Everyone wants to enjoy a happy, successful life, but it can often seem like an elusive and difficult thing to achieve. If you feel like there are far too many obstacles in the way of enjoying the life that you hope for, read on for some practical and useful pointers about how to plan ahead for a better future.

Define your personal values

While we all want to enjoy a successful life, the definition of success will vary between each person. Everyone will have a unique set of personal values, experiences and beliefs that will determine what success means for them. Trying to live a successful life shaped by someone else’s values will only leave you feeling unhappy and dissatisfied in the long term, so take time to consider what is important to you.

By having a clear idea of the values and priorities in your life, you can then take the next step to plan ahead and build the kind of future you want.

Plan actionable steps

Another major stumbling block for people trying to build a happier life for themselves is being able to decide what to do. While you might have worked out the kind of life you’d like to have, getting there is the hard part.

In order to do this, it’s essential to have a clear set of steps and actions that you can implement every day. Small actions done with consistency are far more effective than over-ambitious objectives that you are unable to meet. Make a clear plan for the things you may need to do in order to get where you want. For instance, if having a great car is an important part of your future, then doing research into what you need to do to make this possible will be essential. Check out this great article from Rapid Cash Title Loans to help you get started with some ideas.

Use a system to help you plan

Once you have your goals and the steps you need to implement defined, it’s time to create a system that you can stick to in order to get there. There are many ways to do this, but the key thing is to avoid keeping it all in your head. While you might feel like you have it all under control, it’s easy to forget steps or make excuses when you’re not feeling motivated.

You may like to have a physical calendar or journal where you can set out the steps you need to carry out and when, as well as anticipate goals along the way. Another alternative is to create a visual mood board that you can have as a reminder in front of you, setting out a picture of where you’d like to be in the future. However you do it, by making a clear system that you can work with, you will be able to see that your goals really are possible to achieve.

 

Are you planning to relocate to a new house? Moving to a new house is never an easy task – especially if you have no plan. The real hassle is in moving your belongings, and you just wish you could magically move everything at once. However, all you need for a successful house move is a plan – and this is where most people go wrong. Below is a guide plus some tips to make sure your home relocation is successful. Take a look.

• Moving your belongings to the new house

• Plan and organize everything upfront

Hire a removal company

As much as you will want to minimize costs by doing everything yourself, hiring an experienced company has its benefits. First and best of all, everything is done professionally, from packing to loading to traveling to unloading. If you choose to do it yourself, it may take you days or even weeks to pack your belongings, depending on how many you have. What’s more, such companies are skilled in handling anything – valuables, heavy, or delicate. You won’t even lift a sofa on your own.

Another advantage of hiring a moving company is that they provide insurance for their services. This means they are liable for any loss or damage of any of your property during the move. However, despite the many benefits of hiring a moving company, some people may still want to move without hiring one -well they all have their reasons. If you plan on doing so, then you will at least need to hire vehicle transport from Acertus to move your car(s).

Declutter your belongings

You should understand that the more belongings you have, the more you will pay for your house move and the longer it will take to move into your new house. But why carry something that you aren’t using or won’t need in your new house? So, before the moving company arrives to pack your belongings, go through them, and sort out things that are of no use. You should take your time on this so that you don’t throw away something that could be valuable or useful.

Also, you will need a plan for sorting out and decluttering your belongings – especially if you have a bigger house with many things. You should tackle each room independently to avoid confusion. Also, have some three boxes for things you need, those you’ll resell, and those you’ll donate. The process is tiresome and time-consuming so you will need a helping hand, maybe from friends or family. Once you have them, you can either sell them online to get extra cash or donate to a charity

Give a notification

You don’t want your neighbors to wake up one morning only to find you gone or to see you moving things without knowing where you are heading – it’s not a good neighborhood. At least give them goodbye and let them know where you are relocating to. Again, if you live in rentals, don’t forget to notify your landlord or landlady of your move. Lastly, you must inform your utility providers as well as your insurers and banks, of your move and your new address if need be.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow and we’re all being forced to stay indoors to protect our health and that of those around us, it can be difficult to remain positive and motivated without fun times to look forward to.

