If you work at home big brother may be watching

Many employers are using software to check up on their employees and contractors who work from home. While those of us that work at home enjoy the time and freedom we get from not having to commute some employers are still control freaks. Some employers are happy to let you work from home but they still want to control how you spend that time.

If you are a telecommuter, then ask the human resources department of your company about if they monitor their telecommuters and how thy do it. If you are a contractor or freelancer working through an agency or sites like Odesk or Elance, ask or check the web site to see what type of monitoring is employed.

There is nothing wrong with employee or worker monitoring as long as employees or workers are informed and it is company policy. Otherwise, I think monitoring without someone noticing is classified as invasion of privacy.

Walking can keep you fit for life

Walking is something we do everyday and we don’t need to go to the gym and hit the weights to do it. Just an hour a day, everyday, helps those who have lost weight keep it off longer than those who exercise less. Studies have shown that walking adds years to your life and reduces your risk of chronic illness. People that are active in their 50s and 60s are less likely to die early as those that lead a sedentary lifestyle. About.com has a great site that talks about many different aspects of walking from benefits, types of injuries, types of shoes, walking programs, what to eat, etc. Another site to check out is The Walking Site.

Before finding a second job, think about turning a hobby into a part-time business

The recession is making us all feel the pinch. We could all use some extra money. Instead of pounding the pavement for a second job, why not turn something love into a business? Since you’re already doing something you love, there’s no reason you shouldn’t make money from doing what you love. Outside of tax benefits from having your own business you may also relieve some of the stress or boredom from your full-time job because you have something to look forward to and it’s helping increase your bottom line. Helpful sites to visit for the business side are Entrpreneur.com and the Small Business Administration. Then I suggest doing a Google search to see how others are making money from your hobby. Networking through business and hobby-related forums will also be helpful.

Senate passing housing relief bill but what does that mean for us?

On Saturday the Senate passed the most far-reaching bill on housing. Included in the bill is a rescue plan for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The President says that he will sign the bill. The bill will essentially give those who qualify an opportunity to refinance their mortgage into a lower government-backed loan. To qualify, homeowners need to meet the following criteria:

Homeowners are currently living in their home and have loans issues between January 2005 and June 2007.

Homeowners must be spending at least 31% of their monthly income on their mortgage and prove that they cannot continue to pay their mortgage at the current rate. They must also prove that they are not deliberately defaulting to get a lower rate. This applies to homeowners up to date on their loan or in default.

All other debt, like home equity loans or lines of credit, must be retired on the home before being able to get a FHA-backed loan. Homeowners will not be able to get another home equity loan for five years unless it’s for necessary upkeep on their homes. At the time of getting a home equity loan, total debt on home cannot exceed 95% of total appraised value of the home.

To find lenders go to the Department of Housing and Urban Development website.

Don’t live in the dark

Over the years Americans have adopted an escapist attitude. We want to be entertained and take a break from whatever our reality may be, if only for a little while. Even after 9/11 happened, we are less informed about what our future may hold. Other countries around the world know more than we do because so goes America, so goes the world. We have such reactionary culture. We wait until things happen to make a change instead of being progressive and avoiding things we can control.

We can control our health. We can control our level of success and wealth. We can control how much living we get in before we die. But we choose to walk around powerless, allowing life to happen to us. Now we are facing a recession. Instead of complaining or waiting for our government to give us relief, we should decide what we are going to do to improve our lives and the lives of others. The more proactive we are, the more change can happen. So be proactive and change your life.

Don’t let procrastination hurt your future success

Procrastination keeps us from moving forward in our lives. Procrastination can make the difference in your level of success; personally and professionally. Below are some tips offered by Denis Waitley, respected speaker and productivity consultant, to help you avoid or change your tendency towards procrastination.

Identify what you’ve been putting off. On a blank sheet of paper take five minutes and write down any important activities you are delaying or have put on hold.

Look at you list of activities and do one of them right now. By directing the energy you’ve been using for excuses towards activity you’ll find that action eliminates anxiety.

Set a designated time in the day to work on your list. You’ll be amazed at how much you can get accomplished when you spend a specific amount of focused time on a goal or task.

Focus on quality of effort and not on perfection. There will never be a right time, setting, situation, or opportunity. Get started and realize that midcourse corrections are allowed. The key is to get started.

Stressed out and anxious – Try a salty soak

Magnesium sulfate, otherwise known as Epsom salt, is an affordable, easy to find and use product to melt away your stress. Excess adrenaline and stress reduces magnesium which our bodies require to bind serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical in our brains that gives off a feeling of relaxation. Magnesium is easily absorbed in the skin so taking a soak in an Epsom salt bath will do the trick. In addition to increasing serotonin levels, magnesium sulfate flushes toxins from the body, soothes muscles, and reduces inflammation. Use Epsom salt in the bath with essential oils like eucalyptus to aide in relaxation or use with petroleum jelly or alone to exfoliate. For more information and uses for Epsom salt visit the Epsom Salt Council web site.