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Are Weight loss Diet Plans a long-term strategy for wellness?

Are Weight loss Diet Plans a long-term strategy for wellness?

Lots of people who want to lose weight and eat healthy, ask question does the popular weight loss diet plans actually work. If you are following one religiously right now, and you have lost some calories, you must stop and ask yourself if it’s promoting long-term wellness.  

Most of the average consumers are likely to ask how to lose weight in a week. They don’t know what they are getting themselves into when they decide to follow a popular diet.

Dieting and Exercising

Experts say that weight loss is 75% diet and 25% exercise. However, it’s true that people see short-term results fast when they eat smart. That’s probably because it is easier to cut calories instead of burning them off.

One day of cheat meal can make you lose track of your daily’s calorie count. So, if you have consumed 500 extra calories, you will probably have to run 4 more miles to burn them. Low carb diets are popular and they show results fast as well but they are difficult to sustain.

People end up cutting their calories too low and this causes their metabolism level to slow down. When this happens, you start losing muscles as well. 10 calories per pound of your body weight are considered a healthy daily calorie count.

What Really Works?

Atkins diets, cabbage soup diet, and other fad diets – we have heard of these names for weight loss. The problem with these fads is that they only offer quick fixes. Most of all, they are developed by people who have no nutritional or health background. This makes them even more harmful than you think.

The fad diets make you restrict your food choices so you are actually eating fewer calories than before, hence the weight loss. Along with losing weight, you will also feel you are losing muscles and water. People are hardly able to maintain these diets over the long run because they are too restrictive. When people stop the diet and go back to their normal eating habits, they gain weight much faster. Sustainable weight loss only happens if you are on track. Here’s what really works:

  • Aim for slow weight loss. So, start by losing no more than half to one pound a week.
  • You must eat 3 meals a day – breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
  • Physical activity is essential for healthy weight loss. Make sure you exercise for 30 to 60 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
  • Stay away from diets that limit your food intake. Your body needs essential nutrients that are found in colorful fruits, veggies, dairy product, olive oil, nuts, etc.
  • Avoid those diets that claim eating certain foods will make you lose weight automatically.

Before following any weight loss diet plans, ask yourself, can you eat like this the rest of your life. If your answer is NO, then that plan is definitely not the best to follow.

Diets That Actually Promote Wellness

Not all weight loss meal plans are fake. There are some plans that actually promote healthy weight loss and wellness over the long run. Let’s have a look at these:

Mediterranean Diet

This diet promotes non-processed food. You are recommended to eat fresh food that includes chicken, fish, oil, and vegetables.

Also eat white meat, fruits, vegetables, cheese, herbs, nuts, whole grains, and even red wine. You can’t have red meat, processed food, and salt. Research says that the Mediterranean diet is beneficial for cardiovascular health as well. It focuses on your general well-being by making you eat healthy food.

Juice Diet

As the name implies, a juice diet consists of drinking fresh juice of fruits and vegetables. You have to avoid consuming solid foods for a couple of days.

You can’t have alcohol either. It is beneficial to add juice to your diet but you cannot survive on juice alone. It is a great diet to receive all essential nutrients from fresh produce but your body needs solid food as well.

5:2 Diet

In 5:2, you eat for 2 consistent days and go a calorie fast and 5 days of normal eating. So, you can consume 2000 to 2500 calories for 5 days. This diet is easier because you don’t have to restrict eating habits. You are just fasting and that helps improve our cholesterol level, blood pressure, and metabolism.

5:2 diet lets you focus on quality eating by making you forget about how many calories you are consuming.

The next time someone recommends you a fat loss meal plan, before blindly following it, check if it’s actually healthy to continue it in the long run. If you want to follow a meal plan, go for the ones that are safe.

The Performance Improvement Plan: When and Why You Need a PIP?

The Performance Improvement Plan: When and Why You Need a PIP?

As an HR manager or a team lead you may often find it hard to keep up with an employee’s progress. Sometimes you may also feel the need to motivate or encourage an employee to do better. Because not all people perform to the best of their abilities. The PIP aka performance Improvement Plan enables the HR personnel and team managers to provide the employees with performance deficiencies with an opportunity to improve.

Here’s all about the platform:

What is a Performance Improvement Plan?

A Performance Improvement Plan is a formal document that mentions or states all the performance issues that an employee is charged with. Let’s say, your internet service is down and so you file a complaint with the company. They in turn work to resolve the issues. Same way, an employee is capable of resolving these recurring issues by achieving a set of goals set in the PIP. This will enable the charged employee to regain his position.

The chances that you will have a meeting with not just your manager but the HR as well to discuss all that is in the PIP are high. In layman terms, your manager will be watching you over a said period until you improve your performance. And meet the goals set by your manager in your PIP.

The main aim of PIP is not to scare the employee. Instead, it is a source of constructive communication. PIP enables employees to start performing as per the set standards again. The plan is carried out at the discretion of the manager. It aims at helping a staff member who is struggling with meeting the goals perform well. PIP mainly includes an outline that is more of an improvement plan for the employee.

