7 WAY TO TEACH YOUR DAUGHTER TO BE A LADY

 

Jordin Keim

Each mother should know a few ways to teach your daughter to be a lady, even if you are raising a tomboy! There is nothing wrong with a little girl who likes to rough it up outside just like the boys do, but at the end of the day, she is still a girl. Here are a few ways to teach your daughter to be a lady just in case you would like to maintain a sense of femininity for your daughter, and train her to have the best of both worlds!

1. Set An Example

Perhaps the most powerful of all ways to teach your daughter to be a lady is to lead by example. Children are like sponges; they soak up everything around them. If your daughter sees you behaving and dressing like a lady, chances are good that she will follow in your footsteps. Be sure that your words and actions always line up, because children will do and repeat everything they see or hear around them!

2. Words Matter

Part of being a lady includes watching the words that come out of your mouth. And that doesn’t mean just swear words! Unkind, hurtful and mean gossip is something you don’t want your daughter to take part in. Even just talking down to or about authority or those around you is something to be avoided. Habits form quickly at young ages, so try to keep words positive and uplifting!

3. Pay Attention to Her Clothes

These days I go clothes shopping, and I am appalled by what I see in the little girls' section. Clothes for little girls have lost their charm and modesty! I would never want to dress my own little girl in some of the things I see on the racks nowadays, because I don’t think it will encourage femininity. Pay attention to what your daughter wears when you go out of the house.

4. Encourage Femininity

I believe a woman can be strong, independent, and confident while maintaining her femininity. Lack of charm and grace in a woman just feels distant and strange! Encourage your daughter to be sweet and graceful in her manner, and if she likes pink and bows, go crazy with them! Even a tomboy can be feminine in her own way, it’s up to you to find that balance and help her walk that line.

5. Work on The Attitude

An attitude is everything. Most small children show attitudes from a young age, so if you start to see one forming, don’t wait until it’s too late to nip it in the bud. A little girl can be as cute as a button, but if her attitude is bad, no one will notice the cuteness!

6. Avoid Tearing Her down

The quickest way to melt a little girl’s spirit is to tear her down. There is a difference between scolding and tearing down. Scolding is a necessary parental duty, but tearing down will not help your daughter build the confidence she needs to succeed in life. A lady needs to be taught character, so start with affirming words and positive attitudes!

7. Actions Are Always Important

Do you notice your little girl throwing temper tantrums? Twisting around words that you or someone else tells her? Does she mistreat her toys or lie to you? Remember that actions matter, and if you don’t make sure she understands that actions have consequences from a young age, she may face a hard road ahead of her. Teaching your daughter to be a lady means making sure she knows how to control her actions!

Teaching your daughter to be a little lady may take some time and dedication on your part, but in the end you will be glad you put forth the effort! Having a polite, well-mannered daughter will leave your friends wondering how you did it! And if she leaves a bow in her hair, that’s bonus points.

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TREE TALK

By Dan Clark - Chicken Soup for the Soul - Puppies for Sale

(happyborn5.blogspot.com) The heroine of this story is an eight-year-old girl in a Pennsylvania orphanage. She was painfully shy and had such annoying mannerisms that she was shunned by the other children and regarded as a problem child by the teachers. Two other orphanages had managed to have her transferred. Now, once again, the director was seeking some pretext for getting rid of her.

One afternoon it appeared that an opportunity had arrived. An ironclad rule held that any letter from a child in the institution had to be approved by the director or a house mistress before it could be mailed. The little girl  had been observed sneaking down to the main gate and carefully securing a letter in the branches of a tree that overhung the wall of the orphanage. The director could scarcely conceal her elation.

She hurried down to the brick wall. Sure enough, the note was visible.

The director pounced on it and tore open the envelope. She pulled out the note and quickly read it. Stunned, she stood staring at the piece of paper, then hung her head. It read:

To anybody who finds this: I love you.

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HOW TO FALL ASLEEP IN LESS THEN 30 SECONDS

 By Steve Pavlina

 

Does it take you a while to fall asleep at night? Do you find your mind dwelling on various thoughts before you’re able to finally drift off and relax into sleep? Do you find that you just aren’t sleepy enough when it’s time for bed?

Realize that if it takes you 15 minutes on average to fall asleep each night, that’s more than 91 hours per year that you’re wasting. This is the equivalent of spending more than two 40-hour workweeks just lying in bed waiting to fall asleep.

And if you have insomniac tendencies and take more than an hour to fall asleep each night, you’re spending more than nine 40-hour weeks on that pointless activity — every year. That’s a tremendous amount of wasted time.

If you’d like to change this situation, keep reading. I’ll explain the details and share a process for training your brain to fall asleep almost instantly when you’re ready to go to bed.

 

Drop Caffeine (at Least Initially)

First, if you drink coffee, tea (including green tea and white tea), yerba mate, cola, or any caffeinated beverages on a semi-regular basis, this method won’t work very well at all, so I strongly recommend that you get off all caffeine for at least 2 weeks before you attempt to make improvements in this area. Read How to Give Up Coffee if you need help with that. I also advise that you drop chocolate during this time as well, including cocoa and cacao, since those contain stimulants too.

Even a small cup of coffee in the morning can disrupt your ability to fall asleep quickly at night. You may also sleep less restfully, and you’ll be prone to awaken more often throughout the night. Consequently, you may wake up tired and need extra sleep.

Simply eliminating all caffeine from your diet can improve your sleep habits tremendously. So if you haven’t already done that, please do that first before you attempt the training method I explain later in this article.

If you really love your caffeine though, the good news is that it’s okay to add it back once you’ve gone through this adaptation training. It will still disrupt your sleep a bit, but once you’ve mastered the habit of being able to fall asleep in 30 seconds or less, then most likely you’ll still be able to continue the habit even if you consume some caffeine during the day.

 

Train Your Brain to Fall Asleep Faster

A decade ago it might have taken me 15-30 minutes to fall asleep most nights. Sometimes it would take more than an hour if I had a lot on my mind. And very occasionally I could fall asleep within 5 minutes or less if I was very sleepy.

Today it’s fairly normal for me to fall asleep within 30 seconds or less, and often I’m able to fall asleep in less than 1 second. My best is probably around 1/4 of a second.

How do I know this? Because I have a witness that tells me how long I was out. I also know that I was sleeping because I awaken with the memory of a dream. If my sleep time is only a second or a fraction of a second, then it’s obviously a very short dream. Some time dilation occurs though, so a 1-second dream may feel significantly longer… perhaps as if 5-10 seconds have passed within the dream world.

Is this narcolepsy? No, narcolepsy is very different. I don’t just fall asleep at odd times throughout the day, and I don’t have excessive daytime sleepiness. Most days I don’t take any naps. One thing I do have in common with narcoleptics is that I can start having dreams immediately when I fall asleep, whereas most people don’t enter the dream state for at least an hour. I regard this as a positive adaptation though, not a problem or defect.

