How many times in a day do you find yourself feeling completely exhausted as a man? You might be experiencing mental exhaustion. 

Mental exhaustion is a misunderstood disorder that can be caused by a number of things, including tiredness from lack of sleep, stress at work or home, and overworking your brain. 

In this blog post, we will discuss 11 reasons why men experience mental exhaustion and break down the symptoms so you can pinpoint what's causing yours!

1. Poor Diet
   Do you skip breakfast and lunch? While it may be a habit for some, this can result in mental exhaustion later on in the day because your body is hungry and fatigued! Eating regularly throughout the day fuels your brain and body. 
   If you find yourself feeling mentally exhausted between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm, this may be why.
   
   
2. Chronic Illness
   If you are dealing with a chronic illness, it can be very taxing on your mental health. Chronic illnesses can cause obstructive sleep apnea, which may result in lowering your testosterone levels. If you are feeling mentally exhausted, talk to your doctor about how to manage your illness better. 
   As a man, you can boost your testosterone levels by using testosterone supplements.
   
   
3. Lack of Enough Sleep
   Did you know that the average person needs 8 hours of sleep to maintain mental stability? According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per night.
   Studies have also shown that sleep deprivation can cause sluggishness, forgetfulness, and irritability. If you constantly lack enough sleep night after night, you will become mentally exhausted sooner than later. Try to get an average of 6-8 hours of sleep per night.
   
   
4. Poor Work/Life Balance
   Do you work a lot and have a family to take care of? While this is not an easy schedule to balance, you need more time for yourself outside of work. Work/life balance can help prevent stress from affecting your mental health because it allows more time for recreation and fun! 
   If you think lack of time might be causing some mental exhaustion, try adding in a couple of "me" time hours over the weekend to help rejuvenate your mind.
   
   
5. Overworking Your Brain
   When you are trying to do too much at once, you are likely going to experience mental exhaustion. Do not focus on tasks that will be hard for your brain because they can cause stress.
   For example, if you are trying to do a crossword puzzle and have a conversation with someone, you will not be able to focus on either task very well. Try doing one thing at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed and mentally exhausted.
   
   
6. Depression
   Depression is a mental disorder that can lead to feelings of sadness, emptiness, and despair. If you are feeling down and having trouble feeling happy, it can be a sign that you are depressed.
   However, other symptoms of depression include fatigue, restlessness or loss of energy, insomnia, weight change or loss or gain due to eating too much or not enough, and other physical problems such as back pain and digestive issues.
   
   
7. Laziness
   Do you find yourself spending your days on the couch watching TV or playing video games? While it is okay to take a break once in a while, you should not overdo it because mentally, working out by learning new things is just as crucial for your brain. If you are constantly indulging in activities that do not require much thinking, you are more likely to feel mentally exhausted.

Conclusion
Mental exhaustion can be caused by a number of things, including diet, lifestyle, and illness. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, it is important to talk to a doctor about what might be causing it. Mental exhaustion can lead to other mental health disorders if left untreated. 

Try to get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, and avoid overworking your brain. 

Retirement can be an enjoyable time in your life, but it can also be a time that you welcome and embrace change. Just because you have retired from a previous career or occupation, it does not mean that you cannot embark on something new. No matter what age you are, you still have the time and the opportunities available to embark on a new career path. A second, or even third career is perfectly acceptable, so what are you waiting for? What is holding you back from embarking on a new career?

​Perhaps you retired earlier than you wanted to, or maybe you retired from a previous career or occupation because you were no longer getting the satisfaction or rewards that you needed. Whatever your reasons for retiring, it is essential to realize that they change, and you’re thinking changes too. Retirement can last a long time, and if you feel that you have more to offer, you will end up feeling like you have never realized your full potential. You need to step out of retirement to make a difference, and you need to embark on a new journey that is unfulfilled.

Retirement can make you feel old, and it can age you unnecessarily. If you feel that you can add something (or bring something) to the world of nursing, then age is truly a number that must be overcome. Far too often, numbers are spun out negatively, and this can leave you feeling like you have to be in a career by a certain age, perhaps when you are in your 30’s or 40’s. However, this is simply not true, there is no upper age limit by which you must abide by when it comes to starting a new career such as nursing, and as a result, you are never too “old” to start on a new and exciting journey.

​Of course, you want to plan out your journey into nursing to ensure that it is successful and as smooth as possible. When you take time out to plan, you can ensure that you fit in everything you want to (and need to) within a timescale that works for you. Having a plan to follow can also give you more control and power over the route you are taking. It can also give you guidance and direction, perhaps for those times when you feel that you don’t know which direction to go in and why. To successfully plan for a new journey, you have to think about your end goal. What do you want to achieve, and by when? Once you have established what your end goal is, you can then begin working backwards to ensure success.

