11 Surprising Reasons Why You Can’t Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is critical to your mental and physical well-being. Few things are more frustrating than when you lay down, and you simply can’t go to sleep. We’re going outline several common but surprising reasons why you can’t sleep below.

You Have Blue-Light Insomnia

Experts (and maybe even your family) has repeated time and time again to turn off the electronics before you go to bed. If you don’t, you could fall victim to blue-light insomnia. Your electronic devices emit a blue light when you turn them on, and this could suppress your natural melatonin production. The bad news is, this can delay it even if you turn off your device three hours before bed. You can negate this by buying a pair of glasses that come specially designed to block blue light.

See Also: Preventing Blue Light-Related Health Problems

You Have an Old Mattress

Ideally, you should consider replacing your mattress every 10 or 15 years at the maximum. Not having a comfortable mattress can make it difficult for you to get comfortable enough to drift off to sleep. This is often a silent culprit as we get so used to our old lumpy beds.
With the sheer variety of mattresses available to buy, you can pick out a mattress that is firm or soft enough to suit your needs. This can help you fall asleep quickly, not toss and turn, and wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.

See Also: 3 Negative Effects of Bad Mattresses You Need To Be Aware Of

You Had a Drink (or Two) Before Bed

Unfortunately for people who like to have a drink or two before bed, alcohol can induce insomnia and make it difficult for you to stay asleep. Alcohol can cause a rebound effect and result in a more fragmented and lighter sleeping pattern. You’ll want to limit your alcohol intake and stop drinking around three hours before you go to bed.

You Take Prescription Medications

Do you take diuretics for your blood pressure? If so, they can make you have to get up and go to the bathroom more during the night. If you take antidepressants, they can give you a boost of energy that keeps you up hours past your bedtime. Schedule a visit with your doctor and ask them for the best times to take your prescriptions. Make sure that these times don’t interfere with your sleep schedule.

You Routinely Take Naps

It’s natural for your energy levels to fall between two and three in the afternoon. This is when you experience the afternoon slump where all you want to do is nap. If you give in to the temptation and take a short nap, this can throw your sleep schedule off. If this sounds like you, try to schedule a little physical activity from two and three. Not only will you feel more energized, but it’ll wear you out for bedtime.

You Unknowingly Had Caffeine

When you think of caffeine, coffee or soda are usually the two main things that come to mind. However, caffeine is in a lot of everyday foods and beverages that people don’t even realize. For example, chocolate and iced tea contain levels of caffeine. If you think this is why you can’t fall asleep, try cutting it out after you eat your lunch.

You’re Going Through Menopause

Menopause can wreak havoc on your entire body, and it can cause mental and physical problems. Nearly a quarter of women who are menopausal experience hot flashes. Waking up hot and sweaty is an unpleasant experience for anyone, and it can be hard to go back to sleep. Although it may not be feasible to stop your hot flashes, you can use a buckwheat pillow and sheets that wick moisture away.

You Have Poor Sleep Habits

Poor sleep habits can make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling happy and refreshed. Maybe you don’t have a set bedtime, or you prefer nights to mornings. You can improve your sleep habits by setting a bedtime and sticking to it, cutting caffeine out in the early afternoon, wearing blue light glasses at night, and giving yourself some quiet time before bed to unwind.

You Sleep In On The Weekends

Yes, sleeping in on Saturdays and Sundays can feel amazing when you do it. However, it can throw your biological rhythm off. This can make it challenging to fall asleep Sunday night, and you can ruin your sleep schedule for the entire week. Instead of sleeping in, set your alarm for around the same time that you normally get up. You might hit the snooze button a few times, but you’ll feel better come Monday morning.

You Sleep With Your Pets

Lots of people like to have their pets in their beds when they go to sleep. However, this can cause problems if you have an allergy or sensitivity to pet dander. Also, animals tend to be more active and move around during the night. If they’re in bed with you, they could disturb your sleep every time they move.

Your Pillow Gets Too Hot

Sleeping on a cool pillow can actually work to lower your core body temperature. As your body temperature drops, you’ll start to feel groggy. This can help you fall asleep much faster than you traditionally would, and you may even stay asleep longer. You can get a special cooling pillow or add an ice pack to your pillow.

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7 Characteristics of A Broken, Undefined, and Unhappy Life

Are you really living the life you want?

We all have some characteristics that hold us back from the life we dream for ourselves. Motivational gurus constantly claim to have the answers and aren’t shy about telling us to do this and that.

If you’re reading this, then it’s quite possible that those things haven’t worked for you. The problem isn’t that these motivational teachers aren’t good, because most of them are. The problem is that most of us walk around with unresolved core issues and beliefs that are keeping us stuck.

I’ve gone through many of these characteristics myself. I have by no means overcome them, but I have progressively minimized the impact they have in my life. This is not a contest, there is no rush. As long as you’re taking small steps to improving yourself and getting closer to your goal, all is well.

This list is by no means complete, so when you’ve finished reading it, I want you to share your thoughts in the comments.

Following the Rules

We all have this reflex to follow the rules.

As we grew up, our parents, friends and teachers kept telling us to follow the rules. If you broke a rule, you were bad.

I’m not talking about robbing banks or stealing kittens. I’m talking about breaking the rules that truly make a difference in your life.

Can’t quit your job because it’s “impossible” and even “irresponsible”?

