Tag Archives: ideas

Oct5

Top 3 Dog Grooming Essentials For A Beautiful And Healthy Coat

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Top 3 Dog Grooming Essentials For A Beautiful And Healthy Coat

Hi everyone and welcome to a very special guest post written by the amazing founder of NolongerWild, Cindy. Cindy is here to give the 411 on all of the top tips to keeping your four legged friend’s coat healthy and sleek. And remember, these pieces of advice aren’t suitable for human hair! 😉

Top 3 Dog Grooming Essentials For A Beautiful And Healthy Coat

There are 3 dog grooming essentials to ensure that your pet’s coat is healthy and beautiful. Bear in mind that some breeds are more high maintenance than others. If you are thinking of adopting a pet, definitely look into the dog grooming requirements that are needed first.

  1. Bubbles At Bath Time:
  • Nobody likes a smelly dog and that is when you know your friend-legged friend needs a bath. Additionally, bathing will be necessary if your pooch has been rollicking in the mud, too.
  • If your dog is neither stinky nor dirty, take a rain check. Bathing should be kept to a minimum as too much makes their skin dry out because the natural oils are stripped away.
  • Be sure to use shampoos specifically formulated for canines. There are great products available for those that have extra sensitive skin or allergies, too.
  • Using products designed for humans on your pet may cause inflammation and other skin problems because the pH levels of our skin are not the same.
  • My favorite is a homemade oatmeal bath. Not only does it relieve my dog’s dry and itchy skin, but it also conditions her coat making it silky and soft!

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  1. Brushing Basics:
  • Regular brushing keeps the coat healthy by spreading out the natural oils.
  • How often your dog will need to be brushed depends on the length of his/her coat:
  • Dogs with very short hair and smooth coats will only require brushing every few weeks. I use a dog grooming glove to remove excess hair.
  • Short haired dogs with denser fur can be brushed every one to two weeks.
  • If your pooch has a long thick coat that tangles easily, brush at least weekly and before bath time, especially if their coats are matted. Bathing will only make the knotting of the mats more taut and difficult to remove.
  • To remove mats, detangling sprays and specialized tools such as mat breakers are available. This dog grooming tool should not be used like a regular brush. The razor blades are specifically designed to cut mats away as close to the skin as possible and can nick your dog if done incorrectly.

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  1. Trimming & Shaving Tips:
  • Certain breeds may need their fur to be trimmed occasionally. This could be to prevent tangling or be required seasonally.
  • Dog clippers can easily be used on the canine’s body.
  • To prevent hair pulling, keep the blades of the clipper sharp.
  • Except for the tummy area, the clippers should be slowly worked in the direction that the fur is growing. This will eliminate lines and give a smoother appearance.
  • Other areas on a dog’s body that commonly require trimming are around the lower jaw and tushie. Hair around the eyes that could obscure vision should also be cut.

Dog grooming can be a wonderful opportunity to bond with your pet. It is best to start as early as possible when your dog is still a puppy so that he/she can become accustomed to the 3 dog grooming essentials for a healthy and beautiful coat.

Thanks so much again to Cindy for sharing her grooming tips with us! For more facts on all of your favorite pets, be sure to visit NolongerWild. Much love. -Sarah

Oct3

Bigger Home, Smaller Spend: Expand Your Property For Less

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Bigger Home, Smaller Spend: Expand Your Property For Less

It’s pretty common to start wishing that your home had more space. Your family might start to grow or maybe you even pick up a hobby that starts to take over your home. Moving is one option, but you can also consider trying to work with what you’ve got. Perhaps you have some land, even if only a small amount around your house, that seems to be going to waste. Or you might already have indoor space that you might be able to put to better use by converting it. Expanding your home can be expensive, though. If you want to do it, it’s a good idea to find ways to do it for less. Take a look:

Convert An Existing Space:

By far the easiest way of getting more space in your home is to convert a space that you already have. While it’s not technically expanding your home, you can create more liveable space where it wasn’t before. For example, your attic, basement, or garage might currently be a storage space. A smart conversion could turn it into anything you want, from a spare bedroom to a workshop, a home theater, a bar, or a games room. Before you start decorating and bringing in furniture, you might need to think about some more basic things, such as insulation and plumbing.

