4 Ways To Cleanse Your Mind Of Destructive Thoughts

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When negative thoughts pop into your head, they change the way you feel. They can even alter the way you act.

Just look at what happens during road rage. Drivers who haven’t even met each other before can sometimes get into shootouts over something as mundane as being cut up on the highway.

When you have negative thoughts, it influences what you want to do. You might want to harm yourself, someone else or their property. And you don’t think twice because the thoughts are so intense. What is criminal damage compared to getting revenge?

In this post, we take a look at some of the ways that you can cleanse your mind of negative thoughts. You’ll find that after doing this, your mental health will improve. Often, you can nip compulsions in the bud before they turn into action.

Write Down Things That You’re Grateful For In Your Life

One way to defuse the rage and tension is to write down all of the things you’re grateful for in your life. When you start doing this, you’ll find that the list is longer than you think. What’s more, when you’re in a state of gratitude, it is almost impossible to feel negative emotions at the same time. You suddenly realize what matters in life and move on.

Take A Walk

Sitting there brooding will just make you feel angrier and angrier. Thoughts will continue swirling in your head, making you think about acting in ways you wouldn’t normally consider.

If you find yourself in this state, go for a brisk walk. Often releasing energy through the body is a great way to relieve the mind as well.

Taking a walk can also help you get away from a negative environment. You feel better able to deal with the turmoil when you’re alone.

Change Your Point Of View

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The words we use to talk to ourselves have a profound impact on how we feel. For instance, instead of saying something like “I’m going through a dreadful time at the moment and I am so angry with my spouse,” say something like “I am going through a challenging time, but I know this experience will make me stronger.”

Just changing the way you speak to yourself can have a profound effect on how you feel. Often, you’ll notice that you feel considerably better, just by switching up a few words.

Change Your Body Language

Body language is the result of what’s happening in the mind, but it can also work the other way. Acting in a certain manner changes how you feel.

Let’s say that you’re sitting in a chair in your kitchen and you’re feeling glum. What is your body language? Well, if you’re like 99 percent of people, you’re stooped over and have a long face.

Try sitting up straight and smiling, no matter how unnatural it feels. You’ll notice that doing this changes your mood. It tricks your brain into thinking you're happy, and so it starts to act accordingly.

Help Your Kids Learn With These Suggestions

As a parent, you’re going to be the very first person that your child learns from. You are going to be their guide, teaching them everything from how to walk to how to talk, and that teaching never really ends. It changes, but it doesn't end. One day, your child grows up to go to school and learn from others, and it’s this education that counts for much of their future prospects. Where possible, you want to make learning as easy for your children as possible, and that means stepping up in new ways as often as you can.

There are studies that prove that parents are integral to their child’s education, and you are just one part of a rather big puzzle! With the help of your children, their school teachers and K-12 laptop-based learning that you can do at home, you can give your child a well-rounded education. You are a part of it, but that doesn't mean that there aren't things that you can do beyond the basics. Below, we’ve got some of the best possible suggestions to ensure that you are able to help your kids to learn.

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1. Get to know the teachers at your child’s school. One of the best ways to help your children with their learning is to be on board with the people who are with them throughout the day. Their teacher is your best bet and they will be happy to talk with you about their learning, any difficulties and any issues.

2. Consider their friendship groups. Children are different around their friends compared to being around you, and that’s okay - they have their own personality. However, it can help you to know who they are spending their time with and the influences that are on them while you’re not around. Each school has different staff from the teachers, too, so it can help to know who’s on your side.

3. Consider their academic achievements. How is your child doing at school? Are they sociable and happy or are they having issues keeping up with the rest of the class? These are things that you need to know and you need to know how your child is doing academically so that you know how to support them when they’re at home with you. There are plenty of children who need help at home, especially when people are studying at home during the pandemic.

4. Apply for additional help. Do you feel that your child needs a tutor? If so, then one of the best things that you can do is to call up and find out where you can get some additional help. Applying for additional services is one of the best ways that you can support their learning.

5. Bring the school in on the concerns. If you are in any way worried, bring in the head teachers and the support staff on your concerns. You need to know if your kids are having trouble learning and the school needs to know if there are issues with learning at home, too.

5 Ways To Cut Stress and Anxiety

Many people in the world suffer from stress and anxiety. The good news is that there are ways to cope with it and even cut down on its severity. This blog post will discuss five different ways to relieve stress and anxiety, so you can get back to living your life!

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1) Take A Break

When stress starts to get the best of you, the first thing that you should do takes time out from everything. This doesn’t mean completely leaving your life behind, but it does mean taking some time away from work or school-related activities and focusing on yourself for a while. This could be as simple as going out with friends or spending quality time alone in meditation (or other calming activity). The important part about this step is permitting yourself to relax.

2) Exercise

When you’re feeling stressed, one of the best things you can do is get your body moving. Exercise releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects and can help to reduce stress levels. It doesn’t matter what type of exercise you choose; just make sure that it increases your heart rate and makes you sweat a little bit. If you don’t like traditional forms of exercise, there are plenty of other ways to get active. Dancing, hiking, walking your dog – all of these count as exercises, and they can be a lot of fun too!

3) Eat Healthy

It might seem like the last thing you want to do when stressed out, but eating well is actually important for both your physical and mental health. When we’re feeling anxious or depressed, many people turn to food as a way of comforting themselves (which isn’t necessarily bad). Still, it’s also easy to end up overeating unhealthy junk food that only exacerbates our feelings of stress and anxiety instead of helping them go away! So instead, try replacing fatty foods with fruits and vegetables: they have lots of vitamins and nutrients which boost mood, help us feel full longer, so we don’t get cravings throughout the day, and aid in digestion which can lower levels of stress hormones such as cortisol.

4) Consider Natural Medications

In addition to exercising and eating well, you might also want to speak with your doctor about natural supplements that can help reduce stress levels. There are plenty of options out there, including fish oil capsules, magnesium, B vitamins, CBD Patches, and others that have been shown in clinical studies to be effective for reducing anxiety. Of course, your doctor will know what’s right for you based on your current health profile, so don’t hesitate to ask!

