Stress can cause many problems in your life and a lot of those people who suffer from stress may not even be aware of it. Stress can manifest itself in many ways and as a result of it you may have lower patience levels, less energy to do things, lack of hunger or mood swings to name but a few physical and psychological effects. A recent study by My Voucher Codes indicates that 2 in 5 men admit to suffering from stress and this feeling could be caused by your job, your home life or your finances, they key to dealing with it is to to tackle it head on. If you have been feeling stressed recently then don’t ignore it and don’t suffer in silence, there are several ways that you can reduce your stress levels and here are some top tips to help you do it.
Sleeping Well
Stress can cause many people to have a lack of sleep, tossing and turning while their mind races, a good sleep however can help most when dealing with stress. The key to sleeping well is routine, try to go to bed at the same time each night, stay away from your mobile phone, computer or tablet before sleeping as this has been proved to increase brain activity when you need to rest. You should avoid caffeine for up to 3 hours before sleeping and reading fiction has also been proven to help you sleep well. It may be tricky for the first few nights but sustaining this routine well help you to be more prepared and relaxed for the following day.
Diet
It is often the simple things that help us most and having a healthy diet is one of the best ways to help you deal with stress. A great way to approach this is to make a meal plan, consider spending an hour on Sunday night to plan your meals for the week. Making a plan such as this will help you twofold, primarily you will be able to stick to a healthy diet which will give you the nutrients that your body needs to handle stress and secondly it will give you one less thing to think about each day, freeing your mind to concentrate on other things.
Exercise
Exercise is one of the best ways to beat stress, when you exercise you activate endorphins in your body that will boost your energy levels and make you feel happier. Whether you partake in a high intensity workout or something more relaxing such as yoga is up to you but making exercise 3 to 4 times a week will work wonders for your stress levels.
Meditation
Making the time to meditate for even 30 minutes a day can significantly reduce your stress levels. Meditation is a great way to put your mind and your thoughts in order, giving you the opportunity to not only take some time out from the World for a while but also helping you to take better decisions. Stress often clouds your thoughts and meditation is the perfect way to clear the fog.
According to research by an online voucher code website, adults in the United Kingdom believe that being chivalrous no longer applies today. They have found that both 55% of men and women in the UK thought that traditional values of courtship between couples now not apply.
This past Valentine’s Day, we looked back to see how dating has changed over the last 50 years and find out if chivalry is dead among young adults in the UK. An online voucher code website, explore traditional values in courtship for couples, and surveyed men and women in the UK to find out if they still apply today.
To find out if there really is a battle between the sexes and whether or not chivalry is truly dead, My Voucher Codes surveyed 1000 men and 1000 women aged over 18 in the UK, they asked: “Do you think traditional values of courtship between couples still apply today?” 52% of men said no. whilst 58% of women also said no.
- 35% of men believe that meals should be shared 50/50
- 41% of women don’t expect men to pay for the whole date
- 57% of men and 71% of women, don’t feel the need to call the next day after a date
- Sex on the first date is now more acceptable according to 37% of men and women
- 29% of men and women are happy to arrange a date via social media than by calling
- 33% of men and women admit to looking up their date online beforehand
Despite the competitiveness of dating in the 21st century and how technology has changed the way we even look for a partner.
See how dating over the last 50 years has changed:
In reaction to the results, Mark Pearson, founder of MyVoucherCodes said:
“Love is never simple, even though now we have more technology helping us to find a partner, it can feel like it has never been more complicated. It’s no surprise traditional dating values are no longer considered as important as they once were, as dating now is so different. In addition changes to how we view equality and strides made by feminists, mean a lot of men now see women as their equals, so they are more than happy to share the cost of a date. And it seems women are more than happy to pay their share.”
He went on to add:
“History and events have also shaped how we date, it’s easy to forget even 20 to 30 years ago we were actually pretty liberal. We had the sexual revolution in the 1960’s and hedonistic lifestyles of rock stars. Promiscuity become more widely accepted as previous values which had once guided many people were now been blurred with new found freedoms.”
Located 11 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, Brighton is a beachside area most known for its’ boutique hotels and its 82 bathing boxes near Dendy Street Beach. While it’s a smaller, prestigious resort area, you’ll still find plenty to see and good food to dine on, without going to crazy.
