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Life Tips for Personal, Financial and Business Growth

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5 Ways to Deal with Muscle Pain

 

There are many reasons why you might feel muscle soreness or aching joints at the end of the day. From gardening to spending hours at the gym, you will definitely feel the discomfort sooner or later. When this happens, all you want is for the pain to stop.

If you’re after effective muscle pain management, below are some tips you will find helpful.

  1. DIY acupressure

As much as we want to get a massage every day, it’s just not possible because there’s the budget constraint or your busy schedule getting in the way. Trigger points, which are tender knots in the muscles, can be dealt with by applying pressure to the area. While it will initially hurt, pressing on the trigger point for 45 seconds will increase the flow of energy, release the muscle, and ease the pain.

If it’s a hard-to-reach area, you can use a tennis ball by placing it in the surrounding area where the trigger point is and rolling the ball to apply pressure.

  1. Listen to music

Music is an effective way to relax. A French study conducted in 2011 showed how the condition of patients suffering from lower back pain improved after listening to music. There was also a 50% pain reduction in cancer patients listening to music for half an hour every day. One of the logical explanations for this is that music helps distract you and keeps your focus on something else other than the pain.

  1. Soak and steam will help

One of the reasons for muscle contraction and pain is magnesium deficiency. Because today’s diet is mostly processed foods, we consume 65% less magnesium than what the body needs. To get the required amount in your body, you’ll need to eat food rich in magnesium, like peanuts, bananas, avocados, soy, and whole grains.

Soaking in an Epsom salt bath will also work because the skin can also absorb the minerals. Besides, a warm bath is also a good way to relax. If you have a steam shower in your bathroom, you can also let your skin absorb steam to relax the muscles and relieve your joints of pain.

  1. Topical gels

These gels help with muscle pain by increasing blood flow to the affected area and numbing the nerve endings. Because they have camphor and menthol, these natural ingredients will provide cooling relief and block the pain sensors.

  1. Exercise

Doing mild exercises like tai chi and yoga, and even regular walking can help reduce pain. Body pain is caused by muscles tightening up, and with regular exercise, the different muscle groups are stretched and relaxed. Stretching is also an excellent way to help with the pain. It won’t take much of your time either because you’ll only need to hold each pose for 10 – 15 seconds. If you do this every day, you’ll find yourself feeling much better and your muscles will be more relaxed.

When it comes to muscle pain, remember that you don’t have to suffer it. There are different ways to deal with it and all you need to do is find one that’s effective for you.

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What Information Is Included in a Background Check?

A background check is sort of a blanket term used for all sorts of screenings. People or companies use them to verify a person’s identity and personal and professional habits. The two most common types of background checks are employment and tenant screenings, but there are many other reasons someone might need to conduct one. Some of these include professional licensing, borrowing money, and working with children. Each one contains its own set of information.

Employment background check

Surveys say that 96 percent of employers run at least one type of background check on all potential employees. This is usually done in an attempt to avoid problematic employees who might become a liability later on. For example, financial institutions want to avoid someone who would be considered a high risk for theft, so one of the key indicators they use is credit scores. Another factor they look at is an applicant’s credit history. If they have a history of theft or embezzlement on their record, they’ll probably never be hired at a bank. 

Most employers only conduct background checks during the application process, but some also require periodic checks to keep their workplace secure. A good example of this would be a mental health facility that does annual drug tests and criminal history checks. 

Employment background checks typically include education, credit, work history, criminal record, and drug testing. It’s also increasingly common and perfectly legal for employers to screen an applicant’s social media profiles. They might look for things such as inappropriate photos or behavior, drug abuse, or discriminatory comments. 

Tenant screening

Most landlords conduct very basic background checks that include credit scores and criminal histories. What they are trying to determine is whether or not a person will take care of their property and pay their rent on time. Credit scores are a good indicator of someone’s financial maturity. This is because someone with a high credit score probably won’t want to do anything to risk it, while someone with a low score doesn’t demonstrate particularly good habits. 

Not all landlords conduct criminal history checks. However, the ones who do feel that it helps them protect themselves and their property. When they do these screenings, they usually have specific criteria in mind. They might be okay with renting to someone with a six-year-old public intoxication charge, but draw the line with DUIs or petty theft. However, it’s important to know your rights. There are certain situations where this is considered discrimination.

