t hold yourself back! Common Admin Tasks for VAs So, what exactly are admin tasks? Here’s a closer look at some of the most common admin tasks VAs do: Email Management: This may seem like a simple chore, but for busy professionals, it can be time-consuming. It involves sorting through incoming emails, prioritizing messages, crafting responses, and maintaining a clean and organized inbox. Calendar Management: Staying on top of schedules is crucial. VAs assist with scheduling appointments, setting reminders, coordinating meetings, and managing multiple calendars to ensure everyone stays on track. Document Creation & Editing: From crafting clear and concise reports to creating visually appealing presentations, VAs can transform raw information into polished documents that effectively communicate ideas. Data Entry: In the world of business, information is king, and keeping it organized is key. As a virtual assistant who specializes in data entry, you’ll be the data organizer! You take all sorts of information and put it into a neat and tidy format. This ensures that all vital information is readily accessible and up-to-date, making it easier for businesses to find what they need when they need it. Your tasks might include adding new products to online store websites, inputting customer or lead information, organizing survey answers, filling out daily marketing reports, and so on. Internet Research: Research is a vital tool for businesses of all sizes, but busy professionals often don’t have enough time to do it effectively. VAs offer a valuable solution, providing comprehensive research findings that empower businesses to make informed decisions. Imagine a coffee shop chain that wants to expand to Asia. You’d search for info on competitors, coffee trends, who drink it most (age groups, income levels), and even interview coffee lovers online to understand local preferences. This helps them pick the best country to open first! Travel Planning: Business trips can be hectic, but VAs can take the stress out of travel planning. They can handle all the logistics, booking flights and hotels, and crafting detailed itineraries to make the journey smooth and stress-free. Customer Service: Providing excellent customer service is paramount. VAs can handle customer inquiries, answer questions, and resolve issues. This ensures a positive customer experience, which is key for building loyalty and repeat business.   While these core admin tasks are a fantastic foundation for launching your VA career, there’s always room for growth! As you gain experience, you can expand your skillset to offer even more valuable services to your clients, such as: Social Media Management: In today’s digital age, a strong social media presence is essential, but managing these platforms can take much time. As a VA, you can help clients by scheduling engaging posts, responding to comments and messages from customers, and monitoring social media trends to ensure their online presence stays vibrant and effective. Bookkeeping: Maintaining accurate financial records is also important for any business. If you have an aptitude for numbers, you can expand your skillset to offer basic bookkeeping tasks to your clients. This might involve things like entering data into spreadsheets, managing invoices, and keeping track of expenses.   Remember, the choice is yours! As you

Build Self-Confidence: 4 Ingredients to Achieving Your Success

Build Self-Confidence: 4 Ingredients to Achieving Your Success Oni Lestari Virtual assistant, copywriter, SEO-expert April 3, 2024 | Remote Working Tips Do you ever look at others and feel like they have it all figured out, while you’re left questioning your every move? This constant battle between self-doubt and self-confidence can be exhausting. But what if we told you that unshakeable confidence is within your reach? This article will explore the root causes of self-doubt, embracing imperfections, and cultivating self-love. Are you ready to unlock your inner confidence and become your best version? Let’s dive in and explore these powerful tools for building unshakeable self-belief. Table of Contents: Self-Confidence VS. Self-Doubt Self-confidence and self-doubt are like two sides of a penny. There’s a side when we want to start a new business, we might see success in the future. But on the other side when we want to do it, we’re afraid someone will ask “Your major is electrical engineering, why are you doing that?”. Or when we want to upload our content and grow personal branding, we’re afraid someone from our office will judge us. It’s like we have a thought that “Hey, this is the path, this is what you could go down” and there’s also a thought that tells us “No, don’t go, stay in the cave, stay in your comfort zone.” So, let’s discuss where that self-doubt comes from and how to build self-confidence. Learn how to silence that inner critic and unleash the power within, allowing you to confidently pursue your goals and dreams with these 4 steps. #1 Stop Overthinking We all fall victim to overthinking sometimes. But even though our thoughts are powerful, they are not always facts. Our brains are constantly generating thoughts to interpret the world around us. The problem is we often mistake these thoughts