Having A Lot Of Anxiety Lately? Here Are Some Useful Tips

Unfortunately, a lot of people deal with anxiety on a daily basis - regardless of whether it’s work, being in a stressful environment, or a random burst of anxiety, it’s not an easy thing to go through. Instead of taking medication, there are so many tricks that can ease up or even completely get rid of your anxiety in no time. So here are some useful tips that can help you feel better! 

Take a step back

It’s completely fine, and in some cases recommended to take a step back. Certain situations can be a lot of stress and trigger lots of anxiety in a person, so being able to take a moment to relax is a must! Instead of bottling up your emotions, take a breather and focus on getting better. The worst thing you can do is pretend that everything is fine until you can’t hold it in anymore. Everyone is allowed to heal and take a step back, so remember that it’s okay to take a break from things that are causing you stress! 

Alone time is key

Sometimes, you just want to kick back and relax in the comforts of your home. Whilst going out can be fun, sometimes recharging your batteries is a far better option! Make your favorite comfort meal and put on a show, or read a new book in order to shift your focus. Bonus points for making an at-home spa, with a bubble bath and some face masks! This can instantly help you de-stress and just shift your focus on something else! Also, it’s fine to say no to events and cancel plans if you feel anxious, you are allowed to have alone time when going through things like this! 

Alternative medication

Whilst nicotine was a popular method for de-stressing, there are far better alternative ‘’medications’’ to use! Nowadays, a lot of people consume products from cannabis, as the plant carries a lot of benefits, suiting people with anxiety. There are many products to look for, you can easily buy CBD online, so you don’t even have to leave the comforts of your home! Even if you are not a weed smoker by nature, there are different products that can give a similar effect, and calm your nerves the same way - from cannabis teas and oils to edibles, it all depends on what you prefer! 

Surround yourself with loved ones

There is no better medicine than love - spending time with friends and family is the best way to get your mind off things. A lot of people shy away from opening up to their loved ones, but this can help a lot, especially when dealing with anxiety and stress on a daily basis. No matter how young or old you are, being able to open up and ask for help is necessary! 

Work out

Being physically active isn’t just beneficial for your body, it’s also connected with your mind as well. It’s actually proven that exercising and being active helps with anxiety and even depression - whilst doing so, the body produces chemicals that can boost your happiness. And not only that, going to the gym, on morning runs and similar is a great way to blow off some steam and de-stress! 

Spend time in nature

Being in the city, whilst living a hectic, fast-paced life, can trigger anxiety in anyone. That’s why spending some time on fresh air can be beneficial, spending time in nature does more wonders for your mind and body than you can imagine! Regardless if it’s just a weekend getaway or an everyday walk to the park - spending more and more time outdoors is a must in order to de-stress. This is also great, as you’ll come across other people and animals all whilst spending time outside, these things are pretty calming and nurturing! 

Start a hobby 

The best way to get your mind off of things is to start a new hobby. This can be a weekly thing or whenever you feel anxious - by shifting your focus onto something new you can get rid of anxiety! Painting and arts and crafts, in general, is a perfect hobby to suit the nerves, as it helps with making you calm. And who doesn’t like art, right? So that’s why picking up a productive hobby is great for battling anxiety in the long run! 

At the end of the day, not everyone experiences anxiety the same way, and not everyone has the same amount of anxiety - so there is no universal cure. The best way to combat this is to find a suitable activity or product that works for you, thankfully there are so many options nowadays, all you have to do is find something for yourself!

Moving Long-Distance? 5 Questions to Ask Your Car Shipping Company

Transporting a car over a long distance can be pretty hectic. And in most cases, driving it yourself just won’t cut it. That is where auto shipping companies come in. Whether you’re relocating or want to use your car in a different country, an auto shipping company can get it to your intended destination.

Finding a car shipping company nowadays is pretty easy. All you have to do is perform a simple google search, and you’ll get hundreds of seemingly suitable companies willing to transport your car at a low price.

In most cases, many people fall prey to the alluring discounts and promises of safe transport without digging deeper and finding out how the transport companies operate. More often than not, this seemingly inconsequential decision has costly consequences.

So, the next time you’re transporting your car, don’t settle for the information provided on the shipping company’s website. Dig a little deeper by asking their representatives relevant questions before making your decision.

Here are five questions that you should ask before choosing an auto shipping company.

How Much Will My Shipping Cost?

Car shipping costs vary from one company to another. And although it’s tempting to go for the cheapest offer, it’s not always the best choice. Most reputable auto shipping companies are pretty transparent about what’s included in the cost. But, don’t leave it to chance. After all, you wouldn’t want to get surprised by any ‘extra’ charges that may arise.

