There are people who hate writing while others have no interest in selling their skills or products. Despite these differences, I still believe everyone can benefit from having a blog.

Here are seven good reasons to start a blog today.

It’s the easiest way to market yourself

A blog is a brilliant marketing tool for both business owners looking to attract customers and employees hoping to impress future employers.

It provides a simple way to demonstrate your knowledge of a certain subject. It’s a fantastic platform to show off your passions.

Passionate people are attractive. So, as personal brands become increasingly important in the business world, a blog can really make you stand out from the crowd.

See Also: How Online Blogging Is Influencing Business Trends

It’s a great way to channel your creative desires

Everyone has a natural desire to be creative. Some turn this into a career while others channel it as a casual hobby.

Writing is much of an art as it is a means of communication. It’s a great outlet for self-expression.

It brings satisfaction of building something from scratch

When you start blogging, you’ll be terrible. You’ll have no audience and you’ll feel like it’s a waste of time.

Stick at it though and continue writing meaningful content. Market it relentlessly and you’ll soon be celebrating all sorts of milestones.

Once your writing improves, traffic will slowly build. Before you know it, you’re already an established blogger.

There’s nothing more satisfying than slowly improving at a skill, especially when you’re building from scratch. It’s one of the reasons why so many people practice sports and musical instruments.

It ensures flow state

Flow state is the sensation that occurs when you’re so absorbed in a task that nothing else seems to matter.

Your sense of self disappears and time seems to pass quicker. When your performance levels improve, you’ll find it as an addictive feeling.

This type of flow state is commonly associated with sports, like when athletes train for hours at a time. You can also reach this flow state when reading a good book, painting, knitting and, in my case, writing.

Whenever I compose a blog post, I become so immersed in trying to express my ideas and attempting to construct the sharpest sentences and metaphors. I often find myself typing into the early hours of the morning.

This isn’t because I’m desperately chasing a deadline, but because being in this flow state feels so good. When you are writing about something you are passionate about, you may find yourself in the same situation.

It forces you out of your comfort zone

There are approximately 2 million blog posts published online every day. And if you want to keep people’s attention to your post, you need to write content that will truly shock them.

This can be uncomfortable since fantastic contents typically ruffle a few feathers. It might offend people and you run the risk of getting laughed off the internet.

This necessity to push the boundaries is a positive thing. It drives you to dig deeper into certain issues and forces you to create content that truly stirs emotions.

If you write a personal blog, it can push you to live a more exciting life so embrace the awkwardness. Everything that’s truly incredible begins outside of your comfort zone.

See Also: How To Find The Best Topic For Your Blog

It can create great relationships

Blogging is a fantastic way to attract people with similar passions and beliefs. Many bloggers make lifelong friends as a result of their writing.

I first got in touch with Las Vegas club promoter Drew Schroeder because he also wrote a dating blog. We wrote a couple of guest posts for each other and kept in touch on social media.

Last year, I went to party with him in Sin City’s biggest nightclubs. That holiday remains one of the best weeks of my life.

It’s a source of passive income

Many successful bloggers make a passive income through their posts and this is one of people’s most common reasons to start a blog. This can be done either through ad networks, affiliate sales, or selling their own products.

If you’re a business owner, a popular blog can boost leads by attracting more people to your website through search engines and social media. Your leads will also be more likely to convert to customers if your blog represents a likeable brand with a superior knowledge of your niche.

Many business owners say they don’t have time to maintain a blog. I’d argue they can’t afford not to.

The post 7 Life-Enhancing Reasons To Start A Blog appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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You may be feeling overwhelmed with life, burnt out, and losing energy.

You have work commitments. Your friends want you to come out for drinks after your busy schedule. Your personal space, that you intended to tidy when you got back from work, is still cluttered.

Simply put, your plate is full.

Although you don’t want to feel this stressed out all the time, there just isn’t enough time in the day to do the things you really want to do. And it’s destroying you and your self-esteem.

The good news is that it doesn’t always have to be this way. Here are seven reasons why you’re feeling overwhelmed with life and how you can easily solve them.

Reason #1 – You are going to bed too late

I know what you’re thinking. You go to bed late because the evenings are the only time you get to yourself. I get it.

But consider this:

Going to bed late leaves you feeling sluggish and lethargic the next day. This has an impact on the rest of your day because you’ve woken up and jumped straight into your busy routine without a moment’s thought about yourself.

The Solution

Go to bed one hour earlier and wake up an hour earlier. I know it’s tempting to go to bed as late as possible and lay in as much as you can, but by waking up an hour earlier every morning, you’ll have time to care for yourself.