HR’s Role in PIP

While team leads or managers can make use of PIP as well, the HR personnel majorly uses the platform. However, the use of PIP does not fit in every situation. Therefore, the HR team should follow the given steps before carrying out a PIP:

  • Determining whether PIP is a considerable option in the situation at hand.
  • Administering all the PIPs conducted to avoid any bias on the managers’ part.
  • Guiding both the manager as well as the employee throughout the process.

PIP vs. PDP

A Performance Improvement Plan is different from a Performance Development Plan. However, it is very similar to it as well. The only difference lies in the quantity of detail that each contains. PIP contains more amount of details as compared to PDP. If an employee is already a participant of the PDP process, PIP will enable the manager to communicate certain things to the employee with a greater level of clarity.

Process Involved

There is a set process to implement any plan. Same is the case with PIP as well. Before the PIP begins, the supervisor of an employee should keep in mind the following:

  • Be very specific when it comes to the areas that need improvements.
  • Mention the level of performance that is expected of the employee.
  • Educate the employee regarding all the resources that you would provide him to make improvements in his performance.
  • Tell the employee about how you will communicate the feedback to him. Mention any meetings that you may hold.
  • Be vocal about the consequences that the employee will face if he fails to meet the performance goals set.
  • Tell him about all the sources including training session that will aid him to improve his performance.

That being said, there are certain instances when you cannot resort to PIP. More about it in the following section:

When to Apply for PIP and When Not to

Although the Improvement Plan aims at improving the performance of an employee, you cannot use it in every situation that you wish to.

When to

You can make use of the PIP in the following situations:

  • When the company agreement states that this is the must-take course in case an employee underperforms.
  • If the employee is otherwise a performer, who meets all the goals but has only recently started underperforming.
  • If the employee faces any type of personal challenges.

When Not to

  • If an employee has to work with a newly assigned manager who has different performance standards.
  • When the manager feels that the performance plan is not likely to bring any improvement whatsoever.
  • In case of moving the employee to a new department and his competencies not matching with that of the new title.

Hope this blog post was helpful for all the HR people and team managers out there. Being an HR manager I know the responsibility and pain that it brings when hiring and firing people.

Benefits of Sleep: 7 Reasons Why is Sleep Important for Our Health

Benefits of Sleep: 7 Reasons Why is Sleep Important for Our Health

Most of us don’t realize the importance of sleep. Unfortunately, as we grow, our sleep patterns change. Usually by our own doing. Even today, if I finish with all my work earlier than expected, I wouldn’t head to bed. I always find myself either browsing random how to fall asleep quickly. And I am sure I’m not alone in this.

Most of us probably do the same thing. It doesn’t matter how tired we are. Sleep somehow always seems to be a low priority. But research has made it clear that it shouldn’t be. There are countless benefits of sleep. And, unfortunately, there are also as many harmful effects of sleep deprivation.

7 Health Benefits of a Good Sleep Routine

The most obvious benefit of sleep is that it gives your mind time to rest. Not literally of course. But when you wake from a good sleep, you are likely to be refreshed, alert, and ready to take on the world. Or, you know, do your chores, whichever comes first.

  1. Better Weight Management
  2. Improved Appetite
  3. Increased Concentration
  4. Lower Risk of Heart Disease
  5. Lower Risk of Mental Illness
  6. Higher Immune Functions
  7. Better Emotional Health

 1. Better Weight Management

Did you know that adults who don’t get enough sleep are 55% more likely to suffer from obesity? The figures are more terrifying for children. Who become 89% more likely to suffer from obesity. That’s because when you are sleeping, your body heals itself. In the process, it releases hormones that help with digestion.

Additionally, when you are sleep deprived, you tend to become lethargic. That means your body and minds aren’t operating at full efficiency. So you are less likely to be motivated to work out. And slower body functions also mean that the food you consume is going to take longer to digest.

2. Improved Appetite

When your body is well-rested, it’s functions are regularized. That means your brain will be able to receive signals from the stomach when it’s full. So there are fewer chances for you to overeat. And the food you consume is processed faster and more efficiently. So you can gain more energy from your food.

But when your body is sleep deprived the reverse happens. Your body functions become slower and therefore your brain gets the signal later. Which means, by the time your brain gets the signal to stop eating, it’s already too late. You would have likely overeaten.

3. Increased Concentration

While your body is sleeping, it is healing itself and the mind. That’s why you feel more alert after a good night of sleep. But did you know that sleep can result in improved concentration and memory? Not only that, but it is also directly linked with enhanced problem-solving abilities.

So if you are well rested you can be certain that your brain performance will be better. That means sleep can help you perform better at work, in school, and even socially. The more focused you are, the better the conversations you can hold. And who doesn’t enjoy witty comments?

