Easy fitness tips for business travelers
As a business traveler, just because you can’t do the workout you’re used to does not mean you can’t squeeze in a bit of time to work on your fitness goals on the go.
So, what can you do to stay healthy and fit when traveling for business? Here’s a quick list of our best fitness travel tips to keep you active!
1. Book a hotel with a fitness center
Whether you’re booking a business trip for yourself or asking your company’s travel manager to do it, make sure you stay in a hotel with a fitness center. Many good hotels will at least have a small gym with a treadmill or bike and a few weights. You can also find hotels with swimming pools or more complete gyms with group classes.
This is a great way to get in a bit of exercise before you start your day, or wind down when you get back to your hotel. Some hotel gyms will even be able to provide you with a personal trainer if you ask for one!
2. Find some great running routes
Before you book your stay, find out the best running routes at your destination.
Even just finding the nearest park to your hotel will be enough to motivate you to squeeze in a 20-minute morning jog before your big meeting. Your mind and body will thank you!
3. Download a fitness app
There are fitness apps for pretty much everything nowadays. From the Nike Training Club to MyFitnessPal to Glo, there’s no excuse not to have on-demand workout classes on your phone. Got 15 minutes to spare before your big work dinner?
That’s a good time to get in a quick stretch or high-intensity workout to clear your mind and energize your body in your hotel room. This will help with both your physical and mental well-being, will make you more productive, and will even lift your spirits for the tasks ahead.
4. Get those legs moving
An easy but effective way to exercise without getting your sweat on is to walk through the city you’re visiting. Skip the taxi ride or chauffeur service to take you from your hotel to the office! Get your legs moving and walk! Even just 20 minutes of walking a day can have incredible health benefits, from improving your mood to increasing your energy.
It’s a great way to get your heart rate up (but not too high up) and is known to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
5. Make time for a workout
We know you’ve got a busy schedule. We know you’re on this trip to work and get things done. But you don’t have to do it at the expense of your own well-being! Pencil a time into your agenda for a quick workout and stick to it.
Keeping a routine and committing to an activity of this kind is going to keep you grounded and healthy. It’s important to carve out time for yourself on any business trip to rest and recharge. You don’t flake out on your meetings with colleagues, so don’t ditch your workout time either.
6. Don’t forget to eat and sleep
This might be an obvious one, but you’d be surprised at how many business travelers get too busy to eat and sleep properly. From countless business lunches and dinners to staying up late to finish that report, there is a myriad of ways to neglect your most basic needs.
Eating healthy food and getting a good night’s sleep is paramount to you being a productive team member. If you’re not going to take care of your eating habits and sleep patterns for yourself, then do it for the better results you’ll get!
7. Mindfulness matters too
Sure, mindfulness isn’t exactly fitness—but it’s just as important to your overall well-being. Download an app like Headspace to help you clear your mind after a long day’s work. You’ll see how much just a few minutes of meditation can help boost your energy and put all the information you received into perspective.
There’s nothing more frustrating than replaying every detail of your day in your head before bed, and practicing mindfulness and meditation can help with that. Mental health is just as important, if not more so, than physical wellness, so don’t forget to care for your mind as well as your body.
8. Don’t forget to pack for fitness
When preparing your packing list, make sure you leave some room in your carry-on suitcase for your workout clothes and accessories. Make it easy for yourself to maintain your exercise routine by bringing everything you need with you, including running shoes, clothes, and even Fitbits if you use them!
9. Use your free time to try something new
Why not take a few hours off and try a new sport activity? Find out what’s trending at your destination and give it a go! Sign up for a Zumba class, yoga, kickboxing, or whatever the “it thing” is to do in the city you’re visiting.
You’ll disconnect from work, take a break from your routine, try something new, and maybe make some friends!
10. Be careful of overindulging
It can be very easy to take it a little too far at a business dinner or lunch. The company is paying, the drinks are flowing, the conversation is engaging… And the next thing you know, it’s 3 days later and you haven’t given your digestive system a break from any of it.
Healthy eating is one of the best methods for staying fit when you’re away from home. Work on forming some healthy habits when you’re on the road to eat well from the moment you wake up until you get back from that all-important dinner.
8 Factors to Consider Before Moving to a New City
Have you gotten the itch to move to a new city? Whether you’re looking to move thirty miles away or three thousand, it’s important to research and educate yourself on a variety of factors before making a move to a new place.
1. Goals
Why leave where you are right now? What do you want to gain from a move? Perhaps it’s a change of scenery, a better chance to land a dream job, or maybe it’s a way to test out being away from home. Whatever the reasons, make sure you’re clear on WHY you want to move so you’re able to manage your own expectations.
2. Your network
Whom do you know in this city? If you know people in the city that you move to and leverage those relationships, then the transition could be much easier than if you move somewhere with no network at all.
