Categories
Business

Productive In a Hybrid Work Environment

The hybrid work environment is not something that most employers, or workers, would have expected to become a reality before the covid-19 global pandemic fell upon the world. But it has become the new way to work, and the model will continue to grow throughout all industries within the next decade or so.

Being productive in a hybrid work environment is no different than working all day at the office. When working from home, the tasks that need to be done for the day can be put aside until they can be done, but they have to be done nonetheless. Sticking to the schedule is the most important thing to maintain productivity in a hybrid environment.

A hybrid work environment is an excellent change for the present and will be a fantastic way to conduct business in the future. It will create a workspace that will be much more productive because families that generally struggle with daycare and school functions associated with their children will be able to schedule around everything. But how can this be accomplished, and how can it be beneficial to all parties involved?

Tips To Keep Productive In A Hybrid Work Environment

 

As a part-time remote worker and a part-time office worker, you will find that you can get a ton more done in a day. Not just when it comes to work, either. But the thing that will make this possible is to keep yourself productive in the hybrid workplace. A few pointers can help you achieve a high level of productivity and still have a great home life. Let’s take a look.

  • Organize – Organization and planning will be the one thing that will make you or break you. A daily, weekly, and monthly plan need to be established. One that you follow to the letter. You must break it down by day, location (home or office), and tasks.
  • Goals – Just like when you spend your entire work week in the office, you will need to set some goals and make sure that you reach them. Being productive at home starts with you and what you want to achieve.
  • Boundaries – You will need to set yourself some boundaries. Work is work, and home is home. The best way to accomplish this is to have a separate room for the times you plan to work. A space that is free of distractions and visitors.
  • Communication – One of the first steps that the company you are working for should have been to set up various ways to keep the communication lines open. You need to stay in touch with your managers just as much as they need to be able to reach out to you. 
  • Burnout – When you have the choice of working or not, you will find yourself leaning more and more towards your workspace, spending less time on family and friends. The reason is that you have 24-hour access to your job. The more work hours you put in, the more likely you will experience some burnout. Balance both areas of your life to avoid this on either side of the fence.

There are many different things that you can do to ensure that you are just as productive in a hybrid environment, or even more so. The thing is that you need to put in the effort to accomplish the jobs that you need to get done. Lock yourself away if you have to if you find it hard to stay on task. If that doesn’t work, try working more in the office and less at home. That way, you will still complete everything on your schedule on time.

Conclusion

 

If you have been part of a hybrid work environment for any time, you have seen how productive you can be. If you are just starting to use the innovative business model, you should be able to see how well it could work. The bottom line is that it all boils down to you. 

You need to keep your work ethic high and complete the daily and weekly tasks that have been assigned to you. Keep your work away from your home life, even though you may be working from home more often than not.

 

Categories
Lifestyle Wellness

What is a Hybrid Mattress And Could It Help You Sleep Better?

 

 

Experts agree that you should replace your mattress every five to 10 years. When it’s time to plan that purchase of a new mattress, it’s a good idea to research the options. Mattress technology has changed quite a bit in the past 10 years, so you may not have heard about some of the newest technology available in mattresses. Here are some tips on what hybrid mattresses are and how they could help you sleep better.

 

What Sets a Hybrid Mattress Apart

 

Hybrid mattresses first became available in 2008. They combine the bounce, strength, and support of a coil mattress with the comfort and softness of a gel, latex or memory foam mattress. Most hybrid mattresses have a configuration of individual metal coils for support and reduction of motion transfer. The coils are set into fabric pockets, which reduce the noise associated with moving on the bed. The top of the hybrid mattress features one or more layers of memory foam, latex or polyurethane. Some have a gel layer. These layers cushion the body, relieve pressure and create a flat sleeping surface, which is ideal for side sleepers.

Benefits of a Hybrid Mattress

 

The biggest benefit of a hybrid mattress is its comfort. The upper layer of the mattresses typically contains a gel or memory foam. This material cradles and contours your body. If you have an aching back or shoulder, it relieves the pressure when you lay on that part of your body. Hybrid mattresses also have coil springs, so they offer the support that you need, no matter what your sleep position is. 

 

Reasons to Choose a Hybrid Mattress

 

You don’t have to use a box spring with a hybrid mattress. This saves you time and gives you more flexibility in deciding which type of bed frame or platform to use. You could also choose one of the high-tech motorized or adjustable bed frames for your hybrid mattress. The gel and latex hybrid mattresses cool your body, helping you maintain comfort and reducing your likelihood of waking up because of being too hot. If you or your sleep partner tend to move around a lot, the edge support on a hybrid mattress prevents you from falling off the bed. It also keeps your bedsheets in the proper position as you move around in your sleep.

