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Bones become more brittle and they can even break as you age. What happens is that the body absorbs the calcium and phosphate from the bones rather than keeping these all-important minerals in the bones. It shouldn’t, therefore, come as a surprise that a high number of people over the age of 50 suffer from osteoporosis. The medical condition itself isn’t painful. Nonetheless, when osteoporosis becomes severe, it leads to fractures, not to mention other painful outcomes. It’s paramount to protect bone health. But how? What can seniors do to keep their bones healthy? Well, if you really must know, keep on reading.  1. Include lots of calcium in your diet and pay attention to vitamin DIn case you didn’t already know, calcium plays an important role in bone health. If you get enough calcium in your diet, you don’t have to worry about developing osteoporosis. Getting enough calcium is essential for people of all ages, not just older adults. Besides helping build healthy bones, calcium helps the blood clot, and regulates the heart’s rhythm, among other things. Doctors say that it’s necessary to get your calcium from natural sources and supplements should be avoided, unless necessary. Foods that are high in calcium are oranges, broccoli, seafood, dairy, fortified foods, beans (baked or canned); the list doesn’t end here. Now, let’s talk about vitamin D. It keeps the bones strong and healthy by helping the body absorb calcium and phosphorus. Good sources of vitamin D include oily fish, eggs, and mushrooms. It also helps to spend time in the sunlight. Attention needs to be paid to the fact that excessive amounts of vitamin D in the body can turn out to be toxic. You see, it’s a fat-soluble vitamin, which translates into the fact that it’s better absorbed into the bloodstream. While vitamin D toxicity is rare, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Side effects include elevated blood levels, nausea, vomiting, and poor appetite. 2. Exercise regularlyProper exercise isn’t enough to put a stop to bone loss, but it can improve bone health. Working out is beneficial in the long-term. Not only can you maximize peak bone loss but also delay the onset of osteoporosis. Think about incorporating weight-bearing exercises into your routine. For example, you can do yoga. It enhances bone mineral density in the spine. It also sharpens coordination and body awareness. Another thing you can do is brisk walking. Walking 4 hours a week significantly reduces the risk of hip fractures. You can adapt your speed to your current fitness level. If you don’t like the thought of going to the gym, go for a walk in the park with your significant other or a close friend. Flexibility exercises are equally important. By improving your flexibility, you increase your range of motion, so you can move more freely. There are static and dynamic exercises to keep you healthy and resilient. If you don’t like the idea of doing jumping jacks or lunges, do mild stretches. Touch your toes or do side bends. If you don’t regularly engage in stretching exercises, you might find it difficult in the beginning. Train as often as you can and strive for better improvement in flexibility. Some of the benefits include reduced risk of Achilles tendon injuries and reduced risk of hamstring strains. 3. Drop your prejudices and turn to unconventional treatmentsMedical problems can’t always be cured with conventional remedies. It’s necessary to think outside the box and look into other solutions. CBD, for instance, can come to the help of seniors who are struggling with issues such as bone fragility. According to the experts at Pure Hemp Farms, a company that makes available hemp flowers for both medicinal and recreational purposes, cannabis is effective when it comes to healing fractures and supporting healthier bones. The cannabinoid triggers the receptors in the brain, the outcome being decreased pain. Additionally, it has anti-inflammatory properties. To be more precise, it reduces inflammation and pain. Quite a few studies have highlighted the benefits of CBD consumption. Hemp flowers contain a wide range of cannabinoids and terpenes. So, yes, they are rich in CBD. Other advantages of CBD for older adults are help with anxiety disorders, relieving cancer treatment side effects, improving brain health, and lowering blood pressure. Certain medical professionals have already started including cannabidiol in their treatments, but it’s still necessary that cannabis receives validity from the FDA. It may not be in the mainstream yet, but there’s time. At times, it’s a good idea to step away from traditional approaches and try something new. The result might just surprise you. 4. Avoid substance abuseAlcohol acts differently on older people. It can make worse co-occurring conditions such as heart problems, ulcers, and stomach problems. Alcohol also impacts bone health. Research indicates that substance abuse can increase the risk of osteoporosis. What happens is that drinking alcoholic beverages decreases bone density and weakens the bones’ mechanical properties. It’s fine if you have a glass of wine every now and then. However, make sure not to exaggerate. It’s not recommended to have more than one alcoholic drink a day. Ideally, you should remove alcohol from your life. It’s the best thing you can do for your overall health.
Last but certainly not least, you should cut back on smoking. Tobacco reduces the blood supply to the bones, not to mention that it slows down the production of bone-producing cells. If your bones aren’t getting sufficient calcium, tobacco is to blame. If you find it impossible to give up smoking, you should at least try to reduce your tobacco intake. It doesn’t matter how old you are, there’s something you can do about it. Think about your health and don’t look back. You’ll be setting a good example for your children and grandchildren. Breaking the addiction cycle is hard, so don’t be disappointed if you succeed the first time. You can use a nicotine inhaler to help with withdrawal symptoms and make your life easier.
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Now that even the few remaining digital skeptics can no longer deny the fact that online education is here to stay, educators do not need to further deliberate on the pros and cons of online learning. The top priority on today's educational agenda is improving the effectiveness of online lessons. The question is how the teacher can engage the students, keep them alert, encourage their pro-active learning, and increase their motivation without being in the same room with them. There is no silver bullet that can immediately help teachers around the world make their online classes both extremely interesting and maximally effective. But there is one main principle that every educator should keep in mind: digital lessons should always be student-centered. If you start planning your lessons by defining the needs of your students, you will definitely come up with lots of creative ideas that will brighten up every digital class. Below you will find 7 useful tips that are meant to help you make your lessons more impactful, colorful, and productive. 1. Be FlexibleTry new types of homework, experiment with the tasks, and offer your students a choice. Traditional essays are a good way to check the student's understanding of the material and writing skills, but today when students can always use admission essay writing service, the teacher has to come up with more creative assignments that force the learners out of their comfort zone and motivate them to become more proactive. For example, you can ask your students to record a short video recap of the covered material, do a podcast, create a meme or a collage based on what they have learned. 2. Prioritize the Socratic MethodAsking thought-provoking questions, challenging stereotypes, and encouraging critical thinking, and allowing your students to make their own conclusions are all extremely welcome in the digital classroom. Educators can no longer expect students to keep listening to traditional lectures for several hours. Information should be divided into sizable portions and interspersed with practical tasks, discussions, and feedback sessions. Questions asked at the beginning of every section of your digital lesson and revisited at the end of it will bind the parts together into one synergistic unity and keep the students alert and active. 3. Make Use of the Schema TheoryA schema is a cognitive tool that helps systematize, understand, and store information. In other words, schemas are concepts that are formed in the human brain as a result of cognition. Here is a helpful piece of advice from the East Tennessee State University Faculty Support for Instruction: "Make sure students' existing schemas are up and running at a conscious level." For this purpose, you can use 'advance organizers' before introducing new material, e.g., a summary of the previous classes, mind-mapping, or asking students what they already know about the topic. The other way would be to offer your students a familiar synonymous notion that will facilitate easier comprehension of a more complex concept. For example, when teaching a foreign language, it might be helpful to highlight the similarities between grammatical structures in the students' first and second languages. The usage of schemas is especially important in the digital learning environment as it allows the students to organize the prior knowledge of the subject better and build on it when dealing with new information, thus decreasing the stress and confusion caused by the switch to online learning. 4. Help Students Unleash Their CreativityEven one tiny creative task can help the learners relieve the study-related anxiety and activate cognitive circuits. Ask them to come up with a metaphor that illustrates the problem you are discussing. Offer them to imagine that they are journalists interviewing a renowned expert in the field or are primary school teachers explaining the relevant notions to the first-graders. It will empower your students and make them feel more competent when they deal with other tasks at hand. 5. Use Pertinent VisualsThe visual channel is the primary way of information intake. Information visualization supports deeper learning and better memorization of the material. For example, infographics are extremely popular as an appealing, intuitive, and highly digestible way of visual representation of information. You can make relevant infographics using widely available online tools or ask your students to create their own infographics. There are also many digital whiteboards (e.g., Educreations or Miro) that allow you to create appealing visual aids, which include drawings, photos, and even audio fragments. 6. Focus On the Authentic ContextAccording to the Situated Cognition Theory, knowledge is inseparable from the context and culture in which it is obtained. By providing your students with the authentic context (pictures, films, maps, video and audio materials, etc.), you offer them an opportunity for effective cognitive apprenticeship and let them discover the applicability of the skills they are acquiring. The materials and media you are using should be up-to-date and relevant. Offer your students assignments that are strongly linked to their real lives and have a practical outcome. For example, they can write a CV and a cover letter, a biography, create a blog or a vlog entry, compile a portfolio, write an instapoem, etc. 7. Do Not Neglect Face Time with Your StudentsLet students see your friendly face and feel that you are happy to be able to talk to them. Make use of facial mobility, gesticulate, show the learners books you are relying on or find interesting. Turn on your camera when you are giving feedback. This will allow you to make up for the lack of live face-to-face communication in the classroom. Your students will surely feel a stronger connection with you and the subject you are teaching and be more inclined to take ownership of the learning process. Final WordsWe hope that with these 7 tips, you will be able to become a true digital education guru. In this new, quicksilver, replete with challenges and opportunities educational environment, may the words of John Cotton Dana guide you toward success: "Who dares to teach, must never cease to learn."
