How to Make Your Tech Work For You

It’s a bit strange, how much we’ve come to rely on our personal devices for our personal, social, and professional lives. The internet is still so young, yet it has infiltrated more or less every inch of our lives! If you’re going to a modern, productive member of society, then you need to have a smartphone and a laptop/computer at a minimum. But if you don’t know much about tech, then you might make a few common errors that’ll compromise how effectively you can use them. Below, we take a look at a few tips that’ll ensure that your tech works for you.

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What Do You Need?

There’s no limit to the amount of tech that you can buy -- or how much you could spend. If you’re going to keep your home from overflowing with gadgets, and keep your bank balance in check, then it’s important that you think about what you need before investing. You wouldn’t buy a 100” flatscreen television if you were only going to watch television a couple of times a week, so don’t buy a top of the line smartphone or laptop if you’re just going to use it for basic browsing. 

Limiting the Annoying Aspects

There’s much to love about technology, but there’s no denying that there are some annoying aspects, too. Everyone can relate to the anger that’s induced when your laptop crashes or simply runs too slow. So learn the art of managing your devices, and keeping the annoying aspects at bay. You’ll want to begin by investing in fast, reliable wifi, since there’s nothing worse than waiting and waiting for a website to load. If your mac is running slowly, then look at speeding things up; this ccleaner review says that the program can help to make it run faster, for instance. Installing an adblock extension can also block out one of the more frustrating aspects of browsing the web, too.

Selling and Upgrading

No matter how well you treat your device, however, there will be a time when you have to upgrade. Nothing lasts forever! The key is to upgrade before your device completely breaks down. This will allow you to sell it online for cash, which you can then put towards buying your new item. Plus, it’s best to have time to read reviews and find the right device to buy, which you won’t have time to do if you need to urgently replace your broken laptop or smartphone.

Learn How to Use Them

Finally, it’s worth checking that you really know how to use your device as well as possible. Most devices are intuitive to use on a surface level, but nearly always have a deeper level that can help you to work more efficiently or make your device more personalized. Whatever device you’ve got, it’s worthwhile heading over to Google and searching for hints and tips related to that item. You might just find that there’s plenty of cool features that you had no idea existed. 

How Do You Support A Friend In Crisis?

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Challenges are a fact of everyone's life. At one time or another, stressful times happen to everyone and the most charmed of lives can come unstuck in an instant. Worst case scenarios such as relationship breakdowns, redundancy, serious illness or accidents aren't nice things to dwell on when thinking about our friends, but if they strike, what your friend will really need is to know that they have your support. However, there's no manual for helping someone to navigate a crisis, and each situation is different, so knowing what to do can be a tough. What steps should you take to support someone dealing with a bad situation? 

Don't Avoid Them

Sometimes when we don't know what to say, or we see someone in pain, we feel like it's better to give them space. But one of the most hurtful things that you can do is ignore them. Reach out and let them know you're there to talk. Even if you don't know what to say, it isn't important - you should be there to listen. Knowing that you aren't alone is a huge comfort when disaster hits. 

Point Them To A Specialist

Offering comfort is one thing, but when problems are complex, you may be right in thinking that you aren't qualified or best placed to be of real, practical assistance. Be prepared to signpost your friend to people and organisations who can really help if they need it. That could be a support group, a therapist, a debt counsellor or even something like a 12 step addiction recovery program. Whatever they need to recover, help them to access the right support when they need it. 

Give Them Time 

If something life altering happens, don't try to minimise their issues or hurry them through the problem. Things like grief are complex processes to work your way through. Yes, there may be light at the end of the tunnel, but equally trying to suggest they put a negative experience behind them too quickly can be hugely damaging. Of course people have probably survived worse, but your friend needs to heal on their own timescale. Support your friend to take the time they need to work through the feelings born of this momentous time of their life, and be there for them to remind them of better days, without making them feel that they should be getting better quickly. 

Step Back From The Situation

Don't be one of those people who has a tendency to make it all about them. Yes, it can be gruelling supporting someone going through a crisis. You may wish they had more emotional resilience at some point, or you may simply get tired of hearing about the same things. No one is expecting you to be more than human. But let your compassion lead. Turn to the people you have in your life to run off steam rather than venting back to your friend in the situation. Make sure that you have other outlets in your life, such as an exercise routine or a regular break away planned so that you don't feel trapped by the situation. Making sure that you have your own coping mechanisms in place will allow you to focus on your friend during the times that you are with them and prevent you from experiencing compassion burnout. 