Within nursing, experience is key, and it is valuable too. Whether you have personal experience or knowledge of nursing and healthcare, or whether you are a newbie, your life experience and life skills matter. Being able to speak to a wide variety of patients (of all ages) and being able to relate and empathize with patients and with what they are going through will help you become a successful nurse. Your life experience and your knowledge can come into use during everyday situations and scenarios when you are working, and it can also be useful too when you are studying for your nursing qualifications. Do not dismiss your previous experiences as they may help you push your new career forwards in the right direction.

Over the years, you have built up a skill set that is hard to beat, and this is another reason why you need to embark on a new journey. Your skillset that has been developed and enhanced over several years will come into use within a nursing career. Skills such as great communication are essential, as too are the time-management skills you have acquired over time. Writing down and then breaking down your skillset will show you that you are well equipped to handle the roles and responsibilities that come with a nursing position.

It is always nice to know that you are wanted, and within nursing and healthcare, you can be sure that this is true. With increasing population numbers comes increasing demand, and this is something that has never been clearer or truer. Populations growing and even living longer has meant that healthcare workers and nurses are in high demand. When you undertake a role that is highly in demand, you can be sure that you will be fairly compensated and remunerated for your efforts. Although nursing is not about the financial rewards, it is nice knowing that you are being fairly compensated for your time and efforts.

Returning to education and gaining new skills and qualifications can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be daunting. Learning and education can be fun, rewarding, and enjoyable. There are lots of accelerated nursing programs online that you can undertake and complete quickly from the comfort of your own home around your existing commitments. Pushing yourself and absorbing a lot of new information can keep you feeling young, and it can keep you feeling focused too.

​A new career in nursing is beneficial to you, but it will also be beneficial to others too. As a nursing professional, you will be aiding and assisting others within their care and rehabilitation. Having an impact on patients care and also having an impact on their lives will leave a lasting impact on your life and your journey too. Knowing that you can make a difference in the lives of others and being prepared to make a change will leave you feeling fulfilled in many ways.

When you reach the age of 65, prudent, low-risk investment becomes more essential. It directly influences your retirement and the legacy you pass to family members.
Gold IRAs are among the numerous low-risk investment options available to seniors. These unique retirement accounts enable you to invest in gold instead of more conventional assets such as equities and bonds. Many companies also offer these retirement accounts, such as the Oxford Gold Group and others like it.

Find out more about gold IRAs, including how they function and the best uses for them in this comprehensive guide.

A gold IRA is a special kind of individual retirement account (IRA) that allows for the ownership of gold bullion. Additionally, investors may use a gold IRA to acquire real estate, artwork, and more.

It's worth noting that you can't possess real gold in a traditional IRA, unlike gold IRAs. However, you may invest in a number of gold-related assets such as stocks of gold mining firms or gold exchange-traded funds. A gold IRA is also like a traditional IRA, but with the additional advantage of providing you better control in your investments.

A gold IRA requires a broker to purchase the gold. It also requires a custodian to establish and manage the account. This custodian will keep or retain your physical bullion in a secure environment.

A custodian refers to an IRS-approved firm or bank that manages these accounts and handles all of the paperwork. They help you open an account and walk you through the whole investment process.

After you've opened and financed your account, you'll select the precious metals you’d like to acquire and the dealer from whom you like to acquire them. Custodians don't pre-select a dealer for their clients. However, experienced custodians may be glad to offer their list of dealers around the nation.

After selecting your precious metals and dealer, you may instruct your custodian to purchase the metals with the funds from your account. Once you acquire your metals, they must be transferred and stored in an IRS-approved depository. As part of the process, your custodian can direct you to an accredited institution and manage the gold transfer for you.

There are also fees in opening and maintaining a gold IRA. Custodians and depositories charge different fees for gold IRAs. If you want to obtain the greatest rate, check at least a few suppliers and custodians before opening an account.

Funding your gold IRA is simple after you've opened an account. Moreover, it can be done in several ways:

• IRA Transfer: You may transfer money from another retirement account to a new one. You just have to notify your existing 401k provider of this request. Then, they’ll move the money to your new account.
• IRA Rollover: You may also withdraw cash straight from your existing 401k or IRA to the new gold IRA. Remember that you must deposit the money within two months or 60 days to avoid being charged an early withdrawal penalty. 
• Cash Contribution: Additionally, you may fund your gold IRA with cash or a wire transfer. Bear in mind that there are yearly contribution caps. Contributions over specified limitations will incur a penalty.

