Embracing the Rural Dream: How Urban Women Can Transition to Countryside Farm Living

Many women are considering swapping their high heels for a pair of wellies and trading the cityscape for the countryside. Traditional lives are becoming more appealing, and women all over the world are more capable of making this lifestyle work for them. It’s a bold move! Leaving behind the 24/7 buzz for the tranquil life of farming can be exactly the “turning your life upside down” thing that you need. There’s something so raw and rewarding about nurturing your own little patch of the earth. But let’s not sugarcoat it—this shift is not just about soaking up sunsets over the fields; it’s hard work and requires a hefty dose of reality checks.

Via Pexels

Understanding the Basics of Rural Life

Diving into farm life is more than just a picturesque living; it’s about early mornings, getting down and dirty with nature, and loads of physical work. But living this close to the earth, rising and setting with the sun and putting in the hard labour is just what many souls need. 

What’s your farm fantasy? Rows of fresh veggies, a flock of sheep, perhaps an orchard of apple trees? Before you make the leap, why not dip your toes in the water? Try out some farming workshops or volunteer at a local farm. It’s the best way to get a taste of what’s to come and pick up some nifty skills along the way.

Choosing Your Scale

Many dream of just sustaining themselves. Farm living doesn’t need to mean you are in the supply and demand chain. Many people have made a wonderful, sustainable life for themselves through small-scale farming or subsistence farming, as it is called. This means just sustaining yourself and your farm. The fantasy of raising your flock of sheep, having a coup of chickens, and growing your own vegetables is really within arms’ reach. You just need a small piece of land for this. 

Setting Up Your Farm

Setting up is where the real fun begins. You’ll be deciding on everything from which crops to plant to where your animals will roam. A sturdy steel frame agricultural building can be perfect for keeping all your farm tools safe and giving your animals a cosy spot during those storms and frosty winters.

Learning and Adapting

Jumping into farming is like signing up for a never-ending class where the curriculum is as wide as the great outdoors! From getting the hang of organic pest control to knowing the perfect moment to pluck those potatoes from the ground, every day is a school day. Why not link up with local farming circles or dive into some forums online? They’ll be like an extended family of farmers right there when you need them—ready to sort out a glitch or just chat over a nice brew.

Making the switch from city to country life is no small feat—it’s a total lifestyle overhaul. But imagine the satisfaction of eating food you’ve grown yourself or waking up to the sounds of nature every day. For all you urban ladies yearning for a slice of rural paradise, it’s all about embracing the new rhythms and continuously learning. Ready to trade your morning espresso for a morning muck-out? It might just be the best swap you’ll ever make!

How To Gain Positive Power In Life

We all want to be powerful - being powerful means we get things (and get things done) and we’re respected, and we can build a successful life too. However, being powerful can also be a problem because it can lead to problems when that power isn’t used wisely, or when it’s used against other people in some way (perhaps by making them feel bad or less accomplished, and so on). 

That’s why you need to look at how to gain positive power in life. Gaining positive power means you take steps that improve your personal wellbeing, enhance your skills, and make a good impact on the world around you and the people in it, and you don’t hurt anyone or step on anyone’s toes to make it happen. So with that in mind, let’s take a look at how to gain positive power in life rather than the opposite - read on to find out more. 

Photo by Kaushal Moradiya

Learn CPR And Other First Aid Skills

What’s really interesting about learning how to gain positive power in life and what you need to do to get it is that your research will lead you to all kinds of interesting things just because there are so many fantastic options open to you. One of those options is to learn CPR and other first aid skills - by equipping yourself with life-saving knowledge (literally!), you’ll have power in any kind of difficult or dangerous situation. Now of course, we’re not saying that you’ll be powerful because you can choose whether or not to help someone - that’s not positive power at all, and it’s actually an excellent example of negative power and how power can damage people - what we’re saying is that when you’ve got this kind of knowledge, you’ll feel powerful in yourself because you’ll know you can help in any medical emergency situation.  

The best thing to do is learn these life-saving skills with a professional organization such as CPR Near Me where you’ll learn how to do things the right way and be given expert instruction from knowledgeable tutors. It’s far better to learn the right way than to risk a mistake when it comes to CPR and other first aid. 

Be Financially Literate

Understanding and managing your finances in the right way is another absolutely vital step towards becoming more positively powerful in your life because being financially literate means you’ll be able to make good choices, avoid debt, and even become financially independent, depending on a variety of other factors. 

It all begins with learning how to budget (and how to stick to your budget, which is just as important as making it in the first place) and knowing how to manage your expenses compared to your income. Then you’ll need to know about savings and investments because if you can do these things right, you’ll be able to make your money grow (and it is a case of doing both, and knowing about the pros and cons of each, so don’t just try to guess or hope for the best or you’ll miss out on some great ways to build a good fund or make some unfortunate mistakes along the way). Finally, knowing when debt is a good thing and necessary compared to when you just want to buy something for the sake of it, and knowing how to deal with any debt you might have quickly and painlessly is the final link in the chain when it comes to financial literacy - get all that right, and you’ll find life is much easier and you’ll feel a lot more powerful too. 

Have Good Relationships

If there’s one thing in life that’s going to help you in many different ways - including becoming more positively powerful - it’s having good, strong, long-lasting relationships. When you’ve got friends and family you can trust and rely on to be there for you through thick and thin, you’ll feel ready for anything and you’ll know that no matter what you go through in life, there’s always going to be someone you can talk to and who can help guide you if necessary - not to mention the fact that you can do the same for them. That’s automatically got to make you feel much more powerful in a positive way. 

