vascable:
Cc: seun, lalasticlala, obinoscopy please watch and move to FP if you find it worthy..

I have been blogging for the past 1/2 years, and I work from a home office. In this post, I’m going to rant about problems which I have faced while working from home.

I started my full-time blogging career in June of 2015. There was no real significance to the specific date at all – it just happened to be the time in my life when I decided to quit my job and pursue blogging as a career.

Most people believe that one of the greatest advantages of blogging as a profession is the opportunity to work from home. You can work at any time of the day or night, and you can even work in your pajamas. But working from home is not as great as everyone thinks it is! If you work from home, you know what I’m talking about. If you don’t, well – you’re about to find out.

In this post I will highlight some of the most significant challenges and issues faced by people who work from home. Your situation may be different from mine, but if you work from home I’m sure you can relate to many similarities.
Problems Working from Home

1) Work-work-work:

The type of work I do requires me to sit in front of a computer for at least 14 hours a day. Every month I have a minimum of four or five sleepless nights when I’m busy working all night. In fact, this post is the outcome of another of those sleepless nights when my body and mind are exhausted.

When I think about the amount of work I need to accomplish every day, it is quite overwhelming. Writing blog posts, editing guest posts, replying to comments, commenting on other blogs, staying active on social media sites, managing all of my blogs, managing the SEO of my blog network, planning and strategizing, working on client sites, communicating with clients, communicating with advertisers, answering email from readers or from other bloggers, two hours of daily feed reading, trying out new software, apps and plugins, managing finances, managing my rental property, and even more.

To be honest, despite my sleepless nights, I rarely achieve 60% of my total work goals for any given day. By the end of the day, my mind and body will not allow me to accomplish more, because they need rest. If only God would have allowed sleep to be an option!

2) Social life screwed:

One of the biggest problems I have faced while working from home is the negative impact on my social-life. There are many reasons for this, including differences that exist between people who work from an outside office and people who work from home. People who work outside of the home have a different lifestyle, and they usually come into contact with many people throughout the day. On the other hand, people like me who work from home spend a lot of time at home and do not have the same opportunities to meet people.

I can actually count how the number of people I have met in the past month. I may communicate with hundreds or even thousands of people online or over the phone, but I rarely meet more than ten people per month in person. (I’m not sure whether to blame my work or myself for this, but most likely it is a bit of both.)

In addition to the work I have to accomplish daily, there are many people who have expectations of me which need to be met. The readers of my blog expect new, high-quality content every day. People who work with me expect a space in which to do their work. My parents expect dedicated time for them, and even my body expects rest from me! The list goes on and on.

When I started my blogging career, I had few expectations or demands to meet. There once was a time when I would work only on weekdays, and on weekends I would go out and socialize. But in the past three years many things have changed. I frequently find myself working on a Saturday night when most people are enjoying the company of their friends and loved ones. Additionally, I have been living away from home for the past nine years, so my time to connect with family is limited by distance as well.

3) Frustration, frustration and more frustration:

Working from home and frustration come as a package deal. I never used to feel this way, but in the past couple of months I have felt the pressure building inside of me.

I miss meeting and hanging out with people. (I’m referring to real, face-to-face meetings here – not my online friends.)

It has been around 15 days since I returned from my trip to Thailand, and I have left my flat only three times. I have seen only five or six faces, and I’ve attended one lousy jazz concert at the Hard Rock Cafe (which only added more to my frustration!)

Imagine yourself being house-bound for almost 15 days, and then you go out. You feel like you’re in a different world.

When I go out after having been confined for a long period of time, I feel alienated and awkward. Meeting my friends after that is like an antidote has been given to me just as I was about to die!

4) Setting targets and achieving them:

I’m quite a planner and when it comes to work, I prefer doing it strategically. When you work from home independently however, no matter how much planning you do and no matter how focused and passionate you are, in time you can lose that energy and fall into the trenches of boredom. I do have about ten plans that I am working to execute, and every month I seem to add another three or four to the list. The only thing I am lacking in terms of the execution of these plans is TIME. I even have interview offers from some big names like Fosters and a couple of magazines, but I simply cannot find the time to finish the interviews.

