The pandemic was a challenge to the way we work and live, but it also provided an opportunity to work a different way. Technology has virtualized our office needs, allowing us to continue working from home. There is no reason why everyone can’t take advantage. This new generation of work from home professionals are leading by example and proving how much healthier working outside a traditional office setting can be.

Removing work-related stressors from your life is essential for a healthy mind and body. Otherwise, you may experience health problems such as heart disease—not to mention the challenges that come with having an anxious mindset in general. Here are five health benefits of working from home that help improve your mental and physical health.

1. Less Commuting

Did you know the average one-way commute for the American workforce is 27.6 minutes? Commuting to work can be a stressful—and expensive—experience. From the cost of fueling your vehicle, monthly parking fees, and public transportation, the costs and stress add up quickly when you have a job that requires driving back and forth every day.

2. Healthy Eating

Whether you are at home or in an office setting, what you consume matters to your well-being. It’s more likely that someone who works from home will lean toward more nutritious choices. At home, there’s no vending machine full of processed junk food or fast food right around the corner. Instead, you control what food and drinks are around.

3. More Family Time

Spending more time around loved ones helps people feel happier and healthier. Unfortunately, too many employees who work outside the home feel they do not get time with their families and loved ones. With long days and long commutes, there’s just not enough time in the day. Those who work from home don’t have this problem, however. Part of emotional well-being is being around loved ones and working from home makes this much more doable.

Time with pets

Pet lovers know that pets are great stress relievers, and working from the comfort of your home allows you to be with them. Quality time between humans and animal companions is beneficial for both—it’s a win-win situation! Plus, being home means you can take care of your fur babies without having to worry about leaving them alone too long.

4. Greater Flexibility

Freedom, flexibility and balance are the keys to a healthy life. Deciding for yourself when, where, and how you work best is a valuable health benefit. For example:

• Seeing your children off to school and being available when they get home.
• Sleeping in and staying up later because that’s when your mind is sharpest.
• Working out during your lunch break without the fear of looking unprofessional and sweaty afterward.
• Working anywhere in the world! As long as you’ve got Wi-Fi, you can be productive.

The ability to work remotely allows the flexibility needed to take care of yourself, your well-being, and your family while still pursuing your entrepreneurial dreams.

5. Better Environment

Finally, working from home lowers your chance of coming into contact with germs and harmful chemicals. In the workplace, we often come into close contact with our co-workers and customers. This can lead to the risk of getting sick. Your body’s immune system works harder to fight off viruses or bacteria which can lead to fatigue. Plus, avoiding the city’s pollution and transportation-related nuisances means exposure to fewer harmful chemicals.

Working remotely has a plethora of benefits for your mental and physical health, as well as your work-life balance. If you’re looking to start working from home, Kaeser & Blair offers an opportunity that is perfect for anyone with a strong work ethic and a desire to be their own boss. With our Business Owner program, you can launch your very own business and start seeing the benefits of working from home today. Ready to get started? Click here to learn more about how you can become a successful entrepreneur with Kaeser & Blair!

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Are you looking to make some extra cash but don’t have the time to pick up a full-time career? Online part time work from home is the perfect solution for people who want to spend time with loved ones while still earning money. Earning a profit from the comfort of your home is a convenient option in comparison to getting another job on top of your other everyday responsibilities.

If you start your online part time work from home business, you will be in total control of every aspect. Here are three benefits to consider:

1. You can begin immediately.

Technically, all you need is laptop and an internet connection to get started. That’s it! Ideally, of course, you also should have a quiet space to work that’s free of distractions and a headset if you need to make calls. But these days, just a few simple tools are all you need to quickly launch a new part time job online.

If you couple this benefit with the risk-free, low startup costs of being a Kaeser & Blair Business Owner, it’s a win-win. Selling promotional products online is easy to start and maintain online. To get started, we offer a Free Trial Launch Kit. With it, you can compare our opportunity to others before fully committing—with no risk to you! When you’re ready, just purchase one of our two Business Owner packages, and you will be given the business support tools to help you toward success. These include your own website, training and professional development, marketing tools, and more. Everything is online and can be accessed at any time. (Decide this opportunity just isn’t for you? No problem. Return the package in the first 30 days and we’ll refund you the full cost of the package.)

