 Image credit: Nicollazzi Almost every working person feels like there are not enough hours in the day to get things done. From fitting in all of the hours in the day in the workplace to trying to fit all of the home responsibilities and social responsibilities around it, it’s stressful. You need a balance between your career and your home life, but that’s not always easy to do. It’s even worse when you’re working from home, because the lines between work and home life tend to blur. You can set boundaries with people but if you aren't sticking to those boundaries, your work/life balance is going to be torn apart.
Improving your work/life balance should be a priority for you. Whether you are taking short term defence contract jobs or you are working a permanent 9-5 job, you have to know you can unwind and that’ll be that at the end of the day. You have to think about what it will mean for you if you don't have a good balance. If you want to avoid stress, and you want to ensure that you are able to feel like you are putting as much effort into your home life as well as your working life, then balance is a must. Below, we’ve got some of the tips that you need to ensure that life is balanced out. 1. Ask for flexibility. If you are finding it tough to manage kids, doctor’s appointments, general life responsibilities around your job, speak to your boss about making it more flexible. Look at how you can have some time by asking for a hybrid working day, or cutting your hours to four days a week to give you some flexibility. Speak to your boss; if you’re doing a good job anyway, they may be happy to be flexible with it all. 2. Invest in the right technology. You can invest in the best technology in your job and help yourself to work harder and better. If you need extra support and you work for someone else, ask your boss to help you out here and upgrade the tech in the business. This can include software, not just hardware. 3. Make sure that you stick to the boundaries you set. Ah, the hardest part of maintaining that work and life balance: boundaries. If you have put boundaries in place for your work, then make sure that you stick to those ones. You cannot be on 24/7, because you will burn out and you will burn out quickly. You have to set your working hours properly, because once you do you’ll ensure that you have a better balance day to day. This is necessary for your comfort. There is nothing wrong with setting the right boundaries, but you have to stick to them. 4. Make sure that you don't live your job. Your life is about so much more than the place in which you work. If you have family or friends outside your work - and even if you just want to be alone - put that time in. understanding that you have commitments means making sure that you let your boss know that you are committed in certain ways. 5. Find jobs that allow it. If you want to make sure that you have a good balance between work and life, you need to find a job that accommodates that. You have to remember that if your employer is treating you like they don't care, they really don't care - no exceptions. Finding the right employer is important because if you know that you have one who cares about your balance and your mental health, you will stick with that employer. 6. Make sure that you communicate when you’re struggling. The last thing to remember is that you cannot expect to find that working balance if you don't communicate when you're struggling with it. If you don't tell your employer that you can't manage without more flexibility or balance, you cannot expect that they will give you what you need. You need to find a good balance between your career and your life. Without that balance you are going to struggle and you are going to feel taken for granted. If you don't ensure that you are speaking to someone about this, nothing will change and you will always be stuck. You have to use these tips to help you to get the balance you needed all along and you have to trust that you can find it!
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 Image credit: Anna Shvets from Pexels Do you feel content? If you were to take a step back and really assess your life objectively, would you be able to say that you were entirely happy, or is there something that is worrying you and preventing you from relaxing and enjoying yourself? If it’s the latter, it’s time to do something about it; we all need to be able to say that we’re happy because this will have a positive effect on your mental and physical health, and it will mean you are more productive and open to seeing new opportunities when they arise (whether you take those opportunities or not is down to you, of course). So read on for some valuable tips to help you be more content in life.