 It’s a step that numerous retirees take: the move from a large house to a smaller home. There are several reasons why older adults opt to take the plunge. For some, the financial burden of paying for a large house outweighs the benefits of living there, especially since the kids have long since flown the coop. For others, the day-to-day labour a large house requires – the cleaning, maintenance and landscaping – is physically burdensome. Then there are some seniors who simply prefer living among people their own age. Whatever the reason, downsizing is no small task. The logistics involved with paring down the contents of a large house to fit within a smaller one requires forethought, organization, physical exertion and mental stamina. Luckily, there’s help available. In this post, let’s run through the benefits of senior downsizing services – what they are and how they can help facilitate your big move. What Are Senior Downsizing Services?A senior downsizing company aids in several pivotal processes. They patiently, compassionately and professionally help you sort and declutter your belongings, consulting with you on what to keep, donate, sell or discard. They organize and pack your belongings in advance of the big move day. They coordinate movers, packing supplies, elevator reservations and the like. And, once you’ve moved into your new place, they help unpack your belongings and organize things in a way that makes sense for you. If that description doesn’t speak for itself, here are a few reasons why senior downsizing services are an indispensable resource. Decluttering is a Sizeable TaskIn theory, decluttering should be straightforward. But when you lay out the contents of your home, in which you’ve lived for years (often decades), you get a sense of the monumental scope of the project. Decluttering a lifetime of belongings takes time, mental energy and physical stamina. Senior downsizing services take the burden off your shoulders by guiding you through the process. They Can Help with the Move ItselfAs mentioned above, one supporting service available through a senior downsizing company is “move management.” Boxing items, preparing furniture, coordinating moving trucks, acquiring packing supplies, overseeing movers, reserving elevators… All of these seemingly small tasks add up. Undertaking the moving process alone can be exhausting. It’s better to have a professional in your corner. Get Set Up the Right WayThe first few hours setting up a new place are profoundly consequential. Often, they dictate the way you live in your home. After all, it’s much easier to set things up from scratch the right way than to change things after the fact. A great senior downsizing company knows how to organize a home. They can set up your furniture and belongings according to logical organization systems, so you get started on the right foot. You Have Other Things to Worry AboutLastly, an emotional consideration: You have bigger things to worry about when downsizing. It’s a massive change, a significant transitional period that is likely to stir up complex emotions. You don’t want to spend your precious energy worrying about granular questions like “how will this sideboard fit in the new living room?”
Senior downsizing services take the weight of moving from your shoulders so you can focus on the next chapter.  Do you know what a roofing underlayment is? What are the characteristics of it? These questions are important both for property owners and regular contractors. Answering these questions can make you more proficient in the issue. Felt or Synthetic: What Material to Choose?This is the first question that people ask. There are two basic material options to use as underlayment for metal roof covering. These two options are often used for building purposes. But they aren’t the same. There are some differences in their characteristics that can influence the final decision. Synthetic UnderlaymentLet’s see why you will get if you deal with a synthetic material:
Felt UnderlaymentNow let’s see what are the basic peculiar aspects of felt material.
How to Choose Between the Materials: Useful InsightsBoth synthetic and felt underlayment is used these days. They are popular and manage their functions perfectly. But you should know about the following details before buying one or another piece. First, let’s discuss a synthetic one.
Retirement is one thing that many of us look forward to. However, it can be overwhelming at the same time. While you get to enjoy yourself, you need to have everything planned out in advance. It certainly is a complicated process, but by breaking everything down, you can make it more bearable. In this article, we are going to take a look at some of the most essential things to consider when you are thinking of retirement. Let’s get started! Living SituationThe first thing that you want to consider when you retire is your living situation. While some individuals may choose to live independently, others wish to relocate to a care home or a retirement community. Alongside this, you may want to move interstate, abroad, or stay local. Assess your individual needs and choose an option that works well for your situation. Money and BudgetingWithout a doubt, managing your money during retirement is one thing you don’t want to forget. Otherwise, you may fall into financial hardship and struggle to get out of it. Whether you have investments, a saved fund, or a pension, you need to budget accordingly. Luckily, you can do this by following a few easy steps.
Medical CoverageEnsuring that your health is taken care of is one of the most important considerations when you reach retirement. However, all of those bills and prescriptions can be very expensive. This is why insurance and medical coverage are essential. Take a look at these Medigap reviews to get started. You should be able to find a plan so that you have little to no out-of-pocket expenses. Travel and HobbiesMost retirees want to do some sort of travel during their retirement. If you are one of these, you want to plan things out in advance. It’s a big expense, and living too lavishly may diminish your savings. This is why many choose to purchase an RV so they can reduce their costs. Alongside this, if you have any hobbies, you’ll also need to budget for them. While you shouldn’t give them up, preparing for their cost will help you stay on track. Again, it’s all about being organized. Staying ConnectedFinally, one of the most important things to consider when you retire is how you are going to stay connected with your loved ones. Social interactions are vital for our health, so if you do choose to move away, you want to make sure you keep in touch. It’s also a good idea to form new relationships and connections. Just because you are no longer working doesn’t mean you can’t go out and make friends.
Are you a senior who’s looking for love? You might think that you’re alone, but you aren’t! There are a lot of seniors out there just like you who would like to start a new relationship with someone special. The key is knowing where to look for those incredible people, and knowing how to connect with them so you can start to get to know them. Continue reading for a few tips when you’re ready to get started. We hope these senior dating tips will inspire you to have fun while you go out there and search for love! Start Using a Dating AppSure, it might take a bit of time to figure out how to use a dating app, but rest assured that today’s platforms are designed to be super easy to use. You might even be surprised by how quickly you get the hang of things. Just like anything else, it is wise to take your time when selecting which dating app you will use to start an online relationship with someone. You want to use an app that is reputable and trustworthy, has a history of serving customers like you, and has received stellar reviews from users. Once you find at least one app that you’re comfortable using—whether that is an app designed specifically for seniors or not—just set up your profile and start your search! Have a Sense of Humor About Dating in Your Senior YearsAs a senior, you’ve experienced a lot throughout your life. You might have had a lot of relationships in your past, and you might have gone through a tough divorce. Or, you might have decided that you don’t want to get married because you prefer being unmarried instead. No matter what, it’s important to have a sense of humor and a lighthearted attitude towards dating in general. When you start chatting with matches on your dating app, it’s a great idea to keep things relaxed and easy. Don’t take yourself too seriously. You might share funny stories, and you might find out more funny love stories from the people you interact with, making the experience an enjoyable one. Avoid Scammers on Dating AppsAfter dating online for a while, you will likely be ready to meet in person. Before you do, however, it’s a great idea to do some research into the person you’re talking to in order to be sure they are indeed who they claim to be. Remember, there could be scammers on dating apps, and you don’t want to become a victim. Another way to rest assured you’re talking to someone who’s sincere is by going on a video chat with them. That way, you can see the way they speak, the way they look at you, and the subtle movements they make during a conversation. Plus, you get to see their face and what they really look like compared to the photos they posted on their profile. Plan the Perfect Date to Meet in Person for the First TimeAfter you have been talking to someone for a long while, if you’re ready to meet for a date, choose a location and activity that you’ll both enjoy. And if you’re planning on spending a romantic night together, consider reading this article: Sex, Love and Bruises You Have the Morning After a Steamy Night in Bed—Explained.
