While women have always been scrutinized for choosing career over their families, today, the same can be said for men as well. This means that the social scales have tipped towards the middle.
But, how can someone raise a family while nurturing a career? Here’s what you should consider when balancing work and family.
Family status
The first question that anyone should ask themselves when considering a career over their family is what their current family status is like.
Does the family have enough resources to provide for everyone if one of them goes off to hone their skills and travel the world in the name of his company?
Raising a family takes much more than putting money on the table. The presence (or lack thereof) of a family member can be felt and it can cause great changes in the family.
If a single person is considering whether he wants to raise a family or focus on his career, he should always think about where he wants to see himself down the line.
Which picture seems more attractive? A CEO’s chair or two children holding your hands?
Having both is not an impossibility but for this, you would need a very strong support system in the form of a dedicated spouse or parents who will take up the slack when your business needs your 100% focus.
Feeding children and paying the bills can take a toll on your monthly income. Even if both you and your spouse are working, it might be impossible to sustain a bigger family.
You might have to give up a lot of your spare time in order to provide enough attention to your child if you choose to raise a family. Opting for the career path will have different consequences, however. You might end up with a lot of spare money that you won’t know how to spend, leaving you lonely and depressed.
Social bias
The most important thing you need to understand is that people will judge you no matter what you do. If you choose a career over raising a family, people will call you selfish and cruel. If you choose raising a family, you will also be judged if you are a poor provider.
Social biases are determined by your local environment and the predominant social layer of that particular area.
Raising children
Some will tell you that raising a child comes naturally. You will find your footing down the line and come out on top. While a child will grow up, either way, the question is what kind of a person will he become?
Putting too much faith in chance and the goodwill of those around you can have devastating consequences if you try and raise a child while also catering to your career. People who try and raise a child while also nourishing a career in an area such as surgery, law or even law enforcement, can have problematic relationships with their children.
Being with a spouse who is understanding and supportive is a must.
Many will argue that raising a child is much more demanding than simply building a career. It takes much more time and effort, often ending in a complete sacrifice of spare time and personal leisure. In turn, your child will always be there for you and help you when you are older– which we all become sooner or later.
Long-term results
In the end, the question that each of us needs to ask ourselves is what do we want out of life? Do we want to see children running around our backyard, laughing and playing with their friends or do we want an expensive, single life and traveling the world?
The question is certainly a difficult one and much more complex.
All of us are given a life to live however we want and know best. It’s up to us what we do with it and where we go from there.
For some, children represent a step backward and a huge detriment. For others, however, having a child is the best thing in the world, no matter how difficult it can sometimes be.
Asking yourself if you have to choose between a family and a career is often arbitrary. Many people choose both and end up sacrificing a bit of each down the line. This can result in being absent from important milestones in your children’s lives or missing out on promotions and other forms of career advancement.
Try talking to your family and spouse before doing anything as impactful as choosing between the two. Whichever you choose and whatever you decide, they will be the important people in your life who will be supporting you and cheering you on.
You’ve got big dreams for your business. Unfortunately, your budget is in the opposite direction. And if you think you’re alone in this dilemma- you’re not.
The majority of small companies are chartering the same waters. However, this doesn’t mean that there’s no way out. It just means you need to be smart if you want to outwit your bigger competitors.
The big-splash strategies of the Fortune 500 will not work for you as you don’t possess a whole floor of people to maneuver these tasks. You don’t have a Pepsi-size budget either.
But then again, you don’t have to.
The Rule of Thumb
The golden rule in business has always been knowing how to sell. You can build just about anything. But, if you can’t sell it, it won’t matter at all.
Sales are the life of every business. Without it, you’ll most likely fail. Finding out what works best for generating sales for your business is the key to success.
Strategize To Increase Your Sales
According to the US Small Business Administration, 54% of the total sales revenue in the US comes from small businesses. This, however, doesn’t ensure that making sales will be an easy task.
As a matter of fact, one-size-fits-all doesn’t apply when it comes to sales and business. For instance, flyer printing could be beneficial for your business, but it may not for others. Notwithstanding, there are simple yet effective strategies to increase sales that you can use to grow and develop your customer base.
To generate substantial sales, you need to depend on many factors. This includes your niche, location, and industry.
Below, are some of the best marketing strategies that you can use to make your business more prolific in the sales department.
Build Customer Relationship
There are numerous ways to increase sales that pop out on a regular basis. However, traditional approaches still work for modern businesses.
Building relationship with customers is no longer a new idea, but it stands the test of time because it works.
The best approach here is to build a personal relationship with your customers. Listen to their needs and do your best to satisfy them. You can even customize your product offers to meet their needs.
Of course, building customer relationships comes with a cost. Be prepared to invest your time, effort and resources into customer relationships.
The traditional approach in business can generate sales, but you also need to utilize modern day technologies. The internet allows you to reach a bigger audience and communicate with them in distinct ways.
The approach that you need to make online business is different from what you would normally do in bricks-and-mortar style of business. It’s impossible to keep a personal relationship with each customer online due to the big numbers of potential buyers. But, you can create customer relationships using a sales page with clear contact information and outstanding customer service.
Digital marketing, content marketing, and email marketing are just a few of the available avenues that you can use to maximize digital media.
Consider Print Advertising
It’s unarguable that digital media is a now a primary component of many marketing strategies. However, the age of brochure printing is still very much alive. You shouldn’t disregard print advertising as it remains as one of the most efficient ways to build a credible reputation and customer awareness.
For instance, newspaper ads are advantageous in boosting engagement levels and growing your audience. Besides, the majority of newspapers are now using both digital and print versions of their papers. This means that your business gets double exposure when you use an integrated marketing campaign.
Prioritize Retention
According to the WASP Barcode Technologies State of Business Report in 2016, 43% of small business owners use retention as one of their strategies to upgrade growth of revenue.
The mechanism of retention is simple. You create contents for your existing customers. It will mean a closer partnership with customer service, too.
Go Where Your Audience Is
Choose your battles carefully. Don’t feel bad if you skip Snapchat with less than 50 audiences. You need to spend your resources on things that will benefit your business.
You just have to track where your target audience gathers online. Find out which social channel they love, what blogs and publication they read, which podcasts they follow and just about anything that deals with your audience.
