Whether it comes to pre-purchase guidance, sales or post-purchase support, modern customers desire nothing but swift, actionable service. Live chat has been answering those needs for a few years now, accounting for around 73% of total customer satisfaction today.

Traditionally developed for customer service, this simple but intuitive system shortly became a necessity for small and large businesses, particularly in the sales department.

In November 2014, about 44% of customers thought that having a live chat specialist to guide them through their online purchase as one of the most important perks a company can provide. As those figures continue to grow, let’s look into what makes this system such a potent sales aid in order to understand how to implement it as an infallible conversion tool.

Real-Time Convenience Is the Future of Online Sales

Live chat software is no longer an alternative to other channels of B2C communication. For quite some time now, this customer service and sales tool has been preferred by the majority of potential buyers and entrepreneurs.

While customers love them for their convenience and fast resolution rates, companies like them in turn because they are effective, reliable and cost-effective.

Apart from the undeniable convenience and reduced costs, live chat gives businesses valuable insight into customer data. This will allow you to tap into the customers’ pain points and earn a significant competitive edge.

Though mostly used as a part of a CRM strategy, this information is just as precious when it comes to conversion techniques. Equipped with an immediate and personalized approach to customers on one side and actionable data about their behavior on the other, sales reps can hardly fail to harness the immense potential of website live chat software systems.

How To Improve Sales Through Live Chat Software

Be Proactive 24/7

When asked about how much this option contributes to their loyalty, around 63% of surveyed customers answered that they were more likely to return to a website if it offers live chat guidance. In most cases, convenience is the number one reason for this. Around 79% of customers specify that live chat is so helpful because of the immediacy that comes with real-time solutions.

So, why employ a live chat software for sales if it is not available 24/7? The entire point of this tool is to stay in touch with prospects long after business hours. It should be able to provide them immediate guidance whenever they feel like shopping.

When used during the pre-purchase phase, live chat opens some brilliant opportunities. This includes convincing indecisive buyers that their late-night instincts are right and that your products and services are everything they’ve ever wished for.

See Also: 5 Effective Ways To Sound More Human Over A Customer Support Live Chat

Collect & Analyse Data

All live chat systems are game-changing solutions. However, the most beneficial ones are those that seamlessly integrate with your CRM database. With such an arrangement, you’ll be able to automatically collect and store information about your prospective buyers. Once analyzed, the data can tell you everything you need to know about the buying behavior of your customers.

From there on, you can use that information not only to develop far-reaching marketing, lead generation and conversion strategies but also to custom-tailor them to individual prospect’s needs.

Whether you need to send them a retargeting email or close the deal in the live chat session, you’ll know exactly what your potential buyers need, sometimes even before they themselves do. That’s what being customer-centric and data-driven is all about.

Take the Customer-Centered Approach

Let’s say your system detects that a prospect has returned to your website for the second time. It’s obvious then that your sales reps will have to deal with an indecisive buyer, presumably someone who doubts purchasing. Instead of waiting for him to come to you, the salesperson can approach him directly via your live chat software to ask what he can do to help.

Thanks to the previously analyzed browsing behavior, the sales rep will already have a few hints on what the prospect is interested in as well as what his problem with the product or service might be.

Having provided an immediate answer, the salesperson makes a strong case for your company’s efficiency. This will establish trust and can guide the prospect a few steps closer to the sales funnel. Whether it’s a case of second thoughts or an issue with a payment process, every little problem that could drive the prospect away from the website can easily be solved over live chat in a matter of minutes.

See Also: 11 Key Tips for Improving Customer Support

Reduce Cart Abandonment

That’s exactly why live chat software is a potent cart abandonment tool. Customers choose to flee from the site in the most decisive moment of all for a number of various reasons. Most of the time it’s the lack of transparency, complicated checkout process and inconvenient payment option.

But, you can never know what made them change their minds if you don’t ask. Apart from customer surveys, live chat is arguably the best way to do that. More than a feedback tool, this solution is an effective prevention against prospects abandoning their carts in the first place. A sales rep can track their every move, staying unobtrusive while the process runs smoothly and jumping-in the very second a prospect stumbles upon a problem.

Unlock New Opportunities to Upsell

With the right live chat software, your sales reps can easily find the most lucrative upselling opportunity. Pushing an entirely new and more expensive offer on top of the product the customer has already decided to pay for can be risky. If not relevant to the customer at hand and their specific needs, upselling can be frustrating for both parties.

You can put those scenarios behind you as soon as you find a live chat solution with a powerful data analysis system. When integrated with your CRM, it will hand you the entire history of previous customer interactions. This will help you know for sure what offers a specific buyer would be interested in.

It’s truly a win-win situation: a helpful product or service for your customer and a certain selling opportunity for you.

