Is is time for a new name for this blog?
I started this blog a few years back to talk about me and my journey as a home based business owner. I am no longer in that business.
I thought about just starting a new blog, but I hate to start from scratch.
I am thinking about starting a new business, but it is nothing like the one I was in.
Do I start over?
Do I leave it like it is?
Do I come up with a new name and design?
Please share your thoughts!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Hello!
It's been so long since I last posted! Over a year actually! I guess you have figured out that I am no longer running my Coastal Vacations business. I am, however, busy as ever!
It has been a year of change, as is has for so many people. This past year there have been many times when I wasn't sure how we were going to make it. But, God is good! I can honestly say that overall it's been a good year.
There were times when we were not sure if my husband was going to have a job or not. There were times when we were not sure how all of the bills were going to be paid. I let stress get to me and I decided that something had to go. That something was my business.
I got a job in the health care field and I have been going about the day to day. I am thankful for my job, don't get me wrong, so many people can't even find a job now, but I know that I want more out of life.
This last year has been very exciting spiritually! My husband was saved on February 15th and my husband, daughter, and I were all baptised in June. We have learned (and will continue to learn) to trust God in the hard times. It's been an awesome adventure!
My little Sister was married in August. We spent the week before her wedding at Smith Mountain Lake, VA with my Mom. If you have never been to Smith Mountain Lake, you must go! It's absolutely beautiful and the people are super nice. We joked the entire week about moving up there. We even looked at a few of the houses!
This is the view from our condo at Smith Mountain Lake!
This is my little sister Sara and her new hubby Craig!
Anna, TJ, and I playing Putt Putt - we love Putt Putt Golf :-)
Parts of the year were very challenging. Parts of the year were better than we could have ever imagined. I know that there are great things in store for my family and I. Life is what you make it. Why not make it great? I know I will!
It's been so long since I last posted! Over a year actually! I guess you have figured out that I am no longer running my Coastal Vacations business. I am, however, busy as ever!
It has been a year of change, as is has for so many people. This past year there have been many times when I wasn't sure how we were going to make it. But, God is good! I can honestly say that overall it's been a good year.
There were times when we were not sure if my husband was going to have a job or not. There were times when we were not sure how all of the bills were going to be paid. I let stress get to me and I decided that something had to go. That something was my business.
I got a job in the health care field and I have been going about the day to day. I am thankful for my job, don't get me wrong, so many people can't even find a job now, but I know that I want more out of life.
This last year has been very exciting spiritually! My husband was saved on February 15th and my husband, daughter, and I were all baptised in June. We have learned (and will continue to learn) to trust God in the hard times. It's been an awesome adventure!
My little Sister was married in August. We spent the week before her wedding at Smith Mountain Lake, VA with my Mom. If you have never been to Smith Mountain Lake, you must go! It's absolutely beautiful and the people are super nice. We joked the entire week about moving up there. We even looked at a few of the houses!
This is the view from our condo at Smith Mountain Lake!
This is my little sister Sara and her new hubby Craig!
Anna, TJ, and I playing Putt Putt - we love Putt Putt Golf :-)
Parts of the year were very challenging. Parts of the year were better than we could have ever imagined. I know that there are great things in store for my family and I. Life is what you make it. Why not make it great? I know I will!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
LOL - Love This Blog!
Check this one out:
http://debbieoutloud.blogspot.com/
**Disclaimer** Yes, I do know the author, but it really is a great blog! **Disclaimer**
http://debbieoutloud.blogspot.com/
**Disclaimer** Yes, I do know the author, but it really is a great blog! **Disclaimer**
Friday, May 9, 2008
Zoo Day!
I absolutely love working from home because I get to spend time with my family. Here is a slideshow of the fieldtrip we took this week to the Metro Richmond Zoo!
Also, I am now on YouTube! You can find me at www.youtube.com/user/lorabmoore - see you there!
Also, I am now on YouTube! You can find me at www.youtube.com/user/lorabmoore - see you there!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Times Have Changed!
Isn’t it amazing how times have changed? I remember watching “Leave It To Beaver” when I was little. Everything just seemed simpler some how. The dad was there every morning drinking his coffee and reading the paper while everyone else was getting ready for the day. The kids left for school and the dad left for work. In the evening the kids came home, then the dad came in, and everyone enjoyed each others company. My home life was nothing like that show, but even then, it was simpler than it is now for many of today’s families.
Did you know that in 1900 the average family size was seven or more people? The most common household size today is two people. In 1972 52% of households were considered traditional. Traditional is defined as the father works and the mother stays home. In 1998 that percentage dropped to 21%. Now I am not saying that all women should stay home and not work. There are too many great women out there doing great things for anyone to say that! Please don’t think that I am taking sides, or judging anyone for what they choose to do. I just think that most people feel that they have to work outside of the home to keep their families going – women and men included.
A lot of times it is not a matter of choice, but a matter of necessity. I talk to people all of the time who are looking for time freedom. Many times, the people who are looking for time freedom are not even familiar with that term!
