If you’re unsatisfied with the current situation at your home or at work, you don’t have to settle with how things are. Improving your home and work situation is easier than you might think, and a few modifications can help you to enjoy these aspects of your life even more. These four tips can result in big improvements, and they’re all simple actions that you can implement yourself.
Know Your Worth at Work
A higher salary can improve your life in many ways, from reducing your stress over finances to giving you some extra disposable income that you can use to improve your home. But many people miss out on higher salaries because they’re afraid to negotiate their salaries at the time of hiring or never ask for a raise. These mistakes can cost you significantly across the course of your professional career According to studies, professionals who do not negotiate a first salary lose out on a substantial amount of income over the years.
If you haven’t yet asked your current employer for a raise, then you should bring it up during your next performance review. While the act of actually asking for a raise is the first hurdle, it’s important to do so in the right way. Do some research into the actual value of your position, and be prepared with a list of the contributions you’ve made to the company. Practice your pitch with friends and family so that, by the time your review arrives, you’ll be confident and smooth in your delivery.
Many of these same tips apply to negotiating your salary when you get a new job. You shouldn’t be afraid to negotiate your salary, because most people who do so are successful in getting a higher salary than what was advertised or proposed for the position.
Before you negotiate, do your research and determine the average salary rate for the position. Don’t forget that benefits are an important part of the equation and negotiating perks like the ability to work remotely or increased vacation time can also improve the quality of your job.
Be prepared with a concrete request that specifies both your desired salary and any extra perks that you’re looking for. Then, be ready to counter if the company offers you less. Negotiating is a conversation, so there may be some back-and-forth, but having this conversation can lead to a better work situation.
Adopt a Minimalist Lifestyle
If you find yourself overwhelmed by the amount of “stuff” in your home or in your office, it might be time to declutter. Decluttering your life can give you greater satisfaction, and it’s not too difficult to do.
You can take things a step further by adopting a minimalist lifestyle. Many people find that moving away from materialism is a freeing and life-changing experience. With fewer things to store and clean, you can focus your time and energy on what really matters in your life.
Transitioning into a minimalist mindset isn’t something that will happen overnight, and decluttering your home or office will be a gradual process. Dedicate 15 or 20 minutes a day to sort through your items. Decide what you really need and what you’d like to get rid of. If you can’t determine if you really need an item or not, put it in a box for a few months. If you don’t remove the item from the box during that time, you may not need it as much as you think you do.
Come up with a plan for your discarded items, such as selling them or donating them to charity. Knowing that your items will continue to do some good can make it easier to let them go.
Make Little Changes for Big Results
Renovating a room in your home may be cost-prohibitive, but smaller changes can offer you big results in refreshing your room. Try repainting spaces where you spend lots of time, like your living room and your kitchen. When you color coordinate the space, you can get professional-looking design results, even on a do-it-yourself budget.
With a fresh coat of paint on the walls, you can take additional steps to make your room more cosy. Hang some artwork on your walls and consider framing your photos. If you’re artistically inclined, consider painting some canvases of your own to go on your walls. Alternatively, visit an art store or home decor store to find artwork you enjoy.
Other small changes can help to complete your room. Add some decorative light fixtures and introduce some plants to your home with window gardens or hanging planters. This is also an ideal time to build an addition or revamp a room to be your home office. By adding your own touches and designing an office space all your own, you can create an area that motivates you and improves the quality of your work.
Don’t Be Afraid of Change
Change makes many people uncomfortable, and for good reason. Major life changes can make you feel like you have no control and change brings new circumstances that you may not know anything about. A change such as starting a new job can make you question your skills and competence. All of these elements contribute to the common issue of fearing change.
To improve your home and work, change is necessary, and can even be positive. Try to reframe how you think of change, and remember that any new transition is just temporary. Soon, your “new” life will be just as familiar to you as your old life. You’ll wonder how you could have ever gone on without making the change that led you here. So go ahead, make a lifestyle change, revitalize your home, and apply for that new job. Who knows what positive things may come from those decisions?
