Insights For Success

Strategy, Innovation, Leadership and Security

Tips and Tricks

Achieving Work-Life Integration: Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Managing the Blurred Boundaries

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

Due to the blurring of boundaries between work and personal life caused by technology and the rise of remote work, the concept of work-life balance has been replaced by the concept of work-life integration. Achieving a work-life balance in the past meant striking a balance between the time and energy spent on work and personal life to avoid burnout and enhance well-being. However, with the proliferation of smartphones, laptops, and remote work, it has become increasingly difficult to separate work from personal life, causing a shift toward work-life integration.

The concept of work-life integration refers to the integration of work and personal lives in a sustainable way that promotes well-being. It recognizes that work and personal life are intertwined and cannot always be separated. The focus is not on balancing work and personal life but maximizing the overlap.

Setting boundaries, creating a schedule, and finding ways to disconnect are some tips and tricks employees can use in the new work-life integration model. You should set boundaries regarding when and how work should be performed and communicate them with your employer and colleagues. It is vital to develop a schedule that includes time for work, personal life, and rest to ensure you balance all aspects of your life. Finding ways to disconnect from work, such as turning off notifications, is also important to achieve a better work-life balance.

Work-life integration is associated with positive outcomes for employees, such as improved well-being and job satisfaction. In a study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, it was found that individuals who reported higher levels of work-life integration reported higher levels of psychological well-being and job satisfaction than those who reported lower levels (Kossek et al., 2011). In addition, a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that work-life integration was positively associated with employee well-being and negatively associated with employee burnout (Allen et al., 2014).

In a study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, work-life integration was positively associated with job satisfaction and negatively associated with turnover intentions (Kossek & Ozeki, 1998). In a study published in the Journal of Vocational Behavior, Greenhaus & Powell (2006) found that work-life integration was positively associated with psychological well-being, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment.

The integration of work and life has also been shown to have positive effects on organizations. For example, according to a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, work-life integration was positively associated with organizational citizenship behaviour and negatively associated with turnover (Allen et al., 2014).

However, it is important to note that research also suggests that work-life integration can lead to adverse outcomes, including work-family conflict, burnout, and stress, if not properly managed. The Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found that work-life integration may lead to work-family conflict and burnout if employees cannot set boundaries and disconnect from work (Grzywacz & Carlson, 2007).

5 Tips

  1. Take care of your physical and mental well-being by getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly. As a result, you will be able better to manage the demands of your work and personal life.

  2. Communicate effectively with your employer and colleagues about your work-life integration needs and expectations. As a result, you will be able to set boundaries and find effective ways to work together.

  3. Technology can be a double-edged sword in integrating work and life. Organize your time and stay organized by using tools such as calendar apps and project management software.

  4. If you need assistance, do not hesitate to ask for help. You can manage your work and personal lives more effectively by delegating tasks, finding a mentor, or speaking with a therapist.

  5. Work-life integration can be unpredictable, so it is vital to be adaptable and flexible. It is essential to be open to trying new things and experimenting with different ways of working to find what works best for you.

Conclusion

Although work-life integration has been linked to positive outcomes for employees and organizations, individuals and organizations must find ways to effectively manage and maximize the overlap between work and personal lives. This can be accomplished by setting boundaries, creating a schedule, allowing time for disconnecting and providing the necessary support and flexibility in the workplace.

References:

  • Kossek, E. E., Lautsch, B. A., & Eaton, S. C. (2011). Work-life integration: An examination of conceptualization, research, and practice through the lens of business travel. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 16(2), 230–250. 

  • Allen, T. D., Herst, D. E., Bruck, C. S., & Sutton, M. (2014). Consequences associated with work-to-familyenrichment and spillover. Journal of Applied Psychology, 99(6), 1401–1416. 

  • Kossek, E. E., & Ozeki, C. (1998). Work-family conflict, policies, and the job-life satisfaction relationship: A review and directions for organizational behavior-human resources research. Journal of Applied Psychology, 83(2), 139–149. 

  • Greenhaus, J. H., & Powell, G. N. (2006). When work and family are allies: A theory of work-family enrichment. Academy of Management Review, 31(1), 72–92. 

  • Grzywacz, J. G., & Carlson, D. S. (2007). Reconceptualizing the work-family interface: An ecological perspective on the correlates of positive and negative spillover between work and family. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 12(2), 167–178. 

