How to Make a Fitness Routine More Fun

 

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Fitness should be fun, and the more fun it is, the easier it is to maintain a fitness routine and get healthy. The trouble is that many fitness locations seem boring places to some people, so how can you square the circle? The good news is that there are plenty of ways to make it more fun.  

Listen to Audiobooks/ Podcasts

One of the things that put people off exercising and reaching their best selves is the boredom of the activities. Some people like nothing more than lifting weights and counting to themselves, but for other people, that is simply too tedious and uninspiring. You can click here for ideas. 

Listening to audiobooks while you run or lift weights in the gym is an excellent way to entertain yourself or learn something while you improve your fitness and strength. Combining these two activities is the perfect way to make the most of your time and ensures that fitness stays fun, and perhaps even educational too.

Fitness Friends 

If you get bored exercising on your own, then find a fitness friend. Fitness friends come in two types; one of them is more advanced than you and encourages you to compete with them and reach their level; the other type is on the same level as you, and you can raise each other's game together. 

There’s another advantage to having a fitness friend; it motivates you to put on your running shoes or get on your bike when the sky is dark, and the weather is cold. Having someone around to hold you to the task is an excellent way to maintain your fitness routine and meet goals. 

Fitness Classes 

Again, some people find exercising on their own very boring, even with a favorite audiobook on. If you want to generate more interest in your fitness life, then consider fitness classes. A fitness class can take place in a gym or partake online in the comfort of your home, but it is more interactive. 

Fitness classes are a great place to meet like-minded people and work out with others, this keeps it interesting, but that’s not all. As with a fitness friend, fitness classes are a commitment that you can’t abandon easily. You might have paid money for a class or have booked a place, so you feel more committed to turn up. 

Everyday Exercise 

If the idea of a workout is too much to think about, you might like this next bit of advice. Instead of making your fitness routine a formal affair with a gym subscription or some training at a local sports club, you can integrate your fitness into your lifestyle by switching your mindset a little. 

Everyday exercise simply means raising your heart rate whenever possible; it might be some steps that you walk up regularly, walking instead of taking the car or cycling to your work. This kind of active life is perfect for maintaining your fitness levels without getting bored or spending too much money. 

Ditch the Gym 

Gyms are one of the most boring places for some people, the atmosphere is not nice, mostly filled with sweaty people and random groans, and there is nothing pleasant to look at. Why pay for this situation when you can buy a pair of running shoes and enjoy the fresh air outside?

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5 Reasons to Take Your Child to a First Aid Class

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While children don’t always love learning, especially boring topics, there is no doubt about it that there are some things they need. This can include learning about first aid. First aid training is something that everyone needs. It’s usually taught to adults during orientation, and it’s also taught to kids who are in sports and clubs such as the Scouts. With that said, depending on the setting, teaching a child first aid can honestly be a lot of fun. It’s one of those needed things for living a healthy lifestyle while also teaching little ones to help others. So, here are five reasons to take your child to a first aid class.

1. First Aid is a life-saving skill

They could be a hero one day. Who knows when something major could happen, this could be at the playground, in class, or even if they’re unsupervised. As a parent, you can’t always control the setting that your child will be in. However, you can teach them the life-saving skill of first aid, so they will already be well equipped.

2. It teaches children to be aware of their surroundings and how to react in emergency situations

You can find out more here about it, but taking a class can be a great way to give children a calm mindset when they need to take on an emergency situation. Freaking out and panicking will instantly make the situation go worse. However, when it comes to these classes, they put children in scenarios that will help them learn about the importance of staying calm when they’re trying to save a life. 

Plus, this can also help a child be more aware of their surroundings and see what is happening and what is actually wrong. Some things like choking, drowning, stroke, and seizures may not look like much at first glance. But these classes can help learn what the signs are.

3. It teaches children the importance of being responsible for their own safety

It’s small, but this can mean a lot. First aid classes can let kids help themselves and help others. This, in turn, lets them know if they’re ever in danger, there is a high chance that someone will help them out, giving them a greater sense of safety.

4. It teaches children about their body and what it can do

The human body is amazing, and this first aid class just proves it. Plus, it shows how to take care of themselves when they fall or get hurt or when friends get hurt or sick.

