You know the importance of exercise in helping you tone down or make the body feel better. However, when thinking of full-body workout exercises, do you think about your eyes? Probably not, and you’re not alone. So with that in mind, today I’m answering the question, “does exercise keep your vision healthy?” Read on to see what I’ve found out. 

Does Exercise Keep Your Vision Healthy?

You probably haven’t heard about the correlation between exercise and vision before. Fortunately, by reading this, you’ll understand how physical exercise promotes good vision and eye health. 

*this is a partnered post

What is Eye Health?

The eyes play a role in body functions, mobility, and enjoyment of life. When their health is compromised, they inhibit these factors and reduce the quality of life. This is why it’s essential to maintain proper ocular health, referring to the eye and its organ system.

The primary task of the eye is to capture light. The various parts work in harmony to connect with neurons that transmit messages and images to the brain. When they’re not at their optimal health, you experience problems like short-sightedness, blurry vision, eyestrain, or dry eyes. Good ocular health means that your vision is 20/20 or better without correction.

Some corrective measures include the use of eyeglasses to balance sight and maintain good vision. Optometrists at https://www.eyeglasses.com/ can give you a prescription based on the diagnosis of the condition of your eyes.

Consider getting a comprehensive eye exam every year even if you have no eye problem. You might be surprised to realize that you can see better with corrective lenses or glasses. Besides, most serious eye illnesses don’t exhibit any noticeable signs.

Physical Exercise and EyeSight

Over the last ten years, there have been several studies that show the connection between regular exercise eyesight. They show that physical workouts help in reducing common eye ailments like glaucoma and cataracts. They also significantly reduce wet age-related macular degeneration.

Aerobics and exercises like the Pilates are incredibly helpful in lowering intraocular pressure in the eyes. This helps to keep the cells in the retinal ganglion in good shape and well protected. Cardio exercises also increase blood flow to the retina and optic nerve.

Due to these effects, physical exercise can help improve overall eye health and vision. Exercise is especially beneficial to people with glaucoma.

Problems with your vision and some eye disease can also stem from high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Having a healthy diet and a regular workout program are two crucial steps you can take to lower both.  

While visual impairment increases with age the world over, you can boost your eye health through exercise. Running or walking is essential in helping decrease the risk of age-related cataracts.

If you don’t prefer walking, consider swimming, bike-riding, dancing, jogging, or a flight up and down the stairs. You can also consider engaging in exercises that make you stretch. While they might target a particular body part, the effects will trickle to the whole body. The idea here is to get on the move and avoid being too idle. You’ll not only help your eyes but improve your general health as well.

If you exercise two or three times a week, you reduce the likelihood of developing wet age-related macular degeneration. Moderately intense, low-impact exercises significantly minimize eye pressure, especially in the young generation. 

Ensure you make time for exercise every week. People claim to be short on time to exercise, but with discipline and dedication, you can work out 3-5 times a week. 

Exercises for the Eyes

As you pick out exercises for your body, you also need a routine for your eyes. Here are some eye-specific exercises you can do daily. 

Flexing

This will stretch and strengthen the ocular muscles in the eye. Look straight ahead of you and then look up without moving your head. Look down while maintaining the same head position and repeat ten times.

 Next, look to the right and left without turning the head. Do this ten times and feel the difference it makes for tired eyes. 

Blinking

Blinking is a great exercise that reduces strain on the eyes. Often when working on a computer, it’s easy to forget to blink. Some benefits of blinking are that it keeps the eyes refreshed for longer. You’ll also be able to focus for longer. Look forward and blink in intervals of five minutes for two minutes. 

Focus Change

This exercise will challenge your attention and should be done in a sitting position. Stretch out your finger and hold it a few inches from the eye. Look at the finger and focus on it only. Slowly move the finger away from the face, maintain your eye focus.

Then look away for a moment and gaze into the distance. Look at the outstretched finger again, focus on it and bring it back to the eye. Look out at something in the space. Repeat this three to five times.

Another focus exercise entails picking something 10 feet away with the eyes. Focus on it for five seconds then trace a figure eight with the eyes. The figure is imaginary but helps your eyes develop focus and strength. Trace for 30 seconds before changing the direction of your eyes. 

Palming

Palming is a yoga technique used to soothe the eyes. It’s a good exercise for people who spend most of their time behind computer screens for long. The exercise helps relieve pressure and strain around the eyes. So when wondering does exercise keep your vision healthy, you can count this exercise too. 

To perform the exercise, sit on a chair with your eyes closed. Place both of your hands over your eyes, covering them with the palm. The fingers should be on the forehead while the base of the palms should rest on your cheekbone.

