15 Great Places to Retire in 2017

After a long career of working hard and likely living in just one town or city, retirement becomes a great opportunity to not only stop working but to also experience new places.

By retiring to locale outside of where you worked, you’ll see new cultures and taste new foods. Travel is always great but it’s even better if you can turn your getaway into a permanent paradise. Here are a few options to consider when searching for your 2017 retirement location.

1. Phoenix, Arizona

Generally speaking, when seeking retirement locations, climate is a major factor in the decision … and the warmer the better. Phoenix is sunny for the majority of the year and offers a low daily cost of living. This is also a great choice for the dedicated sports fan as most events are easily accessible.

2. Algarve, Portugal

Lined with beautiful beaches, this city is marked by great weather and a low cost of living. There is also a strong expatriate community that will help you ease into your new neighborhood a bit easier. And despite being in Portugal, you can survive just by using English. There are also a variety of architectural sights and natural beauty to take in.

3. Budapest

Located in Hungary and with many locations listed as part of the UNESCO World Site, Budapest is a beautiful and historic European city. Highlights include the Gellert Baths (a massive spa with an open air wave pool); Margaret Island, which is located in the middle of the Danube River; and the House of Terror, which has displays of Hungarian history during its fascist and communist regimes. With so many great options, your retirement here will be filled with lots of different things to do.

4. Cape Coral, Florida

Of course Florida is among the choices of places to retire. But Cape Coral is lovely and unique because it’s made up of more canals than roads. It is called the “Waterfront Wonderland” because of this. While slightly expensive, the beautiful scenery and aquatic activities make it a great choice for those seeking to be close to water but not on a beach.

5. Abruzzo, Italy

Abruzzo is one of the loveliest spots in Italy, offering a selection of both mountains and beaches. So if you’re into getting a tan while sipping drinks on a beach or glide down a mountain on skis, you have the option for both. It should also be noted this city is fairly quiet, not having a large seasonal tourist population or any modern industrial additions to ruin the scenery. And like most of the other cities of the country, food is important and crafted carefully.

6. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Thailand is known as foreigner-friendly and offers a setting of abundant green jungles, superb beaches, gorgeous mountains and a laid back, casual lifestyle. The country also has affordable and highly rated healthcare services, which is a great selling point for retirees. Just make sure to swap out your tourist visa for one of long-term residency.

7. Caen, France

Offering up such sights as the Abbey of Sainte-Trinité, the Mémorial de Caen, and the fine arts museum located in Château de Caen, this is a great and quiet city marked with historical significance. Besides the art museum, there is another that documents Normandy’s history, before and during wartimes. Caen is definitely a place to relax and unwind from those working years.

8. Sliema, Malta

While exceptional in terms of sunshine (more than 3,000 hours per year), Sliema is a popular and crowded place to live. Despite that, the warm temperatures make it a very attractive location. This is also a place where just speaking English will be enough. And if you ever feel claustrophobic, Malta’s sister island Gozo is short ferry trip away.

9. Colorado Springs, Colorado

This city has a marked military presence with Peterson Air Base, the U.S. Air Force Academy and Schriever Air Force Base to name a few.  But it is also home to some wonderful universities if higher education is part of your retirement goals. And if not, you can simply enjoy the skiing or other natural attractions like Seven Falls, the Cave of the Winds or Pikes Peak.

10. Puerto Vallarta, México

Coming from America, this Mexican city offers a host of familiar creature comforts. Take all of what you enjoy about where you live (Internet, easily accessible flights to and from the United States, great infrastructure and even familiar retail chain stores) and put it all in a nice, lush tropical setting. The cost of living is also quite low.

11. St. Andrews, Scotland

It makes sense that the birthplace of golfing would be a great and desirable spot for retirees. Whether playing or just watching, St. Andrews offers a variety of choices for the golf fan, from the novice to the most experienced.  There is also an inviting charm found here that surrounds the city and makes everyone feel welcomed.