Seniors may benefit from gold IRAs in the same way that younger individuals can. The only difference is you may increase your yearly contribution. You may invest $1,000 more as a senior compared to the younger investors.

As long as you're 70.5 years old or older by the year 2020, you're allowed to continue making payments indefinitely. Gold IRA contributions might be an excellent way to increase and protect your money throughout those years.

Don't forget to consider that even though you may begin receiving distributions at the age of 59.5 without incurring a penalty, you may opt not to. If you want to hold onto your gold for the long term, you have until the age of 72 to do so. At that point, you must begin collecting contributions as mandated by IRS regulations.

If you're interested in a low-risk strategy to invest your money, gold IRAs might be an excellent option. Not only would they safeguard your retirement assets from market fluctuations associated with equities and other conventional investments, but they may provide the opportunity for gradual and steady growth.

If you pick a reliable custodian, you should also have a few concerns regarding physical security and fraud. Furthermore, gold IRAs may act as a hedge against inflation, which is becoming an increasing issue as the economy improves from the pandemic.
​
However, like other investments, Gold IRAs fluctuate in value due to market instability triggered by a number of circumstances. While gold retains its value in our culture, the value of gold does experience ups and downs.

​Since everyone's retirement goals and financial circumstances are unique, consider this guide with a dose of skepticism. In addition, keep in mind that previous success doesn’t guarantee future results.

As the retirement age window continues to expand thanks to medical and lifestyle improvements, we’ve had to start seeing retirement in a completely new light. People are living longer, and that means their retirement funds need to sustain them a lot longer too. Many people also don’t want to stop working or taking part in business ventures just because they aren’t in the traditional workforce anymore. 

If you’re looking for a way to earn money, one of the best channels is real estate. Real estate investing is a simple way to earn more money, give yourself financial freedom, and even help your children with college tuition or their own business ventures. 

The only challenge is, for most people the idea of investing in property sounds expensive and quite daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. There are some simple strategies you can get started with that don’t require a lot of money. Here are a few. 

Wholesaling has gained a lot of attention as an investment strategy in the last year. Actually, if you search the term in Google Trends, you’ll discover that interest in it has skyrocketed. For people looking for an easier way to step into the world of investing, it’s a great model to consider, but what exactly is wholesaling and how do people make money with it? When wholesaling, you would look for a discounted property, put the house under contract, find a new buyer, and then charge the buyer a fee. What makes this model so great is that you’re usually looking for distressed properties which have become a burden for the owner and taking it off their hands, and then you get to earn your profit without even renovating or flipping the home. It’s a more hands-off investment strategy, making it perfect for retirees who want to jump into real estate without massive projects that last months and months.

How do people leverage the equity they have in one home into multiple rental properties? They use a method known as BRRRR, which stands for buy-renovate-rent-refinance-repeat. People use the equity in another home to basically recycle their capital and then apply it to buying more homes. If it's done with good business sense, it actually gives you the opportunity to scale up quickly, and build a solid portfolio without putting a whole lot of money down. If you have a mortgage already, you could use your equity to fund your BRRRR strategy. Using a reverse mortgage calculator, you can find out how much you can get, and use that to get a massive investment into your portfolio.

​You don’t have to actually have a house on a property to earn money from it. Many investors would rather not deal with the hassle of property taxes, tenants and other challenges that come with rentals, so they decide to just buy and sell vacant land. Land is great because for starters, you don’t need a whole lot of capital to get started, and all it takes to find investments is to drive around the outskirts of your city, spot some land, research the owner and contact them to make an offer. You can sell the land to developers, or you can hold it for the long haul so that the land value increases. Land is an often-overlooked strategy that actually works well for people who would rather not deal with the headaches of being a landlord.

Not every investor can easily get a loan from the bank in order to fund their deals. What most of them do is find people in their circles who would want to be their private lenders. If you have some cash, you can become one of these private lenders, and invest in real estate without having to do the heavy lifting. By just providing the money they need, you can earn an amazing return with relatively low effort, and if you’re working with someone who is really good at what they do, they can grow your investment across multiple deals. It’s another great way to take part in investing without the challenges of doing it full time.

The great thing about all the methods mentioned is that you can get started without prior experience by investing in coaching and educational programs that leverage the knowledge of other people. Finding the information you need is as simple as doing a Google search, watching a few YouTube videos, and signing up for a program. This is where you’ll get the support that will set you up for success.

