Category Archives: Lifestyle

4 Steps To Help Kids Prepare For College

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Your kids going to college is one of the bittersweet moments of any parents’ life. While you might be more proud than you could ever imagine, you’re also worried about how they will cope in the big world all by themselves. Of course, there are thighs you can do before they go to college that will prepare them, and this includes everything from knowing how to stand out to how to stay sensible. 

Know How to Stand Out 

You can help your child prepare for college before they even get accepted to any specific school. For many, this could be what gives them the edge over other applicants, and services such as college consulting will allow them to stand out from the crowd and hit the ground running once they arrive. If you or your partner never went to college, these services can be vital for helping your teen understand what’s expected of them and how to make sure they can handle the work (and the freedom) that often trips unprepared college students up. 

Learn Some Independence and Responsibility

Going off to college is often a child’s first taste of freedom, which can go one of two ways. Either they take their freedom for granted, or they understand how to have fun and stay on course. Before they pack their life away and move into a campus dorm, you can encourage them to get a summer job to teach them responsibility and earn some money so that they have some financial independence, as well as an idea of what a career could be, for the semester and beyond. 

Encourage Them to Socialize

Back in the day, college students showed up at their dorm and introduced themselves to their roommate for the first time. But, this is not the case any longer. Social media will give your teen the chance to chat with other freshmen starting at the same time. Some colleges will use Facebook or other platforms to put people in touch with one another so they can learn a little about other students, giving them a fledgling network of fellow students (who could become friends) before they even arrive. 

Remind Them You’re Just a Phone Call Away 

You might be freaking out about your child heading off to college, and although they are putting on a brave face, they might be equally as terrified. They might get cold feet on the day of the big move, so you must be strong and remind them that you’re just a phone call away. You won’t be able to solve all of their problems, but you can offer advice whenever they need you, and this can be enough to encourage them to follow through with their college career and feel confident. 

Life’s Next Step 

While not everyone will (or should) go to college, there is a significant portion of the teen population that will, and they will have the time of their lives. But, as it is the first taste of freedom for many, there’s a risk of struggling to maintain a routine. By helping them prepare for college, you can send them off ready to succeed, and set them up for life, too.

6 Questions To Ask Before You Move Home

Are you getting ready to move home? If so, then it’s important to be aware that this is always going to be a massive decision. In fact, experts claim that moving home is the most stressful experience that you can go through in your adult life. There are a lot of reasons why this is the case. First, it’s a huge financial decision that is going to have an impact on your life for years to come. You need to be prepared for the financial ramifications of a change like this. It’s also going to cause a shift in the dynamic of your family too. For instance, your kids are going to have to settle into a new place and potentially a new school. This can be quite a shock to the system for them. That’s why it’s important to make sure that you are approaching the move the right way. To help reduce stress, it’s a good idea to have a moving company like movers charlotte nc take care of the heavy lifting (literally) so you can focus on other details. You need to ask the right questions and ensure that you’re not rushing into anything here. So, let’s jump in and explore this possibility in more detail.

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What Is Your Floor Selling Price?

First, you need to think about how much you are going to sell your home for. Every homeowner should have a target price that they want to reach with their home sale. By keeping this in mind, you can ensure that you don’t sell the home for less than you want or even less than it is worth. To find the floor selling price, you should get your property valued. You might want to think about getting a couple valuations for your home as the first estate agent might not provide the accurate price for the market. Do be aware that the value is just a recommendation. You can choose to put your home up for a higher price, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll get the right level of interest. It can be better to instead sell at a lower price so that you can attract more people interested in viewing your home. 

You can also think about making changes to the property to ensure that you increase the overall value of your home too. By boosting the value, you’ll be able to sell at a higher price and still get the interest that you need on the market. If you’re not in a rush to sell, then it can be worth holding out for a better price than the first offers you receive. 

Is Your Property Ready For The Market? 

Next, you should think about whether your home is ready for the market. A lot of people will spend at least a couple of months preparing their home for the market, making the right changes. Again, this could be about increasing the value of the home and ensuring that it does sell for the right price. For instance, you could think about renovating and redesigning an area like the kitchen. A change like this could add as much as 25% onto the initial value of your home, providing you with the big profit margin you hoped for. 

If your property needs some repairs, then it’s worth thinking about completing these as well. If you don’t complete repairs on your property before you put it on the market, then it can be viewed as a fixer upper. This is a massive issue because it will cause you to get lower offers on your home which is the last thing that you want. You could also think about how to boost the curb appeal of your home. Boosting the curb appeal will ensure that your home looks incredible and could lead to more views. 

Do You Need To Move By On A Deadline?

It’s worth thinking about whether there’s a reason why you need to move within a set period. This could be because you are moving for work or it might be due to a more personal reason. If there is no cause for moving in a set time limit, then it’s definitely worth taking your time with a move. This can help you guarantee that you aren’t missing any steps and that your home does sell at the right price. It’s also a great way to reduce any stress around the move and make it a more relaxed experience. 

Are You Keeping Your Kids In Mind?

As mentioned, a move can impact your kids in a number of ways. So, you need to ensure that you are taking the time to guarantee that they are okay. It’s great if you can make plans to explore the new area with them and ensure that they feel comfortable. By letting them explore, you can also help get them excited about the move rather than leaving them feeling apprehensive about the change it will bring to their life. 

How Will You Handle The Move Itself?