for reality. This is where self-doubt creeps in. That nagging voice telling us “You can’t do this” is fueled by negative thought patterns. It’s not our feelings or the situation itself, but the way we think about them, that creates our emotional state and potentially hinders our actions. If your inner critic comes in when you want to do something, you could challenge that thought by asking yourself, “Have I met most of the requirements? Can I learn the rest quickly?” Then you could take action by updating your knowledge, skills, and experiences, then doing what you need to do with confidence! But if you’ve met the requirements, just do it! Here’s why overthinking is counterproductive:Fear of failure: You need to keep in mind that you can’t predict the outcome of your work, failure or success is not in your hand. You can try again if you fail, but if you don’t try you have to live with the regret forever.Unrealistic expectations: You compare yourself to others and create unrealistic goals, setting yourself up for disappointment. Because there’s no such thing called overnight success.Perfectionism: The pursuit of perfection becomes a barrier to progress. It’s okay to start imperfectly and iterate as you go. As Reid Hoffman, co-founder of Linkedin, famously said, “If you’re not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.” Remember, self-doubt is a common human experience. By recognizing its source in your thoughts, and learning to challenge them, you can break free from overthinking and take control of your life. #2 Stop Comparing Yourself The age of social media highlights everyone’s “best life”, creating the illusion that others possess something mysterious we lack. Scrolling through Instagram feeds or comparing ourselves to colleagues can fuel the belief that “they have it all”, more money, time, or support. This constant comparison fuels negativity and makes us feel inferior. The truth is, constantly comparing ourselves to others rewires our brains for negativity. Our brains, wired for efficiency, tend to repeat patterns. The more we compare, the more rooted the negativity cycle becomes. It doesn’t matter if we just got a promotion or have a great relationship, that feeling of positivity can be overshadowed by underlying negative self-belief. External validation, like compliments or achievements, doesn’t create lasting confidence because it doesn’t address the root cause: our thoughts about ourselves. Instead of letting those negative thoughts simmer, acknowledge your feelings and then reframe them. Tell yourself, “Everyone has different strengths. Maybe I can learn from them and improve my own.” You could also congratulate them and ask for some pointers. Here’s how to stop comparing and build confidence: Shift your focus. Instead of comparing your journey to someone else’s highlight reels, focus on your path. Celebrate your progress, big and small. Challenge your thoughts. When the comparison monster whispers doubts, question its validity. Are these thoughts based on reality or just fear? Build confidence from within. Confidence comes from self-belief, not external achievements. Invest in activities that build your self-worth and positive self-image. And always remember that your life is a unique journey. Stop comparing yourself to others and focus on becoming the best version of yourself.   #3 Know Yourself, Know Your Worth How well do we truly know ourselves? In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in external distractions, constantly evaluating and comparing ourselves to others. We may find ourselves neglecting the most important journey of all: self-discovery. The truth is, life isn’t about what’s outside of us, but what’s within. When we focus too much on external factors, we lose sight of our true selves. This can lead to feelings of anxiety, fear, and lack of inner peace. The antidote to this is self-confidence. This is when we know and accept ourselves fully, we can navigate life’s challenges with grace and resilience. We can make decisions aligned with our values and live a life that is authentic and meaningful. When we truly know ourselves, we can accept our strengths and weaknesses, our unique personality traits, and our past experiences. This acceptance leads to greeted self-confidence and a more positive self-image. You might be a great writer,

Work-Life Balance: What It Is and How to Achieve Yours

Work-Life Balance: What It Is and How to Achieve Yours Oni Lestari Virtual assistant, copywriter, SEO-expert March 20, 2024 | Remote Working Tips The concept of work-life balance often feels like a distant dream when our days are filled with busy schedules and endless responsibilities. Like climbing a mountain, It’s tough, sometimes it’s hard to catch a breath. It takes a lot of effort and feels like we’re carrying a heavy load. Everything could go wrong if we make a mistake, even a small one. And sometimes it makes us wonder, is work-life balance fact or fiction? Is it important to achieve it? And how we can achieve it? Our beliefs and perception of work-life balance affect our mindset and actions about how we manage our time and what we think is possible. Whether we think it is true or not, it affects how we act. So, to answer all the questions above