2. You can set your own schedule.

Flexibility is key when it comes to part time work. Think about never having to work long hours or refrain from taking time off. You can be the boss of your own schedule and how much effort you want to put into this career. Additionally, you will always have the opportunity to spend some extra time working if you need to make a larger profit. When it’s all online, it’s all up to you!

At Kaeser & Blair, we won’t make you sign any binding contracts or agreements. This means you get to run your business the way you want. You get to be your own boss, so you can set your own schedule and work whenever and wherever is convenient to you. With complete control of your business, you get to determine your own success. It truly is one of the best opportunities for part time work from home.

3. You can choose to work in a growing industry.

Having the world at your fingertips means you can do some research before deciding on the best online part time work from home for you. It also means being part of an industry you’ve always been curious about, which may be different from what you do full time. Many industries that are seeing growth online need specialized training, such as therapy or accounting. But don’t let that discourage you! There are plenty of options that don’t.

Customer service is a great option for someone who loves to help people and isn’t easily flustered. Administrative work is another job where your people skills matter most. Virtual assistants (VAs) are needed by busy professionals across many different industries. One of the best options, however, is sales. Sales is sited as both one of the careers with the most work from home jobs in 2020, and one of the top 10 growing industries to break into in 2021.

At Kaeser & Blair, we specialize in promotional products direct sales. The promotional products industry is one of the fastest-growing in the nation, which means you get the benefit of working in two growing industries. Almost every company uses promotional products as part of their advertising. In fact, if you look around, you’ll probably find at least one promotional product near you. The demand for promotional products isn’t a passing fad; the industry is only expected to continue growing as time goes on.

If you’ve been thinking about working from home on a part time basis but worried about the flexibility and profit potential, Kaeser & Blair may be the best solution for you. Become a Business Owner and start your online direct sales promotional products business today. You’ll be able to check off all your boxes with the support you need along the way.

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There are two types of married couples. First, there’s the type that desperately needs their eight hours a day away from each other to thrive (or let’s face it, to survive). On the other hand, there’s the type of couple that is most positive, productive, and successful when they’re in the company of each other.

If you and your spouse are a part of the latter, you’re not alone. Many couples enjoy doing everything together, even when it comes to their careers. It is widely known that working separately, with different hours, can cause a huge strain on a relationship. A possible solution to couples needing more time together is for them to work from home in a business partnership.

If you’re looking for jobs you can do with your spouse, you’re moving in the right direction—not only for your career but maybe for your marriage, too! A total win-win.

There are many benefits to working side-by-side with your spouse, but like all things, there are many challenges that come with this new venture as well. Don’t be afraid to take the challenge. It could turn out to be the best choice you’ve ever made, especially if you and your spouse are both interested in making this commitment. Starting a business together may be the best way to do this.

To guide you through your journey, here are five tips for working with your spouse.

1. Set Clear Boundaries

Managing boundaries between the working relationship and the marriage or family connection is vital. Setting limits is always important in order to maintain a healthy work-life balance, no matter what your situation is. But when you are working with your spouse, protecting your personal life is crucial.

You should decide on where and when you’ll discuss work matters. Set work-free zones in advance, where the conversation of work should not even be brought up. Spend time together as husband and wife doing something you both enjoy. Leave work discussions for work hours.

2. Expect to Disagree 

Building a business with your spouse as your business partner is challenging. Disagreements are inevitable in any collaborative environment. It’s just a part of working together. If everyone agreed instantly, life would be extraordinarily boring. Expect to see things differently than your spouse. However, create an arrangement with each other to not bring up the argument when you’re in a work-free zone—and stick to it!

3. Separate Responsibilities  

Divide and conquer, together. Separating responsibilities within your business will save you a considerable amount of stress in your relationship. You can make decisions together about who fits better in what role, and who can pick up the pieces in other areas. Combining your skill sets is a good idea, but making sure your expectations line up may play an even bigger part in your success. 

