Tag: Lifestyle Blog

Types Of Coffee, Coffee Roast And Types Of Grinding

The jacu coffee, first produced by a farm in Espírito Santo. The jaguar, who has nothing, is a big bird that loves coffee. Most coffee growers see it like a plague. But like the civet, the jacu understands to select the best grains, and also leaves a “present” in his excrement. Today, a pot of 250 grams of roasted coffee beans can be found for 150 reais.

Millet-Chocolate Pancake Recipe

Millets or Ragi is a great option when considering healthy food because it is packed with nutrients and is gluten-free. Pancakes are my favourite form of breakfast and I simply love gorging on them, but when choosing healthy options, we often feel that we will have to give up on such indulgences. But not anymore, all you need to do is experiment a little and tada, you can have your pleasures without feeling sinful about it.

‘Souza In The 40’s​’, An Art Extravaganza At Sunapranta, Goa

Art in its any form, literally draws me and pulls me to it. Creativity is something that I imbibe in myself and have a great appreciation for. Be it performing arts or static, I have huge respect for artists who vent out their innermost emotions through their art. I sometimes try to do that myself through my writing or my paintings and even through my cooking.

Scooters For Kids

Scooters are one of the most common toys amongst young boys and girls alike. They provide endless hours of fun and their popularity does not seem to be diminishing. This is a testament to the toy, as a lot of kids toys tend to be loved for a few years and then they go out of fashion. However, kids scooters seem to be going nowhere.

Poker on the rise with yet another season of the grand DPT 2019 powered by Adda 52

India’s online poker giant Adda52.com is organizing the country’s biggest live poker tournament series, Deltin Poker Tournament (DPT) in Goa from 7thto 11th February 2019. This 5-day mega tournament is an effort by Adda52.com, India’s largest poker site and Deltin Royale, the biggest floating casino in India to provide a platform for the best poker minds to participate and win from a prize pool of more than 1 Crore. Adda52 does not limit the players to have a poker experience online; in fact, it extends it to a live environment with tables, dealer, fellow players, and the sheer environment.

A Guide To Breaking Bad Health Habits

(Image: Pixabay / CC0 Licence)

 

There are certain things that we all do that we know we really shouldn’t. Whether it’s eating a little too much sugar, smoking cigarettes, or rarely exercising, we all have something that – in the harsh light of day – we know isn’t the wisest choice for our health.

 

Of course, a new year always heralds an opportunity to break these bad health habits – but, unfortunately, actually defeating these habits once and for all can be a tough ask. However, if you’re hoping that 2019 will be the year where you can kick one of your bad health habits for good, then the guide below may be able to help you achieve exactly that.

 

Focus on the ultimate goal

When seeking to conquer bad health habits, people often focus solely on the end itself; they will, for example, say that want to “quit smoking” or “eat less sugar”. However, it’s usually preferable to reshape your thinking a little, transforming your goal into something that sounds a lot more enticing. For example, rather than “quit smoking”, you could tell yourself you’re “reducing your risk of cancer” or “improving your lung function. This simple shift in thinking helps to emphasize the benefits of quitting your bad health habit, rather than focusing on the self-denial aspect.

 

Decide if you want to take a gradual or abrupt approach

  • A gradual approach would be cutting from 10 cigarettes to five in the first week, then moving to zero in the second; or exercising once a week for the first month, then twice a week for the second month.
  • An abrupt approach is the opposite; it means throwing yourself wholeheartedly into the change, quitting smoking entirely, or starting a three-sessions-per-week exercise regime right from the get-go.

 

There’s no right or wrong decision here, by the way – everyone responds differently, so it’s best to make the decision on what you think will work best for you. When you have established which approach you prefer, choose a date at which your approach will begin; if you’ve adopted a gradual approach, you’ll also need to plan the next few weeks or months to incorporate the next stages, too.

