Do you suffer from back pain? Do you want to avoid back injuries?

Here are some tips to help you avoid and prevent back injuries in the workplace.

1. Lift Wisely

If you’ve got to lift heavy objects at work, then it’s important to do so wisely. Warm up and stretch your muscles beforehand if possible.

Let your arms and legs do most of the work rather than forcing your back to support the weight. Bend at the knees, rather than bending your spine, and avoid moving with quick or jerky movements. Smooth, fluid actions are much safer, and it’s best to go slow rather than hurrying yourself.

If you can, carry the object between waist and shoulder level. Holding things at this level helps you keep strain off of your back and shoulders. Avoid twisting around while you’re holding something heavy, and try to keep your shoulders and hips aligned.

2. Test Before Committing

Lifting is one of the main low back pain causes. Before you grab a hefty object, take a moment to make sure you’ll be able to handle the task.

Do you know how heavy the object is? Don’t assume–this is one area where surprises aren’t welcome.

Check to ensure that you’ll be able to safely grip the load, that it’s balanced well, and that you know where you’ll be able to set it down. If you have to carry the object somewhere else, make sure you know where to go and double-check to see that your path is clear and free of any tripping hazards.

3. Use Equipment Properly

Taking advantage of the equipment available is important. Take the time to get a dolley or forklift when something is too large or too heavy for you to manage manually. If these tools aren’t available, find another person (or multiple people) to help you out.

If you have to lift something off of or onto a high shelf, use a ladder. Arching your back or lifting something heavy above your head is not wise, and can easily lead to injuries in your back or shoulders. Upper back pain causes many problems, so do your best to avoid this.

4. Wear Supportive Shoes

Causes of back pain sometimes include poor footwear choices. If you’re going to be standing or walking, make sure you’ve got shoes which are suitable for your activities.

Sandals and flip-flops don’t offer much in the way of support, so they aren’t good choices. High heels are also bad for your back, and shouldn’t be worn any longer than is necessary. Shoes with heels less than an inch and a half are best, and they should also have support and shock absorption to help keep your back from pain.

5. Watch Your Posture

Whether you’re standing or sitting at work, it’s important to have good posture. Balance your weight evenly when standing, and don’t slouch.

Do you experience back pain when sitting? This can be caused by an uneven surface, so if you’re sitting down for an extended amount of time you should empty your back pockets. Find a chair which supports your back, and adjust it so that your feet can rest flat on the floor.

See Also: 6 Tai Chi Benefits That Will Surprise You

6. Stay Healthy

Obesity, illness, and a poor physical condition are all elements which can contribute to back pain as well as make you far more susceptible to injury. Eat a diet with plenty of calcium and vitamin D to help keep your bones from becoming weak and brittle. Exercises that increase your balance and stability, as well as exercises which increase your strength, are helpful as well.

Smoking can contribute to back pain, so quitting can help. Constant coughing can lead to back pain, and the habit also reduces blood flow to your lower back. This can cause injuries to heal more slowly.

Following these tips won’t guarantee a lack of injury, but they can greatly reduce your risk. Taking care of your body and being wise while working is important.

See Also: Five Simple Ways To Beat Low Back Pain

If your workplace prevents you from exercising proper caution and you get injured, it’s wise to seek the help and advice of injury compensation lawyers. You shouldn’t have to suffer due to the carelessness of others.

The post How to Prevent Back Injuries at Work appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Does it seem like you are always dropping hints to your guy for romantic getaways you’d like to go on or gifts you’d love to receive for your birthday? Then, when the big day rolls around, you can’t help but be a little disappointed to receive another turquoise necklace or an IOU for a night out.

Women may think they are being obvious in their hint dropping to their male partners, but sometimes men can be pretty clueless. After several years of being in a relationship with the same person, it can be difficult to surprise your partner with presents, or come up with new, fun things to do together.

Men aren’t mind readers and sometimes they just need a little help in the right direction. Here are 4 ways to help your guy get a clue about what you really want for you next birthday, anniversary, or special date out.

1. Pinterest Boards

The Internet can help men and women out a lot in the gift-giving department. Create different Pinterest boards to help take some of the guesswork out of gift giving.

You can have a “gift ideas” board where you consistently pin things to it that you’d love to receive as presents, as well as a “bucket list dates” board where you pin various date and destination ideas. The visual nature of Pinterest can be extremely helpful in getting the planning process going and will kick start the gift giver.

Your partner can go on the board and view it at any time without you even knowing.

2. Jar of Dates

Some men are fantastic of thinking up creative, romantic dates for their loved ones. And for others it just doesn’t come that easy.

