6 Mental Health Perks of Adventure Travel

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July 10, 2020

Adventure travel is one of the fastest-growing niches in global tourism, and it’s easy to see why. When the same daily office routine grows old and stale, people want to be able to experience some excitement when they’re on vacation; and, with adventure travel, they have all the elements of an adventure—the risk, danger, challenge, and the rush.

What may be less obvious, though, are the mental health perks of this form of tourism. Not unlike adventure therapy, a form of psychotherapy that has been around since the 1960s, adventure travel offers some distinctive therapeutic benefits for people who want to kick a case of the blues or improve their wellbeing. Whether it’s hiking the Annapurna Circuit, ziplining over Niagara Falls, or scuba diving with sharks, embracing your inner adventurer can reap at least five mental health awards….

1. Relief of Depressive Symptoms

One of the biggest reasons people crave adventure is the thrill of the experience. Tackling a challenge and reaching a goal that involves a certain level of risk or danger elicits a physical neurochemical response. The brain releases a surge of “feel-good” neurotransmitters. This spike in dopamine, adrenalin and endorphins creates a natural high that can relieve depressive symptoms. (Read more about addiction and mental health services at FHE Health.)

Research has only begun to explain the link between feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and depression, but with increasing study, scientists seem to be zeroing in on an undeniable connection. For example, studies have suggested that dopamine deficits are a manifestation of major depressive disorder and help to explain why people with clinical depression aren’t able to feel pleasure in their usual daily activities.

This condition, known as “anhedonia,” is a core feature of depression that often finds relief from medications which increase the availability of dopamine in the brain. But an intense natural high can also raise dopamine levels, creating a similar antidepressant effect. When someone is whitewater rafting in the Grand Canyon or parasailing in the Alps, the pleasure and reward center of their brain lights up, activating a surge in dopamine. The bigger the thrill, the bigger that surge—and, the more content and happy they’ll feel.

2. Greater Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem

Typically, when you want to accomplish something difficult that scares you or pushes you to your limit, you first have to come up with a plan. This process demands logic and problem-solving skills.

Say, for example, you’ve always wanted to solo hike the Pacific Crest Trail. A successful trip will require devising an itinerary, deciding what to pack and how much weight to carry, and figuring out the number of miles you’ll be logging each day. You may also need to take a wilderness safety course and consult others who have hiked the PCT. Depending on your hiking and camping experience, you may even have to learn how to pitch a tent. Click here for a guide to 12 person camping tents.

The reward for all of this planning isn’t just successful completion of an outdoor adventure; it’s also a boost in confidence and self-esteem, after you see what you’re able to accomplish when you apply yourself. This is no small thing, because research has revealed that confidence and self-esteem are protective buffers against psychiatric disorders.

And, as it turns out, how you feel about yourself and what you do—your confidence and self-esteem—can also negatively affect your relationships. A cycle can ensue. Over time, poor relationships and negative interpersonal experiences chip away at an already fragile sense of self, causing negative mental and emotional effects.

3. Greater Social Connectedness and Belonging

Usually, adventure travel also involves others, working as a team, gathering information, and being a part of something which increases your sense of social connectedness. Greater social connectedness and belonging are good for mental and physical health. We are social creatures, after all, and need social support systems in order to thrive. Studies cited by the Mayo Clinic have found that people with a greater sense of social belonging cope better with stress, thus mitigating the mental and physical impact of stress.

The bottom line: Like many physical diseases, mental disorders are often stress-induced; a boost in social belonging can reduce your chances of developing anxiety, depression or another mental illness.

4. Better Brain Function

Traveling to a new place can also improve brain function and sharpen cognitive skills. A 2019 article in Forbes explained how. The neuroplasticity of the brain means that it can change (for better or worse) across a lifetime. Travelling to a foreign place, learning a new language, or even trying a different cuisine can get those neurons fired up, which in turn enhances cognitive function.

This phenomenon—the brain’s ability to grow in response to new and enriching stimuli—came to light in studies on lab rats in the 1960s. Rats that were placed in a stimulus-rich environment with plenty of toys and new social interactions developed a thicker cerebral cortex than rats that were raised in a sterile and empty environment with no toys or social interactions. (The cerebral cortex governs many complex cognitive processes and accounts for half of the brain’s weight.)

The application to humans here couldn’t be more direct. When a person’s only experience is the same day-to-day routine of the office, their brain suffers—but when they travel somewhere new, exotic, and challenging, they do their brain a huge favor.

5. Better Mood and Memory from Being in Nature

Then there are the mood and memory boosts of being in nature that help to illustrate another therapeutic dimension of adventure travel (most of which is spent in the Great Outdoors). For example, experts at Harvard have recommended getting out on the basis of these study findings:

Taking a long walk outdoors led to a more positive mood.
Group nature walks were as effective as solo walks at reducing depression and stress and improving overall mental outlook.
“More time outdoors” can lift mood disorders and may improve memory.

With respect to this last point, memory, still other studies have shown that nature walks improve both short-term memory and working memory.

When considered together, then, these five mental health perks of adventure travel may convince even the most risk-averse to embrace their inner adventurer. Time to dust off that bucket list—maybe even book a trek to Machu Picchu!

6. Connecting with nature

Connecting with nature can be a powerful way to improve mental health, and there are many ways to do it. One popular option is equine therapy, which involves working with horses to promote emotional growth and healing.

Through equine therapy, individuals can develop a sense of trust and empathy as they work with these sensitive creatures. Horses can respond to human emotions, making them ideal for therapeutic purposes. Additionally, spending time outdoors with horses can provide a sense of calm and relaxation, reducing stress and anxiety.

