Solidground Success | From the Web

July 15, 2020in From the Web by

Frank Roach DDS Shares 12 Ways to Make Your Dental Practice Successful

Running a successful dental practice involves skill, perseverance, and growth. Frank Roach DDS has been practicing dentistry in Atlanta for over 20 years and has amassed a volume of information that can help new dentists make their practices the best they can be.

A dental practice is much like any other business, with concerns like marketing, customer service, and training at the forefront. There are special considerations for a medical or dental office.

Dr. Frank Roach explains the 12 ways that you can make your dental practice successful.

1. Personal Branding

The first thing that you should consider when starting a dental practice is setting up your personal brand. This goes beyond a logo and into the inner workings of your practice. What are your values and skills? When you think carefully about all of your business’s strengths, you will be able to create a solid brand vision upon which to build your marketing campaign and your business as a whole.

2. Educate Yourself

If you have not just graduated from dental school, it is likely that you need to be educated on the newest materials and techniques. Taking training classes given by other dentists and medical institutions will teach you how to update your skills. You may have to invest money in new equipment, but you will find that this step increases your business’s efficiency while keeping patients happy.

3. Create a Welcoming Environment

Many patients are nervous about coming to the dentist. It makes sense to create a friendly, welcoming environment for your patients to enjoy. Make your office as homelike as possible, providing comfortable seating, guest Wi-Fi, and a selection of healthy beverages in your waiting room.

4. Look Closely at Patient Service

Your patients are the core of your business. If your patients are not happy, they will go elsewhere and will leave you poor reviews. These reviews can make or break a new dental practice, so it is crucial to keep patients satisfied. Investing in new equipment is a good way to start. Offering services like sedation dentistry is another helpful step.

Make sure that all of your office staff are well-trained and cordial in manner. An office staff that is frequently brusque and unfriendly can drive patients away.

5. Explain All Procedures

When you are working with a patient, you need to explain everything that you are doing. Patients need to know what is going on in their mouths, and they need to have solid answers when they have questions.

6. Offer Follow-Up Care

Make sure that your patients return frequently by offering discounts and referral bonuses. Not everyone has quality dental insurance, and patients will be encouraged to come back if they can save a little money.

7. Be Tactful with Billing

When you are sitting a new patient down to explain their treatment plan, be aware that there may be some sticker shock. Patients who are in financial difficulties may not be able to afford your treatment. Offer payment plans if possible, at no interest if you can afford to do so. Otherwise, there are programs like CareCredit that offer promotional financing to dental patients.

8. Enhance Your Management System

It is a good idea to have electronic dental records and to make sure that all of your office systems work together easily. Patients should be able to see their charts and to schedule new appointments with ease. When you are able to adjust your workflow, you will run more efficiently and be able to see more patients per day.

9. Optimize Your Website and Social Media

A dental office’s website should be attractive and useful. Patients appreciate the ability to make and schedule appointments through the website. They also like being able to see testimonials and before and after photos on the website.

Integrating your website with social media can be another helpful step. You will need to be careful with your reputation on social media and what kinds of ads you run. Social media can be an effective tool, but it can also turn into a trap if your customers are not happy.

10. Optimize Your Inventory

All dental practices carry an inventory of necessary supplies as well as office items. You will need to be as careful with your inventory as you would be if you were running a retail store. Keep close tabs on your inventory and institute systems for tracking and refilling it. Avoid wasting money on obsolete items.

11. Avoid Judgment

According to Frank Roach DDS, one of the most important aspects of running a dental practice is to keep your patients from feeling like you are judging them for the state of their dental health. Many patients will avoid the dentist if they feel that they will be harshly treated. Especially with new patients, it is highly important to treat them gently. As you get to know your patients better, you can be firmer about following home care and treatment plans.

12. Hire the Best

All of the above methods of making your dental practice succeed will get you nowhere if you do not have the best staff. Make sure that your staff are talented, compassionate, and well-educated.

Succeeding as a Dentist

These 12 steps may be able to help you shape your dental practice into a successful endeavor. Dr. Frank Roach from Atlanta encourages you to put a great deal of thought into these steps and how you can use them to improve your practice. When you set up your practice in a mindful fashion and work to meet your goals, you will build a loyal patient base and become an integral part of your community.

The post Frank Roach DDS Shares 12 Ways to Make Your Dental Practice Successful appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Author: Editor

July 15, 2020in From the Web by

Alexander Machkevitch: A Successful Teacher and Businessman

“Teachers don’t earn much,” millions of people would say. However, we must correct you, as only those teachers who cannot apply their knowledge and skills to earn money end up earning little.

In the history of the post-Soviet area, there are almost no successful examples of prominent representatives of the Soviet intelligentsia who managed to become super successful after the collapse of the system that brought them up.

Consequently, Boris Berezovsky, a former doctor of science, remained in history as the most odious representative of the Russian oligarchy. On the other hand, a promising chemist named Mikhail Khodorkovsky was not taken to graduate school with the following explanation: “for his inability to work in experimental science.”

Of all the galaxy of representatives of large business, only one person was able to gain success in both science and business: Alexander Machkevitch. What was his secret to success? You will find answers to this and many other questions below.

Alexander Machkevitch: Family and Scientific Activity

The Machkevitch family has prominent representatives of the now-virtually-extinct Soviet intelligentsia class. Father Anton Azarievich is a famous Soviet doctor. A specialist in epidemiology, he has equipped and managed dozens of sanitary stations throughout Central Asia and is personally responsible for getting rid of the death stemming from many viral infections plaguing residents of villages cut off during the Soviet years. He was the author of the monograph “Hygiene of rural water supply”, which was used by the authorities and doctors until 2000.

The mother of Alexander Machkevitch was the famous lawyer, Rachel Yoffe, who received respect and the reputation as the most zealous advocate in court. She became famous for her oratory, her grace in building a strategy for representing the client’s interests, and her courage in communicating with representatives of the once-omnipotent Soviet prosecutor’s office. The mother of Alexander Machkevitch did not leave lawyer practice until she was very old, even after her son became a millionaire.

In memory of his mother, an outstanding lawyer, Alexander Machkevitch built the synagogue “Beit Rachel – Chabad Lubavich”.

Machkevitch family members are representatives of the Karaite ethnic group that managed to return to their historical homeland only in 2011. Alexander received Israeli citizenship under the repatriation program and has since spent a lot of time there, not forgetting about his first home, Central Asia, where he was able to become a scientist and businessman.

Alexander Machkevitch first became notable in 1981 at the age of 27, when he became the youngest candidate of science in the field of theory and history of pedagogy and psychology. Over the next seven years, the scientist devoted himself to the development of the Kyrgyz State University and the native pedagogical faculty, which he took care of even after leaving for business. It practices the theory described in scientific papers when organizing the work of the university and the formation of curricula. His achievements at the University of Bishkek are used today.