A Guide to Having a Relaxing Vacation in Brighton
Are you coming to the Melbourne area for just a relaxing holiday or to celebrate an upcoming nuptials? You’ll find that Brighton Savoy’s beach wedding venues in Melbourne will exceed your needs with its fine accommodations, beachfront property, and onsite caterer. If you haven’t decided, why don’t you visit and see for yourself?
Nestled among almost six kilometres of coastline by Port Philip, you’ll find a myriad of seaside activities to partake in. In addition, you’ll experience many waterfront restaurants and cafes and local shops right near each other. Try some of these travelling suggestions to experience a relaxing and fun holiday.
- Book your hotel. Aim to find one right on the coastline that has lots of amenities, such as The Brighton Savoy – 4 Star Hotel. This beachfront hotel offers an array of accommodations including Queen and King seaside view rooms. It also features the Seaview Restaurant, serving European dishes, which makes it convenient if you don’t feel like going far.
- Visit the beach. Along the long strip of Brighton Beach is Dendy Street Beach, which is where you can view the infamous bathing boxes. Over a 100 years ago, the residents there had a strict moral code and would change into their bathing costumes in these boxes. These 82 bathing boxes in Brighton are a sight because they are all exactly the same size and painted in vivid colours. There are a few different ways to see them, either by a scenic walk near the Bayside Coastal Trail or by dining at the Baths, which used to house all of them and you can still view them while you dine.
- Hike and explore the Bayside Coastal Art Trail. Just breathe the fresh air and take in the scenic beauty and walk along four different trails at the coastline and gaze at more than 50 pieces of artwork. Different artists, such as Charles Douglas (C.D.) Richardson and John Mather have painted different pieces of the beach and the seaside coast.
- Check out some of the local shops. One of the main shopping and entertainment districts is located over on Church St. You’ll find everything from specialty clothing stores to crafts and home goods from local artisans to restaurants and nightclubs featuring a piano bar.
- Get pampered at a local spa. Find one with soothing music and a calming tea that’s served to as you arrive that sets the mood for your treatment. Consider a soothing spa package that includes features such as a luxurious footbath, a body scrub, a hot oil treatment and massage, and an invigorating facial all done near the beach.
Organisation lies at the heart of a tidy, relaxing home. Having a regular clear out and clean up puts fresh energy into the atmosphere and has a calming psychological effect on the mind.
With a less chaotic home, you’ll feel more creative. You’ll have more time, be more inclined to indulge in hobbies or other leisure pursuits if you don’t have to clear space to work, or hunt down sports equipment every time you want it.
But how do you reach that calming state of home and mind? Here are a few tips to help you reclaim (and stay in control of) your living space, whether it’s a bachelor apartment or a family home.
Choose Your Furniture Wisely
Furniture can be both decorative and functional. You don’t have to choose one or the other.
Divans or ottoman beds with storage beneath the mattress provide convenient, hidden storage for spare bedding (freeing up wardrobe space) or out of season sports gear. Practical coffee tables with drawers offer accessible storage for TV remotes or charging cables, tablets or gaming controllers.
Use Overhead Space
Use shelving to reclaim floor space and enjoy a more open living area. We clutter up floor space and create unintentional obstacle courses, leaving wall space bare bar a few pictures. Fitted open shelving creates a fashionable display area for books, ornaments or knick-knacks that would otherwise be on mantelpieces, bookcases or sideboards.
As well as the vertical spaces in rooms, consider shelving in hidden spaces such as the airing cupboard, the awkward space under the stairs, or within existing kitchen cabinets. Maximising storage areas like these helps you organise and categorise storage, making it easier to find items as well as providing additional space. For instance, in kitchen cabinets, tinned foods take up little space, and an extra shelf in the cupboard would create room for more tins within the same area. Look for purpose made wire racks if you don’t want the trouble of actually fitting interior shelves.
Reduce the Amount of Furniture at Home
Over time, furniture items seem to multiply. Maybe through inheritance, buying new and not getting rid of the old, or through the changing needs of a growing family.