I was one of those people looking for that time freedom. There were many things that we could not do as a family when both my husband and I worked outside of the home. Once I was told that I could not take the day off of work to go to my son’s first field trip. They couldn’t even understand why I would ask to take off of work for such a thing! When all of the adults work, it is hard to coordinate schedules. It is hard to be there for the kids/family activities. Sometimes it is hard to be there for the major holidays!
All too often people feel trapped by what is viewed as normal. It is normal to be so busy that you can’t enjoy being a family unless it is put on the schedule in advance. It is normal for teachers, babysitters, and daycare workers to see your children more than you do. In many cases they know more about your children than you do. It is normal for many parents to miss out on the firsts - first words, first steps, first field trips, first ball games, first recitals, etc…
I do not consider that normal. I am here to tell you that there is another way! You do not have to be June Cleaver vacuuming and cooking in your apron all day. You also do not have to be tied to a job that you only show up for every day in order to make the financial ends meet. Take a look at other options. Stop missing out on all the firsts. Life is just too short for that!
Did you know that in 1900 the average family size was seven or more people? The most common household size today is two people. In 1972 52% of households were considered traditional. Traditional is defined as the father works and the mother stays home. In 1998 that percentage dropped to 21%. Now I am not saying that all women should stay home and not work. There are too many great women out there doing great things for anyone to say that! Please don’t think that I am taking sides, or judging anyone for what they choose to do. I just think that most people feel that they have to work outside of the home to keep their families going – women and men included.
A lot of times it is not a matter of choice, but a matter of necessity. I talk to people all of the time who are looking for time freedom. Many times, the people who are looking for time freedom are not even familiar with that term!
I was one of those people looking for that time freedom. There were many things that we could not do as a family when both my husband and I worked outside of the home. Once I was told that I could not take the day off of work to go to my son’s first field trip. They couldn’t even understand why I would ask to take off of work for such a thing! When all of the adults work, it is hard to coordinate schedules. It is hard to be there for the kids/family activities. Sometimes it is hard to be there for the major holidays!
All too often people feel trapped by what is viewed as normal. It is normal to be so busy that you can’t enjoy being a family unless it is put on the schedule in advance. It is normal for teachers, babysitters, and daycare workers to see your children more than you do. In many cases they know more about your children than you do. It is normal for many parents to miss out on the firsts - first words, first steps, first field trips, first ball games, first recitals, etc…
I do not consider that normal. I am here to tell you that there is another way! You do not have to be June Cleaver vacuuming and cooking in your apron all day. You also do not have to be tied to a job that you only show up for every day in order to make the financial ends meet. Take a look at other options. Stop missing out on all the firsts. Life is just too short for that!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
How to Choose a Home Business and Why I Picked The One I Did!
There are so many work from home opportunities and home based business out there today. It can be very hard for a person, once the decision has been made to see what is out there, to pick the best one from them. There are many things to take into consideration. I will go over some of those things and tell you why I picked the business that I did.
Just making the decision to take a look around the internet and see what is out there can be an overwhelming one. You never know what is going to happen when you hit submit on a fill form. It can be very hard to tell the legitimate opportunities from the guy who is just looking to make a quick buck and then disappear. I did a lot of searching and this is some of the best advice I can give a person who is just starting to look into this amazing way of life!
First you need to think about what you want. What do you like? What are you interested in? Make a list of the things that you know something about, the things you love, and the things that you would like to learn more about. Personally, I like travel. I have always liked to travel and I know that many, many people out there love travel also. Not only is it something that I love, but it is something that is in demand.
Now you need to think about what you actually want to do. There are so many ways to market, what do you want to do? What do you like? Do you like meeting people face to face? Do you want to talk to people that you know? Do you want to have home parties? Do you want to use the power of the internet?
There are a lot of companies out there that say all you have to do is sign up, people will magically come to your website, and you will magically get a nice fat check at the end of the month. That is simply NOT true! There is no such thing as get rich quick. If you think there is such a thing then you need to stop reading this now.
Back to marketing, I personally did not want to have home parties. I think they are fun, but I have two kids and a husband at home. I also didn’t want to talk to people that I know. The thing that interested me the most was being able to use the internet and the phone to market my business.
Now you need to think about time. How much time do you have to work on your business each day/week? Are you going to start out supplementing your income? Do you need it to replace a job? Are you looking to do this on your own or will there be someone else involved with you? I wanted to be able to replace my income working the hours when my children did not need me.
In order to replace my former income, I needed to make a substantial income. Making 5% on a $20 or $30 item or $100 here and there just wasn’t going to cut it. I needed to be able to make real money pretty quickly. I knew that I needed to look at the higher ticket items if I was going to be able to do that.
The next thing that needed to be looked at was the product/service. I didn’t want to market a product that could be found at Wal-Mart. I also wanted to find something that was a great value to the consumer. If the product couldn’t stand on its own, then I definitely did not want anything to do with it!