Rules impose a lot of can’ts and should’s into your life but why are you accepting them?

Just because everyone else is following the rules and saying farewell to their dreams doesn’t mean you have to. You are responsible for your life.

Definition of Success

What’s your definition of success? Have you even thought about it?

Allowing society to define your definitions can be dangerous as it often leads to a broken and unfulfilled life. 

When will you be successful? Who says you have to wait for anything? Why can’t you be and feel successful right now?

My definition of success is following my heart and doing what I love. It’s tough to do. I know, because a few months ago, I was in that boat. I was afraid, but I did it anyway. The payoff has been amazing.

Letting Fear Enslave You

Humans are hardwired to feel fear. It’s there to tell us something, both physically and spiritually.

If you’re afraid to do something, try doing it anyway. There will never be a perfect opportunity to do anything.

So, if you’ve been putting off pursuing your passion, start now. 

What can you do today that will take you one step closer?

Even if it just means writing down your goals and visualizing what you want, start now. What’s important is that you are taking action. When I started pursuing my passion and started my blog, I was constantly afraid, but I did it anyway.

I realized something interesting when I did this:

The fear went away as I kept going forward. You won’t always have a clear path in front of you. Hell, you will almost never have a clear path in front of you. With each step you take, you gain just enough clarity to take the next one. That’s what happened to me and I’m more than happy with it.

Being Greedy

I was a professional poker player for almost five years. During that time, I realized the choke-hold that money had on me. However, greed doesn’t only apply to money; you can get greedy about anything. 

The simple point is this: don’t let money or anything else get in your way.

The things that truly matter in your life cannot be bought, such as doing what you love, being in fulfilling relationships, and being happy for no reason at all. Greed sneaks up on you though, so you constantly have to be aware of what is happening.

Don’t fall into the same trap I did. I started out playing poker to pay for my travels, but I ended up back home playing to make more money for no reason at all.

Destroying Your Body

There’s delicious food all around us. At any given moment, we can eat a pizza, hamburger or even buy some candy. These foods will ultimately lead to the destruction of your body. Being healthy requires eating healthy foods and moving your body.

It isn’t easy. I know I have phases where I eat amazingly healthy, then I fall into a rut where I eat unhealthy foods here and there. The important thing is to relax. Don’t get mad at yourself just because you couldn’t follow a specific way of eating.

If you want to have a pizza once a month or even once week, that’s fine. The important thing is eating healthy most of the time.

Having Fuzzy Goals

Without clear goals, you’re going nowhere.

And it’s not just about setting goals, it’s about setting the right goals. This all comes back to your definition of success.

What matters to you? What do you really want from life? 

I used to love money (and I still do to some extent), but I realized that I don’t need a lot of money to do what I want. Within a year of this realization, I sold most of my stuff and moved from Sweden to Spain with my girlfriend.

You do not have to wait for the perfect circumstances. You can do what you want, but you have to realize it first. If your first reaction is to come up with excuses as I say this, then you have some stuff to work through, and that’s okay.

Being Comfortable

When you have enough, it feels easy to just maintain what you have. By now, I think you’ll know where that will lead you.

Imagine the elderly people that are sitting on their death beds right now regretting their life. Sure, they were comfortable, but did they truly LIVE? 

For all you know, you could die tomorrow.

For some people it takes a near-death experience to realize that you have to live in the now and take responsibility for your life. Let’s make it easy for ourselves and jump over that nonsense. Let’s just start following our passion and purpose right now.

The world needs you to do what you love. There are people out there waiting for you. I am here to remind you that you can do what you love.

Sure, you might fail a few times along the way. You might not know what you want, but so what?

You’ll never live a fulfilling life without getting off your ass and facing your fears.

Written by Henri Junttila who blogs at Wake Up Cloud where he shows you how you can earn money online ethically. You can also get the Passion Blogging Guide, which is free, but really shouldn’t be.

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5 Things You’ll Love About Being A Men’s Hair Donor

There are so many reasons why you should consider donating your hair. For one, it helps people undergoing radiation therapy and chemotherapy as they tend to lose hair during treatment. Donating hair can also help burn victims and those suffering from trichotillomania and alopecia.

As a man, however, you’ve probably never considered donating your hair and that’s understandable.

Many white collar industries won’t hire men with long hair and the ones that do get hired usually have a hard time getting promoted. However, becoming a men’s hair donor means that you are a risk-taker who is willing to commit to a great cause just to help others.

Here are 5 things that you’ll love about being a men’s hair donor.

1. You get to have long hair

For many men, the dream of having long hair dies when they graduate from college.

Well, that all changes when you become a hair donor. If it becomes a problem, a nice message to HR explaining the reason for your long hair should make things easier.

You get to help someone in need

Real hair wigs cost between $600 and $3,000 dollars. By donating, you’ll be helping someone get wigs that won’t cost as much.

See Also: 5 Tips And Tricks To Rock Your Halloween Wig 

You’ll have a great conversation starter

As your hair grows, you’ll get a lot of questions. When you explain that you’re growing out your hair because your a men’s hair donor, you’ll have a great icebreaker or conversation starter.

You’ll get a reputation as a giver

Everyone loves a giver. Majority of Americans give generously to charity. Take your giving level one step further and become a men’s hair donor.