5) Build A Support System

When you’re feeling stressed, having someone to talk to can make all the difference in how you feel about everything. It might be your spouse or partner, and it could be friends who are willing to listen and help cheer you up with some positive reinforcement – whatever form of supportive interaction works for you is great! Remember that everyone needs somebody sometimes, so if there isn’t anyone around right now, try reaching out on social media sites like Facebook, which have communities of people looking for friendship and connection.

In conclusion,  there are many ways to reduce stress and anxiety in your life. It might take some time to find the techniques that work best for you, but once you do, you’ll be able to breathe a little easier and enjoy life a bit more.

4 Ways To Keep Up With Your Credit Card Bills

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If you don't pay your credit card balance in full each month, the late fees, interest fees, and penalties will start to pile up. So if you're like most people who are struggling to stay on top of their finances and pay off their credit cards each month, it's important to keep up with your payments.

Credit card companies charge very high-interest rates, typically ranging from 18-25% APR. Moreover, the card company will continue to charge you a high rate until the balance is paid off in full.

Ignoring late payments or simply forgetting about them can lead to significant financial consequences. Letting a small balance go for too long can lead your credit score down significantly. While some credit cards, similar to compare credit, try their best to help you keep on top of your payments, there are other ways you can keep on top of your credit card bills:

Set Up An Automated Payment

It is not only us who get overwhelmed with a pile of bills sent by our credit card providers. The companies send out bills every now and then to ensure that they are getting their money on time. To avoid the hassle of manually checking these bills, it is better to use automated payment services.

It's easy to set up and requires no extra effort from your end. You can choose the amount you want to pay and send your card details to make payments really easily.

Make It A Part Of Your Budget

The best way to avoid falling behind on payments is to keep track of them in a budget. With this method, you will know what amount of money you need each week and how much money is left for other expenses such as entertainment or travel.

Making your bills a part of your budget means that you can plan ahead and know exactly what you'll spend each month. It also helps eliminate any confusion about where all that money went because there won't be any surprises at the end of the month.

Set Up Reminders

When you set up a reminder, you feel a lot more confident about your ability to make timely payments. You know that you will be able to maintain your debt and stick to the budget because this reminder system helps you stay on top of things.

By doing this, you can see how much you have left in your budget and what is left for the next month. This will help make future decisions easier as well as give you a good idea of what kind of spending needs to be curtailed.

Place Due Dates Round Your Payday

Bills can be overwhelming, especially if you have a lot of them. It can be tough to keep up with your bills when so many are coming in at once. Setting up bills around your payday can help you stay on top of your bills. The bills will be taken out of your account immediately, giving you no time to spend it.

5 Money Pits To Sell And Why You Should Rather Buy New

To sell or not to sell, when it comes to your possessions, is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. But, did you know that there are quite a few money pits that you should sell and buy new? We'll take a look at five money pits below so you can decide for yourself whether or not to sell or buy new.

Car

The first money pit that you should definitely sell is your car. Cars are not as reliable as they used to be, and problems can pop up at any time, which will cost a lot of money if left unrepaired. If the problem really is minor, like having an oil change or tire rotation done, then it's probably worth fixing yourself if you know how to do so (or pay someone else who knows what they're doing). But bigger issues such as engine failure often require expensive parts and extensive labor hours to fix them, even for people who work on cars for a living. So rather than sink more cash into something that may break again soon after this repair job anyway, why not invest that same amount of money into buying a new car? Do your research. There are many sites and dealerships like Edmunds that not only offer options on new and used vehicles but also provide reviews on brands and models.

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Real Estate

The next money pit you should sell is your home. Now, this doesn't mean that you have to move out or anything. Instead, selling simply means getting rid of the house and cashing in on whatever equity you have built up. And if moving is something you're not interested in doing right now, there are other alternatives such as a home equity loan or line of credit. These options can give homeowners access to a lump sum of cash that they can use for whatever they want, such as renovating their current home or buying a new one altogether.

Boats

Number three on the list of money pits to sell is your boat. Boats are another item that often requires expensive repairs, especially if they're not used regularly. And, like cars, boats can also be a massive liability if something goes wrong while you're out on the water. Even worse, boat repairs are often not covered by insurance. So rather than spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on fixing up your boat, why not use that money to buy a new one that's already in good condition?

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RVs

Number four is your RV. Just like boats and cars, RVs require scheduled maintenance to keep them running smoothly. But unlike those other two items, RVs can also be very expensive to purchase in the first place. Not only that, but they tend to lose value quickly once they've been driven off the lot. So if you're thinking about buying an RV, either buy a new one or invest that same amount of money into something else.

Roof

The last money pit to sell is your roof, which can cost thousands of dollars just to install. And because roofs are often ignored until they're already leaking or falling apart, it's very important that you inspect yours for these types of problems before putting the house on the market. If there are major issues like missing shingles or dry rot damage underneath the surface layer of asphalt, then hiring a professional contractor will be mandatory to fix them. Otherwise, buyers may not want anything to do with your home. Sellers often don't know how bad their roof has gotten until after inspection by a professional contractor.

3 Ways Your Industrial Business Can Save The Planet

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Industry is always looking for a boom, and if you are a business owner who deals in the realm of industry and construction, you may be killing the planet. A lot of materials leave a carbon footprint while other materials give off greenhouse gasses. Some industries are cutting down trees, while others are rerouting rivers. There are a lot of changes being made in this field, and if you are a part of it, you can be part of the healing. Here are three ways that industry is making changes to save the planet.

Using Clean Energy

There have been so many advances in recent years when it comes to clean energy. A lot of commercial buildings are being powered with solar panels and large scale trucks and barges are finding ways to switch to electric. Companies like Volvo Penta have been developing the latest technologies in switching marine and industrial vehicles to electric while fitting existing vehicles with clean engines. 

Switching to renewable, clean energy is the way to go, and if you are a small business that ships with a particular company, you may want to see what kind of technology they are using so that you can either stay with them or switch to a company that is using clean energy.

