6 Convincing Reasons To Get A Sauna For Your Home

Saunas are a form of luxury that certainly makes one grateful to be alive. You can get out of a steamy sauna session and feel good as new, regardless of how stressful or unbearable your day has been. Unfortunately, as appealing as it sounds, finding the time to squeeze a sauna session into your hectic schedule is often easier said than done. However, what if you get to have constant access to the sauna from the comfort of your own home? If you’ve never considered the idea before, explore the variety of home saunas available and read on for 6 convincing reasons why you absolutely have to get a sauna for your home as soon as possible!

1. Unwind From the Comfort of Your Own Home

Getting into a sauna session seems to have this magical effect that can relax your body and soothe your nerves. Whether it’s post-workout or after a hectic day at work, the sauna never fails to relax your body and set your mood straight. Turns out, there’s a scientific explanation for this phenomenon. When the body is exposed to excessive heat, just like when sitting in a sauna for 15 minutes, it starts secreting endorphins into the bloodstream. Endorphins are known as natural-opioids; they’re natural chemicals that the brain secretes to make your body feel as high as if you’d injected opioids. The best thing about it is that it makes you feel good without having to take any drugs, so there are no side effects to worry about!

Installing a home sauna allows you to enjoy these benefits whenever you need them. Having a sauna in your home gives you the flexibility to unwind in your own space, creating the perfect environment to relax, boost your mood, and enhance your overall well-being.

2. Save on Costs

It’s true that you can always just go for a spa session every now and then instead of installing a sauna in your home. After all, installing a home-sauna is bound to be crazy expensive, right? Once you do the math, you’ll realize that the answer to this question is a resounding no! Installing a home-sauna can help you save anywhere from $2,000 to $3,200 annually, the costs that would otherwise go into subscribing to a wellness center or a spa. Furthermore, indoor infrared sauna installation will cut down a lot of costs compared to an outdoor sauna. On the plus side, installing a home sauna will increase the value of your house, giving you better resale deals when you decide it’s time to move out. 

3. Improve Physical Health

Saunas have long since been associated with longevity and wellness. It’s common for physical therapists and alternative medicine practitioners to recommend sauna for health and wellness. You’d even be surprised to know the long history behind the invention of the first saunas, which dates back to as far as 7000 BC in the Finnish culture. It wasn’t just limited to Finland though; saunas have been used across many ancient cultures to successfully get rid of infectious diseases. In our modern society, research has linked sauna to increased longevity, enhanced heart and lung function, smoother skin, improved sleep, and increased immunity. Saunas can also help you lose weight especially with an infrared sauna that will make you more comfortable while losing the extra pounds.

4. Improve Mental Health

Speaking of health, having regular sauna sessions can exponentially improve mental well-being as well. Scientifically speaking, getting exposed to the intense heat from a sauna can help repair nerve damage, boost focus, and release the feel-good endorphins. Moreover, squeezing in a meditation or mindfulness session in the sauna can multiply your mental health benefits. 

5. Improve Endurance

Improving endurance has always been a crucial factor in athletic fitness, although its benefits are not limited to athletes. There’s a lot of scientific research that shows the indisputable effects that sauna has on increasing endurance levels. Although the research shows little evidence about the claims of its detoxifying effects, it explains how being exposed to excessive heat for prolonged and frequent periods can help in lowering core temperature. This effect helps the body in building more endurance in exercise, which helps you workout even in extremely hot weather. Moreover, it encourages your body to release a growth hormone, which is crucial for muscle building and aids in recovery. 

6. Your Options are Diverse

Now that you’re considering this option, you’ll be happy to know that your options are diverse. You can always build an outdoor sauna, although indoor saunas are more affordable and easier to install. You’ll have complete control over its size, wood material, heating mechanism, and location. 

Whether you’ve always been a big fan of saunas or you want to start reaping its benefits, installing a sauna at home can be a great option. You’ll have constant access to this miraculously relaxing safe haven whenever you need to unwind or improve your health. The best thing about it is that it can be both cost-effective and customized according to your desires.