I can’t normally force myself to sleep when I’m not at all sleepy. But when I’m ready to go to sleep, I can go to sleep very quickly without wasting time trying to fall asleep.

I’m not able to do this 100% perfectly. If I have a stressful day and there’s a lot on my mind at night, I may find it more difficult to relax and go to sleep. But most of the time under normal, average conditions, I can get to sleep within 30 seconds or less.

I reached this point not by the exertion of conscious will but rather through a long-term process of sleep training. So don’t think that there’s some mental trick that you can use right away to make this happen instantly. However, once you’ve trained yourself to this point, the process is effortless. You’ll be able to do it automatically. It will be no more difficult than blinking.

 

Understanding the Training Process

The training process may take a long time — months or even years, depending on how far you want to go — but it’s not at all difficult, and it needn’t take a serious time commitment. In fact, the training will most likely save you a significant amount of time. The only challenging part is maintaining consistency long enough to get results.

First consider that it’s possible for you to fall asleep faster. Have you ever been really tired and sleepy at the end of a day, and you fell asleep very quickly after getting into bed? Have you ever drifted off while watching a movie or reading a book? Have you ever fallen asleep within less than 2 minutes after lying down? If you’ve done it before, then consider the possibility that your brain already knows how to fall asleep quickly, and if you create the right conditions, then you’re capable of doing this again. You just need to train your brain to do this more consistently.

The main reason that you aren’t falling asleep faster is that you haven’t trained your brain to do so. You may be able to reach that point eventually, but you’re not there yet. Similarly, you may be able to do the splits if you engage in flexibility training, but in the absence of such training, you probably won’t be able to do the splits at all.

If you want to fall asleep faster, you must incentivize your brain to drop all other activity and immediately transition into sleep when you desire to do so. That is the essence of this approach. If there are few consequences for a lazy approach to falling asleep, then your brain will continue to be lazy and inefficient in this area. You haven’t given it a good enough reason to select more efficient behaviors.

Your brain is always active, even during deep sleep, and it operates in different modes of consciousness, including beta (waking), alpha, theta, and delta phases. When you lie in bed waiting for sleep, you’re waiting for your brain to switch modes. An untrained brain will often take its own sweet time making the necessary state change. So you may dwell on other thoughts… or toss and turn… or just lie awake until your brain is finally ready to transition. This is a common experience. Without incentives to become more efficient, your brain will remain naturally lazy by default.

Your conscious mind might very much like to go to sleep, but it isn’t in charge. Your subconscious determines when you fall asleep. If your subconscious mind is in no hurry to fall asleep, then your conscious mind will have a hard time forcing it. In fact, your subconscious may continue to bubble up thoughts and ideas to occupy your conscious mind, distracting you with mental clutter instead of letting you relax and slide into sleep.

A trained subconscious mind is obedient and fast. When the conscious mind says to sleep, the subconscious activates sleep mode immediately. But this only works if you’re feeling at least partially sleepy. If the subconscious doesn’t agree with the need for sleep, it can still reject the request.
The process I’ll share next will teach your brain that putzing around isn’t an option anymore and that when you decide to go to sleep, it needs to transition immediately and without delay.

 

The Process

The process involves using short, timed naps to train your brain to fall asleep more quickly. Here’s how it works:

If and when you feel drowsy at some point during the day, give yourself permission to take a 20-minute nap. But only allow yourself exactly 20 minutes total. Use a timer to set an alarm. I often do this by using Siri on my iPhone by saying, “Set a timer for 20 minutes” or “Wake me up in 20 minutes.” The first one sets a countdown timer, while the later phrase sets an alarm to go off at a specific time. Sometimes I prefer to use a kitchen timer with a 20-minute countdown.

Begin the timer as soon as you lie down for your nap. Whether you sleep or not, and regardless of how long it takes you to fall asleep, you have 20 minutes total for this activity… not a minute more.
Simply relax and allow yourself to fall asleep as you normally would. You don’t have to do anything special here, so don’t try to force it. If you fall asleep, great. If you just lie there awake for 20 minutes, also great. And if you sleep for some fraction of the time, that’s perfectly okay too.

At the end of the 20 minutes, you must get up immediately. No lingering. This part is crucial. If you’re tempted to continue napping after the alarm goes off, then put the alarm across the room so you have to get up to turn it off. Or have someone else forcibly yank you off the couch or bed when they hear the alarm. But no matter what, get up immediately. The nap is over. If you’re still tired, you can take another nap later — wait at least an hour — but don’t let yourself go back to sleep right away.

I think it’s best to do your nap practice during the day if you can, but you can also do it in the evening, as long as it’s at least an hour before your normal bedtime. Perhaps the best time for an evening nap is right after dinner, when many people feel a little sleepy.

You don’t have to take the naps every day, but do them at least a few times a week if you can. I think the ideal practice would be one nap per day.

The next part of this process is to always wake up with an alarm in the morning. Set your alarm for a fixed time every day, seven days a week. When your alarm goes off each morning, get up immediately regardless of how much sleep you actually got. Again, no lingering. If you need help with this, read How to Become an Early Riser, How to Become an Early Riser – Part II, and How to Get Up Right Away When Your Alarm Goes Off. Those articles have helped many thousands of people improve their sleep habits.

Now when you go to bed at night, seek to go to bed at a time that will essentially require you to be sleeping the whole time you’re in bed in order to feel well rested in the morning. So if you feel you need a good 7 hours of sleep each night to feel rested, and you plan to get up at 5am every morning, then get yourself into bed and ready to sleep at about 10pm. If you take 30 minutes to fall asleep, then you’re getting less sleep than you need, and this is a disincentive to continuing that wasteful habit.

The message you’re sending to your brain is that the time you have to sleep is limited. You are going to get out of bed after a certain number of hours no matter what. You’re going to get up from your nap after a specific amount of time no matter what. So if your brain wants to sleep, it had better learn to go to sleep quickly and use the maximum time allotted for sleep. If it wastes time falling asleep, then it misses out on that extra sleep, and it will not have the opportunity to make it up by sleeping in later. Sleep time squandered is sleep time lost.

When you go to bed whenever and allow yourself to get up whenever, you reward your brain for continued laziness and inefficiency. It’s fine if you take a half hour to fall asleep since your brain knows it can just sleep in later. If you awaken with an alarm but go to bed earlier than necessary to compensate for the time it takes you to fall asleep, your still tell your brain that it’s fine to waste time transitioning to sleep because there’s still enough extra time to get the rest it needs.