Equine therapy is just one way to connect with nature and improve mental health. Other options include hiking, camping, gardening, or simply spending time outside in a park or natural area. Being in nature can help individuals feel grounded, connected, and at peace.

Research has shown that spending time in nature can have numerous mental health benefits, including reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. It can also boost mood, improve cognitive function, and promote feelings of well-being.

The article is provided by Dr. Beau Nelson, DBH, LCSW.

How to Bet on Sports for Beginners – 4 Tips to Know

By

Abdar Grincoli

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July 10, 2020

5-important-sports-betting-tips-1280x720 — Source: medium

Watching and following sports teams and cheering regularly for your favorite one can be stressful enough, even without higher stakes riding on a particular game. Sports betting is a fan-favorite form of pastime and gambling. Millions of sports fans and betters around the globe put in their money daily on the outcomes of professional sports. As a beginner, you need to know the basics well before you make your first bet. In this text, we will reveal to you five tips to know when betting on sports. Visit Newbettingoffers.co.uk to find out even more advice and make some bets.

1. What do the Odds Mean?

Out of all, the most important tip for the newcomers is how to read and understand the odds in sports betting. They are the bread and butter of the whole thing, something that you should always remember. The actual outcome of the bet is not nearly as important as the odds since they are the ones that determine if the bet had any value in the first place. To make it as simple as possible, odds are the inverse values of a specific probability that something will occur. The more unlikely a certain occurrence, the higher the odds for it will be, giving you more money if you guessed right. According to this, to make a good bet, the probability of occurrence must be higher than the probability the odds suggest.

As mentioned the higher the odds the more you will win. Therefore, always aim for the odds larger than 1.15. Odds larger than 3 or 4 are generally considered okay, while those in the dozens are the hardest to hit, but award the most. Still, if you believe that 1.15 odds will likely happen, you should go with your gut. The award will be low when you win, but if you manage to stack multiple small odd games together and win, your total odds factor is going to give you a large sum of money. Higher odds are of course considered more valuable, but low ones should never be overlooked. Pro players trust their knowledge of the sport and the surrounding factors more than the odds, which is why they tend to score big by betting on the underdogs or unlikely outcomes.

2. Setting Stakes

Apart from reading the odds, a difficult aspect of sports betting to master is setting the stakes. One strategy is never going to make you rich and it takes exploring all the possible ways of approaching games and matches to score big. However, blind picking and no strategy are even worse for your overall chances. For long-time success and remaining on the plus side of the earning and losing curve, bear with us here.

When you eventually end up on a winning streak, your judgment and common sense may feel unimportant. Players generally like riding the wave and enjoy the “high” that all the winning has been giving them. Even experienced betters and pro players find it hard to keep their stakes intact. Raising the stakes while on a winning streak is a dangerous practice for your funds. The feeling of invincibility, while everything is going your way, is amazing, and quite a rush to feel. Still, you must give it your all to remain focused. Always think twice or even three times whether or not your desired move makes sense, and do you really need to increase your risks and mess with lady luck. Your average stake should remain just that, average. Going too much over it may lead to a bad experience.

It could be just luck, or it could have something to do with your skills. However, since betting is after all a form of gambling, you must stay within limits and never feel tempted to go overboard. Remember that bad streaks are also possible and as a matter of fact more frequent than winning streaks. Keep a cool head in all situations and you will be fine. Do not judge your betting skills by the current streak and raise your stakes easily, but plan a strategy and stick to it.

3. Anger Management/Self-Control

Tightly connected to the many possible outcomes of the previous entry are the self-control element and the valuable skill of anger management while betting on sports. Every sporting event you choose to bet on has its level of chance and its odds. At the end of the day, it all comes down to luck, or at least the large amount of it does. In sports, anything is possible, and even the most probable outcome may not happen, ruining your chances of winning money.

Remember that a single human mishap can ruin the whole season of a team, or one bad step can cause a serious injury for a player, rendering their team defenseless for the entire match. Nobody can anticipate this, which is why players tend to overreact in a wide array of different ways. During both winning and losing, the outcomes of everything that happened before has nothing to do with your current situation, nor your bets in the future.

The easiest way to destroy your chances and lose money is to chase losses after big defeats and become carried-away with wins and increasing stakes. To cancel out the strong emotions you may feel while gambling, it takes high amounts of self-control and calmness. Anger management goes a long way while gambling, so if you are prone to outburst of anger and bad behavior, you must learn to control yourself no matter what happens, especially while still at the sports bar. Losing control is unbelievably easy, and it takes a bigger man to take it with dignity than to lose it. Doing yourself a disservice and digging an even deeper grave for yourself is no way to behave after losing. Your whole sports betting experience should be a thrilling and exciting ride, filled with fun and pleasure. If it feels like a burden and starts making you miserable, it may be time to avoid it for a while or stop completely.

4. Strategy

It should go without saying that strategizing is crucial when betting. Like with everything else, the knowledge and tactics you come in with greatly increase your chances of coming out on top. Although not a lot of things are under your control, a strong strategy is very important in betting on sports. To be successful, you need both time and effort. Research and obtaining information is the best way to stay knowledgeable, but it may take you hours upon hours to stay in touch with multiple sports, leagues and competitions. Even if you wanted to, you cannot follow everything. Therefore, pick only what you are very good at and bet on what you know. The best players specialize in a couple of sports only, some of them just on one. Even just one league, one team, or one individual athlete goes. What matters is that you know what you are doing and can predict the outcome, strategizing. This prevents hasty moves and bad calls since you will always follow your extensive knowledge and skills instead of something else.

How to Build Your Social Network After Moving to a New City

By

Daniela Meyer

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July 10, 2020

getty_533229588_288361 — Source: social media

Irrespective of your reason to move, moving to a new city can be a daunting task. Uprooting your social life, severing the old ties, and loaded with the burden of establishing a new network, you move to a new city, only to find yourself amid a mess of feelings, loneliness, and inhibition.