Now that you know what you are interested in, how you want to market, how much time you have to put into your business, how much income you need/want to generate, and the caliber of the product/service that you want to market, it’s time to start looking!
Most of the opportunities out there have many ways for you to do your research on them. Most have conference calls that you can listen to. They have websites that you can read. They have testimonials you can look at. Be sure that there are testimonials on both the product and the opportunity. You will find good and bad in anything that you look into (if you don’t there is a problem), just be sure to dig as deep as you can. My point is, do your research! All of the time that you put into making the right decision now will definitely pay off in the end. It definitely has for me!
Just making the decision to take a look around the internet and see what is out there can be an overwhelming one. You never know what is going to happen when you hit submit on a fill form. It can be very hard to tell the legitimate opportunities from the guy who is just looking to make a quick buck and then disappear. I did a lot of searching and this is some of the best advice I can give a person who is just starting to look into this amazing way of life!
First you need to think about what you want. What do you like? What are you interested in? Make a list of the things that you know something about, the things you love, and the things that you would like to learn more about. Personally, I like travel. I have always liked to travel and I know that many, many people out there love travel also. Not only is it something that I love, but it is something that is in demand.
Now you need to think about what you actually want to do. There are so many ways to market, what do you want to do? What do you like? Do you like meeting people face to face? Do you want to talk to people that you know? Do you want to have home parties? Do you want to use the power of the internet?
There are a lot of companies out there that say all you have to do is sign up, people will magically come to your website, and you will magically get a nice fat check at the end of the month. That is simply NOT true! There is no such thing as get rich quick. If you think there is such a thing then you need to stop reading this now.
Back to marketing, I personally did not want to have home parties. I think they are fun, but I have two kids and a husband at home. I also didn’t want to talk to people that I know. The thing that interested me the most was being able to use the internet and the phone to market my business.
Now you need to think about time. How much time do you have to work on your business each day/week? Are you going to start out supplementing your income? Do you need it to replace a job? Are you looking to do this on your own or will there be someone else involved with you? I wanted to be able to replace my income working the hours when my children did not need me.
In order to replace my former income, I needed to make a substantial income. Making 5% on a $20 or $30 item or $100 here and there just wasn’t going to cut it. I needed to be able to make real money pretty quickly. I knew that I needed to look at the higher ticket items if I was going to be able to do that.
The next thing that needed to be looked at was the product/service. I didn’t want to market a product that could be found at Wal-Mart. I also wanted to find something that was a great value to the consumer. If the product couldn’t stand on its own, then I definitely did not want anything to do with it!
Now that you know what you are interested in, how you want to market, how much time you have to put into your business, how much income you need/want to generate, and the caliber of the product/service that you want to market, it’s time to start looking!
Most of the opportunities out there have many ways for you to do your research on them. Most have conference calls that you can listen to. They have websites that you can read. They have testimonials you can look at. Be sure that there are testimonials on both the product and the opportunity. You will find good and bad in anything that you look into (if you don’t there is a problem), just be sure to dig as deep as you can. My point is, do your research! All of the time that you put into making the right decision now will definitely pay off in the end. It definitely has for me!
Friday, February 1, 2008
Action and Attention - What you focus on does flourish!
We have all heard the saying a hundred times. What you focus on flourishes. What does that saying really mean? How can we understand how it applies to us and our everyday lives?
To better understand the saying, let's look to the dictionary. Merriam-Webster OnLine defines the word flourish as a center of activity, attraction, or attention. Action is described as a thing done and attention is described as the act of applying the mind on an object or thought.
Now that we understand the true definition of the words, ask yourself this question. Do my thoughts line up with my actions? Most do, even if we don't realize it. Hence the saying, what you focus on flourishes.
We look around; there is talk about the economy and a possible recession. Families are on the news begging for affordable healthcare. Elderly couples are shown living in one room because they can't afford to heat the entire home that they live in. We hear these negative reports and all the sudden, that's where our attention goes.
If you are in Corporate America and you can’t find the time to spend with friends and family, are you doing anything about that? Are you looking for a solution or are you sitting back making excuses to the people around you saying this is just the way Corporate America is?
If you are a stay at home mom and you are worried about finances, are you doing anything to improve them? Are you looking for a way to bring in some extra income or are you constantly complaining to your husband about the bills?
If you are a business owner and you are thinking about marketing your product/service, are you putting any action behind your attention? Are you getting your name out there as much as possible? Or are you just sitting back waiting for a divine intervention?
We usually do put some sort of action behind our attention. We need to figure out if that action has been positive or negative. Until you put some positive action into place to back up your thoughts, nothing is going to improve. Constant worry is not going to solve anything.
Take a moment to think about what you have been thinking about. Remember; only action, positive action, can get things where you want them to be. The only person that can make that change is you! What are you waiting for?
To better understand the saying, let's look to the dictionary. Merriam-Webster OnLine defines the word flourish as a center of activity, attraction, or attention. Action is described as a thing done and attention is described as the act of applying the mind on an object or thought.