Coffee and chocolate are also crutches because if you don’t get enough sleep, your brain can come to rely on a stimulant to keep it going when necessary. If you remove these outs, then your brain will soon connect the dots. It will learn that taking too long to fall asleep equals not getting enough sleep, which means going through the day tired and sleepy. By closing the door on potential outs like stimulants and extra snooze time, you leave only one remaining option for a solution. Sooner or later your brain will determine that going to sleep faster is indeed the solution, and it will adapt by transitioning into sleep much more quickly, so as to secure the full amount of rest it desires.

Instead of continuing to give your brain the message that oversleeping is okay or that stimulants are available, begin to condition it to understand that sleep time is a limited resource. Your brain is naturally good at optimizing scarce physiological resources; it evolved to do so over a long period of time. So if sleep time appears to be a limited resource, your brain can learn to optimize its use of this resource just as it has learned to optimize the use of oxygen and sugar.

If you get sleepy during the day as a result of limiting your sleep time at night, that’s perfectly okay. Take naps as needed. It’s okay to take multiple naps during the day if you need to, but keep them limited to 20 minutes max, and don’t have two naps within an hour of each other. Whenever you get up, stay up for at least an hour.

Once you get used to 20-minute naps — or if you don’t have that much time available for napping — try napping for shorter intervals. Give yourself 15, 10, or even 5 minutes for each nap. I sometimes take 3-4 minute naps (with a timer), which are surprisingly refreshing, but only if I fall asleep quickly.

Teach your brain that a 20-minute nap means 20 minutes of total time lying down. If your brain wants to ruminate during part of that time, it always means less sleep.

Also teach your brain that X number of hours in bed at night is all it gets, and so if it wants to get enough sleep, it had better spend virtually all of that time sleeping. If it spends time on non-sleep activity, it always robs itself of some sleep.

Once you’ve adapted and you’re able to fall asleep quickly when you desire to do so, you can slack off on the training process, ditch the alarm, and wake up whenever you want. Most likely the training will stick. You can even add the caffeine back if you so desire. But for a period of at least a couple months to start, I recommend being strict about it. Take naps regularly, and use an alarm to get up at a consistent time every single day.

I still prefer to get up with an alarm most days. I don’t need it to fall asleep quickly, but I tend to linger in bed more than necessary without the alarm.

If this is too strict for you, I doubt you’ll succeed with this approach. If you give your brain an easy out, it will take that out, and it won’t learn the adaptation you’re trying to teach it here.

Everyone is different, so how long it takes you to adapt depends on your particular brain. I’m sure some people will adapt fairly quickly, within a few weeks, while others may take significantly longer. There are many factors that can influence the results, with perhaps the biggest one being your diet. In general, a lighter, healthier, and more natural diet will make it significantly easier to adapt to any sort of sleep changes. Regular exercise also makes it easier to adapt to sleep changes; cardio exercise in particular helps to rebalance hormones and neurotransmitters, many of which are involved in regulating sleep cycles. If you eat a heavily processed diet (i.e. shopping mostly outside the produce section) and you don’t exercise much, just be aware that I rarely see such people succeed with worthwhile sleep changes of any kind.

One last item I’ll share is that I’m able to fall asleep fastest when I’m cuddling someone, both for naps and when going to bed at night. On my own I can get to sleep in under 30 seconds normally, but when I’m cuddling a nice warm female body, that’s when I can often get to sleep in less than a second. So I invite you to experiment with this if you have a willing cuddle partner who enjoys serving as a human teddy bear. (Stevepavlina.com)

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PUPPY LOVE

 By Dan Clark - Chicken Soup for the Soul

(happyborn5.blogspot.com) The young boy who had been wearing a steel brace on his left leg for the last four months walked through the front door of his home with a newly purchased puppy in his arms. The dog didn't have a hip socket and, when placed on the floor, it walked with a serious limp. The boy's selection of a physically challenged puppy intrigued his parents, for he had been down-and-out. But with his new companion at his side, they sensed a newly revitalized spirit of hope and enthusiasm emerging from his soul.

The next day the young boy and his mom went to see a veterinarian to find out how he could best help his little dog. The doctor explained that if he stretched and massaged his puppy's leg every morning and then walked with him at least one mile per day, the muscles around his missing hip would eventually strengthen to the point of no pain and less of a limp.

Although the dog whimpered and barked out his discomfort, and the boy winced and hassled with own leg brace, for the next two months they religiously kept to their rehabilitation regimen. By the third month they were walking three miles every morning before school began and they were both walking without pain.

One Saturday morning when returning from their workout, a cat leaped out of the bushes and startled the dog. Breaking loose of the leash, the dog darted into oncoming traffic. With a speeding truck only seconds away, the boy ran into the street, dove for his dog, and rolled into the gutter. He was too late. The dog was hit and bleeding profusely from the mouth. As the boy lay there crying and hugging his dying dog, he noted that his own leg brace had broken off. With no time to worry about himself, he sprang to his feet, picked up his dog, cuddled it close to him and started for home. The dog quietly barked, giving him hope and turning the boy's jog into an all-out, adrenaline sprint.

His mother rushed him and his suffering pup to the pet hospital. As they anxiously waited to see if his dog would survive the surgery, he asked his mother why he could now walk and run.

"You had osteomyelitis, which is a disease of the bone," she said. "It weakened and crippled your leg, which caused you to limp in severe pain. Your brace was support. It wasn't nescesserily a permanent condition if you were willing to fight through the pain and hours of therapy. You responded well to the medication, but you always resisted our encouragement for physical therapy, and your father and I didn't know what to do. The doctors told us you were about to lose your leg. Then you brought home your puppy and you seemed to understand his needs.Ironically, as you were helping him, you were actually helping your self to strengthen and grow."

Just then the operating room door slowly opened. Out walked the veterinarian with a smile on his face. "Your dog is going to make it," he said.

And the boy learned that when you lose yourself, you find yourself. It is more blessed to give, then receive

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7 AMAZING WAYS TO MAINTAIN YOUR HEALTH AT WORK

 

By Valencia Higuera

Learning different ways to maintain your health at work can result in fewer sick days. Maybe you deal with different ailments and experience frequent colds each year. Some people blame the workplace on poor health, and it’s true that viruses can spread fast in offices. You can’t protect yourself from every germ, but if you know the different ways to maintain your health at work, you might experience fewer health issues.

1. Don’t Skip Lunch

If you are looking for ways to maintain your health at work, start with a healthy eating schedule. Regardless of how busy you are, it is important that you do not skip lunch. Not only should you not skip lunch, you should plan for a healthy lunch. This is key to optimal brain function, plus a healthy diet can fight off fatigue and brain fog.

2. Eat Healthy Snacks

A snack between meals can keep your metabolism revved up, which burns additional calories throughout the day and helps you maintain a healthy weight. Choose your snacks wisely. Rather than snack on potato chips, cookies and other sweet treats, reach for raw veggies, fruits, almonds, and raisins.

