by Olivia | Aug 18, 2016 | Featured, General, GloWellness
As Sweden moves to a six-hour working day to help increase productivity and make people happier – it begs the question of whether we are allowing enough time to implement the much publicized ‘work/lifestyle balance’ ethic across Europe and the UK.
Employers in Sweden have already made the change, with the claim to get more done in a shorter amount of time and ensure people have the energy to enjoy their private lives.
The new strategy is already proving a success with Toyota centres in Gothenburg, Sweden’s second largest city, having made the switch 13 years ago, with the company reporting happier staff, a lower turnover rate, and an increase in profits in that time.
Part of the deal is that staff members are not allowed on social media, meetings are kept to a minimum, and that other distractions during the day are eliminated – but the aim is that staff will be more motivated to work more intensely while in the office.
This shorter work day ensures that people have enough energy to pursue their private lives when they leave work –which can be difficult with eight-hour days.
So how long before the UK realizes that the often sluggish workforce is due to lack of stimulation and long hours, often spent with wasted energy from overly tired employees who have little or no energy for their family and offspring let alone any kind of social life.
The UK are certainly behind the times, and should take a tip from Europe where a German couple who were family friends, renegotiated with their bosses a four day week twenty years ago, to enable them to enjoy their country retreat for three days instead of two – and reported that it worked for both and their companies issued new employment contracts for both after a six month trial period.
So how long do we have to wait until our crusty outmoded system of employment and bullish employers realise that they are killing productivity and the entire British workforce.
For those of us who are or have worked in a strictly run office of employment, with an eight hour day, know that a lot of time is wasted with secret texting or sneaky fag breaks and a bellyful of resentment.
Do we really think Brexit will fix it for us, or are we going to fall deeper down the slippery slide to hellish employers and working conditions now that we won’t have Europe to inspire us into a less Dickensian working environment.
by Olivia | Jul 27, 2016 | Featured
Many of my friends and associates have opted out of a holiday away this year, and decided to put their time and money into renovating and transforming their home – which is a break in itself, and sometimes far more satisfying.
It is certainly a good time of the year, because as Summer sets in, so do the flaws in your home – or at least you can now see them as the sunlight floods in through the windows illuminating the cracks and crevices of your walls and ceilings.
Talking of cracks, you could enhance this look by applying a rather innovative technique to give your walls a distressed look previously achieved by years of years of wall torn aged living.
By applying a layer of glue or crackling medium between 2 layers of latex or acrylic paint, you can give most any surface a faux finish, which is both on trend and stylish.
You may believe that if you paint or paper the ceiling of your living room or bedroom, it will make the room look smaller. This is actually the opposite, and it will give the room a more spacious effect, making the ceilings seem higher than they actually are.
Fifty shades of grey is still fashionable, and I don’t mean the best seller novel. All shades of this colour are being used by the most prolific interior designers this season, and you won’t go far wrong with any shade of grey to enhance your home.
If you want to get rid of the carpets, especially if you have pets or young children, you have probably decided to invest in marble tiling or wooden floors, which is great if you can afford it, and you can still scatter rugs throughout for a more cozy finish. Or there are some brilliant fake flooring or linos on the market, which will also do the trick. http://www.onlinecarpets.co.uk is a great website for some good designs.
If your bathroom is in need of a face lift, why not go gold and get it looking like a five star hotel, at a fraction of the price of a couple of nights stay. Dark is dramatic and you can create an ambience for those long relaxing bath nights, with an atmospheric array of candles to carefully create an even better environment to completely destress. http://www.homebase.co.uk has some great selections of gold wallpapers for you to choose from.
If you are feeling adventurous and want to add brickwork to your kitchen, for that country look you can also create the effect with the brickwork wallpapers that are on the market, to try it out or if your budget wont stretch to the rebuild or even if you just want to experiment. www.totalwallcovering.com