You’ll live your life with no regrets

All too often, we miss the chance to act. Many men who want to be hair donors can’t because of hair loss or their hair is already grey. When you become a hair donor, you will love the fact that you had a chance to do it when others can’t anymore.

Being a hair donor is a journey. One that isn’t always easy, but one that is always rewarding. When you take a chance and step on the path to being a hair donor, you are taking a path that is sure to change your life and somebody’s too).

Once you have decided to donate your hair, do a bit of research. As there are a lot of hair donation organizations, you have to be sure that you are comfortable with who receives your donation.

Additionally, you need to let your hair stylist know your purpose. Although he doesn’t really need to undergo any special training, he needs to follow certain guidelines to make sure that your hair is cut and prepared properly.

To know more about that, you can check out this guide.

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How to Control Your Luck

Top 5 Small Kitchen Decorating Ideas

I remember someone saying, “Home is where the heart is, and mine is always in the kitchen.”

I agree with this statement.

The kitchen is not only a place to eat and dine, but it is much more than that. We spend so much of our time in the kitchen — be it preparing brunches on a weekend or hosting a Thanksgiving dinner.

Shouldn’t we take some time out to make our kitchen look more lively and vibrant?

Even if you have a small kitchen, that’s still possible. Below is a quick guide on decorating small kitchens.

Select a color for the kitchen that gives it a good vibe

If you are giving your kitchen a makeover, then go for a color that gives your kitchen a nice change.

People generally like to go for all white and sleek kitchen which is an excellent idea. It’ll allow you to add colorful elements and make it look great.

If you are not fond of white, then you can go for grey, beige or even a combination of light green and white. It’ll give a nice touch to your kitchen.

Add some fun elements in your kitchen

If you feel that your kitchen looks quite simple, then you can add a vase with artificial flowers or even real ones. You can also select a horizontal cabinet to display your beautiful crockery sets.

Add some lamps and colorful posters to make it look interesting. I am a fridge magnet hoarder and love to decorate my fridge with them. You can also select beautiful trays to keep some bottles on the counter, such as for ketchup and mayo.

Invest in little, colorful things that occupy less space but add color to the kitchen.

Declutter by organizing shelves and cabinets

You can make your kitchen area look clean by organizing everything in cabinets and shelves.

Go for open wooden shelves to keep the things that you use most often in cute and small bottles. Other than shelves, you can also search for open vertical cabinets on an unused wall to arrange some crockeries.

If you are struggling with space, then you can get hooks fixed at the sides of the cabinets and hang the pans on it.

Go for pieces of furniture with multiple uses

When you are selecting furniture or decor items for your kitchen, make sure that it is foldable so that it doesn’t occupy much space in the kitchen.

For example, you can get a foldable serving table. You can use it for serving as well as for keeping things on it while cooking. When not in use, you can just fold it.

Also if you are going for benches in the sitting area, see to it that the benches have drawers to store some of your cutlery and other kitchen stuff. Invest in multi-purpose pieces more.

Make your sitting area look minimal yet pretty

For maximizing space in the kitchen, select a sitting area that doesn’t take up much space. You can also go for foldable dining tables so that it can be used for serving more people for gatherings.

You can also go for breakfast bars to reduce space. Add some chairs around the serving bar to make it a sitting area in the kitchen.

See Also: 7 Efficient Ways to Make Your Kitchen Child-Friendly

Some quick tips

• You can display your chopping boards and create more space by keeping a stand for knives on the corner of the center platform.
• You can display your pots and utensils using a rustic wood with a hook on the ceiling if you want to have some space in the cabinet for storing other tools.
• Make use of every corner and try to keep it minimal.
• You can also go for extra shelves under the serving table to keep the most used dinner sets. Aside from space, it’ll save you time during table preparation as well.

See Also: 10 Awesome Kitchen Safety Tips for Seniors

I hope this article will help you in decorating small kitchens and making the area look more lively and functional.

Author Bio: Hi I am Priyanka Ramrakhiani, I am a science enthusiast and love to write articles related to science, art, decor, woodworking, plants, environment and dogs. I analyse every aspect for the content to give my readers the complete information. If not writing you will see me sipping my coffee and reading a book in the corner!

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And The Oscar For The Best Speech Goes To…

An Easy Way to Sell Your Old Car for Cash

Are you stressed about that old, junk car lying in your backyard? Are you spending hours to look for a service that’s willing to buy it? We understand how stressful it can become when your car turns into a piece of junk, leaving you no choice but to sell it.

Surprisingly for you, even your junk car can bring you a decent amount of money so that you can get your backyard all to yourself again.

Read on to find out how you can start selling your old car.

Who Will Buy Your Junk Car?

The regular protocol for anyone who wants to get rid of his junk is to visit different junkyards. There, you can ask if anyone will be interested in paying for the scrap. If you have a bit of luck, they will take it. Otherwise, you’ll have to drag that piece of scrap again to your house.

There are always two options for getting rid of your junk car.

First, you can pay someone to take it away. The second option is to get paid a decent sum yourself for selling the car.

The second option is obviously the better one.

If you choose the said option, you will need to contact a few companies that offer such services as cash for scrap cars. The only reason they’ll pay you for taking away your junk car is the fact that they understand it still has value. Even if the car is not in a functional state, it still has some parts which, if sold in the market, will definitely bring in some amount of money.