When the time comes to retire from work, your entire outlook on life will change. No longer will you have the (relatively straightforward) purpose of working to pay the bills and put food on the table; you will now have to fill your days with new pursuits.

On the one hand, this is a fantastic opportunity - and what you have worked your entire career for. It is the golden opportunity to see more of the world, pursue your favorite hobbies, spend more time with your loved ones and step back from the workplace stresses.

However, once the novelty has worn off, you will soon discover that you will have vast swathes of empty time, which you are just not used to having at your disposal. It is easy at this stage to age considerably as boredom and purposelessness set in.

Naturally, this is not a healthy way to lead your life, so you must find ways of injecting novelty into your life. 

Here are five ways to entertain yourself during your retirement:

If you have always been into card games or fancy spicing up your retirement, then you could learn how to play online poker using legal US poker sites. 

While it is important to treat pursuits such as online poker with respect, it can be a great way of injecting excitement into your life. 

When you are busy working hard and trying to sustain a household, then it is nigh on impossible to indulge in watching lots of movies, television shows, and reading books.

However, once you retire, you can soak up far more culture - whether it is watching the best that cinema has to offer or reading a collection of novels that have been on your reading list for an eternity.

​Similarly, if you love music, you will listen to far more of it. Enjoying a fulfilling retirement is as much about staying mentally fresh as it is about slowing down, so you may want to keep abreast of new music, as well as enjoy the classics. 

When you retire, your social circle can easily dry up. You no longer see work colleagues on a daily basis, and you may have lost contact with old friends.

It might be worth hosting dinner parties for your friends, neighbors, and family to keep your social life buzzing and your confidence afloat. This gives you a day to look forward to and helps entertain you during your retirement years.

​The pandemic has been a rough period for many of us. However, it has been a particularly dissociative nightmare for the service sector. 

There was a distinct lack of continuity — a complete overhaul of the work process and several far-reaching changes that are still in play. 

Employees have had to adjust to a new working process without dropping their productivity levels. This consistent pressure has undoubtedly made a distinct mark on their mental health situation. 

It has necessitated the institution of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) as a practical measure to reduce employee pressures, decrease turnover rates, and increase overall productivity.

The constant threat of downsizing and complete isolation from a normal work environment has a drastic impact on most employees. 

Depression and anxiety about their work takes on a completely different meaning in the light of these additional factors.
 
The EAP is quite simply in place to help the employees deal with all the problems that directly affect their professional performance. The program offers counselling and workable solutions to the main issues that are causing the employee anxiety and stress particularly regarding their work.
 
Expert consultation helps tem workout the problem that is at the root of the pressure and deal with it effectively to move forward with a healthy work life balance.
 
EAP programs can offer actionable assistance to the employees in multiple ways. This includes: 

• Financial assistance
• Counselling for better work relationships
• Advice for improving work performance
• Counselling for work related mental health challenges
• Assistance with child and elder members care
• Counselling and Rehab programs for substance abuse 

Establishing EAP counselling has influenced at a deep statistical level. In fact, since its inception, the programs have been tracked by some competent surveys to reveal some astounding results. 

Vision counselling has taken a survey of 1000 EAP clients over a period of 6 weeks to document.

• 45% improvement in overall work-life management skills after the programs started operations.
• 86% improvement in the emotional health conditions for employees struggling with personal issues that have a direct effect on their jobs.

Capterra ran a survey of employees with an admitted burnout syndrome where the work pressure drained their mental and physical health conditions. Shockingly, only 54% of these employees had access to any kind of employee assistance counselling or support programs.
According to a research report by SHRM, almost 78% of the employers in the US had some form of EAPs already running to provide counseling assistance to the employees by the year 2018. 
​
In your quest to build a high performance company culture, you cannot leave employee healthcare and especially mental health out of the equation. 

The installation of EAP counselling can further enhance whatever efforts you already have in place for employee support within the company.
 
It is a problem-solving provision that can show an extensive effect within a very short time. 

Most employees have admitted to positive outcomes within a few sessions of this specialized service. The EAP counsellor can also refer the individual employees to more long-term care where indicated by the symptoms.
 
Having a professional focused on helping your employees deal with their personal and mental health issues, removes the guesswork regarding the professional concerns that these issues might invoke.
 
That is a powerful reason for starting an EAP for your company. However, even beyond that, assistance programs are essential in many ways that are more comprehensive.
 
Here we discuss the three most compelling reasons to have an employee assistance program within your company work culture immediately.
 
So, let's dive right in!