Healthy Coping Mechanisms For Stress

Stress can be damaging to us mentally, physically, and emotionally. Over time, when it goes unchecked and levels aren't lowered, stress can lead to heart issues, strokes, depression, anxiety and more. So it is essential that we all build healthy coping mechanisms in our lives. 

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Rest

Rather than focus on getting to sleep, it is better that we focus on resting. Dr. Steve Orma says that when we focus on trying to get to sleep, our brain is actively checking if we are asleep yet. Which then keeps us awake. So create an evening routine that gets you ready to go to bed - and enjoy some rest. 

Switch from coffee to caffeine-free chamomile tea. Warm oaty porridge can help too. Try to switch the telly off and try reading a few pages from a book to help your mind switch off for a while. Instead of using your phone to scroll through social media, try listening to the Calm app. They have a range of sleep stories and meditation that can help you unwind. 

Projects

Aving projects that take up your time can mean that you are well occupied and not dwelling on things. You might choose to do some redecoration projects, or perhaps learn a new instrument. Something that you have to dedicate time, your mind and hands are ideal. Plans can give us a sense of purpose and satisfaction when we manage to reach our goals. 

Time

When we feel rushed or like we haven't got control over our own time, stress levels can begin to rise quite quickly. Two of the main points of the day can be bedtime, and first thing in the morning (more typically for school-going families). Or, the daily commute to work in rush-hour traffic. Consider the areas of your day that time seems to be an issue. How can that be tackled? 

Getting up and out earlier is an obvious answer but doesn't always work out. Prepping things the evening before like overnight oats, the school lunch, and lining up the shoes in a row. Small, simple changes can save you minutes on a tight schedule. 

If you like the idea of getting your time better managed, that can even be your project. To work on a weekly chart that makes sense for everyone. 

Talk

It is important that we talk about issues we have. A trusted friend, or family member can be very helpful. If you find that you are turning to alcohol, or drugs then it is time to tackle it in a healthy way. Seek out an inpatient drug rehab center, a support group and a mentor to help. 

Take Some “Me-Time”

Many of us spend all of our time focusing on others. We focus on pleasing our employers. We 
focus on pleasing our friends and family. But when’s the last time you truly took some time to yourself? Everyone needs the opportunity to relax. So kick back, do something you enjoy, 
find the best CBD oil to relax tensions and let your hair down!

Say No

One of the most powerful things you can do is to learn to say no to things that don't serve you. While there is a lot to be said for being selfless and helping others (it makes us feel good too). Your own time and capacity matter a lot. 

Often, people take on much more than they should be trying to tackle and stretch themselves too thinly. The guilt of letting people down, the extra time constraints, and trying to do everything is a guaranteed recipe for disaster. 

Taking steps to manage your stress levels also has a positive impact on your family. Children pick up on stress quickly and sometimes take it on as their own. So involve them in your relaxing activities, so they can build these healthy coping mechanisms too. 

Being There For Your Teenager

Your teenager is a big part of your life; they’re still your little baby, no matter how old they’re getting, and you want to be there for them as much as you were when they were a kid! But teenagers have a lot of special needs, and no matter how much you try to connect with them, there’s always a chance they’re going to push against you. 

But being there for your teen isn’t something to give up. You’re a good parent, and you want to always be one, no matter how old your children get! When you’re next talking to your teen about their life, or you know they’re going through some troubles, keep the following points in mind. 

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Create a Safe Talking Space

If you want your teenager to talk to you, whenever they have a problem, no matter how bad or serious it might be, you need to create a safe space for talking. You need to ensure they know they can come to you, without fear of judgement or crass words. 

As a parent, you might want to shout and scream from time to time, because you’re worried for them or you know they’ve done something that conflicts with how you raised them, but you can’t let these feelings come to the surface. 

Create a safe talking space that’s about them. Let them say whatever they want or need to when they’re talking to you, and make sure you sit and listen the whole time they’re going on. Let yourself think things through; you’ll be a lot calmer and rational in your response this way, and that’s what your teen wants from you. If you want to mention heroin addiction treatment for teens to them, a safe talking space and tone like this would allow you to do so. 

