Friday, October 29, 2021

Can Your Business Bounce Back From A Social Media Blunder?

 Social media is an excellent marketing tool for businesses but it can be risky. If you say the wrong thing on social media and people are upset about it, mob rule quickly takes over. One small blunder could lead to a lot of bad publicity when it goes viral and everybody piles on. These situations are very difficult for businesses and it's vital that you learn how to manage them properly so you don't make it worse. So, what should you do if your business makes a social media blunder? 


Image From Pixabay CCO License

Assess The Damage

The first thing you need to do is assess the damage and work out how bad it really is. Is this a rant from a single disgruntled customer or a major PR disaster? The first thing you need to do is look at who made the mistake. Was it a junior social media manager who didn't think things through before they posted it on Twitter, or an executive head of marketing responsible for all messages going out from the company's social media accounts? See whether you've been blocked on Instagram or if people are calling for a boycott of your company. Remember, the news cycle moves quickly, so small blunders will be forgotten in a matter of hours. It's important to know how bad it really is so you can respond appropriately.

Acknowledge The Mistake

Once you've worked out the damage, it's time to apologize. This is one of the most important steps in managing a social media crisis. You have to show that you are contrite about what happened and that you're willing to take steps to fix things. People who do this properly will gain respect from their customers for taking responsibility, even though they may still be upset about the issue. There's no point just deleting social media content and trying to pretend it never happened, this will only enrage people even further. Don't try to cover up your mistake with silence either - you're opening yourself up to more bad publicity by not saying anything at all.

Don't Censor Negative Comments

If you get negative comments, don't delete them. Instead, respond to them properly and work out what the person is unhappy about so you can resolve it for future customers who visit your social media pages. If you just keep deleting the negative comments, people will get more upset about the situation and it will prolong the issue for much longer. 

Show How You Are Improving

If you're really committed to repairing the damage, show people how you are improving. Have a meeting about the issues in your business and make real, tangible changes to make the business better. You can then show people that you are actually learning from the situation and using it as an opportunity to make changes instead of trying to brush the controversy under the carpet. You can use social media influencers to help spread your new message and improve your image.


Although people are quick to judge businesses that make social media blunders, they are also quick to forget. If you follow these simple steps, your business will come out of the other side unscathed. 


Friday, October 22, 2021

Homeschool Hacks by Lindsay Knerl Book Review


Today I'm sharing a great book with you called "Homeschool Hacks: How to Give Your Kid a Great Education without Losing Your Job or Your Mind" by Linsey Knerl, mother of six and freelance journalist. 

I was sent a copy to read and review, and I was not compensated monetarily other than with a free copy of the book. Opinions are my own.

After you read my review, you can purchase "Homeschool Hacks" here if you wish! It's available for Kindle, in print, and as an audiobook.

I'm going to pop the Table of Contents here so you can see what's included in the book, then we'll talk some more about my thoughts on it. 

Introduction: How to Use This Book

Chapter 1: Who Are the Homeschoolers?

Chapter 2: How Do You Start?

Chapter 3: Homeschool Legalities and Requirements

Chapter 4: Tools of the Trade

Chapter 5: Sample Schedules and Proper Planning

Chapter 6: Homeschooling through the Grades

Chapter 7: Paying for Homeschool

Chapter 8: Handling the Childcare Problem

Chapter 9: Homeschooling and the Family Business

Chapter 10: Working outside the Home

Chapter 11: Military Homeschoolers

Chapter 12: Temporary Homeschool

Chapter 13: Getting Kids College Ready

Chapter 14: Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Appendix A: Resources

Appendix B: Sample Junior High and High School Course Outline

Some thoughts:

The Tools of the Trade chapter contains quite a bit of common sense, like writing utensils and other school supplies, including a printer and a computer, so probably the book could've done without this chapter entirely. 

The Sample Schedules and Proper Planning chapter was pretty useful, even for a homeschool veteran like myself. This chapter also includes information about setting homeschool milestones, for example, we need to be done with lesson 80 of math before Christmas break. This way, your child can work ahead or know how much they need to do to get caught up before the break. This is helpful when you have those days (or weeks!) where everything explodes and nothing gets done.

