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Ways to Unwind During Your Annual Leave

Forest bathing therapy in Japan - how to forest bath as a therapy

Taking time off from work is essential for your mental and physical well-being. Annual leave offers a precious opportunity to relax, recharge, and explore new experiences. Here are some ways that you can make the most of your time off.

Forest Bathing

Escape the hustle and bustle of daily life by immersing yourself in the tranquility of a forest. Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is a Japanese practice that involves spending time in a forest to improve your overall well-being. The serene environment and clean air can aid in alleviating stress and enhancing your mood.

Consider finding a local forest or nature reserve where you can practice forest bathing. While walking through the forest, be mindful of the sights, sounds, and scents that surround you. Listen to the gentle rustle of the leaves, inhale the crisp fragrance of the trees, and feel the supple earth beneath your feet. Immerse yourself completely in the moment, letting go of any worries or stresses.

Travel to Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations

Venturing into lesser-known destinations can offer a wonderful opportunity to relax and explore new locations. Consider visiting St Andrews in Scotland, known for its picturesque beaches and historic sites. While you’re there, stay at this golf place St Andrews and enjoy stunning views of the Scottish coastline.

Take the time to explore the local culture, cuisine, and attractions of off-the-beaten-path destinations. St Andrews, for example, offers not only beautiful beaches but also historic sites such as St Andrews Cathedral and St Andrews Castle. Immerse yourself in the local history and traditions to truly appreciate the uniqueness of these destinations.

Outdoor Yoga

Practice yoga outdoors to connect with nature and improve your overall well-being. Outdoor yoga classes are often held in parks or on beaches, allowing you to enjoy the fresh air and natural surroundings while reaping the benefits of yoga practice.

Outdoor yoga can be a refreshing change from practicing it indoors. The natural surroundings can help you feel more grounded and connected to the earth. Listen to the sounds of nature as you move through your yoga poses, allowing them to deepen your sense of relaxation and mindfulness. Outdoor yoga can be a rejuvenating experience for both your body and mind.

Digital Detox

Take a break from screens and technology during your annual leave. A digital detox can help you to relax and recharge. Spend time outdoors, read a book, or engage in activities that don’t involve screens to give your mind a break from constant stimulation.

Use your digital detox as an opportunity to reconnect with the world around you. Immerse yourself in nature by taking a walk or simply sitting quietly to observe your surroundings. Participating in screen-free activities can enhance your sense of presence and mindfulness, enabling you to fully relish the beauty of the world around you.

Volunteer Work

Volunteering can be a fulfilling way to unwind during your annual leave. Think about volunteering for a nearby charity or community group. Assisting others can offer a sense of purpose and satisfaction, which can be highly fulfilling.

Look for volunteer opportunities that align with your interests and values. Whether you opt to volunteer at a soup kitchen, animal shelter, or environmental group, select a cause that aligns with your values. Volunteering can also help you connect with your community and meet new people, which can be enriching an experience.

 

NightLife Safety: 3 Handy Tools for You

Having some fun is fun! Not only that, it’s good for you, with benefits ranging from improved cognitive function to better physical health.

Unfortunately, trying to have some fun doesn’t always turn out great and this is often especially true when the enjoyment takes place during night time. From drug test cups to protective clothing, here are some tools you want to take advantage of to significantly improve your safety levels on nights out.

Drug Testing Kits

Honestly, simple things like getting drinks with friends could go left really quickly, and having some kind of drug testing material can mean the difference between fun and tragedy.

Imagine being at a party with friends, and someone you don’t know offers you a drink. You decide to use a drug test kit to check the drink discreetly, and it reveals the presence of an unknown substance; this seemingly simple act saves the night, possibly your life.

Really, it’s a good thing there are many different types of drug testing tools to choose from based on your needs and preferences. You want to consider things like:

  • Whether you need a test for urine, saliva, hair, etc
  • The detection window
  • Which drugs you’re most likely to want to test for
  • Accuracy
  • How easy the test is to administer and interpret
  • Speed
  • Discretion

Personal Alarm

You can’t always handle trouble by yourself, especially at night. Imagine a night out in a bustling city festival with friends. Everything is going well, but suddenly, an unexpected altercation breaks out very close to you, separating you from your friends and pushing you toward imminent danger.