So, are you ready to look for love? How are you going to get started? Beneficial probiotics are friendly bacteria that can produce a range of benefits in the human body. They maintain a balanced gut microbiota along with having several advantages to your overall health. For those of you considering whether to add probiotics to your diet, we will discuss some of the common questions asked when deciding on the effectiveness of probiotics supplementation. What are probiotics?All of us have bacteria living inside of us, good bacteria and bad bacteria. Probiotics encourage beneficial bacteria that help by creating a healthy gut microbiome. You can find bacteria in fermented foods like yogurt and also within probiotic supplements. Research suggests that certain probiotic strains will:
What happens to your body when you start taking probiotics?Your gut flora is important as it produces microorganisms, which are really essential for your digestive health. When you start to take probiotics it can take around 5 days before you will start to see any health benefits. Probiotics work by adjusting the balance between beneficial bacteria and harmful bacteria and protecting our intestinal lining. It is important to note the positive effects of the good bacteria will only last as long as you are taking your supplements. Increasing the good gut bacteria in adequate amounts for just a month can increase the function of your central nervous system, enhancing your mood. What is the downside of probiotics?When you start taking probiotics they can sometimes cause mild diarrhea at first whilst your body gets used to it. This happens as the live microorganisms in the probiotics will enter your body and attempt to address any imbalance. This usually will go away on its own after a few days. Other symptoms can include:
Should I take probiotic supplements?You should always speak with your health professional before deciding to take any dietary supplements and should try to get the most out of your diet first. Probiotic rich foods such as yogurt, kefir, fermented milk, and some cheeses are an excellent source of live and active cultures. Processed foods can sometimes remove probiotics so it is worth checking the labels. Evidence suggests that these foods will increase the number of good gut microbes in your body. If you are taking a probiotic supplement you should refer to the label to see how many live bacteria are within each capsule, this is called the colony forming unit or CFU. You should also check to see which type of species of bacteria are in the capsules, common probiotic bacteria include the Lactobacillus species and Bifidobacterium species. There are some more good probiotic supplements online with a diverse range of species. What should I consider about probiotics?When taking supplements there are a few things to consider:
ConclusionFor most people the benefits of probiotics outweigh any of the risks associated, they can improve mood, support immune function, reduce digestive disorders and assist with antibiotic associated diarrhea to name but a few. Certain health conditions like irritable bowel syndrome can really benefit from a probiotic, it will reduce IBS symptoms, for further information on probiotics and IBS you can read the following article, Probiotics 101: A Simple Beginner's Guide (healthline.com).
It is useful to note that each different probiotic will produce a differing effect and you may want to do your own research into which type you should take. It will very much depend on the issue you are trying to address. Whilst certain probiotics may give you a health benefit, you should always stop taking them if you have any adverse effects. How can you make your retired colleague feel special?Life after retirement can become mundane and monotonous if you are not socially active. It is better to prepare and plan your life after retirement. On the flip side, if your mother or senior colleague is nearing retirement, it's your responsibility to prepare a meaningful gift for them. Retirement gifts can vary from person to person. You don't have to worry about this, we have got your back. In this article, we will guide friends and family members on how to prepare gifts for retired people and how retirees can make their life interesting and socially active. First, a guide to preparing the best retirement giftWomen are for sure two things, classy and fabulous. Before choosing any gift for women of such experience and class you have to make sure it is not an odd thing and is matching with their personality. You have to keep in mind what will make her happy. Something which she can use in her life, which can help her fulfill her interests. Customized work of artCustomized items always have a nice ring to them. You can make a customized word art and can include all the words that are meaningful to the lady. Make it in the form of canvas and it will surely enhance the love of your gift and it will be treasured for life. Another idea for customized art is to make a digital canvas with pictures and meaningful phrases. After years of employment, your coworker deserves to be reminded of all the good time he or she has spent in this office. You can include the time and date of his or her employment along with the name. Items of personal useYou can grab a box of bath bombs or a pack of fragrances if your colleague is a fashion lover. These gifts can be given to anyone you don't have much contact with. You can make them feel special without spending a lot of fortune. A scented candle set is another good option if your colleague is your mentor and close friend. Opportunities for retirees to grow their bank balance and stay mentally activeOnline content writing jobsWriting is the best exercise for the brain. You can keep yourself updated about the changing trends and new information by opting for a writing job. Many online sites are looking for freelancers to work for them. Content writers must know the surfing and use of computers. They have to search for the related information by using a few keywords and write an article. Be your bossNow is the time to invest your savings properly. Starting your business and self-employment is the dream for many people. You can invest in some company or can buy a franchise. This way you will stay socially active and your account will not get dry too. Be a mentorAfter living the large part of your life, you must have the experience and tricks up your sleeves which the novices are keen to learn. you can start your online classes in your respective field. This is the best way to pay back to the nation. Young people require practical tips and you have the experience, by combining the energy of youth and experience of years you can make your nation proud and prosperous.
Graduates know well that university degree knowledge is not everything you need in order to be successful. Unfortunately, students often don't know what they should focus on except their studies. And that's how they can lose the greatest opportunities of college life. To not suffer from Fear of missing out (FOMO) in the future, you should learn the following things now. You won’t be taught these tips in college, but they will make your adult life much easier. 1. Networking: Be Nice to People, and They Will Help You When You Need ItYou could be the best in your field and still have trouble with having a great career. Why does it happen? Because you don't have enough support, enough people you can trust, and with whom you make a perfect team. Without social connections and profitable acquaintances, it could be hard to succeed. That's why you shouldn't underestimate networking. Use every house party as a source of new contacts. Try your best to get along with different people; it doesn't matter if they are from your field. You never know who could help you in the future with your project. Networking is beneficial even during studies. It's much easier to study when you have a team. 2. Take Care of Your Health Before It's Too LatePeople often don't care much about their health until their body starts to scream out for help. Youngsters are always in a hurry. They would rather prepare for an exam or go to a party than submit themselves for a medical examination. Junk food, insufficient sleep, and a lot of stress can cause massive problems in the future. Do some sport, think about your nutrition, and subject yourself to regular medical check-ups. Even if you now believe it's a waste of your time and money, you will save a fortune on your health care procedures in the future. 3. Always backup your dataThere is a joke that there are two categories of people. The first category is those who consistently make backups. And the second one – people who will always do backups in the future. We know that behind every joke, there's some truth. In the case of backups – there are liters of students' tears who hadn't made a backup of their essay and lost pages of hard-won work. To avoid this problem, you can use online services with an auto-saving function such as Google Docs. Or you can always use the help of websites like EssayWritingService or any other essay order service if you are too busy to take care of it yourself. It not only saves you a lot of stress but a lot of time. Now you can focus on the activities which bring you more joy, on the projects you always wanted to fulfill. 4. Lifelong Learning is KeyPerhaps you thought that after college you would be done with studying. But in real life, you must keep learning to stay tuned and remain a player in a competitive job market. You should always be self-motivated and open to new discoverings. Steve Jobs, one of the most famous businessmen in the world, once formulated this idea in a commencement speech at Stanford University in a short proverb: 'Stay hungry. Stay foolish'. Graduation is not the end. Your education has just started. Only this time you should pass an exam in Life.  5. Work on Your Communication SkillsYou can't be sure that everything you are taught in college will be put into practice. However, you won't regret it if you spend some time improving your communication skills. You should know how to start up a conversation. It's necessary to be able to convey the message and engage in a dialogue. It would also be great if you work on your public speaking skills. Because in almost every job it's a valuable tool, which can help you succeed. If you are good at communication, it won't be a problem to ask your boss for a promotion. You can easily engage new people in your business, build relationships and be a generally nice person. 6. Learn the Basics of Human BehaviorUnderstanding people gives you a significant advantage. This skill is not only beneficial for those who tie their lives to marketing. You won't be so vulnerable if you can identify people's behaviors. Because when you understand the system, you can avoid conflicts. On the other hand, this ability can help you to manipulate others a bit for your benefit. We don't encourage you to use this skill too often, but sometimes, you can be better at trading, marketing, and PR management by learning people psychology. 7. Be Careful With Your WordsIt goes without saying that it's hard to think about consequences when we are emotional. However, you should always watch your mouth and remember everything you say, write on your Facebook page, or tweet somebody can use against you. Don't be judgmental, and always give a chance to your opponent. You never know when he or she can decide your fate. So try to be friendly with everyone and not gossip unless you want to have a bad reputation. 8. Try to save your money already nowWhen we are young, we usually think that life's too short to think about investing in our retirement. But unfortunately, life is a cruel thing. That's why it would be better for you to learn at least some basics of financial literacy.
Of course, it doesn't mean you shouldn't spend your money in other ways. College's a time for some new experiences, travels, and fun. Just keep in mind that you'll need some financial help in the future, and it would be better to start saving sooner rather than later. These life lessons are not something you can learn during the lessons. It's something that you learn through your experience by making mistakes and learning from them. Hopefully, these eight tips will help you understand the most important things you should focus on besides studies. Learning gives us the power to change ourselves and the world around us. It is a prerequisite for success and progress. There are plenty of opportunities to learn and develop. You can start small and pick up a hobby or pursue a formal degree and land a new job. In any case, there is always something new you can learn. What Is Lifelong Learning?Lifelong learning is an ongoing process that enables our personal and professional development. It is about analyzing information, planning, setting goals, and understanding how to apply concepts instead of simply memorizing them. It includes the ability to identify problem areas and use learning to fix those issues in our personal lives as well as in our communities or organizations. Learning does not end with school, nor is it limited to textbook reading. Educational opportunities come in different forms and shapes. They are countless. We can learn from our daily life, the places we visit, and the people around us. Furthermore, all subject areas are available over the internet. You can find different resources and courses. Free and fee-based, lengthy and bite-sized, flexible and fixed, there is an option for anyone who wants to learn. With formal learning, you can earn a degree or get professional certification. It is characterized by a fixed structure and schedule. People who need more flexibility choose informal education. This path gives more control over what, how, and when to learn. Let’s say you want to improve your writing skills. To achieve this goal, you can join a workshop or consult a professional buy essay online service to learn by modeling after others. Besides, MOOCs and educational platforms are always an option for those who need flexible and self-paced courses. Why Lifelong Learning MattersAny attempt to learn something new helps you to move forward. Here are seven benefits that lifelong learning has to offer.