5. It helps build confidence in kids

This can include those who might be afraid of going outside or interacting with other people because they are shy or have anxiety issues. Some children are just shy, but a first aid class can teach them that sometimes, it’s necessary to get out of their comfort zone in order to save someone’s life. In general, this could be one of the best decisions a parent can make because you never know when your little one could help save a life. 

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What to Consider Before Getting Your Child their First Phone

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As a mom, there are a lot of things to worry about. One of the big concerns that many parents have is when to give their children their first phone. It can be a tough decision, and there are a lot of factors to consider. 

One of the first things you need to consider is your child's age. Most experts recommend that children be at least 12 years old before they get their first phone. This is because they need to be mature enough to handle the responsibility of having a phone and they should also be able to understand how to use it safely.

Another thing you need to think about is how your child will use their phone. If they are only going to use it for emergencies, then you may not need to get them a data plan. However, if they are going to use it for social media, gaming, or other activities that require data, then you will want to get them a well-priced data plan.

It would be best if you also thought about whether or not your child is ready for the responsibility of having a phone. This includes being able to follow the rules, such as not using their phone during class or at bedtime. If you think they are ready for this responsibility, then they are probably ready for a phone. And, speaking of responsibility, you also need to ensure they stay safe while spending time online. That said, have a look below at some valuable information that will help you ensure your child can enjoy some safe screen time once they get their first phone.

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A Great New Hoover on the Market - Hoover HF500 Anti-Twist PETS Model

{I received the Hoover HF500 Anti-twist Pets vacuum cleaner free of charge for the purpose of writing this review. I have not been instructed what to write and I remain honest}

If you ask me how I'm going to clean a floor, I'll tell you I'll Hoover it and truthfully that would be whether or not the actual product I'm using is made by Hoover. As Hoover is a brand I grew up with, it was the only vacuum cleaner my Nan and Mum would ever think to buy and I'm pleased to see that nearly fifty years later Hoover is still making excellent vacuum cleaners.

It was a very easy yes from me when I was asked if I'd like to review the Hoover HF500 anti-twist pets vacuum cleaner. It retails for £299 and is one of the modern stick-type vacuums, which I haven't used before. At just 2.5kg in its full upright form (or 1.7kg as a handheld) it is really easy to use and manoeuvre whatever your size, strength or ability. 

I really like the modern graphite grey and turquoise colouring of this Hoover and it feels robust for something so light. It was intuitive and easy to put together straight from the box and I didn't have to spend time going over a manual and wondering what goes where. 

When I first received the Hoover HF500 anti-twist pets, seeing how streamlined it is I thought I might let my son take it to uni when he goes in September but having used it, I don't want to let it go, as it really is very effective and so light.

It amazes me that a vacuum being cordless and light really encourages my teen children to use it. They won't even consider using the traditional vacuum as you have to unwind the lead and plug it in, but will happily grab my cordless and clean their own bedrooms. That is a big win as far as I'm concerned. 

What To Write In Wife Birthday Card

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Are you struggling with what to write on your wife's birthday card? Birthday cards for wife sold on Boomf are the loveliest, most romantic, and most special wife's birthday cards there are. You can pick out the most fitting card based on theme, colours, style, features, and filters to give your amazing wife the birthday card that she deserves. One she will truly love and cherish. 

 

Birthday Card For Wife Wishes

Gifts are surely a good choice of presents for your wife but she wants to hear you say words that mean the world to her. Happy birthday cards for wives should portray the endearment and appreciation, with love that every married woman wants to hear in her marriage, from her husband.

This is the perfect opportunity for you to wish your wonderful wife the sweetest birthday as she also makes your life the sweetest it has ever been. If you're having trouble coming up with the right words to show what you actually feel, here's a list of what you could write on your wife's birthday card and we hope that you see something that resonates with you and provides inspiration:

1. Thank you for showing me just how much I needed you in my life all these years. Happy Birthday!

 

2. To the most amazing woman in my life who makes it a fairytale I always want to live, have a fabulous birthday today.

 

3. As you have always been so selfless and effortlessly stunning, I wrote you this card to express my sincere emotions. How I am in awe that you are mine and how pleased I will be to be your husband forever.

