Stress-Free Camping: It Is Possible

 

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Many of us like the idea of a camping trip for both financial and health-related reasons. A few nights in a tent is cheaper than a few nights in a hotel, and with opportunities for outdoor living, there are physical and mental health benefits. 

Well, concerning the latter, that's the theory. Camping can also be stressful, so we don't always experience the rest and relaxation we need when trying to escape the pressures of our regular lives at home. You will know this yourself if you have ever struggled to put up your tent or faced the problems associated with bugs and beasties. 

Thankfully, stress-free camping is a possibility, so check out the following tips and remind yourself of them before your next trip.

#1: Learn a few camping skills

Before you even think about packing your bags, it is important to learn a few camping skills in preparation. This is better than arriving at your site and grappling with problems that could threaten to ruin your holiday before it has even begun, so get yourself ready.

For starters, learn how to put up your tent. Practice in your garden beforehand or drive to a local field and have a go at putting it up. You will become an expert in no time!

Learn how to build a camping fire too, and perfect your cooking skills on your outdoor stove. These are just some of the basics you will need to know, so prepare yourself in advance as you will have an easier time of things on your camping trip if you do. 

#2: Create a packing list

You will be very annoyed if you discover you have forgotten something important when you're finally on site. Be it clothing for a sudden cold spell, your Bug Bam spray to fend off mosquitos, or any important first aid items in the event of an emergency, you will start to suffer from stress if you realize you have left some of these things behind. 

So, create a packing list before your trip, and tick off each item as you go to make sure you don't forget something vital. 

#3: Visit somewhere relaxing

If you truly want to relax, don't visit a place inundated with tourists. And don't visit a campsite that is located near sources of traffic noise. You might only get stressed out if you don't get the peace and quiet you require, especially if you aren't able to fully rest while you're away.

So, be diligent in your search for a good camping spot and try to find somewhere that is fairly remote. And be sure to find a place of scenic beauty, with opportunities for walking, fishing, nature watching, and other activities that will reduce the pent up stresses you may have been experiencing in your day-to-day life. 

#4: Focus on personal comfort

You don't have to 'rough it' just because you're camping. You can still use soft bedding to ensure a good night's sleep, and you can still bring comfortable chairs to lounge on while you're enjoying the sunshine. The right tent choice is important too, so make sure you have something that is well-insulated, durable, and big enough to accommodate yourself and the people sharing with you. You will start to stress if you don't have what you need to ensure full relaxation, so focus on these things, and bring any other item that is personal to your comfort needs.

Stress-free camping: It is possible! So, prepare for your trip in advance, and give yourself the opportunity to experience a Zen-like trip away.

3 Ways to Use the Law of Attraction in Your Life

 The Law of Attraction is the belief that you can attract anything you want into your life, depending on your focus. So, if you pour all of your energy into positivity, positivity will come back to you. 

Many people use the Law of Attraction to help with manifesting the things that they want out of life, as well. 

Whatever you want the Law of Attraction to do for you, the good news is that you can start applying its principles into your life right away to improve your overall wellbeing. 

With that in mind, let’s take a look at three easy ways you can introduce the Law of Attraction into your life immediately. 

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1. Focus On What You Want

Most people spend so much time focusing on the things they don’t want, that they forget to think about what they do want. Instead of putting all of your energy into things you’re trying to avoid, use that energy to focus on the things you truly want in your life. It could be a goal you’re trying to achieve, an actual physical object, or something completely different. 

If you want to stay on track with that focus, ask yourself questions about it, and truly think about your answers. How would it make you feel to get what you want? What will you do when you get it? Putting all of that energy out there is a great way to draw in the things you want. 

2. Believe You Will Get It

It’s not enough to just focus on the things you want. You truly have to believe you will get it. But, that doesn’t mean you should just sit on your hands. Part of the Law of Attraction is taking action. 

When you truly believe you will get something, take the next step. Do what you need to do (within reason) to achieve the results you want. 

3. Harness the Right Energy

One of the most important things you can do to gain what you want is to send out the right energy for it. Live as though you have already received it. Think about how you would feel and how you would react, and put your energy into that. People who practice the Law of Attraction don’t mope around while they wait for the things they want. They live as though they already have it, so when it comes to them they know how to react, and they have a bigger sense of gratitude. 

The Law of Attraction isn’t for everyone, because it’s something to believe in. But, many people argue that there are scientific facts backing it up. Whatever you decide to believe, it’s never a bad idea to put more positive energy into the universe, and allow it to come back to you. 

So, if you’ve heard of the Law of Attraction before but you never knew how to put it into practice in your own life, keep these tips in mind. The next time you truly want something, have the right mindset and energy, and you might just be surprised at what you receive in return. 

Preventing Water Damage In Your Home

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All of us want to take the best care of our homes as we possibly can. But there are countless threats that face most properties and you’re going to have to be vigilant and alert to protect yourself from them. Water damage is a big potential problem and you really have to be organized to prevent water damage from occurring in your own property. Being organized and prepared, and knowing the right professionals to reach out to, will ensure that you minimize your chances of finding yourself dealing with these problems. All too many people don’t take water damage seriously until their homes have already become damaged. This is when things get costly and inconvenient. To avoid this, here are a few pieces of information that should help to protect you and your property!

