3Jan
13 Essential Human Resources Policies and Procedures

As a responsible employer, there are some human resources policies and procedures that are essential for your company to have. Your employees are probably the biggest cost to your business. To make the most of this valuable and expensive resource, you need to make sure you’re doing everything right and that your HR policies and procedures are not only legal and appropriate, but also fit their purpose.

In many companies, especially smaller ones, HR policies and procedures. H H. they are usually near the bottom of the priority list, if they appear at all. In many of these companies, the human resources function is the responsibility of one employee who may have secretarial, payroll, or office administration duties, as well as other responsibilities. Often your HR role is limited to dealing with new and departing incumbents.

The daunting task many companies face is knowing where to start and what HR policies and procedures they need to have in place to comply with the law.

There are a dozen HR policies or procedures that every company should have. This article will walk you through each one and briefly explain why it’s essential that you have it.

1. Specification of positions and personal profiles:

It is important to get the hiring process right to hire the best person for the position. That means you must have a written job specification, which adequately describes the job function. That’s a start, but you also need its counterpart: the personal profile. This document outlines the qualities, qualifications, and experiences necessary to successfully perform the job function described in the job description.

These documents must be specific to the role. Without them, you can’t measure an employee’s performance. You also cannot praise them or take corrective action if you have never told them what is expected of them.

This topic is covered in detail in the next article in this series: Why you need a job specification and personal profile.

2. Employment contracts:

Certain terms and conditions of employment are required by law to be in writing and given to the employee within eight weeks of the start of their employment. These include the main terms and conditions of employment, such as pay, overtime pay, vacation pay, normal work hours, collective agreements, etc. The employment contract should also direct your employee to other important policies and procedures that they should be aware of.

3. Management of trial periods:

This policy should set forth the behavior, work, and attitude standards and expectations for all new employees. It’s best to make it part of your induction process. Most new employees go through a trial period. This gives you time to assess whether the new hire is cutting the mustard, or if, with additional training, they will reach the required standard within a reasonable amount of time, or if it was a misappointment. This policy should help guide the new employee and their managers in reviewing performance, and also in deciding whether to confirm the appointment at the end of the probationary period.

4. Performance Management:

This is closely linked to the management of trial periods since, in reality, it is an extension of that policy. It provides a clear and transparent method to deal with any performance or capacity issues. It is also linked to your termination and disciplinary policy, as some instances of unacceptable performance may be intentional and not caused by lack of training or ability.

5 and 6. Discipline and dismissal policy and complaint procedure:

It is a legal requirement that you have these policies and procedures. They must describe their dismissal and disciplinary policy and their grievance procedure, both of which must include an appeal mechanism.

7. Sick Leave and Sick Pay:

This policy, which is suitable for inclusion in the employment contract, establishes your rules for notifying absence due to illness or disability, whether the employee can self-certify his absence and, if so, for how long and what pay he will have. be entitled during such periods of absence.

8. Right to vacation:

All full-time employees in the UK are entitled to at least 5.6 weeks of paid leave per year. This is limited to 28 days, which may include bank holidays and public holidays. These are sometimes called Work Time Holidays or WTR. If you award more vacation than the legal minimum, you can set rules to carry over unused vacation to the next vacation year. Please note, however, that WTR vacations are non-transferable.

9. Use of IT:

Especially with the temptations of social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, and the Internet, it’s best to let your employees know clearly ahead of time what IT use is and isn’t acceptable. This policy must also cover employees using their own devices during normal business hours or in the course of their work.

10.Data Protection Policy:

This is an important policy. It is not just about what data you store, including personal data and sensitive personal data, but how and where you store it, how and where it is processed, and how you protect it. Failure to protect this data could not only lead to a huge loss of customer goodwill, but also a fine that is large enough, potentially, to seriously affect the future of your company.

11. Equal opportunities:

The Equality Act 2010 brought together in one place all the separate pieces of UK law relating to discrimination and harassment. It is very important to make sure that you know and understand your business obligations, and that your employees know what to do and what not to do or say.

12. Appraisal policy:

Many companies, especially smaller ones, consider a formal evaluation policy optional. I do not agree. A good appraisal policy helps both you and your employee identify your weaknesses and allows you to design an appropriate training program to help you make the necessary improvements.

Such a policy also gives you an objective basis for considering payment reviews.