Check that you don’t apply too much pressure on the eyes and that you can blink freely. Do the exercise for two minutes and repeat as necessary. 

Zooming

Zooming is excellent for focus and strengthening the eye muscles. For the exercise, sit comfortably and stretch out one arm. Raise your thumb in the hitchhiker’s position. Focusing on the thumb, draw it in until it is three inches away from the face.  Keep your eyes focused on the thumb.

 Slowly move the thumb and forearm back to the first position. Repeat over and again for two minutes.

Protecting Your Eye Health

In addition to exercising your body and eyes to promote good health, you also should take precautionary measures. If you’re on prescription lenses or contacts, ensure they’re up to date and designed for the computer screen.

Avoid buying lenses that you buy without a prescription. They can further compound eye disease or increase discomfort, eye strain and headaches. They may also contribute to injuries to eye injuries due to lack of safe vision.

Check Your Posture

When working on the screen, always ensure your eyes are level with the top of the screen. This way, you look at the screen at a slightly downward angle. Also, ensure the chair you use is comfortable and supportive so that your feet are flat on the floor. 

Anti-Glare

Avoid glare from lights and windows at all costs. Always use anti-glare whenever possible.  If your eyes feel dry, feel like they’re straining, or blink more than necessary, talk to your doctor.

Rest

Most importantly, rest your eyes every 20-30 minutes. Gaze into the distance for 20 seconds and take a break from work every two hours. Remember to exercise the 20-20-20 rule. If you’re behind a screen the whole day, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.

Eat Well

The health of your eyes starts with the food you eat. Some useful nutrients in warding off age-related vision problems include lutein, zinc, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids. Vitamin C and E also help in preventing macular degeneration and the growth of cataracts. So when wondering, does exercise keep your vision healthy? This alongside with other activities are the way forward.

As such, ensure your meals have green leafy vegetables, oily fish, eggs, beans, oranges, oysters, and pork. A well-balanced diet will also help you maintain a healthy weight, lowering obesity which is a leading cause of blindness.

Use Sunglasses

A good pair of shades will protect your delicate eyes from UV rays that are responsible for cataracts and macular degeneration. Go for a product that blocks as much as 99% of UVA and UVB rays. You may also opt for wraparound lenses that protect your eyes from the side.

Remember that polarized lenses don’t necessarily offer added protection, but they reduce glare. You may also need to use sunglasses even if you have contact lenses.

Quit Smoking

Smoking increases the probability of getting cataracts, damages your optic nerve, and causes macular degeneration. If you’ve tried kicking the habit without much success, ask your doctor for help.

Final Thoughts

If you previously didn’t give much thought to the correlation between exercise and eye health, you’re now wiser. As you engage in light or intense physical activities, you also help your eyes stay at their best. When not working out the whole body, there are eye-specific exercises that can help. 

So in answer to the question, does exercise keep your vision healthy? I think we know the answer now. In addition to an exercise regime, remember to have your eyes checked by a professional. Eat a balanced meal every time, protect your eyes from glaring light, and get enough rest. 

Dear 16 year old me, I’m writing to you from 20 years in the future. Things are pretty strange here. I’m writing today to give you a few bits of advice, but without any spoilers. So read on to hear what I’ve got to say.

Dear 16 Year Old Me

Life is pretty crazy right now for you. You’re about to do your GCSE’S and your Mum is in rehab. Things are overwhelming, and you’re doing the best you can to ride out the storm. You’ll be fine. Keep your head down and don’t let the fun times alcohol plays a part in make you forget just how destructive it can be.

Dear 16 year old me. Please remember you’re not alone. Right now, it feels like you’re surrounded by tons of people, yet you’re so lonely. Hardly anyone gets you. Your life is so different from everyone else’s. Don’t worry. The close friends you have now will be around for a long time to come. You’re also about to make one of your life-long friends, later this Summer.

What’s Next?

You’ll have finished school soon, and already have a Summer job lined up. You’ll love working in the bubble bath factory. It’ll be hard graft but you’ll make some amazing friends and memories. Also, don’t worry too much about which college course to take – Academic Education really isn’t everything. You’ve got more life experience at 16 than most of your classmates will have by the time they are 36.

Trust your gut. If college feels right, stick with it. If it doesn’t, work on a plan B. You’re good at that. One of your strengths is your ability to think outside the box, and come up with alternatives other people would miss. It’s a skill that will get you out of a few jams over the years ahead.

