I live in a small town located in the world’s largest Ponderosa Pine forest. It is the most beautiful place on earth. I still stand on my deck and shake my head in disbelief, afraid one day I will wake up and find it was all a dream.

The forest is one of those places that still holds the same awesomeness and magic as it did when I was a kid. Unlike other things that got smaller as I got bigger, the forest still makes me feel tiny and vulnerable. At the same time, wrapped up burrito-style with only my head poking out of the comforter, it feels like the safest place on earth.

Recently, I was doing some demographic research and reading about how kids coming of age and finding their place in the world, were choosing the urban lifestyle. Drawn to the proximity of their home, work and play spaces, millennials were “flooding” big cities. They didn’t have to worry about the dreaded connectivity issues they had read about nor having to commute from one space to the next. It seemed to be yet another nail in the coffin for small town USA. 

In my mind, reading this conjured up images of huge glass towers laden with solar panels and LED lighting. Rooftop vegetable gardens, self-driving taxis and flat screen monitors sprinkled along the walkways, peddling their message to the few souls that occasionally looked up from their devices to see what was going on around them.

But the more I read, the more I was convinced it was wrong. These kids are America’s first generation born into a completely digital-based lifestyle and if anything are more cognizant of how fragile earth’s natural spaces have become (not to mention whose fault it is). Living in one, I can attest that small forest communities like mine are increasingly becoming the go-to spot for weekend warriors and retirement age seniors alike. It also already fits the description of the lifestyle that these young urbanites are attracted to. Downtown is sprinkled with shops that mirror those of our urban counterparts. You can pick up an exotic coffee, drop the dog off for a bath and slip in a workout all without changing parking spaces. The differences though, are nearly countless. The natural landscape is itself therapeutic and the air is clean and crisp. The sun is warm and inviting, not blocked out by towering structures. There are no daily traffic jams to muck up your schedule and the cost of living will knock your socks off from nearly anywhere you compare it to. Technology can’t hold a candle to these things. At the same time, it is technology that makes life in a small town a viable option. With the exception of a few blackout spots, there are four or five bars on the cell service everywhere you go.

Wait…what?

Yup…its true. There is strong and consistent internet service at most locations around town. I don’t know if this is my little secret or the locals doing a superb job of protecting their piece of paradise but it is my understanding that a quality, stable internet connection is at the crux of many peoples concerns about moving to small town America.

So with that out of the way, comparing all the other amenities of this small town to its urban counterpart…there is no competition. And with all the advancements we’ve made connecting people and business and unleashing the true potential of a single person’s ability to hook into a global economy and run a successful enterprise, all from the comfort of his or her den in a remote outpost from all the stress and chaos that comes with it, I ask…what are you waiting for?

(Family Features) 2020 taught many workers a thing or two about being productive when offices and homes blend into one.

Now that we have turned the page to 2021, consider these key products and processes to stay productive next year.

Find a system (and stick to it):

Creating an organizing system is an easy way to ensure your at-home workspace is ready for optimal productivity. Designate space to house all your work items – a drawer, cabinet or box – and keep work items organized by type. At the end of each day, transitioning to “offline hours” can be easier when you have a specific place to stow your work items.

Start your day clean:

Studies have shown cleanliness has a direct impact on productivity. Yet many people struggle to find the time and energy to clean, especially at the end of a busy day at home. An option like The DEEBOT T8 from Ecovacs provides a hands-free cleaning experience, complete with the time-saving benefits of an all-in-one robot vacuum and floor mop, along with TrueDetect technology to avoid tangling in small objects. Easily controlled via an app, just set it to clean before bed and wake up to a tidy workspace.

Break up your day:

With so many hours at home in front of a computer, workdays can get a little monotonous. Break up the day to make working from home feel as normal as possible – shower in the morning, take a walk or drive to coffee then make time for at least two breaks throughout the day. Some people have found success with the Pomodoro Technique, which is breaking your day up into 25-minute chunks of work, with 5-minute rest periods. If you continue to work until you feel like taking a break, odds are you’ll overwork yourself until it’s too late to take the “big break” you had in mind.

Bookend your days with mindfulness:

At the beginning and end of each workday, do a 3-5-minute mindfulness meditation. Before signing on to work for the day, allow your mind to fully focus on the day’s tasks at-hand. Signoff by doing another mediation to end the day and let go of any worries or stresses you might have. Incorporating this tactic into your daily routine can help create a natural boundary from work and home while also restoring peace of mind.

Hire a virtual assistant from Details Galore:

If you find yourself spending too much time on mundane but necessary tasks, consider hiring a virtual assistant. Details Galore can take those tasks off your hands and help you reach optimum productivity. Call (928) 985-2290 or email hello@detailsgalore.com.

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