Sick of the 9-5 slog? Tired of feeling like you are on a hamster wheel with the same routine day-in-day-out? When you are working hard to support your family, it can be easy to feel like life is slipping away, and you are not making the most of it. You have financial obligations, family obligations and demands on your time everywhere that you turn. There often feels like there is little time to enjoy life.

How can you inject some fun back into the mundane, and reconnect with the person that you are without the stresses and strains? They are still there; they just needs waking up!

Goal setting is not exclusive to the workplace. Goals are a great way to give you direction and the feeling that you are proactively working towards something. Without a goal, you will feel like a boat on the sea without a rudder – just floating wherever the tide takes you.

So, spend some time to set yourself realistic goals. A family holiday to a long-haul destination of your dreams, lose a set weight, or maybe you want to move to a larger house within two years? Set yourself a measurable goal and work backwards from it to identify the steps that you need to take to achieve it.  Here are three areas that you can set goals in.

• Work

Work takes up most of your working day, and so it is crucial that you do something that brings in the money but also makes you feel satisfied and fulfilled. When you are in the same role for some time, it can start to feel like double maths.

When was the last time that you had a serious conversation with your managers about career progression and other opportunities within the business? You need to be in control of your career path, and not just wait for prospects to find you.

If the conversation does not provide you with positive steps to take, it may be time to look for a new role with another company. A new position or job with another company will give you fresh challenges and spark your motivation.

• Education

You may have left education many moons ago, and thought that you’d seen the back of it, but learning something new is one of the best ways to transform your life. Plus, it can be an ideal opportunity to open the gateways to a new career.

There are so many subjects that are offered through online learning, that there will be something to interest you. OriGym Courses – https://origympersonaltrainercourses.co.uk/course/level-3-personal-trainer for personal trainers, counselling courses, health and safety, the list is endless, but first, you need to identify what interests you.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you want to learn for fun or for work?
• How much time can you devote each week to your studies?
• Do you want to develop a specific skill?

Your answers will shape the type of course that you should choose.

• Hobbies

You may feel that there are just not enough hours in the day to commit to another demand of your time, but having a goal focused hobby can benefit all other aspects of your life.

• Hobbies boost your confidence and self-esteem. When you see how you have progressed in a hobby and can feel improvement, you start to feel good about yourself.
• Hobbies expose you to new perceptions. Typically, hobbies are social, and when you meet new people, you are open to new and differing points of view. You’ll be challenged and agreed, both of which can change your world view.
• Hobbies make you interesting! You will have something else to talk and think about other than work and home life.
• Hobbies relieve stress. If you feel like life is a rat race and overwhelming, the chances are high that you are experiencing stress. When you are taking part in a hobby, you have the chance to relax and escape responsibilities, work and chores – even for just a short while. You will find that you are better equipped to deal with challenges and obstacles if you have this time to switch off. Your brain acts like a muscle and needs downtime too.

Hobbies are a great way to challenge yourself, learn to be patient, be resilient, and above all else, achieve what you set out to do. These are experiences that enrich all aspects of life. If your current hobby doesn’t challenge you, you will not be benefitting from it, so why not try something new? Explore different hobbies and find your tribe.

Goal setting is a great way to kick-start your life and give you purpose. Don’t fall into the trap of being unrealistic – acknowledge your weaknesses and play for your strengths and enjoy achieving your goals.

It’s not just bright orange super cars that need a bit of TLC

We put a lot of emphasis on safe motoring over the winter months because it’s dark, the weather is miserable and conditions are difficult. Some motorists who do more mileage than I do even go as far as changing to winter tyres.

Plenty of the high street tyre shops and garages even offer free winter check ups to make sure your cars not going to be a hazard caused by something you could have easily remedied.

It’s odd isn’t it that we don’t do the same come the summer? We’ve not had a great deal of rain recently but over the weekend we had a torrential downpour. Afterwards the roads were really greasy, dangerous even, especially with a rear wheel drive two-seater (I was in my wife’s Fiat 124, which doesn’t have a slip differential at the back). Likewise the multitude of insects I destroyed over the bank holiday weekend required as much screen wash as I used four months ago getting the salt they gritted the road with off.

What I’m saying basically is we probably should put just as much effort into making sure our cars are roadworthy when the weather takes a turn for the better. Fortunately when you take your car in for a service or an MOT they check the tyres to ensure that they’re road legal but that that doesn’t stop you for checking a few obvious things yourself. If your car doesn’t have swanky tire pressure sensors, you should regularly check the tyre pressure and check for any bulges or abnormalities in the tyres themselves.

You don’t need to have a super car to take an interest in the mechanical running of your car, and with only a few mm of the tyres in contact with the road surface at any one time, they’re sort of important! When I did my track day, which included the orange monster at the top of the post, it was at one of the sites Everyman Racing using just outside Northampton. As well as doing track days for super cars, a lot of these sites also do bring your own car days, which is exciting. The tyre squeal from a Civic going through a hairpin feels every bit as exciting as driving a Porsche (honest)! There are actually a lot of race tracks around Northampton, so it would probably make sense to get your tyres checked and maybe consider  getting robust tyres in Northampton at the best rates only from Calmac Tyres. Why not visit their autocentre today!