12. Panama City, Panama

Built by fantastic examples of modern engineering, the Panama Canal is just a short ways away from Panama City and makes a great attraction. There are also museums, an array of French monuments and Indian villages. The city also offers a special visa, called a Pensionado that is available to anyone whose pension starts at a minimum of 1,000 per month.

13. Granada, Nicaragua

Named after Spain’s ancient city of the same name, modern Granada still maintains some of its early colonial charm and architectural style. It has a large expat community and several upscale areas filled with great restaurants and well-maintained buildings.

14. Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

Located in the Caribbean and sporting warm, turquoise seas lined with white sand beaches, the Dominican Republic is a great, diverse retirement option. Because of its location, it is a collection of several cultures, ranging from North American to Afro-Caribbean. And with an extremely cheap cost of living, you can actually move fairly easily from one island to another.

15. Cuenca, Ecuador

This is a charming city where you can get a coffee in a café that still has its old world Spanish-colonial style. The climate is outdoor activity friendly but recent economic shifts make this a more expensive choice. Even so, comparatively, the real estate market is still low and open enough for you to own where you spend your retirement.

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The Top 5 Holiday Gifts for Men

If you are having a last minute panic to find a holiday gifts for a man in your life, here are five of the top holiday gifts for those who are otherwise impossible to buy for!

1. For the practical man

Down to earth, practical and always with a hammer in his hand. What do you buy the man who either is a tradesman who works hard all day or a keen home-improver who spends his weekends making his home look better?

You could buy tools, but you run the risk of getting something he already has or, worst still, getting the wrong sort of right angled imperial impact wrench. The perfect practical holiday gift for your practical man is hard-wearing clothing.

Dickies has been the name for hard-wearing clothing on construction sites since 1922 when they started manufacturing bib overalls. After a time creating uniforms for the US army during World War Two, they became the work apparel worn by workers in oil fields worldwide. They are now the number one work-wear manufacturer and are recognised and respected for their hard-wearing outfits.

Why not outfit your man in a pair of Dickies Jeans or select something from their gift selection which draws inspiration from extreme sports, NASCAR and Baseball?

2. For the gadget lover

If your man must have the latest tech, then you can do no wrong by buying a new mobile phone. It is a gift which you know he will be using all year round and will be central to his digital life.

Of course the question is ‘which one?’ – there are a bewildering range of mobile phones on the market. To keep the decision simple, why not go with a five star choice with the Samsung Galaxy S7?

The Galaxy S7 is water and dust resistant (great if he has soaked phones in the past, either with action sports or just clumsy washing up!) It has a 5.1in Super AMOLED display, Quad HD resolution and an Octa-core Samsung Exynos 8890 processor (2 x quad-core CPUs running at 2.3GHz and 1.6GHz). Basically, it looks great with a super clear HD screen and a digital mind which will fly, meaning no delay in processing even the most complex apps. Add to this a 12 megapixel camera for perfect selfies and you have the perfect phone package.

You’ll earn extra geek points as the phone can be used with the Samsung Gear VR, allowing for perfect virtual reality – you may never get him back in the real world.

Learn more about the S7, and if a perfect phone is not enough, there are a whole load of techy gifts available from chargers to VR headsets.

3. For the devoted gamer

If you have a man who is a child at heart (aren’t they all?) and always glued to the game console, you may want to look for a gaming gift which will keep him busy well into the new year.

Now if you want to give a gift which will bring back a teary-eyed childhood nostalgia, you can do no better than a true retro classic, a Nintendo NES Classic. Forget about having to have a pocket full of quarters for the arcade, go back to some of the true gaming classics with 30 classic NES games preloaded, including Pac Man, Donkey Kong and Super Mario Bros.

Simply plug the miniature version of the 1985 classic gaming console into your TV, grab the famous NES controller and say goodbye to the remainder of the holiday season as you will be glued to the strangely addictive classic games!

What this system lacks in HD quality graphics and symphonic sounds it makes up for with some of the most famous original games. It even comes with an optional CRT filter mode so you can make your top of the range HD TV look like a tube telly from the 80’s.

This is a flashback of retro proportions which will have your gamer hooked!