 

Research options to help make the transition easier

Even when focusing primarily on the benefits of changing your bad health habit, it’s still important to acknowledge the process is going to be tough. You may need a little help to make such a significant change easier to deal with. If you’re looking to quit smoking, you could look to purchase a few vape liquid sample packs and a vape pen; if you’re hoping to exercise more, a personal trainer might be a wise choice; or if you’re looking to cut sugar, you could explore sugar alternatives. Again, breaking a bad health habit shouldn’t feel like self-denial or even a challenge, so utilize whatever you can to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible.

 

Make it possible to monitor your progress

It’s always helpful to have hard data to affirm that breaking your bad health habit has benefited you. Returning to the examples discussed so far, this could mean taking an exhaled carbon monoxide test if you’re a smoker, take a blood sugar reading if you’re cutting sugar, or time yourself running 1k if you’re looking to exercise more. Whichever habit you’re trying to break, there should be a similar metric that you can establish as a starting point. You can then refer back to this baseline metric once you’ve broken your habit, allowing you to see how much good breaking your habit is doing.

 

Hopefully, the guide above should assist you in breaking your bad health habits once and for all in 2019 – good luck!

Perfectly Productive: Achieving Better Focus and Mental Clarity at Work

Work is a big part of our lives, and being able to get down to business and work hard is essential if you want to do well in life, earn money and live the way that you want. It’s important to set goals and to look to the future, but it’s the way you perform every day that will make a difference. Here are some of the ways you can boost productivity by improving mental clarity at work.

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Live a healthy lifestyle

Living a healthy lifestyle has so many benefits- but one that you might not have considered is a better focus at work. The wrong foods can make you feel sluggish, and others will cause cravings that can distract you from what you’re doing. Stay hydrated which can improve focus, eat foods that are good for your body and your mood will be elevated and you’ll be able to concentrate better. Some healthy eating plans have been shown to improve mental clarity, for example, one of the reasons why you should take Beta Hydroxybutyrate with a keto style diet is because it’s been shown to improve mental performance. If you don’t want to stick to a specific dietary plan, eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and dairy in the right quantities will benefit just about everyone.

Improve your office

Improving your workspace can make you more productive as well as feel less stressed. If you work as an employee, just clearing your desk and coming up with new storage solutions could be helpful. If you run your own business or work from home then you have it within your power to change your entire office space. Move the desk closer to the window as the natural daylight improves mood. Paint the walls a light, neutral shade to help space feel bigger and brighter. Add some decorative touches to make the office feel homely but without being cluttered or distracting.

Take regular breaks

There’s nothing worse than being faced with a problem that you just can’t solve. After a while, you can get tunnel vision towards it and it becomes impossible to overcome. Taking even a short break and returning can allow you to spot the solution right away. Regular breaks help to prevent eye strain and also decrease restless energy. If you can get active and do some exercise, even a brisk walk around your office building it will give your brain a boost of happy hormones and can wake up too! Of course, you won’t want to be taking breaks so often that you’re disrupting your workflow and breaking concentration when you’re on a roll. But if you’re struggling, don’t feel like you need to sit and give yourself a headache over what you’re doing. Have a couple of minutes away, drink a cup of tea or some water and move around a little. When you return back to your desk, chances are you’ll be ready to get right back into it.

The 5 E’s To Consider When Upgrading Your New Business

When you’re running a new business on the block, trying to be heard over the competition can be a frustrating battle. You just don’t have the same brand recognition as some of the bigger players in the game, but that’s okay. Good things come in time. Still, in the business world, simply waiting for good things to come isn’t enough. If you’re not happy about the snail-like progress of your company then it’s time to do something about it. You have to be unique to stand out. These are the 5 E’s to consider when upgrading your new business.

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Efficiency.

The first ‘E’ is efficiency. An efficient business is a successful business. If you can improve your use of both time and money then you’ll reduce overhead costs and boost profit margins. In turn, you’ll have more money to invest in your business, but we’ll discuss that more in the next point. You’ll also be able to reach a wider customer base if you improve productivity because you’ll have an increased daily output. Again, we’ll talk about expansion more in the next point. For now, let’s discuss ways in which to make your business more efficient. This will help to give your business stronger foundations as it starts to grow.