This book is pretty much like other books on homeschooling and anything you can find on the Internet, except it's in a smallish package that you can easily carry around and digest a bit at a time. I do think it's a great resource to have around if you are just getting started, but maybe not so much for a seasoned homeschooler.

The Homeschooling and the Family Business and Working outside the Home chapters were a nice update to a lot of other homeschooling books, many of which do not take these unique situations into consideration. I don't have a family business and I don't work outside the home, but I have worked INSIDE the home and while traveling with the family pretty much ever since my first child was born 20 years ago.

There's a lot of great information in this book, and I recommend you grab it if you have small children or are just getting started. It's one to purchase for your home library in that case. For those who have been in the homeschool game longer, definitely grab it at the library first, and then you can decide if it's one you'd like to purchase.

*If you feel like sharing this on social media, please tag @TillerPress and @simonandschuster, as well as @mommykerrie and @thekerrieshow. Thanks!

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

How To Smoothly Transition To A New Doctor

 Whether you’re moving, or are ditching a bad doctor, you want to make the transition to a new doctor as smooth as you can, to make sure you don’t experience a break in your care. Here’s how to do it. 


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To make the transition from your old doctor to your new one go a smoothly as you can, you want to carry out a few steps. 


Find A New Doctor First

If you’re choosing to find a new doctor, then make sure you can get in with the new one before you leave your existing surgery. You might not always be able to because:

  • They may not be accepting new patients

  • They don’t accept Medicaid patients

  • Specialists are all booked up


When you find a new doctor, set up an introductory appointment before you leave your old one. 


Have A Final Visit

Book in one last appointment with the doctor that you are leaving. In this appointment, you can:

  • Ask for a status report on current or recurring health conditions. Take notes, if you can. 

  • Discuss your reasons for leaving, if you wish to. Try not to burn any bridges as the medical community is a small one. Making your old doctor angry could make it harder to find a new one. 

  • Get copies of your medical records for the past several years, especially ones that relate to current or chronic problems, so your new doctor will have access to your notes, test results, and other information that will be useful to them. Ask your new doctor if they will take care of this step, as many do. 


Get Your Medical Records

You have a right to your medical records under HIPAA. However, each state does have it own laws about how you have to make a formal request to get them, so check first. You will probably need to:

  • Make the request in writing

  • Pay for copies

  • Give them time to comply


If your old doctor uses an electronic medical record-keeping system and your old one doesn’t, or has a system that is very different, this might change the process. 


Do I Have To Say Why I’m Leaving

No. if you’re leaving because you’re unhappy, you don’t have to share. 


If you’re leaving because you don’t have a choice, such as because you are moving away or your insurance has changed, it can be nice to let your doctor know, so they know there wasn’t a problem with their care. 


If you’re leaving due to problems with the doctor, and you think this information would be valuable to them, you can tell them, although it’s best to stay away if you’re seeking advice from a medical malpractice attorney. This conversation will be awkward, but if you can manage it, it might help other patients. 


You could choose to write them a letter or an email, if you’re angry and upset and would rather not face them. Explaining your reasons might feel cathartic, and could help your doctor o change their habits to better care for their other patients. 


Tuesday, October 19, 2021

5 Situations When Your Life Insurance Policy Won't Pay Out

 Life insurance is something that a lot of people don't think about, especially when they are younger. However, disaster could strike at any time and it's important that your family is protected, so you need to think about taking out a policy


Image From Pexels CCO License


But one thing that people don't always realize when they first get life insurance is that it's not guaranteed to pay out. In fact, there are certain situations where your insurance company will refuse to pay a settlement to your family. Understanding your policy and knowing what situations are covered is the only way to make sure your family is protected. These are some of the situations when your life insurance policy won't pay out. 

Unlawful Denials

There are certain reasons for denied payments that are written into your contract, and we'll get on to those. But it's important to note that insurance companies will sometimes deny a claim without a legitimate reason. In this situation, you need to contact insurance claim attorneys and explain your situation to them. Knowing your policy inside out is the best way to avoid and fight unlawful denials, so read it properly before you sign anything.