For customer service and sales, live chat software is no longer optional. It’s what most customers desire to see as they land on your website and the solution that convinces them to make the final purchase in the shortest amount of time.

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The game of golf can teach us a lot about what it means to manage a successful career. Golf takes practice, confidence, optimism and most importantly, patience.

Beginner golfers are typically encouraged to focus on their swing before they hit the green. That means breaking down their swing into smaller steps so they can focus on improving their posture, grip and alignment.

While this might be tedious for some, having enough patience to improve your swing will pay off in the long-run.

As you’re building your career, it’s also crucial to fine-tune these same qualities. It’s important to take your career step by step, have patience and be willing to change course if anything unexpected comes your way, like a surprise job offer or a promotion.

Hitting the links with friends during a sunny summer day is a great way to have fun, but a round of golf can teach you more than you think about career management.

Here are some valuable lessons from playing golf:

Work on Your Long and Short Game

When playing golf, you can’t rely on a successful long game or short game alone. While you might want to practice your long-game all day at the driving range, you also need to break out the putter to practice your short game. Both factors are vital to success.

Just like in golf, it’s important to set short- and long-term career goals. Although you should always have your eye on the big picture, don’t forget to break down your long-term goals into smaller, short-term goals.

For example, you can’t drive a golf ball 150 yards unless you have a smooth swing. The same concept applies to your career. For instance, just because a job offer promises more money now doesn’t make it a good move five years from now.

Think ahead and determine how it will affect your long-term goals in your career. This is similar to balancing your golf strategy.

See Also: A Guide to Developing Your Career Prospect

Play the Wind

Factors outside of your control often determine whether you’ll have a good game of golf. Whether it’s windy or it begins to rain, as a golfer, you must be prepared to go with the flow and adapt to the elements.

Just like the weather during golf, your career has a lot of aspects you can’t control. According to a 2016 LinkedIn survey, adaptability is one of the most in-demand soft skills. This is why it’s important to be prepared for anything as you make big career decisions.

Many doors will open and close throughout your career and it’s important to be willing to go with the flow. Maybe a job you think would end up being the perfect fit ends up having a company culture that doesn’t align with your values.

Anticipate the unexpected and prepare for how you will adapt to missteps.

Enjoy the Sand Traps

Golf can put many players in challenging situations, including hitting a sand bunker shot. Even the best players can lose their confidence when trying to hit a golf ball out of a bunker. It’s important to have patience and a positive attitude as you approach the challenging shot.

One way to overcome challenging situations is to change your mindset. Researcher Dr. Carol Dweck defines a growth mindset as understanding that abilities and intelligence can be developed over time.

A fixed mindset, on the other hand, can hold you back in your career. If you avoid obstacles in your career, like avoiding sand traps, you’ll never grow as a professional or a golfer.

When your ball lands in the bunker, remember that it’s a learning experience and not a failure. Be patient and treat your mistakes as growth opportunities. Reflect on what went wrong and determine how effort can lead to mastery in your career.

Take Practice Swings

The biggest secret to success in a game of golf is practice. It could take years to perfect your grip and make the perfect shot. But as long as you are consistent and have a positive attitude, you can get closer to reaching your goals and improving your game.

It’s also important to research and plan your career. In other words, take a few practice swings before teeing off.

Spend time exploring different options and trying different roles. Before pursuing new opportunities, conduct informational interviews and consult professionals. This way, you will figure out whether you want to continue down a specific career path before you dive all the way in.

Having a strong golf game and a successful career takes time. As you manage your career, remember to focus on building your skills, keep your goals in check and be willing to adapt to different situations. These qualities will help you navigate new career opportunities and also prepare you for a successful and rewarding career.

What other career management lessons have you learned from playing golf?

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

 

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Feeling bored doesn’t have to mean you don’t love your partner anymore. It’s probably just the right time to find something new and interesting to do together. Taking up a new hobby is one great way to start.

It will give you something new to talk about. It can give you and your partner a fresh perspective, too.

If you are curious to know, take a look at these six hobbies for couples that you can try out today. They might just bring you and your partner closer together.

Cooking

Whether it is Japanese or French, learning a new cuisine can be loads of fun for couples. It’s not only enjoyable and creative, but it can also let you learn new things.

Taking a class is an excellent way to start. If you don’t want to leave the house, there are many YouTube video tutorials and online classes you can check out at little or no charge. With a little practice, you’ll soon be able to try new and intriguing recipes.

Cooking together provides an excellent chance to take charge of your health. Besides, every chef needs an assistant, so it makes a perfect partner activity.

Physical Training

There are a variety of sports that are best done with a partner. Biking, running, weight-lifting, yoga and hiking are great examples.

