Despite the many benefits of technology, like the internet and social media, it can also negatively impact your mental and physical health. Excessive screen time can cause vision issues, trouble with sleeping, and even depression.

In this blog post, we’ll give you seven tips to spend less time in front of screens:

1. Track your screen time and habits
2. Limit your number of screens
3. Make your phone less appealing
4. Schedule screen-free breaks
5. Skip the screen and go old school
6. Set clear work boundaries
7. Switch off before bed

Read on to find out more.

Is Too Much Screen Time Bad for You?

Numerous studies have shown that too much screen time can have adverse health effects, especially in children and younger people. Some of the potential negative side effects include:

• Obesity (due to being too sedentary) 
• Impaired sleep (the light emitted from electronics can disrupt the brain’s natural sleep cycle)
• Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues
• Neck and back problems (from poor posture while using devices)
• Digital eye strain

How Much Screen Time Is Too Much?

While there are clear guidelines about how much screen time young people should have, it isn’t as easy to define for adults. 

According to an article published by Time Magazine, experts struggle to agree on how much is too much because screens are often essential for many people’s jobs. 

One suggestion is that hours spent in front of a screen may not be the most important factor. Instead, what should be considered is the type of content being viewed.

Social media sites have proven to be the most troublesome type of content, with one psychological study finding that time spent on these sites should be limited to 30–60 minutes per day.

If you are unsure whether you’re spending an unhealthy amount of time in front of a screen, there are some questions you can ask yourself:

1. How are your eating habits?
2. Are you sleeping okay?
3. How often do you leave your house and socialize?
4. Do you get any physical exercise?

If you find that you’re not happy with the answers to any of these questions, you may want to reevaluate how much time you’re spending in front of a screen.

How to Reduce Your Screen Time

1. Track Your Screen Time and Habits

Getting an idea of how much time you spend looking at screens and what activities you do in that time can help you work out where to cut down.

Try tracking your daily screen time using an app such as Digital Wellbeing or memtime. Then, work out how much of that time is spent:

● Doing work-related activities

● Performing other essential tasks (e.g., banking, school or coursework or schedule planning)

● Browsing the internet and using social media

● Doing fun or leisure activities (e.g., watching movies and playing games)

If you find you’re spending more time than necessary on non-essential tasks, try setting usage limits. You might even want to delete some particularly distracting apps.

2. Limit Your Number of Screens

Looking at more than one screen at a time can overstimulate your brain and increase the negative effects of excess screen time.

So, even though it might be tempting to scroll through your phone while watching TV or working on your computer, try and limit yourself to one screen where possible.

If using multiple screens is a regular habit, you might want to physically move devices away from each other or keep them in separate rooms to curb the urge.

3. Make Your Phone Less Appealing

Phones and other devices are powerful distractions that engage our brains and provide a dopamine hit.

To reduce the time you spend looking at your phone screen, try making it less appealing by switching it to grayscale, lowering the brightness, or setting it to silent.

You can also take your mind off your phone by using your other senses, like smell and touch. Try lighting scented candles or bringing fidget toys into your workspace.

4. Schedule Screen-Free Breaks

You can reduce your screen time by introducing regular breaks on work days and longer screen breaks on your days off.

If you’re working, set yourself an alarm roughly every 30 minutes to take a screen break. This means all screens; taking a break from your computer to look at your phone doesn’t count.

Spend your time off work doing activities that don’t involve a screen at all, such as:

● Reading

● Cooking

● Cleaning

● Spending time outside

● Spending time with friends or family

● Creating art

● Exercising

That last point is especially important because it can be difficult to stay active while working from home.

5. Skip the Screen and Go Old School

While most work nowadays is done on a computer or another device, that doesn’t mean every task requires a screen.

A Zoom meeting could work just as well as a phone call, and a good old-fashioned pen and paper are just as good for taking notes and planning out ideas as your device’s word processor or notes app.

You can find many physical diaries and planners to suit your requirements, and if you want to try something a little more in-depth, bullet journaling can be a handy hobby and planning tool.

6. Set Clear Work Boundaries

One of the effects of scope creep is that the more your work time creeps into your spare time, the more your screen time will increase.

To avoid this, make sure you:

●  Set yourself fixed working hours each day.

●  Make sure your clients and colleagues are aware of those hours.

●  Turn off work-related notifications outside of your work hours.

What’s more, having clear work boundaries can also help you maintain a better work–life balance and avoid burnout.

7. Switch Off Before Bed

A good night’s sleep is an essential part of staying healthy and productive, but studies show that staring at your phone or computer screen before bed can:

1. Make it harder for you to fall asleep, and
2. Reduce the quality of sleep you do get

So, to keep yourself happy and healthy, make sure to quit scrolling at least an hour before you turn in for the night.

You can set alarms to mark an end to screen time and help train this habit, or even make your bedroom and bathroom device-free areas by removing chargers, devices, and TVs.

Ultimately, the most important thing is not to be too hard on yourself about your screen time. Even if you can only use one or two of these tips, any changes you make could have a positive impact on your health and wellbeing.

