Before you read this, check your phone. More than likely, you have your company email on your personal phone or are using a company-given phone. Trends in technology have meant that the separation from work and a personal life has skewed. Add in the possibility of being in contact with coworkers globally and suddenly your personal life has to take a backseat to your work. Does it have to, though?

Let’s start with email. Yes, your coworker or manager may send out an email at 9:30 PM or 3:00 AM.  Do you have to answer it that very second? Not necessarily, depending on your role. If someone deems their email as a priority, you should be able to respond to it when you start your work day rather than while you are off. Setting certain times when you aren’t glued to the company laptop or handheld device shows that you are in control of your work.

Moving from email to the actual office, telecommuting can be a great way to balance work and extra activities. Setting up a home office helps to reduce the stress of commuting to and from work. Telecommuting is something that would have to be discussed with your manager and approved by your company. If you are able to work from home, make sure you have minimal distractions and are able to get your work done.

Finally, plan out your week in advance. Make sure you have activities or time for yourself that you wouldn’t want to break. Leave work behind you and focus on enjoying yourself taking a cooking class or going to a park with your kids. Separating work and personal time helps to increase productivity while working and will get you more excited for the planned out activities you’ve scheduled.

For more information on anything office or work related, visit Swingline.com.

Things can get pretty hectic as we head toward the end of the year. Before we know it, the holiday season will be upon us. The scary thing is that the best time to plan your holiday vacation was actually about two weeks ago! In November the price of airfare typically shoots up and you’ll be in competition with all the other non-early birds for the prime travel dates and times. Luckily, we’ve got  3 quick tips that can help you make the most of your upcoming break while you still can.

#1) Get started today – don’t wait any longer. Check with your boss to secure your days off so you can make your travel plans now without hesitation. Even if you aren’t leaving town it is a good idea to start calling your relatives and block off “family time” days on your calendar to prevent conflicts later on. Pick days for shopping, decorating, enjoying winter weather and visiting both sides of the family.

#2) Relish the anticipation. Studies have shown that many adults are happiest in the time leading up to the days away from work. It’s really no surprise – you have something to look forward to and can relive memories of past vacation highlights all while planning how much fun you are going to have this time. Tidy up, use a shredder to destroy sensitive information that shouldn’t be left lying around while you are away and enjoy the hype!

#3) Make your time count. Lock up your laptop and smartphone, instead opting for a prepaid phone for communication. While on vacation your job is to relax. Do not give your temporary phone number out to anyone who may interrupt your reprieve. You may even consider turning on your carefully crafted out of office a day early so you have cushion time to truly unwind before your busy but fun vacation starts.

Most importantly – allow yourself a break. A healthy work/life balance protects you physically, mentally and fiscally as you can catch up on your sleep, reduce your stress and are less likely to splurge. ABC News reported that only 57% percent of Americans are taking full advantage of their paid time off. Did you know the average worker in Italy has 42 paid days off while Americans only average 13? That is all the more reason to really take advantage. Even if you have no paid time off, it is a smart idea to cut a back a little now so you can at least grant yourself a 3 or 4 day weekend as the year comes to a close.

~Kathleen Sales, Quartet Blog Author & Editor

  Your fingerprint is a mark of your individuality. Not one other than you, can leave the same imprint. It cannot be duplicated, no matter how hard one may try. Too many people turn away from who they are and try instead to mirror those around them who they have seen as successful. What they often fail to realize in this though, is that those very people they’re following have become successful due to the simple fact that they are real, and raw, and different from others. Be a person who is confident in your own ability and strive to be the best version of yourself.

Those who are different are often the first to be noticed. To better illustrate this, we have created an image out of Color Bright staples using a 747® Rio Red Stapler. What’s one of the first things you notice in this image? Is it not the one blue staple in the midst of all the red? Our eyes are naturally drawn to those things that are different. If you as an individual can be this blue staple in a crowd of red, you’re sure to be recognized and remembered.

It’s believed that to become wise, one must first surround themselves with wise individuals. With this in mind, we often turn towards accomplished, well respected and influential people when seeking council and inspiration. Because of this, we have included below a handful of quotes said by incredible people that touch on this individuality we all seek:

1. “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Resist the need to conform to the world surrounding you and instead take pride knowing that you as an individual have stood out and are making a difference.

2.  “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.”
-Coco Chanel

A woman of fashion, Coco Chanel realized the need for people who are different. She puts it as straightforward as it can get; if you have something that others do not, there will always be a need for you and your skill set.

3.  “We are sun and moon, dear friend; we are sea and land. It is not our purpose to become each other; it is to recognize each other, to learn to see the other and honor him for what he is: each the other’s opposite and complement.”
-Hermann Hesse, Narcissus and Goldmund

Remember to acknowledge the unique skills others offer and that they can work in conjunction with what you have. Two minds are better than one; allow masterpieces to be created when working with another.

4. “Two roads diverged in a wood and I- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
-Robert Frost

There is something to be learned from those that jump off the trail and start their own journey. While it is sometimes a risky move, you’ll often discover things that wouldn’t have been discovered otherwise.

5. “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”
-Vince Lombardi

Your thoughts and ideas need to be shared because your contribution can make all the difference. Never shy away from speaking up in discussions but instead jump at the idea of it. What you have to offer in group settings is necessary for the success of the whole.

6. “Your handwriting. The way you walk. Which china pattern you choose. It’s all giving you away. Everything you do shows your hand. Everything is a self portrait. Everything is a diary.”
-Chuck Palahniuk, Diary

Think of life as a trail of breadcrumbs that you have left for others to track. Everything you touch, everything you become a part of, is going to be remembered by someone. The legacy you leave is one you should be proud of, so put your own personal touch into everything you do.

So – leave your fingerprint. Be confident in your own ability as an individual. And steer clear of falling in with the majority. Allow yourself to be yourself; you’ll be noticed and respected because of this.

By: Emily K, Swingline Intern