4 Areas to Invest in During COVID-19

Investing usually involves leveraging historical data. You check prior reports, evaluate spreadsheets, and come to a satisfactory conclusion. Piece of cake. But, what happens when you’re trying to figure out where to put your money during COVID-19? Pandemics happen infrequently, which is a good thing. However, it also means you have little information to gauge whether areas to invest in during COVID-19 make sense or not.

Areas to Invest in During COVID-19

If you’re scratching your head trying to figure out how to make money grow in the current climate, you don’t have to poke around in the dark. In fact, a few areas have risen as strong platforms to spread your wealth pragmatically. Below are four areas to invest in during COVID-19 where you can put your disposable income before a second potential wave of coronavirus.

1. Shift money into your home.

For most people, buying a home is the single biggest investment they’ll make. If you own property, now is the right time to start building equity in it. According to late October 2020 figures collected by Realtor.com, the Housing Recovery Marketing Index continues to soar beyond early 2020 levels. Even if you aren’t planning to sell anytime soon, you may want to improve the perceived and real value of your house with a few tweaks.

Where should you start? Think low-hanging fruit: Tackle those nagging repairs and upgrades. Energy efficient windows, improved HVAC equipment, and modern roofing can instantly raise a home’s net worth. So can a tricked-out home office perfect for telecommuting and wired for success.

Yes, upgrades cost money, even if you’ve already paid for the best home warranty you could find based on participation of local providers. The cash you put back into sprucing up a primary residence isn’t lost, though. It’s a way to get more from home ownership than merely a place to live.

2. Accumulate products with a shelf life.

No one knows if sheltering in place regulations will occur again. In November 2020, the United Kingdom went back into lock down mode due to rising cases of COVID-19. To be sure, any country could follow suit throughout the prime cold and flu season.

If you have extra cash in your pocketbook, consider shopping for shelf-stable supplies that can support quarantine-style living. It’s like free money down the road. Remember how difficult it was to find the simplest paper products like bath tissue, facial tissues, and paper towels for the first few months of the pandemic? Though you don’t want to become a hoarder, you also don’t want to be without necessities like cleaning solutions and over-the-counter medications.

Other items worth paying for now instead of hoping they’re available later relate to work-from-home life. Already, computers and printers below a certain price point are hard to come by. Another surge of coronavirus could render them virtually impossible to purchase, even through online retailers and wholesalers. Get them now and reduce the stress of sheltering in place.

3. Enter into the stock market.

If you’re interested in jumping into the stock market, consider this one of the areas to invest in during COVID-19. pharmaceutical companies are looking fairly strong. As Motley Fool’s team notes, giants like Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson continue to post attractive revenue jumps and possibilities. Why? One reason is that many healthcare companies are competing to bring the first viable COVID-19 vaccine to market.

Of course, pharmaceutical stocks aren’t your only choice if you’re focused on building out your investment portfolio. Tech has gotten a serious boost with the pandemic, and innovation seems to be the name of the game for entrepreneurs. Therefore, tech stocks could be hot. Or you might even want to poke around crowdfunding sites to explore novel inventions to support.

Word to the wise: Playing around with stocks can be stressful unless you know what you’re doing. Talk to your financial advisor before making major decisions about where to put your dollars or whether to move them from a safe to a riskier vehicle. If you dislike risk, try an annuity or pension.

4. Load up on wellness items.

A surprising effect happened when people were forced to remain at home most of the time: They took their wellness more seriously. Some exercised to deal with their anxieties. Others tried tasty, healthy dishes and turned their kitchens into veritable world cuisine cafes. Plenty embraced “family board game night” as a way to ward off lock down ennui.

Have you considered buying new athletic gear to keep you warm this winter in case you’re confined to working out at home or in your neighborhood? Hit the “buy” button soon. Otherwise, you’re courting the possibility that the most popular apparel, footwear, and equipment will be out of stock once the holidays hit.

Investing in exercise equipment and even hobby materials like knitting and crocheting kits helps you maintain a stronger physical and mental health. As long as you use what you buy, you’ll get a serious return on investment. You may even snag some ridiculously low end-of-year deals on retiring apparel and equipment models, allowing you to stretch your budget more.

COVID-19 has made us more thoughtful about different aspects of our lives, including where, how, and when we spend our funds. You don’t have to stockpile your cash, though. Instead, spend it intentionally and with an eye to getting something back in these areas to invest in during COVID-19.

4 Areas to Invest in During COVID-19 was originally published on Due.

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6 Perks That Will Help You Attract Tech Talent

Covid-19 has thrown millions out of work, but there’s one sector of the economy where job seekers still have the upper hand: tech. Whether they’re combating the pandemic’s increase in cyberattacks or supporting the videoconferencing platforms we increasingly depend on, tech experts are in high demand. 

If you’re looking to hire top tech candidates, you’ll need to offer the right perks. Ping-pong tables are so eight years ago, and nap pods aren’t exactly Covid-appropriate. Here are six meaningful benefits your company can start providing instead to attract top tech talent. 

1. Health and wellness benefits

Today’s top tech recruits see workplace health programs as a competitive benefit. Their minds might be working hard all day, but they need physical activity, too. Offering health and wellness programs will help you attract more top tech candidates. Whether you bring in a personal trainer or offer discounts on home fitness equipment, employees will appreciate your efforts to keep them healthy.

One way to benefit your employees’ health — and reduce your company’s carbon footprint — is to facilitate commuting via electric bicycle. Invest in a fleet of Tower electric bikes, and watch your tech talent clamor to check them out. Pedaling on the straightaways will give employees a boost of day-starting energy, while the bikes’ powerful hill-climbing capabilities will ensure they arrive refreshed. The extra sunshine and fresh air they’ll be getting will improve their mental health, too. 

2. Remote work options

When Stack Overflow asked developers what they valued most when considering a new job, 53.3% said remote work was a top priority. And that was in 2017! Now that we’re in the middle of a global pandemic, remote work isn’t just a perk — it’s increasingly becoming the norm.

Tech candidates know better than anyone that remote work is completely possible, so of course they value it. They’ll be comfortable with the communications tools you use to stay in touch and the project management software that keeps tasks moving forward.

Companies that haven’t already made the remote work shift must adapt quickly if they want to recruit top tech talent. Provide state-of-the art laptops so that it’s easy for your tech stars to take work home. 

