Guest Post - 5 Must-Have Tech Additions to Your Office

Tech additions to your office may seem like a smart, yet, optional move, however, in the 21st century, reluctance to embrace them may end up costing more than heavily investing in them. Each of these gadgets, appliances and trends drives your company’s productivity forward, which provides your entire organization with some quite beneficial side-effects. With that in mind, here are five must have tech additions for your office.

Dual monitors

The first tech addition that you can make in your office is to provide everyone with a dual-screens option. Regardless of what they do in the office, they could probably benefit from having one more display. For coders and designers, the advantages are more than obvious, yet, even copywriters and content writers can benefit from this, too. Imagine not having to alt-tab every minute in order to take another glance at the resource that you’re using for an article in question. Sure, you may argue that, this way, you save but a several seconds at a time, however, try to consider how often you repeat this action. This alone should be more than enough to show you just how big of a time-save this can turn into.

High-end conference room

One statistic claims that an average person spends about 31 hours in various office meetings each month (62 meetings on average, 30 minutes each). While a lot of this may be seen as necessary, the bulk of these meetings could be replaced with standing meetings and circular emails. Also, more important announcements should be made as efficient as possible and one of the ways to do so is to make more efficient presentations. For this, what you need is a presentation-oriented conference room. This means that, for starters, you need a quality screen, as well as experts in mounting TV on wall. Also, if you aim to make video presentation, investing in a quality surround system might be a great idea.

Automated maintenance

Automating the maintenance of your office can make a huge difference in productivity. Think about it, watering a plant isn’t a time-consuming action, however, when is an average office worker supposed to perform this office chore. Should they arrive earlier to work or stay a tad later? In both cases they would feel as if they are not being paid for this extra time invested. If they were to do this chore during their work hours, they would have to take a break from their core tasks in order to do it. Sometimes, in case of creatives, this could even lead to a loss of inspiration. With self-watering planters, this can be avoided in a simple and elegant manner. Same goes for robot vacuum cleaners, smart thermostat and other similar devices.

External HDDs

Even though keeping confidential information in cloud is much simpler, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have a couple of external 4TB HDDs laying around the office. You can use them to keep backups and copies of relevant data in a scenario where your office goes offline. Needless to say, this kind of anti-downtime measure of precaution can turn out to be a massive boost in productivity for your team. Due to the fact that you don’t need a HDD per employee, you can do so on a budget quite easily.

Arcade for a breakroom

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. In theory, having your staff work longer gives you a boost in productivity. After all, it’s only logical that one can do more in 4 hours than they can in 3 hours and 30 minutes. Still, working uninterrupted for several hours will cause one to undergo a productivity drop. This is why breaks are important. However, they’re not all that matters. Namely, the quality of break counts as well, so providing your team with a table soccer, pinball machine or an arcade for a breakroom may be quite efficient. These are just some of the break room ideas that you might want to try out.

Conclusion

The last thing you should consider is the fact that outright productivity isn’t all that you receive this way. Working in a high-tech office is an important thing for most millennials, which is why most of the above-listed trends might also boost your talent retention. This alone should be a reason to go for them.

Author Bio: Amelia Atkins is an author at Smooth Decorator and a fresh architecture student. The love for architecture and design runs in her family and she knew what she wanted to do from a very young age. You can often find her with a notepad in hand, just looking at the clouds, dreaming about the next skyscraper. Twitter / Facebook.

Guest Post - How to Organize a Low-Maintenance Green Backyard

Saving and protecting the environment finally got its place in the spotlight. People are increasingly becoming more aware of the impact – both positive and negative – their actions have on the environment, which is why the majority has started to lean towards completely embracing the green mindset. And what better place to start embracing all things green than your backyard?

Now, some may argue that, while undoubtedly beautiful, lush backyards seem to be causing more harm than good – the wasteful irrigation, improper and excessive use of pesticides and herbicides, and the use of various fertilizers that contribute to the carbon footprint. While they might be right in some instances, do know that there are ways you can create a beautiful backyard that is eco-friendly, low-maintenance and, most importantly, green. Here’s how.