Most of us move when we become old, old enough to hesitate in initiating, find breaking the ice tough and forget old connections easily.

Expert moving companies in the network of iMoving, a repeated moving service platform, explain that moving to a new city and building relationships is the most stressful experience in one’s lifetime. The professionals further add that because grown-ups have lived significant years of their life and have built great connections already, adding new contacts to the list can be very intimidating. To check the complete list of these companies, click here.

However, it is not impossible to make a new network. It might demand some efforts and time, but when you know how to nurture new relationships, you can establish a fresh network of friends and like-minded colleagues.

Here are a few tips to get started:

Revive old ties

As we grow old, many ties are made and forgotten. You might have lost contact with a number of people, who, once was a significant part of your circle. When you plan to move to a new city, make sure you go through your social media accounts and check for old friends and contacts. You will be surprised to know that some of your old contacts are already living in the city you are planning to move to. You can always reach out to these contacts before you move to the city and plan a meeting once you arrive.

Reach out to your friends and colleagues

One of the most common ways is to ask your existing friends and colleagues to find out about known people in the new city. The wider you expand your inquiry, the better results you will get. Ask your network who they know in the big city you are planning to move to. You can also make meaningful outcomes if you ask people about their network in any industry, locality, company, and more. Make sure you add a time slot to your moving timeline dedicated to ensuring people about their contacts in the new city.

Go to the local shops

Whether it’s the bookstore next door or the café at the corner of the street, going to the local shops offers you a great chance to find new people. You can converse with a group of people or may ask the waiter for some recommendations. Trust us, they know who the best match for you is.

Focus on events with shared goals

In modern times, the easiest and most sought after way to meet new people is attending meetups, networking events, and more. However, it has been concluded by the experts that such events do not help people in finding reliable contacts to add in their network. Most of these people spend their time talking to the people they already know or with people with similar interests. To expand your chances to meet new and better contacts, you must focus on attending events that offer you shared goals and where interdependence in the team is the determiner of success.

Join exercise classes

Yes, in this modern world of a fast-paced lifestyles, every second person struggles to stay fit. Most of us try to find out some time to join an exercise class and thus these classes have the perfect mix of people from all walks of life. You can join some of these classes and while you keep yourself fit, you can also meet people who are like-minded and a perfect match for a potential contact.

Use some technology

While most of us think that technology has ruined our social life by making more and more relationships virtual, there are a few apps available in the online space that cater otherwise. An array of applications is dedicated to helping people find credible contacts in a new city. From joining dinner parties to working on a charity as a group, these applications connect completely strange people and let them weave their networks.

Do not stop your search

Even if you have added a few contacts in your network, it doesn’t mean that you must stop finding new ones. Most of the time, the contacts we make in a professional context are based on the need of the hour and once the objective is sorted, the ties are severed. These contacts are of a temporary nature and hence you cannot rely on them. It is important that you continue your search to have a significant and meaningful network out of which you get some of the best permanent contacts for a long time.

Know the person as a whole

Following these tips, you surely will meet a lot of people and make some great relationships. When you find someone potential to befriend, make sure you discover them inside and out. Do not just discuss a single topic or element, instead, talk about their likings and disliking, hobbies, interests, and try to find out the common links. When you follow this practice you will be able to develop a multiplex relationship, i.e. a relationship with multiple contexts.

Finding new people in a completely new city can be very difficult. While we sincerely hope that you get some of your old contacts in the new city, we also believe that the ways we have mentioned above will work for you. It is very important that you build your network in the new city very efficiently and without losing much time. A group of likeminded people is one of the most effective ways to handle the psychological effects of moving to a new city. So, if you haven’t made any friends yet, get started and build your social circle in the new city.

13 Common Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Men

By

Gordan Himerdooff

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July 10, 2020

Are you worried about your short sex drive? You might have low levels of testosterone hormone in your body. Have you checked any typical signs of it? Well, it is a crucial hormone in males that enhances the overall appearance and sexual desires. Due to an unhealthy lifestyle, many men face various problems with low testosterone. You need to check sure signs that show that this hormone is secreted in less amount.

Go through this write-up to understand your problem and symptoms to cure it quickly. Out medical team has solutions for this issue in males. Many medications and gels at website are available to cure such an issue. It is better to detect in the early stage before it gets worsened with time. Let us check out some common symptoms that clearly show the problem in men.

1. Difficulty in Erections

The testicles secreted the testosterone hormone. It helps in vitalizing the penile tissues and develop nitric oxide. A man with low hormone levels can face issues while achieving an erection. There is a possibility of spontaneous erections while sleeping. Erectile dysfunction can also be caused by various factors such as diabetes, stress, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, alcohol, etc.

2. Low Libido

Libido is also known as sex drive. Men feel less interested due to low levels of testosterone. It is found that there is a drastic decrease in the sex drive in men with such problems. Fewer erections are another cause of reduced sex frequency with your partner.

3. Hair Loss

This hormone is beneficial for hair growth in men. There are chances of hair loss on body, head, and face. If a man is getting old, then it can be a sign of aging. You need to check other symptoms along with it.

4. Feeling Tired

Men can become tired and energy-deficient if the levels of this hormone are low in their bodies. You will sleep more than required and feel lazy all the time. It becomes difficult for you to stay fit and motivated if you suffer from this problem. You can lack motivation and enough strength in you.

5. Loss in body and Muscle Mass

Testosterone helps in the proper functioning of your body and building appropriate muscle and body mass. You can notice the weakness and improper functioning of your body. Due to the loss of energy levels, you might feel less energetic. The volume of the bone can also decrease, which makes a man more prone to fractures. The hormone helps in strengthening the muscles and bones.