Don’t worry too much about your career. I know you’ve got your heart set on being a social worker, but your passion and empathy may be too strong to fit in within that role. Your time (and platform) will come though. You’ll find plenty of ways to help those who need it.

Be Brave

Right now, you’re afraid of rejection. You’re afraid of letting people get close because you can’t stand the thought of them rejecting you down the line. You’ll soon learn who your true friends are, and who isn’t worthy of your love and time. As the years roll by, remember not to accept treatment from people that you wouldn’t give out. If someone is hurting you, step away.

You’re in for some really rough years ahead. You’ll lose so many people and your heart will break so many times, you’ll wonder if you can put it together again. But you will. You’ll dust yourself down, pick yourself up and carry on putting everyone else first. Just as you always have.

Keep Your Friends Close

You’ll make some amazing friends over the years to come. Keep them close. You’ll need them just as much (if not more) than they’ll need you. Listen to them when they tell you to slow down with the good times – they have your best interests at heart.

Enjoy your teens and early twenties. You deserve to let your hair down now, after so many years being a young carer. There’s plenty of time for being a grown up ahead. Also, make sure you go and get the pill like you keep threatening to do – And keep taking it. Even if you’re told he’s infertile. It won’t end well otherwise.

Finally, dear 16 year old me, please remember that you are only human. You’ll constantly be trying to spin too many plates for one person, and it’s ok to pass them on to other people when required. Above all else, remember that you are loved, and you only need to ask for help and people will be there. Just like you will be for them. Time and time again.

So for now… Go and enjoy what is probably going to be the best Summer of your life. You’ve earned it! X

As a Thirty – Something woman, I have seen plenty when out with the girls. I have also learnt my fair share of tips for staying safe on a girls night out. So today, I am sharing some of them. Read on to find out how I keep myself and my friends safe.

Tips For Staying Safe On A Girls Night Out

It was back in 1999 when I first started going out drinking. I was only 15 then, but looked much older. By the year 2000, I was out clubbing and partying almost every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. Before long, I witnessed someone slipping something into another girl’s drink. From that moment onwards, I never EVER left my own (or my friend’s) drinks unattended.

Never Leave Drinks Unattended

Women never seem to go to the bathroom alone, when out with friends. So I (like so many other women) tried to go with a friend, whenever I needed to powder my nose. I was obsessed with making sure my drink was safe though, so if I was out with just one friend, we’d break the “go to the bathroom together” rule, in order to keep our drinks (and our table) safe.

Safe Word

My next piece of advice is to have a safe word which you share with friends and family members. If they ever phone or text you and drop the word into the conversation, you ask them if you can join them (to safely escort them home). Should they say yes, you go and meet them – no matter where they are. If they say no, you phone them back 5 minutes later with an “excuse” as to why they need to leave.

My friends and I always used the safe word Trifle. So you could say “I’m a trifle drunk” or such like. I’ve never had to use it myself, but did rescue my friend from a truly awful date, once. She text me saying, “I’m a trifle drunk – love you x” and then replied no when I asked if I could join her. So I rang her and said “Ben’s just thrown me out – please can I come to yours”?

She was so grateful, and was in a cab, escaping the date of doom within 5 minutes of my call. I’ve written before about staying safe when dating – so be sure to read that post too.

Emergency Funds And Keys

When I was 18, I was out with my sister, and my handbag was stolen. The club we were in was massive, and I couldn’t find her. My phone, door keys and purse were gone. I didn’t know her mobile number, so couldn’t even reverse the charges to her. We didn’t live together, and my parents were on holiday, so I was home alone.

In the end, I went to a local taxi rank and explained what had happened. I offered to give them my gold bracelet as a “deposit” until I could return with the fare the next day. They agreed. I was taken home and given a receipt with the information on about my bracelet. When I got home, I had to wake up the next door neighbour to get the spare key.

Now, I have a mini key safe in the garden, which has a spare set of keys and an emergency £20 note inside. I haven’t had to use the money yet, but have locked myself out more times than I care to admit, so it’s been money well spent.

Have A “Boyfriend” On Standby

If you’re in a nightclub with the girls, it’s inevitable you’ll get hit on sooner or later. 99% of the time, this was fine and you could brush off the chancers with “I’ve got a boyfriend, sorry“.

One time, in a taxi queue, a guy wouldn’t believe me, so I phoned my friend, “D”. We went to Drama class together, and he thankfully, he realised quickly that some improvisation was required, when I said “Hey babe. You’re on speaker phone. I’m in the queue now waiting for a taxi. The guy next to me doesn’t believe I have a boyfriend though – please can you just tell him I’m on my way to yours“. He replied with a quick, no nonsense… “Ok. Hey Dude. Sorry but she’s spoken for.” 