3. Do Not Share Utensils And Glasses

If you’re comfortable with a coworker, you may not think twice about sharing utensils or a drink. However, swapping saliva with another person is a quick way to get sick. The other person may appear healthy, but if she has been recently exposed to the flu or common cold, this increases your risk of infection.

4. Get Your Flu Vaccine

The flu virus is no joke, and it can spread like wildfire in offices. Getting your annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself. The flu shot offers 12-month protection, and once the vaccine is in your system, your chances of catching the flu drops to under 10%. Plus, you don’t have to make a doctor's appointment for the vaccine. Many local pharmacies offer low-cost vaccines.

5. Drink Plenty of Water

Water might not be your beverage of choice, but if you’re looking to maintain your health at work, drink between eight and 10 glasses a day. Water not only hydrates your body, but removes toxins and other impurities that can increase your risk of illness. This can be difficult if the break room has soda machines and other tastier beverages. However, adding lemon juice or other fruits to water can improve its taste.

6. Sanitize Your Area

Don’t rely on your employer’s janitorial service to keep your work area clean. Keep disinfecting wipes or alcohol by your desk. At least once a day, wipe down your computer, your desk, your telephone and your mouse. This reduces the buildup of germs and bacteria, which can significantly lower your risk of an infection.

7. Move around

Sitting for a long period can trigger back problems. Rather than pop pills to mask inflammation, consider ways to naturally relieve discomfort. If possible, purchase a chair for your desk that provides adequate lumbar support. Maintain good posture throughout the day to ease spinal pressure. Additionally, pace your office for a few minutes each hour to stretch your muscles.
 

The less time you take off from work, the more cash in your pocket. Plus, if you practice ways to maintain your health at work, your employer might thank you

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7 IMPORTANT REASONS TO GET YOUR BEAUTY SLEEP

 

By Lezlie Michell

Have you ever wondered if there were genuine reasons to get your beauty sleep? Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm shared that people deprived of sleep for long periods appear unhealthier and less attractive than those who are well rested. I've always wondered if there was an actual connection between a good night's sleep and beauty. When I think of beauty I think of physical appearance, but this is just one of the reasons to get your beauty sleep.

1. Sex Life

If we are going to consider reasons to get your beauty sleep, we may as well start with sex. If you don't get enough sleep you risk the chance of feeling fatigued. When you don't have energy, your sex life will suffer. Allison T. Siebern, PhD, a fellow in the Insomnia and Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at the Stanford University Sleep Medicine Center, says sleep-deprived men and women report problems with sex. “Lack of sleep can lead to low energy, fatigue, and sleepiness,” says Siebern. “This may affect libido and/or decrease interest in sex.”

2. Weight Management

You can't skip sleep if you are trying to lose weight. University of Chicago researcher Dr. Eve Van Cauter discovered that sleep deprivation stimulates appetite because it decreases the level of deptin (the "feel full" hormone) while increasing the level of ghrelin (the "feel hungry" hormone). On a personal note, I've noticed that when I get less sleep, I'm less active and not as motivated to work out.

3. Pretty Woman

Seven to eight hours of sleep is ideal for most women. Anything more than eight hours can cause you to wake up looking puffy and feeling sluggish. Anything less causes blood vessels to dilate, creating the look of dark circles. It can also make you more stressed and everyone will notice. "It makes you look angry, tired, sad, and certainly older," says New York City dermatologist Doris Day, MD. She wrote the book "Forget the Facelift" and notes that, "Your skin, and your whole body, goes into repair mode when you sleep." The good news is that our skin recovers quickly, so commit to getting in your 8 hours over the next couple of days and you and everyone else will notice the difference.

4. Brain Activity

When you get enough sleep you are able to dream, and that means you can process some of the unfinished business from the previous day or even week. We are constantly thinking and it doesn't stop when we sleep. But when we allow ourselves a good night's sleep, our brains are able to rest while recovery takes place. Also, if you are a student, don't stay up too many nights cramming. According to a Trent University study, students who study all night forget up to one-third of everything they learned the night, and even days, before.

5. Health & Wellness

Beauty sleep is just as important to our overall health as eating our vegetables and breaking a sweat. Sleep heightens the body's immune defenses and that goes a long way in warding off colds, and even living longer. Dr. Linda Toth, a pharmacology professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, shares, "When you're sleep deprived, you produce abnormally high levels of cytokines (proteins that send messages between cells), which can delay the process of healing."

6. Happy Mood

This one is pretty obvious. I know that if I don't get enough sleep (and I need at least 7 hours), I am a total grouch. Forget about talking to me in the morning! Dr. Nancy Hamilton from the University of Kansas shares, "People who routinely sleep well are more likely to feel better about life and about themselves. Although it's not clear which came first - a sense of well-being or a good night's sleep - it probably worked both ways."

7. Spur Creativity

Have you ever noticed that when you wake up from great sleep, you feel inspired to create? Maybe you wake up with a new song in your head, or a fresh idea for your canvas. I find that I am able to write best in the morning over a cup of Mint Tea after having a great night of beauty sleep! I read on www.Health.com that in addition to consolidating memories, or making them stronger, our brains appear to recognize and restructure them, which may result in more creativity.

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8 Awesome Oral Care Product to Try for An Amazing Smile

 

By Lisa Washington

We all want a nice, bright smile so I thought I’d highlight some of the best oral care products to achieve just that! Dental care is important not just for our appearance but to ensure we maintain healthy teeth and gums. According to WebMD, good oral hygiene and oral health are connected to overall health and can help reduce the risk of diseases later in life. Lucky for us, we have a lot of great oral care products that help us attain a healthy mouth and gorgeous teeth, so let’s take a look!

1. Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Comfort plus Dental Floss

Dental floss is one of the main oral care products that I just can’t live without! To me, flossing is a like a massage for your gums and it helps your teeth feel super clean! Floss is an interdental cleanser that helps clean those tight spaces in between your teeth and gums where a toothbrush just can’t reach. Dental floss removes plaque, prevents tartar buildup and helps prevent other diseases as well!

2. RADIUS Scuba Toothbrush

Aside from dental floss, the second most important product in your oral health care set should be a toothbrush. We all have different preferences in terms of the type of toothbrush we use, so it doesn’t mean that the Radius is better than other brands. But, the American Dental Association recommends using a toothbrush with their seal of approval as it indicates that the product met their criteria for safe and effective use. To see a list of their recommended dental care products, go to ada.org.

3. VIOlight Zapi UV Toothbrush Sanitizer

For those who are as meticulous about keeping their toothbrush as clean as their mouth, check out the UV toothbrush sanitizer! This cute little egg-shaped container reduces the exposure of germs and bacteria in your mouth in just a few easy steps. Although toothbrush sanitizers aren’t required for proper oral hygiene, they reduce up to 99% of germs, giving you peace of mind and a clean mouth!

