Being an entrepreneur is not easy and if you aren’t careful enough, it can take a serious toll on your health and wellbeing too. With schedules getting hectic by the day, and the competition increasing, we thought that it would be great for entrepreneurs to identify what they really need, to look after themselves this year. It’s already over the midpoint of 2019, so if you are an entrepreneur, here’s how you can keep a check on your work life balance, as the year draws to an end. Holidays Are A Must Some of the best holiday ideas happen when you don’t think about them too much in advance. So for the upcoming holiday season 2019, you can put together some spontaneous holiday ideas. Spending time at the beach is a great way to go, if you really want to just spend even one day doing absolutely nothing apart from soaking up the sun, sand and surf also maybe a bit of salt. It’s great for your system to feel replenished and rejuvenated after hard work.   A Tread On The Wild Side Of Life If you are not too much of a beach bum, hiking and trekking in mountainous settings can work really well too and give you the chance to reconnect with nature. Keep in mind that you may need to switch off your phone and not log into your social media for this one. Just focus on yourself and completely give in to nature. Let it heal you and absorb some soul-nourishing tranquility. Then go back to work with renewed vigour and enthusiasm. This is again one of the most popular ideas for the holiday season 2019. Yoga For Centering Yourself Want to save on fuel? Just bundle all your errand trips into one as much as possible. Try to spend less than you can actually afford and pour more of it into you savings. You’ll be surprised how much you save. Family Time Away From Work Yes, family time can be one of the best holiday ideas too. With all that work that you are handling, it is quite normal to put in long working hours that take you away from your loved ones for extended periods of time. Whether it’s you or your family, this is something that’s not too healthy. Work towards achieving work-life balance with some great holiday ideas in 2019 that involve taking time off with your family. It doesn’t even have to be anything massive, just a couple of days at home with the fam will do you a world of good. There, that’s the basics we’ve covered. There are so many ways in which you can tailor your holiday ideas this year according to what you feel you need the most. Keep trying to balance out your workload with your family life and keep the energy positive always.

Want to enjoy a hotel management career? That’s a really great choice, considering that the hospitality industry is really developing and making giant strides. However, before you get started, you should also know that this field is extremely competitive and dynamic and that sometimes, just being good at your grades in college will not get you there. That said, qualifications are really important to, but we will get to that later. Here is what you should do and know if you want to gain the right skills and jobs in hotel management.   What Are The Skills That You Need? Straight off the bat, we need to first close in on the essential hotel management skills that you just must have if you are going to be looking at a hotel management career. Some of the most important are: Being friendly and sociable Being excellent at customer service Being friendly and sociable Being excellent at customer service Being great at interpersonal skills You should also be tech savvy Excellent problem solving and decision making skills Great sense of time and priority Excellent attention to detail Impeccable command of language Willingness to learn Being ready to expect the unexpected Your willingness to work long hours and go through obstacles at the beginning of your career Documentation and organisational skills Telephone operating skills Great personal hygiene and grooming This is not an exhaustive list. There are a whole lot more skills where this came from, but for the moment, since you are just starting off your hotel management career, let’s keep it simple and take one step at a time.   Get The Right Rducation Alright, so you are really not going to go anywhere unless you have the right hotel management skills and that, comes through quality education. You don’t need to have to go to university and study for about 4 years and spend a lot of money, unless you really want to. Today, there are some great options for online courses that are completely accredited and can help you get the qualifications needed for your hotel management career. Always check though, and make sure that what you are learning is in fact, industry recognised. Get Experience Before You Go Solo Another aspect that you have to keep in mind is getting started on some level somewhere. For example, as soon as you pass out of college, you may not have enough experience to handle a serious role all on your own and for this reason, and the fact that the competition levels are really high, you may not be able to get hired for the hotel management jobs that you want even if you have the paper qualifications needed. So think about interning or joining an apprenticeship or a very junior position. Get hands on experience, then start climbing up the ladder. Pay Attention To Your Personal Grooming We mentioned this in the skills section above too and if you were wondering how personal hygiene and grooming is a skill, here’s the answer; many people actually don’t maintain great levels of personal hygiene or grooming. In hotel management though how to smell, look and dress, how well shaven you are, how neat your hair is and how well ironed the clothes are can leave a lasting impact. If you want to stay on top of the game, give attention to yourself first. Can You Resist The Pressure? All jobs are pressurising at times, there is no debate there, but, if you are somebody who is going to crack under some pressure, you may want to rethink your career path. The hotel management industry isn’t exactly known for its empathy and accepting you for who you are. Rather, it expects standards from you and require certain decorum to be maintained at all times. The margin of error is as low as can be and you should be on your feet, quick witted and skilled at handling difficult situations. Are you ticking all the boxes so far? Fantastic. It looks like you have what it takes to get into hotel management. Keep Applying Till You Succeed Like we said before, getting hotel management jobs that suit you may not be exactly a cakewalk. Even if you do get them, you may have to go in for a somewhat lower salary if you have absolutely no experience, but of course, your package will be increased with your performance and experience. The key is perseverance. Don’t give up. Keep applying for the right jobs until you succeed. Want to learn more and make sure you get a strong footing in hotel management? Join our hotel management training programmes that are completely accredited. 