You can journal, meditate, read a book, or workout. Starting your day like this sets you up right for the rest of the day. No matter what happens from there on, you know you’ve already had one hour to do something meaningful and worthwhile.

See Also: Get Strong, Sleep, Repeat: The Importance Of Sleeping

Reason #2 – You are financially stretched

We live in a society where we are advertised to all day long. We are bombarded by adverts and offers constantly. You’ll feel like you just need to keep up with the latest trend or you’ll feel like you’re ‘falling behind’.

This can easily make you feel overwhelmed, especially when you don’t have the money to buy all of the latest things. It can make you feel frustrated to the point that your self-esteem gets damaged.

The Solution

Create a budget and live within your means. If you really want to buy the latest gadget or devices, save a portion of your income until you can afford to buy it without going into debt. Set aside money to pay your bills and living expenses.

If you need to spend any more money, ask yourself if it’s really a necessity. Say “no” more often to everyday situations that require spending money unless it’s something that’s really important. The reason why you’re financially overwhelmed is because you’re not yet disciplined enough to say no. You’ve been conditioned to spend your money.

Reason #3 – You are socially bombarded

So you’ve had a busy day at work. You can’t wait to get home, grab something to eat, and put your feet up. Then out of nowhere, your phone rings. It’s your best friend. She wants to go out for a couple of drinks to celebrate her promotion. You accept and tell yourself that it’s alright and you’ll have time for yourself at the end of the evening when you return home.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to resist your Whatsapp and Facebook messages that you end up laying in bed for hours and replying to your friends’ messages. No wonder you wake up feeling so lethargic and unmotivated.

The Solution

There’s nothing wrong with socializing with friends. But when you really don’t want to, just say no. Saying yes when you really mean no can only make you feel more overwhelmed.

Set an arrangement with yourself to put your phone on the other side of your bedroom at a certain time of night. For me, that’s 10:00 pm. That provides me some time to brush my teeth, get into bed and read a book before turning in for the night.

Reason #4 – Your personal environment is ‘visually noisy’

If your personal space is untidy and cluttered, it can create all sorts of disordered thoughts and feelings even if you don’t realize it. A pile of books on the nightstand, a countertop full of dishes and random items cluttered together on the dining room table can make you feel more stressed out.

Just looking at and being around all those things can release the stress hormone Cortisol. It can make you feel tired and unmotivated.

The Solution

Select one area of your physical space that you want to tidy up and start there. It might be your nightstand, dining room table, or your desk. It doesn’t matter where you start – just start somewhere.

Once you’ve tidied away the clutter and got rid of any trash, you need to maintain a habit of tidying your space so that things won’t build up again. It can be as simple as putting a book back on the shelf or putting a cup in the sink rather than leaving it empty on the table. Make a point of being mindful about this every day and notice how different you feel as a result.

Reason #5 – You don’t have a calendar

Or maybe you do, but it’s poorly organized. One of the biggest causes of stress and overwhelm is the feeling of not being in control of your time. It’s really easy to give away chunks of your time to those who request it even when you don’t want to. As a result, you’ll end up feeling like you’re doing everything for everyone else and neglecting your own needs. It can lead to burnout and feelings of resentment.

The Solution

Take back control of your time! Get yourself a calendar and block in your most important and non-negotiable activities, such as work or medical appointments. Next, set appointments with yourself. Use this time to do what’s meaningful to you.

It just comes down to saying no and guarding your time wisely. It doesn’t always mean that you won’t help anybody. You just need to have self-respect to dedicate some time to your own development and to do things that make you feel happy and fulfilled.

Reason #6 – You lack self-perspective

Self-perspective is the ability to look at your life objectively without attaching emotions to it. When daily life is stifling you and you feel overwhelmed by everything, it’s really hard to zoom out and see the big picture.

The Solution

This is where a couple of dots are connected. By either 1) getting up and hour earlier or 2) putting your phone on the other side of your bedroom before you get into bed, you are giving yourself that time to reflect. If you like to journal, then this provides a great opportunity to zoom out objectively and be honest about what you see.

Reason #7 – You lack self-awareness

Self-awareness is the ability to go inward to feel what’s going on inside you, rather than what’s going on outside of you. When you lack self-awareness, you aren’t connecting with your feelings. Essentially, you are ignoring the warning signs that your body is giving to you. This leads to you not being able to act on what your gut is telling you and that may leave you feeling trapped in certain situations or circumstances.

