Category: COLLABORATION

How to Be More Productive in the Office

EPOS 3

If you feel yourself lacking in productive energy when you’re working, whether that’s in the central office of your employer or as you work from home, it’s up to you to change that. Productivity problems can lead to other problems in your career, and your progress will be limited if you can’t overcome them effectively. Here are some tips that should help you to become more effective in the workplace. Start the Day by Prioritizing Your Tasks The first thing you should do when you arrive at work at the beginning of the day is prioritize the tasks you have in front of you. That way, you’ll be able to start working through them in a much more intuitive kind of way, and that’ll help you in terms of productivity. You can struggle to know where to begin when you have a big unstructured pile of work in front of you, so break it down and prioritize it. Don’t Skip Your Breaks When you’re busy at work, it’s always tempting to skip your breaks. It seems to make sense, right? Well, not exactly. When you give yourself a little time away from your desk during these break times, you’ll usually find that you come back when the break is over feeling more refreshed and positive about things. You can then work more sustainably and consistently throughout the day too. Image Source – CC0 License Take Care of Your Posture at Your Desk It’s important to make sure that you’re looking after yourself properly when you’re… Read More

Getting your car ready for the road trip of a lifetime

Man driving red car

If you are scheduling a getaway road trip for the new year, nobody could blame you! 2020 has been a difficult year, and everybody wants to take a break and simply break free of the craziness that went down this year. A road trip can clear your head; it allows you to experience new places, new cultures and meet new friends. Plus, driving across stunning landscapes with great music and your best pal by your side never made anybody’s life worse. Well, unless you’re Thelma and Louise. Gulp. If you are planning a road trip, you  might have already started thinking about your car. Will your car be okay travelling all those miles? Will you experience a breakdown and have to call for help? Do you have enough knowledge to fix any minor issues yourself? Don’t let these thoughts make you stressed; instead, read this helpful guide on how to prepare your car for the road trip of a lifetime! Focus on your tyres Your car’s tyres are a high priority when it comes to driving long distances. Your tyres are your car’s connection with the earth beneath it; if they are not up to standard, this could lead to skidding, getting a flat tyre, or even getting stuck in rough terrain. Making sure your tyres are prepared for hundreds of miles of road, plus any and all weather conditions, is crucial.  How do you prepare your tyres for a road trip? If you have not recently replaced your tyres, now is your chance. Make… Read More

8 essential items for your outback adventure

What is the outback exactly? Even if you’ve lived in Australia all your life, it can be difficult to define precisely what the word means, and if you’re a visitor, it’s even more of a challenge. We’ve all got an idea of what ‘outback’ means to us personally, but until you’re there in the unknown wilderness, you’ll never really know.  Perhaps this is why so many people choose to go for an outback adventure for themselves. They want to know just what this vast emptiness is really all about. Yet heading off into the bush is not something you should do on a whim, and to remain as safe as possible, you will need to prepare a way in advance. This includes ensuring you have all the essentials you’re going to need for your trip, no matter how long you intend to be away. Read on for an idea of the kinds of things you’re going to need to take with you.  A reliable vehicle  Although the image of you walking off into the Australian outback might seem like a rather romantic one, and the one you have in your head whenever you think of your adventure, actually doing this would be a terrible idea. With searing heat during the day and plummeting temperatures at night, you’ll soon get into difficulties.  Instead, you’ll need a reliable vehicle, ideally a Ute that has room in the back for all the belongings you’re going to need to have with you, and space to sleep should that become… Read More