4. For the man who loses everything

You know the sort: it is time to leave for work but he just cannot find his keys, and you start the daily panic to find something which (mysteriously) is not where he thinks it should be!  You need a Bluetooth tracking tag.

The tag attaches to things he is likely to lose, whether that is a bunch of keys, his wallet or luggage. When he cannot find them, he can use his phone or tablet to use the free app which will locate the missing item easily and without stress.

If you are thinking that he is likely to lose his phone, you can use the tag in reverse also, and you can use the alert button on the tag to locate your phone.

The rechargeable tag will last up to two weeks with its internal battery before it needs to be plugged into a USB charger. It will warn you both on the app and by emitting a beep when it needs to be charged. It is the perfect gift to save you the stress of ‘where are my keys?’ again and again. Think of it as a gift for you as well as him!

5. The BBQ master

If you man is the first one to fire up the BBQ (despite never cooking when inside!) and is the master of the grill, there are a great selection of gifts which will make your BBQ master happy.

If every steak you get is a charred briquette rather than the medium-rare you requested, it is time to get a meat thermometer, and the top of the range model is the Steak Station Digital Meat Thermometer – supplied with four probes, it will show you on a simple LCD screen how well your steaks are cooked, removing the guesswork and ensuring a perfect steak every time.

If he doesn’t get past lighting the BBQ without cursing, you need the Looftlighter Charcoal Electric Lighter. This amazing device will allow you to ignite the BBQ in seconds with no chemicals or fuss. It uses a patented hot air stream to light the BBQ without flames and makes the whole process painless and so simple even he can do it!

Good luck with your gift buying and have a very Happy Holiday!

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Finding Hope For Childless Couples: Understanding Options For Fertility Treatment

Babies and children are everywhere. And while it is, of course, a massively happy event when friends or family members happily announce they are about to start or grow their family, the painful truth is that pregnancy is not as easily achievable for every couple who wants a family. And many couples can find themselves in a difficult and upsetting situation where they may have to find that having a family will not be possible for them at all.

Today however, the situation is not as bleak as it was some years ago. Now couples facing a struggle to start a family either medically or biologically have options available to them. Remaining childless or having an incomplete family does not always have to be the only option anymore.

This article will take away the mystery and confusion about fertility treatment and help you have the family you’ve always dreamed of having. Each option is different and a clinician will ultimately be the best person to help you select the right path to take. However, it may help you to understand a little more about the options beforehand and what is involved with each.

In vitro fertilization (IVF)

IVF is a process proven by considerable amount of time. It has been almost forty years since the birth of the first baby, Louise Brown in 1978, in a process created by Nobel Prize winner Robert G. Edwards. Often known as “test tube babies”, there are well over five million children born by this process.

The IVF process involves eggs being extracted from the donor and fertilized in the lab with the partner’s sperm before being implanted in the uterus.

Before the process, your doctor will monitor your ovaries and the timing of the egg release, ensuring that your ovaries are producing eggs, and that your hormone levels are normal. It is normal to take fertility drugs during IVF. These are used to stimulate the ovaries into producing eggs, which is crucial to the process because having more than one egg available will increase the chances of becoming pregnant. In the case that the woman cannot produce eggs, it is possible to use a donor to supply eggs to make IVF possible.

The process may cause some discomfort, but generally no pain is felt and the process can be completed quickly. Typically, it will take between four to six weeks to complete a single IVF cycle and it may take two or three attempts before pregnancy occurs. However, after this, it is a normal pregnancy.

Pros and Cons of IVF

As with any fertility treatment, there is not a 100% guarantee of success. The success rate is dependent upon age with younger women being more likely to have a successful pregnancy via IVF. The chart below displays the success rate of IVF procedures in women by age.

IVF Success Rates

As you can see from the graph, the success rate drops off at higher ages. However, IVF can still be an option for older women to become pregnant.

One of the potential advantages of IVF is it allows screening of donors not only for genetic conditions, but also for the selection of characteristics, including ethnicity and physical attributes.

The average cost of IVF is $12,000 to $30,000 per cycle and in most cases, up to three cycles are required for a successful pregnancy.

