An area rug is a great way to bring out the best in any room. They come in all kinds of shapes and sizes and can be picked up relatively cheap, too. You don’t need to have lots of money to start decorating with area rugs. There are plenty of DIY ideas that you can do at home. If you are wondering where you can find some inspirations, here are some really handy tips.

Add some stripes to the room

Choosing a rug that’s stripy will automatically make the room look bigger. Stripes also give the room a very contemporary modern feel. However, if you’ve already got a striped duvet cover or walls, a plain area rug would be a better choice.

Fluff it up a little

There’s nothing more comforting than getting out of bed in the morning and stepping on a nice, fluffy rug. As well as adding extra warmth to the room, fluffy rugs also make a nice contrasting feature against wooden floors.

Minimalism is the key

Another popular choice is minimalism. You don’t need to have a bedroom packed with lots of objects and loud colors. Plain colored walls with a basic, plain area rug are all you need to pull this look off. It’s very minimalist yet very effective.

Break up the colour

Some people tend to go a little overboard with the same color when decorating their bedroom. Adding an area rug to the room that’s a different shade breaks it up a little.

Wall to wall effect

People sometimes choose wall-to-wall area rugs as opposed to carpeting. It has a really nice effect and is certainly a much cheaper option. You can get them in just as many designs. They look just as good and they’ll save you a whole lot of money in having to fit the carpet.

Blend in the greys

When you first think of grey, you may automatically think old-fashioned. That’s no longer the case. In fact, grey is making a comeback! Grey on grey is a very popular look at the moment, particularly in the bedroom. Having different hues of grey on the walls mixed with a different hue of grey on the floor makes for a very nice look.

Create the mood

Not everyone has the same taste and not everyone will want the same mood for their bedroom. So, choose a rug that matches the mood you’re trying to create. Solid colors or classic pattern rugs work well for a traditional style bedroom. They will make you feel instantly at ease. On the other hand, adding stripes and dots will make the room look more upbeat.

Careful positioning

The positioning of a rug can make all the difference to the look your room portrays. Offsetting an area rug will give it maximum visual appeal and can be done by placing the bed on just a third of the rug. This works well with heavily patterned area rugs.

Double the fun

If you have quite a large bedroom, having two distinctly different but complementing rugs in the room can have a nice effect. It can help break up the monotony in such a large area. Just make sure they are different, as too much of the same is never a good thing.

Cozy it up

Laying in a warm bed in a cozy little room is enough to put a smile on anyone’s face. And while you may feel that a small bedroom is already cozy, adding a nice wool area rug can make it even cozier. It will also give the room a nice, rustic look. Now that you have some ideas as to how to decorate your bedroom with area rugs, all that’s left for you now is to go and find (or make) that perfect rug!

See Also: 6 Decor Hack to Make Your House look Pretty

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Cats have been a major part of human life for centuries. They are useful, fun to have around, and often quite amusing. But why is the internet so obsessed with cats? And how to make your cat internet famous?

Famous Cats Are Nothing New

Even before there was the internet, there were a lot of famous cats already. Garfield is one great example. This cat appeared in both TV and newspapers. The Brighton Cats, on the other hand, became celebrities after their owners photographed them in absurd poses. The Cheshire Cat was famous for being in Alice in Wonderland while Sylvester became famous with Tweety Bird. Hello Kitty has been wildly popular since the 1980s.

The Internet Has Made Cats More Than Famous

It’s one thing to have a photo of your cat doing something silly go viral but getting your feline friend cat-a-pulted to fame is a whole different story. You’ll have to work hard to manage your cat’s career. And that’s what the owners of famous cats, like Grumpy Cat and Maru have done. They dedicated all their time to managing their famous cats’ social media accounts and public appearances. They even have the sale of books and other merchandise to manage. Could you imagine managing your cat’s online social profiles? It’s actually a lot more common than you might think.

How To Increase Your Cat’s Popularity

I can’t guarantee your cat will become the next Grumpy Cat or Maru but if you have a cool cat that does some cool stuff, there’s no downside to testing the waters. To get started:

• Set up social channels for your cat. YouTube and Instagram tend to be the best ones.
• Start posting regularly to each channel. YouTube is a great place for funny cat videos.
• Test which kinds of content get the most response and focus there.