Personal background checks

There are many reasons why someone might want to run a personal background check on themselves or someone they know. When someone chooses to conduct a background check on themselves, they might be trying to find out what future employers or landlords can see. It may seem strange not to know what’s on your own record, but in some cases, these records are no longer visible. And as for credit reports, these change so much on a monthly basis, that it’s always a good idea to check them often. 

Running a background check on someone you know is a different story, though. Maybe it’s someone who will be spending time around your family, or perhaps it’s an older man you’re daughter has started dating. Whatever the reason, there are things you can legally find out. 

How to conduct a background check

There are several ways to conduct background checks. Some are fairly quick and easy, while others require more digging. The first thing you should do is simply search the person’s name online. You might be surprised what Google will pull up. Next, you can check out their social media profiles. You’ll be limited to whatever information they make public, of course, but it could give you some useful information to continue your search.

The easiest way to conduct a background check is through an online company. A reputable background check website will display things like mugshots, arrest records, previous addresses, and aliases. Keep in mind, however, that you cannot legally check someone’s credit without their consent, but most other information is completely accessible. 

Whatever your reasoning may be, you might need to conduct a background check on yourself or on a potential tenant or employee. Keep these tips in mind to help you know what to expect from a background check.

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How Much Does It Cost to Start a Supplement Company?

Health and wellness has long been one of the richest consumer industries in the world. In fact, at the end of 2018, health and wellness was the runner up to technology as one of the industries expected to grow the most over the next decade. What does this mean for the aspiring entrepreneur? Creating a business in health and wellness is a smart move. 

There are many types of businesses you can start in this field – a few options include consulting, training, nutrition, and selling products, just to name a few. One of the easiest and most profitable health and wellness businesses you can own is a supplement company. 

Types of Supplement Companies

There are many ways to sell supplements. The one you choose will probably depend on how much capital you have available and your particular skills and knowledge. For example, if you already have an existing storefront, you might be looking to expand your inventory with supplements. In this case, these products would probably be just a small part of your business model. 

However, if you’re starting your company from scratch, you’ll need to find a model best suited to you. One example is a health and wellness website. Many people who successfully run these have blogs devoted to one niche or another and sell their supplements right there from that platform. They might blog about weight loss, muscle gain, disease prevention, or women’s health. The key is to find a specialty that interests you so you won’t get tired of talking about it.

In selling products online, you can either choose to buy bulk amounts and store them or order individual items as your customers buy them. The first way will cost more upfront, but probably save you more in the long run. And the last way will cost more and may take too long to get to the customer unless your supplement company dropships.

What is private labeling?

In addition to deciding where to sell your product, you’ll also need to decide whether to label it yourself or just sell as a distributor for the company. If you do decide to label them yourself, there are some important things you need to know. When selling private label supplements, you have a little more autonomy on how the product is marketed and distributed. In other words, it’s your brand and you’re in charge of it.

The way it works is that you purchase bottles of supplements with no branding and put your own on them. Most companies will apply the labels for you and some will even design them for you for a nominal fee. Either way, you’re giving your own name to someone else’s product, so make sure you’re getting something you believe in.

What costs are involved in starting a supplement business?

Some experts estimate that you can successfully open a supplement business for around $5,000. In this estimate, they include several items, but keep in mind that these costs may be very different for you. Your main expense is the supplements themselves. These will, of course, be very different between companies. While the $5,000 estimate includes about 150 bottles of product, most suppliers require you to purchase a minimum of 500. 

Other costs include liability insurance, a website, and label design. As you can probably imagine, each of these costs can vary a great deal. The type of insurance policy you buy will likely depend on how you’re selling the product and the size of your business. But the average cost of a business policy is around $400 a year. Websites and label design can cost you next to nothing if you can find the right budding designers. Or they can cost you a fortune if you choose to go with a professional with many years of expertise. In order to keep all your costs low, shop around for the best prices and seek expert advice on making the best decisions for your business.

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5 Steps to Recovering From a Financial Setback

Almost everyone in the world has experienced at least one financial disaster in their lifetime. But what sets the survivors apart is their ability to bounce back.

Of course, bouncing back can take time, patience, and a little creativity. The important thing is not to dwell on your mistakes, but to pick yourself up and start over before you have too much time to think about it. Here are five steps you should take to help you do just that.

