We’ve had a very busy week at the office* show catching up with current readers and meeting new PAs. We’d like to thank everyone who came to our stand and those who attended our panel discussion on day one. A big thanks goes out to The Incredible Ice Cream Co and Sejuiced for joining us to offer tasty treats and healthy juice shots to our visitors. It was a fantastic two days out. Let’s play catch-up now and find out what our most read stories of the week are.
1. Are you approaching burnout?
Discover the burnout signs you need to look out for and how to reignite, says EA Abigail Jones.
2. More than half of affairs start at the office
With more than a third of our life spent in the workplace, we often spend more time with our colleagues than we do our own partners at home and it is inevitable that relationships can grow increasingly intimate. With such closeness, the workplace has become the number one place for affairs to take place.
3. Poor meeting preparation is harming businesses
Badly prepared, over-running business meetings are harming businesses, say the directors and managers who are wasting almost three days on average a year in unproductive meetings. To make matters worse, more than a half (51%) of UK business managers say they have been to meetings where documents were found to be missing or else incorrect, or out-of-date papers were presented. Close to a third (31%) said they are aware of erroneous decisions having been made in meetings as a direct result.
4. Think flexibly to escape the office bore, says Regus
What are the benefits of working flexibly? Many are well documented – a healthier lifestyle, avoiding the commute, a better work-life balance. But what about avoiding boring colleagues or those fellow workers with unpleasant habits? According to a new survey from workspace provider Regus, these ‘push’ factors are highly influential when it comes to deciding how and where we work.
5. The secret isolation of sole traders such as VAs
While it can seem like a dream set up, if you’ve ever owned your own business or work from home on a regular basis, there will undoubtedly be times where you’ve felt isolated, alone, or questioned your decision. In fact, research from Acas found that around a fifth (20%) of homeworkers and sole traders often feel socially isolated – a figure that is expected to grow in 2017. But is this feeling of isolation normal? And what can you do to overcome it?
6. The importance of workplace wellness
Wellness Travel Expert Paul Joseph shares why it’s so important for professionals to take time out and re-focus on their wellbeing on a wellness break.
7. PA Life Club members test their Oscars knowledge at Searcys 30 Pavilion Road
PA Life Club members gathered for a networking evening at Searcys 30 Pavilion Road this week, where they tested their knowledge of the silver screen – past and present – to compete for three magnums of champagne.
8. App of the week: Miranda
Have you ever experienced the frustration of trying to schedule a video conference for colleagues spread across the globe in different time zones? Miranda can help with that; simply enter the cities where the attendees are based, change the day and time to when you want the meeting to take place, and send a calendar note to everyone involved – all in one app.
9. The biggest distractions at work revealed
New research has found that contrary to popular belief, home working provides a more productive environment than office working, with remote employees less susceptible to distractions.
10. How to keep up appearances when you’re having a bad day
Becoming the victim of a bad day where nothing is going right need not be the end of the world. It’s especially important for PAs to maintain a professional attitude no matter how they’re feeling. Luckily, The Muse has created this handy list of ways to avoid becoming a buzzkill if things aren’t going your way.