It Grows Your Skills The practical side of lifelong learning is the most valuable. It allows improving skills and becoming more educated. People with active and inquiring minds can cope with any task because they have a solid knowledge base (or know where to get information when they need it). Therefore, lifelong learning enables continuous improvement and promotes a growth mindset. It helps us to believe that we can do and achieve anything if we put enough effort into it. It Builds Your Confidence Feeling confident is an important part of success. It helps us to see our strong points as well as to identify the areas of improvement. Confidence that comes with lifelong learning will not allow you to think less of yourself or to be threatened by others. According to the survey published by the Pew Research Center, 87% of lifelong learners confirm that learning helped them feel more capable. When we recognize our unique set of skills and abilities, we know what we have to offer and where our expertise might be of use. It Improves Your Decision Making Lifelong learning gives us a broader worldview. It allows people to consider multiple perspectives when making decisions in their personal life or the workplace. The understanding of nuances, cause-effect relations, and connections between concepts is the foundation for making informed choices. It Makes You More Employable By maximizing your ability to learn, you become more employable. Any organization values people who can learn on the spot and adapt to new environments. It becomes essential due to the rapid advancement of technology that changes practices across all industries. Lifelong learners can stay ahead of the competition, while those who are reluctant to learn may find themselves failing to get better career opportunities. It Helps You to Find Like-Minded People It does not matter whether you study online or attend in-person classes; learning always includes a social component. When you enroll in a course or join a workshop, you become part of a learning community. It unites people with similar interests and goals. Thus, lifelong learning gives you a chance to find friends and widen your social circle. Take part in discussions, share your thoughts with others, and simply put yourself out there. It Gives You a Sense of Fulfillment Learning is actually enjoyable. We need it to satisfy our intellectual needs, which contribute to our wellbeing just like physical or emotional aspects of our life. Lifelong learning makes us more fulfilled as we open our minds to new opinions and perspectives. Whether it is a personal interest or professional development that drives us, lifelong learning helps us to uncover new dimensions of life and make it rich and meaningful. It Improves Your Health Lifelong learning provides a continuous workout for our brains, increasing our cognitive abilities and brain reserve. It becomes easier to sharpen our skills, socialize, and maintain emotional balance. Learning is especially beneficial for older people as it decreases age-related problems that might affect cognitive abilities. In Sum Learning throughout life makes us active, confident, and self-sufficient. Most importantly, it contributes to our general wellbeing by supporting personal fulfillment and satisfying intellectual needs. To get started, determine what interests you and look around for possibilities. The most important thing is to start. It might be a short article or lecture, but it is already a good foundation to increase awareness and build from there. No matter the circumstances, having to choose a nursing home for a loved one is a difficult task. Although nursing homes tend to be the last resort, many times, these facilities offer an experience that is simply unmatched by home care. Nursing homes can attend to the needs of your loved ones on a 24-hour basis, which for many families who work is simply not a possibility. However, you also want to rest assured that your loved one is extremely cared for, here is how you can pick the best nursing home… Consider Size and LocationLocation and size are two of the most important factors when deciding upon the most suitable care home. You want to be close enough to visit on a regular basis, however, you want to ensure that it’s also the right fit for your loved one and small enough for them to be cared for attentively. Research Their Violation HistoryDue to the history of negligence in nursing homes, the most worrying aspect is the fear that your loved one will be mistreated during their stay. Thankfully, with a bit of research, you can now see which homes have a bad reputation and poor violation history. Consider a Care FocusAnother way to choose a nursing home is by finding one that focuses on a specific area of care. Different institutions will be more adept at caring for different illnesses. For example, some homes offer a special emphasis on care for patients with dementia. Ask Friends for RecommendationsSometimes the best way to find a hidden gem is by asking around for recommendations. If you have friends or family that have also gone through the same process, it could be helpful to ask them for advice, even if it’s just to tell you which homes you should stay away from. Take Your TimeNot everyone has the opportunity to take their time when making such an important decision. However, if you can take the time to thoroughly research and visit facilities before you make a decision, you should do this. Visit the Facility in PersonNo matter how many video calls, brochures, and videos you look at, nothing will compare to seeing the facility in person. You need to be there physically in order to get a feel for the place. This way you can interact with the staff yourself and ask residents any questions you may have.
At the end of the day, you want to feel at peace with your decision. If you are able to, we recommend that you take your time when looking for the right nursing home. This isn’t a decision that you really want to rush into. There are many factors that make a fantastic care home, so try to find one that fits all of your criteria. If you can, go out and scout the different locations. If you have a bad feeling about any, trust your instincts and keep looking until you find the perfect fit.  For most homeowners, the thought of a fire is the most tragic thing they can imagine. However, accidents are inevitable, and they happen when we least expect them. A home fire can have devastating effects, and not just on the possessions they touch but also on the lives they impact. There can be plenty of emotions and several questions following a house fire, and it’s difficult to know what to do next. Knowing who can help and what to do is key to getting your life back together. Here are important things to do after a house fire. 1. Find a safe place to stayFire accidents can be terrifying, especially for children and pets. You will need a safe place to stay for a few days to give your family time to relax as you plan your next moves. Whatever the size of the fire, you will need another place to stay to give space and time for the property to be inspected to ensure its safe for reoccupying. Even after a small fire, the house needs to be thoroughly cleaned of soot, ash, smoke, and burned materials before you start living there again. 2. Contact your insurance agentYou need to call your insurance agent as soon as possible to inform them about the loss and set the claim process in motion. It also allows you to start the fire damage restoration project. In addition, your insurance agent should advise you on how to prevent further damage and secure your home. 3. Secure your homeTypically, your homeowner’s policy covers your property when it’s damaged by fire, but most policies require you to secure your home to avoid further damage or destruction, including damage from the element and other people. Before you leave the property, ensure you board up any openings or doors and windows that may have been destroyed by the fire. You can then contact the police and inform them that you will be away from the property for a few days so they can help watch the house as well. 4. Plan your financesDespite the fire, your financial responsibilities won’t stop. While your policy may cover the restoration costs and mortgage, it’s important you plan your finances for other recurring costs. You also need to cancel your cable and internet services if you will be staying away from the property for some time. 5. Call a restoration companyAfter talking to your insurance agent, they can give you the go-ahead to find a restoration company to help you with immediate concerns like securing your home from weather or break-ins and water damage. The sooner the company starts the process, the easier it will be to evaluate and act on the damage. EndnoteMoving on after a house fire can be daunting and can sometimes feel downright impossible. However, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you know what to do. If you just suffered a house fire, find a safe place to stay, call your insurance agent, secure your home and get the right fire damage restoration company to rebuild your home.
A lot of people are turning to dating apps these days, especially since dating has become really challenging because of COVID-19 restrictions. But even though a dating app can be a great tool that you can use to meet new people you might be compatible with, there are also some serious drawbacks and risks to consider. To learn more, check out our list of tips on how to protect yourself in 2021 when you are using a dating app to find love. Don’t Give Out Personal Information About YourselfOne smart way to protect yourself when using a dating app is by only sharing basic, general information about yourself. In other words, don’t give away too much about yourself, and never give out sensitive details that are personal and private. For example, don’t post your specific location, and if the app has any features that automatically pick up on your location and share it, it’s a good idea to turn those features off. Until you know exactly who you are talking to, and until you can rest assured that they are safe and trustworthy, proceed with caution. As you will see below, there are scammers on dating apps, so it isn’t wise to put personal details about yourself on the app or in private messages. Watch Out for ScammersIt’s sad, but true: there is the potential that you will run into a scammer when you are using a dating app. The key is to try to protect yourself as much as possible so you won’t become a victim. How do people scam others on dating apps? Well, they can pretend to be someone they aren’t, and they can collect personal information from people after gaining their trust. Again, to protect yourself, don’t give away any of your personal information, whether you are setting up your dating profile or you are interacting with people via private messages. Also, in order to figure out if you are talking to someone who is being honest about who they are, you can use Nuwber to look up information about them, such as their contact details, police records, property info, lawsuits, and more. If you determine that someone isn’t being honest, see if the app has a feature that allows you to block that person so they can no longer contact you. Also, reporting them to the app is a great idea to help keep others safe. Use the App to Send and Receive Messages from MatchesAlthough you might be tempted to give your matches your phone number so you can send text messages to one another throughout the day, it is actually best to stick with the app’s built-in system for messaging. By doing so, you can avoid giving out your phone number to someone you don’t really know too well.