Eliminating Concrete

Materials like asphalt are good for the environment. Asphalt doesn’t give off a lot of greenhouse gasses, and the process by which to create and use asphalt does not take up a lot of energy. Materials like concrete, however, are not great for Mother Earth. Concrete leaves a large carbon footprint when it is left to sit in the earth. Large buildings, streets, parking lots, and some homes are made with a lot of concrete and that’s lots of harm being done to the environment.

A big solution that is plant-based is popping up all over. Concrete and plants? Believe it or not, yes. Hempcrete is a new material that is making the rounds with construction companies. Hempcrete is made from hemp. The plant that is also used to make clothing and shoes. Hempcrete works just like concrete. It is durable, porous, and can withstand a lot of the elements of the world.

Hempcrete can also be used as insulation in homes and industrial buildings. It works just as well if not better than traditional insulation, and it helps the environment.

Fixing Infrastructure

There are a lot of factories that are just waiting for a makeover. A lot of industries want to expand and use new lands for new buildings, but recycling old buildings helps prevent the cutting down of trees and the stripping of vibrant lands. Fixing roads and bridges and making sure old buildings are sound will help keep existing buildings viable for future companies.

In fixing infrastructure, there is also the opportunity to add clean energy like wind turbines. Capturing wind energy will reduce the use of fossil fuels that could harm the planet. It works when everyone does their part.

Tips For Keeping Track Of Your Payments

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You may not enjoy the ways that will help you keep track of your payments, especially when you notice how paying them may not be a fun thing to do. You can also realize that there are three bills due the next day and you don't have enough money to help you cover them. The following tips can help you keep track of payments.

Categorize And Review Your Expenses Regularly

You may be having a small business, and the more it reviews its numbers, the better it understands them and the more likely it can grow and survive. If you're a business owner, you need to look for ways of grasping the current finances of their organizations while looking at some of the expenses and some related metrics, which can be a crucial part of it.

Use OnPay

The OnPay Solutions start automating while streamlining some of the payable invoices and payment processes while having an immediate ROI. It can happen from automating or digitizing some of the incoming invoices towards disbursement of the payments since everything is automated. It gives your business the tool of sewing the friction and complexity of the paper-based and the manual supplier invoice processing to promote efficiency while making it easier for cloud-based, fully-secured, and well-enabled automated systems.

Your Bank’s App

Some large financial institutions tend to give their customers some access to their bank accounts, as this gets done with the help of mobile apps. The apps help you track some of your expected expenses, like the recurring mortgage or insurance payments. They can also provide you with a glimpse of your balance at your fingertips.

Also, you can log in from anywhere to keep track of the transfer funds and deposits while monitoring the suspicious activities that will help you stay in front of most of the possible overdrafts and fraudulent charges.

Save Your Online Bills In One Folder

You can use your email account to help you keep track of your payments. It can get done by creating a folder in your inbox for the bills you need to pay. Afterwards, create a subfolder for the year, then create additional subfolders for each month. When you do that, and your first online bill arrives, you can immediately move it to the corresponding month. By doing this, when you start paying your bills all at once, the pending ones will be there.

Use A Receipt Scanner To Digitize Receipts

There is specific accounting software that supports mobile apps which enable business owners or employees to be scanning their receipts using their smartphones. The software uses OCR technology, which turns the texts into machine-readable codes.

Besides, when you buy a different receipt scanner, it allows some organizations to start scanning a document, review and categorize it through automatic mapping of the content in the accounting software or by providing the ability to do it manually.

There are desktop receipt scanners that are not expensive. However, they are considered a valuable investment that you can use for your business for document management and expenses, as it's easy to connect them with some accounting software systems.

Moving Abroad: Here's What You Need To Know

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The thing about starting a new life in a different town or city, for example, is that most people will do so in the same country that they’re in now. However, it’s not uncommon for some families to relocate to a different nation.

Some might move because of new career opportunities, and others may move abroad because they want to be closer to other family members. Whatever the reason, one fact everyone can agree on is how moving overseas isn’t a decision any family would take lightly.

You’re probably reading this because you’re planning to move abroad with your spouse or partner and your children. Of course, you want to ensure that you’re doing things the right way. Here is what you need to know on the subject:

Housing

The first point to consider is your housing situation. You will undoubtedly need to sell your home and look for a suitable property to buy in your new country. With that in mind, you must get everything prepared before you all fly to your new location.

When selecting a new place to live, always choose a safe community where you can access various amenities and facilities on your doorstep. Read more about it here if you’d like to see an example of such a place.

Entry Requirements

Believe it or not, many people fall afoul of visa entry requirements when moving abroad. Many countries have complex visa options, and it can often pay to hire an immigration expert to navigate such complicated matters. Visa types may vary from country to country. For instance, Canada offers various types of visas, such as a work visa, a study visa, or a spousal sponsorship visa. For requirements for spousal sponsorship in Canada click here (pour connaitre les conditions de parrainage d'un conjoint au Canada, cliquez ici).

The last thing you want to do is enter the country on an incorrect visa, as it can mean you could all get deported.

You should also determine how much money you should bring into the country, as many nations won’t accept immigrants unless they’ve got proof they can financially support themselves.

Schools

If you don’t have any kids, you can avoid this section. However, if you’re moving to a new country with your family, you’ll need to arrange new schools for your children to attend. As you can appreciate, a foreign school can be quite a steep learning curve for most kids.

That’s why it’s worth researching the education system in your new home country and whether there’s any support to help your children transition into a new school way of life in another country.

Depending on when you move, you may find that some schools only operate a home learning educational system due to COVID-19 restrictions. Always do plenty of research before making any decisions.

Banks

One final point worth mentioning is banking. While it’s possible to withdraw money from your existing checking account overseas, you’ll need to arrange for a new bank account to get opened abroad.

Doing so means you can get paid in the local currency and not have any issues with transferring money to other local bank accounts. You can still keep your checking account open if you need to transfer money back to your former home country.

6 Things To Check Before Traveling

Traveling domestically and traveling internationally have some differences. So if you've never been abroad, here is a handy list of a few things you should check or bring with you ahead of your trip.

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Insurance

Of course, the first thing you need to do is a check-in with your insurance provider. Ensure that you have all the correct paperwork for your insurance and that your travel is covered. Check that your medical insurance also covers overseas emergencies, and if not, be sure to add that supplemental insurance.