Helpful Ways To Track Your Business Taxes

Calculating and keeping track of your taxes are two of the most difficult aspects of running a business. This can turn into an even harder endeavor if you have a small business and do not have a professional accounting team to help you out. It is not a lost cause, though. By keeping some vital documents and having a keen eye for detail, you won’t have to dread tax season anymore. However, this can be difficult to implement without proper guidance but don’t worry,  we’ve got you covered. If you are having trouble keeping track of your business taxes, check the following guide for more insights.

Hire an Accountant

Do you have a small business and not enough liquidity to have a fully-fledged accounting department? Well, you do not have to completely write off hiring professional help. By enlisting the help of just one accountant, you can keep your books in order and avoid tax miscalculations. By choosing outsourced bookkeeping, you can access professional services without the cost of an in-house team. However, you have to be 100% sure of the person you are going to hire. Doing some background checks before you make your decision is vital since that person will be responsible for handling the company’s finances. By doing the appropriate research, you'll end up filing taxes with the highest-rated CPA in NYC - or wherever required - in no time at all! If you do not have enough capital to hire someone with extensive experience, seeking the help of an independent contractor (a freelancer) can be just what you are looking for. Most freelancers have lower rates than traditional accountants, so you will not have to waste tons of money to keep track of your taxes.

Use Software

The year 2021 is just a month away, so it does not make sense to rely on old-fashioned methods to track your business income and expenses and calculate taxes. Bookkeeping is still pretty much a thing, but it is not done with pen and paper anymore. Currently, there is a plethora of user-intuitive software you can leverage to finish complex tax-oriented and accounting tasks in just a few hours instead of days. Even if you have an accounting team, investing in such programs is bound to increase their productivity. To choose the best tax software for your company, figure out which forms you need to fill and make sure that the program you have in mind supports them. Some of the tax software such as Drake Hosted are also accessible on cloud using Hosted Virtual Desktop which supports multi-user access to users. Cross-platform support is also a big thing in today’s business world, as you must be able to access the system even when you are not at your office. Moreover, we recommend that you compare different programs before investing in one just to be sure that you are not squandering precious resources.

Take Advantage of Write-Offs

Decreasing your tax burden should always be one of your main priorities. After all, you do not want to lose all your hard-earned capital to taxes! Luckily, there are many deductions you may be eligible for, depending on your business expenses. The expert tax managers from keepertax.com point out that the deductions 1099 employees can benefit from include home office expenses, health insurance premiums, and internet costs. Traditional businesses also have many write-offs, including the cost of meals, bank fees, and travel expenses. Whether you are an independent contractor or a traditional employer, you should look for software that automatically applies these deductions to make it easier for yourself. 

Hone Your Bookkeeping Skills

Let’s face it; not having basic tax skills can hurt your business. Although you may have an expert team by your side, it does not hurt to have a general understanding of how taxes are filed, particularly if you are a very hands-on person who likes to directly supervise their employees. Even if you are not naturally gifted with strong arithmetic and organizational skills, you need to work on yourself instead of simply letting someone else do everything for you. As for the skills you need to hone, these include invoicing, expense/income tracking, and auditing. There are plenty of great sources you can find online if you are willing to put in the time and effort it takes to become an expert bookkeeper. You may also opt for crash courses to improve quickly in case you do not have enough time to spare.

Considering the hefty fines of miscalculating tax liabilities, filing your business taxes accurately will save you a lot of trouble down the line. It does not matter whether you are an independent contractor or the owner of an established business; technology has made this process a breeze. Just make sure to hold onto important invoices and separate your business and personal accounts to have solid proof of your expenses and avoid confusion.

5 New York Cooking Classes to Get You Through This Winter

Although many people look forward to the holiday season, it also marks the beginning of the winter blues. With cold weather and long nights, it’s normal to feel more sadness and anxiety than usual. These symptoms are even more severe for the five percent of the population that experiences seasonal affective disorder (SAD). With so many restrictions in place this year, there could be a rise in the cases of SAD. 

The good news is that there are still ways to keep your spirits up this winter season; one of the best is through food and drink. Studies show that cooking for pleasure may improve your mental health. Here are five New York City cooking classes that will get those creative culinary juices flowing.