Picking something that is fun and challenging for both of you will give you the opportunity to really support one another. It will also give you the chance to better your health and achieve things you never thought possible before.

Who would be better to cross a finish line with than the person you love the most?

With physical training, you’ll get the satisfaction of having pushed yourself to new heights as well as being able to form a deep connection with your partner.

Language

Learning a new language is one the most difficult yet useful things you can do.

Have you ever thought about traveling to another country?

If yes, then pick a place that interests you both. Once you have selected a place, you can begin doing your research. You can use online programs, software and apps so you can learn that country’s language from the comfort of your home.

You and your partner can learn and practice together. It won’t be long before you can say “I love you” in another language.

See Also: 5 Tips to Learn Languages by Reading Foreign Books

Games

It may sound like child’s play, but learning a new game is an excellent way to keep your mind sharp. You can try board, video or online games.

Most of these games require a lot of thought and strategy to master. These things can help build important relationship skills, like communication and respect. It can also teach you a lot about teamwork, too.

See Also: Video Games and Relationships: A List of Pros and Cons

Dancing

Whether it is ballroom or hip-hop, dancing is a rewarding pastime, especially with a partner. Learning choreographed moves to music helps build coordination, mental acuity and physical health. Doing it with someone you love makes it all the more fun. Dancing can also be very sultry and romantic. This can bring you closer both physically and mentally.

Building or Refinishing Projects

Maybe you have an old piece that needs updating already. If not, take the time to scour garage sales or flea markets with your partner and find cool items that you can update. Hunting for that hidden gem is a great activity to do together.

Even if they have no place in your home once done, you may be able to sell them again for a profit. Engaging your creativity along with your partner’s and then working toward a common goal, will bring you closer.

Conclusion

No matter what your hobby of choice is, having something that you can do as a couple can help deepen your relationship. Remember, hobbies for couples don’t have to be expensive. There are lots of tutorials you can find on the internet.

Hobbies can be therapeutic in general and, for a couple, that can translate to a stronger and happier relationship. Who knows, you may even discover some interesting new things about each other or yourself that you never knew before.

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How far away do you live from your job? Ten minutes? Thirty minutes? An hour?

If you live far from your job or if you drive a lot, these fuel efficient driving tips will liberate you from spending precious minutes and dollars at the gas pump.

I’ve collected my own data to compile this list to ensure that you’ll come up with the same money-saving results I got. Take note that the more aware you are as a driver, the better results you will reap from this information.

I’ve had these tips put into practice with my own driving for years and saved hundreds of dollars on gas money.

Have a steady foot

You may not have heard of a steady foot, but how about a lead foot?

A lead foot is not ideal for gas mileage because the throttle is linear. What do I mean by that? Simply put, the harder you press the gas pedal, the more fuel is sent to the engine and burned up.

You’re never going to see that fuel again.

Being too aggressive with the throttle will use up your gas quickly. Instead, be light with the pedal. Never put it all the way to the floor. And if you really want to save gas, don’t even go past halfway.

You might be thinking, “I wish there’s some gauge or instrument that can help me out with this.”

Well, there is!

It’s called the tachometer and it’s the second large gauge next to the speed. Here’s a picture of it, the one with numbers 1 through 8.

Also called the RPMs (revolutions per minute x 1000), this gauge basically measures how hard the engine is working. The higher the number displayed on the tachometer, the more fuel is being used to move the car forward.

So, it’s easy to see how lower RPMs makes for less fuel consumption.

To keep the RPMs low, work on being easy with the throttle. As I put it before, have a steady foot.

My rule is to always keep the RPMs below 2000 or 2. Although I speed up quite slower than everybody around me, I am saving a ton of gas in the long run by doing this every time I start.

Prepare for the hills

For most of us, our daily driving doesn’t consist completely of flat road. To be more realistic, we have to throw in some hills, dips and slopes.

So, how do we prepare for this kind of terrain?

Think back to when you were a kid riding your bike down a hill. You could fly down that thing with no effort while still being fast.

Well, it’s the same thing for your car.

When you see a hill coming, slowly begin to accelerate enough to compensate for the hill but don’t exceed 2000 RPMs. Upon reaching the hill, adjust back to normal cruising RPMs. Try to keep it as low as possible. Personally, I aim for 1250. Your goal is to have the speed back to whatever your cruising speed was before the hill.

Note: I would not use cruise control unless you are on flat roads. The car’s computer does not anticipate terrain and therefore cannot adequately prepare for it.

Of course, the result you can get from this tip will depend on the size of the hill. After you reach the top, you can use the downhill slope to gain speed without using any gas.

Basically, you need to ride it like a roller coaster while using the gas pedal as little as possible.

Don’t use the brakes so much

On today’s roads, everyone is constantly driving bumper to bumper. Not only is this dangerous, but it wastes a ton of gas as well.