3. Flexible schedules

Employees in the tech industry work long, hard hours. That’s why flexible schedules are considered a top workplace perk in the tech industry. Flexible schedules go hand-in-hand with remote work. Many big tech companies have already implemented a policy that allows both and have seen huge success.

Dell embraced flexible work culture in 2009 and hasn’t looked back since. After learning how much employees valued flexible work, the company made flexible scheduling its mission.

Tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams enable Dell’s team members to do their best work regardless of where and when. And the advantages of the arrangement aren’t all on the employees’ side. Since 2014, Dell has saved $12 million due to having fewer people in the office every day. 

4. Their choice of technology

Tech employees are obviously some of the most digitally savvy people out there, so they know their preferences. When it comes to the technologies your employees use, give them the freedom to choose. At the very minimum, offer both PCs and Macs. Beyond that, you could give tablets to employees so they can easily roam the office and work from anywhere comfortably.

While you don’t want to create a technological Tower of Babel, give tech workers a say in the tools and coding languages they use. If you’re about to adopt a new project management system, say, solicit their input during the selection process. Not only will your tech employees appreciate the freedom of choice, they will likely work more efficiently on technology they like. 

5. Personalized workspaces

Odd as it may sound, sitting at a desk all day can be exhausting. Tech employees know they’ll be doing a lot of looking at screens, but there are ways to make this easier on the body. Companies can stand out to potential recruits by providing comfortable, functional workspaces. 

It doesn’t get much more comfortable and functional than an office chair that doubles as a lounger and a charging station. When employees lie back to take a brain break, the chair’s built-in USB ports can be charging all of their devices.

Standing desks are another healthful option, but you can do them one better. If you want to offer a respite to employees who are tired of sitting, consider installing treadmill desks. Walking will really get their creative juices flowing, and your employees will love them. 

6. Professional development opportunities

In a tech-driven world, things change quickly. Employees constantly have to be learning if they want to continuously develop new skills and stay ahead of the curve.

Not only do professional development opportunities help ensure that you have the best and brightest employees, but top talent will see them as an attractive benefit. Employees want opportunities to learn new skills and advance in their careers. There are so many ways to offer professional development in the workplace: conferences, regular training, and one-on-one coaching, to name just a few. 

An easy way to provide professional development opportunities is through the use of a learning management system (LMS), such as SAP Litmos. Litmos allows your company to present prepackaged courses to your employees, enabling them to get instant access to training and learn new things at their convenience. It even has different solutions by industry: nonprofit, retail, hospitality, healthcare, and — you guessed it — technology.

LMSs are generally quick to set up, easy to manage, and fun to use. All of this makes them ideal for companies looking to expand their professional development opportunities.

The tech industry is booming. If you want to be an attractive choice for top tech recruits, you need to provide meaningful benefits. If you don’t, employees will find another company that better fits the mold of their ideal workplace.

Offer not only benefits that are important to tech candidates, but unique benefits that no other company will have. You’ll thank yourself later when you start seeing the applications flooding in.

Image credit: Andrea Piacquadio; Pexels

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5 Aspects of Business to Re-evaluate to Save Money

Cutting costs, pivoting hard, and staying optimistic have become the guiding mantras for COVID-hit businesses around the nation. According to Wells Fargo Small Business Index’s third quarter results, around a third of owners think they’ll need at least a year to financially recover. Here are five aspects of business to re-evaluate to save money.

The owners who responded to Wells Fargo were surprisingly positive: Forty-eight percent predict they’ll see a boost in income by this time next year. Nevertheless, predictions are just guesses. And, coronavirus has proven that if it’s anything, it’s unpredictable. Consequently, organizations of all sizes need to re-evaluate to save money, getting frugal and taking the lean route.

Perhaps you’ve already asked your team where they think you could scale back and save dollars. Regardless, you may not have considered how you could trim the fat from the following areas of your business.

Aspects of Business to Re-evaluate to Save Money

1. Procurement

You can’t get around buying things for your office. But do you have to pay top dollar for everything from recycled printer cartridges to ergonomically correct chairs? Maybe not.

A huge benefit of being in a fluctuating global marketplace is that buyers naturally have decent negotiating power. Use yours wisely. Negotiate everything you can while being fair to your vendors. Be sure to investigate ways to engage in collaborative alliances with like-minded businesses such as joining a group purchasing organization (GPO).

GPOs allow you to enjoy deeper discounts on items you’re using anyway. Plus, some don’t require any membership fees. All you get are bulk rates and less of a monthly cash outlay.

2. Daily workflow

The work-from-home revolution has only begun. Although you may have been thrown for a loop at first by telecommuting’s surprising business benefits. For example, some organizations have decided to cut ties with their landlords and move all their operations remote.

Even if you can’t allow everyone to telework, consider which positions could. You’ll spend much less on paying for commercial space. Plus, when you need to replace staffers or hire new ones, you won’t be limited to talent in your geographic location.

Sound like a good way to stretch your budget? Just make sure that your leaders learn how to manage successfully when they’re not in a traditional office setting. Invest in remote management training today to ensure a solid working team tomorrow.

3. Marketing

Have you ever been part of a startup experience? The marketing methods used by emerging, nimble companies tend to be disruptive, innovative, and maybe even slightly unorthodox. Now is the time for your marketers to behave likewise.

That doesn’t mean you should jettison your digital ads, though, especially if they’re more than paying for themselves. However, why not mix up your marketing with some guerrilla-style tactics? For example, you could create partnerships with allied organizations, build in-roads with nano and micro social media influencers, and test all your content like crazy.

Pulling back on marketing entirely shouldn’t necessarily be on the table. That could put your brand in an unappealing position. But there’s nothing wrong with getting a little scrappy to re-evaluate to save money.

4. Recruitment and Hiring

It goes without saying that the pandemic led many businesses to put on hiring freezes. Today, some of those companies are finally ready to bring aboard strong candidates. Your firm might be among them.

Before you pop up an ad on Indeed or Glassdoor, reconsider. Why? You may be able to get away without hiring employees and still benefiting from a robust team of superstores.

What’s one way to get the help you need without committing to onboarding part-time or full-time personnel? Consider working with independent contractors to fulfill some of your team’s auxiliary responsibilities. You won’t have to worry about paying payroll taxes, and you’ll only have to pay contractors for the time they work or the projects they finish.

Another way to get terrific help without overpaying is to offer on-the-job learning opportunities to local university interns. Many college students are looking for ways to differentiate themselves on their resumes. Though you’ll probably pay them a stipend, you’ll get your money’s worth and then some. Kinda like free money.