Takeaway
Suffice to say, sales are the lifeblood of every business. When you know how to produce and track sales for your business, then you’re close to reaching your dreams.
Utilize your creativity and flexibility to get the results that you want even it means going back to your start-up roots. And as you go on your daily operations, keep upgrading your sales efforts as it’s a continuous process.
Whether it’s lack of capital, economy or just a bad idea, each business has its own reasons for failing. And even though I’d agree that those reasons are common, there is another insidious reason that can cause a business to fail.
It’s neglecting self-care.
Here’s why I believe in this and how you can avoid it in your own journey.
You are your business
“You are not patient enough. Your lack of patience is killing you and your need of things is killing you.”
– Gary Vaynerchuk
Whether you realize it or not, your business is an extension of you. You are your own business.
From culture to product development, your personality and decision-making have a direct impact on every aspect of your business. And that’s why my big “ah-ha” moment came when I heard that phrase.
It’s a simple phrase. But, when you really think about it, it makes a lot of sense.
How?
Well, when I first started, I was working crazy hours and always on the go. I threw all other priorities to the side and only cared about one thing – getting my business up and running.
I figured this had to be done and it’d be worth it in the long run which, to some degree, I would agree. But, in hindsight, I’ve realized how damaging this mentality was.
I was overworking myself and operating at 20%, which subsequently meant my entire business was, too.
I didn’t notice it at the time but the quality of my work was quickly declining. Slowly, I started to lose clients because of it.
So, I tried to replace those clients by marketing with blog posts.
It wasn’t a terrible idea, but here’s the problem – those blog posts didn’t make sense.
And on top of that, when I did get a potential client on the phone, I could never close the deal. To this day, I’m still not sure why but, if I had to guess, I’d say it’s because I was strung out and they could tell.
But, as crazy as it sounds, I continued to operate like this for 8 months and somehow survived.
Part of me thinks it was because my original base of clients -the ones I got when I was still sane- stuck with me out of pity.
The other part of me thinks they stuck with me because they couldn’t find a better rate. I’d offered them a good discount to get up and running. In retrospect, that wasn’t the best idea.
But, fragile things can only hang on for so long and one day, it all came crashing down.
I finally snapped and after losing my cool over the dumbest thing (still embarrassed to talk about it), I finally realized that something had to change.
Immediately, I reached out to all my remaining clients and told them I’d be shutting down the business. I notified them of a referral source that was a good friend of mine and one that agreed to honor their current pricing for the next 3 months.
Now, to be completely honest, I was expecting and hoping for some condolences and expected the typical “No, Sean. It’s sad to see you go.” However, as I’m sure you can guess, that didn’t happen.
Instead, all of them replied with some form of “I think that’s a good idea. You could use some time off.”.
Yeah, that was embarrassing.
I continued on anyway. I tried to make the transition as seamless as possible and after I got the last client moved over, I began my “comeback period”.
To start, I immediately sold everything I could, moved back in with my parents and started digging into self-development books.
I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking for. I just knew I had to work my way out of this funk.
So, that’s what I started to do and even though this “comeback period” was only supposed to take a few weeks, it ended up taking 6 months.
And as weird as it sounds, it was the best 6 months of my life.
Not only was I able to come back fresh, but I was able to come back with a wealth of knowledge that I wish I had the first time.
I’ll explain that knowledge throughout the rest of this article. But, long story short, business is a marathon, not a sprint.
With that said, hard work is inevitable
“There is no substitute for hard work” – Thomas Edison
Okay, so now I’m going to throw you a curveball.
I know I just spent the first 5 minutes telling you how I overworked myself and ruined my first business. At the same time, however, I’m still realistic. I realized that all good things take hard work.
That’s why I’m not here to tell you that you can’t or shouldn’t work hard. I’m here to tell you that there are ways to blend the two together.
And when you do, that’s when good things start to happen.
There’s plenty of different ways to do this, but out of all the reading and things I’ve tried, I’ve learned that the best way is systems.
Now, I’m not talking about computer systems or anything like that. I’m talking about systems that allow you to absolutely bring it day in and day out.
And to give you a good idea of how you can apply this to your life, I wanted to give you a sneak peek of the exact systems I’ve used to significantly better my life.
Starting with:
Plan your day out the night before
“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”- Benjamin Franklin
When I first heard this advice, I honestly thought it was crazy.
I didn’t think it’d make a world of difference if I planned my day out the night before and even if it did, I didn’t think it’d work for my business.
I was a client-facing business and new fires happened every day. There’s no way I could have my schedule set in stone the night before.
But then, I read a story about Charles Schwab.
It explained how he was frustrated at the lack of productivity of his staff and after dealing with this for a short time, he finally decided to ask for help.
He made an announcement and promised to reward the person who could increase productivity for Bethlehem Steel.
After a short search, he came across a man known as Ivy Lee. According to Schwab, Mr. Lee gave him a singular life-changing piece of advice.
That advice?
Every evening before finishing work:
Write down 3–5 things you plan to get done the next day
Rank them from highest to lowest priority
In the morning, start working on the task of highest priority
Only move on to task #2 when you’ve completed #1
Repeat
And that was it. That was the singular piece of advice that changed Charles Schwab’s life.
It was so valuable to him that he sent Ivy Lee a check for $25,000 (the equivalent of $297,256.23 in 2015) 3 weeks later.
So, after reading this story I decided to give it a shot and let’s just say, I’ve used it ever since.
I don’t know if I’d consider it an advice worth $297,256.23 but that’s the best part. I received it from the Productivity Planner, an investment that only cost me $25.
This planner does a lot more and really helps me keep track of all the important tasks at hand. It’s something I highly advise for any entrepreneur.
Sleep
Have you ever met somebody that likes to brag about how he never sleeps?
The type that’s usually sending Snapchats at 4 a.m. or has “you can sleep when you’re dead” tattooed on his back?
Yeah, that used to be me. Well, with the exception of a tattoo on my back.
I was always the type that bragged about how I only slept 5 hours a night. I figured that I was outworking my competition and if I just slept fewer hours, I’d get more work done.