5) Feelings and emotions:

Back in my college days, I used to be that guy who can find happiness in a river of sorrow. None of my friends ever saw me sad or discouraged. I loved everyone around me. I was a happy-go-lucky kind of guy.

These days, however, I can feel those joyous emotions falling away. Working 24*7 in front of a laptop is making me feel robotic. I feel detached from my own family and my close friends. I pray that I can work this out soon, or I fear my life will become “a journey of a workaholic”.

Office vs Home:

I have set up a small office in my home which is good enough for 4-5 people, but I have been considering moving to my own office. I was talking with my friend who is doing work similar to mine, and he moved to his own office last year. So I called him to learn about his experience with his own office, and here are some of his thoughts in his own words:

“When I moved to the office, for the first few months I used to reach the office in time, made everything perfect, completed work on time and everything was smooth. Probably I enjoyed working from office after 3 years of working from home. Though later on, my office arrival time shifted to 2 P.M from 10 A.M. And later on it turned out to be 3-4 days I go to office, else I would work from home.

Every year, twice I have to bribe the Police-walah, that comes as a complementary when you start your own office. I have to maintain the office and make sure everything is alright, maintain the team and meetings and work.

Initially you would enjoy it, but later on it will add to your frustration. Luckily my girlfriend is my partner, and she is a great manager. However, the running cost of my office is around $1300/month. If you’re asking for my suggestion: Work from home, and instead of investing in an office, hire quality people and let them work for you. Maybe like “work from home” or maybe you can let 2-3 guys come to your place to work. ”



Takeaway: There is always a girl behind every successful man!

So, this put me into a dilemma of office vs. no office. His point was quite sensible, which is why it is always good to consult with people who have personal experience, as they are often able to guide us well.

So here I was – I wanted to start an office, but the nature of my work (blogging, blogging and more blogging) doesn’t necessarily require an on-site team. Bloggers are creative people who are not inclined to be bound to a 9-7 job, (otherwise it would be more like I’m running a newspaper agency)!

At this point I remain unsure as to whether I need to move to an office or simply buy a plot, build a house and make an office with a separate entry on the same premises. But again, this will require lots of money, and to make lots of money you need to work more, and in order to work more you need to have time, and time is one thing that remains elusive. I never have enough of it!

I can feel that I am stressing myself now, and since that tends to lead to negative productivity, I will take a step back and continue this thought process at another time! So for now…Adios!!

What are some of the issues you face when working from home?

Feel free to share your thoughts!

edward1984:
very nice video

lyrose:
Thks for information @vascable

MrLouisVanGaal:
Thanks bro.. Thanks very much. Many People on this thread including me live their lives like this but this has woken me up n the tasks that I'd normally leage till morning, i have with this rule cleared them.. I will build on this rule and move on to my other activities... I am sure i will find this thread in the future to thank you for some piece of info u were lambasted for but changed my life forever

Walexz02:
Nice write up ... We should shift emphasis from paper to talent

surprised? Nah don’t be, procrastination have been around for sometime and has been one major issue for most people.

Tomorrow Never Comes

This is a phrase my Mom said all the time when I was growing up…Arg! My Dad would reply, “Your Mom wants everything done yesterday”! I’m sure you’ve also heard or even said the following yourself; “I’ll take care of that tomorrow or I have more time tomorrow”. Is this the start of procrastination or will you really do it tomorrow?

In this post i will talk about the dangers of procrastination in your personal life and also in your businesses (using myself as an example, cause i was ones a victim) and how you can save yourself from it like i saved mine. You’d be surprised how this simple phrase can affect you so much.

1st i would love to define the term “procrastination” According to Wikipedia

“Procrastination is the avoidance of doing a task which needs to be accomplished. It is the practice of doing more pleasurable things in place of less pleasurable ones, or carrying out less urgent tasks instead of more urgent ones, thus putting off impending tasks to a later time.”


Now what happens when you procrastinate:-

Procrastination derives you from getting things done.

If you’re reading this and feel that you fit the profile of a chronic procrastinator, you may think that it’s not a big deal to be one. After all, your life might be functioning fine, and you’ve made it through many of the setbacks caused by your procrastination. However, keep in mind that it may catch up with you one day, and it can get to a point where it disrupts your life and negatively impact other people’s opinion of your character. Further, it’s not exactly comfortable living as a chronic procrastinator. In fact, Ferrari found that procrastinators have more regrets than non-procrastinators for things that they didn’t do.