Keywords: Work-Life Balance, Work-Life Integration, Tips, Tricks, Strategies, Managing, Blurred Boundaries, Burnout, Well-being, Remote work, Boundaries, Schedule, Disconnect, Self-care, Communication, Technology, Support, Flexibility, Prioritize.

5 Tips to stay safe on social media

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

The use of social media is one of the most important tools we have for connecting with our friends and family. Unfortunately, it can also be a dangerous place if you are not careful. The following tips will help you stay safe when using social media.

  1. Ensure that you are aware of who you are connecting with - not everyone on social media is who they claim to be. Make sure to do your research and only connect with people you know and trust.

  2. Be careful what information you post online, such as personal details and photographs. Anyone can view any information you post online, so take precautions to protect your privacy and security.

  3. Keep an eye out for suspicious activity - if someone sends you inappropriate messages or attempts to obtain personal information from you, report them immediately and block them from further contact.

  4. Secure your social media accounts with strong passwords, and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.

  5. You should be aware of scams - be careful when clicking on links or downloading files, as they may contain malicious content. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Keeping yourself safe while using social media is easy if you follow these simple tips. When interacting with people online, it is essential to remain vigilant and take precautions.

Keywords: social media safety, social media security, online safety tips.

Description: This article provides an overview of five tips to ensure safety when using social media.

Ridge minimalist wallet review

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

This is not an ad or sponsored post. This is an honest review.

I have been a fan of minimalist wallets for many years, and my wallet of choice has been the HuMn Aluminium wallet.

Ridge Wallet Specs

  • Holds 1-12 cards without stretching out

  • Blocks RFID (wireless theft)

  • Replaceable elastic

  • Backed by our lifetime warranty

  • 6061-T6 aluminum | anodized black

  • Weight: 2 oz | 86 x 54 x 6 mm

Ridge Wallet Use

You add a card by sliding it from the top groove

To access a card, you press the ridged opening and pull the required card out from the top

To Insert a Card: Gently slide the card into the top groove.

To access a card in the middle, you push out all the cards from the ridge, separate the metal plates and then find your card.

This strategy is similar to the HuMn wallet and most other plate based wallets. This may seem a little off for someone coming from a traditional leather style wallet but you will get use to it quickly. You will start moving your most used cards to the top or bottom of the stack.

Design

The stated purpose of the Ridge was to design a sleek minimalist wallet that would be durable and easy to use. I believe they successfully achieved this stated goal. The height and width of the Ridge Wallet is designed to be very slightly larger than (North American) style credit cards.

First thing first, the wallet is a thing of beauty. Much better looking than the HuMn Wallet.

The aluminium wallet will feel slightly heavier than a “normal” wallet. After 3 weeks of use, the wallet feels normal and not heavy at all. For those that are looking for a lighter option, the poly-carbonate or carbon fiver models are lighter. Unless you want Carbon Fiber for the look and prestige, the aluminium version is likely the best cost/benefit deal.

The wallet comes with either a money clip or elastic band. I chose the clip version which makes it slightly thicker and less useful. I recommend you acquire the elastic band version.

For those that carry their (normal) wallets in their back pocket, you will notice that your cards are slightly bend. The Ridge Wallet’s aluminium “walls” are strong enough to keep the cards straight even if you sit on them.

The company claims that their wallet provides RFID protection. I used an RFID scanner to test this feature and can confirm that it does offer RFID protection (most leather wallets do not offer such protections).

Some companies provide non-standard sized cards (loyalty and membership). Those non-standard cards do not work well with the Ridge. In my case, I do not have any of those.

Behavioral change

For those coming from a normal leather wallet, moving to any minimalist wallet will force you to reconsider what cards you carry with you on a daily basis. In my case, I scanned all my loyalty cards into Google Pay (and Apple Pay) and leave those at home. Additionally I stopped carrying cards I barely use.

Conclusion

Coming from the HuMn Wallet, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the Ridge Wallet. The truth is that I liked it much more than I expected and it has now become my main daily-use wallet.

They have made a great product that balances form, function and cost.

It is strong, light and dependable. For those looking for a great EDC wallet, this is currently the best choice available (I have tested over a dozen such wallets).