A personal alarm is one of the best tools to have around in situations where your safety depends on others coming to your aid as it’s one of the fastest ways to immediately grab attention for help while deterring potential threats.

Fortunately, personal alarms also come in different makes and models: designed to be worn as jewelry or accessories, attached to keychains or bags, even mobile apps that turn smartphones into personal alarms.

Look out for things like:

  • The decibel ratings
  • Simple, one-touch activation
  • Portability and attachment options
  • Long battery life. Some models have replaceable batteries, while others are rechargeable
  • Discreet versus more visible alarm designs

Safety Enhanced Clothing

Yes, there are clothes designed to maximize safety, with features and materials that prioritize the wearer’s safety and security, especially in situations where personal safety may be a concern, such as nightlife or travel. For example:

  • Discreet pockets for valuables like money and credit cards
  • RFID blocking technology to protect against electronic theft
  • Integrated GPS tracking devices that mean trusted contacts can locate you

Really, it’s a good idea to incorporate such items of clothing into your night-out outfits.

Remember, a safe night is a fun night. Personal safety should always be a priority when enjoying the nightlife.

 

Interesting Ideas to Help You Build a Great Diet While Still Eating Food You Love

Embarking on a healthy eating journey doesn’t have to mean bidding farewell to all your favorite foods. With a little creativity and thoughtful planning, it’s possible to build a great diet that nourishes your body while still indulging in the flavors you love. By incorporating interesting ideas into your meal planning, you can strike a balance between nutrition and enjoyment. Here are some tips to help you achieve a healthy and delicious diet.

Embrace a Balanced Approach

The key to building a great diet is balance. Instead of completely eliminating certain foods, focus on moderation and portion control. Include a variety of nutrient-dense foods such as lean proteins, wholegrains, fruit, vegetables, and healthy fats in your meals. This way, you can still enjoy occasional treats without feeling deprived.

Practice Mindful Eating

Mindful eating involves paying full attention to your food, savoring each bite, and listening to your body’s cues.

Slow down and truly enjoy the flavors, textures, and aromas of your meals. Not only can this practice help you eat less and make healthier choices, but it can also help you to fully appreciate the foods you love.

Experiment with Healthy Swaps

Explore creative alternatives to make your favorite dishes healthier. Swap refined grains for wholegrains, such as using wholewheat pasta instead of regular pasta. Replace high-calorie dressings with flavorful herbs and spices. Substitute unhealthy fats with healthier options like avocado or olive oil. These small changes can make a big difference in improving the nutritional value of your meals.

Add Color to Your Plate

Vibrant, colorful foods are often packed with essential nutrients and can help to make your meals look more dynamic and exciting. So, you should aim to include a variety of different-colored fruit and vegetables in your diet. Incorporate them into your meals as main ingredients, side dishes, or snacks. This will not only enhance the visual appeal of your plate but also boost the nutritional content.

Prioritize Portion Control

Portion control is crucial for maintaining a healthy diet. It allows you to enjoy your favorite foods without overindulging. Use smaller plates and bowls to control portion sizes visually. Include appropriate servings of protein, carbohydrates, and fats to ensure you have a well-rounded meal. Remember, it’s not about restriction, but rather about finding the right balance.

Practice Moderation with Treats

Indulging in your favorite treats occasionally is an important aspect of maintaining a sustainable diet. Instead of completely depriving yourself, allow room for small or infrequent portions of your favorite meals, desserts, or snacks.

After all, you’re going to find it far easier to stop getting your favorite Indian takeout from urban-tandoor.com every night if you’re telling yourself that you’re never going to get it again. Instead, enjoy these treats mindfully and savor every bite, appreciating the moment while still being mindful and responsible with your overall health goals.

Plan Ahead and Meal Prep

Planning your meals in advance can help you make healthier choices and stay on track. Take some time each week to create a meal plan and a shopping list.