13. The manufacturing weight:

The requirements of health and safety legislation permeate all aspects of employment, from choosing a work team, assessing the risks of a task, to reporting accidents at work. As a legal minimum, you should have a health and safety policy statement. This is basic information that tells staff what you and they need to do to make sure your business is compliant with health and safety law.

Health and safety policies are job, activity and site specific. Because of this, it is common for companies to incorporate their health and safety policy into their staff handbook by reference.

This baker’s dozen or so HR policies and procedures are the bare minimum you need to ensure your company is compliant.

How do your HR policies and procedures compare to this list? Are they up to date?

Each of these thirteen policies and procedures is discussed in more detail in separate articles in this series, beginning with Why you need a job specification and personal profile.
3Jan
Home office desk creates a favorable office atmosphere

Home office desk is the main ingredient of an office and your desk is very important as the color, texture, markings and size of the desk become important in selecting other office furniture to match. the desk and the workplace environment. This type of furniture is a versatile element that is used in many ways. It provides storage capacity and a work space. Many office use items used in daily office activities, such as stationery, files, documents, CDs, etc., can be stored in it.

The home office desk is also used to operate computers and other work equipment. For home office requirements, a proper storage area is needed as many important and confidential items need to be stored securely and the desk needs to have proper protection such as a lock and key to ensure its safety. .

This item is known as a focal point of any residential office as it sets the tone for the office and provides the required working environment that is necessary for proper functioning. Proper planning is necessary before choosing the right residential desk. The area of ​​​​the room that should be reserved for the workplace must first be decided. After deciding the area, the size of the desk can be decided, allowing people to choose other furniture such as chairs, etc. The type of work determines the type of desk as people who are going to use computers need to select computer desks for this purpose because a computer table is multi-purpose and apart from providing adequate storage space it also provides comfort in the workplace. I work with computers.

When the office work is done, it can also be used for other household requirements. The multiple functionality of the computer desk is added with compatibility as the palm rest and keyboard space are foldable, saving space when not in use.
2Jan
State of business-to-business customer experience management

How relevant are the latest CXM practices in business-to-business (B2B) companies? After all, B2B account teams are often quite involved with customers throughout a long sales cycle, interacting with various purchase decision influencers and almost “living” the customer journey alongside their customers.

High touch in B2B

In a recently published four-year study of B2B CXM, 91% of participating companies said they sell B2B products and services through a dedicated sales force1, with a typical sales cycle ranging from three to twelve months. The B2B customer experience is much more personal than many realize due to the many departments that influence most buying decisions, various functional areas of buying and supplying companies that interact over long periods before and after the purchase. , and the high monetary value and risky business impact of many B2B purchases.

As such, many CXM practices formalized by business-to-consumer (B2C) companies may be labeled differently and may be less formal, taken for granted, and less visible in B2B CXM. Therefore, B2B practice surveys may underestimate the actual work being done.

See the full picture

What’s missing from the CXM account team is the ability for everyone to see the big picture as clients see things:

  • Multiple accounts – If customers buy products from different business units or in different regions, do account teams and business units have a single, accurate view of who is who and what is important? And do they have an accurate view of how a change in processes, policies, business models or offerings impacts the customer?
    • 29% of B2B companies have established a single view of each customer across divisions and regions; 29% more are just starting this.
    • One in four B2B companies have established processes to connect data through the end-to-end customer experience with the company; 25% more are just starting this.
    • One in four B2B companies integrate customer feedback sources; 29% more are just starting this.
    • A third of B2B companies have established processes to coordinate multiple accounts within a client company; a third more are starting this.
  • Multiple influencers: If different groups2 in the client company have different perspectives, how well are they understood and accommodated, not only by the account team itself, but also by other functional areas in the supplier company that could help if they were? better informed?

    • Half of B2B companies identify all purchase decision influencers; 27% are just starting out.
    • 38% of B2B companies collect the voice of the customer from everyone who influences the purchase decision; 36% more are just starting this.
    • One-third of B2B companies consolidate buying decision input from multiple influencers; 24% more are just starting this.
  • Multiple interfaces: If multiple functional areas interact with each other before and after the purchase, how consistent is the customer experience? And how well is anecdotal feedback from these customer interactions collected for immediate resolution and proactive buyback influence?

    • One in four B2B companies coordinates the customer interaction activities of multiple functional areas; 37% are just getting started.
    • One in four B2B companies have established processes to coordinate ongoing customer post-purchase touch points; 38% are just getting started.

