Getting To Grips With A Healthy Lifestyle

In a perfect world we would all be eating the right food, exercising, sleeping well and just generally enjoying life.

In the real world most of us manage a percentage of the healthy lifestyle and muddle through as best we can with the rest of it. Part of the problem is we are encouraged to think, mostly by the media, that we should be doing everything possible towards a healthy lifestyle, all of the time. For most of us this is just not possible.

Constant concern about what we should or shouldn’t be doing causes our stress levels to go up and that negates any good work that we’ve done. Yes, we should certainly try for a healthy lifestyle, but the two key words are “moderation” and “balance”. By applying these criteria to achieving a healthy lifestyle we won’t be beating ourselves up for failing another diet or dropping out of the latest exercise regime.

A common mistake that many people make when they decide to adopt a healthy lifestyle is to try to do too much too soon. They then give themselves a guilt complex when it all falls apart. It is also easy to be influenced by others, when we should only be adopting a healthy lifestyle plan to suit ourselves.

Ah! Did I say lifestyle plan? Do you have one, or do you just try the next thing that is in your magazine or Sunday supplement? By all means read these articles and take them into account as you plan how you want your healthy lifestyle to take shape.

Leading a healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean you have got to run a mile before breakfast, eat seeds and think pure thoughts. Great if that’s what you want, but for most of us “healthy” means being in reasonable shape, eating our fruit and vegetables and generally having a feeling of vitality.

Decide on your definition of a healthy lifestyle, and then plan a strategy that works for you.

As part of my health plan I decided I wanted to walk in the mornings before breakfast, but there was no way I wanted to get up at the crack of dawn to do it. So I planned a ten minute circuit that includes a short flight of steps and a not too steep incline. I power walked that route every day and felt really good. Sure l wouldn’t make the City to Surf marathon, but I compromised and made it work for me.

Today, much is made of organic foods, but the reality is that organic food is generally more expensive and well out of the range for most budgets. Yes organic is probably the best option, but it doesn’t mean that if you’re not eating all organic you are not eating right. If you’re concerned about general produce, be a bit discerning when you shop. Look for fruit and vegetables that are fresh and unblemished. You should also buy product brands that you can trust. If you shop wisely, you can have a well-balanced healthy diet that won’t break the bank.

Basically living a healthy life means looking at your lifestyle as a whole, it is not just about diet and exercise. It is not always necessary to make major changes. Most people know their weak spots, and are happy if they can make a few changes that show results.

A friend of mine was drinking several cans of soft drink a day. She was feeling tired and generally under the weather. When I read an article about the health risk of soft drink I copied it and gave it to her, whereupon she decided to give up the soft drink there and then. A week later she got back to me and said she couldn’t believe the difference, her energy levels were up and she was feeling great. Just that one change was able to make a difference and she feels good about the healthy choice.

Sleep and leisure time play a big part in a healthy lifestyle, and for the most part people underestimate the value of good sleep. Our bodies aren’t designed to operate at peak performance twenty four hours a day. Anyone in industry knows that machines that have to work continuously need a lot of maintenance. When we are sleeping our body is healing and regenerating itself and we should wake up feeling refreshed and revitalized.

We can go without sleep for extended periods, but we can’t do it indefinitely. The amount of sleep an individual needs varies a great deal, and there is no such thing as the right time to sleep. Obviously most people sleep at night, but if you are one of those folk that comes alive in the small hours, you might need to catch up with your sleep during the day.

A big part of healthy living is being comfortable with yourself. Don’t be pressured into trying to attain a certain look, or push yourself down a career path you are not suited to. Constant worry about what you are doing will only have the opposite effect on your health. Don’t get paranoid about your diet, about what toothpaste you should use or about expensive exercise equipment you need to buy.

Allow a common sense approach to dictate when you are making lifestyle choices, and remember, there is nothing wrong with compromise if it means your healthy lifestyle plan will work for you.

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Choosing Your First Bespoke Home Furniture

Identifying A Competent Bespoke Furniture Manufacturer

The first step towards your purchase is listing the manufacturers that can do the job you want. Recommendations from friends are great – you know their history and you can see their craftsmanship too. But wherever you find a competent designer and manufacturer, before hiring them, be sure to see their portfolio. If their work is inclined to one particular style, that is, if you do not see versatility in the designs, you may not want to entrust them with reflecting your persona. What you are looking for is evidence that a maker will be able to see your vision and realise it as an extension of your personality and style.

Ask Questions!
Once you have ascertained the competence of the establishment you want to hire, get specific about your project and list what you expect out of the process – designing, measuring, choosing finishes, manufacture, aftercare and guarantees. The process of getting bespoke furnishings takes time, and you want to be sure that you can effectively communicate your needs throughout the process. For instance, how would the team in charge of your project feel about slight revisions to your plan; what would they charge for the same? And at what point are changes refused? Will you get a qualified designer to give you ideas and when you indecisive about what you want? What can you do if the finished product was not what you were expecting?