Having been in lockdown for several months with no sign of the situation improving, you may be struggling to even get out of bed in the morning to face the day ahead, but rest assured, you’re not alone. In this guide, we’re going to provide a list of some useful tips on how you can stay motivated during the lockdown and make the most of the experience:

Stay connected with others around you

While you may not be able to physically see your loved ones, staying in close contact is essential for your mental health and wellbeing. When you’re feeling low, it’s easy to become introverted and shy away from social contact, however, having a short conversation with a close friend or family member each day can really lift your spirits. Thanks to the development of technology, it’s now easier than ever to stay in touch with friends and family from the comfort of your own home via video call.

Find a purpose

One of the main reasons why you may be lacking motivation during lockdown is because you don’t have a purpose to get up in the morning and this may ring even truer if you have recently been made redundant from your job. As a result, you need to give yourself a sense of purpose throughout this challenging time. If you have goals in mind, now would be the time to work on them, due to having so much time on your hands.

Alternatively, you could make use of your time by helping those in need. This may be by checking in on the elderly in the neighborhood to ensure they have all they need, volunteering or even starting up a fundraising campaign for a charity you’re passionate about. There are many fundraising ideas you can consider during lockdown such as online bingo night, knitting, walks or runs and even Fundraising Bricks.

Go offline and get outside

As there is very little to do while in lockdown, now is your opportunity to switch off from technology and enjoy the great outdoors. Spending time out in nature has been proven by researchers to improve mental health and wellbeing, which in turn will keep your stress levels down and can help you feel more motivated.

Get organized

While you may feel out of control as a result of the pandemic, focus on things you can control, such as your daily routine and goal-setting to help you retain motivation and a sense of normality in your life. If you didn’t have any goals in mind previously, now is your chance to set new ones and come up with a plan of how you’re going to achieve them. You could carry this out by creating a weekly plan noting small steps on how you intend to achieve these goals in the months ahead.

You consider your dog to be a part of your family. In fact, your dog may be considered a vital family member. Whenever there are things that your dog achieves, a lot of people within the family may become happy too. The dog may also feel agitated and stressed when the rest of the family is stressed out.

Moving to a new location can be one of the things that you dread. Well, guess what? This is something that your dog may dislike as well. There are a lot of vehicles that are not designed to transport dogs. This can be a problem especially when you want to keep your dog safe and comfortable.

Some Possible Dangers of Transporting Dogs

There are certain things that may happen when you transport dogs. The possibility that you are going to hurt them is always a possibility. You need to be familiar with the possible dangers so that you can avoid them:

• Your dog may poke its head out of the window. There is a big chance that there are also going to be other cars or motorcycles that may hit your dog by mistake.
• The seatbelt available in your car will not be enough to keep your dog in a safe spot. Purchasing a safety harness can help solve this problem.
• There is also a chance that your dog will jump out.

There are so many dangers that may happen and as much as possible, you would like to avoid the possibility that your dog will experience these things.

Putting Your Dog in a Crate

This is one of the things that you can do to ensure that your dog will stay safe. Putting your dog in a crate can help your dog feel more relaxed. If you would drive carefully enough, it may be comfortable enough for your dog to sleep in during the whole trip. You can just imagine how peaceful this can be not only for your dog but also for you.

Just remember these things:

• Choose a crate that will ensure that your dog will fit properly.
• You can also place the crate somewhere wherein you know that your dog will be more comfortable.
• Cover the crate with the right blanket so that the dog will feel more relaxed inside.

Plenty of Stops Will Help

Your dog may need to get a feel of the place especially as you are moving towards your new location. By having plenty of stops, you can make your dog feel more comfortable. This can also avoid possible accidents that may happen inside the car. Some would also opt to hire companies that can offer a dog transport service. Just remember that in some cases, dogs may become agitated when they are separated from their owners.

It is advisable that you will take your dog on shorter trips first before doing the long trip. Dogs will have a tendency to experience motion sickness. To keep your dog comfortable, you have to make sure that they are used to traveling first. Some will start bringing their dogs with them while they are still puppies. If you get an adult dog, it is never too late to make them start being used to traveling.