One tip you’ll need to remember when it comes to forming these good relationships is that you’ll have to be able to master good - great - communication. You’ll need to be open and honest at all times and you’ll need to learn how to listen actively (which is a skill of its own, but one that, once you know how to do it, you’ll find is really useful not just in relationships, but in your career too). Plus, although it’s hard, letting people know how you feel about things, good and bad, is another vital part of making and keeping good relationships; that’s how you get people to understand you and be there for you. If they don’t know what you’re going through, how can they help? How will they know you need a shoulder to cry on or someone to congratulate you? They won’t unless you tell them, so practice doing exactly that. 

Get New Skills And Knowledge

We started this blog post talking about how it’s wise to learn how to do CPR and learn other life-saving skills, and that’s true - however, it’s also a good idea to just learn in general. After all, they do say that knowledge is power, and if that’s the case, the more knowledge you have, the more powerful you can be. 

Of course, if you’re going to be positively powerful then you’ll not just need to acquire more knowledge and learn more skills, but you’ll also need to learn how to use those skills and knowledge is a good way, ideally to help others, or at least not to hurt them. 

You might feel you’re too busy to do any learning, especially if you’re working in a full-time job, but is that really the case? Thanks to online learning, you can gain new knowledge whenever you have a moment - even a few minutes can be enough - and if you don’t want to earn a qualification, just reading informative websites and books can be a great way to get new knowledge and more positive power at the same time. 

How to Open Doors to Any Career

 

Pexels - CCO License

For many people, their career path can look a lot more like a maze than it does a straight path and that’s perfectly okay. We don’t all know what we want to do for the rest of our lives, and you know, some of us just like a little variety. Whatever the case may be, it is fair to say that there are a few things you can do to unlock those career doors, whatever industry they may be in, very effectively. So, let’s take a look at a few of them right now.

1. Learn as Many Skills as You Can

The first step in your locksmith training? Actual training. Whether it's getting your food handler certification, taking CPR classes, or learning how to speak publicly more effectively, acquiring new skills is like forging your own career key. And in today’s world, where you can learn anything from underwater basket weaving to quantum physics online, there’s no excuse not to buff up that resume. Just remember, the goal is to stand out, so tailor your learning to where you want your key to fit.

2. Gain Experience

So, you’ve got the skills and know people on the other side of the door (networking). Now, it’s time to start picking some locks (gaining experience). Internships, volunteer work, or side projects related to your desired field are all great ways to get hands-on experience. It’s like saying, “Hey, not only do I have a shiny key, but I also know how to use it.”

If that is not something you think you can do, then you could always experiment with offering your services as a freelancer. This will give you the opportunity to test the waters in your chosen new career, while also building a portfolio of work that you can show to potential employers, while also gaining references too. Obviously, you should only do this if you are confident you can succeed in your chosen new field because bad reviews will do the opposite of help, but if you think you can do that, then go ahead.

3. Personal Branding

In the digital age, your online presence is your keychain, displaying all the shiny keys (skills, experiences, and personality) you bring to the table. Platforms like LinkedIn, personal blogs, or even Instagram can showcase your professional journey. Keep it polished, consistent, and authentic. You want potential employers to see your key and think, “This is the one we’ve been looking for!”

If you have a not so good reputation online for whatever reason, or you have posted a lot of silly stuff in your younger years online, then using a reputation management company to clean up anything you might not want people to see is often a good idea that will improve your personal branding more than you might think possible, so consider it seriously. After all, most employers will Google your name before they decide to hire you or not.

4. Stay Flexible

Here’s a secret: The most successful people often have a set of master keys – a mix of transferable skills like communication, problem-solving, and adaptability that can unlock multiple doors. Cultivate these skills, and you’ll find that even if one door slams shut, you’ve got the tools to open another.

What kind of skills will you need? As well as having professional qualifications for any given role, soft skills like being able to work as a team, speak publicly, conflict resolution and creativity are always highly sought after and can be transferable to a range of roles, so they are definitely good things to cultivate if you can, and will see you succeed in whatever career you choose, for sure.

5. The Follow-Up

Last but certainly not least, don’t ever be afraid to knock on those doors (or, in today’s terms, send a follow-up email). Whether it’s after an interview, networking event, or even a casual chat, a thoughtful follow-up can be the nudge that opens the door wide. Just remember, there’s a fine line between persistent and pestering – tread carefully.

Opening doors to any career you might be interested in means being flexible, learning as much as you can and making an effort to meet the right people along the way, so it will certainly take some time and dedication, but it will be worth it when you can open doors to just about any job you can think of, even if you may need to do some additional training to get there!

How To Practice The Healthy Art Of Humility

Pexels - CC0 License

Most people understand that humility is a virtue, or at least, that’s what we like to imagine. We think positively about the person who downplays their accomplishments and shares the credit with others even if they’ve achieved astronomical feats, and we tend to appreciate those who know how to dress, but not too over-the-top or “loudly” in public, even though there’s nothing wrong with expressing yourself as much as possible.

However, so much of what we see on social media, in the celebrity world, and even in the themes of popular music is so anti-humility it’s hard to think this way sometimes. We tend to dislike those who are in-your-face and overly braggadocious because those who are grounded tend to be more relatable, interesting, and down-to-earth.