4. Philips Sonicare FlexCare plus Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush HX6972/10

If you ask dentists whether a manual or electric toothbrush is better, most will say an electric toothbrush is best. Electric toothbrushes have been known to clean your teeth more thoroughly, remove plaque better and faster, prevent you from brushing too hard, they’re better for the environment and they have timers so you brush for the recommended duration. So, even though they cost a pretty penny, it’s a worthy investment!

5. WaterPik Ultra Water Flosser, Model WP 100

Another option in oral health care for those who don’t like flossing the traditional way is to use a Waterpik! A Waterpik cleans your mouth with water pressure to remove bacteria, food and plaque in your mouth. It also helps stimulate the soft tissue in your mouth, reduces the risk of infection and is ideal for those with dental implants, braces or crowns to clean their mouth and soothe irritated gums.

6. Biotene Dry Mouth Oral Rinse

Having a dry mouth can be a common result of many different things, such as a side effect of certain medications or medical treatments, but it can be a dental care problem. A dry mouth can cause an increased risk of gum disease, tooth decay, mouth infections and more. Fight back with a mouthwash made especially for dry mouths-like Biotene, which is said to clean, refresh, relieve dryness and soothe irritations in your mouth!

7. Listerine Total Care Fresh Mint

For those without dry mouth looking for an oral health care product, try Listerine’s Total Care mouthwash. This particular mouthwash is said to have six separate benefits: preventing cavities, restoring minerals to enamel, strengthening teeth, killing germs that cause bad breath, freshening breath and reducing plaque. Ask your dentist for recommendations on the best type of mouthwash for you!

8. Crest 3D White Whitestrips Professional Effects

This last product is more for cosmetic reasons than anything else, but if you take good care of your teeth, you want to show off your pearly whites, right?! This product is said to have the same teeth whitening benefits as a professional treatment and the same safe enamel-safe whitening ingredient that dentists use. In 20 days you’ll see a brighter, whiter smile that you’ll wear proudly!
Many of these dental care products might seem obvious to own and use, but there are so many different types of tools out there that it can get a little confusing! Try experimenting with different brands and products until you find ones you love, and make sure you replace your toothbrushes regularly! What oral hygiene products do you use?

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7Tips for When You Hate Your Daughter's Boyfriend

 

By Sara Lustberg

When you hate your daughter’s boyfriend, it can seem like there will never be peace in your house. But the time has come to weigh out your options and be more proactive when it comes to your child’s love life. Whether your child is in high school or looking to get married, it’s no picnic when you hate your daughter’s boyfriend. It is definitely hard to see the love of your life, the person you love forever unconditionally, waste their time with someone who you think is a complete loser. Do not feel helpless any longer because here are 7 tips to consider following for when you hate your daughter’s boyfriend!

1. Introduce Her to Someone New

This might seem annoying at first but as a concerned parent, you have every right to introduce new prospects into your child's life when you hate your daughter's boyfriend. Regardless of whether she is interested in the guys you introduce her to or not, I would still continue to suggest new guys. I say to continue with setting her up whether it works out or not, because maybe eventually she will see the differences between the gentlemen you set her up with, and the low-life she is currently dating. And even if she doesn’t, introducing her to new people can be a positive and assertive thing to do- especially since you’re not directly intervening in her relationship, and you are still showing your daughter how concerned you really are.

2. Express Concern to Your Daughter

Depending on what kind of sticky situation you have on your hands, it’s important to carefully plan out this discussion with your daughter. You don’t want your daughter to get upset, insulted, or offended, and you want to keep the lines of communication open so she knows she can confide in you. However, when you hate your daughter’s boyfriend, a completely valid plan of action is to sit down with your daughter and remind her that you love her and you are only looking out for her. Most importantly, make sure to say that you would hate to see her with someone so disrespectful (or whatever the case may be).

3. Express Concern to Your Family

Regardless of how young or mature your daughter is, when you hate your daughter’s boyfriend, don’t forget you are still her mother and parent and you will always be an integral part of her life. So do not feel guilty raising your concerns with your spouse and other children, because chances are they are just as concerned as you, and a reasonable course of action can be taken. The other outcome is that maybe you are overreacting to the situation, and your loved ones might be able to help you see how unreasonable YOU are being. Paranoia runs deep, and we can all be guilty of irrationality every once in a while.

4. Give Him a Second Chance

We all have our reasons for disliking people, and if there is a certain incident relating your disdain of your daughter’s boyfriend, maybe consider letting it go. When you hate your daughter’s boyfriend, it can often end up tearing your family apart, not to mention your coveted relationship with your baby girl. So think about giving her man another shot. If he seems to make her happy then there’s no harm in forgiving and forgetting the past- especially if their relationship seems like it is heading for the long term. Furthermore, an apology on both sides may be necessary, or at least some time to sort things out related to whatever made you hate your daughter’s boyfriend in the first place.

5. End It

This is by far not my favorite course of action to take when you hate your daughter’s boyfriend, but sometimes drastic measures need to be taken if your child is unable to see the dangers of staying with her boyfriend. As an adolescent, I dated plenty of guys who could be considered every parent’s nightmare. As upset as I was at my parents from forbidding me to see whoever my boyfriend was at the time (they did this several times) anymore, looking back I owe my happiness, health, and safety to them. Especially if your daughter is a teenager, if you see a guy directly imposing on her healthy lifestyle, it is your job to step in as a parent and protect her. For example, if he is introducing her to drugs, drinking, unsafe sex or all three, do not hesitate to cut that relationship off as much as you can. She may be upset and hate you now, but in the long run she will thank you and realize how much you really care about her.

6. Confront Him

Sometimes the best course of action to take when you hate your daughter’s boyfriend is to politely straighten him out yourself. If you are blatantly aware of inappropriate behaviors going on, feel free to confront him on it when you have the chance. The best way to do this is to indicate that you are only looking out for your daughter, and you hope he can see that you are rightfully concerned and worried about his behavior. If you daughter gets upset, maybe it will lead to their relationship ending, which is really what you want in the end anyway. Another outcome is that his behavior will change. People are sometimes oblivious to their wrongdoings, so maybe all he needs is someone to indicate to him that his current behavior is less than acceptable.

7. Get to Know Him

Immediately writing people off is something so common amongst the people of my generation, and it’s very pessimistic and frankly unnecessary. Every situation is different, but if you have immediately written off your daughter’s boyfriend for no apparent reason (or perhaps an invalid one), think about reevaluating your opinion of him. The best way to do this is to get to know him yourself, invite him over for dinner with your family or maybe even suggest meeting for coffee if you feel comfortable enough. There are many qualities in others that don’t come out right away, and similarly ones that others see but we ourselves do not. So when you hate your daughter’s boyfriend, push yourself to try to see the good in in him and their relationship because more often than not your daughter’s happiness depends on it.

