Healthy Habits to Keep Up in the Holiday Season

December 14, 2021 by Leave a Comment

holidays

The holidays are the perfect time to indulge and maybe not stick to your usual healthy habits. But, even though you might be eating more desserts and skipping a couple of days at the gym, it’s still important to try to make some healthy choices during the holidays. If you suddenly throw all of your healthy lifestyle habits out the window, it can be hard to get back into them once the holidays are over. Plus, you can find that you run out of steam halfway through the holidays and you suddenly feel very sluggish and rundown. If you want to stay somewhat healthy during the holidays, here are some habits to keep up.

Keep Your Diet Balanced  

There are lots of tasty treats floating around in the holidays, and it’s expected that you’re going to indulge a bit more than normal. There’s no need to deny yourself all of your favorite things, but it is a good idea to try and keep your diet balanced. So, even as you reach for the cookies, make sure you’re also balancing it out with plenty of vegetables. Be sure to get all of your essential nutrients, have plenty of fiber in your diet, and try to control your portions too.

Get Outdoors

Even if you’re active normally, the holidays can feel like a free pass to be a bit more sedentary. You might not keep up your usual workout schedule, but it’s still a good idea to try and be somewhat active even during the holidays. Suddenly not doing anything active could affect not just your physical health but your mental health too. It might be cold outdoors, but getting outside for a walk or bike ride can be the ideal way to work off all the food you’ve been eating. If you’re feeling full after Christmas lunch, a brisk walk could perk you up again.

Control Your Alcohol Consumption

The alcohol is usually flowing during the holidays, and it can be tempting to accept any drink that’s put into your hand. But you’re not obligated to drink through the holidays, and it could make your experience much less pleasant. If you struggle to turn down a drink, you can find resources like https://www.sunshinebehavioralhealth.com/colorado/colorado-springs/ that can help you. If the holidays stress you out, there are better ways to unwind than to keep drinking.

Take Some Time to Yourself

Being around a lot of people during the holidays can be exhausting, especially for introverts. If you’re getting tired of socializing, make sure you take time for yourself. Everyone deserves some time to relax and have some time alone, even if it’s just half an hour or so. It can be your time to take a nap, read a book, listen to some music or do some yoga. Try to carve out some time just for you at some point during the holidays.

Keep up these healthy habits during the holidays and you’ll feel healthy and happier in the festive period.

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How To Promote Healthy Gaming Habits In Your Child

December 14, 2021 by Leave a Comment

video games

Gaming offers immense benefits for children, including boosting their learning, health, and social skills. But video gaming can also be detrimental for children without the proper parental guidance. As the online video gaming community is growing rapidly, parents need to be concerned about issues like gaming addiction and bullying. If your child loves playing video games, there are some things you can do to help ensure that they healthily enjoy this hobby. Here are some tips you can use. 

  • Set limits

The WHO has officially recognized addictive gaming as a gaming disorder that exposes your children to various risks. A gaming disorder can negatively affect your child’s social life, mental health, and even fitness. In most cases, the primary cause of gaming addiction is failing to have limits to gaming time.

As a parent, you owe it as a duty of care to your child to set gaming limits to prevent any form of gaming disorder. You can create a timetable to control how many hours your child spends behind a game. You can also set rules to ensure that they take care of all their daily tasks such as home chores and doing their homework.

  • Play games together as a family

Sometimes, the best way to introduce healthy gaming habits to your children is by playing together as a family and setting a good behavioral example when playing—doing this will teach your kids how to cooperate with their siblings when playing, what language to avoid, and how to behave regardless of the type of game. 

  • Be mindful

If your child already knows how to download their video games, you need to be mindful about what type of media content they’re exposing themselves to. Be sure that the content doesn’t negatively affect their mood, behavior, choice of words, sleep pattern, and so on. Also, make sure that they understand online games usually come with hidden messages and ads that can collect personal information. Choosing a good video gaming VPS that offers good security online and 24/7 support will be wise. You might also consider finding a cheap VPS provider that offers all the security benefits without eating into your monthly budget.

  • Teach your child to identify online bullying

Online bullying extends to online video games, as many video games today allow players to play with or against each other. That means your child will be interacting with other people they might not know. Beyond the risk of sharing personal information online, such online interactions can also expose a child to online bullying, which can have severe psychological effects on any child who falls victim.

You might not be able to control how other children behave online, but you can teach your child to identify such behaviors and how best to react or avoid them. On the flip side, your child could also be the bully. So it would be best if you taught them how to interact healthily, cordially, and respectfully with other players.

