As pandemic-related restrictions ease, Alabama parents and guardians sharing custody of children have many questions about supervised visits. Here are some answers regarding safety guidelines and supervised visitation.

Basic Rules for All Visitation

The general rule for parents has been to follow the Court order regarding visitation. During the early days of the pandemic, Alabama’s statewide stay-at-home order did not override existing custody and visitation orders. When parents jointly agreed to temporarily exercise parenting time different than what was ordered or when there was not yet an order in place, the Court did not have a problem with such arrangements. The Court recommended that parties informally commit to such agreements in writing.

Working With Supervised Visitation Centers

When a parent has a concern about safety protocols at a supervised visitation center, the parent should contact the center in writing to request that protocols be followed or certain changes be made to increase safety. An email, letter, or text suffices as a writing. The parent may also report the center to local law enforcement authorities.

If the parent believes the child is in danger of contracting COVID-19 at the center, they should talk with the other parent about the concern. The parties should see if they can agree on holding visitation at an alternate supervised visitation center that follows the appropriate safety protocols. If any communication does not result in a change that benefits the child, the parent should reach out to the Court as soon as possible.

The parent can request that the Court order the visitation center to make changes. The parent should document whether the child exhibits any health concerns because of the way the visitation center is operating its facility. The first parent should share documentation of medical concerns about the center with the other parent.

Altering Visitation Orders

During the early days of the pandemic, the Court did not alter visitation and custody orders based on mere speculation and unsubstantiated fears. A parent had to present admissible facts to support an assertion that the other parent was acting in such a way as to put the health and safety of minor children at risk. As of summer 2021, the Court will still require adhere to this standard.

Alabama’s most recent Safer Apart Order ended on May 31, 2021. The state of emergency ended July 6, 2021. Children between the ages of 12 to 16 are now eligible for vaccines to prevent COVID-19. Children under the age of 12 remain ineligible for such vaccines.

A parent seeking to alter a visitation order because of matters related to COVID-19 should talk to their attorney about presenting information regarding a minor child’s health. A parent may want to show that the child is vaccinated. It may also be relevant to show when the child was vaccinated.

If a child is unvaccinated, the parent may want to show that the child remains unvaccinated. They may want to explain the reason the child is unvaccinated. They may also want to state which vaccine they would prefer the child to get when the child becomes eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination.

It may be important for a parent to present information about their child’s medical issues, such as the child’s having an auto-immune disorder that would make them more susceptible to contracting the virus. Yet the parent may want to keep certain information out of court records. For example, a parent may want the fact of the child’s auto-immune disorder in the court record. Yet the medical record also contains information showing the child has a behavioral disorder. The parent wants this second piece of information out of the court record.

Editing documents can involve blacking out certain parts of a medical record. A parent should present the pertinent medical record to your divorce attorney in Montgomery or whatever part of Alabama you reside. They should then work with that local attorney to determine what edits to make. A parent or guardian usually has the right to get a minor child’s medical record up until the child reaches the age of 19.

Child Support and Visitation

Changes in visitation are unlikely to affect child support. The parent with visitation still must pay child support. The obligation to pay child support was temporarily stayed early on in spring 2020. It has since been reinstated.

If a parent or guardian loses their job or source of income or sees a substantial reduction in hours during the COVID-19 pandemic, they can elect to have child support deducted from their unemployment benefits. Federal unemployment benefits such as Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) are set to end September 11, 2021. A parent who is having trouble paying child support because of COVID-19 should request that the Court modify the order for child support.

Going Forward

It is a good idea to put all parenting time arrangements in writing. The Court will not prejudice either party by mutual agreements regarding parenting time that the parties made during the early days of the pandemic. The Court assumes the parties will intend to return to the terms of their original court order once the pandemic has been resolved. Parents who have missed parenting time or will miss parenting time due to the COVID-19 pandemic should reasonably work together to work out alternative arrangements. The arrangements may include but not be limited visitation, frequent video chats, and telephone calls.

Best Interests of the Child

Alabama puts the best interests of the child front and center. A party should examine each of their actions regarding visitation separately and in sum affect the child. If the child is old enough and has the ability to understand changes in visitation that could affect their health, it is a good idea to consult the child about what they would like to change.

For example, say a child of 11 is unvaccinated. One of the parents invites other minor children who are unvaccinated to their house while the child is in their custody. This situation places the child at risk of contracting COVID-19.