Link: Ridge wallet

Common hotel safety and security questions

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

When an operational security expert thinks about hotel risks, we typically group them in these buckets:

  1. physical security
  2. safety
  3. technological risk

Travel security means you need to think about potential risks you may be exposed to and how you could mitigate them.

What about room security?

First, think you should do when you walk into any hotel room is walk around and identify all potential ingress points. Make sure that they are locked (windows, sliding doors, doors to adjoining rooms, etc).

The front door is your primary risk and anytime you are in the room, you should always use all of the protection mechanisms made available to you (lock, hasp and deadbolt).

When travelling, I always carry a light and cheap Addalock to provide an additional level of safety.

If I'm going to sleep and believe that the risk level may be higher than normal, I will stack the glass cups (water and coffee) in front of the door so any attempted opening will cause them to fall and wake me up.

Are peepholes in hotel rooms really an issue?

The short answer is yes. There are inexpensive adapters that reverse the magnification of a peephole and allow a threat actor to watch you inside your room. I have even seen some with smartphone adapters so you can even record video.

Tip: If the peephole doesn't have a cover built-in, roll up some toilet paper and shove it in the peephole.

Is a hotel safer than an AirBNB?

This is a question I receive regularly and the answer isn't simple.

Most AirBNBs are located in non-descript residential buildings and therefore could allow you to blend in with the locals. Remember that you have to trust the Airbnb host. 

A hotel, on the other hand, is flashy and everyone knows where it is (forget about blending in) but these establishments typically have stronger better-designed security,

Hotels typically set up shop in safer neighbourhoods whereas an Airbnb can be anywhere.

You need to do some research and determine what your risk profile is and then determine which solution best meets your requirements. 

What should I look for before booking a hotel room?

In an emergency situation, you are ultimately responsible for your own safety. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Do your research before booking a hotel and the room. I generally want a non-biased third party to provide the below answers. If that is not possible then I try to stick to major Western chains that usually will be fairly honest with their answers.

  • Choose a hotel where the room locks are electronics. This makes it harder for previous guests or “bad guys” to have access to your room. Ask for 2 copies of the room key and keep both on you. If you misplace or lose one, immediately notify the hotel and have replacements made.
  • Make sure the room is equipped with a deadbolt lock and a peephole
  • Most of us do not pay attention to the hotel’s fire suppression system but trust me this one is important. Make sure your room is equipped with a smoke detector and that each room (and the hallways) have visible sprinkler systems. In many countries, the fire response teams are not as fast, well equipped or trained as in North America.
  • Make sure that the hotel environment is secure with proper fencing and that the guest areas are well lit (parking, hallways, ice rooms, etc).
  • Generally, I prefer hotels where the elevator leaving the parking area only goes to the lobby (and not directly to the rooms).
  • I try to make sure that any hotel I choose has adequate security personnel. I like to see uniformed security personnel that seem to be well trained and adequately equipped (in this case adequate depends on the area.) They should be willing to escort you to your room or vehicle if requested.
  • I recommend you contact the foreign affairs ministry of your country (DFAIT in Canada, US Embassy for the USA, etc). Ask them about the area the hotel is located in and determine how safe it is.

How do I ensure my stuff hasn't been tampered with?

If you have read my other articles, I talk about hotels being a prime target for intelligence gathering. Where possible, take all of your "stuff" (passports, money, electronics, etc) with you. Sometimes that isn't possible or desirable, so what do you do.

Make sure everything is turned off (not in hibernation or sleep mode).

Use discreet alignment of your "stuff" to detect if anyone has tampered with it. Discreet alignment means that everything has been placed in specific ways so you will detect the slightest movement. As an example, maybe you place a water bottle 1 thumb away from the USB port of your laptop. When you come back, you will immediately know if someone tampered with that port (if the alignment is off).

You can also use cardinal bearings (alone or with discreet alignment). Cardinal bearings are basically compass headings. So you place the protective item (coffee cup in front of the sensitive USB port) and make sure the handle of the coffee cup has a perfect bearing of north. You can also use pens or anything else that is easy to move.

Once you have set up your environment, take pictures of it with your smartphone camera.

If you are being tracked, make sure everything looks natural. You do not want anyone to suspect that you are laying traps.

