“People ask me how I make music. I tell them I just step into it. It’s like stepping into a river and joining the flow. Every moment in the river has its song.”
― Michael Jackson

Have you ever felt the feeling of being fully present and in the moment where everything just connected? That moment where the mind subsided and the activity felt pure and simply immense?

Flow is simply a state of heightened focus and immersion in activities such as art, play or work. It’s a state of being in which we become fully present, alert, focused, fully charged and ready to perform; those moments where it all simply comes together; that bit of inspiration where all our worries disappear and we become completely immersed in what we are doing.

We have all experienced flow in areas of our life. It can be as simple as playing with your kids, training in a sport, or performing a task at work. It’s an optimal state of consciousness; a peak state where we perform at our highest and feel at our best.

We see flow regularly performed by elite athletes. It’s that bit of magic that takes your breath away, whether it was a Michael Jordan three-pointer, a Tiger Woods hole in one, a Murray backhand, a Conor McGregor knockout or that David Beckham free kick.

Flow enhances the energy in the performer. It’s an encompassing energy that can be picked up by the audience, your teammates or your family. It brings connection, not only through skill and performance but a connection through spirit, dedication, and application.

Rules and triggers

Having a clear framework will really help you build flow into your daily life. If we can begin to create more automation in our life, we can then begin to actively add flow into points in our day. Let’s start with some key factors that help increase flow. Once you nail the basics we can look at adding it to your day-to-day routines.

Psychology

1) You have a clear set of goals
2) The challenge needs to be ‘in the gap’ of boredom and anxiety, therefore the task is not so hard that your fear levels go through the roof, but also is not too dull: as attention falls, your engagement deteriorates
3) You are fully focused on what you doing, completely present
4) You can get some direct feedback, whether through a teacher/coach or the environment
5) You enjoy a sense of control
6) You experience deep involvement in what you are doing: the everyday stress of life seems to vanish
7) Your sense of self disappears, but paradoxically your sense of self emerges stronger
8) Your sense of time disappears
9) Time flies – during the activity, time seems to move quickly as you are enjoying the process

See Also: 4 Sure-Fire Ways to Motivate Yourself to Reach Your Goals

Environmental triggers

1) Engaging environment: an environment that is rich with novelty, complexity and unpredictability can increase flow. You are forced to use your tools and skills in that moment, e.g asking someone on a date, finding the right environment to meet new people, etc
2) Relationships: relationships are so important to any successful endeavour so here are a few key points to optimize flow within them
3) You are the average of the five people you associate with the most, so choose your relationships wisely
4) Listening: a huge skill to cultivate in any team. Creating a flowing culture and having top communication can massively impact confidence and decision making. Seek first to understand others, delegate and build a proactive team/culture
5) Familiarity: keeping everyone on the same page once the goals are set and keeping members engaged and fulfilled is the key to success
6) Equal contribution (skill level): when everyone is on the same page and contributing equally, we create a gateway to flow
7) Group flow: there is no group flow without the risk of failure. Simply changing the group’s relation to risk and fear can increase flow. We can always have a contingency plan in place, but by simply addressing the fact that there is no creativity without failure. Creativity, innovation, failure and risk go hand-in-hand.

See Also: Solving Workplace Problems with a Culture of Creativity – 10 Strategies

High risk/consequence:

If the environment has high-risk consequences, flow can be triggered very quickly as it’s a do-or-die situation. This is at the extreme end of performance and includes activities like skydiving, surfing, motocross etc. This type of environment will drive your focus levels through the roof. There is little time to think and you are forced to focus, as diverting your attention away from the activity could end in injury.

4) Creativity:

We are all creative. Simply put, we all have the ability to unleash our creative endeavours. If we combine both pattern recognition (the ability to link and learn new ideas) and our level of risk, we raise our level of flow.

Taking action and stepping into flow

These rules can be used as a guide to help you get started. Can you apply any of these to a sport you are currently training in, a work role, your workout routine, writing or another daily ritual? Start with one area of your life, then you can begin to add it to other areas.

Remember, always start small. Begin by adding one rule/trigger at a time. This could be simply starting something brand new like learning a language, instrument or martial art; something that allows you to use these rules and triggers.

You could start with a dream you have, a routine, your diary, anything! Take the first step and always remember, it’s taking actionable steps into it which will propel you forward.

4 extra tips to help you get started today

1. Choose one area of your life where you would like more flow

2. Set some clear goals within that activity

3. Find an environment that will enhance this like a new gym or new class

4. Get feedback

Step into flow today and discover the secret to high performance and happiness!