If your home cannot afford to lose any of its existing rooms, then that is when you would want to think about an expansion. This could be as simple as adding a sunroom to give an extra space to chill out in. If you want to go the expansion route, enter a search for “Construction company in Asheville, NC” (or your local area) to begin researching professionals and getting quotes.

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#menatwork

Alternative Building Materials:

If you’ve decided that you want to build something, possibly separate from your existing property, things are likely to get more expensive. One of the ways that you can think about keeping costs down is by selecting the right building materials. You don’t need to construct a new building out of brick. Steel is a cheap option that can work for several purposes. Perhaps you want space for a workshop, a garage, or storage space. You can easily find out how to put up a steel building so you can ensure that your project goes smoothly. Steel buildings are becoming increasingly popular for their durability and cost effectiveness. The ease of assembly for barndominium kits makes it a huge game changer for those considering a steel option. Another material to consider could be wood or, perhaps, you might think about using concrete. Both materials are good options.

When you consult with a construction team like IMI (or a similar company in your local area), it is important to have a firm budget established as well as some extra wiggle room. With your budget in mind, they will be able to recommend the materials for your project to keep you in a range that you are comfortable with while ensuring a successful end result.

Use a Pre-Fab Design:

A pre-engineered design is a great way to save money on expanding your home. If you want to add a separate addition or even a cozy cabin to your property, prefab buildings make a lot of sense. Sometimes they can be built off-site and lifted in or you can bring in the different parts and put them together when they arrive. They make construction quicker, easier, and cheaper.

With the costs you cut by using prefab buildings, you have more wiggle room with the rest of your budget. These savings can be used for skid steer rentals to work around your property, new furniture, or additional helpers. Extra room in your budget will also be helpful in putting your own unique touches on a pre-designed unit.

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#menatworkAGAIN

Save On Construction:

You might also like to think about how you could save money on construction. It’s not just the materials and planning that can cost a lot of money. Some people like to try and save on construction by doing some of the work themselves or taking on the role of project manager. However, these are both difficult things to do if you don’t have any experience. You can also make sure to get quotes from different contractors to find the best price before saying yes to anything.

If you are taking a more active role in this project, you must be aware of your limits. If you do not have the proper skill set, you could get injured or make costly mistakes. This also includes being aware of things you aren’t comfortable with completing. For example, looking into a scaffolding rental service in Dallas, TX (or your local area) might not be the best option for your DIY if you are afraid of heights. Be sure you are budgeting accordingly so you can hire the help that you need.

If you want to add space to your home, it could be more affordable than you think. Consider your options before you make any decisions!

Featured Image By: Wikimedia

Oct2

Translating Your Love For Animals Into Action

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Translating Your Love For Animals Into Action

Mark Twain famously said: “The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog”. While this might be a little harsh as a statement, there are a lot of people who could agree with Twain’s words. In fact, there are plenty of famous people who share Twain’s opinion from Marilyn Monroe, who found that only humans bit, to Elton John whose best man at his wedding was his dog. While preferring dogs to humans might seem a little off, there are clear advantages in developing a bond with animals. They are reliable, they don’t judge you, they don’t have any hidden motive, and, more practically, they provide friendly company. As an animal lover, you can make the world a better place for our furry, feathery and scaly friends by doing some (Or all!) of the below:

Change an animal’s life:

Do you know how many pets are abandoned every day? Rescue centers are filled with found, lost, and lonely pets who need a little help to find a better life. Some of them have been through horrendous situations such as abusive owners. There’s no denying that adopting an animal from a rescue center can make all of the difference. Of course, this isn’t a path for the faint-hearted, as some pets will need a lot of patience and support to trust another human being, so do make sure that you are informed about their backstory. But don’t despair, the effort is worth it! More often than not, animals with the worst stories are the kindest. They are quick to recognize your intentions and show their gratitude. If you want to start with an easier case, you could adopt an old pet as they tend to be peaceful, easy to manage, and just as cute.