4. Lower Risk of Heart Disease

Did you know that sleep deprivation has been directly linked with chronic diseases like heart disease? It is also known to increase the risk of diabetes. In fact, a study was conducted to track the effects of sleep deprivation on healthy yond individuals.

The study found that just six days of sleeping for four hours resulted in major changes in the body. The participants of the study faced symptoms of prediabetes. Thankfully, they resolved within a week of returning to healthy sleep cycles.

5. Lower Risk of Mental Illness

One of the most common mental illnesses to affect people today is depression. And sleep deprivation is found to be a leading cause of the illness. Of course, this doesn’t mean that sleeping is a cure for depression. But it does mean that patients suffering from depression, often complain of poor sleep.

In fact, studies show that about 87% of people suffering from depression report poor sleep quality. Additionally, research clearly shows that patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea or insomnia show higher depressive tendencies.

6. Higher Immune Functions

Studies have shown that the immune system is the first to be affected when you aren’t getting enough sleep. Even a week of less sleep is enough to impair your body’s immune system. And with a weakened immune system, your body becomes more inhabitable for viruses.

So a lack of sleep could be the reason for your cold or flu. Often, when you feel an onset of a cold, then a good night’s rest will fix it.

7. Better Emotional Health

One of the most important health benefits of good sleep is improved emotional health. When your body gets enough sleep, there is a release of hormones that improve your emotions. Have you ever wondered why you wake up feeling content? It’s because your body was able to release those hormones while you slept.

Habits to Develop If You Want to be Successful!

Habits to Develop If You Want to be Successful!

People read all the time about daily habits of successful people . What they don’t realize is that they hold within themselves all the potential that is required to achieve that success. You can become your own version of a superman or a wonder woman only by recognizing your true potential and talents. But habits also play a huge role in achieving success.

The people who founded Google, Amazon or smart home devices for that matter didn’t manage to do so with talent alone. In making them what they are today, they needed consistency of certain habits. Some of which are creativity, self-discipline, self-motivation, and so on. It takes hard work, determination, and a set of habits, which lead you to these steps of success.

Why are Habits Important?

A person’s behavior is comprised of and determined by his habits. The quality of your habits and a positive attitude will determine what you will ever accomplish in life. If you are not surrounded by highly-motivated individuals, don’t worry. Emerge and evolve on your own and work on yourself. We have identified some of the most common and valuable habits, which are pivotal to success. You will have to work on developing them. Let’s discuss common habits of successful people!

✷ Getting Up Early

According to a study, around 50% of self-made millionaires left their beds 3 hours before their workday started. They utilize this time in planning their day, exercise, and taking care of some personal projects. Getting up early in the morning and having some free time to plan and tackle the things you want to accomplish allows you to have control of your day and your life. It gives your life a direction and confidence that you essentially need to be successful.

✷ Reading, Reading, and Reading

Without a doubt, reading is one great habit. And the majority of highly successful people that you see essentially devote some time to reading. Reading serves to give them the inspiration that they need for self-improvement and self-motivation. Also, successful people prefer biographies, self-motivation, accounts of historical figures, and other history-related content. There are valuable life lessons to learn in these literary genres. Especially in biographies and rags-to-riches narratives of successful people.

If you like fiction and sci-fi, it can help too. If you are not into reading, it will perhaps be the most crucial habit you will develop. Try business classics for inspiration.

✷ Making Exercise a Priority

It’s no secret that working out improves your health, focus, and energy levels. You feel more motivated and energized to deal with your daily tasks. Majority of successful people squeeze out at least 30 minutes for aerobic exercises like biking, jogging, and walking every day. Many notable business leaders have shared their daily routines and early morning workout was common in all of them. And they all swear by its great effects on their productivity.

If you want to be successful, you have to be health-conscious. Without sound health, you won’t be able to perform well with your endeavors and challenges in life.

✷ Self-Discipline

You have to rely on this particular habit in order to have others. Your ability to master your self-control will take you to new heights. Self-discipline covers every area of your life and personality.

You will have to work on your will power to discipline yourself. You cannot follow a pattern, work and sleep schedules, or anything for that matter of you don’t have strong willpower. Therefore, to take complete control of shaping your personality, habits, and character, you need to work on your self-discipline.

✷ Being Goal-Oriented

You cannot just go on improving your personality and daily routine and expect to achieve success. You need to have clear goals, which you want to achieve in life such as real estate careers is becoming popular in property agents. Become a habitual goal setter and then dedicate yourself to achieve them. You can set daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals.

Successful people are highly goal-oriented. They are exactly aware of what they want. They write them down and they also write down the steps and plans, which will lead them to accomplish those goals. These people also have a habit of reviewing and revising those plans and assessing their progress to achieving them on a regular basis.

✷ Being Action-Oriented

If you are not action-oriented, all this planning and writing is of no use. The real plan is to get material success. You need to have the ability to take the job and get it done, as fast and effectively as you can. You need to -evelop a sense of urgency to motivate yourself to action and then maintain it to keep going. Fast tempo is essential to pave your way to success.