It made sense in theory, but here’s the thing: When I was working, I wasn’t productive.
Don’t get me wrong. I thought I was at the time. But, when I compare the amount of work that I accomplished then to the amount I get now (after getting a full 8 hours), the results aren’t even close.
In other words, I finally realized that my lack of sleep and “constant hustle” was just a glorified way of torturing myself and getting nothing done.
Without it, you’ll be dragging the next day. Even though you think you’re productive, you’re not going to be as productive as somebody who’s had a good night’s sleep.
So, what’s the ideal amount of sleep then? Whatever makes you feel rested.
For me, it’s 8 hours. For others, it’s 6 and half hours.
Everybody’s wired differently and if you have the flexibility to test it, I think the easiest way to figure it out is by sleeping in without an alarm clock.
Have you ever woke up frantically and just started running around?
I’m not talking about the Saturday morning after a fun Friday either. I’m talking about a typical Tuesday.
One where you spring out of bed, run straight for the shower, scramble around to find your keys, leap out the window, run to your car and start your day.
Okay, hopefully, you’re not leaping out the window. But if you’re anything like me, then you can certainly relate.
I used to start every morning like this after hitting my snooze for 30 minutes and, surprisingly, my days were always frantic.
I was always running around trying to multitask and always felt like there wasn’t enough time in the day. Something I guess most people refer to as a “rat race”.
And then I heard about the concept of a morning routine- an organized morning routine. One that didn’t involve a frantic wake-up or me jumping out the window to start my day.
The logic of this was that if you could find a routine that turned into a productive day, then replicate that routine and make every day a productive day.
It made sense and I couldn’t find any reason not to give it a try. So, I finally mustered up the courage to ditch my current routine and find another one that’d help me start each day off right.
Now, this took a lot of testing and tweaking. But, after months of trial and error, I finally found my sweet spot. The one that’s allowed me to start every day how I want and all jokes aside, that’s actually allowed me to replicate my increased productivity every single day.
Again, everybody’s different and everybody should make tweaks to fit their own needs. But to get you started, here’s the exact routine that I use every day.
My morning routine:
Wake up without an alarm clock.
Make my bed. (We’re completionists, this gets the momentum going.)
Take the dog for a walk. (Try for an hour, but sometimes more. Usually, it depends on the podcast I’m listening to.)
Take a shower, last 30 seconds are cold. It wakes me up and has some health benefits.
Drink 2-3 cups of coffee that’s usually spiked with Laird Hamilton’s Superfood creamer.
Read for 20 minutes while drinking coffee. This can be anything, but it’s usually the Tao of Seneca.
Meditate using Headspace. It helps remove all anxiety and gets me ready to tackle the day.
Open my productivity planner and start getting things done.
And that’s it. That’s the routine that’s skyrocketed my productivity and indirectly made me thousands of dollars.
To be honest, I probably should send Tim Ferriss a $297,256.23 check as he’s the one that got me on this routine. However, I don’t quite have that much change lying around (yet), so please don’t tell him.
Use the Pomodoro technique + productivity music
Alright, so before we get into this one, I want you to imagine a coder sitting in some dark room, music blaring and just absolutely going to town on his keyboard.
He’s likely got a coffee or large soda in front of him, taking a quick sip every 30 seconds before he goes back to typing a million words a minute.
Okay, now take away the “coder” aspect of this and you get me when I’m in one of my “Pomodoros”.
So what exactly is a “Pomodoro”?
Well long story short, Pomodoro means tomato in Italian and the guy who created this technique (Francesco Cirillo) used a tomato shaped timer when he first created it. So, he named it the Pomodoro technique.
Interesting, I know…but it works.
It works because it forces you to remain 100% focused on a task for 25 straight minutes. That means no Facebook, no email, no phone, no coffee refills and no bathroom – unless absolutely needed.
It’s a concept that sounds overly simple and it really is. But, it’s also one that’s helped me get more things done in 2 hours than I used to in an entire day.
I guess I don’t have the exact scientific reasons for this, but from personal experience, it just helps me keep my eye on the prize and not stopping until it’s complete.
It’s much more effective than my traditional technique of working on something for 3 minutes, checking Instagram, seeing if I have a new email, making sure I didn’t miss James Altucher’s latest blog, and then going back to the task for another 3 minutes.
Now, this worked great and didn’t really need any improvements but then, one day, I was reading Tools of Titans (huge Tim Ferriss fan if you couldn’t tell) and I started trying out the productivity music that he listed.
I tried a few of them but the one that really got me going and one I’ve stuck with to this day is “I Choose Noise By Hybrid”.
Again, not necessary, but it amplifies the experience.
Set boundaries – Parkinson’s Law
“Busy is not productive” – Tim Ferriss
In college, it seemed like I had 2 types of teachers.
One that would give me 3 months to type a paper and one that gave me 3 days to type a paper.
I’d always praise the former and cuss the latter (behind their back, of course) but looking back now, deep down, I think I actually liked the latter more.
Not as a person of course. I’m pretty sure they gave tight deadlines to torture us, but I noticed that when I had 3 days to type a paper, I’d instantly go to town and quickly create a work of art.
Okay, maybe it wasn’t a work of art. But, hey, C’s get degrees.
Then on the flip side, when I had a teacher that’d give me 3 months to type a paper, I’d spend the first 89 days thinking about the paper and making myself a mental wreck. Then, I’d spend the last day cramming all the worthless information I could think of onto a piece of paper and pull away with a D.
Not ideal, but oh well. The occasional D still gets a degree.
This is something I chalked up to a life of procrastination. Then one day, I was reading The Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss (surprising, I know) and I came across the concept of Parkinson’s Law.
Tim gave a similar example of how he applied this concept to college papers and after I heard that, it really started to make sense.
If you’ve never heard of Parkinson’s Law before, it’s an old adage that “work expands as to fill the time available for its completion”. In other words, no matter what, you’ll always be rushing to hit the deadline.
Now, this might sound depressing and if you don’t do anything about it, it can be.
But. here’s the good news.
You can actually use this to your advantage. Instead of allowing yourself long deadlines that cause you to be a mental wreck, take a different approach and tighten up your deadlines.
Always work until 11 p.m.? Force yourself to stop working at 6 p.m.
