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How to Calm Your Nerves before a Big Business Meeting

If you find yourself nervous before your next big business meeting, there are many ways you can calm your nerves before stepping into the room. Whether you have an important presentation to give or are merely nervous about meeting the higher-ups, the following tips can be useful to relieve the jitters.

Relax at Your Desk

Take a few moments before you head into your meeting room rental in MA to relax at your desk. Take a few deep breaths, squeeze a stress ball, and fill your mind with positive thoughts. By taking the time to reset your attitude, you are sure to nail that big presentation. Sipping on some herbal tea can also help you relax, especially on a cold Massachusetts morning.

Go Over Your Role in the Meeting

Take a few minutes to review your role and responsibilities for the meeting. Having a clear picture in your head helps you feel more confident walking into the room. If possible, head into the meeting room early to set up and ensure all technical aspects are functioning as they should.

Stretch before the Meeting

Stretching or taking a walk shortly before your meeting can help clear your thoughts and activate your brain for productivity. Keeping good posture can also help you feel more confident and professional both before and during the meeting.

Should You Be Concerned about Internet Privacy?

It seems like hardly a day goes by where you do not hear on the news about intrusion on digital privacy. Whether it comes from big organizations or individual hackers, there always seems to be someone after your internet traffic and data. Though internet privacy, or the lack thereof, may seem like a thing of the past, it is still essential to keep in mind.

More and more internet providers can spy on your search history and data. Something as simple as streaming can land your IP address in trouble with some providers if you are not careful. Identity theft, however, is the primary concern of unsecured internet connections. Hackers are always looking for ways to grab your data, and it can be anything from your credit card information to social security number.

Fortunately, you will experience nothing but high-speed, secure internet at Highland-March Workspaces. Our facility respects your privacy and wants you to feel comfortable and safe utilizing our digital services for your day-to-day work.

Whether you are connecting with company officials across the country, or are working on your next big freelance design project, you can rest assured that our internet connection will safely and securely get you through the task. Contact us today about our MA office for rent to experience all of the benefits of Highland-March Workspaces!

Resolve Childcare Issues with a Co-Working Space

When you have a child, returning to work can be difficult without an adequate plan for childcare. Many parents choose to change careers, take on fewer hours, or create a more flexible schedule once they have kids. Fortunately, our co-working space in MA will allow you to get back to work and find the childcare you need during those hours.

A co-working space is where freelancers, remote workers, and other professionals work in a shared setting. Many of these facilities also offer childcare services onsite to help these independent professionals get their work done with little stress.

When your rental office also has a place for your child, it helps improve your productivity; as well as reduce the amount of times you need to stop in one day after work is done. You can rest assured that your child is playing and learning in a safe environment nearby and that you can be right there if there is an emergency.

Different from working from home, a co-working space provides you with a fully functional office to help keep you focused without the added distractions of having you and your child at home all day. If you are interested in learning more about our co-working space in MA, contact Highland-March Workspaces today.

Hosting Effective Office Meetings

Meetings can be a great way to join up with your team or present important information for the business. However, many people find meetings to be a waste of their time and would much rather spend that 30-60 minutes working. When you want to host an effective meeting, the following tips will prove useful.

Have a Written Agenda

Having a detailed agenda for the meeting before it begins allows you to be more organized and get your point across. It also allows you to distribute this information ahead of time so your team knows what to expect from the meeting.

Manage by the Clock

When no one is managing the time, meetings can get off track and become unfocused. You want to make sure you are making your employees’ time count when you bring them into a meeting room rental in MA. Keep an eye on the clock at all times to ensure your meeting is going smoothly and on track.

Take Notes

Taking notes is incredibly important in meetings, but not everyone remembers to do so. It helps to record any questions or assignments that were asked, as well as ensure you have a record of everything that was covered.

How to Sit Less When You Work an Office Job

Even if you exercise every day, studies show that people simply sit too much. When you work an office job, you can spend at least eight hours of your day sitting in front of a computer, which can be detrimental to your posture and health. How can you break up these long periods of being seated? Below are three ways to get more movement into your day.

Get Up for Your Breaks

Whether you are grabbing another cup of coffee or have a 30-minute lunch break coming up, make an effort to get up and move. Take a quick walk on your break or meet up with coworkers to check out the coffee shop next door when you all need a refill.

Dress for Activity

If possible, wear comfortable clothing or shoes to the office or bring a change of sneakers with you. This will eliminate the excuse of poor shoes or stuffy dress clothes to walk in. When you are dressed in comfortable fabrics and shoes, you will be more inspired to move.

Set Alerts to Move

If you have a fitness tracker, smartwatch, or smartphone, many of them have settings for movement reminders. Pay attention to these reminders and get up and move whenever they appear. You can also take this time to stretch at your desk if you are unable to get up for a quick walk around the building.

At Highland-March Workspaces, our MA office for rent is near a variety of coffee shops, lunch stops, and parks to help inspire you to stay active during your workday. Contact us today to inquire about one of our three locations.

How Working from Home can be Stressful

Though many people consider working from home the epitome of work-life balance, those who have consistently done their work from home have reported higher stress levels. Though working from home is a great way to make up sick time, stay safe during bad weather, or be home with the kids, there are varieties of challenges that come with the setup.

Below are three reasons why working from home can be stressful.

A Lack of Structure

Depending on your setup, the freedom to work whenever you want, as long as you want can end up becoming detrimental to your schedule and overall work-life balance. What once felt liberating may slowly become draining and feel out of control, especially if you do not adhere to a strict 8-hour schedule.