Consider prepping ingredients or even full meals in advance to save time during busy days. Having nutritious options readily available reduces the likelihood of reaching for unhealthy alternatives when hunger strikes.

 

Eco Upgrades: 6 Ways the Wine Industry Is Transforming to Become More Sustainable

With the world facing some pretty serious environmental issues and people doing their best on an individual level to help the planet, more and more customers are refusing to support companies that don’t factor in their impact and actively try to reduce it. Like most sectors, the wine industry is doing its best to become more sustainable, but it isn’t a straightforward process.

In this article, we take a look at six ways the wine industry is becoming more sustainable so you can get a peek behind the curtains of this tasty trade.

Investing in Quality Machinery

While making use of machinery during the production process may not seem like the most environmentally friendly solution, it can be helpful in the wine industry. Selection of quality harvesting equipment, use of quality Pellenc harvester parts, and efficient watering systems can have a massive impact on a vineyard’s output. These tweaks can help improve operational efficiency while also reducing waste, thus solving a massive issue for some growers.

Improving Water Efficiency

In addition to using the right equipment, many vineyards are also working with their local environment rather than against it. By finding the optimal time to water crops, vineyards are improving their water efficiency drastically. By monitoring the moisture levels in their soil and analyzing factors like the impact of temperature and weather patterns, growers can greatly reduce their water consumption. Many vineyards also process their wastewater on-site, with biological treatments, aeration, and filtration. These processes further reduce their environmental footprint.

Sustainable Packaging

With almost thirty percent of the average wine’s carbon footprint coming from its packaging, it makes sense that the industry is looking for more sustainable options. By switching this element up, vineyards can make their operations instantly greener, and with wine being such a popular drink, the impact on a worldwide scale is significant.

Organic Repellents

Insects are a major issue for winemakers, but pesticides are a big problem for the planet. The good news is that many vineyards are moving towards natural repellents and physical barriers rather than nasty chemicals. This is great for their soil in areas where wash-off from their vineyards ends up. It’s also better for the health of wine drinkers, so everybody wins in this situation.

Social Procurement

Another way the wine industry is doing better for both people and the planet is by practicing social procurement. By sourcing the goods and services they need from small local businesses with ethical practices, vineyards can help their communities and the environment as a whole. When social purchasing practices become widespread in a region, everybody enjoys a reduction in their carbon footprint plus other societal perks.

Streamlining the Process from Vine to Table

Finally, many vineyards are choosing to cut out intermediaries and sell directly. This may seem like more of a profit thing than an environmental thing, but it can actually help with both. When vineyards sell directly, they’re able to reduce packaging while also ensuring that their products ship via a carbon-neutral method. This may not seem like a big deal, but as noted above, almost 30% of a wine’s carbon footprint comes from its packaging, so this is an important step in the right direction.

The wine industry is making great strides toward being more sustainable, and the strategies outlined in this piece aren’t the only steps they’re taking. So, next time you go to take a sip of your favorite drop, you can enjoy it a little more, knowing that the sector is working to help our planet.

 

3 Tips To Help You Maintain A Strong Relationship With Your Grandparents As You Get Older

If you had a great relationship with your grandparents as you were growing up but are worried about how the relationship might change as you both start to get older, you’ll be glad to know that there are things that you can do to ensure that this relationship stays strong as long as you’re willing to put in the emotional work to make this happen, regardless of whether your grandparent remains healthy or needs to move into an assisted living facility.

To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips to help you maintain a strong relationship with your grandparents as they get older.

Make Visits As Often As You Can

When you were younger, you might have been able to visit your grandparents a lot or for extended periods of time. And now that you’re older, you can continue to do this. As you do, you’ll see that your relationship is able to remain strong and even grow as you continue to get to know each other better.

If you live close to your grandparents, try to make quick and frequent visits to them. And if you live far away, try to plan to see them as often as you can and for as long of a period of time as you can.