If you don’t have a network, that’s okay! Just know that you’ll need to be vulnerable and put yourself out there to meet new friends and make professional connections.
You can also ask your current network for connections to people they know who live in the city you’re wanting to move to, so you can pick their brains about what it’s like to live where they are from afar.
3. Career opportunities
We spend so much time working. You’ll want to ensure that the place you move to has ample opportunities in your field before making a final decision. One strategy you can use is to reach out to people who have a similar job title that you want (in the same field that you work in) on LinkedIn and ask for a 10-minute networking call/email to discuss the job market, networking groups to join, events to attend, etc.
4. The weather
What kind of weather do you prefer, and what’s the weather like in the place you’re eyeballing? This factor actually makes a HUGE impact if it’s not aligned with your preferences.
5. Pleasurable activities
What activities light you up and feed your soul? It’s important to research if those things are commonplace in your potential new city or not. Is there a vibrant food scene? Or at least some good options for the cuisine of your choice? Whatever activities that you enjoy doing, go on a research spree to see if they exist where you’re considering moving.
6. The cost of living
What are the different neighborhoods, and what’s the going rate for a rental or buying a home? How much does it cost to buy groceries, utilities, etc? Are there ample parking options or do you have to pay for monthly parking? How much are taxes?
7. The city’s vibes
What’s this place known for? Good live music, the land of endless career opportunities, its laidback culture? Know what you may be getting yourself into before you’re in it
8. The pros and cons
Wherever you’re now, you have a life and a routine that will undoubtedly be up-ended if you decide to move. Make a list of pros and cons for each place so you can compare your “current state of being” to your potential “future state of being”. This can highlight gaps/deficits that may be hard to see with the thrill of moving on your mind.
10 Tips for Effective Business Travel
You’re a pro. You use travel apps we haven’t even heard of to get the best deals on flights and hotel rooms. You are platinum diamond elite listed everywhere. But still, you feel like there is more you could do to maximize your next business trip (and manage to come home refreshed). Here are 9 things the savvy business traveler should do for every trip.
1. Pack Smart
There are so many reasons to fit everything you need into one carry-on. You’ll breeze through security and you don’t have to wait around at the baggage claim. Make sure you’re bringing only what you need and that you’ve packed it well. Even if you check luggage, you should have a change of clothes and a toothbrush right at hand (just in case).
2. Mail Ahead
With the outrageous checked luggage fees that airlines are charging these days, it no longer makes sense to pack an extra bag filled with whatever you might need. Instead, entrust those items to FedEx or Amazon and have them sent directly to your hotel. Be sure to tell the hotel to expect the box and have your date of arrival included on the outside label.
3. Manage Your Information
Your business trip paperwork includes at least the following: travel tickets, travel itinerary, hotel information, transfers, and meeting itinerary. You might also have a batch of contact information to manage for prospects and coworkers who are on the trip with you. Do yourself a favor and consolidate all that information in one email-specific folder or use an app like Evernote which syncs with your computer and your phone.
4. Exercise
Business travel can wreak havoc on your fitness routine and eating habits. Don’t let it. Whether you use the hotel gym or just go for a twenty-minute walk or jog, exercise is a great way to clear your head and to make sure those meals out don’t stick with you for the long term.
5. Use Your Time Wisely
Consider your flight part of your business day. Use that time to read up on new innovations in your field or, when you are free to use your electrical devices, write that report you haven’t had time for or proofread your presentation. Even if you don’t have Internet while in the air, you can always draft emails and have them ready to send when you land.
6. Stay (Somewhat) Connected
Cell service and Wi-Fi are modern conveniences most of us take for granted these days. But between airports with pay-to-play Internet, airplanes where you’re completely disconnected, and international trips where roaming charges still abound, you need to plan ahead. Most of the cell and Internet connectivity information for your destination (and all points in between) can be found online. Make sure you have the right types of devices and that your cell plan has you covered.
7. Schedule Some “You” Time
You are an efficient business travel machine. The temptation is to make every second of your trip count. You can meet clients at any hour and still be at your best. Except that you’re human too. Give yourself the benefit of a recharge. Whether you take an hour in the evening to Skype with your kids or plug in the pay-per-view, make sure you get the rest and relaxation you have earned. You’ll be better off tomorrow for it.
8. Get Plenty of Sleep
Sleep is as important as relaxation. Cat naps on the plane (in between emails) will help you stay bright and professional for your meetings. But the best thing you can do for yourself, no matter where you are in the world, is get a good night of sleep.
9. Bring Your Smile
Now that you have your needs taken care of, think about the people around you. It’s easy to feel harried and frazzled and all kinds of other unpleasant adjectives when you’re away from your routine. Remember that every person you meet presents an opportunity to build a relationship. Being pleasant with your client is a given, but saying please or thank you to flight attendants, waiters, and hotel staff will brighten their day (and they’ll do their best to return the favor).
