Month

February 2019

Since a large portion of our day is spent at the office, creating good work habits is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. By making a few small changes to your workday, you’ll become a healthier, happier person inside and outside of the office. Try the list of items below to start changing your habits today!

 

Add small activity breaks to your day

Sometimes it’s tough to step away from your computer on a busy day but your body needs breaks to recharge. Implement a few easy things like standing every 30 minutes, getting out of the office for lunch or taking a walk with coworkers in the afternoon. Taking small breaks are good for your body and will help to boost your productivity levels.

 

Consciously drink more water

Staying hydrated throughout the day helps to curb hunger cravings, keeps your energy levels up and improves your general mood. To ensure that you stick with your water plan, fill up a water bottle or straw cup each morning when you arrive and set goals for when to refill during the workday.

 

Keep healthy snacks on-hand

Instead of having a drawer of old Halloween candy and a bag of chips in your drawer, stock your desk with healthy snacks for those afternoon cravings. You are likely to snack regardless so having easy access to healthy alternatives will help you to make better decisions. Dried fruit or nuts make great snacks and will keep for a long time in your desk drawer.

 

Create a happy workspace

To help improve your mood during the workday, decorate your area with your favorite colors, frame pictures of loved ones, post positive affirmations,  or and get a plant (live or faux). Seeing things that you enjoy will improve your mood and take some stress out of your day.

 

Unplug from work when you get home

Taking work home is becoming more and more common, but it’s important to set boundaries to prevent burnout from occurring. Constantly checking email or mindlessly scrolling through the next day’s tasks before bed not only takes you away from being present with your family and friends, but it also mentally exhausts you before the next day even arrives.

Image result for shredder clipart

Paper shredders aren’t something most people purchase more than once or twice in a lifetime. With such a wide range of prices and features, it can be overwhelming to decide which model is best for you. The guide below will walk you through the steps for choosing the right paper shredder for your home or office.

Cut

The cut of a shredder refers to what happens when you put paper into the feeder of the machine. The type of cut you need will depend on what you are shredding and the security level your company requires. Click here for a cut guide.

 

Location

Selecting a spot for your shredder will help to determine the size you need. Does it need to fit under a desk or is it going in a large area next to your commercial printer? If space is not an issue, a larger bin will hold more paper and require less time emptying the machine. Machines also have various noise levels so if you are putting the shredder in an open office, consider choosing one with a lower decibel rating.

 

Sheet Capacity and Running Time

Smaller, home-office models typically only handle a few sheets of paper at a time and require longer periods of time in-between uses to cool down. A commercial shredder will shred more sheets at a time and can be used continuously for longer periods of time.

 

Materials to be Shredded

Some shredders are designed to handle more than just paper. Higher end models can destroy credit cards and CDs with sensitive as well.

 

Special Features

Some models have safety sensors that automatically stop the machine with a hand or object gets too close to the blades. Another bonus feature to consider is the technology that helps avoid frustrating paper jams.

 

If you’re still unsure of which shredder is right for your office, use the Fellowes shredder selector tool or contact the Keeney’s customer service team for more assistance.

The promotional products you distribute say a lot about your company. Whether you’re stuffing goodie bags for a conference or recognizing a long-time employee, you want the items to reflect well on your business. When selecting a product for your next event, consider the following:

Who is the recipient?

Determine who will be getting the product. Is the product age and gender appropriate? Is this something they will throw away when they get home? The main goal of promotional products is be a reminder of your brand. Choose something that your audience would use frequently or would display on their desk.

How are you distributing the items?

How you are using the promotional items will help to determine your price range per item. If the branded items are being used for a customer welcome gift or employee recognition, purchasing higher priced, quality items makes more sense. If you are handing out thousands at an event, a smaller, low cost item is your best bet for return on investment.

Does it reflect your brand?

If you pride yourself on running a green business, choosing an item that is made of recycled material or one that is biodegradable. If your business primarily works with children, a logoed wine glass doesn’t exactly reflect your brand.

What is the time frame you need the items?

Plan ahead when ordering promotional products as most items need to go through a process of artwork approval, production and shipping. If you need something in just a few days, start by researching items that can get to you quickly with paying expensive rush fees.

Visit Keeney’s promotional website to browse the thousands of branded items we offer or contact our team for assistance!

In addition to being more sustainable and helping to support small businesses, shopping local helps to provide a positive economic impact on your community. Local stores recycle a much larger share of their sales revenue back into the local economy while chains funnel most of the dollars spent at their stores back to corporate headquarters or to distant suppliers. According to a study done by Civic Economics, if you were to spend $100 at an independent business, $68 dollars would go back into the community versus only $48 at a big box retailer.

Due to the following factors, local retailers are putting 20% more back into the local economy, strengthening the community.

  • Local businesses spend a larger share of their revenue on local labor
  • Local retailers spend more than twice as much buying goods and services from other local businesses. They typically bank locally, hire local professionals, advertise in local media, and source inventory from local firms.
  • Since the owners live in the area, a larger portion of the business’s profits stay within the local economy
  • On average, independent businesses donate more to local charities and community organizations than chains

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, consider purchasing bouquets from a local florist, selecting a unique gift from a store in town or enjoying dinner at an independently owned restaurant with local flavors!