“Stop stressing yourself over it. Life is short — leave a legacy,” says Ferrari.

How to Stop Procrastinating With the “2–Minute Rule” (As an individual and in your business)

Over the years i have followed this simple rule that has helped me crush procrastination and making it easier for me to stick to good habits at the same time.

I want to share it with you today so that you can try it out and see how it works in your life.

The best part? It’s a simple strategy that couldn’t be easier to use.

Here’s what you need to know…
http://www.myconciergellc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Do-It-Post-It-Notes.jpg
How to Stop Procrastinating With the “2–Minute Rule”

I call this little strategy the “2–Minute Rule” and the goal is to make it easier for you to get started on the things you should be doing.

Here’s the deal…

Most of the tasks that you procrastinate on aren’t actually difficult to do — you have the talent and skills to accomplish them — you just avoid starting them for one reason or another.

The 2–Minute Rule overcomes procrastination and laziness by making it so easy to start taking action that you can’t say no.

There are two parts to the 2–Minute Rule…

Part 1 — If it takes less than two minutes, then do it now.

Part I comes from David Allen’s bestselling book, Getting Things Done.

It’s surprising how many things we put off that we could get done in two minutes or less. For example, washing your dishes immediately after your meal, tossing the laundry in the washing machine, taking out the garbage, cleaning up clutter, sending that email, and so on.

If a task takes less than two minutes to complete, then follow the rule and do it right now.

Part 2 — When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do.

Can all of your goals be accomplished in less than two minutes? Obviously not.

But, every goal can be started in 2 minutes or less. And that’s the purpose behind this little rule.

It might sound like this strategy is too basic for your grand life goals, but I beg to differ. It works for any goal because of one simple reason: the physics of real life.
The Physics of Real Life

As Sir Isaac Newton taught us a long time ago, objects at rest tend to stay at rest and objects in motion tend to stay in motion. This is just as true for humans as it is for falling apples.

The 2–Minute Rule works for big goals as well as small goals because of the inertia of life. Once you start doing something, it’s easier to continue doing it. I love the 2–Minute Rule because it embraces the idea that all sorts of good things happen once you get started.

Want to become a better writer? Just write one sentence (2–Minute Rule), and you’ll often find yourself writing for an hour.

Want to eat healthier? Just eat one piece of fruit (2–Minute Rule), and you’ll often find yourself inspired to make a healthy salad as well.

Want to make reading a habit? Just read the first page of a new book (2–Minute Rule), and before you know it, the first three chapters have flown by.

Want to run three times a week? Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, just get your running shoes on and get out the door (2–Minute Rule), and you’ll end up putting mileage on your legs instead of popcorn in your stomach.

The most important part of any new habit is getting started — not just the first time, but each time. It’s not about performance, it’s about consistently taking action. In many ways, getting started is more important than succeeding. This is especially true in the beginning because there will be plenty of time to improve your performance later on.

The 2–Minute Rule isn’t about the results you achieve, but rather about the process of actually doing the work. It works really well for people who believe that the system is more important than the goal. The focus is on taking action and letting things flow from there.
Try It Now

I can’t guarantee whether or not the 2–Minute Rule will work for you. But, I can guarantee that it will never work if you never try it.

The problem with most articles you read, podcasts you listen to, or videos you watch is that you consume the information but never put it into practice.

I want this article to be different. I want you to actually use this information, right now.

What’s something you can do that will take you less than two minutes? Do it right now.

Anyone can spare the next 120 seconds. Use this time to get one thing done. Go.

Orange Alarm Clock

HOW I KILLED PROCRASTINATION WHEN IT COMES TO MONEY, ESPECIALLY BUSINESS FUNDS:-

Like i mentioned earlier i was a chronic procrastinator especially when it comes to my business then, at a point i needed some funds to invest in my business, i had my proposals done and what to do with the money when it comes, but then when the money actually comes instead of me using it to do what am supposed to do, i end up using it in other things that most times are not important.