Always work 7 days a week? Go crazy and start taking Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off.
The way you do it isn’t the important part. The important part is that you work less and force yourself to get more done. Kinda like the teacher that gave me 3 days to write a paper.
Ketogenic Diet
“I find I have much better drive and focus when in a state of ketosis. I have a lot more mental clarity and productivity.” – Bryan Barksdale
Have you ever had one of those mornings where everything is going great and you’re extremely productive, but then you go to lunch and want to sleep the afternoon away?
Yeah, me too. And like many others, I just thought this was normal, something I’d have to live with.
But then, I was talking to a friend and he was telling me about this new lifestyle he was trying out.
Now I’ve never heard somebody say they were trying out a lifestyle so he had my attention already. Then, he cranked it up one notch and told me it was actually a diet.
Ohhh boy, another one of these speeches. No, I will not buy your Nutrisystem.
But, we were out to lunch and I didn’t have anywhere to hide, so I continued to listen to his spiel and that’s when he started to tell me that it wasn’t really a weight loss diet. Instead, it was a diet that helped him maintain energy.
I asked him to continue and that’s when he got real excited and started babbling a bunch of fancy words.
From what I gathered, he was able to keep a steady source of energy because his body was running off ketones (energy that’s created when fat is burned) as opposed to glucose (energy that’s created when carbs are burned).
And even though he sounded slightly crazy, at the same time, he kinda made sense.
I was always a sandwich guy, which meant I was getting my fair share of carbs in over lunch. So, even though I’d never heard this logic before, I couldn’t really discount it.
Not until I tried it, at least.
So, over the next 2 weeks, I decided to look into this a little more and see exactly what I had to do. Then, a few days later, I decided to give it a shot.
I told myself that I’d give it 4 weeks and if I didn’t notice a difference after that, I was going back to my Jimmy Johns.
And to be completely honest, I was really hoping it wasn’t going to work. I really didn’t want to have to decide between my Ultimate Porker and increased energy.
Then, I finally hit ketosis (fat burning mode) and holy hell, it was worth it.
My productivity soared. I no longer had afternoon crashes. My memory improved and I was always focused.
Now that I think about it, I kinda feel like Bradley Cooper in Limitless.
(Even though I still miss my Jimmy Johns.)
That’s a wrap
Without you, your business won’t survive.
I know how easy it is to fall into the trap of constant hustle and thinking more work means better business.
But, remember, busy does not mean productive.
You’re better off taking care of yourself and focusing on the long game, not the quick win and neglecting self-care.
When an average person hears the words “essential oils”, he’d probably associate it with something that can improve the smell of a home. And though that is true, there’s more to essential oils than just bringing a pleasant fragrance.
So, if you are planning to get a new house, here’s an essential oils guide you might find useful.
Lavender
Widely used for its calming effects, lavender is, undoubtedly, one of the most popular essential oils. Of course, the reason is obvious. This oil brings a soothing effect when you’re stressed or irritated. Aside from that, it can also treat burns and relieve irritated skin.
To treat burns, simply put two drops of lavender oil on the affected area. In a few minutes, the swelling and pain will be relieved.
Peppermint
Having a hard time dealing with nausea? How about headaches? Do you want to improve energy levels?
You might need to have a bottle of peppermint essential oil at home. Massage a drop of this oil to your forehead and temples to relieve a headache. To relieve nausea, inhale straight from the bottle but be careful not to get it in the eyes.
Lemon
For those of you who have a congested chest or itchy throat, you will need several drops of lemon. When paired with honey, it can effectively soothe a sore throat!
If you want to use it in the kitchen, you can, too! Mix at least 5 drops of this essential oil with 4 ounces of an unscented liquid dish soap to get rid of grease in your kitchenware.
Eucalyptus
To add an antimicrobial effect to any DIY homemade cleaning recipe, make sure to add a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Five drops of this oil added to 16 ounces of water can effectively inhibit the growth of mold. Also, 10 drops of this added to a bucket of water can help ease the job of cleaning the floor.
Frankincense
Although it is a bit expensive, frankincense essential oil can effectively get rid of stress and relieve headaches. It can even help make bath time extra relaxing!
After washing your body with soap, put a few drops of frankincense essential oil to your washcloth. Then, wipe it over your body while rinsing with warm water. The steam will instantly infuse with the oil, giving you the refreshing and relaxing feeling you need.
Oregano
Oregano might be a popular kitchen ingredient but it also has some other uses at home. It has antimicrobial properties that help the body combat illnesses. No wonder why it’s a must-have! To fight flu and illnesses, diffuse this oil in your favorite diffuser. It’s that easy!
Tea Tree
Another powerful ingredient in homemade cleaners, tea tree essential oil deserves a spot in your home. Not only does it have soothing properties that heal rashes and itching, it also has properties that aid in stopping athlete’s foot.
Normally, this oil is diluted with a carrier oil, such as organic coconut oil, in a 1:1 ratio prior to applying to the skin.
Wild Orange
Apart from its pleasant smell, wild orange has got many good properties. It does not only work as a sedative, it can also be used for treating an upset stomach. Simply combine a tablespoon of coconut oil with a drop of wild orange essential oil for an instant massage oil.
Vanilla
Here’s something you might not be aware of: Vanilla essential oil has properties that can neutralize the free radicals present in your body. It can protect it against illnesses and diseases.
It also brings about a calming effect that makes it ideal for relieving restlessness and stress. Put a few drops of this oil into your bath or rub the oil on your temples for a quick relaxation.
Rosemary
If you are feeling confused or indecisive, you will need the fragrance of rosemary essential oil. It does a pretty good job at clearing your head and supporting digestive functions.
When combined with peppermint essential oil, it can improve one’s focus and insights, too! Just mix 3 drops of this oil with 3 drops of peppermint essential oil and rub on your upper neck. It should effectively improve your memory and keep you focused the whole day.
Actually, there are still lots of essential oils out there. These are only ten of them. Nonetheless, if you want your family to reap the benefits of these oils, then this essential oils guide can help you get started.
The biggest challenge in dating is finding the right person.
Most of the time, dating is usually clouded with the wrong intentions. Some simply want to get laid while others want to see what happens next. These aren’t really wrong if those are what you intend.