What business travel tips do you swear by?
7 Reasons Why Small Business Owners Need Serviced Apartments
The serviced apartment industry is continuously booming with more and more business people opting for this choice of long-term and short-term accommodation during corporate duties. Unlike the convention accommodation hotels, serviced apartments give you the home away from home vibe, and this makes the environment convenient and motivating when handling business tasks or when relaxing. The services are also super beneficial for small businesses looking for corporate spaces such as studios at a much affordable cost. They are life-savers for startups that are yet to afford to buy a space investing in furniture and everything else required for running a business.
More and more business owners now realize the benefits that come with corporate spaces, and this has led to a constant rise in demand for the services. Take your time and look for a reliable space that will meet both your needs and budget to enjoy all the benefits that come with the services. If you are considering serviced apartments, but you are not sure if this is the right idea, here are some reasons and benefits why you should go for it.
Enjoy more space and comfort
One of the reasons why business owners prefer corporate spaces over conventional hotels is because the serviced apartments are about 30 percent bigger than the hotels. This means that you will have enough space to carry out your errands, sleep, and even dine while enjoying maximum comfort. With this, it is much easier for you to entertain clients without intruding on your personal living space. If you are looking to enjoy space, comfort, and more functionality, you should consider serviced apartments.
Convenience
Other than comfort and functionality, these spaces have been designed to provide you with total satisfaction as you go about your day. They have everything you need so that you will feel more at home, and doing business gets easier. Serviced apartments are equipped with laundry facilities and office spaces where you can do everything you need without the need to go out. They are more like an all-in-one stop. This eliminates the need for extra services that could cost you more or even harm your business finances.
Maximum flexibility
In this case, you will love the fact that serviced apartments allow you to do whatever you want at your schedule. The apartments are equipped with all sorts of facilities meaning that you can cook whenever you want, sleep when you feel like, and work when the time is right for you. There is also enough space to entertain your guests without feeling like you are disturbing the rest of the tenants.
Suitable location
Corporate apartments are found in great locations for convenience and easy maneuverability. You can select one that meets your needs and preference depending on the kind of environment that you are looking for. For example, you can choose one in the city or busy areas based on your type of business or go to a quiet space if you are looking to enjoy some peace and calmness. All you have to do is determine your preferences, and you will find something that matches precisely that. Serviced apartments come in handy when you are on a business trip and looking for an ideal space to relax and work, and you can also rent one purely for work until you feel you are in a position to rent or buy an office. Whichever the reason, select one that is located at an ideal place to make running your business easier.
Provide privacy
Serviced apartments provide you with maximum privacy compared to traditional accommodation. The goal is to make you feel at home and as comfortable as possible. They also offer discrete cleaning services meaning that you will always have the space clean, but you still get to retain your privacy and enjoy minimum interruptions. This is a plus since you can entirely focus on working or even hold a meeting without having to deal with disturbances from service providers.
Value for money
One of the reasons why business owners chose serviced apartments is to help them save money. They are a great deal if you are looking for a conducive working environment and also a place to relax and plan for your business. They are also a solution for small business owners that feel like they cannot rent or buy an office. They can rent a studio at a much lower price and have as much work done as possible. The best part about serviced apartments is that you get to pay a flat fee for all the services you will enjoy while there. This includes parking space, entertainment, and internet services. This is unlike conventional hotels that charge hidden costs for any extra service that you use while there. The fact that the apartments are equipped with essential facilities is a plus as you do not have to spend more than you can afford. You can cook and do laundry in your room, which will significantly help you save.
Additional services and facilities
It should not be all about work without play. You need to work out and have fun to increase your productivity. That is what serviced apartments are all about. If gyms, restaurants, bars, or pools are a part of your needs, then serviced apartments are an excellent choice for you. You can always go out and have fun while still within the facility and then get back to work after re-energizing.
From these benefits, it is evident that serviced apartments are the best choice for business owners to look for suitable working spaces and also have some fun. They are convenient and cost-friendly, not to forget that they offer maximum flexibility. Take your time and look for one that meets your needs and preference and get to enjoy these and more.
Workations: Make the most of working from anywhere
Travelling while working. Working while travelling. Sounds like the dream situation, right?
Although it isn’t a new concept, the “workation” has increased in popularity since the start of the pandemic, or at the very least, the idea of it has – see the Google search trend below. With so many of us continuing to work from home after lockdown has ended, it’s no surprise that the notion that we could be working anywhere with good WiFi has grown. But what exactly is the different between a workation and just working remotely?
What is a workation?
Work + vacation = workation. It’s the combination of business and leisure
When so much of our lives is tied up with work, the idea of being able to do our jobs in a buzzy new city or beautiful, tranquil beach resort sounds so much more appealing than regular 9-to-5 office life. But in practice, does the concept work?