Plenty of Distractions

When you work from home, you will face plenty of distractions you normally would not at an office. Pets, children, your favorite show, and more can all negatively impact your productivity. The temptation for distraction is even worse if you do not have a designated office space set up in your home.

A Lack of Social Interactions

Though it may be easier to focus when it is nice and quiet, consistently working from home can severely limit your social interactions each day. This can result in feelings of loneliness or isolation, especially if the rest of your team is in an office together.

If working from home proves to be too distracting for your liking, look into an MA office for rent from Highland-March Workspaces. Our friendly and professional staff will help you feel right at home while offering an exceptional space to get work done.

Three Breakfast Options to Boost Brain Power

It is a sure fact that a healthy breakfast is essential to your productivity. Though you may be in a rush to get to your MA office for rent, we highly recommend taking the time to plan out a satisfying breakfast. Not only will it help you stay focused, but some foods can even boost your brain power for maximum productivity.

Below are three great breakfast ideas to help you get through your day.

Breakfast Burrito

A breakfast burrito is a great way to eat a substantial meal on the go. You can easily wrap up scrambled eggs, sausage, and veggies to take with you in the car, on public transit, or on your walk to work. Egg yolks are also high in choline, a vitamin that boosts brain power and can help with memory.

Breakfast Cookies

Yes, you read that right! Though cookies are not commonly referred to as breakfast foods, you can pack them full of oats, fruits, and other satisfactory ingredients to create a more morning-friendly option that you can easily grab on your way out the door.

Whole Grain Pancakes

If you have just enough time to whip up something before you leave, whole grain pancakes are a great option. If you pre-make the batter, all you have to do is pour it onto the pan, and they will be ready in minutes. Adding some pureed veggies into the batter is a great way to add a nutritional boost and create a more filling meal.

When Should You Schedule a Work Meeting?

Meetings are a great way to get the team together and discuss business strategy and issues. However, too many meetings could end up killing your team’s productivity. When there are significant updates to be discussed, a meeting is a must. Do not let meetings be a waste of time with these following tips.

Do not schedule a meeting if there is no good reason for doing so. If you are planning a meeting to check in on the status of certain tasks, there may be a better, less intrusive way to go about it. Skip the meeting this time and instead follow up with an email or take a peek into your task tracking software.

Ensure your meeting is scheduled at an appropriate time. Unless you are planning a lunch-and-learn style meeting, scheduling around lunch time will not benefit your employees. They will often be hungry, disinterested, and irritable throughout the time. Opt for a meeting earlier in the morning or towards the end of the day.

Make sure you follow up to the meeting. One of the most significant ways to waste time is to never follow up on what was discussed in a meeting. If you and your team agreed on a plan of action, but no details were implemented, that meeting essentially took an hour away from work being completed.

Ensure your meeting space is comfortable and fully-equipped. When you rent one of our MA meeting rooms from Highland-March Workspaces, you will have a space available with high-quality equipment and comfortable seating.

Three Ways to Decorate Your Office for Productivity

The environment you are in plays a serious role in how you feel, and it can also impact your productivity in the workplace. When your office space is not feeling as inspiring as you had hoped, there are many different ways you can decorate to help boost your workflow.

Below are three ways you can decorate your working are to benefit your productivity.

Decluttered and Minimalistic

When you choose to decorate your office in a minimalistic way, your space will look inviting and be free of unnecessary clutter and distractions. When there is an abundance of clutter, you will begin to feel overwhelmed, so work towards simple, relaxing decorations in your space.

Use Colors that Inspire

Brightly colored office space is a great way to boost your productivity. Choosing colors such as blue, yellow, and green, can inspire creativity and relaxation. A brightly colored office not only looks more inviting but by choosing colors that you love, you will feel at home and ready to get to work.

Add Some Greenery

One way to feel more inspired is to add plants into your office. When you are stuck inside all day, you can find yourself missing the time spent outdoors. Incorporating plants into your décor will help you feel more connected to life outside of the office and can even provide productivity boosting scents.

When you are in need of a welcoming space to get your work done, our MA office for rent is perfect. You can decorate how you want, and we provide a variety of up-to-date and modern equipment and furniture.

How to Take the Lead during a Conference Call

Taking the lead on a conference call can be stressful, especially if this is your first time speaking to a large group of people in the workplace. Fortunately, taking charge of a conference call does not have to be a scary task. Below are a few tips on how to confidently run your latest business conference.

Do not be late: Ideally, you want to join the call a few minutes before when the meeting starts. This will give you enough time to ensure all of the equipment is connected correctly, as well as pulling up all of the files and presentations you need if you are sharing a screen.

Strike up a casual conversation while everyone joins: Instead of your attendees waiting in silence until all participants have arrived, ask them about their weekend or if they have any plans for the upcoming holiday.

Always address people by name: Whether you are talking to someone directly or directing a question towards them, always use their name. This will prevent any awkward silences from occurring when listeners are not sure of who should answer or respond.

Request that attendees mute their phones: When the meeting begins, request all attendees to mute themselves. This will reduce distractions for everyone involved, especially if some are calling in from a busy area or a home with pets.

Recap at the end of the call: Providing a recap of the essential points of your call will help reiterate those topics. It also allows listeners to ask any additional questions if they missed something when it was first explained.

When you are in need of a space to conduct your conference call, book an MA conference room rental from Highland-March Workspaces. Contact us today at one of our three locations to rent your room.

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