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You should also think about how you will handle the move and more importantly how much you are going to take care of yourself. This all comes down to which moving company or type of moving service you choose. For instance, some moving companies will handle everything for you including the packing. This is a great way to avoid the stress of the move which will allow you to focus on other things like ensuring that your kids are okay. Or, you could think about doing everything yourself. That’s one way to save costs and you can pack as well as drive the van. If you are driving the van, then you will need to consider transportation for your car. You can look at a car transportation website online to explore the different rates available here. If you choose the right company then this can be cost-effective. 

One way to make handling things yourself easier is by creating a checklist or printing off a pre-made one you can find online. That way, you can guarantee that you’re not forgetting anything important with your move. 

How Much Is It Going To Cost?

Finally, you need to think about how much it is going to cost to sell your home on the market. It’s important that you do create a budget here to ensure that the costs don’t balloon. This is particularly important if you are planning on moving to a larger property rather than downsizing. You need to make sure that you get the greatest level of ROI when you sell your property. There are lots of different costs to consider here. For instance, you should think about the cost of your moving team. Be aware that the rates of a moving company can vary quite a lot. As such, it’s definitely worth thinking about researching the market carefully and comparing a few different businesses. 

You might also want to consider the costs that come after you move into your new home. For example, you might want to change the locks on the property. This is a step that a lot of new homeowners take to ensure that the original owners can’t still access the property. You could also need to think about making some key improvements to the home and the overall design of the property too. 
We hope this helps you understand some of the key decisions that you do need to keep in mind when you are planning your home move. If you ask the right questions, you’ll be able to guarantee that your home move does go off without a hitch and hopefully avoid some of the more common headaches that typically come with this type of change.

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Practical Tips to Advance Your Career

People seek career advancement for benefits such as salary increments and confidence boosts. However, the Strada Education Network research revealed that 52% of Americans find it challenging to upgrade their jobs. Fortunately, you can achieve this if you know the proper steps to take. That said, here are some practical tips for moving forward in your profession. 

Set professional goals

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It’s prudent to set achievable career goals, as they help you determine your short and long-term career plans. Besides, they help you track every progress while focusing on activities that develop your capabilities and skills. What’s more, they enable you to step out of your comfort zone, build your confidence and view your profession from a more positive perspective. 

It’s imperative to set specific goals, as vague ones might be immeasurable and demotivating. You may also set achievable targets and take one step at a time to increase your success chances. It’s also prudent to be consistent and persistent by completing your tasks on time and following through with your set plans. While it might be challenging, stay positive and keep moving to boost your productivity and accomplish your goals.

Develop a plan 

You’ll need a career advancement plan to map strategies to achieve your set goals. Besides, a feasible plan helps you understand each step to take as you advance in your profession. Although it might require meticulous work to create, it will give you a clearer picture of the future, keeping you motivated.

It’s prudent to personalize your plan to suit your goals and the needed strategies. For starters, you may carefully assess your current job and juxtapose it with your desired career aspirations to determine the steps needed to achieve your goals. Moreover, you can document your plan on a career plan template to keep you accountable and focused. By all means, act upon your plan and monitor your progress consistently. 

Improve upon your skillset 

A limited skillset may decrease your career advancement opportunities, making it essential to improve on it. As such, no matter which industry you want to enter, it’s best to seek out further informal, as well as formal, education opportunities. For example, if you wish to become a physical therapist, you could take one of the specialized courses here to further develop your skills, while, if you are pursuing a CEO or CFO role, you might want to apply and study for a MA in Business. Acquiring new knowledge and abilities is valuable as it makes you an effective and productive worker and boosts your credibility. What’s more, it makes you the ideal candidate for promotion opportunities and keeps you relevant in your chosen field. Therefore, you should aspire to build upon your current skills and refuse to settle for less. 

You can start by finding a mentor in your field to train you and seek constructive feedback from colleagues and superiors about your strengths and areas that need improvement. You can also leverage online courses, as they can easily suit your busy schedule. For instance, you can apply for a masters in nursing online degree program to improve your nursing knowledge and skills. Moreover, you may review job descriptions for the desired skills to acquire and leverage your company training and professional associations. 

Seek new responsibilities 

Superiors don’t give promotions or career advancement opportunities randomly, as they seek specific skills in an ideal candidate. Therefore, it’s best to showcase your value by taking on additional responsibilities. Besides, it also shows your superiors that you are reliable and consistent, making you the best choice for a more prominent role. What’s more, it promotes trust and accountability while revealing your positive traits. However, it’s imperative to strike a balance, as your work quality and credibility may suffer if you can’t handle too many responsibilities. 

For starters, you may discuss with your superiors regarding additional projects to work on and help out your stressed colleagues with their work. However, be careful not to allow them to shift their responsibilities to you. You may also embrace volunteer opportunities and lead social events to showcase your skills and capability. Furthermore, it will be best to seek opportunities and express your interest and readiness. By all means, perform excellently in your current job, and watch your career advance smoothly. 

Protect your mental health

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A joint study by Lyra Health and the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions revealed that 83% of American workers experience mental health issues, which affects their productivity. This disturbing statistic shows the importance of caring for your mental well-being. Therefore, you may take breaks if you feel overwhelmed by your workload and ask for help when necessary. It’s also prudent to exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet and get enough sleep to energize you for the next day. 

Career advancement is possible if you take the necessary actions. Hopefully, you’ll follow these tips for smoother professional growth.