But humility isn’t always something you’re perfect at, after all, who doesn’t like to be complimented, praised, validated, and even celebrated? In this post, we’ll discuss not only how to practice humility, but why doing so can be healthy and very beneficial to the spirit as well:

Humility Gives You Perspective

It’s hard to argue against humility giving you perspective. After all, it’s very easy to be loud about who you are and what you do, only to see someone in a much harder situation do their best with less, and wonder exactly why you were drawing so much attention to yourself. The silent heroes that contribute to the world around us, from the paramedic to the engineer to the charity support worker, sometimes it’s good to learn more about others than tell them about yourself. After all, that’s why we only have one mouth and two ears, to listen twice as much as we can and to respect those around us in the spirit of healthy cooperation and friendship.

Humility Helps You Disconnect

Let’s face it, there’s a great deal of superfluous silliness out there. From caring about which celebrity couple is breaking up to whatever Elon Musk is doing with Twitter to arguments about the latest blockbuster and its political themes, sometimes it’s good to disconnect from the constant discourse and let yourself relax. This heps you regain clarity of thought which can often be super-distracted otherwise. It will also give you time to focus on what really matters, like connection with family members and friends, reading, or if you follow, perhaps prioritzing your faith like Father Adam Park. When you disconnect, you actually connect more than you know.

Humility Is Self-Validating

Many people think that humility is the art of simply depriving yourself of the validation of others, as if this is the price you have to pay for being a better person. But the truth is that true humility doesn’t need all that external validation, only that approval from the people the humble person cares about. It’s also about approving of yourself, which is the basis of self-love and can allow you to enjoy a more stable identity and a more resilient personality. So, you’re not really missing out at all to be humble, you just focus on that which matters.

With this advice, you’re sure to practice the healthy art of humility by considering and adopting worthwhile insights.

Unlocking Your Inner Glow: How to Improve Your Overall Look

Attracting and feeling our best are both essential, but sometimes that can be hard to achieve. Whether your skin doesn't glow or your confidence takes a hit, there are simple steps you can take to enhance your overall appearance - from diet and exercise programs to skincare solutions and makeup tricks, unlocking inner glow has never been simpler! Here's everything you need to know about improving your overall appearance.

1. Diet is Key to Improving Overall Looks -

A diet rich with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants will contribute to healthier skin, stronger nails and shinier locks. Focus on including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables each day in your meals as these provide essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that nourish from within. Additionally, include lean meats, nuts, fish and dairy products as these all provide important essential nutrients necessary for hair and nail growth. If it becomes challenging to include enough fruits and veggies daily in your diet then consider supplementation; they could provide extra vitamins necessary to bridge any gaps between what you eat and what your body requires.

Photo by Moose Photos

2. Sleep Adequately -

Your nightly restful slumber plays an essential part in how you look and feel, from helping reduce dark circles under your eyes to providing your skin with a healthy glow. Aim to get at least eight hours each night of rejuvenating sleep; this can reduce under eye dark circles and give it that healthy sheen! Avoid screens just before bedtime due to blue light emissions emitted by electronic devices as this disrupts your circadian rhythm which is vital for quality restful slumber. To relax before sleep comes reading or listening to soothing music before sleeping soundly will prepare your body for restful slumber and will have you feeling rejuvenated by morning!

3. Integrating Exercise into Your Routine -

Beyond eating healthily and getting adequate rest, adding exercise into your daily routine is also essential to looking your best. Exercise helps maintain muscle tone and circulation as well as produce endorphins which help boost mood - aim to incorporate at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per day (even just walking!) Wear clothing that allows free movement without feeling restricted if possible for maximum effect!

4. Form Effective Skin Care Habits -

A good skin care routine is an integral component of unlocking your inner glow. Begin by washing your face both morning and night with warm water and gentle cleanser. Occasionally exfoliate with an exfoliating scrub to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores, then tone afterwards. Don't forget sunscreen on cloudy days too! Even just a bit of SPF protection can go a long way toward protecting against sun damage!

5. Consider Cosmetic Treatments -

If you want more dramatic changes, cosmetic treatments offer many solutions. Non-invasive solutions include Botox or fillers which help reduce wrinkles for an overall more youthful appearance without surgery; alternatively, for more lasting changes consider Glasgold Group Plastic Surgery - or try hair removal techniques like laser or waxing which provide fast results with minimal discomfort.

6. Self-Care and Stress Management - 

Focusing on self-care and managing stress are integral parts of improving your overall look. Stress can have detrimental effects on skin, hair and nails so it is vital that you find ways to relax each day - even just 10 minutes each time - by doing something you enjoy like reading a book or listening to music - taking some time out for yourself will leave you looking more refreshed than before! Focusing on self-care will reduce levels and leave you looking and feeling refreshed.

7. Investing in Quality Clothing & Accessories -

Investing in high-quality clothing and accessories can also help you look your best. Since quality pieces are built to last, not only will you save money in the long run but will look better too. Look for clothing items that fit comfortably while flattering your figure - this will boost confidence! For accessories, classic pieces such as watches or earrings won't go out of fashion any time soon.

8. Learning to Love Yourself Inside and Out! -

The final step to looking your best is learning to appreciate yourself both physically and psychologically. No matter your appearance, it is important to recognize what makes you special, unique, and individualistic. Write down all the qualities about yourself both physical and non-physical that you admire - repeat them daily if possible and this will build self-esteem and give you more confidence!

