Achieve Your New Year’s Resolutions

Community Manager happiness, productivity, psychology

It’s that time of the year again: time to plan how you will make this next year the best year of your life with some resolutions. However, staying on track and completing those resolutions may seem daunting and near impossible. We have some tips and tricks that will help you be successful.

  1. Be Realistic With Your Goals

Don’t set resolutions that you know will be difficult to maintain like going to the gym every single day all year or cutting out your favorite foods. Instead, plan to go to the gym twice a week, if that seems doable, then feel free to add to the number of times you go or spice up your workout routines. Instead of cutting out your favorite foods, say cakes, try to limit the number of times you eat cake. By setting unattainable goals, you will feel more discouraged and will more likely quit. By setting realistic goals, you will feel successful and be more likely to stay on track.

  1. Make A Plan

After creating and deciding what your attainable goal(s) are for the year, you need to make a plan. Ideally, you will want to plan before New Year’s Eve comes. That way it is goals you have been thinking about for a longer period and will be more motivated to complete. Make a schedule for yourself for when you will focus on this task. For example, “every Tuesday and Thursday morning I will go to the gym,” or “I will only have one piece of cake every other week (or every week),” depending on your schedule. Make sure to put your goals within a timeframe, whether that is a long-term goal or short-term progress. Positive self-talk and thinking, along with negative associatiins with the undesired behavior, may help you reach your goal. “Negative associatiins” does not mean beating yourself up if you slip up on your goals. Just do the best you can and take it step by step.

  1. Remain Determined

Various experts have said that it takes 21 days to make a new habit and six months for it to become ingrained. Whether or not that’s true, good habits  do not just happen. They take determination. So stick with it! Don’t get discouraged if you slip up, try building day by day in 24-hour increments, it will help build that habit.

  1. Don’t Keep It a Secret

A support system is crucial when trying to build up habits. They will help you stay on track and keep you motivated. Choose the people who you find trustworthy and supportive to be in your support circle. Fill these selected people in on your plans and inform them how they can help if you are feeling down in the dumps or unmotivated to continue your groove.

  1. Reward Yourself

This does not mean binge eating chocolate. When you are first starting, it can be difficult to adjust. Plan something that will keep you motivated, something that you can look forward to at the end of the week. Once you start getting in the habit, you can save up these rewards and turn them into even bigger rewards. For example, once a week you can go buy a book and spend a day reading it and then you can save up your rewards and go to a weekend getaway with your significant other or your friends. Again, rewards vary by person but pick something that you don’t normally do but would be able to look forward to doing if you were to complete your steps that week towards your overall resolution.

New Year’s Resolutions are hard, but hopefully these tips will help you achieve your long- or short-term goals for this year. Good luck and have a happy New Year!

Defeat the Winter Hibernation Mood

Community Manager happiness, positive psychology, productivity

Winter is a beautiful time of the year; however, it is difficult to get the motivation to work when all you want to do is wrap yourself in a blanket, drink a warm beverage and binge-watch your favorite shows or movies. With winter coming upon us, what should we do to get our work done? Well, here are several tips to help increase your motivation and to trek through these cold months.

  1. Eat Well

It is well known that sugary foods and comfort foods are incredibly delicious. However, during this time of the year, you’ll want to decrease your intake of sugar and carbs because they will make you feel bloated and sluggish. This does not mean cutting carbs out completely! It will just help you stay focused instead of wanting to complete a full, successful, day of work, you will want to curl up into a ball under your desk and sleep!

  1. Stay Healthy

Not only should you decrease the amount of sugar and carbs, but you should also make sure to keep your hands clean and increase your vitamin intake to avoid getting sick. A sick day can make you feel like you are falling behind in work thus making you feel overwhelmed and stressed out, only turning into a vicious cycle. So, take those vitamins, drink lots of water, eat those greens and stay warm!

  1. Remain Social

Being able to network and build relationships with your coworkers will help increase happiness, thus increasing productivity. Now, I am not saying that you always need to come out of your shell. However, push yourself a little extra these next few months because a little bit of companionship can go a long way! Even if your social time is having lunch with coworkers or grabbing a coffee with your friends, it will still help increase your happiness and have an effect on other’s happiness as well.

  1. Be As Active As Possible

While the winter is not well known for being a friend of outdoor activities, try to get in a daily walk around one of the parks that are closest to you. It may be cold, however, the natural lighting helps elevate your mood. During your walk, it helps to take a break from work and come back with a fresh set of eyes and a clear mind. Use this time to meditate on problems or situations you may be having or use the opportunity for a self-care session. It is better to take a break than to burn out quickly, so go out and enjoy the fresh air!

  1. Make SMART Goals

Make realistic goals for yourself. Making Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals will boost your work morale by giving you a feeling of accomplishment. Completing goals will also help you feel more productive. These goals also need to be exciting for you, then you will look forward to accomplishing them.

By using a few of these techniques the winter blues won’t stand a chance! Let’s have a productive winter and get through this together.

Come write at Locus for NaNoWriMo on Sundays in November!

Beth Green events, Locus Workspace, NaNoWriMo, productivity, Writing , ,

By Beth Green

“Um, why?”

That’s the question I hear most frequently about NaNoWriMo, the month-long challenge to write a novel in a month.
The implication is: Why try to write a whole novel in a month? Aren’t novels, you know, hard?

The question is usually accompanied by a blank, blinking stare as the other person wonders, belatedly, what kind of madness they’ve run across.

But that’s okay because National Novel Writing Month is one of these challenges that is, by design, a little extreme.
Like an all-weekend coding challenge, a vertical terrain race though mud, a bid to cook the world’s largest omelet, a challenge to drink a beer at the closest hospoda to each of Prague’s metro stations—NaNoWriMo is meant to help you push your own boundaries. Find your extreme, and hit it.

NaNoWriMo is here! I'll be hosting Write-ins (with official swag, yeah!) in Prague at Locus Workspace. Please join if…

Geplaatst door Beth Green Writes op Donderdag 1 november 2018

NaNoWriMo presumes that every one of us—and yes, gentle reader, that means you too!—possesses the tools we need to write a novel in the 30 days from November first to 30th. For the purpose of the challenge, a novel is defined as 50,000 words, an average of 1,667 per day.

That’s the why of NaNoWriMo, at least for me. It’s a place to believe in yourself, to believe you can reach that distant target and show it who is boss. (You’re the boss, if I’m not making myself clear).

If you’ve been to Locus on Saturdays, you might have heard the pleasant tap-tap-tap of the keyboards of the Prague Writers Group at their usual critique-free write ins. (They write from 9 to 5 with a break for lunch; all are welcome). And in November, thanks to Will Bennis’ continued support of our challenge and our big, wordy dreams, we’ll also be adding to our word courts on Sundays (in the big conference room, from 9 to 5, MeetUp links below). Locus Workspace is an official NaNoWriMo Come Write In location for the 2019 challenge.

Join us in November and find out your reason why!

About NaNoWriMo

Started by a group of friends in San Francisco in 1999, NaNoWriMo now has more than 400,000 participants each year. Each November the main 50,000-word-goal challenge is held, and smaller challenges take place throughout the year. All challenges are free to join. Sign up at nanowrimo.org.

About the Locus Write Ins

When: Every Sunday (Nov. 3, 10, 17, and 24) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

Where: Locus big meeting room

Cost: Free

Organizers: Beth Green, Sonya Lano, Sarah Shaw

Planning to come? Let us know on MeetUp:

Locus’s Guide to Prague’s Christmas Markets

Community Manager community, events, Prague , , ,

Christmas Markets in Prague 2019 - Best Time

On Sunday, December 1st, Locus is organizing a get together to explore the Christmas Markets of Prague (learn more and register to attend).

That seems like a perfect reason to write a blog post about Prague’s amazing Christmas Markets!

Do you want to visit them? Here are a couple of reasons why your answer should be YES.

There is no doubt that Prague is one of the most beautiful European destinations all year round, the Christmas period is no exception. Winter brings some magic into the city when everything is covered with lights, (ideally) snow and the aroma of the Czech Christmas treats makes it the perfect magical wintertime location. The famous Prague’s Christmas Market is the best place to go to experience the atmosphere, hang out with friends and family or do some last-minute gift shopping for the loved ones. It doesn’t matter if you’re a tourist or if you’re already established in Prague; the Christmas Market is a popular place for both visitors and locals and is definitely a MUST DO activity if you are in town. After the official Christmas tree lighting ceremony, the markets will be open until the 6th of January, which gives you plenty of time to visit. If you’re still in doubt or would like to know what’s in it for you, here are some reasons and tips on why you should visit Prague’s Christmas Markets this year.

  1. Best place indeed

The Christmas Market in Prague has been voted among Europe’s top 10. Despite a drop in its rating, Prague’s Christmas Market is still beating Europe’s most popular travel destinations such as London or Paris. The medieval atmosphere and familiar feel are the elements that bring people in. Nothing seems to be better than getting cozy in the old streets of the beautiful city.

  1. Go local

Tourism in Prague is massive, and Christmas time is no exception. People from all over the world come here to experience the city and markets, so it can get crowded. No worries! There are plenty of smaller, local Christmas markets where you can treat yourself and experience the amazing atmosphere to the fullest. You can find those at Náměstí Míru or Tylovo náměstí close to I.P. Pavlova Metro stop). Also, just around the corner from Locus Workspace, you will find the market at náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad where you can experience the cool, hip vibe of the Vinohrady neighborhood.

