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Monthly Archives: July 2020

Planning for a Fresh Start: Top Tips

Reaching a crossroads in your life can happen at any point, at any age. There is no right or wrong when it comes to making a fresh start, but it’s often the best decision for your own happiness and wellbeing if there is no longer anything keeping you in one place. Fresh starts can be key for many reasons, whether it’s personal, health, relationships, or with your career.

Signs You Need a Fresh Start

There are many signs to look out for that can signal to you that you need a fresh start including:

  • Breakdown of relationships. Perhaps you have drifted apart from old friends or old relationships.
  • You have come to the end of a chosen career, or wish to find a new career.
  • You are no longer inspired with any aspect of your current lifestyle
  • You wish to cut ties from a situation or from certain people
  • You desperately want (or need) change
  • You’re constantly living in the past and want to move forward
  • You feel trapped
  • You feel unhappy

Top Tips for Making a Fresh Start

When you notice any of the above, you will want to do everything you can to deal with this. Try the following tips for the best start at achieving a fresh start:

Be Honest With Yourself

Making a fresh start is as much about connecting with the real you as it is about taking physical action. Fresh starts offer opportunities to be the real you and live your life the way you want it. So it’s important to understand your own feelings and goals so that you can make sure your next steps are true to yourself.

Move Home

One of the most crucial things you can do for a fresh start is to relocate. This will enable you to truly leave behind an old way of life and start afresh in a new place with new people. This can be very liberating if you want to leave your old life behind.

Moving home doesn’t even have to be in your own country; you have the choice of relocating abroad or even just spending a period of time renting a property (such as for 6 or 12 months) in a new country to find space and clarity.

There are many countries which are popular for relocation, such as those which offer a great way of life and career opportunities, whether it’s America, Europe or Africa. Be sure to browse properties from specialists in your chosen area, like Kenya Property Centre, for example.

Sever Ties

You have the right to sever ties with anybody negative or toxic in your life. It can be as simple as blocking certain people on social media and changing your phone number.

Change Career

This is a big step, but it’s a crucial one if your current career is part of your old life. Seek a new job that brings you joy, and which allows you to be around the right people, or even offers relocation opportunities.

Try New Hobbies

Leave behind any interests which don’t appeal to you anymore and try new pastimes. These could be things you’ve always wanted to do, or you could step completely out of your comfort zone to find a new version of yourself around new people.

Tips To Find The Perfect Senior Housing For Your Parents

There’s no escaping the passage of time, and all of us have to adjust to handle the changes brought about when parents get older. Your parents may be in great shape as they age, but it’s always helpful to add a little knowledge to the mix.

Learn a little something about the process before your parents are faced with challenging changes, and be a rock for the people who helped you become who you are now. Here is a brief look at a few tips that will help you find the perfect senior housing for your parents.

Consider house sharing for your parents

Your parents may not be fully able to care for a big house all on their own, but they may be perfectly suited to have a roommate situation with another elderly couple. House sharing with other retirees could be the best-kept secret in elderly housing options.

Sharing the cost of owning a home could relieve financial struggles for your parents. Having more people in the home adds an element of safety as well.

Independent living communities

If your aging parents still want to maintain independence in their everyday lifestyle, they could find a suitable active retirement village to call home. Growing older makes for a lot of changes in the way you want to live your life.

If your parents are living in a place where they’re surrounded by others who are their age, they will likely have a more enjoyable time living there. Take the time to consider what your parents really need in their new home.

Assisted living communities

When your parents need some help making it through the daily tasks of life, an assisted living situation might be most suitable. An assisted living senior community may have an individual apartment for your parents that shares other communal spaces and activities.

Assisted living communities have staff there to help with daily functions like cleaning the house and remembering medications. This senior living setup is best for those who only need a little help with daily living.

Life plan senior living communities

You should first know that a life plan living community is not suited for everyone, because it costs a pretty penny to procure. However, if your family is well off financially, then your parents may find the most comfort in this type of setup.

Life Plan Communities are proposed to combine various types of senior living situations into one. If your parents have a chance of needing close attention in the future, a life plan community can take care of everything.

Aging in place can be an option

Sometimes modifying the house your parents already occupy is the best solution. Not everyone is up for the challenge of relocating once they’re older.

Your parents may prefer to age in place. Adding some grab bars, moving bedrooms around, and other augmentations can help make your parents’ current home more accommodating to their needs.

