Why You Should Give To Charity

All over the country, people are tightening their purse strings as they face an increasingly uncertain financial future. Unsurprisingly, one of the first budget items to be removed is charitable giving. While charitable giving at the same level may not be possible for everybody, there are still good reasons to continue giving or start supporting the causes that matter most to you.

We need more givers!

According to UK Giving 2019, published by Charities Aid Foundation, the number of people who give regularly to charity is down for the third year straight this year. This downward turn is due, at least in part, to lack of trust on behalf of the public. Many people worry that much of their donations go to salaries, administrative costs, and other costs leaving little to finance the projects they actually want to support. However, by using schemes like Gift Aid and checking sites like Charity Navigator can help you choose charities that get the most out of every pound they receive.

You should put your money where your mouth is.

Regular charitable giving actually helps to STRENGTHEN your sense of values. It’s easy to say that you support a cause or espouse a belief, in principle. But, when that belief actually costs you something, even if it’s only twenty pounds, it ingrains a sense of investment into those beliefs. Most people who do volunteer or give regularly say that they do so out of a sense of moral obligation.

It’s good family values.

Teaching children about generosity and the impact that small acts of kindness can have on others is an important lesson that we all want to impart. Charitable giving is a great way to do that. Letting kids choose a cause, fundraise, and donate is a great way to empower them and teach them that they can have a positive impact on the world around them. An easy way to do this is to set up a small box at home where everybody can drop spare coins during the month. At the end of the month count it together and donate the cash to a charity of your choice.

It makes you feel good.

Most people who donate regularly admit that part of the reason why they do it is that they feel good about it. Giving becomes a habit with a great payoff both personally and in the world around you.

This article was originally published at JamesCrickmore.co.uk.

Starting the New School Year Off on the Right Foot

From primary school to university, today’s students have more responsibilities—and more opportunities to learn—than students of previous generations have had. The upside of this point is that with enough hard work, students can eventually become proficient and successful in a career field of their choosing. The downside, however, is that it’s easy to be overwhelmed and intimidated by the cumulative weight of the school’s requirements.

The key to thriving is planning ahead, and the following tips will help students of all ages to start the new school year off on the right foot.

Let’s take a look.

Make Time for Revising

Revising is to school as cardio training is to sports: a means of honing one’s skills and securing the tools required to perform optimally in competition—i.e. tests. Revising will be difficult for those who’re unaccustomed to it, but with consistent practice, the process will become easier, and the results will speak for themselves.

15 to 30 minutes of general revising will make new concepts more understandable, and in the end, this investment will prevent students from falling behind.

Because as graduates and experienced students can attest to, learning is exponentially harder when one’s trying to catch up on lessons and ideas.

Stay Organized

Taking concise notes, organizing folders (and corresponding papers), maintaining a calendar to keep track of due dates, and implementing other organization-centered steps are important ingredients in the recipe for educational success. Between family, friends, and hobbies, students’ time is in high enough demand, and wasting minutes (or even hours) looking for papers, deciphering notes, and “cramming” is unwise and unnecessary.

Speak Up in Class

Last but certainly not least, speaking up in class—especially when core concepts are unclear—is a must for students who wish to start the new school year off on the right foot.

Receiving clarification from an educator is beneficial in two key ways: It helps one to understand lessons, and it also demonstrates to others that it’s alright to ask questions—a point that will result in additional lesson-plan clarity.

Summer has been nice, but the new school year is right around the corner. Thankfully, students need not be nervous; the listed tips will help them to succeed, and a strong work ethic will turn their dreams into reality.

Thanks for reading, and here’s to being successful in school!

This article was originally published on JamesCrickmore.org.uk.

How To Encourage Your Kids To Get Outside This Summer

With so many entertainment-providing technological devices at their disposal, youths might not see the need to spend time outside. Witnessing young people avoid the outdoors can be discouraging for parents, especially during the nice weather that occurs during the summer months. That said, parents may be able to help their children overcome this frustrating and potentially unhealthy habit by employing tips such as the following.

Relocate Activities To The Outside

Parents are encouraged to relocate specific activities and games they enjoy outdoors. At the very least, young people will be outside. Moreover, sunlight and warmth might encourage them to partake in more physical activities.

Foster Outdoor Family Outings

Parents may be able to stimulate a youth’s interest in being out and about by organizing outdoor family events like neighborhood walks, picnics or nature hikes.

Have Children Partake In Outdoor Chores

Adults might drum up their children’s interest in being outside by requesting their assistance performing specific outdoor chores such as washing the family car, raking leaves, painting or performing a variety of yardwork-related tasks.