Fertility drugs

Women with infertility issues may be suitable to use fertility drugs, which work by causing your body to release reproductive hormones that control the ovulation process. Fertility drugs can be effective with a success rate of about 40–50% in women who ovulate, helping them get pregnant typically within three cycles. They are often used as a first option for women who have fertility issues.

Fertility drugs should be avoided if the recipient has damaged Fallopian tubes or endometriosis.

A course of treatment can cost between $10 – $100 per month for pills, or up to $6,000 per month for a course of injections. Generally, it will take between three to six months before either conception occurs or another treatment should be considered.

Fertility drugs can cause more than one egg to develop in a process called multiple gestation. This can affect 1 in 3 women who are taking the treatment.

Surgery

Surgery may be used in cases when there are blocked Fallopian tubes, to remove endometriosis tissue, to treat PCOS, or for other anatomical abnormalities. It can also increase the chances of becoming pregnant using natural conception.

The success of any surgical procedure depends on the damage to the Fallopian tubes. There is an estimate that between 21–59% of women who undergo Fallopian tube surgery and 40% who undergo laparoscopic surgery do conceive. In addition to the usual risks associated with surgery, there is a small risk of an ectopic pregnancy, where the fertilized egg implants outside of the womb.

The cost for surgical procedures varies depending on the surgery required and can be between $2,000 and $10,000.

Artificial Insemination

This is a process where sperm is deposited directly into the uterus using a thin catheter in a process called intrauterine insemination (IUI). Artificial insemination is especially used when the couple are unable to have vaginal sex, perhaps due to disability or for same-sex couples.

For a woman to undergo successful artificial insemination, her Fallopian tubes, which connect the ovaries to the womb, must be open and healthy because this is where the sperm will fertilize the egg and how the embryo moves down into the womb. The Fallopian tubes can be checked using a laparoscopy where a fiber optic camera is inserted through a small cut in the stomach. Alternatively, an X-ray or an ultrasound may be used.

The success rate for artificial insemination depends on age. There is usually a 10% to 20% chance of conception per cycle. However, this increases to 60-70% with six cycles of treatment. The average cost is $865 per cycle.

Doctors may recommend fertility drugs in addition to the procedure to ensure a safe pregnancy. As with other fertility treatments, artificial insemination can increase the chance of multiple births.

Intrafallopian Transfers

There are two main types of intrafallopian transfers:

• Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT): the egg and sperm are placed in the Fallopian tubes to allow fertilization to occur naturally.
• Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT): multiple eggs are collected from the ovaries and mixed with sperm. During ZIFT, fertilization occurs in a lab and the zygotes (fertilized eggs) are inserted in the Fallopian tubes rather than the uterus, which is the main difference between ZIFT and IVF.

Intrafallopian transfers can be used in cases when the woman’s Fallopian tubes aren’t blocked or damaged and the man has a low sperm count, or there are problems with the sperm in general. It is also used where there the couple object to IVF, for example, for religious reasons or where previous attempts at IVF have failed to result in pregnancy.

It will typically take 4 to 6 weeks to complete one cycle at a cost of between $15,000 and $25,000 per cycle. Again the success rate varies with age, but generally it is around 22%. The process is considered more invasive than IVF as it does require use of a laparoscope inserted through a small cut in the stomach.

Surrogacy

Surrogacy is when another woman carries and gives birth to a baby for a couple who otherwise could not have a child. The surrogate becomes pregnant either via IVF using the intended parents’ embryo, or through artificial insemination using either the father’s sperm or a donor’s sperm.

Surrogacy has one of the highest success rates when there is a healthy egg, sperm, and surrogate. However, it can take about one and a half years to complete the process of matching, IVF, and pregnancy. The cost of the process varies between $130,000 and $200,000.

The surrogacy process allows for extensive screening where you can select a surrogate that will provide the best match and be the best surrogate to carry your baby.

In addition to surrogacy being suitable for couples who are unable to safely carry a pregnancy to full term, it can also allow gay couples to have children. In the US, there are specific LGBT surrogacy agencies who can provide advice and assistance through the process.