Strike the perfect combo of action-orientation and result-orientation to assure success. The road to success is not going to be as easy as subscribing to Feel My Worth. But if you keep moving on with full determination and motivation, you sure to achieve success.

Why You Should Wear Blue Light Blocking Glasses at Night

Why You Should Wear Blue Light Blocking Glasses at Night

Are musicians the only one who can wear tinted glasses inside even at night? No! In fact, after knowing why you should be wearing blue light blocking glasses, you will say everyone should start wearing them immediately.

Blue light blocking glasses, as the name implies, are designed for blocking blue light most people encounter when it’s dark outside. Their function is the reverse of sunglasses. You are supposed to wear them indoors for blocking artificial light.

These glasses are not expensive. If you can afford the smart home technology, then you can afford them as well. These are equally essential! Here is what Harvard has to say about blue light.

All kinds of artificial lights have the ability to suppress the release of melatonin. The blue light, on the other hand, does that more powerfully. Researchers at Harvard conducted an experiment to compare the effects of exposure of blue light (for 6.5 hours) and green light. The blue light suppressed melatonin twice as long as the green light. This is alarming!

The following reasons further explain why you must wear it:

  1. Better Sleep
  2. Eye Protection
  3. Control Release of Cortisol
  4. Regulate Production of Melatonin
  5. Reduced Risk of Serious Illnesses
  6. Treat Mania

1: Better Sleep

Artificial lights can mess with circadian rhythm and disturb the sleep cycle. Those who work for the night shift are at a higher risk of developing cancer.  Even recreational exposure to blue light is harmful.

It is not just the shift workers, but anyone who is up after dark and looking at sources of blue light such as computer or TV is at risk. Wearing blue light protection glasses you will fall asleep fast.

2: Eye Protection

It can prevent the damage to DHA essential fat present in the retina. The pigment present inside the retina is responsible for converting sunlight into DC electric current that is required by the human body.

3: Control the Release of Cortisol

Cortisol is another hormone in the human body that is responsible for regulating blood pressure and blood sugar. It is also called the stress hormone as the more it’s released, the more stress you experience.

It’s released in the morning the most followed by the day and night on various levels. The relationship between blue light and cortisol is complex. However, experts suggest that when you are exposed to blue light in the dark, it increases the release of cortisol. That might be one reason you are stressed out.

4: Regulate the Production of Melatonin

Speaking of hormones, how can we forget melatonin? It is responsible for controlling the circadian rhythm of the body. The level of melatonin is higher throughout the night. As you are exposed to daylight, the level falls down. It helps us stay active and awake.

When artificial light interfaces with natural light, it suppresses the production of melatonin. It can hence disrupt the circadian rhythm in an individual. If you work during night shifts, it’s better to wear light blocking glasses to stay safe.

5: Reduced Risk of Serious Illnesses

Exposure to blue light can cause serious health issues such as diabetes, depress, obesity, heart diseases, and even cancer. When the melatonin level in the body is messed up, it can become a cause of developing cancer. As the circadian rhythm in a person is altered, it can cause blood sugar to rise. It’s best to wear this glasses at night to keep away from developing such illnesses.

6: Treat Mania

Bipolar patients often experience emotional highs or extreme moods known as mania. When these patients wear blue light glasses, it can improve their sleep pattern and reduce the symptoms of mania. 

✅ Tips to Avoid Blue Light

Ok, so it’s important that you wear blocking glasses. But apart from that, there are certain tips you and your family must follow to avoid blue light as much as possible:

  • Don’t use LED lights at home
  • Reduce your exposure to tablets, TV, computer, and smartphones after 11.00 PM.
  • Install a blind in your bedroom. When you are about to sleep, turn off all the sources of light. If you are comfortable, wear an eye mask for blocking the unavoidable sources of light.
  • Reduce the brightness of your computer or smartphone screen.
  • Use orange or dim red blubs in your lamps. It is recommended to use a salt lamp instead. It purifies the air and makes the atmosphere soothing.
  • Get as much natural light as you can during the day. This will not just combat your vitamin D deficiency, but it will also ensure you enjoy a good night sleep. Have an early morning walk in the sun for best results.

Don’t be afraid to wear anti blue light glasses at night. These glasses are as accessible as the online personal assistant on your speed dial. Just make sure you are getting them from a trusted brand or provider.

Secrets for Healthy Weight Loss – Fast Weight Loss Tips

Secrets for Healthy Weight Loss – Fast Weight Loss Tips

Whether you want to get in a better shape for summer bathing suit season or just to take up a healthy lifestyle, there is no such thing as a bad time to get fit. Weight loss is not an impossible task now! Let’s explore how to lose weight in a week? So be relax.