Build Your Cat’s Audience

Building an authentic online brand for your cat isn’t much different from building one for yourself. All you have to do is keep working to build your cat’s online presence through posting and engagement. It takes some time to build any social media presence, so be patient. Just remember to be authentic and responsive and your cat will surely be on his way to success. You might end up getting a book deal out of it.

Why Do Humans Find Cats So Amusing?

Cats don’t seem to show emotions the way dogs do. They tend to ignore the camera and they do not give a darn. Cats are more than just a pet. They are great companions who will never leave your side. They don’t demand much which is great because life is busy. And occasionally, they can provide great entertainment. So, keep your cameras ready just in case your cat decides to turn you into a millionaire.

It’s The Age Of Wealthy Cats

Many cats that are internet famous are raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars in ad revenue and merchandise sales each year. Your cat may be just one funny facial expression away from that and you won’t know until you try. Are you ready to make your cat internet famous? Learn more about why the internet is so obsessed with cats from this infographic! Courtesy of Pet Life Today

The post How to Make Your Cat Internet Famous appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Cameras are incredibly expensive. On top of that, their gear is also expensive. With that, you need to take the necessary steps to make sure that you can keep your camera working for as long as you can. But, do you know how to clean your camera? Now, to ensure longevity, you need to take proper care of your equipment and learn to clean it properly. This post will teach you some of the basics.

Don’t Use Your Shirt to Clean Your Lens

This is one of the most common mistakes made by anyone learning to use a camera. They look through the lens and see a speck of dirt and they wipe it off with their shirt. Yes, it technically gets rid of the smudge, but your sweater absorbs dirt and sweat throughout the day. That gunk transfers over to the lens. Your shirt can even scratch the glass, too. Instead of using your shirt, you need to use a special cloth, like a lens tissue or microfiber material, to clean your glass.

Always Use a Lens Cap

A Lens caps keep your camera and its lenses free of dirt, gunk, and scratches. Whenever your camera is not in use, you should have a lens cap on it. Whenever you take a lens off your body, a lens cap should go on both the body and said lens. You’d think this would be second nature, but tons of photographers forget to do this.

Take Care of Your SD Card

SD cards store all the photos and videos you’ve taken. They’re necessary to transfer that data over to a computer for editing and properly caring for them is essential. Your camera has a blinking light near the SD card slot. When blinking, that means data is being written to the SD card. Too many users rip their SD card right after turning the camera off. This is wrong and it can ruin all the shots you just took. Make sure to wait at least five seconds after turning the camera off to eject the card.

Cleaning the Rear Area of The Lens

This part gets overlooked a lot but it’s a big deal when it comes to keeping your equipment working. The rear area of your lens is the part that attaches to the body of the camera. Any dirt or gunk on it can get into the sensor and ruin the body of the camera. The best way to address that is to use compressed air or a cotton tip with a small amount of alcohol on it.

Cleaning the Camera Body

Take a clean paintbrush and run it through the outer body of your camera. Once done, take some compressed air and puff it around as well. Make sure not to let the dust blow into the body. Cameras such as Nikon or Canon make it simple to clean. Both companies have manuals and videos to guide you.

Camera Sensor

Your camera’s sensor is the most expensive part to replace and an essential piece of your camera. Shooting outside almost always guarantees getting something stuck in the lens. That lens then transfers the dust over to the sensor and those specks of dirt can ruin every single photo. There’s almost no way to clean it when out and about, either. Sensors need special care, though there are a few ways to do it by hand: Auto Clean: Every single DLSR on the market comes with an auto-clean function. This option “shakes” the sensor with the intention of knocking the dust off. However, this only works with very light specks and will do very little to a very dirty sensor. Swabs and Fluid: You can purchase swabs designed to clean your sensor without damaging it. Pairing them with a specific cleaning fluid means you can wipe it clean almost instantaneously. You can even get swabs that are the exact size of your sensor so you can get it done in one swipe. If your sensor is still dirty after all of this, you need to bring the camera body to a cleaning expert. They have the tools and will take the time required to clean your sensor correctly. Also, be careful not to overexpose the sensor whenever you’re switching lenses. When changing lenses, do it as quickly as possible. Remember to face your camera downwards when making the switch.

In Usage

When using your camera, always make sure to hold it securely. Using a strap helps keep the device safe and holding it with two hands ensures that even more. This prevents it from bouncing around when walking and it also makes for a steady shot when capturing images. If you invest in cameras and extra equipment for them, it is vital that you go the extra mile to take care of them. Spend on cleaning equipment. Read about taking care of the device and make sure to take all the steps necessary to prevent damage. In doing so, you’ll have a camera that stays working for years to come.