But, if you are looking for the right match, you can easily get hurt if the other person has those intentions.
That is why it is important to make it clear what your intentions are, particularly at the start of the dating process. If you are dating to find the right person for you, then you have to be honest about it. Otherwise, you will get hurt if you play along and can become an easy prey to people who are just looking for fun.
Finding the right person takes time. Actually, it takes an enormous amount of time. Some people can be married, have kids and start a family only to realize that who they live with is not actually the right person for them. No wonder divorce rates are sky high.
Here are a few dating tips for finding the right person:
Eliminate Fear
Fear will always cause us to make the wrong decisions. Fear can easily convince us that who we are currently dating is the best we can have. At your very core, however, you know there is a mismatch in many of your characteristics and personality.
In other words, fear will make you blind to many unpleasant things and this can cause great issues in the long run.
It is best to date not because of fear, whether that is fear of loneliness or being single. Being single shouldn’t actually be feared at all since rushing into a bad relationship is actually worse than being alone.
Do not confuse being partnered with happiness, too. You can be happy alone and you’ll have a greater chance of finding the right person if you are complete on your own.
Take Time Before Committing
Commitment brings a relationship to another level. Sometimes, the sweetness and the “high” felt at the beginning of a new relationship can convince you to commit to something even more serious.
Hold back a little and think about what you are getting into.
Not being bitter, but you have to consider many things. Think about your career, social life, and personal life. If the relationship you are committing to may be disruptive to any of this, it may not be worth it.
There are many relationships that flourished not because of initial attraction. In fact, some of those that truly lasted are people who may have known each other for a long time without being entirely in love. The right person may be the wrong person at first, so give your partner a fair chance.
Who you are craving for may be toxic and cause you problems and those you may consider toxic or perceive to be may just be the remedy you need to achieve and sustain happiness.
You’ll never know!
Establish a Sensible Foundation for a Relationship
Many of us sign up for a relationship as if it’s a promotion of an insurance company. We forget that any relationship requires a solid foundation as it gets established.
Before you go about committing to enter a relationship, have a clear sensible foundation. For example, list your own set of values that are most important for you and see if the other person can identify with them. If not, better look for another one. Otherwise, you’ll just create your biggest regret.
Don’t Let Lust be the Foundation
Lust and sex (as dirty as possible) is a requirement for a healthy relationship. No argument in that one. But, take note that it shouldn’t be the foundation of your relationship.
Sexual chemistry is great but it doesn’t mean you’d go blind over the bad behavior of the other person. Life isn’t about sex alone. Remember the many other aspects of life you need to keep intact.
Have fun dating and don’t let bad experiences take away the possibilities of finding the right person.
Again, it takes a long time to find the right one. But, if you do not stumble upon the wrong ones, you would never get there. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, but please learn from them and never allow them to hurt you. Appreciate the transience of people in your life and move on quickly!
Within minutes of becoming a mom, I realized what dirty truly meant when my son’s blowout diaper leaked all over my arms and clothes. And as he gets older, the messes are evolving. From fishing toys out of the toilet, pulling blanket corners out of his mouth, and picking up the Lego landmine on the kitchen floor, cleaning after my son has become a daily chore.
A study by ASecureLife.com revealed a surprising analysis of everyday objects touched by kids aged newborn to four years old. The study found that strollers, pacifiers, and plush toys are the dirtiest kids’ items in a home, each hiding more germs than the average bathroom floor.
Yes, the germs that cause pink eye, whooping cough and pneumonia are present on the items your child uses every day.
To avoid letting those pathogenic germs get in contact with your kid, here’s a guide to cleaning children’s toys.
Cleaning involves wiping something clean of the visible mess—like food, dust or dirt—using soap and water.
Sanitizing happens after cleaning and involves using a chemical solution to kill the most dangerous germs. It’s generally used for surfaces that come in contact with food.
Disinfecting uses a chemical solution that is stronger and kills most germs. It’s best for nonporous surfaces.
Surfaces and toys frequently used by small hands should be cleaned often, but cleaning can expose children to harsh disinfectants. Chemical household disinfectants, like bleach, are hazardous to human health and the environment.
Instead of using those chemicals, try to look for alternatives. There are eco-friendly bleach alternatives approved by the Environmental Protection Agency that include less harmful, biodegradable ingredients. Essential oils, hydrogen peroxide, and vinegar are common ingredients because they contain antimicrobial solutions that can be effective disinfectants and sanitizers if labeled as such.
This doesn’t mean you should throw out antibacterial wipes. Instead, use them sparingly and strategically. You don’t need to use them daily, but maintain a regular cleaning schedule where you focus on sanitizing and disinfecting the most used areas of your home and baby items.
Here is a list of the five germiest children’s items and a guide for how and when to clean each one.
Stroller
Your stroller is pushed across city streets, into public bathrooms, and through amusement parks. Then, when its filthy trek is complete, a stroller is stored in a car trunk or garage—hot, enclosed spaces that provide perfect conditions for germs to multiply.
Worst germ: Streptococcus, which can cause illnesses like strep throat, pink eye, and meningitis.
Quick clean: Turn the stroller on its side and give it a good shake to dump the crumbs. Then, use soap and water to clean the fabric seating area. Use a mild cleaning solution to wipe down the stroller’s handles, cup holder, and food tray.
Deep clean: Use soap and water to clean the remaining fabric areas, like the canopy and storage basket. Wipe down the frame using a mild cleaning solution and a damp cloth. Household cleaners, abrasives, solvents or strong detergents “can scratch, discolor, and weaken plastic or cause corrosion on metal surfaces,” according to stroller brand Britax.
Pacifier
Pacifiers are a parents’ best friend and their worst nightmare. Though the sucking is a huge relief for babies, pacifiers quickly attract germs around them from being dropped on the floor, shoved in diaper bags and passed between hands.
Worst germ: E. coli, which can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, and even respiratory illness.
Quick clean: Generally, rinse off the pacifier or wash with soap and water.
Deep clean: Every few days, run it through a dishwasher cycle on the top rack or place it in a pot of boiling water for five minutes.
