You may be wondering what water has to do with stress. Well, it turns out that multiple studies have shown that dehydration leads to increased cortisol levels. Cortisol is your “fight-or-flight” hormone and plays an important role in your metabolism, your body’s immune response, and your body’s response to stress.

Additionally, mild dehydration can cause negative side effects, such as decreased physical and mental performance. Symptoms include fatigue, and reduced attention, focus, reaction speed and short-term memory. This is because dehydration literally stresses out your body, and then when you add extra stress from work and life responsibilities, it dehydrates your body even more. It’s a vicious cycle to get stuck in!

Normally I don’t rhapsodize about an app but ScheduleOnce by OnceHub is truly worth it. In short, it’s a scheduling app. But that’s like saying Google is just search software.

Several years ago we were consistently frustrated trying to schedule meetings with prospects and clients because of the time and repeated communications trying to nail down a time that was convenient to both parties. Multiple calls and/or emails back and forth - Them: “Can you meet with me sometime next week?” Us: “Sure, how about Tuesday afternoon at 1pm? If that’s not good, give me some dates and times that work for you.” Them: “No I’m busy on Tuesday. Can you do Wednesday or Thursday?” And so on, and so on. You get the picture. Heck, you’ve probably been there yourself.

Time for a new solution! We found ScheduleOnce when it was relatively new to the game and realized it had the potential to streamline the whole meeting process for us.

We’ve all been told that getting a good night’s sleep is beneficial in many ways, yet it always seems to be one of the first things we sacrifice when life gets a little crazy. It often feels like there’s too much to do and not enough time to get it done. Going to bed later and getting up earlier sounds like the smart thing to do under these circumstances, however, science has proven time and time again that reducing your sleep is actually counterproductive. 

Thanksgiving is a time for fun and family and maybe a little turkey and football. It’s also a time to count your blessings and to give thanks, and there’s no better way to do it than by passing on some blessings to others. 

Everyone has some talent or skill, and chances are you have one that might benefit others. Why not share it by teaching a class through your local community center, even if it is online? You’re not just giving others a one-time gift, you are imparting knowledge and experience that will last someone a lifetime.

About 2 months ago I told you about my 5 hottest, go-to Infusionsoft add-ons. Here I want to write about my 5 hottest, go to Joomla extensions. Like with Infusionsoft add-ons, there are so many good Joomla extensions, but here are my top 5 and why.

Visualization is the process of creating images in your mind of having or doing something that you want. For years, psychologists have used this technique to help people create desired emotional states, enhance performance in various skills, and achieve goals. Pro athletes such as Tiger Woods, Muhammad Ali and Jack Nicklaus have all admitted to using visualization to improve their game. This practice has even helped a man who is paralyzed in all four limbs utilize a computer with his mind.

Ever think about it - What is your why? What’s at stake? Why are you doing what you’re doing? Why do you live the way you live?

Your why is your mission in life, your calling, and your reference point for all decisions you make and actions that you take. If you feel lost, uncertain, unfulfilled or anxious, it might just be because you haven’t found your why yet.

Have you ever wondered which species of bird has made the tree outside your window their home? What type of plant is taking over your backyard? Or what that weird looking worm is on your porch? With a nature identification app, you can discover which species of plants, flowers, trees, animals and insects are right outside your front door.

Luckily, there are several free apps available for download to help you identify, record, track, and learn about the world around you—which is the perfect pastime while we continue to social distance. Here are our top five:

Owning a business is stressful during normal times, but couple that with the holiday season—and oh yeah, a pandemic—and the pressure and uncertainty can feel like more than you can handle.

Study after study has shown that uncontrolled stress can lead to a long list of negative repercussions, such as poor memory, low energy, aches and pains, upset stomach, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, weakened immune system, insomnia, a higher risk for cancer, and more.

And if you have all that working against you, you can’t run a successful business, right? But with one secret weapon in your back pocket, you can reduce your stress. That secret weapon is called mindful breathing.

You’ve jogged along the same path for months but still haven’t noticed much difference when you look in the mirror. You’ve done so many sit-ups your brain is starting to go numb. Is it time to invest in a personal trainer to achieve your fitness goals?

It’s the season of thanksgiving and that means showing your employees and customers how grateful you are for them. After all, both groups are essential to your company’s success. 

When your employees feel valued, your company will enjoy many benefits, such as increased trust between employee and employer, higher productivity levels, decreased employee turnover, and positive brand reputation. Make them feel valued by integrating these tactics into your company policy:

2020 has been anything but predictable, so it is important for business owners to take extra care this year when preparing for the holiday shopping season—especially if you are in one of the industries that have been negatively affected by COVID-19 shutdowns. As you know, a profitable holiday season could mean the difference between ending the year in the red or making a profit.

If you’re not sure where to begin to ensure a successful fourth quarter, follow our guide below:

Is there a ‘Negative Nelly in your life? Everyone has an off-day now and again, but some people just seem glued to an unhappy path. They seem dead set on self-destruction, and have plenty of bad habits to help them along. 

To avoid going along this path, here are a few things to watch out for: 

Spooks and spirits, ghosts and ghouls, leering pumpkins and enough candy flowing around to fill a dump truck. If you’re seeing any of these things in your neighborhood, it can only mean it’s time for everyone’s favorite scary holiday. Want to find out some unusual facts about this holiday that’s become the biggest commercial sales event this side of Christmas? Read on to find out.

A positive mindset can be the difference between success and failure; and, during times like these, when the future is uncertain and stress levels are high, a positive mindset is especially important. In fact, your outlook on life may even affect your mental and physical health. Studies show that the health benefits of a positive mindset include: