Brain Wave – Page 20 – Sasha Says…

Health Appointments You Should Definitely Check Into

August 26, 2020 No Comments

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We all want to be in the best health we can possibly be. We want to live our lives free of discomfort and pain. We also want to live as long as possible. But to achieve this, you’re going to have to put some work in. This goes beyond the usual health routines of eating balanced meals and going to the gym regularly. You’re going to have to book in for regular health checkups with professionals too. Here are some that you need to fit into your schedule!

Dentist Appointments

If you’re having any form of dental problems, your first point of call should be your dentist. They’ll be able to carry out a full examination and any emergency procedures that may need to be carried out to put a stop to pain or other issues. But this isn’t the only time you should see a dentist. You should also check in regularly even if you haven’t noticed any problems. A six month dental checkup will give your dentist the chance to take a look around your mouth and examine its overall health. They may be able to spot warning signs of issues that you haven’t noticed yet, such as small cavities or signs of gum disease. They can then carry out procedures to stop these issues in their tracks. They can also carry out an X-ray to ensure the health of the inside of your teeth, which you can’t take a look at yourself. This could unveil wisdom teeth or other potential future inconveniences or problems. Your dentist will also likely offer aesthetic services, such as straightening, whitening or veneers if you’re interested!

Hygienist Appointments

While we all know we need to see a dentist, it’s surprising how few people book in an appointment with a hygienist. A hygienist will ensure that your mouth is as clean as possible, tackling areas you might not reach yourself and carrying out a scale to remove any build up of plaque or tartare. They may also be able to point out areas you’re missing, helping you to take better care of your teeth in your own cleaning routines.

Eye Tests

You should visit an optometrist for an eye test once every two years. This isn’t high commitment, so there’s no reason to miss your appointments. Everyone can spare half an hour once every two years. During your eye test, a professional will survey the health of your eye. This will give them the opportunity to identify symptoms of any conditions that will need to be put right. Generally, for most people, nothing shows up and they can simply progress to their sight test. In the sight test, you’ll carry out a number of tasks to determine whether you need prescription lenses or not. If you do, your optometrist will write out your prescription and you’ll be good to go!

Hearing Tests

Hearing tests are even less regular than eye tests. You just need to check in if you notice any changes to your hearing or if you’re worried about your hearing at all. If you are recognizing hearing loss, an audiologist will be able to carry out proper tests to determine whether you need hearing aids or other hearing devices to help you get by more easily on a day to day basis. If you do need any hearing aids, your audiologist will be able to recommend different makes and models, will be able to order them on your behalf and will be able to fit them for you when they arrive. This can make all the difference to your day to day life!

General Health Check Ups

If you feel that any other aspect of your health may be deteriorating, check in with your doctor. They’ll be able to conduct tests to determine the cause of your problems and set you on the right path to treatment. Whether that’s medication, surgery, therapy or anything else! These routine checks will ensure that any problems that are establishing themselves are tackled quickly and effectively.

Sure, there are a fair few checkups that you need to fit into your calendar. But the good news is that they are generally far between, so you won’t find your schedule absolutely packed with them. Plus, they can really help you out, making a profoundly positive experience to your day to day life!

Brain Wave, Entrepreneurship & Business Talks

Going the Way of the Entrepreneur: 2 Key Personal Traits to Learn

August 26, 2020 No Comments

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It seems that many people are jumping onto the freelance way of life at the moment. And partly, it’s to do with necessity, it’s also the personal outcomes that can influence our decision. Many people are learning how important it is to have control over their lives, and it seems that this is one of the key ways these days. When there is a recession there appears to be a spike in people looking for ways to make money for themselves. But when you start to build your own freelance career and decide that you want to be an entrepreneur there are certain personal considerations that you need to think about.

Money Is More Than a Commodity, It Is a Mindset

Building any company, whether it’s online or in real life, requires a relationship with money that goes beyond the physical. The best place to begin when you have a poor relationship with money and you’ve been in debt previously is to get a clean slate. While there are debt discharge programs like on www.DTSS.us you have to think about being debt-free as a mindset too. So many people start a business as a way to scramble together money quickly, but this is not the case. The first year can be incredibly difficult for any budding business person. And you may feel that you are financially worse off. This is why you need to change your relationship with money. Changing your lifestyle so you can invest in the business but also get an understanding of that sensation you feel after you’ve earned that first dollar can help change your entire approach to how you live.

