Is Back to School the Right Time for a Career Change?
If you spent most of the summer vacationing with your kids, keeping them entertained during the weekend, and had little time to think about your own career and future, chances are that you might need a break from the routine and start thinking about your long term career choices. Whether you are stuck in a dead end job or would like to speed up your career progression, once the kids are settled back into their own routine, you are likely to have more time to think things through. Below you will find a few tips on how to analyze your situation.
Image via Public Domain Pictures
Consider Your Free Time
One of the main mistakes people make when creating plans for the future is that they don’t consider their limitations. If you have only five hours free during the week, you will not be able to manage building a business and going back to college, as well as looking after the kids. Even after the kids go back to school, you will have to give them a lift and stay home at night. You need to be realistic when it comes to time commitments and make sure that you don’t have to give up your plans before you would succeed.
Explore Child Care Options
Image via Ellsworth Air Force Base
If you would like to free up time and focus more on your career development, you will have to look for after school clubs or child care services, so you can keep studying without distractions. If you have older kids, you can get them to look after the little ones and learn to be responsible and helping you out.
Look for Education Programs with Flexible Schedule
If you have a young family, chances are that you will need a program that gives you the flexibility you need. After all, kids get sick, they need to go to the doctor, they have soccer practice, and dentist appointments. Whether you are looking for a public safety degree or would like to advance your admin skills, set up your business, or learn a new language, you will find plenty of online courses that will help you work towards your goal.
Set Measurable Goals
To succeed with your learning and career progression, it is important that you set measurable goals and break down the larger project into smaller, manageable tasks. Do your research and find out which qualifications you need to better your career and how you can get that promotion. Sit down with your supervisor and create a plan together, crafting a detailed roadmap to success. This way, you can stay focused on what you would like to achieve during this school year and how you can improve your finances, career options, and work life balance.
The beginning of the school year is often stressful for parents. Once kids have settled down into their routines, however, you can start focusing on your own needs and aspirations a bit more and work on your career progression plan to improve your finances and family life.
Time to Train – 5 Secrets to Keeping Fit for the Time Poor
Pic Credit: Photo by Mark Adriane on Unsplash
Meetings, deadlines, parental responsibilities, cooking, attending social engagements – our lives have become increasingly chaotic. After battling it out with commitments, exercise can often be relegated to the last thing on our minds. This lack of physical activity leads to reduced stamina, dull skin, and flabby arms and tummy, among problems. Research shows that regular exercising – even for 20 minutes – not only helps us stay physically fit but also improves our emotional and mental well being. Physical activity need not be time-consuming, and with some research and creative thinking, exercises can comfortably fit into our busy lifestyles. Here are: five secrets to staying fit for the time poor.
Get A Personal Trainer
It may seem like yet another commitment to add to the list, but investing in a personal trainer will get you motivated to commit to your fitness plan. They can give you personalized advice on what kind of exercises you can do by yourself at home and help you learn the best ways to achieve your fitness goals, whether that’s weight loss or just improving general health. Moreover, they can also create customized fitness plans that will perfectly integrate with your busy schedule.
Lifestyle Change
Incorporating little changes to our lifestyle can make a significant difference. Instead of sitting on the couch while watching TV, do a couple of Power Yoga steps. While using public transport, get down a stop or two before your actual destination and walk the remaining distance. Pack yourself a healthy, portion-controlled lunch, rather than eating out at cafes or restaurants. Ten minutes before leaving the house in the morning, do some crunches or push-ups. They will give you toned arms, a flatter stomach, impart a healthy glow to your skin and make you feel pumped through the day.
The Two Ps
Pushups and planks are indeed tough, but the results are worth the pain. They are also probably two of the most accessible exercises and can be performed just as easily while waiting for your pasta to cook or for your kids to come home, as they can before hitting the hay. When done regularly these exercises will not only help you gain a toned body but also improve your core strength aerobic fitness.