4. Provide Support and Encouragement for One Another

As a spouse, you are each other’s biggest fans. Don’t forget to keep the same mindset when you’re working together. You will understand each other’s day-to-day life, in all areas. With your close personal relationship, you can provide a level of support to your spouse that no one else can. 

Historically, it was very common for spouses to work alongside each other, relying heavily on each other. So, if you have concerns around the idea that jobs you can do with your spouse are non-existent or destined to fail, you can find comfort in knowing that this has been done successfully for centuries. 

With support also comes encouragement. Don’t let the victories and milestones slip. Be sure to celebrate together and let your spouse know when they are doing a great job!

5. Create a Backup Plan

Unexpected obstacles will always come into play, and just in case things don’t go your way, you should make arrangements that can be agreed upon. This serves as protection for your career as well as your relationship. 

It is a common worry that creating a backup plan or exit strategy means that you are expecting things not to work out. In reality, by planning ahead, you are setting yourself up for success instead of failure. It is important to realize that when it comes to jobs for couples, things can change in an instant—including your relationship and/or business. 

Whether you’re just looking for tips for working with your spouse or are ready to dive in, selling promotional products with Kaeser & Blair is a great business idea! Learn more about how to get started with our business program. 

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Working from home sounds like a dream come true. That is, it sounds great until the dog won’t stop barking, the kids are screaming, and you find yourself staring at the computer screen without any motivation. Don’t worry! Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent or a remote worker, it sometimes helps to have reminders about what habits to build. Here are a 13 working from home tips for success anyone can follow.

1. Set goals.

Take some time to think about what your goals are for the day and jot them down. Having a list of attainable goals will help you to stay motivated for success.

2. Structure your day like you would in the office.

Home businesses are great for the person who wants to set their own schedules, but many people often have difficulty drawing the line between home and work when their work is at home. Just like a 9–5 job, you should have time when you work and time when you don’t.  If you’re used to taking your lunch at 1:00, don’t change that routine! If you typically save your phone calls for the afternoon, don’t start doing them in the morning. The more you act like you’re in an office, the more productive you will be.

3. Don’t work in your PJs.

Would you show up to your office in pajamas? Of course not! Get up in the morning and put yourself together. While you don’t have to get dressed up, set a standard of professionalism to adhere to daily.

4. Set expectations for your kids.

Expectations for your kids will vary depending on their ages. For example, you can’t tell a baby not to bother you while you’re placing orders. However, if your children are old enough to have certain boundaries, make sure they know when it is and is not okay to interrupt you while you’re working. As your kids get older and their independence grows, this will become less of an issue. An example of a healthy expectation is asking your kids to do their homework as soon as they get home so you can finish up your workday by the time their homework is finished.

5. Try to adhere to a consistent morning routine.

Whether your kids are barely able to walk or balancing school, sports, and other activities, a consistent morning routine will help you start each day off on the right foot. Not only will this give your kiddos a schedule to adhere to, but it will also help you get in the right mindset for the day. Different schedules work for different people, but as long as you come out of your morning routine feeling productive and on top of things, that’s all that matters.

6. Allow yourself some flexibility with your routine.

Let’s face it: kids won’t always adhere to the schedule you set. If your kids are home with you all day, odds are they’ll walk in on an important phone call, make a mess while you’re placing an order, or require your attention when you’ve only gotten one thing done on your to-do list. Instead of becoming frustrated, try to allow yourself some flexibility in your routine. We recommend sorting your list by priority—start with the most important thing you have to do, then work your way down form there. That way, if something comes up that disrupts your work, you’ll have gotten the most important tasks out of the way.

Also think about your own schedule preferences. Not everyone is a morning person. If you’re more productive in the afternoon or evening, build your schedule around those times.

7. Use a planner, note-taking, or task-management app.

This tip is especially useful for people who may not be good at keeping a schedule or staying on-track. Stay organized and keep track of everything from day one! Some great options include Evernote, Things 3, and Any.do.