Learning to Lead

Going back to the idea of being self-sufficient in terms of our own careers, we may feel that we need to be in control of our domain. The big problem with being in charge of your own business is that you have your own preconceived ideas of what being a boss actually entails. So many people have so much of a chip on their shoulder, they feel in order to get anywhere they’ve got to beat on people below them or be incredibly harsh leaders. The true value of being a leader is not about shouting loud or being someone who puffs their chest out; it’s about being the person who listens, inspires, but also has an approach that considers everybody. You may think that you need to be a Donald Trump and start blaming everybody for problems that you’ve created (hopefully without the hairstyle and hue of orange), or you can be the person that takes responsibility, like Abraham Lincoln. There are so many characteristics of great leaders to consider, and there are 5 of these on www.FastCompany.com. And while you will encounter people throughout your life that think this is the best way to be, morally speaking it doesn’t help.

To be a business person you may have preconceived notions of the entire mindset. But when you are in charge of something that has to pay other people as well as yourself, you have a duty of care. If you are considering going the way of the entrepreneur, these are the two key personal considerations to start with.

Brain Wave, Shopping and Merchandise

Looking After A Diamond Ring

August 26, 2020 No Comments

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If you own a diamond ring then it is likely to be an extremely precious piece of jewellery, such as an engagement ring. Therefore, if you want your ring to look as stunning as it did when you first received it, you need to make sure you look after it properly. Your diamond is not going to maintain its beauty without proper care. When you consider how much of an investment a diamond is, you see why it is so important to care for your diamond properly. This article aims to give you a helping hand with that by providing you with some key advice on taking care of diamonds.

How do you clean a diamond ring?

One extremely effective way of cleaning diamonds is to use vodka. So, how do you use vodka to clean diamonds? This is a really simple method. All you need to do is leave your ring to soak in a glass of vodka. Once you remove the ring you will instantly notice that the diamond has got its sparkle back. However, don’t immediately place it back onto your finger. You will need to rinse it under the tap with warm water and then make sure you rub it dry as well. Use a lint-free cloth.

If you don’t keep vodka in your home then maybe this next method will be more beneficial for you. You will need to get yourself a bowl and mix together four parts warm water with one part household ammonia. Soak the ring in this solution for no longer than ten minutes. Once you have removed it you should brush it very gently with a soft small and gentle brush, such as a child’s toothbrush. After this, dip it back into the mixture and then rinse it with lukewarm water. Leave it on a drain to dry or you can use a lint-free cloth similarly to the previous method.

One important point to note is that you should never leave your ring on a paper tissue to dry. This is because it can leave dust and fibres onto the ring.

It is also a good idea to make sure you take your ring off while you are getting dressed. If you do not do this, it is going to get covered in perfumes, creams, and lotions, which can cause the ring to deteriorate a lot quicker than it would usually.

How should you store your diamond rings?

Storing your ring correctly is important as well, especially if this is an engagement or wedding ring. Make sure you keep your diamond jewellery in a fabric lined jewel case. In addition to this, don’t keep your diamond jewellery next to other pieces. You don’t want scratches to arise from them rubbing together.

Have a quality jeweller on hand

Last but not least, it is important to make sure you have a quality jeweller on hand to provide you with a repair and reconstruction should you need it. In fact, it is recommended that you take your diamond jewellery to a jeweller every six months so that you can have it looked at professionally and so that the prongs can be tightened.

When it comes to choosing a jeweller, the answer is simple; make sure they are experienced, they have a wealth of repair and construction services, their prices are fair, and they are experts in the field of diamonds.

Thanks to the Internet, it is easier than ever before to find a reputable jeweller. You can read reviews that have been left by others. Independent review platforms are best because you will know that you are reading authentic and genuine comments, rather than comments that have been hand-selected from the company in question.

Don’t forget about the security of your diamond ring

It is also important to make sure you invest in a quality safe for your diamond. At the end of the day, this is a highly valuable piece of jewellery, and so you need to make certain that it is looked after. What are the best home safes? This depends on what you are storing inside. You can get safes that are specifically for jewellery, which can be secured in your bedroom, or another part of the property if you would prefer.

To conclude, it is important to look after your diamond jewellery properly if you want it to sparkle for as long as possible. Not only do you need to consider jewellery maintenance, but you also need to make sure that your diamond jewellery is secure as well.

Brain Wave, Health and medicine

Take Care Of Your Ears For A Clearer Tomorrow!

August 26, 2020 No Comments

The WHO estimates that there are 360 million people in the world who have hearing problems or are deaf (5.3% of the world’s population). At least half of all hearing loss cases can be prevented, including good ear care practices. Being in control of your health is vital. Hearing loss can impair your quality of life, limit your ability to make contact with others, cause misunderstandings and fatigue, increase stress and “filter” the thousands of sounds that give pleasure and meaning to life. Also, hearing loss can create a safety issue or even depression. But perhaps the biggest problem is how we view hearing loss both as a culture and as individuals. Hearing loss has always been something of a stigma compared to vision problems. For example as a society, we prioritize our hair loss over our hearing loss and whilst all issues are important to us one way or another, it’s important to be on top of your hearing health and act quickly.