Personal care can be an enjoyable activity that helps you look and feel your best. By following these steps, you can discover your inner glow and become healthier in mind, body, and spirit! Just remember: eat well, rest up, exercise regularly and practice appropriate skin care practices to achieve overall wellbeing!

5 Keys to Being a Braver You in Your Style Choices

Pexels - CC0 License

Bravery is something that we all want at the core of our being. But there are so many times when we feel put off by exerting some form of courage, not least when it comes to fashion. If you are wondering how you can be braver in style, here are a few things that you should try out. 

Understanding Your Style First

Being confident is all about the things you understand that suit you down to the ground. Some people want to go brave in terms of a great boho dress, but it doesn't suit their style. When you understand what suits your lifestyle based on your body shape and your personality, you can start to structure the layers accordingly, whether it's through specific accessories, or adding those colors that are typical of your chosen style. 

Have a Number of Options

Sometimes, we don't feel confident in ourselves, but it's always about practicality as well as personality. If you are in a rush in the morning, you should pick out a number of go-to outfits that can work with a number of combinations. Remember, it’s always about those little accessories as well that work wonders to accentuate what you've already got. 

Don't Copy Others

Copying is something we all do to get ourselves started on the right foot, but we must remember that to be brave means getting to the core of who you are. Therefore, you may have certain style icons in mind that you would like to emulate. By all means, emulate them, but then start to think about what it takes to put your unique twist on their style choices. You should never worry about wearing a crazy outfit, especially if you start off small. Look at those people you admire, what is it about them that you identify with? You can then start to incorporate those little things bit by bit until you feel like you have created a whole new get-up for yourself. 

Do Not Force It

You should take the time to find the things that make you feel amazing. It's so easy for us to go for the things that we think look great, but if we are choosing clothes that are going against the grain of our personality, it will only be a matter of time before these items are relegated to the back of the wardrobe! You should go through your current wardrobe and get rid of anything that doesn't make you feel great, you should remember that a natural style should come out of the right purchases. This can mean operating with a more minimalist wardrobe in the meantime so you can focus on quality rather than quantity. 

Keep Experimenting

Experimentation is the key to understanding the fashion choices that suit your personality, body type, and confidence. It's always a work in progress, so remember to keep experimenting with new items, new jewelry, and colors. A winning formula might be right around the corner! 

When you are on the hunt for something that speaks to you, it will feel right, and this will be the key to a braver you.

Tips To Find A Career You Love

 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels: 

https://www.pexels.com/photo/depth-of-field-photo-of-man-sitting-on-chair-while-holding-cup-in-front-of-table-927451/ 

Your career plays a big part in your general happiness in life. It is, after all, where you will spend the majority of your time and what will consume most of your days and thoughts. This is why you want to find a career that you love and enjoy. Whether it is something that you want to work your way up through the ranks, or a job that you just love to go to and are happy to settle, it is entirely up to you. If you are looking to find a new career in life, there are many things you can do in order to find something that is perfect for you. Here we have put together some top tips that should help you along the way.

Think about what skills you already have

When it comes to finding a career you will love, take a look at the skills you already have and how these can be applied to a new role. If you are a very analytical and logical person with a good sense of reason, you could find out why a criminal defense lawyer might be the ideal career for you. If you are creative, then why not look into being a photographer or perhaps a writer? There are so many options to choose between depending on your interests.

Consider your five year plan

Your life can change a lot in five years so think about where you see yourself. Do you want to be nearing the top of your career ladder? Or do you see yourself more settled down in a house looking after children? Will you be working full time or part time? There are so many options, you need to think about where you see yourself and the sort of career that might fit in with the choices that you want to make.

Decide where you want to work

Another thing you need to factor in when looking for a career that you will love is where you want to work. Do you want to work in a big city and have a commute? Or would you prefer to work from home? These are legitimate factors that can really impact how you feel about your job so you need to consider it before you start. You will also need to take into account the costs of commuting and how it can take up time out of your day that you might need to spend with family.

These are just a few tips that should help you to find a career you love. As we said above, your career is one of the most important things in your life as it is something that you spend the majority of your time doing. Whether you work from home or from an office, it is something you need to spend the majority of your time thinking about. What are some top tips you have for finding a career that you love? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you.

Find Some Inspiration

In some cases, it can be extremely difficult to know what you want to do. Not everyone has it all figured out, and that is completely okay. It might be the case that you want to try doing a range of jobs and seeing if any of them stick out to you. The problem with this is that some employers might be hesitant to hire you if you have had a number of jobs as it may make you look flaky. 

One of the best things that we can suggest is that you do some research, and look into the different career options available. You can read stories of different people who have found success in various industries, and they might provide the inspiration that you need to move into that industry. Reed Pirain for example has a great story that may just push you towards the real estate world!

4 Actions To Help Pick Yourself Up And Turn Your Life Around

https://unsplash.com/photos/aK4iPNYipnU 

A lot of people in this world go through all kinds of negative instances. This life is quite difficult, so it's understandable that many of us have acted in ways that are perhaps something to forget. The good thing about life is that it's not all about how much you win, it's about how much you can improve on yourself after a loss. We all like getting the best things in life but it's not always about the successes.

