Jessica Lunsford Blog

People’s lives today are jam-packed with great projects, ideas, to-do lists, errands, things we should do, things we could do, duties and obligations. No surprise then, that many of us feel
we barely have time to do the things we have to do (or think we have to do), let alone spare time for fitting in anything extra.

Why do we insist on keeping ourselves so busy? We have trained ourselves to believe that to be busy improves our chances of success in this world. The “no pain, no gain” mentality. Also, our minds love to be active. For many high achieving types, taking “mental time out” is tantamount to laziness!

Being busy is not necessarily a bad thing - often we accomplish a lot in our busy lives. But when we get to a point where the level of activity is running our lives, it’s time to take some action! Ask yourself:

Why do I choose to take on all the things I do?

Do I really understand what is driving these choices?

What are the things I can’t do that I would like to, because I am too busy?
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Enter the simplification process. It sounds deceptively easy but the reality is usually different. It’s hard to let go of things that you have invested time, money and emotions into.

I suggest people look at 3 areas:

Firstly, stop doing things - just stop

Pick 2 or 3 activities (like projects, committee memberships or DIY home activities) and decide not to do them. That’s the first big step.

Second, examine all the great ideas you have in your head

The things you keep thinking about that take up mental space like:

- financial goals that have yet to come true

- becoming a size ten

- winning the lottery

You’ve done OK in your life without those things so far, and chances are that you’ll continue to survive. Give them up.

Third, reduce or eliminate your errands

These sneaky timewasters chew up a lot of physical and mental energy. If you haven’t’ done them, you are thinking about doing them, and once they are done, you often need to repeat them from month to month! With the technology around today, there are very few errands that need to take up time. Bill paying, shopping, buying presents - all these things can be done in a fraction of your time on the internet, or can be outsourced.

The reality is if we have nothing better to do, we’ll keep doing all those things we normally do - the things that keep us busy. Simplify your life and make time to find those better things to do. Guaranteed, you’ll enjoy it.

Megan Tough - published writer, coach, facilitator and speaker - works with people to create outstandingly satisfying and truly successful professional lives. Make more money - have more fun! To learn more and to sign up for more FREE tips and articles like these, visit http://www.megantough.com

At least one in fifty adults in America suffer with Over Compulsive Disorder (OCD) double that number for the others who at some time in their lives have been affected by this controlling disease. The frightening thing is how many more are to be cursed by this death sentence imposed on the brain. Speaking from experience it has to be the fatigue factor that without a doubt is the cause behind the bouts of anxiety that accompanies OCD…

When the brain becomes abusive with an onslaught of verbal threats to do this/that and the other, your body becomes powerless to fight back. Lethargic and drained of all energy your body like that of a rag doll limp and lifeless, waves the white flag and surrenders.

Obsessions and habitual acts that each individual experiences will differ greatly. One thing that does not change is the compassion towards each other from fellow sufferers who understand the reasons behind why we do what we do.
You will find being on the road to recovery less of a burden after confiding in someone for help, talking with others who are suffering from this condition is great place to start.

OCD is equally as common in both sex’s man woman boy and girl; symptoms have been diagnosed from an early age for many patients.
Obsessive rituals are stereotyped behaviours that are continually repeated causing anxiety where depression starts to sink in making this a major health concern for the patient.

There are so many different disorders relating to OCD but taking obsessive symptoms and obsessive thoughts are two that work hand in hand together in a similar way, a destructive force to contend with.

Sufferers with obsessive-compulsive disorder are more prone to anxiety/depression bouts where on the other hand sufferers of recurrent depressive disorder can develop obsessive thoughts.
Differentiating between both can be quite difficult in some cases because of the frequency where symptoms occur at the same
Either way both destroy a person’s life eating away at their existence; OCD works its magical charm on anyone that proves to be a threat where obsessive rituals are prevented from being carried out.

Heaven forbid even as a do gooder looking on never tell a sufferer to stop what they are doing because the chances are you will find that you have just become public enemy number one. Let the patient in their own time figure it out for themselves when enough is enough.

Help clinics therapies and treatments are out there for those looking for a cure. Depending on the person and how severe their symptoms let the doctor decide what is the best medication for you.

Success stories where over compulsive disorder victims have been liberated gives the likes of you and me some hope for the future to go on living and destroy the heartfelt emotion of dying on the inside.

Finding help is easier than you could imagine, browse my health page for more information at www.benidormbeaches.com

Long term care insurance doesn’t come cheap, and it also tends to be more
complex than other types of insurance. When purchasing long term care insurance, one of the several things you should consider is the rating of the insurance company - although most of us don’t pay much attention to it.

The ratings system was basically designed to ensure that the insurance company
issuing a policy is financially sound. There are several different independent
companies that offer ratings systems including such familiar names as Standard
and Poors and Moody’s.

Perhaps the most well known of the ratings companies is A.M. Best which
publishes over 50 different reports about insurance companies and the industry
in general. The company has been in business over 100 years, and is the largest
such company in the world.

Technically the credit ratings evaluate the risk potential and the
creditworthiness of a particular company - they aren’t really meant to be an
endorsement, although inevitably people use them as such.

The ratings companies all have slightly different designations, but the grades
are easy enough to understand. The ratings scores all work in much the same way
as your child’s school grades using a scale from A to F - A and B are good,
whereas a C, D or E rating is not so good.

Best’s highest rating is A+, whereas Standard and Poor’s best rating is AAA and
Moody’s is Aaa. These ratings all mean more or less the same thing - an
excellent track record, financial stability and the ability to meet the demands
and expectations of policyholders.