Look at the little things If you’re always concentrating on the big events that are happening in your life, going from one to the next and focusing only on that, you’re going to be missing out on a lot. You’re going to be missing out on all the little things that make up life in general, and when you look back at what you have achieved, there will be significant gaps. It might seem like a waste of time if you’re focusing on getting ahead, but if you want to be content, it is these little things that will do it for you. A sunrise, flowers blooming in spring, someone else’s achievement that you can be proud of, a good cup of coffee, or anything else will all make you feel much happier. When you’re happier, you’ll be able to achieve your bigger goals much more easily, whether you intend to gain a promotion where you are, you’re starting your own business, or you’re re-training to begin something else entirely. Change careers Something that can easily make us feel discontented is our career choices. It’s easy to stumble into a job and then get stuck there, even if there is something else you would love to do. In order to be content, it’s crucial that you take charge of your career and push it in the direction you want it to go in. There are several ways you can go about doing this, from asking your manager for a promotion or a job in a different department to going back to school to earn a degree, training for something specific such as the Microsoft Azure certification path, or whatever else it is that is going to help you achieve your career goals. Whatever you choose to do, the important thing to remember is that you have to make a start. There’s no point working in a job you dislike, and that isn’t helping you be more content in life if there is a chance to change things and do what will make you happy. Invest in your relationships No matter what else is happening in your life, or the wider world in general, relationships are crucial to help you get through, and they’re essential to helping you be more content in life. You might dislike your job, you might find it hard to see the smaller things around you, but if you have good relationships, you will still feel at least partly content – much more so than if you didn’t have anyone to help you, anyway. Whether your relationships are romantic, platonic, or familial, the basic point is still the same; to be more content, relationships have to be good. Ensuring that you invest time and effort in yours is vital for contentment. Equally, if your relationships are unhealthy, stepping away is just as important for the same reasons. 
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In life, we all understand the importance of education. This is something that’s drilled into us from school, and it’s a belief that we take with us into higher education and, eventually, the workplace. At some stage, though, many of us consider that there will be a time when learning can finally come to an end.
If you’re at the top of your company or are just generally working in your dream role right now, for example, then you might consider that you’ve done all of the learning necessary. But, is that true? Don’t get us wrong, there’s certainly a place for utilising the knowledge you have (otherwise what would be the point in acquiring it?!) but this ‘nothing left to learn’ mentality can also be damaging in ways that you might not expect. To prove as much, we’re going to consider precisely why you’re wrong when you assume that you know everything you could need. # 1 - Self-development means exploring new avenues As humans, we constantly seeking advancement. As such, staying happy in even your dream role is all about ensuring that you’re keeping your ideas fresh and approach exciting. That’s never going to happen if you stick too avidly with the same skill set you had back when you started ten years ago. Instead, that satisfaction of self-development is reliant on the exploration of new avenues even within your position. This needn’t be anything groundbreaking, but something as simple as an organisational course to learn how to be more productive with your time and space, or even seeking something like training in a new managerial approach can all help to invigorate you and, in most cases, your team. 
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# 2 - There’s always room for improvement
It’s also important to note that there’s always room for improvement, especially when it comes to our approaches to work. Most notably in recent years, it’s become obvious that the handling of things like mental health is sorely lacking, meaning that even the best-educated manager or employee could still benefit from taking something like a mental health first aid course. Equally, the longer you’ve been out of the classroom, the more likely you are to forget crucial pieces of information about what you do, meaning that refresher courses are almost always welcome for helping you to be better at your job.
# 3 - Knowledge is an advancing issue
Note, too, that knowledge isn’t static. The speed with which technology has become imperative in nearly everything that we do especially means teachings today look very different from even ten years ago. By resting on your laurels, you therefore risk falling behind in terms of the knowledge that even individuals working under you hold, with everyday software and the like very quickly becoming untenable until you accept that you could benefit from an educational upgrade. Learning is no one time thing, and these reminders should be all you need to get back to the classroom, or at least accept that you might need to one day, before it’s too late.  Image credit: Pixabay from Pexels Your life is your own to live, and that means that you are the one who is responsible for the choices that you make. You are going to need to do your best at all given opportunities to make your life as good as it can be. Life is a sum of our choices, and it’s important that you are always doing what you think is going to be best for you. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the choices you’re going to need to be really careful about, so keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.
