Tag: how to

How to Get Started in a Career in Marketing

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Marketing has been a popular career field to get into for decades, and it only seems to grow. You could find a wide variety of jobs within marketing that might match everything you want in a job. But, with so many people trying to get into the industry, it can be hard to land your perfect job. Like anytime you’re trying to find a new job, you’ll have to put in some effort if you want to get the best one.

If you’re looking to get a job in marketing, here are a few things that could help you.

Choose your field

There are a number of different marketing jobs, all with something to offer, but that doesn’t mean all of them are right for everyone. Someone who will excel as a market research analyst might not have any interest in content marketing. To get the right job, you have to understand where your strengths are. You might even find that there are a few jobs that you’re qualified for that you never even considered. Finding something you’re good at isn’t always enough, you should also take into consideration which jobs will also make you happy for more than a few months.

Research job requirements

Even if you know you’re good at a certain job, that position at one company might be different than at another. You might have seen a job title at one place that has a completely different set of skills somewhere else. Different companies could also have different qualifications for experience. Taking the extra time to look at each job’s requirements will ensure that you’re applying for the right position and can even help save you some time.

Attend networking events

In any field, networking is an important step to make connections and help get yourself ahead. Networking can help you get guidance from experienced marketers and opens you up to any potential jobs. Even if it doesn’t lead directly to a job offer, making new connections can only help you. If attending events in person isn’t accessible, you could also always join online groups and forums to meet new people and get advice.

Take courses

Taking online courses in marketing can be helpful for people who don’t already have marketing experience. You might already have some transferable skills from other jobs or a past education not directly related to marketing, but taking a course or two will only make you look better. Some who might already have marketing experience, but are looking to take on a totally different role can also benefit from taking courses.

Start freelancing

If you’re struggling to find a full-time job, or maybe you just want to pick up some work on the side, freelancing is a perfect choice for you. Freelancing is available for many different marketing jobs, and you can take on as much or as little as you’re able to get. Getting some extra experience can show potential employers how skilled you are. You might even find that you prefer the freelance life over a typical desk job.

5 Ways to Add More Zen to Your House

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People have been advocating a zen lifestyle for centuries as a way to achieve inner peace. Designers have taken on the ideas of those who practice being zen as a way to decorate homes. The simple aesthetic of a minimalist home is enough to get some to redecorate, but your environment plays a big role in you mental health as well.

Rearranging your space and making small changes will result in a more peaceful and harmonious household. If you’re looking to create a more mindful atmosphere, here are five ways to make your home feel more zen.

Declutter

Holding onto too many material things can start to become a burden over time. It’s easy to take a quick look at your things and feel that you really need them. Taking the time to really think about how often you use these and if you actually have a connection with them, you might end up realizing they’re actually just taking up space. Getting rid of unnecessary items around the house will help to make it feel more open and help the flow of your space.

Bring in houseplants

Being in the outdoors helps us feel more relaxed, and while most of us spend the majority of our days inside, houseplants let us bring in that feeling nature can give us. Not only do the colors and natural beauty help liven up a space, houseplants have positive effects on our health. Houseplants help to remove air toxins and can even help improve concentration and productivity.   

Repaint

Certain colors elicit different emotions from us. Chances are, you’ll probably feel a different vibe in a bright red room than you would in a pale blue room. Light, natural toned colors relax us more so than bright and dark colors. Light colors also make a room appear more spacious than it really is, opening it up and giving you room to breathe. A small fix like changing your family room design to be a light grey makes everyone feel more relaxed.  

Let in natural light

Just like decorating with houseplants, allowing more natural light inside can make a space feel more peaceful. Natural sunlight brightens a room in ways that artificial light can’t. Artificial light creates eye strain, while sunlight can help make our eyes healthier. Not only will opening curtains and blinds to let the light help with the room’s aesthetic, sunlight is free and can save you money on electricity.

Keep decor simple

Less is more when it comes to making your house zen. Ornate decorations can make a room feel stuffy and overly formal. Especially in smaller spaces, bulky decor only takes up room. When you’re looking for decorations that can help make your house more relaxed and open, look for versatile pieces to make the most of what you have. Decorative storage boxes, baskets, and ottomans allow even accessories to have a practical use.

5 Ways to Spice Up Your Next Party

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Image Credit: Pexels

While attending parties is always a blast, throwing a party can be extremely stressful. After all, you want to make sure everyone is having a great time, and that’s a huge responsibility! If you’re throwing a big shindig and want your guests to have the time of their lives, think outside the box to make it the event of the year. Here are some of our favorite ideas for parties we’d R.S.V.P. for in a heartbeat.