How To Make Your Office A Good Space For Your Employees

When you own a company, a small business or anything else, one of your business’s key factors to succeed is your employees. You have to make sure that your employees are all performing at their best. No one is violating the rules, it’s not like your employees are gambling at work or looking up UK sister sites for casinos during office hours, or taking long breaks, or coming to work late.

Sure, as the owner of the business, it is your responsibility to provide your employees a comfortable place to work in. If this is what you do, they will find it easier to abide by your rules, work at their best and help you make the business successful.

You might be asking, how can you do it for them? Here are some of the things you may want to consider ensuring that your employees can work at their finest all the time.

Get rid of any clutters

One of the things you have to make sure of is that your office should always be clean and clutter free. Clutters can make employees feel dizzy, tired and lazy. Hire someone to clean clutters on a regular basis, and of course, you also have to remind your employees to keep their desk organized and their space clean.

Have enough trash bins so employees will not be tempted to throw their rubbish anywhere else. It is very pleasant to work in an environment that is very clean and tidy.

Invest in a high-quality office chair

If there is something that you need to invest seriously, it is the office chairs. Employees will be sitting at the work stations for longer hours, if they do not have a comfortable chair to sit in, they may find it struggling to work. There are many available office chairs in the market and mind you, not all expensive chairs provide comfort and vice versa. You have to choose wisely all the time.

Temperature

Make sure that your employees enjoy a comfortable temperature, not too cold, not too hot. Turn the air conditioner on when needed, same as with the heater. You would not want any of your employees freezing or heating up. If they are not comfortable with the temperature, they may feel sickly and uninterested to work.

It is your responsibility to ensure that everyone is getting the right temperature they need to operate. Also, you have to consider the machineries in the office when setting the room’s temperature.

Accessible

If they are working on the 22nd floor, make sure that there is an elevator working all throughout the day. You would not want them to take the stairs as if they do, the moment they reach their stations they are already tired and exhausted. Give them enough accessibility going to their work stations.

Spacious

Make sure that all your employees have enough room to stretch their legs and walk. Their work stations should have enough legroom and the pantry should be huge enough to let your employees take their breaks comfortably.

How to Settle in from Home After Returning from Hospital

The prospect of returning home and to your regular daily routines can prove stressful if you have spent a significant amount of time in the hospital for whatever reason. Usually, this is because you might not be back to 100% mobility, or you might still be dealing with a certain amount of pain as you continue your journey of healing. Here is how to go about it to ensure that the transition is as simple and smooth as possible.

Organize support

Rope in your friends and family to lend a hand as you readjust to your own space and start caring for yourself. If you feel that you might require a more consistent level of care, it is vital to get in touch with a caregiving agency for information regarding the help that is available. In-home care can usually be tailored according to your needs and your budget.

It is still advisable to organize support even if you are mobile and only dealing with minor pain. Once you feel comfortable resuming daily activities and duties, you can slowly start to reduce the amount of help that you have.

Ask the right questions

Don’t leave the hospital until you are certain of what to expect in the coming weeks and months, especially concerning your medication. Ask the following questions:

  • Are you aware of what you need to take, how much of it, and when?
  • Do you know what to do in an emergency situation should you suffer any complications?
  • Does your physician recommend any rehabilitation or home care during your recovery time?
  • Do you have access to the relevant emergency contact details should you need to seek medical advice?

Be patient with yourself

The road to recovery can be frustrating. You will undoubtedly be eager to get back to your old lifestyle, maximize productivity at work, and feel your best. However, pushing yourself past your limits can significantly increase the chances of re-admission to hospital following your discharge. Take it slow and listen to your body. By exercising patience and being kinder to yourself, you will likely recover faster and stronger in the long run.

Monitor your condition

If you have undergone surgery, ensure that you know exactly what to watch out for in terms of signs of infection or symptoms that indicate a need for further medical attention. It pays to remain alert not only regarding your healing process but also regarding the medical advice and medication that you have received. Although uncommon, doctors can make mistakes when it comes to prescribing medication – and errors in surgery happen, too.

Remember, if you feel as though you have been mistreated or suffered the consequences of physician errors, you may be eligible to claim compensation. Contact a law firm specializing in hospital negligence claims for more information and guidance.

Schedule follow-up appointments

Your doctors should handle this on your behalf. Follow-up appointments are crucial to monitoring your health and keeping your recovery on track. Double-check that one has been scheduled for no longer than a week following your discharge, and for every month thereafter for as long as necessary.