Share your opinions and be proud of them:

Sometimes, all it takes to make a difference is to make your opinions clear and known —  respectfully, of course! You can talk to your friends about your beliefs about animals, for example, and maybe encourage them to follow your model. You could opt for a more passive conversion by wearing message tees to promote animal rights and animal pride — discover more fashionable alternatives over here. Sometimes nothing makes a stronger impact than a tee that says how much you love your dachshund. It’s fun, playful, and weirdly unforgettable and that’s what matters!

Become a wildlife’s hero:

If you want to turn your love for animals into something meaningful, you can join some of the wildlife actions for the protection and safety of all animals. You don’t need to be a multi-millionaire to make a difference. Adopting a wild animal through the WWF can help to fund wildlife protection. If you’ve got time, you can volunteer with zoos or organizations to help clean beaches and rescue animals. Buying responsibly also means that you can support companies that don’t pollute the environment and endanger wildlife. So what’s stopping you?

Being an animal lover is not just about watching kitten videos on YouTube. It’s a matter of doing your share to help animals and promote the cause. By adopting a dog in your neighborhood or choosing to donate to save tigers in the wild, you turn your love into a valuable action.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Sep28

Can I Trust My College With My Student Loans?

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Can I Trust My College With My Student Loans?

Congrats! You’re going to college. All of those years of studying hard and living at home have finally paid off. Within a couple of months, the bags and boxes will be full and you’ll be ready to meet your roommate. What a time to be alive (lol). Well, it is as long as you make it that far. If there is one thing that we know about higher education, it’s the price. According to The Economist, the average student loan debt is $37,172. It doesn’t matter how many weekend jobs you have because you ain’t going to save that money.

So, this is where the government comes in handy and finally pulls its weight and lends you the money. And, you gladly hand it over to the college of your choice without a second thought. Wait a minute, though. What if that was a mistake? These are the signs that you can trust a college with your student loan, because things can go south very quickly:

Retail Price:

Career coaches won’t tell you to do this, but what’s the point of being a teenager if you aren’t going to rebel (YOLO.)? Think of a college like property. Before you make an offer, the savvy thing to do is check the prices throughout the neighborhood. That way, no one gets conned over the price. Universities are the same because they will try and charge extra for a course which is no different to its competitors. They might have an “excuse”, but it has to be a good one. As a rule, the majority of the courses throughout the major colleges are the same, barring a feature or two. An establishment that is trying to milk you for as much as possible isn’t a trustworthy one.

The Paper Trail:

The foundations of a con doesn’t change from the bottom to the very top. Whether you’re dealing with a petty criminal or a rogue college, they all require trust. Not to be cynical, but keep your cards close to your chest. Again, not something a counselor would advocate, yet an important piece of advice, nonetheless. Fake unis and colleges attempting to improve their bottom line act like butter wouldn’t melt. So, the idea of education fraud doesn’t even appear on a potential student’s radar, not unless it’s on Call of Duty. However, it’s a problem which is impacting the school systems around the world. The good news, is that a receipt of payment is a simple fix. I know you wanted something a bit more James Bondish, but there are no fancy gadgets here. Nope, it’s just a piece of paper with the time, date, and a total amount.

Their Reputation:

Universities aren’t exempt from the rumor mill. Whether it’s Oxford and Harvard or a community college, campus gossip is something that you shouldn’t always take with a grain of salt. There will always be rumors and experiences from previous students. If you hear anything that sounds sketchy in the murky underworld that is higher education, don’t be afraid to investigate. A little piece of gossip can be the difference between tens of thousands of good debt, and a fraud case.