The strength of the dedicated sales force, as shown in these statistics, may actually be hindering the ability of B2B companies to see the full picture of the customer experience as customers see it. And opportunities that could be enabled by others outside of the account team are likely to be missed unless someone facilitates integration, coordination, and consistency.

fashion CXM

In today’s array of CXM webinars, articles, and conference keynotes, hot topics include predictive analytics, journey mapping, touchpoints, user experience, communities, digital and content marketing, self-service, and social media.

In fact, B2B is late to the party in adopting technologies for predictive analytics, data mining, social collaboration, and user-generated content; about one in four B2B companies are using such technologies. But in cases where there is almost daily conversation between account teams and the client, how many of these trendy CXM efforts are needed? And how well do they make up for what’s missing by seeing the whole picture?

Customer touchpoints, journey mapping, user experience and/or lifecycle management are in practice among four out of five B2B companies. However, one in three of these companies have implemented these practices company-wide; half of the study participants are using these practices at one or more company locations. This is a bigger concern, as customers tend to view a business as a single entity rather than a series of silos.

Need for a CXM Strategy Model

What happens in the B2B CXM ​​strategy is similar to what happens in B2C. A quick comparison of the data in the new B2B report with Forrester’s 2013 State of the Customer Experience survey (which is primarily based on B2C companies), shows that the numbers are about the same for the top barriers to CXM success. :

  1. Lack of a clear customer experience strategy
  2. Lack of cooperation throughout the organization.
  3. lack of budget and
  4. Lack of executive involvement.

The most widespread practices are the voice of the customer and customer engagement. These two areas are often more disruptive to the client company than to the supplier company, and these areas represent two ends of the CXM spectrum: what is important and going well for customers, and what customers can do to demonstrate the importance. of the supplying company. In any case, the overriding desire for immediate revenue growth seems to be the reason for the enormous emphasis on these two areas: if only enough low-rated customers could become raving fans, and if only enough customers could say nice things about the company, everything would be fine, in theory.

What’s missing is the medium: what is the provider doing with customers’ valuable investments in voice of the customer to make things so enjoyable that customers want to participate? It is unlikely that loyalty (i.e. budget portion) or retention (i.e. length of relationship) can be achieved with lasting financial impact without the middle piece of the CXM puzzle.

Our B2B study has tracked the motivation for CXM, how we listen to customers, how we view customers, how we focus employees on customers, and how we focus our business on customers. CXM’s effort to listen to and engage customers far exceeds the ongoing CXM effort to ensure an accurate view of customers, let alone to focus employees and the business on customer well-being.

Success factors

With a strong CXM strategy model that unites motivations, listening, visualization and focus, companies tend to have better business results, regardless of whether they are in B2B or B2C industries. B2B companies reported CXM results such as a 200% increase in market share over the last four years, a 30% increase in survey scores, a 20% increase in revenue, a 20% increase in % in customer engagement and a 15% reduction in churn over the past year. The B2B study indicates that the following basic concepts are the key to financial and customer experience success:

  • Coordination between CXM method managers.
  • Treat CXM as a determinant of corporate strategy.
  • Presentation of customer survey results to all employees.
  • Calculation of customer lifetime value.
  • Action on survey results by key CX driver owners.
  • Foster CXM collaboration between organizations.

No silver bullet has emerged as an innovative method for customer experience excellence. Putting it all together, what is most relevant to CXM success is a coordinated effort in executing the basics:

  1. Establish a firm foundation through a customer-centric culture, customer voice and intelligence, and customer lifetime value as a motivator
  2. Adapt the company to the needs of customers through the improvement and innovation of the customer experience
  3. Promote the commitment of employees and customers, in accordance with the above

Neither the most modern CXM practices nor traditional account management strengths are enough to move the needle on B2B CX business results. Operational excellence within the context of what is most important to customers, as shown by the success factors listed above, is the recipe for differentiation and financial excellence in customer experience.