See Also: 7 Tips For Amateur Photographers You Need To Know

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How to find the right woman? Let me tell you something. I used to settle in relationships because I lacked confidence, self-esteem, leadership, and never felt good about myself. I thought being in a relationship would fix that. So, I dated the first woman who showed up, despite being only ‘kind of’ attracted to her. Big mistake. Don’t get me wrong. The first few weeks and months of being with her were pretty good. But soon enough, the relationship became toxic and I ended up feeling a lot worse. In this post, I want to share with you a couple of things I did to change, including the best tips on how to find the right woman. “Without a Code of Conduct you are a chameleon of a man” – Bruce Bryans. And that’s exactly who I was. I would never admit at the time but I was a man who ‘changed colors’, hoping that people would like me. And I, very rarely, if ever, stood up for myself or spoke my mind. That’s until I stumbled on a book by Bruce Bryans called What Women Want In A Man. This book contains a ton of useful and practical information. What really resonated with me is the part about why a man should have a Code of Conduct to live his life by. Within six months of writing my Code of Conduct and living it every day, I found myself being the man I always wanted to be. When it came to the women I liked, I stopped putting them on a pedestal and didn’t feel the need to impress them or get them to like me. In fact, it was the complete opposite; women were trying to impress me and often made the first move.

The List

If you don’t define what it is you want by narrowing down your options, you’ll always get what it is you don’t really want. When it comes to attracting the right woman, she’ll never show up on your radar because you’ll have no idea what she really looks like or how she behaves – Bruce Bryans

I dated several very attractive women but none of them was the right fit for me. It was like having a high paying executive job with a swanky office view but never enjoyed it because you’re always in a meeting or buried neck deep in deadlines. I asked myself: What do I really want in a woman and a relationship? I soon figured out that if I was to attract the right woman, I had to know what she looked like, how she behaved, her age, hobbies and interests, values, beliefs, and so on. This is where writing my List helped.   I drew a line down a sheet of paper. On one side I wrote what I wanted. On the other side, I wrote all the things I didn’t want or that were negotiable. I looked at my list every day until it got to the point where I knew exactly what she looked like and who she was. It might sound corny but I would imagine what it felt like to hang out with her, kiss her, make love to her, and wake up next to her.

Got Out Of My Comfort Zone

I knew having a list was pointless if I won’t be working my ass off, get out of my comfort zone, and do new and exciting things. So, I wrote another list– a list of activities, interests, and hobbies I’ve always wanted to do but had been making excuses not to. Once I did that, I wrote a promise to myself that I’d make time to do these activities and start creating a compelling life and lifestyle for myself. One of those interests was going to the Farmer’s Market every Sunday. I’m a massive fan of ‘Street Food’ and enjoy browsing the many interesting and sometimes quirky stalls. It was at a bookstall that she walked into my life and I’ll never forget it. I completed my purchase of books, turned around to leave, and bumped into her, although I argue to this day, she bumped into me. Anyway, my books went flying everywhere. “Hey, how’s things?” I said to her as if I already knew who she was, which of course I did. Her response was similar, “Not bad, thanks. How are you? By the way, I love Robert Frost.” That night we met up for drinks and have been together ever since.

See Also: Dating Tips for Finding the Right Person

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You are waiting for what is going to be the most memorable moment in your life- giving birth to your first baby. It’s an incredibly beautiful experience but one that also causes a lot of changes. And while some of these changes are easy to deal with, getting acne during pregnancy is a totally different story. It’s pretty common, too. In fact, one in every two women is likely to develop pimples during pregnancy. If you are currently stressed out with pregnancy acne, here are the best solutions to get rid of those zits.

What Causes Acne During Pregnancy?

Getting pimples when you’re pregnant could be a result of many factors. The list includes:

Increased androgen level

Hormones, hormones, and more hormones! As is the case with most changes that occur during pregnancy, acne is caused by changes in your hormones. A rise in your body’s androgen level, for example, can trigger your sebaceous glands to produce more oil. When that oil combines with dead skin cells, you can end up with clogged pores. This can lead to inflammation and acne.