Keep in mind that all colleges aren’t the beacon of morality of which they claim. Some are dishonest and unreliable, plain and simple. Do your research, because your student loans are going to impact you until you finally pay them off.

Featured Image By: Flickr via CafeCredit

Sep25

Warding Off Fresher’s Flu: Making It Through Your First Weeks Of College

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Warding Off Fresher’s Flu: Making It Through Your First Weeks Of College

Every year, hundreds of thousands of young people head away from home to study at a college of their choice. This is a brilliant opportunity. If you are heading away soon, you will have all sorts of wonderful things to look forward to: meeting new people, settling into new surroundings, and boosting your social life as you search for new friends. However, there’s one less positive thing that most students have to face: fresher’s flu. Here are a few pieces of information and knowledge that will allow you to deal with fresher’s flu in the best way possible:

What Is Fresher’s Flu?

So, what actually is fresher’s flu? While the term may not be medically recognized, the condition and symptoms are far from a myth. Essentially, “fresher’s flu” is the batch of illnesses that students are exposed to during the first few weeks of university. Symptoms can include shivering, dry fever, coughs, sneezes, headaches, grogginess, and blocked sinuses. This is obviously a less than ideal experience when you find that you are far from home and the comfort of your mom’s homemade chicken noodle soup. So what causes this mysterious condition? When a new term starts at university, people from all over the world arrive with pathogens to which they are immune, but others may not be. Unsurprisingly, the poor diet and alcohol consumption often associated with the first few weeks of college doesn’t help this situation, either.

Treatments:

Don’t worry if you do contract fresher’s flu. It’s not the end of the world. Most symptoms will fade out by themselves over time, but you can make things more comfortable and bearable for yourself in the meantime. Use a sinus treatment such as a nasal decongestant, have plenty of soft tissues at hand, take painkillers for headaches or discomfort, and take things easy until you’re feeling rearing and ready to go again.

Precautions:

While it’s highly likely that you’ll get a little ill at some point or another, you want to minimize your chances of getting and spreading the flu. You definitely don’t want to miss out on any of the exciting events or important lectures going on when you first arrive. A good start is to drink responsibly. Excessive drinking is never a good move, regardless of where you are. Remember to eat a healthy diet. Even if you aren’t used to preparing meals for yourself, you can still easily consume your recommended fruits and veggies a day at the salad bar in your student center.

Another tip that you might also want to opt for is shaking hands when greeting new people rather than hugging. This contact is less direct, and you are less likely to pick up germs or illnesses this way, especially if you carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you and clean your hands regularly. This may also be a good time to set down the ground rules of a shared kitchen or shared bathrooms. Request that people stick to their own crockery, cutlery, and glasses to reduce the spread of the flu blues.

Being aware of potential causes of sickness, how to avoid illness, and how to treat symptoms will ensure that your first few weeks at college are the best and healthiest possible!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Sep25

Protecting Your Nearest And Dearest From The Pitfalls Of Ageing

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Protecting Your Nearest And Dearest From The Pitfalls Of Ageing

When we were young and vulnerable, our adult loved ones cared for us, fed us, and clothed us, and it is the way of life that we look after them as they proceed through the aging process. However, caring for an ageing relative can be something riddled with pitfalls and difficulties. To find out more about these and how to avoid them, read on:

Declining Health: Declining health is the most obvious pitfall that you want to protect your ageing loved ones from. So what can you actually do to help them stay in tip-top condition in their twilight years? It’s going to take a partnership between the both of you for the best results.

First, you will need them to take as much responsibility for their health as possible by eating well, exercising sensibly, and keeping up with medical appointments. You can help by being there to support and educate, if necessary, when they need it.

Something else that you can do to have a more direct role in helping is to look at websites like medicalert.systems with them. This is where you can get some information on medical alarms. These can really assist in keeping your loved ones safe if they have a medical emergency and you are not able to be there immediately to help.