After that, we both added each other to our phones with “babe” as the names, so we could “show” annoying pests that we were spoken for. I can imagine a couple of selfies would have the same effect now though.

So what about you? Have you got any tips for staying safe on a girls night out? Feel free to share them in the comments.

Finally, I”m linking this up to day 11 of Blogtober, as the prompt ” Girls just want to have fun fits nicely.

It’s day 9 of Blogtober, and today’s prompt is Imagine. So it seemed only fair to share which I’d choose if I had to give up one thing or another. Read on for my answers to the This or That Quiz – And get to know me a little better.

Welcome to the this or that quiz! 

All good quizzes need rules, so here they are! Firstly, you get 3 passes. You can use passes to say “both” or “none”. That’s it. Go forth and enjoy my this or that quiz! 

Round One

1). Cookies or cake? Cake

2). Cat or dog? Dog

3). Computer games or video games? Oooh though one. I love both. 

4). Pop music or Rock music? Rock

5). Stuff animals or dolls? Another tough one. Stuffed animals.

6). Pancakes or waffles? Pancakes

7). Hot chocolate or coffee? Coffee

8). Morning or evening? Evening. 

9). Day or night? GAH! Day – just. 

10). Text message or call? TEXT TEXT TEXT 

11). Library or museums? Museum

12). French or Spanish? Spanish 

13). Summer or winter? Summer

14). Theatre or cinema? Theatre

15). Love or money? Love 

16). Book or movie? Book

17). Tea or coffee? Tea

18). Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate 

19). Coca-Cola or Pepsi? Neither really but if I have to choose… coke 

20). Rain or snow? Rain

Round Two

21). Car or motorcycle? Oooh toughie! I was obsessed by motorbikes as a kid (thanks to Grease 2). But I think on a safety / practicality level, cars wins now I’m a grown-up. 

22). Comedy or horror? Comedy

23). Hamburgers or hot dogs? I’m veggie, so Veggie Burger? 

24). Paper or plastic? Paper

25). Boat or plane? Plane

26). Painting or drawing? Drawing

27). Reading or writing? Reading – Writing is my job now so down time wins! 

28). Singing or dancing? Singing – I never stop! 

29). T-Shirts or sweaters? Sweaters

30). Flowers or trees? Trees – every time.

31). Phone or computer? Phone

32). Brown or black hair? BLACK! 

33). Superman or Batman? Batman – Heck, my kids are known as Batman and Robyn. 

34). Doctor Who or the Walking Dead? Dr Who. Not seen The Walking Dead.

35). Lions or Bears? Lions

36). Milk or juice? Juice

37). Gold or silver? Silver (or white gold).

38). 50’s or 80’s music? 50’s. My Mum was a huge Patsy Cline fan, and I’m a sucker for rock n roll. 

39). Google or Bing? Google

40). Frozen yogurt or ice cream? ICE CREAM! 

Round Three

41). Blue or green eyes? Mine are almost green. So Green lol. 

42). Witches or wizards? Wizards

43). Fire or ice? Fire

44). Straight or curly hair? Straight

45). Fruits or vegetables? Veggies

46). Burgers or tacos? Burgers

47). Roses or daisies? Daisies

48). Pandas or whales? Pandas

49). McDonald’s or Burger King? McDonalds

50). Books or magazines? Books

51). Circles or squares? Circles

52). Ketchup or mustard? Ketchup

53). Money or fame? Neither drives me, but one is necessary, so Money. 

54). Piercings or tattoos? I have neither these days. Piercings

55). Puzzles or board games? Board Games

56). Living room or bedroom? Bedroom (I’m lazy)

57). Sandals or sneakers? Trainers

58). Apples or oranges? Oranges 

59). Bagels or toast? Toast (with a mug of tea on the side, please)! 

60). Weird or crazy? Weird.

Round 4

61). Skates or bike? Bike

62). Go skiing or snowboarding? Neither lol. Can I just build a snowman?

63). Watch or play sports? Watch

64). Swim in a pool or in the sea? Sea

65). Sweet or salty? Sweet

66). Cars or trucks? Cars

67). Leather or lace? Lace

68). Steak or chicken? Still Veggie! So Chicken pre-slaughter please 😀

69). Alaska or Hawaii? Hawaii

70). Shower or tub? Bath every time! 

