Monthly Archives: September 2017

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Family Road Trip: 4 Tips For A Smooth Ride

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Family going on vacation

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Going on a break with the family is a must for most people. Taking time to seek out new terrains and get to know new horizons with the kids in tow is a big part of adding experience to life. Piling the family into the car and heading out is a great way to follow a trail to new adventures, but being stuck in a car with family at close quarters can cause squabbling to an extreme and make an adventure feel useless.

 

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Planning is the key to the perfect family road trip and it’s got to start with how you travel. Some families love to hire a huge recreational vehicle like this one to get their family around. The space and comfort – not to mention, the toilet – can make such a difference to the journey. Not being confined to five seats and bags is a glorious feeling and an RV can change that. Alternatively, plan your mode of transport based on what you plan to do. If you’re heading into the mountains and valleys for hiking, paragliding and skiing fun, then getting into an off-road vehicle like a Ford Ranger is going to change the game and give you every comfort you need as you go off those regular roads and into new terrains. Road trips don’t have to be a stressful affair, and we’ve got four tips to make it work for your whole family.

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  1. Activities. Depending on the age of the kids, the fun they have in the car is going to differ. Teenagers may well be happy to sit back with their headphones in, watching the world go by as they listen to the latest tracks. Little children are a whole other kettle of fish. They need interaction and entertainment, from car games like these to portable DVD players to keep them entertained. Babies are always easier, as they tend to sleep on long car journeys and can make life easy!
  2. Time. As a family, you know that timing is going to matter the most. Trying to plan to get to school on time is hard enough, never mind a full road trip. Mark on a map all the toilets and rest stops, and mark down how long you want each stop to last. Once you’ve done that, stick to it! Allow extra time for traffic, but not for choosing candy on the road!
  3. Make It Interesting. Kids are easily bored on the road, and adults are, too! Making those rest stops interesting ones and not just the local gas station can make such a difference. Plan your journey to include interesting towns and tourist spots!
  4. Plan Surprises. Keep a bag with you in the front of the car full of little treats and goodies so that during car games, you have prizes. These little gifts can change the atmosphere in the car during boring periods and make it fun.

Your road trip doesn’t have to be a disaster; careful planning and treats see to that!

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Career Choices For Detail-Orientated People

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PixaBay

 

Do you find yourself focusing on the small things?

 

Do you have the motivation to pick up discrepancies, the kind that other people might miss?

 

Do you delight in the fine print, able to identify issues before they happen?

 

If you can answer a resounding “yes” to all of the above, then chances are you’re a detail-orientated person. This has its frustrations, there’s no doubt. When you’re always noticing small details, then you can be distracted from everything else. While everyone else is delighting in the latest hit TV show episode, you’re finding yourself puzzling over a small plot hole that the writers left unanswered. It can even be irritating that other people don’t quite have the same level of focus to the small-scale that you do.

 

However, on the whole, being detail-orientated is a blessing rather than a curse. When it comes to choosing career options, your detail-hungry brain is always going to be seen as an asset by employers. That means you’re going to be able to pick and choose the industries you want to work in – but which might be the best suited to your personality?

 

Option 1: Medical Coder

 

A biller/coder in the medical field is responsible for compiling invoices and dealing with insurance details. On the surface, it sounds like basic-level accounting stuff – but you couldn’t be more wrong.

 

The reason that a biller/coder needs to be able to focus on details is the sheer amount of data they need to process. If a patient is admitted to the ER, then has a scan, then moves to a ward for treatment – that’s three different departments you’re going to need to pull information from. You then have to compile it along with the required legislation; and there’s no room for errors. It’s perfect for someone like you, who focuses on the small details that others might miss.

 

Option 2: Project Management

 

Project management is a task that many people would feel they can turn their hands to, but for those who do it as a profession, it’s an entirely different world. Pro project managers have to be able to identify problems before they happen; liaise with different teams of people; and see how to bring them all together.

 

The smallest slip, and you can doom a project. But you’re a details person – there’s no way you’re going to be making any slips. It’s high pressure, but it’s high reward too.