Your Job The first thing that you are going to need to think about is your job. Are you happy with the job that you are in right now? If the answer is no, then why aren’t you doing something about it? Try to figure out what the problem is and why you are not happy with it, and then work on how you can change that. For example, it might be the case that you don’t get on with your boss, and if this is true you should try to sit down and talk to them. If it’s that things don’t feel equal in the workplace, again you need to talk to your employer and go through your problems with them. Speak to other people who work with you, and see what they think as well. It’s always good to hear about what your coworkers are thinking in terms of the business you work for. You may want to ask to bring in changes such as having to have your badge in a badge holder and displayed at all times to ensure that only authorized people are in certain areas of the business. This shows your employer that you care about the safety of the business, and that you are an employee that should be kept at all costs. Your Health You are also going to want to make sure that you are looking after your health. Make the choice to eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, keep an eye on your mental health, get enough sleep, drink enough water and so much more. If you do this, you can tell yourself that you are making the right choices in your life as you are taking care of your health which is one of the most vital parts of life. Trust us when we say that looking after your health should be at the very top of your priority list, so it’s definitely something to think about here. We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the choices that you are going to have to make in your life. It’s important that you are doing everything that you can to make the right choices for yourself, and that means thinking through these things carefully. We wish you the very best of luck, and hope that you manage to make the best possible choices sooner rather than later.  Image credit: Engin Akyurt from Pexels You need to make the choices in life that are right for you. This means that you can’t let anyone else dictate the decisions that you make in your life, and ideally they shouldn’t have an input in them either. Well, unless it directly impacts them in some way, as that is different. However, if it’s about doing what is best for you alone, then the choice is yours alone. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that you have got to do to make the choices that are right for you, so keep reading down below if you would like to find out more. Follow Your Heart First, you are going to need to follow your heart. Your heart knows which way in life you want to go, and which way you should be heading as often as possible. However, sometimes we resist this because it feels like the wrong thing, but how could it be when that’s what you seem to want? Following your heart is not always easy, we will give you that. It can be scary, it can feel like it’s going to lead you down the wrong path, but you will regret it more if you don’t take the chance than you would if it turned out wrong. What Seems Like The Right Thing? When trying to make the right choice for you, you need to think about what seems like the right thing? That’s not to say that this is necessarily what you’re going to end up doing, but it will help you to understand both sides of the story. There are cases where things that seem like the right thing are actually the wrong thing, but you won’t know this until you give it a go. This is the problem with making choices, but they have still got to be made. You need to do the thing that feels right to you. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks the right thing is, and it doesn’t matter if you feel like you should do the opposite to what you want to do. Follow the choice that you think, and then stand by it. For example, if you are considering taking part in decentralized clinical trials and someone else doesn’t want you to, it’s not up to them.  Image credit: Marcus Winkler from Pexels Will It Contribute To Your Overall Goal?
Will the choice that you are making contribute to your overall goal? If the answer is no, then is it worth doing? Will the opposite option contribute effectively to your goal? If the answer is no, then pick whichever you want. If the answer is yes however, this is where things get a little more complicated. If there is an option that seems like it will move you one step closer to your ultimate goal, this is what you should be doing ideally. Of course, it’s down to you at the moment.  Image credit: Ross Parmly from Unsplash There are various reasons why you may be thinking about moving overseas - whether you are simply looking for a change or need to satisfy your sense of adventure. For example, moving abroad gives you the chance to start completely anew - whether you’re making new friends or changing careers altogether. However, it’s also a major lifestyle change - meaning you shouldn’t rush into it without proper planning.
With that in mind, here are some important things you should consider before moving abroad. The Legal Process. The process of moving abroad is not simple. After all, you cannot simply purchase a plane ticket and hope for the best - you also need to ensure that you have the legal right to live and work in the country of your choosing. However, the legal requirements change from country to country, meaning plenty of research must be carried out ahead of time to ensure you have everything you need ready. Furthemore, there are also various different forms of visas, and it’s important you apply for the one that suits you best. For example, if you are planning to move to Australia, companies such as Montic can talk you through the process of applying for the Elite Talent Visa. What you are leaving behind. If you want your move abroad to be successful, it’s important that you are moving for the right reasons. For example, it’s far better to be moving towards something with a clear mind as opposed to running away from your problems. Therefore, before moving abroad, it’s important to consider what you are leaving behind - especially if this could cause you to change your mind at a later date. For example, moving abroad also means moving away from your family. While there are plenty of ways to stay in touch digitally, this is simply not the same as spending time together in person. Additionally, moving abroad could have a significant impact on your career -as you’ll likely have to start from the bottom at a new company and work your way up once again. However, this could be taken as a positive when you consider the fact that it enables you to make a fresh start. Save up money ahead of time. If you are trying to gain the energy to make a life change, the easiest way to  Image credit: Daniel Reche from Pexels From time to time, just about everyone finds themselves in a situation where they want to make some significant change in their life, whether that means setting a New Years’ Resolution to get in better shape, or whether it means creating a startup business.