There are Services Willing to Pick Your Junk from Your Doorstep

Yes, you read it right. There are companies that offer services to help you get rid of your old car. They’ll do the whole nine yards of picking your junk car right from your doorstep. The payment will be made instantly, saving you precious time. All you need to do is search for such companies. When you do, set an appointment.

The workers will then come, examine your car, and calculate the best price for it. If you don’t have the necessary car documents, you can still sell the scrap off.

The Longer You Wait, the Lower the Value of Your Car Gets

To some people, it can be normal to overlook the junk sitting idly in the garage or at the back of their house. However, you should understand that the longer you wait to sell off the car, the lower its value gets.

Final Words

After learning everything there is to know about selling your old car, you can now begin your search for companies offering cash for scrap. Make sure to set your expectations and clarify the services being offered before deciding which company to choose.

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2019/20 Planner Comparisons

Our 2019/20 midyear Planners are here and we are so excited to introduce them to you! Get ready to crush your goals with our Hustle and Fancy Pants Planners. If you are wondering which planner is right for you, this post will walk you through the details of each, and help you decide which one will become your new Best Friend! Honestly, though, planners are such a personal preference and you might not know what works best for you until you try it. Here are some of the major differences that will help you narrow down your planner choice! 

       

All of our planners incorporate goals, projects, finances, health, and scheduling into one. We believe that all areas of your life must work together in order to create a more balanced lifestyle. So now you just need to decide which format will best help you achieve this balance!

      

Decision #1: Daily planner or Weekly planner?

If you are unsure which layout is right for you, take our “Which Planner Is Right For You” Quiz and choose option C to get a sample download of our Daily and Weekly layouts. 

 

    

If Daily, which one?

If you know you prefer a Daily layout, then you have the option of Hustle Daily Spiral, or Fancy Pants Daily. Let’s take a look at some of the major differences between these 2 planners.

 

 

     

Many people prefer a spiral planner because you can fold the planner in half and only see one page at a time. Hustle Daily has the full year of planning pages jam-packed into one planner, but this is due to the fact that Saturday and Sunday share a page, so there are fewer pages altogether.

The spiral also gives you the option to add any of our downloads to your planner using our new Add-A-Page for spiral. Check out this video for more information on how to add pages to your Hustle Daily spiral planner.

  

Spiral planners require a little extra care when on the go as to not bend the spiral, but if you know for sure that spiral planners are your jam, then we have a new Hustle Daily B.F.F. Carryall to protect your best friend while you are on the go. The carryall is also great for Hustle Daily Casebound as well.

   

So, now to compare Hustle Daily and Fancy Pants Daily……

   

Both Hustle Daily and Fancy Pants have the same size pages, 5.5" x 8.5". Hustle Daily weekends share a page, but Fancy Pants weekends each have their own page. So if you are super busy on the weekends, then Fancy Pants might be a better fit for you. 

 

 

Hustle Daily weekend page (below)

       

    

If you are someone who prefers a planner with customization, the ability to add and remove pages as needed, then Fancy Pants is the way to go. It offers custom inserts for Realtors, Direct Sales Consultants, Photographers, Teachers, and Students. And then we haveinserts for Extra Notes, Contacts, and a Weekly Add-in insert which is great for those who prefer a daily format but also want to keep a weekly rolling to-do list and move it from day to day.

Fancy Pants was designed with portability in mind, so although the planner comes with a full year of content, the binder holds up to 4 months of daily pages at one time, but ALL of the tabs and ALL 12 monthly overviews so you can still plan your year in advance. 

Now, what if you know you prefer a binder planner and already have a binder that you love, but are looking for a new planner? We’ve got you covered! You can purchase our A5 Fancy Pants Inserts.

 

So let’s recap, shall we……

Hustle Daily Spiral- full year of content in one planner, weekends share a page, planner can fold in half to only see one day at a time, and takes up less space on your desk.

To learn more about our Hustle Planner you can watch this short video HERE

 

Fancy Pants Daily  - full year of content included but binder holds up to 4 months of daily pages at one time (but all 12 monthly overviews), weekends have their own page, customizable, additional inserts available, portable and fits nicely in your purse.

To learn more about our Fancy Pants Planner you can watch this short video HERE  

    

If You Like Weekly…

If you prefer a Weekly layout, then you have the option of Hustle Weekly. 

 

 

Our Weekly planners are great for those who prefer to see their full week at a time and don’t need as much space for daily checklists. 

 

Because Hustle Weekly has a larger format, it’s time slots go from 5:30am - 9:00pm and have twice the space for daily to-do’s. This planner is a MONDAY start with full time slots for Saturday and Sunday. Hustle Weekly also has the full year of planning pages all bound together.

 

Here is a chart for easy comparisons of each planner’s features:

 

And if you still have questions… as always reach out to us at hello@startplanner.com. We are here to help you find that perfect “best friend” to start making things happen in your life! 

from STARTplanner - News https://startplanner.com/blogs/news/2019-20-comparisons

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The Booming Business Of Dogs

In the United States today, there are nearly 90 million pet dogs – that’s 90 million snuggle buddies, fur babies, and best friends that rely on us to take care of them. In 2018, spending on pets exceeded $72 billion, putting the business of pets far ahead of countless other industries.

So, what is it about the pet industry that seems so recession-proof?

How Much Do We Spend On Our Pets?