Employee assistance programs are focused on the health care and wellbeing of the employees. It represents care the company places on the employees. 

Even apart from the counselling benefits, the mere establishment of the EAP is a restatement that the company values its employees even beyond the 9 to 5 work call.
 
This feeling of being valued is in itself a positive outcome of the EAPs, which invokes more trust and solidarity from the employees. They are less likely to skip the work calls or mark absence during stressful days.
 
From an organization's point of view, EAPs solve major situations, which can create further problems in the future. 

The EAPs should have a format to allow employees to raise their own concerns with regards to the work systems in place.
 
For instance, during the COVID situation where work from home was a necessity, it was impossible for employees to maintain the same work hours as the office.
 
EAPs can help in such a situation where employees have a forum to speak about their individual problems. The same solution might not apply for all types of situations. However, a custom solution that can be adjusted in different margins can evolve to help for different situations.
 
For instance, the total work hours can be distributed in weekdays and weekend patterns that suit employees individually. However, a weekly or daily common meetup can help consolidate all work processes in one setup.
 
This can help address individual employee concerns regarding the work hours that suit their productivity cycles, liabilities at home and responsibilities of work-life balance. These factors can be professionally measured under expert supervisor within an EAP counselling session. 

​Toxic work atmosphere where the focus is only on production and operations without placing any effort towards cultivating the brainstorming and inception phases is set to fail in the long term.
 
If your work culture has not evolved to a standard where the employees feel more accepted, heard and their ideas are valued, you are not leaving room for any innovation.
 
In such a scenario, a stagnation will set in at some point, which will further reduce your company’s performance against competitors in the market. Without enforcing a calmer atmosphere, you cannot expect your employees to remain under stable productive cycles.
 
They are not machines after all, and even if you do consider them as such, EAPs can become your pit stops for regular conditioning of your employees.
 
For instance, in a service sector company, the days around the major festivals and celebrations are clearly more hectic than regular days. However, your employees have to put up their best faces during this situation to keep assisting the consumers through their issues during the festivities.
 
You also have to take into account that the company is only able to provide the service during these days at the cost of your employees sacrificing their own personal commitments during these days.
 
These adjustments might manifest as fallouts and setbacks in their own personal lives, which can then trigger issues in the company. If the employees do not take a regular break on these festivals and then work the rest of the year on a normal attendance, their work life balance is impossibly skewed towards work.
 
EAP counselling can help determine the tendency and severity of the fallouts for each individual employee. While announcing mandatory leaves for all employees is a positive step, you can further curtail leaves and working hours for different employees with specific situations.
 
You can only determine the need for such customization when the employees have a platform like EAP to voice their situations aloud to an expert.

The work environment has always been a second family for most long-term employees. They invest their emotional and mental efforts to help move their corporate family forward in the industry.

However, if the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that a trauma can affect all aspects of your life sometimes.
 
When an individual is under a trauma, it can have far-reaching implications for all aspects of their lives. A work trauma will not be limited to your working environment and a personal trauma will affect your work as well.

While many shy away from asking for professional counselling when coping with a personal loss or trauma, having an in-house expert onboard your company makes this help much more accessible.
 
Even for hospitals that were dealing with the worst aftermath of the COVID control, post-traumatic stress disorder experts were included within the employee assistance programs to provide counselling for grief, trauma and exhaustion for the doctors.
 
This kind of assistance is also important for all work environments where the employees have to deal with life threatening risks at a close vantage point.
 
Soldiers and Media veterans are often in need of trauma counselling particularly if they are to cover war or calamity ridden areas under their assignment.

​EAPs are a systematic approach to help employees cope with very personal issues. It acknowledges that companies share the responsibility of a wholesome life and creating a balance between work and life for their employees.
 
It helps remove the isolation placed on employees by the various work styles that are now in place due to necessity. 

Establishing a successful EAP can have positive results for all companies regardless of the sector. However, you will have to adjust the content for your programs depending on the most pressing needs of your field.
 
Happy employees are more likely to give their best and beyond through their working capabilities. Thus, the company can move forward as a single entity cutting more strongly against competitions.

As a parent, you desire to help your children in every possible way. But the high cost of college tuition makes it difficult for retirees to sponsor their children’s education. When you started retirement planning, you may not have considered the possibility that your kids would need your help. Luckily, there are ways to help your kids with college tuition as a retired parent.

A college savings plan will help you anticipate your child’s college needs and make early provisions even before they gain college admission. A 529 plan, also called a qualified tuition plan, is one popular way that encourages you to save for your child’s future college costs.