 

4. There will never be a better yesterday as long as you're in my today. Enjoy your special day, Honey.

 

5. You deserve the best of birthdays for making sure everyone in this family is at their best, each day. Thank you, my dear wife, for this.

 

6. It is a blessing every day to wake up to you by my side. I always hate to leave for work and as soon as I get home today, I promise to make this the best birthday you have ever had.

 

What Not To Write

As you already know, many women are moved by words. A birthday card will lose its flavour if the words you choose to write are not genuine and personal. So take your time and make sure that the choice of words you select are really something you sincerely mean. There is nothing worse than receiving a card and it looks like the sender took the words and sentiments straight from the internet. By all means, use the above phrases as inspiration but try to make your greeting personal and special to both you and your wife. 

We hope you have a wonderful time celebrating together!

10 Years of Employee Ownership (EO) Day – What We Have Learned

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It has been an entire decade since the Employee Ownership Association launched EO Day, or ‘Employee Ownership Day’, in celebration of the benefits of employee-owned businesses.

There are, of course, a lot of benefits to celebrate. It is clear that, within the UK, there are strong economic benefits being felt not just by the individual employees themselves, but by the business and regional economies. It’s also clear to see that employee ownership represents one of the cornerstones of preparing for a future of increased automation and using artificial intelligence to streamline significant portions of the UK workforce.

In all likelihood, businesses opting to spread ownership throughout the economy are something we should see a lot more of over the coming years. But, to that end, what has happened already?

Businesses are ready and willing to explore the benefits

Since 2019, the employee ownership sector has doubled – a fact which is testament to just how ready shareholders and directors are to spread ownership and reap the benefits of a workforce that have a much more significant stake in the business – and its growth – than they did before.

This has been aided by the formation of the Employee Ownership Trust, or EOT, first established in 2014. Recent research into employee ownership in SMEs has already paved the way for further studies into the true extent of the benefits brought by employee ownership.  

Businesses that take on employee ownership are generally thought to be directed toward more meaningful roles and relationships 

One of the strongest examples of this stems from the impact of Covid-19, which coincides with the rapid surge in companies turning toward employee ownership. As everyone was forced to confront their own mortality – and the impacts of a global crisis – more businesses and advisors sought to instate strong succession plans for their business, and to create a meaningful path forward not just for the business itself, but for its employees, too.

Employee ownership gives employees a more meaningful say in the business, which tends to have a strong impact on their levels of happiness and satisfaction at work.

The emphasis on nurturing the workforce is very strong

A recent survey showed that 96% of employee-owned businesses say that looking after the workforce is key to the success of the business, and more than two-thirds claimed that employee ownership was a matter of social responsibility.

Obviously, as with any significant change to the business, there will inevitably be a period of ‘settling in’ as everyone gets to grips with the new order. For that reason, and despite the strong rewards waiting for businesses who can navigate this process, working closely with corporate solicitors on setting up or running an employee-owned business can only help as they have worked with similar clients and know how to handle a change of this proportion.

There are, of course, a variety of ways to instate employee ownership within a business, but utilising the EOT has proven to be the most popular so far, and is well worth exploring if you’re interested in your employees having a stake in the future of your business. 

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Parenting Hacks to Help Your Child Thrive

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Parenting in this modern world comes with plenty of ups and downs, and you'll spend too much time worrying about the down times. But don't, it's important to acknowledge all the things you are doing well as a parent, and if something isn't working for you, then don't give up, try something else. There is such a massive toolkit of strategies that we parents can draw upon.

Having a steady home life is so fundamental for any child and one of the most important things you can do as a parent is focus on the best ways of achieving this safe space. A child with strong foundations and known boundaries will have a head start towards thriving.

These are some of the best ways of being able to help your child thrive and grow as much as possible.

Be Patient

One of the key things to keep in mind is that you need to make sure you are as patient as possible with your children. Being a child and going through lots of developmental leaps and growths can be challenging for many children. It goes without saying that your child needs to feel your patience and feel able to have the room to make mistakes, deal with the resulting consequences and then grow as an outcome of what they've experienced.

