![that individuals who volunteer once a […] You are here: Home 5 Things that Make you Happy December 27, 2017 If you’re searching for simple ways to drastically increase your happiness levels, simply continue reading to discover 5 things which are guaranteed to make you feel happy. 5 Things that Make you Happy: Volunteering on a regular basis A recent study conducted by the London School of Economics found that individuals who volunteer once a week are 16% more likely to feel really happy than those who don’t. By volunteering on a regular basis, not only will get a rush out of helping others but you’ll also decrease your stress levels and give you a sense of purpose. So it’s well worth contacting an organization whose mission and goals, inspires you to volunteer your time. Exercising several times a week When you exercise and get your heart pumping, your brain releases dopamine a natural chemical which will immediately improve your mood. In fact, dopamine is the chemical which your brain emits every time that you experience pleasure or happiness. As added bonuses, exercising on a regular basis can increase your energy levels and decrease your stress levels which will help you feel happier on a daily basis. As low energy and stress are two factors which can significantly decrease your happiness levels. Spending time with your friends Spending time each week with supportive, caring friends can significantly boost your mood as humans are social creatures who benefit from regular social interaction. So if you’re looking for a simple way to feel happier, it’s well worth calling a friend to organize a catch-up. As an added benefit by fostering your close friendships, you’ll feel happier as you’ll know that support is just a phone call away. As if you take time to strengthen your friendships, you’ll have no trouble finding a friend to talk to, when you’re going through a challenging, difficult time. Taking time out to relax If you lead a hectic, fast-paced lifestyle, it’s important to take time out each day to recharge your batteries. If your time is limited, you may find that simply taking 20 minutes to soak in a hot bath or to sit outside in the sun, may dramatically increase your mood. When it comes to taking time out to recharge, ensure to choose activities which you personally find fun and calming. As the activities which your friends, partner or family members may find relaxing, may not interest you. Switching off your electronic devices In today’s technologically connected society, you may start to feel stressed out by the pressure to respond to all of your friends’ social media messages and posts. One simple, foolproof way to increase your happiness levels is to turn your smartphone and laptop off in the evenings. Which will allow you to focus on spending time with those around you, instead of constantly checking your social media accounts for new messages, comments or likes. So if one of your primary goals is to feel happier on a regular basis, it’s well worth trying out the 5 activities listed above. As each suggestion has been scientifically proven to increase happiness. · Uncategorized 6 Free Family Activities to Keep Your Family Busy!](https://letsbegamechangers.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/paper-2770974_960_720-1200x400_c.jpg)
![that individuals who volunteer once a […] You are here: Home 5 Things that Make you Happy December 27, 2017 If you’re searching for simple ways to drastically increase your happiness levels, simply continue reading to discover 5 things which are guaranteed to make you feel happy. 5 Things that Make you Happy: Volunteering on a regular basis A recent study conducted by the London School of Economics found that individuals who volunteer once a week are 16% more likely to feel really happy than those who don’t. By volunteering on a regular basis, not only will get a rush out of helping others but you’ll also decrease your stress levels and give you a sense of purpose. So it’s well worth contacting an organization whose mission and goals, inspires you to volunteer your time. Exercising several times a week When you exercise and get your heart pumping, your brain releases dopamine a natural chemical which will immediately improve your mood. In fact, dopamine is the chemical which your brain emits every time that you experience pleasure or happiness. As added bonuses, exercising on a regular basis can increase your energy levels and decrease your stress levels which will help you feel happier on a daily basis. As low energy and stress are two factors which can significantly decrease your happiness levels. Spending time with your friends Spending time each week with supportive, caring friends can significantly boost your mood as humans are social creatures who benefit from regular social interaction. So if you’re looking for a simple way to feel happier, it’s well worth calling a friend to organize a catch-up. As an added benefit by fostering your close friendships, you’ll feel happier as you’ll know that support