Both the child and the other parent could request that the child only visit the parent that is exposing the child to the virus through supervised visits until the child reaches the age of 12. A party should talk to their attorney about how to organize documents to submit as evidence. They should also discuss arrangements for the child to give testimony.

 

This is an advertorial.

Low libido implies a reduced interest in sex but not necessarily a decline in sexual stamina. Low sex drive is not an uncommon occurrence.

The fact that there are many over-the-counter drugs, specifically for this condition, means that it can affect an individual’s overall well-being, and, yes, it does affect a lot of guys.

Although, it is worth noting that some over-the-counter drugs often do not help improve libido; they only help in getting and sustaining an erection.

Sexual drive is generally an important consideration for men, as it is usually perceived as a sign of masculinity. Usually, men are psychologically affected by issues surrounding low sexual drive than women.

A man often worries about the time he spends during sex, stamina, vigor, erection, and length. A woman, on the other hand, can have a low sex drive and not remain indifferent.

The low sexual drive can be caused by a number of physical to psychological factors. Factors such as little to too much exercise, poor eating and sleeping habits, pornography, and consistent masturbation can induce low sex drive.

Other factors include certain medication, diet, excessive drug use, stress, aging, and a host of other psychological reasons.

Sexual enhancement remedies might be an age-long field, but it is not yet well-researched—and honestly, not well regulated.

So, you go to the mall, and a corner-shelf in the drug-department has stocks of sexual enhancement drugs. Every minute you spend on Instagram, brands advertise their sexual-enhancement products, promising a renewed life of beastly vigor—like Tarzan.

You are, however, in doubt of the potency of these supplements. Do they work? You ask. Yes, it is possible to enhance your libido with supplements. 

Supplements contain concentrated levels of essential nutrients and ingredients that will improve your libido. One such brand to be trusted is the Force Factor Score!, a premium libido enhancer with potent ingredients including horny goat weed, ashwagandha, Tribulus Terrestris, L-citrulline, and black maca.

Force Factor Score! helps improve your virility, sex drive and maximizes your strength and libido. The supplement also promotes endurance and healthy blood flow to all parts of your body. It also helps in giving you the stamina to last longer in bed.

This is a dietary supplement that helps provide a long-term and instant boost in sexual drive. You can use a capsule—or two before a long-awaited romp; you can also take it regularly to help boost build-up and enhance your energy.

Besides promoting wild sexual drive, this premium libido enhancer also helps in increasing nitric-oxide levels in the body, effectively enhancing your focus.

Should I Rely Only on Supplements?

To be honest, no. While supplements like Score! will, beyond doubt, help turn around your sexual life, if you keep up with your unhealthy life choices, dangerous toxins might still accumulate and damage your body system.

Therefore, as you use a potent dietary supplement like Score!, consider making better life choices.

• Eat healthily: Food is essential for survival, but not all foods are safe to eat, even those that are seemingly safe. Don’t eat ultra-processed foods; do not eat heavy at night and avoid eating foods with a high amount of carbohydrates.

Load up on your vitamins and minerals either from food or from supplements.

• Exercise regularly and keep a positive mindset towards life.

Read Next:

Causes and Treatment of Low Libido in Men: https://www.verywellmind.com/potential-remedies-for-male-low-libido-2300704

 

The t-shirt is one of the most fundamental pieces of Vlone clothing. The t-shirt is versatile enough that it can be tailored to the individual tastes of everyone. They come in many styles, sizes and colors. How did t-shirts become so popular? Did you ever think about the item before its invention?

History of the T-Shirt

Over the years, the history of the tee-shirt has been a fascinating piece of fashion. Before it was the fashion staple it is today, it has seen many changes.

T-shirts have become so deeply ingrained in our society today that it is difficult to believe that their history is not very old. In 1898, during the Mexican-American War, the first t-shirt was made. It wasn’t until 1913 that it became a standard part the US Navy’s uniform.

Officially, the name “t-shirt”, however, was first used in 1920. It was also around that time that it was added to English’s dictionary. T-shirts were not used as clothing at all during this period. They were instead used as undergarments or worn underneath another shirt.

The apparel was originally called a union suit before it became a tee-shirt. The first t-shirt was created by textile company PH Hanes Knitting in 1902. It was nearly three decades later that Sears produced their own version in 1938. It was called a “gob shirt” at the time. It looked similar to modern t-shirts, and was used as an outer layer.