71). TV Shows or movies? TV shows

72). Breakfast or dinner? Tea 😉 

73). Bananas or apples? Bananas

74). Facebook or Twitter? Facebook

75). What’s up or Viber? Not got a clue what Viber is, so WhatsApp 

76). Mountains or beach? BEACH

77). Digital watch or analog? Analogue

78). Freedom or hope? Wow, this is deep. Hope? You can hope for freedom, then?

79). Alice in Wonderland or Robinson Crusoe? Alice In Wonderland

80). Snow White or Cinderella? Cinderella

Round 5

81). Sitting or standing? Sitting (still lazy)

82). Comedy or drama? Comedy

83). Being too warm or too cold? Warm

84). Pasta or pizza? PIZZA IS LIFE

85). Online shopping or in-person shopping? Online. Always

86). Writing poetry or reading poetry? Writing

87). Wild animals or domestic animals? Oh! This is far too hard! Domestic because my dogs save my sanity on a daily basis.

88). Family or friends? Family – Close friends are basically family anyway, right??

89). Scooby Doo or Tom and Jerry? Tom and Jerry

90). Spiring or Autumn (Fall)? Autumn

91). Chinese or Italian food? Italian

92). Dogs or cats? Dogs

93). Tea or Coffee? Tea

94). Lie in or early start? Lie in

95). Friends or couple holiday? Couple

96). Rich or Loved? Loved

97). Clean home or make memories? Make memories – always!

98). Jeans or a dress? Jeans

99). Pub / bar or club? Pub

100). Pie or Salad? Pie!

So there you have it – A little insight into how I tick! I hope you learnt a thing or three about me when reading my this or that quiz! Were there any surprises?

Feel free to copy and paste my this or that quiz, and do it yourself! Link back to me as the creator though 😀

I shared earlier last year that we’d got a Peugeot 3008 GT Line. What I didn’t mention at the time was that this was my son’s Motability car. At the end of August, I was involved in an accident, and caused significant damage to the passenger side. Thankfully nobody was injured, and it was a straight forward process to report the accident to the insurers. Read on to find out what happens when you crash your Motability car, and the process you should follow.

What Happens When You Crash Your Motability Car?

If you’re unlucky enough to be involved in an accident in your Motability car, the first thing you need to do is make sure nobody is injured. If they are, you should call an ambulance. Additionally, if the other driver leaves the scene without handing over their insurance details, call 101 to report the incident.

I know you’re wondering what I did, so I’ll come clean… I parked in the disabled bay outside the shop and ran in quickly for milk. My son was in the car at the time. When I got back into the car, there was a vehicle parked across the carpark, meaning I couldn’t drive straight out of my bay. Upon checking my mirrors, I saw nothing but the empty bay on the passenger side, so made the call to cut across the empty bay to exit.

Unfortunately for me, there were low level bollards which were below my wing mirror’s line of sight, so I drove right into them. This caused significant damage to both my front and rear door panels and wheel trims. OOPS!

Get The Details Of Any Other Involved Parties

If any other vehicles are involved, make sure you get their details. The same goes for any witnesses, or if (like me) you damage property, make sure you get the owner’s details. Try to take photos of the damage on all of the vehicles. This may be required later on.

Is Your Vehicle Drivable?

If your car is drivable (like mine was), head home and then call RSA Motability to report the accident on 0300 037 3737.

Should your vehicle be undrivable, call the RAC on 0800 73 111 73 or 0333 202 1878 for roadside support. If you’re in the Republic of Ireland, call 1800 535 005. They are available 24/7, so hopefully you’ll be towed as soon as possible.

Contacting RSA Motability After An Accident

When you call, you’ll be asked for your customer number. Don’t panic if you don’t have this to hand. Your policy can be found with your personal details too. They’ll ask lots of questions about the accident and decide whether or not repairs need to be made.

The insurance excess on a UK Motability policy is currently £100. So if repairs are required, you have to pay that towards the cost. If your vehicle is still drivable (as mine was), you’re given the option to not have the repairs done.

It is worth remembering the £600 “Good condition bonus,” you get back at the end of your 3 year Motability car lease. If you don’t have the repairs done, chances are, you won’t get the £600.

Arranging The Repairs

After speaking to RSA Motability, they transferred me to the local repair centre. They arranged to bring me a courtesy car the following week, and drive away my damaged car for repair.

I was advised to remove any equipment I had added to our car. (This included my dash cam, Sam’s safety harness and my mobile phone charger etc). The £100 payment was taken by them over the phone. (Via my debit card).