Clean Your Gutters

One of the most common, and most avoidable, causes of water damage in homes is blocked and clogged gutters. These serve as drains that keep water flowing from your roof down to the ground. But when they become blocked, they can quickly begin to overflow and may bend or break, sending water flowing directly into our properties or through cracks in the walls. Not only is this problematic in terms of water damage, but soggy debris filling the gutter can begin to smell too. This is all rather unpleasant, so make sure to clean your gutters properly and regularly. Most people are unable to reach their gutters safely themselves, or simply don’t want to have to carry out this task themselves. This is where you can call in professionals. Find good Local Offers to keep costs low!

Invest in Storm Defenses

Some people live in areas where flooding is regular and properties are often up against storms that can cause major damage. If you live in this kind of area, you need to make sure that you stock up on defensive equipment. This can make all the difference and could determine whether your home remains dry and undamaged, or whether the whole property becomes flooded. Sandbags tend to be one of the most effective investments. Sure, they take up space. But you’ll be glad to have them when the need arises.

Stop Ignoring Plumbing Problems

All too many of us actively ignore minor plumbing problems in our homes. As long as we are still able to do everything we are able to do and can easily ignore a problem, we often will. But this is a big mistake to make. Minor problems tend to turn into major problems without much notice, causing leaks, flooding or burst pipes that cause major damage to your property. It’s more convenient and much cheaper to call out a plumber at first sign of a problem. Whether that’s a leaky tap, a slightly blocked drain or a slightly blocked toilet. They’ll be able to put wrongs to rights quickly and cheaply. It also avoids emergency call out costs if things eventually worsen at an inconvenient time or suddenly need urgent attention.

Water damage can be devastating for any homeowner. So, do your utmost to avoid it at all costs. The above steps should help you to achieve this!

Organizational Tip: Buy Lots of Blank Greeting Cards

I have a friend who thinks I am the Most Organized and Prepared Woman on the Planet.

Okay, maybe not on the PLANET, but like in the Midwest, maybe.

I send birthday cards (mostly) on time. I send a graduation card with cash with my kids when they attend parties or I send grad cards in the mail. I send thank you notes. I come to Baptisms and baby parties with card in hand. I mail a sympathy card when someone dies (I'm always crying when I write those, so I do procrastinate).

Lockdown Lay Offs: Life After Redundancy

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic that is currently causing chaos across the globe, the US has seen record levels of job losses and redundancies. In one month alone, more than 20.5 million jobs were lost, bringing the unemployment rate to 14.7%. This is the highest level since the Great Depression. That’s pretty scary, huh?

If you are one of the unlucky ones who have been affected by this or will be affected by it as the crisis continues to roll on, there are several important steps that you need to take. This will ensure that you receive the correct amount of severance pay if you are entitled to it, other unemployment benefits and get you on the right path for a new job.

Here, we look at a few of these so that you can start making moves to get yourself back to work.

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Talk to the right people

If you have been furloughed, laid off or fear that one of these may happen to you soon, you need to make sure you know how to get in touch with the HR department. They should be able to answer any questions and give you all of the relevant documentation that you will need. 

Gather your documents

The next step is to gather all of your documents and make sure you have them to hand for when you need them. What you will need varies from state to state, but generally speaking, you will need the following documents:

• Social security number

• Driving license number, if you have one

• Mailing address

• Phone number

• Your employer's name, address, and Federal Employer Identification (FEIN number)

• Bank account and routing number

File for unemployment 

Anyone who has been laid off should file for unemployment as soon as they can through their state. It is important not to hang about too long - there are additional and extended benefits available at the moment to help those affected by coronavirus related job losses.

Look at your finances

You might be in for a lean few months, even with severance pay and unemployment benefits, so it is wise to look at your finances now and see where you can cut back.

If you have an expensive gym or cable subscription, it might be time to look at cancelling it or at least reducing your package, for the time being, until you are back in work and on your feet. You never know, you may find that you can manage perfectly well without it and not need to reinstate it!

Take care of your mental health

Losing your job can be one of the most stressful things you can go through. One minute you’re in a great routine, surrounded hopefully by colleagues that you get on with and have a regular income coming into the house and then suddenly, all of that is whipped out from under your feet.

If this happens to you, you need to make sure that you take great care of your mental and physical health and wellbeing.

Unemployment can be lonely. Reach out to your family and friends - you have nothing to be ashamed of. As well as supporting your mental health and giving you a much needed social connection, they may be able to help you with looking for a new job.

You also need to change your narrative and realize that your job does not define you. One of the first things that people ask each other when they first meet is what they do for a living. This can be pretty tough going if you don’t have a job, but remember, you work to live, not live to work. You are not your job.

Look for a new job

Once you have got your head around everything, it is time to start to look for a new job. Maybe you are hoping to go back into the same field or industry that you have just come out of, or perhaps you see your job loss as a good opportunity to try your hand at something new, maybe something like open truck driving jobs at Knight Transportation. Perhaps you will even use the time to launch your own business doing something that you have always wanted to do. If you have a stimulus check and can afford to, why not look at using that to start something off?

Being laid off is not fun for anyone. It is a worrying time - losing your routine, some of your social connections and of course, the lack of income. However, remember you are never alone. There are lots of people in the same boat as you and no one is going to judge you, particularly at a time such as this.