8. Don’t stay at home.

The best thing about working from home is not having to stay home! If you find you’re not being productive at home, you can pick up your laptop and drive to the library, coffee shop, or other location.

9. Take breaks.

Working from home means you have freedom; go out to lunch, spend time with your family, or go for a walk. It can be tempting to stare at your computer all day, especially once you see how successful you can be, but it is important to step away occasionally and take some time for yourself.

10. Make it harder for yourself to get on social media.

Social media is great for promoting your business, but before you know it, a few minutes turns into an hour. Put your phone in another room, set goals for yourself to complete before you can pick your phone back up, or try another technique to keep you on track! One time management system is the Pomodoro Technique. The idea is to break tasks into manageable periods of time, such as three 25-minute sessions, with short breaks in between each. There are several apps that utilize this method, including the Bear Focus Timer.

11. Give yourself time off to get things done.

While you may not get a day off parent duty, you should give yourself time off work. That being said, those days off can be really helpful prep days to get you and your family ready for the rest of the week. Do some meal prep, run errands, and deep-clean the house while you have the time. This will save you time and energy during the week.

12. Build a support system.

Networking is important when running a home business. If you find people in similar situations, keep them close as they can not only relate to you, but support you, and help you grow your business.

Parents: Ask for help when you need it.

Even though we believe working moms and dads are superheroes, we also believe that superheroes have sidekicks for a reason. Don’t be afraid to reach out to family, friends, neighbors, or a babysitting service if you’re having trouble juggling everything. This can be especially helpful when you have a lot of meetings or a fast-approaching deadline.

13. Don’t get discouraged.

Starting a home business of your very own can be difficult. Distractions are everywhere! Try to keep the big picture in mind. Stick with it through the first few sales and you will find that the process will become easier and more rewarding.

If you’re looking to work from home, check out Kaeser & Blair! You have full flexibility to work when you want, where you want, and how much you want. Learn more about our package options and start your career today!

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Top 5 Tips for Staying Focused When Working from Home

Set Up a Home Office

Laying on the couch with your laptop sounds like a great way to work, but it can actually make focusing much more difficult. Choosing a dedicated area for work can help you separate your home life from your professional life. You don’t want feel like you’re working every time you sit on the couch to watch something on Netflix! If you have the room, set up a home office separate from where you usually relax. You’ll find the separation will keep you more productive and organized.

Take Breaks

Whether you’re working in an office or working from home, taking breaks is important for staying focused. Studies have shown that taking breaks positively impacts your productivity and creativity. Set a reminder in your phone or calendar to take a break every few hours to disconnect from work and take a breather. Experts have varying opinions on the ideal frequency and duration of breaks, but if you listen to your brain and create a consistent break schedule that works for you, you may find an improvement in your mood and productivity!

Set Office Hours

Many people who work from home think that they can work whenever they want, which in some situations is technically true. However, having consistent home office hours can help set boundaries for yourself and your personal life. Think about what hours you work best at and set your work schedule around those times – and stay consistent with it! This way, your clients (and friends and family) will know when you are available, and you won’t feel guilty for not constantly checking your email when you’re off the clock.

Make a List

One of the best ways to keep yourself focused is to create a daily task list that lays out everything you want to accomplish for the day. This can be typed on your computer, or even handwritten. When you write out tasks in an organized list, they seem more manageable and not as intimidating. You’ll find the satisfaction of crossing tasks off your list will give you a sense of progress and achievement, which can boost productivity!

Mute Notifications on Tempting Apps

Smart phones are one of the greatest technologies of the 21^st century. They’re also one of the biggest distractions and can keep you from getting work done! If you’re not able to have a separate work phone, try to limit the time you spend looking at your phone to only work-related calls/notifications. You can even mute notifications on the apps that distract you most (social media is a common one) to avoid the temptation.

Working from Home with Kaeser & Blair

Authorized Kaeser & Blair business owners run independent businesses that are owned and operated by you. You decide when to work, what work you do, and who you work with. Click here to learn more about how it works and how to get started!