Becoming A Proofreader or Editor

Our courses will put you on track to starting your freelance career. Buy both Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor as a bundle and save 15%, or sign up for a free trial.

The post 7 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Screen Time appeared first on Knowadays.

This is where online freelance communities come in! Whatever industry you’re in, there is likely to be a freelance community you can join. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some of the many benefits of joining a freelance community and share some examples of groups for freelancers in general, writers, proofreaders, and editors.

What is a Freelance Community?

A freelance community is a group, either in person or online, that comes together to discuss the highs and lows of freelancing, share knowledge, and support each other in their freelance careers.

Freelance communities can take many forms, including online forums, social media groups, and dedicated websites or platforms.

Some communities welcome freelancers from all industries, while others specialize in a particular field. For example, a freelance community may focus on writing or editing and welcome members who freelance in those areas.

What are the Benefits of Joining a Freelance Community?

Joining a freelance community has many benefits (too many to list here!), but below are a few of the most important benefits. 

1. Support and Mentorship

They say that a smart person learns from their mistakes, but a wise person learns from the mistakes of others! Mentors are an invaluable part of life in general, but they are especially useful when you are starting something new.

Freelancing has many benefits, but it also has its challenges. Finding new clients, managing your finances, marketing your business—it can be daunting, especially when you’re just starting out. When you join an online freelance community, you essentially have access to the experience of however many people are in that group. They can share their experiences, offer advice, and provide valuable emotional support. Just talking to someone who has been in the position you are in can be hugely reassuring!

2. A Sense of Belonging

Freelancing can be lonely. Typically, freelancers work from home, which can be isolating in itself. But it also goes beyond this. People who have never freelanced often struggle to understand the challenges freelancers face – but the people who join online freelance communities know exactly what you are going through. Having a sense of belonging can help you feel more confident about the path you’re pursuing and give you that extra push to reach your goals.

3. Potential New Opportunities

These communities can be a great place to seek new work opportunities. Some communities will have job boards or listings, and members will post about opportunities. For example, a freelancer may need to outsource part of a project or even turn down work (and therefore be able to pass the opportunity on to someone else). Or they may spot another job that isn’t right for them but that may interest someone in the community. Whatever the case may be, these groups may help you gain clients.

Examples of Freelance Communities

Now that you know how useful joining a freelance community can be, below are some examples of freelance communities you can join.

General Freelance Communities

Some of the best general freelance communities are:

• Women Writers, Editors, Agents, and Proofreaders (Facebook)
  This is a Facebook group just for women in the industry. Here, you can post snippets of your work for feedback, ask craft-related questions, or find an editor or proofreader if you need it.
• Freelancers Union
  Freelancers Union provides education, advocacy, and resources for freelancers across the United States. It also arranges events and meetups for freelancers to network and support each other.
• Freelancer Talk
  Freelancer Talk is an online community for freelancers and provides blogs, courses, and mentors. It also has communities for different industries and a discussion board to ask specific questions.

Freelance Communities for Proofreaders and Editors

Some of the best communities for freelance proofreaders and editors are:

• Editpreneurs (Facebook)
  Editpreneurs is a Facebook group that supports freelance editors and proofreaders, with a focus on building a successful business.
• Louise Harnby – Training for Editors and Proofreaders (Facebook)
  This Facebook group provides a space for editors and proofreaders to discuss marketing, professional development, and training. 
• Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading
  The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading is a non-profit body that promotes excellence in English language editing and proofreading. It offers training, membership accreditation, and a forum where proofreaders and editors can ask questions and provide or receive support.

Freelance Communities for Writers

Some of the best communities for freelance writers are:

• The Write Life Community
  The Write Life Community has both a website and a Facebook group. The Facebook group allows writers to network and ask questions about any stage of the writing or publishing process.
• Writers Helping Writers
  Like The Write Life Community, Writers Helping Writers has both a website and a Facebook group. The website provides lots of information about writing craft, and the Facebook group provides writer-to-writer support.
• Ask a Book Editor (Facebook)
  Ask a Book Editor is a space for writers to ask editors and proofreaders questions about writing. No promotion is allowed in this group, so writers can ask questions without being bombarded by pitches.

Becoming a Freelancer

Freelancing is one of the most flexible and rewarding careers. If you would like to learn more about how to take advantage of the freedom freelancing gives you, check out one of our courses: Becoming a Proofreader, Becoming an Editor, and Becoming a Freelance Writer. You can try them all for free, and see what appeals to you the most!

The post 3 Reasons to Join an Online Freelance Community appeared first on Knowadays.

With the pressure of juggling a job and the care of a loved one, it’s no surprise that many caregivers suffer from stress, exhaustion, and burnout.

Luckily, flexible work options can provide a solution. In this blog post, we discuss:

• The causes and symptoms of caregiver burnout
• Ways to reduce caregiver burnout
• Flexible work options for caregivers

What Is Caregiver Burnout?

A caregiver cares for a loved one who is ill or elderly. They may help with arranging doctor appointments and prescriptions, providing transportation, and facilitating daily activities.