Keep a jar or bucket of date ideas in a common location, such as the bedroom. Each time you have an idea for a fun day or night out, write it down and put it in the jar.

Your guy can add his ideas too, so either one of you can take the initiative and plan a date together. You can include things like, “pack a picnic and walk to the park,” or “take the kayak out and go fishing early Saturday morning.”

Either one of you can choose ideas from the jar that your partner suggested and plan an entire date the other will love.

3. Amazon Wish Lists

Amazon Wish Lists allow individuals to set up and keep a year-round gift idea list. You can save items to your Amazon list directly from Amazon, or any other website with the Amazon button.

Gift givers can easily search and find your list with your name or email address and view the various items on that list. The list even includes things like price points, priority and where to purchase the gift.

Items can often be purchased directly from Amazon, making gift giving a cinch.

4. Just Tell Him

This is certainly the most straightforward way to communicate to your guy. By telling him exactly what your expectations are for your upcoming anniversary or birthday, you leave little room for error (As long as he follows through).

Some women may not like this approach if they want to have it be a surprise and some men may not like hearing instruction so directly. Use the “just tell him” method if you’re both okay with directness and without surprises.

See Also: See Also: The Truth About Why Men Aren’t Romantic Anymore

The longer the two of you are together, the better you’ll likely get at knowing one another’s likes, desires and wishes for special events. Until then, these tools help make special events less stressful for the gift giver and more enjoyable for the recipient.

The post Four Ways to Help Your Guy Get A Clue About Romance appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Traveling or working in a new place for a short period of time? Short-term rent is a fantastic idea worth considering.

Thanks to the Internet and websites that cater to your accommodation needs, short-term rental has exponentially increased in popularity. Simply put, short-term renting allows you to have your own “home away from home.”

While paying a lot to stay in a hotel is an option, short-term rental has an edge with its combination of comfort and affordability. Imagine this: having your own condo or apartment that you can personalize and feel at home in.

So, how do you go about getting the best deal? Learn from these 8 smart short-term renting tips.

1. It’s Smart To Plan Early

Planning early to find short-term rental can save you a lot of money and drastically reduce stress. The earlier you begin your search, the better the deals you can find.

Having a good headstart allows you to compare different potential places and tap into networks. It almost always ensures that you get the space you like because you’re not competing with everybody else at the last minute.

Because unforeseen circumstances can arise, planning early gives you the benefit to adjust accordingly. Short-term rental need not be overwhelming. Doing it ahead of time and booking far in advance before your trip will work to your favor.

2. Make Sure About the Location

Location can make or break short-term renting. It’s true when they say that location is everything.

If you’re on a tight budget, consider less expensive cities for housing options. This does not mean, however, that you pass up the chance of finding great deals in city centers.

What’s great about the rise in the demand for short-term rental is more condo or apartment owners have opened up their spaces for rent. It’s really just a matter of casting a wide net to find the place for you.

Check if the place is near establishments you’ll be frequenting. It’s also smart to check if it’s accessible via public transportation and how convenient it is to go around by foot.

3. Check Out the Amenities That You Can Use

Short-term rental is about having the most comfortable place that fits your budget. A huge part of that comfort are the amenities that you get to use during your stay.

“Foreigners opting for condo living”, for example, should have access to luxurious amenities similar to those in hotels—usually at a fraction of the cost. From fitness centers to swimming pools, you must know as much as you can about the amenities in the place you’re considering.

Not all condos or apartments for short-time rent are created equal, so it’s a matter of finding the one that can offer you the amenities to make your stay the most comfortable.

4. Set Aside Funds for Deposit

Expect to pay a deposit to the landlord. The amount of the deposit, however, varies. Seasonal rentals for a short vacation may require a large deposit that you need to pay upfront.

Also, it’s important that you know about certain rent conditions tied to deposit payment. For example, some owners may require you to shoulder cleaning expenses or settle all payments before you get back your deposit.

For longer stays, there are places that can require you to pay a one month deposit and up to two months’ worth of rent.

5. Are There Any Fees You Don’t Know About?

Is the amount you’re paying all-inclusive? Make sure that everything is clearly discussed with the property owner to avoid any surprises.

In most cases, you’ll likely be required to pay homeowners dues and other fees if you’re a traveler staying for more than a month. Although the property should be cleaned before your arrival, you can also be asked to cover cleaning expenses for more than a week’s stay.

Rent price can also slightly change depending on the time of your booking, much like the busy and lean season distinction in other accommodations.

6. Know All the House Rules

Familiarize yourself first with all the house rules before signing anything. This will give you ample time to negotiate the short-term rules and conditions.