Dietary Changes

A lot of pregnant women experience extreme hunger pangs. These hunger pangs strike at odd hours and this can cause you to grab the nearest snack you can find. This can spell bad news for your skin. Junk foods, sweets, and foods with a high glycemic index can have a negative effect on your body. They can cause an imbalance in your hormones, which can trigger more sebum production.

See Also: What to Eat During Pregnancy

Genetic Tendency

People who’ve had acne before are likely to experience more pimples when they become pregnant. If you’re genetically predisposed to pimples, there’s not much you can do to prevent them.

How to Treat Pregnancy Acne

Wash your face

The best way to prevent acne is to take care of your skin. Make sure that there’s no dirt, makeup residues, and dead skin cells that can clog your pores. Wash your face gently twice a day. For the best results, you should only use mild cleansers. Be sure to clean thoroughly, particularly the areas near your hairline and jaw as they are the most prone to acne. You should also consider washing your hair on a regular basis. Moreover, keep your pillowcases and towels clean.

Do not scrub hard

Avoid scrubbing your skin too hard. This can only make things worse as it can strip off your skin’s natural moisture. During pregnancy, your skin is extra sensitive, too. Make sure to treat it more delicately. Picking or trying to squeeze your skin pores is not advisable, either. It will only leave you with scars.

Moisturize

Use an oil-free moisturizer to hydrate your skin without having to worry about getting clogged pores. Keeping your skin moisturized is essential as an excessively dry skin is more susceptible to acne breakouts.

Be sun-savvy

Conventional acne medications can make your skin vulnerable to sun damage. Excessive sun exposure can increase your risk of getting skin cancer and premature skin aging, too. If you know you’ll be outside for an extended period, wear a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.

Eat more foods rich in vitamin A

These include milk, eggs, fish, and carrots. However, you should be careful not to go overboard with vitamin A intake. Experts recommend avoiding vitamin A supplements as they are linked to certain birth defects. As such, you should focus on getting vitamin A the natural way and that is through your diet.

Try coconut oil

Another home remedy you should try is coconut oil. It’s loaded with medium-chain fatty acids that are great in fighting the underlying cause of acne. More specifically, coconut oil has lauric acid and caprylic acid, both of which get metabolized into antifungal and antibacterial agents.

Acne Treatments You Should Avoid

One of the medications that revolutionized acne treatment is Isotretinoin. However, because it may cause birth defects, it is not advisable for pregnant women to take this drug. Due to its side effects, doctors, pharmacists, and wholesalers who deal with Isotretinoin are required to join a special program concerned with preventing pregnancy and birth defects. There are other prescription acne drugs which can lead to birth defects. They are:

• Hormone therapy, including estrogen, flutamide, and spironolactone.
• Topical retinoids, like adapalene, tretinoin, and tazarotene. Based on research studies, the amounts absorbed from these medications is low. Nonetheless, there’s a concern they also increase the risk of birth defects.
• Oral tetracycline, such as minocycline, doxycycline, and tetracycline. Taking these medications can inhibit bone growth and discolor your teeth permanently.

See Also: Cure Your Skin Today: The Best Adult Acne Home Remedies

Conclusion

It is not unusual to get acne when you’re pregnant. Thankfully, there are certain things you can do to treat pregnancy acne. By keeping your skin moisturized and clean, increasing your intake of vitamin A, and using skincare products containing coconut oil, you’ll be able to keep your skin free from zits.

The post Acne During Pregnancy: What Is The Best Treatment? appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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When women find work in sports, they tend to face a lot of obstacles. After all, the sports world is particularly male-dominated. In fact, an April 2017 Glassdoor study found that significant gender gaps exist in several areas. For example, men earn nearly 10% more than women in exercise science. The study also found that 9 out of 10 highest paying majors are dominated by men. On the other hand, 6 out of 10 of the lowest paying majors are dominated by women. This is why female athletes can teach you a lot about career management. They’ve overcome so many challenges and many have found mainstream success. If you’re wondering how, let’s turn to some of the world’s best female athletes. Their stories can teach you a lot about how to be successful in sports.