So, before choosing which transport company will be transporting your car, ask for a quote. Also, ask them if the quote includes everything they cover, then comb through it intensely to confirm the charges.

Preferably, you can also ask to speak to their representative in person. This way, you’ll stand a better chance of getting a more accurate quote since you can better explain any special needs or preferences you might have.

Are You Registered and Licensed?

Finding out whether a car shipping company is registered or not is not hard. But it’s still nice hearing it directly from their representatives. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all car transport companies that move vehicles across state lines to have a USDOT number.

Similarly, the Federal Maritime Association requires all international car shipping companies to have a shipping license. Once you have the transport company’s USDOT number, you can look up its safety record, operating status, and other registration numbers. If the company doesn’t provide you with its USDOT number, that’s a red flag. In this case, you should look for another company.

Is Your Company Insured, and What Does Your Policy Cover?

Most probably, your standard motor insurance provider won’t cover your car transportation. Therefore, you need to ensure that the car transport company has adequate insurance to cover your vehicle should anything go wrong in transit.

All car transport companies should be fully insured. That being said, there are a couple of things you should know before leaving your car’s fate in their hands. You should ask specific questions like what are their standard shipping insurance options? Can you buy additional insurance? How much of your car will their policy cover if the worst happens? Do you have to pay a deductible?

Once you’ve got all that covered and feel confident with the transport company’s insurance cover, ask to see its insurance certificate. All auto shipping companies are required by law to hold a valid insurance certificate. Once you have it, read it and compare it to the insurance clauses in your contract.

How Do I Get My Car Ready for Shipping?

Car shipping companies are prohibited from transporting cars with any household item inside, so they might ask you to remove them. Make sure that your car is clean and that you’ve inspected it and documented all the existing damages. Also, according to the Department of Transport, all car keys should be turned over to the transporter.

Most companies will also require you to make sure that your car doesn’t have over a quarter tankful of gas to avoid surcharges due to excess weight.

What Are My Pickup and Delivery Options?

You wouldn’t want to drive for miles to pick up or drop off your car, right? Most reputable car transport companies have multiple pickup and drop-off locations. You should make sure that these locations are convenient for you.

Some car shipping companies also offer a door-to-door service. If the company offers this service, then they will pick up or deliver the car directly to your home. On the downside, this service tends to cost more.

The Bottom Line

For most people, their car is their second-most valuable possession apart from their home. Even if this doesn’t apply to you, you shouldn’t leave your car’s safety to chance by trusting a shady car transport company.

Asking your car transport company, the questions above will help you to discern good companies from knockoffs, thus improving your chances of getting quality service.

Tips To Take Your Garage to the Next Level

A garage is, without a doubt, one of the most important parts of many people’s properties. Not only does it keep your car and other gear away from snow, ice, rain and dirt, it also keeps it safe from damage or break-in attempts. Once people get a home with a garage, it’s very hard to go back to not having one.

Unfortunately, many garages leave a lot to be desired, both in terms of their function and looks. Many are on their last leg and have not been maintained as well as other parts of the home. Thankfully, you don’t need to live with a sub-par garage forever. With that in mind, here are a few ways you can take your garage to the next level.

Get a New Door

One of the best ways to provide a visual boost to your garage is to get a new door. A new door can instantly refresh a garage and make the front of your home look incredible. They come in many different styles, colors and can be made of various materials.

But in addition to looks, a new garage door can also have functional benefits. Many doors are loud, don’t fit quite right or often get stuck, and a new door can often fix all of these issues. Of course, be sure to get your door from a reputable and high-quality company like Ideal Garage Doors. This can ensure it is made well and can stand up to the elements.

While replacing a door is often right for many people, also consider if a repair is all you need, as they can often be more affordable.

Optimize the Storage

While the primary duty for many garages is to keep cars safe, they are also responsible for storing a variety of different items. This could include expensive tools, bikes, gardening equipment, outdoor toys, and more. 

All of these require organization, and good storage solutions. You should consider adding shelves, cabinets, and specialized wall hangers to allow you to keep everything in the right spot and help the space look a little cleaner.

If you simply have a big open space in your garage, it can encourage a mess and can become difficult to find anything. Give everything a place and ensure you put it back when you’re done with it.

Make the Space More Comfortable

Another way to help take your garage to the next level is to make the space more comfortable. Many garages leave a lot to be desired in terms of comfort. A good first step could be to insulate the garage so it is a warmer, more comfortable place to be in the cooler months. This is especially important if you want to spend time in the garage or plan to use it as a workshop.