Ideally, each listing should have a clearly-defined set of rules. However, it happens that some owners are unaware of the rules set by the condo management.

Pet lovers, take heed: not all properties allow pets inside the premises. The same goes for smokers and group arrangements.

Settle all matters with the agent or owner to ensure that your stay will not be restricted.

7. Get to Know the Owner

Whether you’re booking through an agent or directly with the owner, it’s important that you spend time with the person you’re dealing with. One benefit of short-term rental is that you have the power to choose the place and the landlord you’re comfortable with.

It’s safe to generalize that all renters want a reliable and trustworthy owner. You can make your initial assessment by paying a visit to or calling the agency or the owner. This will allow you to clarify matters fast and to gauge the character of the person. It can also be an invaluable opportunity to haggle over the rental price if possible.

See Also: 8 Sharp-witted Ways To Protect Your Rental Homes

8. Read and then Re-read the Contract Before Signing

Believe it or not, many people get too excited with property renting that they sign a contract they haven’t even read. For your safety and benefit, carefully read your booking contract before signing it. Glossing over important contract details so you can make a quick booking is not worth it in most cases.

The contract is important because it should contain all the terms you’ll be agreeing to, from the outline of the payment schedule to details such housekeeping, amenities, and security. Having a close look at the contract will also allow you better negotiate the terms.

See Also: Pros and Cons of Buying vs. Renting a home

While the benefits of short-term rental are surely enticing, you have to be smart about it. Use this guide to short-term renting to ensure the best accommodation that you deserve. Whether you’re foreigner or a local resident, having a clear sense of short-term rental allows you the benefit of staying in the perfect space that feels like home.

 

The post 8 Smart Tips for an Amazing Short-Term Rental Experience appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Olympic athletes inspire and awe us. They are the greatest athletes in the world. And every four years they get together to put their lives’ work on display for all of us to see at the Olympic Games.

And even if sometimes we feel like couch potatoes who can’t walk down the block without breathing heavy, there is much we can learn from these amazing athletes that we can apply to becoming top performers in our careers.

Below are 5 scientifically proven Olympic training secrets you can use to become twice as productive as your competition.

1. Work Deliberately

Olympic athletes don’t get to where they are without practicing. A lot.

The kind of practice Olympians engage in is what famed researcher Anders Ericsson calls “deliberate practice.” Deliberate practice is focused work done without distraction and it’s right on the edge of one’s abilities. It’s mentally challenging and requires clear goals and objectives rather than just “going through the motions.”

Picture a gymnast practicing a new move – and falling on her butt over and over again – before finally getting the hang of it after hours and hours of struggle and effort. That’s deliberate practice.

If you want to perform your best at work, you need to adopt this same deliberate practice mindset. This means you must focus on your most important tasks without distraction.

In addition, you need to identify the actual skills needed to excel at your work and make efforts to constantly stretch your current skill levels. If you focus on getting just a little bit better every single day, you’ll make amazing progress.

See Also: Why You Should Forget Success And Strive to Fail

2. Get Feedback

Constant feedback is a requirement if you want to truly excel in your profession. All Olympic athletes work with expert coaches and mentors who provide them with feedback and guidance on their training. You’ll get the most out of your time spent doing your deliberate focused work if you’re also getting feedback along the way.

The inability to use feedback correctly is one of the main reasons why many people who seem to be working “hard” never get the amazing results they’re after. It does you no good to work hard if you’re working hard on the wrong things.

The best form of feedback is to work with an established expert in your chosen field who can provide you with coaching and guidance. Ideally, this is someone who has a proven track record of successfully taking people up the same mountain you want to climb.

See Also: 7 Reasons successful people have mentors and you should too

These days you can find experts to help you in almost any area you want to improve at. Sites like wyzant.com have thousands of experts that can help you with anything from gardening to aerospace engineering.

Now, if for some reason you can’t find or afford an expert or coach to work with, I suggest you reach out to a friend or co-worker whose opinion you trust for help. Practically everyone loves giving feedback so finding someone to help you with this should not be too difficult.

3. Stay Motivated

It takes a superhuman amount of motivation to become an Olympic athlete. Getting up at the crack of dawn every day, training hard for years and years and years, and making numerous other life sacrifices is not easy. How do they do it?

Great athletes reach a point where they enjoy practicing and working hard for reasons beyond the actual, immediate results. In his book the Talent Code, author Daniel Coyle calls this type of motivation “ignition.” Ignition is what allowed swimmer Michael Phelps, arguably the greatest Olympian ever, to make it to the pool to train 365 days a year without fail for a period of over five years.