1) Cozymeal Cooking Classes

As one of the most popular cooking companies in NYC, Cozymeal continues to offer in-person experiences in addition to online classes. There is truly something for everyone, with both vegetarian and vegan classes and a wide range of global recipes from places like Greece, France, and Mexico. They also offer lessons to help you improve your kitchen techniques, including the best ways to roll sushi and improving your knife skills. 

Online classes are interactive, with real-time questions and answers. They’re also affordable, with most under the $40 mark. You’ll pay by the device, making it a fun and affordable activity for the entire family. 

2) Paint & Sip

While not technically a cooking class, Paint & Sip now offers classes online so you can enjoy food and wine pairings from the comfort of your home while learning to paint your very own masterpiece. 

Pre-recorded classes offer ultimate flexibility by allowing you 30 days to view the lesson. You pay a small fee for the class itself and order supplies in packages according to the number of people in your party. 

Virtual live parties are also offered and allow participants to log in from multiple devices, so your friends and family across the country can join in too. 

3) Pizza School NYC

It’s no easy feat making oven-fired pizza at home, but Pizza School NYC makes it happen. Live two and a half hour classes take place over Zoom. Instructions are tailored to the supplies you have at home, so if you don’t need a pizza stone. The class includes all steps in the process, from forming the dough to making a show-stopping homemade sauce. Resources are also given before class so you can show up prepared. 

4) The League of Kitchens

All the instructors at the League of Kitchens are immigrant women who will teach you how to make authentic family-style recipes. Cuisines include Persian, Argentinian, Lebanese, and more. The maximum class size is thirteen, so you’ll be able to interact with your instructor and classmates with ease. 

5) Taste Buds Kitchen

Taste Buds Kitchen offers both in-person and online classes for kids and adults alike. Kids and families can decorate gingerbread houses and holiday cookies, learn to make dinner for the entire family, and experience international, kid-friendly recipes such as sushi and dumplings. Adult-only classes include cookies and cocktails, pasta making, fresh bagels, and happy hour recipes. 

While trying to find ways to be social and creative can improve your mental health, sometimes greater interventions are necessary. Resources like Enterhealth can get you the help you need. Staying busy and learning new skills is key to keeping your mental health high. Cooking is just the tip of the iceberg - check out other events and activities going on in New York this winter. 

How to Maximize Productivity with Salesforce Integration

As a business owner, increasing your productivity and creating a high return on investment (ROI) revenue is typically a top priority. Thanks to technology, you have different avenues to boost your profit margins. When pushing for higher profit margins in your business, the aim lies in achieving high targets, enhancing your business's longevity, and creating efficient ways to achieve those goals. Salesforce integration is one such aspect.

Salesforce integration is an embodiment of two critical business factors. The Salesforce depicts the rapidly growing communication and information avenues, which offers a limitless and ever-growing business market with various consumer needs. On the other hand, the integration aims to implement Salesforce with other tools to evaluate your business goals and objectives by training your employees to increase productivity. Learn valuable insights on how to maximize productivity with Salesforce integration by visiting this page. Explore the efficiency of your workforce with Time Clock Wizard's employee management solutions.

Automation of Tasks

When your employees spend every passing day doing the same assignment and duties, it may get repetitive and boring. For instance, they may have to send constant emails to prospective clients, asking them about their interest in purchasing your product or services. It may also translate to a lack of motivation to continue doing the work.

Salesforce integration, on the other hand, will allow you to automate simple business processes and procedures. As a result, you improve efficiency by quickly performing the tasks, allowing you to concentrate on higher activity areas that demand more attention.

Data Analytics 

A lot of data goes into Salesforce integration. However, it may prove an uphill task to adequately monitor all the analytics in due time to present a well elaborate and thought out report. On the other hand, Salesforce integration allows you to keep track of all current accounts. It may mean your customer leads, current sales, invoicing to suppliers, and even products waiting for shipment, which allows you to have a compilation on your business dashboard.

Therefore, it provides an enhanced outlook, which you can use to evaluate your business trends.

Create Custom Plans

When you have Salesforce integration, you can use it to fuel possible market trends to evaluate the outcome you want for your business. Therefore, creating a custom plan for your current business procedures can give you an upper hand than creating them physically on the ground. It then allows you to develop your business and expand on all possibilities, translating to more sales revenue, increasing your profit margins. 