Vaccinations

Depending on the country you are going to, you might need some vaccinations. Don't worry that you can book in with an urgent care center and have all the vaccinations you need.

Just keep in mind that if you do need some vaccinations specifically for travel, you'll need to check the timeline for those vaccinations to be effective. Some vaccinations require a few weeks between administering them, and you're in trouble.

Make copies

You'll be bringing your passport with you, but it is always a good idea to have a paper copy somewhere in your belongings if you happen to lose it. Ahead of leaving, make sure you leave a copy of your passport with a friend or family member you trust as well as emailing it yourself so that you have a digital copy.

Conversions

One of the biggest issues people face when they withdraw money as they travel is that they are subject to large foreign exchange fees. Before you leave, make sure that you have a good idea of the conversion.

And then you exchange some of your home country's currency for the currency in the country you are visiting.

It is also smart to check your credit card or work in the country you are visiting and the fees associated with that. You might also need to make your credit card provider where you are traveling so that any of your transactions are not blocked, all flagged for fraud.

Tourist destinations

Tourist destinations in the country you are visiting will often be sold out very early in the morning. Buy tickets online in advance to skip the queues and get better deals on ticket prices. Make sure that you have checked the date and time correctly, and send yourself an extra copy of the email and print a copy out.

Local events

Most of the time, the city you are visiting will have a range of local events catered for the local residents. Before arriving, you can check what's going on and make sure that if there is something fun like a farmer's market, a live music event, ceremonies, or any festival that you can be in the right place at the right time.

This allows you to enjoy some of the cultures from the area with the residents.

If you're not sure where your next trip will be, and you're looking for tips and inspiration - check out these Travel Tips.

Improving Your Financial Future

Managing your finances isn't easy, and learning to manage money often comes with some hard lessons. By following these steps and making a plan, you can organise your finances and start saving.

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Setting a budget is the best way to manage your finances. Next, look for ways to reduce your debt payments (e.g. balance transfer cards and increased loan repayments). Finally, set a goal to motivate your savings.

Plan And Budget

Setting a budget and tracking your spending is the best way to improve your financial management. Having a budget and tracking your earnings and expenses will also help you avoid unnecessary spending. Also, you won't be afraid to check your bank account because you won't know how much money you have left for the month.

Pay More On Credit Cards

While it may be tempting to only pay the minimum repayment amount on credit cards and other debts to stretch your monthly budget, you should remember that this will ultimately cost you much more.

Consider a $2,000 debt with a 20% interest rate and a $35 monthly minimum repayment. If you only pay the minimum amount, it will take you over 15 years to pay off this debt and you will end up paying nearly $4,000 in interest.

If you pay $100 per month instead, you'll be debt-free in just over two years and save $450 in interest payments.

Pay Down Your Debts

Getting rid of debt and overdrafts is another great way to improve your finances. An overdraft is often misunderstood as a form of credit, but it is actually a form of debt. Even arranged overdrafts can be costly, with a $500 overdraft costing at least $70 per year, and a higher overdraft likely costing much more.

Similarly, loans often cost far more than advertised. Despite most loans being advertised with APRs between 2.8 and 5.5 percent, the average loan in the UK has an APR of around 7.0 percent, meaning you'll end up paying 150 percent more in servicing fees than you expected.

Paying off your loans quickly will help you avoid extra fees and allow you to start saving for yourself rather than just lenders. If possible, change the loan terms to get a better rate, but be aware that changing rates may result in an additional fee.

Visualize Your Objectives

Saving without a specific goal in mind is difficult because it feels like you'll never be rewarded for your efforts. When creating your budget and saving plan, consider what you want to save for and keep it in mind throughout the month. When you visualise this goal, it becomes much easier to budget.

It all depends on what you want and how long you're willing to save. If this is your first time saving this way, start small. Watch how long it takes you to save £100 and then spend it on something useful. From there, you can estimate how long it will take you to save more and how long you are willing to save.

Be Prepared For The Unexpected

While you can't predict the future, you can protect yourself from financial hardship by saving as much as you can. By saving money for a rainy day, you can avoid having an unexpected expense derail your financial goals. It’s a good idea to have contact details on had for your insurances, breakdown cover, medical malpractice attorneys, and others.

These five tips should help you to prepare for a better financial future. Do you have any other tips that could help? Please share them in the comments below.

What Every New Entrepreneur Needs To Know

It’s always exciting to undertake a new project, especially when it’s one that could take you far in life. If you’ve got an entrepreneurial mindset, then at some point or another, you’ll think about starting your own business. However, while this will be an exciting time, it’s also important to remember that failure is always an option. And depending on what type of business you’re starting, it might be more likely than not, especially if it’s your first time trying to build a business.

That’s why it’s important to have as deep an understanding as possible before you begin. In this blog, we’ll look at a few vital pieces of information that everyone needs to know.

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Their Strengths and Weaknesses

You’re going to be good at some things. You’re going to be bad at some things. While it’s important to have confidence in your abilities, it’s vital that you stray into arrogance. Studies have shown that leaders who elevate their capabilities are much more likely to run into problems with their company. A little bit of humility can go a long way. And in any case, once you know what you’re not so good at, you’ll know what you need to work on and what people you need to bring on board. 

That They Can’t Do Everything On Their Own

And talking of bringing people on board: you will need to do this! All businesses need to help, but it’s extra important if it’s your first venture. There’ll be too many details that you don’t know, and it’s much easier to have other people give you that information rather than figure it out too late. One of the best startup tips is to find a mentor. This will be someone who has been there, done that. They’ll be there to provide wisdom. And then there are other professionals that you can bring onboard, such as marketing experts, web designers, and so on.

The Problem They’re Fixing

You can start a business just because you want to try to find success. But you’ll find it very difficult to find success if that’s the only motivation. See, all companies should exist to solve a problem. If you can’t identify what your business is there to fix, then it’s unlikely that you’ll get all that far. The problem doesn’t have to be severe, serious, or anything like that -- it can be as whimsical as you like. But it’s the problem that gives the company purpose. Without that, there is no purpose and no future!