The Solution

This is the perfect time to start a daily meditation practice. You’ll only need ten minutes per day but this little window of time is enough to provide you with amazing benefits. You’ll be able to check in with your feelings so that you can be calmer, sharper, and much less stressed.

Imagine waking up in the morning feeling energized and eager. Imagine what it’d feel like to sail through the day with confidence. You know exactly where your life is going.

Feeling overwhelmed sucks. However, once you know the things that make you feel overwhelmed with life, you can easily resolve the issues and you’ll be amazed at how quickly your life will change.

See Also: Questions and Answers: A Beginners Guide to Meditation

You can step off at any time. You are in control.

The post 7 Reasons Why Life Is Overwhelming You (And How To Fix Them) appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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It’s true. Life is complicated.

From time to time, we face difficulties we think we can’t cope with. While it might sound strange, there are instances where writing therapy can help. In fact, it’s one of the most effective means to improve a person’s internal state.

In the article below, I’ll give you some tips on how to turn writing into medicine.

Universal Cure

Writing is a psychotherapeutic tool- no doubt about it. Writing about your life can make you feel better. What is important here is not only the presentation of your thoughts on the paper, but also your attitude to what you’re writing.

It doesn’t matter if you write on paper or type on a computer. It should be more about how writing makes you feel.

See Also: 3 Writing Techniques to Increase your Self-Esteem

Pennebaker’s Studies

About 30 years ago, James Pennebaker, a professor at the University of Texas, found out that when someone writes about his experiences, that person is able to relieve stress and improve his mental and physical health.

Since that observation, the professor has published more than 300 papers on the subject, which is more than enough to test the effectiveness of any psychological practice.

In his first study, Pennebaker worked with two groups of people: control and experimental. Each participant came to an empty room, where there was a table on which lay a sheet of paper, a pen, and the task. The control group wrote about something ordinary and insignificant like, for example, what they ate for breakfast. The experimental group disclosed something exciting and meaningful that they had never told anyone before.

The experiment lasted four days. As a result, the people who had written on everyday topics had no changes over the course of the experiment. However, those who had shared difficult situations and moments of life were able to relieve stress. The results showed that they took drugs two times less often and sought medical assistance less than before the experiment.

Pennebaker’s Conclusion

Everyone has a need to speak about his life and share events and ideas with other people. If there’s no time or suitable companion, then that person feels the need to restrain his feelings and thoughts. This type of self-restriction often leads to chronic stress which, in turn, causes physical illnesses.

Writing about something meaningful for 15 minutes a day helps even in severe cases. Studies have shown that asthmatics experienced reduced number and intensity of attacks. Patients who have rheumatoid arthritis felt less pain while patients with cancer were less likely to wake up at night.

The greatest thing about this method of relieving stress and pain is that it’s not hard to get used to. Unlike conventional drugs that may or may not help you, writing is free and has no side effects. With how beneficial it is, writing therapy is now considered as a great way to relieve stress in hospitals, prisons and schools.

How to Write to Feel Better

Writing, undoubtedly, is a powerful tool. Despite the benefits it offers, it can still cause you to hurt yourself, especially if you aren’t really aware of how to use it properly for stress relief.

Pennebaker suggested that you first write expressively and then reflexively.

Writing expressively means that you write with the flow of your feelings and you express without self-censorship. It involves writing feelings in all their complexity and honesty. That is to write them as they are.

There is no need to write formally and neatly. It doesn’t even have to be fully thought out. The key point is to catch what worries you in the moment.

Then, after a short break, you take a step back and look at the written text from a different perspective. Try to read it again objectively. By this time, you should be out of the flow of your feelings which means you’ll be able to analyze what you’ve written.

Determine what feelings came to you and how you feel after reading your notes. This may push you towards some reflections, self-dialogue and self-assessment.

To make sure you won’t worry about other people reading your writing and then be able to use it against you, you should also think about how you will keep your records (if you decide to keep them) so as not to expose yourself to such a danger.

One tip to make writing easier is to act as if you are talking to someone. It can be a friend or even God. When you write about your life and what is significant for you, it is best to present yourself as you are, with all the emotions that you feel.

Another thing that you should be aware of is that diving too deep into unpleasant and uncomfortable thoughts and feelings won’t bring anything good to you. If ever you find yourself in such state, you have to know how to “float” back to reality and the present situation.

Writing therapy can be applied not only when you have problems. You can also write about something joyful or exciting to encourage and motivate yourself.

See Also: How Positive Writing Will Help You To Live a Happier Life

Structuring in Writing

Structuring is another important factor to consider when writing. To understand what this is, let us first consider the opposite approach.