How to approach fertility treatment as a couple

Of course, fertility treatment is more than just a surgical procedure or arrangement for surrogacy. It is vital that the emotions involved with any form of treatment be considered and that the emotional stress not be overlooked for couples involved.

Amanda and her husband had been trying to conceive for over a year before they were referred for treatment. They found her husband had a low sperm count and so IVF was suggested as a way to have the family they so desired.

“Finding out was awful and came close to breaking us apart. I could not envision going through the ordeal of treatments and Tony just felt like a failure.” However, Amanda found the medical staff were able to provide the support they needed. “The medical people were very good at telling me all the stages and everything involved. I also found online communities to find out more details.”

After the initial trepidation, they went ahead with the procedure and she found that approaching it together helped and built a stronger relationship between them. “We got through it and thankfully, we were lucky by having our daughter with our first treatment. We became a great team.”

Of course, not everyone can be as lucky as Amanda and Tony were with being successful in the first cycle. It was a truth she learned herself as they tried for a sibling and had two failed cycles. “We hit the rocks again as we both felt like failures. It was pretty tough,” she recalled. Thankfully, their next cycle was a success and they have two beautiful children to show for it.

Amanda has the following advice for couples facing fertility treatment: “Get as much advice as possible. You need to remember to never play the blame game. It’s no one’s fault you’re going through treatment. It’s no one’s fault if your treatment does not work first time. Remaining positive is the only way to get through it.”

Preparing for fertility treatment

Your doctor or specialist can help you find the best fertility treatment for you. However, there are things you can do before you attend your first meeting to ensure they have the clearest information to help you.

• Keep a detailed chart noting when your periods start and finish. You can use a spreadsheet or one of the many apps to help you record information.
• Record if/when you are ovulating.
• If you experience any pain or PMT.
• Note how often you are having sex with your partner and when this takes place in your cycle. This will give your gynecologist vital clues to your whole cycle, which will help in the choice of the fertility treatment that will be best suited for you.

Other things you can do to help your fertility include reviewing your diet to give you the best chance of conceiving. Look closely at your alcohol intake and give up smoking, strive to eat healthily with lots of fruit and vegetables, and, if either of you are overweight, see if you can lose a little. Even a 10% weight loss can greatly improve chances of successful conception. Think about possibly going to the gym together. It is a great way to spend time together and it will build up your stamina for when you do have children!

Children for LGBT couples

Only in recent years has the option been available for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to raise their own biological children. Scientific research conducted by organizations like the American, Australian and Canadian Psychological Associations consistently show that gay and lesbian parents are as fit and capable as heterosexual parents to raise children and that their children are as psychologically healthy and well-adjusted as those reared by heterosexual parents.

There is the option of adoption and fostering, as well as surrogacy and IVF for couples.

The United States supports commercial surrogacy for same-sex couples and in the states where it is supported, there is support for surrogacy contracts and automatically naming the couple as the legal parents of the unborn child.

In conclusion

Just because you are struggling to conceive does not mean that you will never have a family of your own one day. As you can see, there are numerous tried and tested options available. Take the time to speak to your specialist.

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7 Ways to Thrive Now By Fixing Mistakes From The Past

If you’re getting older, you may be shaking your head as you reflect on the actions you made throughout the years. The wise person you are today can’t fathom what you were possibly thinking during the less than naive days of your youth. Looking to the past with an open heart and objective mind can allow you to self-check some of these hiccups as a result of being more self-aware. Don’t be hard on yourself for the decisions you made that caused pain, setbacks, and catastrophes. In the end, you learned a lot and grew, which is what the human experience is about. Maybe you didn’t know any better at the time, or maybe you were inexperienced at managing a certain situation.

Personally, I’ve made a great deal of mistakes in the past, but I can say that at 40, I have done enough reflection and correction to live a life not watered down by past mistakes. Here’s how you can too!