Courtest Car

When I was booking the repairs, they asked me did I need any moderations in the vehicle. I explained the car needed to be 5 door and the back seats needed to drop so I could fit Sam’s harness, and they said that was fine. The courtesy vehicle I was issued with was a 69 plate Vauxhall Corsa. It was tiny, and fuelling it cost a fortune, but it was far better than having no car for the 5.5 weeks it took to repair our car though.

My vehicle was collected on the agreed day, and 5 and a half weeks later, it was returned to me, looking all shiny and new. I was kept updated via text on the repair status, and covid caused issues sourcing some of the required parts.

So there you have it – a full breakdown of what happens when you crash your Motability car. Fingers crossed you’ll never need this info, though.

PS I am linking this post up with day 6 of #Blogtober. The prompt is “she drives you crazy,” so I think this fits in nicely.

This year, I’m taking part in Blogtober, over all 3 of my blogs. This is a blog linky, which you join in with every day and interact with the other blog participants. Today’s prompt is The One I Love. Most people will probably talk about their significant other today, but I’m not most people… So with that in mind, I am sharing how self-love doesn’t come easy to me. Read on to find out what I did to address that.

Self-Love Doesn’t Come Easy To Me

When I was a kid, I was frequently the target for a particularly mean girl in school. Just the usual name calling etc. I was twice her size, so she never tried to get physical – well, except once in year 10. But she didn’t try again after that. Anyway, the name calling left me with a pretty low opinion of how I looked.

I spent all of my teens and even my twenties absolutely hating the person looking back at me in the mirror. It didn’t matter whether I was a size 10 or a size 20. (Trust me, I was both, a couple of times over). I just never felt like I was worthy of anyone or anything. Also, I was insanely critical of everything I did.

The Youngest

Maybe it’s because I’m the youngest of 6 kids, and I was always being compared to someone else. For example, I was rarely Tina… I was always “someone’s” little sister. When I left school and my siblings left home, I became “Tee”. Suddenly I was my own person and felt like I could breathe for the first time. I was still really negative of myself all the time though. I’d spend hours replaying and re-hashing the way I’d handled something, or the way I looked.

Now I’m a Mum, I do that more than ever. I’m so critical of everything, it’s unreal. Whether I’m blaming myself for Sam’s Autism because I didn’t take him to enough baby groups, or blaming my exhaustion on the fact I was working until after midnight. It’s always my fault. I’ve tried to practise what I preach and be more positive around the kids, but self-love still doesn’t come easy.

My eye with a matchstick holding it open. **DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME**

How I Practise Self-Love

Around the time my marriage ended, I was feeling just about as low as I ever have. I woke up one morning, just after we’d called it a day and thought, “Nobody can change how I feel but me, so let’s get to it”. That day, I went out and bought some new (less drab) clothes. I took the dogs out for a huge walk and used that time to clear my head.

Within a couple of hours, I’d decided it was time for things to change, and to put myself first for once. Firstly, I took on extra slots presenting on the radio. (The one thing I did for myself). Next, I told the kids’ Dad he would be looking after the kids some evenings moving forward, so I could get some time to myself. (We were still living in the same house at this time).

It was amazing how getting those few hours to be Tee and not Mum helped me to see straight. I couldn’t help but wonder if things would have been different, had I got more of a break when we were married.

Now

I’ve moved on since, and am in a new relationship. This person makes me feel good about myself every day. If I’m calling myself “mum of the year” because of a nappy leak or such like… Rather than ignoring or agreeing with me, he tells me to take a breath and reels off all of the good things I’ve done that day.

It’s amazing how someone breaking the cycle like that snaps me out of the critical moments. It was like a revelation to me. So much so, I started doing it myself, and it really has helped me to grow.

So the next time you’re chastising yourself for something which didn’t go to plan… Try to remember all of the things which did. That one thing is usually a drop in the ocean compared to the successes you’ve had.

Finally, you can check out more Blogtober posts here:

Twenty years ago, real estate investment usually meant buying a run down house and flipping it to sell it for a profit. Alternatively, some investors would rent out their newly acquired properties. Nowadays, you can invest in property companies who do all of the hard work for you. So with that in mind, today I am sharing some things to consider before investing in real estate. I will cover aspects including house flipping, property investment and becoming a landlord.

*This is a partnered post

Things To Consider Before Investing In Real Estate

When I was a child, my Dad was always flipping a house. He was a joiner by trade and worked 8-5 through the week. As well as this, he spent a lot of his evenings and weekends working on the house he was currently flipping. This work was a labour of love, and he’d make a few thousand pounds on most of the properties. This came at a great cost though – he rarely saw his partner or children, and socialising was rare.