While caring for friends and family can be an important and rewarding experience, long-term caregiving can lead to stress and exhaustion.

When providing care comes at the expense of your own mental and physical health, your work quality, and your relationships, you may be experiencing caregiver burnout.

What Causes Caregiver Burnout?

Usually, a combination of issues related to providing long-term care cause caregiver burnout. These include:

• The need to perform multiple roles within a family, such as being a parent or a spouse as well as being a caregiver, with few or no boundaries between these roles
• The emotional toll of care work, particularly if your loved one has a progressive disease or a terminal illness
• A lack of resources, such as money, time, and helping hands
• Sudden changes in your life, such as having to move in with the person you care for

Sometimes, the reasons for caregiver burnout can be hard to pin down. So even if you don’t think you’ve experienced these issues, you should still watch out for the symptoms.

What Are the Symptoms of Caregiver Burnout?

The symptoms of caregiver burnout can appear insignificant or unrelated at first, but they can lead to significant distress. You may be experiencing caregiver burnout if you:

• Feel exhausted constantly 
• Have trouble sleeping or sleep too much
• Have difficulty concentrating
• Notice changes in your appetite
• Start to lose interest in hobbies and other activities
• Find yourself neglecting responsibilities
• Feel increasingly angry and irritable or resentful of the person you care for
• Have trouble relaxing
• Get sick more often

Even if you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms, however, you can reduce caregiver burnout in several ways.

How to Reduce Caregiver Burnout

Reach Out for Help

Whether you ask for a spare hand to help with the household chores or look for a professional willing to lend an ear, reaching out to those around you can help prevent caregiver burnout. You can do this in the following ways.

• Delegating tasks. Being a caregiver doesn’t mean you have to do everything yourself. Try asking other family members and friends whether they can take on certain chores and responsibilities. You can even organize a chore wheel so everyone gets a fair share of the work.
• Talking to someone. Whether it’s a friend, a helpline, or a counselor, having someone you can talk to about your thoughts and feelings will help relieve some of your burden as a caregiver.
• Joining a support group. Caregiver support groups are online or in-person spaces where you can meet and interact with people who have experiences similar to yours. Having the support of a community that understands what you’re going through can make all the difference when you’re fighting burnout.

And although it can be a tough choice to make, deciding that your loved one’s needs go beyond your own abilities is important. Getting help from a professional carer, nurse, or hospice is nothing to be ashamed of and may be the best choice for everyone involved.

Allow Time for Yourself

Considering your own needs when caring for another person can be difficult. But you need to remember that your physical, mental, and emotional well-being is just as important as theirs.

Provide time to yourself by:

• Keeping your daily to-do list manageable and realistic
• Making space for regular, effective breaks in your routine
• Pursuing hobbies and interests outside your role as a caregiver

Taking more time for yourself is nothing to feel guilty about, and you can do so without impacting the care your loved one receives.

For example, you can consider short-term hospice care. Many hospices provide respite care, a short-term care option that takes some of the burden off caregivers. Respite care can range from a few hours to several days, depending on your specific needs.

Find out whether any local hospices or other services offer this option so you can allow yourself to take time away while knowing that your loved one will receive excellent care.

Find Flexible Work

Caregiving can be an emotional and stressful experience at the best of times. When you have to provide care at the same time as holding down a nine-to-five job, things can get even harder.

But keeping on top of your career as well as your caregiving doesn’t have to lead to caregiver burnout. Flexible work – and freelancing in particular – can help you fit your career around your care responsibilities by:

• Providing control over your schedule so you can plan your work around doctor appointments, therapy sessions, and household chores
• Allowing you to work remotely from wherever you choose, whether that’s a waiting room or the home of the person you’re caring for (with the added benefit of more options should you need to change your location or living arrangements to care for someone)
• Saving time you might otherwise spend traveling to and from work and thereby allowing you to fit more me-time into your schedule

What’s more, flexible work can save you money, improve your mental health, and give you the opportunity to pursue your interests – all of which will help reduce the risk of caregiver burnout.

Flexible Career Options for Caregivers

Flexible work can take different forms. If you already have a job you’d like to keep, consider asking for a different work pattern or shift schedule.

If you’d like to try something different, you can explore more flexible work options, such as:

• Part-time work, where you spend less time working in exchange for a more flexible schedule
• Remote work, where you perform your duties from anywhere in the world
• Hybrid work, where you work some hours at an office or on location and some at home
• Freelance work, where you choose your own clients, hours, and pay rate as someone who is self employed

Freelance work, in particular, can be a great choice for caregivers.

Offering complete training on how to become a freelance proofreader or editor, our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses can provide you with the freedom you need to pursue a career while you provide care.

Save money with the course bundle, learn the ins and outs of freelance editing, and with our work guarantee, get started as soon as you complete the course.

Not sure if it’s the right direction for you? Sign up for a free trial and get a taste of what editing involves.

The post How Flexible Work Can Help Reduce Caregiver Burnout appeared first on Knowadays.