Champion An Outdoor Hobby

Sometimes young people who lack the interest have no desire to participate in sports or other physical activities. However, that should not deter parents from encouraging them to spend time outside. Adults might be able to circumvent this issue by championing participation in certain outdoor activities such as gardening.

Do Not Get Upset If A Mess Occurs

In certain instances, young people might express hesitation over engaging in outdoor activities in fear of returning home looking messy. Adults are encouraged to not frown upon messes that occur when their children enjoy the outside. A little dirt and mud can be part of that experience.

Set Up Outdoor Play Dates

Parents with young children are encouraged to organize outdoor play dates with other neighborhood kids. The only prerequisite for the excursion is that the young people are engaging in some type of outdoor activity.

Incorporate Your Pets

Many young people enjoy spending time with family pets. Animals, especially dogs, typically like to spend time outside. Another method adults might employ to get their children outside is to allow them to walk the family dog. They can also play fetch. Your dog will be grateful for the exercise, and chances are your children will enjoy themselves as well!

This article was originally published at JamesCrickmore.org.uk.

Top Fitness Routines for Beginners

Everyone knows that physical fitness is an important component of a well-rounded life. That said, it can be hard to get motivated and actually start to get fit. For people who aren’t currently fit, a new workout routine can be intimidating. Whether they have never been fit or they’re backsliders, the idea of a new fitness regime can be daunting. Luckily, there are some great resources out there for people who want to take the plunge and start to get fit. Even an absolute beginnercan find great plans that will help them get started.

Once people have some grounding, a good fitness program isn’t that hard to construct. FITT is a guideline can help people develop an effective workout regime on their own. Frequency, intensity, time and type are the elements that make up the FITT acronym. Frequency is how often someone works out.

Typical advice from professionals for frequency is five days per week. Those five days should incorporate three sessions of strength training and three sessions of cardio. Typically, one workout day is active recovery or easy cardio, for example, a walk and a gentle stretch.

Intensity is a huge variable when it comes to workouts. For absolute beginners, intensity should never go beyond about the halfway mark. Doing too much too soon can lead to injury that will curtail a workout program altogether. Light to moderate intensity in both cardio and resistance training is ideal for a beginner.

Time refers to the duration of a workout. For beginners, each workout should last just 20 to 30 minutes. Again, overdoing it can lead to injury or burnout. The time per workout typically grows naturally as a person gets more fit. For example, if someone enjoys running, they will want to do greater distances each time they set out. Instead of one mile, they will want to do three, then five and so on.

Finally, type refers to the kind of workout being done. Generally speaking, there are two types of workout, cardio, and strength or resistance training. However, for fitness to continue to develop, muscle confusion is necessary. A program that mixes things up will have great results. Options for cardio include walking, running and swimming. Resistance training can involve weights, bands, or body weight.

This article was originally published at JamesCrickmore.org.uk.

Networking Advice for Entrepreneurs

Becoming an entrepreneur comes with many challenges. One of these, networking, is extremely important, but entrepreneurs overlook its importance or are too intimidated to begin. Networking is vital to the success of your business. By making connections, you’ll be able to create a strong foundation on which to grow your company. Taking the first step can be scary, but the following advice will help you build a group of individuals who can provide you with industry information, advice, or even referrals.

Do Your Research

Before attending a networking event, make sure you have a solid understanding of what the event will be like. Familiarize yourself with details such as the dress code. Make a list of attendees you want to speak with, and determine whether or not it’s possible to reach out to them before the event.

Create an “Elevator Pitch”

Being able to sum up your business and role in a short and eloquent manner is important in all aspects of entrepreneurship. This short summary, also known as an “elevator pitch,” will help you create connections. Keep in mind that this isn’t just another sales pitch. Instead, your goal is to communicate as effectively as possible to those that you’re interested in adding to your network.

Don’t Be Shy

Speaking to strangers is a necessity when it comes to growing your professional network. Because of this, you can’t afford to be shy! Remember that everyone is there to talk to new people. Starting conversations isn’t difficult. Introducing yourself and asking questions are great places to begin. Remember that with every introduction, you’re getting one step closer to establishing a network that will be very helpful in your future endeavours.

Listen to Others

Remember that even though you want to share as much about you and your business as possible, it’s equally important to listen. When you’re nervous, it can be easy to ramble on and accidentally take over the conversation. By listening, making eye contact, and using someone’s name in conversation, you’re stressing that you care about the other person and what they have to say.

Follow Up

Hopefully some of the people you’ve spoken with will have provided you with contact information. This is great! The last important step is to follow up with them after the event. Ideally you want to reach out to them less than 48 hours after meeting. To ensure that they remember you, reference something that you talked about when you met.