Alexander Machkevitch: The Establishment of Eurasian Resources Group and Humanitarian Activities

In 1988 when he was 34 years old, Alexander Machkevitch dramatically changed his life direction. “I always wanted more and realized that my knowledge and skills would be more effective if applied in free conditions. I had to give up my career at the university and start life anew in Kazakhstan, where I started managing the first enterprise from which the holding, now known to millions as the Eurasian Resources Group, grew up,” says the billionaire about personal motivations when changing careers and life.

The understanding of human psychology and organizational abilities gained in teaching allowed Alexander Machkevitch to become the owner of a fortune estimated at more than three billion dollars. His enterprises in the fields of mining and processing of mineral resources, metallurgy, logistics, finance, and insurance, according to some estimates, form from 5 to 10% of the total GDP of Kazakhstan.

For his contribution to the development of the country’s economy, Alexander Machkevitch was awarded the Order of Barys, the Order of Kurmet, and the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh.

He is considered one of the most active and generous philanthropists in the Eurasian space, having spent at least $100 million on humanitarian, cultural, and educational initiatives.

Among the projects of Alexander Machkevitch that are worth mentioning are the construction of the largest synagogue in Central Asia, “Beit Rachel – Chabad Lubavich”, a temple in Aktobe in honor of St. Nicholas the Confessor, the rehabilitation center “Beit Shmuel” and, naturally, the creation of the Jewish Congress of Kazakhstan and the presidency in the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress.

https://infoonline.news/world/alexander-machkevitch-a-successful-teacher-and-businessman

The post Alexander Machkevitch: A Successful Teacher and Businessman appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Author: Editor

July 15, 2020in From the Web by

How to Make Business Purchasing from Home Easier

According to a recent CNBC poll, more than four in 10 Americans are engaged in the carpet commute. And with COVID-19 cases rising and falling at unpredictable intervals around the country, many employers expect their workforces to remain at least partially remote for the foreseeable future.

As a business owner, you’ve no doubt changed your operations to account for the realities of guiding a remote team. You hold meetings on Zoom. You check in with workers frequently. You use free tools like Google Voice and Docs. Yet, despite your best efforts, you may feel challenged when it comes to getting a handle on your corporate purchasing.

Buying useful items, including everyday supplies and key materials or components, is a much simpler process when everyone’s working in the same office. But when employees are scattered, purchasing can become a little more difficult. For instance, team members may neglect to talk about what they need until it becomes urgent — and you’re forced to pay top dollar. Similarly, you might have trouble finding what you need, especially with pandemic-linked shortages on everything from paper goods to tech products.

There’s a bright side to this seemingly gloomy cloud, though. By adopting a few purchasing strategies, you can minimize the friction associated with making buys, keep your company’s costs low, and still get the high-quality supplies and materials you need.

1. Keep Costs Down by Making Bulk Purchases

There’s a reason big warehouses like Costco offer business accounts: lots of smaller companies save by getting what they need most in large quantities. If you haven’t considered bulk buying, you may want to. And don’t forget that you can easily join a group purchasing organization (GPO) online to take this concept a step further.

GPOs are cohorts of companies, usually small businesses and startups, that want to reduce their costs by negotiating deeper discounts with suppliers of needed merchandise. The GPO handles the back-and-forth communications with vendors, getting the lowest cost-per-item rate available. As part of a thriving GPO that doesn’t ask you to commit money upfront for a membership fee, you may be able to slash your most frequent expenses month after month. Best of all, you can do everything from your home without stepping foot in a store.

2. Create a Centralized Purchasing Document

You’ll do yourself and your team a big favor by starting a collaborative spreadsheet that lists all the items you expect to need. Feel free to separate the list by departments, types of products, or any delineator that makes sense for your organization. Then, give all key personnel access to the document so they can make real-time requests.

This type of group approach to purchasing works because it holds everyone accountable. Plus, you’ll be able to see when someone makes an unusual request or a supply runs out much sooner than expected. Over time, you may even want to add new columns to the spreadsheet to keep track of when items are ordered, how much they cost, where they’re being sent, and when they arrive.

3. Ask Team Members to Report Deals

During your regular daily or weekly meetings with employees, take a few minutes to ask if they’ve seen any special sales or deals. Your workers may live in different parts of the country, so one person’s community could be offering incredible steals on anything from paper reams to ink cartridges.

Obviously, you’ll need to be careful so you don’t just buy things for the sake of getting what seems like a bargain but only eats up storage space. But it’s valuable to have a sense of how you can save dollars.

For instance, let’s say you create a Slack channel devoted to interesting sales that might be pertinent for your business purchases. A co-worker notices a deep discount on printers. Interestingly, one of your team members has mentioned the need for a more suitable printer to work at home. By taking advantage of the local sale and having the unit shipped to the right person, you may be able to greatly lower the printer’s normal retail price.

4. Use One Source to Pay for Purchases

As part of your mission to make business purchasing painless, consider putting all your buys on the same corporate credit or debit card. Many cards offer points and other savings, which will accrue month after month. Eventually, you may be able to buy some items for free by using your points at accepted sites like Amazon. And it’s much easier to dispute purchases via a credit card company than via other methods, such as checks.

A secondary advantage to using a single credit card account for purchases is that you’ll have all your purchasing information on one statement. In other words, you won’t have to hunt to review how much your organization spent every 30-day or 31-day cycle. You can then transfer the information to your collaborative spreadsheet.

Many businesses have discovered that remote working isn’t as tough as they originally thought. Even if you’re planning to move back to an office full-time after COVID-19 quarantine regulations are lifted, consider adopting purchasing behaviors that will effortlessly transfer. If your whole team needs to revert to telecommuting in the future, you can continue to buy confidently without making any changes to your purchasing protocol.

The post How to Make Business Purchasing from Home Easier appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Author: Awais Ahmed

July 15, 2020in From the Web by

VIP Casino Program — Is It More Profitable for Casinos or for Players?

Spend more and you’ll be given more. This is the basic principle of each VIP Casino Program. Such a scheme is used by many businesses, and we bet you have already heard of many programs like that. And the first thing you think of might be: “Geez, it must be so great to be one!” When VIPs go to a gambling portal like OnlineCasinoHex.ca to find online roulette, they don’t bother thinking if their presence is profitable for online casinos; they want it to be profitable for them. But is it really? What if they have to give even more than what they get? And how much do casinos actually profit from VIPs?

One more shining example is the airline loyalty program, where for each mile traveled by plane, you get some points that can be exchanged for tickets in the future. While ordinary groceries and cafes use this scheme randomly, without knowing whether you need their special offer or not, land-based and online casinos offer VIP programs that are based on your personal preferences.

What Is a VIP Casino Program and How to Join One?

Online casinos are not obliged to offer VIP programs to their regular customers. However, in understanding the importance of keeping players interested, most gaming websites do offer those programs. A VIP casino program is a loyalty program where a player receives points for playing casino games. Everything is as easy as ABC: you get points for playing games and then exchange them for free stuff. So, what can you get for your points?