Be the smart driver on the road. Allow for plenty of room between yourself and the guy in front of you.

Why?

How many times have you approached a stop light and started braking 15 feet before you reached the light? You came to a screeching stop at the line only to realize that the light turned green and you need to start your car again.

There’s a big problem with this.

Your car uses a whole lot more energy to get going from a standstill. So, by stopping and starting constantly, you’re essentially throwing away gas.

Instead, as you approach a red light, start coasting as you get nearer. It will take you longer to get to the light and it may even turn green while you’re coasting towards it. This way, you won’t waste gas by starting your car from a full stop. Do this continually and you’ll be able to save a significant amount of gas money.

There are a ton of ways to save money on gas, but these are the most fuel efficient driving tips in my experience. Put these into use and start using that gas budget on more fun things!

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Sports massage is a form of physical therapy that is designed to help athletes prepare and recover from intense training and activity. This style of massage aims to prevent injury while supporting the repair of damaged muscles, tendons and soft tissues.

When is the right time to get one?

There is no right answer for this question as it’s subjective. Generally speaking, however, there are four main categories of sports massage: Pre, post, general and injury-specific.

Each category has a different purpose.

Pre-event

The main purpose of this style is to prepare the body for intense exercise or for an event. While some people prefer a light session, others request intense, deep work a couple days before or the night before an event.

The nature of the session depends on the request of the client. Trained masseuses adjust their routines to suit the wants and needs of their clients, especially the intensity of the session.

The athlete should feel light and refreshed after the session, not still and sluggish. Pre-event massages usually involve light strokes, dynamic/isolated stretching, and deep tissue techniques.

Post-event

The goal of a post-event massage is to minimize the onset of muscle soreness. In most cases, a runner will need a post-event massage within 26 hours of an intense workout or event to stop the body from becoming sore.

Since the muscles can undergo micro-trauma and tearing, it’s important to help the body heal. Unlike the pre-event massage, the post-event massage is lighter but slightly deeper.

It uses slow, flushing and controlled strokes as to avoid causing further damage to the muscles. It incorporates static stretching into the session, using 30-second holds to massage certain regions on the body.

Apart from the massage, athletes can also take ice baths after stretching to decrease post-work out trauma. The combination of these two treatments can drastically speed up recovery.

General massage

The purpose of a general massage is to loosen tight muscles, enhance range of motion, release trigger points and minimize the chance of injury. Generally speaking, runners tend to respond better to deep tissue work when experiencing a general massage.

It is the job of the masseuse to alter the intensity of the massage to ensure that it’s effective but won’t cause further damage. If the runner continues to experience painful, burning aches more than 36 hours after a general massage, it’s usually a sign that the masseuse has applied too much pressure.

Injury massage

Injury massage is slightly more specific than the previous styles. It is usually done to heal a specific damaged muscle, ligament or tendon. This style can be incredibly effective when applied appropriately and by a trained expert.

Similarly, athletes are advised to work alongside a doctor or physical therapist before establishing a proper treatment plan. Every injury is unique and each treatment plan should depend on the extent or nature of the injury.

Common injuries among runners

Tendinopathies- This is an injury to one or more tendons. Trained masseuses use deep, stripping strokes on the tendon and also perform cross-fiber friction to help heal the area. You’ll need to apply ice to the injured tendon for 10-15 minutes.

Ligamentous- This is an injury to one or more ligaments and is treated similarly to tendinopathies. It also incorporates deep, stripping strokes and cross-fiber friction.

Strained muscles- Strained muscles should be treated no more than twice a week since the muscles also need time to relax between sessions. Masseuses apply deep work around the area and use light, flushing strokes on the strained muscle.

When the muscles start to heal, the masseuse will use deeper strokes and cross-fiber friction on the actual area of injury. Gradually, the intensity of the static stretch will increase and resistive stretching will be introduced towards the end.

Iliotibial Band- This is one of the most common injuries among runners. Also called as Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome, it is usually detected through pain on the outside of the knee. Treatment usually includes intense, deep massage techniques in order to work three of the gluteal muscles: the tensor fasciae, latae and the band.

Achilles Tendinopathy- This is an injury associated with the Achilles heel. Masseuses usually start with deep, stripping techniques, since the muscles and Achilles are connected, and these can tug on the tendon when tight.

Runner’s knee- Runner’s knee is easily distinguishable because it causes pain behind or around the knee. Although common among runners, it is exclusive to them. In most cases, the underlying cause is muscular imbalance in the four quad muscles.

See Also: How Runners Can Easily Improve Their Foot Strength

Study

Physiotherapist and chiropractor, Greg Lehman believes that one of the main benefits of sports massage for runners is pain relief.