and shape our perception of work-life balance, let’s dive into: The History of Work-Life Balance It’s important to know where things started and why to understand it better. So, let’s back to the moment when the concept of work-life balance was born. Work-life balance was started in the United Kingdom in the 80s as an issue in the Women’s Liberation Movement. This movement pushed for women to have the option of flexible work hours and maternity leave. At that time, people mostly expected women to have a career and still be in charge of the family and home. It relates to women’s role in male-female relationships when taking care of the house. Like cooking, cleaning, taking care of the kids, and many more things. Women felt pulled in many directions because of the responsibility to handle both home tasks and a career. This is when the idea of balancing work and life became important. Work-Life Balance in This Era Things haven’t changed much. The expectation for women to work and take care of the family and home still seems pretty similar to what we see today. And with the technology changing, achieving work-life balance isn’t just a problem for women but becomes a challenge for everyone. Technology changes how we work Technology offers great flexibility and connectivity but also blurs the lines between professional and personal life. The existence of smartphones, email, and remote work tools means that workers are often expected to be available around the clock. It contributes to an ‘always on’ culture. In today’s competitive job market, many workers also worry about taking time off or saying no to more work. It relates to job insecurity because it makes people think they don’t care about the job. Rising expectations make them end up putting work before their personal life. All of that affects how millennials (1981-1996) and Gen Z (1997-2012) take their action and decisions regarding work-life balance. Work-life balance in today’s generation Millennials focus more on their lifestyle compared to older generations. But the main difference is that Millenials prefer jobs that match their values. They want to enjoy their work because they don’t see it as separated from their life. For them, life and work mix instead of being separated parts. And there’s Gen Z, who is just starting to work. It seems they want their jobs to be even more meaningful than millennials do. A study by Dynamic Signal found that they value having a community at work. When they pick a job, they care more about having a balance between work and life, and also about their happiness. Rather than about how much they make or the company’s reputation The truth of work-life balance So, should you achieve a work-life balance? Some of you might think work-life balance is important, but even if you’re not perfectly balanced, that’s okay. Being imperfect at something doesn’t mean you’re a failure. It simply means you’re human. And if you believe that work-life balance is impossible, you might become a workaholic and continue being overwhelmed. Because, again, our beliefs and perception of work-life balance affect our mindset and actions about how we manage our time and what we think is possible. The important thing isn’t about whether work-life balance is true or not, but having a clear picture of the life you desire. How to Set Up Boundaries Now that we’ve learned about work-life balance, why it matters, and how people see it these days, let’s talk about how to achieve it. One way to do this is by setting clear boundaries. What is boundaries Boundaries are something that makes us more present, not distracted, and give all the attention to what we care about. Without boundaries, work keeps expanding because there’s no stop time. When our focus is split between work and our personal life. We are unable to devote ourselves to either fully. Imagine when we’re having dinner with family or friends while checking phones constantly, worried about the project and other tasks. We might think it’s a productive way to do two things at the same time. But actually, we’re not paying attention to either because we’re not being present. After some time, it might seem like we’re always working and our work-life balance isn’t right even though we’re not getting more work done. It’s like we’re always working but there’s always more work left. This can be confusing and frustrating. So, here’s the step to make your boundaries more clear: Define your boundaries Don’t let someone define your boundaries, do it yourself. Because when you let someone else drive you, don’t be surprised if you don’t like the direction your time is taking. To do it, you need to make a visual of what condition you’re okay and not okay with. ‘Am I okay doing work after my work hours are done?’‘Am I okay with canceling plans to work for an important client?’‘Am I okay with missing dinner and bedtime stories with my kids, to talk on the phone with my boss?’ Then, put them into a decision and

Working Mom Time Management: How to Manage Everything