False Information On Applications

The majority of life insurance applications ask if the person applying has any serious medical conditions. This is because certain illnesses can mean that someone won't live as long, which means they're more likely to die during the term of the policy. If you fail to mention something on your application then this could invalidate your claim. This doesn't just apply to health conditions either, any false information is grounds for denying your claim, so always double-check your forms before submitting. You also need to make sure you update your policy after any major changes to your life circumstances or your health. 

Terminal Illness

Some policies will not cover you if you have a terminal illness. This means that you have a very serious illness with no chance of recovery. Your insurer may decide to pay out a smaller amount, but they won't pay out the full amount. If you're buying life insurance then it's worth asking about their policy on terminal illnesses and which health problems will result in them not paying out. 

Suicide

If you commit suicide during the term of your policy then it will not pay out. Depending on when this happens, it could invalidate the policy completely. However, if you take out a policy and then attempt suicide but fail then this won't necessarily be considered to be a suicide attempt unless there is proof that you intended to end your life.

Outliving Your Policy

Most life insurance policies only cover you for a certain amount of time. If you outlive your policy then your insurance company won't pay you out, because the term is now over. That's why it's crucial to check your policy regularly and update it when needed. 


Knowing when your life insurance policy won't pay out is so important if you want to prepare for the future and protect your family. 


Monday, October 18, 2021

Workout Tips For The New Mom


Congratulations on your newborn baby! Right now, you’re probably on a total high from the labor experience while feeling totally exhausted. That tiny bundle in your arms is about to keep you feeling exhausted for a few years, so it’s rather important that you know how to get back to feeling more of yourself. There is a lot of things that your baby needs and the most important is a happy and healthy parent. This doesn’t mean snapping back to a pre-baby body that you gently nurtured and cared for, it’s about giving yourself the right amount of energy so that the demanding night feeds don’t take too much of a toll on your body.

There is an absolute ton of information out there about getting back into fitness when you’ve had a baby. Some of it is helpful, some of it is unrealistic. All of it is going to depend on how you feel and the type of birth that you’ve had. Mom’s who have had a c-section, you know the rules about waiting to get fit after you’ve had your baby, so step on back for a few more weeks and allow yourselves to heal properly so that you don’t do any damage. For those who are able to start easing themselves into exercise, don’t push yourself too hard. Your body just made, carried and birthed a child; it needs time to heal, too. So, how can you get back to feeling energized and ready to take on the night feeds?
berries, blur, close-up
Be Happy. Firstly, your body has gone through a lot. It took nine months to change, so you need that much time at the very minimum to change it back again. You’ve got a brand-new little person in your life to enjoy, so focus on breathing in that scent. The workouts will still be there after your six-week check.
Equip Yourself. Working out after birth doesn’t mean you will be heading to the gym to start pumping iron. If you invest in the right double jogging stroller, you can add weight with a toddler as well as the baby and go to the park. Even doing your daily errands can give you a little bit of a workout boost – as long as you slowly get your heart rate up, you’re going to be burning off some calories.
Do SOMETHING. It’s hard to get up and go when you’re pinned to the sofa on the fourth breastfeed of the day and you’re still in your pajamas. However, there is a big wide world out there and you need fresh air as much as the baby needs vitamin D. Get up, get dressed and go for a walk. It doesn’t have to be a long one, just enough to get you moving. Go further every day.
Be Real. You’ve just had your baby. You cannot hope to lose the weight instantly, and you need to be gentle with yourself when it comes to goal-setting. Motherhood is trying enough without added pressure.
Mom, you’re doing an amazing job. Body confidence doesn’t get much better than when you know you’ve created life. Go you! UPDATE: Check out this post from April 2020 on CoolBaby Mom about the Best Double Jogging Strollers!


On a personal note, here's my walking story for National Walking Day a couple of years ago with an update.

Friday, October 15, 2021

Ensure All These Things Are Sorted Before You Move Home

 When you are moving home, it’s really easy to get wrapped up in everything. However, as there is so much to do, it is also really easy to forget about things. Things get left behind, things don’t get done and this can cause you a whole host of issues. So, instead of letting this happen, we recommend that you make a list. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that should be on your list to be sorted before you move home. Keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.