Now that we understand the true definition of the words, ask yourself this question. Do my thoughts line up with my actions? Most do, even if we don't realize it. Hence the saying, what you focus on flourishes.
We look around; there is talk about the economy and a possible recession. Families are on the news begging for affordable healthcare. Elderly couples are shown living in one room because they can't afford to heat the entire home that they live in. We hear these negative reports and all the sudden, that's where our attention goes.
If you are in Corporate America and you can’t find the time to spend with friends and family, are you doing anything about that? Are you looking for a solution or are you sitting back making excuses to the people around you saying this is just the way Corporate America is?
If you are a stay at home mom and you are worried about finances, are you doing anything to improve them? Are you looking for a way to bring in some extra income or are you constantly complaining to your husband about the bills?
If you are a business owner and you are thinking about marketing your product/service, are you putting any action behind your attention? Are you getting your name out there as much as possible? Or are you just sitting back waiting for a divine intervention?
We usually do put some sort of action behind our attention. We need to figure out if that action has been positive or negative. Until you put some positive action into place to back up your thoughts, nothing is going to improve. Constant worry is not going to solve anything.
Take a moment to think about what you have been thinking about. Remember; only action, positive action, can get things where you want them to be. The only person that can make that change is you! What are you waiting for?
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Rebate Checks
The hot topic on the news lately is the economic stimulus plan. This plan is intended to stimulate consumer spending in order to deter a possible recession. It looks as if there is going to be some sort of rebate check going out to millions of middle and low-income Americans. It doesn't matter if you think that this is a good plan or a bad one. The plan is the plan. Whatever passes, we, as Americans, need to be smart about it. I think that the rebate checks need to be used as a cure instead of a band-aid.The point of the rebate checks is to stimulate our economy. What good is a one time check? Is it better to run out a buy a new flat screen TV or a new living room suite? How about using it to help pay the bills for a month or two? What good is spending that money in either of those ways really doing in the long run? None.
Invest that money. Do what both Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump said they would do to get rich if they had to start all over again in the book Why We Want You To Be Rich. Invest in yourself and in your family. Start a home business.
Starting a business with the rebate check is smart for so many reasons, here are just a few:
1. You are going to create that extra income that your family so desperately needs. You will not have to pay extra daycare, or gas, or car maintenance bills. You will not have to go out and buy different clothes to work in. You will not have to miss being there for the important moments in the lives of your loved ones.
2. The incredible tax breaks. The government is going to make everyone who gets a tax rebate check count it as income on the 2008 taxes. Starting your own business is a tax write off. Use that to your advantage.
3. The fun factor! Owning your own business puts you in charge of your life. You will be in charge of your time. How many times have you wanted to take a vacation, to go see a ball game, or go out with friends only to find out that you can't get off of work? Take charge of your own destiny.
I encourage you to Google the economic stimulus plan. Read it for yourself then make an educated decision. It could be the decision that changes your life completely.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Resolutions
Everywhere I go I hear talk about New Years Resolutions. In the past I haven't done much with New Years resolutions. I didn't think I needed a new year to come around to know when I needed to change something. Around here resolutions were made on an as needed basis.
Having said that, I do understand why so many resolutions are made during this season. What better time to make a change than a new year? I have to say, this past year flew by! There were things that I thought I would have had accomplished by this time, but I haven't. I read once that the word procrastination isn't really a word at all. Someone made it up to make themselves feel better. All I have to say is, for a made up word, I sure am good at it!
I thought that by now my husband would have been able to quit his job. That hasn't happened. I thought that by now we would have paid off our house. Nope, haven't done that either. Since I have been working from home I have gained more weight than I want to admit. I'm still in my ideal weight range, it's just made up of fat instead of muscle (there's my first resolution for this year!)
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaigning. A lot has been accomplished this year. I do have a lot to be proud of. I can just see where I need to do some fine-tuning. I am happy with our life now. I haven't worked outside of the house in over a year. I have more than replaced my annual salary (working a LOT less hours). I have the time freedom that I was searching for. Now it's time to move on and work on other things.
Having said that, here are my New Years resolutions:
1. As a family we are going to work on becoming healthier. We are going to become more active and start using Isagenix.
2. I am going to start using a schedule. I have been telling people to use a schedule for a long time, but I've been really bad at sticking to it!
3. I am going to work on becoming a better leader to my Coastal team. I want each and every one of them to become even more successful than I am. I feel like I have slacked off with the business considerably the last few months (if you keep up with my blog you've already noticed that!).
I would love to know what your resolutions are for this year, leave me a comment and let me know!
I truly want to make 2008 great, won't you make it great with me?
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
It's That Time Again!
It's Tax Time!
**Disclaimer** The information you are about to read came from Ron Mueller MBA, Ph.D. - I am personally NOT a tax professional :) You can check his information out on http://www.homebusinesstaxsavings.com/ **
Congress has passed laws that give average Americans tax breaks who operate a legitimate home-based business – even a part time business – as long as they can prove they're trying to make a profit.