is just a phone call away. As if you take time to strengthen your friendships, you’ll have no trouble finding a friend to talk to, when you’re going through a challenging, difficult time. Taking time out to relax If you lead a hectic, fast-paced lifestyle, it’s important to take time out each day to recharge your batteries. If your time is limited, you may find that simply taking 20 minutes to soak in a hot bath or to sit outside in the sun, may dramatically increase your mood. When it comes to taking time out to recharge, ensure to choose activities which you personally find fun and calming. As the activities which your friends, partner or family members may find relaxing, may not interest you. Switching off your electronic devices In today’s technologically connected society, you may start to feel stressed out by the pressure to respond to all of your friends’ social media messages and posts. One simple, foolproof way to increase your happiness levels is to turn your smartphone and laptop off in the evenings. Which will allow you to focus on spending time with those around you, instead of constantly checking your social media accounts for new messages, comments or likes. So if one of your primary goals is to feel happier on a regular basis, it’s well worth trying out the 5 activities listed above. As each suggestion has been scientifically proven to increase happiness. · Uncategorized 6 Free Family Activities to Keep Your Family Busy! December 27, 2017 Contrary to popular belief, organizing a fun-filled family day out doesn’t have to cost a small fortune. If you’re interested in spending quality time with your family, without having to spend an exorbitant amount of money, simply continue reading to discover a variety of free family activities, which will keep your family busy for several months. 6 Free Family Activities to Keep Your Family Busy: Decorate your home with origami crafts Origami refers to the Japanese art of paper folding. All you need to create a variety of origami crafts such as paper flowers, paper animals, and paper houses are square pieces of paper. Which you can create by measuring and cutting your printer paper. It’s well worth visiting your local library to take out a kid-friendly origami book, which your family can work their way through. Geocaching If your children love the idea of treasure hunting, it’s well worth visiting Geocaching.com where you’ll find GPS coordinates around your city, where your children will find hidden treasure caches. Some caches even include clues, which your family will have to decipher in order to track down your caches. Better yet, you don’t need to purchase a GPS device to try your hand at Geocaching as free GPS applications are available for both Android and Apple smartphones. Local community events such as festivals and fairs It’s well worth checking your town or city’s online event calendar for free community events such as festivals, parades, outdoor movies, outdoor plays, and fairs. As you should be surprised by the sheer amount of free events which are on offer. As an added bonus, by attending various cultural events such as a Chinese new year celebration and a Diwali light festival, you’ll be able to expose your children to different cultures. Host a family board game night It’s well worth hosting a weekly family board game night, where you turn off your tv and smartphones and sit down with your family for a night of fun and laughter. If you don’t own any board games, you may want to borrow board games from your local library or ask your friends if they have any games you could borrow. Alternatively, you may want to try creating your own board games with your children. Asn an example, you may want to create your own Monopoly board which is based on your neighborhood, town or city! Teach your kids how to juggle using fruit Why not teach your kids how to juggle using oranges or apples from your fridge. Once your kids have the hang of juggling 2-3 pieces of fruit, you can host a tournament to see who can juggle 3 pieces of fruit for the longest period of time. Make a time capsule Simply fill a waterproof container or box with trinkets and bury your time capsule in your backyard. Examples of trinkets which you may want to include may include toys which your children have outgrown and tickets from events you’ve attended as a family and a current newspaper or magazine. Plan to unearth your time capsule in 10 years or when you shift houses. So if you thought family fun had to cost a small fortune, think again! · Uncategorized 7 Foolproof budgeting tips which will transform your finances December 27, 2017 If you’re determined to create a budget which will allow you to purchase necessities and luxuries as well as save money, simply continue reading to discover 7 budgeting tips, which will set yourself up for success. 