Things that erase confidence and how to deal with them

Happy man

Life is complicated and unexpected, and there are many things that can happen to put a dent in your confidence. However carefree and ‘go with the flow’ you try to be, it’s inevitable that some things will affect you harder than you would want. This is normal, it happens to everyone and part of life is about finding paths through the darkest woods. But what are the top causes of reduced confidence, and what steps can you take to get yourself back on top? Just as confidence can be diminished, it can also be rejuvenated, and you can always, always take back control of your life. Weight gain As you might expect, weight gain is a major cause of confidence loss. However much you try to be body-positive, an unexpected gain of a few pounds that leaves you unable to fit into your favourite clothes, and feeling uncomfortable in your body, can have a drastic effect on your mental health. Many people have experienced this recently due to lockdown measures leaving them unable to exercise in their normal routines. The best way to rebuild your confidence is to take the pressure off yourself. Yes, try to lose the weight by regular exercise and managing your diet – but also, treat yourself to some new clothes that actually fit! This will make you look and feel better in the meantime, getting rid of that horrid feeling as you squeeze into ill-fitting clothes, and helping you feel comfortable in yourself right now. Hair loss Especially for men,… Read More

Holiday at home: Best ways to experience Cairns

Cairns beach Australia

We’ve been through a lot this year and most of us are aching for a little escape from the monotony of the day-to-day, but with the current global climate ruling international travel out for a while, more Aussies are set to holiday at home this year—and what better destination to do it than Cairns! With its gloriously warm weather, pristine beaches and beautifully lush rainforests, few places can compete with the natural beauty of this region of Far North Queensland. If you’re thinking of heading north this holiday season and want some tips to help you get the most out of it, we’ve got you covered… 1.   Cruise the reef Cairns is lucky enough to be situated in the heart of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World—the Great Barrier Reef. It should be a crime to visit Cairns and not spend at least one day out on the reef! Unless you’re visiting between June and October when you’re less likely to encounter stingers in the water, opting for a breakfast or sunset cruise is generally the best way to go. 2.   Enjoy a dip at Crystal Cascades Ever wanted to feel like you’re in a travel show and swim beneath a waterfall in a tranquil watering hole? Well, you can do it for real at Crystal Cascades! A short half-hour drive from Cairns, Crystal Cascades has been a long-time favourite among locals and travellers alike who are looking for a refreshing way to escape the heat of the day in a swimming… Read More

Want to make money off your passion for travelling? Here’s a detailed guide on how to generate money from your travel blog

Couple travel travelling

Our ancestors were travelers who moved from one place to another in search of greener pastures. Over time, mankind gave up on the nomadic lifestyle and adopted an agricultural approach. As we have taken to a mode sedentary lifestyle, travel has taken a backseat and assumed the form of a hobby for most people. However, it is indeed possible to make a lot of money off this passion and be a full-time travel blogger. With proper planning, a decent business sense, and a knack for strategy, you can get paid for telling your travel stories. Merely loving to travel will not suffice and you need to own up the responsibilities of all the other aspects of this business. These include knowing your audience and their expectations, designing and maintaining your website and promoting yourself on social media. If you feel that all of this looks too overwhelming, and you are unsure of where to begin, then there is no reason for you to worry. In this article, we provide a detailed 5 step guide to making money off your travel hobby. Find Your Niche The present age is one of multi-specialization, and merely wanting to tell your travel tales will not suffice. Sit back and introspect on what you love the most about traveling. This may be exploring wildlife, mingling with natives, trying out local delicacies, unraveling the history of the land, or anything else. Understand that a writer’s passion for a subject is evident in any blog. Sticking to a particular niche will help… Read More

Make sure your new home is safe before moving in

Front door house

The safety of your new home should be a top priority. When you move into a new place, especially when you own it, you need to check that everything is safe, and you’re going to be comfortable living there. That means taking a thorough look at the property to make sure there are no serious hazards and ensuring your new home is habitable. There are some things that you might have done when making the decision to purchase the property, but there may still be some steps that you need to take after moving in. Take a look at some of the essential safety measures that you should take. Image from Pixabay –  CC0 License Get a Structural Survey Building surveys aren’t compulsory when you buy a home, but you might have carried one out before making your purchase anyway. It can give you peace of mind and give you important information, such as the boundaries of your property. If you didn’t have one performed before the purchase, you could still decide to do one after you have bought your new home. You can use a survey to highlight any potential issues that might need to be repaired. It will allow you to make important repairs now, rather than wait for them to become issues later. Remove Any Dangerous Materials Moving into a new home can bring up some nasty surprises. One of these could be the discovery of dangerous materials. This is a risk when buying an older home, which could have materials that… Read More