6. Increase in Body Fat

Many men can experience body fat, especially on the chest. They may develop enlarged breasts, which is also known as gynecomastia condition. It may cause an imbalance between testosterone and estrogen in men. The man boobs can make your physique like women, and it can be very embarrassing. This condition can often be fixed through natural means but in certain cases, a gynecomastia procedure might make more sense. To find out more information about gynecomastia surgery you can click here.

7. Mood Swings

If testicles secrete hormones in a less amount, then it can affect your mind. It leads to mood swings like women on periods. They may look depressing, irritated, or demotivated. Nothing can cheer them up because they may look dull and less energetic.

8. Small Testicles

The size of the testicles can be affected if you have lower testosterone levels in your body. It may appear smaller than usual. Well, there are many other reasons for small testicles, but it can be one of them. You must check for other symptoms to confirm your problem.

9. Lower Blood Levels

There is a higher risk of blood loss or anemia to patients with such a problem. The blood counts can be less as compared to a normal man. This condition can include many other problems like cramps in the leg, problem while focusing, dizziness, high heart rate, sleep disorders, and much more.

10. Bad Memory

Lower levels of the hormone can affect the cognitive functions as well as your memory. Doctors provide different supplements to enhance or improve memory. There are chances of forgetting little things or knowing things that happened in front of you. There is a considerable impact of T levels on a man’s memory. You can consider this sign in severe cases.

11. Decreased Volume of Semen

The production of semen depends on the secretion of testosterone. The semen consists of sperm, which is an essential element for developing a baby. Low T will produce less semen with less fertile sperm. During ejaculation, you may observe less volume of semen. It is not sufficient enough to pregnant your partner. It is one of the typical signs of less secretion of this hormone in men.

12. Sleeping Disorders

You may experience changes in your sleeping patterns. It is common if you are unable to sleep enough during the night. Low T levels can cause many sleeping disorders like insomnia, apnea, etc. the apnea is a severe problem when a patient starts and stops breathing during sleep. There is also a risk of stroke, which is quite a severe issue.

13. Physical and Emotional Changes in Body

If the male hormone is secreting in fewer amounts, your body can experience physical and emotional changes. The physical changes can be fragile bones, tiredness, dizziness, less hair on the body, hot flashes, weak muscles, etc. On the other hand, the emotional changes can be memory loss, depression, lack of concentration, demotivation, etc. There is a direct impact of low T levels on the entire body of men.

Bottom Line

Lower levels of testosterone in a man can affect his health severely. Many physical and emotional changes can be observed if a man is suffering from this problem. It is essential to cure before it gets too late. You must go through common signs that we have discussed above to check whether you are fine.

Some symptoms like hair loss, mood swings, change in bone, and muscle loss can be aging or other health problems. You need to check all to confirm your low T levels. If you find such issues, then you should immediately visit a doctor for medications.

How to Save Time Finding a Soulmate Online

By

Daniela Meyer

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July 9, 2020

Finding a couple online can be very time consuming and difficult if you’re not going about it the right way. That’s why it’s important to be informed about the potential ways that you can prepare yourself beforehand to provide yourself with a better chance to meet couples. Users of Meetwild.com shared their personals life hacks on how they save time when they’re looking for a couple. Use some of these methods to prepare yourself, and you will have a wonderful time finding a few people to keep you company.

Do a Little Research on Available Dating Sites

The first step that you should take when you’re finding a couple online is to do some research on the website. Not all dating sites are created equally. Some websites don’t have a section where couples can meet couples, and others that do have those sections lack the capability to make those dates a reality. So, the first thing that you have to do is research the population of the site that you’re thinking about joining. Double-check and make sure that people come to this site so they can find their couples. If they don’t, then it’s worth it to go to a site that does value this sort of dating interaction. The second element that you should examine is the communication format available to you on the website. Do they have video, voice, and text messaging? You need to decide how you want to communicate with other people and then find a website that supports those efforts. That is just part of the overall research that you need to do, though. Check pricing and other elements of the dating site, too.

Set a Time Limit for Online Communication

The one thing that people tend to do is hang on to a relationship that is no good for them for too long. You might invest a lot of time in sending the right message or trying to set up the perfect date only for it to fall to pieces. However, when you go into a date with a specific time limit on communication, then you’re prioritizing yourself, something important to do on a date. You determine how long you communicate per day, how long they have to respond to you before you move on to the next partner, and many other things, too. This step is all about determining how much your time means to you as an individual and making sure your potential partners care for it, too. Click here to find the best tips in this regard.

Automate the Process of Communication and Searching

Another thing that you can do is to automate the various processes of communication and searching. When you are searching, you have to set the criteria for yourself. For example, think about the age range, culture, job type, and distance that you would like to see on your dates. Consider what you think is acceptable for all of those elements of a date and then set about searching using those parameters. Going back to the idea of using the proper dating site for you, it’s necessary for you to consider using a site that facilitates a good search. You don’t want to have a choice of looking for partners in a certain proximity and that’s it. You need to get as specific as possible. For communication, you need to regulate the steps that you’re going to take when you’re on a date. Do you want to chat first and then see where things go? Would you prefer a video chat to start? Decide on these things and make them part of a larger process to get through the dating process quickly.

Create Letter Templates

After you’ve found a potential couple to date, you need to have a quick method to reach out and get to know them. To do this, you can make a letter template that lists everything they need to know about dating you. Most of the time, that could be something as basic as your preferred methods of communication, date nights that you’re open, and what parts of the relationship are set in stone. This will save you a lot of time because you can reply to several people at once instead of investing a lot of time. While this might come off as impersonal to some people, it will help you root out the people that aren’t good enough for you.