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Painless Ways to Cut Your Expenses

December 14, 2021 by Leave a Comment

piggy bank

If you are looking to tighten your belt, whether because you want to pay down your debt, pay off the mortgage or save some extra in your kid’s college fund, you could be forgiven for thinking that doing so would be a painful road filled with many sacrifices, but it really doesn’t have to be that way.

It is totally possible to cut your expenses, start spending less, and not feel the pain when you do so. Here are a few ways you can do exactly that:

  1. Track your spending

There are lots of simple apps and software packages you can use to track every cent you spend, and they are very easy to set up and use. Why do that? Because, when you track everything that you are spending, it is really easy to immediately identify any expenses that are unnecessary to you. You can then choose to stop spending money on those things or continue depending on how important they are to you.

  1. Cut your energy consumption 

Right now, energy bills are one of the biggest regular expenses that many of us face, but it would be unthinkable for us to go without heat and electricity for long. Luckily, you can lowe tout energy bills without having to sacrifice a thing. For example, you can learn more about lowering our energy use here by doing simple things such as turning off appliances and better insulating your home. These ideas are all fairly inexpensive and easy to implement, and once they were in place, you can carry on as normal while also benefiting from much lower utility bills – what’s not to love?

  1. Cancel unused subscriptions

From Netflix to Kindle Unlimited, most of us have a subscription or four on the go at any given time, and you know what? Many of us rarely if ever use those services we have subscribed to, so a really easy way to painlessly cut your expenses is to do an audit of all of the subscriptions you currently have active, and then systematically cancel any you do not use often enough to justify the cost or impact upon you if you were to no longer have access to them, Have every member of the family do the same and you’ll be surprised at just how much money you can save. 

  1. Consider downsizing

This is not always possible to desirable but for many families, downsizing can be a great way of potentially saving thousands of dollars each year. The bigger your home, the more your mortgage is likely to cost and the more money you are likely to spend on maintaining it, so by moving to a smaller space, you can easily cut your expenses, and if you choose a home that has just the right amount of space for you all to live comfortably in, it will be a pretty painless change to make. You may even be able to move to a better neighborhood while still saving a significant sum, so your quality of life could actually impede as a result of downsizing!

  1. Batch cook

Eating at home, rather than eating out may seem like a hardship at first if you are used to dining out most evenings, but when you think about it, it really is not. When you eat at home, you have complete control over the ingredients you use and what you make, which means you can always eat your favorites. You can also make your food healthier than it would otherwise be, which might help to keep your health costs down too!

When it comes to eating at home, one way to really cut your expenses is to batch cook. If you work out in advance what you are going to eat for the next week or month, then you can be sure to only buy the necessary ingredients, and by cooking them in one big batch you will use less fuel, while also ensuring that you don’t have to worry about finding something to eat after a stressful day at work. It doesn’t get much better than that.

  1. Use cash

Something that many people find useful when trying to lower their expenses, is to use cash instead of a credit or debit card. It is all too easy to spend more than you really should when you are paying with a card and you don’t see the money physically leaving your hands. By drawing out a set amount of cash for the month and using that and only that to pay for things, it is much easier to keep track and rein in your spending. So, if you are something of a shopaholic, and you often buy things you don’t really need, you may find that this technique is a huge help.

  1. Keep a list of wants

Speaking of shopping, something else that can help you to painlessly give up those impulse buying instincts is to have a list of wants. When you see something you want to buy, instead of purchasing it then and there, make a note of it and wait 30 days. If, after 30 days, you still want to buy said item, go ahead and do so, but more often than not, you will find that the initial rush of dopamine that makes you want that things vanishes and you no longer feel the desire to own that dress or car or whatever it is. This can really help you to curb unnecessary spending and get a better perspective on things.

Cutting your expenses and saving money really doesn’t have to cause you a lot of heartache if you don’t want it to and you will quickly find you can live just as well on less. As you can see above, there are lots of simple things you can do to lower your monthly expenditure that will not only not impact your life particularly negatively, but in some cases, may actually enhance it! So, what are you waiting for?

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Think Outside the Gift Box With These Original and Thoughtful Present Ideas

December 14, 2021 by Leave a Comment

If you are sick of buying candles, socks, and plastic toys that the kids lay with once and then never touch again, this post is for you. Yes, that’s right you can buy gifts this year that are original, and considerate if you think outside the box, or just keep reading for our suggestions below. 

 

Create something original 

 

Having an original item made so you can give it as a gift might sound super fancy. Yet, some services create things like custom scarves relatively cheaply these days. You can even use your own image on a photo to be printed on the scarf! 