Start taking Control in 2008!
The average American who runs even a part-time home-based business can now qualify for more tax advantages than any other category of taxpayer,” according to Ronald R. Mueller, author of the bestseller It's How Much You KEEP, That Counts! Not how much you Make.
The tax year is coming to a close... here's the BEST tax deduction you can take!
Business owners everywhere are thinking about something that you might not have even considered... this is the last chance to beef up your deductions so you can get more money back in a couple weeks when you file your tax return. You could could be missing out on thousands of dollars extra in your pocket in the next couple weeks by not knowing how to take advantage of this now!
Did you accomplish everything you wanted to this year?
Did you create that extra income you were hoping to create?
Did you go on vacation more?
Did you spend more time with your family?
They say to look at your last five years... and that what you see is your destiny unless you change something. Go to http://www.yourroadtodestiny.com/ to make the change.
Do you want a repeat of this past year?
Or do you want to make a change?
Do you want to get your home business started?
On Tuesday, January 1st, you will be starting a fresh, new year. All the things you didn't get around to this year, you will have another chance to make them happen. You can start over with your record keeping. You can set and achieve brand new goals and dreams. It will be a fresh start.
Ron says the average tax savings for home business owners ranges between $3,500 and $7,000 per year!
Maybe you simply haven't had the time to put into starting your business. Whatever the reason, now is your chance to take advantage of a HUGE tax deduction that will help you put money back into your pocket right away! Why wait until tax time next year when you could be getting that tax break now?
So if you've been sitting on the fence,thinking about making a change, now is the time to make it. Learn what you need to know to get 2008 started off right.
Just to let you know...The cost to NOT have a home-based business is about $20 per workday -- $100 per week - $5,000 per year - or more. And that's every day, every week, and every year. That's a lot of YOUR hard earned money that's going to the Treasury Department, but could be going into your own pocket.
A home-based business offers the best tax savings strategy available to the average American, bar none.
**Again, this is NOT coming from me, it came straight from a tax professional. I have read his book. It is actually included with our business training. For more tax advise check out Ron's site, his link is at the top of the page.
Start taking Control in 2008!
The average American who runs even a part-time home-based business can now qualify for more tax advantages than any other category of taxpayer,” according to Ronald R. Mueller, author of the bestseller It's How Much You KEEP, That Counts! Not how much you Make.
The tax year is coming to a close... here's the BEST tax deduction you can take!
Business owners everywhere are thinking about something that you might not have even considered... this is the last chance to beef up your deductions so you can get more money back in a couple weeks when you file your tax return. You could could be missing out on thousands of dollars extra in your pocket in the next couple weeks by not knowing how to take advantage of this now!
Did you accomplish everything you wanted to this year?
Did you create that extra income you were hoping to create?
Did you go on vacation more?
Did you spend more time with your family?
They say to look at your last five years... and that what you see is your destiny unless you change something. Go to http://www.yourroadtodestiny.com/ to make the change.
Do you want a repeat of this past year?
Or do you want to make a change?
Do you want to get your home business started?
On Tuesday, January 1st, you will be starting a fresh, new year. All the things you didn't get around to this year, you will have another chance to make them happen. You can start over with your record keeping. You can set and achieve brand new goals and dreams. It will be a fresh start.
Ron says the average tax savings for home business owners ranges between $3,500 and $7,000 per year!
Maybe you simply haven't had the time to put into starting your business. Whatever the reason, now is your chance to take advantage of a HUGE tax deduction that will help you put money back into your pocket right away! Why wait until tax time next year when you could be getting that tax break now?
So if you've been sitting on the fence,thinking about making a change, now is the time to make it. Learn what you need to know to get 2008 started off right.
Just to let you know...The cost to NOT have a home-based business is about $20 per workday -- $100 per week - $5,000 per year - or more. And that's every day, every week, and every year. That's a lot of YOUR hard earned money that's going to the Treasury Department, but could be going into your own pocket.
A home-based business offers the best tax savings strategy available to the average American, bar none.
**Again, this is NOT coming from me, it came straight from a tax professional. I have read his book. It is actually included with our business training. For more tax advise check out Ron's site, his link is at the top of the page.
Until next time!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Sorry I've been really busy!
Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been really busy. Anyway, I really like this video, I hope you enjoy it too!
Dave Matthews Band - Everday
Hugs! :)
Thursday, September 6, 2007
He Caught Me!!!
My son likes to sneak up on me and take pics while I am working...
He always catches me off guard! There are many more, but these are the best. He can catch me with my mouth wide open talking, or laughing, just really embarassing for me! He even recorded me the other day on the digital camera and I didn't know it! I told him he should be a spy...anyway, he was proud, so I thought I would share :)
He always catches me off guard! There are many more, but these are the best. He can catch me with my mouth wide open talking, or laughing, just really embarassing for me! He even recorded me the other day on the digital camera and I didn't know it! I told him he should be a spy...anyway, he was proud, so I thought I would share :)
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
National Package Details
I recorded a call today on our National Travel Membership for my associates to use. This is the first time I have tried this, so let me know what you think!