Plush Toy
Toys get dragged across grocery store floors, left in the bathroom and covered in mucus and spit-up. The fur of a soft toy absorbs any liquid and germs it comes in contact with, making stuffed animals some of the most difficult children’s toys to properly clean.
Worst germ: Listeria, which can cause listeriosis in people with weakened immune systems.
Quick clean: Make a gentle, detergent-free solution and use with a damp washcloth to quickly clean surfaces of a soiled plush toy. For greasy or oily spots, put the stuffed animal in a plastic bag, sprinkle cornstarch liberally over the toy, shake the bag and let it sit for a few minutes. Finally, vacuum it clean.
Plush toy brand Douglas advises against cleaning stuffed toys with disinfectant wipes or cleaners that have alcohol as they can alter the toy’s coloring and leave behind an unhealthy residue.
Deep clean: Throw the stuffed animal in a laundry machine on a hot water cycle. Put the stuffed animal in a white pillow case before washing to prevent matting or losing the fur. Remain conservative with the soap and don’t use fabric softeners as too much cleaner will leave a residue on the toy. Afterward, sun dry to prevent the animal from losing its shape.
You’ve likely heard you should never place a purse on a kitchen counter because of the number of germs it carries on the bottom. Magnify that by 100 for a diaper bag. Diaper bags sit on changing tables, rest on floors and get shoved in strollers.
Worst germ: Pertussis, which can cause whooping cough.
Quick clean: Dump out any crumbs, then spot clean soiled spots with mild soap and water. Boogie Wipes—wipes made with saline to ease raw, runny noses — are great, gentle spot cleaners.
Deep clean: Follow the cleaning instructions on your diaper bag’s tag. Some diaper bags can be thrown into the washing machine by placing them in a pillowcase to avoid zippers and accessories from being ripped off. You can also wash them upside down so the bag won’t fill with water.
Other diaper bags can only be tended to with a cloth covered in soap and water. Dry the bag in the sun inside out to prevent the color from fading.
Board Book
Board books are resilient to the aggressive play of toddlers. However, they’re not resistant to the germs that can grow on them as they get in contact with dirty mouths, hands, and floors.
Worst germ: Moraxella, which can cause sinusitis, ear infections or pneumonia.
Quick clean: Use a cloth lightly moistened with soap and water to clean any soiled spots.
Deep clean: Mix a cup of water to a ¼ cup vinegar and use the natural solution to rub down board books. Never scrub board books as this could rub away the page’s color. When cleaning board books, using less moisture is best as the pages will warp if they become too wet.
Prevention
As a general rule, you should clean toys that don’t go in a child’s mouth monthly. There are exceptions, though, where a children’s item should be cleaned immediately, according to Fisher-Price:
When soiled. If food has been spilled on it, get rid of the mess as soon as possible with a soapy water scrub.
Post-sickness. If your child is recovering from an illness, like flu, diarrhea or a cold, disinfect any item that came in contact with your child during their sickness.
Post-play date. You never know what sickness or bacteria other children are carrying, so disinfect the toys that another child played with, especially if they put it in their mouth.
Although it may seem obvious, prevention is a caregiver’s first line of defense. Frequent hand washing for you and your kids is a good first step.
While it’s impossible to completely avoid germs, being aware of what you should regularly clean can help keep your child safe and healthy. Use this list to focus on the germiest objects your child comes in contact with and be sure to regularly clean your child’s other toys throughout your home.
Buying food for toy breeds is not as straightforward as just choosing the most popular at the pet store and taking it home. Small dogs have special dietary requirements as they tend to be sensitive to certain food. It’s also more difficult to feed them due to their small size and high metabolism.
Toy breed dogs can only eat small amounts at a time so they need to eat several times a day to keep their blood sugar within normal range. The food needs to be packed with nutrients and calories to ensure that your little dog is getting enough of the things it needs to stay healthy.
While this may sound daunting, here are some guidelines on what to look for when buying the best dog food for small dogs.
Ingredients To Look For
Quality ingredients are the most important thing when deciding which food to buy. Just like with human food, you want the ingredients to be as natural as possible so that they can provide the best nutrition available. The main things to check for in dog food for small breeds are protein, fat and carbohydrates.
Protein
When checking what’s in the food you’re considering, protein is the first thing to look for. Protein should be the main ingredient so it should be first on the list. It should also be a high-quality source of protein and something you can recognize. Look for chicken, turkey, or lamb.
Sometimes, game meats will also be used, such as bison or venison. These are good as they are not usually inflammatory and they can be tolerated by dogs with sensitive tummies.
Anything ambiguous, like “by-product”, should be avoided. This is often what’s left over and considered unfit for human consumption after butchering the best meat off of an animal. It can also be a mix of animals from various sources.
Meat meals are also a good protein source. Meal is meat that has been dried to remove the water but still contains the same protein content.
Fat
Dogs are unlike humans in their digestion and they can take a quite high-fat diet and still be healthy. Just like with protein, you should look for reliable fat sources. Chicken fat is a good one but any recognizable source would be acceptable.
Fats that are not defined, such as “animal fat”, can be accumulated from all over the place and from various sources so the quality cannot be verified. Preservatives are often added to them to make them last longer as fat turns rancid when exposed to air.
Along with fat, the food you buy for toy dog breeds should also include fatty acids, such as Omega 3 and Omega 6. Some of the vitamins small dogs require are fat soluble, which means they need to have these fatty acids in order to absorb them.
As a general rule, there should be 1g of fat for 2g of protein in good dog food for small dogs.
Carbohydrates
In dog food, carbohydrates are often used as fillers to add bulk and calories. These are often referred to as vague descriptions, such as “grain by-products” or “cereals”. There are also some grains that small dogs, like Shih Tzus, are often allergic to. Examples include corn, wheat, and soy.
However, there are nutrients in high-quality carbohydrates. So, look for lists of vegetables, preferably fibrous ones, like potatoes, squashes, turnips and whole grains like oats.
Things To Avoid When Looking For Food For Toy Dogs
Apart from knowing what to look for in a good dog food, you should also know what should be avoided as much as possible.
As previously mentioned, wheat, soy, and corn are common allergens. They can cause upset stomachs and skin irritations. Along with these, look out for artificial preservatives, like ethoxyquin, BHT, and BHA.
