Why You Should Send Handwritten Thank You Cards

If you’re anything like me, you appreciate getting something handwritten and personal in the mail from a friend, coworker, or family member. Especially during these past two years, I have found it to be a great way to still feel connected even from afar. While this often does take the shape of birthday or holiday cards, it is great to get a thank you card from someone. It recognizes something the person has done for you and solidifies the bond between you both. I have been known to even send a thank you card to people just to thank them for being a good friend in general. It doesn’t have to be for a specific thing they did for you and I think that can make the gesture even more poignant.

 

Handwriting thank you cards is something that feels special nowadays and shows you made time to sit down and think about what the other person means to you. This is a great habit to instill in college students as well, where we often see it take the shape of thanking scholarship donors. Fresno State has a great guide on how you can help students learn how to handwrite a good thank you note to donors. This activity will mean the world to the donors since the whole reason why they gave in the first place is to positively impact students, so being able to hear from those students is powerful.

 

Even if you don’t feel like you have the time to invest in writing out individual cards to people, there are options out there for you. You can look into tools that allow you to create personalized automated thank you cards for anyone you want. This is a great option to make sending out these cards an integrated part of your routine.

 

While handwritten thank you cards is a simple gesture, it is the thought that counts. The importance here is making it consistent and thoughtful. Having it be something you do just to check a box isn’t going to have the intended outcome. It must be genuine. There needs to be a specific gesture or moment mentioned in the note and there should be a consistent rhythm to sending it. For example, you could send a birthday card with a heartfelt message or a thank you for years of service. The patten can take a lot of shapes, but only sending a card to someone once that you want to nurture a long-term relationship with isn’t going to cut it.

 

When it comes to a new habit that can foster more positivity, writing handwritten thank you cards is a great cost effective way to do so not only in our lives but others as well. You can bring in a lot of creativity and it also is a fun task to do with your hands after a long day of staring at screens. I hope you are able to see the benefits of this effort and find a way to integrate it into your life.

How To Help Your Children With Their Homework

As a parent, it is essential to help your children with their homework. Homework can be challenging for kids, and sometimes they need a little help from their parents. The following blog will discuss some tips that can help you support your children as they do their homework. It will also provide some helpful resources that can make the process easier for both you and your child!

Photo by Jena Backus

1) Establish A Routine

Having a set time and place for homework can help your child stay focused and on task. If possible, try to do homework at the same time every day. This will help your child develop a good work ethic and make it easier for you to monitor their progress.

If you have younger children, it may be helpful to do homework while they are napping or in school. This way, you can give them your undivided attention when it is time to focus on their assignments.

Older children may need more independence when doing their homework. But, it is still essential to check in with them regularly to see how they are progressing. You don’t want them to feel like you are hovering over them, but letting them know that you are available to help if they need it can be beneficial.


2) Use Tools To Your Advantage

There are a lot of great resources available to help with homework. Online tutoring can be beneficial for children who need extra support. There are also a number of websites that offer practice problems and exercises.

If your child is struggling with a particular subject, like math, then you can use tools like a probability calculator to help them understand how it works. Talk to their teacher or look online for subject-specific tutors or supplemental materials.

In addition to academic resources, there are also a number of tools that can help with organization and time management. A planner can be beneficial in keeping track of assignments and due dates. A daily routine chart can also be helpful in helping kids stay on track with their work.


3) Encourage Good Study Habits

Teaching your child good study habits is one of the best things you can do to help them succeed in school. Help them develop a system for taking notes and keeping track of important information. Encourage them to break down more significant assignments into smaller tasks that they can complete over time. You can also take a look through past and current answers to certification exams to help them when they need it too.

It is also essential to encourage healthy study habits, such as taking breaks and getting enough sleep. A tired child is not going to be able to focus or retain information as well as a rested one. Make sure they are taking care of themselves both physically and mentally!


4) Be Supportive

Doing homework can be frustrating, and your child may need a little extra support from you. Be patient with them and praise their efforts, even when they are struggling. Help them to see that mistakes are part of the learning process and that they can learn from them.

Encourage your child to persevere when they are struggling with a difficult assignment. Let them know that you believe in their ability to succeed! A little bit of encouragement can go a long way in helping kids stay motivated and focused on their work.


In conclusion, these are just a few tips that can help you support your child as they do their homework. There is no one right way to do things, so find what works best for you and your family. With a bit of effort and patience, you can help your child succeed in school!

How To Encourage Your Staff To Work Better Together

When your staff are finding it difficult to work together, this can slowly but surely reduce the efficiency, productivity and standards that your business is able to maintain. It can no doubt feel as though you have been transported into some kind of nation simulator as you swim between warring islands of different team members, but you simply cannot let such immaturity have an impact on your potential for a healthy profit. You need to take back control and show your staff that communication and respect is the order of the day, and that those who choose to ignore your requests for a calm, peaceful working environment will soon be shown the door. Thankfully this couldn’t be easier, as there are so many simple steps that you can follow to make sure your team gets on better than ever before. So, if you’re interested in finding out more, then simply read on!

Image Source - Pexels 



Set Some House Rules 

One of the best ways to establish a positive atmosphere that is free of tension within your business environment is by setting a range of house rules that relate to staff behaviour. If you take the time to draw up a set of guidelines or ‘laws’ that your staff can follow to maintain an upbeat vibe with less arguments or negativity, then you will certainly notice a near immediate difference in the way your team feels while on shift. Less arguments means more time to focus on the task at hand, and teamwork will be as productive as ever thanks to your new house rules. Ideas for rules can include suggestions such as never raising your voice to a colleague (shouting is rude and unnecessary), and reporting any signs of intimidation or bullying seen elsewhere. If you set these guidelines as the business owner or manager then your team will have no option other than to listen and implement the rules, so make sure you are strict in enforcing them. 



Offer Attractive Incentives

Sometimes, the only way to encourage your staff to work better together is by offering some kind of attractive incentive if they do. For example, setting a group work session that should be as fruitful as any independent working can be taken to the next level by the prospect of an end of year bonus to those who show particular engagement and mutual respect, as this way every participant will be doing everything in their power to be a great team member that contributes in a positive, kind way. Make sure the incentives that you offer your team for friendly work are as attractive as possible, as serving up a dull box of chocolates to the best team player will likely disappoint them and could even encourage them to revert back to their old rude ways. 



Learning how to encourage your staff to work better together has never been such a simple task when you can utilize some of the brilliant tips and tricks detailed above!