 

Option 3: Mental Health Counselling

 

This one might sound a little out of left field – but it makes more sense if you think of mental health treatment as a science rather than an art. Identifying the source of someone’s issues requires a lot of focus on their past; being able to remember small details; extrapolate meaning from off-handed comments that they might not even have realized were relevant to their current situation. If you’re able to focus on the details with ease, then this is a job you might just be perfect for.

 

While there’s plenty of job opportunities for those who thrive on details, the above three might be the best possible fits you can imagine.

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Want A Perfect Family Trip? Stay Close To Home

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The perfect holiday can often seem like something of a fantasy. It certainly can be hard to plan and arrange the ideal vacation, especially if you are somewhat limited in regards to your funds. Most people are not able to afford five-star luxury every year, so if you are having to scrimp and save, don’t worry about it. Everyone has been there – and what’s more, it doesn’t have to mean that you can’t still have a fantastic holiday. As it happens, one of the best ways to have a holiday with the family is to stay home, or close to home. There are many reasons why that might be; let’s have a look at some of the more convincing ones now.

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Save Money

 

One of the main reasons that people consider holidaying at home is simply because they will save a lot of money. Just think about it: you won’t need to buy flights (which is often most of the expense) and you will find that any other transport will be much cheaper than abroad. But it’s also a case of having local knowledge. Because you know more than you do about location which are further afield, you can be a little savvier with how you spend your money. You will probably find that you get a lot more for your money than you would abroad, even if in some foreign locations most things might be cheaper. Having the local knowledge really does make a huge difference.

 

A Safer Journey

 

There is mounting evidence to suggest that holidaying nearer to your home is more often safer. There are many factors which will influence this. For a start, it is true that you are less likely to be in any kind of accident, because you have more understanding of the culture and won’t find yourself making the same silly mistakes. You will also have an easier time navigating your way, as you already know the area fairly well. You speak the language, and can more easily gain any assistance you might need when you need it. If you are planning a road trip, it might be particularly wise to stay in your own corner of the country. The last thing you want is an out of state car accident, with all the hassle that brings. If you are closer to home, in your own state, you will be less likely to crash in the first place – and if you do, the procedure following it will be much simpler.

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Allow Your Children To Appreciate Their Hometown

 

You don’t have to actually stay in your town, of course, but even just getting your children to appreciate the local area or state you are in is important. Too often these days, people find themselves getting too out of touch with the area they belong to. This is a real shame, but a great way to remedy the situation is by holidaying at home. It is especially good for your children, and the earlier you take them on holidays at home the better it will be for them. You might even find that they develop an understanding and respect of their home which other kids their age lack. It’s a great way to avoid the trap of ignoring your own corner of the world’s own special beauty.

 

Cut It Short? No Problem

 

There are many ways in which travelling close to home will mean that you have a much less stressful time. A particularly good example of this is when you need to cut your trip short. This can happen for a variety of reasons, and it is always a shame when it does happen. It might be a family emergency, for example, or that you have run out of your holiday spending money and need to stop spending. Whatever the underlying problem, it goes without saying that you will find it much easier to make your way back home whenever you want to if you are only just down the road. This can actually be something of a lifesaver in more serious circumstances – sometimes literally. You don’t want to live in fear of this kind of thing to the point that you never go anywhere – but it is still a huge benefit of holidaying at home which can’t be ignored.

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Next time you are thinking of taking the family away somewhere, look close to home. You might be surprised at what kind of wonder lay on your doorstep, once you stop and look.

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How To Get The Most Out Of Life

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Pixabay Image Source: Looking off into the distance

 

If you realise you want to make the most out of your life – it’s about time! Your life is whatever you make it, and the possibilities are endless. The first thing you need to do is figure out what you want to accomplish. What are your hopes and desires? Remember that there is no right or wrong answer, and if you don’t know – that’s fine too. It just means your journey will be even more exciting because you have no idea where you may end up!

Whatever it is you end up doing, here are all the tips you need to remember, to help you get exactly what you want out of life.

 

No one is any better than you.

That person you see as being inferior to you? They’re not; they’re just another simple human being surviving in this world. Their brain isn’t any different to yours, nor their heart, or their blood. They have not been blessed with a set of skills that you’re incapable of developing, nor do they deserve anything more than you do.