5. Sales

Your sales team converts leads and brings money into the organization. Consequently, be sure to keep all your sellers happy. At the same time, think about ways to save on your sales strategies and salaries.

One creative solution could be to shelve promotions for this year but raise commissions. This idea allows you to reward your best salespeople. In fact, your top performers may earn more than they would have without the incentive. Another answer might be to cut back on travel budgets in lieu of conducting most client calls over Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Above all else, be fair with your sales team. Don’t take away their base pay or reduce it; otherwise, you could lose fantastic employees. Rather, brainstorm win-win ways for them to work more efficiently and effectively without requiring additional money.

Spending too much is never a good thing in business, and it’s downright risky in today’s uncertain economic climate. Give some thoughtful consideration to all the small and large ways you can cut down on unnecessary expenses. You’ll put your company on better footing to survive and perhaps even thrive in 2021.

5 Aspects of Business to Re-evaluate to Save Money was originally published on Due.

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Don’t Stifle Your Progress by Making These 4 PPC Ad Mistakes

Pay Per Click, or PPC, ads are a form of paid advertising, and it’s a profitable investment with an average return rate of 200%. PPC ads also generate 50% more conversions over organic traffic. 

These statistics make sense considering PPC ads are far more targeted than organic traffic. For instance, you can put PPC ads in front of specific demographics and narrow your audience down further by what websites they’ve visited in the last 30 days. If your landing page is well-designed, you’ll get conversions.

Although PPC ads provide a good return, they’re not infallible. In fact, if you’re not careful, the following four mistakes can thwart your PPC ad success.

1. Launching a DIY PPC ad campaign

You can learn marketing techniques online for free, but that won’t make you a good marketer. Knowing how to reach a specific audience isn’t the same as knowing how to determine what audience to reach in the first place. 

A DIY PPC ad campaign won’t get the same level of success you’d see from a professional marketing agency for several reasons. First, creating strategies, managing, and optimizing a Google Ads campaign is literally a full-time job. You can’t work on your PPC ads on the side and expect massive results. 

Second, you need to be trained in marketing theory to identify your target market. Target markets aren’t always obvious. For instance, many products designed for men are actually purchased by women. Your ads need to appeal to the person opening their wallet.

Last, your landing pages will determine how well your ads convert. Ads are just the first step. Your landing pages need to be designed to generate conversions.

If you want to fast-track results and avoid failure, you need a Google Ads agency to run your PPC ad campaign.

2. Not split testing

Not split testing your PPC ads is one of the worst mistakes you can possibly make. If you skip split testing, you’ll know your ads are getting conversions, but is your conversion rate optimal? Could you do better? There’s no way to know unless you’re running at least two different versions of your ad.

Split testing isn’t hard, but you need to know how to run a split test properly. You can’t just run two different ads and see which does better. Split testing is designed to help you identify specific ad elements that contribute to an ad’s success. 

Running two entirely different ads will tell you which ad performs better overall, but it won’t tell you how to tweak your ad elements to improve each ad. For example, running two ads with slightly different titles that are otherwise identical will tell you the better way to phrase your title. Perhaps the ad title written in first person gets more clicks than the title written in third person.

If you’re ready to optimize conversions, read this guide from Optinmonster to learn the basics of split testing, also referred to as “A/B testing.” 

3. Not using negative keywords

A negative keyword list is a list of words you want your PPC ad platform to ignore. When users search for a phrase containing one of your negative keywords, your ads will not show up for that user. This is by far the best way to filter out irrelevant searches.

Creating a negative keyword list will save you money and is critical for reaching your target market. Especially when your industry shares keywords with unrelated industries. For example, if you’re a historian advertising expeditions on Mount Everest, you would add the words ‘academy’ and ‘high school’ to your negative keyword list. You don’t want your ads to show up in searches performed by users looking for educational institutions.

4. Not bidding on your own brand

Marketing expert Neil Patel recommends bidding on your branded search terms before your competitors have a chance to gain traction. By bidding on your own branded keywords, you can dominate the search results much easier. Say you’re number one on Google, but you didn’t bid on your brand, so the ad above your number one spot is a competitor. 

Start bidding on your branded keywords to make sure you get placement in the ads and the SERPs.

Keep learning from your mistakes

No PPC ad campaign is free from mistakes. The key is to learn the lessons and then integrate those lessons going forward.

Image credit: Vojtech Okenka; Pexels

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Organize Your Projects With TeamHQ

Work projects typically include a lot of moving parts and require contributions from many different people. Each team member may have a task that’s their top priority, but soon, other people start to add tasks to their plate. Before long, team members have multiple tasks on their to do lists from different people, are unsure of which task is actually the top priority, and nothing is getting done. Sound familiar? You could keep managing projects with spreadsheets and emails, or you could try TeamHQ.

TeamHQ is a project management system that helps you take back control of your work. By helping you organize your tasks and effectively decide what to do next, TeamHQ improves your team’s ability to rapidly adapt to changing work demands.

With TeamHQ, you can organize your work into projects, tasks and subtasks to get a clearer look at the steps you need to take to complete a project. You can also discuss your project with the team and assign tasks to different team members.

With the project broken down into clear steps, you can decide which tasks need to get done this week and which can get done at a later time. TeamHQ enables users to plan the work and evaluate the effort being put into completing the project.

Additionally, when you receive an urgent task through email, you can send it to TeamHQ and keep working. TeamHQ is designed to increase productivity, help you innovate quicker, and improve your bottom line.

Features

• Projects: Work can be organized into different projects, then further broken down into tasks and subtasks.
• Boards: Boards are used to display work from different projects to help you make decisions about the work that needs to get done.
• Sprints: Sprints allow you to organize work based on what’s most important during a specific time frame.
• Insights: Insights provide a deeper understanding of how you and your team work. It includes information like which projects are getting the most attention and what’s falling behind.
• Calendar: The calendar allows you to see all tasks and meeting in one place. You can export the calendar to Google, Microsoft, or iCal calendars.
• Discussions: Conveniently keep notes and discussions about your projects in one place.

Interested?
TeamHQ offers three plans: Solo, Team, and Company. The Solo plan is free and is designed for one user. It allows the user to have unlimited projects, unlimited boards, insights, and access to the help center. The Team plan costs $15 per user per month for up to 20 team members. The plan allows unlimited projects, unlimited boards, advanced insights, help center access, and email support. The Company plan costs $25 per user per month and allows an unlimited number of users. The plan also offers a multi-workspace dashboard, company-wide insights, phone and email support, and help center access.