When you no longer use an item but can’t bear to permanently part with it, consider off site self storage. It’s not terribly expensive, there’s a wide range of space sizes, and storage companies tend to be located in easily reached town locations with good road access and plenty of parking for unloading. Another advantage to this solution is the short term nature of the contracts, so you can hire a space a week at a time if you’re unsure about whether you want to hang onto unused items or sell them on. It can buy you breathing space while you get used to a new living arrangement.
Create Dedicated Spaces with Zoning
Zoning can be easier to achieve than you might imagine. Even the smallest spaces can have areas cordoned off for specific activities. Ideas include slightly extending a kitchen worktop to make a breakfast/snack area, or turning out a bookcase so it stands perpendicular to the wall, creating a small barrier to a desk area in the living room.
If you try the bookcase idea, have business books turned toward the desk and novels or entertainment matter turned towards the living space. If you’re up for a bit of DIY adaptation, you could fashion bespoke enclosed bookcase shelves (alternating the open sides) with sections of wood or MDF cut to size and pinned into place. Use the blocked off sections to display small artworks or photos.
With open spaces, clear surfaces and everything in its place, life becomes much more productive and invigorating. It’s almost like having a few extra hours in the day.
Set sail aboard a floating city by booking yourself on a cruise, and you’ll experience the adventure of a lifetime. For those struggling to pick an itinerary, we’ve put together seven of the most exciting cruise vacations, so let’s get traveling!
The Canary Islands
Where do you go when you need to access movie reviews, learn which movies are the latest, and get insight into movie plots and actors? If your answer was not IMDb, then I will openly tell you that you have probably been visiting the wrong places. Personally, I use IMDb for everything movies, and, to this day, I have not one reason to doubt or stop using this amazing site.
Still, if your answer was IMDb, I might still have news for you. Have you ever bothered to unearth what the name stands for? No? Well, I will tell you. IMDb is simply the abbreviation for [the] Internet Movie Database. It was established in 1990 and hosts subjects related to movies, video games, TV programs, films and cast biographies. US users can also access about 6,000 TV shows and movies for providers such as Sony and CBS from this site.
In 2015, IMDb celebrated its 25th birthday. I was impressed that they decide to share a gift with each and every subscriber. To celebrate their big year, they compiled and released an accurate and carefully researched list of the best films from the last twenty-five years. The list was compiled from ratings given to the movies. The ratings are decided by their millions of users all over the world.
Here is the list of the top films from 1990 up to 2015:
1991: The Silence of the Lambs
1992: Reservoir Dogs
1993: Schindler’s List
1994: The Shawshank Redemption
1995: Se7en
1996: Fargo
1997: Life Is Beautiful
1998: Saving Private Ryan
1999: Fight Club
2000: Memento
2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2004: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
2005: Batman Begins
2006: The Departed
2007: Into the Wild
2008: The Dark Knight
2009: Inglourious Basterds
2010: Inception
2011: Intouchables
1990: Goodfellas
2012: Django Unchained
2013: The Wolf of Wall Street
2014: Interstellar
2015: Inside Out
If you have watched these films, you will attest to it that they indeed deserved the ratings. If you are yet to watch them, then do so, now that I have simplified things for you. IMDb is the ultimate source of movie knowledge.
The list, despite having both established franchises and original properties, reveals that the users adored actors such as Morgan Freeman, Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon and Leonardo Dicaprio.
One of the rare stories I have read of late is that of a British prisoner named Charles Salvador. He has been behind bars since 1974. However, rather than rot away in his cell, he is actually gaining from it. He is today famous for setting many prison fitness records such as making 1,727 push-ups in one hour! In short, he uses his serving time to build his body using a few odd objects and only his body weight.
You do not have to be in prison to have a prison workout schedule: maybe you lack the facilities. Salvador can bend a steel cell door with his bare hands and pick up a pool table from working out in prison! Did I forget to say that he uses no nutritious foods, no barbells and no supplements?
Here is his prison workout routine:
Push-ups
According to Salvador, he performs about 2,000 push-ups every single day. He advises that if you start by doing 10 of them a day then keep adding just 5 every day, you can get to his level within 1 year. He also advises on using different push-up variations.
Pull-ups
The pull-up workout is the second that our Hulk prisoner uses. He says that pull-ups are important in that they involve multiple muscles such as the forearm muscles, the pecs, traps, wing (back) muscles and the biceps. They are most effective if you hang from a place and use variations.