In addition to that, you could also consider adding some lights to the garage to make it easier to get around and see at night. Adding more high-quality flooring, Wi-fi or even having a space heater for those cold winter days is another option. Anything you can do to make your time in the garage more enjoyable is a good idea.

While making these changes can take some time and be expensive in some cases, it is well worth it to have an extra space that you enjoy.

Improving Your Garage

These three tips are just some of the great ways you can take your garage to new heights. They will help it not only look and function better, but also make it a space you want to spend more time in.

Fire-Damaged Home: 2 Options For Owners

Preventable accidents such as fire could happen in a home no matter how careful you may be. In the United States alone, some 358,000 homes are affected by fires yearly, according to the National Fire Protection Association.      

When flames gut your property, an owner is left with the option to have it repaired or sell it to prospective buyers. Whatever you choose to do with your fire-damaged home, don’t forget to seek the help of professionals to help hasten recovery. 

Dealing with a burnt home can be a daunting experience. But there are some options available, depending on how you want to move forward. Ahead, you’ll find a few viable solutions to deal with your partially- damaged property.    

Contact Your Home Insurance Company 

It’s common for your home to incur more damages as fire is being put out. For instance, firefighters could break the windows and door or spray substantial amounts of water, damaging your electrical systems and encouraging mold growth. 

Contact your insurance provider to repair all types of damages incurred by your property during and after the fire to start the remediation process. Apart from contacting accredited fire restoration companies like fire damage restoration Denver, file a claim and check the valuable items that your insurance company may be able to replace. An insurance agent will assess the scope of damage and calculate how much you’ll receive for the repair works. Reimbursement cost varies depending on the scale of damage and the type of insurance policy you have.

2 Options For Owners Of Fire-Damaged Homes

After a significant disaster like a fire, moving on and staying in the same property can be challenging. It’s not surprising then that most homeowners decide to offer their damaged homes to buyers.

1.    Sell Your Fire-Damaged Home To Cash Buyers

While challenging, it’s not impossible to sell a fire-damaged home. If you don’t have the cash to spend for fire restoration services, consider offering your damaged property to cash home buyers such as Safe Home Offer and other firms. These companies purchase homes no matter in which condition they may be. Whether the property is damaged by fire or in desperate need of repair due to normal wear and tear, you won’t have any problem selling it to cash buyers.  

All you have to do is to contact them for a price offer. If you think you’ve got a fair deal, you’ll receive the cash right away.

2.    Seek The Services Of A Fire Restoration Company   

To move on from the incident and bring your life back to normalcy, you may seek the services of a fire restoration company. Professional Fire Damage Restoration Services will inspect your home and perform assessments to repair any damage. They go beyond structural issues and ensure that your property is entirely safe by checking sections not affected by the flames. Companies do this by removing and restoring sources of potential health hazards such as soot and smoke.

The fire restoration costs can vary wildly, depending on the size of your home and your location. Nationwide, the average total price for repairs due to fire damage is estimated at USD$14,850, according to Angi.com. Additionally, each square foot of a flame-gutted property is priced at USD$4.70 on average. To be sure about how much you’re expected to pay for repairs, contact a reputable company.  

…And Sell Your Fire-Damaged Home Traditionally

In the US, there are no laws that prevent a homeowner from selling a fire-destroyed property. The only requirement is that the seller is transparent about the incident and cites the damages and potential hazards.

A seller has to fill in the property disclosure form to cite the amenities and potential functional deficiencies in your home. Issues such as environmental and disaster hazards, deaths in the house, neighborhood issues, and building code violations, among others, have to be reported. Similarly, the real estate agent you’ll hire is mandated to inspect the property. From there, they’ll provide advice on whether you have good chances of selling the property. If you decide to go this route, it’s best to have your home fixed first.    

Wrap Up

Choosing which route to take will depend on a few factors. To come up with a smart decision, it pays to:

1. Determine how much you’re qualified to accept as remuneration from your home insurance policy.

2. Find out how much the repairs are going to cost you.

3. Consider how easy or how hard it is to sell through traditional and non-traditional means. 

Ultimately, the decision whether to sell the home ‘as-is’ or have it restored before offering it on the market hinges on how fast the owner wants to move forward following a traumatic incident. 

How To Be A Stylish & Trendy Mom

You have a lot on your mind and agenda as a mom. You’re busy running the kids around, working, and taking care of your house. Therefore, fashion and dressing well might be at the bottom of your list.

However, it’s not to say you shouldn’t give it a try and work on being a more stylish and trendy mom. Doing so will allow you to feel good about yourself and you’ll love what you see in the mirror each day. Take time to learn some tips that will help get you started and on the right track.