Declining Mental State: Unfortunately, it’s not just physical health that can decline during your nearest and dearest’s twilight years. It’s also their mental health. This can be in terms of things like Alzheimer’s and dementia, which you can find out more about at webmd.com. As well as more general mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, which are sometimes brought on by isolated living conditions and going through the aging process.

Remember, as their physical health declines and people around them are passing away or moving into sheltered accommodation it can be very easy for your older relatives to become more isolated in their own home.  Seeing fewer people as time goes on can make it more likely that they will struggle with mental health issues as discussed at onlinelibrary.wiley.

To help in this situation, you can provide a regular schedule of contact for your ageing relatives, so they know that they will get to go out and see people that are important to them at least once a week. You can also encourage them to get involved in community programs, which will help to minimize isolation and allow them to make new friends.

Dementia isn’t quite such as easy of an issue to deal with, though. The best course of action here is to seek medical assessment and get some specialist help as soon as possible. As a residential setting may be the safest option.

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❤

Those Seeking To Take Advantage: Sadly, there are those in the world that seek to take advantage of the frailties of your loved ones as they age. This means that protecting them is a vital part of helping them to work through the pitfalls of ageing.

Help them keep up to date with the latest scam techniques, such as the ones mentioned on itv.com, both in the real world and online. Do be sure to do it in a sensible way that doesn’t scare them and feed into the isolation that is mentioned above. Offer too, to be around whenever they have consultations for work on the home done or a sale’s pitch so that you can help protect them against unscrupulous salespeople or con artists.

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Pixabay Image

Aging can be a sad and difficult process, but the above tips can help ease some of those hardships to make it all around more enjoyable for you and your loved one.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Sep24

Moving Past Open Mics With Your Indie Band

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Moving Past Open Mics With Your Indie Band

Sure, there are people out there who are going to tell you that now is the time to be a musician for the simple fact that there are more avenues than ever to explore. But just because there are a lot more ways to get heard does not mean that it is easier. In fact, being an indie band now is probably harder than ever before for the simple fact that there are so many options. Playing yet another gig at yet another tavern hidden way off the beaten track, the kind of place that makes you pay for your own water is not exactly a great way of making it. Don’t believe us, just look at your band’s communal wallet.

However, just because you’re broke and living at your bass player’s mom’s house does not mean that you should give up the dream. That is because you can still make it and live out your dream of touring some far-off country where fans chant your name in their adorable local accents. It is just about following the rules and knowing how to maximize your chances.

Of course, telling you that and then skipping town would hardly be rock n’ roll of us. So, to help you start living the dream and escape your bass player’s mom’s house (No offense, Barbara.), we have pulled together a list of insider tips and tricks. Check it out:

  1. Get To Know Your Fans Like The Back of Your Hand:

Pennies are short and, for some reason, no record labels seem to hang around open mic night’s held in Big Dave’s Garage (lol.). Basically, there is no sign of an advance floating your way just yet, which means your fans are your biggest financial life jacket. That is why you need to make sure that you are giving your fans something for their loyalty and love. Get to know the names of those guys and girls that are always in the front row. Give your fans a way of listening to exclusive music or interviews by creating a band website and then sharing this sort of content there. Share video recordings of acoustic sessions and behind the scenes banter on your social media pages and make sure that you are replying to any comments or messages that float your way. We used the life jacket analogy for a reason because, in the same way, you need to inflate your life jacket by blowing air into it, you need to give your fans something in return for being so awesome.

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 Party over hereeee!