*First published on InsideCXM[dot]com
2Jan
Gifts for a Russian – Learn when and what gifts to present a Russian person – Holidays in Russia

So, do you really think that gift-giving traditions can differ from country to country or are they more or less the same? Before we delve into this, let’s do a little test.

o Students in Russia usually bring gifts: sweets, books, etc. to your teacher on the first day of school, September 1. -If not
o Family members exchange valuable gifts during the Christmas celebration. -If not
o It is normal to celebrate one’s birthday both at home and with colleagues at the office. -If not
o When meeting close friends or relatives at the airport or train station, Russians bring flowers. -If not
o Men deliver gifts to women both at work and at home for March 8, International Women’s Day. -If not
o The number of flowers that are presented to a Russian for a special occasion is inconsequential. -If not

So what is filing and when is the right time to do it?

March 8, International Women’s Day, is very special for any Russian woman. Men are showering women with gifts of all kinds; however, flowers are almost always mandatory. As a general rule, no lady goes without a present as the men at work organize small gifts for all the ladies in the office, dads buy something special for their daughters, husbands for wives, etc. Having lived in North America for 7 years, I still look forward to this day and always look for a surprise from my love (I’ll make sure you read this article).

New Year along with Christmas are among the most favorite holidays, but there is no real tradition of exchanging valuable gifts. Children are the recipients of gifts and there are many services with Ded Moroz dressed up, Grandpa Frost the Russian Santa Claus, and his granddaughter Snegurochka the Snow Maiden visiting their home on New Year’s Eve and congratulating the children .

Recently it has become common to give a young couple money in an envelope as a wedding gift. Just keep in mind that when going to a wedding, one should seriously think about the gift and make it substantial. The concept of gift registry does not exist in Russia, so talking to newlywed relatives will help make a more informed decision. Bed linen, cutlery sets, dishes, etc. They will be some of the appropriate examples for wedding gifts.

As in any other place, gifts are presented on a birthday, which is often celebrated not only with family, but also with colleagues. The birthday boy or girl are the ones who bring some teats, wine, snacks, while the others usually collect money and take some substantial gift from the whole group and, as always, flowers!

The attitude of the Russians towards flowers is very special. You may already know that only live flowers can be featured. It is not acceptable to give a single flower, no matter how beautiful it is. And always make sure you have an odd number of flowers, usually 3, 5, or 7. Even-numbered bouquets are brought only to funerals. And don’t forget the color! Russians are a sentimental and symbolic people: white represents innocence while red symbolizes victory. Yellow flowers are rarely present due to the color associated with separation and betrayal.

On the first day of school, September 1, all students in Russia bring flowers to their teachers, which has been a long tradition. My friend here in the US had a similar question when she sent her 7-year-old son to school: Do you bring flowers to teachers in the US for the first day of school? She decided to stay away from this Russian tradition and would have stood out to others as someone trying to gain influence.

Now let’s see what can be presented as a gift. Remember a Russian saying “The gift is small, but love is everything”, which means that it is not about the value of the gift, but about love, attention, time spent on finding the right gift. When presenting a gift, we often say, “I know you like this particular chocolate/wine/perfume, so I decided to buy it…” or “I realize how flattering this color is on you, so… .” Every gift for a Russian is symbolic and should have some meaning. If you pay attention and keep thinking about the person you are buying it for, it will be perfect big or small. The love, attention and warmth of your heart will be the most precious memory of any gift. Hmmm, maybe we’re all more similar than I thought at first…
2Jan
How Positive Affirmations Help Emotional Eating Plus 30 Affirmations For You To Use

Emotional eating is a problem that affects many and is a very common way of dealing with life’s problems.

The modern world offers such a variety of addictive foods, such as sweets, chips, ice cream and others that bring euphoria, calm, peace and comfort that many fall into the trap of mindless eating when they feel sad, depressed, bored, lonely. or stressed.

This habitual reaction to certain trigger feelings results in a vicious cycle that never really solves the original problem, but actually adds more to it.

Many who eat behind the emotions report feeling guilty and ashamed about gorging on unhealthy foods and eating to the point of nausea.

Weight gain is another side effect of this unhealthy coping skill, and it brings with it its own variety of emotional and physical problems.

Learning positive coping skills and breaking the habit of emotional eating requires awareness, understanding, and learning healthy coping skills, and one of the tools that helps in this process is positive affirmations.

What are positive affirmations?

Positive affirmations are statements made as if something is already true or has already happened in an attempt to reprogram the mind to achieve a specific goal.

The human brain is powerful and is what drives human behavior, so positive affirmations can be very effective in changing those behaviors that are not serving us in a positive way.

Positive affirmations and motivational statements can go a long way in helping emotional eaters break the self-destructive habit of eating to hide their feelings.