Things have moved on since then, and now you can be involved with real estate investment without being a millionaire or spending every spare minute fixing up a place yourself.

Using A Property Investment Company

If you have a lump sum of over $5000, you may want to consider real estate investment as a more viable option to house flipping. This option sees you handing over your money to an investor for a minimum of 10 years. So only consider it if you’re sure you won’t need the lump sum back before then.

On average, most investors will see a return of 6-15% on their investment. So if you hand over $10,000 you can expect to make anywhere up to $1500 during the 10 years your money is tied up. This Cardone Capital review explains the ins and outs of how it works far better than I can, so check it out to learn more.

The risks involved definitely set off alarm bells for me. So I don’t think I’ll be handing over any money to real estate investors any time soon.

Flipping Rundown Houses

If you are considering buying a run down property and then flipping it to sell on… Be sure you’re aware how much work is involved. Sure, a few coats of paint and some new flooring won’t cost that much in time or money. However, should you need to rewire the electricity or replace the plastering… The costs and the time involved will skyrocket quickly.

Additionally, flipping properties to sell on depends on you finding a buyer quickly. Otherwise, your expenses will eat up all of your profit. So it’s a gamble if you need to take out a mortgage or loan to purchase or fix up the house.

Rental Property

If you decide to keep the property and rent it out, you’ve got the added risk of finding good tenants. Additionally, you’ll be responsible for repairs and damages. You can get Landlord Insurance to cover these, but your premiums will go up with each claim, so it’s something to consider. The fact you will own the property and it’ll be some financial security is a big plus though. If I could afford to buy, renovate and then rent out properties… I’d definitely be opting for that when considering investing in real estate.

Finally, if this post on things to consider before investing in real estate has been useful, check out this post on saving for your financial future.

In the UK, it’s becoming more and more common for parked cars to be hit, and the culprit not being held accountable. So with that in mind, today I’m sharing what to do if you hit a parked car. Read on for a step by step guide – perfect for even the most nervous of drivers.

*This is a partnered post

What To Do If You Hit A Parked Car

If you’re involved in any kind of collision, rule number one is STOP! Failing to do so is a crime, so make sure you pull over. If you are being pursued or feel threatened, keep the car locked and phone the police immediately. Read on to find out what to do if you hit a parked car, specifically.

Don’t Panic

The majority of drivers will clip something at one point or another – you’re only human! I clipped a wall when reversing last year – after 13 years of driving. You’re only human, so don’t be too hard on yourself. (Assuming you weren’t distracted while driving, of course). Just over 21% of new drivers in the UK are involved in an accident in their first year of driving.

Make Notes

I know it sounds silly, but note down exactly where you are. “Fifth Avenue” won’t cut it with the police. It’s best to note which property you were outside, or approximately how far from a named junction, for example. If you happen to be abroad on holiday, it may be worth searching for a car accident attorney if you need any clarification on local laws.

Additionally, noting down the vehicle’s make, model and colour is a good idea. As is making a note of other contributing factors. These can include bad weather, swerving in an emergency or even failing brakes. Your mind can forget all kinds of things when it’s had a scare, so don’t assume you’ll remember everything.

Motorist Involved In Car Accident Taking Picture Of Damage For Insurance Claim

Take Photos

Technology is wonderful in times like this. Take photographs of the vehicle (or object) you hit, and focus on the damage caused by you. Photograph the entire vehicle though in case they try to say your bump caused more damage than it did. Taking photos of your own car’s damage will help cover you if that happens, too.

Leave Your Details

If the owner isn’t present, it can be tempting to leave the scene. Be mindful that this is illegal, and others may have your details. So honesty is the best policy, in my opinion. Leave a note on the windscreen with your name, phone number, email address and details of what happened. The Government are very clear about what you need to do.

When they get in touch, you’ll probably find they are grateful for your honesty as so many people hit and run. You can decide between yourselves whether you will pay for the damage or if it needs to be covered by your car insurance. That said, some UK insurers want to be notified of every single bump, so you may still need to inform them to keep your policy valid.

One final note: Remember to breathe. You’re only human, and accidents happen.

Back in January 2019, I took part in Veganuary. I shared my experience on my blog at the time, and lasted well over 3 months on a completely vegan diet. In the end, I only went back to eating eggs because I wasn’t eating enough protein. With that in mind, today I am sharing some ways of checking your nutrition levels when Vegan. Read on to find out how to track your food intake to make sure you’re getting all you need.