The role of a teaching assistant in a well-run school is so popular that getting such a job can be competitive. However, the effort is well worthwhile. There are many things you can do to increase your chances of securing the position, from getting your job search right to gaining new qualifications. Here are some tips and hints to prepare you for the job application process and a career in education. How much does a teaching assistant get paid? The typical salary for a full-time teaching assistant can range from anywhere between £13,000 to £21,000 per year. A part-time teaching assistant receives a pro rata payment usually. There are no National Pay Scales for teaching assistants, with each Local Education Authority setting the rates at their discretion. Local authority schools use local Government pay scales to pay their support staff and the rates of pay can often vary, depending on the particular responsibilities. Teaching assistants in private schools are often employed on a term-time only basis and paid for the weeks they work. Some private schools use the local Government pay scale as the basis for paying support staff. They also increase salaries by the local government pay award each year. Teaching assistants could be responsible for various tasks, including managing classroom behaviour, helping pupils who may need extra help and support to complete tasks and making a positive contribution to the learning environment. What are the duties of a teaching assistant? Teacher assistants typically do the following: Reinforce lessons presented by teachers by reviewing material with students one-on-one or in small groups Enforce school and class rules to help teach students proper behavior Help teachers with recordkeeping, such as tracking attendance and calculating grades Help teachers prepare for lessons by getting materials ready or setting up equipment, such as computers Help supervise students in class, between classes, during lunch and recess, and on field trips Teaching assistants also are called teacher aides, instructional aides, paraprofessionals, education assistants and paraeducators. Generally, teachers introduce new material to students, and teaching assistants help reinforce the lessons by working with individual students or small groups of students. For example, after the teacher presents a lesson, a teacher assistant may help a small group of students as they try to master the material. Teachers may seek feedback from assistants to monitor students’ progress. Some teachers and teacher assistants meet regularly to discuss lesson plans and student development. Teacher assistants sometimes help teachers by grading tests and checking homework. Some teaching assistants work only with special education students. These students often attend regular classes, and teacher assistants help them understand the material and adapt the information to their learning style. With students who have more severe disabilities, assistants will be required to work with them in separate classes. Teaching assistants help these students with basic needs, such as eating or personal hygiene. With young adults, they may help students with disabilities learn skills necessary for them to find a job or live independently after graduation. Some teaching assistants work in specific locations in the school. For example, some work in computer laboratories, teaching students how to use computers and helping them use software. Others work as recess or lunchroom attendants, supervising students during these times of the day. Although most teaching assistants work in elementary, middle, and high schools, others work in preschools and childcare centers. Often, one or two assistants work with a lead teacher to provide the individual attention that young children need. They help with educational activities. They also supervise the children at play and help with feeding and other basic care.