There are two key elements of ignition.

• a strong vision of what the athlete wants to be and;
• an internal belief that it’s possible to attain this vision

If you want to be a top performer in your field, you’ll need be supremely motivated as well. Spend some time thinking about what your vision for the future is as it relates to your career and look for evidence that this vision is attainable.

The easiest form of evidence is to find others who have accomplished what you want to accomplish and use them for inspiration. If they can do it, so can you.

4. Meditate

At last count, there have been over 1400 clinical studies demonstrating the benefits of meditation from everything from stress relief, to improving the immune system, to improving the brain’s ability to focus. So it should be no surprise that in the field of high stakes athletics, where a hundredth of a second can mean the difference between glory and vanishing into oblivion, many athletes believe it’s just as important to spend time in the “mental gym” meditating as the physical one.

Meditation will also help us mere mortals get a leg up on the competition by reducing stress, increasing our will power, and increasing our ability to concentrate. The biggest reason why most people say they can’t meditate is because they “don’t have the time.”

The truth is, if you want to perform at peak levels at work, you don’t have time NOT to meditate. Twenty minutes a day is the ideal amount of time for most people. But if you’re just getting started, do whatever you can. Start with 5 minutes a day or even one minute and build from there.

5. Recover

Olympic athletes actually spend much more time recovering from their training than actually training. For example, Olympic marathoner Ryan Hall not only made sure he slept for at least 8 hours a night, he also scheduled 90 minute naps (which he described as “business meetings”) every afternoon.

Leading sleep researchers agree that we need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to perform at peak levels. This is true for Olympians as well as everyday people like you and me. If your engine is going at 100 miles an hour all day, it’s eventually going to burn out if you don’t let your foot off the gas on occasion.

In addition to getting enough sleep, you’ll also want to optimize your recreation time. Among the worst ways to spend your non-work recreation hours are surfing the Internet, playing on social media, and watching television. These things drain our will power and actually make it much more difficult for us to focus while on the job.

Instead, use your recreation time for things that will re-energize you. Go for a hike, spend time with loved ones, read a book or take up a new hobby. These things will not only make you happier, they’ll help you leave your work competition in the dust as well.

The post 5 Olympic Training Secrets That Will Make It Impossible For Your Competitors To Keep Up With You appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Most of us probably wish that we could live in a world where money and stress (and stress about money) didn’t affect our relationships. Unfortunately, these things really can’t be avoided. In fact, finances are one of the main reasons that people argue with their partners or spouses, many times leading to breakups and divorces.

You might think that the solution to this problem of finances and relationships is simple: get more money.

However, even people with comparatively large amounts of money still seem to argue over it. Because the more you have, the more you spend.

This means that the solution to the struggle over finances has less to do with how much money we have and more to do with how we deal with our partners related to money. History and research show that it might be difficult to completely remove the fact that money and finances may be stressful.

So the question is: what can we do about it?

One of the most important ways we can protect our relationships from arguments over finances is to set some ground rules. Whether you have been together for five months or fifty years, it is never too late to create new boundaries and minimize relationship problems caused by finances.

Of course, these rules will be different for everyone. The most important part is that guidelines need to be agreed upon ahead of time, new habits need to be created, and compromise needs to be struck related to financial matters to minimize the stress.

Here are five examples of principles that help partners to keep their relationships healthy in spite of money problems.

No Secrets

Sure, it might seem easier to keep money issues a secret than divulge them. But in reality, this is a huge mistake. Hidden accounts or credit cards, loss of income, or a tanking of investment accounts is a hard thing to tell your partner about.

But not telling them is even more damaging.

While your partner might be upset by hearing the bad financial news, it’s much better than the risk of them finding out later. Relationships that are built on trust can survive financial problems.

But keeping secrets and hiding things builds suspicion and can break down what might otherwise be a great relationship.

Instead, set up a time to have an honest dialogue about your financial difficulties and come up with a plan to manage them.

Consult Each Other on Major Purchases

If you share a bank account, then this is a critical principle to live by. It’s up to you to determine what constitutes a “major purchase.”

It might be anything over $100 or anything over $10,000 depending on the typical balance in your bank account.

Obviously, regular bills such as the mortgage or car payment will not be included in this. But for anything outside normal bills that goes above your agreed-upon amount, check with your partner to avoid any nasty surprises.

This kind of system can also bring some accountability to avoid the dangers of binge purchasing or emotional buying that later comes with remorse.

Savings is Sexy

Want to be attractive to your partner? Fatten up—your savings account, that is.

While many partners don’t always agree on who is the spender and who is the saver, if you are both working toward a savings plan, then it doesn’t really matter.