Again, until you get to know someone and until you have run a background check to verify that they are who they claim to be, it is wise to keep your private information secure. So, while it might be convenient to use your phone’s text messaging app, keep things on the dating app until you’re totally sure you can trust someone. Ultimately, with the right strategies in place, you can make the most of a dating app without needing to worry so much about your safety and security! Parents spend much of their life looking out for yours. Making sure that you have food to eat on the table and the coolest clothes to wear out. It seems only right that when they have reached a ripe old age, you look after them as much as you possibly can. This doesn’t mean becoming their career but perhaps just ensuring they are cared for. However, retirement and moving to a retirement home can be intimidating prospects. This article will look to answer your burning questions. Retirement: what does it all meanRetirement does not have to mean that you finish work and stop doing anything at all. Retirement can often be the beginning of your biggest adventure yet. Hopefully, after a long and hardworking career, retirement is the time to sit down and relax away from all the hustle and bustle of a career. This could mean going traveling or just spending time visiting family or even just doing activities that you had always meant to start but never found the time for. Retirement should be an exciting prospect! Retirement HomesNot everyone wants to move into a retirement home straight away, and they can be intimidating places if you have no experience of them or want to maintain your independence. Some people love to spread horror stories about retirement homes where those who stay there are trapped but this is very rarely the case. Abuse in nursing homes does happen, but there are solutions to this and should be the furthest thing from your mind when considering them as accommodation. Always remember that there are specialist lawyers and solicitors out there if you need them. Many nursing homes or retirement homes are luxury faculties that can cater to your every whim. They merely take the stress out of your day-to-day life. No more will it be required of you or your family to prepare meals, do the laundry or deal with that pesky garden. The entire point of these facilities is to ensure that you have time to relax and spend time doing the activities you enjoy. Working from retirement homesAn important aspect to remember about retirement is that whilst you have likely retired from your main income career, you do not have to completely stop work. In fact, in some homes, working is encouraged by offering you the opportunity to continue employment through an online business, selling goods, writing, or becoming a tutor. All these options allow you to still earn money and hopefully spend your time enjoying what you do. As well as this, some retirement homes even offer the opportunity to commit to seasonal or part-time work, often in more practical employment. This can be in gardening, local shops or even getting involved in local heritage. All of these opportunities will ensure that you stay active in mind and body and can socialize with others if that is something you enjoy doing. Entering a care home doesn’t mean you will be stuck inside. Retirement homesFor both those entering a retirement home and for those admitting their relatives, these can be daunting places. However, this is not always the case and there are plenty of options out there to ensure that your family is well looked after.
 It’s not uncommon to find different businesses that offer giveaways or freebies when you try their products or services. Online brokerage firms also do the same, and the trend among them is to give free stocks to newbie users of their platforms. These new brokerage firms seek to disrupt the traditional model, and they are quite successful in doing so. Enticed by the promise of free stocks and no signup and commission fees, millions of users are flocking to these platforms to invest and trade. So, if you want to avail yourself of free stocks, here are five online brokers that you should try right now. WebullBased out of New York City, Webull Financial LLC is one of the popular online brokers that don’t charge commission fees and have no minimum account requirement. It has an app that facilitates your investing and trading activities. And what’s great about this platform is that it offers free stocks worth up to $1,850! You might be asking right now: how people are getting up to $1,850 In free stocks? Well, first, you have to open a Webull account. Enter your real name, address, Social Security Number, and email. The free stock you can get by opening an account will be worth between $2.50 and $250. But, wait, there’s more! When you fund an initial deposit of $100 or more into your account, you can get a second free stock valued between $8 and $1,600. Make sure to make an initial deposit 30 days after opening your Webull account. FirstradeFirstrade is another stock brokerage firm headquartered in New York. Like Webull, there’s zero commission fee when you trade with Firstrade. But unlike the previous broker mentioned on our list, Firstrade offers three free stocks instead of two. When you sign up with Firstrade, you can get 1 free stock. Then, you can get 2 free stocks after depositing $100 or more within 30 days of opening your account. Besides free stocks, there are also rebates if you transfer an account from another broker to Firstrade. RobinhoodConsidered the pioneer in $0 commission trading, Robinhood arguably has the most users on our list (at around 13 million). It was established in 2013 by two prominent figures in the world of high-frequency stock trading, Baiju Bhatt and Vladimir Tenev. You can purchase and sell stocks and ETFs using Robinhood without shelling out commission fees. There’s also no maintenance charge that you have to pay. The millions of users of Robinhood surely get attracted by these offerings. Plus, there’s a free stock given to you upon signing up with this brokerage. A free stock worth between $5 and $150 is to be given to anyone who opens an account and fulfills the conditions of the promotion. The free stock will be randomly selected from Robinhood’s inventory of settled shares. Since it’s a random selection, you may not get the same stock as other new users. But the average stock value that you can receive is around $10. NVSTRNVSTR (pronounced as “investor”) isn’t a zero-commission trading platform like Robinhood and Webull. You have to pay $4.50 per trade, which is nevertheless affordable than most brokerages that charge commission fees. The good thing is that there are no signup fees, no monthly fees, no fund transfer fees, and no closing fees. There’s also no minimum deposit, which is advantageous for traders across all wealth spectrum. When you open an account with NVSTR, you can avail of free stocks valued between $20 and $500. PublicPublic is a $0 commission trading platform that allows investors to purchase fractional shares of stocks for as low as $5. There’s also a social feature about its app, which lets you see the stocks people are investing in and their investment strategies when they make their positions public. You also have the option to follow investment strategies, such as investments in American Made, Tech Giants, and other big companies. You can also purchase exchange-traded funds. Another advantage is that funds are Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) insured up to $500,000 and your uninvested money can gain 2.53% interest per year. Upon signing up with Public, you can receive a free stock worth $10 from one of these 9 giant companies: Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Chase, Visa, Facebook, J&J, Alphabet, or Alibaba. Make sure to provide your phone number so that you can get instructions regarding the signup process. TakeawayOnline brokerage platforms are on the rise right now, and they’re vying for the top position. With this competition, various offerings and giveaways significantly benefit investors.
No commission fees, no minimum deposits, and free stocks are a few of the advantages that you can get from these brokers. If you want free stocks, you should try the brokerage firms mentioned on this list.  Homework is a chore no student looks forward to. In recent times, there has been an uptick in the number of people who are being vocal against the amount of homework out schools prescribe for their students. The mountains of homework always translate to students being unable to meet friends or have time for extra-curricular activities. Homework can feel tedious and can feel never-ending. This is probably because you are making some common homework mistakes that you can easily avoid. Homework mistakes are mistakes you make when approaching your homework. This includes the setup of your room, what you do while doing homework, and when you choose to do your home. Let’s find out what these mistakes are now! Mistake #1: Skipping Homework for the DayWhen you come back home from school, you can feel exhausted. Even now, when the pandemic is raging, and classes are taking place digitally, students still feel tired at the end of the day. It can be easy to slip into the habit of deferring your homework. However, when you skip homework for one day, you’re just setting yourself up to do double the amount of homework tomorrow. Instead, do your homework the day it is assigned wherever possible. If you have some time to submit your assignment, then make sure you make a plan to finish by the deadline and stick to it. Mistake #2: Having a Messy RoomClutter in your room can translate to having a distracted and cluttered mind. Research has shown that having a messy room can be a huge distraction when you’re trying to work. Thus, if you do your homework in your room, it’s time to get out your cleaning supplies and get busy! Clear out the trash from your room and organize everything else. If you’re unsure about how to do that, always keep in mind the following adage - “a place for everything and everything in its place!” Use this and make your own system or organization, so you know where things are when you need them. Mistake #3: Not Keeping Snacks HandyBe honest with yourself - when you sit down to do homework, how many times do you get up for snacks or even water? Most students get up multiple times an hour to grab something to eat or drink while they are struggling with homework. This disrupts the flow of your thoughts and gets you out of the zone to study. It can take time to get back in the zone and get back your flow. Instead, keep a container of snacks in your room. You can even dedicate a drawer to keeping healthy, low-calorie snacks to keep you from getting up multiple times. Before you sit down to study, bring water or your preferred beverage into your room and keep it close by. Make sure these containers are airtight to avoid ants or other insects. Mistake 4#: Not Getting Help When You Need ItThe point of your homework is to revise your memory of what you learned in class. Homework often is an excellent measure of whether you understood the study material the way it was supposed to be understood. If you find yourself struggling with your homework, it’s usually an indication that you need a little extra help or tutoring in that subject or topic. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can ask anyone to be your homework helper - it can be friends, family, or even teachers you think are approachable. You can even look for homework help online in case these avenues are busy or if you are shy. The internet is an excellent resource you can utilize to keep ahead of your homework schedule. Mistake #5: Being DistractedBeing distracted is one of the most significant factors that’s making you feel that homework is lasting forever. When you are not focused on the task at hand, you only make incremental advancements in finishing it. Thus, you might write a few lines in half an hour when you’re distracted. On the other hand, you might finish your 1000 word assignment in 45 mins if you give the assignment dedicated time and focus.