 

5 Ways To Make Your Home Cozier

All it takes is a few clicks on an interior design blog define yourself thinking, I wish my home looked like that, but what is it that makes it so inviting? The secret to an inviting and stylish home is making it cozy. The best news is that making your home cozier isn’t rocket science. It all comes down to balancing a few elements and tying the pieces together. Take a look at some of the best ways to make your home instantly cozier.

Add Plants

House plants are modern interior designs staple, and they don’t show any sign of going out of style. Not only do they bring more life to your home (literally), but they also create an inviting feel. Adding plants to your home is known to reduce anxiety and even lower blood pressure.

Some plants produce oxygen at night, improving the quality of your night’s sleep. If you’re not sure whether you have what it takes to keep a plant alive, consider starting with easy house plants that require very little effort. If it doesn’t go well, you can always opt for plastic plants, but they’re not quite the same.

Get New Bedding

Nothing says interior design magazine like bedding that pops. The great news is that bedding doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. You can get stylish and chic bedding for considerably affordable prices; you just have to know where to look.

The trick to making your bedding work its magic, however, is remembering to make your bed. An unkempt bad has the power to throw your whole houses look off.

Lighting

When it comes to setting mood and tone in your home, lighting is everything. Using the right lighting can transform your home from an overly lit stressful environment to a romantically candlelit cocoon. Make sure that you find a balance between practical lights for when you need to be able to see with mood lighting for when you’re ready to relax in the evening.

Choose a Neutral Color Palette

Bright colors make a great addition to your home if you’re looking to feel relaxed. Dark colors don’t just make a space feel smaller; they can give you a dark and depressing vibe. When choosing your color palette, think bright and airy, and that’s exactly the effect that you’ll get.

Mirrors

Hanging mirrors throughout your house can reflect light and give your home an even more spacious feel. The more light the room has, the better you’ll feel in it, it’s not simple.

Consider placing mirrors throughout your home in places that you want to expand. You can even play around with placing them on tables and dressers to add a stylish sprinkle of accessories.

Essential Business Updates During COVID Pandemic

The 2020 pandemic has seen everyone fall to their knees, and with its unwavering temperament, the fast-spreading and contagious COVID disease is leaving utter destruction in its wake.

This is why some updates for businesses are essential to keep both employees and customers safe. Also, adaptations are required to be put in place to help ease the financial impact the disease has had and prevent any further significant losses.

With this in mind, this piece will discuss some of the essential business updates that need to be done during the pandemic to help with both safety and the financial health of a business.

Use Cloth Face Coverings in the Workplace

Using cloth face coverings has become the new norm for both businesses and consumers alike, and it is important that these rules are also implemented in the workplace. It is said that using a cloth covering over the face is a simple and effective way of producing a barrier between two people, with the cloth concealing any respiratory droplets and preventing them from traveling through the air while a person is talking, sneezing, coughing, laughing, etc.

It has been thoroughly noted that COVID can be transmitted through saliva, meaning using cloth face coverings is non-negotiable when it comes to containing the disease and lowering the risk of spreading it significantly.

Update Safety Signage

It is true that there are now many more things to think about when it comes to safety in business, but luckily, there are many businesses that are offering to take some of the thinking out of the way.

Signs are a brilliant way of conveying a message in a non-intrusive way and to catch the majority of people’s attention.

Try a social distance floor stencil to give a professional and uniform look, and help others keep the appropriate distance when it comes to COVID safety practices.

Other signs can include washing hands reminders and sanitization stations.

Focus the Business Online

For all businesses, focusing efforts online is the next logical step when it comes to both health and financial preservation. For one, working remotely drastically limits contact between employees, clients, and customers which is imperative for keeping viruses under control. It also keeps down the need for excessive cleaning which can lower costs.

If a business has a product that can be sold online, now is as good a time as any to start facilitating the simplicity of that on a larger scale, as most people now are doing business online to avoid catching and distributing the disease.

Sales online have seen a massive increase of 63% since the beginning of March, and while vulnerable people are still at risk and COVID is still spreading, it will be no surprise to see that online businesses and retail will remain extremely popular.

B2B sales have also seen a dramatic increase through the medium of video conferences and have found this system to be more successful than previous sales tactics pre-COVID, which makes that another brilliant reason to invest in online.