Remember this; you can’t lose until you quit… So just don’t quit.

 

Creativity wins every time.

Albert Einstein said it first – “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” and indeed it is. The most magnificent minds weren’t full of facts, but creativity instead. Anyone can be factful nowadays (thanks, Google), so don’t waste your time on the little things when you could be building up your creativity. That on the other hand, is something that not everybody has, so if you have it – be ready to rise above and use it to your advantage.

 

The rules are meant to be broken.

Let’s put it this way, if you stick by all of the rules that are set, you’ll end up missing out on a whole bunch of fun. Sure, rules have been put in place for a reason, but why should you follow them without questioning their validity first? Don’t ever be put down or put off for questioning things. It shows strength and curiosity, and that’s what everyone needs within their lives. How else are you going to learn?

 

Don’t be scared to ask for help.

Whether you’re battling an inner demon, or can’t manage your thoughts and feelings – ask for help. People get it into their heads that doing so is a sign of weakness – but it isn’t at all. There are plenty of ways you can get the help you need, click here for more information. The most important thing to remember is that you’re human, and if you’re struggling, just ask.

 

Slow down and enjoy.

Why is everyone always in a hurry? Before you know it, you’ll be ninety years old and wishing that you looked at the trees properly, counting every leaf it owned.

Speeding down the road in your car to knock two minutes off your journey time really won’t make any difference. Neither will pushing in line at the grocery store. – Take time out to see all the beautiful things in this world! Who knows how long they’ll last for, so take a chill pill.

 

Regret nothing.

Go all out and never regret a thing. Talk to that person you can’t take your eyes off at work. Quit the job you hate and try something new. Decide to be an artist for a year. Travel around the world alone. Get up on stage and sing Whitney Houston like you know you can. – Whatever it may be, go out and enjoy. Who cares if you fail miserably – it was fun while it lasted. Now onto the next.

 

Upset about something? Do something about it.

If something is eating you up inside, do something to make a difference. It’s no good whining about it on social media – you need to get out and take a stand. Join a movement that you’re passionate about, or create a website, or a vlog about the issue and what you’re trying to do. If you’re not willing to make the effort, stop complaining.

 

Be grateful for what you already have.

It’s very easy sometimes to forget how lucky you actually are. The biggest thing being – you’re breathing. Sure, we all look around us and compare our lives to one another, but what advantage actually comes out of that? Be grateful for what you have, and cherish it, because you don’t know how long you’ll have it for. If you’re thankful for your family, or the relationships you have within your life, it doesn’t hurt to be vocal and tell them. It will surely come to them as a surprise to hear, and it will mean an awful lot.

 

Stay true to yourself.

One of the most important things, and also one of the hardest, is to stay true to yourself. This means owning who you are, and not being ashamed, embarrassed or scared to reveal your true self. You’re amazing, and people are lucky if they get to know you even a little, so never feel as though you can’t be yourself. Some people are rude and arrogant, and they aren’t trying to hide themselves away from the world, so why should you?

 

Less thinking, more doing.

Who cares what people are going to think of you. The ‘what if’ words are the most harmful thing you can say to yourself, because it has the potential to hold you back from the things you want to do in your life. What. If. You took too long stressing about it, and now the opportunity that was once right in front of you, is gone forever? You’ll be so disappointed that you didn’t just take the leap. You don’t want to spend your life being stuck in a state of limbo. So when making a decision, get the essential information you need, and then just go for it. Swap out what if to why not. That’s a damn lot more exciting.

Image Source: New Life – chapter two, typewriter

 

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Identifying And Coping With Hearing Loss

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Hearing loss has a way of sneaking up on you. While it’s something that we traditionally write off as an inevitable part of aging, there are numerous causes of hearing loss although many are degenerative and in many cases we don’t realize the extent of our hearing loss until it’s gotten pretty bad. If you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves over and over again. If people accuse you of not listening to them or you have trouble realizing that people are talking to you half way through a conversation then these can be telling signs that you have hearing loss that you may not even be fully aware of.