If you can pick yourself up and turn your life around after a terrible few years also, then that is going to be something that you can really feel good about. Improving yourself or improving your family's health in this life are two very rewarding things. Here are four actions you can do in order to pick yourself up and turn your life back around:

Speak To A Professional About Your Problems

A lot of the time, it is very difficult to get over certain hurdles on your own or with the help of those around you. Their help is obviously much appreciated and it is useful to an extent, but professional help and intervention are often needed for deep and complex issues. Speaking to a therapist or somebody else in this kind of high regard it's something that will change your life for the better. They will be able to explore all kinds of different ideas and help you to see things through different prisms. 

Change Your Behaviour And Focus On The Good In The World

If you can change your attitude and really fight the person that you're trying to change from, your life can improve so much. Being a better person with a better outlook on life is what everybody should look to achieve. Whether you've had a troubled past and are hoping to deal with record sealing in order to move on, there is a lot of tension between you and another party, it's worth focusing on the good in the world and being an optimistic person about any future instance.

Practice Positive Thinking And Gratitude 

Following on from the previous point, if you simply look at life from a positive perspective, life will be so much better for you. A lot of negative thinkers view this kind of statement as nonsense but they never even give it a try. The more positive thinking you indulge in, the better your life ends up. If you only think of the negatives, you will likely drag yourself toward the negative instances. Life has a very funny way of making this kind of thing happen. 

Work Hard On Whatever You Do From Now On 

If you work hard in this world, that work will often be rewarded at some point. You'll either learn a lot of things and benefit yourself or you'll actually get the reward directly. Your life will be picked up and turned around if you simply knuckle down and focus on things that are important. Make your life about things that matter and less about negatives that play your body and mind, and those around you. 

4 Ways To Make A Change To Your Life

From time to time, you might feel that you are in need of some kind of change or other. When that happens, there are actually a lot of ways to do it, and it is important to make sure that you are opting for the right way. This all depends on your situation and what you are hoping to achieve, but it’s something that you are going to want to think about and look into. In this post, we are going to take a look at a few specific ways you can make a change to your life, including one or two that are particularly eventful.

Go For A New Career

A career move is one of the best ways to make a considerable change to your life, and you might actually be surprised by how much you are going to be able to do this if you set your mind to it. It can often seem hard to make a change of this kind, and you might find yourself worrying about whether or not it is going to be effective or whether you will survive it financially. However, in the long run it is always much better to go for a job you love, and you’ll find it really makes a huge difference to your life in a positive way.

Image Credit - CCO License

Move To A New Country

This is something that will certainly have a huge impact on how you live your life. Moving to a new country is a tremendously exciting thing to do, and certainly not something for the faint hearted. It’s also the kind of experience that can help you to build a lot of confidence, which is a wonderful thing to be able to say. If you are planning on moving to a new country, make sure to get the help you need, such as wildmountainimmigration.com for instance.

Get Out Of A Bad Relationship

This is a very difficult thing to do a lot of the time, and you would be forgiven for finding it hard to get the wheels in motion here. But the fact is that if you are in a bad relationship, that is the kind of experience that can really help you to make the most of your life. If you manage to do this, you will find that it helps to make for a much happier experience in general, which is obviously a wonderful thing to aim for. And it is certainly a big change to your life.

Image Credit - CCO License

Start A Business

A lot of people are starting their own businesses these days, and it’s the kind of thing that you are going to want to consider if you have a great idea for one and you want to make the most of your life. You will be amazed at how much it really helps you, and you’ll find that your life suddenly looks a lot different in a very positive and engaging way, so that is something that you should think about.

The Skills You Need To Be Your Own Boss

 

Image Source (CC0 License)

Do you want the freedom that comes with being your own boss? Of course you do - who doesn’t? 

Unfortunately, we’re not all equipped to be our own bosses. But, you can be perfectly poised to take control of your career if you develop the following skills:

Time Management

Every boss needs to be good at managing time. Naturally, when you’re your own boss, you have to have a good grasp of things. You need to have a good plan every day, allocating time to certain tasks. By the end of each working day, you should feel as though you have accomplished everything that you set out to achieve. 

Bad time management leaves you in a terribly inefficient position. You waste time doing things you shouldn’t be doing, which is a big issue if you want to be productive. 

Project Management

As your own boss, you need to stay on top of all the different projects you’re pushing forwards. Therefore, it helps to develop your project management skills. It’s actually a lot easier to do this than you think. There are online courses that give you things like an Agile project management certification. While a nice qualification to have, you’re mainly doing courses like this to learn the essential tools required to be a good project manager. 

Consequently, whenever you have an upcoming project, you know how to manage every step of the process to get the best outcomes. 

Self-Critiquing

Every professional needs to have good self-critiquing skills. You’ve got to be able to look at yourself and see where you might be going wrong. Naturally, this is even more important when you are your boss. There’s nobody above you to tell you that things need to change because they’re not working. 

The ability to step back, survey your situation and criticise yourself, is so important if you want to be successful. Understand where you’re going wrong and then make changes to correct the issues. 

Communication

Finally, you need excellent communication skills. Plenty of other skills could’ve filled this spot, but communication stood out as the most important. You must know how to communicate with everyone to get the best outcome from every situation. This includes communication with customers/clients, but also with suppliers and potential business partners. 

Good communication can make or break your business. It can be what helps you gain your first few clients, setting you down the path of greatness. 