From the 1950s through the 1960s, t-shirts were very popular. The influence of Hollywood stars made it possible to become a popular item. (You’ll learn more about them later). They became more popular and opened the door to new designs.

The t-shirt was a staple of popular culture from the 1970s through the 1980s. There was an increasing demand for them so that new technologies for printing t-shirts were created to meet that demand. Its popularity grew partly due to the availability of mall shopping centers.

It is difficult to imagine fashion without a tee-shirt in the modern world. It is not just a fashion item. T-shirts can now be used to promote your brand. T-shirts are not only used by businesses to promote their brand, but also schools, churches and athletic teams.

Daring T-Shirt Fashion Trends

The history of the tee grew with the fashion trends. Classic results have been achieved thanks to the seemingly limitless possibilities of the t-shirt’s platform for daring designs.

One of the most iconic trends is the graphic tee. It adapts well to changing times, which is why it is such a timeless trend. You can also incorporate any design you like with the advancements in tee-shirt printing technology. There have been many famous t-shirt designs, including music band logos and symbols. These include the Rolling Stones ‘Lick’ tees and Che Guevara shirts.

The army shirt is another bold trend that has emerged since tees became fashion staples. This is not surprising considering that t-shirts were first used in military service during the Mexican-American War.

Counterculture trends have been a popular trend on t-shirts since then. Graphic shirt designs featured sex, drugs, and politics. T-shirt designs have been influenced by liberal views over the years. However, it reached its peak in the 1960s and 70s.

How T-Shirt Became a Fashion Staple

It’s difficult to know how t-shirts became a fashion favorite and so popular. According to VLONE shirts, the initial popularity of the t-shirt was due to the Hollywood stars who wore it on screen. It has shown its versatility over the years and has evolved greatly.

It is easy to see why the t-shirt has become a fashion staple. There are endless ways t-shirts could be worn and used. The t-shirt was a fashion accessory that allowed for creative expression. Graphic tees allowed the wearer to express their creativity through the printed designs. It was a great way for people to show off their personalities, such as their favorite TV shows and movies.

T-shirts have evolved from a creative expression tool to a marketing tool. Businesses used it to promote their brands. It was also used to spread the word about a political or social cause.

The t-shirt has become anything you want it be. This versatility and adaptability is what has made the t-shirt a fashion staple.

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or ELISA is a technique based on a plate that is engineered to detect proteins, hormones, antibodies, and peptides. In an ELISA test, there’s a need to immobilize the antigen to solid surfaces. It would then involve complexing an antibody linked to a specific enzyme.

The detection process is achieved by assessing the conjugated enzyme activities where the incubation of a substrate is involved. A measurable product is then produced from the incubation, measured by the ELISA kit and the experts handling it. The most important factors of this detection strategy are the interaction of antigen and antibody in humans.

How ELISA is Performed

Typically, this procedure is performed through the 384-well or 96-well plates made from polystyrene. They passively bind the proteins and antibodies in the plates, which will immobilize reagents put into them. Overall, this is a technique that many people can perform, and the process is easy and simple.

When the reactants are starting to immobilize in the ELISA plates, the microplate in the surfaces allows for the separation of the non-bound from bound material in the process of the assay. The ones handling the plates can wash away the non-bound clothes, which can be a powerful tool in measuring specific analytes, even if the preparation is considered crude.

4 Types to Know About

Several modifications are usually done on the primary test. These are the sandwich, competitive, direct and indirect techniques. One of the critical differences that they have is the antigen’s immobilization process, which can be done with the adsorption directed to the plate or the assay. The indirect way may involve the capture of the antibody attached to the plate.

The antigen is detected indirectly through the enzyme-labeled secondary antibody or directly through the primary antibodies. Overall, detection is often accompanied by labels like horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or alkaline phosphatase (AP). You can learn more about the alkaline phosphatase test on this page here.

Some substrates or a mass selection of them are available in some laboratories when performing ELISA for either the AP or HRP conjugate. The substrate choice can depend on the sensitivity of the assay and the instruments used for signal detection. These instruments can be fluorometer, spectrophotometer, or luminometer.