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10 Tips to Help You Forgive Someone Who Has Hurt You

 

By Lezle Michell

I created this list of tips to help you forgive because I needed to etch it in my heart as well. I have this conversation often with my friends and family about forgiveness. Often the question is, "But HOW do I forgive when...?" That's a great question! How do we forgive? What is forgiveness anyway and how do we know that we have truly forgiven a person? These tips to help you forgive have helped me greatly along the way.

1. You're Not Perfect

You're not perfect and neither am I, no matter how hard we try to be. We are all human and we all make mistakes. I remember reading a book about a woman who had a near death experience, and one of the things she wrote about was how she realized how often she had offended people on earth and had absolutely no idea that she had done it. At some point you will need to ask someone for forgiveness, so humble yourselves and learn to forgive others when they need it… whether they ask for it or not.

2. You've Been Forgiven

This goes back to my first point in that at some point in your life you will need forgiveness. I'm sure you can think of at least one occasion in your life, let's think back to high school if your memory is a bit foggy. I do believe to a degree that what goes around comes around, so if you can get in the flow of forgiving others you will find that (hopefully) you will be forgiven when needed as well.

3. Don't Take It Personally

This can be so hard to do, but it's necessary and so helpful to get through this thing called life. I can't tell you how many times I have thought that someone was mad at me or ignoring me, when really they were just incredibly busy or dealing with their own drama or pain to even remember me. We all do it at some point. I have learned (and am still learning) to not take things so personally, because often another person's behavior has nothing to do with you. I guess I should say that my default is no longer to take things personally. There will still be times where we are the source of another person's negative reactions or words, but it shouldn't be our default assumption.

4. Their Shoes

We've all heard this a bazillion times: to try to put ourselves in other's shoes. There's no way to truly do that. But I do find that if I try to be as thoughtful as possible and don't take things personally, it's easier to consider the position another person is coming from and why they may behave the way that they do. I read the other day that "hurt people hurt people." It's so true. If you have a thorny person in your life they are probably dealing with a lot of pain that needs to be healed. It's not up to you to heal them obviously, but you can at least consider that when dealing with them.

5. Life Is Short

This quote from Mother Teresa sums this up better than I am able to articulate it.
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, they may accuse you of having selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful you will win some false friends and true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway. You ... see, in the end, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway."

6. Say The Words

Sometimes it can be that simple. If you need to forgive someone just say "I forgive you __________." If you aren't ready to say it to their face yet, just say it to yourself everyday several times. I have found that just confessing that I forgive a person changes my frame of mind and I no longer harbor ill feelings towards them but I am able to let go of the offense. Eventually it is nice to say it to the person, especially if they are someone you have to be around or desire to keep in your life. But forgiveness isn't really about setting the other person free as much as it is about setting yourself free from negative feelings.

7. Confront Them

I used to run from confrontation like I ran from eating liver. Actually, I still won't touch liver, but I have learned that confrontation is not always a bad thing. In fact, it can be healthy to confront a person if it needs to be done. Sure, it can be scary. But if the relationship is worth keeping to you it's important to get any offense off of your chest instead of allowing it to remain inside of you. If you hold on to it, it will only grow and make you feel worse in time.

8. Remember Why You Love Them

Unless we are talking about an enemy, most of the people in our lives have lovable qualities about them. If you are upset, surely you must care. Why do you care? Think about if the relationship is worth fighting for. If the answer is yes, take some time to reflect about the good memories that you have with that person. Why are they important to you? This has helped me to remember that there is a lot of good that comes with the occasional not-so-good.

9. Hug Or Kiss It Out

Some people just need to be hugged and told that they are loved every once in a while. If you are close, just stop and give them a hug or kiss and tell them that you care. You may find that this is the breaking point you needed to open honest dialogue and the road to healing in the relationship. If they aren't very touchy, then try to respect that and just embrace them by touching their hand or arm instead.

10. Let Go

Let it go ladies. Stop making a laundry list of offenses under each person that is in your life. The forgetting part in "forgive and forget" isn't easy, and often impossible. How can you forget an event in your life that impacted you? Although you may not be able to erase the memory you can choose to let it go and there is a difference. If you need some time and space in order to let things go, that's fine.

Maybe during that time you will find that the relationship isn't worth keeping and that is fine too. For some reason we think that we have to hold on to every relationship we ever have and that's just not true. It's possible to forgive a person and end the relationship because you realize that you have grown apart. It's also possible to realize that you can forgive a person and keep going no matter what.
Forgiveness is an issue that we all have to deal with in life. We are humans and we are imperfect. But hopefully, we can learn this life lesson of forgiveness and choose to love. Have you had a hard time with forgiveness?

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9 TIPS ON HOW TO NEVER GIVE UP

 

By Corina Dondlas

I always try to give useful advice to others, so I hope that you will find very helpful this article, since I will give you a few tips on how to never give up, no matter what. You all know that, every time you’re chasing a big dream, you'll always have to face a lot of obstacles, and sometimes, these obstacles tend to discourage you and because of all the effort that you put into them, you may even feel extremely exhausted. I’ve learned that you mustn’t under any circumstances let these obstacles get you down and, that there are ways, very simple ways to help you reach your goals without too much stress. Sometimes it is absolutely normal to lose your optimism and your enthusiasm even from the early beginning, if you don’t put the necessary effort to stay motivated. But, it’s not so hard to succeed that. You will see it from the tips on how to never give up that I am pleased to share with you.

1. Be Passionate about What You Are Doing!

One of the easiest and one of the most important tips I could give you on how to never give up, is to remind you to always be passionate about everything you want to do and this way, it will be much easier for you to be successful in what you wish to accomplish. If you put a lot of passion in all the things you do, this will come back to you and your efforts will be rewarded by reaching your goals. You will even be able to move mountains! Remember that overcoming some important obstacles is part of your daily schedule if you really love what you’re doing. If you never give up, you will always be able to come back again and again until your dream will come true.

2. Failure Is Not a Permanent Thing

Whenever you’re facing a big failure in your work, or in your life, you should always remember that the best remedy for a failure is going further, realizing that the failure is not something permanent and that it happens to everyone. The best thing for you to do in such a situation is immediately concentrate on the most appropriate decisions you’ll have to take in order for everything to be just fine and the way you want it to be. If you act, and especially think in such a manner, finally you will find the right solution to your problem, because your mind will be stress-free, it will be able to focus much better and to find the answer to your question. Believing that a negative situation is something temporary will motivate you into trying new problem solving strategies and you never know when you’ll finally succeed.