Expanding your professional network is a vital part of your success as an entrepreneur. This process doesn’t have to be intimidating. By being prepared, engaging others in conversation, and following up with them, you’ll be able to build a strong network.

This article was originally published at JamesCrickmore.co.uk.

How to Create a Healthy Work Life Balance

Work is an important part of leading a financially stable life. Experts, however, caution that continuous exposure to work without a balance with other leisure activities can have negative effects on an individual. Workaholics suffer tremendous social dissociation and other psychological problems which may lead to the onset and progression of depression. When thinking about maintaining a healthy work-life balance, you should place an emphasis on creating a personal policy and standard by which to live. Here are some key tips on how to create a healthy work-life balance.

Start Gradually

If you don’t have a good balance between work obligations and personal life, experts advise starting small and building momentum as you create such a balance. One may start by creating some time-off from the busy work schedule, and later advancing to make it part of day-to-day operations. In case one is in denial on the importance of such a work-life balance, starting by creating the right mentality and accepting the need for the same is highly advisable.

Building a Social Support Framework

Sometimes, people may get discouraged from maintaining a perfect work-life balance due to the absence of a social support framework from friends. Having friends who share in the idea of creating time for social life helps reinforce the idea of leading a healthy and well-balanced life. Such close friends come in handy in helping ensure that one creates sufficient time for socialization.

Take Advantage of Important Moments

Work is a guaranteed constant in life. Important life, however, are rare to come by. Whenever one of such rare life moments such as opportunities to go abroad for a holiday comes, it is important to fully utilize them at the expense of workplace duties. Other opportunities such as cases of family illnesses and grief should also be prioritized to create a sense of belonging, pride, and association with one’s family.

Schedule Any Home-Based Work

Sometimes, it becomes inevitable that you need to take workplace duties home. In these cases, such duties should be appropriately planned for and scheduled to avoid eating into the otherwise social time. If necessary, home-based work should be appropriately scheduled so that it does not recur into one’s weekly or daily life.

Observing such practices helps establish and nurture a healthy work-life balance.

This article was originally published at JamesCrickmore.co.uk.

Best Spring Cleaning Chores for Children

Spring has arrived and with it, the need to freshen up the home. Spring cleaning is a tradition that has endured so long in part because of the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment that comes from a yearly purge-and-cleanse routine.

But that sense of accomplishment doesn’t have to be limited only to the adults in the home. It’s been established that children also benefit from the inclusion and teamwork, as well as the cleanliness itself, when they’re allowed to participate in easy chores around the house.

A beginner’s chore that’s often recommended for tots ages two through four is helping to make their beds in the morning. For some, this may simply mean making sure the pillow is at the head of the bed and the blanket is not wadded up in a corner. But for older children it can be rewarding to begin the very start of their day with an act of tidying.

Another favorite that older children can get in on is taking care of any household pets. Spring cleaning is a good opportunity to introduce children to the idea that it’s good to cleanse areas of the home, like the animal’s dining space, now and then. Children can be shown that, just like with humans, it’s good to wash out dishes with hot water and some soap.

Picking up toys is another good habit for children to learn early so that they have that set of cleanup skills later in life. While it may be necessary even daily to put away toys strewn around the home, spring cleaning is a chance to take it beyond that and introduce the concept of sorting.

During sorting, children can decide which of their playthings are still in good condition, get played with often, and are well-loved. This may need to be split up into several different sessions, to avoid getting overwhelmed. Then, any toys that aren’t being used or are damaged can be put aside for donations or discarded, respectively. This will leave more space for new playthings or it can simply offer children a larger area to play in.
In general, children tend to be left out of the larger spring cleaning chores. It can help them feel capable, included and important to be given their own assignments, as well as providing occupation for them so that the tasks which aren’t child-friendly can be done in relative peace.

This article was originally published on JamesCrickmore.org.uk.

The Best Sports for Children

It is far too easy for children to spend the entire day on their phone or computer. This sedentary lifestyle can potentially lead to major health problems including obesity and high blood pressure. The best way to get kids to spend time outside is by getting them invested in sports. In addition to providing physical activity, sports will also build the social skills of any child. These are the four best sports for children.

Football

Football is beloved by millions of people around the world because it is such an easy game to learn to play. There is just something exciting about trying to pull the same moves as the professionals. A great thing about football is that children can start learning the game at a very early age. Juggling and dribbling lessons can be started as early as age three. Once they develop the simple skills, they will be ready to run around the pitch with a team.