 

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We all know some of the favorite things people like to do on Thanksgiving: watch football, watch The Macy’s Day Parade, and of course taking a nap after gorging on Turkey.

Well the purpose of this article is to inspire everyone who reads it to turn off the TV (web, video games) for part of the day and really spend some quality time with your friends and family. You’ll have have fun doing it and you’ll create fun, fond memories.

1. Take a Walk. Pick an enjoyable destination. All you need to bring are your sneakers and conversation! Or you could join a Thanksgiving road race or road walk.

2. Play Touch Football. Or soccer, tag, hide-n-seek, etc. Just get outside with the gang and do something that involves running around and taking in some nice fresh air.

3. Boardgames! Get out those games you have in the closet since last Christmas and haven’t played yet. Scrabble, Life, Yahtzee, Cranium, Trivial Pursuit, Trouble, Chutes & Ladders, whatever! Have some silly fun!

4. Play Charades. This doesn’t take much. Make your own rules as you go. Have fun!

5. Sing-a-Long. Karaoke. Get out the instruments, guitars, piano. Dust off that accordion. Bring out the tambourines, spoons, etc. Put on a holiday radio station and sing along. Make up a contest. You can really have fun with this.

6. Memory Sharing. Share stories. You can pick a theme such as:

• The greatest day of my life. 

• The best thing that happened in my life this year. 

• My favorite memory from childhood. 

• The funniest thing that ever happened to me.

Have someone scribe the stories or videotape the event.

7. Share Thanks. At dinner have everyone share what they are thankful for before eating dinner.

8. Silly Dance Contest. Just like it says. Be silly. Dance. Make up your own rules.

9. Kids Talent Show. There’s usually one grownup at family gatherings who likes to get the kids doing activities. If you’re that person maybe you want to have the kids perform for the whole family after dinner. While everyone is watching football you could throw it together. (Of course adults can join the show too!)

10. I Love My Family because…. Gather round as a family and have each person share what they love about the family.

11. Share the Love. Have the family all in one room and have each person tell why they admire the person next to him/her. And then that person says why they admire the person next to him/her, and so on. “I Admire ___________ because…”

12. Treasure Hunt. Create a simple treasure map and “prizes.” There can be one prize or multiple prizes, like an egg-hunt. Ideas for prizes: chocolate turkeys (is there such a thing?) or a packet of coins or a gift certificate wrapped up in a box. Share your ideas in the comments please!

13. Name That Tune. Play the humming game where each teams or individuals have to name the tune.

14. The Questions Game. Here is a link to a family game with very few rules. You get to make up the rules. The idea is to spark conversations, have fun, and get to know each other better.

15. The Craziest Thing …. (that I saw or experienced this year). As a family tell stories that can be true or made up. It can be a little bit like “To Tell the Truth.” Everyone tells a crazy story that is either true or made up and everyone has to guess if it is true or not. And the story doesn’t have to be something that they actually experienced.

16. Our Family Tree. Have everyone imprint a fingerpaint handprint on a big sheet of paper with their name underneath. You can have it framed or take a picture of it to share with everyone.

17. Start a Thanksgiving Day Banner. Starting this year create a banner that can hang in your living room that will have a picture of the whole family from each year. It can become an heirloom for future generations. You could also create a similar item electronically say with a website.

18. Three Legged Races. Link up kids/grownups. You could also try a sack race or create an obstacle course race too. Have some fun silly prizes or simple privilege prizes like the first place team doesn’t have to help with clean up or they get first dibs on the turkey.

19. Family Thanksgiving Journal. Grab a blank notebook. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Write down everyone’s thanks for this year. And then next year do the same so that over time you build a treasured family book of thanks as well as a sort of family history.

20. Make Me Laugh. Tell jokes. You can make it into a game to see if you can get someone to laugh. Can be done as individuals, round-robin, or as teams.

Happy Thanksgiving all! Enjoy!

Please share your favorite Thanksgiving traditions and family fun activities in the comments! We’d love to hear your ideas!

Originally written for Dumb Little Man by K. Stone in 2007. She is the author of Life Learning Today, a blog about daily life improvements. Photo by Cameron Nordholm

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A co-working space can change a business in profound and positive ways. If you’ve never seen one, it’s a shared office environment that your employees can use for however long is necessary. This concept is really shaking up the corporate world.

Coworking spaces are almost like hotels or rental homes for companies. They can head to one of these facilities to conduct meetings, call clients, and take care of all kinds of other day-to-day operations.