Redefine Your Industry (Ronda Rousey)

Many people consider the world of mixed martial arts to be ‘anti-woman’. This is a view that Ronda Rousey, one of the most celebrated athletes in recent years, doesn’t subscribe to. “There are so many ridiculous arguments that MMA is somehow anti-woman,” she explained on Good Morning America in 2015. “Fighting is not a man’s thing, it is a human thing.” Her rise in popularity shows that MMA is an ‘everyone’ sport and her empowering message is hard to ignore. She further explained how she was celebrated as an American hero when she won Olympic medals in judo and that she sees MMA as a form of art. She worked with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to change how women are perceived in pop culture. Her involvement helped introduced women as fighters and champions and not as ‘women’s bantamweight champions’. Just as Rousey did, you can redefine your industry. Find a career where you can succeed and prove the status quo wrong.

Consider Other Passions (Serena Williams)

When someone thinks about tennis, Serena and her sister Venus are often the first athletes to come to mind. Both women are among the greatest tennis players of all time. Serena, for example, holds countless achievements, like 23 Major singles titles in the Open Era. However, her career isn’t always championships and celebrations. In fact, she’s been plagued with injuries on and off for years now. In 2011, she had to withdraw from the Sony Ericsson Open due to abdominal injuries. Despite her various injuries, she climbed back to being one of the best. This shows you the value of learning how to rebound when you’re faced with major career obstacles. However, be aware of your limitations and determine the next step for you and your goals. Just last year, Serena was sidelined again but she didn’t rush her return. Instead, while she’s recovering, she pursued another passion- her fashion line. Don’t always force yourself to continue down a path just because you think it’s all you know. If you face setbacks, look at some of your other passions and strengths. You may have another career path worth pursuing.

Become Bigger Than Your Current Role (Mia Hamm)

In the world of soccer, Mia Hamm continues to build her legacy. She was the face of the United States women’s national soccer team and she was actively involved in different roles. Following her retirement, her work in sports included being a co-owner of Los Angeles FC and a global ambassador for FC Barcelona. She is also on the board of directors of Serie A club A.S. Roma. Despite retiring from playing soccer, Hamm is always finding new ways to stay engaged. You should do the same in your line of work.

See Also: 4 Things Tom Brady Can Teach You About Career Management

Think beyond your current role and determine how you can contribute to your industry in bigger ways. Plan for long-term success by determining how your strengths and skills can be applied to other areas of your industry.

See Also: 4 Career Management Lessons You Can Learn From Playing Golf

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Water helps keep our skin looking vibrant. It boosts our immune system and helps increase our energy level. And you know what else? Water can also make you smarter. For the brain cells to function properly, there needs to be a balance between water and various compounds. Whenever you fail to drink enough water, this balance gets disrupted and your cognitive performance declines. Apart from that, dehydration can also cause your neural pathways to shut down. As a result, the section of the brain responsible for planning and problem-solving starts struggling. Now, to help you get a clearer understanding of the relationship between water and brain function, here’s a list of how staying hydrated can make you smarter.

Think with More Clarity

Dry skin, rapid heartbeat, and sunken eyes are some of the most common symptoms of dehydration. There’s one more sign people rarely notice and that involves their brain tissues. When you fail to drink enough water, your brain is forced to work harder than usual. In one study presented to the British Psychological Society Annual Conference, it was found that undergraduate students who took water with them to an examination room performed better than their colleagues who did not.

Boosts Your Concentration Level

Recent studies also indicate that drinking enough water keeps you more attentive and alert. Zip Water conducted an experiment involving two gamers who competed against each other in a virtual game of ping pong. Rather than use controllers, the players were set up with EEG headsets, which enabled them to navigate the ball using mind control. In the end, the dehydrated player performed considerably worse than his opponent because of fatigue and a decline in focus.

Improve your Problem-Solving Skills

In a different experiment, staying hydrated was found to be indispensable for individuals trying to resolve issues. This particular study involved two chess players: a 13-year-old kid and a chess grand-master. The kid was provided with enough water while the chess master was set up in a one-man sauna during the entire game. Surprisingly, the kid won and this shows just how important hydration is to a person’s mental performance.

Improves your Memory

Are you having a hard time recalling recent activities? If you are, then you should consider switching to brain-friendly foods, like leafy greens and fish. Staying hydrated can also help. Regardless of how minor your dehydration is, it will instantly result in a homeostatic imbalance. This can affect your cognitive function, which can make it difficult for you to memorize basic things, recall information, and create long-term memories.

Improves Reaction Time

Scientists have also discovered that staying hydrated helps an individual’s brain to operate faster. Those who drink a pint of water prior to engaging in mental activities were 14% faster than those who did not drink. If you feel like your concentration is drifting, try drinking a glass of water and your brain will resume normal functioning within seconds.

