Working from Anywhere Just Got Even Easier.

With millions of us all working from home over the past 12 months, and no plans to change this anytime soon, it's important to have the right tools to make remote working seemless.  As lockdown became more evident, many people decided to head to warmer climates, choosing to rent out their homes or lock up shop and rent abroad, from Bali to Barbados, Ibiza to Iceland, working from anywhere wasn't just possible, it's become a new norm. 

For some people it can be difficult to make the adjustment and transition from corporate office working to working from home. That's why we have put together a selection of our favourite apps to help you to create structure, maximise your productivity and to help make working from home as easy and as stress free as possible.
 

	FOCUS KEEPER Avoid burnout and keep productivity high with Focus Keeper. It’s all about focusing your work efforts in timed 25 minute chunks, with a 5 minute break in between each burst of activity.		INSHOT Need an easy video-editing app to share your product with your audience? InShot is an intuitive, comprehensive and easy to use editing app that you can use on the go.
	TODOIST Ranked as ‘the best to-do list right now’ by The Verge, Todoist is used by 25 million people to organize, plan and collaborate on projects, both big and small. Capture and organize tasks the moment they pop into your head.		MILKSHAKE Don’t have a website? Make one instantly with Milkshake websites. Super easy to make and update anytime. No desktops, design, or website building skills needed. All you need is your iPhone and Milkshake app.
	BRAIN.FM If listening to upbeat tunes isn’t your bag, then the Brain.fm app will give you music scientifically proven to improve focus, meditation, and sleep. Just as the visual design of an office or bedroom should enhance its function, the music you listen to should support your goals as well.		OTTER VOICE NOTES Otter records and takes meeting notes for you in real-time, ensuring all information is captured and shared easily with your team. Supercharge your note taking and stay connected and collaborative when you work from home.
	WORLD TIME BUDDY World time buddy is a popular visual world clock, time zone, converter and scheduler for distributed teams. Its design lets people compare multiple time zones, plan conference calls, and web meetings for business.		CANVA Be your own graphic designer with Canva. Easily create professional presentations, posters, business cards and social media graphics. Choose from a huge selection of designed templates or create your own.
	LASTPASS With so many passwords to ensure our cyber security LastPass provides all the tools that you need to securely organize, and store passwords with strong encryption and administrative controls.		HEADSPACE Make sure you get the best start to your day with a simple short meditation from Headspace. Get happy, stress less and sleep soundly. Headspace is your guide to mindfulness for everyday life.
	1 SECOND EVERYDAY This is a video diary that makes it easy to take your day-to-day moments and create a beautiful movie of your life. Use it to stay positive, record your achievements and transform the mundane into memorable.

 

Moving day is often a day that is full of varying emotions.

Moving day is often a day that is full of varying emotions, from the excitement of moving to your new property, to the sentimental sadness of leaving your old home. You’ll be busy overseeing your removals team and carrying out last minute checks so it’s easy to forget certain essentials. That’s why we’ve put together a list of items to pack as part of a moving day survival kit.

WHAT IS A MOVING DAY SURVIVAL KIT?

A moving day survival kit is an essential box consisting of all the essentials you’ll likely need right away once you’ve moved into your new home.

WHAT SHOULD I INCLUDE?

Think toiletries, bed linen, clothes, food, cooking utensils and of course… the kettle if you are in the UK, coffee and tea bags.

Phone chargers are a must also. You’ll likely be making lots of calls to people such as estate agents, solicitors and so it’s important your phone is on hand and has plenty of juice.

Create a document file where you can keep copies of all essential documents, including house deeds, passport copies, etc.

Of course, the exact contents of your Moving Day Survival Kit will largely be dependent on you and your family’s circumstances.
Keep everything you think you will need in your first few days in a box and put it in your car BEFORE the removal team arrive so that it doesn’t get scooped up. 

It’s also handy to have a few recycling bags lying around as well so you can quickly dispose of anything you decide you don’t need.

Here are some helpful headings to ensure your Moving Day Survival Kit has got you covered for every eventuality:

KITCHENWARE 

Being eco conscious we advise packing up a selection of your mugs, teaspoons, plates and cutlery. Include paper towels, washing-up liquid, and cloth. 

Take it easy and consider ordering a takeaway on your first night, it’s a tiring day and you’ll want to be kind to yourself. Why not introduce yourself to the neighbours and ask for a local takeaway recommendation? You might want to bring some water bottles to make sure you stay hydrated during the day.

FOOD AND NON-PERISHABLES

Moving is hungry work. Regardless of the distance you’ve travelled you’re going to want to put food together pretty quickly, particularly if you’ve got little ones pulling at your trouser legs.