If you’re not sure that such a setup is right for your organization, consider the following benefits of coworking spaces.

1. Coworking spaces are fully equipped

Many of these spaces provide comfortable lounges, spacious conference rooms, mailboxes, and high-quality reception services. Moreover, in most cases, they contain all of the communications technologies and other items that a company would need.

2. You’ll save money

Buying or renting an office building can be prohibitively expensive, especially for new and very small companies. It’s no surprise, then, that half of all coworkers have enjoyed higher incomes.

3. These spaces encourage networking

Among the strongest benefits of collaborative working are the myriad networking opportunities. When your staff members mingle with people from other companies, they can discuss solutions to their mutual challenges. You’re sure to pick up some handy new ideas, and you might even find new business partners and clients as well.

4. People can work at any time of the day

Approximately 70 percent of office professionals prefer to work outside of normal business hours at least some of the time. Of course, coworking spaces allow them to set their own schedules.

5. It’s a way of attracting a youthful workforce

About 78 percent of the people who utilize coworking spaces are younger than 40. The collaborative and innovative nature of these environments seems to attract this demographic. Therefore, if you’re looking to entice younger men and women to work for you, offering them the chance to try coworking could help.

See Also: How Millennials Measure Success At Work 

6. These spaces are scalable

The American workforce is evolving. By 2020, four out of every 10 professionals in the U.S. won’t be connected to any one company. Instead, they’ll be temporary employees, freelancers, or independent in some other way.

Why set up your business in a large office complex when there’s no way to tell how many full-time workers you’ll have in just a few years? By contrast, a shared office space is highly flexible.

See Also: 7 Convincing Reasons for Working as a Freelancer 

7. This type of atmosphere can make you feel good

You might be surprised to find out that 68 percent of coworkers believe they can concentrate more effectively. On top of that, 70 percent feel “healthier” than they would in a typical office setting, and 91 percent say that they communicate better with other people. Perhaps the old-fashioned workplace ― with its small cubicles, petty politics, and occasional fights over parking spaces ― has already outlived its usefulness.

With so many advantages, coworking spaces have a lot to offer to new startups, new businesses, or even businesses that are struggling to stay afloat.

 

 

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Safety boots aren’t the most glamorous footwear you can take to work. They also aren’t the lightest ones for your feet. Surprisingly, however, safety boots offer a lot of benefits not just for your feet but your general health as well. They can even affect your productivity at work.

If you’re still thinking twice about wearing your safety boots to work, here are some of the best reasons why you definitely should.

1. They protect the feet

This is probably one of the most obvious reasons why you should always wear your safety boots. They offer protection against punctures as well as slips and trips. They can also protect your feet from burns.

Safety boots are often made of durable materials to withstand a wide range of workplace hazards. There are various types of safety shoes so make sure to find one that will fit your unique job role. If you know you’ll be exposed to electricity and high voltage machines, choose electric hazard shoes. In case you’ll be assigned to handle heavy industrial materials, you can pick safety-toed shoes.

If you know you’ll be exposed to electricity and high voltage machines, choose electric hazard shoes. In case you’ll be assigned to handle heavy industrial materials, you can pick safety-toed shoes.

2. They offer support

Safety boots are often heavy but they are great when it comes to supporting proper posture. Since workers often have to stand for long periods of time, this type of footwear can help ensure that their feet are properly cushioned and supported.

By ensuring your feet’s comfort, you’ll less likely feel fatigued. They can also decrease the strain on the muscles of your lower extremities and your chances of developing chronic work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Since they lessen fatigue, you’ll be able to do your work faster and better.

See Also: How to Prevent Back Injuries at Work 

3. They offer protection against extreme weather changes

Extreme weather conditions can result in a lot of health problems. An intense low temperature, for example, can reduce the blood circulation in your feet. If this type of exposure is prolonged, it can cause nerve damage and even death of the area.

There are also medical conditions, like Reynaud’s Syndrome, that can easily be aggravated by weather changes. Reynaud’s Syndrome is a condition where a person’s extremities can turn purple due to poor blood flow after being exposed to cold weather.

Take note that not all safety boots are insulated so make sure that you find one made with the right materials.

4. It helps avoid lawsuits

Because of how important safety boots are in workplaces, wearing them has been a part of the regulation. It should be followed at all times to ensure every worker’s safety while working. If your company fails to provide safety boots or isn’t strict when it comes to making every employee comply to regulations, they can get sued.