Improves your Mood

Do you always argue with your partner? Do you feel irritable all the time? If you’re wondering why you’re feeling grumpy, start examining how frequent you drink water. Even the slightest dehydration can bring your mood down. Think of it this way: There are two core factors that determine an individual’s mood: energy and motivation. Drinking enough water ensures that you stay energized and motivated.

Reduces Anxiety Levels

Chronic anxiety can affect your life in profound ways. If you’re always overly concerned about things, this may get in your way of performing well in your job or excelling in your studies. You need to be calm if you want to ace that test or meet a deadline. The association between staying hydrated and reduced anxiety is well presented and it’s been shown to reduce cortisone levels and anxiety.

See Also: 3 Healthy and Inexpensive Ways to Cope with Anxiety

Prevents Headaches and Migraines

You won’t come up with a good house design if your head is yelling at you in pain. And even if your job is not as intricate, a migraine can make any task harder to accomplish. Based on multiple studies, staying hydrated helps to prevent and cure headaches. In fact, if you have a headache, this could be a sign that you’re dehydrated. Health experts recommend that you don’t wait up to that point you feel thirsty. By such time, you’ll have lost about 2% of the water volume in your body. Drink water as often as you can and you’ll never have to buy headache painkillers again.

Conclusion

Water is important for a lot of your body’s functions, including your brain’s performance. Without enough water, you can lose concentration and you’ll have difficulty recalling things. You can even get headaches and migraines. To prevent those things from happening, make sure that you drink as much water as possible. This will not only improve your skin’s health but also ensure that you remain energized and attentive at all times. Remember, water is important for every cell, tissue, and organ in your body.

See Also: Top 5 Tips On How To Stay Hydrated

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Accidents and natural disasters can happen anytime. If you aren’t prepared, they can end up ruining your property and taking your loved ones’ lives. To ensure protection, take a look at these 8 severe weather conditions and safety tips for natural disasters.

Earthquakes

If you live in an earthquake-prone area, hire an engineer to conduct a seismic evaluation. This way, you can be sure that your property can resist damage. This may cost a little more than you like, but keep in mind that earthquake damage is a whole lot more expensive.

Additionally, furniture, walls, fixtures, and vents should all be properly anchored or braced. If an earthquake hits your building, evacuating all residents and shutting off electricity and gas switches should be a priority.

Wildfires

Wildfires are unpredictable and often destructive. If your building is situated in an area where wildfires are a reality, there are several things you can do to prevent devastating damages.

Using fire resistant materials in the construction or modification of your property is a great way to prevent damage. Another area to assess is landscaping. Make sure that there aren’t any bushes that could lead the fire right to the structure.

Keep on top of all fire prevention systems. Sprinkler systems, fire alarms, and fire extinguishers can not only save lives but belongings and buildings, too. If you have any questions, contact your local fire department.

Floods

Flooding or flash flooding can happen almost anywhere. In fact, each of the 50 states has had one of the two occur.

To protect your property, consider raising wall sockets, switches, and other electrical elements to above-predicted flood levels. Take a look at the grading outside as well. Chances are you may need to have the grading re-sloped to provide you with the most flood defense.

Consider relocating your HVAC system to a higher floor as well as anchoring fuel tanks. Assuring your building has a sewer back-flow valve will protect against sewage backflow as well. Keeping gutters and drains free from debris allows water to flow properly and reduces the risk of severe flooding.

Severe Heat

Preparing your property for heat comes down to installing and maintaining a good HVAC system. Consider systems that clean and reuse air for green solutions that save 20 to 30% more energy.

Maintaining all systems during hot months is as important as replacing air filters. Consider having a backup generator on the property to ensure cool air in the event of a power outage.

Blizzards/Extreme Cold

Structures built to withstand cold weather are well-insulated.

To ensure your building will stand the test of blizzards and chilly winter air, check out the insulation situation first. Next, take good care of your heating source by keeping it well-maintained and by changing filters in your HVAC.

Insulate plumbing pipes and be sure to drain any outdoor exposed pipes before the cool weather comes. Burst pipes are a property owner’s nightmare.

Make sure you have carbon monoxide detectors installed. It also doesn’t hurt to have a backup generator for the worst case scenario — power loss.