 

Of course, the great thing about this is that you can create an original item that the recipient definitely won’t already have. You can also make it as sentimental as you like, by carefully choosing the photo you use. A clever suggestion here is to use a photo of a favorite place, vacation, or even of all the family at Christmastime to create a unique gift that is bound to bring a smile to the recipient’s face. 

 

Give a gift with purpose 

 

Another great ‘outside of gift box option’ is to choose to give a gift with purpose, that does some good in the world. This often means donating to a charity or organization in the recipient’s name. The fun thing about doing this is that many charities now offer gift packs with certificates, information about their cause, and sometimes even a soft toy which means the recipient will still get something to open Christmas morning, as well as helping out a good cause or those less fortunate than themselves. 

 

Gift an experience rather than an item 

 

With decluttering becoming a trend, it only goes to show that we all have too much stuff already. That is why, if you want to think outside of the box this Christmas, an experience might be a better gift.

Of course, there are many to choose from including spa days, car racing, flying, and even parachuting for the adrenaline junkies. Although, do remember you don’t have to only use gift experience services. Instead, some movie tickets and microwave popcorn can work just as well. 

 

Handmade gifts for the win 

 

Last of all,  instead of heading to your local store to get something generically Christmas, like bubble bath or a box of chocolates that are likely to get lost in the hubbub of the festive season, why not make your gift? It doesn’t have to be something super complicated or involved either, as no one is going to expect you to hand carve a rocking horse if you have never picked up a chisel in your life. 

 

Instead, why not hand make a sweet treat like cookies, or cakes, and deliver them in a festive-themed box or container? You could even cut out the actual baking if you’d rather and give people Kilner jars full of the ingredients they need to bake their own! It’s easy, fun, and so much more meaningful! 

 

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Gifts To Send Someone Traveling The World

December 14, 2021 by Leave a Comment

When someone you know is traveling the world, it can be difficult to know what gifts to send them. After all, they’re probably seeing and doing things that you could only dream of! But there are a couple of gifts that will always be appreciated by travelers, regardless of where they are in the world.

presents

Cash, of course

First and foremost, a gift card or money is always a welcome present for travelers. This allows them to buy whatever they need or want while on their trip, whether it’s souvenirs or just some extra snacks.

A Journal

Another great gift for travelers is a journal or travel diary. This lets them document their experiences and memories from their trip, which can be cherished long after they’ve returned home.

Favorite Things

A third option is to send some of their favorite things and foods from home. Everyone loves being wrapped up in a blanket from home or enjoying their favorite snacks from back home.

A Book

Lonely Planet’s “The Travel Book” is a great gift to help inspire wanderlust in your loved ones while they are traveling the world. The book covers every country on the planet and includes photos, history, trivia, quotes, and more about each location. There is also a section that explains travel etiquette for certain countries – this will be incredibly helpful when traveling abroad!

Flowers

Another option to brighten up their day is to send them flowers to be delivered to their hotel. This is a great way to show that you’re thinking of them, even if you’re not able to be there with them in person. Use GoGoFlorist and see them smile!

City Tour

You can also book a city tour for them when they arrive at their destination. They can see all the sights and attractions that you’ve heard about, as well as those that you haven’t. This is also a great opportunity to get some delicious food without having to do any legwork!

Surprise Visit

If your budget allows it, buy a ticket and surprise them by flying to their destination. A familiar face is the best thing to see when you’re in a new place, and it’s sure to make their trip even more special.

Birthday Cake

If it happens to be their birthday, try to arrange with the hotel staff to have a cake and some balloons waiting for them when they arrive. It’s a small gesture that will make their day!

Pair of Socks

Finally, travelers can always wear a good pair of socks – since they’re going to be doing a lot of walking! A good-quality set of socks would make an excellent gift for those on the go.

There You Have It

No matter what gift you choose to send your loved one traveling the world, it will be appreciated and enjoyed. So let them know you’re thinking of them with a special present that will enhance their travel experience. No matter what you decide to send your loved one traveling the world, be sure to include a handwritten note telling them how much you miss and love them. This will mean more to them than anything else you could send.

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Don’t Buy Your First Home Without Reading This

December 11, 2021 by 1 Comment

things to watch out for

Are you thinking about purchasing your first home? This is a big step. In fact, many would argue that this is the most significant investment that you will ever make in your adult life. It beats the car or the pension pot that you will eventually explore for your twilight years. While you might feel as though you are ready to purchase a home, you shouldn’t rush this decision. There’s a lot that you should keep in mind and consider before committing to this possibility. You need to approach this decision from a financial perspective as well as keeping your lifestyle in mind. Buying a home won’t make sense for everyone and it does depend on your current situation. 