7 Foolproof budgeting tips which will transform your finances: Follow a simple 50/20/30 budget Budgeting doesn’t have to be complicated. As an example, you may want to use the 50/20/30 plan which was popularized by US Senator Elizabeth Warren which allocates 50% of your disposable income to essential items such as electricity and groceries, 20% of your income to your long-term savings account and 30% of your income to luxuries such as new clothes, movie tickets and family vacations. Set up multiple bank accounts Ensure that you have at least two bank accounts. One bank account to deposit your long-term savings, which offers a higher interest rate as well an everyday account, which you can use to store money which you’ll use to purchase everyday essentials and luxuries. Track your expenses If you prefer to use cards to pay for goods and services, make sure to print off your online statements so that you can keep a record of all of your expenses. Alternatively, if you prefer dealing with cash, make sure to keep all of your receipts, so that you can use a free smartphone app to tally up all of your expenses. Save for big purchases, instead of taking out a loan or purchasing an item on finance Don’t be tempted to purchase an expensive item such as a car or a flat screen television on finance as you’ll end up paying for more for your item, than if you paid with cash. As if you take out a loan or purchase an item on finance, you’ll have to pay a fixed rate of interest. In some cases, you may end up having to pay a premium of several hundred dollars. So it’s well worth saving to purchase your big purchases with cash. Prioritize your needs over your wants As an example, if you can only afford to pay for car repairs or to spend a night out with your friends, it’s important to prioritize paying for your car to get repaired over a night out. Make sure that your budget is realistic As an example, make sure that you allocate enough money to purchase your weekly groceries. As if you draft up a budget that is unrealistic, you’re simply setting yourself up to fail. Also make sure, to budget a few luxuries into your budget as there’s no point saving thousands of dollars if you forget to have fun and treat yourself to occasional luxuries such as a massage or a cup of freshly brewed coffee from your favourite cafe. Be prepared to adjust your budget if necessary A budget should never be set in stone, after a few weeks of testing out your budget, you may want to make a few tweaks to your budget based on the new information you’ve gained. So if you’re determined to make the most out of your disposable income, it’s well worth trying out the 7 budgeting tips listed above. · Uncategorized Easy Decor DIY for your home: 8 Fuss free DIY projects](https://letsbegamechangers.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/butterfly-1049683_960_720-1200x400_c.jpg)
![that individuals who volunteer once a […] You are here: Home 5 Things that Make you Happy December 27, 2017 If you’re searching for simple ways to drastically increase your happiness levels, simply continue reading to discover 5 things which are guaranteed to make you feel happy. 5 Things that Make you Happy: Volunteering on a regular basis A recent study conducted by the London School of Economics found that individuals who volunteer once a week are 16% more likely to feel really happy than those who don’t. By volunteering on a regular basis, not only will get a rush out of helping others but you’ll also decrease your stress levels and give you a sense of purpose. So it’s well worth contacting an organization whose mission and goals, inspires you to volunteer your time. Exercising several times a week When you exercise and get your heart pumping, your brain releases dopamine a natural chemical which will immediately improve your mood. In fact, dopamine is the chemical which your brain emits every time that you experience pleasure or happiness. As added bonuses, exercising on a regular basis can increase your energy levels and decrease your stress levels which will help you feel happier on a daily basis. As low energy and stress are two factors which can significantly decrease your happiness levels. Spending time with your friends Spending time each week with supportive, caring friends can significantly boost your mood as humans are social creatures who benefit from regular social interaction. So if you’re looking for a simple way to feel happier, it’s well worth calling a friend to organize a catch-up. As an added benefit by fostering your close friendships, you’ll feel happier as you’ll know that support is just a phone call away. As if you take time to strengthen your friendships, you’ll have no trouble finding a friend to talk to, when you’re going through a challenging, difficult time. Taking time out to relax If you lead a hectic, fast-paced lifestyle, it’s important to take time out each day to recharge your batteries. If your time is limited, you may find that simply taking 20 minutes to soak in a hot bath or to sit outside in the sun, may dramatically increase your mood. When it comes to taking time out to recharge, ensure to choose activities which you personally find fun and calming. As the activities which