On an individual basis, pet parents spend around $100 per month on their pets. This includes food, treats, toys, and essential healthcare. But when money is tight, especially in the case of Millennials and Gen Z, pet parents make do with what they have.

Three out of four pet owners say they would make sacrifices on their own financials if their pet needed it. 79% said they’d quit eating at restaurants while 67% said they’d put off taking a vacation.

At the end of the year, our annual spending on pets comes out to around $1,300 – but what happens when this isn’t enough?

• $142: the amount Millennials spend on pets per month
• $124: the amount Gen Zers spend on pets per month
• $105: the amount Gen Xers spend on pets per month
• $80: the amount Baby Boomers spend on pets per month

See also: Using Tech To Give Your Pet A Better Quality of Life

Vet Bills And Pet Insurance Are On The Rise

Though our love for our pets is unconditional, our financials may not be so.

American pet owners collectively spend more on their pets than the combined GDP of 39 countries, but where is this money coming from and where is it going?

By 2022, the pet health insurance business is predicted to reach a value of $2 billion – that’s $2 billion worth of backup funds to pay medical bills in case of emergency. An estimated one in three pets require an urgent veterinary visit every year and medical emergencies, even common issues, can begin to add up.

For breeds of dogs and cats that are predisposed to certain health concerns from joint pain to vision issues, care and treatment can soar into thousands and even tens of thousands. Instead of racking up high medical bills and hoping for the best, American pet owners decide to take a more proactive approach when it comes to their pets’ health and their finances.

• $6500: the cost of some common pet health problems
• $1200: the cost of pet dental work like X-rays and extractions with anesthesia
• $12,000: the cost of radiation and other cancer treatments for pets

An Ounce of Prevention For Our Pets

We don’t always have the funds on hand to pay for immediate and costly medical care and planning for emergencies like this is not always possible. Medical care prevention, rather than after-the-fact damage control, becomes a more realistic option.

It’s the pet industry that’s meeting our demands for prioritizing health.

Over 80% of pet owners believe that better quality food will not only improve the quality of their pets’ life but help reduce potential future health issues that arise with age. Gone are the days of by-product, preservative packed, cheap kibble. Pet lovers now prioritize high-quality ingredients, American-sourced premium food options.

Though perhaps a little more pricey upon checkout than cheaper, “traditional” pet foods, prioritizing nutrition and health for pets can make a big difference in the long run. Low-quality pet food is lacking in essential nutrients. Instead, they are full of fillers, chemicals, and dyes. BHT and BHA are common among pet food preservatives but they are also known carcinogens.

US-developed pet food is subject to stricter guidelines in development, production, and quality of ingredients. Making the right choices can pay off in the long run.

Some pet owners take this forward-thinking a step further by introducing daily supplements into their pet’s routine. One in three pet owners gives their furry loved ones vitamins to support bone health, joints, digestion, and an extra boost to immunity. Beneficial for humans as well, omega-3 and probiotics are good for dogs’ overall health given the correct dosage.

However, it’s glucosamine that shines above the rest, making up 80% of all pet supplements purchased in 2017.

See Also: Balancing Your Lifestyle With Your Pet

What Does The Future Hold For The Pet Industry?

From pet vitamins to CBD to health insurance, the pet industry is growing fast and shows no signs of slowing down. Take a look at this infographic for more on the business of dogs, how pet parents are managing even when funds are tight, and why it’s helping our pets to have longer and healthier lives.

Source: TRUDOG

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2019/20 Midyear Lines

It’s MIDYEAR time!!! We are so excited to be releasing our 2019-20 Mid Year Line. The lineup of planners includes Hustle Daily, Hustle Weekly, and Fancy Pants Daily systems in four beautiful colors: Flamingo, Charcoal, Carribean Blue, and Authentic Leather. We are so excited about our new line and wanted to share with you some of the new changes and new accessories!

We have always prided ourselves on listening to the ideas of our consumers and incorporating these requests/ideas into our updated planners with each new launch. Below is a list of products included in the 2019/20 line and changes to the planners!

First and foremost, you will notice a much cleaner and more modern design in all the planners - all the same great content, but just a cleaned up design to make more room for writing and doing your own decorating!!

Another request that we heard over and over is to move the monthly tabs to the LEFT side of the monthly overviews… well, ask and you shall receive! We have moved the tabs on all of the monthly overviews! 

 

Hustle Daily/Weekly

The same Hustle Daily Spiral and Hustle Weekly that we all know and LOVE, with some awesome new design features!! 

We are also excited to offer the FOCUS BUNDLES in both Daily and Weekly options this year for those who would like to pair the 90 Days of Hustle with their Hustle planner (and save some money!) both bundles come with the Hustle Planner, a Slate Grey 90 days of START, 2 bookmark rulers and a notepad!

Daily Fancy Pants

For those of you who already have an A5 binder, we have the midyear inserts available again this year.

We have four beautiful Binder colors for our 19/20 Fancy pants Midyear line! The most exciting addition this year is one option in AUTHENTIC LEATHER! We will still have 3 options in the “Vegan Leather” - Flamingo, Carribean Blue, and Charcoal.

These are the perfect colors for spring! 

While on Preorder, all planner orders will receive a teal BLINGpen! This is a $12 value. 