In this guide, we’ll discuss everything that you need to consider when you are buying your first home. That way, you can ensure that this is going to be the right choice for you.

Are You Financially Ready?

First, you should think about whether you are financially ready to purchase your first home. You need to look at possibilities such as your credit rating. You need a healthy credit rating to buy your first home. If you don’t have this, then you will be significantly limited on your choice of mortgages. We recommend thinking about checking your credit rating and then taking steps to boost it up. 

You can boost your rating in a few different ways. Arguably the best way is to borrow loans that you know you will be able to afford to pay back. This shows lenders that you can be trusted. You won’t have to worry about them ignoring you because the risk of lending you money is too great. There’s no set rule on the creditng rating you need and individual lenders do tend to have their own rules that they follow here. 

Another option to consider would be the deposit. You should think about saving as much as 20% of the total cost of the home for the deposit on the property. 20% will ensure that you have access to a range of different mortgages. If you are worried that your options are limited here, you can also speak to a mortgage broker. They can help you explore possibilities that might be hidden from the typical buyer. 

Then, you should think about all the additional costs that come with purchasing a home. It doesn’t just stop with the mortgage payments and the deposit. There are other possibilities to keep in mind here as well including the legal costs of buying your first home and ensuring that everything is handled the right way. 

Does It Fit Your Lifestyle?

Next, you need to think about whether a home purchase fits well with your lifestyle. Purchasing a home makes sense if you are getting ready to start a family and settle down. It will deliver the right level of stability that you are searching for here. However, it might not be the best idea if you haven’t found where you want to live or you’re not ready to settle in one place. 

In cases like this, renting can give you the greater level of flexibility you need. Particularly, if you want to be able to move without any delays. This can also be useful if you don’t have a lot of job stability. For instance, you could be freelancing. Freelancing will find it more difficult to get approval for a mortgage regardless of how much they earn. Though it is worth pointing out that it’s far from impossible to gain approval if you are freelancing. 

You can also get an easier ride if you are renting. You might hate the idea of taking time to maintain a home or it’s possible that you just don’t have the time. Regardless, if you rent, then you’ll likely find that a landlord is going to handle a lot of the responsibilities that a homeowner will take on board. 

This can save you time and even money if the worst happens. It’s possible that your home is damaged due to a natural disaster. If this is the case, then you will need to handle everything including the restoration process. This can be partially covered by your insurance but claiming on it completely will cause your premium to rise. If you rent, you’ll likely only need to cover the cost for a personal property restoration company which will be far more budget friendly. 

Are You Ready For the Work?

If you are approaching a home as an investment, you can’t just leave it to stagnate. Instead, you should think about making changes to it regularly. If you don’t do this, then when it’s time to sell, it’s not going to reach the value that you hoped for on the market. 

You need to put the work in to ensure that your home remains modern and fits with the latest trends on the market today. There are lots of examples that you should keep in mind here. Pay particular attention to the kitchen and the bathrooms. These are the rooms that are always going to matter the most to buyers. The right changes here could add as much as 25% onto the final sale price of your home on the market. 

There’s other work that needs to be completed on your home to ensure it retains the right level of value as well. For instance, you should think about improving the curb appeal. Boosting the curb appeal will enhance the perception that buyers have when they see your home for the first time. This is going to encourage them to make greater offers on your property. 

Is It The Right Time?

You might also want to consider whether it’s the right time to buy a property? This isn’t just about whether it’s the right time to buy a home for you. It’s also about whether the market is in the right position. You should think about the cost of homes in your area and explore if they are selling at the right price. It’s important to make sure that you don’t buy a home for more than it’s going to be worth when it’s time to sell a few years down the line. If you do this, then there’s a strong possibility that you will end up with a mortgage shortfall. This can be catastrophic for your finances because you could ultimately be forced to sell the property at a loss. 

Is Renting Really Dead Money?

Finally, you might have heard about how renting is dead money. While this is true, to an extent, it’s worth noting that this doesn’t tell the full story. Ultimately, buying a home can cost you more because the mortgage payments can be difficult to deal with. That’s why you need to make sure that you can afford the cost of a property before you commit to a purchase. If you can’t or you’re not certain, it could be far better for you in the long term to continue renting, at least for now. 

We hope this helps you understand everything that you do need to consider and keep in mind when you are purchasing your home. If you explore the right options, then you’ll be able to make sure that this makes sense for you financially while also fitting well with your chosen lifestyle.

Remember, your first home doesn’t need to be somewhere that you plan to live in the long term. It can be smaller and then you can buy a larger property at a later stage in your life. 