529 plans are tax-free and allow you to regularly save significant amounts of money for your kid’s college needs. You can easily withdraw the money when it’s time to pay for college expenses like tuition, textbooks, and accommodation. 529 plans come in different types, and the benefits and rules attached to each type vary by state. So, try to read up on your state’s offer and how the savings add up over time before choosing a plan.

Though you’re retired, you can help your child with college tuition by taking out a loan. One loan option is a federal loan, and your child must fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form to get this loan. This form determines your child’s eligibility for federal college loans and other types of government aid. If your child is a minor, you’ll be responsible for filling out a part of the FAFSA form, and you’ll need to provide your financial information.

Completing the FAFSA form and submitting it through the Federal Student Aid website will open you to the possibility of a Parent PLUS loan. Parent PLUS loans are federal loans available to parents or legal guardians of college students. The application requires that you consent to a credit check. So, you should have a satisfactory credit score to qualify for this loan.
​
Alternatively, you can opt for private loans to pay for your child’s college tuition. When you apply, a lender will typically ask for your financial documents like gross annual income, Social Security number, latest tax return, and a list of your assets. Unlike private loans, Parent Plus loans have more flexible repayment options that allow you to pay less monthly. But this can extend your loan term.

Grants are an excellent way to fund college expenses as they don’t require repayment. There are several grant options for your kid, including those from the federal and state governments. To apply, your child should complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form. The information they provide on the form will be used to calculate their EFC (Expected Family Contribution). An EFC is the amount of financial support for college your child is presumed to get from family.

Your child can qualify for a Federal Pell Grant, awarded to college students based on financial need. The FAFSA determines the financial need, and this grant is usually awarded to college students with the lowest EFCs. If granted, your child must fill out a new FAFSA form at the beginning of each calendar year.

An Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) is another federal grant option for your child. It is awarded based on need and merit to first-year college students and sophomores. Your kid should have a high GPA to qualify for this grant. They can also apply for the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) that help low-income college students. Alternatively, your child can apply for a TEACH grant if they agree to spend four years teaching at a secondary or elementary school that serves underprivileged kids. You can also encourage your kid to research grants from their school or consider state grants.

Reverse mortgage loans allow homeowners 62 years and older to borrow against their home equity and receive money from a lender. Retired parents can leverage this funding option to pay for their kids’ tuition. You can access lump sums in this loan plan or receive the funds in bits every month. You don’t have to repay reverse mortgage loans, provided you continue living in the home. However, the loan must be repaid (usually by reselling the house) if you die or move out. You can use a reverse mortgage calculator to determine how much you’d qualify for: https://reverse.mortgage/calculator.

You can create a GoFundMe Page to raise your kid’s college tuition. GoFundMe is a crowdfunding platform that allows you to raise money from family, friends, and even strangers. The money you raise through GoFundMe isn’t a loan. So, you won’t need to worry about repayment.
​
To encourage people to support, let your child share what they aspire to do after college and how they intend to give back to the community. For instance, they can pledge to tutor underprivileged kids for free.

Time is of the essence whenever you experience a fall or when your loved one does. Falls can occur at any age, but they become more of a threat when you age. Even if you fall with no injury, you can get some psychological effects. A fall can cause a broken bone, fear of future falls, or even head injuries.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 95% of hip fractures are from falling. Having a medical alert system can help create a level of safety at the touch of a button. These systems help deliver fast medical support when you are alone. Besides, they can help seniors maintain their independence by allowing them to age in their homes peacefully.

​A medical alert system can help seniors stay independent while overcoming the fear of falls. The system is also known as a fall button or a personal emergency response system. The device is a state-of-the-art communication and computer system. Nowadays, there are two types of systems to consider, mobile systems and in-home systems.

A mobile medical alert system is something you can carry with you anywhere. In an emergency, you only push a button that alerts the call center. Here, a live agent will call the emergency medical personnel or your emergency contact number. Most of these call centers operate 24/7, thus ensuring that you always have a connection to a live agent.

On the other hand, an in-home medical alert system features two components, a pendant with a button and a console. You can wear the pendant or the help button around your neck, belt, or wrist. On the other hand, a console is a base unit used to monitor your home electronically, and it’s plugged in a wall outlet with a telephone jack.