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There are many types of hearing loss and these may be caused by a number of reasons. The most common causes of hearing loss are:

1. The constant exposure to noise at work

Prolonged exposure to constant and loud noise can cause permanent hearing loss. Items such as motorcycles and power tools can also damage your hearing over time. If you can, avoid noisy activities or take a break.

2. Injuries or changes in pressure

A serious head injury can dislocate part of the ear or cause nerve damage, causing permanent hearing loss. Sudden changes in pressure – such as flying or diving – can damage the eardrum and the inside of the ear.

3. Medication

Some drugs are known to cause hearing loss as a side effect. These drugs include certain antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs. Regular use of aspirin can also increase the risk of hearing loss, but usually the side effects subside with discontinuation of the medication.

4. Chronic diseases

Some chronic diseases that are not directly related to hearing can cause its loss. For example, it may be a damage due to the interruption of blood flow to the inside of the ear or to the brain. Heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes are some of the causes of hearing loss, as well as autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

5. Childhood diseases

Many childhood diseases can cause hearing loss. Infections, for example, fill the ears with fluid and cause hearing loss that usually goes away when the infection heals. There are also diseases known to affect hearing in children, including chickenpox, encephalitis, influenza, measles, meningitis and mumps.

Looking to the future

If you have been diagnosed with hearing loss, then life can change dramatically and you may need to look at new ways around things. With hearing loss recovery, you can certainly get more in control. It is also important to be positive and ensure that you follow some of the most important tips to keep your ears safe. These may include:

The production of “wax” in our ear serves its defense against infections and other harmful factors (eg insect entry). Normally, with the chewing movements, the “candle” is pushed and comes out to the external auditory canal.
Our ears have the function of “self-determination” from the cell (“wax”) produced in the skin of the external auditory canal.
Cotton swabs or anything similar used to clean the ear are not medically permitted. Their introduction into the external auditory canal can lead to accumulation of “wax” but also to various accidents (skin injury and otitis, cotton retention in the pore, drum perforation, etc.).
Never put anything in the ear (such as a finger or a cotton swab). 
Use the hair dryer on the lower scale to completely dry your ears. 
Do not attempt to remove a cell yourself. The intervention of the otolaryngologist is necessary in cases where there is sufficient accumulation of alveoli.

Check your hearing often and be in control. Unlike most medical examinations, the tests that measure hearing are relatively quick and painless. An otolaryngologist will probably perform 3 or 4 simple tests that may include:

Otoscopy, or examination of the ears with a special lens
Audiogram, a sound control that produces a mapping or graph of hearing ability
Tympanogram, which measures the pressure of the inner ear and evaluates the mobility of the eardrum.

These tests are performed at the doctor’s office and usually take less than an hour to complete. With the information from these tests, your doctor will be able to make an accurate assessment of your hearing skills and advise you on all of the options for treating it. Be sure to take control today.

Brain Wave, Money matters

4 Ways to Free Yourself From Debt

August 26, 2020 No Comments

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Debt is something that everyone will experience, and it will likely follow you through life until you finally get to the point where you can pay it all off, however long that might take. But debt isn’t just a fact of life, whether credit card debt or student loans, it can also have a severe effect on your mental and physical well-being, which is why it is vital to try to escape and free yourself from debt.

Pay Off More Than The Minimum

One common reason that people struggle to escape debt is that they will only pay off the minimum amount each month, and if you’re working with thousands of dollars in credit card debt, 20 bucks every month is not going to make much difference. Even paying twice the minimum will slash the amount of time you need to repay in half, so if you can afford to do so, consider changing your monthly payment to slightly more. Ideally, you want to pay off as much as possible while still having money to live and save, but if you can double, triple, or quadruple your monthly repayment, you will free yourself from debt much faster.

Snowball It

Snowballing is a technique where you analyze your finances and identify what you owe. They start paying off the smallest costs to reduce the payments while still making minimum payments on everything else. Once the smallest debts are paid off, they move to the next and so on until they are only left with the most substantial charges. While there is still some way to go, they at least don’t need to worry about defaulting on payments, and all of their excess funds can go directly into paying these charges off, which will speed up reducing the balance.

Cut Your Expenses

We all have expenses that we deem necessary to survive, but the reality is often quite different from this. It’s possible you have plenty of monthly charges for services you don’t even use, so you’ll need to get rid of these before anything else. Once you have achieved this, consider things you could cut out of your daily life, such as a morning coffee from Starbucks, or even your cable TV, especially considering you can access unjust information about everything online nowadays.

Seek Lower Interest Rates

Seeking lower interest rates from your lender is something many people explore when they cannot handle the extortionate interest rates. Considering Mark of Freedom says all banks are a scam, high-interest rates are no surprise. However, some lenders may take pity on you and allow you to negotiate a reduction to help you manage your money better.