Success Takes Time

Finally, never forget that success takes time. Failure can come in an instant. If you’re going to build a company that’s successful on a long-term basis, then you’ll need to be patient. Nothing worth having comes overnight. You will likely have to go through some tough periods before you come out the other side. Those that don’t make it are usually the ones that give up when the going gets tough. Keep working hard, and success will come your way!

How To Ensure Your Engagement Ring Is Unique

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Getting engaged is an exciting time in your life, and one of the best parts of it is that you get to go shopping for custom made engagement rings. You will need to think long and hard about the type of ring you want as there are many options available. However, if you are looking for something unique, your options are a little more limited, but you can still get what you want. Below are the choices you have available that you can consider for your engagement ring and help ensure you turn heads when you put the engagement ring on for the first time and are the envy of your friends.

Choose A Vintage Or Antique Engagement Ring

There is some beautiful vintage and antique engagement rings that you can choose for your engagement, and many of these rings are unique. If a ring is antique, it is 100 years old or older, which means the engagement ring will have been handmade by a skilled artisan. When you have handmade jewellery, even when two items are the same, they are slightly different and not a mirror image of each other. Buying a vintage or antique engagement ring is an excellent way to ensure that you wear something unique on your ring finger.

Choose A Custom-Made Engagement Ring Instead

Another excellent way to ensure your engagement ring is unique is commissioning a custom-made ring especially for you. Many people do not consider this option as they assume that it will be too expensive. However, the costs are similar when you compare the cost of a bespoke ring to the price of one from your average high street jewellery store for a mass-produced engagement ring. However, you will get much more value for money when you choose a custom-made engagement ring over one from the jewellery chain stores that have their jewellery made in factors. If this is appealing to you, more information about the process is below.

Deciding What You Want

Unique engagement rings Brisbane has are all handmade by skilled artisans. However, if you happen to live outside of Brisbane, look for a reliable jeweller near you such as Culet Jewellery in Sydney. Feel free to discuss the design you want for your ring. You will also need to think about the materials you will use in your engagement ring, including the precious metal used, and options include:

• Yellow Gold

• Rose Gold

• White Gold

• Platinum

• Palladium

Each metal has its pros and cons, and it is worth speaking to the jewellery designer about what option is best for you. You will also need to consider whether you will be using precious gems in your engagement ring, and some of the options include:

• Diamonds

• Rubies

• Sapphires

• Emeralds

• Alexandrite

• Aquamarine

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You will need to consider what you want in your engagement ring and sit down with the jewellery designer to discuss your requirements. They can help steer you in the right direction, so you get something suitable for your lifestyle and help you maximise your budget. Once you have agreed on the design and paid a deposit, they will start working on your unique engagement ring, and you can expect it to be ready in six to eight weeks.

5 Amazing Kitchen Decor Tips For This Winter

As the nights grow colder, we are all spending more time at home, enjoying the comfort of our own kitchens and creating memories with loved ones. Everyone loves a warm and cozy kitchen because it's where we feel most comfortable. It's a place where you can be yourself and not have to worry about caring what others think.

If your current kitchen feels uninviting and lacks some color, these tips below can help give it a makeover so you can start inviting friends and family over.

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Pick A Warm Color Palette

This year, when you're decorating your home to celebrate the holiday season and create a warm and welcoming atmosphere all year round, you can transform your kitchen and make it more welcoming. Changing up your color scheme is a simple way to transform the look of your kitchen. It's your chance to use rich colors this season. Choose a color that resonates with you and the vibe you are going for this holiday.

Change Your Layout 

Your layout is the most important part of your kitchen. This winter season, give your kitchen some love by updating the floorplan of your kitchen to ensure you have all the features that you need but still preserve an area that is not cluttered. You can achieve this by using open shelves in areas of your home where countertop space is not needed. This can include hallways or dining spaces - simply find out which items in your home tend to clutter up less frequently and move those cleaning products, kitchen items, canisters, or collections onto open shelves!

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Incorporate Textures

Design should not only be about what it looks like. It should also take into consideration what the room should feel like. Most people don't always think about using textures because they don't realize how big of a difference it can give.

What are the textures in your home? All the things that you can touch: floor, walls, doors, sofas, table, etc. What do they feel like when you run your fingers over them? What do they look like and how do they make you feel when you look at them? You can bring these elements together to make the space look and feel more interesting. For example, placing colorful area rugs in your living room is a great idea to incorporate textures into your home. When they are all perfectly combined, it draws attention and creates a look that is equally unique and beautiful.

Cabinet Door Upgrade

Refresh your kitchen’s look and feel with a new cabinet door upgrade. Albeit simple and cheap, this technique will instantly transform your kitchen almost like magic. With a wide range of colors, styles, and hardware options to choose from, now is the time to freshen up your kitchen without breaking the bank.

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Final Details

Having a finished kitchen doesn't necessarily mean that you can't make any further additions or improvements. Accessories can be an excellent tool in making your cooking area feel like home this winter. Inexpensive items such as scented candles and linen tea towels create instant warmth and add to the feeling of relaxation and overall effect you're trying to achieve in your minimalist modern kitchen! If you've always wanted a set of copper cookware, you may want to hang them up with matching pendant lights and unit handles so it looks like it belongs in a Victorian-era home.

Did you enjoy our tips and kitchen decor ideas? You may also want to add stunning kitchen wall arts to keep your place cozy and interesting. Wall arts are your ultimate best friends if you want to decorate your space but do not really know how to start. This way, you can express your creativity with a sense of personality and style. 

Different Types Of Mental Health Support And How They Can Help

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There are a variety of different mental health treatments. The best type of treatment for you will depend on what you are struggling with, and your personal preferences, as everyone is different. Mental health conditions are quite common, with millions of people experiencing them all around the world, with anxiety and depression having the highest rates amongst individuals. Mental health problems can seem daunting at first, as they impact your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors in different ways than you are used to. It can often be upsetting, and even lonely. However, there is hope, and lots of support out there to help you manage them better. Once you have the courage to ask for help, you will soon be on your way to recovery.

Here are some of the different types of mental health support that you can seek, and information on how they can help you.