It can be challenging to focus at home nowadays. Everyone is working or studying from home, and homes are pretty crowded. People can talk, or me in loud meetings, or play video games, or be noisy in general. To prevent these from affecting you, you can play music or invest in a good pair of noise-canceling headphones. You can also choose to work in a quiet area in the house. Often the thought of retiring comes like a flash in mind and sometimes can keep you up all night long. The idea of staying put in the current home all your life can be frightening for some folks. Moving out after retirement is a long-term life goal for most people and can help them live in better conditions and close to the things they love. If you’re nearing retirement, thinking hard about your forever house should be paramount. This house should provide you the peace and warmth that you require to live happily. Now that you’ve done all that you could for other people and your family, it’s time to think about your own happiness. Even if this house is the current one you’re living in, ensure to find things to do to live in it satisfyingly by answering the following questions: Can You Live Far From KidsIf you’re thinking of moving out of your house and going to another region of the country to call home, think about your children. Not that your adult kids will need any help or assistance from you, but your attachment to them may not make you feel entirely happy in the new place. For this reason, be true to yourself and know you’re if you need your children near you or not. If not in the neighborhood, at least have a house where you can easily reach your kids, and they can access you. How Can You Access HealthcareMost options for retirement living are often based far beyond the cities. They may be peaceful and serene but don’t provide the basic necessities of a medical center for miles away. Hence, before choosing a retirement home or apartment to move into, ensure that you know your needs and that you have easy access to them. Prepare a list of facilities you will need to support you as you age and are alone with your spouse. Look for top options to spend your golden years after retirement and live auspiciously. Does It Allow You Activities and HobbiesAfter you move out of your family house and to a great destination across the state, think about what you will do in the free time. This should be a prevalent thought at the top of your mind to help you stretch out your days usefully and happily as you become a free person after retirement. You have the world to explore, try new hobbies that you had wished to, become active, join a cause, etc. Hence don’t just select a location with nice beaches or scenic views, but where there is something for you to pass time efficiently as well. What’s Your Budget?After retirement, you may find things to get a little challenging financially, or you may have a limited amount to spend without a continual job. When searching for your future home for spending retirement years, create an expenses budget for the living expenses and rent. Make sure to downsize on the house, buy only what you need and save the rest of the cash on your recreational and valuable activities. Search Your SurroundingsFor a future home to become your happy abode, you need to have great surroundings and a brimming neighborhood you can grow in. However, if you want your surroundings to be rather peaceful and quiet, validate to get that and not waste your time in the wrong one. Hence if you’re relocating to be near your kin, you must check out the place first for its vibe and if it fits your forever home expectations.
Ask a successful person about the secret of their achievements, and they will point towards the practice of establishing goals. No one can deny the fact that goals play a vital role in the lives of those who strive for success. To reach where you aspire to be, you have to be determined and mindful of how you want your dreams to unfold and of the path that has to be followed in the process. The Importance of Setting Academic GoalsYoung minds are driven by passion and energetic compassion. When this energy isn't coordinated with desired accomplishments, youngsters may fall into the trap of a "comfort zone." You must know that this zone is an enemy of opportunities. Setting goals is the stepping stone in the journey of success. From an academic perspective, you become truly responsible for your actions. When you divide your objectives into smaller break-downs and achieve them one by one, you feel inspired to continue. Since it is the ultimate recipe of success, it instills confidence in you, which translates into more productivity. By establishing clear targets, you also improve your management skills and self-reliance. You should prioritize your tasks based on their significance in the pursuit of your goals. You can save time by hiring a professional for writing a term paper on WritePaper.com if you feel distracted by your college assignments. It will allow you to spend this extra time on more important activities from your action plan. But again, if you don't identify what you need to achieve, you will fail to fulfill your endeavors. In the long run, it will impart a sense of demotivation and unproductivity. Eventually, you will start feeling worthless when you see your peers' attainments. Hence, it is the right time for you to determine your academic objectives and start working towards them. Your triumphs or failures will remind you of your vision and fuel up your ambitions. The smaller milestones will keep you focused and lead you to one accomplishment after another. Are you propelled to set your goals yet? Here's How You Can Go About ItVarious research suggests that students who set goals and abide by them perform well in different areas of their academics, contrary to those who do not determine them. On that note, when you feel pumped up to attain success, you may overburden yourself with excessive tasks. This is undoubtedly the wrong approach. 1. Understand Your AbilitiesInstead of establishing overwhelming and unrealistic goals, you should first understand what corresponds to your capacities. We are not saying that if you rank 20th in your class and desire to jump up to the top, it is unachievable. But if you will directly target the huge leap, you may feel burned out in the process and compelled to give up halfway through. As they say, "there is no shortcut to success." Target a few ranks up in each term or class test. Achieve one milestone at a time and move upwards through hard work and determination. No matter what your eventual aim is, break it down into small achievable objectives based on your current capability. 2. Write Down Your GoalsWhen you are deciding on your academic targets, make a journal and write down what you want to achieve. There are proven psychological effects of such practice. If you are clear about your primary career aspirations, try to connect your goals of the current academic year with that ultimate aim. Once you have jotted down all of it, divide each goal into a set of small aims with dedicating timelines to them. This will give you a clear picture of your progress and will boost your motivation. 3. Create an Action Plan for Each GoalWhen you are certain about your goals, the next step is devising the plan for them. This action plan will help you stick to your aim and assert its attainability. If you like to get a little creative, we recommend that you go the extra mile and create your vision board to keep your goals and action plan in sight whenever you feel that you are drifting away from the set process. 4. Journal Your Success and FailuresJournaling is an important step. While you monitor your progress, you feel accountable for your endeavor. You should also develop a habit of journaling the outcome of your efforts towards each goal, be it an accomplishment or a misfortune. It allows you to review your strengths and weaknesses. You can then work on your weak points to turn them into opportunity magnets. 5. Celebrate Your AccomplishmentsYour triumphs may look trivial but be assured that they are worth celebrating. Acknowledging even small achievements will encourage you to do more. This motivation is the best key to success as no one can bring you down when you are aware of your hard work and its results. ConclusionEvery venture requires proper organization, and the academic sphere is not an exception. Dealing with numerous subjects and assignments at a time may be hard. Thus, you need something to prompt you to continue your education. Established academic goals will not only help you improve your performance; they will also predetermine your chances to build a successful career. Go for it!
The COVID 19 pandemic managed to shake up global economies on a large scale. As a result, low-cost, mostly online business ideas have become the trend. While the entire world is running around trying to fight the effects of the virus, there are several exciting business opportunities one can take advantage of, even from a dorm room. As the pandemic continues, it is less likely that business is going to return to what it was before. For those who are stuck in their dorm rooms, these business ideas will bring some excitement and inspiration, and hopefully some money as well.  Offer Online ServicesServices are generally easier to sell from home as compared to physical goods and commodities. The only challenge that comes with providing services is time. When trying to do as much as you can with limited time, it becomes apparent that the phrase “Time is money” is entirely accurate. One needs to carefully allocate their time when running such a business for it to be profitable. To cope with business and academics, most college students employ essay writing services. It’s not hard to find, a simple google search, “rewrite my essay on EssayPro” will reveal dozens of such services. This helps entrepreneur students maintain high grades as well as focus on their businesses to turn handsome profits. For those who are creatives, i.e. designers and marketers, it’s easy to freelance or consult with various companies. There is also the opportunity to juggle several clients at once since one will be working from home and mostly unsupervised. If services are being offered to individuals directly, it is best to work on an appointment basis and have an organized booking system. Some of the services that one can offer from within a dorm room include the following:
Depending on what service is being offered, just a few high-paying clients can be sufficient to keep the business afloat and support the owner full time. That means not many customers are needed to make a reasonable income, as is the case with most product-based businesses Grow an Audience That Can be MonetizedCreating a business that aims to monetize an audience is an excellent business idea for those who can create engaging content. This idea works even if there’s already a sizable audience. Content can range from videos, pictures, and even blog articles and stories. It’s easy to establish a blog, YouTube channel, podcast, or Twitter account from a dorm. These can then be grown over time and monetized. When the audience is hooked, one can either create their digital product or get into affiliate marketing. With affiliate marketing, revenue is gained when one’s audience purchases a particular product through a dedicated link. There is no confinement when it comes to the number and kind of products that an affiliate marketer can sell. An essential ingredient in this instance would be the audience’s trust. Once an audience trusts the business owner, they can comfortably buy whatever is being advertised on the channel, blog, or social media account without doubts and fears. Besides affiliate marketing, it is also possible to charge brands a fee and run sponsored posts on platforms with a large enough audience. This will give other brands a chance to connect with an audience that has already been established and, therefore, make sales. However, it is essential to note that getting a loyal audience is a time-consuming process, and it requires a lot of focus, strategy, and patience. While it isn’t the easiest or quickest way to make money from the dorm room, it can bring about exciting rewards when done correctly. Once established, there are multiple streams of revenue that can be explored. Teaching Online ClassesIn the case that one has the teaching skill, they can teach an unlimited number of students online. Starting online classes is a good idea for creating revenue whilst in confinement. There are a lot of people online willing to pay to learn a skill. Once one manages to establish trust, which can be done through consistently delivering high-quality services, it becomes easier to grow a following and monetize the audience. Today, there is an audience for almost any subject. Whether it’s a language that one knows or marketing, there will be people willing to pay to learn from a good teacher. When one is teaching online classes, they have the freedom to do it from the comfort of their dorm. They can also decide whether or not they want to do it live, or use pre-recorded lessons that will be sold online. Those who are willing to learn will buy access to these pre-recorded sessions and learn independently, with the option to get in touch with the tutor.  Bottom LineWhile starting a business during the COVID period might not seem like a good idea, turning a handsome profit is pretty easy with the advent of the internet. The most important quality needed for anyone willing to go that route would be an ability to adapt to change and deal with challenges head-on.
