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Ten Ways Technology Helps You at Having a Healthy Lifestyle

Advances in communication technology have made it more difficult to leave your work in the office. After all, your boss can reach you at any time on your smart phone! Fortunately, technology also provides ways to help improve your work/life balance.

1. It allows you to spend more time at home.

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Technology allows you to telecommute and work from home, which means that you can save time on commuting that you can spend with your loved ones. You also don’t need to wake up as early, which provides you with a little more sleeping time.

2 . It allows mothers to earn income while staying at home with their children.

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Technology provides stay-at-home mothers with a wide range of income opportunities, such as selling products through social media or working on a freelance basis for their former employers. Thus, mothers can balance income-generating activities with their parenting duties.

3. It provides more opportunities for workplace development.

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Instead of spending time at the office training to learn new skills, you can study training modules on your tablet or listen to audio lessons. This not only allows you to learn at your own pace without the pressure to keep up with faster learners that you may experience during workshops with limited time frames, but also provides you with more personal time that you can spend with your family or doing leisure activities.

4. It allows you to be more flexible with your schedule.

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Instead of being forced to work long hours at the office, you can take some work home with you. Of course, you also have to know how to unplug in order to maximize your personal time.

5. It helps you to stay fit.

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Instead of having to go to the gym, there are apps that you can download on your smartphone that provide you with fitness programs that are easy to do and take only a short time to complete.

6. It makes it easier to stay connected with your loved ones.

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While face-to-face interaction is still ideal, when this is not possible, texting and other forms of digital communication allow you to keep in touch even when you’re not physically together.

7. It allows you to learn while you’re commuting.

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The US Census estimates that Americans spend an average of fifty minutes a day traveling to and from work. You can make good use of this time by listening to audio lessons that can help you upgrade your skills.

8. It helps make you more efficient.

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If you have a million things to keep track of, apps and other productivity tools on your computer can remind you of deadlines as well as organizing your schedule so you can use your time more effectively.

9. It helps you avoid unnecessary meetings.

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A lot of time during the workday may be wasted in face-to-face meetings with team members; you can avoid this by using collaborative tools that allow you to keep in touch with individual members so that you can stay on top of your projects without having to talk personally with them.

10. It helps you save time on chores.

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Instead of going to the supermarket or grocery for routine trips, you can order what you need online and have it delivered straight to your home.

A lot of people believe that technology forces workers to struggle with maintaining their work-life balance. But technology can also provide workers with the flexibility to adjust their schedules without work having to intrude into their personal lives. It really depends on how you use technology and how you can ‘unplug’ yourself when you’re not working.

Indicators That You’re Happy with Life at Work

Having a job is great. But, are you actually happy with your job?

Here’s the thing: when you’re happy with your work, it becomes easy for you to do your best, have some confidence, and feel that you’re in a good place in life. How do you know that you’re happy at work? Here are 10 indicators:

1. You feel appreciated.

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More than anything, you’ll enjoy work when you know you are being appreciated. The best bosses are those who know how to thank their employees; those who don’t make them feel as if they’re just mere pawns, but are actually vital parts of the company.

2. You find it easy to communicate.

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Another sign that you’re happy at work is that you can easily talk to your colleagues and bosses without feeling like you’re going to be judged, or that you may not be asking the right questions. When lines of communication are severed, it means that you’re in an unhealthy work environment—which also means that you’re probably not as happy as you should be.

3. You are not worrying about gossip.

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There will always be tattletales around, but that does not mean you have to worry about them. If you’re happy where you are, and are content at work, chances are you won’t actually be worrying about office intrigues—because you feel secure.

4. You don’t find it hard to wake up.

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Snooze button? What snooze button? When you’re happy at work, you wouldn’t mind waking up early—no matter how late you went to bed the previous night. This is because you’re itching to go to work again—and you are happy with what you’re doing, no matter how challenging it may be.

5. You feel like you’re learning something new each day.

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A life that’s being well-lived is a life where you actually learn something new each day. When you feel like life is the same day in and day out, and that work is making it all the more monotonous, you’re probably just trying to survive—and not really live life.

6. You love your body.

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There are cases where gaining, or sometimes, losing weight, is caused by a boring, and demanding job. When you’re happy with your work, you’d be eating on time, and food would not be a crutch for you.