Virtual Assistant 101: How to Begin Your Remote Career in 2024 Oni Lestari Virtual assistant, copywriter, SEO-expert March 8, 2024 | Remote Working Tips Are you a working mom or a mompreneur? and need a ‘working mom time management’ that will answer your questions about how to stay motivated when you just want to lay on the sofa and watch movies. Or how to deal with life and work boundaries getting so blurry or not existing. Or what to do with all of those plans you made, and goals you’re so excited about. This article is for you who are struggling with time management so you can navigate your time and figure out priorities while taking care of yourself and your family. Table of Contents: Stay Motivated The first thing you need to do to stay productive and have good working mom time management is to find the motivation to start it. When you’re not motivated, remember ‘why’ you do things in the first place. Your ‘why’ is like a spark to start and fuel to continue. Think about your goals and the opportunities they can bring in your future. When you feel numb during your routine, pause a second and take a quick inventory of your ‘why’. Consider the benefits that the job can give you. Is it finding your dream of opening your own business? is it helping you save for an expected vacation, or does it enable you to provide your children with proper education? To help you gather thoughts about that, you can create a vision board. Finding the image that represents your why or you in the future to boost your spirits when feeling low. Working on To-Do List Make a to-do list to end your day feel accomplished and stay on track. As we know, humans can forget, and that’s why we should start making it. Here are the tips on how to make your to-do list work: 1. Write Your To-Do List Don’t write a to-do list in your head, instead write it down in your note. Because our mind is for having ideas not for holding them. So, if your to-do list is still in your head, choose the tools to write it down right now. 2. Simplifying To-Do List Simplify your to-do list by making it in one place to avoid confusion. Scattered lists make your brain doubt, and start to lose trust in it. Because instead of focusing on the things on the list, your brain will overdrive to continue remembering what to do next in fragmented notes. So, give your brain a break by simplifying. Whether you’re using a notepad, productivity app, or book, strive for consistency. 3. Make a Short To-do List Make a short to-do list and avoid the long one for two reasons. First, a long to-do list will leave you feeling defeated and overwhelmed at the end of the day. Because there is still a ton of stuff left on it. Second, a long to-do list often includes unnecessary tasks that you don’t need to do today. You can automate this kind of task with the routine, the technology, or delegating to someone else. Or, you can delete all those things and make it shorter. A short and realistic to-do list is the key to feeling accomplished at the end of your day. 4. Make Action-Based To-Do List Does your to-do list collection of nouns? like food, house, car, etc. When you write it, you might mean something like preparing food, cleaning the house, or servicing the car. Instead, of writing the detail, you keep it in your head. You can stop that habit and start to add a verb to your list. 5. Make Task-Based To-Do List Write a good to-do list based on tasks, not projects. In a project, there is more than one step to complete, such as organizing a webinar event. On the other side, a task is one action item in your list. So, instead of writing the project title and using a broad action, you can detail it. Such as contacting the speaker, booking the place, or preparing the food. With this, you can plan and prioritize, whether to do it today or tomorrow. It will make you less overwhelmed and achieve your daily to-do list perfectly. Set Priorities After you have all the things you need to do on the list. Then, what to do next in ‘working mom time management’ is to make a prioritization. Take a moment to scan your list and identify which items are the most important to your goals, whether it’s personal or professional goals. Write a number beside your list based on your priority. As a working mom, you also need to put your self-care on your list of priorities. Listen to your body, because when entering motherhood, your body will change after experiencing childbirth and breastfeeding. As most moms get less than an hour to themselves daily. Self-care will remind you in the end, that you’re not only a mom, a wife, or an entrepreneur, but you are also a person with needs and interests. To help you decide which one is more important than the other. You can consider using a prioritization matrix. It divides priority into 4 parts based on important and urgent aspects. Important tasks contribute to your long-term goals and overall success. And urgent tasks are time-sensitive and require immediate attention. Here’s how you can sort them: Important and urgent The first on your priority is important and urgent tasks. You should do this kind of task immediately. Important and not urgent The second on your priority is important and not urgent tasks. You can decide to put it on your schedule, but it’s better to do it immediately. Not Important and urgent The third on your priority is not important and urgent tasks. You can choose who can do this task for you and delegate it. Not Important and not urgent The fourth on your priority is