It’s not easy to simply change your diet and squeeze in more workout reps in your routine. Instead of making significant changes, simple improvements in your lifestyle can make it possible to lose weight the healthy way. Here some secrets to healthy weight loss:

  1. Start with a Balanced Diet
  2. Stop High-Calorie Beverages
  3. Snack Smarter
  4. Break Up Your Workouts
  5. Shake Your Salt Routine
  6. Stay Hydrated
  7. Prepare Meals At Home
  8. Sleep Enough
  9. Allow Yourself a Cheat Meal

1. Start With a Balanced Diet

Cutting down portion is pertinent to healthy eating. But often, we end up compromising on essential nutrients. A balanced diet includes the following foods:

  • Whole grains: Whole grains provide fiber, minerals, slow-release carbs, and antioxidants that keep your body and brain fueled.
  • Fruits and veggies: We all know fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals but low in calories. Your body will receive a variety of nutrients as you consume a rainbow of fruits and veggies.
  • Lean and proteins: Proteins keep you full longer than carbs and fats. The best sources of protein include tofu, lean meat, seafood, and poultry.  
  • Low-fat dairy: Switch to low-fat milk and yogurt. You will get a combination of protein and carbs from this.
  • Healthy fats: Healthy fat from avocados, fish, and nuts are good for your health as well as weight loss goals.

2. Stop Consuming High-Calorie Beverages

1 in every 5 calories we consume comes from beverages. These calories don’t quell hunger. So it’s time to say goodbye to soft drinks and frappuccinos. At the same time, ditch juices. In case you didn’t know, 1 glass of orange juice contains twice as much calories as a whole orange. Juicing also cuts essential fibers from the fruit that keep you full for a long time.

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3. Snack Smarter

Since you are on the weight loss journey, you can’t just munch on any snack you like. You will have to choose healthier healthy, non-fattening and, of course, satisfying snacks. The best examples are yogurt and nuts.

4. Break Up Your Workouts

You cannot experience dramatic yet healthy weight loss without workout. It’s ok if you can’t exercise for 30 minutes straight. Break down your workout routine throughout the day. Short exercises provide the same health and fitness results as the amount of exercise done in a single go for 30 to 60 minutes.

So what should be your workout routine? Try starting quick cardio in the morning, brisk walking during your lunch hour and a strength session after dinner.

5. Shake Your Salt Routine

Excess salt doesn’t just spike blood pressure, it is unhealthy in many other ways. For instance, too much salt can promote water retention. Other than this, reduce the salt intake after 7 p.m. since your metabolism is slowest at that time.

6. Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is not just good for your skin, it improves your metabolism and kidney function, too. Sometimes, human body mixes thirst signals for hunger pangs. If you think you can’t consume 8 glasses of water, then take lemon water or ginger water instead. Apart from saving calories, you will gain some extra nutrition in a bargain and its an easy ways to fall asleep.

7. Prepare 90% of Your Meals At Home

Even if you are not a kitchen pro, make your meals at home. That’s a big secret to weight loss. By controlling what ingredients you are adding in your meal, you are making healthy choices without compromising on the quality of the food or flavor.

8. Sleep Enough

Your waistline could suffer if you are sleeping for less than 7 to 8 hours. In fact, sleep deprivation can make you choose larger portions of snacks. Lack of sleep also indicates you need to alter your food choices.

Sleep is important for rebuilding muscles from the workout routine. It gives your body a chance to heal and process.

9. Allow Yourself a Cheat Meal

Keep in mind you are allowed a cheat meal, not a cheat day. This will help you keep on track especially if you are trying to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Giving yourself a cheat meal can take the wind of those cravings out.

One cheat meal per week is acceptable. As you see results, you will be surprised to see how quickly the foods you loved lose appeal.

Final Words

Don’t beat yourself up in this weight loss journey. You will slip – we all do. If you fail to stick to healthy choices one day, make sure to get back on track the next day.

7 Reasons Why People Choose Real Estate Careers

7 Reasons Why People Choose Real Estate Careers

Real estate is an ever-growing industry. Sure, there are a few setbacks when the economy struggles. But that is true with most industries, not just real estate careers. Except maybe for things like smart home devices. Which are indifferent to economic ups and downs.

A career in real estate is something you need to be passionate about. Unlike other jobs, one in real estate has no ‘offs’. You’re always on the move, making connections and finding opportunities. Because everyone wants to, at some point, buy a home or property for investments.

But that said, real estate has many different career opportunities for you. It’s not just about selling real estate. Although sales is the most common career, you can select another.

How to become a real estate agent?

The real estate industry is very big. It includes so many different fields that you can specialize in. This is why it is important for someone to be passionate about real estate agent career. Because no matter the field you choose, a career in real estate is a demanding one. Like these:

  • Real Estate Managing Broker

A managing broker is not the same as a real estate agent. A broker is certified to manage a real estate office. It is the next level of real estate careers advancement if you are a broker. Of course, you don’t need to be a broker to qualify, but it definitely helps.

  • Appraiser

You can opt for a career in either residential or commercial appraising. A residential appraiser assesses the worth of a property before it is listed on the market. Whereas a commercial appraiser does the same for commercial properties.