Drought

For drought, consider all the little things you can do to help reduce water consumption. One simple task to stay on top of is the plumbing. By making timely repairs and routinely checking your property’s plumbing, water conservation has already started. Replacing regular fixtures with low-flow versions and adding smart water meters are two additional ways to save on water.

Tornadoes and Hurricanes

Although these two weather conditions are slightly different, they are both capable of causing severe damage quickly. With tornadoes, you have almost no warning.

If your property is in a tornado-prone area, investing in roof clips, cable ties, and reinforced external doors should be considered in building modifications. As well, designate a safe place to get to and stay throughout the storm. Looking at FEMA regulations is a great place to start.

The best ways to prepare for hurricanes include boarding up windows and removing and safely storing outdoor furniture and other unsecured outdoor items. Clear drainage areas and gutters and collect sandbags in case of flash flooding.

Although prevention does not mean assured protection, with these modifications and procedures in place, you will have the best chance of minimizing damage to your property. Always follow your local building codes and contact the right people before starting any work on your property.

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“Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Confucius almost had it right when he offered this famous advice.

You should strive to choose a job you love. However, even passion and motivation come with hard work, a strong will, and determination. As a medical sales pro, you’re no stranger to the mountains and valleys associated with loving your career.

Luckily, for many in this field, happiness associated with their medical sales jobs is higher than ever. In fact, according to a report, 76% of medical sales representatives are satisfied with their jobs. The same report also found 47% percent are not looking for a new job-  that’s almost 50% lower than last year’s results.

These medical sales pros know the secret to being happy in a demanding field and that is to be your greatest advocate. Here are some of the best tips on how to be a successful medical representative and achieve happiness in your job.

Don’t settle

True career happiness is only possible when you step outside of your comfort zone. In fact, you may not even know you’re settling for a less-than-perfect career unless you start evaluating where you stand now.

Ask yourself a few simple questions:

• Am I passionate about the product I’m selling?
• Is my need to help others being fulfilled?
• What are my ultimate career goals and can I reach them here?
• Do I feel challenged?
• Does my personality and selling style fit with this company culture?

Most medical sales reps agree that the key to success is believing in the product you’re selling. This cultivates even more passion and allows reps to feel they’re honestly bettering the lives of their customers and patients.

If your current company isn’t investing in research and development or you’re just not excited about their product, consider what would reignite your selling fire.

Now is the time to really evaluate yourself as a salesperson.

Write down actionable steps to reach your career goals. These goals need to be challenging and intimidating. You should feel they are attainable no matter how far in the future and that you have your employers’ support.

Phone a friend

Sales reps often forget to ask for help because they are mostly on the road and with customers.

This can be detrimental to your relationships with your co-workers. If you don’t address that right away, it can hurt your development.

Building a strong relationship with your co-workers can help you stay motivated. It can also give you an understanding shoulder to rely on. It can help you overcome obstacles, too.

Open up your schedule to meet with your co-workers. Making time for them can help you slow down, build relationships, and learn even more about your career.

Remember to always ask questions. Your peers have had different medical sales successes and failures than you. It’s important to give yourself the opportunity to carry those lessons into your own career.

Know your size

Medical sales isn’t a one-size-fits-all business.

Companies come in all shapes and sizes. Each one also has its own culture and managerial styles. Knowing what fits your personal style can help you make the best decisions regarding your career.

Start by figuring out what motivates you.

If you enjoy closer personal relationships with management and co-workers, a smaller company will fulfill those needs. However, if you like working with a big group, a large company is what you need.

You may be unsure which company size is your best fit and that’s OK!

Don’t be afraid to reach out to your network of peers from other companies. Ask them about what they love about their company, how managers help them, and what a normal day looks like for them.

Find a mentor

The process of finding a mentor isn’t quick and easy but it’s worth the end result. Scanning a room and picking the first person you see won’t help you. Even looking for the most successful medical sales rep isn’t the best approach.

Search for someone who has a similar personality, selling style, and attitude. This will help you connect and relate on a deeper level. The more comfortable you are, the easier it will be to ask questions about their key to medical sales success and happiness.

See Also: 6 Ways Happiness Can Help You Be Better At Work

The post The Best Tips On How to Be A Successful Medical Representative appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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It’s the new year and it’s time for everyone’s favorite new year resolution- losing weight.

If you are one of those people who want to lose weight this year, there are 5 things I would like to share with you to help you get a good head start and build momentum to achieve your fitness goals.