3. Separate Yourself from The People That Are Constantly Complaining

I’m sure that you often hear people talk about how lucky some of their friends are, like they would like to suggest you how unlucky they really are by comparison to others. I believe that people who constantly complain that they’re out of luck and that everybody else is doing so much better than them, tend to do this all day long. I also think that because of their lack of motivation, they tend not work hard enough to accomplish their objectives. As superficial as it may sound, I believe that luck is something you do yourself, by working really hard and by following your dreams no matter what. You should avoid all the whiners and stay focused on what you are after. You will also feel much happier because you won’t need to listen to all their complaints.

4. Never Let Fear Stop You from Doing Anything!

For me, courage means never giving up, means not the absence of fear but being able to conquer it. Of course, it is much easier to give up when things start to go wrong or when they become too many to be handled properly, and this is exactly what people who often lose tend to do (losers seemed a word a bit too harsh). There are a lot of ordinary people who achieved amazing things by being perseverant and by never giving up. When you have to face a big challenge learn to take risks! If you make a few mistakes along the way, it’s okay, just think that this is the best way to learn something new. Simply, go forward! Never doubt the decisions you’ll have to take!

5. Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously!

There isn’t any reason that should prevent you from having fun while working. Always try to spice up your workday by joking and laughing and you will see that your tasks will become much easier, you will be more motivated, you will find more numerous ways to solve all your problems and your day will be more pleasant. I’m pretty sure that your co-workers will appreciate this too, since everyone works much better in a friendly atmosphere.

6. Learn to Be Patient

In life, there are a lot of things, that in order to fulfill them, you should be prepared to wait for a very, very long time to see some results. First of all, you should always be aware of the fact that great things take time and that you can’t obtain them easily, and second, the moment you succeed in doing something important, you will feel extremely accomplished; a feeling than nobody could take it away from you. Remember that there are a lot of things that require a great amount of time in order for them to happen the way you desire. You should always be patient, whenever you start doing a certain thing, especially if this is an important thing for you, and you should always be prepared to wait in order to see some results. Keep working, keep waiting, and, of course, never give up!

7. Think like a Winner!

A lot of people say that positive thinking can truly change the word. In fact, by thinking positively you can easily obtain a lot of amazing accomplishments on all kinds of day-by-day tasks. You should apply this whenever you’re facing a big challenge, especially the times when you feel down and when you are tempted to give up. Learn how to think like a winner! By doing this, you will be able to visualize the feelings you’ll experience when you’ll reach your goal, and this thing will motivate you even more and you will be able to focus much better in the right way in order to obtain the expected results.

8. You Should Always Trust Your Abilities

I’m pretty sure you all know that, if you aren’t the one who trusts you to be capable in being successful, no one else will. It’s absolutely normal that from time to time, when facing a failure to doubt yourself and your abilities, but you should always remember that this is just something temporary, that you’ll feel better again and that you only had a little set back, that you’ll overcome in no time. Just don’t give up and you will see how many good things will happen to you!

9. Just Persevere!

You will be surprised how sometimes; stubbornness can be one of the important things that may help you succeed. Just don’t give up, no matter what the circumstances are, no matter how many failures you’ve faced, if you really believe in something that is extremely important to you, you should always follow your dream. You if are a bit shy, just learn to be a bit more stubborn and don’t let others influence you. A good result always requires a lot of hard work and sometimes, a lot of rejections. But, if you’ll persevere, be sure that you’ll always succeed.
 

I hope that you’ll find useful the tips I gave you, and remember to never give up on your dreams and on your happiness! What other ways to motivate yourself do you use if sometimes you’re feeling a bit down or if you’re facing a failure?

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8 TIPS FOR A ROAD TRIP WITH A TODDLER

 

 

By Bridget Galbreath

 

1. Pack Snacks
My first of many tips for a road trip with a toddler is to pack snacks, and plenty of them. Kids get hungry fast, and when they are hungry, a meltdown is imminent. When you’re on the road, it can be hard to pull over to grab something to eat, and frankly, you may not be ready for a meal. Not to mention that constant stopping can make your trip even longer. So, pack some easy to eat snacks and have them easily accessible. You – and your little one – will be thankful.

2. Bring a Comfort Item

If your toddler has a comfort item, like a blanket, a favorite teddy bear or whatever, bring it along. You’re little one may freak out if he doesn’t have his comfort item nearby at home; imagine what it will be like if you forget it on a road trip!

3. Activities

Take along some car-friendly activities. Set up a tray across his lap in the car seat and give him some toys, some crayons and paper or a book. This will allow him to stay occupied and give you some peace and quiet.

4. Bring a Portable Television

No, a TV isn’t a babysitter, but on a road trip, it can be a lifesaver. Set up a portable television and put on your child’s favorite movie. It will really keep him happy. You don’t have to put it on the entire time, but a movie here and there won’t kill him.

5. Take Breaks

You simply MUST take breaks when you’re on a road trip with a toddler. You know how you get cramped and need to stretch; well, imagine being stuck in a car seat. Every two to three hours, pull over and stretch. Grab some ice cream or let him run around an open field.

6. Eat Meals

In addition to stopping to stretch, stop to eat meals. We packed picnic lunches on our road trip, and they were great. Not only was I able to make sure my little one ate healthy, but we ate healthy, too. Plus, our picnics gave us a chance to enjoy the beauty of the area we were traveling through. I highly recommend this.

7. Take Naps

A nap is a toddler's (and his parents') best friend. Make the car as conducive to taking naps as possible. Lower the volume of your music, make sure the temperature is comfortable and maybe give him a blanket to encourage a nap here and there.

8. Don’t Overdo It

Don’t push your toddler to the limit. Stop for the night before he even starts to show signs of being done with being in the car. Going over his limit will result in major meltdowns and major headaches.
We used each of these tips for a successful road trip with our little guy. He was happy, and so were we. Have you taken a road trip with a toddler?

 

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7 COMMOM COMMUNICATION MISTAKES YOU'RE BETTER OFF AVOIDING

 By Marquitta Fields

We all make communication mistakes or have awkward moments that we wish we could redo differently. Unfortunately we can’t go back and change the past, but we can prepare for the future. Many people realize that their communication is not how it should be, but they can’t exactly pinpoint the problem; maybe this list can help you. Keep reading for 7 communication mistakes to avoid in the future.

1. Assuming Your Mind Can Be Read

One of the biggest communication mistakes is assuming or hoping the person can guess what you’re thinking or how you’re feeling. When you have those expectations, you’re almost always disappointed, because people aren’t mind readers. If you want someone to know how you feel, you have to respectfully tell them.

2. Blaming

If you’ve ever said, “you always…” or “you never…” you’ve definitely made a communication mistake. Blaming immediately puts the other person in defensive mode. Even if you aren’t intending to attack that person, they can’t help but to feel attacked and communicate as such. If you want your voice to be heard, avoid “you” messages, and use “I” messages. Explain your feelings, not what you think the other person is doing wrong.