Personal bonuses. As a VIP player, you can get access to exclusive bonuses that are not available to other regular players.
Personal manager. Most online casinos provide each VIP player with a personal manager whose task is to deal with all the problems the player faces.
Invitations to special tournaments and events. VIP players can take advantage of participating in exclusive tournaments and even live events with groundbreaking prizes.
Higher limits. Since a VIP player spends more, he can deposit more and withdraw more.
Free spins. Online casinos track what games a VIP player prefers to play the most and rewards them with free spins on the selected games.
Other rewards may include cash-back bonuses, special daily/weekly/monthly bonuses, and even real prizes like T-shirts, cups, electronic devices, and more.

While the land-based casinos should encourage their players to use special cards that are used for tracking the players’ activity, the online casinos track you from your very first bet, and you can do nothing with it.

Anyway, what should you do in order to become a VIP player? In fact, everything depends on the casino you are playing at. However, most VIP programs are status-based. Once you have made your first bet, you reach the Bronze status with almost no special rewards to claim. In order to get to the Silver status, you should bet $10,000 or something like that. Of course, players with Platinum status receive all the possible privileges.

The online casinos themselves also benefit from offering VIP programs. According to studies, truly loyal players are likely to spend more money on the casino’s services and are less likely to search for another alternative casino. Moreover, it’s not that easy to keep and advance the VIP status. Let’s talk about it in detail below.

The Dark Side of VIP Programs

Besides all the advantages of using a VIP program, it also has some downsides.

First of all, you need to spend too much money in order to get free stuff. You will hardly find an online casino which will be giving away some beckoning prizes right after you’ve bet your first $100.

Second, the prizes a VIP player receives at the early stages can be not worth it. Just imagine that you’ve just reached the Silver status, and the casino awards you with some “exclusive” deposit bonuses that come with certain wagering requirements. It’s not what you expect, is it?

Third, VIP programs can cause addiction. While hunting for bigger VIP rewards, players risk being carried away by gambling. Reaching VIP rewards becomes the main goal, which is not correct and can be really dangerous.

Whether you decide to take part in a VIP program or not, always remember that gambling is for fun. That’s the most important thing!

The post VIP Casino Program — Is It More Profitable for Casinos or for Players? appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Author: Editor

July 15, 2020in From the Web by

These Tips Will Help You to Expand Your Very Own Home Business

If you run your own business from home, then you will know what a thrilling experience it can be. You may feel as though you have complete control over the decisions you make and that you can also steer your company in whatever direction you want. This is great, but at the end of the day, you still need to make sure that you do everything you can to grow in a way that reflects your industry and your potential.

Focus on a Single Service or Product

The first thing that you need to do is focus on a single product or service. When you have done this, you then need to market it, and sell it. When it comes to promotion, you have to do everything you can to increase sales to a specific market. Sure, it can be tempting to try and be everything to everyone, but if you do this then you may find that you put your business at risk and that you also struggle to connect with your audience too.

Expand Your Product Line

It’s also helpful for you to expand your product line so that you can offer other complementary services or even products. If you have been able to catch on to something that your customers like, then seize the moment and bring out other related items that will help you to diversify. This will give your customer a much wider selection and it will also make your products much more appealing.

Increase Your Sales

Selling more to the customers you have right now is much cheaper when compared to finding new customers. Even if you are not able to expand your product line, it is more than possible for you to boost revenues by simply selling more to the customers you have now. One great way for you to do this would be for you to take advantage of volume discounts. Offering your customers the chance to pick up two t-shirts instead of one, for example, helps them to think that they are getting more value and this can really work in your favour.

Hire Someone to Help Out

It’s also a good idea for you to hire someone who can help you out as an employee or even as a freelancer. This will help you to free up cash flow and it will adjust your expenses to the amount of work you are bringing in. Of course, this is ideal if you want to cultivate a huge network of people and it also gives you the chance to hire professionals that normally you wouldn’t have the budget for.

Invest in a Vehicle for Advertising

If you do not have a car right now, then you may want to change that. After all, just because you work from home, doesn’t mean that you are not going to ever need to venture out or attend meetings. If you want to learn more about transportation then KUO has a great guide. When you have a car, you can then add advertising to it and park it right outside your home. Customers will then flock right to you.

The post These Tips Will Help You to Expand Your Very Own Home Business appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Author: Editor

July 15, 2020in From the Web by

How Professional Tradespeople Can Help Your Business

There are many different professional trades out there, and they offer all sorts of services. Understanding how to use these various companies can be tricky, causing a lot of business owners to miss out on the benefits of working with them. To help you with this, this article will explore a range of different professional services so you can assess their value for your business. Of course, though, it will always be worth doing some research on your own, too.

Plumbers

Plumbing is one of the oldest construction professions in the world, with societies like ancient Rome having people for these jobs. The pipes that go in and around your building are responsible for carrying water, gas, and oil, ensuring that several crucial elements of your building run properly. For example, if you have a burst pipe, you can call a plumber to come and fix it for you. Providing water and heating to your team members is essential, and you will usually have a legal responsibility to make sure they are comfortable at work.

Many plumbers offer services that provide you with regular inspections of your critical gas and water systems. They can look at your boilers, pipes, and other equipment to make sure that they don’t need to be repaired, performing maintenance to ensure that they can last as long as possible before needing to be replaced. This sort of service can end up saving your business a small fortune, with problems like flooding often being averted when you have a professional come and inspect your pipes for you.

Electricians

Electricity hasn’t been a feature of human life for anywhere near as long as water, but this doesn’t make it any less important. Most modern businesses heavily rely on electricity to keep their work moving—computers and other devices would be useless without it! Electricians can help you with all of your electrical needs, from wiring new appliances to replacing light bulbs. Much like plumbers, though, electricians can help with an array of other services that could also help your business.

Backup power supplies can be very handy when you rely on computers to do your work, especially if you have a server running a RAID array that could get corrupted by a power cut. An electrician will be able to provide this to you, along with a huge range of other services. Improving your business will always be much easier with a professional opinion. Things like lighting can seem unimportant, but a quick survey from an electrician could easily show that your lighting is inadequate for the job at hand.

IT & Networking

Modern computer networks are complicated and confusing, making it impossible for those without specific skills to work with them. Of course, though, paying to hire someone directly to work on your IT and networking is far too expensive for most businesses. Instead, it makes a lot more sense to pay for this as a service, ensuring that you’re only ever spending money on what you need. Many of these services operate on a pay-as-you-go basis, making it nice and easy to save money when you can’t afford your IT support.

IT and networking service providers can help you with an array of different services. To start, they will be able to help you manage your computer systems and ensure that they run without errors. Alongside this, they can also make suggestions and offer advice that could enable you to improve the way your business operates. For example, moving to cloud services rather than using your own servers can be very cost-effective, while also providing you with additional security.

Construction

The construction industry has always been crucial to businesses. Construction professionals will be responsible for building the property you use each day, along with maintaining it to make sure that it lasts for as long as possible. They will also be able to help you with extensions and other construction projects, making it nice and easy to expand your business without having to move to a new place. Along with providing you with regular construction services, these professionals can also make suggestions that will help you improve. It can be hard to know your options when you’re exploring fields like this.