Using the do not disturb sign

In security, we want as much advanced notification as possible that something is wrong. The trick here is to place the do not disturb sign on your door but to do it in a way that is unique but natural. As an example, instead of letting the sign just hang freely from the handle, you place the edge into the door frame so it is on a slight angle. To most people, it will seem like you left in a hurry and the sign justs got stuck in the door. If you come back and the sign is no longer on an angle stuck in the door frame (aka it is hanging freely), that means someone was in your room and that you should approach with caution.

9 things you should pack on every trip

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

As a frequent traveller, I have picked up some tricks that make travelling a lot easier. I wanted to share some of those with you and hopefully make your life a little easier.

Global WIFI Hotspot

I wrote my first review of the (gen 1) Skyroam Global hotspot in 2015 and it became one of my most used travel items. When they released (gen 2) a new LTE capable model, the Skyroam Solis, I bought one and reviewed it as well.

TL;DR: I have tested dozens of global roaming services (hotspots and global SIMs) and the product I carry in my bag every day is the Skyroam Solis.

Some readers have asked if my Skyroam tests were promotional and the answer is no. I have not received any compensation from Skyroam to test and review any of their products. When I find something that works well and is priced competitively, I recommend it.

I recommend you read my full review, but the summary is that the Skyroam Solis is a pre-paid global 4G (LTE) capable hotspot that works in 100+ countries. They offer an "unlimited" data package sold in chunks of 24 hours (day passes) for about $9 a day (or a monthly pass for $99).

Most companies offering this type of service label their offering as "unlimited data" but this doesn't mean you can stream Netflix while cruising the french riviera. Every company I have reviewed imposes some type of "fair use policy". Skyroam's Solis day pass never cut-off your data access but does slow it down to a painful (and barely usable) 2G after you consumer about 500MB per 24-hour period. This period resets during each day pass.  This means that you shouldn't be streaming music or videos (Spotify, Google Music, Apple Music, Youtube, Netflix, HULU, Amazon Video, etc).

As an example, the GeefiGlobal WIFI hotspot fair use policy says "GeeFi will begin limiting the download speed after you exceed 500 MB (megabytes) of data in most countries".

Frequent travellers can buy a Skyroam Solis WIFI hotspot for $149.99 (includes one day pass worth $9). Infrequent travellers can rent a Skyroam Solis with the appropriate number of day passes for $9.95 a day (basically $1 per day to rent the unit plus shipping costs back and forth).

Collapsible water bottle

I wrote about the Nomander collapsible water bottle in 2016 and still recommend it for travel.

TL;DR: The Nomander water bottle is a light flexible easy to pack piece of kit you can store easily and use when needed. It avoids having to pay $5 for a 500ml bottle of water that would otherwise cost $0.50 anywhere in the "real world".

The Nomanderis made from food grade silicone so it doesn't retain smell.  It is leakproof. Where my older recommendation (the Vapur) becomes giggly when less than 3/4 full, the Nomander retains its shape fairly well for a foldable bottle. 

With the plastic sleeve in the middle, the bottle is sturdy enough to stand on its own.  The Nomander is (top rack) dishwasher safe, You can also freshen it up, like most other water bottles by soaking a mixture of filtered water and fresh cut lemons for 24-hours.

The water filter

Browse the aisles of any camping goods store and prepare to be amazed at the dozens of water filters available for your immediate purchase. I have been camping most of my life and have travelled to many locations known for terrible horribly diseased water.

I have tried over a hundred filters, tablets and sterilizers. The one I keep coming back to over and over is the Grayl. I first wrote about the Grayl water filter in 2016 and have been recommending it since. It beats every other filter I had tried before or that I have tested since.

TL;DR: The Grayl water filter is the easy to use, easy to carry, low maintenance and high-reliability water filter you want when in the backcountry or when travelling to locations with questionable water sanitation practices.

When using the orange travel filter, you purify and sanitize the water with one (strong) push. This means I no longer carry a UV sterilizer (Steripen) in addition to a filter (Lifestraw or Sawyer mini).

The Grayl Orange Travel filter removes:

Each cartridge lasts about 300 uses (with 3 full uses a day, a single filter would last 100 days). The filtering process requires a bit of brute strengh but you never have to worry about batteries and there is no need to backwash the filter. 