About the Direct ELISA

This is for the extensive and more direct detection where antibodies detect an antigen. The entire process has been involved with a conjugated enzyme. This is an excellent method and option if you don’t have commercially available kits that will be compatible with your target protein. Some of its advantages include quicker results because of fewer steps, and only a single antibody is used, and there’s cross-reactivity that’s eliminated.

Indirect ELISA

Usually, an indirect detection may involve a coated antigen that’s placed into well plates. There are two layers or stages included in the multi-well. The first step is to have an unlabeled primary antibody applied to the plate. These are the antibodies where they are specific to an antigen. The second layer is an enzyme-labeled antibody bound to the first.

The advantages of the direct step are it can have various secondary antibodies that can be available commercially. There are versatile options where the second antibody is often used for the detection process. The sensitivity can be significantly increased because of several epitopes present, allowing for amplification of signals.

Sandwich Type of ELISA

The sandwich ELISA may typically require pairs of matching antibodies. Each of them is specific for non-overlapping epitopes or parts of any chosen antigen molecule. Read more info about antigen here: https://www.britannica.com/science/antigen. The capture or first antibody is the one coated with the wells.

This will require matching pairs that have higher specificities in analytes and antigens. They can be detected and captured specifically for a purpose. The crude samples are suited for complex tests where the advantages include an antigen that does not need purification before the measurement.

Competitive Kits

This is a kit that’s also called an inhibition format. This is a plate or surface-based assay where the plates are coated with captured antibodies. They can be highly reactive to specific molecules as well. Samples contain native molecules that are often conjugated with proteins. These recombinants or competing molecules are added on top of the wells.

Since there’s a constant amount of enzyme-conjugated molecules on each well, the levels of the natives will determine the overall ratio of the substance. After the period of incubation, any unbound antibodies are washed off. The substrates like HRP and TMB are added into the wells, and they can transform into blue precipitates.

The amount is usually proportionate to the enzymes in the well. Precipitates may turn yellow when you add an acid stop solution. The concentration of this outcome is read by utilizing 450 nm of light absorbance.

 

Technological advances are giving severely injured accident victims a greater chance at recovery. They are helping doctors diagnose serious injuries more quickly and setting the stage for better medical treatment. While patients will still have a long road ahead of them, they have a greater chance of survival and regaining some function.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are perhaps the most critical conditions that accident victims suffer. These can be permanent, and they could keep victims from living a normal life. Brain injuries must be diagnosed and treated quickly because they can cause long-term damage if undetected.

Physicians now have technology that can detect the scope of brain injuries quickly. While CT scans could give an immediate view, the detail is limited. There are new brain imaging technologies that give more than the two-dimensional view that doctors get from CT scans. Doctors can now begin treatment sooner.

Technology has also improved the actual treatment of TBIs. Assistive technologies monitor patients’ movements and provide advice and guidance. While TBIs cannot yet be cured, patients can learn to better live with them through rehabilitative technology.

Activity Assistant is an example of this new technology. It is a promising new device that helps accident victims relearn key functions. It is a biofeedback system that works when patients are performing activities such as using and manipulating objects. Activity Assistant monitors patients’ movements and provides interactive assistance to complete the task as they gradually increase their activities. This technology supplements occupational and physical therapies.

Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord damage is another common severe accident injury. Spinal cord epidural stimulation is the latest technological advance in this field. This procedure involves using electrical currents to stimulate the nerves in the lower spinal cord column. The doctor implants an electrode into the epidural space, and it sends electrical currents that cause muscle contraction. This bypasses the brain-to-spinal cord pathway that is damaged and acts directly on the muscles. Some patients have reported regaining movement and control over their muscles from this procedure.

Artificial Intelligence

The first moments in the emergency room are among the most critical. ER physicians must make split-second decisions to save the life of a severely injured patient. These are difficult choices, especially when it involves a complicated surgery. Doctors may not even know if the surgery will make a difference or is worth the risk.

Artificial intelligence offers hope for ER and intensive care doctors. For example, measuring intracranial pressure can yield hundreds of thousands of data points. It can predict the outcome for the accident victim and whether certain procedures may help.

Computers used in critical care are becoming more advanced and predictive. Machine learning models are already in use in some ICUs to predict things like acute kidney damage and recommend certain treatments. Expanded use of this technology could help doctors better stabilize patients in the early key moments after a serious accident.

Technology may not be able to cure severe accident injuries, but it is already improving treatment. This gives victims a better start on the long road back from a catastrophic accident.