 

Control Center: 

We know you have your planner, but there are things that you want front and center for your family to see as well…so we created the weekly “Control -Center” A convenient dry erase magnet divided into days of the week and notes so you can make your loved ones aware of the highlights of the week!  Great for weekly menus, appointments, reminders, chores, to-do items… the list goes on and on! 

 

Silver Pen-pal

Have you been looking for that perfect pen or pencil holder for your spiral bound planner? Look no further. We have found you a pal! Pen Pal is a beautiful gold that is meant to be placed on the backside of your planner to hold that perfect pen. Don’t we all need a pal that supports us, helps us to shine, and is always close by? 😉 And it can even be used in the car, on your fridge, or even your desktop…the possibilities are endless!

Stuck-On-You Sticky Pouch

Customize your planner even more! “Stuck-On-You” pairs perfectly with your “best friend” (your planner) so that you can keep your favorite photos or important papers and notes close by and of course, in style. It’s great for pictures of loves ones, motivation, receipts, coupons, reminders… you name it! 

Silver Sidekick: 

Doesn’t everyone need a sidekick??? “Sidekick” pairs perfectly with your “best friend” (your planner) so that you can keep your favorite planning accessories close by and of course, in style. It’s great for phone, receipts, planner accessories, coupons, pencils/pens, tape… I mean you name it! When you have your “best friend” and your “sidekick”… watch out world!

 

FOR A5 FANCY PANTS: Get Motivated Gold Dividers

Get Motivated! Dividers are a perfect companion for your Fancy Pants if you need a little “division & motivation” happening in your life! It is perfect to organize and separate the different things you are planning. You write on the tab itself with a permanent marker to make it exactly what you want it to be. Things you might want to have in their own sections are: travel/vacations, business planning, contact management, journaling, Bible study, professional career, kids activities, etc. Pairs great with any of our Fancy add-in insert packs.

We hope you enjoy your new 19/20 Midyear STARTplanner as much as we do! We are excited to see you CRUSH your goals!

from STARTplanner - News https://startplanner.com/blogs/news/2019-20-midyear-lines

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How To Convince Your Boss To Let You Work Remotely

You’re a 9-to-5 desk jockey chained to your cube.

The ambient chatter of your co-workers has burned into your earholes.

The worst part?

You can do your job from anywhere and be more productive.

Instead, you have to wake up at 6 am. It feels akin to crossing the Sahara desert with no camel.

Take heart and put your party pants on because you’re about to start working from a hammock and enjoy the blue sky.

Here’s what you can do when asking your boss to work from home.

Make Sure You’re a Top Performer

A whopping 56% of jobs in the US are compatible with remote work.

Yours might be one of them. But before you ask your boss to work remotely, your performance needs to be topnotch.

Chances are, your boss’ management style—we’ll call her Nicole—is based on Andrew Grove’s Task Relevant Maturity (TRM) concept.

I know, the name does not roll off the tongue but the idea behind it makes perfect sense.

Nicole is either hands-off or on depending on your performance:

If you do the job like Elon Musk, you can gallivant all around the globe. But if you’re more like Frodo with his arm broken, you’d better stick to the office like glue.

How do you know if you’re a top performer?

Your recent performance reviews shine green and your boss regularly takes his hat off to your achievements. Your work is in concert with peers.

All boxes ticked?

Crack on.

Decide What You Bring To The Table

You want to work from home in your pajamas but you need a better excuse. Your boss needs to know what’s in it for her.

So, come up with a list of perks Nicole will get when you’re away.

Here are a few examples if you’re a writer:

• I’ll be able to output more articles a week for the company blog because of fewer distractions.
• I will be able to start work earlier because I can avoid the commute.
• I’ll be fully available in Slack and Skype whenever the team needs me and I can come to the office anytime.

Once you can show Nicole you’re better off working remotely, you’ll enter the digital nomad lifestyle with no hassle.

Have the Conversation

You’re killing it in your job and you can take your efficiency to the next level if you work remotely.

Now, it’s game time.

Shoot an email to Nicole. It’ll give her time to reflect on your request.

Here’s what you can write:

Spotlight your successes

Example: My last performance reviews were positive and I feel I’m doing a pretty good job. Two of my latest articles are ranking number one in SERP and they both have been shared by 100+ users.

Emphasize the benefit for the company

Example: If I could work from home, I’d be able to produce more articles because I’ll have far fewer distractions than I do in the office. On top of that, I could start my day at 8 AM because I won’t have to commute.

Address potential concerns

Example: Even though I won’t be physically present in the office, I’ll be available via Slack and Skype. If you want me to attend a meeting, I can come to the office anytime during the day.

Pro tip: If a home office is uncommon in your company/team, ask for small trial runs. If things work out, you’ll be able to up your remote days.

Once you prove you’d better off working from home, consider your request approved.

See Also: 8 Ways To Set Up An Awesome Home Office

What Do You Think?

How would you approach the talk with the boss?

Let me know in the comments. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

The post How To Convince Your Boss To Let You Work Remotely appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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6 Ways To Become More Flexible In Life

In life, there are challenges and problems that will really test you. And if you aren’t able to adapt to them, you’ll have a hard time overcoming your issues and achieving your goals. You might even fail to find joy life.

This is one good reason to start re-thinking how you are now and how you can work on becoming more flexible in life.

Below are some of the most effective tips you can try:

Start small

Becoming flexible doesn’t happen overnight. Pushing too much could actually set you back. Similar with physical flexing, it can hurt, too.