Losing weight does not have to be such an uphill climb, as much as we get to hear almost everywhere every day. All over the world both men and women struggle to lose weight and thanks to certain unhealthy lifestyle habits that we have picked up, children are now struggling to maintain a healthy weight too. With everybody trying to maintain the perfect body though, there has also been a major problem.   The temptation to lose weight fast, at whatever cost – sometimes even at the risk of your health and wellbeing. Just take a look around you or pick up a magazine. Everybody is talking about the latest diet on the block and how they were able to lose five kilos in two days. Crash diets and detoxes, medications and procedures to lose weight have become a norm of the society today and nobody seems to be asking one very important question; How to lose weight healthy? There are loads of easy ways to lose weight that might work great in the short term, but realistically if you want to keep looking fit, you need something that you can sustain and that means, something healthy. Here are a few tips from us about how you can look good and feel good too. First, here’s what you need to know about healthy weight loss It’s not going to happen overnight, or in a week or two for that matter. You can look up ways on how to lose weight fast, but then you also need to know that if this includes a strict diet that forces you to drastically cut down your food intake, you may not be able to keep it going. Real weight loss is a process and it takes time, but it really, really works in the long run. It needs discipline and commitment. Nobody ever lost weight by allowing themselves to have two cheat days a week for just one week’s worth of clean eating. Stay disciplined and stay committed, even if the results may not be visible in the first few months. Your priority has to be to stay healthy. Not to reduce your size from an eight to a zero. What your goal ultimately has to be is to improve your fitness and health through losing weight. Respect and listen to your body. People’s bodies have very different biology. Some people lose weight fast others, not so much. Pushing your body to match the weight loss results of somebody else is impractical and downright unhealthy. Respect your body and listen to it. Own your body and be comfortable in your skin. Only then can you work to better your health. What can you do to lose weight the healthy way then? There are loads of ways really, if you are willing to see the whole process through. The best part is that no matter what your body type is or how your metabolism works, there is always a way to stay fit for everybody. These weight loss tips will help you get on the right track and make this year your healthiest one yet. Change your eating habits The best place to start from is your plate of food. What you choose to put in your body, is what makes you, you. Basically, you are what you eat. Therefore, eat well, eat healthy and eat wisely. Cutting out refined sugars, oil, junk food, alcohol and tobacco out of your life is a great way to get started. This is pretty much the most sustainable and best weight loss diet secret that there ever has been. You do not need to starve yourself. You do not need to restrict the types of food that you eat. Simply remove the unhealthy choices that you make. For best results, take it easy. Add in fresh fruits, vegetables, food items high in Omega 3, antioxidants and the likes to your diet.  Don’t suddenly go on salads today. Train your body to eat good, healthy food that are high in nutrients in place of processed food.     Start working out as practically as possible Don’t commit to something that you cannot keep up with. If you have to travel an extra five kilometres out of your way to get to a gym, chances are you will get drained soon. If you have a hectic schedule and want to try and squeeze in an hour to travel to a gym, you will drop the gymming fast. Basically choose a method that will work for you. Find a gym close to where you work or live. If you have a really unpredictable and busy schedule try and set up a home gym with the essential gear so you can work out whenever the time allows. But start working out. The more you work out the more you will feel fit and it definitely helps you lose that weight the healthy way. Work out to suit your body If you are really in it to win it and you have made up your mind that you are going to find out a way to lose weight fast, find what suits your body. For this you will need the help of a professional. You can get the guidance of a dietician or nutritionist when it comes to your food plans and how you can avoid any deficiencies. On the other hand you need a solid gym or fitness instructor who can understand your requirements and customise a plan for you that will suit your body type. Rather than doing generic workouts, you can gain better results, if the routine you are in targets the right areas of your body in the right ways. Learn about your body and help yourself If you think about it, the majority of fitness enthusiasts and people who follow a healthy lifestyle have also gone on to study about fitness. Why? Because it helps them know their bodies better and therefore, helps them to always stay fit without plateauing. You don’t need to invest a large amount of time and money for this either. There are many good accredited programs that can be studied online at your leisure that you can take. Not only will these help you look after yourself better, they will also help you help others be it as a personal favour or a career choice in the future

The theme is all about awareness of the impact that diabetes has on the family and support network of those affected, and promoting the role of the family in the management, care, prevention and education of diabetes. Families are urged to learn more about the warning signs of diabetes and find out their risk of type 2 diabetes. Research conducted by the International Diabetes Federation in 2018 discovered that parents would struggle to spot this serious life-long condition in their own children. Despite the majority of people surveyed having a family member with diabetes, an alarming four-in-five parents would have trouble recognising the warning signs. One-in-three wouldn’t spot them at all. Some people with diabetes may wish they could be less aware of their diabetes. However, in a busy world, diabetes awareness is key. If we want the medical establishment and national government to put all their efforts behind finding a cure, then we need to raise our voices, raise our profile and raise awareness of this annoying and often unpleasant condition, not to mention that it could also become fatal if not managed and attended to properly.  