your friends, partner or family members may find relaxing, may not interest you. Switching off your electronic devices In today’s technologically connected society, you may start to feel stressed out by the pressure to respond to all of your friends’ social media messages and posts. One simple, foolproof way to increase your happiness levels is to turn your smartphone and laptop off in the evenings. Which will allow you to focus on spending time with those around you, instead of constantly checking your social media accounts for new messages, comments or likes. So if one of your primary goals is to feel happier on a regular basis, it’s well worth trying out the 5 activities listed above. As each suggestion has been scientifically proven to increase happiness. · Uncategorized 6 Free Family Activities to Keep Your Family Busy! December 27, 2017 Contrary to popular belief, organizing a fun-filled family day out doesn’t have to cost a small fortune. If you’re interested in spending quality time with your family, without having to spend an exorbitant amount of money, simply continue reading to discover a variety of free family activities, which will keep your family busy for several months. 6 Free Family Activities to Keep Your Family Busy: Decorate your home with origami crafts Origami refers to the Japanese art of paper folding. All you need to create a variety of origami crafts such as paper flowers, paper animals, and paper houses are square pieces of paper. Which you can create by measuring and cutting your printer paper. It’s well worth visiting your local library to take out a kid-friendly origami book, which your family can work their way through. Geocaching If your children love the idea of treasure hunting, it’s well worth visiting Geocaching.com where you’ll find GPS coordinates around your city, where your children will find hidden treasure caches. Some caches even include clues, which your family will have to decipher in order to track down your caches. Better yet, you don’t need to purchase a GPS device to try your hand at Geocaching as free GPS applications are available for both Android and Apple smartphones. Local community events such as festivals and fairs It’s well worth checking your town or city’s online event calendar for free community events such as festivals, parades, outdoor movies, outdoor plays, and fairs. As you should be surprised by the sheer amount of free events which are on offer. As an added bonus, by attending various cultural events such as a Chinese new year celebration and a Diwali light festival, you’ll be able to expose your children to different cultures. Host a family board game night It’s well worth hosting a weekly family board game night, where you turn off your tv and smartphones and sit down with your family for a night of fun and laughter. If you don’t own any board games, you may want to borrow board games from your local library or ask your friends if they have any games you could borrow. Alternatively, you may want to try creating your own board games with your children. Asn an example, you may want to create your own Monopoly board which is based on your neighborhood, town or city! Teach your kids how to juggle using fruit Why not teach your kids how to juggle using oranges or apples from your fridge. Once your kids have the hang of juggling 2-3 pieces of fruit, you can host a tournament to see who can juggle 3 pieces of fruit for the longest period of time. Make a time capsule Simply fill a waterproof container or box with trinkets and bury your time capsule in your backyard. Examples of trinkets which you may want to include may include toys which your children have outgrown and tickets from events you’ve attended as a family and a current newspaper or magazine. Plan to unearth your time capsule in 10 years or when you shift houses. So if you thought family fun had to cost a small fortune, think again! · Uncategorized 7 Foolproof budgeting tips which will transform your finances December 27, 2017 If you’re determined to create a budget which will allow you to purchase necessities and luxuries as well as save money, simply continue reading to discover 7 budgeting tips, which will set yourself up for success. 7 Foolproof budgeting tips which will transform your finances: Follow a simple 50/20/30 budget Budgeting doesn’t have to be complicated. As an example, you may want to use the 50/20/30 plan which was popularized by US Senator Elizabeth Warren which allocates 50% of your disposable income to essential items such as electricity and groceries, 20% of your income to your long-term savings account and 30% of your income to luxuries such as new clothes, movie tickets and family vacations. Set up multiple bank accounts Ensure that you have at least two bank accounts. One bank account to deposit your long-term savings, which offers a higher interest rate as well an everyday account, which you can use to store money which you’ll use to purchase everyday essentials and luxuries. Track your expenses If you prefer to use