  • Property Manager

A property manager is responsible for making sure the property is in good shape. They are also tasked with making sure the owner if making a profit.

  • Leasing Consultant

Leasing consultants are tasked with renting out properties. They are essential agents for rental properties. They will find, convert, and process new tenants for all their listed properties.

  • Foreclosure Specialist

A foreclosure specialist processes all the documentation required for property foreclosure. They have to get the property documentation ready to be re-listed and sold.

How to become a real estate agent?

7 Reasons You Should Choose a Career in Real Estate

The real estate job market is expected to rise 6 percent until 2026. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics foresees that employment in the industry will rise by almost 25,000. And this is just by 2026. That means there are tremendous growth opportunities for you. And this is the right time to join.

  1. Rewarding Career
  2. High Incentives
  3. Tremendous Networking Opportunities
  4. Flexibility of Work
  5. Career Stability
  6. Growth Opportunities
  7. Encourages Activity

1. Real Estate is a Rewarding Career

There aren’t many career opportunities that are as rewarding as real estate. How many times does the average person expect to buy a house in their lifetimes? As real estate agents and brokers, you are able to help people get their dream homes.

You can help someone get their retirement house set up. Or you can help a new couple buy their first home. Buying a home is a big personal achievement for most and you are a big part of it.

2. High Incentives

It’s no secret. There are some really high incentives for real estate professionals. The commission on a single sale can be more than the average yearly salary. That is one of the key attractions for people looking to get into the industry.

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But making a career shift simply because of the incentives is a risky decision. Real estate might seem like an easy career path, but it is one of the most demanding jobs.

3. Tremendous Networking Opportunities

To have a successful career in real estate it is important to have people skills. That could be the deciding factor between a successful career and one that is lacking. Being in real estate you will often be presented with networking opportunities.

You need to be able to make the most of these opportunities. And in most cases, you will need to be talented enough to create these opportunities for yourself.

4. Flexibility of Work

Another reason why people prefer a career in real estate is freedom. Most people don’t or can’t work in an office position. They aren’t comfortable with the strict office hours or being confined to the office space for the day.

Real estate careers offer flexible working hours and the ability to work from outside the office. Since most of the job is displaying the properties, you can usually make your own timings.

5. Career Stability

It might not seem like it, but real estate offers stability. Sure, when there is a major economic crisis, real estate suffers. But industry-wide layoffs, even in a crisis aren’t common. There can be a recession going on but people still need a place to live.

The secret is that real estate is not just buying and selling of property. It also includes rentals. And that is what stabilizes the industry. The fact is that everyone will need a place to live in. If the economy is in a slump, people are likelier to rent instead of purchase.

6. Growth Opportunities

Usually, with an office job, the growth opportunities are significantly slower. Sure, you will grow, but the pace will be slower. Real estate does not follow the same rules. If you have grown your portfolio to a certain level, you can enjoy fast-paced growth.

7. Encourage Activity

Real estate market encourages you to be actively involved. You are unlikely to sell a property without making it sellable. Generally, real estate professionals are also very quick at arranging events. That is because they are likely to host one a couple of times a week.

Conclusion

To sell real estate you need to be able to use everything in your arsenal. Most marketing professionals today would advise you to do everything online. From SEO to social media management and even online advertising. But real estate agents realize that things like technology modify behavior take you so far. Real estate professionals have learned that relying on interpersonal skills is more important. Above all else, making connections is how you succeed in the real estate industry.

Digital Personal Assistants: Do You Believe In Them

Digital Personal Assistants: Do You Believe In Them

There are pretty good chances you are using Alexa or Google Home already. You love giving them voice commands, don’t you? We all do! Voice-activated smart speakers are being seen in every other household now.

Google research says the top reason people are using voice-activated speakers includes:

  • To multitask
  • To get answers and information fast
  • Make their routine matters easier
  • To get things done fast

The Rise of Digital Personal Assistants

After a manual search, voice search among users is growing. It’s one reason why there is so much rush to create digital personal assistants. This shift is becoming a reality because of the rise of smartphone devices and rising
smart home gadgets as well.

Since people are interacting with their devices on the go, it is more convenient to say OK Google or Hey Siri than touching to command. Stone Temple Consulting surveyed 900 U.S. smartphone users. Two-thirds of these individuals were comfortable giving voice commands through their phone.

Since a significant percentage of the population is already engaged in voice search, it is one of the biggest drivers why digital personal assistants exist.

Source

What’s The Best Personal Digital Assistant to Date?

Google Assistant on a smartphone is the top-performing digital assistant so far. It makes sense since Google has such a big library of information. It receives billions of queries in a routinely matter. Its digital assistant has attempted to answer 80% of them, even the dumb question. And its accuracy rate has exceeded 90%.

Cortana (by Microsoft) in comparison has attempted to answer 69% of the question, Alex more than 50% and Siri about 40%. Their accuracy rates were grouped together closely. Google performs best on smartphones but when it comes to home appliances, Alexa takes the lead followed by Siri.