 

Drawbacks of a Hybrid Mattress

 

There are a few drawbacks of hybrid mattresses. These mattresses are heavier than a traditional mattress of the same size. They take a little longer to break in compared to a standard mattress. Some hybrid mattresses off-gas for a few weeks. If you pick a hybrid mattress with the thickest layer of memory foam, it retains more heat. For people who tend to get hot and sweaty while they sleep, this could cause some discomfort.

 

Choosing the Best Mattress

 

The best mattress is a personal choice, based on your preferences for firmness, your sleep position, whether you get warm or cold while you sleep, if you have a restless sleep partner or if you have issues, such as back pain. There are a lot of hybrid mattress options, including different foam thicknesses and different sizes. You spend about one-third of your life on your mattress, and your comfort and quality of sleep are worth the investment in a great hybrid mattress.

 

Categories
Featured Living

Lincoln Chases Innovation with the New Aviator

The automobile industry is feeling the pressure. As consumers, we’re no longer satisfied with the four-cylinder engine, flimsy cupholder, glovebox and barely-functional seatbelt combination wrapped in whatever horrible, geometric, die-cast and stamped sheet metal design that happens to be popular. Consumers want more – and Lincoln’s new Aviator represents a valiant effort to provide exactly that: more.

Lincoln Aviator Steering Wheel

Lincoln’s Aviator, formerly an afterthought to the bigger, bolder Navigator, has basically every innovation and piece of tech you could hope for in a mid-sized luxury SUV. From automatic emergency braking and predictive Suspension Preview Technology to the meaty Twin Turbo/Plug-In Hybrid drivetrain engine, the Aviator is breaking some serious ground and acting as the first installment of Lincoln’s movement “toward a broader portfolio of utilities and electrification in conjunction with effortless services,” according to the manufacturer.

This movement towards a more tech-savvy vehicle lineup has granted the new Aviator more injected tech than you can shake a stylus at – even an integrated app. You can start, lock, unlock and open the trunk of the new Aviator with a simple swipe of your smartphone. This new addition to the Lincoln line also features an absurd amount of driving modes, from the more modest “normal,” “conserve” and “excite” modes to the adventurous “slow climb” and “deep sand,” just in case you’re planning on crossing the Gobi Desert.

Lincoln Aviator Rear View

Styling is another big change for the new Aviator. Forget the boxy, encumbered body of the past, Lincoln has opted to implement an aircraft-inspired, aerofoil design on the newest member of their SUV family. “You have the stature and presence of the grille at the front, then the body and tail taper off,” explains Lincoln Design Director David Woodhouse, “from the headlight to the taillight, there’s a beautiful undercut feature varying in depth that connotes poise and grace.”

Lincoln Aviator Side Panel

Learn more about the brand new Lincoln Aviator on their website, and stay up-to-date on the latest tech by visiting our Tech Spot.

All photos courtesy of the manufacturer.

Categories
Featured

Rolls Royce Unveils Plans For A Luxury Hybrid

Phantom 1
Rolls Royce Phantom 102 EX

In the world of automobiles Rolls Royce has been synonymous with luxury for more than a 100 years.

A symbol of the finest design and speed to match the high caliber taste of its owners, Rolls Royce has been on the cutting edge in every technical and aesthetic category.

Now as we head into the 21st century, Rolls Royce will lead the way in the luxury automobile world with its first commercial plug in hybrid. The company confirmed during the Geneva Motor Show that the vehicle should become a reality within the next three years.

Rolls Royce’s CEO, Torsten Müller-Otvos, described hybrid technology as “essential in two years, maybe not from customer demand but through legal regulation on emissions,” if the car company wants to continue using their V12 powerhouse engines.

Phantom
Rolls Royce’s first hybrid attempt the Phantom 102 EX

The immediate question is can it be done? Can a Rolls Royce—a car that goes hand in hand with luxury and speed—develop a hybrid car that will match its own high standards, and those of its customers?

The first time Rolls Royce attempted a fuel efficient car was a Phantom prototype called the 102EX. It was not met with high praise as current owners were dissatisfied with the charging time and mileage received. So, the concept car never went into public production.

Rolls Royce CEO  Müller-Otvos has firmly stated “A Rolls-Royce cannot come with any kind of compromise, and both the recharging times and the range were not acceptable for our buyers — but with hybrid technology that is no longer a problem”

—Alejandro Ramos