cards to pay for goods and services, make sure to print off your online statements so that you can keep a record of all of your expenses. Alternatively, if you prefer dealing with cash, make sure to keep all of your receipts, so that you can use a free smartphone app to tally up all of your expenses. Save for big purchases, instead of taking out a loan or purchasing an item on finance Don’t be tempted to purchase an expensive item such as a car or a flat screen television on finance as you’ll end up paying for more for your item, than if you paid with cash. As if you take out a loan or purchase an item on finance, you’ll have to pay a fixed rate of interest. In some cases, you may end up having to pay a premium of several hundred dollars. So it’s well worth saving to purchase your big purchases with cash. Prioritize your needs over your wants As an example, if you can only afford to pay for car repairs or to spend a night out with your friends, it’s important to prioritize paying for your car to get repaired over a night out. Make sure that your budget is realistic As an example, make sure that you allocate enough money to purchase your weekly groceries. As if you draft up a budget that is unrealistic, you’re simply setting yourself up to fail. Also make sure, to budget a few luxuries into your budget as there’s no point saving thousands of dollars if you forget to have fun and treat yourself to occasional luxuries such as a massage or a cup of freshly brewed coffee from your favourite cafe. Be prepared to adjust your budget if necessary A budget should never be set in stone, after a few weeks of testing out your budget, you may want to make a few tweaks to your budget based on the new information you’ve gained. So if you’re determined to make the most out of your disposable income, it’s well worth trying out the 7 budgeting tips listed above. · Uncategorized Easy Decor DIY for your home: 8 Fuss free DIY projects December 27, 2017 If you’re interested in redecorating your home and giving your home a new lease on life, it’s well worth taking things into your own hands by opting to complete DIY decor projects, instead of purchasing overpriced, store-bought decorations! If you’re tempted, simply continue reading to discover 8 fuss-free DIY projects, which are well worth trying out. Easy Decor DIY for your home: 8 Fuss free DIY projects Wall decals An easy way to stamp your personality onto your home is to purchase inexpensive wall decals. As an example, you may want to place one of your favorite quotes on the wall of your lounge or to decorate your kids’ bedrooms with their favorite book characters such as Winnie the Pooh and Paddington Bear. Paint your mirror or photo frames One way to instantly transform a room is to use a gold spray paint to paint your mirror’s frame gold. If you need to purchase an inexpensive mirror it’s well worth visiting a thrift store as you’ll be able to pick up an old mirror for a couple of dollars. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a more minimalistic color scheme, you may want to spray paint your mirror frames and photo frames a crisp, clean white. Repurpose book-ends as floating bookshelves Why not screw unused book ends onto your wall, in order to create cheap floating bookshelves? Which you can use to decorate your lounge, office or bedroom. Use an old window shutter to store your mail Why not paint an old window shutter and hang it up to use as a storage unit for your mail, postcards, birthday cards or Christmas cards? Just don’t be surprised if a few of your friend decide to steal your innovative idea. Turn a mirror into an eye-catching blackboard To turn a mirror into an eye-catching blackboard simply paint your mirror’s frame and then paint your mirror’s glass panel with a blackboard paint. Then you can hang your decorative blackboard in your kitchen, to showcase each day’s menu. If you have children, they’ll love being able to order their meals from a blackboard menu. Superglue old cork bottle tops into a picture frame to make a fun notice board If your family is in need of a notice board, to pin notes. Simply glue unwanted cork bottle tops into a medium sized picture frame in order to create a unique, notice board which will instantly dress up your lounge, kitchen or hallway. Spray paint your alphabet magnets gold Who said that alphabet fridge magnets are just for children? To give your children’s old alphabet fridge magnets a new lease on life, simply spray paint each magnet gold. Turn an old cutting board into a stand for your iPad Simply superglue a scrabble tile holder onto an old wooden cutting board, to repurpose your cutting board into a funky iPad stand. So what are you waiting for? Simply pick up a can of gold spray paint or a used wooden cutting board and start crafting. · Uncategorized Top travel destinations for 2018 revealed!](https://letsbegamechangers.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/taj-mahal-1209004_960_720-1200x400_c.jpg)
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