I always say then “Let me use it and do this one, i will invest in my business later” that has been my life style for years and that habit kept me in one place always going in cycles until the day i told myself enough is enough!!!

HOW I DEALT WITH PROCRASTINATION IN MY BUSINESS:-

One morning i woke up and was determined to make a difference this time, i knew it was gonna take some time and patience, so what i did was to make up my mind that “No matter what happens, i will use the money for business, for business”.

And then thats how it all started i went to the bank and opened a different account but i didn’t collect the ATM for that account, cause i realized that was my major issue, cause then so far i have the ATM i spend the money.

Yeah that was the simple rule that worked for me, from there i learned how to save and keep records, it took my time but here i am today free from that evil spirit called PROCRASTINATION.

And i hope this piece of article helps you too in your journey of getting rid of that same evil spirit..



Have a Blessed day – Marve John

Pavore9:
lnsightful.

Yeah you heard me right, i don’t believe this African tradition of “if you don’t goto school, you wont make it”. I think is time for Africans to stop putting much efforts on schooling cause we have millions of graduates already that don’t have any jobs. I think is time for us to start looking out for raw talents, innovative ideas and then develop them.



Now when i say schooling in Africa is over emphasized, Am not trying to rule out the important of schooling please don’t get me wrong there. What am trying to say is that when a child is able to go through his/her pre-sch, grades and Secondary sch he/she shouldn’t be forced to go to uni if they don’t want to, i think at that point the parent or guardian of such individual should look out or ask him/her what they want to do and if such a child is gifted in certain areas, he/she should be encouraged, supported and developed.

“There are more job seekers than there are job creators” (this is killing us Africans) and the only way forward for us is if we start putting our big brains to work.

The Average African mindset has always been “when i finish school, i will find a job, rent a house, marry and bear kids” we have been fashioned to think the wrong way. This is one aspect we most work on if we want to ever move from the level we are now to another.

We cant keep doing things thesame way and expect different results and thats why people like Donald Trump have the guts to call us lazy and only good in bed and if you really look at it, is very true cause we are not innovative, we like things the easy way, we are always looking for short cuts. Its so bad that if you are an African that is doing things right, the world doesn’t see that person “African” cause to them Africans have a particular way of doing things and when you decide to break up from the curse you are not seen as an African.

We need help not from anybody but from us, we need to help ourselves. And most times we as an individual are not the problem, the Governments, Banks, Companies are, cause i have been in the situation were i had an excellent idea i went to banks, private and Government owned companies i wasn’t able to get the funds i need to execute my idea and this is how so many ideas die.

Our loan system are very bad, they only focus on established organisation/businesses and give little or no attention to new ideas.

And the last but not the list factors that is affecting or will i say discouraging us are our parents, you will see a parents whose child loves computers, gadgets and wants to one day be something inline with his passion then you will see his/her parents telling them you must be a Doctor, Engr, Pilot, Banker etc and most times for stupid reasons and thats not having one in the family or they want the child to take over from them.



We need to wake up and realize that the world are looking out for great minds regardless of your educational background and not graduates, we should start using those big brains of ours to help our communities, creating jobs and helping ourselves also.

Go out there look for a problem and find the solution, you wont just be making yourself and family proud but you will be doing same for your country and Africa at large.

HAVE A NICE DAY!!!

CountDracula:
I'm sorry but I think u mistranslated d meanin of dat passage. D passage didn't say ur words make u, d passage says its who u are dat ur words follow... Ur words don't make u evil, ur "evilness" if a word like dat exists, is wat makes ur words... because u say smthng bad it doesn't mean ure a bad person, but if ure a bad person u will definitely say smthng bad. I don't knw if u understand?

One day after attending a church service in London, I spent several hours going through bookshops looking for a bible translation called The Living Bible. There were no Amazon or Internet editions in those days, so I just had to go from shop to shop.

The reason I was looking so determinedly for this translation was because of something that had been preached that morning about the meaning of Matthew 12:35 (based on this translation):

“A good man’s speech reveals the rich treasures within him. An evil-hearted man is filled with venom, and his speech reveals it.”

Verse 36, shows us that “words” can be “good or evil treasure,” and they come out of the way you speak or express yourself on any issue.

