productivity

Working from home is pretty great, being in a familiar setting, with your own desk decor and fuzzy socks to keep you company. Plus, saving on commuting, coffee, and quick lunches can all seem like added benefits to your work-life balance. 

Working from home is pretty great, being in a familiar setting, with your own desk decor and fuzzy socks to keep you company. Plus, saving on commuting, coffee, and quick lunches can all seem like added benefits to your work-life balance. Not getting chatted to endlessly at the water cooler? Even better. Yet, working from home presents its own challenges, tribulations, and, most detrimentally, distractions. Being productive while working from home can be a struggle when faced with piles of laundry, sick pets, or kids coming home from school. You want to do it all, but you also want to do your job! Luckily, there are ways to hack your brain into keeping productive while at work and get things done while leaving time for your personal life.  1. Get Quality Sleep  A good day is proven to start with good sleep. Sure, you brag you got eight full hours last night but was it a good eight hours? Sleep quality is better than sleep quantity when it comes to feeling rested and ready for the day ahead. Quality sleep primarily starts with less blue light before bed and upon waking up, so putting down work at an appropriate time is key. Finding a dark, quiet space also greatly affects how much time you spend in a deep sleep each night, so maybe it is time to splurge on some blackout curtains.  2. Create a Daily Plan  Tasks at work can sometimes seem overwhelming and sometimes not enough, leaving us with an unhealthy balance of stress versus relaxation. You may feel like you are the type who “works better under stress,” which may be true when it comes to true emergency productivity. However, laying out tasks helps you realize which areas need immediate attention and which are best kept for later. Taking twenty minutes at the beginning of your day to create a running document outlining your daily tasks can help chart the course and save your mental place when you get pulled from your desk by life (or your cat gets tangled in your blinds).  3. Take Breaks  Taking a break may seem counterintuitive when it comes to being productive, but taking well-timed trips away from your screen can improve clarity on the tasks at hand. Scheduling quick breaks into your day can help your mind focus by getting your body moving with a quick stretch or outdoor walk. A break can also help scratch the itch to do housework, as you can throw in a load of laundry or prep a lunch. Keeping your breaks regular daily will also assist your brain in adopting a routine that you can harness for daily planning, giving you something to work towards as a mini finish line for tasks.  4. Be an Early Bird Being early doesn’t always mean waking up at the crack of dawn, but it can mean a few extra minutes in the morning to set a routine, exercise, or cook a healthy breakfast. Being early is also a mindset that encourages productivity. If you turn in projects before they are due, you reduce the stress and scramble of adapting your schedule to day-of deadlines. Thus, more room for new work and more productive outcomes. Being five minutes early to online meetings is also a good way to feel prepared to present and ensure that you are in a meeting mindset the minute others jump in.  5. Design Your Own Work Style 

How to Stay Productive Working From Home

Small biz owner

Choosing the best virtual address service for your business can be a key way to make or break it in a particular market. But, let’s be real; Real estate is expensive, especially in cities like New York, Miami, and Los Angeles

Which Virtual Address is Best for My Business?  A virtual business address is incredibly dynamic and widely accepted. You can place it on marketing materials, email sign-offs, boilerplate, or a hot air balloon. That’s right; your address can become a total part of your personal business brand! When choosing your new virtual address, it is important to consider more than just what looks good on paper.  Asking yourself important questions like, “where is my target audience located?” and “what kind of business am I planning to run?” can help guide you towards the best choice. For example, if you are starting a Farmtech company specializing in software for farmers and ranchers, an address in Wyoming, Idaho, or Montana would have a better appeal than an address in Florida. Likewise, if you plan to expand your business to a new luxury market, New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C are all great places to start your new venture.  Local appeal always goes a long way for pitching to a community while giving you total autonomy to expand your business from anywhere—even outside the U.S. 

States We Offer a Virtual Address In, and Which one is Best for Your Business.

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In 2020, the FBI reported 791,790 complaints of internet crime, with a total of $4.2 Billion in financial losses, a number that has exponentially risen from the already alarming $1.4 Billion in losses reported over 2016. 