How Affirmations Help Emotional Eating

This works in two ways and the ultimate goal is to reprogram the mind and thought processes and therefore facilitate a change in behaviour.

  1. First of all, it brings awareness of the problem to the fore. And actually, without emotional awareness, you can never stop eating, as it’s usually a mindless, habit-driven act, which for many means they may not even realize they’re doing it.
  2. Second, repeated affirmations can help replace habitual thought patterns regarding food and change perceptions about food, which can go a long way to stopping emotional eating.

For example, if I think donuts help me feel better when I’m feeling sad, then I will always reach for that donut when that feeling hits me, and without hesitation. But, on the other hand, when I realize that the euphoric feelings I feel about that donut is a temporary Band-Aid that is not a solution at all, and that once I eat it, I still feel sad, and maybe still sadder, then I’ll take a break and break the habit.

Affirmations can go a long way to modifying behavior, and when done consistently along with learning healthy coping skills to deal with emotions that are usually avoided by eating, they can bring healing, calmness, and better emotional and physical health.

30 affirmations to stop emotional eating

  1. I only eat when I am physically hungry.

  2. Eating is for sustenance, and not for anything else.

  3. When I’m bored I exercise or read a book.

  4. When I’m sad I call my friends and talk about my problems.

  5. Food is not my comfort.

  6. I am powerful, strong and able to deal with my emotions.

  7. I am dealing with comfort eating.

  8. I control what, when and how I eat.

  9. I am aware of what food I put into my body.

  10. I can easily say no to junk food, I am in control.

  11. I have the strength and power to stop emotional eating.

  12. I have healthy coping skills for my emotions, food is not one of them.

  13. I have regular meal times.

  14. I can face anything that comes my way.

  15. When I’m stressed I exercise.

  16. I am developing a healthy relationship with food.

  17. I have respect for my body.

  18. I have respect for my feelings, I take care of them.

  19. I am not a victim of comfort eating.

  20. Food won’t cure my feelings.

  21. Food is not a friend, it is sustenance.

  22. I sit every day and it feels good.

  23. I love all feelings, they are part of who I am.

  24. I love myself, I love feeling, I am alive and living!

  25. I deal with my feelings every day.

  26. I am aware of every bite I take every day.

  27. I can separate physical hunger from emotional hunger.

  28. I know the difference between healthy eating and comfort eating.

  29. I am responsible for my good health.

  30. I listen to my body and I know when I am very hungry.
2Jan
Why Women Still Can’t Have It All

In 2012, Princeton University professor Anne-Marie Slaughter wrote an article that drew worldwide attention. Why did her article attract so much attention? Rather than spread the falsehood that women can have it all, Slaughter boldly spoke the truth. she said women can not Having it all.

As women, we tell ourselves that we can have both a family and a career if we are committed enough, dedicated enough, hardworking enough, have a partner to help us around the house, or delay having children. Slaughter says that while they are not lies, they are partial truths at best. They are skewed truths because there are barriers and flaws in our world that continue to prevent women from achieving impossible so that women have it all.

Slaughter believes that we need to remove stories like these to make room for more honest and productive discussions. Instead of spreading myths that keep barriers and flaws intact, we need to talk about real solutions to the problems facing working women today.

As women, we are lucky to have been born when we were. Our mothers and grandmothers were expected to marry, stay at home, and raise their children. Those who wanted a career outside the home faced many challenges, including overt sexism. These women knew that the only way to succeed in their career was to act like a man and never talk about their children at work.

While we have seen many improvements since these early days of feminism, we still have many challenges ahead. While women today are paid more than in previous generations, are graduating from college in record numbers, holding more leadership positions, and enjoying more prestige than ever before, men continue to dominate the highest-paying jobs and the majority of senior leadership positions. Many women today are single mothers and others are struggling to find work. Some support husbands who can’t find work, and others struggle to find quality childcare that they can afford. The very few women who make it to the top of their organizations have to be Super women to get there they make enormous personal sacrifices and work extremely hard to overcome the barriers and ceilings that stand in their way.

Companies are beginning to realize that when they make changes to improve women’s work lives, these changes actually improve women’s work lives. everyone staff. Studies show that when companies have good family-friendly policies, such as flexible work hours, job sharing, on-site childcare, and the ability to occasionally work from home, they can attract better talent, and this increases productivity. Creativity experts say that connecting play and imagination in the workplace is also important for unleashing creativity in employees. Companies like Google have embraced this idea. They encourage play with ping-pong tables, lightsabers, and policies that allow employees to work on whatever they want one day a week.