As just mentioned, there are other skills you might think you need to be your own boss. For example, what about good accounting or marketing skills? Aren’t both of these skills essential? Well, yes and no. Yes, you need to have good financial management and marketing to succeed. However, you don’t necessarily need this yourself. You can outsource these services to people more qualified than yourself. 

Ironically, that throws up one bonus skill as we conclude this post. You need to have a good eye for delegation. Understand what you are good at, and then delegate tasks to others that are better than you. Now, you’re ready to be your own boss!

How To Increase Your Chances Of Finding A Good Job

Finding a good job can often seem like a near impossible task, as the number of interesting and rewarding roles is clearly outweighed by the number of qualified candidates who are actively searching for a new and improved career. Thankfully, learning how to increase your chances of finding a good job doesn’t actually have to be as tricky as you might initially imagine, as there are several simple ideas that you can make the most of to turn your career dreams into a reality in no time at all. So, if you’re interested in finding out more, then keep on reading to discover some of the most effective steps that you can follow today! 

Image Source - Pexels 

Get Online

In the modern day, you will find it very difficult to locate a good job without having to browse the internet first, as most companies choose to advertise their available roles exclusively through the web. You can find countless job advertisements online, so you can spend some time scouring through your results in order to match yourself up with the most suitable role for your unique wants and needs. You can also use the web to start building your reputation, as internet reputation management teams are forever growing in popularity and receiving greater demand from individuals looking to build a name for themselves on the web. If a would-be employer types your name into their search bar, they should be greeted with results associated with your professional working life, such as any work you have published or reviews you have received from past clients or managers - however, failing to invest in reputation management could mean that they stumble across social media posts that present you in a bad light, so it’s definitely worth it if you want to increase your chances of finding (and achieving) your dream role. 

Be Confident 

Confidence is key for many different aspects of life, but you simply cannot thrive in your career if you do not have the necessary self assurance. Having faith in yourself and your own abilities will make sure you grab every opportunity with both hands rather than shying away from it all, as a lack of confidence can force you into the shadows and stop you from putting in as much effort to achieve your goals. Instead, if you take the time to build yourself up and focus more on your positive traits rather than your negative attributes, you’ll soon feel a remarkable difference in the way that you approach new people and hold your own. When you have the utmost confidence in yourself, any kind of interview can be a total breeze - you’ll glide through each question with poise and thought, rather than stuttering over your words or going totally blank. All employers actively seek out the most confident candidates over those who seem timid and anxious! 

Increasing your chances of finding a good job has never been so simple when you can take the time to utilize some of the brilliant tips and ideas detailed above! 

Eye-Opening Projects to Consider Taking Up

Pixabay CC0 License

Whether you want to have the most dynamic and successful professional life possible, or would just like to maximize your full potential on a personal level, it’s very important to be mindful of the kinds of projects you take up.

Taking up the right projects with regards to your hobbies, or your professional endeavours, can help to not only move you closer to achieving your goals but can also — perhaps most importantly — help you to gain new and deeper perspectives and insights into things.

In life as a whole, developing deep and broad insights and perspectives is one of the most important things when it comes to living the best life possible, and ensuring that you stand the best chances of maximizing and achieving your full potential.

Here are a few examples of eye-opening and horizon-expanding projects that everyone should consider taking up, even though they may at first glance seem quite “ordinary.”

Decluttering and decorating your home

If your home is always a bit of a mess, and if you’ve always let the interior aesthetic of your home just sort of “work itself out,” you will not realise just how much your perspective and experience of everyday life can shift, as a result of decluttering and intentionally decorating your home.

Our homes are the environments where we spend a huge chunk of our overall time in life, and they are the environments that we have the greatest direct impact on.

A cluttered home environment naturally tends to correlate with a more haphazard way of thinking, and if your home feels like one big unfinished project, it’s likely to contribute to feelings of being “inert” and “stuck,” in general.

Decluttering and decorating your home with intentionality can be very eye-opening.

Learning a new language

It’s been said that different languages represent different ways of experiencing and relating to the world — and it’s truly fascinating how the language you use can end up shaping your overall perspective and outlook on things.

Learning a new language can significantly influence your perspective in myriad ways, and can open your eyes to different ways of perceiving the world, while simultaneously helping to serve as an entry point to engaging with, and better understanding and relating to, different cultures.

Learning a new language can be a very rewarding pastime in a range of different ways.

Creating your own small business

Creating a small business will naturally involve learning a variety of new skills, investigating a broad range of topics, such as web app development cost, and much more besides.

Whether or not a particular entrepreneurial venture of yours “works out” and helps you to make your fortune, creating your own small business will teach you a lot about yourself, your expectations, and the steps involved in entrepreneurship as a whole.

Spending even just a bit of time on an entrepreneurial venture can help to make you more insightful in a range of different ways.

Powerful yet Easy Ways to Raise Your Self-Esteem

If you want to raise your self-esteem, then you are not alone. Here’s how you turn things around.

Write Things Down

It is essential that you write things down. You need to write down positive affirmations as often as you think of them as this will help you to boost the way that you feel when you are down. It may be that you are super good at crosswords, or that you are thoughtful. If you are good at cooking, write that down too. Things like this can help you to be seen as a good friend and it can also help you to raise your confidence.

Source: Pexels (CC0 License)

Know what you’re Good at

Another thing that you need to do is know what you are good at. It may be that you are good at puzzles, being a good friend, singing or anything else of the sort. You may also find that you enjoy doing things that you are very good at and doing them is the best way to increase your mood. Don’t be afraid to take some time out for yourself because if you do, then you may find that you are able to raise your self-esteem and your mental wellness.

