It’s no secret that gender bias and inequality still exist in 2021. While the world has made some great strides in fighting the status quo (i.e. our first ever female, African American and South Asian American Vice President), there is still a large gap between how men and women are viewed and treated.

In 2021, we are taking the International Women’s Day pledge and #choosetochallenge and call out gender bias and inequality. Whether it’s in the workplace or in your everyday life, Coeus Creative Group is sharing a few tips on how to go about doing so in a behaviorally intelligent way.

Understand that Bias Runs Deep

We are all subject to our own individual biases, but in order to overcome them, we have to understand that bias runs deep. There are a variety of demographics that shape our personal biases including geographical location, beliefs and morals, our ethnicity- the list goes on and on. However, this doesn’t mean our biases are unchangeable. It means we have to put the work in to disrupt bias in ourselves and others. When we’re speaking out against gender inequality, take a moment to open the floor for a deeper conversation; why does this person think the way they do? Understanding this person’s bias will help you better explain to them why their words or actions are harmful.

Give Women a Voice

Coming together is the only way to successfully fight inequality. Gender inequality is not a women’s problem, it’s everyone’s problem. Women are less likely to be given speaking time and are penalized socially and professionally for speaking about their personal experiences when they do. It’s important that when possible, you should give women the platform the speak out on their experiences and injustices. Give them the support they need to feel comfortable in taking the stage to speak out.

Recognize and Celebrate Women’s Accomplishments

A common way women experience inequality is through their accomplishments. We chastise them for self-promotion, when instead, we should be highlighting their credentials and accomplishments. Not only that, we are selective on what we see as accomplishments. Having a baby is not celebrated the same way as receiving a promotion. Make a point to celebrate ALL the wins for women, no matter how big or small.

Gender inclusivity takes more than just speaking out against inequality, it’s about changing our behaviors. When we start to recognize our behaviors and make a positive change, we are one step closer to a more inclusive world.

Celebrate International Women’s Day with Coeus Creative Group on Monday, March 8^th! Tag us in your IWD photos holding up a hand showing that you #choosetochallenge.

By Madison Bennett and Michelle McGrann

The post #ChooseToChallenge – Challenging Gender Bias and Inequality appeared first on Coeus Creative Group, LLC.

So there you are, sitting and working diligently, crushing your “to-do-list” and feeling uber-productive. Then it happens. An email comes through with an expert level click-bait subject line, promising the world or more, and you click it…Down the rabbit hole, you go.

3 hours later, you find yourself amidst cat videos on YouTube or watching endless hours of Generation X getting their groove on via Tik Tok. You ask yourself, “How did I get here?” and “Where did my day go?”

Don’t worry friend, it happens to the best of us.

Productivity killers such as the scenario described above are perpetual in today’s endless supply of mind-numbing content. We find ourselves with seemingly no ability to stay focused – leaving behind the essential work we have to do or even the tasks that we truly desire to complete. We get down on ourselves for doing so. We then go back to watching cat videos. Brush, rinse, repeat.

Here are a few ways to get past the temptation for distraction:

1. Recognize WHY you chose to break from your work: Have you been at it for hours? Was your body telling you that you need a break? Here is the science – You will be at your most productive in 45-minute intervals. Your brain needs a break. It needs stimulation. It craves dopamine. That distraction is just what the brain ordered. Instead of going down the rabbit hole, plan for a short intermission. Set a timer. Give yourself permission to be unproductive, but do so with an end game in mind. The act of planning for these events will allow you to dabble, not indulge. It becomes a reward for a job well done, not a binge-watching episodic break from reality.
2. Schedule a time for reading click-bait style emails: I get them too. Promises of business success if I only click here, interesting articles from my favorite subscriptions, new promotions…I read them all… on Friday. Whenever I get these tantalizing emails, I use Slack or a special Gmail folder to save them. Once or twice a week, I quickly look through them when it is on my terms. Refusing to let “Interrupting Johnny” get in the way of what is important not only feels good but allows me to stay focused and not succumb to the FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Guess what? I have never once missed out on a promotion because I delayed it on my own terms.
3. Consciously (and audibly) ask yourself, “Is this worth it? Can it wait?”: This is a habit recipe for me. Whenever I get the craving to look at something that is not mission-critical, I ask myself these questions. Simply asking these questions brings my behavioral choices to the forefront of my consciousness. No more “impulse buying” of content that can wait. If you have ever put something into your shopping cart, walked around the store for an hour, and then decided not to buy it because you realized you don’t actually need it, you have already exhibited this behavior. Now, operationalize it to your advantage and put the click-bait back on the shelf. There is a time and place, but not when your shopping for the staples.

Behavior is a choice. When we find ourselves at the end of a YouTube or Tik Tok binge, we can look back and see what choices we made that got us there. If you can incorporate the hacks noted above, we can stop the madness before it even starts. Your productivity will thank you for it.

The post Indistractable – On Task, On Target, On Time appeared first on Coeus Creative Group, LLC.

For the many Americans that work a typical job in an office setting, you might be finding yourself stuck working from home more often than not as COVID-19 continues to spread in the U.S. Many people are now turning their home into their office. Due to the nature of our work at Coeus Creative Group, all of our team members are experts in the field of WFM (working from home) or WWA (Working While Away). Check out our top tips on how to stay productive when you’re working outside the office:

Make a List and Eat Your Frog

If you haven’t heard of the “Eat Your Frog” concept, you’re probably confused. No, we don’t mean eat a literal frog, but the metaphorical one. Make a list of all the things you need to get done while you’re working from home. That one item that is the most difficult or you just simply have been putting it off, that’s your frog. Instead of placing it at the bottom of your list, put it at the top, and “Eat Your Frog.” It will increase your productivity level for the rest of the day. Additionally, making written lists make it easier to visual what you need to accomplish and you’ll feel greater satisfaction getting to physically cross those things off.

Keep the Distractions to a Minimum – Create an Office Space

This is the biggest challenge with working from home. You’re surrounded by so many distractions outside of your phone and the internet in general. Those dirty dishes in the sink can wait and so can scrubbing your bathroom with a toothbrush. Establish a separate “office” space that will take you out of your home element. If you don’t have an actual office space, turn your kitchen table into a desk or set-up a table in that open area of your basement.

Work During Regular Office Hours

Keeping some sense of normalcy to your work from home days will help you stay productive. Work during your regular office hours, and that will help you stick to your schedule and stay on task.

Get Out of Your Pajamas!

I cannot stress this enough – DO NOT work in your pajamas all day. You are going to feel even less motivated being in your pajamas and instead of finishing that project that’s due the following day, you may end up watching Netflix on your couch. You don’t need to dress in your normal office attire, but throwing on some clothes that aren’t sweatpants will reduce your urge to spend the day in bed.

Stick to Your Morning Routine

Stick to your morning routine when working from home. You might not be going into the office, but getting up at the same time and following your routine to a certain extent will help you get in the work mindset.

Be Prepared

If you haven’t already been ordered to work from home amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, make sure you’re prepared to work from home. Keep any files or documents you might need on hand, bring any office supplies home with you that you might need, and also carry your work computer (if it’s a laptop and/or you are provided one). Due to the many of our trainings requiring traveling and many of our team members being co-located, we have an online file system so everyone can access client files, photos for marketing materials, whatever they might need from anywhere in the world.

Working from home might seem like a pain, but it’s possible to do so and stay productive. Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram and tag us in your photos working from home with the #WFM hashtag!

We also urge everyone to follow the CDC’s recommendation to wash their hands for 20 seconds and use hand sanitizer when unable to, avoid touching their face, and wipe surfaces regularly.

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