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Working in a traditional office structure can have plenty of benefits, but eventually, you might want a change of scenery. Sometimes it’s a change in interests, passions or opportunities not at widely available as they were once before that prompt this new thinking. For many of us, a year of working remotely has shifted our priorities around work/life balance. The reality is that it doesn’t matter how you got to this place — it is what to do once you have come to that conclusion, and faced with many options. The first thing you need to determine is what career path to turn to next.

Work from Anywhere

One option to consider is finding a job where you can work from anywhere. This type of job allows you a lot more freedom and flexibility. You have the option to set your own schedule, work at your own pace, and even move around without impacting your job. When finding a remote job, you should start by networking. This can be done in person or online. However, searching online may be more beneficial to you. While you search, make sure you have clear expectations for what you’re looking for. This can help you find a job you’re suited for. It’s also important to know what potential employers are looking for. For example, you may need to be well-versed in certain technology. Take time to learn these skills so you can be better qualified.  

Go Into Blue Collar Work

Once you leave office life, you might want to consider a complete change and enter the blue-collar workforce. One major draw of blue-collar work is that you will be more active than you were sitting behind a desk. Blue-collar jobs are also fairly stable since they are essential and will always be needed. If you don’t currently have the qualifications for a blue-collar job, there’s no need to worry. Trade schools are much cheaper than a college education and you can complete your training much faster. You can begin working soon and you also have the opportunities for advancement that allow for higher pay. However, you should be aware of the commitment necessary. Master plumbers earn more, but it requires years of training to get to that point.

Start a Business

If you’re really ready for a change, it’s likely that you aren’t as passionate about your career as you once were. Starting your own business is a great way to recapture your passion. You have creative liberty over the direction of your business, and it can lead to a great deal of personal satisfaction. You will also be the one calling all the shots. You can determine your lifestyle because you pick the hours and the requirements. You have the chance to embrace independence.

After years in an office career, it can be intimidating to make a sudden change. However, doing so can help you feel reinvigorated. Sometimes a career change can have countless benefits on your mental and physical health as well as your life overall.

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Despite what the beauty industry would have you believe, aging is a natural, normal part of life. That doesn’t mean it’s without its challenges though. It takes a toll on your appearance and can mean you need to make adjustments in how you present yourself to maintain a professional appearance. 

Update Your Wardrobe

How someone dresses can have a distinct impact on how they present themselves. Your clothes can give you confidence, which impacts everything from your posture to how you speak. It can also be a subtle indicator of your age. While age discrimination is illegal in the workplace, it still happens, even if only subconsciously. Give yourself a helping hand by updating your wardrobe. Get your clothes fitted to suit your body shape. Choose colors that work well with your skin tone. If you wear glasses, opt for trendy frames that fit your face shape. Opt for dressier shoes when possible. If you’ve been rocking the same hairstyle for a while, visit a stylist you trust to help you give your hair a fresh, updated look that will help you look younger.

Personal Hygiene Practices

Your hygiene serves as a basic foundation for your appearance and will be essential if you want to stay looking professional. Adopt good skin care practices. You should use sunscreen and a moisturizer at a minimum. Your hair will likely change in thickness and texture as you age, so take care to alter how you wash it as needed. Take good care of your teeth too. Teeth tend to dull and yellow with age, so a trip to the dentist may be in order. There are multiple services commonly offered by dentists that can help you maintain the appearance and health of your teeth.

Protect Your Health

Similarly, your overall health will have a strong impact on your professional image. Being in poor health or even being overweight are some of the things that can age your appearance unnecessarily and make it harder to keep up a professional look. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and participate in regular physical activity. Get plenty of rest and take time to look after your mental health. The better care you take of yourself, the easier it will be to maintain a professional appearance, regardless of your age.

While appearances aren’t everything, they still play a significant role in how you are perceived by your fellow professionals. Taking measures to update your wardrobe, keeping up on personal hygiene practices, and protecting your health can help you maintain a professional appearance as you age. The earlier you start, the better off you’ll be and the less you’re likely to find yourself facing ageism in the workplace.

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Unfortunately, even at the best of companies, workplace injuries are common. Even worse, many people aren’t sure what to do when they experience a workplace injury. It is important that you do your best to get your life back on track as soon as possible. To do that, consider the following.

Take Time for Recovery

A workplace injury is not the time to choose to tough things out. That will only lead to your situation getting worse. Nor should you rush recovery. When your body sustains an injury, it can take a large amount of energy to heal properly. According to Mount Elizabeth, if you don’t take adequate rest, your body won’t be able to do more than just a patch job. This can significantly increase the chance of reinjury. Chances are the second time the injury will be worse. Even when you do choose to return to work, start off with a lightened load. Your muscles will have atrophied during the time off. Give your body the chance to slowly get into rhythm.

Take Advantage of Workers’ Compensation

Many people feel pressured to return to work as soon as possible so that they can remain financially stable. However, if you sustained your injury at work, you should be exercising your right to worker’s compensation. In most cases, you can qualify for time off, pay compensation, and medical coverage. According to Bruscato Law, you need to keep detailed records of your medical visits and insurance information. This will help ensure that your expenses are covered. If your company is reluctant to provide compensation, reach out to a lawyer that specializes in workplace injuries. They will help make sure you are treated fairly.

Set a Return Date

At some point you are going to be ready to return to work. However, your timeline may not match up with the timeline that your company desires. Make sure that you communicate clearly with your company so that you are on the same page. If you feel that you are not being given enough time to heal, you may need to get a professional opinion.

Visit the Doctor

Some people have an aversion to visiting the doctor. Even if you dislike it, you need to go. A doctor will help you set a timeline for how long it will take to recover. They can also recommend treatments that will help ease your pain and improve the quality of your recovery. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t have to pay for these visits. Your company is responsible for your medical bills relating to a workplace injury. According to IME Care Center, you should ask lots of questions and make sure that you get the most out of each visit. Be sure to follow all the doctors’ orders if you want to recover quickly.

See a Physical Therapist

Your doctor will most likely recommend that you visit a physical therapist. Even if they don’t, it will be worth checking out. According to Connecticut Family PT, a physical therapist can help you with exercises and physical therapies that are designed to promote healing and reduce pain. Your physical therapist can identify weaknesses in your body that may have contributed to the injury. An exercise plan can then be developed that will help you to eliminate those weaknesses so that you don’t get injured in the future. Once again, these visits should be covered by your company, but make sure that is the case before going.

Eat Healthy

If your body is going to fully recover, it is going to need a lot of energy and the proper nutrients to repair bones, ligaments, muscles, and other tissues that may have been injured. In order to do this, you need to be eating a healthy balanced meal. When you get injured, your body is put under a lot of strain. This strain can lower your immune system. If you then choose to eat unhealthy meals, your immune system can be lowered even further. This will increase the likelihood that you will get sick on top of being injured. On the other hand, a healthy diet can help raise your immune system and prevent this from occurring.

While you may feel that you have obligations to your company and others, it is important that you focus on taking care of yourself. Once you have recovered from your injury, you will be able to fulfill those obligations more fully. Until then, you should rest. Doing anything else will just lengthen your recovery time.

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