7. You laugh a lot!

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Yes, some people may say that laughter is not a gauge to happiness. But, chances are, if you’re happy with your work, you’d actually be laughing a lot—and the happiness will show on your face. It would be genuine, and not put-on.

8. You aren’t extremely sensitive.

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People who are unhappy with work are usually hypersensitive. They don’t take criticism easily, and they often feel like they’re not good enough. When you’re happy with work, you see criticism as just that—criticism—and nothing more. You don’t dwell on it, and instead, use it as a way to grow.

9. You don’t feel like the company’s too big.

No matter how big the company is, when you feel like you and everyone else are actually part of the same family, it means that you’ll be happy because you can relate to each other—and that you have a good support system with you.

10. You actually have time for other things.

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And of course, you know that work makes you happy when you have time for other things that you like—be it cooking, sports, your favorite shows, or movies, eating out, and of course, a social life!

If you can relate to these statements, it means you have a pretty good life at work. If not, well, maybe it’s high time to find a new job—so you can finally be happy the way you should be!

Nine Stress-Free Budgeting Tips for New Parents

Having a baby can be one of the most joyous events of your life. Unfortunately, it can also be one of the most expensive, since all the costs of raising a baby can really add up. However, there are many things that you can do to save on expenses and make paying for your baby more affordable.

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1. Prioritize your spending. Many parents feel that they need to have everything they will need for baby ready by the time he or she gets home. But it would be better for your budget if you prioritized immediate needs and put aside less urgent expenses. For example, instead of buying a crib, the baby can sleep in a bassinet or cradle in your room, and you can postpone your purchase for a few months.

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2. Choose gear that you can convert as your child grows. For example, you can buy a crib that can convert into a baby bed or a stroller that changes to accommodate your baby as he grows into a toddler. If you plan on having more children, you can also choose strollers that convert to accommodate two or more babies. You can also buy clothes that are one size larger since your baby will quickly grow into them.

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3. Buy baby products in gender-neutral colors. Instead of buying blue or pink items depending on the gender of your child, choose items that are green or yellow, for example. This will allow the gear to be passed on and used by future children.

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4. Skip nursing-specific clothes. If you are breast-feeding your child, you don’t need to buy clothes that are specifically designed for nursing mothers. Instead, blouses that button in front and tank tops will do. Or you can simply cover up with a scarf when nursing your baby.

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5. Buy items in bulk. This is a simple budgeting tip that new parents should adopt. For example, since you will be using a lot of diapers, there is no reason why you should not buy them in bulk quantities. In addition, you’ll be saving time and money since you won’t have to replenish these items as often.

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6. Consider making your own baby food. Doing this can also be healthier for your baby. All you have to do is invest in a small food processor and you can be sure that your baby has a regular supply of fresh food made with fruits and vegetables.

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7. Share products with your baby. You don’t need to buy products that are marketed as being for babies, such as detergents and body washes. Many of these items that are made for adults are actually also suitable for infants, as long as you make sure that they are free of ingredients that could irritate your little one as well as being gentle.

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8. Look for online flash sales. Shopping online can help you save money and you can enjoy even bigger savings if you encounter online flash sales. In addition, you can also look for coupons for products that you commonly use that you can redeem online, or print out and take to a physical store.

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9. Ask about tax deductions. In addition to the $4,000 deduction you can claim for each dependent child, there may be other tax exemptions that you can qualify for, such as the Child and Dependent Care Credit if you pay someone to take care of your child.

The best way to ensure that the costs of having a baby will not be ruinous to your finances is to prepare in advance. Before you give birth, estimate how much you will spend on baby costs so that you can plan in advance how you will deal with them.

Five Reasons Why You Should Value Work-Life Balance Over Cash Bonuses

An increasing number of workers are starting to recognize that success in their careers should not be measured by how much money they are earning, but how successfully they have achieved a work-life balance. According to the 2013 Defining Success survey conducted by global professional services company Accenture, the majority of respondents said that their top definition of career success is achieving work-life balance, ranking higher than money, autonomy and recognition. In fact, more than half of the respondents actually said that they refused a job simply because they were concerned with the negative impact it might have on their work-life balance.

Here are some reasons why achieving this balance is more important than a big paycheck.

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1. Money does not buy happiness. Many people make a lot of sacrifices for a job that offers them a high salary. But is the sacrifice they are making worth the cost to their relationships and their personal life? In fact, as long as their basic needs are met and they feel part of a supportive community, many relatively poor people are actually happier than their more moneyed counterparts.