Portable laundry machine

Everyone starts travelling with lots of extra clothes and big check-in pieces of luggage. Eventually, you learn that one-bag travel is the only way to go. One-bag travel does mean you are travelling with the minimum and thus may need a way to clean your clothes while on the move. 5 years ago I bought a Scrubba wash bag and have brought it with me on almost every trip (longer than a week).

TL;DR: The Srubba is a waterproof bag with scrubbing "teeth" you can use to clean your clothes anywhere in about 10 minutes.

Scrubba has become a trusted travel item for business trips and family adventures (vacations with kids, camping, road trips, etc). I use this with either  Woolite Travel Laundry Soap individually packaged travel packets or Dr. Bronner organic Castille soap. Both of these detergents are gentle, work with all types of materials and wash out easily without leaving a soapie residue.

Airborne and NoJetlag

I started taking both of these products 6-7 years ago and believe they help keep me healthy when travelling (particularly the long North America to Asia flights).

I am not a doctor and the effect could be nothing more than placebo but since I started taking Airborne on longer flights, I find I get sick a lot less Worst case scenario, it is a vitamin C supplement but my experience has been very positive. I have managed to stay healthy even with colleagues have gotten sick.

When travelling to faraway destinations, I started using No-Jet-Lag. While consulting for Cathay Pacific Airlines (based in Hong Kong), a flight attendant recommended it and I have used it ever since (when travelling through more than 4-5 time zones).

The simple rule of thumb is to chew on one tablet, every time your plane takes off and every time it lands.  Then chew on one tablet every 2 hours while in flight. I normally follow the manufacturer instructions and take it an hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

I'm the first person to admit the questionable medical value of homeopathic products and my results may be nothing more than a placebo effect but it has worked for me and has been recommended to me by about a dozen different flight crew members.

Tom Bihn Synapse 25 backpack

Talking about backpacks is almost akin to talking about religion. It seems people are easily offended when you recommend something different than their preferred bag.  Unlike the average traveller, I have 1M+ miles under my belt and have recently tested about 25 different (well rated) backpacks before I recommended the Tom Bihn Synapse 25 backpack February 2018.

TL;DR: If you can only buy one backpack (EDC, work and travel), I recommend the USA designed and manufactured Tom Bihn Synapse 25 backpack.

I recommend you read my full review here. This bag is light, durable and has carefully designed features that will make travel much easier. Plus it is built like a tank and will not break on your mid-trip.

Best carry on luggage

I first recommended the RedOxx AirBoss in March 2012 and it has been my favourite carry-on luggage since. I have tried 50-60 different products since and always come back to this thing. It is designed to last and comes with a no questions lifetime warranty. Along with Tom Bihn, RedOxx offers the best warranty in the business. 

The RedOxx AirBoss is a 100% USA designed and manufactured bag. It is made from incredibly resilient materials. The bag you see above has travelled 1,000,000 + miles since 2012 and it looks almost brand new.

  • Since does not have wheels, I am rarely asked to check its size.
  • It has a flexible shell which means I can push and shove it into even the smallest overhead compartments.
  • It doesn't waste any room on wheels and a pull handle which maximizes available space
  • It can be used with or without packing cubes

If you could buy only 1 luggage that will have to last 10+years, this is the one.

Pacsafe anti-theft packs

There are times when you will be travelling to riskier destinations where theft is a real constant concern (Shanghai, Delhi, Mumbai, Barcelona, etc). Then travelling to these "special" locations, you may have to take specialized gear to stay safe and no one offers a wider selection of anti-theft backpacks, packs and bags than Pacsafe.

I own both a Pacsafe backpack and a shoulder pack. Both of my products are no longer offered but you can easily find something that would meet your needs. During "normal" trips, I would choose the lighter and more functional Tom Bihn Synapse 25 every time but when I need extra security, the Pacsafe products are a must.  The bags are lined with a metal mesh to prevent theft by slashing. Even the shoulder straps are reinforced with metal mesh to prevent a slash and go incident. Best of all, the Pacsafe bags look like normal everyday products.

I own an older version of the Metrosafe and found an everyday use for it you may find interesting. In addition to keeping my valuables safe while I travel, I use it when at the beach or public pool.  I lock it to a bench or medium tall tree and know my valuables (glasses, wallet, cell phone, etc) will be there when I get back. When at the beach, I can go swimming without worrying that someone will steal my wallet. All you have to do it pair it with a travel cable based lock.