Think Up Questions in Advance or Use the Well-Known 36 Love Questions

The 36 love questions are a famous way that people can begin to find partners based on specific answers that they give to these questions. While it may take a bit of time for you to go through all of the different questions, they provide a lot of insight into the kind of person that you may potentially date.

Still, if you’re not happy with the questions that are included in that personal inventory, then you can come to the dating site armed with your own questions. After all, you might have some parts of your dating lifestyle that are far more specific to you than you would find otherwise. Most importantly, you cannot be afraid to ask people about the things that matter the most in your relationship. Do they want to spend time getting to know you? Do they want to get right down to the physical aspect of a relationship? These questions matter when you’re dating people either online or in-person, so make sure you are set with them before you start dating.

There are many different ways in which you can find couples. However, there are some shortcuts that you can take that will help you greatly when you’re trying to meet people online. You have to know the kind of partner you want, and you must learn what sort of person you’re talking to before things get too deeply involved. As long as you spend some time planning out the kind of interactions you would like to have, you should have a good time when you’re looking for couples.

3 Reasons Why WordPress is the Best Solution for E-Commerce

By

Billy Voss

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July 9, 2020

E-Commerce allows people from all over the world to sell their goods, to promote their products, and users to be able to purchase things that are seemingly out of their reach. Nowadays there are a lot of different platforms where you can set your e-commerce site up, but not all of them offer the features you need. Lately, most business owners, as well as users say that WordPress is the best solution when it comes to choosing the right platform.

If you want to start your own website to sell and promote your brand, you are probably looking for a platform that will allow you to use it with ease, and something that will be user-friendly as well. One of the worst mistakes people make is setting up a website that is too complicated for users and ending up losing their sales because of that. In this article, we are going to give you some of the best reasons why you should choose WordPress and we’ll tell you how this platform is the solution to your new shopping website.

1. Layout

When you build your e-commerce site, the first thing you want to do is to attract customers. However, no matter how many people you get to click on your link, if the website is not functional and appealing, your potential customers will just close it and walk away.

WordPress gives you the opportunity to choose between hundreds and even thousands of different themes, so you will have no problem finding the one that shows your best colors. When choosing the theme, you need to look for one that is specifically designed for e-commerce. You cannot go with just any theme because you want to promote your products and have a layout where people will be able to browse with ease.

The great news is that there are layouts that are made for online stores, and some of them are free for you to install. You can even conduct surveys and see what your customers like the best. If you don’t want to risk things, you can just ask your friends to test things out and help you with the decision.

Remember that layouts and plugins go hand in hand, so you should choose the theme considering the plugins and vice versa. The menu needs to be visible and easy to access. It should also have all the necessary information, so spend some time customizing this part.

2. Security

When you set up a website that does not require your users to enter their personal information, you should worry about cybersecurity only for yourself. In these cases, you need to make sure that someone does not take your site down, and they don’t hack it or change your password.

On the other hand, when you have a shopping site, you have to protect both your information and your customers’. If your site gets hacked, your customers may lose their personal information, they can get their identity stolen, and their bank accounts will get compromised.

Because of this, you need a platform that will offer security and give you different features to make sure every information is safe. When it comes to WordPress, you have different layers of safety features. First of all, the platform itself is encrypted, and your data is really hard to get stolen. You need to always install the latest updates to make sure that the platform itself can protect you and your website.

You should also add some plug-ins that will add an additional layer of security. Some plug-ins are free for you to download and use, and others require an inexpensive sum to be installed. Look for the ones that give you all the things you need, and that offer unique features.

3. Plug-ins

There are thousands of different plug-ins you can add to your store, but you need to be smart when choosing the right ones. If you put too many of them, then your site may become slow, and it will start lagging. When a site is not fully loaded for more than 3 seconds, chances are, users will just close it and go somewhere else.

To make sure that does not happen, and to choose the right things you should install, you should look for plugins that offer several features in one. According to Xansibar.com, the all-in-one systems will give you features including the ability to add or remove images, manage your inventory, schedule things like emails and promotions, and much more.

As we mentioned before, some of these plugins are free for you to install them, and some need to be purchased. When choosing one, you should first make sure that it is safe to download and use. Look for plugins that have high ratings and that have been installed by many people.

You should always get an SEO one that will help you keep your content perfect, and that will ensure that your articles show on the first page of Google. Users say that Yoast is one of the best ones, but you may want to check several different ones before you choose the right one for you.

Don’t overburden your site with widgets that are not going to be useful. You don’t need the weather widget, no matter how cute you think it looks. It will just make the website load slowly and your customers will not get any happier. Always install something that will help you keep your site more secure, and if you are not sure which features are the best for you, you can always ask the professionals or talk to people who are in the same field.

WordPress offers a lot of different features when it comes to plugins and widgets, and they are all neatly listed by rating, downloads, or brand. So, if you are in doubt, just use the sorting feature and see which ones are recommended and used by others.

This platform is available on all devices, so you won’t have to carry your laptop around, just to see how things are going. It is also extremely easy to install and use, and you don’t need to be tech-savvy to find your way around it. You can also let your customers rate and review your shop, so you can show others why they should make a purchase in your store. Spend some time checking the features around, and once you start using WordPress, you will never go back to another platform.

Screen Printing Options for Custom-Designed T-Shirts

By

Iva Aris

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July 9, 2020

Everybody likes to get a t-shirt when they go somewhere. It’s fun. Everyone has it, and its somewhat cool. But when you are going to make your own T-shirt, the options can throw you off. You walk in and say I want a shirt printed, and then the menu of the different styles of printing makes you want to walk out.