Find Something to Do Together

If you want to be able to connect with your teenager, on a one on one personal level, you should find something the two of you can do together. After all, if you’re trying to connect, yet have completely separate lifestyles, you’re never going to make much progress! Don’t let yourself be too busy, and don’t let your teen seclude themselves away from you. 

Instead, get to know their interests a little more closely. Talk to them about what makes them happy; make sure you listen when their eyes light up and they get passionate about something. It’s in these moments that you’ll discover common ground and understanding, and ideas for where to go from there. 

Find a class nearby that you can take together, or a hobby you could try out together; gardening, or knitting, or even just kicking a ball around in the park can all work well! A little bit of effort and your teenager will be hugely appreciative of what you’re doing for them. 

Being there for the teenager in your family might seem hard and confusing, but there’s some great ways to connect. 

Savvy Financial Advice For Novice Real Estate Investors

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An investment is an excellent opportunity to grow your wealth. Letting your money sit in a bank account with a low-interest rate isn’t going to transform your lifestyle any time soon. Plus, an investment isn’t as risky as people seem to believe. If anything, it’s a fantastic way to protect your resources as well as boost them.

However, it’s tough to get the ball rolling when you’re a novice. Yes, choosing real estate is an excellent first step, but then there’s plenty more to consider. From which loan to apply for to which property to bid on, you won’t find it straightforward in the beginning.

Thankfully, there are pieces of advice that make the process less complicated for beginners. Use the following and your first-ever real estate investment should provide you with a high ROI. Nothing is guaranteed, but at least you’ll increase your chances of success!

Overestimate The Costs

The biggest mistake newbie investors tend to make is to underestimate their budgets. Seeing a number that is feasible instantly increases your mindset and makes investing less daunting. However, it also lures you into a false sense of security. Once the real figures start to pop-up, you’ll find yourself in a sticky situation and won’t know whether to pull out or continue.

To avoid this, you should overestimate your budget by including every possible expense. So, aside from mortgage repayments, don’t forget to add repair and maintenance costs as well as money lost from late tenant payments. The latter might not happen, yet it’s wise to plan for the worst outcome so that you have the money to cover the fees.

An industry rule is to take your budget and add 10% on top. Then, you’ll have a buffer for a rainy day.

Choose A Variable Rate Loan

There are two types of mortgages: fixed-rate and variable. The former is often a tempting proposition because nothing changes, which means you can plan for the majority of situations. Regardless of what happens, at least you know the mortgage payments will never increase.

While this offers peace of mind, it doesn’t give you flexibility. And, flexibility is essential when it comes to the best variable home loan rate for you and your portfolio. Why? It’s because you decide when to up payments, lower them, or keep them the same. If, for instance, the investment goes well and you want to use the profits to clear some of your debt, you can by contacting the bank. Fixed-rate mortgages don’t allow you to do this, so you’ll be stuck with the loan for 25 to 30 years.

Currently, interest rates are low and have been for ages, which means a hike won’t hit you out of the blue.

Try A Turnkey Property

Potential is a buzzword that you’ll hear a lot when you’re viewing properties. Although there is an element of truth to the process of renovating and selling a house, there’s a lot of realtor bluster too. Essentially, they need a way to advertise the building without being negative, so they lean on its ‘potential.’

Don’t fall for this tactic. Yes, turnkey properties are more expensive, but they come with less hassle. Plus, there’s no way to tell whether a fixer-upper will cost you more in the long-term. When your investment is ready to go, you can find tenants and start covering your expenses within days.

Houses that require renovating could take months before they are livable, and that eats into your profits. Also, some platforms provide a warranty for turnkey solutions. Roofstock has a 30-day free returns policy.

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Get Ready To Make Tough Decisions

In a perfect world, you’d rent out your property to dream tenants who pay on time and never miss a payment. Unfortunately, not everyone is as organized, and it causes problems. After all, you’ve got debts to clear, and late fees and penalties eat into your ROI. Let it continue and you’ll end up with fewer resources than when you started.

When the tenants are attempting to steal from you, it’s not hard to evict them. But things can get complicated. Sometimes, the people living in your house are down on their luck after being fired or getting injured. Although you are happy to offer some leeway, you can’t carry on covering the costs forever. Nobody is saying you need to make them homeless, yet you will need to make a tough decision.

As far as real estate investment goes, this is probably the feature new investors underestimate the most.