Interior Designers

While it is only a recent idea, having the right decor in your workplace can have a big impact on the productivity of your team. Colors can easily influence the way that a person feels, and it can be all too easy to incorporate distracting patterns if you’re not careful. Many companies simply choose neutral colors to match the colors of their brand when they are designing a workspace for their team. In reality, though, this process is far more complicated than throwing paint on the walls and being done with it.

A professional interior designer will be able to guide you through the process of creating a work environment that makes your team feel good. They can help you pick furniture, design elements, and a range of other features, giving you the chance to design a building that will improve your productivity. This sort of process is well worth it when you’ve got a growing team, as the difference it will make will impact your profits more and more when you have a large workforce behind you.

Web Professionals

It can be easy to assume that an IT and networking professional would be able to help you with things like your website and social media. Unfortunately, though, these jobs are very different, so companies often have to hire two professionals for these tasks. A web expert will be able to assist you in creating a website that will help you get noticed, along with providing support and advice as you battle to make sense of social media.

In addition, professionals in this field can also help with SEO and online marketing. This can enable you to push your business further than ever before, all without having to make calls or pay for physical adverts. These professionals can often also help with PPC adverts. Of course, though, you have to make sure that the company you choose has a long track record of success in areas like SEO to ensure that you’ll get the results you want.

Other Tradespeople

It would be impossible to cover all of the world’s tradespeople in one article, but the same principles often apply no matter who you’re working with. When you’re paying someone to support your company, it always makes sense to explore their offerings as deeply as you can. Each professional will offer something different, but you won’t be able to take advantage of this unless you know about it, and they may not always be upfront with this.

No matter the size of your business, you will almost certainly have to rely on others at some point in your company’s journey. Making sure that you choose the right professionals for the job is crucial, and you need to ensure that you’re taking full advantage of all of the benefits these companies provide. Of course, though, this will always take a considerable amount of work, and this means that you have to take it seriously.

The post How Professional Tradespeople Can Help Your Business appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Author: Editor

July 15, 2020in From the Web by

Thank Your Clients for Their Continued Business During the Pandemic with These Wine Gifts

The coronavirus pandemic has completely altered the business sphere, and many companies have suffered major losses. Now more than ever, it is so important to let your clients know how much their continued business means to you. One way to do this is by surprising them with an exciting wine gift to thank them for their business. This is the perfect way to strengthen your relationship with them during this difficult time.

Having trouble figuring out which wine gift to get for your clients? Below are top gift picks that would make them elated. These presents exude sophisticated taste without blowing a hole in your wallet! You will also love that they can all be conveniently ordered online from the comfort of your home office, so no need to make a trip to the liquor store.

2017 Alchemist Chardonnay by Union Wine Company
With wonderful notes of apricot, orange blossom, and wood spice, this delightful chardonnay will make any white wine lover ecstatic. It is crafted using modern winemaking techniques and equipment that preserves the inherent freshness and brightness of the Oregon Chardonnay grapes chosen in small lots from select vineyards in the Willamette Valley. This wine will make any post-work happy hour or dinner extra special.
Buy now: $28.00 at unionwinecompany.com.

Underwood Pinot Noir 4-Pack by Union Wine Company

This 4-pack of 375mL cans of tasty, well-balanced pinot noir wine is the top gift for on-the-go wine lovers. Featuring cherry, blueberry, and cigar box tasting notes, this wine is perfect for relaxing at-home spa days and picnics. Practical and hassle-free, the cans make it so easy to enjoy Underwood Pinot Noir in all occasions. All of Union Wine Company’s wine is high quality, made with outstanding craftsmanship, and won’t break the bank.
Buy now: $28.00 at unionwinecompany.com.

Limerick Lane Wines

Limerick Wines

Renowned for their highly-rated wines, Limerick Lane Winery believes that winemaking is an invisible art and less is more. In their cultivation processes, they choose the path that allows the site to speak as loudly and clearly as possible. One wine, the 2017 1023 Estate Cuvee, is nothing short of exquisite. Featuring a blend of the estate’s most dramatic, most striking, and most compelling Zinfandel, Syrah and Grenache lots, the 2017 1023 Estate Cuve was rated 97 points by Jeb Dunnuck and retails for $80.00.

Limerick Lane

Another fantastic gift option is the 2019 Russian River Rosé, which was inspired by a trip to Provence in southern France. It is “true” Rosé, not a saignee or “bleed” of Pinot Noir or Zinfandel. Its grapes were grown and picked specifically for its creation. The 2019 Russian River Rosé is so refreshing, flavorful, and pairs perfectly with roasted chicken and seafood. Sure to be a hit, it retails for $28.00.
You can view and purchase all of the wines at limericklanewines.com.

Limerick Lane Rose

With the cancellations of events, festivals, fundraisers and charity auctions, Limerick Lane wanted to still support their extended friends and family and the causes close to all of us: education, saving the environment, helping foster families, and more. For every case purchased of the 2018 Limerick Lane Russian River Zinfandel and the 2019 Limerick Lane Rosé, Limerick Lane will donate 50% of sales to the selected partners’ cause under the “We Care” campaign.

“With this initiative to give back during this unprecedented time, we are grateful to work with our collective partners, friends, and neighbors around the country to make a difference great or small. We are all in this together. We selected our partners because we are close to these charities and organizations and we know that the donations go directly to people in need,” says Gina Lathrum, Director of Marketing, Limerick Lane Winery. “Our goal is to have every case sold and be able to donate $400,000 collectively to our partners.”

Tussock Jumper 2017 Organic Malbec

Malbec

Cultivated in Argentina, this big and bold red wine is hand harvested and grown using sustainable farming practices. Your client will rave about its flavors of chocolate, dark berries, and spice, as well as its medium tannins and silky finish. The 2017 Organic Malbec is perfect for pairing with a hearty pasta or beef stew on summer evenings! Tussock Jumper only selects high-quality varietals from small batch vineyards—perfect for wine lovers looking to explore different regional varietals on a budget.
Buy now: $12.86 at drizly.com. For more info, visit tussockjumperwines.com.

2016 Villa Antinori Rosso Toscana IGT

2016 Villa Antinori Rosso Toscana This remarkable ruby red wine pairs perfectly with steak and pastas. The recipient will really enjoy its complex nose that features hints of red fruit like cherries, plums, and berry fruit, as well as leather, spices, and vanilla. Even more outstanding is its round palate that consists of supple and velvety tannins and a long and savory finish and aftertaste. Your client will really enjoy this wine on relaxing summer nights!
Buy now: $20.00 at antinori.it.