Many are familiar with “The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity” by Julia Cameron. Cameron talks about free writing. It’s when you write for 30 minutes about what you have in mind at the moment, without any particular method or order. You can refer to it as non-structured writing.

Kathleen Adams, a Director of the Institute of Writing Therapy, conducted a study on the importance of structuring as opposed to free writing. She found out that the stronger the stress, the more the person needs structure when writing.

Therefore, if you have an excessive amount of stress, the best method is to set the timer for 5-6 minutes. During this time, it is very difficult to hurt yourself seriously but it is enough to help you get out as much emotions and thoughts as possible.

The post Writing Therapy: How It Can Make Your Life Easier appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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When searching for a new career, knowing how to market yourself to potential employers and recruiters can give you an edge over the other applicants. If you don’t know how to stand out from the rest, it could make your search very long and exhausting.

With marketing, there are tons of things you need to know. To help you get started, here are some of the essential things that can help you know how to market yourself.

Know Your Unique Selling Point (USP)

In my book “The Job Book”, I talk about the importance of understanding one’s true attributes and strengths. By having a clear understanding, one should be able to find meaningful job opportunities that fit.

Since you are the product, you have to figure out what your USP is before you start selling yourself. A Unique Selling Point might be the experience you bring to the table or the skills you have gained. Maybe you’ve gone through some type of special training which can make you the best candidate for the job.

Once you know your USP, it needs to be highlighted throughout your resume and interviews. It needs to be the focus of your marketing campaign as you search for a new career.

Understand your Value

When it’s time to start a career search, you shouldn’t think that just because you need a job, any job will do.You need to know your value and settle for nothing less than what you’re worth. There are several online tools you can use to discover the average salary for the type of position you seek.

See Also: 7 Steps On How to Figure Out Your Career

Provide Growth

What you offer to a potential employer today is only a small part of the equation. Often, companies make hiring decisions based on where they think you can go in the next two to five years. If you provide plenty of upside and you’re motivated to advance, you might just land that dream career.

Promote Yourself

A strategic marketing plan often starts with a new product. You need to take a similar approach when searching for a career. You cannot just count on scattering a few resumes through email.

Instead, you need to use various channels to promote your skills and abilities. Making sure your message gets across online is just half the battle. You will also need to make sure it’s received offline, especially if the person you intend to send it to isn’t easy to contact online.

In addition, you need to take care of the details, such as sprucing up your LinkedIn profile, updating the job boards with your resume, and putting yourself out there through recruiting agencies.

You can use LinkedIn and other professional social media sites to network based on your specific expertise. This can be a very powerful way to attract the right employer who can give you the keys to your dream career.

Put Your Marketing Plan Together

Once you have an idea how to market yourself and you’ve created your USP, you will need a few tools to help bring it all together. You need to create an impressive resume/CV, optimize your LinkedIn profile and make sure your cover letter shines. It’s also a good idea to brush up on interview skills and make sure you’re ready to impress.

See Also: 6 Interview Hacks That Are Sure To Land You The Job

 

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Have you always dreamed of seeing a yeti? Maybe you’d love to have a beer with ol’ Bigfoot? Or sight a Sasquatch? Have a natter with Nessie?

If mythical beasts from folklore are totally your thing, why not ditch that planned all-inclusive holiday to Greece and head off to a fantastic creature-spotting adventure instead?

We’ve sourced five of the best mythical creatures and assembled a handy guide to these wonderful beasts. With our monster map, you’ll finally know where they live, what they do, and where they are from.

The Kelpie

Go to: Rural Scotland

This mythical creature is one of the most well-known in Scottish folklore. The first recorded usage of ‘kelpie’ goes back to 1759. Thought to haunt the waterways of Scotland, the kelpie is a shape-shifter that usually appears as a horse.

Nearly all rivers, streams and lochs in Scotland have some kind of kelpie story behind them. It’s thought that the kelpies’ ability to shape-shift (they can also appear as beautiful young women, children, and other forms) comes from its bridle.

So, if you’re strong enough to get hold of it, you could well find yourself in the rare position of having the upper hand over one of the most monstrous creatures from all folklore.

Black Shuck

Go to: Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex, UK

Black Shuck was the inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles, but the black spectral dog which hides in bushes goes further back than that. It terrorized parts of East Anglia in the 16th century as it stalked coastlines, graveyards, hidey-holes, and hedgerows.

Despite looking like it could cause serious harm, Black Shuck was not necessarily a violent creature. Rather, it was a harbinger, usually of bad luck.