 

Hearing loss can be a cause of embarrassment and anxiety to sufferers that is only exacerbated when it is left ignored and untreated. As people get more impatient with having to repeat themselves and the world around them feels more remote and alienating, sufferers of hearing loss can find themselves suffering severely damaging psychological effects. Here we’ll look at spotting the signs of hearing loss, the psychological and emotional impact that sufferers may undergo and the importance of identifying the cause and the effects that it may have on treatment as well as how people with hearing loss can help themselves and others around them better understand their condition.

 

Spotting the signs

 

Hearing loss in adults doesn’t just happen overnight. It often takes place over a period of years in increments so small that sufferers don’t even notice it day by day. While we may associate hearing loss with advanced age, it can be experienced at virtually any age, regardless of our general health and fitness. If you notice any of the following occurring on a daily basis then there’s a good chance that you’re experiencing hearing loss.

 

  • You struggle to hear people talking to you on the phone
  • You frequently feel that others are mumbling and often need them to repeat themselves
  • You struggle to be part of conversations in busy places like malls, cafes, bars and restaurants.
  • Your partner and friends accuse you of not listening.
  • Your family often says that you have the TV or radio on too loud.
  • You can’t tell where sound is coming from.
  • Conversations require a great deal of conversations and become exhausting.

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The psychological effects of hearing loss

 

The psychological impact of gradual hearing loss cannot be underestimated. It can alienate you from your partner and friends and leave you feeling isolated. It can cause people to become frustrated and irritated with you, negatively impacting your self-esteem. Moreover, coming to the realization that you are in fact losing your hearing is a genuine bereavement that requires emotional and psychological adjustment. As with any loss you can expect to feel anger, resentment and you may well be in denial of the existence or extent of your hearing loss. Once you’ve come to accept it as a reality of your life, however, you must not suffer in silence but seek help in identifying the cause of your hearing loss as this will be the first step to treating it.

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Identifying the cause

 

Hearing loss can have a seriously detrimental effect on not only your ability to live your day to day life but on your mental health if left untreated. Thus, it’s important to seek the advice of an audiologist to correctly identify the cause of your hearing loss. In some cases it may even be something that can be reversed. Most common cases of hearing loss are attributed to either nerve damage (sensorineural hearing loss) or obstructions in the ear canal (conductive hearing loss). Many cases of hearing loss can be reversed by removing waxy buildup in the ear or removing lodged foreign objects from the ear canal. Likewise infections or pus buildup in the ear canal can be treated with an antibiotic. Some obstructions, however like perforation of the eardrums or Otosclerosis (an abnormal bone growth in the middle ear) cannot be reversed. Hearing loss caused by nerve damage, however, has a more diverse range of causes. It can be caused by aging, regular exposure to loud noises, viral infections, hereditary conditions like Meniere’s disease (which also affects your balance) and even lifestyle related conditions like obesity or excessive smoking can cause sensorineural hearing loss.This kind of hearing loss requires more comprehensive treatment that will likely remain with you for the rest of your life.

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Treatment and tech

 

An audiologist will likely want to prescribe you a hearing aid. There was a time when hearing aids were ugly, bulky inefficient things but the advent of digital technology has made hearing aids much more discreet and effective. Whether you opt for a hearing aid that clips behind the ear or one that sits discreetly in the ear canal, most digital hearing aids are hard to detect, though it’s important to note that hearing aids require a period of adjustment. When you first start wearing a hearing aid you’ll likely experience a tinny buzzing in your ears. Over time your brain (which has gotten used to compensating for your hearing loss) will start to recognize these vibrations as sounds and adjust to the hearing aid over a period of weeks. It’s important to allow yourself this period of adjustment and stick with your hearing aids as frustrating as the transitional period may be. If your hearing loss makes phone conversations difficult the good news is that there are many phones for the hearing impaired available. They have hardware and software built-in that can not only elevate the volume but clarify speech by reducing background noise and even slow down talk speed to make speech easier to understand.

 

Openness and honesty

 

When you hearing loss has been diagnosed it’s important to take ownership of it and not to feel embarrassed. Being open and honest about it with friends and family will prevent them from getting impatient and irritated with you when they have to repeat themselves. They’ll also know that your hearing loss is outside of your control and that you’re not deliberately ignoring them.

Those around you can help by being patient and trying to speak more slowly and clearly in your presence.

 

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