In 2020, the FBI reported 791,790 complaints of internet crime, with a total of $4.2 Billion in financial losses, a number that has exponentially risen from the already alarming $1.4 Billion in losses reported over 2016.  When you think of hackers, you may think of what popular culture portrays; shady individuals in dark rooms typing away to get into large organizations such as financial institutions and government agencies. However, the modern hacker is much more refined, and oftentimes arrives in ways you don’t expect. Hackers, or “scammers”, can even be entire teams or known entities of organized individuals who make scamming their living, dedicated to finding ways into the lives and accounts of ordinary people or companies.  Enter Phishing. According to the FBI’s 2020 Annual Internet Crime Report, phishing accounted for $54,241,075 worth of personal and business losses in the year 2020 alone. Phishing is also a familiar topic in corporate security training because it is incredibly damaging to businesses, oftentimes irreversible, and can be virtually undetectable. In the FBI’s 2020 Annual Report, phishing, vishing, smishing, and pharming surpass identity theft, real estate fraud, and government impersonation with 241,342 victims.

Gone Phishing: Things You Should Know About Personal Cybersecurity

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If you have been on social media, or part of the corporate world in the last two years, you have probably heard whispers of the “Great Resignation”. This new buzz phrase was coined over the latter course of 2020 through 2021 when the U.S Bureau of Labor 

If you have been on social media, or part of the corporate world in the last two years, you have probably heard whispers of the “Great Resignation”. This new buzz phrase was coined over the latter course of 2020 through 2021 when the U.S Bureau of Labor reported that by November of 2021, 4.3 Million Americans willingly left their positions. Women, in particular, left the workforce in record numbers (-3 million), with a large percentage having yet to return according to the Whitehouse database.   Some of the commonly cited issues included stress, poor management, and low compensation. Difficulty finding adequate childcare played a huge factor for single household working moms.  For the vast majority, life became recognized as too short to not like where you work; so many employees relayed that sentiment to management, packed their desks, and left for good.   So just where are these workers going? In a deep dive industry report, Upwork discovered that there was a 12% increase in freelance job seekers, while Legalzoom reported 84,253 new business filings per week from March-May 2020. Into 2021 this number upticked to 111,000 filings per week. Accompanied by many inspiring success stories, these business formations were the first signs of a changing western workforce.   The cause of this mass exodus? Beginning in December of 2019, the Coronavirus pandemic was the primary driver of workplace instability that left millions of Americans unemployed or furloughed, and with shaken confidence.   Employers in most sectors were quick to make cuts when needed, with the hospitality industry alone swiftly laying off around 459,000 employees in March of 2020. Healthcare and social services also began reporting cuts in the high six figures. Subsequently, the U.S unemployment rate in the same month soared from 0.9% to 4.4%; which economists are citing as the most dramatic month-month increase since 1975. To put these percentages in perspective, that is an increase from 1.7 million to 7.1 million unemployed Americans within a single month.   This economic position prompted almost everyone to reevaluate who they were not only as employees, but as people. For some, lockdown brought back hobbies that were long ignored, or ignited new passions as they tried their best to stay busy. For others, this event came as a release, a break that they never knew they needed. Puppies were adopted, plants were bought, with so many video calls made to check on families near and far. It was perhaps an unheard-of time in human history.   As we climbed out of lockdown, many emerged with a renewed sense of purpose; a purpose that perhaps had been forgotten or overlooked before.   This phenomenon was again given a title by Forbes Magazine: the “Great Realization”.   Suddenly the workforce in America had changed, and somewhere around 10 million jobs were left posted but unfilled. Freelancing however, was on the rise and brought in $1.2 trillion in annual earnings over 2020. For the first time in the modern economy, working for yourself was considered more stable than traditional options.   This led to an observed combination of two things: employees starting their own businesses and employers making drastic changes to align better with potential new hires. We have seen improvements in practices like diversity, compensation, and vacation time increases. While others have found a different path in the notion of “being their own boss” altogether.   Even today, if you find yourself ready to branch out on your own, there are many ways to gracefully exit your full-time job to pursue your own business venture successfully, or you can opt to pursue both by starting a microbusiness.   If this is the direction you are thinking of going, make sure you check out valuable assets that can save you time and money on the startup side such as online LLC filing, a virtual address, and managed tax services.  Never feel that you are alone, as there are many resources for independent workers at your fingertips! 

The Great Resignation: Starting Your Own Business is the New American Workforce Trend

A virtual address can give you many things: a chance to register a business in a different city, freedom from limiting you to a physical space, and give you access to your mail remotely if you combine it with a virtual mailbox.  