Source Location - CC0 Licence


Kids Are Comfortable


The first thing that you need to do is make sure that the kids are comfortable with the move. Now, we’re not saying that they have to be happy about it per se, because depending on their age and what their life is like where you are now, that might not happen. But, they need to be used to the idea so that they know it is coming and can help with the move as much as they can. 


If you don’t do this, you are in for an awful move. It’s going to be nothing but complaining from start to finish, resistance from start to finish, and so on. We don’t want you to have this kind of nightmare when it is totally avoidable.


House Is In Good Condition


The next thing that you are going to need to do is to make sure that the house is in good condition. You can’t sell your house until you know that your home is sold or going to sell, depending on how much money you have available right now. As such, if you know that there are things that are going to hinder this process, you need to get them sorted as soon as possible. This means that if there is a hole in the roof, get it fixed. If you know that there is an issue with some kind of pests, hire insured pest control. The solutions are fairly simple, so it’s just a case of going through the home and seeing if anything needs doing.


Items Packed Properly


Finally, you need to make sure that the items you own are packed properly and ready to go. You don’t want to leave anything behind that you really want to keep. Anything that you do want to throw away should be discarded properly in the appropriate way. Make sure that everything is all marked and ready to go for the movers to make everyone’s life that little bit simpler!


We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you need to get sorted before you can move home. It doesn’t have to be a massively big deal to get all of this ready and can be quite a simple process if you keep everything organized. We wish you the very best of luck and hope that the whole process goes as smoothly as possible.


Thursday, October 14, 2021

Reducing Daily Drains on Your Self-Confidence

 

In all likelihood, virtually every single person out there would like to have a higher degree of self-confidence, at least some of the time.

When you feel a significant lack of confidence, your sense of well-being will tend to be lower, you'll usually find it more difficult to take action and to be proactive in life, and even your interpersonal interactions and relationships with others can be negatively affected.

While there are various different things that you can do to directly improve your confidence, however, a sense of low or reduced self-confidence often comes down to certain daily habits and practices that actively drain our sense of self-belief.

Here are a few tips for reducing those daily drains on your self-confidence.

Work to dismantle habits and compulsions that make you feel bad about yourself afterward

Whether it's a particular unhealthy compulsion or simply the fact that you eat too much junk food, or don't make the bed every morning, virtually everyone has a particular habit that they end up engaging in on a regular basis, that ultimately makes them feel bad about themselves afterward.

While any given repetition of one of these detrimental habits may seem like a small thing in and of itself, it's important not to underestimate the negative impact of continually undermining your sense of self-worth in subtle ways, on a daily basis.

The more you can work to dismantle those habits and compulsions that make you feel bad about yourself immediately afterward – whether by following a tried and tested habit-management methodology or through any other means – the higher your sense of self-confidence and self-worth will tend to be, just by default.

Have a sense of the kind of person you want to be, and the kind of direction you want to head in, in life, instead of wandering aimlessly

In life, there may be all sorts of things that you might want to achieve, and there are plenty of different paths that you could take to try to move towards many of your goals and aspirations. You might compare credit providers and look into starting up your own business, for example, or you might commit to a new fitness program.

One of the things that most consistently undermines people’s sense of self-confidence and self-respect, however, is wandering aimlessly from one day to the next, without actively taking steps to develop themselves more into the kind of person they would like to be.

On the contrary, every time you take even just tiny steps towards becoming a better version of yourself, you will likely feel far more as though you are living your life in the right way.

Of course, before you can start aligning your habits and behaviors with your ideal sense of self, you actually have to realize who you want to be, and the kind of direction you want to head in, in life. Being aimless can be a major drain on your self-confidence.

Remain proactive, and don't allow yourself to be passive for long stretches of time

Even if you have a clear sense of who you want to be in life, remaining passive for long stretches of time naturally tends to undermine confidence.

By being proactive, taking action, and pursuing new experiences regularly, you remind yourself of your own ability to direct the course of your life, and you unlock new possibilities.

Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay 

Vital Roles of Pet Rehabilitation

 


It is normal for individuals to seek physical therapy sessions at some point in their lives. Physical therapies come in various forms, such as back therapy or limb therapy conducted after an individual has undergone surgery. Such therapies are done to ensure that individuals remain energetic, comfortable, and in good health. Like human beings, pets or animals are in dire need of physical therapy, especially when faced with certain conditions. Animal rehabilitation facilities such as Pet Rehabilitation Boulder have become a major stronghold in the veterinary sector. There are several roles carried out by pet rehabilitation.

a)      The first role is to ensure that the pet's functionality and energy have been regained after undergoing surgery or encountering an injury. For the pet to improve mobility after going through such occurrences, it needs to be taken for physical therapy. The therapies increase their strength to help them get back to normal within a short period. For this to be successful, the rehabilitation therapists usually incorporate various techniques to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment.

b)      The other essential responsibility of pet rehabilitation is to enhance the animal's neurological function. Proper functioning of the neural system is crucial for pets, especially when you are always focused on training the pet to bring out its best potential. The process can be challenging if you do it for the first time or have inadequate animal training knowledge. However, the moment you consider taking your animal for pet rehabilitation, its neural functions will be improved, thus putting you in a better position to conduct efficient training on the pet. As a result, you will manage to create an unbreakable bond with your pet.

c)      Moreover, pet rehabilitation also ensures that the animal has the right standard weight. Bearing the appropriate weight is essential for your pet to enhance comfort and remain active. It is rare to find overweight pets physically interacting with people since they do not adapt quickly to such activities. A similar situation occurs when your pet is below the standard weight. The moment you take the step of consulting pet rehabilitation, you will be given various recommendations on how to enhance the weight-bearing of your pet appropriately. Such recommendations may include nutritional advice to boost the pet's weight while at the same time ensuring that they are healthy.

d)     The other responsibility of pet rehabilitation is to take care of senior pets. For you to boost the physical fitness of such pets, you should consider taking them for rehabilitation. The services will also be vital to understand the aging phase of your animal. Such vital information will put you in a better position to ensure that you offer the best care when looking after your pet. As a result, you will end up improving the pet's functionality, making it remain active.

It is essential to provide the utmost care for your pet if you own one. Giving the utmost attention to your pet means observing it regularly and immediately consulting vets when you notice any problem. One of the best ways you can offer the utmost care to your pet is through pet rehabilitation. The services will play a big role in ensuring that the pet's health is enhanced appropriately.

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Ways to Keep Your Home Secure

It's far more enjoyable to decorate your home than to install security measures. However, given that a burglary occurs every half a minute, home security ought to be a primary priority. Here are easy things you ought to do immediately to safeguard your home before you can focus on the fun part.

1.      Install Outdoor Lighting

Crooks such as robbers, vandals, and other criminals do not like a lit area. With enough outside lights, you can turn them away. You should install lights in your back and front yards, near garages along paths and other structures on the outside. You will not only make the criminals nervous, but you will also minimize your likelihood of falling as you approach the yards.

Make your security lights more effective by using these tips:

  • Use solar power to save energy
  • Install motion-activated lights
  • Set schedules using smart light bulbs.

2.      Security System Installation

Whether it is a homemade basic system or has professional monitoring and automation, your house ought to have some security system. There are numerous home security systems available now with different protection levels and prices. You can conduct an online search for Denver Security Company to get an appropriate security system.

Assess the demands of your area and your home to find an appropriate system. Evaluate your residence to know the possible threats and determine what is required for protection.You can get neighborhood crime data and assistance with a home security assessment from your area police department.

3.      Secure Your Wi-Fi Connection

Your financial and personal information is accessible over your home Wi-Fi network. Home automation, on the other hand, can leave your home susceptible to break-ins. Criminals could gain direct links to your house if your network is connected with smart home devices or your surveillance system.

Use these tricks and tips to prevent hackers from accessing your network

  • Enable WPA encryption.
  • Secure your router.
  • Use a firewall.
  • Use strong passwords.
  • Hide and rename your network.
  • Install anti-malware and anti-virus protection

4.      Get Rid of Hiding Places

Shrubs and trees add beauty to your home, but they can provide a hiding place for criminals. Trees and plants near your place that can be utilized for hiding places should be pruned. Instead, choose smaller blooms and plants. Remove any trees that are close to windows or strengthen those windows using strong materials. Don't forget about the exterior parts of your home (including the backyard)—follow these guiding principles to keep everything secure.