The Loch Ness Monster

Go to: Loch Ness, Inverness, Scotland

Nessie is perhaps the most infamous of all mythical creatures, so it should be right at the top of your must-see list. Travel firm Expedia, who have put together a fantastic online map showing you places around the world where mythical creatures are said to live, explains that early sightings of the Loch Ness Monster compared the aquatic creature to a dragon.

The Nessie phenomenon started back in 1933 when the local paper Inverness Courier reported a sighting of the beast. The rest is history as Nessie cemented itself as a sensation. Expedia’s resource recommends going on a cruise to the ruins of Urquhart Castle, with live sonar on board, to maximize your chances of finding the creature.

Yacumama

Go to: Manaus, Brazil

The Yacumama is a giant anaconda-like snake that has been frightening Brazilians for many years. This immensely strong serpent, capable of sucking up everything around it, has the power to cause mudslides and general chaos.

The mythical creature resource shows that explorers were reporting seeing the snake as far back as 1906. A report from Percy H. Fawcett reads: “We stepped ashore and approached the reptile with caution. It was out of action, but shivers ran up and down the body like puffs of wind on a mountain tarn. As far as it was possible to measure, a length of 45 feet lay out of the water, and 17 feet in it, making a total length of 62 feet.”

Bigfoot

Go to: The forests of North America

Another big beast of popular folklore, Bigfoot, or Sasquatch as it’s also known, is thought to stand at least 9 feet tall and with dark fur and skin. The gorilla-like creature is thought to be a vegetarian, so it’s unlikely he’d see you as his dinner.

Where to start with a colossus like Bigfoot?

He’s practically the king of all the mythological beasts out there. The Bigfoot legend relates back to stories of ‘wild men’ that were prevalent in indigenous communities of the Pacific Northwest. The number of apparent sightings and close encounters concerning Sasquatch are legion, but he’s never been proven to exist. Most think Bigfoot is a hoax, albeit an elaborately crafted one.

So, if you’re planning an intrepid holiday to catch sight of your favorite mythical beast, we hope this monster map comes in handy. If you need to make a quick getaway, it’s great if you can take a car with you.

The post A Map Of Mythical Creatures And Where To Find Them appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Would you rather is a classical social game that has stood the test of time and is among the most popular gather-around games in the world. Whoever says you can’t learn a lot about your friends over this game has probably never played it right.

In reality, the game is hilarious, engaging and informative. However, for you to reveal your friend’s deepest secrets with this game, you’ll need sharper questions that promise better answers.

Just as articles are required for a blog to rank high on Google, you need to have good Would You Rather questions to have a fun time. While some people are born with the natural ability of asking good questions without any preparations, others have to develop it through practice.

If you belong to the last group, here are 5 easy, simple and effective ways to help sharpen up your Would You Rather questions.

Find the Right Attitude

One way to improve your Would You Rather questions is to find the right attitude. Without the right mindset and attitude, a lot of people will avoid playing with you.

To start, you must first determine what makes a bad player. For one, they don’t take responsibility for their rude or inappropriate behaviors. They offend other players with big no-no questions and they curse and blame others for their own mistakes.

If you think you don’t have these traits, then you’re on the right path to improving your game.

Be Versatile

We, humans, have a tendency to keep hitting someone’s weak spot as soon as we find it. However, for the sake of fun, you should refrain from asking Would You Rathers from one category only.

The key to making the most out of the game is to be diverse and ask both serious and funny questions from as many categories as possible. As long as your intentions are friendly, you can ask any sort of question you want.

Think Twice Before You Pose a Question

Although you can ask any question you like, that doesn’t give you the right to be impolite, rude, and make others feel uncomfortable. To avoid an awkward situation, make sure you know enough things about the players, like their age, education level and personal preferences.

If you take the risk of asking a Would You Rather question without considering your friend, you may not only offend them and kill the mood, but you may lose them from your life for good. Before you start, make sure you know which questions are good to ask and to which players.

Practice Makes Perfect

As with any other games, practice is a crucial part of becoming a good player in a game of Would You Rather. There are a plenty of questions online that are conveniently sorted into different categories. You can just look them up if you want to get inspired or improve your skills.

It may be obvious that reading questions online can help you sharpen up your questions. However, it won’t be able to help you get better at creating your own. Crafting your own questions require more effort, but it is a much more effective way of getting better questions.

Prepare Yourself by Making a List Beforehand

 

Last, but certainly not the least, is to prepare a list of Would You Rather questions before you even set a game date. This is a better strategy than throwing random questions when you’re already in the middle of the game. Apart from letting you know more about your opponents, it will also give you more time to analyze them carefully.