Take out a short-term loan

Depending on the circumstances of your particular situation, traditional loans may be hard to get. This is especially true if you’ve just lost your job or if your credit is less-than-perfect.

In these situations, you can turn to companies like Eastern Loans to get you out of a bind. These types of loans can see you through a gap in employment, a medical emergency, or any other sudden change in your finances.

Cut back on expenses

During a financial crisis, you’ll probably find it necessary to cut back on expenses immediately. And these cuts can feel brutal in the beginning, especially if you’re typically a spender. But this will also help you out of a bind, possibly even better than the other solutions.

You might even find you can live on less than you thought. Some examples of budget cuts you can make are to stop eating out, cancel any subscriptions you have, and avoid expensive habits like smoking or drinking.

You’ll probably find out during your budget cuts that you’re spending way too much on a lot of things. Call your cable company and ask them if they have a cheaper plan. Start drinking tap water instead of bottled. The possibilities are endless.

Host a fundraiser

It’s become pretty common for people to ask for help with the emergence of websites like GoFundMe. So you shouldn’t feel ashamed about doing it yourself. The key to making it more than just handouts is to offer something in return, like a party or dinner.

Think of it as a way to spread cheer, gather friends and family, and have some fun. You don’t even have to structure it like a fundraiser if that makes you uncomfortable. Just ask for donations to help pay for the party. But if you can have a sense of humor about the situation, that’s all the better.

Look into a dunk tank rental and let people pay to drop you in the water. Ask your favorite cousin to cook up some barbecue and set up the karaoke machine. The people who love you will be happy to surround you in your time of need.

Learn what sells

Finding extra money may be easier than you realize. For one thing, you probably have a lot of useless items lying around your house that you could sell.

And before you think no one would want your stuff, check out some of the sold listings on Ebay. You’ll probably be surprised to find out that people have sold things as strange as boxes of toilet paper rolls, tumbleweeds, and pine cones for profit.

Get a side job

Selling your old stuff can certainly be considered a “side job” if you do it enough. But aside from that, you can also pick up a buck or two by doing things no one else wants to do. For example, you can earn decent money walking dogs, mowing lawns, or tutoring.

But if you don’t feel up to starting your own business, you can always check with local retailers or temp agencies for seasonal or part-time work that’s flexible with your schedule.

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Restaurant Management: The Benefits of a Flexible Menu

 

It is entirely understandable for a restaurant owner to be resistant to making changes to the menu. After all, many owners build the reputation of their restaurant from the uniqueness of their menu, and making changes to be more exclusive could end up discouraging long-time patrons. However, as time goes by, restaurants who are more flexible – such as the kosher restaurants in NYC – are beginning to edge out the competition, making it more challenging for those who are unwilling to make any changes.

While there are advantages to having a static menu, it would still be a good idea to look into a more flexible business model. Here are just a few things that a restaurant can benefit from when they are less resistant to change.

You are able to attract the other half of the crowd

Unfortunately, the existence of allergies will always ensure that a percentage of people who could very well be potential customers will be unable to eat certain recipes on a menu due to ingredients. For example, a restaurant dedicated to seafood will likely have trouble maintaining a strong user base as most seafood tends to have allergens – which has slowly but surely affected much of the population.

By becoming more flexible and willing to add healthier options to your menu, you will be proving to your customers that your restaurant is inclusive, allowing people with allergies to enjoy your food without worry.

Your restaurant will benefit in social media circles

Even if it might be tempting to stay with your tried and tested menu, you will get more than you bargained for when you prove to your patrons that you are willing to make changes. After all, it can take only moments for the word to spread on social media that you are willing to update your menu based on feedback. It is one thing to be more inclusive, and it is another story entirely to be known for being inclusive. You can help spread your popularity by maintaining an active social media presence and listening to the feedback of your supporters.

You are future-proofing your restaurant

Last but certainly not least, you will be setting a beneficial standard, ensuring that your restaurant knows how to change with the times. While some restaurants might end up being left in the dust, the fact that your establishment is flexible means that you can take advantage of trends. While some might think that it takes away their identity, you can maintain what makes your restaurant special while being flexible. You can even take advantage of a few themed events if you are set on separating your restaurant from the rest of the pack.

Sometimes, learning how to adapt to a situation is often the better choice compared to sticking to your guns. While it is possible to raise popularity by the uniqueness of your menu, being inclusive is by far the more straightforward method to guarantee success.

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