Economists Justin Wolfers and Betsey Stevenson report that women are less happy today than they were in 1972. They call this the paradox of diminishing female happiness. They say this “unhappiness difference” creates a new gender gap that is not measured by salary but by well-being and happiness. They believe that the best way to improve the lot of all women is to close the leadership gap. They say that only when women are in power in large numbers will we create a society that works authentically for all women. And a society that genuinely works for all women, they insist, will genuinely work for all the world.

We are all out of balance between work and life. We are busy and stressed beyond belief. There are never enough hours in the day and we find it impossible to do all the things we know we should. We don’t get enough sleep or exercise, our jobs are demanding, we feel the pressure that comes with parenting, and our own children lead increasingly busy lives. We know this lifestyle has huge emotional and health costs, but we keep running hard because we don’t know how to stop.

In an article called The Great Burnout, author Maryam Sanati writes that the 12-hour workday used to be the exception, but is now the norm. Sylvia Ann Hewlett and Carolyn Buck Luce, both of Columbia University, say we’ve become “hard workers.” Jeff Muzzerall, former director of the MBA Corporate Connections Center at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, says the devotion to endless work days has become culturally ingrained.

Because us are unbalanced, our world it is also unbalanced. The gaps continue to grow between rich and poor, and the food and water crises are increasing. More than a billion people are starving, yet a billion and a half adults are overweight, and half of the food produced in the United States goes to waste. Our current methods of mass food production through factory farming, coupled with excessive use of antibiotics and pesticides, are making people and the environment sick. We are in a moment of global economic collapse. We are increasingly dependent on oil, we have experienced a massive erosion of public trust, and our planet is ecologically endangered. Our weather patterns are intensifying as we experience hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, droughts, snow, ice storms, and floods of incredible severity. Violence, war and terrorism are “normal” ways of life.

Slaughter tells us that seeking a more balanced life is not a women’s problem, it’s a women’s problem. everyone of us. Change is possible, but we must rethink how we live, work, and even play. We need to create new structures and systems that are balanced, practical and grounded, empowering and empowering. For example, Deborah Epstein Henry, a former litigator for a large law firm, says billable hour, the way the legal system charges for its services, has “perverted” the legal industry, leading to excessive working hours. , massive inefficiency and highly inflated costs. Costs The answer, she argues, is a combination of alternative fee structures, virtual firms, women-owned firms and the outsourcing of certain legal work to other areas. Women and younger lawyers are beginning to drive these changes. Clients who are tired of inflated legal fees are also demanding a change.

If women are to achieve real equality and help create a better world for all, we must stop accepting traditional masculine behavior and masculine choices as the ideal. Slaughter reminds us that wear behavior and WhereChoices as women matter too.

To create a better world, men will need to start asking themselves how they can manage a better work-life balance, just as women have always done. They, too, will need to figure out how to balance active parenthood with their professional careers.

By having these conversations, and by encouraging women to take more active leadership positions, together we will create a world that is properly focused on helping everyone lead happy, healthy, and productive lives.

Then and only then will we be able to rebalance ourselves and the world.

Then, and only then, can women (and men) truly have it all.
2Jan
The easy way to close pores

Large pores on the face lead to blemishes and breakouts around the forehead, nose, and chin. Tightening or shrinking your pores is the logical solution to help your skin look its best. There are several ways to close the pores. You can buy clay masks or use skin toners or astringents to shrink pores. You can also try a few different items you’ll find around the house for a quick and easy fix.

The heat expands, the cold contracts. You should always wash your face with warm or hot water to open the pores and allow the cleanser to penetrate. However, you should rinse with cold water (as cold as you can handle). Rinsing your face with cool water is especially important if you have been exposed to heat, such as the sun, or if you work in a hot environment, such as a factory or kitchen. Whenever you subject your skin to heat, remember to stick with the cold.

Some foods have natural skin firming properties and are excellent for shrinking pores. Lemon is especially useful due to its acidic nature. Some people rub a slice of lemon on their face, while others mix a few drops of lemon juice with water to create a natural astringent. A couple of drops of lemon juice mixed with egg whites makes a fantastic skin firming mask. Peel off after about fifteen minutes and rinse off any leftover residue with cool water. If you have dry skin, adding a bit of milk will also provide some moisture.