  1. #yummy

Treats are an inseparable part of the ‘Christmas Market’ experience. If you stroll around, you will find plenty of traditional gingerbread, mulled wine (svařák), spit-roasted ham, sausages, eggnog, Trdlo (“traditional” Czech dessert that appeared on the Czech scene in the early 2000s) and all kinds of Christmas cookies. If you’re living in the Czech Republic, you know that traditional Czech cuisine is far from vegetarian/vegan-friendly. Lucky for you, there will be healthy alternatives to traditional local holiday favorites and many food stalls will be serving healthy fare. So, go find your favorite and, “Dobrou chuť!”

  1. What else is going on?

There’s definitely more to Prague’s Christmas Markets than just eating (although we love that). Rich cultural programs will be accompanying the visitors with performances from both local and international artists, children’s workshops and plays for both children and adults. The stalls will be selling different Czech products which might make the perfect present for your loved ones. Look for some Christmas ornaments, wooden toys, glassware, scented candles, jewelry and gingerbread products.

  1. Time to talk

What about some chatting over mulled wine? Christmas is one of those times when nobody wants to be alone and there is a need to have good company. We’ve got you covered. As noted at the start of this blog, on Sunday, December 1st, Locus Workspace will host a get-together Meetup event for everyone who wants to have a walk around the Christmas Markets in Prague, have some goodies and spend time with individuals from all over the world. Let’s share each other’s stories and learn how Christmas is celebrated in your country. We meet at 3 PM at the Statue of Saint Wenceslas. Are we going to see you there?

Member Profile Pauline Menage

Community Manager freelance, Locus Workspace, members, profile

Check out Pauline’s website: http://paulinemenage.com

Where are you from?
I am from France.
What’s a fun or interesting fact about where you’re from?
I lived in Bordeaux for the last few years and it was a 30-minute drive to the beach, so I would take strolls on the beach frequently. 

What do you do?
I am a software engineer, a freelancer who creates websites for clients, and a trainer who mentors and teaches students on-site or remotely in software. I help these students learn the technique of coding or how to create websites; usually, these students are enrolled in a 6-month course.

What are you currently working on that you’re most excited about?

This week, October 9, I am working on a 4-day boot camp for students in Asia, specifically India, the Philippines, and Singapore; I’m excited to work outside of France. I am also currently creating a website for townhall, or city hall, in France by creating a directory to assist the elderly to locate a nurse that is closest to them.

Why did you choose to work from Prague?

I did not choose Prague for a particular reason, I just wanted to move away from France. I had heard Prague was an amazing place, so I decided to have a trial period of 3 months and decided to stay.

Why did you choose to work from a coworking space?

I chose a coworking space to meet new people because I was alone in a new city. I wanted to make friends and it’s also a better work environment than sitting in my room because I feel more productive while watching other’s work rather than being tempted to watch a tv show instead.

Why did you choose Locus in particular?

When I was looking online for a coworking space, reviews said that Locus was the best for a small cozy workspace. I decided to get a membership at Locus on the first day because other people invited me to lunch with them and I decided Locus was the place for me.

What describes the kind of location-independent work you do?
I am a stable freelancer. Which means that I have a business that can be done from my laptop in any locations and that I am based out of Prague with annual work trips that last two months maximum.  
Before you joined a coworking space, what were the biggest challenges of doing that kind of work?

Actually, I was still working on-site before I joined Locus so I did not have many challenges. Locus is my first remote location and it’s great.

What is the main benefit you’ve gotten working from Locus (not already mentioned above)?

Making friends has been working out, it’s a big benefit, for me, when working at a coworking space. Another benefit is being able to network with other members at Locus. For example, I had some problems with a project and a fellow Locus member helped me, they were able to freelance with me for this project. It was a challenge for me because I don’t want to bother people, so when I needed help and had to ask, it was amazing being able to ask for help and get it. It helped me get over the freelancer stereotype of being completely independent and have the ability to ask for help when I need it,

What’s the best thing about living and working in Prague from the perspective of being a location-independent professional?

The city is beautiful, it is nice to be able to take a break and walk around the city. For me, that is super important when looking for a spot to work. I also like that there are so many technical events about coding through Meetup. I was able to see interesting conferences and network with like-minded professionals, in this sense, the community is very active.

Any other interesting projects you’re working on that you haven’t mentioned already?

I will be going to Cape Town for 8 weeks. The company I will be joining is called Hacker Paradise. Hacker Paradise organizes trips for remote workers. The trips usually last anywhere between 4 to 8 weeks and can be in any city in the world. The goal of Hacker Paradise is to prepare everything, so they put together accommodation and reserve a coworking space, a sim card and build a community. By being part of this experience, I can work on personal projects but also build a community through events and side trips. On this specific trip, one of the side trips that we will be doing as a community is a safari, which will be fun. The main concept of this organization is for freelancers and the like to be able to work and travel at the same time while not feeling alone, by having a group of people to join you. 

What is a fun fact about you?
One fun fact, or weird fact, about me is that I used to snail race as a child.