You don’t need to pack for Armageddon but bringing along a few snacks and food items for your first few days can help you settle in more easily to your new home.

Pack lunches for kids and plenty of non-perishable items, which can be opened for instant use and minimum preparation time.

Some great food items to include in your Moving Day Survival Kit include:

• cereals
• cheese and biscuits
• bread and butter for sandwiches
• milk, coffee and tea bags
• fresh fruit

BATHROOM AND CLEANING PRODUCTS

Don’t get caught out when you move into your new home.
Pack plenty of supplies for the bathroom, such as:

• toilet paper
• sanitary products
• soap
• towels
• toothpaste
• shampoo
• deodorant
• first-aid kit and plasters
• painkillers (hopefully you shouldn’t need these!)

Unfortunately, not everyone leaves their house in as great a shape in which they found it. It’s a good idea therefore to include some cleaning products as part of your Moving Day Survival Kit.

Having some cleaning supplies on hand means you can give it that quick sparkle. Be sure to include:

• rubber gloves
• sponge
• cloths
• scourers
• plunger
• brushes

BEDROOM

One area that is often neglected by those moving into new homes is the bedroom. You don’t want to find yourself searching through box after box to find your bed linen at the end of a busy moving day do you? 

You’re going to want to crash into your own bed as quickly as possible rather than have to grapple through boxes. So make sure you pack bedroom items into your Moving Day Survival Kit so you can access it straight away.

Make sure to include the following:

• bed linen
• pillows
• duvets
• pyjamas and change of clothes
• clothing hangers

TOOLKIT

DIY might not be your immediate first point of call but it’s handy to keep some tools with you in case you need them.

It might sound obvious but a utility knife or scissors for cutting open boxes is an absolute must!
Some handy tools you may need include:

• hammer
• screwdrivers
• measuring tape and pliers

CHILDREN

If you are moving house with kids it’s usually a good idea to have someone look after them while you move.
If you’re moving a long distance or would rather they settle into their new home right away you ought to prepare for this.
Bring essential items they need, food and plenty of entertainment to ensure they don’t get bored.
You might want to let them pack their own special moving day survival kit with their favourite toy, book, game, and snacks.

Some items you might want to include are:

• handheld gaming devices and tablets
• books and puzzles
• baby changing supplied for young children
• favourite toys
• comfort items and night lights

PETS

Like children, pets also need care and attention during the moving process.
Ensure they are well catered for in terms of food and entertainment and pack the following:

• food and water bowls
• bedding
• leads/collars
• toys and specific items they need  

Why it makes sense to use a Professional Removals Company.

When you hire a professional removals company like Go Group, you are not just getting an experienced removals team, you’re also getting a virtual hand hold, helping you to stress less and look forward to your new adventure.
You are getting access to the knowledge base of professionals who have moved just about everything there is and know what to look out for. 

How Can Go Group Help?

Go Group has been providing expert removal services in the UK and Internationally for over 10 years. We look after every step of your move, from planning through to execution. Allowing you to focus on your family and the excitement of your new home.

We use a modern range of environmentally friendly, purpose-made packing materials to prepare and ship your belongings safely to their intended destination. 

Our team are all fully trained and certified to the required standards of the British Association of Removers. 

You may also wish to use our unpacking service to unpack your belongings onto flat surfaces and dispose of all packing materials.

Go Group can also offer you storage at flexible rates compared to most commercial units. Whether you want to empty a room for refurbishing or de-clutter your home for a ‘show-house’ talk to us to see how we can help. 

What are you waiting for? To find out how Go Group can get your dream move underway don’t hesitate to contact us today and to book in your virtual home survey.
 

 

Whether you are moving house or simply thinking of having a clear out, it can be tough to know what to keep and what to throw away right? Lucky for us that organising guru, Marie Kondo, generously shares her top tips on the art of decluttering. Release your inner neat freak and follow her pointers below for a clutter-free home…

 

1. TACKLE CATEGORIES, NOT ROOMS

For example, sort out your clothes or books together, as this will give you a better perspective on what you love and need.
 

2. DOES IT “SPARK JOY?”

Consider each item and ask yourself “does this spark joy?” If not, then throw it away. Forget the “maybe” pile, it’s probably been around for too long anyway.
 

3. FOLD, DON’T HANG

Organise your drawers with Kondo’s vertical folding technique. Use shoe boxes or drawer dividers to keep clothes standing straight in neat rows.
 

4. LOVE YOUR WARDROBE

Digging through an overpacked closet is painful. Once decluttered, getting dressed in the morning will be a breeze.
 