If you’re thinking about taking a workation, it’s important to set boundaries to ensure you get the most out of it from all angles. Giving yourself a work schedule and planning activities around it will mean you can get the most out of the destination you’re visiting.
Tips on how to make the most of your workation
1. Make sure your accommodation is workation friendly
Is there free WiFi? How good is the WiFi? Is there a communal space you can work in? Is there a café or shop across the road where you can grab some lunch? Are the windows big enough so that you can see daylight or a nice view while you’re working so that you don’t feel stuck in a box?
These are some important questions you should ask yourself before booking your lodging for your workation. Our luxury apartments in Nairobi also have work-friendly areas where you can take your laptop and escape your room. Plus, being so close to the city centre means you won’t be far away from anything you need.
2. Find a room or apartment you can work in
Once you’ve settled on your destination, it’s time to find the perfect place to stay. As well as asking all the questions above, you might find it better to hit two birds with one stone and find an apartment you can work in with extra space, a table or desk, and a decent kitchen and/or coffee machine.
There is a growing trend and demand for aparthotels, which offer apartments with hotel service, including concierge and room cleaning. At Longonot Place, our luxury serviced apartments have room to live and work with a fully fitted kitchen and separate living area and bedroom. Every apartment also comes with free ultrafast WiFi.
Plus you will be able to enjoy other facilities in the compound, including a sea food restaurant, pool and 24hr gym, as part of your stay.
3. Plan around your work
To make the most of your workation, it would be wise to plan all your recreational stuff around your work so that you schedule is watertight. Start by creating a to-do list of your work with estimations of how long certain tasks should take. Then, you can think about what kind of fun activities you want to do, places to visit, restaurants to eat at, etc. Depending on opening times or when activities are available, you can schedule your work around pleasure, so that you have a nice balance of the two!
While doing this, it would be good to schedule in some “free time” where you have nothing planned, just in case one of your work tasks is particularly difficult or you come across a cool bar that you want to check out.
4. Put in the hours before your arrival
Saying that, even though it’s good to plan which work tasks you want to do and when, try and get as much done as possible before arriving. Your future self will appreciate any extra effort you can make before your trip, especially if it means a couple of extra hours in the city or being able to enjoy one more cocktail at that fancy bar.
5. Pack all your tools
The other bit of prep you should do before your trip is making sure you have everything that you need for your trip, like your laptop or tablet, notebook, pen, maybe a HDMI or ethernet cable, depending what you’ll be doing while away. If you’re going to be based in a city centre like Nairobi then anything forgotten won’t be too much of an issue. But if you’re heading somewhere more remote, then taking time to ensure you’ve got all your tools will help prevent any future headaches over forgotten items.
6. Establish a workspace
Armed with all the tools you need for your workation, upon arrival find a designated spot to be your workstation. Establishing the ritual of “going to work” by sitting in the same spot during your work hours will help you to focus and concentrate during your work hours. But while it’s good to create a workspace haven, take the time to close it all down when you’re finished to help your brain switch off from the working day.
7. Have fun!
Lastly, and most importantly, have fun! Your workation shouldn’t all be work and no vacation, so shake off the guilt and make the most of your new surroundings. Enjoy being in a different environment, especially if your accommodation feels like a home away from home.
10 Simple Hacks to Fall Asleep In Seconds
It’s easier said than done trying to actually catch some Z’s, and there is an entire spectrum of people, all desperately trying to claim back the realm of sleep and their quality of sleep. We all want high quality of sleep, and yet so many of us find ourselves tossing and turning hours after we hit the pillow, unable to slip into the Land of Nod.
However, we all deserve to get the kind of sleep we deserve, and so we’ve rounded up some of our best and most useful sleep hacks to try and help you find it a little bit easier to curl up under the covers and nod off. So, without further ado, here are ten simple sleep hacks…
1. Read a Book before Bed
One of the best and renowned sleep hacks is to turn down the lights, snuggle down, and have a quick read of a good bedside tome. It doesn’t have to be particularly highbrow reading, although reading something you find boring or stale might well induce your visit to the Land of Nod. Reading helps facilitate sleep by forcing you to remove yourself from electronic equipment – items designed to keep your mind visually stimulated – and into a relaxed activity. So, next time you’re struggling to get to sleep, try picking up one of those books on your bedside. It might just be the thing to help.
2. Set a Formal Bedtime
Setting a formal bedtime – as in a time in which you force yourself to go to bed every evening – can be extremely beneficial in terms of helping you get to sleep post-haste. Not only can setting a formal bedtime help you physically, it has some strong psychological benefits. Setting a certain time for you to go to sleep helps your mind recognize that it is time for you to start unwinding and relaxing, much in the same way a child learns to sleep through the night. A regular bedtime also helps your brain adjust its levels of serotonin and melatonin, and helps balance your circadian rhythm out. In short, all good things, and essential sleep hacks that you should implement if you want to be asleep within seconds.