 

Most people look forward to summer year-round. There isn’t much not to love about the sun, trips to the beach, barbeques, parties, time off work, kids being at home, and all that.

The relaxed pace and lovely weather also help counter the winter blues that always seem to be right around the corner.

Sadly, summertime seems to fly by at a moment’s notice. It, therefore, requires some fore planning to ensure you make the most of summer. The first step to this is getting all essential accessories in readiness for summer. Here is the list of summer must-haves.

A Hat

A hat delivers both aesthetic value and functional value.

Your hat will protect your eyes and skin in summer while making a fashion statement at the same time.

For it to function as it should, you should look at wide-brimmed hats. The good news is that you don’t have to compromise on either quality. We invite you to discover the perfect hat store in Canada for you.

Sunglasses

You have to enjoy the sights and sounds of summer comfortably. While sunglasses won’t help with the sounds, they help protect your eyesight.

A good quality pair of dark glasses will protect your eyesight and prevent you from being in a round-the-clock squint, which we all know isn’t very attractive.

Shop around before summer, try out a couple of different pairs and even get help from your friends. This should help you get a pair that frames your face perfectly and accentuates your key features.

Florals

Whether dresses or shirts, clothes in light, floral prints are not only summer essentials: they are synonymous with summer.

The brightly colored clothes go with the mood of the summer. Their light nature also ensures they are not too heavy on the body, so you do not sweat too much as you go about your life.

Think of anything from pants, shorts, shirts, frilly tops, and so on.

Camera

This can be an actual camera or a camera phone. The form it comes in does not matter so much as long as it can take excellent pics.

Because of the lovely weather, you can indulge in lots of fun activities during summer. You can also get dressed without much worry about the weather.

It would be a shame if you did not capture these memories and moments. A good camera allows you to do just that.

Bracelets

You are likely to be in short sleeves tops and shirts over summer. This makes it the perfect time to enjoy and show off those beautiful or quirky bracelets.

Whatever your style is, ensure to get them in good time or wear what you have in your closet. Feel free to experiment with different styles, layer them and mix different styles.

Ultimately, summer should be light, bright, fun, stylish, and safe.

These accessories will ensure your summer is just that!

Successful entrepreneurs will readily admit that employees are the pulse of a company. Rightfully so. They interact with your clients on all levels of the business and know what works and what doesn’t.

As such, taking care of employees is no longer a nice thing to do: it’s something responsible businesses must do.

Here are simple things businesses of any size can do to improve the well-being of their employees.

Environmental Matters

The environment employees work in should foster creativity, enhance productivity and be pro-health.

This brings together several things, including comfortable ergonomic chairs, good lighting, and fresh air.

Clean surfaces and surroundings are key as well. For convenience, consider hiring the best office cleaning company in Montreal to handle office hygiene.

Counselling Opportunities

Employees are often told to leave their ‘’personal problems’’ at home. While this might make sense on the surface, it’s foolhardy to assume that this is possible.

Personal problems, be it relationship issues, financial or health problems, cannot be ignored only to be picked up after business hours. This means that employees will come with their emotional and mental baggage to work, impacting their productivity.

Companies should consider having a counselor. They do not have to be in-house but should be accessible and confidential.

Realize the Value of a Work-Life Balance

The longer your employees work, the more your company benefits, right? Well, wrong!

Heavy workloads or extended working hours can quickly take a toll on employees. This can lead to fatigue, burnout, and stress. None of these support productivity.

Continuously think of ways to ease this burden on employees, Have manageable shifts, offer paid vacation, allow remote work occasionally, and so on.

Well-rested employees are more creative, motivated and are known to deliver high-quality work.

Promote Physical Wellness

Without good health, you are unlikely to get much from your staff. Not only does productivity take a nosedive, but unhealthy employees tend to take more days off work for sick leave.

This slows work down and interferes with business processes. Hiring temps from time to time is also an expensive undertaking. While gym memberships are good, not all companies can afford these. Fitness challenges are a less costly option. Encourage cycling to work, walking challenges recorded on apps, and so on.

These will help improve your staff’s physical health in a competitive, fun way.

Be Big on Recognition

A great way to make your employees feel valued is through employee recognition.

Small things like “employee of the month” mentions and hanging the star employee’s portrait does a lot for motivation.

Final Word

There are numerous ways to improve employee wellness without breaking the bank. When it comes to wellness, it’s less about the cost and more about the creativity, effort, and time a company takes to institute wellness initiatives.