Do People Believe In Digital Personal Assistants?

It seems like users have already accepted digital personal assistants. They have them in their devices and they are using them already.

Now all you have to do is imagine scenarios. Your very own personal digital assistant could make a purchase for you, provide you entertainment on demand, control your home, schedule appoints for you and even manage your life. Personal assistants have quickly become the focal point of the online activities of users. Major players such as Google Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple are doing everything in their power to create new opportunities for using digital assistants.

Privacy Concerns

Although so many users have accepted digital personal assistants, some have privacy concerns. A report from Microsoft says that 42% of the voice assistant users are concerned about privacy, trust, and passive listening.

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Technology that uses personal data is supposed to be built with privacy at its forefront. That’s what the law in many states says. Companies like Amazon, Google, and Apple have built privacy protection in their digital assistants. Siri, for instance, does not record or act on your commands unless you say the keyword. Apple respects user’s privacy to its core. The company even refused the FBI requests for creating a software that would unlock an iPhone recovered from the shooters in the San Bernardino terrorist attack.

Those users who are skeptic must educate themselves on privacy and security functions of the digital products before using them. For example, when it’s not in use, simply unplug the device.

What’s The Future of Digital Assistants?

Personal digital assistants are here to stay. For the next generation, maybe it will become a staple food just like smartphones themselves. Here are some of the trends we can expect to see in the future:

  • Increased personalization: Digital assistants are capable of learning user behavior. The software can make adjustments to personalize itself. There will come a time when the software will learn about the typical pronunciations of the users and cater to each individual according to their behavior.
  • A personal relationship: You can expect your digital assistant to develop a personal relationship with you. The assistant will learn about his user and make an update accordingly.
  • The decline in traditional websites: Just like app culture is becoming radically powerful as compared to the websites, the future will be about digital assistants. They might close the territory of a traditional website altogether. They will provide immediate answers to users on just one command.
  • Voice notifications: Instead of push notifications, users will start receiving voice notifications as a way to capture and maintain user attention. Amazon already supports this feature. Alexa gives shopping updates to users through its voice notification feature.

Some users have mistrust issues with digital personal assistants, yes, but the satisfaction numbers are high and they are not going away. With
HR technology and other similar services, customers are always connected to the web. They only make it more convenient to use digital assistants on their mobile devices as we go.

Best Tips for a Great Road Trips in USA

Best Tips for a Great Road Trips in USA

Who doesn’t want to treat himself to a fun road trip with the gang? I am sure no one. However, some people do not plan their trips before they head out. There are two schools of thought here too. Some people think that an unplanned trip makes it all the more adventurous. Others are just too lazy. But if you do not plan your trip, it can sometimes add to your disadvantage. Therefore, have everything in place before the trip. This includes looking for tourist attractions in USA too.

Other tips for before you head out include:

  1. Google Maps
  2. Music
  3. Eat Local. Stay Local
  4. National Park Pass
  5. Pack Light

1. Google Maps

Google Maps is everyone’s best friend. One cannot imagine his life without this blessing these days. Even if you have to move within a town or a couple of blocks, Google Maps is your ultimate companion. And you should not forget about this companion on trips too. In fact, that is the time when you most need Google Maps. But for that, you will also have to make sure that you have access to smart home technology at all times as well.  If you have a smartphone or a tab with access to the Internet, there is no chance that you will forget even a single way. Thanks to Google Maps. You can choose to turn off the annoying voice that keeps on giving instructions though.

2. Music

You cannot ignore the music that will play in your car on your road trip. The choice of music alone has the power of ruining your mood for the rest of the trip. Therefore, do not trust a person with a shitty choice in music to come up with a list for you. You will suffer throughout the trip. However, you do not have to rely on a single person to make a list. If you have access to apps like Spotify, you can play any song that you like on the spot. The prerequisite is that you have access to the Internet as well. And of course, creating an account on Spotify is a must too. If you have access to these two, your trip will surely be fun when in the car. Because the right music can set the right mood.

3. Eat Local. Stay Local.

If you opt for luxury hotels and decide to eat at the most expensive restaurants, then you will be at a loss. Because you will spend more than half of the budget that you saved for the trip on living and eating expenses. Other than that, the experiences and memories that you will gather when you eat and stay local, they will have no match. Because you will choose to live other than a luxurious life.

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You will get to interact with the locals too. That will be an amazing experience in itself. Not only this, but you will also get to taste the local food that the people residing in the area eat. Staying in local areas will teach you a lot about the culture and the people of that place. Same goes with the local food too.

4. National Park Pass

You should try to get passes to the national parks in that area. It is always a treat to visit these parks and get some time to meditate. Even if you do not plan to meditate in these parks, you should visit them. The idea behind the national parks is to visit the recreation sites to have some fun. Some national parks like the Grand Canyon in America offer you an adventurous experience too. While others give you a lot to watch and witness, making the trip to the park all the more interesting. Therefore, get a pass to the national park, if you are visiting an area that has one.