  1. Play Your Strengths As Well As Your Guitar:

Every band has their own strengths, so make sure that you are aware of what yours are and then play to them in every way possible. Just being great songwriters with above average talent and the technical know-how when it comes to uploading your music onto Soundcloud, Youtube, Spotify or whatever else isn’t enough. You need to find other ways to shove your musical abilities into the realms of greatness, and that requires a little bit of magic (aka creativity). If you’re a band that offers more stage presence than the lovechild of Katy Perry and Bruno Mars, then try and play as many live gigs as possible, and maybe even consider getting a residency somewhere. Not only will you get paid, but you will see your star start to rise as more and more people see you. It could be that your sense of humor is your secret weapon, in which case document this and share it, get interviews with niche magazines and little radio stations, and then let this personality of yours show in your music videos. OK Go became famous for their viral worthy music videos, which means that it is totally possible to emulate this approach to success.

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 A cool band name is a must!

  1. Grab People By The Eyes And Ears:

Having a sound that people recognize is one of the most important factors when it comes to carving out some Top Of The Pops like success. But so is having the right visual branding, too. That is why it is worth spending a little bit of time and money (Presumably borrowed from your parents. Barbara, we’re looking at you.) on a graphic designer. This branding of yours is going to be stamped across all of your promotional material – Facebook page profile pictures, website homepage, Instagram, flyers, album covers, t-shirts, USB drives, and pub mic-night posters – and will help establish your place in the industry. Think about some of the greatest and most famous bands to ever walk the boards of the biggest venues. The Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Run DMC, Daft Punk. All of these legends created a visual identity so powerful that just their shadows would halt you in your tracks. Basically, get your branding right and you’ll have people want to sport your promotional products, whether t-shirts or posters, and that will spread the good word faster than the flu.

  1. Forget All About A Record Deal. Period.

No one from a record deal is going to turn up at one of your small gigs – or your bass player’s mom’s house (No offense, Barbara.) and hand you the golden ticket that is a record deal. That just isn’t going to happen, nor should you want that to happen. The hard work is there to be enjoyed, used in your music, and make you successful. Most importantly, though, you need to understand that no record label has a secret recipe that guarantees success. They just don’t. Instead, they pick up talent based on their independent success; so they will pick you up based on your independent success. That is what you want. You want to use this as a bargaining chip should the day ever come where labels start to notice you instead of getting snapped up early and dropped or, worse, hung out to dry. Concentrate on what you are doing, focus on your trade and doing your own thing; that is what will lead to success – not trying to chase the money and the labels.

Being in a band is cool. Finding success in something you love is cooler. Prepare for a lot of hard work and with just a little bit of luck, you won’t be crashing on Barbara’s couch for much longer.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Sep18

Know Someone Who Is Retiring? These Gifts Are The Perfect Send Off

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Know Someone Who Is Retiring? These Gifts Are The Perfect Send Off

Retirement is something that many of us look forward to as we get older. The chance to throw in the towel when it comes to getting up early every day, doing the long commute, or simply just not doing a job that you weren’t passionate about. For others, retirement is a new chapter in their lives. But, sometimes, it can be a difficult change to go through. Leaving a workplace, especially if you have been there for a long time, can be quite a hard phase of your life to experience. So, if you find yourself saying goodbye to a work colleague of yours due to retirement, you and your coworkers might be considering a gift. To get you started during your brainstorming session, here are some ideas that could be the perfect way to say good bye:

A “This Was Your Working Life” style scrapbook:

If you are quite the crafty sort, then something like scrapbook could be right up your alley. You and the retiree’s colleagues could each take a page to share your thoughts and well wishes for the next chapter in their lives. You could also include mementos like business cards, letter headed paper, logos, and even pictures from over the years of working there. The beauty of this sort of gift is that it is very personal and sentimental, and will be lovely for your coworker to look back on in the years to come.

Something personalized and fun:

Maybe the person retiring had a great sense of humor or loved novelty style gifts. This is when you can get to researching online to find more unique gifts like retirement koozies or personalized pint pots or glasses. A personalized gift shows great thought and consideration to the person and will be the perfect keepsake.

The classic flowers or a bottle of something they love:

Sometimes sticking with the classic gifts will suit your work colleague better, which is why the big bunch of flowers and/or a bottle of their favorite drink could be the best sort of gift to buy them. Accompany this gift with a card that all of you have taken the time to write in. The understated gifts can often times work the best.