Lawsuits involving workplace safety aren’t only time consuming and expensive but they can also cost your company’s permits and licenses. Aside from safety boots, workers must also wear shirts with long sleeves, long work pants and protective head gears. They should also wear eye goggles and face masks if their work puts them at risk of getting splashed with chemicals or toxic particles.

5. It can help you keep your work

Employers aren’t the only one responsible for making sure their employees comply to the rule. Workers are also responsible for their own safety at work. Under the OHSA Compliance Standards, employers can send their workers home if they fail to act in a safe manner. They can also terminate employment in the event of employee misconduct.

For your own safety and protection, make sure to wear your protective gear all the time. It isn’t only a necessity during inspections and assessments.

 

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Did you know that turmeric is amazing for kidney health?

One of the most challenging failures when it comes to the body is kidney failure and this explains why you come with two.

The kidneys are your body’s garbage disposal unit

Having two kidneys allows your body to have a more rapid turnover of fluids. This means that there is a greater clearance of chemicals in the body.

We also have two kidneys so that we have a backup in case the other should fail because of old age, trauma or disease. The kidneys are like a huge garbage disposal in the body; their sole purpose is to clean your system by discarding toxins.

Kidney failure will take you out faster than any other failures in the body because of the processes that take place on the body. If the kidney stops working and stops to clean out your body, you won’t be able to survive for long when it is left untreated.

With severe kidney failure when you cannot even produce urine anymore. You can only survive for two to three weeks. The best option at this point would be a transplant.

Can you imagine the kind of condition your body would be in if you kidneys fail to function properly?

Turmeric reduces kidney inflammation

Turmeric is one of the best ways to condition your kidney enabling it to work more efficiently for more than one reason.

Kidney failure is mainly caused by inflammation in the kidney, which is why Turmeric kidney solutions are the best. Turmeric works by reducing inflammations in various parts of the body, including the kidney. The benefit of turmeric is that it is a natural product and therefore, there are no side effects in the body.

Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant

Turmeric kidney solutions are also beneficial due to the fact that it is a powerful antioxidant, neutralizing toxins in the body. Free radicals cause oxidation and are effectively neutralized by turmeric, providing a safe environment alongside a boosted immune system.

Turmeric promotes heart health

Cardiovascular issues can battle alongside kidney problems and wreak total havoc in the body. However, introducing turmeric anti-inflammatory properties, the heart can also be helped along the way. Turmeric reduces inflammation in the heart, as well as balances blood pressure, aiding the heart into working optimally, reducing the strain to the kidneys.

See Also: 10 Habits That Can Prevent Heart Disease 

The liver and kidneys work in tandem, meaning that the failure of one will burden the other. Most people dealing with liver failure will have struggling kidneys in the long run, so turmeric ensures that both organs are working at their best by improving

Turmeric helps with diabetes

Since turmeric is an antioxidant, it is also a powerful agent when it comes to dealing with diabetes. This works to reduce the resistance of insulin in the body, enabling it to work effectively, reducing the risk of diabetes in the long run.

See Also: A List of Superfoods You Definitely Need in Your Diet

Before introducing new medications to your system, remember to consult with your doctor. It is important that you get the best medical advice for the other treatments that you want to try. If you get the go signal of your doctor, slowly introduce turmeric to your body. Hopefully, this treatment will do a good job in combination with the other treatments that you are taking.

 

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Hair loss is something that could potentially affect us all. We’re an image conscious bunch, and the last thing we want to happen is to look in the mirror one day and see lock after lock of our glorious hair begin to disappear before our very eyes.

It can come in many different forms: bald patches, receding hair lines, and general thinning of the hair. Hopefully it’s just one of these issues and not several of them combined. Whatever the problem though, there are luckily natural remedies to help combat hair loss and keep your confidence levels on tip top form.

Read on to find out what some of the absolute best natural hair loss prevention methods are.

Carnitine

Carnitine is a naturally occurring compound vital for energy production; you’ve probably encountered it before as it is commonly used as a fat burning supplement.

As well as helping to promote the transportation (and excretion) of fatty acids within the system, carnitine also helps to promote a constant energy supply to all aspects of the body’s internal functions. This includes the hair follicles.

You could almost see carnitine as a stimulant; it promotes the growth of hair on the scalp due to the “kick start” it gives the cells in the area, thus sending their production of human hair into overdrive.

If you haven’t already; you should seriously consider including carnitine as part of your hair loss remedy supplement arsenal.