By Chelsi Walker Keeping up with regular dental care is much more than just keeping those pearly whites, well, pearly and white. Maintaining your oral health is an important part of keeping yourself in good health overall. Not only can poor oral health lead to further dental issues in the future, it's been linked with serious illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and even dementia. This is why it’s vital for people of all ages, but especially seniors and high risk populations, to have access to adequate, regular dental care. That being said, even preventative care like cleanings can be REALLY expensive, especially if you don’t have dental insurance. A poll conducted by the University of Michigan found that roughly half of seniors lack dental insurance, with cost being the number one variable reported that prevented adults over 65 from seeking the dental care they needed over the prior year. How To Choose Dental Insurance for SeniorsStep 1: Assess What’s Available to You Seniors are left between a rock and a hard place when it comes to dental insurance. While many seniors are eligible for government-sponsored insurance like Medicare, this typically does not include dental care. And while some seniors are still working, many are retired, meaning they don’t have the option for employer-sponsored plans. So what’s left? Some Medicare plans, like Medicare Part A, cover emergency dental care while you’re in the hospital, but waiting until things are that bad isn’t ideal. If you have a plan through a state or federal Marketplace exchange, you may have the option to add dental coverage to your existing plan. If none of the above is available to you, explore other options like private dental insurance for seniors. Step 2: Consider the Level of Care You Need Yes, it's best to cover all your dental care bases with your insurance if possible. But, it's not worth wasting your money on coverage you’ll never use. When choosing a dental plan, look for one that pays for the things you need the most, whether its regular cleanings or more specialized care. If you don’t see a plan within your price range that offers the kind of coverage you’re looking for, it may be time to explore other routes, like a dental discount plan (we’ll touch more on this shortly). Step 3: Compare Your Options to Find Your Perfect Fit Once you have all your possible options laid out in front of you, it's time to do some digging to figure out which one makes the most sense. Ideally, you want to land in the sweet spot between cost and coverage. You’ll want to study the following to get an idea of what works best:
Step 4: Choose Your Plan or Consider Alternatives Now that you have all the information you need to make an informed decision, it's time to pick your plan. And, using this guide, be sure you shop around each year when the time comes to make sure you’re still getting the best deal.
Can’t find a plan that works, or don’t think it's worth the expense? There are some viable alternatives to dental insurance, like a dental discount plan. There are typically monthly or yearly subscription plans that reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Your dental care provider may also offer financing options or payment plans, so make sure you discuss these things with your dentist one-on-one.  Are you having trouble paying all your debts as they exceed your financial capacity? Are you having difficulty with organizing your payments, and you often lose track of them and end up missing the payment schedule? This scenario is common among individuals who have multiple debts. If you are among the people experiencing this issue, then it is time for you to consider a debt consolidation. Debt consolidation is basically taking up a new loan to pay off all your existing loans. Although it sounds like a risk rather than a solution, debt consolidation can have a positive impact. To know what debt consolidation can do for you, below are some of the benefits for individuals considering this solution. Turn Multiple Debts Into OneDo you have multiple debts that are still active? Turning your multiple debts into one loan means you will only have to pay a single, usually monthly, payment for all of your debts. It can make repaying all your debts easy and result in a lower monthly payment than paying each of your debts separately. This monthly payment savings is due to the longer payment period of the loan you take to consolidate your debt. When you consolidate all your debts, you will no longer have to worry about several monthly payments being on time, varying interest rates, etc. All of your loans are consolidated into one payment, which hopefully, also has the benefit of a low interest rate. Lower Interest RateWhat is best about a debt consolidation loan is that you will have to pay a lesser interest rate than the combined interest rates you are paying for all of your existing debts. Plus, debt consolidation loans offer a lower interest rate compared to other loan options. Reduce The Stress You Are ExperiencingHaving too many debts will keep your mind overwhelmed thinking about the repayments of each debt. Opting to consolidate your loan into one loan will reduce this overthinking, and you will start to feel less stressed knowing you are working on eliminating your debt. You will feel more in control over your debts, and you can now easily track and manage your debt. You will also notice a positive impact on your finances once you regain control over your debts, and you will be able to repay in no time. Improve Your Credit ScoreConsolidating your debts by taking up a personal loan will help you boost your credit score in the long run. It will only take a few months before you start to see an improvement in your credit score when you take a debt consolidation loan. This improvement is a result of a reduction in your credit utilization rate. Be reminded that you will notice a sudden drop in your credit score when you apply for the loan, but this is just temporary. Normally, your credit score will drop after you acquire a new loan. Focus on the long-term benefit of this action though, as it will greatly help you pay off all your debts. Pay Off Your Debts FasterCredit cards usually take a long time to be fully paid as credit cards earn interest depending on how much you owe. Credit card companies usually don’t care if you pay it off for less than five years or even 20 years. And the longer you take in paying it fully, the higher the accumulated interest rate becomes. When you pay it off one-time using the money you acquire from a debt consolidation loan, you will put an end to your accumulating interest rate, and you still save more money over time. Before you apply for a debt consolidation loan, you should make a debt management plan first. Consider all factors such as the total amount of your debts plus respective interest rates, what kind of loan to take, and where to take the loan. If you recently closed your bank account, it would be a bit complicated for you as you will have a limited option due to the given circumstances. In this case, you can look up lenders where you can get a cash advance with no bank account. However, you still have multiple options like pawn shop loans, title loans, or acquiring the cash from a family or friend. The choice is yours so choose wisely and make sure that the option you select will help you solve your problem and not add to it. Start Making Your Finances BetterHaving multiple debts is a hindrance to obtaining financial freedom. It can also lead to bankruptcy, which is a situation no one wants to end up in. Now that you are presented with a solution to your problem, it is time to start acting to manage your debt. Shop around for the best personal loan offer that you can acquire to consolidate all your monthly debt payments into one loan.
For now, it’s known as the “new normal” and it affects everything from how we connect with others to how we do our shopping. It’s affecting healthcare too - particularly when you’re tasked with caring for an ailing or elderly loved one. Just as many of us are struggling with lack of contact with friends and family, a lot of the support systems we previously relied on are more hands-off than they were in the past. If this is you, here are some tips to help you provide the best care you can safely, diligently, and without much of the help you may previously have relied on. 1. If at all Possible, Keep Your Patient at HomeMany hospitals have been overwhelmed with a flood of Covid-19 cases, pushing healthcare workers to the limits. And, though hospices aren’t usually associated with the care of patients with infectious illness, there are things to know about hospice care during the pandemic. Of the greatest concern to you as a family member will be the lack of access to a loved one who may be nearing the end of his or her life. But with vulnerable patients to protect, hospices need to limit the number of potential carriers through their doors - and this means you. Clearly, there are times when you must resort to hospitals or hospices, but it’s best to limit this to emergencies you can’t handle at home or instances in which you are unable to provide the care your loved one needs. 2. Postpone Minor ProceduresAsk your doctors whether it’s possible to postpone procedures without aggravating conditions to the point where treatment is complicated. You should also weigh the amount of inconvenience, discomfort, and loss of quality of life that a postponement will cause. For example, if a person can’t see because of cataracts, it might be worth going ahead with treatment. 3. Adhere to Best PracticeBy now we all know the safety protocols. Avoid crowds, try to limit shopping expeditions as far as possible, sanitize, wash hands, wear a mask. When caring for an infirm person, your primary concerns are staying healthy so that you’re in a position to be there for them, and avoiding a situation in which you carry the disease to your patient. You may have to make some tough calls. A person nearing the end of their life will want to see other family members, and it’s up to you to decide what the rules of engagement would be. As a matter of opinion, it would be wise to check whether prospective visitors have been adhering to safe behaviors themselves. And, as a minimum, visitors should be required to wear their masks and sanitize their hands on arrival. Remember to take Care of Yourself TooIn closing, remember that your physical and mental health are important to both you and the person you care for. Eat healthy food, use stress-relieving techniques, and stay in remote contact with people who will be supportive. Caring for a loved one who is ill is a difficult task at the best of times - and this is certainly not among the most favorable times to do so. However, this too, shall pass. Hang in there!