3. Eat a Healthier Diet
We know everyone keeps extolling the virtues of a healthier diet, and believe us, we’re sick of it too. However, if you’ll hear us out, adjusting your diet to help you get better sleep, might just be worth it. Research has found that increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables, and pulses can help improve your sleep and the time it takes for you to go to sleep dramatically, thanks to enhancing your levels of magnesium, potassium, or other essential minerals that your body needs. Even incorporating more turkey – rich in tryptophan which helps induce drowsiness and sleepiness – can help make the distance between awake and sleep much easier.
4. Keep Your Room Cool
The last tip we can offer to help you get to sleep quicker, is to make sure that you keep your room as cool as possible – but not too cool. Years of scientific research have found that your body temperature is key when trying to get to sleep, as your body temperature naturally drops when you start to nod off. Therefore maintaining a cool, but not cold temperature in your room is essential. Similar to the way how coming out of a hot bath makes you feel sleepy thanks to your body’s temperature drop, the best course of action is keeping a fan or a window open to keep cool air circulating, and then taking the opportunity to snuggle down. Lovely.
5. Practice Yoga before Bed
If you fancy exploring something a little less orthodox, then research suggests that doing a spot of yoga can help relax your body and help you get to sleep in record time. In terms of sleep hacks, yoga has long been touted as an avenue worth exploring; certain sequences such as ‘Salute to the Moon’ are designed to be slow, gentle movements that promote a feeling of relaxation and which help relieve any bodily aches that might keep you up at night. Yoga gets a lot of attention for its health benefits, but if you’re stuck on a sleepless night, try your hand at some yoga and find yourself relaxing and nodding off immediately.
6. Meditate
The meditation revolution keeps on rolling through our cities and cultures, touted as a huge help for anyone who needs it – and with good reason. In terms of being simultaneously rudimentary and revolutionary, meditation has been commended as a kind of cure-all for a large swathe of physical or psychological ailments – in this case being unable to go to sleep. Meditation allows you to calm your restless mind and focus on the kind of slow, rhythmic breathing that helps make sleeping better. In fact one of the suggested breathing techniques, the ujjayi breath (or ocean breath), is perfect for calming you down and helping you nod off to sleep.
7. Drink Some Warm Milk
Sometimes the old wives’ tales turn out to have some common sense or a grain of surprising truth in them. For example, the old adage about drinking warm milk helping you go to sleep, turns out to be not only true, but a beneficial sleep hack for anyone trying to get to sleep quicker. Warm milk, or similarly crafted milk-based beverages, may have shaky standing as a soporific thanks to the ongoing debate over the actual effectiveness of tryptophan in aiding sleep. However, psychologists have considered that drinking warm milk may have an unconscious psychological effect, and that it relates to the childhood experience of breastfeeding and the comfort associated with it. So, if you want to have a little sip of something before you hit the hay, try a glass of warm milk, rather than the traditional boozy nightcap. You’ll feel better for it in the morning – in more ways than one.
8. Cut out The Caffeine
One of the best sleep hacks out there is to cut out of the most prevalent addictive chemicals out there: caffeine. Yep, we’re all guilty of partaking in some caffeine at one point or another, whether it’s in our tea, coffee, or even out of chocolate. However, if you want to make sure you go to sleep as soon as possible, try and cut caffeine out of your diet after a certain point in the day. Studies indicate that cutting off your caffeine intake after 3pm helps improve quality of sleep, and the time it takes for you to get to sleep. So, if you want to try something to help you nod off in record time, try ditching that late evening cup of coffee, and see what happens.
9. Turn off The Electronics
One of the biggest, best sleep hacks for the modern-day person, is to remove those pesky electronics from your bedroom to stop you playing with them. Numerous studies have found that the blue light from electronic devices disrupts your brain’s ability to begin relaxing for better quality sleep, as well as the likelihood of being unable to properly relax before hitting the hay, thanks to devices intended to keep you engaged. Instead, try and turn off your laptop, phone or tablet about an hour before you go to bed, so that your mind can unwind properly, and you can get that all-important quality of sleep that you deserve.
10. Invest In Some Blackout Curtains
This can be an issue no matter what your bedroom situation is, but it is always worth investing in a solid pair of blackout curtains if you’re looking for a great go-to sleep hack. With more and more light pollution in the day-to-day – your neighbour’s backyard spotlight, the streetlamps outside, everyone’s car headlights coming in at 1am – it can be harder and harder to sleep with all that extra light pouring in and messing up your chance at sleep. Blackout curtains are a great preventative measure, as they’ll make sure your sleep is longer, better, and is much less likely to be disturbed.