You will find plenty of medical alert systems in the market nowadays. These systems will have different options that vary depending on your price point and needs. The most common functions of the monitoring system will include:

• Equipment – An in-home medical alert system will include the base station. All the other systems will have cellular coverage, a battery pack, and a long-life battery.
• Connectivity – Most medical alert system companies will have different connectivity functionality, including VoIP, landline, and cellular technology.
• Pricing and contracts – Pricing will vary from one medical alert system to another. A good plan ought to have an annual contract without any cancellation fees.
• Customer support – Most medical alert devices will have technical support professionals. These professionals help respond to all your medical emergencies.
• Monitoring features – These systems also have a help button, a call centre, and a base station to help respond to any emergencies. These features guarantee your safety no matter your location.
• Additional features – Some devices feature additional features at additional costs. These features include carbon monoxide detection, GPS tracking, personal directory assistance, fall detection, a smartphone app, fitness tracking, daily check-in services, medical monitoring, daily activity monitoring, and much more.

There are plenty of advantages to owning a medical alert system. The first is independence – either option will help you live comfortably within your home longer. Therefore, you don’t need to depend on others. On the other hand, these devices provide rapid response to falls and all your health emergencies.

The devices help prevent any serious injuries. More so, you can purchase a medical alert system that’s tailored to your needs. It ensures that you can select the different functions you would like in the system. Most of these devices also provide you with ease of use. They feature a simple-to-push help button and a user-friendly system that will work for visually impaired people.

Medical alert devices provide you with assistance anywhere. Some systems will work only at your home, while others have GPS-enabled options to track you anywhere. Therefore, you can speak immediately to skilled medical personnel whenever you need assistance. Furthermore, the device will ensure that you can call for help even when your cell phone isn’t available.

These devices are also discrete because of their different portable buttons that you can wear inconspicuously around your waist, neck, or wrist. These devices are also affordable, with plenty of basic features like connectivity, monitoring, and check-in.

Therefore, you can enjoy some peace of mind with the device and know that you can access emergency aid 24 hours a day.

Since 2006, UAE visitors and immigrants have been allowed to buy Emirati real estate. Previously, only local residents could become UAE homeowners. In this article, we’ll look into houses prices in Dubai and prices of other sought-after properties.

Foreigners are allowed to buy homes in special areas called freehold zones. There are also leasehold zones, where properties and land plots can be leased for the period of 10 to 99 years. These areas are called leasehold zones.

The seller is obliged to guarantee that the property being sold is not mortgaged so that the prospective homeowner has every right to sell the property.
​
All debts and fees must be paid. The buyer must pay half of the property transfer fee if a standard sale and purchase agreement is concluded. All the necessary paperwork must be done on time.

Property joint ownership is possible in Dubai and is regulated by the new joint ownership law (Law No. (6) of 2019). According to it, jointly owned properties are divided into three categories depending on the common areas management:

• Master communities or megaprojects, where the developer is responsible for managing and maintaining common areas and facilities.
• Hotel projects, with the developer appointing a company to manage common areas according to the Dubai Land Department regulations.
• Other property projects, where a management company manages common areas and facilities.

Let’s compare prices in US dollars in Dubai’s most popular neighborhoods:

​However, you should keep in mind that these are approximate prices. Visit https://emirates.estate/ to see up-to-date prices and the most recent listings.

The world of employment is changing and not everyone is opting to be tied down to a company anymore. Instead, there are plenty of individuals who are now choosing to transition to freelance careers.

Becoming a freelancer though is a lot more difficult without the preparation or knowledge of how freelancing works. If it were easy, more people would be doing it.

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the tips that are most helpful in transitioning from being employed. There are also plenty of benefits that come with freelancing and that are also worth mentioning.

How has the freelance market changed over the years and where does it stand as of 2021? In 2020, there were 59 million people doing freelance work in the US alone. There has been a growing increase over the years with only 53 million people freelancing back in 2014.

The same goes for businesses and their preferences when it comes to hiring. According to small and medium-sized businesses, freelancers are proving to be game-changers for these organizations. 70% of SMBs in the US have worked with freelancers at least once and 81% of these companies plan to hire freelancers again.

If you’ve considered making the change and transitioning to a freelance way of life, then knowing what you need is essential.

Before you consider the transition, it’s important to identify the industry you want to work in and its popularity for freelancers. Whilst a freelance career might sound exciting, your hopes might be dashed if the industry doesn’t really cater to it. 

1. Sort out your finances

Even though freelancing can be limitless in the money you make, there’s also a lot of uncertainty. With that said, it’s beneficial to sort out your finances first. There are going to be months where you don’t earn so much and of course, there are certain benefits that being employed by a company permanently, bring.

If you struggle to maintain your finances and expenditures, then this is something you’ll want to refine and work on before leaving your current role. There are plenty of money management apps and methods that you can apply to your finances.