#1 Counseling or psychotherapy

Counseling or psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is a means of support from a highly trained professional in the mental health field and often trained in your specific condition. For example, there are counselors that specialize in depression, anxiety, or substance abuse, and help you explore your concerns, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, with the main goal of helping you to manage them better and improve your mental health. No issue is too big or too small, and counseling or psychotherapy can be sought out by anyone who feels like they need emotional support. They are trained to help you explore what is going on, gain a deeper insight into what issues you are facing, express yourself, listen to you and provide a safe, non-judgemental place for you to open up. As a result of counseling or psychotherapy, you should come away feeling like you have a confidential environment where you can discuss things you feel you cannot with anyone else, improve the relationships in your life, heal from your traumas, and learn to set boundaries and communicate better.

#2 Support groups

There are hundreds of different support groups all over the country that aim to support people with a variety of different mental health issues, from gambling or substance addiction, depression, anxiety, bipolar, OCD, and many more conditions. The excellent thing about support groups is that they are typically run by volunteers who have their own lived experience of what you are struggling with, or are in a carer/psychological roles. They are a space where you can be yourself, seek emotional support, and acceptance from others who are in similar situations to you. These groups are a great way to make social connections, build self-esteem and self-confidence and learn more about your specific condition, which can help you take more control of your life.

#3 Prescription medication

Medication, that has been prescribed by a professional doctor or psychiatrist, is another common treatment for mental health. In some cases, a mental health condition can be a result of a hormonal chemical imbalance that negatively impacts thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Medication can help to balance hormones better and improve the symptoms that you might be experiencing. Medication is used as a management tool, not a cure.

#4 Rehabilitation services

Mental health rehabilitation services are tailored towards people living with enduring illness or severe mental health conditions and are a great choice to immerse yourself in support and treatment. Treatment centers typically cover a range of conditions, such as substance abuse, depression, and eating disorders. They are usually based at a facility that you visit for a period, for example, 4 weeks, 3 months, or 6 months, depending on what you need. Treatment centers are filled with a wide range of support and treatments, to help people manage their mental health, live more independently, and improve their quality of life. Some of these include medication, daily therapy sessions, group support, and a wide range of activities to encourage social interaction and stimulation. There are different rehabilitation centers for different needs and have in mind people who need vital support and a lifeline to move forward with their wellbeing. You can find rehabilitation centers, such as Sunshine Behavioral Health to support you.

Mental health conditions are extremely common, all around the world. If you find yourself struggling it is important to know that there is hope, and it is a sign of strength to seek support. There are many different types of support, and the type of support that you need will depend on your condition and circumstances. Speak to a professional for advice on where you can get started with the right treatment for you.

8 Job Perks That Employees Totally Love

If employees were calling the shots, they’d ask for perks like million-dollar salaries and total freedom to do their work how they please. But as an owner, you need to be more realistic. After all, business resources are limited and you want to make some money at the end of the day.

In this post, we take a look at some perks that your employees will totally love that won’t do too much damage to your bottom line. Check them out below.

 Frequent Team Events

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Team events are simply opportunities for people who work together to get to know each other better. And while they sound simple, they can have a tremendous effect on morale. Outside of strict working environments, people learn much more about each other, discovering things that they never knew before.

Team events can also be a chance to do something different from sitting in the office all day, tapping away at computers. You could go to a restaurant, theme park or even a soccer game, depending on the type of people in your team.

Let People Go Home Early On Friday

By the time it gets to Friday afternoon, employees start feeling tired. After about 3 pm, not much work gets done. Usually, you’re better off giving employees this time to do what they want so that they come into the office feeling fresh (and more productive) on Monday morning.

Even allowing staff to go home 30 minutes early on Friday evening if business is slow (and paying for it), can create tremendous goodwill. Usually, you’ll find that employees are more enthusiastic about working for you (and get more done during the week) when you take this approach.

Offer Free Snacks

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Free snacks don’t cost much money, but they can make a big difference in how employees feel about working for you. Just make sure that they’re healthy so that you can prevent staff illness and improve concentration levels. While serving up cake every day might seem like a good idea, in the long-run, it’ll just cause weight gain and damage.

You can also improve your employee’s lives by providing them with free lunch. This way, they don’t have to pack meals themselves or go to expensive local food venues.

Let Them Work From Home

Employees want to work from home – at least a few days per week. The reason is simple: it’s just so much easier than travelling to the office every day. Plus, it means that employees lower their risk of disease and don’t have to interact with people they don’t like.

If you want to offer employees the opportunity to work from home, you’ll need to implement remote monitoring software. This simply tracks what employees do via an online portal, giving you full visibility of their working hours and output level.

Provide More Annual Leave

Annual leave – just the phrase itself fills many business leaders with dread. Ideally, colleagues would work for you non-stop, predictably, for years on end. But finding that type of person is rare indeed. Most people want to enjoy their lives, not just earn money.

While difficult for business leaders, offering more annual leave can be a great perk to offer employees. For instance, if you currently offer 4 weeks, you might bump this up to 5. Furthermore, you might request that your employees allow you to decide when they take a percentage of their time off each year, not them.

If you’re struggling to cover employees taking annual leave, use a shift scheduling solution. These can help you plan out who will be in the office and when, making it easier to plan.

Private Healthcare

Private healthcare is expensive. But, in many cases, employees prefer it to regular wages (particularly if they are in the higher tax brackets). To make your private healthcare package even more attractive to employees, it is a good idea to include some extra benefits in the healthcare plan to provide added value. Introducing a vision plan, such as Ok.Vision is sure to be a popular perk with your employees. Go for comprehensive coverage and then deduct an amount from your employee paychecks to pay for it. If existing workers don’t like this, trial it on new hires.

Wellness Coaching And Fitness

Employees don’t like sitting down in chairs all day, tapping away at their computer. They worry that it will damage their health, encourage weight gain, and lead to illness when they are older.

For this reason, many firms now offer wellness coaching in-house. The idea here is to help colleagues achieve healthy minds and bodies in just a few minutes per day. You can also look into providing a gym on-site or, perhaps, even bringing more standing desks into the office.