Make up a retirement survival kit:

Whether you want to create something yourself or seek out a company that will provide it for you, a retirement survival kit can be quite a funny as well as a thoughtful gift for your colleague. Things included can be a balloon so that you start off retirement with a bang, a toothpick to pick out the very best of their day, and money towards the retirement fund. The options are endless, and websites like Pinterest are full of anecdotes that you can include.

A “Happy Retirement” Plaque:

Being appreciated is one of the best feelings in the world, so why not give your recently retired colleague a retirement award? You and their other coworkers can order a fancy-looking plaque and have it customized with well-wishes from everyone. The present is bound to get a laugh from your coworker. You never know; they may even display it on their living room shelf.

A digital gift or a framed photograph:

Finally, you could make up a video send off where everyone records a message or have a picture printed and framed for your coworker. Digital gifts are great because they are always just a click away on the computer, and the time taken to get the picture or create the video won’t go unnoticed.

Although it will be sad to have a favorite coworker retiring, it is certainly something to be celebrated. Make happy memories to send him or her off with and use the ideas above to create the perfect gift!

Featured Image By: Flickr

Sep15

Excessive But Enriched: Having A High Quality Of Life When You’re Too Busy

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Excessive But Enriched: Having A High Quality Of Life When You’re Too Busy

Many guides are making the rounds about living life to the fullest or having that perfect work/life balance. But, the fact of the matter is, that this is incredibly difficult for the vast majority of us. Especially when you think about parents who have more than one child and have things like family commitments in addition to working, it’s bound to have a major impact. There’s a lot of stress that can make an effect on their ability to live a proper life that has meaning, aside from their children. So, how can we all live a rich and fulfilling life when we are so busy all of the time? Here’s how:

Make Health Your Top Priority:

Even though we can work excessive hours and not feel like we have time to ourselves and our loved ones, if we address the mental and physical health aspects of our lives, it means we are better equipped to deal with these overarching stresses in our lives. It is such a cliché, but you are what you eat, and also people seldom make the connection between a bad diet and low mood. It’s best to think of your body like a car, you wouldn’t put the wrong fuel in your car, so why should you put the wrong fuel in your body? You may not even realize you have an intolerance of some sort, and there are plenty of online blood tests you can order to check if there’s anything you have a deficiency in. By getting your health back on an even keel, physically and mentally, it leaves you with more energy, which leaves you better prepared to make the most of what little time you have left during your week.

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Working out is a great stress reliever!

Leave Work Behind When You Leave The Office:

Even the busiest CEOs who work over 70 hours a week will tell you the importance of compartmentalizing your life in this respect. It’s easy for the mental baggage we take with us after we leave the office to hang around us and loom large in our minds, even if we’re not consciously thinking about it. Have a look at the Instagram of Chris Pivik, an entrepreneur with the busiest of careers. He still manages to get out and see the world despite his career. And the entrepreneur to end all entrepreneurs, Tony Robbins, will tell you about the value of a vacation to make lasting memories with your loved ones.

It’s these things that will replenish your emotional well being and leave you with a better outlook on the world. And, granted, a lot of us don’t take many vacations due to time constraints or lack of finances, but many businesses now are hot on the notion of flexi time, and this is something that you should take advantage of. It doesn’t do anybody any favors to get engrossed in your work outside of the office, especially if you have loved ones you rarely get to see. In this instance, it may be worth looking for a different career, one that leaves you feeling more fulfilled, so when you do go home, you have the satisfaction of feeling like you have achieved something throughout the course of your day.