“Pain changes how we function and can even inhibit healing. Massage may also help with recovery after a workout and may help get us out of a stress dominated state of our nervous system.” 

He also put emphasis on how relaxation is an overlooked, yet critical aspect of a runner’s training regime. He explained that stress can impact all elements of training, including mental strength and focus.

Studies have shown that regular massage therapy can reduce stress hormones, such as cortisol. At the same time, it can also encourage the production of hormones, such as oxytocin, which increase happiness and relaxation. The benefits of massage suggest that runners, and most athletes for that matter, can recover faster after a hard workout or an event with the help of sports massage.

Conclusion

All runners are prone to injury and sports massage is one good way to prevent that. If you aren’t comfortable seeking help from a massage therapist, self-massage is a free and easy alternative you can try.

 

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When was the last time you went out to upgrade your smartphone? When you did, you probably had the option to purchase a virtual reality headset.

Anybody with a smartphone and a VR headset can play virtual reality games and enjoy virtual reality programming. With how entertaining it is, it’s no surprise how it became a growing market.

Money Is Being Poured Into Development

Last year alone, developers poured $700 million into the development of virtual reality technologies and applications. They are applicable to almost everything- from real estate to the classroom.

If you have a classroom that lacks tools and equipment to conduct biology experiments, students can still get a virtual reality version of a lesson for a fraction of the cost. If you have real estate clients coming in from out of town, they can narrow their selections down and save time using virtual reality tours.

But, what’s more impressive is how fast advances are being made in augmented reality. Compared to the $700 million spent on developing virtual reality in 2016, $2.3 billion was spent developing augmented reality.

There are some important differences in the two technologies and there’s a good reason why developers are wanting to push augmented reality further.

Let’s take a closer look.

What’s The Difference: Augmented Reality VS Virtual Reality

Virtual reality turns the world into your screen. It meshes your current environment with a virtual one. Unfortunately, users won’t be able wear it while they are driving or walking.

Augmented reality, on the other hand, provides users with a hands-free way to interact with a map while driving or following along with a cooking show. This technology will give business people the ability to have meetings with people from across the world. It can greatly improve business relationships.

Augmented reality works with a headset, haptic feedback and binaural audio to give users the most life-like virtual environment possible. While haptic feedback technology is still in its infancy, one day it will be possible for you to interact with an artificial environment with a stunning sense of reality. The end product will be intuitive and hands-free.

The Future Is Looking Bright For These Technologies

In just five years, both industries combined should be able to reach $108 billion. What’s most surprising about the breakdown is that a 79% majority – $83 billion – is expected to be driven by augmented reality.

Advances in machine vision and optics are going to be the priority. Programs will need to be able to identify surroundings in order to blend the experience seamlessly. Optics needs to produce convincing facsimiles of whatever experience users are trying to achieve.

The technology will also have to be able to adjust to a user’s position, called world locking. It also needs to be able to understand natural human speech and cues. Currently, these technologies are being utilized and perfected in the gaming world.

How Will You Use Virtual Reality And Augmented Reality?

Think back to the days of Nintendo’s Virtual Boy.

Clearly, gaming has always been one of the biggest frontiers for virtual reality technology and it continues as such today. But, if you’re not a gamer, how will you integrate these emerging technologies into your life?

There’s a good chance you will encounter these technologies in a school or business setting sooner than you think. In fact, your first augmented reality conference call is probably right around the corner.

Learn more about augmented reality vs virtual reality from this infographic!

Source: Lumus

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Fact: Retail therapy is not a medically-verified form of therapy.

Just over thirty years since the phrase was first coined to flag up American consumers’ habit of trying to shop their troubles away, many no longer see the irony in the phrase and adopt retail therapy as a form of catharsis.

As Mary T. Schmich told us, introducing the phrase to the general public in the Chicago Tribune back in 1986: “We’ve become a nation measuring out our lives in shopping bags and nursing our psychic ills through retail therapy.”

Others don’t care much for rationalizing the process and just shop on instinct. They, too, fall into the category of impulse shoppers.

Does this sound like you?

The diagnosis

If you’re not sure if you are already an impulse shopper or not, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you think about shopping all the time?
• Do you shop or buy things to cheer yourself up?
• Have you been late for work or an appointment because you were shopping?
• Do you need to shop more than you used to, to get the same hit?
• Have you tried to shop less– and failed?
• Does it make you feel bad if something stands between you and shopping?
• Do you feel guilty after shopping?

If you answer Yes to more than one of these questions, you probably have a problem. Even if you just ticked Yes for one of them, the fact that you’ve read this far suggests you would probably appreciate some tips on how to deal with your compulsion.

Let’s have a look at what you can do to curb your impulse shopping.