(lifehack.org )
6 Tips for making friends as an adult
Starting new friendships as an adult can feel difficult and intimidating. During childhood, you could meet new people who were in similar life stages through school or extracurricular activities. But when we’re fully engaged in adulting, our lives tend to become more consumed with changes and obligations that differ for each person, from romantic partners to young children to long work hours.
However, studies show that close friendships can have a profound impact on your overall health and happiness. According to a 2010 report in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, having strong social ties can even boost your immune system and help you live longer. So how do you make (and keep) friends as an adult? Here are our six top tips.
1. Keep a positive mindset
First and foremost, making new friends requires stepping beyond your comfort zone and putting yourself out there. If you experience social anxiety or fear of rejection, try to confront your inner voice and adjust any negative assumptions you might have about how people will respond to you.
A 1980s study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that volunteers who believed that a person they were interacting with liked (or disliked) them began to act in ways that made this belief more likely to come true. This suggests that if you go into social situations with the confidence that most people will like you, it’s more likely that this will actually be the case. Remind yourself of your likeable qualities and be open to the possibilities.
2. Initiate, initiate, initiate
This step is particularly important for people who find themselves in new social settings, whether you’ve recently moved to a new city or started a new job. The best way to initiate a friendly interaction with a stranger is by sparking up a conversation and putting your communication skills to work. But how?
One simple way to approach this is to say hello, offer an observation or insight that applies to the current situation, and then follow it up with a question. For example, if it’s your first day at a new job, introduce yourself to a colleague and tell them, briefly, about your position. Then ask: “What is your role?” or “How long have you been with the company?”
Of course, it’s important to acknowledge that not everyone is open to having a conversation with strangers at all times. Before you initiate a chat, be sure to pay attention to what the person is doing: Do they seem upset, hyper-focused, or in a hurry? If so, you might try again later—or with someone else.
3. Practice vulnerability
Studies have found that when strangers are getting to know one another, the more they each share about themselves, the more they end up liking one another. What’s more: good rapport often ramps up when people realize they have something in common—so if you’re looking for ways to deepen your connections, don’t be afraid to get vulnerable. If you want to establish deep, meaningful friendships, ask other people thoughtful questions that get them to share about themselves, practice active listening, and be ready to open up to others about yourself, too.
Group of adults with their arms around each other on top of a mountain at sunset.
4. Accept invitations
If someone invites you to do something, try your best to make it happen. If you’re experiencing social anxiety, remind yourself that this person invited you to get together because they want to spend time in your presence. If you’re sick or busy and have to decline their invite, make an effort to reschedule the plans and put them on the calendar so you’ll remain accountable.
5. Look out for local events and group meetups
Find an event, class, or meetup that you want to attend using local directories or social media. If you can, it’s best to sign up for activities that give you multiple opportunities to connect with a group of people, such as a book club, a language class, or a hiking group.
6. Use your network
Leaning on your current connections can be a great way to meet people. At work, mention to a coworker that you’re looking to grow your social circle, or consider inviting your colleagues to go out for drinks after work or attend a yoga class. You can also reach out to old friends or acquaintances, like former roommates.
Go through your contact list and reach out by asking to grab a coffee or talk a long walk to catch up. You probably have plenty of shared experience to bond over, and you might even revive an old friendship or expand your circle of friends.
Establishing a connection is the first step in creating a new friendship, but to transition from strangers to good friends, you have to follow up and make plans on an ongoing basis. Research shows that forming a friendship can take up to 90 hours and becoming best friends can take more than double that time.
So make sure you’re regularly reaching out to your new friends—the best way to make and keep new friends in adulthood is to show an interest in the things that are important to them and be present in their life.
(bungalow.com)
Why You Need a Digital Detox
You know when you’ve overindulged on food. Your body feels sluggish and bloated and you lack energy and feel overly full and uncomfortable. Many people try to combat that gross feeling by eliminating highly processed foods and avoiding high-calorie, low-nutrition foods for a few days. In essence, they are “detoxing” their body to feel better.
But what happens when it’s your mind that doesn’t feel great? Technology has improved our lives in many ways. Like anything in life, though, too much can sometimes lead to harm. Have you ever thought about trying a digital detox to give your mind and body a rest? For some, a digital detox can be just as beneficial to the body as eating your daily vegetables.
Why you need a digital detox
Social media and technology stimulate parts of the brain that “reward” us, much like certain illicit substances do. We get a dopamine rush and feel pleasure when we get “likes” or responses. That rush can sometimes cause us to fall into a trap of using social media as a way to relieve stress, loneliness or depression.
A 2017 study from Harvard University found that social media can have a significantly negative impact on social relationships, self-esteem, academic success and overall emotional well-being. The study also linked high-volume social media usage to depression and anxiety.