1. Value Your Friends

Do you remember putting your boyfriend or girlfriend before everything else? You had close friends and a good social circle and as soon as you got together with someone, you ghosted your best and closest friends. You may have lost them along the way because of this. It’s a common mistake when we’re young, but if this became a habit, it’s time to place value on your friendships. You will begin to see as you grow older that true friends are rare, even rarer than finding a significant other. To thrive now, dedicate yourself to people you care about in the same way you might in a marriage or committed partnership. Plan a night each week for hanging out. Here’s another secret: your relationship will be better off when you have a life outside of your partner.

2. Go Back To School

You couldn’t foresee the future when you flunked out of college or got a degree you never used. Maybe you’re in a career you don’t like as a direct result of choices in your youth. It’s never too late to go back to school and thrive now in your desired profession, even if you’re middle aged. Going back to school as an older adult has its perks. For example, you will probably do much better because you’re more responsible now and know what you truly want. Through the years, you’ve likely gained a better idea of what you’re meant to do and built up your ability to persevere through challenges. The good news is, you don’t have to sit in a classroom to gain a degree anymore. You can option to do courses online. Whatever you do, don’t put off going back. The opportunity’s there so grab it.

3. Deal With That Tattoo On Your Shoulder

If you are one of many that got a tattoo in your youth, it may not suit the person you are today. That butterfly on your chest might not seem as whimsical anymore. Whatever significance it held is lost, you’ve changed, and you’re tired of looking at this permanent reminder of bad judgement. You may decide to have a new tattoo design that has more significance to you and who you are in the present day cover your old one. If you’re really not interested in having a tattoo anymore, you can have it removed. By doing something new or getting rid of your old tattoo altogether, you are making intentional changes to let the “old you” go. This small change could be just the beginning of many great things to come in your life.

4. Change Your Health Regime

If you were lazy in your youth but had a great figure anyway, you may be finding that the same rules don’t apply anymore. Your metabolism starts to slow down and the body changes how it breaks down the food you eat. You may have made the mistake of taking your health for granted back in your 20’s. You can thrive now by dedicating yourself to healthier foods and exercising daily. If you weren’t active for many years, you’ll probably want to start slow. Yoga is a good start and helps get rid of stress while promoting self-reflection.

5. Forgive Yourself And Others

During your lifetime up until now, you’ve probably experienced a falling out with someone, a bad breakup or a fight. You’ve probably been hurt and were likely responsible for someone else’s pain as well. What you may not realize is some of the unexplainable triggers you experience that cause issues are coming from your past. Forgiving yourself for past mistakes where you hurt yourself or others will allow you to let go.^[1] If someone broke your heart or really pissed you off in your youth, it’s time for you to forgive them too. As the popular saying goes, “Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” You are only hurting yourself and you may not even realize it.

6. Seek Out Opportunities You Didn’t Previously Accept

During your youth, you may have missed out on an opportunity that still haunts you to this day. If it’s a tangible opportunity that still exists, go after it now. If you are basing the opportunity on the feeling it would have given you had you taken it, explore what can give you a similar feeling. For example, if someone offered you an opportunity to model, what was it that you wished you could have experienced? Maybe it was the traveling aspect, wearing beautiful clothes, or being the center of attention. Those aspects of the opportunity itself are still available so work towards that experience.

7. Get Out Of Debt

Oh, the money we wasted on unnecessary things in our youth. This may have racked up some debt that you’ve been carrying around with you for years. It’s time to say goodbye to the financial chains that bind you.^[2] My plan to eradicate $15,000 of debt I incurred while flunking out of college, buying a sports car, and spending too much on clothes included a few hard years. I worked in ski resort that paid for accommodation and food. I didn’t have a car, a credit card, or much of a life really. I read a lot of books and worked as much as I could. It took about two years, but at the end of it, I was debt-free and ended up being a travel fanatic. Getting out of debt and saving money makes you conscious about living more simply. I learned a lot and gained a lot of life experience from it.

As you reflect on the things you did wrong in the past that are still haunting you today, you now know how to rectify them. Value the people in your life, forgive those that wronged you in the past, and forgive yourself too. Get rid of the things that don’t serve you today and allow those pitfalls from your youth be the lessons they were meant to be.