See Also: 5 Sports From Fiction You Can Try And How You Can Play Them

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A happy marriage or relationship can be very healthy for your physical and mental wellbeing. Science has proven that men live longer and healthier lives when they are in a healthy marriage or long-term relationship.

These things, however, aren’t the only benefits you can gain from such relationships. Fox News report that the prevalence of cancer is lower among married women and men and heart disease is less common among happily married couples. A healthy, loving relationship can also lead to lower stress levels, fewer symptoms of anxiety and a happier mood.

Unfortunately, not all relationships and marriages have happy endings. Up to 41% of first marriages end in divorce while the average person gets divorced at the age of 30.

Second and third marriages, however, have an even lower success rate. As much as 60% of second marriages end in divorce while up to 73% of third marriages fall apart. It is also reported that there are up to 100 couples filing for a divorce every hour every day.

If you think that your marriage or relationship is going downhill, then this post is for you. Here are the simplest, yet effective, tips for happy marriage.

Open Communication Is Important

The way you and your partner communicates is of utmost importance. The Better Health Channel of Australia reports that a happy relationship relies on being both a good listener and good communicator.

You should be able to openly share your feelings with your partner and listen when your partner is talking to you. Only then will you be able to truly understand each other’s feelings and find ways to improve together.

They recommend setting aside time each day to listen to each other without any distractions, to think about what you want to say, and to be open to discussing certain objects with your partner without jumping to conclusions and without being judgmental.

Don’t Forget To Hug

While this may seem somewhat insignificant, you should not disavow this idea without considering the science behind a hug. Mind Body Green reports that hugging helps to build trust. It can boost both your mood and happiness, too.

These are all thanks to the release of oxytocin, a hormone that helps to reduce feelings of anger, isolation and loneliness. Consider the benefits of a hug and you’ll clearly see how hugging on a regular basis can help you and your partner maintain a sense of trust and a healthy bond.

See Also: How to Hack Relationships: 3 Ways Physical Touch Helps

Have Sex… As Frequently As Possible

Having sexual intercourse with a partner on a regular basis has many health benefits for the both of you. Sex can improve your immune system, contribute to better heart health, and cause your blood pressure levels to decline. It makes an excellent form of physical exercise.

Sex can also be an excellent way to reduce pain as well as the risk of developing prostate cancer. It can improve your sleep quality and many people find that sex helps lower their stress levels.

Sex can also help a couple bond. It can make both individuals feel appreciated and sexier. If you suffer from a condition such as premature ejaculation, a lack of libido or erectile problems, then seek help from a doctor to prevent these health concerns from causing problems with your sex life.

Have Dinner Together

We all live busy lives and with schedules that are packed with tasks and activities. This can often lead to two partners living past one another and spending less time with each other.

To stay connected, two partners have to make time for one another. Start by having dinner together every single night. While this may seem like a very small step, it would allow both you and your partner to spend more time with each other thus creating an excellent opportunity to maintain your connection.

Better Sleep Cycles

When our lives are busy, our sleep cycles often become disrupted. Sleep is important and has many functions in the body. Ensuring you gain an adequate amount of sleep every night is really important.

When you do not have healthy sleep cycles and become sleep deprived, both your body and mind may suffer. Sleep deprivation can cause cognitive dysfunction, impaired mental activity, memory problems, moodiness and can even lead to depression. This can take a toll on your health and your relationship.

Smile… And Laugh

Something as simple as a smile can make a difference, especially if you and your loved one are going through a tough time. Laughter can be thought of as powerful medicine.

Science has proven that laughter can strengthen your immune function, provide relief in pain, reduce stress levels, and even boost your mood. Laughter has been scientifically proven to strengthen the relationship between two people so try to smile and laugh more with your partner.

Spend Time On Yourself Too

Lastly, you should never forget that even though you are in a relationship, you are still an individual with feelings, emotions and body. Some people tend to forget that they should spend time on themselves as well if they plan on maintaining a healthy, loving relationship.

Small things like making sure you are always well-groomed and decent can show your partner that you still care how they feel about you.

Conclusion

Being happy is a wonderful experience, but being in love can be an even more powerful experience. Unfortunately, love does not last for everyone – as we already discussed, more than 50% of all marriages end up in divorce. Luckily, there are ways to maintain the love and happiness in a relationship.

One of the best tips for happy marriage is to act together. Both partners need to act together to make their relationship last.

See Also: 6 Stepping Stones Of A Successful Married Life

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A white T-shirt is a necessity in every woman’s closet. A single white t-shirt could already create a gazillion ideas for you.