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2. You live a healthier life. People in high-paying jobs usually have to work longer hours or have more responsibilities. This means that they have to spend more time at the office or doing work, at the expense of their personal life. Thus, while they are earning more, they are usually less fulfilled. There is also a big risk that they will burn out and end up not being as effective as they need to be in their work, which can affect their prospects for a promotion or for increased responsibilities.

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3. You learn to appreciate what you have. People often dream of having a high-paying job because they think of all the things they can buy for their family if they have more money. But what would be the point of giving your loved ones all these possessions if you don’t have the time to spend with them? In fact, many children who grew up with parents who worked all the time at high paying jobs would later say that they would have preferred to have more time with them than to have a lot of expensive toys, clothes and other possessions.

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4. It makes you work better. When you’re spending nearly all of your time at the office, with very little left for your personal life, there is a big risk that you will not have anything new you can bring to your work. If you have more time to pursue personal interests and learn new things, you can become more creative and bring a fresh perspective to your work. But if you are stuck in a rut, it is highly unlikely that you will come up with the new ideas that can keep you competitive in the workplace.

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5. You will regret sacrificing your personal life for your work. At the end of your working life, when you’re finally forced to retire, you will not say to yourself, I wish I had spent more time at the office. Rather, you will regret that your personal ties with your friends and family are not as strong as they could be, because you were not able to spend time with them. Do you want to suffer from this regret?

While in today’s society it is important to have a good salary to meet all of our and our family’s needs, ultimately, money is not everything. To live a good life, it is essential to find that balance where we are fulfilled in our career and our personal lives.

Common Diseases and Illnesses during the Rainy Season and How to Prevent it

The first step to avoid getting sick during the rainy season is to know what possible diseases you can get from the rain.

1. The Common Cold (“Sipon”)

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Let us start with the most popular. Aside from the sneezing and dizziness, it’s what comes out of your nose that ruins your poise (“nakakasira ng poise”). It costs you a lot of money on tissue paper and it also destroys your dates with your girlfriend or boyfriend. You are lucky if you do not get a sore throat and fever, too.

Avoiding common colds needs only simple steps that many people always forget to do: covering the mouth when sneezing (“pag bumabahin”), washing your hands properly, and not touching your face. It is also important to get enough sleep, so that your immune system will be strong enough not to get infected by any virus (“para hindi tamaan ng sipon”).

2. Dengue

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Now, this sickness will make you afraid. It is caused by a mosquito bite. It is dangerous. The symptoms are hard to detect. In fact, it can take as long as two weeks before you see the primary symptoms. By then, it is already too late. The disease has already spread all over your body (“malala na”). The danger signs are muscle pains, fever, and fatigue. Rashes (“butlig”) can appear a few days after the fever starts.

Prevention of dengue is important. If you have things around your house that are constantly in water (for example: fish, and plants), always keep the water clean. Beware of possible mosquito breeding grounds (“ingatan na huwag pamugaran ng lamok”).

3. Cholera

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Drinking water infected by bacteria called Vibrio cholerae is the cause of cholera. The disease causes vomiting and severe diarrhea (“pagsusuka at pagtatae”), which can lead to dehydration afterwards.

The most important thing to do to avoid cholera is to make sure that your food is clean and safe to eat. Make sure that you know where you get your food and water. The rainy season can bring a cholera epidemic, so it is important to know the areas near your place that are already affected by cholera so you can avoid going there.

4. Typhoid

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Like cholera, typhoid is caused by food and water that have been contaminated (“maruming pagkain at tubig”). It’s even more dangerous because it’s highly infectious (“mabilis makahawa”). If one member of the family gets sick with typhoid, quarantine him or her so other family members will not be infected (“ibukod ang may sakit para hindi makahawa”).

Luckily, there are vaccines that can prevent typhoid. But, once you already have typhoid, it must be carefully treated and monitored (“maingat na gamutin at bantayan”). Dehydration is a danger, so make sure to drink a lot of fluids. Even after the patient gets well, he must still be careful because the disease can come back even after only two weeks.

These four diseases are all preventable and treatable. There is no reason for you not to enjoy the rain. For many Filipinos, rain is cleansing, and as long as you are careful about your health, you can enjoy and be happy when it is raining.

1. The Common Cold (“Sipon”)

2. Dengue

3. Cholera

4. Typhoid

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