Factsheet: Holiday Depression and StressT he holiday season can be a time full of joy, cheer, parties and family gatherings. But for many people, it is a time of self-evaluation, loneliness, reflection on past failures and anxiety about an uncertain future.
What Causes Holiday Blues? Many factors can cause the “holiday blues”: stress, fatigue, unrealistic expectations, over-commercialization, financial constraints, and the inability to be with one’s family and friends. The demands of shopping, parties, family reunions and house guests also contribute to feelings of tension. (more…)
Driving Safely In Winter
Weather Snow, ice, and extreme cold can make driving treacherous. These safety tips from CDC, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the National Safety Council can help make winter car travel safer.
" Before winter arrives, have your car tuned up, check the level of antifreeze, make sure the battery is good, and check your tire tread or put on snow tires.
" Keep emergency gear in your car for everyday trips:
" cell phone
" flashlight
" jumper cables
" sand or kitty litter (for traction)
" ice scraper, snow brush, and small shovel
" blankets
" warning devices (e.g., flares, reflectors)
" For long car trips, keep food, water, extra blankets, and required medication on hand.
By Laura Kelland-May
Does your skin get dry and flaky during the winter? By following these simple tips your winter skin care routine could go from flaky to fully hydrated.
I could tell winter was coming just by the way my skin was feeling. The humid summer evenings seemed to turn to arid winter days that left my skin dry and parched. The cool winter winds coupled with central heating is a double whammy, sucking the moisture from your skin. This often leaves your skin dry, itchy and flaky. If not protected from the drying effects of winter conditions, your skin may be permanently damaged. To prevent excessive moisture loss and keep your youthful appearance try the following tips:
Drink plenty of water: Supply your body with adequate moisture by drinking eight 250 ml glasses of water per day. Moisture loss really can not be prevented, so, provide additional moisture for your skin to draw upon to prevent dryness.
Getting a lower interest rate on a credit card can be as simple as lowering the rate on your existing account.
Fax Machines
Telephones
File Cabinets
Internet Access
Credit Cards And Loans
Credit Counseling Services
Credit Reports
Small Business Credit Cards
Hanging Files
Manila File Folders
Computers
Call institutions at which you have existing credit card accounts. Ask them to convert your account to the lowest available rate. Ask them to consider your payment history and longtime customer relationship.
Search for a company with better rates if your existing credit card company cannot satisfy your request. Look for solicitations in the mail or contact local banks. You can even contact either Visa or MasterCard and ask for a list of preferred issuers.
Contact companies in which you are interested and ask for an application. Inquire whether you can send an application by phone, fax or Internet.
Once you complete and return the application, you should have an answer within 10 business days. Call if you haven’t heard anything.
If your request is denied, the company is required to give you an explanation in writing. You are also entitled to a free copy of your credit report. Your denial letter should explain how you can obtain this. If it does not, contact the credit card company directly and ask for assistance.
You can keep rolling over credit card balances to different cards at introductory rates until you are able to pay off your account balance. However, this can be time-consuming and requires you to keep accurate records.
Read the fine print – these “lower” rates may be introductory rates only, meaning they only last for a short period of time, after which your rate will jump up.
Maintain a good credit history. Credit card companies generally reserve the lowest interest rates for customers with the strongest credit histories.
Every person can avoid being involved in accidents at work by following these ten simple tips.
1. Always be alert on the job-Being awake and alert all the time while at work will not only prevent accidents from happening at work. It will also enhance the performance of the worker and can even earn him a promotion or a salary increase. Most of the people who become involved with accidents at work are those who feel sleepy while working.
2. Wear the required uniform-A person who works in a factory has a greater chance of being involved in an accident at work. Thus, he should be more vigilant about the wearing of proper uniforms and other protective garments when working. Never take safety to chance so always go to work with the proper dress code. If your work requires you to wear a hardhat helmet then wear it.
3. Listen and actively participate during emergency drills-Some work places conduct emergency drills to make sure their employees know what to do in cases of emergencies so as to avoid accidents. Some employees take this as another boring drill so they just look around and take it for granted. So when emergency time comes they are the ones who are left behind in the face of grave danger.
4. Always ask your supervisor about the possible risks of doing a certain task-There are workers who are exposed to danger just by doing their regular workloads. A worker should always check with his supervisor if he is unsure about the task at hand or if he feels that doing that task will expose him to great danger.
5. Never take a high-risk job for which you have not been trained for-It is stupid for anyone to take on a high-risk job especially if he has not been trained for the job. Imagine an untrained person doing the job of a fireman? Doing this will not only expose you to a great danger but will expose other people to danger as well. 6. Always follow the safety program of your workplace-Employers are responsible for the well-being of their workers while at work so they have installed safety programs which the employees should follow. Employees can avoid an accident at work if they follow the safety program mandated by the employer.
7.Always be on the lookout for possible cause of accidents and then report it to the management-There are workers who are already aware of a disaster waiting to happen but they refuse to see the warning and go on with their work. If you see telltale signs of a possible cause of accident at work like a ceiling that is about to give way or a stairway thats about to give way then you should report it to the proper authority immediately. Do not wait for the accident to happen as it might happen to you.