It also gives you a platform to concurrently play out with other business development to establish the business's flow. With the Salesforce integration application software, installing it to regulate your business aspects will streamline your operations when you can conveniently cater to your custom plans. Plus, you can also get better search results with a custom search bar.

Additionally, you can also highlight all your important tasks for the day with the integration and prioritize the ones that need immediate attention.

Adopt Time Tracking

Time is a crucial aspect of regulating your business operations. When you conveniently track your employee time in managing the business, you will improve your workflow, translating to more productivity. With time tracking on Salesforce integration, you have the upper hand in monitoring your project's progress depending on the time taken to complete the task. For instance, it will help you evaluate the time you expected to complete the project versus the actual time you complete the project.

The result will help you outline aspects you need to improve on for better efficiency. Additionally, it will also increase your profit margin by placing better prices on projects that take a longer time to complete than average.

App Integration

With the app integration, you can trigger, monitor, and eventually transform a lead and follow up on customer service after making a sale. The integration will allow you to have several losers access your business information conveniently. Additionally, you also gain ease of connection to cloud-based apps, improving the applications' productivity and function.

You can then allow your users to implement several applications under your business from a single operational site. 

Gain Control

When you leave your employees to perform certain tasks, they may make mistakes that may affect your business. However, Salesforce integration will eliminate the omission of errors of fact, which will allow your business to have a complete set of records for evaluation. Additionally, you may also fast track requests and approval processes, which will ensure all operations go on according to plan.

Additionally, Salesforce integration allows you to have all your platforms under one roof. Ideally, your business operations will range in different departments like accounting and finance, sales and marketing, and even human resources, which may create deviations for the various platforms. Thankfully, the integration allows you to manage all your operations in one click. Consequently, it will help you grow your business with close management, thus increasing your productivity.

How to Start a Podcast on a Topic You Enjoy

If you are certain that creating a podcast is a good idea for you, you may be wondering what you need to do to get started. The following are a few steps to follow when starting a podcast on a topic you love.

Planning

Planning is the first and one of the most important parts of the process. You will need to spend some time on this stage before moving on. Picking a topic is one of the most important parts of the planning process. Choose something that you enjoy and can speak about for a long time. Your topic should be narrow enough to appeal to a specific audience. 

If you need a co-host, include them in the planning process. Podcasting with a co-host can improve your experience. Pick a name for your podcast and decide on the show format. There are lots of hosting platforms and you need to choose the best one for your needs. Think about the length and style of your podcast in advance. Whether you choose a six-hour or 30-minute long podcast, ensure that you have a plan to maintain the attention of your audience. The secret is having the right format.

While interview-style podcasts are popular, you can choose a different style. You can choose to do it alone for the first half of the show and leave the other half for your co-host.

Cover Art

Create cover art that represents you and creates a good first impression. It is the image of your show that people see. There are plenty of designers that can create a draft for you leaving you to choose your best options.

Pay Attention to the Intro

Choose the right intro music and high-quality voice-overs Consider letting a third party introduce you. It increases your perceived value significantly and may help you stand out.

Create a List of Guests

If you plan on doing an interview show, create a list of your potential guests and start contacting them. There are lots of services that can make scheduling easier for you. Guests can book on your calendar at convenient times.

Recording and Editing

If you have no experience with editing software, take time to get familiar with them. Without the right editing software and knowledge, even the simplest actions can seem intimidating. Find software that allows you to add music, handles audio cleanup, and makes it easy to put audio segments together.

Scripting

Once you have the right editing software, create a script. It helps you determine what you will say and how you will say it. However, your script does not need to be a comprehensive essay with word-for-word details of your episode. Podcasting is considered intimate and your listeners should feel like you are having a conversation with them rather than reading from a book. If you need a full script at the start, wean yourself off with time.

Record Your First Episode

Record your intro and first episode and ensure that you have a good track to record to. If you have remote guests or a co-host, record your chat with them. Skype and Zoom may be great options to record them. There are lots of tools that may help you record both parties live on their computer. The audio is not compressed for online broadcast so you do not have to deal with connection glitches.