Well, if you’ve ever felt mentally exhausted after a long day and stressed out by the prospect of choosing between two or more things (however simple), you may be experiencing decision fatigue. In this blog post, we’ll explore:

• What decision fatigue is
• The signs you have decision fatigue
• How to avoid decision fatigue

What Is Decision Fatigue?

Decision fatigue is a term used to describe the feeling you get when you are presented with too many choices, and therefore decisions, to make throughout the day. Each decision, whether it’s navigating a complex business situation or something as simple as deciding what to eat for dinner, takes up mental energy.

If you don’t get a chance to restore some of that energy, for example, by taking a break or seeking support, you can start to feel anxious, drained, and overwhelmed. This can have a significant impact on your mental and physical health as well as on your ability to make further, well-reasoned decisions.

Is There a Difference Between Decision Fatigue and Indecisiveness?

Yes, there is a difference between decision fatigue and indecisiveness.

Decision fatigue is when someone is comfortable making decisions most of the time but begins to struggle after a seemingly endless series of them.

Indecisiveness, however, is a character trait that causes someone to routinely struggle or avoid making decisions. Indecisiveness can be a symptom of low self-confidence.

Signs You Have Decision Fatigue

It’s one thing to ask what decision fatigue is, but another to recognize the symptoms. Someone experiencing decision fatigue may notice some – or all – of these symptoms:

1. Finding it hard to focus
2. Getting overwhelmed easily
3. Procrastinating on a decision
4. Being impulsive
5. Avoiding making any decisions
6. Losing your temper quickly
7. Experiencing physical issues: e.g., poor sleep, tiredness, upset stomach
8. Feeling hopeless when deciding and dissatisfied after the decision is made

How to Avoid Decision Fatigue

When you are experiencing decision fatigue, the idea of making changes to your situation can feel daunting or even hopeless. However, here are a few simple things you can do to get back on track:

• Plan your schedule. Map out a plan for your day, and stick to it as much as possible. Struggling to know what to wear for work? Lay it out the night before. Don’t know what to have for lunch? Find recipes you like and carve out some time on Sunday to batch-cook them. Although they may take time to develop, it’s worth building up these small habits to create an easy, low-stress routine.
• Take regular breaks. We don’t tend to make the best decisions when we’re tired, so it’s essential to build in some time for yourself throughout the day to unwind.
• Get your priorities in order. Different decisions require different amounts of mental energy. There are some more complex decisions – for example, the type you make at work or in relationships – and some smaller decisions – like what podcast to listen to on your commute.
  
  It helps to work out which decisions are a priority and which aren’t as important. You can then  identify which to spend your time and energy on today and which can wait until a later date. Try to avoid making too many complex decisions in one day! Naturally, our priorities will change over time, so be sure to review them every six months or so.

• Learn to be mindful. Many people think that mindfulness and meditation will take up too much time or just aren’t for them. If that’s you, good news – you can practice mindfulness in as little as 60 seconds! Taking some time (however brief) to pause, reflect, and recharge can make a really big difference to your wellbeing. Meditation can have lots of positive mental and physical effects, like reducing stress, combatting fatigue, and enhancing your focus and decision-making.
• Narrow it down. Over a 24-hour period, we shouldn’t be making more than three or four big choices. If you have too many, narrow them down to three and then pick one at random. Still stuck? Try a pros and cons list to help you deliberate objectively.
• Consider the time of day. Many people find that they have more energy in the earlier part of the day, while fatigue tends to set in during the afternoon. You could try focusing on any key projects and scheduling any important meetings for earlier in the day, while your mind is at its most refreshed. That way, you’ll have conquered the most challenging part of your day first and can take it a bit easier once you start to feel tired.
• Get support. Ask someone you trust to weigh in on or validate more difficult decisions, and delegate where you can. If fatigue is getting to you over an extended period and you feel that even the smallest decisions give you overwhelming anxiety, you might want to consider seeking professional help from your doctor or attending counseling.

Becoming a Freelancer

Want to try your hand at a freelance career, without the stress of making complex business decisions? Our proofreading and editing courses come with guaranteed work opportunities with our partner company, Proofed. You’ll be able to gain valuable experience, and build your confidence, without worrying about finding clients or doing your own admin.

Sign up for a free trial for a sneak peek of what Knowadays has to offer!

The post What Is Decision Fatigue? (And How to Avoid It) appeared first on Knowadays.

In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the different ways you can keep your mind sharp after retirement and get the most out of this new life chapter!

Why Is It Important to Keep Your Mind Sharp?

Maintaining a healthy brain is good for both your mind and your body. Experts often closely associate aging with cognitive decline and memory loss, but keeping your mind and body active can make a big difference in retaining cognitive function and keeping your problem-solving and motor skills intact. 

Keeping your mind and body active can also be a great mood booster. Aging can carry a certain stigma, but life after retirement can be just as exciting as life before!

5 Ways to Keep Your Mind Sharp

1. Be a Lifelong Learner

Learning is a great way to keep your neurons firing after retirement! Learning can be formal or informal – the important thing is to find things that intrigue you and bring you joy. 