8. Owners of a company should always post signs or rules that should be observed by their employees in order to avoid a possible accident at work. These posters should be posted in areas that are highly visible to the workers so they will be able to read them.
9. Formation of an emergency team among the workers-The team will be responsible for monitoring possible hazards at work that may cause an accident. They will also formulate rules and regulation to be observed in case of possible incidents that may cause harm to the workers.
10. Never risk the health and safety of the employees-Profit may be the main motivation of a company but they should earn their keep without exposing their workers to hazard. Company owners should always prioritize the health and safety of their workers no matter what.
There are a lot of precautionary measures that both employers and employees can take to prevent an accident at work. However, a worker who follows the safety measures and procedures set by the employers for the workplace will most likely be able to prevent future accidents.
There are many people who go searching for their perfect career. Some people browse through online advertisements, post resumes on the Internet, and maybe even consult the horoscopes. But for Robin Alawat, the perfect career found her.
Before 2006 Robin made a living selling Mercedes at the Astorg dealership in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Robin was exceptional at customer service. So exceptional in fact, that on two separate occasions customers asked if she ever thought about getting into insurance. Robin said she didn’t think about selling insurance until she was confronted by her own car customers. “The one person who told me to get into insurance was a branch manager for West Virginia. His mom came in to buy and car and he was with her,” Robin said. “He thought I would be good at it because he thought I had a good way of explaining things to people.”
It took two years before Robin made the decision to leave the car dealership and start her own insurance agency. Robin said the deciding factor for the career change was her son Caleb, who was only one year old at the time. “The car business involves a lot of hours and at that time I missed out on a lot of his life,” she said.
Robin determined that she wanted to be more involved in Caleb’s life and decided that owning her own agency would allow her to do that, she said. In 2006 Robin became appointed as an Erie Insurance Agent and started her own business later that year.
Robin said she is glad she made the decision to own her own agency. “At the time my husband Anthony and I decided we were going to run [the agency] together as a family business,” she said. Unfortunately, Anthony passed away four months after opening the agency. “At one point I thought I was going to close,” Robin said.
But the thought of her son Caleb kept her motivated. “I knew in the long run I had to keep on with my agency and try to learn how to be a single parent,” she said. Robin also said that keeping busy with the business helped her overcome the difficulty of losing her husband.
It took some hard work and trying times, but Robin was able to build her agency from scratch.
“I built my book of business from the ground up,” she said. “I had to go out and get those customers.”
Robin did her own marketing and convinced her friends and family to switch insurance providers. “I’ve always worked in customer-service related jobs, so it’s kind of my niche,” she said. Robin holds licensing in Property and Casualty and Life insurance.
Now remarried, Robin envisions her son eventually taking over the family business after he graduates from college.
Alawat Insurance is located at 3205 Grand Central Avenue, Vienna, West Virginia. For more information, call (304) 865-2434.
Are you having a hard time thinking of how to keep your pets away from restricted areas? Good thing, there is already a wireless and underground pet fence you can install in your own safe zone. It is the latest technology in the pet fence system these days. And surprisingly, more and more pet owners have this system because it is both practical and convenient. Why? Because you would not have to think about putting up a wooden or steel fence around your house just to keep your pet from roaming around the neighborhood.
Just like humans, dogs and pets alike need breathing space. Pets do not have to be locked up in a cage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They should also have some form of exercise and play time once in a while. You should not deprive your dog the need for walking or playing outside the house. Remember, pets should be treated with proper care so do not cage him all day long. On the other hand, you do not want your pet to go rummaging around the community without you. (more…)
New Year’s Eve is a great time for everyone to celebrate the coming of a new year and the memories of the old. Thought filled with celebration and fun for humans, it can often be a rough night for a lot of animals. Below are some things to keep in mind while you celebrate this wonderful event!
1. Be observant of your animal’s response to loud noises. Thunderstorms and fireworks are the best known causes for pet anxiety, but celebration party favors and popping champagne corks can be just as traumatizing. If you are hosting a New Years Party, make sure your pets are placed in a comfortable area that is separate from the activities. Make sure they have plenty of water and are comfortable. When possible, refrain from keeping them outside, as fireworks and other neighbors celebrating can lead to the same ruckus and worry.
2. Always keep your pet’s tags on. In the case they do get spooked and bolt for an open door or gate, an ID tag will be imperative to getting them home safely.
3. Beware of alcohol! Many pets can be drawn to glasses of beer or liquor that have been left behind after the celebration is over. Consumption of alcohol can be highly dangerous for animals, and even deadly. Make sure to thoroughly clean up the area before you allow your pets to enter. Always keep a close eye on your pets, and make sure you never give them any alcohol as a treat or joke.
4. Be aware of party decorations. Balloons, streamers, party hats or confetti can be unhealthy for an animal if ingested. While decorating for your party, keep the animals in a separate area where they do not have access to the decorations. If they do get into them, consult a veterinarian immediately.
Information provided by Pets911.com.