“. . .The most important part of your life is actually the ability to use words. Words define your life; words define your values. Words define your personality. You are no better than your words; you are no greater than your words. The character of your words is the character of your personality: watch your words.

No man ever got better than his or her words. Your life is the expression, the manifestation, the reflection, of your words. It does not take long to know who you are. All you have to do is talk for a few minutes; this is because your words locate you; they tell where you are at. . .”

This is an extract from the church sermon that led me to search for that bible translation.
How do you speak?

Would others describe you as “evil-hearted” or “good-hearted” because of the choice of words that you use when you speak?

Ever since I read this amazing scripture, I’ve trained myself never to use bad language. I can say everything I ever need to say without piling on insults, and without denigrating the other person.

The Tentmaker saw a man’s heart like a vessel, containing words that are then poured out when the person speaks. That is why King Solomon warned, “Guard what comes out of your heart (through your mouth) because the heart contains the “issues of life” (my paraphrase).

Friends, it matters how you speak. It matters how you express yourself. And this has nothing to do with your religion. You will always get better results if you speak nicely to others, even when you disagree with them totally.

My prayer for you is that you may have a peaceful and prosperous 2016.

#It’s your time, seize it!

END

wapmingle:
Now Cc: lalasticlala this is the kind of post that deserves front page..

Nice one op

emotions1:
Madam tell them the bitter truth......


I know some parents viewing this will start to the call this woman oversabi.....

Isaacmacdon:
Its rily sickening nd disheartening, its obvious d parents in question lack d fear of GOD.

As I waited in the departure lounge of a local airport, I noticed there were many children about but it was understandable since it was summer holiday. One other thing I noticed was the way most of the children were dressed. Most of them, especially the girls, were dressed in bum shorts, halter necks, cut off jeans, etc. The clothes in themselves weren’t the issue per se; it was the overall look of the children that had me bothered. That was definitely not the first time I noticed it.

A few months before, I had taken my kids to a birthday party and found myself in what could easily have been a night club for kids. Scanty clothing such as tight or very short clothes, bum shorts, long weaves, etc, seemed to be the dress code. I noticed my daughter glancing around her, probably wondering, “What in God’s world are these other children wearing?” Or something like that. Not long after, the kids were called out to dance to the hit songs of the season – these songs in my opinion should be rated PG 13. 4-6 year olds trooped to the dance floor, miming the sexually explicit songs and gyrating their bodies in the most sensual manner. They could have given Beyounce a run for her money.

They ran their hands over their bodies, shook their booties hard while their parents cheered them on. The boys had their upper shirts unbuttoned and rapped along perfectly to gangsta raps while doing flawless break dance.

Those who danced like actual children where shooed off the dance floor while the lewd ones were cheered on. As I watched, my child stared out of this circle looking longingly at the others dancing. I knew it was time to leave. As we left, we went to a eatery where I bought them ice cream and gently explained to them the concept of decency and dancing with decorum.

Another time, at a game arcade for kids, I ran into a lady who had made-up her kids’ faces like they were mannequins for Tara or Mac beauty products. Their skirts were so tight, that running up and down the slide was uncomfortable for them. So the question is, why are we sexualizing our kids? Why does your 4, 6 or 9 year old girl have to look like a chick? Why does she have to be hot or sexy? Should your 8 year old son go around with a comb in his hair and his pants sagged almost to his ankles?



If your child wears bum shorts out of the house at age 3, why should she be expected to wear longer ones at 15? If she wears 2 rings and 12 bangles at 6, why won’t she pierce a second ear hole at 17 and her bellybutton at 19?



Why won’t your son pierce his own ear at 15? Are you setting your children up to be immodest and indecent? What trend are you starting them on? That all these are fashionable or trendy doesn’t mean it’s ok.



Some parents even dress their children like this to church. Church!

What are you teaching the child? What happened to children wearing dresses to church? Children can look very nice and decent, they can be well covered and still look good. In this age, when children are being abused, is it wise to make your child an object of anyone’s sexual attention?