Reference

[1]	^	http://ift.tt/15GuN6t
[2]	^	http://ift.tt/2imGvzs

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5 iPhone Apps That Will Help You Sleep Tonight

Have you ever had trouble falling asleep at night? Do you often find your mind racing as you lie down in your bed, unable to relax? Me too.

But don’t worry, I’ve got some good news for you. There are some great mobile apps that can help you to get a better night’s sleep all night every night.

To help you get to sleep, I have compiled a list of my favorite iPhone apps that will help make insomnia a thing of the past and usher you into dreamland quickly and easily.

1. Slumber

Photo credit Lamourfoto

Slumber is the best sleep app I’ve ever used, helping me fall asleep in under 20 minutes every single time I use it. The app offers a huge collection of sleep meditations and bedtime stories that help calm your mind, allowing you to fall asleep effortlessly. The app has also been designed for use at bedtime with a dark UI that won’t wake you up.

Behind the main meditation track, there is a customizable white noise machine that plays in the background, creating a relaxing ambiance with nature sounds and calming music. The app also allows you to “Delay the Ending”, which continues the background effects for as long as you want. Whenever I’m sleeping in a noisy environment, I’ll delay the ending for 8 hours to ensure that the 5 am dump truck doesn’t wake me up every morning.

My favorite part though is that, unlike other sleep apps, Slumber adds new tracks each week, giving you something new to listen to every night.

Download it here.

2. Pzizz

Photo credit Pzizz

This app promises to help you fall asleep and wake up feeling rested and rejuvenated by using binaural beats and other “psychoacoustic principles”.

With Pzizz, you tell the app how long you want to sleep and it automatically comes up with dreamscapes that help induce sleep and help you to stay asleep throughout the night. You can also use it for quick naps as well.

I used to use this app exclusively for a few months, but a recent update has made it a bit expensive, with a subscription fee of $4.99 a month. But, if you don’t mind the price, the simplicity of the app is wonderful. Push a button and fall asleep. It’s as simple as that.

Download it here.

3. Relax Melodies

Photo credit Relax Melodies

If you don’t require meditations or narratives to calm your mind before bed, a simple white noise machine may be all you need to get a good night’s sleep. Relax Melodies, in my opinion , is the best of the noise machine apps, offering over 50 different sounds to mix and match to create your perfect sleepy soundscape.

All you have to do is lie back, listen to the sounds, and drift off into a peaceful sleep. You can also use this app for any other relaxing situations, like doing yoga, meditating, or just blocking out the sounds of your neighbor’s vocal pups.

Download it here.

4. Overcast.fm

Photo credit Overcast.fm

While this isn’t exactly a sleep app, I often use Overcast to help me fall asleep. How? All you need to do is subscribe to the right podcast! A few of my favorites podcasts for sleep include the popular Sleep With Me, as well as Miette’s Bedtime Stories.

Be careful trying to fall asleep to other podcasts though. Often times, I’ll fall asleep just to be woken up at the end of the episode when the loud credit’s music starts playing. Such an action can prove to be counterproductive when you’re trying to fall asleep and will cause you to have to start all over again.

Overcast also has a Dark Mode option in the settings, so make sure to turn that on so you don’t disrupt your melatonin production with a bright screen right before bed.

Download it here.

5. Sleepio

Photo credit Sleepio

A team of experts in sleep science and cognitive behavioral therapy from around the world are the masterminds behind Sleepio.

The app can help you learn how to understand how your lifestyle and environment affect your ability to sleep. With their help, you learn how to master cognitive techniques that are specifically tailored for you, to help with your particular sleep issues. The Sleepio program will also help you to build a personalized, 24-hour schedule that includes the amount of sleep you need each night in order to feel rested and have energy throughout the day.

More like therapy than a simple app, Sleepio is recommended for those with serious sleep issues.

Download it here.

Featured photo credit: Kristin Vogt via pexels.com

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4 Things You Should Know Before You Start A Career In Travel

Are you crazy about travel and want to turn your passion into your profession? If you love traveling and consider yourself an organized person who enjoys helping others plan their trips, a career in travel may be right for you.