Educate Yourself

A wise first step when trying to be more stylish and trendy as a mom is to educate yourself. Take a look around and see what’s out there and read up on fashion advice on blogs and magazines. Gain more knowledge about what some of the hottest looks and items are right now and then be willing to give them a try yourself. Educating yourself on the matter will also help you develop your personal brand and image. In addition to clothing styles and trends, you may also want to investigate the latest and best hairstyles and nail polish colors too.

Dress for the Occasion

Be a stylish and trendy mom by dressing for the occasion and not having to miss out on certain gatherings because you have nothing to wear. Have a variety of options in your wardrobe besides just the staples. Be prepared for every type of occasion from a fancy dinner party, to a casual date night, to 100 days of school. It’ll require some effort on your part but it’ll be well worth it and this way you’ll be ready for any kind of event and won’t be stressed out at the last minute with nothing to wear.

Update Your Wardrobe & Organize Your Closet

You should never keep apparel in your closet that’s out of style or doesn’t fit right. Get rid of it or donate it and make room for the new so you can update your wardrobe. Avoid buying items just because they’re a bargain or on sale and wait to make a purchase until you love it and it’s the right fit. You should also plan on getting rid of an item each time you buy a new one if you want to create an organized and attractive closet. Also, remember that accessories can help you look better too because they add color, interest, and character to your outfits.

Get Advice from Friends

While you want to be and stay true to yourself when thinking about your wardrobe and clothes, it’s also not a bad idea to learn from others. Be a stylish and trendy mom by getting input and advice from those around you and who you trust. Gather advice from your friends about what looks good on you and what items they consider to be fashionable andmust-have items for each season. There may also be opportunities to swap and borrow clothes from your fashionable friends so you don’t always have to spend money on new clothes.

New Medical Marijuana Bill Could Transform Lives of Thousands of Ohioans

by: Enzo Schillaci

Medical marijuana has been legal in Ohio since 2016, but proponents of further reform argue that the current program isn’t inclusive enough. The new bill to amend the existing rules was proposed by state senator Stephen Huffman who is also a medical professional.

The Senate Bill 261 that was introduced last week seeks to extend the number of conditions that are eligible to be treated with cannabis. The current law includes only 25 ailments, but the new bill proposes to add another six: arthritis, migraines, spasticity or chronic muscle spasms, autism, and opioid use disorder. Another category of patients that would be included in the new program are the terminally ill and those in hospice care.

The recreational use of marijuana is legal in neighboring Michigan. But in Ohio, you are not allowed to smoke weed for recreational purposes or even buy cannabis seeds to grow a few plants yourself. You need to be an authorized medical patient for that.

Arguably the most significant change proposed in the new bill would allow physicians to prescribe cannabis to anyone if they think the treatment would benefit that person in any way.

Mary Jane Borden from Ohio Rights Group said that this clause should have been in the law all along. According to her, there exist many rare diseases, and it isn’t possible to specifically mention them all. The decision should simply be a doctor’s discretion.

Robert Kowalski, a U.S. Air Force veteran, welcomes any initiatives to liberalize current medical marijuana laws in Ohio. He knows firsthand what a difference the medicine can make. He used to take 22 different pills a day to combat PTSD, depression, and several other conditions that he brought home after his two combat tours in Iraq.

Marijuana use allowed him to stop taking all those medicines and feel better, but the 33-year-old veteran was discharged from the military because of that. Nevertheless, Kowalski is among the lucky ones because his PTSD diagnosis is included in the list of qualifying conditions in Ohio and allowed him to join the medical marijuana program.

At the same time, he knows a lot of people with conditions that are not on the list, including his fellow veterans. Though they served their country, they don’t get access to the medicine that may help them maintain jobs, improve the quality of life, and not be regarded as ticking human time bombs. For them, a more inclusive medical marijuana bill is urgently needed.

The new proposal also tackles various business issues. It would, among other things, increase the number of licensed dispensaries and allow growers to build bigger facilities. These measures are meant to drive down prices and make the medicine more accessible.

A greater number of licenses would also ensure that patients don’t have to spend hours on the road to the nearest dispensary. And permitting drive-through or curbside pickup of the purchases would make life easier for disabled customers. 

While the majority of Ohioans support cannabis use for therapeutic purposes, the idea also faces opposition from groups like the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Though several observational studies suggest that the passing of marijuana legalization laws by states leads to the reduction of opioid overdoses, ASAM isn’t convinced. They maintain that the evidence is lacking and that it isn’t a good idea to substitute one addictive substance with another one.

Similarly, Fran Gerbig from Prevention Action Alliance believes that the language of the new bill is too broad and could entrench the perception that cannabis is an acceptable treatment for almost any condition.