Thanks :)
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Ten Healthy Reasons To Take A Vacation!
Surfing the net today I found this artile on Forbes.com --
Ten Healthy Reasons To Take A Vacation
Allison Van Dusen, 08.06.07, 9:00 AM ET
The surf's calling, but if you're like many, you're feeling guilty about asking your boss for a little time off to relax--even though you desperately need it.
Not only do Americans get a meager amount of vacation time, they also tend not to use it all, according to Expedia.com's seventh annual Vacation Deprivation survey, conducted this spring.
Unsurprisingly, Americans got the least amount of vacation days per year among the countries surveyed, earning only 14 days vs. 24 days in Great Britain, 26 days in Germany, 30 days in Spain and 36 days in France.
And despite reporting an average of 14 vacation days this year, compared with 12 days in 2005, 35% of the more than 4,100 U.S. adults questioned said they will not use all of their time off, leaving an average of three days on the table.
"Some people are fearful in this day and age about job security," says Munro Cullum, a professor of psychiatry and neurology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
"There's a push for productivity, and that can make people really avoid taking a vacation. Some people just figure they'll relax when they retire."
Sound familiar? Your behavior may impress your boss, but medical experts say you're not doing your health any favors.
Workaholic Woes Stress produces physiological changes in our bodies, including higher blood pressure and a surge in stress hormones, such as adrenaline, which can cause blood to clot and increase the risk of a heart attack. By working all of the time, you're constantly subjecting your body to these responses, says Dr. Harvey Simon, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and founding editor of the Harvard Men's Health Watch.
Likewise, Cullum says, stress can impair the hippocampal function, which is crucial for the acquisition of new information, such as names, facts, PIN numbers and meeting times.
It's not clear whether vacations cause better health or whether they are just an indicator of healthier lifestyles. But taking time off does appear to have physical and mental benefits.
A 2005 study that analyzed research on 1,500 Wisconsin women showed that those who took vacations more frequently were less likely to become tense or depressed. Those women also reported being more satisfied with their marriages.
Cathy McCarty, the study's principal investigator and a senior epidemiologist for the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, says vacations help ease tension, which can lead to depression. Not taking a break also seemed to indicate that women were not spending time focusing on their marriages.
Even worse, the findings showed that nearly one in five women in the study reported taking a vacation only once in six years.
"It's the whole work culture," McCarty says. "Even people who have worked for me come to me with this tone of, 'I'm sorry, but do you mind if I take a day off?' I tell them to go--it's better for their health."
The data are damning for workaholic men, too.
A 2000 analysis of the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial, a study of more than 12,000 men ages 35 to 57 at high-risk for coronary heart disease, showed that those who took regular annual vacations had a lower risk of death than those who skipped taking time off.
Dealing With Your Vacation If you're out of practice when it comes to getting away, experts say there are a few things you can do to make sure that when you do take a vacation, it's a relaxing one.
First off, try not to leave for your vacation on a Friday straight from work. Lugging your suitcase to the office and rushing to finish a project before dashing to the airport in rush-hour traffic will cause unnecessary stress, Cullum says. Ease into your vacation by giving yourself a day to pack.
While a three-day weekend is better than nothing, consider whether it'll really be enough time for you to unwind and feel rested. If you need more time off, take it.
And always try to schedule your vacation during a slow period at work.
"If you're worrying about that deal going through at work, you're not in the moment," says Dr. Edythe Harvey, a psychiatrist with international psychiatric center The Menninger Clinic.
"You're not allowing yourself that break from constant work to re-balance yourself."
So, now that you know you actually NEED to take a vacation, how about saving some money on it? Check out my travel packages today!
Ten Healthy Reasons To Take A Vacation
Allison Van Dusen, 08.06.07, 9:00 AM ET
The surf's calling, but if you're like many, you're feeling guilty about asking your boss for a little time off to relax--even though you desperately need it.
Not only do Americans get a meager amount of vacation time, they also tend not to use it all, according to Expedia.com's seventh annual Vacation Deprivation survey, conducted this spring.
Unsurprisingly, Americans got the least amount of vacation days per year among the countries surveyed, earning only 14 days vs. 24 days in Great Britain, 26 days in Germany, 30 days in Spain and 36 days in France.
And despite reporting an average of 14 vacation days this year, compared with 12 days in 2005, 35% of the more than 4,100 U.S. adults questioned said they will not use all of their time off, leaving an average of three days on the table.
"Some people are fearful in this day and age about job security," says Munro Cullum, a professor of psychiatry and neurology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
"There's a push for productivity, and that can make people really avoid taking a vacation. Some people just figure they'll relax when they retire."
Sound familiar? Your behavior may impress your boss, but medical experts say you're not doing your health any favors.
Workaholic Woes Stress produces physiological changes in our bodies, including higher blood pressure and a surge in stress hormones, such as adrenaline, which can cause blood to clot and increase the risk of a heart attack. By working all of the time, you're constantly subjecting your body to these responses, says Dr. Harvey Simon, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and founding editor of the Harvard Men's Health Watch.
Likewise, Cullum says, stress can impair the hippocampal function, which is crucial for the acquisition of new information, such as names, facts, PIN numbers and meeting times.
It's not clear whether vacations cause better health or whether they are just an indicator of healthier lifestyles. But taking time off does appear to have physical and mental benefits.
A 2005 study that analyzed research on 1,500 Wisconsin women showed that those who took vacations more frequently were less likely to become tense or depressed. Those women also reported being more satisfied with their marriages.
Cathy McCarty, the study's principal investigator and a senior epidemiologist for the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, says vacations help ease tension, which can lead to depression. Not taking a break also seemed to indicate that women were not spending time focusing on their marriages.
Even worse, the findings showed that nearly one in five women in the study reported taking a vacation only once in six years.
"It's the whole work culture," McCarty says. "Even people who have worked for me come to me with this tone of, 'I'm sorry, but do you mind if I take a day off?' I tell them to go--it's better for their health."
The data are damning for workaholic men, too.
A 2000 analysis of the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial, a study of more than 12,000 men ages 35 to 57 at high-risk for coronary heart disease, showed that those who took regular annual vacations had a lower risk of death than those who skipped taking time off.
Dealing With Your Vacation If you're out of practice when it comes to getting away, experts say there are a few things you can do to make sure that when you do take a vacation, it's a relaxing one.
First off, try not to leave for your vacation on a Friday straight from work. Lugging your suitcase to the office and rushing to finish a project before dashing to the airport in rush-hour traffic will cause unnecessary stress, Cullum says. Ease into your vacation by giving yourself a day to pack.
While a three-day weekend is better than nothing, consider whether it'll really be enough time for you to unwind and feel rested. If you need more time off, take it.
And always try to schedule your vacation during a slow period at work.
"If you're worrying about that deal going through at work, you're not in the moment," says Dr. Edythe Harvey, a psychiatrist with international psychiatric center The Menninger Clinic.
"You're not allowing yourself that break from constant work to re-balance yourself."
So, now that you know you actually NEED to take a vacation, how about saving some money on it? Check out my travel packages today!
Saturday, August 4, 2007
I'm Back!
We are back from WV! Everything went great!
We decided to stop a few times on the way home and just enjoy the sites. We stayed in a beautiful town in the mountains of Virginia for a few days too. Here are a few pics I took along the way!
I could post pictures here all day. We had so much fun! We went to caverns, we raced go-carts (I don't have any pics from that, I was too busy trying to win!), we went bowling, we went swimming, we just had an all around great time! We were not planning to stop on the way home. It was definately a last minute decision and we still saved $30 per night at a Comfort Inn using one of the discount cards in our Coastal Vacations package!
We decided to stop a few times on the way home and just enjoy the sites. We stayed in a beautiful town in the mountains of Virginia for a few days too. Here are a few pics I took along the way!
This is a pic of my kids, we stopped at a lookout on I-64 in Virginia.
I took these two from the car...while driving...
I could post pictures here all day. We had so much fun! We went to caverns, we raced go-carts (I don't have any pics from that, I was too busy trying to win!), we went bowling, we went swimming, we just had an all around great time! We were not planning to stop on the way home. It was definately a last minute decision and we still saved $30 per night at a Comfort Inn using one of the discount cards in our Coastal Vacations package!
The seminar was great too...I'll probably post on that next time :)
Thursday, July 26, 2007
What are YOU waiting for?
We are leaving today for West Virginia to go to the CWB seminar. Before we leave I just wanted to say this one thing.
There is something amazing about the people who actually take steps to change their lives positively. The path is not always easy but the destination is definitely worth it! Even if it doesn't turn out as expected, at least you tried, at least you gave it your all. If nothing else the path that you go down makes you a better person.
We are going to be surrounded by people who are getting ready to step on the path, those who are on that path, and those who are already at their destination. The person who started our group just over 2 years ago is a millionaire and her wish is to share what she has found with the rest of us. How awesome is that?
So, my question to you is this: What are YOU waiting for? The timing is never going to be perfect, life isn't perfect...but we can do our best to make it that way!
This song (What Are You Waiting For by Natalie Grant) says it all:
sometimes i get that overwhelming feeling
so sad the faces on TV
if i tried to make a difference would it help anyways
but then i stop and to myself i say.........
CHORUS:
so you wanna change the world
what are you waiting for
you say you're gonna start right now
what are you waiting for
it only takes one voice
so come on now and shout it out
give a little more
what are you waiting for
sometimes i feel a little helpless
seems like i can't do a thing
but anything is possible just you wait and see
good things happen if you just believe.........