TeamHQ is allowing users to try the team plan free for 30 days, after which point you can either use the free plan or upgrade to a paid plan to continue using the premium features.

Learn more about TeamHQ and try it for yourself at teamhq.app.

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TeamHQ

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Is WFH Making You Miserable?

For years those who were fortunate enough to work remotely praised its benefits from the rooftops. In fact, numerous research backed-up these claims. For example, Owl Labs found in its 2019 State of Remote Work Report the following:

• 83% of survey respondents agree that the ability to work remotely would make them happier.
• 82% of respondents agree with the statement that working remotely would make them feel more trusted at work.
• 81% of respondents agree that working remotely would make them better able to manage work-life conflict.
• 81% of survey respondents agreed that working remotely would make them more likely to recommend their company to a friend.
• 80% of all survey respondents agreed that the ability to work remotely would make them less stressed.
• 80% of respondents agree that working remotely would make them feel like their employer cares.
• 74% of survey respondents agree that working remotely would make them less likely to leave their employer.

In short, remorse workers are happier, productive, and loyal. Reasons include autonomy, flexibility, and fewer workplace distractions. In turn, this is beneficial for their careers and well-being, as well as the bottom line.

Then the global pandemic yet. Suddenly people who had always dreamed of working from home who thrust into this new way of life. Some thrived, others didn’t.

You can’t fault them. A lot of folks just aren’t cut out for the WFH-life. Furthermore, there’s a dark side that’s making people downright miserable.

Why working from home is making people miserable?

“Working from home entails some degree of isolation,” explainsbusiness consultant Larry Alton. “If you live by yourself, you may go an entire day without seeing or talking to anybody.” But, even if this isn’t so, “you might customarily shut yourself away in a separate office.”

Why’s this such a big deal? Various research shows that social contact is paramount when it comes to our mental and physical health. Interacting with others can also calm and soothe us.

“Across multiple studies, controlling for factors like income, geographic regions, and even genetics, the single most important ingredient for long-term happiness appears to be how and how often we connect with other people,” adds Alton. “Loneliness, especially on a chronic basis, can subject you to depression, frustration, and career burnout.”

As if that weren’t bad enough, it’s tempting to fall into unhealthy habits. For instance, during your routine, you might tell yourself that you’re only going to catch-up with the local news. Next thing you know, you’re playing along with The Price Is Right.

It may also be easier to sleep-in, make frequent trips to the fridge, and get less physical activity. If you have children, it’s a struggle trying to homeschool them while trying to get your work done. It’s more challenging to leave work at work — I mean, you are essentially living at work.

When you’re working by yourself, there isn’t an opportunity to take advantage of Equity Theory. According to Alton, “This is a sociological phenomenon in which individuals gauge their own performance and sense of belonging against the habits and actions of others. When there are no coworkers around to help you measure your own performance, you might develop a constant, nagging feeling that something is not right.”

The good news? If working remotely has gotten you down, there are ways to turn that frown upside down. And you can start by trying out the following.

Overcome detachment.

In a pre-COVID world, this really wasn’t much of a problem. You could set-up a shop at your favorite cafe. You could join a shared workspace or actually go into work a couple of days per week.

Outside of work, you could socialize with friends or family. I’ve even taken breaks from work to chat with my neighbor. And you could attend local networking events.

While you might be able to do some of the above, it’s definitely more difficult living in a pandemic. If you’re uncomfortable being around others or can’t safely practice social distancing, you can still connect with others.

Obviously, the most popular way is via video calls using a platform like Zoom. Whether it’s meeting with your team or catching up with a friend, this has been a lifesaver. Just be cautious not to overdo it so that you miss a case of Zoom-fatigue.

Also, there’s nothing wrong with just picking up the phone and making a call. If you feel isolated, give your best friend or mentor a ring.

Set rituals, routines, and boundaries.

When you went to the office daily, you had a routine. That structure made it easier to schedule your time. More importantly, it helped you establish boundaries between work and home.

Does this mean you have to follow the exact same routine? Not exactly. The beauty of working from home is that you can set your schedule to fit your productivity peaks and personal obligations.

For example, if you’re a morning bird, you could wake-up before everyone else in your house. While it’s quiet and you have the energy, you can work on your most important task for the day. During your breaks, you could spend time with your family and get some exercise in.

Regardless of how you schedule your day, be consistent. And find ways to transition between your personal and professional lives. It could be something as simple as turning off your computer to changing your clothes.

Create a home “office” space.

I know it’s tempting to work from the comfort of your bed or couch. But, remember, you need separation between where you get things done and chillax. As such, you need a dedicated space that you associate with work.

Ideally, it should be somewhere quiet. A spare bedroom, basement, garage, or even closet would suffice. Additionally, it should also have the right tools and equipment — think desk, high-speed internet, and whatever else you need to work.

But, those are just the basics. Brighten your workspace with natural light, plants, and colors that match your work. For instance, if your job requires a ton of focus, surround yourself with the color blue.

And, go ahead and personalize your workspace by throwing in personal items like photos or memento from a past trip. Most importantly, keep this area clean and organized.

Use your breaks to get a dose of joy.

It’s no secret that frequent breaks throughout the day can boost productivity. The key is to use these breaks to rest and recharge and do something fun.

For me, that’s taking my dog for a walk after lunch — san phone. It’s been found multiple times that spending time outside can reduce anxiety, stress, and depression. But, you could try anything that makes you happy, such as phoning a friend, drawing, or dancing.

Take advantage of working from home.

While there are disadvantages of remote work, look on the bright side. You don’t have to put up with a daily commute. As a result, you’re saving more time and money — which can be spent on something more fulfilling.

Also, you might be able to have your dog be by your side all day. Or, you get to spend more quality time with your kids. And, unless you have a video meeting, every day is casual Friday.

Accept your negative feelings.

Finally, embrace any negative feelings that you’re experiencing. It’s a proven way to help you work them. Besides, constantly seeking happiness can backfire.

“Any time you’re setting a standard for your mood when you don’t meet that standard, it’s painful,” said Brett Ford, a psychologist who studies emotions at the University of Toronto. “You’re basically adding pain on top of a lack of happiness.”

“We can’t be happy all the time, but we can be OK with whatever emotions we are having,” says Dr. Judson Brewer, a psychiatrist who studies behavioral change. “And in that sense, there’s a level of contentment that comes with that.”