Find Something You Both Enjoy Or Have In Common

When you were growing up with your grandparents, they likely enjoyed doing anything with you that you wanted, as simply watching little ones learn and grow can be exciting for grandparents. But now that you’re older and have become your own person, you can seek to find things that you and your grandparents have in common or interests that you share.

If you’re able to find these things, you can now begin to do these activities together. This can help to strengthen your bond even further and help both of you see each other as a whole, real person rather than just a beloved family member.

Recognize What You Need From Each Other

As you grow older, what you and your grandparents want and need from each other will likely change. While your grandparents may have been taking care of you more when you were younger, you might feel more of a need to take care of them in different ways now. However, going through these changes can be hard on both sides. But by recognizing that your roles will likely change over time and accepting that from each other, you can work to strengthen and grow your love for each other and the relationship that you have.

If you want to continue to have a strong relationship with your grandparents now that you’re an adult, consider using the tips mentioned above to make sure that this happens for you both.

 

Five Gift Ideas for the Discerning Man in Your Life

When you love someone, you probably know their taste, which should make buying them gifts a pleasant experience. Unlike shopping for someone you don’t know well, you can use your knowledge of their likes and dislikes to help you purchase the perfect present. However, this can bring with it pressures – after all, you want to make sure that they’ll like whatever you choose.

If you are looking for the ideal gift for the discerning gent in your life, whether that’s a partner, father or brother, these five ideas are an excellent starting point.

A Favourite Tipple

Whether the man you’re buying for enjoys a pint of craft beer or a malt whisky, there is plenty of choice out there when it comes to buying alcohol. If you know their favourite brand then that’s an excellent starting point. If you aren’t sure, local independents breweries and distilleries can be a good option. Some also offer tours, which can be an excellent way to try before you buy.

Classic Clothing

When buying clothes for someone else, you want to ensure you’re getting top quality products that will stand the test of time. Choose a curated store such as burrowsandhare.co.uk which offers classic items with a modern twist to be sure your man will be the best dressed in town! Best of all, your loved one will think of you every time they wear the item you’ve selected for them.

Experience Days

It can feel like people have all they need already and this is especially true for those with a minimalist aesthetic. An ideal gift for those who have it all (or have all they want) is an experience day – not only will this mean there’s no unwanted clutter, but it promises to provide memories that will last a lifetime. There are so many options available to suit all budgets, from hot air ballooning to drag racing and axe throwing to skydiving! An experience day can also be a perfect opportunity to spend quality time with your loved one, so why not make it a joint experience? Some packages offer discounts when booking for multiple people, so always ask when you enquire.

A Special Watch

Both practical and stylish, watches are a fashion statement in their own right. With collectable limited editions perfect for those looking to blow the budget and quality designer-inspired timepieces on the high street, a watch is a great option for anyone looking to buy a gift that is both useful and beautiful. To add the personal touch, why not get a message engraved?

Technology

If your special someone loves a gadget then a technological gift could be the ideal gift. Whether this is the latest iPhone, tablet or laptop or you choose to go retro and gift them a games console they loved in their youth, this is a great choice for anyone who loves spending time gaming or on social media.

Whatever gift you choose, remember the most important thing is that it’s given with love – and that will mean more than any present ever could.

 

3 Tips For Living A Less Expensive Lifestyle

Saving money is one thing that everyone would probably like to do more of, no matter where they’re at in life. That being said, sometimes it’s simply easier said than done. It can be really hard to make different lifestyle choices that will really help out your bank account.

But learning not to live such an expensive lifestyle will benefit you and your entire family in so many ways because you will finally be able to build up some savings in case of an emergency, or for fun things you would like to do in the future. If you’re not sure what kinds of changes you can make in order to make this happen, here are 3 tips for living a less expensive lifestyle.

Eat Out Less

Cooking at home more often and in turn eating out less will save you more money than you could probably imagine. Unfortunately, making this change will require some amount of planning ahead. If you lead a busy life, you may automatically assume you don’t have time to cook at home, but that is not the case!