CHORUS
someday somehow
you're gonna take that step
cause time is ticking away
right here right now
before it's too late
gonna face tomorrow today
CHORUS
The words don't do it justice, so here is a video I found on YouTube:
There is something amazing about the people who actually take steps to change their lives positively. The path is not always easy but the destination is definitely worth it! Even if it doesn't turn out as expected, at least you tried, at least you gave it your all. If nothing else the path that you go down makes you a better person.
We are going to be surrounded by people who are getting ready to step on the path, those who are on that path, and those who are already at their destination. The person who started our group just over 2 years ago is a millionaire and her wish is to share what she has found with the rest of us. How awesome is that?
So, my question to you is this: What are YOU waiting for? The timing is never going to be perfect, life isn't perfect...but we can do our best to make it that way!
This song (What Are You Waiting For by Natalie Grant) says it all:
sometimes i get that overwhelming feeling
so sad the faces on TV
if i tried to make a difference would it help anyways
but then i stop and to myself i say.........
CHORUS:
so you wanna change the world
what are you waiting for
you say you're gonna start right now
what are you waiting for
it only takes one voice
so come on now and shout it out
give a little more
what are you waiting for
sometimes i feel a little helpless
seems like i can't do a thing
but anything is possible just you wait and see
good things happen if you just believe.........
CHORUS
someday somehow
you're gonna take that step
cause time is ticking away
right here right now
before it's too late
gonna face tomorrow today
CHORUS
The words don't do it justice, so here is a video I found on YouTube:
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Brian Adams Rocks!!!
I have been telling you about the CWB seminar that is coming up on July 27th, 28th, and 29th. I have been telling you that I am so excited about all that is going to be covered there...well...Now I am so excited I can't stand it!!!
This morning we had a conference call with Brian Adams, he is going to be speaking to us Saturday, July 28th, in West Virginia at the seminar. I have to say, my face hurts from smiling so much during the call! He is absolutely wonderful to listen to. He is very straight forward and to the point, but it is all delivered in a way that makes you feel good. A way that totally motivates you to go out and get things done.
Brian says that "you have to make successful actions a habit". He also says that "In ALL areas of your life, nothing will get better until YOU get better". Brian is absolutely a speaker worthy of checking out!
Here is the bio from his website www.endlesspossibilities.net
Brian Adams is a published author and award-winning speaker. Born and raised in rural North Carolina, Brian did not just endure but purposely overcame his poverty stricken and abusive upbringing. He decided at a very young age that he was not going to be a casualty of his environment but instead an example of the human strength and willingness needed to succeed. He learned early on that we can be, do or have anything we want, no matter what we experience in life.
Through the years he has mastered several styles of martial arts which enabled him to lead numerous training seminars for the Los Angeles Police Department. While teaching children’s and women’s self defense classes, he realized it was more important to teach people mental self defense.
He recently sold his successful hardwood flooring business to pursue his true life’s passion—helping others succeed.
Through his new company—Endless Possibilities—Brian shares his enthusiastic, motivational, and entertaining seminars in which he reveals the strategies and techniques that he has learned throughout the years on how to control the conscious and subconscious minds, in order to look at the good in EVERY situation and learn from them.
Brian’s life is a true example of what one can accomplish regardless of one’s background.
I have to say, that's a nice bio, but it doesn't do him justice!
I am seriously excited about the seminar and I would love to meet YOU there!
This morning we had a conference call with Brian Adams, he is going to be speaking to us Saturday, July 28th, in West Virginia at the seminar. I have to say, my face hurts from smiling so much during the call! He is absolutely wonderful to listen to. He is very straight forward and to the point, but it is all delivered in a way that makes you feel good. A way that totally motivates you to go out and get things done.
Brian says that "you have to make successful actions a habit". He also says that "In ALL areas of your life, nothing will get better until YOU get better". Brian is absolutely a speaker worthy of checking out!
Here is the bio from his website www.endlesspossibilities.net
Brian Adams is a published author and award-winning speaker. Born and raised in rural North Carolina, Brian did not just endure but purposely overcame his poverty stricken and abusive upbringing. He decided at a very young age that he was not going to be a casualty of his environment but instead an example of the human strength and willingness needed to succeed. He learned early on that we can be, do or have anything we want, no matter what we experience in life.
Through the years he has mastered several styles of martial arts which enabled him to lead numerous training seminars for the Los Angeles Police Department. While teaching children’s and women’s self defense classes, he realized it was more important to teach people mental self defense.
He recently sold his successful hardwood flooring business to pursue his true life’s passion—helping others succeed.
Through his new company—Endless Possibilities—Brian shares his enthusiastic, motivational, and entertaining seminars in which he reveals the strategies and techniques that he has learned throughout the years on how to control the conscious and subconscious minds, in order to look at the good in EVERY situation and learn from them.
Brian’s life is a true example of what one can accomplish regardless of one’s background.
I have to say, that's a nice bio, but it doesn't do him justice!
I am seriously excited about the seminar and I would love to meet YOU there!
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