What medical breakthroughs have happened? Insulin was discovered not even a 100 years ago, but since then there have been no major breakthroughs in the treatment of Type 1 diabetes, and the numbers diagnosed have been growing quietly but steadily. Meanwhile the diagnoses of Type 2 diabetes has turned out be the ‘headline grabber’ with statements made that drew tremendous attention, that the NHS is not able to treat people who seem to have just a weight problem. Why is it important to raise awareness? If they have Type 2 diabetes, chances are that it’s more or less impossible to lose weight. The medications alone help you gain or at least maintain weight. Therefore, it is clear that there’s a lot of misunderstanding out there. It’s only by raising awareness that we can help everyone else to understand this rapidly spreading condition that a large number of the world population is living with. What is diabeted awareness? For some people diabetes awareness may be about the prevention of the onset of the condition. Healthy eating and more active lifestyles can ward off type 2 diabetes induced by being overweight. Learning to love food in a way that does not compromise your health, or your taste buds! Sharing knowledge can help too For other people talking and sharing knowledge will bring them support and let them lose any sense of being different.  It is challenging for sure, but life with diabetes doesn’t have to be all that bad. Keep sharing what you know so that others learn and are able to keep themselves safe as well. Start a conversation about diabetes By talking about diabetes and the effect is has on our lives, we help keep healthcare administrators and politicians focused on the job of providing us with the care and information we need to successfully live with our diagnosis. Ways to prevent diabetes Lose extra weight.Moving toward a healthy weight helps control blood Your doctor, a dietitian, and a fitness trainer can get you started on a plan that will work for you. Check your blood sugar level at least twice a day.Is it in the range advised by your doctor? Also, write it down so you can track your progress and note how food and activity affect your levels. Get A1cblood tests to find out your average blood sugar for the past 2 to 3 months. Most people with type 2 diabetes should aim for an A1c of 7% or lower. Ask your doctor how often you need to get an A1c test. Track your carbohydrates.Know how many carbs you’re eating and how often you have them. Managing your carbs can help keep your blood sugar under control. Choose high-fiber carbs, such as green vegetables, fruit, beans, and whole grains. Control your blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.Diabetes makes heart disease more likely, so keep a close eye on your blood pressure and cholesterol. Talk with your doctor about keeping your cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure in check. Take medications as prescribed. by taking a 10-minute walk after every meal. Include strength training and stretching on some days, too. Catch some snooze please.When you’re sleep-deprived, you tend to eat more, and you can put on weight, which leads to health problems. People with diabetes who get enough sleep often have healthier eating habits and improved blood sugar levels. Manage stress.Stress and diabetes don’t mix. Excess stress can elevate blood sugar levels. But you can find relief by sitting quietly for 15 minutes, meditating, or practicing yoga. See your doctor.Get a complete checkup at least once a year, though you may talk to your doctor more often. At your annual physical, make sure you get a dilated eye exam, blood pressure check, foot exam, and screenings for other complications such as kidney damage, nerve damage, and heart disease. So now that you know what to do, this World Diabetes Awareness Day, spread the world and share what you know. You could actually be saving a life.

Adapting to the changing markets is one skill that every successful business must possess. Given that we are currently going through change on an unprecedented scale, the need for this is even more. If you are clueless about how to do this, the below pointers will give you tips to stay safe, ensure business continuity and stand strong in the face of adversity. Take it slow One of the best ways to deal with the changing market environment is to get your foot off the gas, and slow down. You don’t necessarily have to stop. Being more aggressive may not be fruitful because of the uncertainties that can confront the business, especially in a time as today. So, take it one step at a time. Calculate your every move in such a way that it considers the fluctuations that you will be confronted with. This will give you time to act accordingly. Stay flexible For businesses to adapt to the rapidly changing markets, flexibility is crucial. This calls for the need to have agile business strategies. Being agile means that you can easily change when needed. You should have the freedom to take a detour if it is proven necessary. While it is good to have a blueprint, you should be flexible enough to make the necessary changes if the situation calls for it. There was no business that ever succeeded simply by staying stoic. Know the trends You need to be hands-on when it comes to monitoring trends if you want to stay on top of the changing markets. Research thoroughly about what is happening. Rely on historical data as you make intelligent forecasts. By knowing the trends, you will not be left behind since you can always be one step ahead. It will be a great way to study and analyse your competition as well. People are power The business landscape may be evolving more rapidly than ever, but some things don’t change, such as the fact that human resource is still the most valuable asset. So, build a competent team with people who can help the business become more agile. Bank on the expertise and experience of the employees to make sure that the company isn’t left behind. Hire wisely and make decisions thinking of your team as a long term investment. Identify the target market You should also invest in knowing your target market. They will dictate the direction of your business, such as your marketing campaigns and the products or services that you will develop. The more you know about your target market, the easier it is to deliver their highest level of satisfaction despite the changing markets. This can also boost the profitability of your business. You wills save money by not marketing to the wrong markets. Continued education It will be easier to deal with the changing markets if you are equipped with the right knowledge and skills. To make this possible, take advantage of the available learning opportunities. Taking an accelerated management programme or administrative programme, for instance, can be beneficial. This will help you become more effective and efficient in dealing with today’s changing business landscape.