I had a rather dangerous issue with a tyre once, when I clipped a kerb in the Yorkshire Dales. It slightly cracked my plastic hubcap but more importantly it destroyed the tyre in a way that wasn’t obvious to me immediately but would have been immediately apparent to a trained tyre technician. All that was visible was a slight bulge in the sidewall of the tyre. Fortunately before I loaded the car and drove the 200+ miles home, I decided to take it up to cruising speed with just me in it. I say fortunately, because I suffered a blow out- the tyre literally exploded- on the motorway. I had a quick lesson (and a bit of a telling off!) from the breakdown cover chap who came to fix it about how tyres are made (there’s a lot more metal in there than I realised), which led me to an understanding of how much we need to look after our tyres.

One of the most important parts of a car is often the part that we pay little attention to. If the car’s making a funny noise or seems slow in acceleration, we tend to pop down to the garage and ensure that a mechanic runs his eye over it. If it’s in warranty, that’s a cheap fix (hopefully), if it’s an older car, well it still needs fixing. The one thing we don’t tend to spend an enormous amount of time thinking about is the tyres. It’s odd when you think of it though isn’t it? The tyres are the one point of contact our car actually has with the road and often it’s only when the MOT flags up an issue with the tread depth that we get excited enough to even think about them.

As parents though we have a bit more of a responsibility don’t we? For example there’s not much point in replacing worn out brake pads if the tyres aren’t going to give you much grip in the first instance.

I’m reaching the stage now where I’m looking to change my company car. My Honda Civic was good enough with three kids aged 4-9 when I got it three years ago but by the time it’s replacement is due to go back, the kids will be 10-15 and that needs something all together larger.

Earlier on today I was organising test drives for the three I’ve whittled it down to- the Peugeot 5008, the Citreon C5 Aircross and the Toyota Rav4. I’m veering towards the Peugeot at the moment because it has an extra row of pop up seats in the boot that I can stick whichever child needs a bit of peace and quiet. It obviously helps that it’s won the large SUV of the year award too.

We used to have a Rav4 years ago and it was like travelling in a big cosy armchair but it’s probably not going to be big enough, unlike the Peugeot which is plenty large enough. Of course when you get a bigger car with softer suspension it can be harder to spot if the tyres have degraded until it’s potentially too late. It is absolutely mandatory to have the right tyres fitted to your own vehicle type. There are many tyre garages who can do this for you. Let’s say If you choose Peugeot tyres from Point S you can be sure that the tyres are a good match for your car which is important when you’ve got kids in the back, each trying to incite the other two to nuclear war. It’s one less thing to worry about isn’t it?

Starting your own business in the UK has never been easier. Thanks to the digital world that we live in, you don’t even need to have a warehouse in which to store your products if you’re ready to start making sales. There are countless options to help you get your venture off the ground, including affiliates, drop shipping and more.

However, just because starting a business is easier than it once was, doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges to consider. For instance, one of the biggest things that people struggle with when it comes to launching their own company is merely taking the plunge and getting started. If you’ve had an amazing idea in mind for months now, but you still haven’t taken that next step, here’s how you can start your business today.

Speak to HMRC and Get Compliant

HMRC needs to know that you’re going to be self-employed. With that in mind, it’s worth logging onto their website and finding out everything you can about becoming a sole trader or working as a limited company. It’s also a good idea to look at the free online training available for HMRC, which will give you the basics on what you need to know about tax returns, record-keeping and more.

While you’re at it, make sure that you’re compliant with everything that the government expects from you when you become a business. This means that you may need to check whether you need any specific trading licenses or insurance before you begin working with customers.

Think about Your Finances

Cash flow is one of the most important parts of running a business. However, managing your money starts long before you launch your company. First of all, you’ll need to open a business bank account. This is where all of the cash moving in and out of your organisation will go. It’s also where you’ll be collecting statements from for your accountant.

With your bank account sorted out, you’ll also be able to start seeking out a loan. For some people, the best option will be to go with a specialist business loan. However, it might be difficult to get this kind of loan if your company isn’t pre-established. You can speak to your bank about the opportunities available and go from there. Remember to compare your loan options to get the lowest price.

Get Insured

We mentioned insurance in the compliance section above because it’s an essential part of running a safe business. If you want to stop yourself from going bankrupt the moment a client decides that they have a problem with you, then you need insurance straight away. There are plenty of different options out there, so make sure that you read up on the basics of policies and find out what kind of coverage you need.

For instance, if you run a company out of your home, but you don’t see clients at your property, then you don’t need to insure yourself against customers hurting themselves when they meet with you. Speak with an insurance or business professional if you’re not sure what you need.

Refine Your Business Plan

With a little luck, if you’ve been daydreaming about your business up to now, then you’ve probably already got the basics of a business plan in place. All you need to do now is start refining it. That means figuring out exactly how much money you’re going to dedicate to everything from employees, to marketing and more.