We all know that weight loss is one part nutrition and one part training. However, in this post, we’re going to focus on the training part.

You see, how you approach your training is crucial to the results you’ll get. The more consistent you are with your training, the better chances you will lose weight. It can help you avoid injury, too.

Stop doing isolated exercises

I know!

The most popular type of training will always be split training. It’s where you only train certain parts of your body, like chest, biceps, triceps, back, and legs.

Instead of committing to that, try to focus on circuit training using compound movements (multiple muscles used at once).

One thing that circuit training with compound movements has done for me is it has transformed my body into a fat-burning furnace even when I’m sleeping or sitting on a sofa.

Who wouldn’t want that?

Circuit training raises your heart rate so much that your body will have a hard time making up for the oxygen deficit. As a result, it will have to compensate by consuming more oxygen after your workout is done. This causes continuous burning of calories or the EPOC effect.

I never really knew what exhausted meant until I started doing circuit training. After each round, I find myself breathless, crunched over, and feeling a little dizzy. That’s a great sign that you had an intense workout.

By the way, if you are working out hard, you won’t be able to do it for long. This is why circuit training only takes about 15 to 25 minutes, including rest periods.

Stop doing the same things over and over

For new beginners, the first few weeks of working out are typically the best time to see changes in your body.

You seem to be losing weight at a fast rate and your muscles are getting more defined. You feel like you’re getting stronger with each session- until you hit the plateau.

Suddenly, you stop seeing gains and losing weight. It gets hard to lose the remaining few pounds.

Hitting a wall can be very frustrating.

Our bodies are so smart that they can adapt to the type of training that we do. It becomes more efficient at spending energy, which can bring your weight loss to a halt.

Changing your workouts often (every 3 weeks) keeps your body guessing. This pushes your body to continuously burn fat and build muscle at optimal rates.

See Also: Finding your Fitness Passion

Stop focusing on lifting weights alone

Body weight exercises are ignored pretty often. I know I made this mistake before and there are plenty of people who commit the same mistake, too.

Athletes, like gymnasts, do body weight exercises for hours and they look phenomenal. They’re very strong and powerful, too. They look strong with well-defined muscles.

It may sound easy, but they’re not, particularly if you incorporate it into your circuit training.

Stop running for hours

Running is a popular weight loss exercise. It’s cheap and requires no equipment.

Although those things sound great, running isn’t for everyone. If you are new to it, make sure you do it correctly so you can avoid nagging injuries and stalled weight loss.

Just like when you lift weights, long and slow cardio exercises have a pretty good effect on the first few weeks until you reach a plateau. Once you reach that point, switch to high-intensity interval training (HIIT).

HIIT is becoming more and more popular these days because it takes a shorter amount of time (usually around 15-25 minutes) and gives better results in terms of weight loss because of EPOC.

Change your HIIT every 3 weeks and you’ll lose more weight.

See Also: How To Start Interval Training The Right Way

Stop using machines

Machines are a great help in any exercise routine. Unfortunately, they can alter the way your body moves. They can even prevent you from fully using your range of motion.

In some cases, machines can also put excessive strain on your muscles and joints. If not addressed right away, you can end up with injuries which can affect your weight loss journey.

Instead of relying completely on machines, try using free weights like dumbbells, barbells or kettlebells.

BONUS TIP: Stop doing sit-ups to get awesome abs

We all have 6-pack abs. They’re just being hidden under a layer of fat in our belly. Burn the fat over it and you’ll see your abs.

The best way to do that is by doing circuit training with compound movements/body weight exercises and HIIT. If you train correctly, you do not have to do a single sit-up to see your awesome abs.

Obviously, you have to keep your nutrition in check so you don’t consume more calories than you need. In addition to that, you also need to choose the correct types of exercise so you can burn more fat efficiently.

Final Thoughts

There are a lot of people out there with busy lives. Some have to juggle work with school while others have young kids to take care of. There are people who work long hours, too.

If you are one of them, it’s important that you find the most efficient way to burn fat. This can help you get started on your weight loss journey.

After finding the best workout for you, commit to it.

If you cannot set aside 20 minutes a day to exercise (that’s 2 hours out of 168 hours in one week), you are never going to lose weight. So, give your best effort in the 20 minutes you are training and good luck on your journey!

The post 5 Proven Tips To Cut Your Workout Time In Half And Double The Results appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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