Squats
I personally never tried squats because they appear very basic. However, after learning that they are one of the most effective workouts from Salvador, I have been capitalizing on them. I never knew that they work the hamstrings, inner thighs, hips, glutes and quads all in one workout! Using variations also boosts their effectiveness.
Dips
The dips, in my opinion, are very tough, but, once you get accustomed to them, they are very effective. Salvador says that the dips work his core, forearms, shoulders, pecs and triceps. Rather than vary them, he adds some weights to his laps to make the exercise more intense and effective.
Hanging leg raises
If you agree with me, this workout is very popular with action movies that involve bodybuilders like Jason Statham. You get a firm support then hoist your body. This exercise works the shoulders, forearms, hips and quads. Look for the variations to get the best results.
Burpees
The prison workout burpees might be the newest workout in our list. To do it, you start in a squatting position, placing your hands in front of you (on the floor). Then you kick the feet to assume a push-up position then immediately return to the squatting pose. Once you achieve the position, leap as high as you can from that position. This workout will test your aerobic capacities and body strength. I never used this prison workout before, but I can tell the results immediately after I am done with the first set.
Salvador showed us how to do a prison workout that might see you lift that pool table all by yourself and bending the steel doors when you get locked in for it! However, it is best to adhere to his prison workout routine without getting into trouble. Maybe the benefits are much better out here.
Las Vegas, Nevada serves as the most obvious destination city of choice for holding a bachelor party. I, however, do not believe that the sin city is the best destination for the event. Yes, the city is full of sheer masculine magnificence displayed in the beautiful hotels and casinos, the mild night heat conducive for all night parties, relaxing pools, unforgettable shows like the Mayweather fights and the divine dancers who make dancing look like fine art. All of these make it an ideal location to unleash the beast before one last time before getting hitched. However, if you broaden your scope a little bit, you will discover that there are other cities around the world that offer as much as Vegas and sometimes even more.
Rio de Janeiro is one such city. Other than the statue of Jesus, Rio is famous in the party scene for mostly three things; beautiful beaches, carnival and some of the most gorgeous women in the world. So, if the wedding day is set in February, why not plan a trip for the carnival, a festival where everyone’s decadent flair comes out. The festival is like a gigantic street party where women where revealing cloths and dance in the streets. It gets even better as the party goes on for four days.
South Beach, Miami is another location that seems to be the perfect fit for a bachelor party. In almost every corner, there are gorgeous women in their swimwear. These women flock the many energetic clubs located along the stretch. However, I would advise holding the party at the Nikki Beach Club, commonly described as the planet’s sexiest spot. The mix of the beautiful people and the free flowing drinks is most likely to provide an experience to remember.
The Spanish coast is a must visit if you want an experience full of dancing. Ibiza does not disappoint for the dance lovers having some of the largest clubs in the world like Privilege and space. With over 12,000 revelers in one place, a bachelor’s party fits perfectly in the clubs. Then there are the Disco buses that drive revelers from club to club around the city. All this will play along well with the wedding with the beach’s atmosphere acting as a perfect remedy for a hangover. However, the party scene is not the only reason to hold the party here. Ibiza also has a breathtaking countryside that offers the chance for the groom to have a rapid Para-sailing adventure.
This list would not be complete without the mention of Amsterdam. This city is like a compilation of every bachelor’s dreams. The rich architecture and history of the city make it a good place to go biking around as you catch sight of the dazzling performances by street artists. Then of course there is the legal nature of some things that most places demonize. You can just walk into a café and lawfully purchase some things that will enhance your experience in the city. Bachelors can also visit the infamous red light district where maidens enchant passersby through opulent windows. However, it is important to get your stories straight after a night in Amsterdam if the wedding is to proceed as planned.
So yes, it is true that Las Vegas is an ideal city to hold a bachelor party. However, there are also other cities in the world where have a lot of fun in the premise of having a bachelor party.
I am excited and proud to have to write that I am proudly part and parcel of the digital nomad movement. Concisely, I belong to the group of people that rely on technology to earn their living and who are always on the move. You might find it tricky that we rely on technology yet keep moving. However, we are witty enough to understand our lifestyles and, therefore, select a style that suits us. So, allow me to introduce the typical tech and gear essentials that we, digital nomads, mostly use.