Freedom

Paying off all of your debt and finally being free is not something you can achieve overnight, but the feeling you will get when you see your credit card balance at zero is hard to beat. It will take time, and it will take plenty of discipline with a few bumps along the way, but with these methods, you can start the process of freeing yourself from the nasty clutches of debt in all its forms.

Brain Wave, Careers, Freelancing and Self-Employment

Thinking Of Going Freelance? Don’t Forget These Risks.

August 14, 2020 No Comments

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Freelancing has become an attractive prospect for workers across many industries in recent years. However, anybody thinking about this career path should take it in a responsible manner. Appreciating the risks and taking the necessary precautions to avoid them is vital.

Here are five of the most common obstacles that you could encounter, along with how to stop them from harming your progress.

#1. Distractions

When working as a freelancer, you have to show discipline. Otherwise, you will see a major disruption to productivity. Whether working for clients or consumers, this will severely harm your revenue generation. Creating the right home office space is particularly important. Not only does it allow you to shut yourself away from the distractions of housework or Netflix. It also allows you to maintain a positive relationship with the home. When you’re not in the office, you’re able to relax.

#2. Instability

Many freelancers work for at least one client on a continued basis, which delivers some stability. However, most contractors or self-employed workers find that their income can go up and down. Therefore, setting aside a little money to cover the troughs is vital. Crucially, you need to be prepared for a complete loss of earnings due to injuries or circumstantial changes. You should protect your income with disability insurance and other safety nets. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Not least for your sanity. Otherwise, you’ll be living in fear.

#3. Unforeseen Expenses

Going freelance often means that you’re responsible for all of your overheads. While an accountant can help you claim back the tax deductions you’re due, you need the capital to buy products. A broken laptop, vehicle breakdown, or alternative fault could cost you a significant fee. Sadly, if you do not have the capital reserves to cover those issues, your earnings will be hit hard. Once again, it’s best to be prepared for the worst at all times. You can also take proactive steps by preventing theft or unnecessary damage by protecting your home and assets.

#4. Bad Clients

Whether your freelance endeavors are B2B or B2C doesn’t matter. A percentage of your clients will try to take advantage, assuming that they can because you’re just one person. The use of non-disclosure agreements can protect your intellectual property. Meanwhile, you may want to verify who people are before doing work for them. Likewise, credit checks on purchases may be necessary for B2C connections. When working with B2B, legal action can be taken against the company if it refuses to stump up the monies owed.

#5. Life Balance

When working as a freelancer, you can technically pick the jobs that suit you. In that sense, you get to choose when the work starts. In reality, though, most freelancers struggle to actually stop the work. An established balance is vital for your sanity and personal life, but can also aid your long-term workflow. The whole purpose of freelancing is presumably to enhance your quality of life, and this must extend to every facet. If you continue to skip this phase, direct success in the job will be futile.

Brain Wave, Money matters

Tips To Help With Your Savings This Year

August 14, 2020 No Comments

Savings are something we can all benefit from having in our life. You never know what’s around the corner and what you might need to be financially prepared for. Here are some tips to help with your savings this year.

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Try To Avoid Using Your Savings

Firstly, it’s important to try and keep your savings as savings until you need to use them for bigger expenditures and things that might be very meaningful. You should be spending it like any spending money you have available for the month ahead. Try to avoid having that attitude towards your savings and instead make your savings hard to access so that you’re only going to end up using them when it’s really necessary to do so. If you’re treating your savings like another spending pot, then you’re not going to have any savings left, so use them wisely. For bigger expenditures that you might want to hold onto your savings, you can always look to apply for Installment Loans so that you’re not having to spend all your savings on things when you could pay it off in parts.

Save Something Each Month Regardless

It’s always good to try and save some money each month, even if it’s only just a small amount. A little bit here and there is going to make all of the difference when you’re trying to build your savings pot. Look at how you could save more and try to set aside some money, whether you get paid at the end of every month or whether it’s every week. If you’re saving anything, it’s going to help you improve your attitude towards saving money, so try and do more of it where you can.

Create A Better Budget

Budgets are good to have when you’re trying to save money, and whether you’ve got one already or not, you can always make it better. We can always cut down luxuries and find ways to make your money stretch further. Think about how you can set out a budget if you’ve never made one before and if you already have one, is there anything that you can wiggle in order to help you save more money? Be strict with your expenditures and try to direct as much as you can towards your savings pot.

Find Ways To Make Extra Money

We’d all like to earn extra money and for some, it can be easier than others. However, with the online world, there’s so much out there where you can make extra money. It’s all about being aware of what’s out there and what you could with the opportunities that you’re presented with. There are plenty of ways to make extra money, so think of what you can take advantage of, whether it’s starting a blog and making a living from it or selling your services to the local community in your area.

There are lots of ways that you can help improve your savings, so do what you can to help make a difference to your savings.

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