What is A Virtual Address?  A virtual address can give you many things: a chance to register a business in a different city, freedom from limiting you to a physical space, and give you access to your mail remotely if you combine it with a virtual mailbox.  A virtual address is a real street address that you can use as a mailing address or business address without the need for you or your business to physically occupy that space.  For example, if you are living in California but want to establish your business presence in Delaware while working remotely, you could sign up for an Earth Class Mail small business plan, then choose our Wilmington address at 2810 N. Church St.  You can start using your new virtual address for mailing purposes as soon as you fill out the USPS 1583 form and have it notarized.   Why a virtual address can help your business A virtual address can save you time and money, while providing several key solutions, at any stage of your business.  If you want to protect your privacy while starting a business, a virtual address can keep your home address private. This public-facing address adds to your professional credibility and eliminates the need to pay for office space or to change addresses if you ever move - your virtual address goes wherever you do. You can use our virtual addresses to register your business right from the beginning or switch your established business to one of our addresses. Alternatively, if you live abroad or travel often, choosing one of our 80+ U.S addresses will ensure that you can access your business mail wherever you go. If you already have a business established, adding a virtual address can allow you to expand to multiple markets and appeal to niche locales, without having to purchase expensive real estate.  Scaling your business with Earth Class Mail software also comes with  a dedicated team of customer support. You may have a virtual address, but you can get your business questions answered by real address experts!   Virtual Addresses for Individuals  Earth Class Mail offers individual virtual mailbox plans for those who are looking for a place to send their personal mail, with our virtual Beaverton, Oregon location. Solopreneurs, freelancers, and frequent travelers can use a personal virtual address while living life on the go.   What’s the difference between a virtual address and virtual mailbox? Virtual addresses give you ownership over your own custom mailing address.  Virtual mailboxes include a virtual address – but they also offer a few more options and added flexibility. Virtual mailboxes allow you to view and manage any mail you receive at the address from any device, anywhere. Your virtual mailbox provider will receive and scan any mail you receive.  Do I need a virtual address or a virtual mailbox? Earth Class Mail offers both address-only plans with its Virtual Business Address plans and virtual mailbox plans. The difference? The address-only plans allow you to select from any one of our 80+ addresses, but these plans fit those who don’t expect to get much mail. That’s because you incur charges for each individual item of mail scanned. If you need a virtual address just for marketing purposes, or to register a business that you plan to operate online-only, an address-only plan might work for you. A virtual mailbox gives you both the address and the mail processing. You can select either an introductory plan, which includes our flagship location in Beaverton, Oregon. Even our basic plans include a minimum of 50 mail pieces automatically scanned each month. (That doesn’t include junk mail, which we automatically shred and recycle.) You can use our check deposit feature to have payments deposited automatically.  If you want the mail processing and a custom address, you have two options: You can select a basic plan at $19 a month and add-on any of our addresses for $30 a month.  You can select a Premium Mailbox plan for $79 a month. This includes a custom address and up to 20 recipients. We also offer business mailbox plans, which automatically come with a virtual business address and higher mail volumes and recipients.  Ready to explore exciting virtual address options? Click here to view all of our locations and pick a plan right for you. 

What is a Virtual Address?

Running a successful business in the digital world can come down to how well you relate to the clients you want to reach. 

Get an address in New York City without paying rent  Running a successful business in the digital world can come down to how well you relate to the clients you want to reach.  Whether you plan to take your work with you worldwide, live abroad already, or simply want a separate address that sets you apart from the crowd without the cost of moving, your business location matters.  New York City has been a hot spot for culture, business, and an image of prestige to both America and the world stage. From Audrey Hepburn to Maid in Manhattan, the glamour and rush of the city has been emphasized through iconic addresses such as Saks on Fifth to the towering offices on Wall Street.  If you don’t need a physical location or office space because you work from home, you can still benefit from a real street address in New York City without having to pay rent or even rent a virtual office. A virtual address can provide you with an address for your business that will also open and scan your mail.  As we looked at the many options in New York City to provide a virtual address for our mailbox, one in particular stood out as the best spot to bring to our clients all over the world: Park Avenue.   What is Park Avenue? Running parallel to both Madison Avenue to the east and Lexington Avenue to the West, Park Avenue was once known as the prominent Fourth Avenue. Park Avenue earned its modern name in 1860 after a railroad track running through Manhattan became covered in grass, turning the area into a “park” where residences sprung up around.  Today, Park Avenue is a massive name in Manhattan and a hub for metropolitan businesses such as Maserati, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Heineken International, and The Waldorf Astoria Hotel. If you say you have an address on Park Avenue, people will listen!  Park Avenue is also home to one one of our operations centers for Earth Class Mail. We understand the dynamic of this iconic location firsthand, with our employees having views of the Empire State Building and easy access to some of the city's famous locations such as the Park Avenue Viaduct.   Park Avenue virtual address  While it may seem that having commercial space on Park Avenue in New York City  could give you unmatched prestige, today a space on park avenue begins at $110-$150/ square foot. For a space rental of 1,000 sqft, that adds up to a recurring monthly expense of $150,000+!  To buy residential real estate also falls in the upper seven figures, with even a one bedroom condo sitting at over two million dollars in the current market.  While Park Avenue definitely proves a space here worth this price tag, we wanted to go a step further in bringing this iconic location to you for a fraction of the real estate cost. A virtual address on Park Avenue signals your placement in the Upper East Side, without the hassle of a physical location to upkeep. We keep your mail safe and secure. We digitize it for you. Meanwhile, you can flash your new Manhattan address to clients and friends.  Some great industry uses for this address include finance startups, independent law firms, technology companies, luxury retail brands, and investment services. 