Choose one or two days a week when you have a little bit of extra free time, and use that time to meal prep for the rest of the week. This way you will always have something in the fridge ready to be reheated when you get home, so you can avoid spending money on eating out!

Keep Your Finances Organized

Learning to keep your finances organized is a great way to make sure you don’t overspend and are able to save the largest amount possible. In order to do this, make a monthly budget and keep a folder with all of your financial documents. This way, when you need to find something you will know right where it is and won’t become overwhelmed or stressed having to look for it.

Sticking to your monthly budget allows you to be aware of when you can or can’t afford certain things, so you can make choices that will save your family the most money possible without having to make big sacrifices. Staying organized will help you to be in total control of your finances in so many ways.

Downsize

If you live in a large home with a lot of rooms or spaces that you never use, it may be time to consider moving into something smaller in order to save money. For example, if you don’t have children and don’t plan to have them soon, it may be a better fit for you to live in a 2-bedroom home rather than a 4-bedroom. There’s no harm in looking to see what’s out there, and if you find that you could cut your monthly rent or mortgage payments in half, downsizing could be the right decision for you!

Living a less expensive lifestyle doesn’t have to mean making huge changes or sacrificing the things that you love the most. Weigh your options and see if making some changes would be worth it to you and you could end up with a lot of extra money in your pocket. Hopefully, these tips help!

 

3 Tips For Staying In Touch With Loved Ones You Don’t See Often

If you have loved ones that live far away from you or that you’re not able to see often, whether it’s because they live in an assisted living facility or just due to the miles between you, modern technology has made it so that staying in touch is easier than ever. But even with modern technology, many people struggle to know how to best stay in touch and how to make it so that relationships can stand the test of this distance.

To help you in figuring all of this out, here are three tips for staying in touch with loved ones you don’t see often.

Schedule Phone Or Video Communication

When you’re not physically close to the people you love, you can still remain emotionally close to them through phone calls and video chats. However, if you live in different time zones or in different countries, you’re going to have to put a bit more work in to make sure that you’re communicating at convenient times for each of you.

To do this, you should try to pick a time of day or a day of the week when you can schedule in phone calls or video chats. By doing this, you’ll reliably be able to reach out to your loved one and know that you’re not going to be catching them at a bad time or vice versa.

Reach Out Whenever You Think About Them

In addition to the scheduled calls and video chats that you might have on your calendar, there are likely going to be times throughout your days where you want to reach out or share something with your loved one. When this happens, you should feel free to communicate with them, regardless of what time it might be or what you or they may be doing.

By reaching out when something reminds you of them, you think about them, or you feel like you’re missing them in a particular moment, you will be showing your loved one that you think of them and care about them even when you’re actively in the middle of communicating. This can usually best be done though a chat or messaging service so that they can read and respond when they have time available.

Make Plans to See Each Other In The Future

Along with getting in touch with one another through the use of technology, something that can be very helpful to long distance friendships or relationships can be to have plans to see each other in the future. Even if the date isn’t quite set in stone, knowing that you plan to come visit them in the next six months or that they will be coming to see you next year sometime can give you both something to look forward to and plan for, which is great for maintaining relationships.

If you’re wanting to be better about staying in touch with your loved ones that you don’t see in person often, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you in doing this.

 

Obsolete Occupations: 5 Jobs from the 1950s That No Longer Exist Today

Jobs, like everything else, change over time. For the most part, this is due to changes in technology. For example, no one’s applying to be a switchboard operator nowadays because telephone technology has moved far beyond that.

However, it’s still fun to look back through history to grasp how far we’ve come. This is most readily apparent in terms of workplace inclusion. Although there’s still plenty more progress to make, jobs (and the teams that complete them) are far more diverse nowadays than decades ago.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at five obsolete jobs from the 1950s.

1. Bowling pinsetters

In the early part of the 20th century, the pins in a bowling alley had to be manually reset every time someone bowled. That required a special person’s input, namely: the pinsetter. Usually, this was a job reserved for young kids and teenagers as it didn’t pay particularly well. In the 1950s, most of these pinsetter jobs disappeared as automatic pinsetters gained popularity and made the role obsolete.