5. DITCH YOUR PAPERWORK

All your paperwork should fit in one place, in two groups – papers to be saved, and papers to be dealt with. Avoid piles of papers – store them in an upright holder to avoid the collection getting out of hand.
 

6. DISCARD OF ITEMS YOU DON’T NEED BEFORE CREATING MORE STORAGE SPACE

Before starting your big clear out, go through all of your stuff thoroughly and ask yourself ‘do I need this?’. If the answer is no, bin it.
 

7. ENSURE EVERYTHING HAS ITS OWN PLACE

Try to give everything you own a designated space in your home. Okay, your trainers might not go in the same spot everyday, but labelled baskets and boxes will make it a lot easier to locate items.
 

8. TIDY IT ALL IN ONE GO

Organise a day (or two) to sort your house out from top to bottom. Tidying a bit at a time never works and your house will end up even messier than it was before.
 

9. CREATE A 1 YEAR BOX

The best way to throw away any unwanted items is to create a 1 year box. Place any items you are unsure about in there and, once the year is up, throw away any items still in the box that you haven’t used.
 

10. TAKE BEFORE AND AFTER PICS

The best way to feel a sense of accomplishment is by taking before and after shots. This way, it will hopefully encourage you to keep on top of your tidy house in the future.

Feeling ready and raring to go?

For Moving, Storage, Logistics, Transportation
 

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

Being the new kid on the block is almost always a scary experience. Everybody already knows each other, and you start off feeling like the odd one out. If you’ve just bought a new house or apartment you must be wondering how to introduce yourself to your new neighbors.

There are many ways to get to know your new community, from introducing yourself or asking for help and advice, to our favorite: baking for them. 

Crispy, crumbly, frosted, nutty—anyway you bake them, cookies play a significant role in our lives. They’re intertwined with family traditions; they’re a way to express love or gratitude; they’re even a staple of local fundraising events.

NEW CHAPTER, NEW STORIES 

But as ubiquitous as they are, how often do you stop to consider the origins of your favorite cookies?

Many of the cookies we love best have interesting stories to tell about the places they came from. Did you know that the all American chocolate chip cookie was invented by Ruth Wakefield, proprietor of the Toll House Restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts in 1937?  Whitman was a talented cook and a savvy businesswoman, and her invention made chocolate chips one of the first food products created for a specific recipe. That, and when she gave Nestle the rights to her recipe (chocolate chip Toll House cookies), it became the most produced back-of-the-package recipe of all time.

Wakefield’s original chocolate chip cookie recipe calls for nuts, but we prefer to let the chocolate shine. This recipe uses maple sugar as a nod to the cookie’s New England roots, and is finished with a touch of sea salt.
 

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES 

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

• 1/2 cup maple sugar 

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

• 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips

• 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt

Directions

1. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

2. Combine the butter, maple sugar, and brown sugar together in a standing mixer or by hand held mixer. Mix until creamy and airy.

3. Add egg and vanilla. Slowly pour in the flour mixture and mix until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips and chill in the refrigerator 1 hour to overnight.

4. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mats.

5. Using a cookie scoop, drop batter onto baking sheet 2 inches apart. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack or eat warm with a glass of milk.

If you are looking to swap the chocolate for a healthier option why not try these irresistible cinnamon cookies. This healthy take on the all time favorite cookie is a simple 6 ingredient recipe that is easy to bake ahead and freeze, or get your new place smelling like home, ready to welcome your new neighbors or old friends!

HEALTHY CINNAMON COOKIES 

 Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats

• 1 tsp. cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp. ginger

• 1/2 tsp. baking powder

• 4 tbsp. butter or coconut oil

• 1 tbsp. honey

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (360 Fahrenheit) 

2. Place all the ingredients in a food processor

3. Whizz until the dough begins to come together as a ball, it will be sticky

4. Form the dough into a rough ball by hand

5. Lay a sheet of baking paper on a baking tray, place the ball of dough in the center. Place another sheet of baking paper on top of the ball. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out to approximately 0.2 inches thick between the 2 sheets of baking paper

6. Remove the top layer of baking paper

7. Bake for 8-12 minutes (I give a range as once it starts browning it browns fast) you just want the edges to be going brown)

8. Remove from the oven, while still warm slice into squares, I use a pizza roller for this, and make the squares approximately an inch in size

9. Allow to cool, the biscuits become crispy as they cool

10. Serve

Makes 36 cookies. Prep time: 7 minutes. Cook time: 11 minutes. 

Credits: Thanks to My Kids Lick the Bowl for this healthy, tasty recipe. 

Notes

Allergy notes, to be dairy free this recipe requires coconut oil instead of butter.  This recipe is wheat free, however not gluten-free if using traditional oats