A growing number of consumers are tinting their car windows. In 2017, American spent nearly $4.5 billion on automotive tinting.

While tinting car windows has become very popular in recent years, many people still don’t understand its significance. They wonder why somebody would pay to tint the windows on their vehicle. What benefits could tinting their windows really provide for them?

The truth is that there are actually a number of benefits of tinted car windows. These benefits should be taken into consideration when you are deciding what type of work to do on your car. If you use window tinting by CarToys.com or a similar service in your area, then you will be surprised by how much it improves your driving experience. Some of the biggest reasons to consider using window tinting are listed below.

Minimize the risk of melanoma

When you ask somebody why they would consider tinting their car windows, most people will probably suggest that the biggest benefit is due to the aesthetic benefits of tinting. However, there is a far more compelling reason to consider window tinting. You might actually be protecting your health by doing so.

Regular exposure to ultraviolet light significantly increases your risk of skin cancer. You want to take reasonable steps to reduce your exposure to UV light if you want to avoid getting melanoma. Most people appreciate the importance of applying suntan lotion to keep their skin protected. However, few people think about the amount of time that they spend in their car. If you are driving a lot, then you are in contact with sunlight a lot more than you might think. This can significantly increase your risk of getting skin cancer.

You might be able to significantly reduce your risk of getting skin cancer by having tinted car windows.

Protect your upholstery

The upholstery of your vehicle is another thing that you need to take into consideration when you were deciding whether or not to tint your windows. In fact, it is probably the number one reason that many people end up having tinted car windows in the first place.

Exposure to sunlight causes your upholstery to fade over time. Ultraviolet light breaks down the fibers of your upholstery. It also bleaches the exposed surfaces of the material, which enhances the fading.

You can significantly reduce the fading on your upholstery by making sure that you have tinted windows on your car. The impact is likely to be a lot more significant than you think. If you don’t want to have to replace your upholstery and want to keep it looking new, then tinted windows are probably the way to go.

Spend less gas on air conditioning

You often hear about the benefits of solar heat when you have a home. Unfortunately, solar heat is not always such a great thing when you are driving.

Unlike your house, every facet of your car’s interior is exposed to sunlight. This can cause your vehicle to become very hot and very quickly. You might end up wasting a lot of gas by having to power your air conditioner, especially in the peak summer months.

You will be able to reduce the amount of sunlight that your car gets by having tinted windows. This will help keep it from overheating and save you money on air conditioning.

Protect your privacy

Privacy is another major consideration when you are driving. It is easy to feel very exposed when you are in your car, because anybody can look through multiple windows to see you. It is understandable that many people feel very self-conscious about this.

Fortunately, you can help protect your privacy by using tinted windows. You will significantly reduce the visibility of people that would be peering into your windows and therefore have more privacy.

Protect you during a traffic stop

You have to be wary about police behavior these days. Recent news articles have shown that police officers can be abusive with their authority. This means that it is a good idea do you have tinted windows when dealing with the police. They are less likely to misinterpret your tiredness for intoxication if you have tinted windows.

Tinted windows can provide a lot of benefits

There are a lot of great reasons to consider using tinted windows for your vehicle. You will protect the interior of your car, as well as your health.

 

The rigours of work, raising kids, and school can get overwhelming and stressful. It’s for this reason that hobbies are encouraged.

For the most part, these serve as a welcome distraction from life’s stressors by encouraging people to shut off and indulge in things they enjoy, albeit momentarily.

If you are looking for a new fun activity to immerse yourself in, here are some suggestions.

Become a Collector

Collectors find great joy in finding, collecting and taking care of collectors’ items. Finding buyers is also an exhilarating part of this experience.

However, not all collectors’ items are fun for everyone. You need to look at what you are passionate about and then collect items that align with that. For example, if you love cars and all that comes with them, find diecast cars to collect.

Similarly, if you have always been fascinated by dolls, look into becoming a doll collector.

Learn an Instrument

Wouldn’t it be great to wow people at events with your prowess at playing an instrument or two?

Well, you can turn this dream into a hobby by taking classes and purchasing an instrument to allow you to get in as much practice as possible.

Once you settle on an instrument of interest, find tutors in your area with good reviews and begin your classes.

Brewing

As far as cool hobbies go, few beat beer brewing.