If you are still not convinced, here are 12 ways you can slay with white shirt fashion.

Work-wear over nice tailored suit

Your V-neck white t-shirt can be work-appropriate when partnered with a nice tailored suit, a good pair of jeans, and loafers. I’m sure your boss would complement your smart and stylish casual look.

The eccentric chic

With a pair of neon-colored stilettos, a straight cut mom jeans, and a combat jacket accessorized with a statement necklace, you can easily create the eccentric-chic look. You can take it out for coffee or a few cocktail drinks.

Denim over denim

Throw on your distressed classic pair of skinny denim jeans, your favorite denim jacket, and hi-cut red Converse to add some colors and retro vibe to your white tee. Go classic and take the risk. Who says denim can’t go with denim?

Simple but classy

This style is for when you are in a hurry but still want to look chic. Wear your white tee underneath a bright patterned blazer, with a pair of shorts and beige-colored flat shoes and your friends won’t think you’ve overly prepared for your coffee date.

It’s simple- without downgrading your class.

Weekend getaway

Too tired to dress up for a weekend getaway? Then, maybe your leopard printed scarf can help you with your problem.

Liven up your white t-shirt with some leopard scarf on your neck, a pair of booties and some accessories.

Color up

To add some fun and spice to your outfit of the day, grab the brightest colored pants or shorts you have and then put on your white tee.

You can choose to dress down or dress up on this one with a pair of neutral-colored heels or classic white shoes. A statement bracelet or necklace can also bring some spice.

No such thing as too much white

This combination is a classic. White tees over white pants and a white pair of flats and black blazer thrown over your shoulder can bring out your inner CEO vibes.

It is an outfit perfect for business meetings and lunch dates. There is no such thing as too much white in fashion.

Date Night

If you don’t want your date to look away from you while you guys are having a romantic dinner, try wearing a black high waisted slitted skirt. Match it with your black stiletto, white tee and red clutch and you’ll have your date’s eyes glued on you the whole night.

Casual grungy college vibe

For a casual and grungy look, your flannel shirt will come in handy. Grab that flannel shirt and wear it unbuttoned over your white t-shirt and navy colored beanie. To complete this outfit, rock that laced up combat boots and you’re ready to dance up your day.

Sugar is sweet

To unleash the girly side within you, a little help from your light-colored cardigan would be helpful. Layer your white t-shirt with a light colored cardigan and match that with a pair of cute bow flat shoes. Lastly, to add a girly vibe, put on some pearl earrings.

Rockstar is your middle name

Match your white t-shirt and jeans with a black leather bomber jacket. Then, complete the look with some peep-toe black heels. Wear that hair up and put on some eyeliner to achieve this rockstar look. It’s perfect for both work and night out.

The basics

This one is the absolute favorite in this list. Your classic white tee and a good pair of jeans are a perfect combination. Like peanut butter and jelly, these two clothing pieces work well with each other.

Any shoes paired with this outfit will change the overall look. A pair of sneakers will unleash the sporty side in you. Flat shoes will keep everything clean and simple while some stylish stilettos can make you look edgy.

Takeaway

White tees can match everything and anything found in a woman’s wardrobe. You can dress up or down with it. Just don’t be afraid to mix and match to show your style.

The post Ways That Will Make You Love Your White Tee Even More appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Got a special celebration coming up and want to make the best impression on your guests?

Whether it’s a birthday, wedding announcement, Christmas or something else, the success of a celebration largely depends on one key thing- and it may surprise you. No, it’s not the people, food, or even the atmosphere. It’s the table.

That’s right, your table.

The humble table plays a critical role in setting the scene and making a celebratory event go smoothly. Pay attention to getting it right and you’ll have happy guests who will forever remember a great night. Ignore it and your party could fizzle out faster than a wet firecracker.

So, if you’re planning to host an event and want to make it extra memorable, seal the night with these five tips to make your festive table special with hardly any effort. Thanks to the ideas below, you and your guests will be assured of a great time.

Keep it simple

Special doesn’t have to mean showy. It can mean simple too.

In table setting, as in life, “keep it simple” is an important mantra. It can help you create holiday table decorations with a fresh perspective and without overcomplicating anything. Just keep things lean and clean.

A clean and clutter-free table will set the right tone for the night and start your event off on just the right foot.     

Centerpiece, centerpiece, centerpiece

Apart from a clean table, you’ll also need a good centerpiece. It will probably be the most visible element on it.

Everything flows from a table’s centerpiece, so spend some time getting it just right. Try tailoring the centerpiece to the occasion.