Instead of rushing, start by trying new things on your free time. Change up your environment and choose a different place to grab food for lunch.

Remember the sensation of opening up to something new and different. Keep this feeling in mind and it can get you through any unforeseen change of events or an unexpected invitation.

Stretch your brain

When you engage your imagination and problem-solving skills, it’s like training and preparing your brain to adapt to slow or sudden life situations. Here’s how you can do that:

Go people watching.

When I write fiction, the things I see give me ideas for dialogue. You can do the same thing and spend some of your free time looking at something that makes you curious.

You can also try working on a puzzle or playing a game without consulting the guide. Embrace the mistakes or awkwardness as part of the learning process. The way you work your imagination can help you achieve the flexibility you’ll need in your life.

Rethink your to-do list

Is your to-do list extremely loaded with tasks? Do you manage to tackle everything on that list?

Maybe you do, but at the price of being stuck in a constant state of “have-to”. And if you’re constantly saying “-but I have to do this thing”, being spontaneous can be incredibly stressful. You may even have a hard time adjusting to the sudden changes you have to make in your schedule.

To avoid all these inconveniences, try breaking up your to-do list into sections by following these ideas:

Things you must do: Create a section in your to-do list that will include things you must absolutely complete before tomorrow. It should contain more time-sensitive tasks that need to be done right away.

Consider yourself productive once you knock out this list. Since it’s likely to be much shorter than the other sections you’ll have in your list, it will give you more time to unwind or deal with whatever life throws at you.

Things you’d like to do, but don’t have to: This section could include tasks that won’t lead to major consequences if you’re unable to get to them. It could also function kind of like a bucket list for the week. You could exercise flexibility by choosing a few of the items on a whim instead of having to do them all.

Approaching goals and events: Like with the first section, you’ll need to conquer this section eventually. But, unlike the first section and more like the second section, you don’t have to get it done today.

You can keep this section in the back of your head while planning for the day.

See Also: Todo List Apps for People Who Don’t Like Todo Lists

Occasionally change up your morning/night routine

If your existing routine is making you feel dull and bored, it’s probably the right time to change things up.

Be on the lookout for more pleasant or efficient ways to add spice to your day. It can be as simple as changing your breakfast or adding a new skin care product in your night routine.

You can also change the ways you do things in the morning. For example, if you have been used to eating your breakfast in your dining room, consider taking your food tray to your patio. Eating outdoors can make you feel more energetic.

In addition to that, changing your routine can also make you feel productive, energetic, and flexible. It’ll help you realize that there are several ways to get a single task done.

See Also: 8 Positive Morning Routines to Transform your Day

Question the norm

By norm, I’m referring to the things you were taught.

Let’s use your mom’s macaroni recipe (whether it exists or not) as a simple example. So long as you stick to it, you know what kind of taste you can expect from it.

But what happens when you’re short on some ingredients or you don’t have a stove? Considering the recipe, you may think that you can no longer make the same macaroni.

That is until you start asking yourself: Why does the recipe involve these steps? What role do the ingredients have in the dish? What makes this dish so predictable?

I don’t have a stove… but can I use a microwave and still succeed?

By questioning the norm, you open yourself up to new ways to approach something.

Considering the example, you discover substitutes for the ingredients you’re short on. You discover a new taste by measuring out the ingredients a little differently, which also helps you cook the meal in the microwave.

This isn’t to say that you have to discard your mom’s recipe. You simply gain another recipe through creative improvisation. Hopefully, it’ll taste pretty good, too!

Don’t force it

A flexible life means being more creative and resourceful. It requires a lot of trial and error.

Don’t feel stressed out because of the changes that come your way. The lessons you’ll learn along the way can help you become more flexible in life.

The post 6 Ways To Become More Flexible In Life appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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29 Brilliant Uses for Lip Balm

With so many things to do on a daily basis, it’s only practical to find ways to do tasks in less time and with less products.

All my life, I’ve looked for shortcuts and easier ways to do things. For years, I’ve collected tips, tricks, and MacGyver-esque hacks to do everything faster, better and cheaper.

Here, I’ll share my collection of really useful things you can do with a simple tube of lip balm.

Fix Shaving Nicks

Dab a bit of unflavored lip balm on a razor cut to close the wound and stop the bleeding.

Note: A serious or infected cut requires more serious attention.

Soothe Other Wounds

Paper cuts can be surprisingly painful. Stop the sting with a dab of unflavored lip balm. Cracked, winter-dried fingertips can also be soothed with a layer of balm.

Cuticle Cream Stand-In

Are your cracked cuticles bothering you?

Soften up split cuticles with lip balm. Rub some on before bed and you’ll see improvement by the time you wake up in the morning.

Wipe Out Nose Irritation

The area around your nose can get dry and irritated from frequent wiping and blowing during a cold. To fix, wash your hands and apply some unscented lip balm on the affected area with your finger.

Don’t use the lip balm directly on your skin to avoid spreading germs and infecting your tube of lip balm.

Balm Away Flyaway Hair

If your hair is unruly because of static electricity or maybe a bad hair day, swipe your fingers over your lip balm and gently smooth flyaway hair back into place.

See Also: 7 Hair and Makeup Looks to Try This Week 

Eye Cream Alternative

Looking like a raccoon with those dark circles under your eyes?