Talking into your mic is the most difficult part of the process. Imagine that you are talking to someone in the room and give your imaginary audience a persona. The persona should represent your ideal listener. Some podcast creators go as far as creating hobbies, jobs, family, friends, and names for their personas. That way, your listeners will feel like you are talking directly to them. Being a great speaker includes vocal warm-ups, finding the right voice, and mic technique.

Edit the Episode

Edit your episode to improve its sound. Since everyone has a different voice, you may need different settings for different people. Choose a good track to work with and pick the right software.

Pick a Host and Upload

There are lots of platforms and finding the right one can be difficult. Do your research and pick the most appropriate one. Upload the first episode and pay attention to how people receive it.  

There are plenty of reasons to start a podcast. They are fun and you get the chance to talk about topics that may be important to you. Fortunately, starting a podcast is not as difficult as it may seem. With some effort and commitment, anyone can do it. Visit melonapp.com/how-to-start-a-podcast/ to learn how to start your podcast.

Useful Gadgets that Can Bring Quality to a Senior's Life

Aging comes with many benefits. Often as people grow older they become less dependent upon the opinions or acceptance of others for happiness, they become more themselves, more confident in pursuing the things that interest them. Quicker to rid themselves of things that are annoying or stressful or unnecessary. This being said, aging also brings difficulties with it. In particular, losing the sensation of independence can cause a lot of pain and frustration. The following will explore some of the tools and gadgets that can help maintain independence in a senior’s life.

Of course, before you begin shopping for someone, you need to make sure that they’re open to the tool or device. Not everyone wants to alter up their daily schedules. Not everyone wants new technological devices in their homes. Make sure you take the time to speak to the senior in your life about whether they’d be interested in something or not. Everyone is different and there is no one size fits all when it comes to tools that enhance the quality of life. This being said, here are several items that seniors around the world have been finding helpful or useful in their day-to-day lives.

The Right Shoes With The Right Insoles

The right pair of shoes with a good insole might seem like a small thing, but it can make a massive difference in the day to day life of a senior. Most shoes on the market are designed with looks in mind instead of with the proper alignment of bones to help ease pain or wear and tear on joints, muscles, and bones. Finding the right pair of shoes and the right insoles can mean the difference between someone being able to enjoy an afternoon stroll and someone suffering to make it to the mailbox. It might take some time to find the right fit for the senior in your life, but the process can be sped up by seeking out a professional’s input.

Canes and Walkers

Sometimes seniors need a little more help with mobility. In these cases, experts at UpliftingMobility.com suggest exploring things like canes and walkers. There are dozens of different kinds available on the market, so you’re sure to find one that the senior in your life finds comfortable and likes. Again, take your time while shopping. It’s never one size fits all. You need to keep in mind where your family member goes daily and what sort of spaces they are navigating throughout. Some options come with built-in baggage making shopping trips much easier to manage.

A Voice Operated Smart Device

Contrary to popular belief, not all seniors despise technology. Many are finding their quality of life is greatly increased by having smart devices in their home that are voice-operated. Things like playing music on a CD player can become difficult when you have arthritis or trouble reading the fine print on the spines of their CD collection. Now we have the technology that only requires a verbal request to play any song someone can remember. Audiobooks are also extremely popular on smart devices in the home. These devices can also be set up so that they turn the lights on or off with a vocal command. They can adjust heating and air conditioning. Some can even lock your doors for you. They can be connected to the television and be used to choose movies or shows. 

Virtual Reality Devices

This one might seem like it’s not at all up the alley of your loved one, but you’d be surprised. Virtual reality devices are not only for people who want to play horror games. They can provide mesmerizing experiences like exploring cities from around the world, deep-sea diving, or sitting atop a mountain enjoying the 360-degree view. There are even art-based virtual reality games where you paint or build whatever you want without having to physically lift bricks. Virtual reality is broadening the types of experiences people with reduced mobility can have and you might just find that the senior in your life can see something they’ve always wanted to see using virtual reality devices.

Hopefully, the above list opened your eyes to the tools and gadgets that are available to help people maintain independence and enjoy a higher quality of life. Of course, the above list is by no means exhaustive. More tools and devices are being invented daily to help make our lives richer and more comfortable.