For starters, you might want to start automating certain operations in your business. No, this doesn’t mean you have to make workers redundant. In fact, we’re talking about making your workers more productive. If repetitive and time-consuming tasks are automated (e.g. admin work) then your employees will be able to focus their energy on the more technical aspects of their job roles. Additionally, you might want to look into time clocks to help keep track of work hours and ensure everybody is paid fairly. It’ll make your business more efficient because you’ll know that you’re never underpaying or overpaying employees. This will keep the team happy and protect your finances.

Expansion.

The expansion is essential to the evolution of your company and the growth of your reputation. If you want to upgrade your new business then you should keep thinking of ways to expand it. Now, you might not be able to achieve your biggest goals within the early days of opening your company. Growth has to be gradual if it’s going to be steady and long-lasting. But it’s about making investments that will bring in increased profits. For example, you might want to increase your product or service output so that you can meet the needs of a larger customer base. Instead of investing in several new employees, however, you might want to outsource certain services to meet the increased workload. It’ll help you to achieve the same level of expansion but cost you far less money than hiring some new full-time workers. If your business is going to really upgrade itself to the next level then you need to expand in time-effective and cost-effective ways. That’s the smart way to create a bigger presence in your respective marketplace.

Environment.

The environment in which your employees’ work has such a big impact on their productivity. We’ve already talked about automating operations for efficiency, but another way to optimize business operations is to focus directly on the mindset of your workers. And this all starts by creating a nice workspace for your team. How do you feel when your home or your office is messy? Distracted? Uncomfortable? Well, think about how your entire workforce will feel if their work environment is cluttered or aesthetically unappealing. Improving the office is a worthwhile investment. Even simply repainting the walls with a white coat of paint to reflect light and brighten the work environment could make a big difference. You might want to put a ping pong table and some couches in the break room too. Give your employees a way to unwind.

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Expectations.

This is one of the biggest E’s to consider if you want to ensure that your business is successful in the long-term. Start thinking about customer expectations and the ways in which you can exceed them. That’s how you’ll upgrade your business. Your goal should be to solve problems before they even become problems. To clarify, you need to show your customers that no issue is too small or too insignificant. Most people will understand that mistakes are made in life – we’re all human, after all. But they won’t understand a business that fails to remedy the problem quickly and professionally. Invite customers to send in questions and complaints on social media. Have a team ready to respond to customers as soon as they contact you; that’ll show you care.

Exceeding expectations can go a long way to boost your business’ brand. In turn, you’ll gain a reputation as a caring and reliable company. You’re trying to build loyal relationships with your customers. That’s how you’ll start to build up a lasting client base. Obviously, you want to chase new leads, but you also want your existing customers to stick around. This is how your new business will grow into something impressive from small and humble beginnings. It’s all about the customers, at the end of the day.

End-goals.

Always reinvent the business plan. That should be the main piece of advice you’ve taken away from the points raised in this article. You might not have to change your end-goals but simply restate them. Repackaging a brand can sometimes be the best way to start turning heads in an industry once more. If you’ve been struggling to make an impact on the target market then it makes sense to try a new approach. Simply saying something in a different way can make a big difference. After all, if your competitors are successful then the problem might not be your products or services but the way in which you’re selling them. Hold onto your end-goals but keep finding new ways to reach them if you want to upgrade your business and take the next step up the entrepreneurial ladder.

Barbie initiates Project Udaan to enable girls live their dreams

In a bid to fulfill the dreams of young girls, Mattel India has joined hands with the NGO, Masoom, to launch ‘Project Udaan’. The project has come into the existence with an understanding that there are numerous girls who are locked by boundaries of social and economic status. While these girls have grown up admiring Barbie, Mattel believes every girl, like Barbie, has the right to be themselves i.e. smart, successful, ambitious, poised and confident. Project Udaan aims to give these girls the wings to fly with their dreams.