 

If you’re raising children the chances are that you’ve heard a lot of conflicting information about whether you should be allowing them to play video games, and if so how long you should be allowing them to play video games for.

The question at the root of all of this well-meaning advice, is: Are video games bad for you? As you might expect, there isn’t a black-and-white answer to this question.

Positive impacts

There are some positive side effects that can be experienced in people who play a lot of video games. Studies have shown that gamers may develop an increased ability to concentrate, and the ability to keep their focus on one specific thing while tuning out everything else that is going on around them.

There is also some evidence to suggest that long-term gamers may experience hippocampal growth, and become much more proficient at identifying visual-spatial relationships.

Stress levels

There’s no doubt that video games can raise your stress levels. If you’re playing a game where you’re trying to escape from someone who is trying to kill you, you’ll definitely feel stress.

However, a 2019 study showed that although people playing first-person shooter games did experience variances in their heart rate and emotional responses while playing games their blood pressure didn’t alter, which suggests that their bodies were not perceiving the danger in the games as a physical threat. If you’re interested in the relationship between stress enduced by video games, you can read more about it here.

Physical health

Video games themselves aren’t the thing that is harmful, it’s the fact that in order to play video games you’re generally sitting down for long periods of time which is not good for you. Long sedentary periods mean a higher risk of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

If your child wants to play video games (or if you do for that matter) then this is probably fine, but be sure to encourage them to get up and move about every so often to break up their gaming session, ideally outside.

Social Skills

The other problem with video games is that they are a solitary activity. If someone is spending all day inside playing a game, particularly during their formative years, they are not socializing with their peers which can hamper their social development and make it much more difficult for them to make friends.

It’s a good idea to intersperse gaming time with social interaction time, or to play cooperative games where you can socialize and game at the same time.

Video Game Addiction

Video games are highly stimulating, which means that they can become addictive for some people. Video game addiction is becoming more prevalent in the West. The signs of video game addiction are:

• Playing for increased amounts of time.
• Thinking about gaming while doing other things.
• Lying to conceal the amount of time spent gaming.
• Gaming to escape real life problems, or mental health issues like anxiety or depression.
• Feeling irritable if trying to cut down on gaming.

You can read more about video game addiction, how to prevent it and what to do if you think you or a loved one is addicted to video games on Web MD.

 

Saving money is one of those topics that everyone considers themselves knowledgeable on, but the truth is that very few of us actually understand the implications behind doing it properly. There are many caveats to successfully saving up money over time, and if you’re not careful, you can easily find yourself stuck without any apparent progress. And that can eventually lead to frustration and the thought of just giving up and going back to your old lifestyle.

To help you get started, here are some of the most common misconceptions you might hear about the ordeal of saving money.

You Have to Sacrifice a Lot

Sure, you’ll have to cut some corners here and there. But saving money doesn’t have to feel like a huge sacrifice. In most cases, a careful look through your finances is going to reveal various opportunities to save money without compromising your quality of life in any way. If you learn how to shop more efficiently and take better care of your expensive habits, things can change significantly.

Change Can Happen Overnight

One of the frustrating parts of getting your finances in order and starting to save is that progress can seem very slow at first. But there’s no simple way to just accelerate the process. You have to be patient, track your progress over time, and adjust your course if you see that you’re not moving in the right direction.

Discounts Are Not Worth It

Many people scoff at the idea of scouting for discounts, considering it to be a waste of time. The truth is that it can indeed be a bit wasteful if you approach it the wrong way. But if you set aside some time for comparing deals and searching for coupons, this can make your shopping significantly easier and cheaper. Sites like goodshop.com can be invaluable for finding the best coupons and other deals, so make a list of such resources and try to go through them on a regular basis.

Cheaper Is Better

Some obsess over the idea of finding the cheapest deal on everything. But this can be a very harmful attitude in the long run. For some types of products, the best option with regards to your finances is to spend a little extra and get something of a higher quality. This is especially true for more expensive purchases like clothes and appliances. Cheaper deals tend to give out much faster than their higher-priced counterparts, making them actually costlier in the long run.