The fascinating tourism industry offers a broad range of career opportunities, from travel agents^[1] to accommodation and hospitality managers. There are options for a huge variety of professional profiles, but whatever area of the travel sector you decide to go into, these are four things you should know before you start your career in travel:

1. You will be facing challenges

The tourism industry is always evolving, and if you want to have a successful career in this field, you will need to be flexible, learn fast, and be able to adapt quickly to the changes.

The travel and tourism industry has gone through significant changes within the last decade.^[2] Both the global economic crisis and the eruption of online bookings have had an enormous effect on this sector. Today’s travelers expect complete transparency and personalization from their travel providers. The new, young travelers have less money and more time than other generations before them. And more importantly, they are more internet savvy.

An excellent example of the transformation of this industry is the rise of the sharing economy, which has left out of the equation many traditional travel companies. The competition is huge in the travel sector and adjusting to the new changes is vital to success.

It is crucial to keep this in mind if you are planning to start your career in travel and hospitality. To keep you ahead of the curve, think about where you want to be in ten years and remember that the travel industry changes very fast.

2. Specialized services are in demand

According to The World Travel & Tourism Council, in 2014, travel and tourism directly supported over 105 million jobs and it is expected to rise year after year.^[3] Such an enormous industry is massively segmented and focusing on a niche market is becoming increasingly necessary to succeed. When you concentrate on a particular group of people, you get to know your potential clients better, making it easier to adapt your products or services to their needs and wants.

According to the book “Design and Launch an Online Travel Business in One Week” by Charlene Davis and Entrepreneur Press, today’s hottest specialty travel opportunities include eight growing travel markets. These are adventure travel and outdoor excursions, luxury travel, for women only, “mancations” or men-only vacations, “honeymooners”, “grandtravel” or trips taken with grandchildren, disabled travelers, and traveling with pets.

When you start your career in travel and you know the exact niche market you want to work with, it is recommended to develop your skills in that particular area to become an expert. But when you are not 100% sure of what your ideal job is – and this happens more often than not – it may be a better idea to acquire wider skills and try a few different jobs until you get a better understanding of the industry and what area you would rather work on.

3. It is possible to make six figures

According to Kimberly Ramsawak, founder of Tourism Exposed, “Like many industries, entry-level positions in tourism may pay minimum wages.” However, “tourism positions above entry-level often pay well in comparison to other industries.”^[4]

And as she demonstrates, “Many factors will determine exactly what you’ll earn, such as job location, cost of living, type of business or organization, specific position type and stage, your skills, and training. Travel agent salaries, for instance, can range from the mid $30,000s to $100,000 a year. Yes, it is possible for a travel agent to make six figures!”

As Kimberly explains on her site, it will all depend on the type of travel agent you are trying to be and the steps you’re willing to take to master the art of success in your niche.

4. The way you travel will change

If you want to be in the travel business, you probably love to travel. However, something you should remember before you start your career in tourism is that you will never travel like you used to do. Your eyes will be open to detect new ideas for your clients and you will be continuously absorbing information not only for your personal pleasure, but also to apply it in the professional world.

When you work in the travel industry and you are visiting a new place, your perspective will be slightly different from the regular tourist’s point of view. You will pay attention to details you haven’t noticed before and your expectations will be higher. For instance, if you work in hospitality yourself, you will be more aware of a hotel’s arrangements. And if you come across any issues with your accommodation, you will know exactly who you need to talk to and how you should sort it out.

Overall, it is a great time to start a career in the fascinating travel industry. Not only are the number of job opportunities continuing to rise, but the types or roles in the industry are evolving and becoming more attractive. In this sense, young professionals have a chance to acquire the necessary skills and prepare themselves to offer the new and fresh perspective that so many travel companies are demanding at the moment.

Featured photo credit: Moyan Brenn via flickr.com

Reference

[1]	^	http://ift.tt/2imPDUz
[2]	^	http://ift.tt/1SAnY1n
[3]	^	http://www.wttc.org/
[4]	^	http://ift.tt/1I6h8KZ

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