Of course, some preservatives are needed or else the food would go off in storage and transport, but these can be in the form of Vitamin E and Vitamin C substrates known as tocopherols or ascorbates.
There are also some ingredients that must not be given to small dogs and Shih Tzu. These are toxic and can cause organ damage and even death in some cases. These include anything with caffeine, such as tea or coffee, chocolate, onions, fruit seeds or pips, grapes or raisins and macadamia nuts.
Size and Shape Of Dog Food For Small Dogs
Small dogs have small mouths and jaws to match. This means that you can’t give them big chunks of food as they’ll struggle to bite and chew properly. A lot of toy breeds also have compressed snouts and flat faces, like the Shih Tzu, and this makes eating messy and not so easy.
There are specialized foods, mainly dry food, that’s made up of small, bite-sized pieces called kibbles. They’re the perfect size and shape to fit into small mouths and small jaws. Size and shape should be a consideration when picking out the best dog food for small dogs.
Snacks and Treats
The recommendations for food should also apply to the treats that you give your small dogs. Since they can only take in small amounts of food at a time, they are often prone to hypoglycemia. You need to give them a couple of snacks between meals to keep their blood sugar normal. These should be small snacks that your dog can eat quickly and are full of nutrients and calories to keep them going. Just like with meals, avoid snacks that have lots of chemicals, preservatives, and allergens in them.
Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)
For extra peace of mind, look out for the AAFCO stamp of approval. The AAFCO test and monitor animal food to make sure that it has the right composition of nutrients and can provide your dog with everything it needs and everything the food claims to provide. It also ensures that there is nothing harmful in there so you can feed your dog with confidence.
In a world of mass production and сhеар commodities, mаnу products, including bаbу clothes and bаbу ассеѕѕоrіеѕ, аrе produced frоm ѕуnthеtіс mаtеrіаlѕ that аrе mаdе frоm tоxіс сhеmісаlѕ. Thеѕе tоxіn-rіddеn products роѕе health rіѕkѕ fоr еvеrуоnе who uѕеѕ thеm. Bаbіеѕ, obviously, аrе especially vulnerable to these risks.
In аn еffоrt tо gеt аwау frоm these toxic products and аlѕо tо preserve the environment, mаnу соmраnіеѕ сhооѕе tо gо grееn bу producing organic products. This includes organic baby clothes and organic bаbу ассеѕѕоrіеѕ.
Orgаnіс products dо nоt роѕе аnу health rіѕk tо аnуоnе who uses them as they аrе mаdе frоm аll natural mаtеrіаlѕ. They are frее оf ѕуnthеtіс tоxіс сhеmісаlѕ, ѕuсh аѕ hоrmоnеѕ and реѕtісіdеѕ. Thе drawback of organic products, however, іѕ that they аrе vеrу costly соmраrеd tо their nоn-organic counterparts.
Thе health riskѕ оf ѕуnthеtіс products and the high cost of organic products lеаvе a lоt оf реорlе, еѕресіаllу the parents of newborn bаbіеѕ, іn a ѕtаtе of dіlеmmа. Thеу hаvе tо mаkе the сhоісе оf either ignoring the rіѕkѕ оf ѕуnthеtіс products or figure out wауѕ tо gеt the extra money theу nееd tо purchase organic products.
In this ріесе, we’ll give you great tips оn hоw tо solve this dilemma.
Should Yоu Buу Orgаnіс Bаbу Clothes and Orgаnіс Bаbу Aссеѕѕоrіеѕ?
When it comes to choosing between organic and non-organic baby clothes and accessories, however, many people pause to consider the pros and cons of the decision.
Those who choose to go for non-synthetic clothes and accessories for babies believe that because a baby’s skin is far more sensitive than that of an adult, babies are more prone to allergic reactions from toxic chemicals.
Other people argue that organic baby clothing is a mere “status symbol” as baby clothes and accessories produced from 100% cotton fabric make very good alternatives. Both points are legitimate so the choice of buying organic and non-organic products is left for parents to make.
What to Avoid When Choosing Bаbу Clothes and Bаbу Aссеѕѕоrіеѕ
When choosing kids’ clothes and accessories, avoid those made largely from polyester and those that have very dark colors because they contain a lot of dyes. Do not buy baby clothes that are made from fabrics that have been treated with formaldehyde-based resins as that could cause allergic skin reaction. It’s also a good idea to always wash your baby’s clothes before putting them on your baby for the first time.
Choosing The Right Bedding for Your Bаbу’ѕ Crіb
It іѕ needless tо ѕау that organic products аrе muсh ѕаfеr than the non-organic оnеѕ аѕ organic products contain lеѕѕ (іf аnу) harmful ѕуnthеtіс сhеmісаlѕ. Unfortunately, nоt еvеrуоnе саn аffоrd organic products bесаuѕе they аrе vеrу еxреnѕіvе.
Orgаnіс bаbу mattresses, fоr еxаmрlе, аrе vеrу рrісеу. Thеrеfоrе, a mоrе соѕt еffесtіvе alternative tо nоn-ѕуnthеtіс mattresses fоr your bаbу’ѕ сrіb іѕ tо buy organic bаbу mattress раdѕ, ѕhееtѕ, оr duvet соvеrѕ. Always ensure your bаbу’ѕ сrіb bedding is flаmе resistant and mаkе sure tо аіr the non-organic mattress out wеll bеfоrе іt іѕ uѕеd.
Chооѕіng Yоur Bаbу’ѕ Dіареrѕ
Every family with a nеwborn baby іѕ always fасеd with the сhоісе оf using cloth diapers that rеԛuіrе dumping and washing, paying the hеаvу рrісе fоr organic dіареrѕ оr rіѕking the health of their newborn babies with non-organic dіѕроѕаblе dіареrѕ. If your fаmіlу орtѕ fоr disposable dіареrѕ, іt wіll bе a gооd іdеа tо gо fоr dіѕроѕаblе dіареrѕ that are chlorine frее.
When shopping for baby clothes and items, it’s so easy to simply get caught up in the aesthetic of children’s clothing and how cute our kids would look in certain outfits. However, always consider material, origin, and what these baby products underwent during the manufacturing process. Keep our tips in mind when shopping in order to keep your child’s exposure to harmful substances to a minimum.