See Also: 10 Amazing Foods You Should Include in Your Detox Diet

Capsaicin

You’ve seen capsaicin before but probably not in a form you recognised! Capsaicin is the compound responsible for making chilli peppers (and other pepper varieties) hot. Because of this, if you haven’t seen it before, it’s highly likely that you’ve definitely felt its effects.

You could be forgiven for never wanting anything to do with this compound again if you’ve found yourself a victim of a slightly “too hot” vindaloo but you’ll be robbing yourself of immense hair loss prevention benefits if you do.

Capsaicin promotes the release of insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in the scalp; an absolutely integral compound needed for hair growth in humans at any stage of their development. Should you find that your hair growth has stalled a little, it could easily be remedied by boosting your IGF-1 levels via capsaicin supplementation as well as topical use.

Its potency is also increased when combined with the next item on our list.

Soy Isoflavones

Soy isoflavones are a fantastic way to reduce DHT levels within the body thus giving your scalp more of a “chance” to develop new hair. This will actually help to stall hair loss too which is fantastic.

On its own, this is a beneficial supplement to take if you simply want to reduce the potential of hair loss taking place. But, where it really comes to full fruition is when it is paired with capsaicin as the two work together in perfect harmony to help not only reduce, but also produce new hair cells.

As the soy isoflavones work to reduce DHT levels and stall hair loss, the capsaicin works to promote IGF1 production and generate new hair. That’s a pretty fantastic combination we’re sure you’ll agree. We highly recommend using this combo both as a oral supplement, as well as a topical remedy.

Raspberry ketones

It’s probably not going to be too difficult to convince you to eat more raspberries. Who doesn’t love them? They actually come equipped with ketones that help to reduce body fat levels too. This is how most people hear of raspberry ketones in the first place.

In this instance though, we’re not looking at its fat burning capabilities. This is all about hair regrowth and hair loss prevention. Luckily, it has been shown in tests that raspberry ketones are actually highly effective at promoting hair regrowth.

Topical application of raspberry ketones work in a very similar way to capsaicin in that they promote the release of IGF-1 within the scalp. This leads to the production of new hair cells and helps to combat potential hair loss by keeping your hair count as high as possible.

If not for the other potential benefits raspberry ketones have to offer, this benefit alone is well worth their inclusion in your hair loss arsenal.

See Also: A List of Superfoods You Definitely Need in Your Diet

Biotin

Biotin is one of the most essential components needed for healthy hair growth and is one of the easiest to completely miss out on too. You’ve got to ensure you take in adequate vitamins and minerals on a daily basis if you want to ensure that you not only take in enough biotin, but you also receive a hit of the other vital elements needed to produce hair cells like vitamin D and Iron.

Biotin is a form of vitamin B (vitamin B7 to be precise). It’s easy to see how so many people neglect it because all forms of vitamin B tend to come from green and leafy vegetables as well as oily fish, eggs and other items that we typically ignore as part of our modern food intake.

It works due to the fact that it aids the protein keratin in its vital production efforts throughout the body, one of which is the construction of hair, thus ensuring that you don’t see any signs of thinning any time soon.

Jojoba oil

Jojoba oil very closely resembles the natural oil produced by human skin.

We need to secrete oil in order to keep our pores well lubricated and prevent any potential blockages. This is an incredibly important bodily function that is perhaps needed the most on the scalp.

When your scalp dries up, pores get blocked and you begin to produce dandruff due to the skin on the surface of the scalp drying out and flaking. When this takes place, hair growth becomes incredibly difficult due to there being no “space” for hair cells to grow amidst the clogged up dirt.

By applying jojoba oil to the surface of the scalp, this will ensure that the pores stay well lubricated and hair growth is able to flourish fully.

Conclusion

These items are very easily sourceable and they’ll all help you to maintain your current head of hair whilst also preventing any future thinning.

If you’re already at a stage where negative effects have taken place, don’t worry. By incorporating either one or several of these products, you’ll be sure to maximise your hair regrowth potential and recover those hair cells in no time at all.

 

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We all understand the value of embarking on a new journey with our loved ones. No picture can replicate the memories we create with our friends and family members, but there’s something to be said for making time to travel just for you.

One memorable solo trip for me was when I spent some time in San Jose, California, as well as San Diego, at the end of a work trip in San Francisco.