Athletes: How cannabis improves their performance

Cigarette smoke smoking

More and more evidence is being uncovered by scientists and researchers on the positive effects of marijuana on athletes’ performance. In the US, with 29 states have legalised the medical use of cannabis, the acceptance in the medical and recreational use has lead to more studies being conducted in academic and research institutions to understand further the benefits of marijuana for the well-being of the people. Different strains of the cannabis plant are being subjected to rigorous clinical testing to find out how they can help fight different health conditions. Quality strains come from quality seeds. You can either buy from the seed bank in your neighbourhood or order your seeds from trusted suppliers on the internet. The push to allow marijuana in sports due to its ability to improve athletes’ performance is unheard of just a decade ago. Today, many sports organizations still ban the use of recreational and medicinal marijuana among athletes. Given this, many prominent people in sports call for the lifting of the ban on marijuana in sports. For instance, Bob Arum, who is perhaps the most famous boxing promoter in the world, has for many years advocated the lifting of the ban on marijuana for boxers. Like Bob Arum, there are throngs of cannabis advocates, scientists, and athletes are working toward the lifting of the ban on marijuana use in the sports sector. Armed by the research findings that prove the positive effects of marijuana on health and wellness, the advocacy to lift the ban on marijuana in sports is… Read More

Is a tummy tuck the best way to achieve a flat stomach?

Man abs

Tummy tucks remain popular for a reason. Whether used as a standalone procedure or as part of a body lift or mummy makeover, tummy tucks offer multiple benefits. By removing excess skin and unwanted fat, surgeons are able to create a flatter abdomen that you can feel confident about.  However, whether or not this is the best way for you to achieve a flatter stomach needs to be determined. Tummy Tucks for Flatter Abdomens According to tummy tuck specialist from the Gold Coast, Dr Mark Magnusson, abdominoplasty is designed to create a flatter midsection by getting rid of unnecessary, sagging skin and excess fat. However, it doesn’t stop there. A tummy tuck also addresses stomach muscle separation that occurs during pregnancy. Once the muscles are repaired, the abdomen also looks firmer due to the increased support. Abdominoplasty can be cosmetic or reconstructive in nature and is most often undertaken after pregnancy, extensive weight loss or for medical reasons. Depending on how much excess skin is present, it can decrease range of movement and cause rashes and infections.  What a tummy tuck isn’t is weight loss surgery. It’s not possible to create a flatter stomach if a patient hasn’t achieved a healthy weight.  To be considered for this procedure, patients need to rely on diet and exercise to first bring their BMI into a healthy range. From there, a tummy tuck can be used to complete their weight loss goals by creating a slimmer midsection.  Obese patients should discuss a personalised treatment plan with their surgeon… Read More

3 sure fire ways to add value to your home

Modern house

While you might not be planning on selling up any time soon, you still might be keen to add value to your pad. You might be happy in your little patch of bricks and mortar, but you want to rejuvenate it, give it a makeover, and increase the resale value of your home in the process. By thinking with both your heart and your head, you can achieve the perfect look for your humble abode while adding value to your home. Adding value does mean stumping up some of your own cash in an effort to speculate to accumulate. Take a look at these three sure fire ways to add value to your home. Extend By adding square footage to your home, you are naturally increasing its value. If you have a growing brood, you may have been tempted to move onto pastures new as you find your living areas becoming more cluttered and you crave more space. However, by seeking out ways to add space to your current home, you can remain in the place that you love.  You might choose to go upwards and create a loft extension. Here, you can create a new master suite complete with an en suite bathroom. Or perhaps you crave the living space for your growing family. Going outwards and creating an open plan kitchen diner that is more conducive for twenty first century living will be hugely appealing when you come to sell up in the future. If you don’t fancy something so permanent, take a… Read More