Always go with native plants

If you stop and think about it for a second, filling your backyard with only native plants does make the most sense. Unlike the exotic or tropical plants that require heavy maintenance, native plants are already accustomed to the climate conditions of the area you live in, which will make caring for them that much easier. Additionally, since they are living in the climate and soil they are used to, they won’t require any herbicides, pesticides or additional watering.

Use mulch

Organic mulch, such as wood chips, tree bark, fallen leaves and pine needles, regulates the temperature of the soil and retains moisture, which is very important for keeping your plants alive and well. That is why you should use it as much as you can. Since it is so good at trapping moisture, the use of mulch will cut your backyard’s watering needs by as much as 50%.

Rethink the landscape

A truly green backyard is not only pleasing to the eye, but it is also designed with utmost functionality in mind. That is why you should completely rethink your backyard’s landscape before you actually start planting. If you are not sure what a functional backyard design encompasses, you should seek expert advice. For example, landscape architects at Think Outside Gardens consider everything from purpose and size to colours and shapes used in backyard landscaping when optimizing any outdoor area.

Avoid covering your backyard with grass

Lawns and backyards covered with grass are always thirsty for more water. That’s why you should consider covering your backyard with organic ground covers instead. Plants, such as moss and clover, are super easy to maintain, but look beautiful and feel amazing under bare feet. What’s more, clover, in particular, makes for an excellent habitat for bees, so you should allow it to bloom in order to offer habitat to these amazing insects.

Collect rainwater

Finally, even if all of the plants in your backyard are low-maintenance and do not require a lot of artificial irrigation, sooner or later you will have to water them. Now, instead of wasting tap water, create a rainwater collection system and make use of everything the nature has to offer. Besides, rainwater is rich in various minerals and other particles that will only feed your soli, and thus your plants, further. These are very easy to make as well. Simply get a couple of rain barrels or chains and there you have it!

As you can see, putting together a truly green backyard is quite simple, once you know what you should aim for. Therefore, if you are considering updating your backyard, definitely think about putting together a green holistic environment, that will not only look beautiful but that will also work with nature instead of against it.

Lillian Connors can’t resist the urge to embark on a myriad of green living/home improvement projects and spread the word about them. She cherishes the notion that sustainable housing and gardening will not only make us far less dependent on others regarding the dwellings we inhabit, but also contribute to our planet being a better place to live on. You can check her out on Twitter.

Guest Post - 5 Ways to Increase the Comfort of Your Home

When you think about home, probably the first thing that comes to your mind is comfort. The more comfortable your home is, the more relaxed you are, both mentally and physically. That being said, aiming at making your home as comfy as possible makes a lot of sense. And if you don’t know where to start, here are five great ways for increasing the comfort of your home.

Bring the nature in

Filling your home with plants really is a good idea. Not only that potted plants can cheer up your place but they can also help you improve the air quality inside of it. For example, aloe plant is considered to be one of the best natural air purifiers out there. Of course, there are other plants you can go for such as spider plant, dracaena and peace lily. No matter which of these you decide to go for, there’s no doubt you’ll be making your home more comfortable. Introducing plants into your home is possible even if you spend a lot of time at work, since there are so many low-maintenance houseplants you can opt for.

Go for comfortable and warm floors

Another thing that can make your home more comfortable is your floor. If you pick the right type of floor, you can ensure your home is as cozy as possible. For instance, carpet flooring is an extremely popular option right now as it can provide you with all the coziness you need. In case you want to go for something more lasting, hardwood flooring is also an interesting option. However, it doesn’t offer as much comfort as carpet flooring and you’ll have to throw in a couple of cozy rugs to get that barefoot soothing feel. For ultimate coziness, you can consider the idea of installing floor heating.

Invest in air quality

We already talked about how plants can help you increase air quality inside of your home. Even if you do get potted plants for your home, it’s still a good idea to spend some money in order to make sure the air inside of your home is both clean and fresh. The best way to do this is to get a ducted air conditioner for you and your family. Many new air conditioners have been designed specifically to help you reduce your energy consumption which is an important thing to have in mind if you want to go green. Of course, getting a brand new air conditioner is recommended, simply to avoid dealing with repair issues.