Even if you’re not actually addicted, most everyone could benefit from an occasional social media break, especially when the news cycle is stressful and worrisome. It’s good to take a break from technology in order to “reset” your brain.
But what, exactly, is a digital detox?
A digital detox is a defined period of time in which you significantly reduce the time you spend interacting with technology. The amount of time can range from a few hours to a few days to many months, depending on your need.
A digital detox can be as easy as simply turning off your notifications, setting a time limit on your amount of screen time per day, or having a set period of self-imposed, non-screen time.
Some people choose to cut out all social media and non-necessary technology during a digital detox, and some choose not to use their smartphones, tablets, computers, or technology at all.
It’s easy to check your screen time on your phone by looking at your system settings. iPhone users, for example, get a notification on Sundays that summarizes their past week’s screen time. In the Settings menu, the notification tells the average amount of time per day users use their phone and if there has been an increase or decrease in the usage.
Ideas for a detox
How you choose to step away depends on you, but here are some ideas to start your technology mental cleanse.
- Check your phone and social media only once a day.
- Leave your phone in another room at night before you sleep.
- Remove social media apps from your phone.
- Opt out of social media notifications.
- Block social media sites using a web filtering tool.
- Delete your social media profiles forever (or for a certain period of time to see how you like it).
You may want to have a plan on how you will fill the void in the first few days. Some people might have withdrawal symptoms, such as a heightened craving for social media or a fear you might be missing something important or entertaining.
Additional benefits of trying a detox
Taking a break from digital distractions has a lot of health benefits, such as:
Becoming more productive.
A paper in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology showed that people spend much more time on social networks than they think they do, causing them to engage in more multi-tasking and distractions from work or hobbies.
Improving your sleep.
A 2014 study of adults aged 19 to 32 found that on average, they check their social media accounts for over an hour a day. Of those, 57% reported sleep disturbances.
Improving your personal relationships.
Less time scrolling through social media can mean more face-to-face interactions with friends, family and loved ones. In addition, the trap of falling prey to social media “fights” is dramatically reduced, which lowers stress.
Reducing stress.
Social media tends to feed our “fear of missing out” and can create added pressure to be connected, witty or responsive. Maintaining a large social network may also add to daily stress and being bombarded constantly with information, opinions and comparisons is detrimental to mental well-being.
Finding new or old hobbies.
Remember how you used to love reading, hiking or woodworking? By taking an online break, you may find yourself rediscovering or participating in hobbies or other enjoyable activities you would normally not have time for.
Becoming more mindful.
By reducing those digital distractions, you can become more in tune with what’s around you and how you’re feeling in the moment.
Becoming better connected.
Social media may lead us to believe we are truly connected to our friends and family, but it’s an illusion. By deleting that crutch, you’ll open yourself up to seeing more people and having more genuine conversations free of edits or filters.
Improving your self-esteem.
Being online all the time can cause us to compare ourselves, our lives and our own happiness with what we see. This can harm our self-esteem.
Resetting your tolerance for social media.
You’ll soon find that your need to check sites will ease and you can control your need for constant online connection. You’ll also appreciate the positive aspects of social media more and be able to decide what negative aspects to avoid.
5 Ways to Maximize Public Holidays
There are a bunch of public holidays lined up in the coming months and it’s only right to want to spend it doing what you love and enjoy. More often than not, you have probably found yourself eagerly anticipating these holidays, only to realize they went by too fast and you didn’t make the most of it. If you want to enjoy holidays more, let this be a guide on steps to maximizing public holidays.
Have a plan
You should plan for public holiday periods the same way you plan your workdays. Have a set-out plan of the activities you want to do and the places you want to go to. Although this doesn’t necessarily mean you will do exactly as you have planned, it is still important that you start the holiday knowing what you want to get out of it. Remember, without plans, the holidays will pass by and you’ll end up not doing anything.
Do something different
The public holiday should always be your clue to step out of your usual routine and try new things, go for adventures, and cross out an item off your bucket list. Also set aside time to relax and connect with yourself like reading a book by your favourite author, walking on a beach, going on a spa date or doing yoga. Make sure to put away anything that will get you worked up unnecessarily.
Explore fun places in your city
You can set a radius of how far you’re willing to go and then find fun new places to visit, check out fun places in Nairobi for a start. While choosing the places you would love to go to, remember to consider your safety, how accessible the places are and a couple of reviews of the place just so your day goes right. If you’ve got these right, then it’s time to let your hair down, give room to your inner child and go have some fun.
New in Nairobi? Nairobi is best explored steadily and leisurely. If you want to see the very best of the city, you need to spend more than 24 hours here. Nairobi is a place for adventurers, unpretentious and authentic with multicultural cuisine, plenty of art, amazing wildlife and plentiful attractions. You will find beneath its picturesque look and quaint charm a scrupulously evolving city that will fascinate and make you visit again.