For example, you might read about a new subject, do puzzles, listen to new music, or try a new hobby, such as learning a musical instrument. Or you might take a more formal approach and enroll in a class or pursue a new qualification. 

Either way, stimulating the mind by learning something new can help reduce your risk of anxiety, depression, and dementia. You’ll feel a real sense of pride in your accomplishments!

2. Take Care of Your Body

It’s important to continue to exercise regularly as you get older. Physical activity lowers your chances of illness and cognitive decline. Exercise increases the blood flow in your body (including your brain) and triggers the release of serotonin and dopamine. 

A healthy body means a healthy, happy brain. Plus, while many creams and anti-aging potions promise the world – but don’t always deliver – exercise really can make you look and feel younger.

If you’re out of practice, don’t worry! Much like learning something new, it’s best to start small with exercise. For example, you could try the one-minute technique. This approach involves establishing good habits bit by bit and gradually increasing your commitment. You might commit to one minute of brisk walking. Then, as your stamina grows, increase the time to two minutes, then three, and so on. 

You can add socializing to the mix by finding classes at the gym or going for walks with a friend or family member. YouTube also has a wide range of age and strength-appropriate workout videos. Whatever you choose, start now, and you’ll thank yourself later!

3. Socialize 

Researchers have found that people who spend more time socializing with friends and family, join clubs, or volunteer tend to have better mental and physical health. Having regular, casual conversations keeps your mind engaged, reduces your risk of memory loss, and makes you happier. It’s even thought that socializing might help you live longer!

Apps like Meetup encourage people with certain interests to meet and find like-minded people. Whether you’re new to an area or want to explore more than just your regular haunts, all kinds of clubs and societies are waiting for you, no matter your interests. You can also try dating sites and apps for making friends. The world is your oyster!

4. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

When we’re younger, our time is often taken up by building a career, saving for a house, starting a family, and so on. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to pursue a few things on your bucket list during that time – but probably not everything. Retirement is the time to tick off more of those things! 

Set yourself a goal and cross something – big or small – off the list at least once a month. Living within your comfort zone might seem like the easiest option, but too much repetition can send your mood into a downward spiral. 

Why not book a spontaneous trip to a place you’ve always wanted to see or try out a bold new style you thought you couldn’t pull off? Stepping out of your comfort zone can broaden your perspective and boost your confidence.

5. Consider Volunteering

Many charities, shelters, and political groups need volunteers to help with their cause. Think about what you might like to do and how much time and effort you’re willing to offer. Select something close to your heart or have a look at sites, such as Global Volunteers, that match your skills to an organization’s needs.

What Are the Best Jobs for Retirees?

If you still find yourself itching to work, plenty of jobs can work around your lifestyle and present new opportunities to keep your mind sharp. Below, we’ve listed a few examples of flexible, varied jobs that are great for retirees. But of course, this list is far from exhaustive!

1. Proofreading and Editing

If you want to engage your mind and earn extra income, freelance proofreading and editing could be the retirement job for you! You don’t need any previous experience to get started, and the initial training costs are minimal. 

Aside from training, you probably already have what you need. The essentials are a laptop or desktop computer, a reliable internet connection, and up-to-date word processing software (such as Microsoft Word).

As a proofreader and editor, you can really put your grasp of the English language to the test. You’ll be correcting spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors, checking for formatting issues, amending text for clarity and consistency, and much more! Plus, you can increase your technological skills by getting familiar with all the formatting tools in Microsoft Word. 

As a freelancer, you’re free to work as little or as much as you want while supplementing your pension. You can also organize your time in a way that helps you socialize, travel, or tick something off the bucket list.

2. Writing

If you enjoy exploring the written word, you may consider a freelance writing career! 

All sorts of organizations employ freelance writers to help them perfect their written content: blog posts, magazine or journal articles, customer service and marketing emails, business reports, technical documents and manuals, social media posts, and more! 

The job of freelance writers is to craft text that encourages a reader to think, feel, and react in a certain way. In doing so, they help a company establish credibility and create trust with its customers. 

Much like freelance proofreading and editing, freelance writing is a flexible option that you can often do remotely. Many freelance writers take on a wide variety of projects, but if there is a particular area that interests you or that you have experience in, you could specialize. For example, if you love travel, you could make travel writing your niche. 

3. Tutoring

Tutoring can be a rewarding job option for retirees, as well as being a good way to stay connected and socialize with others. As a tutor, you get to keep your mind sharp, and you help others succeed too! 

If you have knowledge in a particular industry, you could mentor young people starting out in the same field. Or you could teach a specific subject (e.g., English or mathematics) or skill (e.g., playing a musical instrument). Teaching English as a Foreign Language is an in-demand market, especially if you want to work abroad. 

Becoming a Proofreader or Editor

Looking for a flexible, rewarding retirement job? A career as a freelance proofreader and editor is the perfect way to keep your mind sharp, learn something new, and earn extra income on your own terms. 

Our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses will teach you everything you need to get started in your new career. And if you graduate Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor with a score of 80% or above, you can secure guaranteed work with our partner company, Proofed. 