5. Pack Light

Because you will be going on a road trip, you will have to pack stuff, obviously. But pack light. Do not get too excited about the idea of packing. You also want to save space to be able to bring souvenirs and other shopping material back home too. Therefore, pay attention to what you are packing and if something is not necessary to keep, eliminate it.

If you take care of the above-mentioned road trip planner, you should be good to go.

Have a safe JOURNEY 🙂

5 Most Common Types of Cyber Attacks

5 Most Common Types of Cyber Attacks

Cyber attacks are a leading cause of distress for many of us. In the tech-friendly environment, we live in today, there are thousands of attacks each day. If you’re lucky, your closest encounter with hacking might have been on smart home gadgets. But hacking, in the real world, is not as glamorous as the movies make it look. You don’t have to be a notorious or eccentric billionaire to find yourself in the crosshairs of a hacker. Cyber attacks are very real. They happen to real people every day.

What are Cyber Attacks & Hacking?

It is classified as any deliberate offensive action or exploitation of a computer system, security, or network. They use malicious code to alter your computer data, files or network properties. Attackers can essentially gain access to everything on your computer including emails, documents, pictures, banking information, and even passwords.

5 of the Most Common Hacks You Need to Watch Out For

There is always a purpose behind a cyber attack. The most common being monetary gain, but there are other reasons a hacker could infiltrate your system. Someone could hack you out of spite, or just to improve their skills. It is always advisable to protect yourself by updating your system’s security. Investing in a good anti-virus and anti-malware package is your best defense.

Here are 5 of the most used forms of cyber attacks:

  1. Denial-Of-Service (DOS) Attack
  2. Phishing Attack
  3. Password Attack
  4. Eavesdropping Attack
  5. Malware Attack

Let’s discuss each in detail…

1. Denial of Service (DOS) Attack

Denial of Service (DOS) or Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) is a kind of attack that, simply put, freezes your computer. While other attacks allow the hacker to gain access to your system, this does the opposite. While the hacker is unable to access your system, the problem is, neither are you. How it works is, the computer system is constantly bombarded with commands. So many constant commands overwhelm the system and it is unable to respond when you give it any command. To you, it looks like your computer is frozen, when in fact it is working overtime to complete countless commands, which you never gave it.

You might be thinking, why anyone would go through so much trouble if they’re not even going to gain access to your system. The reason hackers use this type of attack is that usually, they have something to gain from denying access to your computer. Or, they could have been hired by someone who stands to gain, by denying you access to your files or system. A competitor, perhaps, would benefit significantly if all your office computers stopped working all of a sudden.

2. Phishing Attack

Phishing attacks are usually tricky to detect. They, as the name suggests, bait you into downloading malicious files or sharing your personal information. There are a few ways in which phishing attacks take place. The most common is the email phishing. The emails appear to be from trusted sources. They can ask you for your personal information, either on the email itself or through linking to a website page where you’re asked to fill out forms.

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Phishing emails can also ask you to download attachments, or link webpages, which can trick you to download malware. Downloading such malware can deeply compromise your system’s security. If you try, it is possible to determine such attacks. The best way to know if the email or website is phishing for information is through critical thinking. Try to focus on the language used in the email, if it is different from the language format the sender usually uses, then be cautious. Another way of determining the legitimacy of an email is by hovering your mouse cursor over the link in the mail. If it shows a webpage address linking to a page that seems dodgy, try to avoid clicking on the link.

3. Password Attack

Passwords are the most common form of account security. Hackers use brute-force attacks to gain access to your passwords. They can also use personal information to guess your passwords. The best defense against password attacks is to constantly change your passwords and try to never keep something obvious like your pet’s names or family member names or birthdays.

4. Eavesdropping Attack

Eavesdropping attack is when your computer system’s or network’s data traffic is intercepted by the hacker. The hacker gains access to all your network data traffic and can sort through it to find information like passwords, confidential information or credit card numbers. Essentially, the hacker has access to your every movement.

There are two kinds of eavesdropping attacks, Passive and Active attacks. The best way to defend yourself is by using strong data encryption protocols.

5. Malware Attack

Malware is the most tricky form of attack. It is a software designed to infiltrate your computer or network. It can attach itself to regular files you download as attachments. There are many forms of malware to look out for. Here are some of the most common types:

  • Ransomware
  • Droppers
  • Worms
  • Logic bombs
  • Trojans
  • Stealth viruses
  • Polymorphic viruses
  • Macro viruses
  • File infectors

⮚ Final Words

There are many things you can do to better protect yourself from cyber-attacks. Most service providers also offer a range of services for increased cyber security. Try contacting HR technology, or your own service provider for more details on their security options. The best way to protect yourself is by investing in reliable security software. While some security suites may cost a significant amount, the protection they offer can save you a lot more.