Yoga It Up!
Yoga, as attested by celebrities world over, is probably the most relaxing and beneficial of all exercises. Surya Namaskar, a 12-step yoga exercise, is a fast yoga fan favourite. It helps build your stamina and energy, tones your arms and legs and make your skin glow. If you don’t have time to visit a yoga centre, just log onto YouTube and watch some instructional yoga videos for beginners. Once you get the hang of it, you will be able to do practice the various postures and poses in minutes. You can do these simple exercises before going to work, while taking a break, or after getting returning home, making them convenient and flexible.
Seven Minute Apps
For the truly time poor, there are always the seven-minute apps. Research has proven that an intense workout for seven minutes can have hugely beneficial results. There are numerous apps available on Google Play Store and iTunes that can assist you with this. You can log on and get a serious workout any time of the day, and it doesn’t have to leave a massive hole in your hectic timetable.
Our generation is chronically time-poor, with all of us juggling multiple balls seemingly at all times. However, in this chaos of tasks, it’s important to remember to take a few moments out for some self-care.
No More Nasties – 5 Tips to Keeping Your Kids Safe From Harmful Chemicals
Image by Pan Xiaozhen on Unsplash
Did you know that you and your little one potentially come into contact with hundreds of toxic chemicals each day? Everything from the tech gadgets in our homes through to baby lotions can be packed full of harmful nasties. It’s terrifying to think that the products we use on a regular basis can cause significant harm to our children, pets, and the environment. Fortunately, there are many simple ways to ways to avoid chemicals and create a healthier home. Here are some tips to get you started:
Choose Organic
You may be shocked to learn that many mainstream baby products contain harmful ingredients such as parabens, talc, sulphates, propylene glycol and chlorine bleaches. These are the last things you want to be putting on your child’s delicate skin! To give your bub the best start in life, ditch the big brand names and look for boutique brands that manufacture organic products for children. Plenty of independent companies are now crafting all-natural products that are ethical, don’t test on animals and have your child’s best interests in mind.
Filter Your Water
Many people are unaware that even though tap water is treated in a facility, it can still be loaded with a plethora of contaminants. Lab tests have previously found the presence of heavy metals, traces of pharmaceuticals, viruses, parasites, pesticides, sewage sediment and chlorine in tap water – ick! Fortunately, installing a water filtration system in your home has never been easier. You can either fit one under your kitchen sink or opt for an entire house solution, which will ensure that you have purified water for drinking, bathing and cleaning.
Bust the Dust
Dust is the silent predator in our homes that, if not tackled regularly, can cause a range of health issues. Infants are 100 times more susceptible to developing chronic health problems from dust pollutants than adults so if you have a young bub at home, it’s time to act. Make sure to use a HEPA-filter vacuum in your home at least once a week, and wipe down dusty surfaces with a wet cloth.
Cut Out BPA
BPA is a chemical that’s frequently used in food and drink packaging, including plastic drink bottles, plastic food storage containers and canned food containers. Studies over the past 20 years have linked BPA to a range of health concerns that mostly impact young children and fetuses. When you head to the store, try to avoid buying products in plastic packaging as much as possible. Switch out your child’s drink bottle for one that’s BPA free and store leftover food in glass containers rather than plastic ones.
No Shoes in the House
Research has found that about 40% of shoes carry the C. diff bacteria, which can lead to a host of potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal issues. Alarmingly, some strains are even resistant to antibiotics. To protect your family from nasty bacteria, get into the habit of taking your shoes off before entering your home. This is especially relevant if you have toddlers crawling about the floor on a regular basis!
Every parent wants what’s best for their child. While it’s impossible to avoid all chemicals entirely, the tips above will help you significantly reduce your family’s exposure to them. As long as you’re mindful of the products you use in your home and maintain a regular cleaning routine, you can be confident that you’re doing your best to keep your little ones happy, healthy and safe from harmful toxins.
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