With droves of workers ditching the nine-to-five grind in pursuit of something more flexible, now more than ever you should consider the importance of a well-designed home office.

After all, working from home may seem like a luxury; however, the freelance lifestyle can be tricky to handle for newcomers due to the sheer wealth of distractions.

Emails. Phone calls. The doorbell. You name it.

Likewise, those working from home may also struggle with feelings of isolation and boredom from being cooped up indoors. You can quickly burn yourself out if you aren’t productive and ensuring that your office nurtures a “get it done” mentality versus one that simply wastes your time.

If you’re looking to crack the proverbial whip and design a home office that actually nurtures your creative, hardworking spirit, consider the following tips as a starting point.

Let There Be Light (or Lack Thereof)

Again, it’s natural to feel isolated when you’re flying solo and working from home. It’s crucial that you remind yourself that the outside side world is alive and well, so consider letting some light into your workspace. Solutions such as bamboo blinds can give your space a sense of style and make your office seem less like a cave.

On the flip side, you may find that your space gets a little too much love from the sun during the day. That’s why blinds are an absolute must for any home office space: you can let in as much or little light as you see fit. Either way, try to give yourself as least some exposure to the sun throughout the day for the sake of your mental health.

Control the Thermostat

Conventional wisdom tells us a warmer work climate fosters productivity, so keep that in mind as you adjust your thermostat while you work. Conversely, you should perhaps invest in an office fan if you find yourself sweating up a storm during the summer months if necessary. Simply keep in mind that if something feels “off” in terms of your office productivity, the temperature may very well bet he culprit.

Set the Appropriate Tone

No two jobs are created equal: likewise, comparing the office spaces of a graphic designer and mortgage broker is like comparing apples and oranges. Regardless of the scope your work, make sure that your workspace fosters creativity and establishes your own sense of personality. For example, you may opt for a bold, black-and-white themed space for a sense of professionalism that reminds you that your home office is a place of work rather than play.

Remove Any and All Clutter

That being said, clutter is surefire productivity killer. Take pride in your workspace and keep it tidy. If something is in your office that isn’t related to your line of work, such as personal knick knacks or odds and ends that you’ve been storing in your office space, it may be time to move those items out.

Rethink Your Desk

Many works are seeing huge returns through standing desks which work to help them focus: on the flip side, perhaps a comfier, high quality desk and chair combination is in order for maximum comfort while you chip away at your workload. Regardless, you should find a balance between comfort and productivity to avoid sitting for too long.

At the end of your day, your home office represents your personal space to get down to business. Instead of business as usual, consider how you can revamp your space for a more productive lifestyle.

Wouldn’t it be great to save money in college while also proving to the world how environmentally conscience you are? Well, you can by applying to green scholarships! The aim of these awards are to promote eco-friendly practices to the next generation so that our planet will stay safe and healthy for the foreseeable future. If you’re a Canadian citizen who’d like to reduce educational costs while also increasing your environmental activity, below are 7 earth-friendly scholarships from various companies and organizations.

The Brower Youth Awards

This scholarship is open to youth between the ages of 13 and 22 living either in Mexico, Canada or the United States. Each year six winners will be awarded a $3,000 cash prize in addition to a week long trip to the San Francisco Bay Area to participate in camping, media engagements and environmental conferences. The Brower Youth Awards wish to encourage students to either engage in sustainability projects, offer environmental analysis or earth-friendly ideas to help make the world a better place. The deadline is May 18.

Gaspard Keep Canada Green Online Scholarship Contest

Gaspard, the maker of academic regalia, is offering 11 scholarships to eligible students; one worth $2,500 and the rest $1,000. All you have to do is complete a series of online trivia questions found on the site www.keepcanadagreencontest.ca. The trivia questions are all based on the environment and are meant to be educational and fun. The deadline is April 10.

The Bill Mason Memorial Scholarship Fund

Provided through Paddle Canada and running since 1990, the Bill Mason Memorial Scholarship Fund will award $1,000 to help lower the educational costs of “tomorrow’s environmental stewards”. There’s no official application form to submit, rather, you must provide a cover letter and confirmation of eligibility in addition to answering six questions that must be mailed to the organization (side note: if you want to remain a good environmental steward, there’s eco-friendly printing paper offered from various companies that use recycled material). The deadline is September 30.

Canadian Youth Environmental Leadership Scholarship

Cenovus Energy, a Canadian oil and natural gas company, will award a $5,000 scholarship to two Canadian students with at least 2 years of undergraduate study completed. In addition to the monetary award, the scholarship also allows the opportunity for paid summer employment, mentor-ship and invitations to annual gatherings with stipends.

Air & Waste Management Association Scholarships

This organization offers a number of scholarships per year to students pursuing earth friendly careers. You’ll find international scholarships as well as local and chapter scholarships available. Also, in addition to winning funds for school, you’ll also be featured in EM magazine for environmental managers if selected.

Apprentice Ecologist Initiative

The Nicodemus Wilderness Project sponsors this scholarship worth $850. To be considered you must create an environmental stewardship project (something that benefits the environment like reforestation or a recycling operation), take photos of your activities, write an essay and upload that onto the website. The deadline is December 31.

Annie’s Sustainable Agriculture Scholarships

Annie’s is a company that provides organic foods (no GMOs, synthetic preservatives, pesticides, etc) promoting a healthy and eco-friendly lifestyle in the US and Canada. They offer annual scholarships with two award amounts: $2,500 and $10,000 each that can definitely help lower the cost of college expenses. They believe in being transparent with their earth-friendly business and so offer sustainability reports every year to prove they’re good environmental stewards.

Anyone that wants to start a career or wants to move forward in their career knows that post-secondary education is an important part of that process. The days of landing a well-paid position straight out of university are gone, with more employers than ever looking for practical skills and experience. College helps you get the training you need to be successful. But what do career colleges really have to offer?

Of course, every college is going to be different but you may want to consider the following:

1. Training by Industry Professionals

Career colleges usually employ professionals that are not only trained in the field that they teach but also have real life experience. Sometimes it is this real life experience that enables instructors to impart the most important knowledge to their students. Instructors have actually worked in the field so they know what employers expect from staff, what skills will help you get the job, and what skills you need to move forward in your career.

2. The Best Learning Materials

Career colleges are committed to providing students with the most recent learning material possible. Sometimes that means the latest addition of text books but that can also include other media such as films, audio learning, and online learning. Other learning materials may include guest speakers that work in the industry and employ graduates and class trips that take students on location for personal observation.

3. Experience

Many career colleges are so committed to helping graduates get jobs that they are even providing them with the chance to get work experience. They do this through a practicum credit. Students that attend career colleges which offer practicums are able to work at a business that employs students who are trained in their field of study. Not only do they get to do the work that they have been trained to do but they also get a chance to work with professionals, build relationships, and sometimes they are even able to attend industry events and network.

As you can see, a career college might be the right choice for you if you are focused on learning the skills you need to launch a successful career. Canadian career colleges aim to get you working in your chosen field as quickly as possible, so you spend less time out of the workforce and more time making your new wage!