What to Expect, What to Demand
One of the advantages to choosing bespoke fitted furniture is that you are not a nameless face in the crowd of consumers… towards whom most high street product styles are loosely targeted; you are the most important priority to a bespoke furniture manufacturer. Request a co-operative effort and willingness to share ideas. The usual time frame for delivery of a regular order is between 8 and 10 weeks; so take care to discuss the estimated duration of delivery beforehand. Maintain regular correspondence with your furniture manufacturer to stay on the same page as the designers and fitters – this will help ensure your delivery targets are met.

Aftercare and guarantees – a good furniture maker will be on hand to respond to any aftercare queries too, like which cleaning products to use and how often, and what to expect while your furniture is ‘settling in’. Your furniture will be crafted to last as long as possible. Expect guarantees of 10+ years!

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Traveling For Business Or Pleasure – Make Sure to Plan and Organize Your Travel Plans in Advance

If you are traveling to a destination far from home, you will want to make a plan and be organized to make sure you don’t forget to pack everything you will need. Unless you travel frequently, this may take more time and effort than you ever imagined.

I recently took a trip from my home in the United States to China. Because I have traveled to Europe and the Caribbean several times over the years, I was aware of many things that newer and less experienced travelers may not even think about.

Plan what you will need while you are there. I still make a list and then check everything off as I pack it. First, count how many full days you will be at your destination. Then add 2 to this number. That is how many pairs of socks, underwear, shirts, pants, and other clothing items you are likely to need. Check the temperature to see if you will need to bring sweaters, jackets, and gloves, or shorts, t-shirts, and sunglasses. Depending on where you are going and what time of year it is, this will vary considerably.

I also like to only take as much luggage as I can comfortable carry by myself. Again, depending on your destination, you may need to carry your own luggage from one place to another. Make sure your largest bag has wheels. I like softer sided suitcases that are more forgiving when I purchases items to bring home with me.

During the week before you leave on your trip, make a list of everything you might need. When you get ready to go out in the morning, what do you need from your bathroom? Purchasing these items away from home, especially in another country, can be very expensive and totally unnecessary.

Planning and organizing will make your trip easier and more enjoyable. You want to see the sights and have a good time, instead of having to search for toothpaste at a foreign destination.

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Pinterest Marketing Part 3 – Small Business Success With Pinterest

Small businesses used to be subject to suppressed marketing from big business, but with the advent of social media websites like Facebook, twitter, Pinterest etc… , small business can market their products efficiently. Pinterest is all about sharing pictures and videos. It is a place where people come to see products of their choice. It can be anything varying from car exhausts to sweaters. If small businesses can display their products well, interested visitors can pin that picture and the picture keeps on getting shared, leading to an efficient marketing system.

Efficient marketing leads to a larger number of hits, then it takes the hospitality of the site owner to convert that guest into a permanent client. Small businesses have great products nowadays but the only thing missing is the visibility of the business. The power of Pinterest can be utilized through visualization; a strong image with a pinned post gets re-pinned and gets more user engagement.

It is important for small business to pin posts with strong and captivating images, more over introducing one`s business is also an important part of being alive and telling the audience about its existence. Pictures of employees can be very helpful with the introduction part. Pinning such images actually connects you to the audience.

Usually small businesses avoid pinning a large number of pictures to avoid chaos because posting similar pictures again and again can actually add negativity to the reputation of the company. When there are a few pictures posted, pinning videos is also a great idea of showing off your products, your business, your employees, fun at work, and so forth. Even videos relevant to industry can be helpful because it helps in providing valuable information to the visitors.

I know it’s extremely easy to create pins by just repinning. But you really need to be creative and unique here. People repin things because it is something awesome and great, what they have just seen. But let me assure you they repin that item because they haven’t seen it before.

A single post on Pinterest can go viral and can get more and more hits with the passage of time. The best thing about Pinterest is that pictures on Pinterest don`t get obsolete. Even after a year, if a user pins it, it has same chance of getting re-pinned as it was a year back. This is because users keep on changing, human parameters are variable and so are their choices. Every individual has a different set of interests and choices.

Small business firms should also add a guest pinboard for users as they may feel more connected with your business. It actually gives you an insight about your users opinions and interests and can be used as a market survey. Similarly a feedback pinboard is also a great idea for engaging customers; customers love to tell about their experiences but only if they are given a suitable platform. Pinterest gives them an option of telling more about your business and that feedback should be treated with high priority and gratitude.

Small businesses should not just start using Pinterest without a definite plan. Once you are prepared with a strategy, you should create a well defined plan. You should be ready with the next ten posts when pinning a post. Small business owners should be very careful, as it is the same social media which can make your product the most loved amongst users or the other way around and break you.

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