Whether you are considering a foray into the field of Digital Marketing, want to get more fit, or are interested in seeing more of the world, however, one thing that can end up getting in the way of a planned life change is a simple lack of energy. If you feel exhausted and unmotivated on a regular basis, actually moving forward and making any substantial kind of life change can seem very daunting. Here are some tips for getting the energy to make a life change. Use a habit tracker, and start by forcing yourself to go through the right basic steps each day At the start of any new endeavour, you're likely to find it difficult to consistently turn up and put in the effort required – and this could seem to drain your energy significantly more than it would otherwise. Particularly when you're feeling as though you don't have as much energy as you would like, however, using a habit tracker and starting off by forcing yourself to go through the right basic steps each day, can be very helpful. It's a good idea to start simple here, rather than to allow yourself to become overwhelmed by trying to do too much in one go. Consistency, and gaining momentum, is very important. Both for making a life change, and boosting your sense of energy. Put yourself in an environment that helps to encourage and motivate you When you put yourself in situations that help to facilitate the kind of behaviour you're trying to adopt, and especially when you surrounding yourself with individuals who embody the kind of change you're looking to make, you will tend to find that you are much more energetic and driven to move forward in the right direction. If, on the other hand, you want to get in great shape but don't know anyone who's into fitness, you are just going to tend to find it harder to be energised and to take the steps required to move in the right direction consistently. Take steps to surround yourself with the kind of people who can help to keep you motivated to make the change you're looking to make. Find energising hobbies and pastimes to add to your daily routine There are various hobbies and pastimes that you can adopt that are likely to help you to feel more energised on an everyday basis. Find which of these hobbies and pastimes work for you, and then make sure to add them into your everyday routine. Some of the kinds of things you might want to explore could include a yoga routine, regular outdoor strolls, or a chat with a loved one who always helps you to feel more upbeat.  Getting older can be fun, as you look forward to retirement and going on all the adventures you have spent years planning. There are a few things you have to think about though and not take for granted.
Exercise Exercise is very important at any age but especially as you get older. You need to ensure you are staying mobile as your joints can start to get stiff. Just 30 minutes of gentle exercise each day is enough to keep you healthy and supple. Think about doing something like cycling or yoga, even swimming is gentle and very good for your body. Exercise also boosts your mood, so if you have been feeling down in the dumps think about doing a workout of some sort. You can even do a workout in the comfort of your own home if you don’t fancy venturing out. If you do wish to go out, why not think about joining an exercise class. This is not only a great way of staying fit and motivated but a wonderful way to make friends. Exercise and socialising have been proven to keep the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's at bay as well. Diet You need to think about your diet carefully when you get older, this is due to your metabolism slowing right down. If you continue to eat as you did when you were younger you may be at risk of developing middle-aged spread. You may have heard of this, it is a ring of fat that happens due to it taking longer for your food to be digested. You should plan what you are going to eat, and eating smaller meals regularly will prevent bloating and indigestion. A healthy balanced diet will keep you satisfied for longer so you don’t feel the need to snack between meals. Water is your friend, it always has been. Drinking water has many benefits including healthy radiant looking skin. It not only keeps you hydrated externally but internally as well. Water helps keep your mind hydrated as well, you may not realise that the brain needs water but it does. If you don’t drink enough water you can struggle with memory loss and concentration problems. You will know if you are not drinking enough water as you will get a lovely dehydrated headache. Where To Live Unfortunately, when you get older you have to think about where you will spend the rest of your years. This could be at home, in peace and quiet or you may need to move into a residential home. If you are fit and well there is no problem being in your own home as long as it is suited to your needs. If you or your family find that you are struggling with everyday tasks such as getting about, washing, or cooking then you may need to find a place in a residential care home or assisted living facility. There are professionals who can help you with this process as it can be quite daunting. A care home broker will look at what you have available, what your needs are, and then find suitable living arrangements for you. We hope you found this guide helpful and that you have a long happy life.  Image credit: Marleen Kuiper on Pixabay Dear Santa,