Buy the two courses as a bundle, and you’ll save 15%. Try it for free today!

The post How to Sharpen Your Mind After Retirement appeared first on Knowadays.

Join us as we explain what career confidence is, its benefits, then lay out the steps you can take towards feeling confident in your career.

What Is Career Confidence?

Career confidence isn’t quite the same as self-confidence. It refers to being assured that your career is right for you, it’s something you’re passionate about, and it aligns with your goals and values. Many things can influence career confidence, including:

• Your skills and experience
• How your colleagues and clients treat you
• Whether you feel fulfilled in your job
• How much passion you have for your work

Why Is Career Confidence Important?

Researchers have linked confidence and self-esteem at work to higher earnings and career success, which can help reduce stress, particularly when running your own business.

If you lack career confidence, you might doubt your abilities, which can lead to letting opportunities pass you by. For example, you might turn down an exciting project because you need more confidence to try something new.

Low career confidence might even prevent you from switching to a job that’s a better fit for you, making it harder to build confidence in yourself and your skills. Boosting your career confidence will help you make the most of any work opportunities that come your way.

How to Achieve Career Confidence

While confidence comes more naturally to some people than others, you can build and develop it. To improve your career confidence, you should:

Set Clear Goals

Pursuing a career without a plan is like setting off into the woods without a map. If your goals aren’t clear, reaching them will be harder, damaging your confidence. To avoid this, make sure any career goals you make are:

• Specific and complete with all the details you need to know
• Measurable so you can keep track of your progress
• Attainable to help keep you motivated
• Relevant so you can get to the place you want to be
• Time-bound so you know what needs doing when

Your goals can be flexible. If you keep in mind that your current plan isn’t the be-all and end-all, you’ll have more confidence to deal with any changes that come your way.

Learn How to Deal with Your Inner Critic

As the old saying goes, sometimes we’re our own worst critics. It’s a bit of a vicious cycle: Low career confidence results in a harsher inner voice, lowering your confidence even further. But there are ways to combat it. When your inner critic speaks up, try:

• Identifying the places, people, or activities that can trigger it
• Responding gently but firmly with evidence to the contrary

This is the worst document I’ve ever worked on… but I thought that last time, and the client loved it.

• Adding “yet” to adopt a more optimistic view

I’m no good at this… yet.

Remember, it’s better to acknowledge your inner critic than ignore it and risk slipping into the toxic positivity mindset.

Build Your Skills

On the more practical side, working on your skills will help you to silence that niggling voice that doubts your professional abilities. Proper training can also remove uncertainties about performing a particular skill or service. At the same time, a certificate or qualification can be physical evidence of your capabilities.

Focus on identifying any skill gaps you might have and skills you’d like to build further to advance your career or start a new one. Once you know what skills you want to work on, you can develop them by:

• Finding a mentor
• Studying resources, such as guides or training videos
• Taking an online training course

Knowadays Courses

If you wish to boost your career confidence by learning a new skill or developing an existing talent further, our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses can help.

We’ll provide you with in-depth, comprehensive training on all aspects of editing, plus guaranteed work so you can test your skills and build your confidence with real editing projects. Sign up for your free trial and take your first steps toward more career confidence.

The post Why Is Career Confidence So Important? (And How to Achieve It) appeared first on Knowadays.

You can’t do your best work if you don’t look after your mental health, so if you’re feeling lonely or isolated, it’s best to address this early. Here are five tips for combatting loneliness as a freelancer.

1. Switch Up Your Workspace

The ability to work from anywhere is a big draw for many freelancers. So while you might have a home office set up with all your essentials, you don’t have to work at home alone all the time.

Finding spaces in which you can work alongside other people – even if you’re not directly interacting with them – can reduce feelings of loneliness. A change of scenery and the hustle and bustle of other people’s lives can help relieve the boredom of spending too much time at home, provide new perspectives, and boost productivity.

Consider taking your work out of the house and into shared areas, such as cafes, libraries, and coworking spaces. You could even try out the digital nomad lifestyle by traveling the world and meeting new people – all while freelancing.

2. Find an Online Community

With loneliness common among freelancers, it’s no surprise that many online communities have sprung up to combat isolation. These communities are great places to: 

• Connect with and get to know other freelancers
• Network and collaborate with colleagues
• Share your feelings with others who may have similar experiences

Many of these communities are free to join and are on social media. Some, such as Freelancer Talk, have their own website.

Online freelance communities might cater to a particular industry, such as freelance editors, or they could be aimed at a certain demographic, like women who own their own business. Explore the different options out there until you find a community that clicks.

3. Take Time to Rest and Socialize

Being in work mode 24/7 isn’t healthy and can increase the risk of issues like loneliness and burnout. This is why effective breaks should be an essential part of any freelancer’s routine.

Take time out of your schedule to switch off, relax, and think about or do something other than work. This will help reduce stress and boost your general mood, which can then ease feelings of isolation.

When working remotely, you might be missing regular social activities, like work drinks and office chats. To counteract this, organize more opportunities to socialize throughout your work week, whether that’s a board game night with your family, a group session at the gym, or coffee and cake with friends.