Google Sheets
If you need something fairly basic, then Google Sheets is a perfect online tool to make use of. It also comes in an app form for money management on the go. It’s also free, making it the perfect tool for freelancers who are on a budget.

Quickbooks
If you’re looking for something a little more advanced, then Quickbooks is a great option. The platform offers more than just management of your money but it can also help with invoicing and expenses.

It’s always worth having savings so that you can lean back on these when you have the odd month that’s not so financially positive.

2. Create an online presence

When becoming a freelancer, success doesn’t come overnight. It can take a while to build up a regular client list. It’s always good to create an online presence if you’ve not got one already.

As a freelancer, you may want to start by creating a website or a place to display your portfolio of work. You also want to put yourself on various platforms that are going to help you secure more work. For example, LinkedIn is a great place to network and to show that you’re available for work.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are good places to find work too, so it’s worth establishing profiles on these too.

3. Have knowledge of contracts and rates of pay.

Having knowledge of certain processes is beneficial for your freelance career. For example, you may be responsible for drafting up contracts on behalf of clients. Not every client may be able to create contracts and so sometimes the responsibility may land on you.

Contracts are important because they ensure fairness between both parties and to protect you from anything untoward happening as a result of no contract in place. So whether it’s a modeling management contract or a contract to be a wedding photographer, having knowledge of contracts can be good to have.

Rates of pay are also something to consider as most freelancers will often go off what other freelancers would typically charge. However, it can vary from industry to industry so it’s good to price up your services before selling them. You should always charge your worth and what you believe is the right amount for your skills and experience.

It can be hard to navigate a freelancing career, especially as you become responsible for everything you do. However, with practice, you’ll soon get the hang of it

4. Set boundaries to better your work-life balance.

Boundaries are important for any job, even if you’re a workaholic. Setting boundaries are even more essential when you’re a freelancer. The reason for this is that freelancing can often mean you’re working from home or working hours that aren’t necessarily 9-5.

There are tips that can help ensure you separate your personal life from your work life when working from home.

​Keep a separate space for work
You should still separate your workspace from your personal space, even as a freelancer. With that in mind, you should try to find a room in your home that becomes your workspace. 

The rest of the home should be your personal domain that you don’t bring any of your work life into. That way, you create a more harmonious environment for yourself.
Have set working times

Freelancers can end up working all hours of the day in order to cater to their clients. However, it’s important to set working times so that you can switch on and switch off. These set times might not be exactly the same every day but ultimately, you should make sure you have a start time and a finish time.

Know when to say no
It’s very easy to say yes but saying no is more difficult. We can often feel guilty for rejecting an offer of work, especially when you’re a freelancer. However, if you’re burning yourself out by taking on too much then it’s going to affect the quality of your work.

There are a lot of benefits that come from being a freelancer. It’s worth knowing this when it comes to making a decision to take the plunge or not. Freelancing sounds like a dream scenario for many but it doesn’t always pan out that way, so it’s good to take these benefits with a pinch of salt.

Flexibility

With a full-time job, you have set hours and typically you’d get a lunch break. As a freelancer, the hours you do aren’t always going to be the same every day. However, there is a lot more flexibility on offer than that of permanent employment. You can set your own hours according to the needs of your clients and how many hours are required in order for you to get the work done.

With flexibility, you get the freedom to take time off when you need to and that can come in handy when you have other commitments and responsibilities, like a family for example.

No limit on the money you earn

When it comes to earning money, a set paycheck is the security net you receive when fully employed. However, when you’re a freelancer you can earn any amount you set your mind to. That means there’s no limit and some individuals can thrive with this financial opportunity. 

Everyone would love the option of earning more and whilst full-time employment comes with the occasional pay rise or bonus, it’s not quite what freelancing can provide. However, the downside to freelancing is that you’re not guaranteed to earn the same amount every month.

Be your own boss

Being your own boss is something that many people like the sound of but the reality means you have to be highly organized and strict with yourself. However, that can work for many of those who don’t like having a boss or manager to deal with on a daily basis.

When there’s no one above you but the expectations of your client, it can be quite a liberating experience in comparison to other jobs you may have had previously.

Run a business that’s yours

​As a freelancer, you do effectively have a business, whether that’s an officially registered one or not. You are the owner of yourself as a freelancer, meaning you have the decision-making powers every time. It can also be a great way of establishing a reputation when the business is something that’s well-known.

Transitioning from employed to freelance isn’t always easy, so it’s good to have this knowledge before you go quitting your job for greener pastures. Preparation is key and if you’ve got the drive and talent, success is likely to follow.