The post Thank Your Clients for Their Continued Business During the Pandemic with These Wine Gifts appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Author: Shannah Henderson

July 15, 2020in From the Web by

50 Best Books for 6 Year Olds to Make Them Love Reading

According to a study published in Pediatrics((Pediatrics: Home Reading Environment and Brain Activation in Preschool Children Listening to Stories)), children who have been read to during the earliest stages of their lives by their parents showed significantly greater activation of the brain. In addition to this remarkable physical effect, books teach children about relationships, personalities, and what is good and what is bad in the world they live in. The best books for 6 year olds can help.

While fantasy books encourage imagination and free play, fairy tales fascinate kids and help them distinguish between what is real and what is not. With that said, we’ve compiled the best books for 6 year olds to attract them to the world of books and to help them develop the habit of reading in the long run.

Why You Should Trust Us

From highly praised books by Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal, XpressReviews to New York Times Best Sellers, our list covers the 50 best books for 6 year olds to make them love reading even more. We’ve made sure that the topics vary, touching different aspects of a child’s life, such as expression of nature and animal love, friendship, mystery, family values, and, of course, humor and fun! You can be sure that all these books will be beneficial to your child’s cognitive development and emotional intelligence.

1. If Animals Kissed Good Night

The charming illustrations in this book by Ann Whitford Paul paint a perfect picture of how certain animals kiss their offspring goodnight. This book instills into the little one the names of various animals, their baby’s names, the sound they make, and their body parts.

Get the book here.

2. I’ve Loved You Since Forever

This book by Hoda Kotb is an excellent depiction of a parent’s devotion to their child. It illustrates that the parent and child share a special bond that extends to before childbirth. The book incorporates simple text and heartwarming pictures of animals and babies.

Get the book here.

3. The Wonderful Things You Will Be

Emily Winfield Martin’s rhythmic writing exhibits all the beautiful things that parents think about their children. This book embodies artistic and humorous illustrations that captivate both children and adults alike.

Get the book here.

4. God Gave Us You

Lisa Tawn Bergren depicts a tale of a charming young polar bear cub who asks her mother a question of great importance—where did she come from? The mama bear’s response reassures all the little ones and communicates the exact message that they want to hear.

Get the book here.

5. 365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes

This story-time treasure from Cottage Door Press incorporates over 50 well-loved stories and rhymes, much to the delight of the little ones. It allows a different story to fill the wild imagination of the children every night before bedtime, making this one of the best books for 6 year olds.

Get the book here.

6. Grumpy Monkey

Jim, the chimpanzee’s friend, cannot comprehend why he is in a bad mood when it’s so beautiful outside. The moral of this book by Suzanne Lang is that sometimes it’s okay to feel down, as long as you aren’t hurting someone in the process.

Get the book here.

7. Where the Wild Things Are

Maurice Sendak’s award-winning picture book delineates the story of Max, a naughty boy who is sent to bed without his supper by his mother. Max then imagines running away to a land of Wild Things where everything is the total opposite of what he expected.

Get the book here.

8. InvestiGators

This goofy picture novel by John Patrick Green revolves around the lives of two alligators who happen to be InvestiGators. These InvestiGators have a case on their hands, which they solve with the help of their Very Exciting Spy Technology.

Get the book here.

9. Ronan the Librarian

The sister duo Tara Lubbe and Becky Cattie came up with the hilarious tales of Ronan the barbarian who somehow became a librarian when he found a book somewhere.

Get the book here.

10. Ways to Make Sunshine

Ryan Hart, a pure spirited girl, has a lot on her mind. The money around the house is tight; therefore, complications arise daily. This book by Renee Watson beautifully depicts the story of this young Black girl who knows how to make sunshine out of setbacks, landing easily on our list of best books for 6 year olds.

Get the book here.

11. Our Friend Hedgehog

This book by Lauren Castillo depicts the life of a hedgehog who lives on a small island with only her stuffed dog, Mutty. Her life is completely changed when a great storm blows Mutty away. If she wants Mutty back, her only option is to embark on a dangerous quest.

Get the book here.

12. We’re Different, We’re the Same

This book by Bobbi Kates features Elmo and his Sesame Street friends and teaches young children and adults alike a vital lesson: although we might look different on the outside, deep down we are very similar.

Get the book here.

13. I Am Enough

This book by Grace Byers is a lyrical ode that teaches children the significance of self-love, respecting others, and treating others with respect. Furthermore, it conveys the message that our existence has a purpose.

Get the book here.

14. Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Dr. Seuss’ well-known book’s hilarious verses and illustrations depict the ups and downs that occur in life. It encourages the readers to find the success that lies within and never to give up. A list of best books for 6 year olds simply wouldn’t be complete without Dr. Seuss!

Get the book here.

15. The Day You Begin

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson reminds us that feeling different is entirely acceptable. Sometimes, we all feel like outsiders, yet we are brave enough to deal with the situation. If we reach out to others, we’ll find that they will gladly meet us halfway.

Get the book here.

16. The World Needs More Purple People

Renowned actress Kristen Bell and director Benjamin Hart try to instill into the reader that Purple People are exemplary as they bring their family, friends, and communities together. They are kind and speak up for what’s right.

Get the book here.

17. Hair Love

This book by Matthew A. Cherry portrays the story of Zuri’s hair, which has a mind of its own. It curls and coils in whichever way it wishes. Daddy then steps in to style it one day, but he has a lot to learn.

Get the book here.

18. When God Made You

Children long to find their place in the world. Through playful rhyme, this book by Matthew Paul Turner assures them they are deeply loved in every sphere of life, so as to help them spread their wings and fly.

Get the book here.

19. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

In this humorous picture book by Mo Willems, a pigeon springs up to take the place of a bus driver when he takes a break from his route. But this pigeon is quite special indeed.

Get the book here.

20. Julian Is a Mermaid

This exuberant picture book by Jessica Love flawlessly illustrates how Julian reacts when he notices three women dressed spectacularly. Julian wishes to dress like the three women but contemplates what the others would think of him. This is one book that should absolutely be on any list of best books for 6 year olds.

Get the book here.

21. Dog Man

This story by Dav Pilkey of a part-dog, part-man crime-biting canine is quite exhilarating. The three-book boxed set is quite appealing to readers and explores positive traits such as empathy, persistence, kindness, and self-importance.

Get the book here.

22. We Don’t Eat Our Classmates

This is a story of Penelope Rex by Ryan T. Higgins. It’s her first day of school, and she is excited to meet her new classmates. But for her, it’s quite hard to make new friends, as they are so darn delicious.

Get the book here.

23. Bob Books

Bob Books by Bobby Lynn Maslen are explicitly written to build the little one’s reading skills. They incorporate colorful illustrations that make reading even more fun. Children will love each of these twelve books that are filled with drama, fun, and humorous stories.

Get the book here.

24. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Another classic by Dr. Seuss, this book incorporates silly rhymes that leave every child giggling. It includes simple words and illustrations that encourage children to read all by themselves.

Get the book here.

25. NarWhal: Unicorn of the Sea!

NarWhal the narwhal and Jelly jellyfish share an unusual bond. They might not have much in common, but they do like to party, eat waffles, and embark on adventures. This book by Ben Clanton is about two friends as they discover the whole ocean together.

