Prioritizing your time may be difficult in the summer with work schedules, family gatherings, and fun excursions. Instead of spreading yourself thin - try to give 100% of your efforts on each task at hand. Prioritizing your time is not just for the office - it's for every day life as well. Here are some helpful hints according to Time Magazine to help you stay on task and focused -- even when the sun is shining and your jet skiis are calling your name.

1. Go over finances -- reassess your family budget 

2. Read (or listen to audiobooks of course!)

3. Review your project list - at home and at the office

4. Get ahold of your email overload -- minimize that inbox!

5.  Take a break!

6. Reconsider your overall professional goals - summer can be a time of reflextion too!

7.  Rebuild & reorganize your work enviornment (home desks included too)

8.  Give back -- if youre taking some time to reflect -- take some time to give back to your community as well. 

Click here to read the full article -- and maximize your summer - while still enjoying it of course. 

Despite all the hand-held devices, social media venues, and internet-enabled modes of communication, having a face-to-face conversation is still a crucial component of the working world.  Are face-to-face conversations still a part of YOUR work culture? 

What about your family life?  Do you spend more time emailing, Google sharing, Drop boxing, Instagramming, etc. etc.?  When was the last time you met your girlfriend for coffee?  Hopefully not too long ago. 

Why have people dropped human interaction with the art of “being alone, together” with their technology?  According to Sherry Turkle from The New York Times, “Human relationships are rich; they're messy and demanding. We have learned the habit of cleaning them up with technology…. FACE-TO-FACE conversation unfolds slowly. It teaches patience. When we communicate on our digital devices, we learn different (negative) habits.

The art of holding a traditional conversation is crucial to both your personal and professional life.  Here are a number of scenarios where face-to-face communication is the way to go:

•  When preventing or resolving conflicts
• When it is necessary or helpful to read non-verbal cues
•  When providing information on step-by-step or organizational changes
• When reviewing a performance appraisal with an employee or meeting for disciplinary purposes
• When exchanging confidential information
• When attempting to reach a negotiated agreement

Of course, when building a personal relationship or designating personal, one-on-one time with someone special – an in-person conversation may be the right call as well J

Talk to people – the real way.  It'll make both of you feel better and more accomplished. 

According to TrainingIndustry.com, more than 40 percent of the workforce works from home at least two days a week. Nearly 4.5 million college students will take at least one course online this year. Every worker that telecommutes saves the company $20,000 a year and studies show that telecommuting can increase employees' job satisfaction, improve work performance, and reduce stress.

It's no doubt telecommuting has its perks.  But the question is – can anyone do it?  Are all employees well-qualified to join the corporate pajama bash?  Just like certain skills are required for traditional job settings – there are certain skills that are ESSENTIAL to understand and master before an employee can be a true telecommuter.

Here are just a few suggestions:

• Ensure that your work environment is a healthy one.  Just because you're working from home, doesn't mean you can slack on sleep, exercise, or other healthy habits.  Treat your work environment like a true, professional one.
• Designate a specific area for work.  Bringing your laptop to the couch while watching the game may be enticing, but it's a sure way to get little work done.
• Keep your surroundings professional.  Unless it's an emergency – keep yapping kids or barking dogs out of the telephone conversation.
• Set a schedule.  Tell family and friends not to disturb you during your hours of work if you really want to get things accomplished.
• Check personal email, social networking sites, and internet browsing at set times.  It may be hard to avoid Facebook notifications when they pop up, but we all know how easy it is to get side-tracked.

These are just 5 of many qualities a successful telecommuter must undertake.  Discuss your telecommuting environment with fellow telecommuters and bounce ideas off each other. 

Bottom line:  A flexible workplace can be a positive experience IF it is treated with respect and professionalism.  

Engaging Michigan employees in wellness. 

It sounds like an easy and important concept, but unfortunately, caring for our employees' health is not as widespread an endeavor as it should be. 

As a Michigan-based comapny -- we take interest in Michigan employees' health.  In November 2013, Crain's Detroit Business quoted Rod Reason, CEO of Healthiest Employers LL stating, “We are spending $2 Billion to affect $5 million people, and we are not changing things.”  In other words, the intention to engage our employees in their own health exists, but there is not enough movement, engagement, or progress in providing our employees with exceptional wellness programs.  

Michigan is in the greatest need for engaging wellness in the workplace. 

Unfortunately, Michigan residents face many health challenges such as high rates of obesity and chronic illnesses.  Local companies need to address these issues head-on in order to maintain healthy work environments and encourage healthy lifestyles for its workforce.  One option recommended by Priority Health is to offer online health risk assessments and provide high-risk employees with health coaching and preventative screenings.  Other options include providing fitness programs on-site, discounts to local fitness centers, and nutritious options in cafeterias and vending machines.

3Leaf Group is joining Michigan's leading companies in promoting health and wellness, and in fact – has been doing so for years.

3LG has been providing companies with health and wellness audiobook titles for their employees via our audiobook rental library.  Like Netflix, employees subscribe to an online rental program, and choose audiobook titles on health, nutrition, fitness, work-life balance, and overall wellness.  Users listen to audiobooks on their own time in any location – at their desk, at home, or while exercising.  The audiobook program provides employees with invaluable health resources and the luxury of listening to the materials on their own time.

There is no arguing that healthy employees are more productive employees.  In fact, Priority Health data shows that after providing online health assessments and wellness coaching in local companies, there was a 60% decline in the number of “high-risk” employees – thereby lowering employers' costs by $6,000 per employee.  Less sick days, less turnover, more engagement, more productivity.  That's what healthy employees give to their employers.

3LG is proud to partake in this endeavor of engaging employees in wellness.  Our goal is to help employers guide their employees in achieving a healthy lifestyle at home and at work -- and doing so in a convenient, and enjoyable way – with audiobook in hand.