4. Organize Virtual Meetings

While you might be interacting with a number of people throughout your workday, from clients to fellow freelancers, communicating solely by text on-screen can still feel lonely and isolating.

Organizing virtual meetings, video calls, and catch-ups can reintroduce a personal element to your work interactions, whether they’re formal appointments or informal conversations. Making these meetings a regular part of your schedule will guarantee a level of social interaction and can help build better professional relationships.

5. Express Yourself

Finally, it’s important not to isolate yourself further if you’re suffering from feelings of loneliness. Express your feelings by:

• Rejecting toxic positivity
• Practicing mindfulness
• Writing down your thoughts in a diary or journal
• Reaching out to your support network 

Being able to express your feelings can improve your mental health and will help to combat loneliness.

Becoming A Proofreader or Editor

At Knowadays, our graduates can join a Facebook group to discuss all things proofreading, editing, and freelancing.

If you’re interested in courses that set you up with all the necessary skills to become a freelancer, as well as tools to combat freelance loneliness, take a look at our course bundle. You’ll get 15% off both our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses.

The post 5 Ways to Combat Loneliness as a Freelancer appeared first on Knowadays.

What Is Toxic Positivity?

Toxic positivity refers to the concept of ignoring difficult emotions and experiences in favor of acting positive, regardless of how you may actually feel.

For example, a coworker might tell you to look on the bright side after a bad day at work, a friend could say that something upsetting happened for a reason, or a family member might insist that sadness is a choice.

While having a positive outlook on life is beneficial to your mental health, toxic positivity takes optimism to an unhealthy extreme. Living and working in an environment that promotes toxic positivity can result in people:

• Failing to acknowledge when something is wrong or needs to change.
• Going without the help they need.
• Brushing off others’ concerns, problems, or issues.
• Hiding emotions that aren’t deemed positive enough.
• Feeling guilty when they experience sadness, anger, or insecurity.
• Being unable to grow or learn from difficult experiences.

Identifying toxic positivity can be difficult at first, but there are ways to spot it.

Toxic Positivity at Work

In typical workplaces, toxic positivity can manifest as:

• A “good vibes only” approach to workplace culture.
• Prioritizing positivity over honesty.
• Dismissal of employees’ and coworkers’ concerns.
• Failing to acknowledge important issues, such as missed deadlines, layoffs, or financial troubles.

While freelancing comes with more freedom and flexibility than a traditional job, freelancers can still fall victim to toxic positivity. The main difference is, rather than a boss or office’s approach to workplace culture, it could be fellow freelancers or yourself that are pushing a toxic positivity mindset. If you find that you hide real but difficult emotions to appeal to clients, fit in with the freelance lifestyle, or avoid bringing down the mood, then you might be struggling with toxic positivity. 

As a freelancer, particularly a proofreader or editor, you’ll need to navigate negative feedback, rejection, and other difficult situations. If you operate under a “positive vibes only” mindset, you won’t be well equipped to deal with these issues when they arise. This can result in increased stress and burnout, which is why spotting and avoiding toxic positivity is essential when freelancing.

How to Combat Toxic Positivity as a Freelancer

We’ve seen that toxic positivity can be harmful, particularly at work, but how do you combat it as a freelancer without going too far in the other direction? Here’s our advice:

• Set clear boundaries. Appearing always available and happy to help clients might seem like the best way to operate, but you need to be able to take breaks and shut off from work regularly or you’ll risk burning yourself out. Setting boundaries, such as contact hours and which services you can and can’t provide, will help you to achieve this.
• Aim for emotional validation. Emotional validation is the act of accepting your emotions and the emotions of others as they are without trying to change or attach blame to them. While toxic positivity might be expressed with statements such as “anyone can choose to be happy,” validation is represented by phrases like “it’s okay to not always be okay.” Try approaching your feelings with a sense of validation rather than dismissal.
• Express yourself. It’s important to acknowledge the initial emotional reaction you have to work-related challenges and experiences, even if it’s painful, rather than covering it up or ignoring it. You might find it helpful to write down your negative feelings or share them with someone else (provided you aren’t breaching any confidentiality agreements).
• Identify your mistakes to improve. Rather than ignoring your failures and mistakes for the sake of positivity, use them to work out why things went wrong and what you need to do to improve your skills or change your approach to work. 

Looking after your mental health in these ways will allow you to thrive as a freelancer and help you to achieve your career goals.

Becoming a Proofreader or Editor

The freelance lifestyle has its challenges, but it also comes with many benefits, such as the freedom to work from home and be your own boss. If you’re thinking of starting a freelance career, why not try our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses? We’ll teach you everything you need to know to launch your own proofreading or editing business. Get started with a free trial!

The post What Is Toxic Positivity? (And How to Avoid It as a Freelancer) appeared first on Knowadays.

For newcomers and established proofreaders alike, here’s how a proofreading course can improve your skills and advance your career.

If You’re New to Proofreading

If you’re currently working in a different industry, taking a proofreading course is a great way to gain transferable skills and open up new career possibilities.