Get the book here.

26. How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans

This book by David LaRochelle illustrates Martha’s hatred for green beans. When some mean green beans kidnap Martha’s parents, it is up to her to save her parents and prevent the evil veggies from taking over her town.

Get the book here.

27. Uni the Unicorn

The magical story by Amy Krouse Rosenthal depicts the life of Uni the unicorn, who is told that there is no such thing as little girls. But he believes there is a girl out there, waiting to befriend him. This book reminds us that even the wildest of the wishes can sometimes come true.

Get the book here.

28. Ada Twist, Scientist

Ada Twist, a scientist, has always been curious. Like her classmates Iggy and Rosie her mind has always been full of questions. This book by Andrea Beaty conveys an essential message that even if things don’t go according to plan, it’s important to continue thinking through the problem and remain curious.

Get the book here.

29. Iggy Peck, Architect

In another great story by Andrea Beaty, we meet Iggy Peck. Ever since Iggy was a baby, he has built towers, buildings, and bridges. This skill of his comes in handy when his class is stranded on an island during a picnic.

Get the book here.

30. Zoo in the Sky

This tale by Jacqueline Mitton takes you on a journey where you get to see Little and the Great Bear, a scaly dragon, the Great Dog, and many other animals.

Get the book here.

31. Pete the Cat

Pete the Cat is an interactive experience for kids by James Dean. It’s a story about a cat who goes walking down the street wearing his brand-new white shoes. As he treads, his shoes change color as he steps in a pile of strawberries and other fruits.

Get the book here.

32. Penny and Her Marble

When Penny found a marble in Mrs. Goodwin’s front yard, she picked it up, dusted it off, and took it home with her. But did the marble really belong to Penny? Find out in this book by Kevin Henkes, one of the best books for 6 year olds.

Get the book here.

33. Madame Badobedah

When a very old lady with bags stuffed with coins and jewelry arrives at the Mermaid Hotel, Mabel’s parents, the owners of the hotel, are suspicious of her. The moral of this story by Sophie Dahl is how first impressions can sometimes be quite contrary to reality.

Get the book here.

34. Magnificent Homespun Brown

This book by Samara Cole Doyon incorporates vivid illustrations and encourages the reader to embrace his/her natural skin color. In addition to that, it includes a carol that promotes the message of self-care and self-love.

Get the book here.

35. Fox and Rabbit

An easy-going fox and an anxious rabbit make a somewhat unexpected but perfect pair when planting a tree in their own backyard or searching for hidden treasure. There’s nothing that this duo can’t do when together in this great book by Beth Ferry.

Get the book here.

36. Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem

Stella Endicott is enthralled when her teacher asks the class to write a poem. Stella comes up with a beautiful poem, but her irritating classmate insists that her poetry is a bunch of lies. They both end up in an argument and then sent to the principal’s office in this tale by Kate Dicamillo.

Get the book here.

37. Peter & Ernesto: Sloths in the Night

This book by Graham Annable features the lives of two sloths who love the jungle. They are aware of how jungles can be dangerous at night. When their friend goes missing, they gather their trustees and embark upon the quest to find their friend.

Get the book here.

38. The Magnificent Makers: How to Test a Friendship

This is a story of two best friends who love science. When a magic portal to the Science Space opens at school, they set out to explore it. This book by Theanne Griffith covers scientific topics that a child learns in school every day.

Get the book here.

39. Real Pigeons Fight Crime

Crime-fighting pigeons are real. They secretly protect your neighborhood and fight crime all the time. Beautifully illustrated, this gem of a comedy by Andrew McDonald is hilarious and leaves the reader in a fit of tears.

Get the book here.

40. Paolo, Emperor of Rome

This picture book depicts the life of Paolo, a dachshund who is trapped in a hair salon in Rome. When he escapes one day, he goes and lives life the way he always dreamt it. This book by Mac Barnett, landing comfortably on our list of best books for 6 year olds, will leave readers cheering for the little creature.

Get the book here.

41. Baloney and Friends

In this graphic novel series, Greg Pizolli introduces Baloney and his friends, who engage the reader as they perform some questionable magic. They encourage the reader to give them a boost when they are feeling down. This highly interactive book will undoubtedly be entertaining for your little one.

Get the book here.

42. This Way, Charlie

This tale by Caron Levis about Jack and Charlie is heart-warming. Jack likes to remain distant from the rest of the animals at the Open Bud Ranch, but when Charlie arrives, a powerful friendship begins between the two.

Get the book here.

43. Everyone’s Awake

This cleverly rhymed picture book by Colin Meloy depicts the story of a household and their simple goodnight routine that leaves not just the little one but the entire family in stitches with laughter.

Get the book here.

44. Charlie & Mouse Outdoors

This hilarious book by Laurel Snyder features Charlie and Mouse, two inseparable brothers. The duo, along with their family, embarks on a series of adventures in which they do all sorts of mind-blowing stuff.

Get the book here.

45. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

This inspirational text by Vashti Harrison is an essential book suitable for all ages. It features true stories of forty pioneering black women in American history and their will to never give up.

Get the book here.

46. Sulwe

Lupita Nyong’o, an Academy Award-winning actress, wrote this book about Sulwe, who has the skin color of midnight. In this picture book, she tries to instill in the children the importance of self-esteem and self-love, and encourages them to see their own unique beauty. The incorporation of these lessons make this one of the absolutely best books for 6 year olds.

Get the book here.

47. All Are Welcome

This book by Alexandra Penfold portrays life in a school where everyone is welcome. In this school, the children are allowed to wear hijabs, parkas, and yarmulkes. The moral of this book is that diversity should be celebrated.

Get the book here.

48. The Giving Tree

This beautifully written and illustrated book by Shel Silverstein is a masterpiece. It includes the story of a tree who ends up being a shade provider and apple bearer for a boisterous little child.

Get the book here.

49. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Do-It-Yourself Book

This book by Jeff Kinney enables your child to write his/her own version of the Wimpy Kid journal. It encourages the little one to draw Wimpy-Kid-style cartoons and comics inside and will entertain your little artist for hours.

Get the book here.

50. The Racehorse Who Learned to Dance

Charlie’s racehorse, Noddy, has won the Derby against all the odds and even bested a bunch of kidnappers. But he faces his biggest challenge yet. Will Charlie and Polly be able to teach Noddy how to gallop? Find out in this exciting book by Clare Balding.

Get the book here.

More Books for Children

30 Unforgettable Books Every Parent Should Read To Their Kids Before They Grow Up
15 Children’s Books Best Read on an iPad
Why Reading Is So Important For Children

Author: Lifehack Editors’ Picks

July 15, 2020in From the Web by

How to Stop Running Away from Difficult Problems in Life

The world can certainly be a challenging place. Things are moving at a faster pace than ever before and problems seemingly arise from anywhere.

We fight a ton of battles every day, and it can be really easy to get overwhelmed. Those feelings can cause a person to run away from the problems they are facing.