Because this was my first chance in years to travel by myself, I wanted to keep things simple and not restrict myself to a rigid itinerary. The only event I planned in advance was to see Kanye West and Rihanna (as well as Lupe Fiasco and N*E*R*D) in San Jose. While there, I even ran into the legendary MC Hammer! Tickets were limited to singles at the time, so this incredible night never would have happened if I hadn’t been by myself.

Later, I went to San Diego and reconnected with an old friend I hadn’t seen in years. I had the freedom to hang out with her and her friends on the beach, then take off and explore everything the city had to offer whenever I pleased.

Watching the fiery sun meet the horizon over the Pacific Ocean one night, I realized traveling solo may not replace the experience of seeing the world with your loved ones, but it is an adventure all people should try at some point in their lives.

A New Way to Make Unforgettable Memories

I know I’m not the only one who likes to travel alone. In fact, results from the 2015 Visa Global Travel Intentions Study  indicate a 15 percent uptick in overall solo travel since 2013, and for first-timers, it has increased from 16 percent to 37 percent.

In recognition of this growing market, many hospitality organizations offer new services aimed at wooing those who head out alone, such as solo-traveler guides and communal experiences at resorts.

Numerous logistical and demographic reasons help explain the newfound popularity of solo travel — including rising wages in the developing world and the Baby Boomers reaching retirement age. However, the most significant factor in the solo travel surge may be the most simple: More Americans than not are single for the first time in decades.

See Also: 10 Wonderful Benefits of Traveling

Endorsements and Caveats for the Solo Traveler

Traveling alone can open up a world of possibilities. While it brings many potential benefits, these are just a few considerations to help you discover whether it’s right for you:

• You prefer to set your own schedule at your own speed. Solo travel can offer you the independence you crave because you don’t have to cater to anyone else’s needs. This is especially appealing if your trip isn’t terribly long: You can do exactly what you want to do in the short time you have.

• You want to increase your self-awareness through exploration and discovery. You will learn more about yourself on a solo trip than you ever thought possible, which, in turn, will boost your confidence. When you embrace the benefits of solitude, you become your own best friend.

• You like to meet new, different kinds of people. If you never meet a stranger, solo travel might be the perfect way for you to connect with people from different walks of life.

• You want to become a better traveler. Solo travel will train you to be a more curious observer of the world, and an expanded worldview lends itself to a more compassionate outlook on life.

But just like anything in this world, traveling alone is not for everyone. You may want to stick with a partner or group if the following conditions of solo travel are a significant concern:

• You worry about what others will think. If the thought of seeing a movie alone induces a full-body cringe, exploring new places without someone to lean on might not be for you.

• You’re worried about the dangers of traveling alone. It’s important to understand you won’t have a companion to fall back on. You need to be extremely self-sufficient to successfully travel alone because you open yourself up to risk when you’re by yourself.

• You worry no one can really share the memories with you. “You just had to be there” might become your new favorite phrase after returning from a solo trip. An enlightening journey is deeply personal and, sometimes, lonely. If you’re not OK with that, reconsider solo travel.

See Also: 5 Steps To Reinvent Your Life By Traveling

For me, travel is an intrinsically personal journey. I love to see the world and all its wonders, and occasionally, I like to do it by myself. For your next trip, consider taking some time to reflect on yourself. Plan your itinerary exactly how you want to, and let your destination be your guide to enjoying new experiences that are possible only when you travel solo.

 

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They say first impressions are everything and that is especially true when it comes to dating. Maybe you have no problem landing a first date with women. However, if you’ve noticed that a follow up date never happens, then you most likely need our tips for a first date for men.

First dates are very telling. Women and men will assess whether they want to go out with this person again based on their mannerisms and etiquette on the first date.

To ensure that you get that second date, here are some do’s and don’ts for you.

Do have a plan

If you ask a woman out on a date, then plan a date. I once had a friend who went on a date with a guy. As soon as he picked her up, he said, “Well, what do you want to do?” It caught her off guard and made her feel like he didn’t care enough about the date to plan anything. Have a plan for dinner or drinks, and then have a second plan for something afterward if you feel the night is going well.

See Also: Tips In Choosing A Restaurant For A Romantic Date

Don’t monopolize the conversation

Your date does not want to hear you go on and on (and on) about work, your ex, or your mother. Talk about yourself but also ask your date questions that will get her talking about herself. Joke around and have fun. Don’t get too serious too soon. You can usually get a pretty good vibe from one another through your interactions to know if a second date is in the cards.

Do be polite and thoughtful

This includes how you treat your date and the staff who take care of you while you’re on the date. Be kind to wait staff, movie attendants, valet parkers, etc. Don’t cut cars off or yell at a driver who didn’t signal before getting over.