You Can Take Out a New Loan to Bridge the Gap

If you have financial problems preventing you from even thinking about saving in the first place, you should not jump at the idea of taking out a loan straight away. Sure, it can seem like an easy way out, but the truth is that it’s a trap that can start to pile up very quickly over time. Don’t let that happen, and try to clear out your situation with your own resources at first.

If you are determined to see this through, you’ll sooner or later find yourself in a better standing, and your situation will keep improving. But remember that you have to keep up the work in the long term as well, because you can’t allow yourself to slip back into your old habits.

 

Work is an important element in most people’s lives. If you work full-time, you will be working around 40 hours every week. Since there are 168 hours in a week, and, on average, 40 hours are going to be spent sleeping, that leaves 88 hours (including the weekend) for yourself. However, some of those 88 hours are going to be spent commuting if you work outside of the home, so your free time dwindles even more.

This is why it’s so important for everyone to have a good work life balance. If you are working half the week and at home the rest, and you need to spend time with your family, friends, on your hobbies, as well as just relaxing, it can get tough, and that’s without factoring in shifts, overtime, or work related stress.

Creating the right work life balance is crucial for your mental health and your wellbeing. Here are some ways it can be done.

Make a Plan

You already know how long you need to set aside for work (including traveling time and breaks). You know how much sleep you need to get to function at your best. So how much time do you have left? This is your free time. You need to make a good plan as to how you’re intending to spend this free time and then you need to stick to that plan otherwise you’ll begin to get more stressed.

Taking each day separately, look at what needs to be done and work out the best time to do it. It may sound simple, and that’s because it is. Many people start to get overwhelmed when they think of everything they need to do in one shot. Breaking it down into smaller tasks and separating each day to focus on every element will make it less stressful, easier, and more likely you’ll get everything done. By the time the weekend comes, you can feel satisfied at how much you completed during the week.

Combine What You Can

In the past multitasking was seen as a good thing, and something we needed to aim for. Recent studies have shown this to be false, and instead it is far better to focus on one task and complete it before moving onto the next. However, sometimes it is possible to combine two tasks into one. This is not the same as multitasking, and it is a great time saver, allowing you to get more done and have more free time.

You might need to spend some time searching for a gift for a loved one, for example. You might also need to spend some time looking for a reward for an employee, or a thank you for a big client. Minimize your search time by choosing something that will suit both people and buying two, such as a men’s scent box or a gift card. It was a job that needed to be done anyway, and you’ve halved the time it would have taken to find two different gifts.

Say No

Saying no is difficult for a lot of people. No one wants to upset or inconvenience others, and it’s good to be able to help people, plus saying no just feels awkward. Therefore, saying yes is the easier option.

Unfortunately, always saying yes when asked to do something means you will miss out on your own free time. If you genuinely can help, and you want to and it won’t stop you from carrying out your own plans, then of course you should. If, however, it would be better to say no for your own sake, this is what you’ll need to do. It may take practice, but it will be worth it.

 

During the pandemic, you may be interested in taking up a new hobby. With extra time on your hands, you can learn about anything during that hour you’d usually spend commuting to and from work. Some people chose the crafty route. Having something physical to interact with can be very rewarding. While other people chose a more intellectual journey by taking classes from one of the many online offerings, like Masterclass.

If you still haven’t found your new hobby, why not find one that marries the hands-on nature of crafting and the intellectual side of classes? You can do both by being a rock and mineral collector. In order to get you started, here are a few points to take into consideration.

Will you need extra space?

Initially, you’ll be able to display your collection easily within the confines of your home. Your partner or spouse might even enjoy having a beautiful bit of the outdoors inside. However, when your collection really starts to take off and grow, you probably won’t be able to keep tubs and drawers full of rocks and minerals in your crawlspace anymore. You don’t want to have to limit your collecting, because the whole point is to have a wide amount of samples to learn from. In order to keep your spouse from banning any more rocks inside your home, all you really need is a storage unit.