Therapy for retail therapy

Quitting any addiction is a matter of self-control. If you have that level of self-control at your fingertips, it wouldn’t be an addiction, would it?

A more effective way to improve your level of self-control is to practice certain rules, processes and restrictions. You should have concrete ideas that can help you be more disciplined. After a few weeks, these rules should feel like automatic principles and your self-control muscles should be nice and toned.

Cut up the cards

Maybe you need your cards on hand for emergencies and for paying the occasional bill. But, when you’re going to work or to shop, leave the cards at home.

It’s a psychological thing.

Handing over a credit card to pay for those shoes feels abstract. You don’t see your money changing hands so your brain just enjoys the pleasure of getting new things.

If you pay with cash, on the other hand, your brain gets a jolt of pain at the thought of losing your hard-earned money. You think twice before going through with the transaction and are likely to be twice as cautious when shopping.

Make a plan

So, how do you make that budget?

Well, it all starts with a shopping list. Write down what you need to buy and if it’s unpredictably priced, like shoes or electronics, write down a limit as to how much you can spend.

Get online in advance and use a price comparison site to find the most affordable option and put that on your list. We spend more when we’re faced with unpredictable choices and that leads to panic buying.

People who shop with a list spend around one-third less than those without.

The 10-minute rule

You might not have that self-control to convince yourself not to buy that fancy item yet. If that’s the case, try to summon the willpower to walk away from it for ten minutes before paying for it. This will give your brain a chance to recover from that original rush.

Hopefully, before you return with your wallet, the appeal will have faded.

Look, don’t touch

If shopping online is your weakness, leave the devices alone.

Touch screens make you spend more. When you touch a picture of an object, it gives you the unconscious feeling that you already own it. Then, it becomes much more difficult to turn back from clicking “Add to Basket”.

Delete all shopping apps from your phone and just use your laptop or PC if you really need to shop online.

Dine well

You’ve tried a list, a time limit and a change of device. Now, it’s time to change your diet.

Before you go shopping, try eating a meal packed with carbs and protein to give your body the kind of chemicals that can make you less likely to impulse buy.

If you’re already out of the house when the whim to shop strikes, pick up a protein shake before you go any further. This kind of treat can dull your urge to splurge.

Picture a world without stuff

Impulse buyers tend not to picture the future when they’re shopping. They’re caught up in the thrill of the moment.

When you find that must-buy item, which probably isn’t a must-buy at all, stop for a moment and think about what your life will be like if you don’t buy it. Not so bad, huh? So, don’t buy it.

Be grateful for what you’ve got

‘Hashtag’ gratitude is a pointless, smug and self-congratulatory trend that helps nobody in particular. Instead, it encourages the populace to put up with the miserable conditions of late capitalism.

On the other hand, deep, heartfelt gratitude can help reduce your need for instant gratification. Spend time with the stuff that you already own, sort it, care for it and value it. According to the Association of Psychological Science, this can help you quit your addiction.

The power to curb your shopping enthusiasm is within you. But, without the right techniques, you’ll remain at the mercy of the quacks who’d sell you retail therapy as a cure for all your worries.

For more tips in an easy-to-follow guide, check out this new infographic.

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Many people have been there. The point where it feels like the chaos of your job is taking over every aspect of your life. This can have an incredibly negative effect on your personal relationships and overall well-being.

While a moderate amount of stress can be good for staying motivated, the harsh reality is that you will most likely be overwhelmed at some point in your career.

Whether it’s pressure to perform, lack of control, or micromanagement issues, you need to know how to effectively manage job-related stress so it doesn’t follow you home and ruin your sanity. Life is too short to spend more than 40 hours a week worrying about things that are out of your control.

If you are looking for ways to reduce stress, here are four tips, along with simple tools and apps that you can use.

Separate your mindsets

One of the most important things you need to do when managing job stress is knowing when to turn the “work mindset” off for the day. Once you close your computer and leave the building, nothing inside that office should matter until the next day.

If you are having trouble finding the “off switch”, try to immerse yourself in activities that will require your undivided attention. Getting involved in a pickup game or meeting some people for a drink are both great ways to escape.

As appealing as it sounds to just plop down on the couch and sit around after a long day, doing this will just force you to brood over what is stressing you out. It’s important to remember that you are not being paid to think about your job while you are at home or out trying to enjoy yourself.

Organize your workload

Sometimes, the best way to handle stress is to get to the root cause.

Poor organization is an extremely common reason people get overwhelmed at their jobs. The idea of juggling multiple projects and tasks at once is enough to make anyone’s head spin.

If you feel like you’re constantly being pulled into too many directions at once and things are slipping through the cracks, it’s time to take a step back and rethink your system. Continuing down this path will not do you any good, especially your sanity.