This is a partnered post

Checking Your Nutrition Levels When Vegan

I’ve been vegetarian since way back in 2001. Long before it was cool to be veggie and way back when Cheese and onion Walker’s weren’t suitable for Vegetarians! Back then, there wasn’t much in the way of vegetarian convenience food. You couldn’t nip into the supermarket for some meat free burgers in 2001. Fake mince and chicken pieces was all that was available. This meant I ate a lot of cheese and quickly piled on the pounds.

Keeping Track Of Nutrition

Once the weight started piling on, I realised I was eating far too much fat. This was largely thanks to the amount of cheese and peanuts I was eating. So with that in mind, I started writing down what I was eating and tracking the nutritional values using a huge book I got from the library. Keeping track of your nutrition these days is a lot easier, thanks to apps like My Fitness Pal.

I used this information to ensure I was eating enough of all the vitamins and minerals I needed, as well as protein and Iron. Personally, I really struggled to keep my protein levels up, which left me feeling lethargic, and my skin was really dry too.

Getting Your Levels Checked

Getting your nutrition levels checked is MUCH easier now. In America, you can nip into a Health Labs testing Center and either have a blood test, or your urine checked. You can do this without needing to see a Doctor or claim via your insurance too.

These Nutrition tests will check the following levels: Carotene, Folic Acid,Vitamin C, Vitamin D 25-Hydroxy, Vitamin E, Vitamin K and Vitamin A. Additionally, it will check the following Vitamin B levels… Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12. They have given my readers a generous 15% off deal too – click here to use it!

Understanding Your Nutrition Levels

Once you get your results, you can either adjust your diet to ensure you’re getting all of the nutrients you need. Alternatively, you can buy multi vitamins to top up your deficits. One thing to think about if you opt for vitamins is that there can be long term issues if you’re getting excessive amounts of certain vitamins. Excessive Vitamin A during pregnancy for example can cause birth defects. Additionally, it is thought to be a contributing factor to osteoporosis in older people.

With that in mind, it is definitely worth checking your nutrition levels when Vegan, or indeed anyone who feels generally unwell. I suspect a lot of people who don’t feel quite right would take a multi vitamin, thinking they aren’t getting enough of something.  How many of those people would consider checking their levels to make sure they aren’t getting too much of something?

If you’re self employed like me, chances are you hate doing your taxes. Whether you’re in the UK and are filing your tax returns online, or you’re elsewhere and regretting not sorting receipts sooner… There’s got to be an easier way. Today, I am discussing ways to make filing your UK tax returns easier. I’ll also be asking when do you need to consider an accountant? Read on to find out my thoughts.

*This is a partnered post*

When Do You Need To Consider Hiring An Accountant?

I’ve been self employed for several years now. Submitting my online tax return is definitely not my favourite thing to do, but I’ve got a few hacks to make it easier, and avoid the need for an accountant… For now anyway!

Last year, I shared these free income and expenses templates for bloggers. They make it a quick and easy job to update your income, expenses and net profit as you go along. Firstly, I spend around 40 seconds adding a line of information to my “income” spreadsheet every time I submit an invoice. Then I spend around 15 seconds adding the payment information when the invoice is paid.

Additionally, I add any purchases and expenses to my “expenses” spreadsheet as and when I make purchases or pay invoices. Then on the 1st of each month, I spend 30 seconds adding my monthly income and expenses for the previous month to a “net earnings” spreadsheet to work out my net income for the month. Honestly, these spreadsheets have made filing my tax returns a 30 minute job!

Considering An Accountant

At this point, I don’t think I need to seriously consider hiring an accountant. If you’re in America and are in a position to consider hiring one… It’s worth considering a Sales Tax Consultant instead. Personally, I don’t really understand sales tax compliance. So I’d probably be floundering if I were trying to submit my taxes on the other side of the pond.

How Does Sales Tax Work?

In the UK, we have VAT (value added tax) which is added onto the price of certain things. This is set at a rate of 20% and is included on the ticket price. So what you see is what you pay. In the USA Sales Tax varies from state to state, and also from City to City, within the same state. It ranges from 0% in Montana to 13.5% in Alabama.

When you go into a store, the price on the shelf does not include Sales Tax. So the same item’s price will vary from one City to another – even in the same state. If you went into a Target in Alabama and picked up a $20 item… You’d pay $2.70 more for it than you would in Montana. This tax is collected by the retailer and they then have to make sure their tax bill is paid.

So when considering when do you need to consider an accountant, it’s a no brainer for any retailer in the USA to hire one or use a similar service. This is to ensure their sales tax compliance is 100% correct.