In the somewhat unpredictable world of insurance, nothing can ever be
guaranteed, but if you take out long term insurance with a company that has the
highest ratings with any of the ratings companies, you have basically nothing to
worry about.

As far as low ratings are concerned, you should probably avoid taking out long
term care insurance with a company rated C or D. And Best’s lowest rating is an
F which means the insurance company is basically bankrupt - definitely one to
avoid!

Don’t be embarrassed when it comes to advertising. Sell yourself
and you will succeed. Without advertising, there is no exposure,
and without exposure, there is no business. Don’t expect people
to just find your site or store and give you business.

Be creative. Money is not the only solution to getting your
business off the ground. Take advantage of all the free services
and materials to get your name out there. Submit your site to
free web directories, print out flyers and put them in people’s
mail box or drop them off in malls or airports for people to
take a glimpse of your business. Make t-shirts with your company
logo and contact information and wear them around whenever you
go.

I would like to suggest something like, go write on walls for
people to look at, but that’s called vandalism so please stay
away from that.

Just to give you an idea of what you can do with your
creativity. Don’t just think, go act it out. Everyone has some
idea of how to advertise, but most of the time they back down
because they think it’s stupid or embarrassing. Nothing is
embarrassing but rather consider it successful if you are able
to get your name out to even a single person. That one person
may talk about your company with another person, which is called
“word of mouth” advertising - most effective and credible
advertising method available. They can either talk about your
business or make fun of it; either way, more and more people are
getting to know what you are doing!

Go out there and show them what you got!

Have you ever wondered what it was like to live in pre-historic times? Probably not. These are the things I think about when I have to go grocery shopping and stand in line for twenty minutes. My husband will tell you that the only time I go to the grocery store is when we run out of carrots and apples for the horses or cat food for our feline pal, Bear. As you can tell, grocery shopping isn’t one of my favorite things to do.

When I was at the store today, in addition to the treats for the four-legged animals in our family, I picked up a package of ground beef and some salad stuff…you know…roots and leaves and twigs. When cave people wanted something to eat, the women had to gather roots and leaves and twigs and pound them on rocks to tenderize them. We buy them already packaged.

Cavemen had the hardest job of all. If they wanted ground beef with their leaves, roots and twigs, they had to catch a dinosaur for dinner. I suspect that’s how they spent most their day; gathering food, hoping to get back to their caves before becoming part of a tyrannosaurus’ main course.

So, the next time you have to go to the store for a couple of items for dinner, think about those cavemen and cavewomen. Standing in line to pay for your groceries is better than going out and catching a dinosaur and pounding your salad fixings on a rock. Go home, with groceries in hand, and give your spouse a big hug.

Happy writing!

Pamela Beers is a freelance writer, educator, and horse trainer who finds amusement in the most mundane things. Visit her website at http://www.pamelabeers.com

by Karon Thackston ©© 2003 http://www.marketingwords.com

There seems to be a common myth regarding site visitors and the
buying process these days. I”ve heard this statement more than
a few times over the last several months: “”My visitors find me
when they use search engines. They type in the exact keyphrases
I”m listed under. So when they get to my site why aren”t they
buying?”" The simple answer is that they aren”t ready to buy
yet.

Just because surfers type a specific keyphrase into a search
engine does not mean they are ready to buy. In fact, it could
mean just the opposite.

The buying process is made up of several stages, and your site
visitors could fall into any one of the five. Let’’s say a
surfer typed “”water filtration systems”" into Google. This same
keyphrase can be used by people in all five of the
buying-process stages. Take a look at the steps, and I”ll show
you why - during each one - your visitors might come to your
site.

Step One - Need/Want Recognition - Deciding there is, in fact, a
need or a want to be filled. During this stage a site visitor
may be wondering. Take yourself for example. Suppose someone
told you about a new water filtration system that is just
awesome. Being a health-conscious person, you want to determine
if this is something that would be good for you and your family.
You jump on the Internet and begin looking for general
information about the product.

Right now you aren”t the least bit interested in price or sales
pitches. You just want to know what this filtration system is
all about so you can decide IF there is a need or want on your
part.

Likewise, a site visitor in the need/want recognition stage is
looking for solid, unbiased information.

Step Two - Information Search - Trying to determine what’’s
available. So now you”ve found out that these filtration
systems are fabulous, and you”ve decided your family needs one
after all. Next step? Jump back on the Internet and start
searching for information.

Are there various styles or sizes? What’’s the price difference?
What features/accessories come with the system?

This is one time to focus on benefits, to make yourself
available for questions, and to direct your site visitor toward
your product/service.

Step Three - Evaluation - Eliminating
products/services/companies and deciding who’’s best. After
you”ve gathered a good bit of information, you”ll begin to
weed through the product brands and companies to determine which
one you will actually buy.

A site visitor in this stage will likely come to your site for
additional information, to find the answers to questions he/she
came up with since the last visit, or to double check facts and
figures.

This is a good time to not only focus on benefits, but also to
have customer service, warranty, price incentive, and other
information available.

Step Four - Purchase - Actually buying your product/service.
Finally! After all this time, the customers are ready to buy!
Support their decisions by making your ordering process and
shopping cart quick and simple to use.

Step Five - Buyer’’s Regret - Wondering if they made the right
decision. This is where money-back guarantees can save you! Most
people simply need the reassurance that they *can* get their
money back if need be. Especially with high-ticket items,
buyer’’s regret is common. Reinforce their buying decisions by
letting them know they can contact you with any problems they
have. So, as you can see, even though every stage in the process
is different, the same exact keyphrase could be used to search
the ”Net for information. Create your site to accommodate every
step in the buying process. Don”t assume that - just because
someone typed your keywords into a search engine - they are
automatically ready to buy.