A good strategy to consider is dividing up and prioritizing your time into blocks. Take 30 minutes or so to focus on exclusive tasks to ensure you are getting things done without distraction. Many times, when you try to do everything, you end up accomplishing nothing.

Unfortunately, this is much easier said than done. In this case, utilizing a project management resource is one of the best decisions a company can make. Workzone, for example, is a task and resource management tool which has been tried and tested by big-name companies, like Adidas, Bose and Wells Fargo. It allows managers to monitor workloads by the hour in order to make sure work is evenly spread out and completed in time.

In the long run, implementing a reliable system that makes collaboration, communication and achieving milestones easier will be beneficial for everyone’s mental health as well as the company’s revenue.

Don’t skimp on sleep

One of the most common side effects of stress is not being able to fall asleep at night. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most detrimental.

Sleep deprivation can interfere with just about every aspect of your life- both personally and professionally. A study by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that there are toxic proteins in your brain that can only sleeping can remove. If these proteins remain, they can impair your ability to think rationally, no matter how much caffeine you consume.

The key is to get into a good rhythm. Set a schedule and stick to it. Try to get around eight hours per night. Next, eliminate screen time before bed. Watching TV or looking at your phone stimulates your brain and negatively affects your sleep pattern. Try reading a book instead.

There are apps out there that can help with the process. Autosleep and Sleepbot are a couple of nifty apps that make it simple to track and assess the overall quality of your rest.

Do yourself a favor and get on a beneficial cycle. You can never underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep.

See Also: Five Ways of Overcoming the Problem of Getting Sleep

Know when to walk away

In some cases, work stress can simply be out of your control. The level of micromanagement or company-wide disorganization can be beyond your power to fix.

If it’s getting to the point where you simply dread getting out of bed in the morning, you aren’t finding joy in anything and each day seems to be the worst day of your life, it may be time to just quit. There is no shame in leaving a miserable, hopeless situation.

Sticking around a toxic environment where there is no clear path to improvement will eventually drive you off the edge and into a depression. While financial security is the biggest hesitation, no amount of money is worth your sanity. If it comes down to it, you can always wait tables or work odd jobs until you’re able to get back on your feet. The people who truly care about you will understand.

Remember, in the professional world, the grass can ALWAYS be greener on the other side of the fence. It just depends on where you look.

See Also: Keep Calm and Don’t Stress: Recognizing and Preventing Job Burnout

Parting words

Your mental health is not something you should take lightly. Being stuck in a rut can have severe consequences if you don’t make necessary changes. Consider these bits of advice next time it feels like the psychological wear-and-tear of your job is invading the privacy of your personal life.

The post 4 Ways To Reduce Stress Inside and Outside of Work appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Do you still remember your New Years Resolutions? How many of them have you put into practice?

Let me guess: Little to none of them.

And you’re not alone.

Good habits seem to be very hard to form while bad habits just sneak up on us when we least expect them. That’s how it feels, at least

But, guess what? Good and bad habits actually form the same way.

As a Certified Fitness Coach and 100% Vegan, let me give you some tips on how to form habits.

Pull the trigger

Habits start with triggers.

You feel stressed out? You’ll feel compelled to smoke a cigarette. You’re about to go to bed? You’ll have to brush your teeth.

These are simple triggers that initiate reactions. And like these triggers, you also have to identify specific triggers that can help you build better habits.

Ask yourself: How are you reminded of the habit?

Build a checklist

Generate a trigger by creating a checklist. All you need is a blank paper, a pen and some duct tape. You duct tape the blank paper to an open spot in your home, like your fridge.
Then, write the name of the habit that you want to form on top of the checklist.

Put some small check boxes on the left side of the paper with your target dates. These dates should reflect the frequency of the habits you want to build. For example, if you want to go to the gym once or twice a week, you need to write down the dates of your planned workout days for the next two months. You should have a total of 18 dates for that. Every time you go to the gym on your specified dates, you check off the box.

Bonus Tip: Use your signature

An even better way to check off the habit is by using your signature. If you put your signature on the checkbox after finishing the habit, you’re telling yourself that you’ve done the work the right way. You’re using the self-serving bias to your advantage.

The self-serving bias means that you want to enhance your self-esteem and self-worth with your actions. The signature is a reflection of yourself.

Think of it this way:

You’re putting your signature on the stuff you agree with. You’re enhancing your self-worth by completely nailing the habit. Because of that, the habit is more likely to stick.

Start Small

If your goal is to go to the gym four times a week, don’t start with that habit.

I know that you might be extremely motivated this very moment, but the key to long-term change in your habits is consistency.

Start with a 5-minute walk, two times a week. When you have low expectations, it dramatically increases your likelihood of forming a habit that will last long.

Why?