“I’m content that I’m happy,” says Brewer. “I’m content that I’m not happy. Whatever emotion is here is here.”

Is WFH Making You Miserable? was originally published on Calendar by John Rampton.

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Positive Work Cultures Are More Productive: 10 Ways to Get There

It’s no secret that positive work cultures are more productive. That’s because these types of environments lead to more creative, happy, and collaborative employees. Research has even found that happy employees work harder and smarter. If positive work cultures are more productive, how can you establish a more positive work environment? Well, here are ten ways to get started today.

1. Develop a set of core values and priorities.

The development of a set of core values and priorities will vary from one business to another. A foundation of any positive workplace culture starts with clearly defined values and priorities. Establishing these items give your work meaning and guides you in how you treat your team and customers. Knowing these goals will help you find the right personalities for your startup and aligns everyone towards a common goal.

What’s interesting, however, is that these core values can be whatever you want. “One of the exciting things I found from the research is that it doesn’t matter what your values are. What matters is that you have them and that you align the organization around them,” said Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh.

“And the power comes from the alignment, not from the actual values,” he added. “We’re not out there telling people [that they should adopt the Zappos values] and culture because that would probably not work in most cases. Our message is more ‘you should figure out what your values are and then align the entire organization around them.”

2. Greet your team.

“A little hello goes a long way in the workplace,” Ashely Alt writes on the SnackNation blog. “Your team members want to feel and be happy, so give them a little nudge in the morning with a big old smile that says, ‘I’m happy you are here, and I want you to love your job.’”

Additionally, make it a point to get out of your office and walk around the office. Do a quick pop in to check on your team and ask them if there’s anything you can help them with. If they’re taking a short break, go ahead, and chit chat with them so that you can both get to know each other better personally.

While it may sound simple, kicking the day off on positive note with a smile and a “Good morning!” sets the tone for the day. It can even turn that crummy morning into an awesome day. “Being upbeat and genuine in your approach boosts your team’s self-esteem, causing them to be more motivated and reminds them that working with you is pretty great,” adds Ashley.

3. Enhance your emotional intelligence.

There has been a lot of emphasis on emotional intelligence over the years. And, for a good reason. Those with high EI are more productive, successful, and effective leaders. In a nutshell, this is because of what EI can do for an individual.

• Strengthens our self-awareness so that we know what our strengths and weaknesses are.
• Helps us self-regulate our emotions.
• Encourages us to be more self-motivated.
• Increases our empathy.
• Using the methods of emotional intelligence will help you develop stronger interpersonal skills like active listening and conflict resolution.

As you can see, when you sharpen your EI, you’ll be better suited to communicate with your team, as well as handle how you to respond to them. After you’ve worked on improving your emotional intelligence, provide opportunities for your team to strengthen their own.

4. Show your gratitude.

Think about how you feel when someone thanks you or acknowledges your hard work. Even if you have an ego that’s in check, it still makes you feel great about yourself. So, imagine how your team feels when you show your gratitude.

The best thing about this is that there are a variety of ways to achieve this. For example, you could give an employee a shoutout at the beginning of a team meeting. You could send them a handwritten note. Or, you could engage in random acts of kindness like buying them lunch or surprising them with a gift, raise, or new perk like flexible hours.

5. Grant employees autonomy.

A tried and true way of cultivating a more positive and productive work environment is to stop micromanaging. Instead, offer your team autonomy. Micromanaging makes your team ineffective and nervous. Independence in work conditions means giving them the freedom to work however and whenever they like — within reason of course. It also encourages them to share their opinions and feedback.

On your end, however, this involves learning how to delegate more effectively. You also have to hold your team accountable, frequent feedback, and making sure that your team has the tools to succeed.

6. Improve the physical workplace.

It’s almost impossible for you to be in a good mood and productive when you’re not comfortable. As such, you may want to look into making your office more comfortable. Some great places to start is by keeping the office at a steady temperature, letting in as much natural light as possible, and filling the office with plants.

Additionally, provide your team with ergonomic furniture and encourage them to take frequent breaks throughout the day. Also, keep the workplace clean so that germs aren’t spreading like wildfire. And, don’t be afraid to let your staff personalize their own workspaces.

7. Be respectful of everyone else’s time.

Time is the most valuable resource we have. Because of this, if you aren’t respectful of everyone else’s time, then it shows your team that this is a less then ideal culture. After all, if you can’t be respectful of other people’s time, then how can you be trusted in other areas?

There’s no one way to do this. But, here are a couple of suggestions:

• Don’t leave for vacation or business trip without debriefing your team. They should know what to do while you’re away.
• Always start and end the meeting on time.
• Do not annoy your employees during their “off-hours,” like nights and weekends.
• If your employees are at full capacity, then do not add to their workload.
• Clearly define any guidelines and expectations so that they do not always have to redo their work.
• Create and share a team calendar so that everyone knows what’s going on.

8. Encourage fun.

Your team is working their tails off for you. Help them blow off some steam while showing your appreciation by having a little fun. Recognition and fun could be as simple as celebrating milestones or even events like birthdays. You could also take everyone out of the office and go on a retreat or volunteer in the community.

As an added perk, this could be an excellent way to strengthen relationships and encourage collaboration among your team. It can also boost morale.

9. Prioritize your team’s well-being.

There’s a strong correlation between your well-being and productivity. I mean, how can you have the energy and focus on getting work done when you’re stressed, sleep-deprived, and feel like garbage because of your diet?

While it’s not always your responsibility to improve other’s health, you can at least encourage a healthier lifestyle at work. You could fill the healthy with healthier snack options instead of the standard vending machine options. You could offer gym memberships, hold more standing meetings, or provide weekly meditation sessions.

10. Don’t use fear.

Mistakes will happen. So, instead of freaking out on your team whenever they slip up, use that as a learning opportunity. The last thing that you want is to have your team be afraid of you. That’s not a healthy work environment for anyone to work at. And, fear is not an effective way to motivate your team.

Positive Work Cultures Are More Productive: 10 Ways to Get There was originally published on Calendar by John Rampton.

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Plan for a Fun Spring and Summer with Canoff, the Flying Disc Game

As winter quickly approaches, it can be helpful to have something fun to look forward to in the spring or summer. Do you know what your outdoor game of choice will be? How about something that’s portable, easy to set up, and fun? Canoff just might do the trick.