Millennials are having a bigger impact on the housing market than you might expect. They are the largest and most diverse generation since the Baby Boomers and despite their financial struggles with student loans and stagnating wages, they are managing to save up for down payments and buy houses. There are, however, some key differences in what Millennial home buyers want, compared with the previous generations.
Millennials Want To Own Homes
While the previous generations had the American Dream, Millennials consider having their own homes as their biggest dream. This is in great contrast to what most people think of Millennials.
Millennials are often thought to be forever dependent on their parents, living off of their parents’ basement, renting forever or getting a share of everything without giving or buying anything.
The key difference between Millennials and other generations is that they don’t see home ownership as permanent. They plan to move on sooner than the average homeowner in 6 years, instead of 10.
Millennials Shop For Homes Differently
The Internet has changed things for a lot of people. Digital native Millennials have become far more comfortable with using the Internet than previous generations.
These are the folks who research a pair of shoes online extensively before committing to buy. And as expected, they’ll use the same diligence in purchasing a home.
Almost all Millennials search for homes online while 58% find homes on their mobile devices. Three-quarters of millennials will actually drive by a home because of the photos they see online while over two thirds will do a walk-through after finding a home on the internet. Good online listings with professional photos are the biggest hurdle to getting millennials through the door.
Millennials are also more likely to trust real estate agents. They want someone who can guide them through the process and trusting the professionals is the Millennial answer.
With mountains of student loan debt and stagnating wages, 23% of Millennials report that saving for a down payment is the most difficult part of the home buying process. Nearly half of Millennials owe $25,000 in student loan debt.
Saving up for that down payment is a tough road for many Millennials and their struggles are reflected in what they want in a first-time home. Fixer uppers are out as Millennials don’t have the cash or the time to fix up a home. They want turnkey homes that are completely updated and ready to go.
What Millennial Home Buyers Want
Millennials have a long list of demands when it comes to finally making that first home purchase. They don’t have a lot of extra cash to spend making it their own, so everything needs to be just right before they sign the contract.
Millennials want:
An open floor plan – They are broke so they want a space where they can entertain. An updated luxury kitchen – They are going to be making their own avocado toast for the foreseeable future and they want to do it in style. Updated bathrooms – There’s no money left over to do renovations. A home office – More Millennials are telecommuting and they want a dedicated space. Energy efficiency – The environment is important as is saving on utility bills so things like energy-efficient windows and appliances, as well as solar features, can be major selling points. Technology access – Cell reception and high-speed internet are deal makers Location – Millennials still want to be in the suburbs, close enough to work and entertainment but far enough away to relax
Millennials Are Dominating The Real Estate Landscape
Currently, Millennials make up 34% of all home buyers and 66% of all first-time home buyers. Because of their sheer number, they are changing the course of real estate — from what sells houses to the level of professional involvement in the process. If you are selling a home or working in the real estate market, take note.
Discounting Millennials’ purchasing power because of the constant chatter in the media labeling them as “sharers and not owners” or simply “broke and in debt” is not going to be an effective strategy. Millennials want to own homes and they are going to do it by any means necessary.
Learn more about Millennial home buyers from this infographic.
No matter where you go, how you go or how many days your stay will be, you can easily spend more cash than you thought you would when traveling. Unexpected travel expenses can cost you more than you would spend if you just stay at home.
Expenses for airplane tickets and hotel rooms are obvious. But, what if you end up losing your baggage? Or someone gets sick?
There are several unexpected travel expenses that can fast spike the total price of your trip to an uncomfortable height. Thankfully, there are some effective and easy ways to cover them. Below are great tips you can use when planning your next trip.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not really common among people. But, it only takes a bad fall on your trip or a motorbike accident to make you regret your decision of not getting a travel insurance.
Policies are available for a cost as low as a night’s lodging. If you have more money, you can consider increasing your deductible and just use your insurance for real calamities.
Unplanned Upgrades
There will be times when the train you expect to take you from one spot to another gets delayed for 12 hours. There will be times when you miss your bus and have to buy a nicer class ticket so you can stay on your schedule. In some cases, getting tour buses will be so difficult that you’ll need to spend your last $50 to buy a one-way flight back instead of waiting.
The best way to cover such unexpected travel expenses is to find reasonable offers online for cab or taxi services or get cash advance online.
Baggage problems
A lot of travelers just do not pay attention to their free checked baggage allowance once they find tickets with amazing prices. They’ll only realize the problem when they are hit with excess baggage fees.
To avoid this, always double check your airline’s website before packing your suitcase. This will keep you away from extra charges.
Lost luggage problems are a very common scenario today, too. If your baggage doesn’t show up, go to the airline counter to file a report. They may provide you a bag of essentials and ask you to share your contact details. Remember that the longer your luggage is lost, the more compensation the airline will provide. A payday loan could cover this travel problem.
When traveling, your routine changes tremendously. You’ll eat and drink a lot of new things, too. So, you have to go see your attending physician and consult him about your travel plans. If you don’t, you can end up spending tons of cash for expensive medicines, like antiseptics, sunscreen and allergy pills.
To cover these expenses, you can pack a few medicines in your baggage. If your airline won’t allow it, look for discounts and buy extra packs whenever you see a good deal on your way. A small town without any drugstore can sell these essentials at a high price.
Lodging Fees
And finally, you should be ready for certain fees connected with lodging that are frequently hidden and unexpected for many travelers. Before signing your final payment, ensure that you have a clear understanding of how much you are going to pay for the whole stay.
Ask the hotel management to provide the list of extra payments that are not included in your stay rate. Also, be ready to cover extra charges, like open bar, internet and room service fees.
To avoid all those inconveniences and prevent awkward situations during the arrival, include those expenses in your travel budget.
Conclusion
Every time we plan a trip, we often forget the smaller, less pressing stuff. Just keep the above-mentioned points in mind next time you are planning or saving for an overseas trip.
When taking a trip anywhere in the world, you must be prepared for unexpected travel expenses. This way, if something comes up, you won’t end up feeling stressed, frustrated and broke.
Sig Nordal 