  • Stools and ladders should always be put away.
  • Sheds, gates, and other outdoor structures should all be locked.
  • Leave no valuables on sight within the yard as they will lure burglars.
  • Even though you may not have a good security system, add security stickers and signs.

It is not difficult to figure out how to protect your house. Use the tips listed above as the first step. And don't worry—you do not have to do it all at once. Determine which techniques are essential to you, then establish a strategy to implement the remaining strategies later. 

Monday, October 11, 2021

4 Signs It's Time To Visit the Doctor

 person wearing lavatory gown with green stethoscope on neck using phone while standing

https://unsplash.com/photos/L8tWZT4CcVQ 


Looking after your health is one of the most important parts of life, but for whatever reason, many people will ignore healthy issues no matter how bad they seem. Rather than book an appointment with the doctor, they prefer to simply get over it


But this can put them at severe risk. Ignoring health issues means they will get worse, regardless of how minor they appear right now. Therefore, you must see a doctor when you encounter health problems. 


Why Do People Avoid Visiting a Doctor? 


Part of getting older is recognizing that you will need to rely on a doctor’s advice more often. Despite this, some people will still avoid the doctor. Even when they know it’s in their best interests. So why do people avoid visiting a doctor? 


Fear


The idea of being seriously unwell is terrifying, especially if you don’t feel like you’ve done enough in life or you know there are so many things you could have done differently. If you avoid going to the doctor, you never get confirmation of any health issues, allowing you to live in ignorance. This might keep you happy, but it also puts you in danger of any severe health issues getting worse. If not treated quickly enough, they could become unmanageable.


Time


Depending on where you live, it can be impossible to book an appointment with the doctor, and some people can wait weeks or even longer before they get seen for a checkup. The average person may not have the time to see the doctor in between everything else in life, and they may choose to put their health on the backburner. 


Fuss 


People don’t want to visit a doctor and feel embarrassed when the professionals tell them there is nothing wrong with them. They don’t want to make a fuss over something that - in all likelihood - will be nothing at all. These people prefer to let any health issues fix themselves. While some things will do this, such as a cold or occasional pain, some issues will not. 


There Is Persistent Pain


From your head to your toes, persistent pain that you have experienced for a while is a strong sign that you need to visit a doctor as soon as possible. This could be a sign of chronic pain, something that can become debilitating if you do not act on it and find medication or treatment to ease discomfort. There are many issues that can cause or inflame chronic pain, and your doctor will provide the best advice on how to deal with it. 


You Have Experienced a Sudden Change 


Sudden changes happen to everyone in life. From pregnancy to troubles with your eyesight and hearing issues that you can learn more about, you should get these things checked out as soon as possible. The sooner you get a checkup the sooner you’ll get to the bottom of everything and understand what is going on and what you can do to fix it. Some changes are positive; others are negative, so knowing what side of the coin your health issues fall on is crucial. 


You Feel Confused A Lot 


If you’re getting older, you know that your mind may not be the same as it used to be. Memory problems or confusion are two common signs of health problems, and there is a range of conditions that could cause this. Confusion will not only affect you; it could also affect others, especially if you’re at work or even driving somewhere. If you often feel unsure of where you are or what you are doing, you must see a doctor as soon as possible to find out what is happening. 


Because It’s Been a While 


You don’t always need to experience health issues to see a doctor. If it’s been a while since your last checkup or taken a physical, you should consider visiting the doctor again. Regular checkups are ideal for catching potential health problems early, which puts you in a strong position to overcome them with nominal issues or complications. Even if you feel fit as a fiddle, it’s always worth a checkup to find out how you are getting on and whether there are any lifestyle changes you could make. 


The Doctor Will See You Now


There are many reasons you should see a doctor if you feel under the weather, and some issues are more pressing than others. If something feels off, it’s always best to get a professional opinion to discover what is wrong. At the very least, you can enjoy peace of mind when they give you the all-clear.