A healthy savings strategy and budget are considered to be an extremely appealing quality in a partner. The easiest way to do this is to set up a budgeted amount money that your bank with put directly into your savings account each paycheck.

Plus, if you’re not fighting about money, you have more time to enjoy one another in various other ways.

Stay Out of Debt

If you don’t have debt, do everything you can to avoid it. You’re in a good place—so stay there. Because spending habits cause more fights than saving habits, watching the spending, and avoiding debt, are vital to keeping peace in a relationship.

If one partner came into the relationship with debt, do your best to delay whatever you can to pay off the debt before making any more significant financial commitments. And try very hard not to be resentful of the person who brought the debt into the relationship.

Instead, work together. Make a plan on how to get out from under the debt (financial advisor, part-time job, stay-cation, etc.) and stick to the plan. One of the great benefits of a partnership is that you don’t have to face these types of problems alone.

Fight Fair

Identifying the fact that money is a major stressor should alert you to the fact that you may need to handle financial conversations with your partner with kid gloves. This is a time when thinking ahead is better than reacting emotionally.

For instance, if you are going through your online banking and find that your partner has forgotten to pay a bill or has made a large purchase without mentioning it to you, don’t jump immediately into confrontation.

Instead, try to remember that you love this person, faults and all, and they are much more important than money.

Get your blood pressure back to a normal rate and devise a plan under which you can approach the subject without attacking your partner.

Then, come up with a plan to solve the problem rather than saying hurtful things that you can’t take back.

Remember that money isn’t everything, find a resolution, don’t hold grudges, and move forward from whatever the setback is.

Following these five simple steps can make a huge difference in your finances and relationships —and in the rest of your life. You’ll find that you can manage money conversations with less stress, which leads to being physically healthier and having more emotional energy to spend on the things that you love doing.

Share this really insightful infographic with your family and friends who can do with some advice on finances and relationships.

The post 5 Ground Rules to Keep Finances from Killing Your Relationship appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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What are the traits of billionaires? This article could be worth millions to you if you follow every detail diligently.

You ponder every day what demarcates billionaires from millionaires and millionaires from the rest of the world. And how do billionaires become billionaires?

Some might have it inherited the wealth from their forefathers but remember, the world has witnessed such legends as well who erected an immense business empire from the soil they used to plow. They had nothing once but their unique traits nourished them with wealth and power when the time came.

Every billionaire carries different traits but there must be something that is common to all. Here are the top 5 traits every billionaire has in common:

1. Burning desire

This term was coined by Napoleon Hill in his famous book Think and Grow Rich. This trait is most prevalent in all the billionaires: they never compromise with defeat. They try and try until they die. They leave no other way to retreat but to win or perish.

The story of Edwin C. Barnes proves how a burning desire can transform someone’s desires into wealth. Barnes was a penniless man who had BURNING DESIRE to work with Edison.

But, firstly, he had no knowledge in Edison’s field. Secondly, he did not know Edison.

These two barriers might have been used as excuses by a common man but he was not a common man. He was the man with burning desire. He kept trying to confront Edison but Edison had no time.

One day, Edison invented Ediphone but none of his salesmen were confident about his new invention. Enter Barnes who sold it to the entire nation.

Ediphone was a big hit. People found about this business as “Made by Edison and installed by Barnes”.

2. Dreaming

We limit our thoughts and dreams. This trait is not found in billionaires. They enjoy each moment of their utopic dreams.

When they are dreaming, they are actually setting fire to their desires. These imaginations and dreams might be virtual but these traits have the capability to turn their visions into a reality.

See Also: 8 Success Habits of Wealthy People That Cost Nothing

3. Efficient planning capability and leadership ability

Billionaires are so used to planning and organizing their thoughts that they get trained to plan even their dreams at some point of their life. With these planning capabilities comes the leadership quality that sets the billionaires apart from the rest.

They have the willingness to assume full responsibility when someone else on his or her behalf goes wrong. They know how to keep their workers happy.

4. Persistence

Everybody starts their journey on a locomotive engine but later on they turn out to be riding on a cart with dead bullocks. Billionaires have a trait of persistence embedded in their personality to such an extent that they finish what they once started.

They understand no matter how slow they go, their journey will be accomplished one day as they know that with persistence comes the success.

5. A classic approach to making decisions

Everybody can make decisions but only a few know how to make a right decision. Fewer still are the people who can turn their wrong decisions into right ones. These fewer people are known as billionaires.

Billionaires have such developed thought processes that they can anticipate the results of their decisions from every possible perspective. This trait is developed gradually by self-talking, introspecting and discussing ideas with people they trust.