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Tips for Setting Up Your Home Office

Choose the Quietest Place Possible

Depending on your home’s layout, this may be a challenge, but choosing the most distraction-free place in your home will help you stay on track. While some people work best with a little background noise, some need total peace and quiet in order to be productive. No matter what type of worker you are, we recommend choosing the quietest space possible so you can better control the noises around you.

Find an Organization System that Works Best for You

Once of the worst things you can do for your productivity is to have a messy, cluttered workspace. Whether you have stacks of paperwork to organize or several cups of cold coffee sitting around, your workspace should remain free of everything you don’t immediately need. Giving yourself free space leaves more room for your work.

Surround Yourself with Items You Enjoy

Your workspace doesn’t have to be bare! Bring in a potted plant, some photos of your family/pets, or other knick-knacks that make you smile. By making your workspace your own, you’ll be more likely to spend time there. Just don’t overload your home office with clutter and keep your main working surface clean.

Keep the House Tidy

If you’ve ever worked from home, you might relate to the feeling of not being able to concentrate until other things in your house are done. Whether it’s dirty dishes in the sink or an unswept floor, those tasks are in the back of your mind as you’re trying to focus on your work. If you find you can’t be productive with household chores on your mind, do your best to keep your home tidy so you can devote all your attention to your job.

Work from Home with Kaeser & Blair

With Kaeser & Blair, you can work from home and make a profit selling promotional products. We’re dedicated to helping Business Owners build their own successful careers. Contact us to learn more.

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Parenthood is a full-time job. Combine that with a job you do from home, and you’re basically working 24/7/365. Juggling your professional and personal lives can be a challenge, but when both happen in your home, creating consistent boundaries and schedules can be an even harder task. But fear not! We’ve collected many tips from stay-at-home moms and dads over the years. Here are our top five recommendations on how to balance working from home and being a parent.

1. Set expectations for your kids while you are working.

Expectations for your kids will vary depending on their ages. For example, you can’t tell a baby not to bother you while you’re placing orders. However, if your children are old enough to have certain boundaries, make sure they know when it is and is not okay to interrupt you while you’re working. As your kids get older and their independence grows, this will become less of an issue. An example of a healthy expectation is asking your kids to do their homework as soon as they get home so you can finish up your workday by the time their homework is finished.

2. Adhere to a consistent morning routine.

Whether your kids are barely able to walk or balancing school, sports, and other activities, a consistent morning routine will help you start each day off on the right foot. Not only will this give your kiddos a schedule to adhere to, but it will also help you get in the right mindset for the day. Different schedules work for different people, but as long as you come out of your morning routine feeling productive and on top of things, that’s all that matters.

3. Allow yourself some flexibility with your routine.

Let’s face it: kids won’t always adhere to the schedule you set. If your kids are home with you all day, odds are they’ll walk in on an important phone call, make a mess while you’re placing an order, or require your attention when you’ve only gotten one thing done on your to-do list. Instead of becoming frustrated, try to allow yourself some flexibility in your routine. We recommend sorting your list by priority – start with the most important thing you have to do, then work your way down form there. That way, if something comes up that disrupts your work, you’ll have gotten the most important tasks out of the way.

4. Prep on your days off.

While you may not get a day off parent duty, you should give yourself time off work. That being said, those days off can be really helpful prep days to get you and your family ready for the rest of the week. Do some meal prep, run errands, and deep-clean the house while you have the time. This will save you time and energy during the week.

5. Ask for help when you need it.

Even though we believe working moms are superheroes, we also believe that superheroes have sidekicks for a reason. Don’t be afraid to reach out to family, friends, neighbors, or a babysitting service if you’re having trouble juggling everything. This can be especially helpful when you have a lot of meetings or a fast-approaching deadline.