Unfortunately, if you continually try to do this, you’ll waste your entire life running away from your problems. Eventually, they will catch up to you though.

So, how can we effectively confront our problems and move towards a life where we’re no longer scared of them? Here are ways on how to stop running away from your problems.

1. Embrace the Challenge

It might seem counter-intuitive, but embracing feelings like discomfort and suffering could be an important step to learning how to stop running away from problems.

The purpose of this is that most of the good things in life will inevitably cause us some suffering. We have to earn these things, and we need to push through the pain and suffering to achieve them.

Experiencing deep love and connection in relationships forces us to confront the problems and stresses that come before developing that connection.

Getting physically fit requires us to stick to a diet and exercise regularly.

Gaining a promotion forces us to work harder than the people we’re competing with to demonstrate that we are the right person for the position.

Most things gained come at the cost of some type of suffering. It’s going to take work. If we’re going to face the problems that confront us on our path to success, then we’re going to have to get comfortable with the discomfort and challenges that they cause us.

Almost any type of change will be associated with some type of challenge that we are going to have to overcome.

2. Use Social Support

This is an underutilized resource – our social network.

Do you feel alone right now? Do you feel like nobody cares and that there’s nobody around who would be willing to help you?

If you do, you should look around a bit. I guarantee that there is somebody who would be more than happy to help you through this challenge.

Remember, we face a lot of problems every day. There is no reason that you should feel that you need to solve all of them on your own. That can lead you to feel overwhelmed, which can lead you to start running away from your problems.

So, seek out support from family, friends, community resources, such as therapy, support groups, or even anonymous support groups online. Do whatever feels right to you so that you can get the support you need to confront this problem.

3. Make a Plan

If you’re asking yourself how to stop running away from problems, one thing to think about is whether or not you have a plan. Have you thought about how you’ll tackle the issue?

Often, we run from our problems because we don’t know how to solve them. However, just because we don’t know how to confront the issue right now and it seems overwhelming, doesn’t mean that we can’t spend some time to process it and come up with a solution.

Taking some time to learn about the problem and how others have overcome it in the past is a great way to start. Wherever you go for information, make sure that your sources are accurate.

Based on these sessions you can begin creating goals and piecing together your plan. You can create a series of steps you can take to develop a course of action that will help you to overcome the problem and eventually reach the success you’re looking for.

Don’t underestimate the role that goal setting can play here. It can keep you motivated and give you something to work towards at every stage of your journey.

If you would like to learn more about setting effective goals, check out this article.((James Clear: Goal Setting: A Scientific Guide to Setting and Achieving Goals))

4. Audit Your Friend Circle and Those Closest to You

Believe it or not, your social circle is a big factor. Thus, it’s important to consider this when you’re trying to learn how to stop running away from problems.

There are a lot of negative and toxic people out there. They may undermine the efforts of others to become successful, potentially because they want to keep everyone at their level. Their intent is really hard to say, but they’re out there.

This is why it’s so important to audit your social circle regularly, especially the people that you spend the most time with. When you’re trying to overcome some type of problem, it’s important to make sure that you surround yourself with the people who are going to support you and help you through that problem.

When you do this, it’s unfortunate but you may notice that a lot of your close friends don’t always have your best interests in mind. They may prioritize their desires continually over yours.

Maybe instead of encouraging you to study, they encourage you to party with them the week before an exam.

Maybe instead of sticking to your diet and exercise routine when you’re trying to lose weight, they’re more worried about getting you to join them for a Friday night of video games and pizza.

We have to recognize that self-improvement and overcoming challenges is always going to be difficult. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. If it were easy, you wouldn’t be reading this article.

The reality is that not everyone will support you through this journey and when you begin to let go or distance yourself from these relationships, the people you’re letting go of may feel as though you’re unfairly kicking them out of your life. They may get upset at you for this. But remember, you’re doing what’s best for your personal growth.

And this isn’t about throwing away friends or other people in your life just because their actions and goals no longer align with yours. It’s about distancing yourself from the people that may undermine your progress towards this goal. You’re reducing their ability to influence your progress along this path.

This is why we often end up outgrowing old relationships.

5. Prepare Yourself to Confront the Problem

Whenever you make a meaningful life change, it’s important to recognize that if you want to overcome the problem, you need to prepare appropriately. They need to commit to overcoming the challenge.

You need to be the one who decides to make this change as well. This is why trying to convince a family member to make a change, such as quitting smoking, rarely works. Because significant life changes like this, to occur effectively, need to be desired by the individual making the change. If they don’t truly want to quit smoking, chances are they won’t.

If you aren’t willing to commit yourself to confront the problem and eventually overcome it, chances are you won’t. You need to want to make this change in your life more than you want to continue running from the problem.

When you make that decision, recognize that you have the strength and resilience to overcome the problem.

6. Running Away Isn’t a Long-Term Solution

This is probably the most important part of learning how to stop running away from problems.

It’s recognizing that running away isn’t a long-term solution. And no matter how fast or how far you run, eventually, they will catch up to you and you will be forced to face them, whether you like it or not.

Running from your problems is often something that we do to try to escape them, it’s a protection mechanism. But running doesn’t truly protect us from anything.

Avoidance doesn’t solve any of our problems. It never has in the past, nor will it ever do so in the future. Our problems won’t just disappear on their own.

Running from our problems only provides temporary relief from the pressure that our problems provide. It doesn’t solve anything. It just allows you to back away from the issue, forcing you to confront it at a later date.

This is why it’s better to just learn how to develop the skills you need to confront your problems. You will feel a lot better about your life and your confidence will begin to sore when you begin doing this.

Until you gather the courage to face whatever it is you’re running from, your issues won’t just disappear. You’ll continually find yourself struggling through similar situations over and over again in a loop. Breaking free of this cycle requires conscious effort from you.

And it’s OK if you fail a few times throughout this process. You probably will. But with each attempt to address the problem, you will learn and grow stronger. Eventually, you’ll be bigger than your problems.

When you reach that point, you become truly free. You’re no longer forced to run and hide from your problems because you know you have the skills and abilities to overcome them.

If you would like to learn more about escapism and the negative impacts of running from your goals check this out.((Personal Excellence: What Are You Running Away From? (Dealing with Escapism)))

Final Thoughts

So we’ve talked about a lot of different things today. I hope you got some real value from this topic.

If I was to leave you with one takeaway, it would be this:

Running away from your problems is never going to help you grow into the person that you want to become. So, learn what you need to do to become the type of person who confronts their problems so that they can eventually achieve their goals!

More Tips on How to Stop Running Away From Problems

Running From Problems Makes Life Harder: 4 Steps To Face Everything Bravely
Running Away From Your Problems Is a Race You’ll Never Win
Face Adversity with a Smile

Author: Mark Lynch

July 15, 2020in From the Web by

7 Ways to Improve Focus And Memory (Backed By Science)

You know that feeling when you’re wide awake, but your brain isn’t? You want better focus and memory, but you just can’t seem to get there.