You can also put goals in place that will help to guide and motivate you when the going gets tough. If you know how much you plan to charge for your products and services, you can predict where you might like to be 6, 12, and 24 months from now.

Get Your Support Ready

Finally, remember that only you can take the plunge and start your own business, but that doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. There’s plenty of support out there to help you too. You don’t have to run out and employ people straight away, but you can certainly work with freelancers if you need to access some special skills that you don’t have yourself. Or you can look into just working with people occasionally when you need them most. For instance, you might have to find an accountant once a year.

As well as professional support, don’t forget to consider emotional and personal support too. Running a business is a lot harder than it seems, and you’re going to need people around you to help you thrive.

Being on holiday is supposed to be a time when you’re relaxed and enjoying your time off. Unfortunately, accidents do happen and it’s possible you could become the next victim of a personal injury incident.

Know what steps you should take if you’re injured on holiday so that you don’t have any regrets later on. Most importantly, take care of yourself and your wellbeing so that you can try to recover as quickly as possible. The better you handle the situation up front, the easier it’s going to be to get the proper help and assistance after the fact. If nothing else, remain calm and surround yourself with people who love and care about you during this difficult time.

Report the Incident

If you’re injured on holiday, your first step should be to report the incident to either the hotel or location where it occurred and to authorities. It doesn’t matter where it happened; you need to notify someone who’s in charge right away of your incident. Many companies will also have their own protocol for handling these situations, so you may need to stick around and get all the details sorted out.

Collect Evidence

You should also take time to document the scene and collect any necessary information for proving your side of the story. For example, take pictures of the scene and of your injuries, get contact details from eyewitnesses and write down specifics of what occurred. Otherwise, you may forget about these critical details later on once your memory begins to fade. You’ll want to collect this evidence so you can clearly relay all the facts to others in the future.

Take Care of Your Injuries

In addition, if you’re injured on holiday, then you should take the time to visit a doctor. Get a medical professional’s opinion on your physical and mental condition, so you have this information written down. Seek medical care even for minor injuries because you never know how much it’s going to cost you to get treated or if your condition may worsen over time. It’s a good idea to rest and make plans to return home if you’re hurt and need time to sleep and recover.

Contact A Lawyer

If you’re injured on holiday, then be sure you also contact a lawyer as quickly as possible. For example, the specialists at The Compensation Experts will be able to evaluate your situation and tell you if they think you have a personal injury case that should be pursued. You certainly don’t want the guilty party to walk away from the event without being held accountable for their reckless behaviour. This is a timely manner so make sure you seek advice and next steps right away and don’t put it off for the future.

Conclusion

You should now feel more prepared about what to do if you’re ever injured on holiday. While it isn’t the most pleasant experience to have to go through, there are steps you can follow to help ease the pain and your frustration. Use this advice as guidance so you can make sure your circumstances are properly managed.

Moving house can be just as stressful children as it is for the adults. Children have such vivid memories of growing up in a particular home that switching things up can be quite an emotional experience for them. Luckily, the experience of moving your life can be transformed into something positive with just a few sentimental and pragmatic gestures.

Get them to help out

While this might seem an obvious step in the sense that you might very need them to help out, encouraging them to join in makes the whole process less daunting. Showing them how to pack up toys and clothes helps to distract them from the bigger picture of moving into an unfamiliar house. It also teaches them that this is more of a practical venture than one of moving away from old memories. It’s also said that letting them do fun things such as wrapping items in bubble wrap will make the whole process less stressful.

Keep meaningful objects

Getting children to make a box or travel bag full of important objects keeps an aspect of familiarity with them. Helping them pack some objects that remind them of the current house and toys they use every day will help avoid the feeling that everything they know is now in a completely different house. Some people recommend turning it into a treasure box to add an element of fun to it.

Encourage them to imagine their new room

This step also encourages you to do some creative planning, too. There are going to be some more significant, more financial, legal steps to moving that will leave you feeling preoccupied. If you’re still hunting for solicitors in Bristol, for instance, then taking a few moments out of each day to plan the kids’ new bedrooms will give both you and them something to look forward to. It also reminds you to start thinking about the design of the rest of the home. Planning the layout of each room helps with the organisation of what to pack first and which objects belong in which removal truck. The promise of painting a bedroom a favourite colour or decorating with a theme will get kids excited about their new home.

Make saying goodbye positive

Moving out of a home with plenty of memories can be hard for anyone at any age. Teaching your kids to say goodbye in a way that’s fun not only makes the move easier on them but also easy on you. Talking to your kids about all the things you can do in your new house will get them looking forward to your big move, and what lies ahead. In the meantime, the promise of a takeaway might provide some short-term excitement in your new house.

Whether you use the reward of pizza in the new house or a brand new bedroom to get your kids enjoying the moving process, it’s vital that they become a part of it. Teaching them the fun in packing and bundling up old possessions not only teaches them to see the lighter side of things but also reminds you to relax during the process. A new life and a new home is an incredibly exciting process, so why not enjoy it as much as you can?