We are located near; the Kenya National Theatre, Nairobi Snake Park, Nairobi Botanic Garden, Nairobi National Museum, University of Nairobi, Museum Hill Centre, TransUnion Kenya Offices, Nakumatt Lifestyle Shopping Centre, City market, Central Park, Tatu Restaurant – Fairmont The Norfolk Restaurant, Naivas Supermarket, and the City Market.
Let go of your phone and computers for this period
Decide to not worry about the next text coming in and instead focus on the moment. One thing a lot of us forget to do is savour the moments we have. Allow yourself to focus on the moment at hand, rather than worrying if that text came in or if they texted back.
Outsource chores if you can
Except doing chores is your hobby or you don’t have the resources to outsource these chores, you should pay someone else to do it for you. Not only does it allow you experience the soft life it also gives you enough time to rest, relax and go out to have fun.
Hospitality Security Guidelines: Ways to keep your hotel guests safe
There are many factors to think about when you run a hotel. Firstly, depending on which market you are tapping into, there will be a variety of ways in which you can make your establishment stand out from the crowd. You’ll have to carry out a lot of research of nearby properties in order to see what is working for competitors.
You have to figure out your target audience and discover the best way to make a a return on your investment. Figuring out your unique selling point is key to succeeding. However, one aspect which must be the same throughout every hotel is safety. Your guests’ safety is paramount to your business. Here, we look at how you can correctly safeguard your hotel:
Electric
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is crucial to anyone who runs, or plans to run, a hotel or guest house. This is because, since your business is constantly running, your systems can be subject to wear, tear, corrosion and overloading. Such a report, which must be carried out by a qualified electrician, will ensure that the electrical appliances in each room are fit for purpose.
You limit the risk of electrical shocks, fires and accidents by regularly running these checks, therefore reducing accidents in the workplace – something which is a legal requirement since the introduction of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
Gas
Like electric, your business gas and appliances require regular checks to be carried out. The Gas Safety Regulations 1998 states that you must arrange annual gas safety checks for any appliances that are serving guest accommodation, even if it’s sited away from the guests’ rooms.
In addition, make sure you provide training to staff members on how to safely use any gas appliances. You should also show them how to carry our visual checks, so they can spot obvious faults. This could include any damaged pipework or connections. While any new installations must be carried out by someone who is Gas Safe-registered, anyone can change a LPG gas cylinder or hose once they are competent to do so.
Carbon monoxide and dioxide alarms are also essential. These alarms can signify any fault and help you avoid any catastrophes. They should give an audible alarm when levels are dangerous and should be able to automatically shut off your gas system.
Staff uniform
While this probably sounds like it doesn’t need mentioning, having a corporate uniform is a must. Not only does it help your business look professional and smart, but it also gives your guests a clear view of who they can approach about a query, and who indeed is allowed in certain areas of the business. In guest areas, knowing who members of staff are is essential. This is because it shows that your company have guests’ safety at the forefront due to staff always patrolling the areas.
Have a clear emergency response plan
Your team must know what their role is in the event of an emergency. Regular meetings with law enforcement and emergency services should be scheduled so you have a good communication plan in place and can update it as and when required. In doing so, you can prepare your staff so that everyone is calm and knowledgeable in a worst-case scenario.
The director of hotel group, Cairn, Aneil Handa, said: “We make sure all our staff have sufficient training to know how to act in an emergency. Communication is key as it’s clear we must be calm and composed in critical moments as this can help us make sure both our guests and staff members are as safe as possible and can help avoid possible catastrophes.”
CCTV
Instil confidence in your guests by installing CCTV cameras. IP CCTV systems are a great way to monitor your hotel and can even be accessed remotely. Certain systems also come with a voice command option, which means that if you spot any wrong-doing, you can quickly warn those involved to stop their actions.
Online data
The physical safety of your guests shouldn’t be your sole focus, either. Hotels have become a prime target for cyber attacks. According to a report by PwC, the hospitality industry has the second-highest number of cybersecurity breaches, with many of the prominent hotels in the industry having fallen victim to breaches.
Reduce this risk by updating your systems on a regular basis. You should also be making sure that backing up your data becomes a habit, so you can eliminate the risk of losing it or having it irretrievably damaged. A recommended strategy is to use a cloud service daily, have weekly server backups, and follow these up with quarterly server backups and then yearly backups.
Just as is the case with your personal devices, password security is also important. Be sure to change it often and make sure you change it any time a staff member leaves to avoid any breaches.
The safety of your guests in the hospitality industry is huge. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep on top of the methods you are using. Following the above steps should help provide your business with a great insight on how to keep your guests as safe as possible.