When an intellect shares his or her experience in a group, this experience becomes available to everyone in the group. It enhances everyone’s intelligence and hence this group assists the head of the group (a billionaire, of course) to come to the right decision.

All these traits were prevalent in the billionaires of the past and the billionaires of the present have inherited the above five steps from them. These traits would be passed on to a few people who will be billionaires of the future.

Be it Andrew Carnegie, who expanded steel industry in 19th century’s America, or be it Mark Zuckerberg, who spread the social network worldwide. Both of these men share above-mentioned mutual traits that made them one of the richest people of their respective times.

See Also: 7 Amazing Lessons from 7 Distinguished Billionaires

Now, we listen to the present billionaires keenly. Shahrukh Khan has said enough to conclude our article with:

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Tai Chi or rather “Tai Chi Chuan” is an ancient martial art from China which spread like wildfire in China when people realised the powerful health benefits it delivered. Today, research is supporting what Tai Chi masters have known for centuries- Tai Chi practice delivers fantastic results.

So just what are these cool, calm and collected Tai Chi peeps getting from their practice?

Some of the answers might surprise you!

Let’s take a look at these tai-chi benefits.

1) Tai Chi Grows Your Brain

As we grow older, brain degeneration occurs which can lead to cognitive degeneration and damage to nerve cells and their connections. This brain shrinkage associated with old age is linked to dementia.

Wouldn’t you like to know if there are existing interventions to reverse or at least slow the process? You’ll be happy to know that aerobic exercise can slow the degeneration and even increase brain size. Research also shows that Tai Chi produces the same results — a bigger and better brain.

2) It Repairs Your DNA

Research undertaken at a Chinese university showed that just 12 weeks of Ta Chi practice among young sedentary females improved their DNA-preparing capacity and their oxidative stress response.

Oxidative stress is thought to be connected to a whole host maladies like heart failure, infection and chronic fatigue system. Tai Chi could be a powerful preventative measure for a wide range of health issues.

3) Delivers Strength, Flexibility and Balance -Longterm

Do you see yourself lifting weights or doing hard core resistance training into your old age? Possibly not. However, you’re still going to want to maintain your strength, flexibility and balance into old age.

In a review that looked at thirty one original studies, it was found that Tai Chi improved muscle strength, balance, flexibility and increased immune capacity.

4) Improves Your Memory and Thinking

In the same study that discovered Tai Chi improves brain size, researchers also discovered it improved older peoples’ memory and cognitive abilities.

One group trained in Tai Chi for months and took part in lively discussions three times a week. This group showed a marked improved in cognitive abilities and memory when compared to a group that had no intervention during the same time.

See Also: 8 Little-known Hobbies Proven to Make You Smarter in Minutes

5) Emotional Stability and Better Relationships

Research suggests training in a mindfulness discipline like Tai Chi makes you more aware of your emotions and brings us much more into the present moment. This awareness brought into daily life gives your greater control over your emotions and this can improve your ability to maintain harmonious relationships.

Overall, Tai Chi improves your emotional well being.

6) Combats Stress, Anxiety and Depression

Nowadays, the speed and style of living is undoubtedly taking a toll on people’s mental health. City dwellers, in particular, are even more likely to experience stress and anxiety and depression. In the U.K. for example, there were 8.2 million cases of anxiety in 2013 alone.

Tai Chi seems to be a great answer as research suggests Tai Chi practice increases self esteem and well-being and decreases depression anxiety and mood disturbance.

See Also: 11 Odd but Simple Ways to Improve Your Health

So how about you? What have your experiences of Tai Chi been?

Feel free to hit me up on Facebook and share your experiences.

The post 6 Tai Chi Benefits That Will Surprise You appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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While digitization and technology have simplified our lives, they have also introduced several complexities in our lives. Today, we speak of work-life balance but it’s not a choice that one needs to make between the two. It’s finding the right synergies to leverage benefits of both. An individual plays several roles at both the personal and professional levels and the expectations from each of these roles can be daunting.

Think of the last conversation you have had with friends or family. A common thread that emerges is how we have missed our children’s soccer or cricket practice or that important PTA meeting. You may hear a busy mother saying how much she misses the art classes that she always wanted to take.

In an increasingly urbanized world, time is a precious commodity. And managing that time is a critical task.

Ever considered personal outsourcing? A term borrowed from the IT world, it means having another company perform tasks that you would be doing in your own company.

This can be easily applied to our personal lives — having someone take over some of our personal as well as professional tasks. If you thought outsourcing would mean losing control, then think again!