Being rude and inconsiderate of others is a huge turnoff and will have your date counting down the seconds until the night is over. Remember that what men are attracted to is not that different from women.

Don’t try to over impress

First dates should be fun and fairly casual. Making reservations at a fancy and expensive restaurant for a first date gives off the impression that you’re trying too hard and puts more pressure than necessary on the date. Plus, it might make you have to live up to unrealistic expectations for subsequent dates. Try to plan something fun and casual like miniature golfing or a free concert in the park to help break the tension that sometimes comes with first dates.

Do avoid risky or controversial topics

Don’t bring up topics like politics, exes, sexual preferences or things of that nature. These can come across as crass and impolite. If there are things like these you want to discuss that are important to you, let the relationship gradually build before bringing up such heavier topics.

See Also: 5 Ways To Keep a Conversation From Coming To a Dead-end Standstill

Don’t leave her wondering how the night went

If you think the date went well and you’d like to see her again, tell her! Something simple, such as, “I had a great time. I’d love to see you again” will suffice. Notice her reaction and if she seems interested. Then text her within a day or so to tell her something funny or interesting related to a topic the two of you were talking about. There’s no such thing anymore as a (waiting) three-day rule. If you like her, go for it!

The first purpose of dating is to meet new people and learn the qualities that are most important to you in a relationship. So look at it more as an exploration and less as a conquest. It will help you keep the right perspective as you go on your very first date.

Good luck!

 

 

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If you haven’t been using them yet, it’s time to switch to all natural cleaners for your home!

It doesn’t take long for a house to get dirty especially in high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms. Keeping these areas looking spotless requires a lot of cleaning – which can mean a lot of exposure to chemicals.

If you use harsh store-bought cleaners to keep your house in sparkling shape, you might be exposing yourself to toxic ingredients that can burn your skin if you touch them or damage your nervous system if you inhale them. Products like this can be dangerous to keep around if you have kids or pets at home, and if they get into the water system, they can be destructive to the environment.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to keep your house squeaky clean without resorting to using harmful chemical cocktails. Protect yourself, your family, and the environment by using these six all natural cleaners instead.

White vinegar

White vinegar is one of the best all natural cleaners you can use. It’s slightly acidic, which makes it great for killing bacteria and fungi, and it can be used on almost any surface – countertops, floors (even hardwood floors!), microwaves, showers, and ovens. Just don’t use it on granite or marble, since the acid in the vinegar can wear away at the rock.

To make your own all-purpose vinegar cleaner, mix equal amounts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of essential oil for scent if you like.

Hydrogen peroxide

You’ve probably used hydrogen peroxide on cuts and scrapes before but its foamy bubbles are just as effective at disinfecting surfaces in your kitchen and bathroom. Sterilize your sponges and dish cloths by soaking them in hydrogen peroxide, and use it to wipe down your countertops, cutting boards, and the inside of your refrigerator. You can also spritz it on your shower curtain to keep mold and mildew at bay.

Make sure to keep hydrogen peroxide in an opaque spray bottle, since it loses its effectiveness if it’s exposed to light.

Lemon juice

You might love the smell of lemons, but did you know they’re a very effective cleaning agent too? Lemons are great at disinfecting surfaces due to their mild acidity, and their juice can also remove stains from kitchen surfaces like food containers, microwaves, and cutting boards.

Use lemon in the bathroom too – lemon juice removes lime scale from metal fixtures, and it makes a great glass cleaner when mixed with rubbing alcohol (use a ratio of ½ cup alcohol to 3 tablespoons lemon juice). You can even make your own lemon furniture polish by combining ½ cup of whatever oil you have on hand with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.

See Also: 10 Super Creative Uses for Everyday Things That You Already Have

Baking soda

Baking soda isn’t just for baking – it’s also useful for cleaning your house. Baking soda does double duty as a natural deodorizer and a gentle abrasive that’s great for scrubbing away stains and grime, making it one of the all natural cleaners you should keep on hand all the time.

Put a box in your fridge to absorb food odors or sprinkle it inside Tupperware to banish lingering odors from strong-smelling leftovers. If your pots and pans are crusted with tough cooked-on food, soak them with a mixture of water and baking soda overnight – the residue will scrub right off in the morning.

You can also mix 2 cups of water, 2 cups of vinegar and 04 spoons of baking soda to clean stains of your bamboo pillow. You can even use baking soda to clean out your oven.