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Key Trends That Will Drive Small Businesses in 2022

December 4, 2021 by Leave a Comment

When Covid-19 struck, it sent small businesses into a turbulent period and upheaval that they either benefited from or needed to recover from. However, as 2021 draws to a close and life returns to a sense of normalcy, new business trends are emerging, and understanding and utilizing them will help businesses have an excellent 2022. 

trends

Influencer Marketing

Online platforms and social media channels such as Instagram and TikTok can help small businesses tell their stories to drive awareness and excitement in microdoses through Instagram stories and posts and TikTok videos. Influencers already have an audience that is interested in them and what they have to say. Big or small, they strengthen the story by providing relevance and endorsements. 

Return of Traditional Marketing Techniques

While digital marketing has taken over at breakneck speed, consumers can also be drowned in digital noise. So, marketers should go back to their roots with tried and true tricks because they still work—for example, signage. Signage may be one of the oldest forms of marketing still in existence, but it helps customers find whether they are looking for you or not. 4allpromos also believes that you can spread brand awareness, ensure a great impression, and make conversation easy with items such as promotional trade.

Networking With Business Owners

Networking is arguably the most significant trend of 2022. Instead of growing alone, small-business owners can multiply their efforts exponentially by connecting with other business owners. Networking helps you gain business lead referrals, hear new market perspectives, learn from others’ experiences, sharpen your game and pitch. Work together to ensure everyone’s success! 

Hybrid Workspaces

The world has changed now as people have realized that it is, in fact, possible to work from home, whether it’s due to being high risk or wanting to be more flexible with children. The opportunities for everyone, no matter their situation, have opened up. Having a hybrid workplace where employees can choose their optimal work schedule as well as whether to be remote or in-person will be a trend for the future as security and insecurity are balanced with a healthy home and working environment. In addition, it is an excellent way to embrace employees with different value systems and life-learned skill sets. 

Mental Health in the Workplace

This should not really be called a trend as it should always be focussed on. However, it can be argued that there is more of an awareness of mental health in the workplace. No matter the size of its workforce. Supply chain crunches, lack of staffing, remote work, and the blur of the work-life intersection are deepening employee stress at a record rate. Implementing policies that address this trend will increase engagement, reduce turnover, and improve productivity.

We have barely scratched the surface on what sort of trends are going to help small businesses get the best out of the year 2022. But these are a great start to what is bound to be a fantastic year. 

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How to Relieve Dental Anxiety

December 4, 2021 by 1 Comment

Visiting the dentist is essential to keep your teeth healthy and detect any issues with your oral health. However, for some people visiting the dentist is an anxiety-provoking experience. In some cases, dental anxiety can be severe and become a phobia. The phobia of visiting the dentist is known as dentophobia and is something that affects a great many people. Whether you have a mild fear of visiting the dentist or a severe phobia, it is still essential to take care of your teeth. So, finding ways to reduce your worry and ease your dental anxiety is essential to protect your oral health.

fear of desntist

There are many reasons people develop a fear of visiting the dentist. Perhaps they have had a negative experience in the past, or maybe they are concerned that there is something wrong with their teeth and are worried about having treatment. Whatever your reasons may be for having dental anxiety, there are ways to make visiting the dentist easier on yourself. Take a look at these tips to reduce your dental anxiety:

Find the Right Dentist

If you are not happy with your current dentist, this may be exacerbating your fear. Changing your dentist and visiting a different dental office can be really helpful. Carrying out a little research and selecting a dentist that has a calming, relaxed treatment environment can transform trips to the dentist from something you dread into a positive experience. Choosing a dentist that is highly experienced and is used to treating patients with dental anxiety is also really beneficial and will help you to feel at ease during your visits.

It is helpful to discuss your fear of attending dental exams with your dentist ahead of your visit. Letting your dentist know about your phobia will ensure that they can make your consultation as stress-free as possible. 

Calm Your Mind

Staying calm is the best way to stop your dental anxiety from escalating. Reducing your stress before you even arrive at the dentist’s office will prevent anxiety from building up. Practicing breathing techniques can be helpful when trying to stay calm. It is also wise to do all that you can to avoid the dental visit from becoming stressful by ensuring you leave early enough to get to the dentist’s office and allow enough time to park up without needing to rush. Staying calm and avoiding unnecessary stress is a great way to feel in control of the situation and keep your anxiety levels low.

Bring a Friend

Bringing a friend to your dental check-up is a great way to feel more at ease. Having someone with you provides a reassuring presence and should help you to feel more relaxed about the situation. It is best to check before your visit to ensure that you can bring someone along to your consultation to help you cope with your dental anxiety.

Following these steps should help reduce the worry of visiting the dentist and ensure that your teeth get the care they deserve.

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