3. Always Listening And Never Talking

Another communication mistake to avoid is never talking or giving feedback. Who wants to feel like they’re talking to a mannequin? If you don’t ever contribute to the conversation, the relationship will seriously suffer. You’re likely to feel unheard, and the other person may feel like the conversation and friendship are one-sided. Speak up and give feedback; it’ll greatly improve your communication.

4. Being Sarcastic

This one is tricky. Sarcasm can be fun and playful if used at the right time and with the right people. When having a serious or tense conversation, sarcasm is not okay. Many people can get quite offended by it, so be careful. If you happen to use sarcasm, and you can tell the person is offended, apologize and move on.

5. Name-Calling

No one really likes to be called “lame” or “whack,” so try not to resort to that when you’re casually conversing. It’s common for friends to tease each other, but be aware when they aren’t in the mood. So many avoidable arguments occur among friends because of a little “harmless” name-calling.

6. Always Wanting Your Way

It’s natural for some people to want things done their way, but it becomes a problem when the person cares more about getting their way than the person with whom they’re communicating. Be respectful and courteous, and ask yourself, “does it really have to be MY way this time?” Sometimes that answer will be “no.”

7. Always Giving in to The Other Person

Another communication mistake to avoid is giving in to every and anything the other person wants. Stand up for yourself and your ideas. In an attempt to be nice, many people make the mistake of being a pushover or easily manipulated. Have self-respect and be confident. Don’t let others push you around. You have something to offer in your relationships, and it’s important to understand that, and communicate with people who accept that and respect you.

All of these communication behaviors are either passive or aggressive, which can be deadly to communication. It’s important to avoid these behaviors and be assertive. Use “I” messages to explain your feelings, actively listen to the person, try to understand their feelings, be respectful, be willing to compromise, and show genuine interest in communicating with your communication partner. I hope this article was helpful, and you can now distinguish some of the major communication mistakes to avoid when talking with someone or sharing your feelings. Which communication mistakes have you seen or done? Share your experiences!

Sources:
Pruitt, B. E., Crumpler, K. S., & Stith, D. (2001). Prentice Hall health: skills for wellness (3rd. ed.). Glenview, Ill.: Prentice Hall.

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7 Ways to Re Energize Your Job Search

 

By Neecey Beresford

When there are no new interviews or leads, and you feel like giving up, it’s time to look at ways to re-energize your job search. Looking for work can be a fatiguing process; not physically, unless you are tramping the streets, but mentally. You need a positive attitude, but in the face of little encouragement or constant rejection, it certainly isn’t easy. It’s so important to persevere, so when you’ve reached the point when you need a little fillip, here are some ways to re-energize your job search.

1. Rewrite Your Resume

If your resume is limited (you may have just left full time education), there may not be much material to work with, but you have to maximize what is there to make it work for you. One of the ways to re-energize your job search is to completely rewrite your resume. Some industry experts say you should write your CV for every application but this is terribly time-consuming. A more reasonable approach is to have different types of CVs. It is worth having a skills based resume, an experience based resume and one that concentrates on your achievements. In a resume, we generally try and get in all these things, which means that sometimes it might be diluted. If you read job advertisements carefully, you can usually pick up a few clues as to what kind of focus the employer is looking for and you can apply with the relevant style of CV.

2. Spring Clean Your Cover Letter

If you are revamping your resume, it makes sense to do the same for your cover letter(s). Many job seekers make the mistake of using the one cover letter as a template and just tweaking it as necessary for each application. If you are going to adopt the multiple CV approach outlined in the first point, follow suit with your cover letter. Write a cover letter for each type of CV you have. Also, review the information you have in your cover letters. Are you showing yourself in the very best light? And importantly, are you forthcoming on what you can bring to the job? What makes you stand out from the crowd? Your cover letter should be a show stopper. When applying online, don’t be tempted to just write a couple of sentences stating the obvious – “Dear Sir, I am applying for XXX, here is my resume, I look forward to hearing from you…” Take the trouble to show the prospective employer you really care about your application.

3. Change of Direction

Another of the ways to kick start your job search is to critically evaluate the type of job you are applying for. It’s great to have an ambition to work in a specific job or sector, but don’t be narrow in your aims. Analyze your transferable skills and think about other areas you could apply them. Do some serious lateral thinking and some interesting avenues might open up for you. This is also a good time to consider the idea of relocating. Are there better/more job openings in a different town/city or state? You may not have thought about it before, but it is an option.

4. Get Connected

Social media is a major player in the job market, but you need to be clued up on how to harness its power. Join the right sites and have a professional profile. If you have a Facebook page, keep your social life well away from the limelight – best have 2 accounts. Have a LinkedIn profile and join relevant groups. Network with the right people and raise your profile as much as you can. Find ways to show that although you might not have a job, you are active in your sector and are keeping up with the latest news and happenings. Find relevant online communities and become active in them.

5. Set New Goals

It’s hard to admit that your job search isn’t working, but in order to inject new life into your search for employment you need to take a good look at what you’re currently doing. Now is the time to rip up the old plan and make a new one. If you haven’t been following any set plan, you should be. Sticking to a plan will stave off any feeling that you are drowning because you’ll know you are achieving the goals you have set yourself even if you haven’t yet been successful in gaining employment. Create a weekly timeline, including time for reading job boards, following up on email notifications of new vacancies, networking, and attending events.

6. Advice

If there is free advice available – use it. Talking to a third party is one of the great ways to re-invigorate your job search. If you’re a recent college graduate, find out if you can still attend careers fairs and graduate events. Do you still have access to a careers guidance service? If you can afford it, invest in a session with a careers counselor. Another option is to find a mentor- maybe a tutor you enjoyed a good relationship with or a successful businessperson you know personally or through your family. Join a job-search group if there is one near to you. Don’t spend hours reading the same advice over and over. Niche sites and business sites will do you more good than endless blogs advising on how to get a job.

7. Agency Cull

Now is also the time to review the agencies and online job sites you are registered with. Despite the job boards shouting at you to upload your CV online, there is very little rate of return with these. The simple fact is that recruiters don’t have the time to sit there reading millions of CVs. You are much better off with signing up to email alerts and diligently following up any leads on them. If you are going to register with a large number of sites, you will run yourself ragged trying to keep up with them. Invest some time in finding a few more specialist or niche sites and concentrate on those. Better still, identify companies you’d like to work for and keep an eye on their job boards. If you can make contact via LinkedIn and Facebook with the company, even better.
The most important thing about looking for work is to not to give up. Every so often, take a breath, step back and look at ways to re-energize your job search. How do you make your resume stand out?

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