There are many options to reduce pores that you can try at home. The freshwater sponge in a diluted gel works great before bed and any redness it causes will be gone by morning. You can also try herbal ice, using chamomile, mint, or green tea. Rub it on your skin after washing your face to tone your skin and tighten your pores.

Rose water is excellent for reducing inflammation and shrinking large pores. You can also create your own blend of essential oils, such as peppermint or lemon, and create your own face mask. Keeping your face fresh and blemish free starts with closed pores that won’t trap oil and dirt. These quick and easy solutions make it easy to shrink pores at home, leaving you with beautiful skin.
2Jan
Dog Breed Comparison: What To Look For When Choosing A Family Pet

With so many different dog breeds available, how can you know which dog is the right pet for you and your family? There are many things to consider when selecting a puppy, including size, behavior, health issues, compatibility with other pets and children, temperament, and grooming requirements. Here we have summarized some common dog breeds to help you find the dog that is best for you and your family’s specific needs and lifestyle.

german wirehaired pointer

The German Wirehaired Pointer is known by many different names, including Deutscher Drahthaariger, Vorstehund, German Pointer, and Drahthaar. This German breed was first developed in the late 19th century as a hunting dog. This breed was created by crossing several breeds of dogs, including terriers, German shorthaired pointers, foxhounds, and poodles. Today, this breed is used as a sporting dog and as a family dog.

Pekingese

The Pekingese, also called the Lion Dog and Peking Palasthund, is a Chinese toy breed. Their ancestry dates back 1,500 years. They were originally developed as a palace dog. Today, this breed is very popular as a show dog, as a companion dog, and as a family dog.

The Pekingese is a diminutive little dog that stands between 6 and 9 inches tall and weighs between 7 and 12 pounds. They have a long double coat that comes in a variety of colors and patterns. He makes a great companion dog, however he does not get along well with small children. They can be a bit cranky if you try to wake them up when they’re sleeping, so they’re better suited to quieter homes.

The German Wirehaired Pointer stands between 22 and 26 inches tall and generally weighs between 45 and 75 pounds. Its coat is short, thick and rough. It comes in solid colors and in multiple colors. The most common coat colors associated with this breed include liver, black, and white.

standard schnauzer

The Standard Schnauzer, also called the Mittelschnauzer, is a non-sporting German breed. They stand between 17.5 and 19.5 inches tall and weigh between 26 and 40 pounds. They have the typical Schnauzer coat that is short, wiry and wiry. They come in color variations of salt and pepper, solid black, and black and silver. This is a very affectionate and tolerant dog that makes a great companion for children and adults.

Ibizan Hound

The Ibizan Hound, also known as the Ibicenco Hound, Ca Eibisenc and Perro Balaeric, is a Spanish breed. Its origins date back to Egypt around 3400 BC. C., when the ancestors of this dog were used as hunting dogs. Today they are used for both hunting and companionship.

The Ibizan Hound is a tall, slender dog that stands between 22.5 and 27.5 inches tall and weighs between 42 and 55 pounds. They have a short, smooth or wiry, dense coat that comes in white, lion, chestnut, or multicolor. This dog has a great temperament for family life and can be trained to get along with small pets. Some of the health issues that plague this breed include sensitivity to pesticides and reproductive issues.

scottish terrier

The Scottish Terrier, also called Scotty Dog or Aberdeen Terrier, is a terrier native to Scotland. They were originally bred as vermin hunters. He is a short dog only standing 10-11 inches tall and weighing 19-23 pounds. They have a medium-length wiry coat that comes in black, brindle, and wheaten.
2Jan
10 tips for a successful real estate investment

The fact that property prices appear to have hit a temporary ceiling in many countries around the world does not mean that returns from property investments are hard to come by.

Even during a housing market slowdown, stagnation, or depression, profits can be made locally and abroad. This article shows you the top ten tips that real estate investors apply to their property portfolio building strategy to ensure the success of their investments.

1) investigate the curve – The concept of an existing real estate market cycle is not a myth, it is a fact and it is generally accepted that it is based on a price-income ratio. Check recent historical price data for properties in the area of ​​the country in which you are considering buying and try to determine the general sentiment in the market for current prices. Are prices rising, falling, or have they peaked? You need to know where the real estate market cycle curve is in your preferred investment area.