That’s pretty much how I feel at Starbucks. I want a coffee, and I have no idea what all the options even mean. Even the way they do the sizes doesn’t make sense, but I digress.

If you can navigate through those different printing options, you can make some really cool stuff. People always enjoy it, and we even have the phrase, “Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.”

Years ago, there was a massive flood in Houston, and I remember a group made T-shirts and were helping with the recovery. Though I was helping with healing as well, I couldn’t stop asking people where they got the shirts and how I could get one. It’s silly, I realize, but it’s true, and if I thought about it, no doubt other people did as well.

Here is a quick breakdown of the different printing options that you have. But first:

What is a screen print anyway?

Screen printing is a cool way of putting ink through a stencil directly onto a t-shirt so that the ink lies on top of the shirt instead of actually having the shirt’s fibers soak up the ink. Shirts are done one at a time. The shirt is laid out, and then the stencil is placed over the shirt. On top of the stencil is a layer of ink that gets brushed through the stencil onto the shirt. It’s pretty fun. (image needed)

So now that you know what screen printing is, here are the options:

Not in any specific order.

1. Spot Color

This is the most common printing type. The way this one works is that one specific color is put directly on the shirt. So if you have T-shirts that just need to say a couple of words such as a yellow shirt and you want black ink to stand out, then our stencil is made of the words, and then the ink is put on top it just shows the words. Pretty straightforward. Spot color can have one or two colors, but that’s really about it. Anything over two colors and you’re getting into a different style of print such as Simulated Process.

2. Simulated Process

If you have a sophisticated design that can’t be produced by just one color or two, then what you need is a Simulated Process. Halftone dots are used to create photo-realistic images. What is really happening is a blend of Spot Color printing. If you think about the Spot Color process, image numerous stencils with different colors in order to achieve the artwork. These can work great on light-colored shirts or even dark colored shirts.

3. CMYK

When it comes to printing, CMYK, which stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (yes, I realize black is spelled with a B), is where a full photograph is broken down into the four colors. By blending these four colors, every possible color variation can be made. There’s really nothing that can’t be printed because when it’s broken down to CMYK, all possible colors are available. This style works best on white shirts.

4. Specialty Inks

I include Specialty Inks as an option, but really these are inks that have glitter attached, gels or metallic inks, etc.… They make the shirts stand out a lot more, but its really the Sport Color or Simulated Process or printing. These are pre-fabricated inks, and most print companies have numerous kinds.

5. Embroidery

Since embroidery has to do with putting artwork on clothing, I include it. Embroidery is when you stitch something onto a garment with thread. These are pretty common for hats and for polo shirts, but aside from that, you don’t see embroidery too much on clothing. Since embroidery is stitched, it’s not like printing in any way as far as what design it can have. If you get into a super complex, it won’t always work because stitching layers thread on top of itself. So stitching complex designs wouldn’t be something people would want even if the machines can do it.

A small comment on graphic design

You can pick the best print style that’s cost-effective that you like, but if you don’t have a good design, then no matter what, it’s not going to look great. Some companies want you to upload your design or turn in your design, but if it’s a graphic artist who does not check, it could look really bad. Some designers charge a lot for their designs, and some don’t charge anything for designers to come up with a killer design.

For an incredible gallery of what the possibilities could be for custom screen prints, check out the gallery at Texas Ink in Houston. They do all the graphic design and the printing in the house for their clients.

There are numerous ways you can get custom shirts by doing it online or going into a store, but either way, the options mentioned above are pretty much the same options everyone has.

In this article, we are mainly talking about T-shirts, but it could be any style of apparel from Dri-Fit clothing to polos, sweatshirts, pajamas, and the idea.

Wrapping it Up

So it’s up to you, but who doesn’t love a T-shirt? For your next family outing, or the next get-together, or business trip, consider getting some custom printed shirts or even hats that will make it memorable and fun. The price for one color Spot printed T-shirts is not that much, but their excitement is well worth it.

5 Common Mistakes People Make When Hiring Web Designers

By

Billy Voss

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July 8, 2020

If you ever need a website for your business, then a web designer is the person to hire. In today’s world of digital transformation, being a business owner, and not owning a website is a mistake to avoid.

That’s because the internet offers every business the chance to explore another venue; a venue that is far more commonly used than anything else.

On average, people spend up to 4 hours of their time on the internet. And what do they do? They watch videos, surf, and they might be interested in doing business with you.

But how would they find you if you don’t have a website? This is exactly why you need to hire a web designer. But like most hiring gigs, there are a few mistakes to avoid during the process.

In this article, we are going to tell you all about those 5 common mistakes.

1. Paying Too Little

Paying too little is a mistake that every business owner makes whenever they decide to hire a web designer. That’s because designers know their value and they will rarely work for anything but that value.

So, when ten designers reject you because you offer them far too little than what they expect, you’ll turn your attention towards hiring people with significantly worse quality.

But this is only one side of the table. Sometimes, you’ll find a sweet deal online that’ll build you a website for $500. This, by all means, sounds excellent and is definitely worth the price.

But what about the level of service you’ll be getting? Do you really think that the website will look good or be fully functional if you pay $500?

Well, I guess it depends on the type of website, but even blogs need to run properly. So, instead of paying too little for bad service, why don’t you pay the amount the designer asks?

2. Not Asking For Their Portfolio

You’ll quickly realize that every mistake on this list is connected with the previous one.

And that’s why you should never pay what the designer asks before asking for their portfolio.

Experienced and professional web designers will always attach their CV or their online portfolio. This is how they freelance and clients in the real world.

A designer’s portfolio is their bread and butter. A person will rarely hire anyone based on word of mouth, and that’s something you shouldn’t do as well.

So, whenever you’re being approached by a couple of potential web designers, make sure to ask for their portfolios to see their level of work and expertise.