Camera gear
I have a collection of photos comprising of close to a million images, collected over four years. We love to keep memories of every place that we have been to, thus, the camera. However, we do not go for the normal cameras: we prefer motion lenses, waterproof mirrorless cameras, and those that print photos on the spot.
Laptops
What is technology without a computer, really? Well, we do not carry PCs along with us, rather, we (or I) prefer laptops. Laptops are light, powerful and self-contained. As long as we can find them the power, they give back wholeheartedly.
Smartphones
At times, the laptops, too, become too big for some occasions. For instance, at some meetings, or when at a basic party, some of us still need to check our emails, update clients and remain aloof with what we do. In such instances, we use powerful smartphones to do that for us. Compromising our demanding careers is never an option for us.
Portable power packs
I think this should have been at the top of my list: portable power sources. Well, here we are. In some cases, we are never sure about where our next stops will be. Therefore, I, just like everyone else, carry several portable power banks. These have to be very efficient such that one can have hours of uninterruptible power. If you have two or more, the better.
Wireless devices
Wires can inconvenience a digital nomad in many ways. At times, they tangle up everything in my bad, sometimes, they make the bags too huge. Worst of all, they limit freedom. In my case, I prefer using a wireless (Bluetooth) mouse, ear set, microphone, speaker, modem and keyboard. Wireless devices are easier to manage but require more power, and, if you are careless, you need more money to keep replacing them!
eReaders
Who said nomads do not have libraries or do not read the news? I love books, yes, but, I hate the fact that they take up a lot of space, can be cumbersome and are hard to find. In our nomadic world, however, we have eReaders that allow us to access just any e-book or newspaper and read them, anywhere! Call me the man that carries all the books in the world in his backpack!
I have not, of course, exhausted the list of what we, digital nomads, carry with us. Today I capitalized on the tech gear bit. Next time, I will discuss more of what we carry: like clothes and food.
The saying that, “a monkey could do my job” never made more factual sense to any man than it did to one James Wilde. Wilde was a signalman in South Africa’s Uitenhage Station and owned a baboon for a pet. This is one of the very touching stories in which a man and an animal became best friends that I ever read. So, today, let us ease things up a bit and appreciate Jack, the chacma baboon who served as a signalman for 9 years on his human best friend’s behalf.
New and Unique
Jack’s intriguing ministry started in 1877 after his master, James Wilde, lost the use of his legs in a tragic accident. Before the accident, Wilde was an employee of the Cape Government, working as a guard. He was a pro at jumping onto or between moving trains that he came to be known as the “Jumper.” This prowess of his is what led to his great loss: he had his feet amputated at the knees after an 80-ton train crushed them. After his wounds had healed, Wilde was offered a job as a signalman because he could work from his chair. He made himself a trolley that he could travel on to and from work, but his work was still too tedious. His problems ceased when he met a man who had trained his baboon pet to lead an oxen cart. The owner sold the baboon to Wilde. The baboon would obey any commands if he received a tot of good Cape brandy every night. If he did not, he would sulk and become disobedient.
Fame and Attention
Wilde named his new pet Jack and trained him to push his trolley. The trolley allowed Wilde to travel on the railway tracks. During the training, Jack displayed so much intelligence such as delivering a key to the train drivers when they hooted four times. This was initially Wilde’s duty. Wilde soon allowed Jack to perform this duty fulltime as long as the whistle tooted four times. Jack later learned to switch levers to control the section of a track and make trains pass on them. He did this by learning the audio cues associated with the order of the tracks. His opposable thumbs made him do these tasks just as a human being. When he was not sitting with Wilde or delivering the keys to the drivers, he was switching the levers to control the movement of the wagons.
The Future
At one time, Wilde and Jack were fired because some people were not okay with a baboon determining their safety. Wilde, however, begged the employers to subject Jack to a test. Jack was offered a complex test of switching the levers according to intermixed audio signals. Jack passed so perfectly that they were both back in employment. Jack even became an official employee and was offered a salary of 20 cents every day, a bottle of beer every Saturday and daily rations.