Personal Development

Lastly, you might want to consider offering employees personal development training to help them upgrade their skills. Study after study shows that this perk is more important to employees than the amount of money that they get in their monthly paychecks.

The reason for this is simple: modern employees have grandiose expectations. Many believe that they have what it takes to be at the top of business, in charge of hundreds of employees. Training gives them the belief that you’re helping them get there, encouraging them to stick around.

Of course, not everyone can be a top business leader. But personal development is one of those job perks that comes back to benefit employers. Not only are colleagues much more likely to stick around (boosting your retention rates), but they also become more productive as well. Personal development provides them with valuable skills that they can then use to improve their overall output over time, making them better value for you.

Personal development can take various forms. You might, for instance, include training courses and events in their basic remuneration package. You can also hire outside facilitators or even put them through college in some cases, if you believe that the investment is worth it.

Wrapping Up

As we have seen, employees want more than just money. They want other things that improve their quality of life.

Fortunately, you don’t need to be a Fortune 500 company to offer these perks. In fact, virtually any profitable business can provide them. It just requires targeting your perks towards the things that your colleagues actually want.

Promising Investment Options For The Future

One of the secrets to success in the investment world is to see the future and choose the best options that will grow and generate a great deal of wealth. We are about to enter a new dimension of digital technology thanks to AI and that will impact every sector in either a positive or negative way. We asked our panel of investment experts about the coming few years and these are the tips they offer.

 

• Go With Gold - The global economy has taken a massive hit from the effects of the pandemic and with new variants popping up everywhere, investors are getting cold feet and dumping their stocks, shares and currency to move into gold bullion, at least until things even out. You only have to look at gold’s performance since the pandemic started to see how steady its growth is. As more investors make the switch, the demand will increase, which sends the spot price up.

• Silver For Tech - The demand for silver is rising and you can get this precious metal from silver bullion Adelaide dealer City Gold Bullion, among other reputable dealers around the world which you can find through Google search. Once you register and form a business relationship, you can buy and sell at the click of a mouse, thanks to their secure online connection. There is a new generation of digital equipment on the horizon and silver is a necessary component, plus there is a trend for silver jewellery, which also sends the price up.

• Real Estate Rules - The surface area of the planet isn’t getting any bigger and with almost 9 billion people, land prices are always going to perform well. Rental properties are a favourite for many investors and that is all about location. If you buy in new suburbs, you can ask top dollar rent and see a spike in the value of the property as the area develops.

• Tech Startups - If you can pick a winner at the very early stages and buy into the business, you can expect to make a killing. Of course, the trick is knowing which organisation to invest with and signing up with a few tech forums would give you some information on new startups in the tech sector. There will be some ground-breaking developments across many sectors, as AI takes over and shows us things we could never have created. The Internet of Things is on the horizon and powered by 5G, this device network will transform how we do things and investing in a small tech business could be a very good move.

The global economy has been impacted by COVID-19 and with new strains emerging, now is the time to sell those shares and buy gold; you’ll be very glad that you did! Precious metals look like a good short- and long-term bet, as they are needed in emerging technology and with a Google search you can find a local bullion dealer who has everything you need and through your connection, you can trade in an instant.

How To Run A Successful Business Without Experience

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Do you have a brilliant business idea floating around in your mind that you can’t seem to shift? If so, you may be toying with the idea of transforming your idea into a fully functional business. At this point, many would-be entrepreneurs pause and find ways to talk themselves out of taking the plunge and launching a business. There are many reasons people are reluctant to run a business, and one of the most common reasons is fear of failure, especially if they have no previous business experience. There is a big difference between getting paid a salary to complete a job and being in charge of the entire process yourself. But, this lack of experience does not need to hold you back; in fact, you could be more than capable of running a business, even if you have never done so before.

Every entrepreneur starts somewhere, and with the right approach, you can ensure that your business is a success. Take a look at the tips below to discover ways that you can launch a successful business even without experience:

Don’t Start Without a Plan

A business plan is an essential document for every business, but when you are launching your first business, the importance of a strong plan cannot be overstated. Following a business plan template and establishing precisely how you will handle every aspect of your venture is the best way to ensure your plans are based on a fully-formed idea. Carefully considering each aspect of your idea will ensure you have not missed any crucial details that could impact your business’s success in either the short or long term.

Know Your Numbers

Monitoring your business’s finances carefully is essential to avoid significant money issues. Business finances can be complicated, and you may be concerned with how to manage this aspect of your business. The first step that every entrepreneur needs to take is to decide how to finance their new business. You need to be sure you have the financial backing required to get your idea off the ground and avoid any nasty surprises. Will you take out a loan? Or, maybe you will self-finance the business like Aaron Riley Cannabis? Weighing up which one of these options best suits your business and how it will be structured is a crucial consideration.

After securing financing, you will need to monitor your business’s financial performance continually. Sending out invoices for completed work promptly and ensuring that your customers pay on time is vital to keeping your cash flow healthy.

Carry Out Research

While your business is your focus, it is also essential to keep a close eye on your competitors and the industry in general. Being aware of any upcoming trends and how your competitors are performing will help you see how your own business compares and enable you to make any necessary changes. Staying a step ahead of the competition is always essential, and careful research is one of the best ways to ensure this happens.

Running A Business In the Healthcare Industry: 3 Steps to Success

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Before you start any business, whether it’s in the healthcare industry or not, there are a lot of things you need to consider. You need to make sure that it’s the right move for you, as running a business is a major part of your lifestyle. You don’t have the luxury of being an employee anymore, because your business is intertwined with the rest of your life.

If you’re already running a business, you likely know this by now. But it’s easy to get lost and overwhelmed. Maybe you’re keeping your head above water, but you aren’t able to grow your business and get to the point where you’re comfortable and secure in your position. If this is the case, or if you simply want to continue developing your business, then read on.

1. Know Your Patients

Your patients are your primary customer base, and depending on what your business specializes in, you will likely have certain types of patients who crop up more often than not. Sometimes your target patients are easy to identify, a pediatrician will need to mainly cater to children and parents, but in any case, a niche should become obvious.

