Work Life Balance

17/12/2021

Have a great weekend! Try to relax and enjoy the time

16/12/2021

Why it's wrong to look at work-life balance as an achievement.

Traditionally, we view reaching a good work-life balance as hitting a goal. But it may be more of a moving target than we realise.

13/12/2021

Christmas Spending Limits & Gift-Giving

Money is a tricky topic within families that’s amplified during gift-giving holidays.
When your brother just lost his job or money is tight in your own household, you might feel the urge to put a kibosh on this year’s gift exchange.
But what happens when not everyone agrees to forgo gifts or stick to a strict spending limit?
“The idea of gifts and how much to spend can be difficult to address, especially during the holiday season. In some families, gift-giving is their way to express love. Since many topics around money can strike a sensitive chord,
I recommend having these discussions well before the holiday rush,” “Deciding on a maximum spending amount for gifts is a good first step. Another alternative could be to centre on creating a family experience (destination, lessons, community service) or using the money that would be spent on gifts to donate to a charity.
In the end, holidays are about sharing love and demonstrating gratitude, especially after such a tough year we have all had. Get creative!”

10/12/2021

Happy Christmas Jumper Day. Let's get into the holiday spirit

10/12/2021

Have you considered giving a financial gift to your children this year?

There are many tax free gifts available

1. A Children’s pension
2. A Junior ISA
3. Cash gifts ( talk to me about planning around inheritance tax)
4. Wedding contributions

Give me a call to discuss the best options. Remember all financial gifts are potentially subject to IHT

08/12/2021

Remember to look after your mental health as well as your physical wellbeing at Christmas time.

Find out how Christmas can affect your mental health, and what you can do to support your mental wellbeing during the festive season.

07/12/2021

Work-Life Balance at holiday time.
Here are seven tips to help through the Christmas holiday period

1. Create A Budget for Work Time
Be realistic about what you can accomplish in that time and prioritise accordingly.

2. Be Transparent with Colleagues and Family Members About Your Priorities
It is common to be conflicted, so it is best to carve out a bit of space for both priorities – work and family.

3. Aim For 'Work-Love' Balance, not 'Work-Life'
I follow a "work-love" balance, as this is what constructs a more meaningful life. Doing meaningful work that you love nourishes the entire human experience, while a "work-life" balance concedes that an imbalance exists. Professionally and personally, "work" and "love" are synonymous, so that "juggling" is not necessary. Rather, those things that are most meaningful are the same things that should bring meaning to career, life, play and discovery.

4. Use Your Calendar to Plan Everything
Finding an appropriate balance between work and personal life seems to be challenging at all times of the year. I use my calendar to plan out every aspect of my life. Whether it’s the basics of getting a haircut or a routine dentist visit or a meeting with the CEO of a new prospect, I make sure it’s on the calendar.

5. Make Sure There Are Pauses
Learn to say no! Really. Be thoughtful and intentional about where, and with whom, you spend your time. Make sure that there are pauses in your calendar—times where there is nothing scheduled so that you can think, relax, reflect, or go for a nice long walk.

6. Aim to Be Present
Breathe. Focus. Be present. Live for today but know tomorrow will come. Close each day with a plan for what is most important to attack the next day and start with that for your first 30 work minutes.

7. Plan to Be Social
We are social beings. Regardless of what we do for a living, it all comes down to enriching our lives with more social interactions because they bring us a sense of appreciation and recognition. The holiday season is more than ever a reminder of that socialisation as we prepare ourselves to celebrate a year of effort with people we cherish, and no busy days should ever change our focus on what matters the most!

01/12/2021

December is here! While it’s the season to be jolly the build up to Christmas can be stressful. It’s easy to worry about the financial cost of buying presents, getting all the Christmas shopping done in time and the ease of overdoing it with family, friends and work parties.

Try to take some time out for yourself to relax. Make a list of all the presents and food you need to buy. Set a budget and try to stick to it. Don’t leave everything to the last minute. Order online early so you’re not panicking about last minute deliveries. Make some presents - people love that you have made the time and effort to make a personal gift for them. Try to enjoy it!

29/11/2021

Did you know that you must contribute for 35 years to National Insurance in order to be eligible for a full state pension? This is key for women to check as you may have had gaps in your working life. You may be eligible for national insurance credits if you were claiming working tax credit, carers allowance or universal credit. If you reach retirement age with only 25 years of the required 35 your state pension may be reduced. You can top this up at any time before you retire and you can check it out on the Gov pension website.

26/11/2021

Hope you have a fab Friday! Make the most of your weekend

24/11/2021

Young women need to work nearly 40 years longer than men to get the same pension pot! This is due to lower earnings, part time working, taking time out to start a family or caring for someone.
At retirement women will have £100000 less than men in private funds.

To make up the difference a side hustle could be a good idea.

22/11/2021

A healthy work life balance is good for your children, your relationships and you.

Your children need regular quality time with you. Even short interactions with your children need to be loving and nurturing.
It’s not easy to get a balance, something may have to give.
To improve your time you might choose to -

Work from home
Work more flexible hours
Work part time hours
Job share