5 Ways to Reduce Your Spending & Save Money

Saving money and reducing spending is a wise move for anyone, even if you have a healthy salary. Many of us spend without devising a long-term budgeting strategy, which can affect our financial health in the long run. While there are hundreds of ways of saving money, below are a few important ones that may help you put the brakes on your spending and add more dollars to your bank account.

  • Move Bank Accounts

If you’ve been with the same bank for years, you may want to look into alternatives. Many banks offer sign-up bonuses with attractive interest rates that could boost your savings and slash any fees you might be paying with your current bank. Do some research and find out whether you qualify to sign up at another bank with better savings account rates.

  • Don’t Rely on Credit (Or Use It Wisely)

It can be tempting to put purchases onto your trusty credit card. After all, you can pay for it later, right? Inevitably though, things come up and that purchase you intended to pay for will keep getting put off. The ‘pay later’ mentality is what often gets people into trouble if they’re not careful. Before you know it, you could be nearing your credit limit while your savings and cash flow are dwindling. Try to save your credit card for emergencies or very special occasions. In other words, use it wisely. Your bank account will thank you for it.

  • Eliminate Unnecessary Subscriptions

Ask yourself whether you really need your Spotify, Netflix, and Amazon Prime subscriptions. While these seem like small-dollar amounts per month, when you add them up over a year, it can amount to quite a lot. Decide what’s important to you in life and then eliminate anything extraneous. After all, wouldn’t you rather be able to afford a down payment on a house rather than be caught up with the boxset of Breaking Bad?

  • Find Alternative Ways to Socialize

Socializing can be an enormous drain on our finances. Depending on how you do it, going out is a luxury that unfortunately costs a lot of money. Consider how much you spend when you go out for dancing and drinks with friends or if you spend several weekends attending theater shows. While it’s important to unwind and have fun, try to find alternative ways to socialize. Summertime affords the perfect opportunity to spend time outside in parks or hang out in nature somewhere.

  • Look for Deals and Discounts

This can take extra time and research but looking for deals and discounts is another great way to save. For example, utilizing eBay Coupons can get you access to free shipping, daily deals, and cashback if you know where to look. Comparison shopping is also a good way to find the same products at lower prices. Many retailers also offer online deals, so it’s a great idea to see what’s on offer before heading out to the stores.

Saving money can be both easy and difficult. With the right mindset and proper planning, you can curb your spending habits and begin to nurture your financial nest egg.

 

3 Things You Should Know About Title Loans

No one likes to be in a position where they need to take out a loan to afford to make certain payments. That being said, should the occasion arise where you require a loan, you have several options available to you. One of those options is that of the title loan.

Typically, a title loan is a type of loan where the title of one’s car is used as collateral. These loans can provide funds when those situations arise that send your financial situation spinning a bit. There are a few points that many people don’t understand about these loans, though. Here are three things you should know about title loans if you are looking to explore your loan options.

1. You Keep Your Car While You Repay the Loan

When you take out a title loan, you don’t have to surrender your vehicle to the lender. Rather, only the title of your car is handed over as collateral. You will continue to drive your car as usual throughout your loan repayment process.

Lenders like title loans Albuquerque will factor the value of your vehicle into the loan and assess your ability to repay using your credit history. Once you have completed all of your payments, then your car title will be returned to you.

2. You Can Use the Title of Any Vehicle that You Own

You don’t necessarily need to use the title of your car to take out a title loan. Rather, the title of any vehicle that is in your name will suffice as collateral for your loan. If you need a smaller loan and the value of your motorcycle is sufficient enough to get you the amount that you need, then that will work just fine. Again, you only need to hand over the title of your vehicle as opposed to the vehicle itself.

Oftentimes, something like the title of an RV or motorhome is preferable as these vehicles can be worth much more than a car. In this way, you might be able to secure a more significant amount for your loan.

3. The Process Is Quick

One of the aspects of title loans that makes them so appealing to borrowers is the fact that you can get the money you need fast. Similar to a payday loan, title loans are processed quite quickly so that you can have your cash within the same day that you apply. The repayment timeline is also generally shorter than other loan options with many lenders looking to have the loan repaid within a month or two.

Bear in mind that because this is the case, title loans tend to be expensive. This is because of higher interest rates that, over time, can add up quickly. The interest for your loan might be simple or compound depending on the lender you use. Make sure to stick to your repayment schedule or even pay the loan off early if your lender will allow it without penalties.