Because having time for a 5-minute walk every day is easy while 2 hours of exercise isn’t. You can eat one banana every day but you’ll find a full day of eating healthy harder.

Start with smaller goals as much as possible and it will make you less likely to procrastinate.

Overcompensate

Starting small won’t only make habit formation easier; it can help you compensate on certain days, too.

What you will find, after a certain period of time, is that you’ll be able to easily go for a ten-minute walk, instead of the planned five-minute walk. You’ll be progressing in an easy, playful way and this will increase your motivation. Plus, it will make habit formation feel like something that you ‘want’ to do, instead of ‘needing’ to do.

See Also: Daily Habits That Will Improve Your Life

No need to feel sorry now. What are you waiting for? The year isn’t over yet. Take your New Year’s Resolutions out of your closet and start forming new habits the simple, fun and sustainable way.

If you enjoyed this article, please watch and share my video below.

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Looking to move on from your dead-end job? Are you struggling to even land an interview?

The modern corporate world is so brutally competitive that you don’t even need a job to be severely stressed.

“We’ll be in touch.” “We’ll give you a call.” “We’ll let you know soon.”

We’ve all heard these responses before. And for a job seeker, there’s nothing worse than waiting for that call. You know it can turn your life around. But, deep inside, you’ve already accepted that it may never come.

Fortunately, there are now technologies that can solve this issue. Apart from apps that can help you be visible to prospective employers, here are 5 ways technology can help boost your chances of getting hired.

Use Site-Builders to Create a Portfolio

The first solution is so simple. It can actually be accomplished in just a few minutes.

With platforms like SquareSpace, Wix and WordPress, you can easily create a professional-looking online portfolio from scratch. All you need to do is to register, apply a portfolio theme and fill in your information.

An online portfolio isn’t only a great way to highlight your skills, qualifications and experience, it can also show employers that you know your way around technology. This a highly sought-after skill among forward-thinking companies, especially now that technology evolves at a rapid rate.

When it comes to designing your portfolio, remember that there is no formula that can guarantee success. Just be sure to pick a template that speaks your personality, be concise and make it easy to find links to your work samples.

Spice Up Your Resume with Graphics

Whether you like it or not, the best employers receive countless applications on a daily basis. The chances of your resume being noticed are slim, especially if you used a generic template with boring, plain-text information.

If you want more employers to notice you, consider handing over an infographic resume instead. This incorporates visual elements, like diagrams, timelines and various charts, to convey information more efficiently.

Here is a charming example from Hollywood’s very own Ashton Kutcher:

Infographic source

You can use a free editing app, like Canva, to create your own infographic resume. Simply register for an account, choose a fitting infographic template and use the drag-and-drop interface to personalize your design. Anyone should be able to pick it up within a few minutes of exploring the interface.

Run an Interview Simulation

A killer infographic resume would be useless if you will only choke on the actual interview. Simply put, you should never head to an interview without preparing for the most basic questions.

Vague questions like “Tell me more about yourself.”, for example, can easily be answered by enumerating your main selling points.

You don’t have to prepare witty or jaw-dropping responses. You just need to raise your confidence by knowing what to expect. Learning the most common interview questions from blogs and online communities is a step towards the right direction.

There are also free platforms, like Interview Simulator, that can help you get a glimpse of what conversations are like inside an interview room. If you want something less complicated, you can also search YouTube for channels that upload interview simulation videos.

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

Develop Your Own Personal Brand

To help you reach more employers, you should invest in building an online presence through multiple channels. Social media websites, for example, is a great way to boost your visibility to prospective employers, In fact, statistics show that 60% of employers today use social media networking sites, particularly LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, to screen applicants.

But, why stop at major social networking platforms when you can further elevate your online authority through other free channels?

Creating and maintaining a blog is one great example. You can easily add it to your existing portfolio site at zero cost. You can also leverage real-life networking platforms, like Meetup.com and Eventbrite. These sites will help you expand your networks by connecting you with like-minded individuals, including those in the same field.

See Also: How Your Car Can Affect Your Personal Branding

Create Automatic Email Alerts

Still failed to land an interview with your latest application?

Don’t worry. You can always apply for the next one.

But, if you want to be first in line, you should use a tool, like Google Alerts, to receive online job postings as soon as possible.

To set up Google Alerts, simply log in with your Google account and type in keywords like “programmer jobs” or “copywriter jobs”. Look at the preview to see if your keywords generate job postings from companies. If yes, insert the email address where you want the alerts to be sent and click ‘Create Alert’.

Getting a job is never an easy task. Fortunately, there are job hunting tips that can make the process a lot easier. Whatever you do, you should develop an optimistic mindset, especially now that employment rates are on an upward trend.

The post 5 Best Ways to Use Technology To Land Your Dream Job appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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