I've been a good dad all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my two children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of chocolate bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground and figured out how to attach nine patches onto my daughter's girl scout sash with staples and a glue gun. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years. Here are my Christmas wishes: I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache after a day of chasing kids (in any color, except blue, which I already have) and arms that don't flap in the breeze but are strong enough to carry a screaming toddler out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere amongst the countless cans of pepsi I've drunk. If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like a car with fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to watch the football live on my phone for just 5 minutes. On the practical side, I could use a talking daughter doll that says, "Yes, Daddy" to boost my parental confidence, along with one potty-trained toddler, two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, "Stop turning the taps on" and 'Leave the cat alone,' because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog. And please don't forget the Playdoh Travel Pack, the hottest stocking stuffer this year for mothers of preschoolers. It comes in three fluorescent colors and is guaranteed to crumble on any carpet making the in-laws' house seem just like mine. If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair (if I had any) in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container. If you don't mind I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could make my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family; or if my toddler didn't look so cute sneaking downstairs to eat contraband ice cream in his pajamas at midnight. Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the chimney and come in and dry off by the fire so you don't catch a cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet, I've only just managed to finishing the hoovering. Yours Always.. Dad. P.S. - One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.  Image credit: Hive Boxx on Unsplash How do you know you've reached a turning point in your life? How can you recognise that maybe you need a change? Entrepreneur Europe has 5 signs for you...
 Image credit: Magda Ehlers on Pexels Getting older shouldn’t be something to be frightened of. With older age comes the possibility of having more time for yourself, a greater appreciation for your family, and opportunities to explore new challenges and adventures! To make sure you’re as prepared as you can be, check out these tips:
1. Prioritize your health Getting old can be a seriously joyous thing, but enjoying your life to the max is easier if you’re healthy. So, taking regular exercise (you can even do it from home thanks to online courses and programs) and eating well is all part of the package. After all, you want to make sure you’re in tip-top condition while you’re off exploring, don’t you? 2. Be organized Ensuring all your documents and plans are in a safe place is one of the kindest things you can do. This means that no matter the scenario, a trusted person or loved one will have all the paperwork they need. This will take a load off your mind, and you can move on to enjoying more exciting things! 3. Pick up new hobbies Your latter years are a great time to spend time on new hobbies and skills. Exercise your brain and indulge passion projects that you’ve always considered. Have you always wanted to try fishing? Is salsa your thing? Do you think you might want to speak French? There are so many online and offline courses out there to choose from. And if that’s not your thing, then it’s time to get out there and try it on your own. 4. Upgrade your home Making a couple of sensible changes to your home can make all the difference to your comfort in the years to come. That doesn’t mean moving straight into a bungalow or installing a stairlift, but it does mean making a few adjustments. Consider including a few pieces of handcrafted pieces, like Crown Furniture, to create an environment that’s safe, chic, and easy to use. Looking for additional ways to improve your home? Try adding these '8 Best Indoor Plants with Health Benefits.' 5. Mindfulness matters Keeping your brain supple is key, but so is keeping your mental health strong. Practicing mindfulness can be a great way to live in the moment and help relieve any stress. It also has the benefits of lowering blood pressure, improving sleep, and generally improving all-round health. To get started, you can choose from a number of apps and courses. Hopefully, you will enjoy the benefits of decreased stress and anxiety and improved focus. 6. Try yoga It’s true that falls pose a danger to older adults, so to mitigate the risk, try picking up yoga. It helps strengthen core muscles and works on balance and flexibility. Not to mention, it’s a very calming and healthy activity. Adding yoga into your routine is a great way to keep yourself fit and healthy, well into older adulthood. 7. Take up golf but with a twist If you're a fan of wearing the outrageous golfing trousers, you could even do so at home now while going around 18 holes. Skytrak golf is a fun, and serious tool designed specifically to help you improve your game without the need of a caddy. You can stay sharp even when you can’t make it to the course whilst staying being able to practice your swing. Hopefully, this article has given you some tips and tricks that will help you ‘age well’ and enjoy your later years.  With the world very much upside down at the moment, finding a good news story isn't that easy. But Thom Foodery shared a video of a game he created for his son during the Covid-19 lockdown which left his son's reaction as the best part! The Mirror has the story..
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Author - Chris
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May 2022
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