Canoff is an outdoor flying disc game designed for two to four players. Each team has a pole with a can resting on top, and the goal is to score points by using a flying disc to knock the opponent’s can to the ground. Two points are earned for hitting the can clean off of the pole. One point is earned for hitting the pole and causing the can to fall off. The first team to reach 10 points wins.

While the game is simple in concept, there are rules that make it trickier than it sounds. For example, if the can falls off but the other team catches it, that team is awarded a point. If you knock your own can off, your team loses a point. A bad throw or a dropped catch results in a penalty, which is decided by the players. Additionally, each player must have one hand behind their back or a drink in one of their hands during gameplay.

Canoff is an outdoor game designed for players of all ages to enjoy. It’s compact for portability, is easy to assemble, and it works in a variety of settings, from a grassy yard to a sandy beach to a stone park.

Features
Each Canoff game comes with one flying disc, two poles, two bases, two can mounts, and one travel bag. While the can mount is designed to fit all can sizes, players will also be able to purchase official Canoff cans.

Travel bag: The travel bag makes it easy to store and transport the game. It’s made of a waterproof fabric and also has drawstrings.

Bases: Bases are 250mm in diameter and provide stable support for the poles on all surfaces.

Mounts: Universal mounts are attached to the tops of the poles. They are designed to fit cans of any size, including bottles and cups.

Poles: Each pole is made of three individual parts that clip together.

Custom disc: The Canoff disc is made from a semi-hard rubber and is designed specifically for short-range gameplay.

Canoff cans: Canoff cans come with a thicker aluminum gauge that helps them withstand more impact and have a longer life than regular cans. Their shape is based on a standard 330ml can. The cans are available separately from the rest of the game kit.

Works with multiple surfaces: Designed to go anywhere outdoors, Canoff works in grass, sand and stone.

Compact kit: The mounts and flying disc fit conveniently into the base for compact storage.

Interested?
Sound like fun? You can help make Canoff a reality by backing the project on Kickstarter. Visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/canoff/canoff-a-flying-disc-game to learn more.

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What Kids’ Phones Can Teach You About Product Design

Some of the coolest gadgets on the market today are smartphones. Devices designed for kids are particularly impressive. Not only do they fit sensitive components in a small-yet-sturdy package, but they tailor an “adult” product to a niche audience.

Product designers can learn a lesson or two from these devices. Even outside of the tech sector, designers are always looking for ways to differentiate their products, make them more durable, and deliver functionality without feature-bloat. 

Before putting together your next product, take note. These six tips inspired by cell phones for kids are anything but child’s play:

1. Put a premium on safety.

If a product isn’t safe to use, it doesn’t matter what other features it has. Spending money on something that puts you or others at risk simply doesn’t make sense. 

The designers behind Gabb Wireless’s Z2 kids phone made safety their starting point. Because kids are experts at bypassing or disabling restrictions, the Z2 takes away the need for parental controls. 

While the Z2 can call and send texts, it can’t access the internet, social media, or app stores. Kids can still take photos and listen to music on the Z2, but there’s no need to worry about them seeing dangerous content online or developing a social media addiction. And without internet access, there’s less risk of cyberbullying or child predators.

When designing your product, approach it the same way. Before worrying about the bells and whistles, make sure the core product doesn’t put the user at risk. 

2. Question norms around form. 

Who says a cell phone has to be rectangular? Who says it even needs a screen? While there are reasons for these design choices, the point is that innovative designers question assumptions about the shape, look, and feel of the product. 

The Relay Kids Phone is a gadget that breaks the rules. This screen-free walkie talkie lets kids leave their family and friends voice messages, which they receive immediately. 

Your product shouldn’t look like a carbon copy of its competitors. Design something different: It just might be the next big hit. 

3. Make it easy to use.

There’s a reason most apps for children are designed for tablets and not phones. Because their motor skills are still developing, not all kids can navigate something as small as a phone screen.

Although the Jitterbug Flip is often marketed to seniors, it also makes a great phone for kids because of its easy-to-use design. With large buttons and no touch screen, this device makes it easy to text, call, and take photos. Plus, it doesn’t connect to the internet — another feature parents love. 

Easy-to-use products aren’t always the coolest ones on the market. But what’s even less cool is a product that is difficult or unpleasant to use. Put usability before pizzazz when designing your own product. 

4. Go back to basics.

Some of the best designs are out of sight, out of mind. Think about your home’s HVAC system: You wouldn’t want it making noise or needing adjustment all the time, right? You’re probably happiest with it when it heats and cools your home without extra fuss.  

The designers behind the Light Phone II took this same approach. With it, you can call, text, set alarms, play music, and listen to podcasts — and that’s it. There are no social media apps, ads, email, or news feeds. 

Basic doesn’t have to mean boring. This phone’s sleek look and simple design are similar to the iPhone. Unlike the iPhone, however, the Light II isn’t packed with distracting or unnecessary features. 

5. Consider the “fun” factor.

The best products aren’t addictive, but they do keep users coming back for more. In your design, look for ways to help users have fun. It could be as simple as a color-changing screen, or as complex as a built-in game. 

Preloaded with 44 games, the VTech KidiBuzz is the perfect example of this design principle. While it does allow calling and texting, parents control the contact list and which websites and applications are accessible. That way, even younger kids can enjoy it safely. 

With this design tip, balance is key. You don’t want to add so many fun features that your product becomes unusable, but you should find small ways to make it engaging. 

6. Don’t forget about durability.

There’s nothing worse than spending a fortune on something, only to have it break six hours later.  Especially if your product is used outdoors, on job sites, or by children, make sure it can withstand a few bumps and bruises. 

Famous for their durability are Nokia phones. A great choice for kids is the Nokia 6.1, which features an all-metal build milled from a single block of series 6000 aluminum. It’s water-resistant, and it features a Gorilla Glass screen that is unlikely to crack or shatter. Users appreciate the long-lasting battery, which is often one of the first things in a phone to go bad. 

Your product doesn’t need to be bulletproof, but it should be well built. When in doubt, check in with your users: How do they plan to use the product? How long do they hope to own it? If they’ve owned similar products in the past, at what point did they need to be replaced?

Designing a great product is difficult. You have to get the form and function right, but there are dozens of deeper considerations as well. Is it built to last? Is it fun and easy to use? Does every feature add something to the core product?

When it comes to their design, kids’ phones are anything but child’s play. For your next design session, ask your son or daughter to borrow their device. It just might be the inspiration your product team needs.