Getting old can be quite scary for many people. There are so many unknown aspects to it, as well as the higher risks when it comes to . . . well, everything, really. Everything seems to be more complicated as you enter your golden age. As we age, we tend to face more struggles in terms of our health, our safety, and even our finances. That’s why it’s so important to take the precautions necessary in order to ensure you live your life to the fullest, while still being safe and happy. Get help with financesAs we get older, we need to rely on people more and more. It’s a sad truth, but it’s a truth, nonetheless. This may be hard if you’re a very independent or private person, but that doesn’t change the fact that you need to get help, especially when it comes to finances. Unfortunately, many people take advantage of older people, especially financially. Elder financial abuse is growing more prevalent as finances and technology become intertwined. You can either get professional help, such as a personal banker, or you can ask someone you know and trust to help you out. Go for more frequent check-upsWe all know that everyone is supposed to go for check-ups on a regular basis, but we also know that most people tend to wait until something is actually wrong before going to the doctor. Sadly, this isn’t an option when you grow older. As we age, our risk for certain health problems will increase, which means that the frequency of our check-ups also needs to increase. Frequent check-ups will hopefully mean that any health issues will be caught in time for them to be treated. You might find this wellness check-up schedule for seniors helpful. DownscaleThis is the part about growing old that a lot of people have trouble coming to terms with. Of course, if you already live in a small place that is safe and easy to manage, this may not be applicable to you. However, it is unrealistic for older people to live in houses filled with stairs, or houses that require a lot of maintenance. You can do this in steps – move into a smaller house, then a townhouse, then an apartment . . . you get the idea. Downscaling does not always mean moving into a retirement home, it just means making life easier for you as you get older. Set up a willNo one likes thinking about a time where we will be separated from our loved ones, but this tends to be a thought that’s on the forefront of our minds more and more as we age. Of course, death can happen to anyone, no matter their age, but it feels like much more of a reality once you hit a certain age. That’s why it’s a good idea to set up a will. This will help you feel more at ease about what will happen to your loved ones if anything should happen to you.
When you enter your 30s, ideally, your life is starting to get more settled than it was in the previous decade. You might have stumbled around a little before finding the right career track, but by now, you are probably moving along in your chosen line of work. Over the course of your 30s, you may marry, buy a home and start a family. This is a decade of great change, in which you may find yourself in a very different place at the end of it than you did at the beginning. The financial decisions you make at this time will have repercussions in the decades that follow. Not Saving for RetirementAt 30, retirement can seem an impossibly long time away. At 39, it might seem a little closer, but at that point you've lost more than a decade of potential investments. Even if you plan to work into your 70s, you should start maxing out your retirement account. It's even better if your employer matches your contributions, but even if that isn't the case, the contributions you make now have many years to compound in value and will be worth a great deal in the years ahead. Missing Out on Refinancing Student LoansYou can save on your monthly expenses if you refinance student loans. Even better, you may be able to pay off those loans entirely by the end of the decade. With just a few minutes of research, you can find out whether you are eligible for a lower rate. This can cut years off of the payments you make, and you'll be well ahead of your peers, some of whom will still be making loan payments into their 40s, 50s and beyond. Running Up Credit Card DebtIn your 30s, you can really start to feel the crunch of your financial responsibilities, especially if you become a homeowner and start a family. Unfortunately, alongside that, you may also wish that you had more money for both the necessities and little luxuries of life, and it can be tough to watch your peers spending without being able to do the same. However, you should really resist the temptation to put changes on your credit card. Interest rates with credit card companies are very high, and you will be surprised at how quickly the balance grows even if you just use it a few times per month. It can be easy to suddenly find yourself struggling to keep up with minimum payments and watching a ballooning balance. It's better to keep credit cards for emergencies or have a plan to pay them off monthly. Being Financially DisorganizedAt this point in your life, you should know how to make a budget and stick to it. You should be filing your taxes on time and have an emergency fund that you keep replenished when you have to dip into it. You should also be paying down debt instead of accumulating it. The exception to this is a home mortgage. This is also a good time to start a relationship with a financial professional who can help you with creating an investment strategy based on your long-term goals.
By Kathryn Flynn Despite what you read in the headlines, student loan debt isn’t just a Millennial problem. According to a study from Fidelity, Baby Boomers saw the biggest increase in student loan debt balances from 2019-2020 (33%), outpacing all other generations. Student loan debt is a financial burden at any age, but it can be particularly harmful later in life. Excessive debt can hinder plans for a comfortable retirement and could force Boomers to stay in the workforce longer. Older borrowers also risk losing their social security benefits if they default on a student loan. Fortunately, there are ways to tackle student loan debt so that you don’t tarnish your golden years. Here are some tips on how to pay off your balance faster. RefinanceDepending on which type student loans you have, it might make sense to refinance. When you refinance, you borrow a new loan with a lower interest rate to pay for your existing loans. This will reduce the amount of interest you pay over the life of your loan, which can help you pay off the balance faster. If you took out a student loan to pay for your child’s education, you may be able to refinance the loan in their name. That way you are relieved of the debt and your child can start paying for their own degree. Keep in mind, however, that federal loans can only be refinanced into new private loans. This means you’ll no longer be eligible for repayment plans and forgiveness options that are only available for federal student loans. Make Extra PaymentsA large loan balance can be intimidating, so sometimes it’s best to start small. Consider making a few extra payments throughout the year that can be applied to the principal balance. This will lower the amount of interest you’ll pay and can shorten the length of your loan. Making just one extra payment a year can make a big difference over time. In March 2020 the Department of Education started a COVID emergency relief program where all federal student loans were temporarily placed into administrative forbearance with a temporary interest rate of 0%. You can take advantage of this by making principal-only payments, which reduce the amount of interest you pay. The payment pause and interest waiver is in effect until at least September 30, 2021. Automate Your PaymentsAutomating payments is a proven way to pay off debt. Some student lenders even offer a discounted interest rate for borrowers who set up auto payments (typically 0.25%). This strategy is often referred to as “set it and forget it”, because that’s exactly what you do. Simply link your bank account to your student loan account, and your payments are automatically sent each month. Stop Being a CosignerBeing a cosigner is one of the ways parents help their children pay for college. Private student loans typically require a cosigner when borrowers don’t have steady income and good credit. But what parents might not realize is that if the borrower stops paying the loan the cosigner becomes responsible for the balance. Parents should consider applying for a cosigner release once their child enters the workforce. Claim a Tax DeductionEligible student loan borrowers may claim a federal tax deduction for up to $2,500 of student loan interest paid during a given tax year. The deduction applies to interest paid on federal and private student loans, with a maximum tax savings of $550 per borrower. For tax year 2020, the student loan interest deduction is available to borrowers with modified adjusted gross incomes below $85,000 ($170,000 if filing jointly). Get Help from Your EmployerEmployer student loan repayment assistance programs (LRAPs) are growing in popularity. A 2019 survey from the Society for Human Resource Management found that 8% of companies offer this type of employee benefit, up from 4% in 2018 and 3% in 2015. Typically, employers who offer an LRAP make monthly student loan payments directly to the lenders, up to a cumulative limit or until the entire balance is paid off. Payments from LRAPs used to be treated as taxable income to the employee, but in 2020 the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) made the benefit tax-free. Use Your Home EquityOlder borrowers may be able to borrow a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) to pay off student loans. A HELOC is a second mortgage that works like a line of credit. And since your home is used as collateral, you typically pay lower interest rates compared to other types of loans. To qualify for a HELOC, borrowers must have at least 15% to 20% equity in their home, a good credit score, a debt-to-income ratio of 43% or lower and stable income. Use Leftover 529 Plan MoneyParents and grandparents with leftover 529 plan funds may take a tax-free distribution to pay student loans. This benefit is available to 529 plan beneficiaries and their siblings, so you may have to make yourself the beneficiary before you withdraw. Tax-free withdrawals for student loan repayments have a lifetime limit of $10,000 per borrower.
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