Find a Routine

Finding a routine that works for your family is really important, and there are so many ideas that you can use to help you achieve this. Don't be tempted to copy your best friends routine, or one a book advocates, as every family is unique. So make sure you think about all the factors that matter to your family and incorporate those. Children like routine, and they often need it to help them acclimatise to changes and get used to things.  

Moms Should Know These Techniques for Calming a Sick Child

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Nothing is worse than when your child is ill. All you want to do is help them in the best way so they can recover quickly. Snot and dribble are sure to get on their hands, faces, and sleeves—and most likely yours as well—because kids are still learning the fine art of coughing into their elbows and wiping their noses with a tissue. 

Add to that the emotional challenges, a mother's heart is broken more than anything else by witnessing her child in such anguish. Then it is sod's law that having a sick child in the family inevitably results in the spread of germs and just as your child starts to feel better, you are aware that you're strating to get poorly yourself, and guess what? Sick days are not permitted for parents!

Prepare yourself with these easy strategies to help your child (and yourself) make it to the other side if you find yourself submerged in a sea of your child's used tissues and hose pitful puppy eyes.

Consider Hydration 

Keeping kids hydrated is essential at all times, but it's crucial during illness. Children who are sick with a fever, diarrhoea, or vomiting lose a lot of salt and fluids that they need to replace.

Try liquid-heavy foods like a warm cup of chicken soup if water isn't their thing. Cool drinks and popsicles will hydrate your child and help them feel better if they have a sore throat, and it still feels like they're having a treat. This is the one time that you don't mind what your child is eating or drinking, as long as they are.

Combining symptom relief with a mother's gentle touch 

Children's coughs and colds may be particularly challenging to treat because there aren't many solutions available to them. Children who have a persistent cough may also have trouble falling or staying asleep, which is a nightmare for everyone! Your presence with them can be very calming and a towel under their pillow can help to raise their head and relieve their cough a bit.

It's important to think about ways how to bring temperature down, such as taking medication, wearing fewer layers of clothing, or sponging them with tepid water.

Relax the limitations on screen time

For good reason, the majority of us worry about exposing our kids to too much screen time. But while they're sick is not the time to be a stickler for the rules. You want to take their attention away from how they are feeling and help them have a bit of light relief and feel better.

Your sick child needs to rest and falling asleep with a movie on their iPad is no crime.

Look after their skin

Children's noses are typically red, raw, and painful when they have recently recovered from a cold. This is because using regular tissues to clean their nose may irritate their skin, which is painful for them. Instead of using a dry tissue, parents can reduce this irritation by using a warm, damp towel and gently applying petroleum jelly around the nostrils can help to heal this sore area.

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Top 10 Tips for Living a Healthy Lifestyle on a Budget

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Living a healthy lifestyle can seem like an impossible task when you're on a tight budget. But with a little bit of creativity and planning, it's totally possible to stick to your health goals while keeping your finances in check.

In this post, Your Debt Expert shares top tips for living a healthy lifestyle on a budget. Through helping struggling individuals beat debt, Your Debt Expert provides everything from the latest solutions to everyday budgeting tips. If you or someone you know is struggling, make sure to visit HERE.

Check out their top tips below:

1. Eat healthy on a budget by Meal Planning

One of the best ways to save money and eat healthily is by meal planning. By taking the time to plan out your meals for the week, you can save money on groceries and eating out. Additionally, meal planning can help you make healthier choices as you will be less likely to make impulsive decisions when you are hungry.

2. Cut down on eating out

Eating out can be expensive and unhealthy. To save money, cook at home more often and only eat out on special occasions. When you do eat out, choose healthy options such as salads, soups, and wraps instead of high-calorie meals.

3. Buy in bulk

Buying in bulk can be a great way to save money on healthy food options. Purchase items such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains from the bulk section of your grocery store and cook in large batches so that you have leftovers for the week.

4. Invest in a slow cooker

A slow cooker can be a healthy and budget-friendly way to cook meals. Simply add in your ingredients, set the timer, and let the cooker do its job. Slow cooker meals are typically healthy as they are cooked with little to no oil.