The way to live an enriched life is not completely about tackling your work/life balance, but in feeling that you have a sense of emotional freedom. This is the key to you living a rich life when there are so many every day world pressures to get you down.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Sep13

Meaningful Career Ideas For Those Who Care

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Meaningful Career Ideas For Those Who Care

Do you ever feel like you want to give something back to society? If so, you are in excellent company. While many people are driven to forge careers in helping people from an early age, others often take a while to come to a decision. There are plenty of stories of incredibly successful people who trade in their career to contribute more to society, and if that sounds like something you would like to do, then there are a multitude of options. The big question is – which meaningful career will mean a lot to you?

Sure, you could become a doctor, attorney, or professor in any field you like. But if you are making the decision to change careers mid-life, you have to bear in mind that it could be difficult to make such a leap, due to the financial implications – and your own personal responsibilities. So, let’s take a look at some of the other options available to anyone who wants to make a switch and start helping others out:

Teacher:

Preparing the nation’s youth for a healthy and prosperous life is a vital role, yet one that is often pilloried. However, don’t believe the expression ‘those that can do, those that can’t teach’ – nothing could be further from the truth. Teachers are pivotal to the success of this country and watching your students grow and become young adults is a highly rewarding career. If you have experience and life skills or have excelled in your field, why not think about becoming a certified teacher and helping large groups of kids achieve great things? Since the pandemic, teaching can be done online too. Perhaps you might like to Teach English Online for a few hours a day from the comfort of your home. It would be an excellent way to get a feel for if this is something you would like to do on a full time basis.

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School Counselor:

On the subject of schools, teaching isn’t the only role that can make a difference to people’s lives. School counselors are becoming an important part of the education system, and it’s a well-paid role that will allow you to help students overcome their problems. Personal development and education is such an important part of growing up for kids, yet the sad truth is that many of them struggle. Whether it’s due to problems at home, behavioral issues, or any other matter is irrelevant – but as a school counselor, you will be responsible for helping those kids to make the best of their abilities while working on the things that trouble them.

Medical Assistant:

Let’s move on to health care. It’s an incredibly safe career to get involved in, given that it is entirely recession proof – everyone will always need treatment for illness or, in the case of medical assistants, ambulatory or emergency services. On your medical assistant training, you will learn how to work with patients under the direction of a physician in a setting similar to an emergency room. You will complete paperwork for patients, do things like administer medication, check vital signs, and assist in minor surgeries. In short, you will assisting in emergency services in the vast majority of cases – it’s a highly important role.

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And you’ll learn how to work that thing!!

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN):

A Licensed Practical Nurse’s role is similar to that of a medical assistant, but there are a few key differences. There’s plenty of additional info out there that describes these subtleties, but mainly, you will work under the direction of a Health Care Provider or a Nurse. Just as a medical assistant, you will help with medication and checking vital signs, but you’ll also be responsible for personal hygiene and providing ongoing care to patients. The key difference, however, is the setting that you will work in – most LPNs work in clinics rather than emergency rooms.

Therapist:

There is a therapy for any illness, condition, or injury, so your choice of options here is vast. For those interested in psychology and the mind, becoming a CBT professional could be an attractive option, where you will coach people through their problems by changing the way they think. A counselor or therapist for mental health is also a great option. This could be a private practice or in a hospital or recovery center that features Knightsbridge Mental Health Furniture for each patient’s comfort. For those more interested in treating injuries or other physical conditions, why not consider a physical therapist role? There’s speech therapy to consider, too, where you will be helping people overcome vocal problems. If you prefer working with people long-term, on a one-to-one basis, a therapeutic career could be an ideal choice.

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Don’t forget about massage therapists!

Paralegal:

Finally, paralegals are vital to the legal profession, yet remain mostly anonymous. No, you won’t get the stardom and hotshot status of being a prosecuting or defending lawyer – but you will be integral to their success. A paralegal’s role involves supporting lawyers behind the scenes, researching evidence and statements, and ensuring that paperwork is up to date for each case. It’s a field with plenty of prospects, too, and some paralegals even decide to resume their studies and become attorneys.

There is a vast world of caring careers out there, and the above list is just scratching the surface. Do your research, study hard, and end up with the career of your dreams!