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is a powerful disinfectant, making it ideal for use as a household cleaner. Be careful with this stuff, though – although it’s all-natural, tea tree oil is very strong and needs to be diluted with at least 10 parts water to 1 part oil to be safe for household use.

Make a simple disinfecting spray by mixing 2 cups of water with 10 drops of tea tree oil, or add it to a mixture of vinegar and water for an extra-strength cleaner.

Tea tree oil’s powerful antibiotic properties also make it a good toilet cleaner. Put ½ cup baking soda and 10 drops of tea tree oil in the toilet bowl, then add a splash of vinegar and scrub with a toilet brush.

Salt

Add salt to your list of kitchen surface scrubbers – it kills germs and lifts tough stains. Salt is an ideal cleaner for cast iron pots and pans, and it’s great for soaking up grease and oil spills.

If you need a quick all-purpose metal cleaner, a combination of salt and lemon juice will do the trick. It’s good for drains, too. Pouring a mixture of salt and hot water down your drains periodically will help keep them clear.

See Also: Five Tough Spring Cleaning Projects and How to Tackle Them

It’s not hard to make your own all natural cleaners for your house – in fact, you probably have most of these ingredients in your kitchen already. By switching to non-toxic, natural cleaning agents like vinegar, lemon, and tea tree oil, you’ll keep your house germ-free and smelling fresh, and you’ll be able to feel good about protecting your family and the environment from the toxins in commercial cleaners.

 

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There are plenty of things one can gain from exploring different places such as new friends, new experiences and new stories. When you start exploring new places, you get a better understanding of the people living there including their culture, history and background.

Studies show that travelling can improve your overall health and enhance your creativity. Therefore, you need to take time out from your daily tasks, office responsibilities, hectic schedule and everyday pressures at least once in a year. Plan a tour to a new city with an open schedule and let life present you with the numerous opportunities that are waiting for you.

If you need more convincing, here is a list of all the benefits of traveling.

1. Improves Social and Communication Skills

One of the main benefits of travelling, especially to areas where your native language is not widely used, is that you learn how to communicate with all manner of different people. It could be communicating to find the way to your next destination or asking for the nearest restaurant.

2. Ensures Peace of Mind

We all have stress and tension in our lives. Traveling makes us temporarily disconnect with our normal routine and it helps us appreciate the people and things you have around. As per a famous saying “we never know what we have until we lose it.”

3. Helps you Get Original and Creative Thoughts

It is believed that if someone gets out of their comfort zone, the mind gets more creative. To develop new neural connections that trigger original and creative thoughts, you must explore new places and break out of your daily lifestyles.

4. Broadens Your Horizons

Travelling helps you connect with different people from different cultures, and this is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness. Meeting people from different cultures and societies will help you see issues and daily life from many different angles.

See Also: Strange International Laws Every Tourist Should Know

5. Enhances your Tolerance for Uncertainty

While travelling, you will find yourself stuck in situations where things don’t always go as planned. Such situations will help you learn to cope with the uncertainties in life.

6. Boosts Up your Confidence:

Being in a place where you do not know anyone will assist you to gain confidence and presence of mind. You will develop the ability to cope with obstacles, which will make you a confident person and help you grow as a person.

7. Gets you Real-life Education

Meeting different people from vast cultures and societies provides an education that is impossible to get in a traditional school, college or a university. There is no substitute for the real thing.

8. Creates Memories for Lifetime

If you travel with friends and family members, helps you build stronger bonds and make memories. You can also save memories of a lifetime by creating photo albums or sharing photos in social media.

See Also: 5 Steps To Reinvent Your Life By Traveling

9. Helps you Have Fun

No matter how young or old you are, no matter your profession, there is always a time when the child in you wants to have some fun. When you travel, you do not care what you do at all and you can just break free from the norm.

10. Aids you Get to Know Yourself

During travelling, you might find yourself stuck in situations you would not ordinary experience in your daily life. Such a situation can help you understand yourself and how you react to such circumstances and prepare you for future similar situations.

Although travelling offers many benefits, it also has some disadvantages if not planned everything carefully. If you are a patient and taking medication for a disease, do not forget to carry your medication. Keeping jet lag pills handy saves you from unnecessary travelling harassment.

Those susceptible to allergy should carry allergy medication. Plan your tour in advance, prepare a checklist to keep yourself healthy while travelling and pack important items before you travel

Travelling is good for the health so decide a place now and pack your bags. Remember, you only live once, so start travelling to different places and get some life-altering experiences.

 

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