I call it “brain fog”—an annoying mental haze that results in difficulty focusing, trouble retaining information, and, as a result, compromised effectiveness.

For some reason, the fog always seems to sneak up on me when I need my brain power the most, like before an important presentation or on the day before a major project is due. However, with the right tools, I usually find my way back to better focus and memory in the nick of time.

Like the dense clouds that hover over city streets, brain fog can feel impossible to cut through.

Fortunately, the human brain is resilient. With a little training and redirection, it’s possible to reclaim your mind from the fog and all the frustration (and lost time) that comes with it.

Struggling to stay on task or retain information? Try these 7 science-backed methods for better focus and memory

1. Do a Short, Strenuous Workout

I had slept for a full eight hours and eaten a nutritious breakfast. I had even had an extra cup of coffee that morning. But none of it was enough to wake up my brain. (Of course, I also happened to be on an important deadline.) So, I did the last thing I could think of: I shut my laptop and hit the gym.

There’s plenty of well-known evidence that physical activity can positively impact brain health, including a person’s memory. While many of exercise’s health benefits occur with regular, long-term activity, a single bout of exercise can also pack a significant, immediate, punch.

To improve your memory with exercise, think short bouts and high exertion. The more strenuous the workout, the better the brain boost. In a recent study, researchers found a group of people who rode on a stationary bike for 20 minutes had an improved ability to remember faces((Harvard Health Publishing: Regular exercise adds up to big memory boosts)).

Rather than taking a long, leisurely walk on your lunch break, try running up and down the stairs a few times, or find a place to do some jumping jacks for a few minutes. You’ll not only jump start your energy and sharpen your focus, but you’ll improve your memory in the process.

2. Exercise After You Learn

If you’re starting a new job, learning a new skill, or just attending an important meeting, do yourself a favor and plan your workout for four hours afterward. Along with boosting your focus, a bit of high-intensity movement can also be a simple way to retain recently learned knowledge—but only if you exercise at the right time.

In their research, scientists had participants learn a set of picture-location associations. One group rode a stationary bike at high intensity right after learning, another group did the exercise four hours later, and the final group didn’t do any physical activity.

Using an MRI, researchers found the individuals who exercised four hours after learning retained the most information compared to the other learners((Current Biology: Physical Exercise Performed Four Hours after Learning Improves Memory Retention and Increases Hippocampal Pattern Similarity during Retrieval)).

3. Cut the Distractions

There’s a time and a place for a break to re-calibrate your brain, but these breaks should be intentional. Constant interruptions won’t do you any favors, except for interrupting your workflow, and they certainly won’t lead to better focus and memory.

I find I’m most productive and focused when I don’t give myself the opportunity to mentally switch gears. That means I keep distractions to a minimum the best I can.

When I want to achieve a state of “flow,” I put my phone on airplane mode so I don’t receive notifications that will veer me off track. I also eliminate unnecessary distractions by keeping my desk and office space clear of clutter when possible, and closing all other tabs on my internet browser.

Since the brain isn’t hard-wired to multi-task, I also try not to listen to podcasts or distracting music, which compete for my attention. Instead, I opt for classical music, which has been thought to improve focus by enhancing brain activity((BBC: Does listening to Mozart really boost your brainpower?)).

4. Go Outside

When it comes to better focus and memory, a little fresh air and beautiful scenery can go a long way. Even if you simply sit outside for your lunch break, you’re giving your brain more oxygen, which can boost your energy levels and improve overall brain function.

Spending longer chunks of time in nature can have profound, immediate effects on the mind. One study found memory performance and attention spans improved by 20 percent in people who spent just one hour in nature((Psychological Science: The Cognitive Benefits of Interacting With Nature)).

Don’t let the cloudy or cold weather keep you from the outdoors; researchers found the same effects across the board. Surprisingly, even simply viewing nature photos had a similar effect on people.

If you absolutely can’t venture outside, temporarily move your workstation to an area with plants (or go out and buy a potted plant or some fresh stems for your home office). One study found that adding live plants to an office increased employee productivity by 15 percent and improved workers’ concentration((Journal of Experimental Psychology: The Relative Benefits of Green Versus Lean Office Space: Three Field Experiments)).

5. Meditate

Having a hard time focusing or remembering important details? Train your brain and body to stay in the present by practicing mindful meditation, which can also benefit your mental and physical health.

Scientific evidence shows meditating can actually change your brain structure, leading to a sharper short-term memory and an improved ability to learn((Brain Imaging and Behavior: Reduced Interference in Working Memory Following Mindfulness Training Is Associated With Increases in Hippocampal Volume))

Meditation can also help the brain with emotional regulation and sustained attention((Social and Cognitive Neuroscience: The effect of meditation on brain structure: cortical thickness mapping and diffusion tensor imaging)).

Luckily, you don’t have to be a pro to reap the benefits of meditation. One of my favorite ways to meditate is simply sitting with my eyes closed for five minutes and taking deep breaths from my belly, in through the nose and out through the mouth.

Whenever I get distracted by an outside noise—or more likely, if my brain wanders to whatever I have coming up later on that day—I try to shift my focus back to my breathing. Those ten minutes make a huge difference in both my focus and my overall mood.

6. Grab a Cup of Coffee (or Two)

Fortunately for me, there’s actual scientific evidence behind my favorite afternoon pick-me-up habit: a hot cup of coffee. Can’t get out for a quick bout of exercise? Simply walk to your favorite coffee shop (or your kitchen), instead.

By getting up or going out for a drink, you’ll not only glean the benefits of some exercise and a much-needed break, but the process of sipping your drink, you’ll become more productive. A 2016 study found a caffeine jolt (as low as 40 mg, which is around four ounces of regular coffee) can improve alertness, attention span, and reaction time.

A bit of caffeine can even help with vigilance, or the ability to sustain performance on boring tasks((Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews: A review of caffeine’s effects on cognitive, physical and occupational performance)).

7. Do Something Else

Training your mind to remain in the present can lead to better focus and memory. However, zoning out or doing something else completely, as counter-intuitive as it may seem, has a similar effect on the mind.

Here’s why losing focus is more productive than you think: when you’re concentrated on something, your frontal cortex is busy resisting distractions. If you stay concentrated for too long, your ability to resist distractions will become fatigued, and that Netflix show or your Instagram feed will become all the more appealing((BBC Worklife: Five ways science can improve your focus))

Let your mind take a break from the task at hand if you’re losing steam. Instead of forcing yourself to focus, daydream, solve another problem, or engage in an engrossing, hands-on activity, like washing the dishes.

Sure, it may feel counterproductive to take your mind (and hands) off the project you’re trying to focus on, but you’ll probably come back to the task with a refreshed mind—and maybe, if you’re lucky, a kitchen full of clean dishes.

More Tips on Obtaining Better Focus and Memory

13 Science-Backed Ways To Improve Your Memory
How to Focus and Maximize Your Productivity (the Definitive Guide)
11 Tactics on Increasing Brain Power, Memory, and Motivation

Author: Aytekin Tank