2. Radio Actors

Although the radio was invented in the 1890s, it didn’t reach broadcasting capabilities until 1919. From then until the 1950s, radio dramas were hugely successful. Perhaps the most infamous one was Orson Welles’ 1938 broadcast of The War of the Worlds – it reportedly had people believing a Martian invasion actually happened!

With the rise of television in the 1950s, however, people were no longer content to gather around the radio. Instead, they wanted to see a show in black and white and then color. Many radio actors’ careers declined shortly thereafter.

3. Milkmen

​​The job of milkman – or, more accurately, milk deliverer – has been around for hundreds of years. Alongside milk, they also delivered eggs, butter, cream, and other products in the early morning. This was mostly due to the lack of refrigeration available in private homes. Deliveries started out on foot, moved to horse-drawn carriages, and then switched to motorized vehicles.

Nowadays, however, milk deliverers are far less common. Although there are still a few, the job largely became obsolete decades ago because most people have refrigerators that can do the job for them.

4. Switchboard operators

The job of the switchboard operator goes all the way back to the late 1870s, shortly after Alexander Graham Bell made the first telephone call. The job involved connecting different phone plugs into different jacks to connect the callers.

Alongside making the first phone call, Bell also hired the first female switchboard operator. In fact, women made up a bulk of the switchboard operators from the late 1800s up to the 1960s.

Although this sounds forward-looking, it was mainly due to two not-so-progressive reasons. The first was that women were seen to be more courteous. The second was that companies only had to pay women a quarter to a half of what they paid men.

5. Soda jerk

As anyone who has seen movies about the 1950s knows, all the cool kids drank sodas at the drugstore. Those serving the sodas were called soda jerks, and usually, they were men. Alongside regular sodas, they also poured ice cream sodas – a delicious (but not too nutritious) mix of carbonated water, syrup, malt powder, and a few scoops of your favorite ice cream.

As the 1950s wore on, fast food restaurants gained popularity. What they had on offer made the soda jerk role obsolete.

Although you’re unlikely to apply for any of the jobs above, it can be fun to take a trip through memory lane to see what the past was like – and how far we’ve come since.

 

3 Tips For Talking About Engagement Rings With Your Future Fiancé

If you and your partner are starting to think about getting married, you’ll likely want to have a conversation about engagement rings at some point. And while this can be an exciting time, it can also be a time where you and your partner are having to deal with some real-life issues together that could set the tone for the rest of your relationship.

To help you in figuring all of this out, here are three tips for talking about engagement rings with your future fiancé.

Talk About Your Budget

For many people, purchasing engagement rings is going to be one of the biggest purchases they’ll make as a couple. So if you haven’t had many discussions about money or your joint finances before now, this is a good time to have this conversation.

The amount of money that you and your partner want to spend on engagement rings will be totally up to you. However, you’ll want to make sure that you’re on the same page with both your budget and your expectations. If you’re both expecting something glamorous but have a relatively small budget to work with, you’ll want to make sure that you know where concessions are going to be made. This way, no one will be put under undue pressure or be disappointed when the proposal happens.

Decide If You Want To Shop Together

Once you know how much money you’re wanting to spend on your budget for your engagement rings, you then have to decide who will be picking out the rings.

For some people, picking out the rings together is ideal. But for others, having the engagement ring be some sort of surprise is what they want. When deciding this, just make sure that you and your partner communicate openly about how you want the shopping process to work. Then, you can either plan a date to go look at rings together or you can pick out the perfect ring to surprise your partner.

Get On The Same Page With The Terminology

When the time comes to actually go shopping for the engagement rings that you’ll be buying, something that can be incredibly helpful is to get on the same page with what each of you wants. And to do this, you’ll want to be speaking with the same terminology.

Ideally, you should try to use the right terminology that the jewelers will be using at the store. This way, when you tell them you want something with a princess cut, you’ll know that you both have the same image in mind.

If you’re wanting to talk with your partner about getting married and getting engagement rings, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you with this conversation.

 

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