Project Udaan

Project Udaan is a comprehensive three-fold programme that focuses on leadership skills, feminine hygiene program, and vocational training basis participants’ interest mapping. It is a year-long program which will be actively volunteered by the ‘Barbie’ team, designed to equip over 100 girls aged between 14-18 years. The project is aimed to build confidence, self-expression and enable effective learning and development that can present the girls with a chance for a better life.

Activities

As a part of this initiative, Barbie created an exposure for young and enthusiastic kids of the city. The girls from Masoom were taken to KidZania where they could not only explore but live and experience 90+ role-playing activities. These little girls were shown that their dreams could fly free at KidZania through 90+ career opportunities. The trip enabled a roadmap, guiding these tiny feet towards a realistic and achievable goal to fulfill their dreams. It was also an eye-opener for many, as most of the activities showcased were unique and attractive for many of them, thus further enlightening their vision.

Brand Speak

Commenting on the initiative, Ishmeet Singh, Country Manager, Mattel India, said, “Every girl is talented and has the potential to reach for the stars. But where society tries to pull them down, Barbie supports them to help them to live their dreams.”

“Project Udaan has enabled us see the spark on so many faces and we are highly motivated by their overwhelming response.Through our initial activity at KidZania, children got a chance to experience the world of multiple career options. They cherished the life of becoming a Chef, an RJ, a Pilot, a Teacher, an Actor, and so on”, he added.

About Mattel

Mattel is a creations company that inspires the wonder of childhood. Our mission is to be the recognized leader in play, learning, and development worldwide. Mattel’s portfolio of global consumer brands includes American Girl®, Barbie®, Fisher-Price®, Hot Wheels®, Monster High®, and Thomas & Friends®, among many others. Mattel also creates a wealth of lines and products made in collaboration with leading entertainment and technology companies. With a global workforce of approximately 31,000 people, Mattel operates in 40 countries and territories and sells products in more than 150 nations. Visit us online at www.mattel.com.

 

Reducing Your Monthly Outgoings in Time for Christmas

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We are fast approaching Christmas and many of us are looking for ways to cut back on our spending in order to be able to afford gifts, decorations, and celebrations over the festive period. The good news is that there are plenty of places that you can save and the sums of money that you can store away can mount up pretty quickly! Here are a few different areas to consider reducing your spending, alongside a few tips to help you achieve this!

Change Your Phone Provider

Many of us stick with the same phone provider for years out of sheer habit and through laziness in regards to having to request a PAC code and set up a new contract or pay as you go SIM. But the market of phone providers is extremely competitive and chances are that an alternative company will offer you a lower monthly bill than your current provider if you’re willing to switch networks. Take a look at Freedompop plans. While you might not have heard of the brand before, they could provide equally good service as your current provider at a much cheaper price!

Opt for Different Phone Insurance

Another monthly bill that goes out of most of our bank accounts is phone insurance. Now, phone insurance is relatively essential. It will ensure that you receive a replacement phone or a repair if your phone is lost, stolen, or damaged. However, the majority of us have our phones insured through companies that are recommended to us while we take our contracts out. Bear in mind that most companies selling phones benefit from recommending particular insurance packages. They are likely owned by the same company or are receiving some sort of commission. Instead, take the time to browse the market before insuring your phone. You may be able to find a cheaper plan.

Switch Up Your Broadband

A reliable broadband connection in your home can keep your smartphone, tablet, laptop, and desktop computers connected to the web at a lower cost than using mobile data. Again, it’s important to browse around and compare different options that are available to you through different providers. If you find that you are happy with the current broadband that you use, but have found a cheaper deal elsewhere, ask your current company to price match. They will generally agree to this in order to maintain your custom.

These are just a few different steps that you might want to consider taking if you want to reduce your monthly outgoings in the near future. Incorporate them into your lifestyle as soon as possible in order to benefit from them before Christmas!