Image credit: Andrea Piacquadio; Pexels

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Discover Local Food Through Personalized Recommendations with Famished.

You know that feeling when you’re SO hungry that you need your food to be here, like, right now? However, when you start to look up meal options, you’re quickly overwhelmed by just how many options are out there. The fact that the listed menu items are pretty vague doesn’t help, either. You could scroll through endless lists of restaurants and picture-less menu items, or you could try Famished.

Famished is a mobile app designed to help people discover delicious local food through a personalized experience. Their goal is to help you spend more time enjoying your next meal and less time looking for it.

Did you know that people waste approximately 240 hours per year looking for food? With hundreds of menu items to choose from, the choice paralysis is real. Additionally, the price for the dish can vary by 20% depending on the app you use to order, even though it’s the exact same dish from the exact same restaurant.

Current food ordering platforms also feature only basic search functionality and little to no personalization. Menus are boring, photos and videos are missing, and there’s inadequate information to help you make a decision.

Famished, on the other hand, shows you vegan and vegetarian meals from top-rated restaurants in Los Angeles based on your food preferences and more. It also includes high-quality photos or videos to help make your decision even easier.

Features
Famished includes a variety of helpful features that make the app easy to use and help you decide what to order.

AI-based food recommendations: Famished uses artificial intelligence that gets smarter over time in order to recommend the food you’re most likely to enjoy. The app takes into consideration your dietary restrictions, taste profiles, past orders, what your friends like and even the weather outside to provide recommendations of local food.

Photos and videos: Famished includes high-quality photos and/or videos in their recommendations of individual dishes so you get a better understanding of the menu item.

Meal information: The app also includes key information about each menu item, such as the ingredients, price, and whether it’s vegan or vegetarian. (However, you can easily skip through the info if you’d rather just look at the pictures).

Healthy food: Famished currently focuses on vegan and vegetarian dishes from the top-rated restaurants in Los Angeles, but people without dietary restrictions are welcome to use the app, too.

Beta: Famished is currently in beta and is looking for new users. Early adopters will be able to provide feedback, vote on the features they’re most interested in, and generally shape the final product before it officially launches.

Interested?
Having a lot of food options is great, but having personalized recommendations with high-quality visuals and helpful information is even better. Stop scrolling through your food ordering platform wondering, “what even exactly am I looking at?” Instead, turn to Famished to find local food you’re going to love. Want to try Famished for yourself? Visit famished.io to sign up for their beta version.

Photos
Famished

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How to Search Emails in Gmail by Specific Time

Gmail supports a plethora of search operators to help you instantly find that elusive email message buried in your mailbox. You have size search - like larger_than:5mb - to find the big messages in your account. File search - like has:attachment filename:doc - will locate email messages that contain specific file attachments. This graphic illustrates all the known Gmail search operators that work both on Gmail website and mobile.

Search by Date in Gmail

Date search in Gmail helps you locate emails sent or received during a specific period. Here are some examples:

• newer_than:7d from:me - Emails sent in the last 7 days
• after:2020/10/15 before:2020/10/20 from:uber - Emails from Uber received between October 15 and October 20.
• newer_than:60d older_than:30d - All emails received in the previous 30-day range.

The date in the Gmail search query is specified in the YYYY/MM/DD format.

Search Emails by Specific Time in Gmail

Gmail supports an undocumented time-based search option that lets you find emails sent or received during a specific hour, minute or event second. For instance, you can limit your Gmail search to emails that were received between October 10 8:15 PM and October 10, 2020 8:45 PM.

To get started, convert the date and time to Epoch time and then use the timestamp with the standard after or before search operator of Gmail.

For instance, the Epoch time for October 10 8:30 PM is 1602774000 and that of October 10 8:45 PM is 1602774900. Use the search query after:1602774000 before:1602774900 to:me in Gmail and you’ll get a list of all emails that were received during that 15-minute period.

Epoch time is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970 (UTC). Use the Epoch converter to represent a human readable date and time in Epoch and use that timestamp with the before or after search operator of Gmail to find that elusive email.

Date and Time Search with Google Script

Here’s a little snippet that will automate your Gmail search by time using the Gmail API. It will fetch all email messages that were received between 12:15 PM and 1:30 PM.

const emailReceived = () => {
  const secondsSinceEpoch = (date) => Math.floor(date.getTime() / 1000);
  const after = new Date();
  const before = new Date();
  after.setHours(12, 15, 0, 0);
  before.setHours(13, 30, 0, 0);
  const query = `after:${secondsSinceEpoch(after)} before:${secondsSinceEpoch(
    before
  )}`;
  const messages = Gmail.Users.Messages.list('me', {
    q: query,
  });
  Logger.log(messages);
};

Also see: Mail Merge for Gmail

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Why Business Leaders Should Talk About Their Mental Health

For those of a certain age, I’m sure that being transparent about your mental health was taboo. Take my friends’ father, who’s a boomer, as an example. He never opened up about how he was feeling until one day he lost it. The stress, and the emotional and physical toll it took on him, finally came to head. And, he just started crying. I was floored. I mean I was always told that boys don’t cry. Here is why business leaders should talk about their mental health.

There’s been a sea of change when talking about mental health, and we can all learn from the shift.

Take Gen Z. They are more likely to seek help then other generations. Unfortunately, that figure is still low with only 37% reporting that they’ve received help from a psychologist or mental health professional.

Considering that some 450 million people suffer from a mental disorder, we still have a long way to go. And, this is particularly true for those in a leadership role.

For starters, as noted by the World Health Organization, “mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide.” As a consequence, this can affect people’s behaviorally, emotionally, and physically, such as:

• Feeling down
• Reduced ability to concentrate
• Mood changes
• Excessive worrying
• Inability to cope with stress
• Insomnia
• Changes in eating habits
• Substance abuse
• Trouble relating to others
• Increase in heart disease and cancer

The Link Between Mental Health and Work

Economically, mental health costs the global economy $ 1 trillion per year in lost productivity! Aetna Behavioral Health has also found that employee mental health costs rise twice as fast as other medical costs.

More specifically, mental health can be negatively affected by businesses:

• Performance and productivity
• Engagement
• Communicating with others
• Physical capability and daily functioning.
• Absenteeism

What’s more, via the CDC, “Depression interferes with a person’s ability to complete physical job tasks about 20% of the time and reduces cognitive performance about 35% of the time.”