If you know your patients and their needs, then you can better cater to them. You should focus on providing exemplary service. Excellent service might not guarantee success for your business, but poor service may well guarantee failure, especially when you’re dealing with people’s health and lives.

For example, if some of your patients use drugs (either prescribed or illicit), then you will need to know exactly what’s in their system before prescribing anything that might react with it. Brad Schaeffer with Medcomp can provide accurate clinical urine drug testing so that you can ensure that your patients are safe. As well as potentially saving lives, good service also helps you to develop a good reputation.

2. Develop A Trusted Brand

This reputation plays a part when it comes to developing your brand. Companies develop brands so that customers and clients can easily identify them and are more likely to think of them. After all, when you want a product or service, you’re more likely to use a brand that you recognize and remember, rather than something that doesn’t stick in your mind.

Another reason to get to know your client base is so that you can target your brand to appeal to them. A pediatrician’s practice will have very different branding to a care home specializing in treating the elderly, for example.

As well as developing your reputation and solidifying your brand through good reviews and client relationships, you should also concentrate on your online presence.

3. Grow Your Online Presence

One of the most important steps to making your business known and accessible is developing an online presence. This is true of any sector, from healthcare to accounting and anything in between.

This online presence will likely include a well-designed and user-friendly website for your clients to make appointments. But a social media presence will also help you to connect with your clients and introduce them to your business.

4 Clever Strategies To Get More Sleep

If you want more sleep, of better quality, keep reading the suggestions below.

Commit to a sleep routine

I know, I know having a bedtime is something that we all rallied against as children. Yet there is much wisdom in sticking to roughly the same routine each night. Indeed, by having a set bedtime our bodies know when to get tired, and when to be awake, which can help us in all areas of our lives.

Of course, being so rigid that you cause yourself stress when you aren't asleep at 10.01 pm isn't a good idea either. Instead focus on doing the right actions before getting into bed for around 10, such as staying off your devices, listening to soothing music, and even having a bath.

Make sure you have no medical issues that impact sleep

Another way to maximize the amount and quality of sleep you get every night is to get checked by an ENT specialist for any issues. This is because an ENT specialist will focus on ear, nose, and throat issues, one of which is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be caused by an obstruction in the throat that means breathing stops for very short periods in the night. In turn, this means your body will constantly be waking up to make sure you can breathe and this will interfere with the quality of your sleep, not to mention the dangers involved in leaving this condition untreated. To that end, if you are worried that you may have sleep apnea, getting it checked by a professional is the best course of action.

Eat the right foods (& avoid the wrong foods)

You probably already know that the foods we eat affect how we feel and the way our bodies function. However, what many people don't realise is that there are some kinds of foods that are amazing for promoting good sleep.

In particular, food such as lean turkey, chicken, and cottage cheese can be helpful before bedtime because they contain lots of protein. This activates the digestive system, drawing blood and energy from other parts of the body and so helping us to feel more sleepy. Additionally, pumpkins seeds can be helpful, as they contain vital chemicals like serotonin and melatonin which are crucial for the promotion of sleep.

However, just as eating the right things in the evening can help promote sleep, consuming the wrong things can create problems. That is why it's best to steer clear of caffeinated drinks, sugar, and too much-saturated fat, else you may find nodding off even more challenging than usual.

Create the right environment for sleep

Life is hectic these days, and we have access to bright lights, and the world of the internet and social media 24/7. However, to get as much quality sleep as possible we must create an environment that is conducive to rest. With that in mind, be sure to invest in some blackout curtains, and decent sheets. A good supportive mattress is also a good idea. Be sure to choose one that best suits the position that you sleep in.

Last, of all, don't forget to keep your bedroom clutter-free and make the bed each day. It's just a small thing but it will make a big difference to how well you sleep.

3 Reasons To Go Easy On The Booze This Christmas

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Christmas is coming, there’s snow forecast, and everything is getting completely out of control. Tis the season to be happy and to share the joy with one and all. It’s also the season where alcohol sales skyrocket and we all get a little tipsy...all of the time.

Without wanting to come across like a spoilsport, maybe this Christmas should be one where you go easy on the booze. You don’t have to do a dry December, but there are some fairly compelling reasons to maybe only have one glass rather than five on Christmas Day.

It’s not good for your health

Most people start the festive drinking as soon as Thanksgiving is over, going all the way through to the New Year. Indeed, the week commencing Christmas and New Year is one that’s full of enough alcohol to open a brewery. What a lot of us don’t realize is that we’re actually binge drinking during this period. Now, this is not good for your health at all, because you fill your body with too much alcohol in too short of a time.

Consequently, you open the door to a host of potential health problems. At the lower end of the scale, you could put on some weight. Getting more serious, you may suffer from alcohol poisoning if you go overboard on one day. Even worse, your excessive alcohol consumption can be linked to colon cancer, meaning you might end up needing surgery and ostomy supplies to get rid of it. I’m not saying you absolutely will get ill over Christmas if you drink, but the sheer amount you consume won’t be good for your health.

You get to enjoy the holiday season

Going easy on the booze will mean you have fewer hangovers over the festive period. As a result, you’re able to actually enjoy the holiday season properly. If you have kids, it means you aren’t in a bad mood with a throbbing headache on Boxing Day. You can actually wake up early and make the most of your time off.

When we drink too much, we basically lose days to hangovers, meaning we miss out on all the festive cheer. Plus, we miss out on some of the great food too, as our hangovers have given us terrible acid reflux that puts us off all food.

You’ll save a lot of money

Alcohol is expensive. Like, it’s weirdly expensive in comparison to other things. People can spend hundreds of dollars on alcohol over Christmas, which is just absurd when you think about it. We’re all probably guilty of doing it, so maybe this year could be different? You can save money, putting it towards other things that are more beneficial for the rest of your family.

Again, I don’t want to come across as the biggest Scrooge on the planet! Having a little bit of booze is part of what makes Christmas special. It’s just that perhaps it’s time to cut down on your usual drinking for this year. Don’t go over the top, having a house full of different spirits and alcoholic beverages. Stick to a glass or two with your dinner or while you sit down and watch Christmas films with the family.