A storage unit will give you the flexibility you need to collect as much as you want. You’ll have easy access any time you want to look at or display one of your findings or purchases. Take into consideration how big your collection is right now, and think about how much you’re willing to grow it to figure out how much square footage you’ll need in a storage unit? Are any of your rocks or minerals sensitive to temperature? You may need a certain type of storage unit and that’s temperature controlled. A quick search on the Internet for “best storage units near me” should yield you exactly what you’re looking for.

Where’s your community?

Half the fun of collecting is communicating with and learning from other enthusiasts. You can learn a lot from the people around you, and maybe even teach them a thing or two once you’ve been immersed in the hobby for a while. You don’t even have to go to a Gem, Mineral, Fossil, and Jewelry show to meet incredible people in this field. Online resources work just as well.

A name in the rock and mineral community that you won’t want to forget is Howard Fensterman. Howard Fensterman has a fun and fascinating website where you can learn about your hobby and passion. Ever wanted to know some fascinating facts about diamonds? Want to know why the hubbub surrounding Morganite? Fensterman walks you through in fun and accessible blog posts that will get you and your friends talking and thinking.

Is collecting rocks and minerals popular?

According to an article in Forbes, rock and mineral collecting has been around since ancient times, which means you’re in great company. Being a rock and mineral collector opens many doors when it comes to places you’ll want to visit. Always wanted to go to Maine? Now, you have a specific reason to go with the recent opening of the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum.

You’ll be strolling the Natural History Museum at the Smithsonian in absolute heaven, because you’ll truly understand the value and background of each specimen. Once the world is safer to go out in, you may want to consider volunteering at your local museum, so you can get others interested in your new hobby.

 

Dogs are wonderful animals that bring with them a lot of joy and companionship. Whether you are a long time pet owner or searching for a dog without prior knowledge or experience, there are certain things that you should understand about a few specific breeds that require a lot more care and attention than your average canine companion. Here are seven unique breeds that you should be aware of before you make such a long term commitment.

Huskies

Huskies are a type of dog breed that requires special attention and care for a wide variety of reasons. If their requirements for care are not met, you will have to deal with some very loud barking and yelling. Huskies are cold-climate dogs, so this means that their environment needs to be a lot colder than normal. Their mains and fur are very thick, which can lead to overheating. If you do happen to adopt, purchase, or own a husky in a warmer climate, you need to accommodate the needs of these dogs and their comfort levels. Running constant air conditioning units and periodic ice baths are good habits for a household that will be home to a husky. Housing a husky will be much easier for those that live in a suitable climate, and if you don’t, raising them will require more attention and care.

Pitbulls

Pitbulls have been long seen as a scary breed of dogs, often associated with difficulty for caring. There is a half-truth to this statement, as they are dogs that can be difficult to care for and manage if not treated properly, but they are wrongfully labeled as aggressive and scary. In fact, pit bulls are very loving, caring, and social dogs, often wanting to play and interact with strangers if raised in a caring environment.

The difficulties raising them come from those same personality traits as their social demeanor requires a lot of attention and they are a very active breed. They are dogs that also have protective tendencies and with such, need to be raised accordingly so as not to get overly possessive or territorial. Not providing these dogs with the attention they crave can have adverse effects and result in maladjusted pets.

Border Collie

Many dog breeds that require a greater deal of attention and care are typically dogs that have high amounts of energy. Border Collies tend to fall in this group of high energy and active dogs. These dogs have a natural desire to work and herd, and if not available on a farm with animals, that energy spills over to other pets, children, toys, and humans. For dog owners that consider this breed, you need to consider how much time and energy you are able to dedicate to these pets as they will need as many activities to keep them preoccupied.

Terriers

Terriers are dogs that have a lot more energy than you would find in a small breed. Their energy levels can compare to that of much larger counterparts. Despite their small size, Brandon Johnson with Puppy Joy says, Boston Terriers need plenty of room to run and a lot of exercise to help curb their high energy levels. They can be good dogs that are suitable for small living spaces such as apartments or condominiums, but the consistent and frequent outdoor time to help them relax is necessary.