Lip balm can substitute for eye cream to counter baggy and puffy eyes. Rub some on a clean finger and gently daub under your eyes.

Tame Rebellious Brows

Got a wild hair in your eyebrow? A dab of lip balm on your finger can smooth it back into place.

Erase Mascara Smudge

It’s a good idea to have a tube of lip balm in your purse whenever you’re out.

If your mascara smudges, a bit of lip balm on a Q-tip can easily fix the mess. It won’t affect any foundation or makeup underneath.

Prevent Shoe Blisters

Have you ever gotten blisters from new or ill-fitting shoes?

If your shoe is rubbing and causing irritation, you can minimize the friction – and hold a blister at bay – by applying a layer of lip balm to the area.

Help When Coloring Hair

If you’ve ever seen folks dye their hair at home, you’d have noticed that the scalp around the hairline sometimes get dyed too and it’s a bit of an eyesore. To avoid this fashion no-no, apply a layer of lip balm around your hairline to keep the dye from coloring your skin too.

Keep Fragrance from Fading

It’s quite disappointing when your favorite scent evaporates easily. To make a scent last longer, rub a bit of balm on your pulse points before you spray. This will lock the fragrance in and keep it from dissipating too fast.

Lip balm works because it is occlusive. It absorbs and holds fragrances compared to if you just sprayed it straight onto your dry skin.

Beat Bug Bite Itch

Are the bed bugs biting?

Bed bug bites are no joke. Block the air (and the itch) from a bug bite with a dab of lip balm.

Windblocker

Lip balm, applied to your cheeks, nose and forehead, can serve as an effective windburn preventer in harsh, cold weather. It keeps the cold air from directly harming the sensitive skin of your face.

Instant Eye Gloss

No surprise here. Lip balm can be used for a beauty hack. Mix a little unflavored lip balm with your favorite eye shadow to make a dewy eye gloss. It’s a great beauty trick with hardly any cost.

Shine Dull Skin

If you’re having a rough day and it’s showing on your face, dab a line of lip balm along your cheekbones. It will put a shine on your cheeks and make you look dewy and healthy.

See Also: 6 Vitamin-Packed Smoothie Recipes for Glowing Skin 

Handy Hand Lotion Substitute

If you accidentally forgot your hand lotion at home or you’ve simply run out, lip balm can be a substitute. Spread some lip balm on dry patches of skin. Rub hands together to warm them up and make the balm spread better.

Unstick Your Zip

It’s happened to all of us — getting the zip of our jeans stuck. Hopefully, you were out of them when it happened.

Some folks run a candle through the zip but you can also use lip balm. Simply spread some on the zipper’s teeth. This will lubricate the stuck parts and help the zipper slide more easily.

Tie Up Loose Shoestrings

Are your kids’ shoelaces getting untied too often? To help shoelaces stay securely tied, rub lip balm on them. The wax will provide friction that will keep them from coming apart.

Shoe Shine Substitute

For a quick polish, rub some lip balm on your shoes and buff them to a shine with a dry cloth. Nobody will be able to tell the difference.

Ring Removal Solution

Is a ring stuck in your finger?

Apart from soapy water or lotion, you can also use lip balm to provide lubrication. Simply dab on the offending ring and affected finger and steadily apply pressure on the ring until it comes off.

Clean and Defog Glasses

One down side of glasses is how they can fog up in warm or cold weather (or when you’re drinking soup!). A handy trick is to coat the lens of your glasses with lip balm and then polishing with a cloth. This will keep your glasses from fogging up.

Remove Sticker Gunk

Remember that gunk that gets left behind on stuff when you remove stickers and price tags?

It’s very annoying and it ruins the look of a perfectly new item. It’s hard to get out just by rubbing it off with a finger too.

Instead, apply a layer of lip balm on the offending sticker gunk. Wait 10 minutes, then wipe away the lip balm and dissolved residue.

Lubricate Drawers and Windows

Apply lip balm to the tracks of sticky drawers and windows to get them to open and shut more easily. This hack is good for anything with tracks and sliders.

Rust-proof Exterior Bulbs

Outdoor lights exposed to the elements have a tendency to rust. To keep this from happening, coat the threads of light bulbs with lip balm before twisting into place.

The balm will provide a waterproof seal that will hold off rust, and will make the bulb much easier to unscrew when it needs to be replaced.

Keep Knives and Other Tools from Rusting

Knives and tools may rust especially if left unused for long periods of time. Rub lip balm onto the blades of knifes or onto scissors, clippers – whatever you want to protect from oxidation.

Sink Nails and Screws Easier

Coat nails with a little lip balm to keep them from splitting wood when hammered in. A dab on screws helps them go in easier.

Protect a Pet’s Paws

Winter ice, snow and salt can cause irritation to your pet’s paws. Put some lip balm on the pads of your pet’s paws before they go outside to protect them.

Repair a Scratched CD

Do you want to listen to an old CD but it’s scratched? No worries. Apply a little lip balm over the scratched area to keep it from skipping.

Mini-Candle

In a pinch, you can open a lip balm container and insert a match stick into the wax. The matchstick will absorb the wax from the lip balm and keep a flame burning for a little while.

Conclusion

That little tube you use to soothe your dry lips has so many uses. Be sure to always bring your lip balm with you.

You’ll never know when you’ll need a quick fix for your drawers, glasses or your shoes.

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