Brewing beer goes back 9000 years ago. Taking up today means you get to make and have your beers precisely as you love them and save yourself some cash.

Brewing beer is also not as expensive as it is often thought to be, which is an added plus. All you need are a few small scale pieces of equipment and a beer brewing starter pack.

You can then invest in brewing books and rely on internet resources to learn the ropes. With a basic recipe, you can then perfect your art gradually over time.

Scrapbooking

Scrapbooks are great for storing memories. The best part about it is that you can involve the whole family in it, especially if you have young school going kids.

While this is also thought of as an expensive hobby, it does not have to be. If you are creative and good with your hands, you will find numerous materials around you that you can improvise for your scrapbooking.

Similarly, shop around thrift stores and arts and crafts clearance racks to make some purchases for a steal.

Get Started

As with most things, you won’t know how well you will love an activity until you get into it.

Consider these and other ideas and settle on a hobby that fits your budget, and availability. Once you do, take the required steps towards getting started. Enjoy!

The average office worker receives hundreds (if not thousands) of emails every week. Trying to manage inbox activity at this level is nearly impossible. This forces most people to either neglect their inbox or their work. Either way, a costly sacrifice must be made.

The Lowdown on Email Overload

Data curated by SaneBox suggests the average person spends 28 percent of the workweek reading and responding to email. That equates to roughly 650 hours per year – the majority of which is reactive, low-value work that fails to move the proverbial needle in a positive direction.

In the average inbox, you’ll find just 38 percent of messages are important or relevant, while 62 percent can be processed as bulk messaging. And when you consider that it takes 64 seconds to recover from each email (regardless of how important it is), the risks of an overactive inbox are clear: wasted time, stress, and confusion.

In a separate study, it was discovered that the average office worker receives something north of 121 emails per day, which has conditioned 90 percent of people to check their email on a regular basis throughout the day.

5 Ways to Reduce Email Overload

Email overload might sound like an intense name for something that seems so innocuous on the surface, but it’s actually a very accurate descriptor. You, like millions of your peers, are overwhelmed and stressed by email – to the point that you can’t focus on anything else throughout the day. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Reclaiming your sanity, boosting your productivity, and improving your daily satisfaction with your job could be as simple as making a few specific changes.

Take a look:

1. Use SMS Instead

Sometimes sending an email is the best choice. Other times, there’s a better medium. And if you’re sending an email internally to a coworker, team member, or employee, ask yourself if a text message would be better.

According to TextMarks, SMS enjoys 98 percent open rates compared to just 15 to 20 percent for email. In fact, roughly half of employees will ignore mass internal communications sent via email.

SMS is obviously a bit more personal than email – so you can’t abuse it – but in certain situations, it’s the best option.

1. Use Meetings Wisely

One of the biggest problems with meetings is that the takeaways aren’t usually very clear. This leads to lots of email follow-up after the fact. But if you make a habit out of ending each meeting with clear and documented takeaways for each person in attendance, you’ll see post-meeting email activity plummet. This alone can save you from receiving dozens of emails per week.

1. Reconsider Your Own Email Habits

You might despise email, but are you part of the problem? If you want people to stop sending you so many emails, perhaps you need to rethink your own email habits.

Any time you send an email, you’re basically opening yourself up to an onslaught of replies – particularly if you CC a list of people on the message. So before hitting that “send” button, ask yourself whether the email is necessary and if each recipient actually needs to be CCd on the thread.

1. Write Better Emails

Writing better emails will help you cut down on back-and-forth threads that further clog the entrails of your inbox. A good email is concise, clear, and scannable. If you focus on these three elements, you’ll save hours of time every single week.

While a quick greeting is okay, avoid small talk and irrelevant questions. These are distracting and take away from the main purpose of the email. Get straight into the email and then use bolded text and bullet points to highlight the key points. If the individual receiving the email is expected to take action on something, clearly outline the action steps in a numbered list at the end.

1. Create Email Templates

If you find yourself responding to the same types of emails each day – like a request for a quote or a support ticket for a specific error – draft up an email template. Sending these templates can save you from having to redraft an entirely new reply each time.

Regain Control Over Your Day

Email was designed to be an efficient form of communication, but has gradually devolved into a frustrating time trap that feels impossible to escape. However, there are better ways. By reevaluating your approach, you can begin mastering this aspect of your daily workflow and become more productive than ever before.