Do Something for Yourself

It is vital that you take the time to look after yourself. If you are not happy with the clothes that you have, then take the time to go out and buy yourself something new. If you feel bad about your teeth then why not invest in some dental implants? This is the best way for you to instantly boost your self-esteem and you may even find that it has a knock-on effect on your confidence overall.

Use your wardrobe to give you confidence

Have you noticed that your mood and confidence levels vary in different outfits? The clothes we wear can have a significant impact on how we feel, as well as how we look. If you’re trying to boost confidence and self-esteem, create a new capsule wardrobe and put looks together that make you feel great. Focus on trends that you love and styles, colors and prints that suit your taste and personality. Always make sure that you feel comfortable. Browse stores and search online for the best casual clothes for ladies if you’re looking for activewear or comfy items you can wear at home, to work or in your leisure time. Take time to try different pieces and be bolder in your choices if you usually gravitate towards the same colors and shapes. 

If you’re shopping for outfits for a special occasion, have fun with fashion and consider items you might not usually go for. Try new looks and see how you feel. You may be surprised by your reaction when you look in the mirror. Concentrate on finding clothes that make you feel comfortable and confident rather than feeling like you have to check off every catwalk trend or follow the crowd. 

Build Positive Relationships

If you feel as though certain people try and bring you down all the time, then you need to spend less time with them. This can be difficult if you feel as though you have very few friends, but you have to know that toxic friendships will do you more harm than good. When you have let go of the toxic people in your life, you can then focus more on building positive and more meaningful relationships.

Be Kind to Yourself

Being kind to yourself ultimately means that you need to stop putting yourself down so much. Stop being critical and think about what you would say to your friend if they were in the same situation as you right now? It is often easier to give good advice to other people as opposed to telling yourself the advice you need to hear. For this reason, the next time you hear yourself talking negatively, you need to try and turn things around by putting a stop to your thoughts, and by replacing them with the affirmative phrases that you have listed. This will help you more than you realize and it is a powerful way to raise your self-esteem.

Why not see if you can boost the way you feel about yourself, by implementing these tips for yourself?

A New You in 2021 with these 3 Life Hacks

Image credit

Well after 2020, we are all looking forward to a better year. Along with a better year, many of us hope for better versions of ourselves in 2021. Having spent the majority of 2020 inside of our homes with cancelled travel plans and celebrations, it is time to make the most of 2021. With these three life hacks, you can ring in the New Year with a plan for a new you in 2021.

Make Health a Priority

If 2020 taught the world anything, it is that our health is paramount. And, that means, that not only is your health important, but the health of your community, society, and the world. We are in this together. So, step out in 2021 with plans to get moving, exercise more, stretch more, and make the right food and drink choices. There is no healthy routine that will work for everyone. However, the best way to make something work is to make it fun. Choose a partner to exercise with or a friend to shop with, even if you do this virtually. Another trick that works wonders is keeping a healthy journal of eating habits, exercise times, and perhaps goals attained.

Start a New Hobby

Starting a new hobby is fun. It takes your mind off other things and/or people that might be adding stress to your life. Although exercise is one hobby, perhaps you want something that adds an element of calm and tranquility to your life and home. Many people choose to add a pet to their life for emotional support as well as tranquility. If you have a shelter close to your home, you may opt for adopting or even taking a pet for a day. If this isn’t an option because your flat or home doesn’t allow pets, perhaps you can add a small fish tank. A very entertaining fish to start with is the congo fish. It gets along well with otocinclus catfish as well as amano shrimp. If fish aren’t your thing, perhaps a little do-it-yourself decor and/or repair in your home is just what you need. There is something about putting together an IKEA piece of furniture or painting a room that makes all the other stuff fade away.

Nail Your Next Interview

Having a purpose along with a paycheck is great for your self-esteem. When you want to feel your best, make sure to put on your best first impression. It is imperative that you wear an outfit that is age-appropriate and fits the job. Additionally, make sure that you have a neat and tidy look from your hair, smile, and even nails. 

Let’s say hasta la vista baby to 2020 by entering 2021 with plans for a new you. Whether you are looking for love, success, a refreshed look on your world, or a bit of it all, take these three life hacks and run with them. Start a new hobby, get moving, make good food choices, and step out looking your best. Here’s to an incredible 2021! Cheers!

Inside and Out: Changing Who You Are

 

Image - CC0 License 

Changing who we are is something that we all would like to do. We all view ourselves in a certain way, but we may grow frustrated with the person staring back at us in the mirror. Changing ourselves isn't something that happens overnight, but there are certain aesthetics that we can work towards, but also make inward changes.

Surround Yourself With Different Components

Changing who you are can be about the environment you are in. Sometimes exposing ourselves to different stimuli forces us to think differently. Taking yourself into more stressful situations can force you to think on your feet. Hanging around with different people forces you to think differently and to see things from different perspectives. But even incorporating different physical items in your life can make you think differently. Changing your look is one thing, but you can also think about changing the things that surround you. Something like a new car is not always an affordable option if you want to change your life completely, but you can change the rims and tyres! These environmental changes can stimulate us to think differently. But it's important to remember that they won't change your thought habits overnight.