Planning is rather habitual for many people in some area of our lives or the other. It could be that you are changing careers, presenting a new idea, or taking a new path in life for that matter. In fact it could be just about anything. Planning is a huge part of what we do in life and almost every action that we take has a vast amount of planning going into it. It is also possible to do anything and everything without the planning phase as well, but then, this would mean that you are taking a massive risk. The results from such activities would almost always be negative or discouraging. Business has a massive need for planning and usually this is called strategic management. Why is strategic management important? When strategic management is done right, plays a big role in the long term success of a business. When it is stated that a business is implementing or carrying out strategic management, what it usually means is that “strategic management” defines or lays out a strategy for the considered business activities, with cohesive, well-defined goals. The business will then be able to make clear, well-defined plans or strategies that it will then be put in action for achieving its goals and to align its business activities. It will also delve into the correct allocation of resources towards accomplishing those goals. What is strategic management exactly? A good plan or strategic management plan goes above and beyond enhancing the bottom line of a business. It will give a business a valid social license for its operations. In the day and age of today, this is increasingly becoming something of vital importance for almost every business. businesses have many stakeholders – both internal and external. This will also include operations from ethical and environmental standpoints. All of these will need to be thought of in strategic management and therefore should be included in the plans of the business, ensuring the survival of the business in the long run. What key advantages can a strategic management programme give you? Understanding – When you learn from a good strategic management course, you gain a comprehensive understanding of the way the business environment is going global and staying interconnected. Development – with an insightful strategic management course, you get the opportunity to develop and enhance your strategic thinking skills, especially when it come to the manner in which your business operates in its immediate and macro environment. Identification – A sound training in strategic management will offer you the proficiency to quickly and conveniently identify opportunities for your company in its micro and macro environment. Creation – A good strategic management course will teach you how to create strategies that are both effective and efficient making use of favourable situations which you think can help your bsuiness. Management – A solid training in strategic management will give you the ability to manage both your team and the organisation as individual units or one unit, while fuelling it to move ahead to achieve the goals of the implemented strategic plan. Therefore, having the right strategic management certification can help you improve your chances of employability, put you in better position to gain higher income and even help you impress and gain the confidence of your superiors better. Above all of that, it will enable you to make the right decisions that will elevate the business and make achieving targets much easier.

It is a great achievement to become a new manager. You have clearly worked hard to push your career forward and you have been rewarded for it. However the job is one of the most stressful that you can undertake. This becomes especially true for the very first month your new job. You will find yourself trying to keep your head above the water for the better part here. So here are 7 things that we believe you must do during this hard first month as a new manager. Start dressing your part If you do not present yourself as a leader, you will not be seen as such. How can you dress the part? Well that really differs according to where you work. You should take a good look at how the other leaders dress in the workplace and follow suit, literally. Do not build friendships, build professional relationships Your task as a manager is to drive performance and building friendships will stop you from offering direct feedback that will be taken seriously. This is why strong professional relationships are better. Be friendly yes, but do not become friends. The vast majority of your conversations should revolve around work and not personal agenda. Maintain visibility A lot of the success that you feel experience is owing to actually showing up. Staying visible to your team as a manager is really important, the more visible you are, the better connected your team will be to you. Do spend some time speaking with your employees informally on a daily basis. Always clarify expectations with the boss If you have just been promoted, you will have a new boss and therefore, it is exceedingly important that you clarify the expectations with them. You will need to understand the right priorities and the goals as well as performances expected. You should also clarify before making major changes. Now establish group norms and expectations with the team Once you know what the boss needs, you need to sit down with your team and clarify these expectations with them. Share the goals and the performances expected. Set one on one meetings if required. Family time is family time Don’t let the pressures of the new job drag you away from your loved ones. Set time to spend with your family and friends without making work an interruption. It will help boost your mental and emotional health as much as possible Keep learning A sign of a good leader is that they are keen to learn. Continued education is a must as you learn the ropes of your new position and make no mistake, this is the way to progress.