Here are five reasons why outsourcing your personal life would actually mean better control over your life rather than losing it.

1. Manage your time better

‘Lost time is never found again’, said a very wise person. So much has been said and written about time management. But, it still eludes most of us.

Effective and efficient time management does not mean giving up on important tasks. Having someone do the non-core activities for us gives us the opportunity to have that precious time to focus on activities that are important.

See Also: Accomplish More Each Day: Four Steps to Easy Delegation

Think of all the tasks an outsourced virtual personal assistant can arrange or schedule for you – managing your mail box, organizing your calendar, scheduling maid services or a dog walker, managing a project or scheduling your doctor’s appointments. Activities that you enjoy or are better at doing are definitely an effective way of utilizing your time.

2. Leave some of the tasks to an expert

Most of us are not ‘jacks of all trades’. There are some tasks that we are good at and some that we aren’t.

Let’s say you are good at cooking but planning is not your forte. Having someone to plan your meals makes the execution much simpler.

And there can be a lot of tasks we need to do in our lives that can be better accomplished by someone with more skills, knowledge or talent. One can easily outsource tasks or activities to an expert who acts as your remote personal assistant.

See Also: 6 Most Commonly Outsourced Tasks and Why They Work

3. Improve the quality of your life

We acknowledge that we live in a hyper-connected and super-fast world. The demands that most of us face in our lives today definitely diminish the quality of our lives.

With personal outsourcing, you can at least try to achieve some balance and improve the quality of your life. Moreover, improving quality of life also means investing in yourself with the time you get.

4. Make yourself efficient

While it’s important to have the free time or do the activities we like doing, it’s also important to focus on the efficiency of a task. Imagine yourself drafting a critical proposal for a very important client, and you are yet to finish an important chore.

For such a time bound activity, efficiency is the key because your livelihood may depend on it. A remote personal assistant can help you not only with some of the activities or tasks you may need to accomplish that proposal but can also carry out other activities that are equally important or necessary.

5. Revitalize your health and energy

Stress is a common term we all like to use. However, there are some serious implications of stress that can affect not just your body but your mind as well.

Stress that you ignore can contribute to several health challenges including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Outsourcing your life activities to an external person helps you not just free up the time but also allows you to mentally be satisfied that a task is accomplished.

The need of the hour is to take away the stress in this demanding world. An outsourced virtual assistant can be a boon to ensure your mental, physical and professional well-being. Moreover, it doesn’t have to be expensive also.

Enjoy and live your life to the fullest – that’s the motto to live by!

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Do you feel uncomfortable and don’t know how to negotiate your salary?

Don’t worry. That awkward feeling is quite normal.

According to research gathered by PayScale, 28% of their survey respondents have never asked for a pay rise for that exact reason. And furthermore, 19% do not even try because they don’t want to be perceived as pushy. But the reality is that “75% of people who ask for a pay rise, get a rise”, based on PayScale’s Salary Negotiation Guide.

An increase in your salary will not come overnight. But the good news is that being patient, preparing yourself and working hard it will most likely happen. To negotiate your salary successfully, Open Colleges recommends knowing when your next performance review is and use that period to demonstrate you are a great asset to the team.

These are five things you can do to renegotiate your monthly payment:

1. Become irreplaceable

In today’s fast-changing marketplace you need to continuously grow your knowledge and develop your skills to differentiate yourself from the competition. After a few years of professional experience, spot an area within your expertise where you can shine and take the right steps to do so.

Taking an online course, reading specialised books or training your skills –even if it is unpaid- may be an excellent way to achieve the purpose of becoming irreplaceable.

See Also: How to Learn Anything Online for Free

2. Research your salary possibilities

   

Having exceptional skills and standing out from the competition is essential but not enough. You need to have a clear understanding of your salary opportunities. To do so, use tools to research your salary range. Some of the handiest ones are:

– PayScale.com, the largest salary profile database in the world to find out how much are you worth.

– The salary research tool at CareerBliss.com where you can search by job title or company to find salary information

– Salary.com, a leader in employer-reported compensation data where you will find information about salaries in the US and Canada

– The giant jobs website GlassDoor.com, which also offers anonymous salary information for any real job or company.

Once you know how much your salary range could be, you are in a better position to meet your manager and renegotiate your wage. Nevertheless, you still have some homework to do before you start negotiating.

3. Know your company inside out

Every business is different. Some companies have limitations regarding salary rise within the same position. You may consider asking for a promotion if that is more feasible, taking into account your companies culture or policies and potential vacancies.