City Spotlight: NYC Addresses 

Get a virtual address in New York City without paying rent 

As Thanksgiving approaches, we are reminded of all the great things we have here at Earth Class Mail to appreciate: our customers, our team, and places we live around the world. 

What we’re thankful for at Earth Class Mail  As Thanksgiving approaches, we are reminded of all the great things we have here at Earth Class Mail to appreciate: our customers, our team, and places we live around the world.   Given the amazing year we have had thanks to everyone involved, we thought it would be best to give a personal shoutout to the people and places that have kept us going and inspired us this year.  We’re thankful for where we live  Here at Earth Class Mail, we are a tight knit community, but we work in cities all over the world. We stay connected and work together - but each place we work has its benefits.  San Antonio, Texas is our current Earth Class Mail headquarters, and many of our customer support, sales, and management members call this city home. We are always thankful for San Antonio’s lively atmosphere, great food, and beautiful weather year round!  “As a kid, San Antonio was a weekend getaway spot for my family, coming in from West Texas- so for me, it is the nostalgia of the fun weekends we shared together here. I am enamored by the history, architecture and the proud culture. San Antonio is for sure a special place with its own vibe.” - Ashley Earnest, Sales Development Representative Beaverton, Oregon serves as the center for all of our mail operations, while playing a massive part in what we do as a company. It’s also where the company was founded. We are extremely proud and thankful for our operation team’s diligence, speed, and safety when it comes to handling mail for our customers and getting it where it needs to go! Voted one of the best places to live in Oregon, our team there enjoys four beautiful seasons with a spread of tasty local bars and restaurants to enjoy.  “I’m grateful to live in Beaverton because it’s perfectly situated for all the activities you could want to do. You can visit the ocean, go on mountain hikes, and visit the city and it’s all within 30 minutes in any direction,” - Jeff Hoege, General Manager, Operations  Krakow, Poland is home to multiple members of our engineering, marketing and development teams. We are of course very thankful for their software expertise that keeps the Earth Class Mail apps you love up and running daily! Krakow is a rich center for historic architecture and culture, with some great modern spots that make it an amazing home for our team members.  “The more I travel, the more I appreciate Krakow as the place to come back to. Thousands of years of history blends in a unique way with a vibrant startup (and tech overall) scene, fuelled by the top talent attracted by Krakow universities. There is both vibrant nightlife and beautiful quiet parks, great concert venues and theatres, medieval relics are to be found right next to cutting edge modern architecture. Between local artists and those including Krakow on their route, there is always something interesting going on. Get on the market square of the old Jewish Quarter and you will hear every language possible. And when you get tired of the city life, there’s plenty of amazing national parks around and the Tatra Mountains are just a 2 hours drive away.”- Mariusz Woźniak, Director of Product Design 

Happy Thanksgiving From Earth Class Mail!

Happy Thanksgiving From Earth Class Mail

 With a virtual mailbox at Earth Class Mail, you can not only skip the line at the post office, but have a variety of options for sharing right on your phone or computer. 

Mail forwarding made easy: 4 ways to share a document you received in the mail 

Renee Cottrell

Author articles

Running a Business

How to Stay Productive Working From Home

By Renee Cottrell

Products & Services

States We Offer a Virtual Address In, and Which one is Best for Your Business.

By Renee Cottrell

Cybersecurity

Gone Phishing: Things You Should Know About Personal Cybersecurity

By Renee Cottrell

Business Start-Up

The Great Resignation: Starting Your Own Business is the New American Workforce Trend

By Renee Cottrell

Products & Services

What is a Virtual Address?

By Renee Cottrell

Products & Services

Get a virtual address in New York City without paying rent

By Renee Cottrell

Lifestyle

Happy Thanksgiving From Earth Class Mail

By Renee Cottrell

Products & Services

Mail forwarding made easy: 4 ways to share a document you received in the mail

By Renee Cottrell

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