Find Balance with Kaeser & Blair

At Kaeser & Blair, we’ve helped hundreds of work-from-home moms build successful careers without sacrificing time with their loved ones. If you’re ready to get started as a work-from-home supermom, we’re here to help. Kaeser & Blair is a promotional products distribution company that has been helping people start their own businesses for over 100 years. Learn more about us here, then contact us today for more information.

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Congratulations! You have made the remarkable decision to be your own decision maker – your own boss. You are now in complete control of the hours you put in, who you choose to work for and with (vendors and clients), and represent yourself in an industry that is ever-changing, and has enormous potential for profit.

To begin as a new business owner (aka new dealer), we suggest setting up your own system to work from home for your optimum success. Setting up your own system will consist of deciding where you will physically work, what hours you plan to conduct business, and what routes you plan to take to at first educate yourself to the promotional items selling industry, and later what route you are taking to acquire clients you chose to work with.

Making the decision of how much time you plan to devote to working from home as a new dealer is an important one. Once that decision has been made, set limits to allow yourself a balance between private and personal life. Be organized and be ready to be as flexible as you decide to be with your time.

Educating yourself in the promotional items industry can be done easily while working from home. Take time to complete the Kaeser University online program as it will help you become successful. Engage yourself in the social media groups for the industry and specifically, Kaeser & Blair Authorized Dealers. You will find very usable information on what vendors to use and which to stay clear from.

Spend time reading the Success Manual mailed to you as a new dealer. Learning important concepts such as what art files are required, how to use EQP, the timeline of a sale, and so much more is pivotal, and you can do it all in comfort from working from home!

Working from home is a great way to build a successful career. With unmatched dealer support and a clear path to success, many find that they can grow their business from the comfort of their own home. Learn more about how it works and how to get started!

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Believe it or not, traditional offices can be incredibly distracting. If you’re someone who needs a quiet place to concentrate, you wouldn’t be very productive if the person across the cubicle wall is on the phone all day. When working from home, you’re able to more easily control the distractions around you.

In addition to controlling distractions, working from home also allows you to control your schedule. For example, if you’re an early bird who finds you are your most productive in the morning, you’re able to get up early and get your work done sooner.

Working remotely also has employees working more hours than in a standard office. Often, people who work from home take shorter breaks and can get things done even on sick days.

With all this in mind, you may be wondering how you can start working from home. If you’re ready to take your business and your schedule into your own hands, consider Kaeser & Blair.

As the industry’s leading promotional products distributor, Kaeser & Blair has over 125 years of experience helping people start their own home-based promotional products businesses.

If this sounds like a part-time work from home job you’d be interested in, simply purchase our Standard Business Owner Package for only $85 and dive in today!

If you’re still unsure, you can try our Free Trial Package to test the waters. We are confident that once you get started you won’t want to stop. Become a successful business owner, today!

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Set up a functional space.

Set up your own work space. Separate your work life from your home life as much as you can to keep in the working mindset when it’s time to work.

Know the rules from your employer.

Are you working a typical 9-5? Do you have to meet a certain number of work hours per week? Do you need specific programs or technology to do your job? Make sure you know everything your employer requires of you before signing on to a new job. With Kaeser & Blair, you’re free to work whenever and wherever you like. Set your own work schedule!

Minimize distractions.

While this may seem obvious, don’t keep distracting things around you. If your phone is constantly pinging with notifications, for example, put it in the other room for the time being. Turn off the TV if the noise causes your attention to slip for too long. While you don’t need an entire room to create a home office, learn what causes you to become distracted and stay away from it.

Maintain a schedule.

Sleeping in may be relaxing at first, but if you don’t stick to a consistent schedule, you won’t be as productive. Not everyone needs to get up at 6:00 am to be productive every day, but having a routine will help you stay motivated and fight the urge to quit before you’ve even started.

Leave home.

To effectively work from home, you have to leave home every once and a while. Imagine being stuck in an office all day, every day would feel like. That burnt-out, frustrated feeling will happen even if you’re working from home. So, make sure to get out and away from your workplace!

Working from home is a great option for many people. If you’re interested in starting your own business, learn more about Kaeser & Blair’s work from home opportunities!

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