Change How You Think of Yourself

When you are on the quest for a new image, it's about looking at how people see you now and how you want to see yourself. You need to decide on the characteristics that you would like to change. And it's a great idea at this point to brainstorm and think about people you admire. It's not just about what people's actions are, but it's their behaviors. But you need to start small. Think about the personality traits that you'd like to have and see if they are still achievable based on your personal beliefs and values. It's impossible to completely change who you are if the person you want to be is at odds with your belief system. Before you declutter your closet and throw clothes out, you need to look at where you want to be and if you can take the steps in that direction.

Changing Your Habits

The biggest alteration of all when you are trying to become a different person is to change your habits. There are so many things that you have to be conscious of before you change your habits. It's not just about the people you are hanging around, but it's also about making sure that you correct what people think about you, but you also need to change how you think about yourself. And these changes can be very daunting. Because you've got to think about so many different components. From looking at how you act in certain situations to ensuring that others notice a change in you it takes a long time to mold. And when you start to embody a new image, you then have to solidify how you feel as a new person. 

Changing who we are is something that we would all like to do but we have to remember that it's about taking small steps.

Positive Thinking: The Key To A Happier Life

(Unsplash CC0)

Some people have the glass half full mentality and focus on the positive side of life instead of the negative. 

They live a life in accordance with that famous Monty Python song; and 'always look on the bright side of life.' 

And while we admit positive people can sometimes be a little insufferable, especially when we're feeling negative about ourselves, there are reasons why we should try to follow their example. 

If we think positively...

Good Things Will Happen

Good things are unlikely to happen in our lives if we wallow in misery and self-defeat. We are hardly likely to experience a positive life when we forever tell ourselves 'I can't' instead of 'I can.' Instead, we will limit the happy experiences we have in life, as we will be too focussed on the worst, and our misery and negativity will be perpetuated. 

Some people relate this to the universal law of attraction; the notion that when we give attention to negative things, our lives start to take on a negative shape. Positive thinking, on the other hand, can have the opposite effect. When we think positively, we are more likely to bring positive things into reality and enjoy a happier life. You can find out more about this here: What is the Universal Law of Attraction?

So, try it for yourself. Turn your thinking around. if you focus your attention on positive things, such as your hopes, dreams, and wishes, you might see these things materialize in your life. In short, good things might happen, so be positive!

We Will Feel Healthier

A healthier life equates to a happier life, and science has determined positive thinking can be a contributing factor to good health, especially when it comes to stress.

Studies have shown that positive thinking can impact the way we deal with stressful situations. An optimistic mindset can give us cause to manage the stress in our lives, with the view that we can overcome whatever it is that is getting us down. A negative mindset, on the other hand, can give us reason to do nothing due to the assumption that the situation is out of our control.

If we think positively, we can rise above our stresses. If we think negatively, we might only perpetuate them. Either way, there will be a knock-on effect to our health, both physically and mentally, as we will either succumb to or overcome the side-effects of stress. 

We will become more grateful

Sure, there are plenty of things in life that might get us down, but if we focus on these, we will only start to wallow in sorrow and despair. Instead, we should focus on gratitude, because if we concentrate on those things that we are grateful for, we might start to feel happier about the way our lives are going. 

So, turn your negative thinking around every time it creeps up on you. Remind yourself of the many good things about your life. You will see that your life isn't as bad as you might sometimes make it out to be, and you should experience more happy thoughts instead of those that cause you to feel unhappy.  

Take care, and thanks for reading!

Finding Success In Your Professional Life

Most of us want to be successful in some way or another. Of course, everyone has their own specific idea of just what success actually is, and understanding that is a part of the journey, as we will see shortly. But whatever your own idea of success is, if you are seeking it in your professional life then there are a range of things that you might want to consider, to ensure that it goes to plan as well as possible. In this article, we will discuss just what you need to do to make sure that you have found success in your professional life before too long.

Source - CCO Licence

Identifying It

First up, you have to make sure that you are able to actually identify success when you see it. This is entirely personal, so you don’t need to look elsewhere. But the point is: what does success look like to you? For some people, it might mean finally being able to buy their dream dream, be it a Lexus extended warranty or something else. For others, it might be more like achieving a certain specific career goal, or even helping people in a certain way. Then there is the other way of looking at things - Bob Dylan’s suggestion that if someone does what they want during the day, they are to be considered successful. Whatever it means to you, get really close to it so you can understand it fully. This is the first essential step in finding it in your life.

Building Your Energy

Whatever it is that you want to find in order to consider yourself successful, you need to have the kind of personal energy necessary to make it happen. There are a lot of ways in which you can go about building and generating this energy. For some, it’s enough to simply be inspired by a certain kind of success that they are going after. For others, it might take an improvement in diet, or a change in sleeping habits. Whatever you need to do in order to feel yourself brimming with energy and purpose, find it and do it. This alone is often a huge part of the journey for most people, but it is also the most important and you can’t overlook it, so make sure you work towards it.

Source - CCO Licence

Working Hard

No matter what the nature of your personal success is, you won’t be able to get there by chance alone. Luck often plays a role, but you need to make yourself available to fortune, and in a very basic sense that just means showing up. If you want success as an artist, show up at the canvas or the desk. If you want success in business, show up at the office. You need to work hard and diligently in order to be successful. But here’s the thing: if it is really what you want to do, it won’t feel too much like hard work anyway. That’s a sign that you are probably moving in the right direction.