Here’s why you should consider taking a proofreading course, even if you’ve never done proofreading work before:

1. Apply New Skills in Your Current Job

In addition to the skills specific to proofreading, a good proofreading course will give you plenty of transferable skills you can apply to your current career.

These include:

• A good grasp of the English language, as full-time research student Lisa discovered.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• The ability to manage your own time and schedule.
• Experience with various computer programs and software.

With these skills, you can take on new tasks at your current job or apply for work in any industry.

2. Access New Opportunities

Training as a proofreader can provide you with many opportunities for career development. 

You might choose to start proofreading as a side job, earning some extra money to supplement your main income.

Or you could quit your job and embrace proofreading as a full-time career, giving you a better work–life balance.

You could even decide to set up your own freelance proofreading business and take control of your own career, like Knowadays graduate Thenere’.

3. Challenge Yourself

Taking a proofreading course is a great way to develop and challenge yourself, whether that’s through learning the finer points of grammar, testing your knowledge through quizzes and assessments, or developing your eye for detail.

This is good news because learning new skills and different ways of looking at things has been proven to:

• Keep your brain alert and interested
• Improve your memory
• Help you cope with stress
• Boost your self-confidence
• Engage your social skills

So, if you’re craving the challenge of learning something new and taking the next step in your continuing professional development, a proofreading course could be the right choice for you!

If You’re Already a Proofreader

Even if you’re already doing proofreading work, a proofreading course will refresh your industry knowledge and keep your skills sharp.

Here are some reasons why established proofreaders can still benefit from CPD and proofreading courses:

1. Stay Up to Date

It’s important to keep up with the latest updates and developments in the editing industry, no matter how long you’ve been working in it.

Proofreading courses can help you stay on top of:

• New editing software and work methods.
• Changing professional consensus on language and grammatical rules
• New and updated style guides

It can also help refresh your knowledge of all aspects of proofreading. After all, even the most seasoned editors might still need a refresher on the more obscure aspects of English grammar!

2. Reach Career Goals

As a professional proofreader, you’ll likely reach certain career goals. 

A proofreading course or qualification under your belt will help you achieve these goals by enabling you to:

• Attract more clients.
• Offer a wider variety of services.
• Increase your rates
• Learn how to market yourself.

So, whether you’re looking to increase your client base or simply earn a higher income, a proofreading course could be the boost your career needs.

3. Improve Your Confidence

Confidence often comes with experience, but even seasoned proofreaders can lose confidence in their skills.

Luckily, proofreading courses can offer concrete evidence of your talent as a proofreader through assessments, grades, and tutor feedback. Knowadays graduate Debra shares her story of how our Becoming A Proofreader course improved her confidence as a freelancer.

Being able to prove that you’ve taken part in training will also improve your clients’ confidence in your abilities and can help you land more work.

Becoming A Proofreader

Whether you’re an established proofreader or just dipping your toes into editing, our Becoming A Proofreader course can help you reach your career goals.

Sign up for a free trial to try it out.

The post How Proofreading Courses Aid Continuing Professional Development  appeared first on Knowadays.

Keep reading for some tips on how to prepare your freelance business for time off during the festive season.

Plan for Your Vacation

While it may be tempting to work all year, especially when your income depends on how much work you do, it’s a good idea to take some time to recharge and prep for the new year. If you want to take a Christmas break, you should let your clients know when you won’t be available so they can adjust their deadline expectations and make plans for your time away.

Wrap Up Work Before Your Break

Tie up any loose ends with clients before your vacation. This could mean taking care of unpaid invoices, returning completed projects, answering any questions, or providing feedback. Settling your business affairs before going on holiday will show clients that you care about them and allow you to relax during your time off.

Save Throughout the Year

Of course, there are financial preparations you should make as a freelancer to fund your Christmas break. If you want to take time off at the end of the year, set aside a percentage of your pay every month so that you’re not struggling to pay your bills while away. The best way to do this is to record your weekly or monthly expenses and calculate what you’ll need during your leave (factoring in any additional travel or vacation-related expenses).

Consider Raising Your Rates in the New Year

Freelancers may hesitate to raise their rates because they’re afraid their clients will leave them for someone cheaper. But it’s common for businesses to raise their prices (reasonably) semi-regularly, and you should always remember the value of the service you provide. If your work always meets or exceeds your clients’ expectations, they’ll be likely understand why you’re charging more for your services in the new year.

Send a Holiday Greeting to Your Clients

The holidays are the perfect time to let your clients know about any special promotions or new services you have. Sending a professional, festive holiday card shows that you care about your clients and adds a personal touch. It’s also a great opportunity to thank them for a great year and tell them what you have planned for the year ahead. 

Becoming a Proofreader or Editor

If you’re interested in learning more about freelancing, why not try our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses? These courses will teach you the skills you need to launch your own freelance proofreading or editing business. And if you pass both the Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses with a distinction score of at least 80%, you’re guaranteed work with our partner company, Proofed. Sign up for your free trial today!

The post Freelance Tips: How to Prepare for a Christmas Break appeared first on Knowadays.