Basketball

Basketball may not be very popular in the UK, but it is actually the perfect sport for children. The game helps strengthen a kid’s hand-eye coordination, reflexes and endurance. With only five people covering the large court, basketball also requires a team to communicate and work together at all times in order to succeed.

Swimming

It is completely natural for a child to be afraid of the water. This fear will not go away until the child learns how to swim at a high level. This is why it is vitally important for children to pick up the sport of swimming at a young age. Swimming laps and breathing underwater are great ways to build lung strength. Overprotective parents that are afraid of the dangers of sports will absolutely love swimming because there is almost no risk of injury.

Tennis

While most sports teach kids to work together as a team, tennis forces them to learn how to compete on their own. This will be an extremely important skill later in their life. It is impossible to have a successful career without the determination to succeed as an individual. In addition to the positive lifestyle skills learned through tennis, the sport also helps improve a child’s physical strength and quickness.

This article was originally published on JamesCrickmore.org.uk.

How to Get Your Golf Skills Ready for the Spring Season

When it comes to golf, it’s important not to put off getting your game ready for the spring. By investing time in getting your equipment ready and your body in shape now, you’ll be ready to take on this season. The following tips are a great way to prepare.

Ready Your Equipment

Although this step is one of the most obvious, it is still very important. You won’t be able to play at your best if you’re using damaged equipment! You don’t want to be caught off guard and realise your equipment is in need of repair in the middle of a game. Save yourself some future frustration by looking over your gear now. Clean your golf clubs and check to see if they need to be re-grooved. Double check the shafts and grips. If you need to replace any parts, order them now. Now is also a good time to take everything out of your golf bag and reorganize it as necessary.

Consider Some Cardio

Start some regular cardio workouts now to ensure you’ll be in top shape this season. Don’t put it off. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll be able to reap the benefits. This way you won’t be stuck struggling and out of breath partway through your 18 hole course!

Visit your local gym to see what equipment they offer. If you need extra motivation, consider joining a fitness class. Even an activity as simple as going for a run will benefit you in the end.

Perfect Those Putting Skills

Now is the time to polish your putting skills. Putting is also relatively easy to practice at home. Ensure your swing is straight by placing two objects on either side of your golf ball. If you accidentally hit either of them with your club, you’ll know your swing is crooked. Putting is one of the most important skills you’ll need. Having solid putting skills will make all the difference when you’re out on the course.

Do Your Research

Remember, golf isn’t just a physical game, but a mental one. You should read up on the sport. Pick up a recommended book or magazine. Looking up information online is an even simpler option. Golf Digest and Golf Channel are two websites full of quality content. Consider following them on social media for a constant stream of updates.

This article was originally published on JamesCrickmore.org.uk

Why VR Can’t Replace the Gym

The industry of virtual reality and augmented reality is an exciting one! The technology is being introduced into the fitness industry, and it’s showing some potential. Although both VR and AR are being experimented with, it is virtual reality that seems to have taken the fitness industry by storm. VR technology will immerse users in a virtual world that could cause them to forget they’re even working out. In 2017, a record-high of $3 billion dollars was invested into the VR market. It’s expected by 2021 the VR market will reach a level of $215 billion. These numbers are very impressive and display the industry’s promise. VR fitness is starting to attract new age groups, especially youth. This is because most of the younger generation are interested in video games. They’re enjoying incredible virtual experiences while they compete or train with other users around the world. The gaming industry has typically been dominated by a male audience. However, with VR for fitness and health, more women have expressed interest. There is currently a lot of positive feedback from people getting in shape using various VR games. However, the feedback has been based mainly on cardio training.

The drawback to using VR for fitness is that it is solely based on cardio. When it comes to fitness and living a healthy lifestyle, variety is key. Most of those who work out enjoy variety in their routines. People who go to a gym train there because of the choices they have and selection of equipment. For example, you have free weights, swimming pools, and machines. These are some activities that cannot be replicated in virtual reality. For example, if someone may want to bench press weights. This simply isn’t replicable in a VR system. Due to these hurdles, virtual reality can’t replace the gym. Another obstacle to overcome is the equipment. Virtual reality requires you to wear a headset. However, it isn’t practical to wear a piece of equipment over your head 4 or 5 times a week for a workout. Another setback is the weight of the VR headset. An ideal headset would be one that’s wireless, light, and comfortable. A headset that was built similar to snowboarding goggles could be worn for a long duration of time.

While virtual reality has encouraged more people to work out lately, it certainly can’t replace the gym. Virtual reality lacks variety, and requires the usage of a headset that makes working out at home harder than it is at the gym.

This article was originally published on JamesCrickmore.org.uk