10 Simple Steps To Raising A Well-Rounded Child: From Early Childhood To Adolescence

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Having well-rounded kids, who are intelligent, confident, curious, and friendly, is a challenge that many parents struggle with. How do you instil these qualities in your child? There’s no magic formula. The answer isn’t sending your kid to the right school or signing them up for every enrichment activity under the sun. The answer is small actions repeated over time that add to big results. You can’t leave it to chance or hope things will turn out okay. You have to work at it -- consistently! 

Why is Confidence so Important for Children to Have?

We all know confidence is a key life skill. And one that kids need to be successful in all areas of their lives. But how does confidence grow in a child? How do parents help their children become more confident? 

A lot of it comes down to the way that parents interact with their children on a day-to-day basis. Parents are their child’s first and most important role models. They are the first source of information about the world. And the first source of feedback for their child’s actions. As a result, parents play a pivotal role in how their child perceives and responds to new situations. As the child grows and develops, it’s essential to let them know that they are unique and capable of achieving anything they set their mind to.

The Importance of Independence

Raising a well-rounded, confident child means helping them with stress and self-esteem. And it starts young. But parents often worry that they’ll fall behind their peers if they don’t do everything for their children. They’ll be less successful because they’ll never learn to fend for themselves. 

Well, yes, that’s true. If you don’t do everything for your child, they’ll fall behind their peers. But that’s not a bad thing. If a child is constantly being coddled, never having to work hard for anything, never having to solve problems on their own, they grow up not to trust their abilities. They don’t know how to take control of their own lives. They become dependent on other people. They don’t know how to break out of that rut. It’s important to let your child try things on their own and be successful. They need to learn that they can always depend on themselves. 

5 Reasons Why you Should Buy a Greenhouse from Halls

 

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Are you green-fingered? Can you often be found outside chatting to your plants or sowing some flower seeds? I have to admit that nowadays I don't do any gardening and this is because I get to live in a magnificent 220-acre estate with a garden team to look after the grounds. And this may sound idyllic and of course, it is - the kids have three lakes to swim in, we have the most amazing formal and higgledy flower beds and there's a 2-acre kitchen garden full of amazing produce, but I do miss my own space.

I often find myself daydreaming of having a private garden again, so I can go out and tinker and feel the satisfaction of growing my own vegetables. The first home that my husband and I bought was a tiny one-bedroom house with a galleried second floor but it came with a super 180-foot south-facing garden and we inherited a fabulous Halls lean-to greenhouse. This was my first taste of the satisfaction that comes with growing your own food to eat and seeding flowers too. 

Before owning a greenhouse, I just thought they were for people like my grandad, who was a real gardening enthusiast but soon after I realised they are great for everyone as they come with many benefits so it is definitely worth looking for a greenhouse for sale near me. 

Here are my top 5 reasons why you should invest in a greenhouse from Halls -

1)  You can grow all year round

We all know how rubbish the British weather can be at times and it is super frustrating when it looks like Spring is here and you plant out and then a harsh frost reappears from nowhere. Well, with a greenhouse, you can start growing and keep your plants in there until you are very sure the climate is right for moving them outdoors. 

This, of course, means you can have veggies in the winter that you wouldn't normally as delicates like salad leaves can't bear the rain and wind outside in a British winter. And I'm a big fan of extending the strawberry season as long as I can too!

2) They look great and there are so many options

I've got my eye on the Halls Supreme, which is the greenhouse pictured at the top of this post. It reminds me of the glasshouses in Kew Gardens and I think I'd feel super posh with one of those in my garden, but if you only have a small space this doesn't mean you have to miss out. Halls Greenhouses have a great selection from a 2ft x 4ft wall garden right through to a full 138 sq foot garden room. 

The choice doesn't stop with the size either, as you can choose from a silver, green or even black frame on different models. Go for regular horticultural glass, or maybe toughened glass or avoid the glass altogether and opt for polycarbonate. And you can choose to buy a base with the greenhouse as well to raise the greenhouse itself by about 12cm to ensure that the doors open smoothly without the need for constructing a timber or brick base.