Besides impacting your bottom line, there’s another reason why you need to prioritize mental health at your company; employees demand it.

One study has found that 62% of employees want leadership to speak openly about mental health. But, other research has found this to be higher.

“Mental health is becoming the next frontier of diversity and inclusion, and employees want their companies to address it, write Kelly Greenwood, Vivek Bapat, and Mike Maughan over at HBR. “Eighty-six percent of our respondents thought that a company’s culture should support mental health.” However, it “was even higher for Millennials and Gen Zers, who have higher turnover rates and are the largest demographic in the workforce.”

“Half of Millennials and 75% of Gen Zers had left roles in the past for mental health reasons, both voluntarily and involuntarily, compared with 34% of respondents overall — a finding that speaks to a generational shift in awareness,” add the authors. “It is not surprising then that providing employees with the support they need improves not only engagement but also recruitment and retention, whereas doing nothing reinforces an outdated and damaging stigma.”

How to Promote Mental Health Wellness in Your Workplace

So, yeah. Mental health needs to become a priority for your business. By being transparent and removing the stigma around mental health, you’ll improve every facet of your organization. And, to get started, here are the steps you should take.

Change the culture.

“Changing the culture is a top-down process,” writes Greenwood, Bapat, and Maughan. “It starts with transforming leaders into allies. Encourage executive teams, managers, and senior employees to share their experiences (or those of close family members or friends) at all-staff meetings or in other interactions with their teams.”

“Modeling disclosure and vulnerability as strengths, not weaknesses, goes a long way toward reducing the stigma and setting the tone for transparency,” they add.

Considering that almost half of entrepreneurs have experienced at least one form of mental health condition during their lifetime, you probably already have first-hand knowledge of this struggle. The challenge is to be open up about your experience. Once you do, this will help remove the stigma and encourage others to be more open about their struggles.

Additionally, if you want to change the culture, then you need to walk the walk. That means setting an example by showing others that you are addressing your well-being. For example, take breaks throughout the day and eat a healthy lunch. Most importantly, offer suggestions on how you addressed your mental health. If you spoke with a counselor, then refer an employee to that mental health professional.

Create an employee wellness program.

If you’re unfamiliar, an employee wellness program simply encourages healthy habits within the workplace. More importantly, it helps create a culture where health and wellness is a top priority.

To get started though, Howie Jones in a previous Calendar piece suggests using a Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) to assess your needs. “This is a questionnaire that reviews lifestyle practices like smoking and exercise,” explains Howie. “You could also conduct an interest survey and have your team rank what they would want the program to include.”

With this information, you can then design a program that works best for your company. For example, if a majority of your employees have admitted to dealing with a mental illness, then you may want to select a health insurance plan that covers mental health. You could also offer gym memberships, support services, or training to help them combat stress.

Focus on early intervention/prevention.

Let’s say that your bathroom faucet has a drip. You keep ignoring it thinking that it’s no big deal. Eventually, you may have to replace your sink because of water stains. Leaky faucets may also deteriorate caulk, grout, and damage ceilings and floorboards.

In short, don’t wait to solve this problem before it gets any worse.

The same is true with mental health. Educate your team on how they can cope with stress and anxiety. Provide support services, even if it’s paying for an app like Headspace. And, don’t punish them if they need to take a mental health day or leave early to speak with a therapist.

Enforce working hours.

Promote a healthy work-life balance by establishing boundaries. For instance, limit communication outside of office hours. That means not emailing an employee at midnight asking them a question that could wait until the morning.

You should also encourage them to set an out-of-office message in their calendar. Google and Outlook calendars have this feature. And, it’s a simple way to automatically reject event invites when you’re not available.

Cultivate a healthy and positive work environment.

Besides boosting productivity, healthy and positive work environments can improve morale and decrease turnover. Best of all, it’s not all that complicated to implement if you do the following:

• Establish organizational guidelines that prevent bullying and harassment.
• Show your gratitude and appreciation to your team members by recognizing their hard work.
• Invest in your team’s well-being by investing in ergonomic furniture, providing healthy snacks, and placing plants throughout the workplace.
• Help your employees curb vices and unhealthy habits.
• Never motivate your team using fear.
• Celebrate milestones and have fun through games and volunteering.

Frequently check-in with your employees.

Yes. You’ve got a million things to do. But, spend quality time with each team member. Get to know them better and ask how they’re doing. You don’t want to pry into their personal lives. But, checking-in with them builds trust. That means if they do have a mental health concern, they won’t be afraid to come to you for assistance.

Grant autonomy and flexible schedules.

Don’t micromanage your employees. Even better, provide flexible schedules and working arrangements so that they have opportunities to attend to their well-being.

Help them solve their time management problems.

Finally, help your team members improve their time management. That may not sound like much. But, if they’re struggling in this area, then don’t have the time to attend to their mental health. For example, help them prioritize their time so that they aren’t taking their work home with them. In turn, they’ll have more availability to work with a mental health professional or engage in healthy habits like exercising or meditating.

Why Business Leaders Should Talk About Their Mental Health was originally published on Calendar by John Rampton.

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How to Change the Reply-to Address in Mail Merge

When you send an email campaign through Gmail, you’ve an option to specify a different reply-to email address for your emails. When the email recipient hits the “Reply” or “Reply All” button, the To field in their email reply will be automatically populated with the email address that you’ve specified as the Reply-to email at the time of sending.

You can even specify more than one email addresses in the reply-to field, separated by commas, and they will all show up in the To field of the reply field. For instance, you could send emails from your own email address but the replies would be received in your email inbox as well as the support team.

To get started, open your Google sheet, go to the add-ons menu and choose Mail merge with attachments.

Next click on the Configure menu to open the Mail Merge sidebar.

Here go the Reply-to address file and type an email address. If you wish to receive replies on multiple email addresses, type them all here separated by commas.

Now when you send the email campaign, open one of the emails in the sent items folder, expand the message header and you should see the specified email addresses listed in the reply-to field.

Why is Google Ignoring the Reply-to Address

If you send a test email to yourself, you’ll get the email in your inbox. If you hit the reply button in that message, you may notice that that reply-to field contains your own email address and not the custom email address(es) that you’ve specified in your mail merge.

That’s the default behavior in Gmail if the “from” address on an email message is the same as the “to” address or is one of your own email aliases. To test your reply-to functionality, you should send emails to an email address that is not connected to your current Gmail account or set the “From” address as a non-Gmail address.

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