2) get ahead of the curve – as a basic rule of thumb, professional real estate investors look to buy ahead of the curve. If a market is bullish, they will try to target up-and-coming areas, areas near locations that have peaked, areas near locations undergoing redevelopment or investment. These areas are very likely to become the ‘next big thing’ and those who got there before the trend will stick around to make the most profits. As a market stagnates or falls, many successful investors focus on areas that enjoyed the best levels of growth, performance, and profits very early in the previous cycle because these areas will likely be the first areas to become profitable as the market progresses. cycle begins to turn positive. one more time.

3) Know your market – Who are you buying a property for? Are you buying to let to young executives, buying for renovation to resell to a home market, or buying a jet to charter short-term rental real estate to tourists? Think about your market before making a purchase. Know what they are looking for in a property and make sure that is what you are going to offer them

4) think further – there are emerging real estate markets around the world where countries’ economies are becoming stronger, where a growing tourism sector is driving demand, or where constitutional legislation has been or is about to be amended to allow foreign ownership freehold ownership eg. Look beyond your own backyard for your next real estate investment and diversify that real estate portfolio for maximum success.

5) purchase price – Set yourself a budget that allows you to buy what you are realistically looking for and benefit from that purchase, either through capital gains or rental income.

6) entry costs – research fees, charges and all the expenses you will incur when you buy your property – they differ from country to country and sometimes even from state to state. In Turkey, for example, you must add an additional 5% of the purchase price for all fees, in Spain you will need to factor in an average of 10%, and in Germany fees and charges can exceed 20%. Know how much you will have to incur and factor this amount into your budget to avoid unpleasant surprises and ensure that your investment pays off.

7) Capital growth potential – What factors point to the potential profitability of your real estate investment? If you are looking for an emerging market abroad, what economic or social indicators are there to suggest that property prices will rise? If you are buying to let, is there any indication that the demand for rental accommodation will remain strong, increase or even decrease? Think about what you want to achieve with your investment, and then do your research and find out if your expectations are realistic.

8) exit costs – If you will incur a substantial capital gains tax liability if you sell your investment property for a profit, will that make the investment unprofitable? In Spain, a foreign buyer can incur up to 35% capital gains tax, in Turkey, on the other hand, property sales are free from capital gains tax if the underlying real estate has been owned for four years or more.

9) profit margins – What levels of capital growth can you realistically get from your real estate investment or how much rental income can you generate? Work these facts out, and then go back to your initial budget to calculate your potential profit margins. At all times, you need to keep the big picture in mind to ensure that your real estate investment has good earning potential.

10) think long term – Unless you are buying an off-plan property and intend to sell it and make a profit before completion, you should consider investing in real estate as a long-term investment. Real estate is a slow asset to liquidate, cash tied up in properties is not easy to release. Take a long-term approach to your property portfolio and give your assets time to increase in value before cashing them out for a profit.
2Jan
Take a walk on the wild side with animal baby shower invitations

One of the most important parts of any party is the invitation. One look at any party invitation can make the difference between a potential guest or a sure decliner. So you better know the right things when you’re doing all those invites. They not only have to be really attractive, but also fit the occasion perfectly. And when you have a baby shower, having the perfect theme for your invitation is absolutely essential.

You can’t make your baby shower invitations look like invitations to a lingerie party, right? So the question remains: what kind of designs should you incorporate into your invitation? One of the most popular themes associated with childhood and babies are animal themes. Although technically not a children’s party, baby showers have more or less the same essence and themes such as celebrations with animals can be a good option.

So what kind of animals should you use for your celebrations? Many animals, real or invented, are possible candidates for the field. These include:

Stuffed animals like dogs, cats, bears, and ducklings are prime examples found on invitations. Not just on invitations, but these animals are also great as gifts. Simply gift small key chains or figurines and watch your guests go home with sparkling eyes.

And if you want to put a little twist on your party, you might as well settle for a dinosaur-themed party (which are definitely animals, too). This is wonderful, especially if the mother is expecting a child. Nothing speaks of a boy’s anticipation like a T Rex on the invitation envelope!

And for those special moments when you want to keep up with the times, you can opt for modern animals like the characters from Blue’s Clues or even Pokémon!

Your options are as limitless as the animals in the world of fact and fiction!