3. Paying Too Much

Sometimes you have a huge budget and you want the best website. You want to be the coolest guy with the coolest website. Don’t get us wrong, have a modern website that meets the standards of the current design trends is great and all, but you should be wary as to how much you’re paying.

You might think that building such a website costs significantly more than an ordinary one. And while it does, to some degree, always know how much you should be paying and never overpay.

On average, websites can cost anything from $1,000 to $25,000. But the only way for you to avoid this mistake is to know the value of your website.

If you need an eCommerce store, then you’ll pay more money. But if you need a blog, then don’t expect to pay $10,000.

Web design firms, such as S9, will give you a quote before moving further with negotiations. They will also talk extensively on the subjects of capabilities and features so they can formulate a price.

Never settle for what a designer asks and always ask for them to elaborate on why you’re paying a certain amount.

4. Website Maintenance

Oh boy, where do we begin with this one? Website maintenance is probably the most important aspect when owning a website. That’s because it involves security, maintenance, and updating your website.

People charge a lot of money just to maintain websites, and for good reasons. Namely, every business that owns a website will at some point need to change things up.

But if they have no idea how to do it, then they’ll have to either call the designer back or hire another one.

When in this situation, it’s always better to negotiate for annual website maintenance with the person that’s built your website. Why is this better? Well, that’s because the person knows the ins and outs of their code.

They know how to access and style each heading and each div element. But not only that, they know how to fix any potential problems with the code because they’ve written it. While others will also know the answer to the issue, it’s safe to say that it will be significantly more time-consuming.

So, if you want to avoid a very costly and time-consuming mistake, make sure to always negotiate a fee for future maintenance gigs with your designer.

5. Not Educating Yourself On the Subject Of Search Engine Optimization

Short for SEO, search engine optimization is very important for any business that wishes to market themselves on the internet. SEO is a practice that allows people to find you when browsing the online world.

It involves the use of keywords and keyphrases whenever on Google or any other search engine. Every website absolutely must use SEO as it is the only way to naturally and organically attract traffic to your website.

While there are other ways for people to find out about you, this is the least expensive one. SEO might sound very strange to you, but it is one of the most important aspects of being a business owner online.

Whenever hiring a web designer, ask whether or not they’re knowledgeable in search engine optimization. One thing to keep in mind though, a good SEO job on your site will cost you a lot of money.

So don’t expect to come off cheap.

10 Advantages of Having a Home Gym

By

Billy Voss

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July 8, 2020

Although playing sports is very important, it is true that we do not always find enough time to include this habit, essential for our health, in our daily routine. Having a private gym in your home will undoubtedly help you to generate this routine with all the comforts you need, thereby bringing numerous benefits to your health.

Sport is essential for the proper functioning of the body and mind. It not only helps you maintain the physical shape but also makes you feel good about yourself. This is because, when we practice any sporting activity, we release endorphins, which are responsible for making us feel happy. In addition, sport is a natural antidepressant, improves heart problems, thereby reducing the risk of heart attacks, helps you sleep better, reduces stress and, in the long term, makes you have more energy in your day today.

That is why we will speak today about the advantages of having a home gym and some basic tips for setting it up.

Where to locate your home gym?

The best place in the house to locate a private gym depends, first, on the specific characteristics of each home and, later, on the tastes and needs of the person. There are many options to locate it, but you must always take into account the size of the room so that they are the right dimensions that allow you to train comfortably. In addition, it is important that you have plenty of space to incorporate new machines and the latest sports innovations.

A really attractive option is that your private gym has a covered part, for most of the year and another outdoors, thus being able to enjoy workouts outdoors when the weather is right. Also, if you have a pool, having it nearby will give you the opportunity to include swimming in your exercise routine or relax after each workout. Ultimately, in the end, you should have your private gym in a place that makes it easier for you to work out, while maintaining the style and elegance of your house.

10 advantages of having a home gym

As long as you have discipline with exercise, it is possible to reach that balance between body, mind and soul that we seek so much.

Among the 10 most important benefits of having gym equipment at home we have:

1. Weight control

When you have gym equipment at home it is easier to keep the weight under control. This is because there will be no excuses to implement exercise practice every day.

By staying at a good weight it is possible to minimize the risks of suffering diseases such as:

Type 2 diabetes
Hypertension
Sleep apnea
Respiratory problems
Cancer of the breast, colon and endometrium

2. It favors mental health

With the right equipment, mental health will also benefit, since exercising every day is a great help to minimize depression. In fact, there are many studies that certify that people who do not do much physical activity are more irritable, live with fatigue, and have tension problems. All these symptoms can be eliminated by working out.

3. Positive impact on bones

Bones will benefit in a positive way. In the case of children, it is perfect to help them increase their bone density, in adolescents it allows them to strengthen them, and in the case of adults, it manages to delay degeneration to prevent osteoporosis.

4. Heart care

The heart is involved in all the activities we do every day, and whenever we exercise it can be strengthened. By maintaining a continuous exercise routine, the heart will be able to function more efficiently, because it will pump the blood with less effort. This is of great help to minimize blood pressure and the risks of heart disease.

5. More oxygen for the brain

With the gym equipment, we can plan an exercise routine, and work constantly. This will be essential to improve the flow of oxygen to the brain and create something that scientists call “brain reserve.”

With this reserve, the brain is able to compensate for the loss of nerve cells, which is something that occurs as we get older. In addition to that, the exercise is perfect to improve memory, concentration, and stay alert.

6. Exercise at your own pace

Possibly in the gym, you have a personal trainer or you already have a routine to do in mind, but when you go to the gym you can notice that equipment are being occupied by someone else. This will never happen to you at home. You will have the freedom to choose the time and equipment whenever you want, without limitation to use them.