Cane Corso

Cane Corso dogs are part of the mastiff family of dogs. These are much larger dogs that have wonderful traits such as confidence and protection. However, with such a big dog, they require a lot of attention not only to feed and provide activity but also to teach as they can be overbearing for those that are not willing to put in the right amount of energy, especially early on in their developmental years. Cane Corso dogs are not recommended for first-time dog owners. As Cane Corsos age and grow, their living space needs to be accommodated for. They are powerful and muscular dogs, and they need to be well trained, otherwise, their size alone can be problematic to deal with. They need

Great Dane

Great Danes are very large dogs. Being a large dog, they will consume a lot of food. They are not as energetic as other dog breeds so you will be able to relax more, but there are other care needs that need to be considered with Great Danes.

As mentioned with their size, these dogs will consume a lot of food daily and will ultimately need financial stability in order to properly care for. Additionally, Danes are susceptible to many medical complications, much more than other breeds. This will mean more care and money are required if you have to care for a Great Dane that gets sick. Of course, if you can afford a great Dane, they will provide you with a loving pet that loves to cuddle on your couch or bed.

Pugs

Pugs are cute and adorable dogs that don’t require too much care in terms of active living and exercise or require much in terms of living area. The special care and attention that they need to come in the form of medical attention. Pugs sport a tiny, cute, and squished face. This is an aesthetic that, although many owners love, does not come without issues. They tend to have respiratory and breathing issues, which also translate to other problems such as gastrointestinal trouble. Pugs are adorable small dogs, suitable for apartments and condominiums, or people that don’t have as much energy or time for activities and exercise with their pets but require a lot of medical attention.

As intimidating as it is to learn about certain breeds that need a large amount of care and attention, every pet will require a certain degree of responsibility. Owning and caring for a pet is no easy task, but as you spend more time with your furry friend, you will understand that the love and care these dogs give you is more than enough for the energy and attention that you need to provide them.

 

The one-night stand and hookup trend is an apocalypse that has taken millennials by storm. From workplaces to colleges, young people want to engage in casual relationships, ideally for sexual benefits without any strings attached.

Technology has fueled this trend by creating an easy way to meet online and hook up. Although it is easy to meet through the ever-growing social media platforms, one-night stand and hookup apps are the best since they are highly customized for the purpose of meeting for casual dating.

Understanding One-Night Stand and Hookup Apps

The use of technology for dating started a couple of decades ago. It started with websites that created a platform where people could create a profile for others to see. With this, they can also see other peoples’ profiles. From this, people with similar interests can hence meet.

All of these websites started to realize the need for creating mobile apps replicating the same services as the website. Apps exclusively for mobile phones and tablets are more popular since most people use their smartphones more than other computerized devices.

Common One-Night Stand and Hookup Apps

· Tinder – What is this list without Tinder? It has been the king of all casual dating apps for many years. Although many other apps have come up to give Tinder a tight competition, it still dominates a client base of over 50 million users worldwide. The app is customized to detect your location and hook you up with others for casual sex or any other arrangement that you want.

· Happymatches – If you are looking for a versatile app that includes one-night stand and hookups, the Happymatches app is the right platform for you. It has an elegant layout with facial recognition and thousands of members waiting to date you. As such, you will enjoy an easy and secure platform for your casual dating needs.

· Zoosk – This app is as popular as Tinder on the current online dating platforms. If you want a simple app to browse local singles, one-night stands, and people who are looking for hookups, this is the best app to try. It is very common among college students and youngsters who are not interested in strings attached relationships.

· Happn – This list is not complete with mentioning Happn, which has turned out to be very popular. As soon as you download it, you will get an opportunity to browse hundreds of local hookups near your home or workplace. Just like all other popular dating apps, it is compatible with both Android and iOS mobile phone platforms.

How to Use One-Night Stand and Hookup Apps

Most of these apps are free, but if you want premium services, you can go for paid apps. Most popular free apps offer you all basic services and allow you to enjoy thousands of one-night stand and hookup dates. However, one must remain cautious to avoid dating people with malicious intentions like stealing from you, harming you, or blackmailing you.

Final Word

Choose your one-night stand and hookup app well. Ensure that you know what you want and that the app you choose offers this. Take your sweet time to research more about each of the discussed app. This way, you will have all you want.