When I hear some children belt out sexually explicit lyrics, I ask myself how they became exposed to this songs! As a parent, you can’t play the CD of such songs and not expect your children to pick them up; the same goes for watching Mtv Base, Channel O, etc with your children. Studies have shown that children exposed to a high level of sexually explicit information tend to become sexually active early. Is that your goal as a parent?

Being a Parent involves sacrifice. You will need to avoid listening to such music where your children are.

Most of those lyrics demean women and teach your daughter that she’s just a intimacy gadget and her body is for squeezing. It teaches the boys that money is everything and women are things to be used to satisfy their primal urges. These music introduces them to a degrading pop culture.

Our children have their lives ahead of them, let’s set them on the right path by teaching them to dress decently and sing nice or age-appropriate songs. Let your children be children. Train up a child in the way that s/he should go and when s/he is old, s/he would not depart from it.

Do you agree that children are unnecessarily exposed to sexually explicit elements? Is it possible that some parents are victims themselves or is it that they don’t know any better?

vascable:
lalasticlala do the needful this will help enlighten people

Penisinpenisout:
So you want succubus to come and take my unused sperm at night through wet dreams eh?

Well i know most of you will be surprised that i choose to talk about this topic cause You wouldn’t think there’d be a lot to learn about underwear — wear it, change it, wash it, repeat — but there’s actually more than most men think.

Simple Rules for What You Wear Under There

With that sentiment in mind, there are a number of simple rules you can follow when it comes to men’s health and underwear.

“Your old underwear is not sentimental, It’s disgusting. Throw it out. Once a month throw out any underwear that is unpresentable. Gray, ripped, unsightly. Get rid of it. Uncertain? Toss it.”

this purge should be accompanied by buying new underwear regularly. “In fact, every time you get a haircut, buy some new underwear. Link buying new underwear to something you already do on a schedule, so you get into the habit.”

Don’t get locked into just one type of underwear. “My advice is to switch it up — and unless you’re religiously committed to boxers or briefs, have fun with your underwear and have some of both,”. If you have fun with your underwear, she will, too — and everybody wins! Colors, fabrics, cuts, styles — have at least one pair of each.

One of the best things you can do for your relationship is to keep things fresh in the bedroom, and while your underwear isn’t a cure-all for bad bedroom skills, it sure can’t hurt.
Health Benefits of Changing Your Underwear

Hygiene is something that is extremely important when we talk about health.

We should change our underwear frequently if we want to stay healthy.

Since male and female genitals are very prone to different bacteria and infections, we want to protect them as much as we can.

UnderwearThey constantly secrete some kind of fluid to keep clean and that fluid always stays on our underwear.

This is the biggest reason why our underwear gets dirty.

If we do not change them often, bacteria that flushed out of our system will remain too long on our underwear and we can easily have an infection.

This means that every time we take a shower, we much change them.

Perhaps it is not necessary to change them every day, but do not change your underwear once a week either.
Hygiene

This is the first reason why you should change your underwear often.

As we mentioned before, good hygiene is necessary to avoid any infection, viruses and bacteria.

Since nobody wants have health problems in that area, do the smart thing and take care of yourself.
Infections

You body gets rid of bacteria naturally. If you do not change your underwear often, that bacteria will stay on them and it can be easily transferred to your genitals.

There are many infections that are possible, and they are much more frequent among women.
Bad odor

Your body is constantly sweating. That part of your body doesn’t have proper ventilation, so bacteria will grow very easily. Since bacteria are responsible for bad odor, you can expect your private parts to smell very quickly.

It is not enough to just change your underwear, you have to take a shower too.
Skid marks

Skid marks are fairly common. You do not want to take a girl to bed, only to find that your white underwear is not clean.
Other benefits

You will prevent itching
The underwear will not stick to your skin
Prevent embarrassing situation – you always have a situation in life when your friends accidentally see your underwear
If you pants tear, your dirty underwear will show
Embarrassment when you are trying out new pants

How often should I change my underwear?

“Change them as often as you think it is OK. Once a day is recommended, but if you sweat a lot, that it is advisable that you change them even more.”

Conclusion

You should change your underwear every day. If you are exercising very often, it is advisable that you change them after your workout.

Never put on the same underwear after you take a shower.

Since women are more prone to infections, they should pay more attention to this than men.