Celebrating a wedding? How about displaying a lovely photo of the bride and groom? Valentine’s Day? Get a nice vase and fill it with roses. Christmas? Pick up a gingerbread house from a local bakery.

A customized centerpiece is an excellent opportunity to highlight both your thoughtfulness and your sense of originality. Take advantage of it and your guests will absolutely appreciate it.   

The science of smell

What we smell can significantly impact our mood and outlook. It’s the reason supermarkets bake fresh bread and brew coffee in their stores (and usually keep them right next to the entrance to woo shoppers the moment they walk in).

Although your goal here is not to convince your guests to buy something, employing scents can work wonders when it comes to lifting an event’s atmosphere and ensuring everyone has a great time. Consider scented candles (but not ones that might compete with the smell of the food you’ll be serving) and choose seasonal fragrances to match the event.

You can try citrus for spring and cinnamon for Christmas. For Halloween,  use pumpkin.

Seating on standby

Welcoming a large number of guests? You might find yourself stuck with a common problem: not having enough chairs for all of them.

If you want to make sure everyone can enjoy sitting around your celebratory table, go find chairs that you can use from the other rooms in your house.

However, to ensure those extra chairs won’t clash with the ones already set up near your table, you might want to cover them in colors that match your tablecloth. You can also decorate them with sashes and bows to tie in everything to a single theme.

It may take a bit of effort and thought, but it won’t go unnoticed.   

See Also: How to Choose the Best Table Linen and TableCloths

Go green

Everybody loves them some Mother Nature. The good news is that you don’t have to keep her outside.

Inject natural, earthy vibes into your event by placing some greenery on your table. There’s no need to turn it into a forest. A splash of fresh herbs here and a houseplant there can really work wonders and add some living zest to your event.

As well as being pleasing to the eye, plants and flowers are known to boost people’s emotional state. This could help your guests have an extra fantastic time at your event.

For more tips and fun facts, have a look at holiday table decorations infographic below.

Source

 

The post Make Your Celebratory Table Special With Minimum Effort appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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At some point in your life, you may have to retire. This phase can be challenging, intimidating, and even overwhelming, especially if you’re not really sure how to make the necessary adjustments.

To make your transition more simple, here are some of the best retirement planning tips you can try.

Ease Into Things

Suddenly stopping working after so many years can be incredibly tough so avoid rushing the process.

If working part-time for your employer is an option, consider it. If not, you might want to do some freelance work in your field for a while.

You can also use your hobbies to get more involved in work and find ways to stay busy. It might be teaching piano, sharing your love of painting, or crafting and selling your items online.

At your retirement party, network with other coworkers who’ve already retired to see what jobs they’ve taken up. There are a lot of options, so find something that can keep you busy and your mind occupied.

See Also: 10 Amazing Business Ideas For Stay-At-Home Retirees

Make Sure You Are Financially Prepared

Just because you feel like you have saved enough money does not mean you are already financially prepared for retirement. You need to have a plan for how you will tap your retirement savings for living expenses, including taxes.

There are strategies you can use to minimize taxes. Talk to your bank and check your employer’s retirement policy to find out where you are at before retiring. Know how you can make the transition and keep all your money.

Think About Where You Will Live

Many retirees want to stay in their homes but others may want to move to places that are warm or have lower taxes.

Before you actually retire, make sure to map out a plan for your living situation. Talk to your family and see if they have an opinion on where it might be best for you to live. If you have health issues, it might be a good option to also look for institutions that can help you with mobility or medications.

Take Steps to Stay Healthy

Numerous studies suggest that healthcare spending takes a large bite out of people’s retirement funds. These expenses can easily hit the six-figure level for many retirees.

To stay in good health, you’ll need regular checkups, especially if you have existing health issues. Make sure you talk to your healthcare provider to keep a plan in place for your future.

Find Things to Do

Boredom and loneliness can be real issues for retirees. Apart from making the transition harder, they can be bad both for physical and mental health, too. That’s why it’s important to find things to do.

Many retirees like to travel. However, since that can be expensive, it may not be an option for all people. If this sounds like your case, you can try volunteering, going to shows and concerts at your local event center, or playing sports. You can try bowling and golf.

See Also: Retirement Activities that are Financially Viable

Retirement is an exciting but scary experience. However, by following these retirement planning tips, you’ll be able to experience a smoother and easier transition. Just be sure to keep your options open and be prepared beforehand so you can have a great start in your retirement years.

The post Retirement Made Easy: Tips To Make The Transition Simple appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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