7. Internet access

In addition to exercising, with the internet it is possible to create new routines. You can place television and choose the new exercises that you will implement in your physical activity. And after finishing your workout you can just turn on your laptop and find the necessary equipment from the comfort of your home, while drinking a protein shake, at stores with online offer like jetcube.co

8. Controlled odors

When you exercise with so many people in the gym, people’s smells and sweat can make you uncomfortable. In addition to that there are people who do not carry their towel and leave the machines full of their sweat and smell. With your own at home you will not have to share or smell strange things in the environment.

9. Goodbye laziness!

When you manage to have gym equipment in your own home, laziness can easily disappear, since you will feel motivated to complete your series of exercises because you have all the necessary elements for physical activity. By moving to the gym room at home, you can start your routine without wasting time.

10. No noise

Many times the noise caused by machines and the background music is somewhat loud for your taste. When working from home, you can choose whether to do your routine with some music or not. Basically you can control the rhythm and intensity of the noise according to your tastes and needs.

Conclusion:

Last but not least, having a spa at home means finishing your routine with the perfect moment of relaxation. Resting in a sauna or Jacuzzi after a good exercise session is a pleasure that is totally worth it!

With all this, there is no doubt that having a private gym at home only brings benefits. It will allow you to gain quality of life and improve your health while reinvesting the time you have left in your family or any other leisure activities.

5 Things You Need to Know About Buying a Coffee Maker

By

Billy Voss

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July 8, 2020

For those of us who like coffee, we really know how important it is in our lives. In fact, it could be said that our day to day revolves around this delicious drink. The day starts when we drink our first one. If there is one drink that has stood out worldwide, despite all cultures, it is coffee. Especially in modern society, where coffee serve as gasoline for human beings, a way to socialize, and even an art form. A few simple roasted beans made into drink have become the basis of our daily life.

Thus, buying a new coffee maker to meet our demands for this liquid gold is not a trivial task. You should ponder and take into account some important factors before making the purchase.

How does the espresso machine work?

Once the ground coffee is placed in the pot and lightly pressed, the machine does the rest of the work. Basically it heats the water so that it reaches a lot of pressure (12 -15 bars) and makes it go through the pot where the ground coffee is. As the water is at a high temperature and pressure, coffee extraction is very fast.

The only task is to press it. If you press it too much, you will have very thick coffee. If, on the contrary, you leave it very loose, it will too much like water.

Regarding grinding, it is important that it has a fine grind.

Types of espresso machines

Within the group of espresso machines we have three types of machines, according to Cuppabean.

-Semi-automatic: extraction must be controlled manually.

-Automatic: the extraction of it is done by the machine. In other words, you load the pot, lightly press the coffee, press a button and the machine does the rest. In this group are usually the, so fashionable, capsule machines. , instead of working with ground products, they work with capsules (which is basically ground coffee and vacuum packed so that it does not lose properties).

-Super-automatic: the machine itself grinds, presses it, and prepares it at the touch of a button. For more information on super-automatic espresso machines, you can click here.

If you are still not sure which type is best for you, before proceeding to the things you need to know, this website can help you narrow down your choice.

Things you need to know

1. How much do you drink?

If you have a single cup in the morning to kick off your day with energy, a coffee maker that brews one by one would be the ideal model. However, If there are several at-home who drink it and more than one, perhaps one that prepares several cups at a time, like Italian coffee makers, it would be advisable, so as not to be preparing one followed by another and making a good tank at once.

In this sense, if you drink several, you can also opt for drip machines, which prepare a good tank and are electric. They are the typical ones that we see in American movies. They have a very simple operation and low prices. For more information click here.

2. Brewing temperature

If you like the good taste of coffee, the brewing temperature is another factor that you should consider before buying, since the correct temperature for an ideal preparation is usually around 80 degrees and some machines they do not reach such degrees. So, you must make sure that the machine you buy can prepare at this temperature, which, in general, all of them usually indicate it clearly on the box. If the model you like does not indicate it, or does not reach those degrees, it may be a good reason not to buy it.

3. Cleaning process

Something that has such frequent use and that is also to consume, you need to have perfect hygiene. For this reason, you also have to take into account how easy it is to clean since it is something that you will do practically constantly. Do you have time to dedicate it to it? Are you going to be able to keep it in good condition, require the cleaning it requires? You need to choose one that suits your lifestyle and not the other way around.

4. Stainless steel or glass jug

In addition to aesthetics and design, there are other differences between a glass jug and a stainless steel one. The most important, it could be said, is the time they keep it hot once it is made. While a glass mug holds hot coffee for about 20 minutes or so, a stainless steel mug can hold it almost three times as long, also roughly.

Something that comes great when the one who gets up first prepares it and can leave it hot for the next to drink it, if he gets up a little later, and thus he does not have to reheat it or make one again.

However, a glass jug allows you to see how it is being made and also enjoy its aroma during the process. If for you the smell and seeing it before tasting it is something important, or not, it is something that you should also consider before choosing between a metal or glass jug.

5. Special characteristics

Another thing to consider when choosing the new one is what kind of features you want.

For example, if the first thing you do when you wake up is drinking coffee, a programmable machine that has everything ready as soon as your alarm clock rings, maybe what you need. You can also take into account, if after making coffee you have to clean it immediately, or not, in case you do not have time in the morning and what you do after drinking it, dressing and grooming, is running away without time for anything else.

Conclusion

Today there are all kinds of machines with different characteristics, prices and designs to be limited to one that does not fully satisfy our demands. It is a relatively cheap investment, but of great personal importance to all of us who enjoy coffee. It is worth taking a few minutes to go through these things you need to know and then make a good purchase.