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Guest article provided by: hardkorecontent.com

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The majority of people that undergo recovery from drug or alcohol addiction have to find ways to make ends meet while searching for that first job opportunity. This includes taking any work, no matter how small, in order to support themselves and their families. Finding the right job is crucial for anyone’s success but even more so for those in recovery.

Having a stable income is vital for managing any addiction. Unemployment only makes it harder and can put those in recovery at risk for relapse. If it’s difficult for you to find a job that can be tailored to fit your treatment schedule, try starting your own business, one you can operate from home. 

Home-Based Business Ideas

• Petsitter. This is a great home business for anyone but especially for those in recovery. It allows you to spend time with a non-judgemental companion. You’ll spend time outside in the fresh air and get exercise by taking them on walks. And you can feel good about yourself knowing you’re providing care and comfort for the pets in your charge. It’s easy to find jobs, too, by asking friends and neighbors, thereby building up references. There are classes you can take online to become certified, too. 
• Furniture or antique refinishing. This involves picking up pieces at yard, garage, and antique sales for reselling online or for consignment sales at antique or vintage shops. The act of refinishing is therapeutic too since it gives you something to do that helps take your mind off of cravings and gives you a great sense of satisfaction when you see your completed project. 
• Teaching music in your home~instruments, or vocals. It can be easy to market this business at local schools that have music departments. Again, friends and neighbors can be recruited as your first clients, sometimes at free or at reduced rates in order to get references 
• Language instruction or translation via video conferencing. Global marketplaces need qualified language instructors and translators. If you speak a second language it’s possible to get work as a translator. Or, you can also work via teleconferencing in language instruction for both children and adults. This allows you to feel connected and less isolated while you’re earning money. 
• Photography. Many small businesses need someone skilled in product photography, and a home studio can be adapted easily for large or small products. If you have the skill and can borrow equipment until you can purchase your own, this side-gig can pay very well.  

The Business of Business

You are now your own boss and that means marketing, managing your finances, organizing, and planning. 

Start by creating a business plan. This is an important and necessary step when starting a business. A solid plan will underscore the feasibility of your business idea. It’ll also help you forge a plan of action for developing, operating, and growing the business. You’ll need a plan to present to lenders, too, if you require start-up capital.

You’ll also need a business card, lots of business cards because you’re going to be giving them out to everyone you see. Luckily, you can make them yourself using a free software app that lets you design your card to be as unique and special as you want and you don’t even have to know what you’re doing. You can also find all kinds of free or reasonably priced invoicing and bookkeeping software, online calendars with reminders, and financing and income tax tools to help keep you on good terms with the IRS.

The process of recovering from trauma and drug addiction can be a very long and challenging one. However, it is possible to heal, put the past behind you, and move on with your life, and creating your own small business can be the best way to do that.

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Working from home can help you find better work-life balance as you spend no time commuting  and you’re able to break up your workday to better accommodate your family’s schedule. But it can also lead you to feel isolated, it makes it more difficult to get self-motivated, and it’s harder to unplug for the evening and switch to personal time. So here are four tips to improve your mental health and wellbeing while you’re working remotely:   

Create an Inviting Office Space

Whether you have a dedicated room in your home that serves as your office, or you’ve set up your desk in a corner of the living room or in your bedroom, strive to make your work area as pleasant and inviting as possible, so you’ll actually enjoy spending time there during business hours. Paint the walls an uplifting color that will give you a boost of energy and increase your productivity during your workday. And think about reducing visual clutter as much as you can to avoid distractions. You can invest in smart storage solutions that will hide your office essentials, yet keep them close at hand and easily accessible while you work. 

Stick to a Schedule 

Not having clear boundaries between home life and office life can make it difficult to set specific working hours for yourself. Yet, in order to be productive, it’s essential that you keep blocks of time reserved for business, or you may end up not accomplishing what you set out to do at the end of a workday and having to scramble to meet your deadlines the next day, leaving you feeling overwhelmed, stressed and anxious. So stick to a work schedule as much as you can, and let everyone in your household know when not to disturb you by posting your office hours on your door or someplace they can be seen by all, like the kitchen refrigerator.

Add Flowers to Your Office Decor

You don’t need to wait for a special occasion to get a bouquet of fresh flowers that will liven up your office. Fresh flowers are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they can also add a wonderful fragrance to your space. The pop of color that flowers provide will cheer you up as you work and help brighten your mood. Indoor plants are also a welcome addition to any home as they boast air-purifying properties. They’ve also been shown to reduce stress in office workers, so think about bringing some of those green gems into your home office to enjoy all their benefits while beautifying your space.    

Indulge in a Hot Cup of Tea

Take a mid-afternoon break and sip some flavorful Ceylon tea. Drinking tea during the day will give you a renewed burst of energy and keep you going until you’re ready to power off. Ceylon tea boasts many health benefits: it promotes weight loss, boosts immunity, protects the heart, and contains antioxidants that are good for your skin. Take this time to unplug for a while and clear your mind as you sit outside to enjoy some fresh air, or just step away from your desk and stretch out for a moment as you recharge your mental batteries. You’ll feel ready to go back to your tasks and finish your day calmer and stress-free.    

Working from home has many benefits if you know how to balance your job and your personal life. So be sure to establish clear boundaries between the two. This will ensure that you keep enjoying both your career and your family.

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Starting a new job can be stressful on its own, so having to relocate on top of that is bound to be hectic. Between getting your family on board, securing a new home, and finding a good school for the kids, moving for work comes with many obstacles. Big life transitions bring challenges — don’t let them bog you down. 

Having a pre-move checklist can help you make sense of the moving parts involved in relocating. Moving can and should be enjoyable. To make your move as stress-free as possible, here are five things to keep in mind when relocating for work. 

1. Research Your New Home

Once you know you’ll be moving, start researching the area and community profiles. Is it a nice place to live? Are there good facilities nearby? What are the crime rates like? It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of moving and forget about these important factors. However, details like this matter. 

Research the cost of living, housing prices, and local mortgage interest rates. While a higher-paying job sounds great on a macro level, it means little if your monthly living costs outpace your increase in pay. 

2. Manage Resources Wisely

Striking the right balance when managing time and finances can be difficult. While you may think the best thing is to cut costs and do everything yourself, how much time would you be wasting? It’s important to know when to let other people step in to help. There is a wide range of moving services you can use.

Whether you need help moving to a new town in Texas or packing your stuff to leave Robbinsville, hiring movers to help might be a wise choice. 

3. Use a Calendar to Schedule Tasks

With so many moving-related thoughts flying around between your ears, organizing the days leading up to your big move may feel chaotic. You can minimize this by keeping a calendar and having your tasks clearly laid out. Try to schedule only one big task per day, and be realistic about how much you can fit in. Stick your calendar on your fridge or set reminders on your phone. 

4. Build a Network in Your New Neighborhood

One of the most important things for living well is having a strong social support network. When you need a favor or just someone to talk to, it helps to have your neighbors there for support. Be sure to introduce yourself to your new neighbors and make sure they’re aware that you’re open to friendship. Join clubs or associations in your new area to meet like-minded people. 

5. Setting Up an LLC

Relocating to set up a new business? Make sure to check out the laws for setting up your LLC in your new state. Registering a business can often be labyrinthian and filled with paperwork, but you can bypass hefty lawyer fees by doing it yourself. If you don’t feel confident doing it on your own, consider hiring a formation service, which will ensure that all the necessary paperwork is filed with the right offices.

Move With Ease

Don’t be intimidated by the workload involved with relocating. Simply organize it as well as possible and enjoy it.

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