It goes against some companies’ policies to talk about salary with you colleagues. However, knowing your co-workers’ situations will be massively helpful to plan the negotiation. Discreetly ask trusted colleagues about how they got their salary raises or promotions. Then, take their recommendations on board to develop your own salary renegotiation strategy.

4. Build up your negotiation strategy

Now that you have developed the right skills, gathered information about how much you are worth, and taken into account your colleagues’ experience, use all that knowledge to create your own negotiation strategy.

A little trick to enhance your confidence during the interview is to write down your key arguments and practice out loud first.

A few things you can consider:

– Start highlighting your strengths and results

– Use a firm tone of voice

– Being realistic, ask for a slightly higher amount than expected to give yourself room to negotiate

See Also: The Art of Negotiation: Fifteen Steps to Success

– Have an ace up your sleeve such as requesting an extra week of holidays or other benefits that interest you.

– Last but not least, make sure you are talking to the right person – the one that decides if you get a pay rise or not!

5. Put the strategy into practice

   

Getting the timing right is essential to achieve a pay rise, so make sure it is the best moment to arrange a meeting with you boss. Consider your company or team’s financial situation. If it is going through a bad patch, you will be less likely to get your deserved pay rise.

Once you are having that well-planned conversation with your boss, remain calm in order to remember each point of your strategy. It is also crucial to make the use of the silence accurately.

A useful tip is to repeat the amount mentioned by your boss and stop talking for a short while. This silence will give you extra time to think and will put pressure on your employer who may react by giving you a higher offer.

Finally, some important not-to-does when renegotiating your salary. Whatever happens, never, never, never:

– Get emotional
– Mention your personal finances
– Refer to your colleagues’ salary or situation

The post 5 Tips On How To Negotiate Your Salary appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Are you worried about gaps in employment?

With the severe economic conditions and widespread layoffs, more people are faced with the threat of losing their job. The negative trends affect all sectors of the labour market and even the best workers can get laid off. Unfortunately, a potential blow may have a bigger impact on your career that you suspect.

The effects of long–term unemployment are evident in the division of the labour market. There are two well-defined groups – people that have been out of work for less than six months and those who have been out of work longer.

The reason is that most employers and recruiters are less likely to hire job seekers that stayed unemployed for a while. Recruiters assume that something is not right with them and they are not suitable candidates. Fortunately, it is not impossible to break the stigma of long-term unemployment.

Here is how to get a fresh start in your career and overcome gaps in employment.

Overcome the psychological effects of unemployment

For many people the effects of losing their job extend beyond the financial impact. It’s natural to experience lower self-esteem after getting laid off.

Since our personal and professional identities are closely aligned, our job can largely affect our perception of who we are. In this sense, it’s not simply your job that has been taken away, but your identity as well.

Feelings of anxiety, sadness, insecurity and hopelessness can grow and lead to more serious consequences. It is important to recognize these negative patterns and improve your mental attitude:

• Talk – Find a good listener who will not interrupt or judge you. Even if they can’t offer you a solution, it can be liberating to be open about your unemployment issues.

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• Exercise – It’s good for your self-esteem and your health

• Eat well – Avoid carb-loaded comfort food and sugary snacks.

• House clean – Surprisingly, domestic cleaning can restore the feeling of control over your life. Plus, your place will look nicer.

• Network – Meet new people. They might be your next boss or know someone who might hire you.

Fill the Gaps

As mentioned earlier, recruiters are less likely to hire someone who has been out of work for more than six months. You can turn this around by using your free time for meaningful activities that will enrich both your life and your resume.

• Stay involved – Find work-related activities that will help you stay up-to-date with the industry and will improve your skills, making you more competitive. Contract assignments and temporary employment are viable options.

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• Volunteer – Non-profit organizations can always benefit from some extra help. Pick a field that is relevant to your experience and career interest.

See Also: How to Learn Anything Online for Free

Level Up Your Resume

Your resume reflects not only your work experience, but also your individual self. Long gaps in employment can give the impression of lack of ambition and abilities. These unexplained blank spaces in your work history may also imply that you are incapable of landing a job.

Here’s how to handle the employment gaps in your CV:

• Be honest – Don’t try to hide the holes in your resume. Explain it in your cover letter. Cleaning out these issues from the start is the best strategy, but don’t draw to much attention to it.

• Present the gap in a positive way – You can mention how this period made you a better worker like acquiring new skills and developing mature understanding.

• Show progression –Include any courses and certificates you acquired while you were unemployed.

See Also: Resume Action Words That Will Get You That Job

Although long-term unemployment can be tough, there is no use getting discouraged and bummed-out. Life throws challenges that seem impossible to past through until you actually overcome them.

The post How to Overcome Gaps in Employment appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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