Think about the lighting

You won’t be able to fully relax in your home until you get the lighting right. Of course, you need lighting in order to be able to perform your everyday tasks but too much lighting can sometimes cause stress. Therefore, what you might want to think about is installing dim lights in your home. That way, you’ll have separate lighting for when you want to just sit down and relax. Switching from standard incandescent bulbs to LED bulbs is also a smart move. Not only that these little things consume less energy but they also create less heat, which should help you achieve that cozy environment you’re aiming for.

Get rid of the clutter

No one is able to fully relax in a messy house. So, if you have a lot of clutter just lying around, it might be the right time to get rid of it. In case you’re not sure how to do it, there are certain strategies you can use. For instance, you can take three different boxes, labeled keep, sell and donate, and use them to separate your clutter. That way, figuring out what you really need will be made easier and you’ll manage to help someone along the way. When it comes to selling the clutter you have in your home, you can always have a garage sale or sell your things on eBay or Craigslist.

If you want to turn your place into a real sanctuary, following these five ways should help you get the job done. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should ever stop looking for new ways to add comfort to your home.

Lana Hawkins is a young architect and a home décor blogger on Smooth Decorator. She enjoys writing about interior decoration and landscaping. Lana is interested in sustainability and green building, and that's where she gets most of her inspiration from.

Guest Post - 7 Ways for Filling your Home with Positive Energy

Did you know that your home can have a big effect on your mood? Being in a place full of positive vibes and energy can benefit both your body and mind. When we and our children are surrounded by things that we find comforting and pleasing, we tend to feel happy about life. On the other hand, being in a home filled with negative vibes can trigger bad memories and easily bring you down. Instead of letting your home become a negative place, let’s take a look at 7 ways for filling your home with positive vibes.

De-Clutter

De-clutter your house today and get rid of various items that no longer have much use in your home. By doing this, you and your kids will feel much more comfortable and happier. The truth is that cluttered spaces create stress and nothing helps more to bring positive vibes in your home than reducing waste and clutter. There are many effective ways to de-clutter your home. For example, it is recommended to use multi-purpose products and always choose quality over quantity.

In those rare cases when you are just too busy to de-clutter your home yourself, you can always hire some help. If you have time, involve your family! Decluttering a house together might be a great bonding experience, bringing you all together and instilling a sense of duty in your children.

Create Happy Memories at Your Home

Creating happy memories at your house is one of the best strategies to fill your home with positive energy. If you and your family travel a lot, print out pictures from these vacations and hang them on your shelf or your wall. By doing this, you’ll remind yourself of all those happy times. Think of other items that bring back cheerful experiences and put them in your home.

Introduce More Plants

Introducing plants is one of the best ways to increase the oxygen levels in your home. Fill your living room with fresh flowers and potted plants to create more positive energy. Plants like jasmine, cactus, rosemary, orchids, and lavender in your home can help you experience nature indoors. Keep in mind that some plants require more attention than others. Therefore, it is important to choose something that you can look after on a regular basis.

Maintain an Organized Home

Maintaining an organized home is an important step in creating a positive atmosphere. Scrub off the greasy kitchen counters and dusty coffee tables. Get your kids to help by organizing books and accessories in a proper order. Repeating these actions at least once every two weeks will help preserve a positive interior atmosphere inside of your home.

Create a Space for Relaxation

Besides making your entire home an enjoyable place to live in, you and your family should also create a special space, room, or a corner just for relaxation. You can use this space for a variety of activities like practicing yoga, reading, meditation, or for anything else that can lift your spirits up and raise positive vibrations.

Let Fresh Air Flow in

Oxygen-deprived places can be really unpleasant and bring out all those negative vibes that you wish to avoid. The easiest way to increase the oxygen levels in your house is just to open your windows and let the fresh air flow in. Fresh air boosts energy levels, improves overall health and helps you sleep better.

Let There Be Light in Your Home

Artificial lighting is not that good for your home. It can cause insomnia, stress, and headaches. This is why it is important to open the curtains during the day and let in plenty of natural light. A home that is exposed to plenty of sunlight is a place you definitely want to live in.

The truth is that it’s really not that difficult to bring in positivity in your home and get rid of all the bad vibes. By following these simple steps, you and your kids will create a home packed with positive energy and awesome vibes.

Melanie Saunders is a blogger and content manager at 1300 Rubbish – experts in the field of rubbish and junk removal. Personally, a huge fan of sustainability and green living.