Stick to a theme

Some of the most fun parties are those during the Halloween season. Playing dress-up for a night gives you the chance to play a role and be someone else for the evening. Keep that same feeling all year ‘round with throwing a costume party during any season. A masquerade, 80’s prom, Hawaiian luau, roarin’ 20’s, any reason to dress up (and buy a new outfit!) adds a little something extra to the event. Keep the theme going with the food you serve and in the decor to create the right atmosphere. You can even curate a special playlist for the party to really set the mood.

Hire live entertainment

One way to get a party rolling is to hire a band or DJ for your event. Music is an important piece of any real party, but often, that’s the only type of live entertainment we think of for a party. There are so many other options for talented performers that can make a party unforgettable. For a children’s party, we often think of hiring a clown or a magician, but the same idea works for adult events as well. Circus performers, comedians, or impersonators for hire can give your party a fun vibe and entertain guests during times when there might be a lull in conversation.

Play some games

When you think of party games, you might think of two particular types – one, a slow-moving night of Monopoly with a small group of friends, or two, a rowdy game of beer pong and chugging frat-boy-style. There are so many other options for group activities that you may not have considered that will put the family board game night to shame. There is a board game trend resurfacing in popular culture right now that has resulted in a lot of great games for small and big parties alike. The raunchy Cards Against Humanity is a crowd pleaser that everyone is familiar with. If you like something spooky, give Betrayal at House on the Hill a try, or keep it traditional and host a poker night. Games are a great ice breaker, especially if you’re worried about guests who aren’t acquainted mingling with each other.

Get outside

If you’re throwing a party in one of the warmer months and you have a yard, deck, or outdoor venue available, consider bringing the party outside. If you’re worried about rain, a combination indoor-outdoor party works best. Having some room outside to move around allows guests to move outside for more personal conversations or to get some fresh air. Get creative outside and include picnic blankets, string lights, or a bonfire to create a comfortable atmosphere for a relaxing night. You can even create s’mores bags for guests to enjoy around the campfire or set out cushions and blankets for late-night stargazing. Splurge on a projector and create a drive-in-style party in your yard with a movie projected on the side of the house or a large tarp, and let guests enjoy a movie night under the stars.

Spruce up the menu

It’s always great to have some easy items on hand at a party, like pigs in a blanket or chicken wing dip. Don’t be afraid to get creative with a few menu items, though. If you’re throwing a theme party, keep with the aesthetic and create some unforgettable dishes for your guests. You can even incorporate the menu into the theme and host an event like a sushi-making night. Pinterest is a great place for unique food recipes for parties. A popular party staple right now is a donut wall, dessert bar, or a brunch station for midday parties.

5 Tips for Better Wellness in Your Life

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Far too many of us take our health and wellness for granted, until an illness or injury happens. But living a healthy life often means leading a happy life and a longer one too.

For greater wellness, follow these five tips and you might be surprised to find that relatively small changes can make a major difference.

Aim to Take Frequent Breaks in the Fresh Air

If you work indoors, you probably don’t get outside often enough but going outdoors and enjoying the fresh air can actually raise levels of the feel-good hormone known as serotonin to make us feel better. Aim to get out for at least a few minutes once every hour or two. You’ll not only be giving your eyes a break from the glare of the computer screen and harsh lights but it will reduce your stress levels, enhance energy, strengthen your immune system and even improve blood pressure.

Move More

While getting outside regularly will get you moving at least a bit, try to move as often as you can. Even brief periods of exercise can help. Take 10 minutes to walk the stairs or walk around your building, with a goal to get at least 30 to 60 minutes of cardio exercise a day. It’ll go a long way in helping your waistline, relieving stress and reducing the risk of countless health problems from migraines and depression to heart disease and diabetes. It will instantly put you in a better mood and provide an energy boost too. According to Harvard Medical School, the secret to better health is exercise.

Eat More Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

They say at least three-quarters of your health is linked to what you eat, which means it’s important to feed your body with what it needs for total wellness. Greens are one of the best sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber, but aim to eat a rainbow of colors from purple grapes and orange carrots to yellow squash and green spinach. If you don’t like veggies, toss some into a smoothie with a banana or another sweet fruit and you probably won’t even notice they’re there. Your body will thank you with a healthier weight, better cholesterol levels, improved digestion, more beautiful skin and a stronger heart.

Breathe

Obviously if we don’t breathe, we don’t live, but did you know there is a significant difference between actually breathing properly and the shallow breathing that most of us do automatically without a second thought. Taking just a few minutes to check to see if you’re breathing the right way can almost immediately transform a poor mood into a better one and even ease anxiety and sadness. You should inhale deeply, from the belly and then exhale deeply which aids the body in eliminating carbon dioxide while helping to replenish it with oxygen. Check periodically to see if you’re breathing the right way.

Embark on a Wellness Retreat

Travel is a great way to enhance wellness as it often brings opportunities for more exercise, and usually in fun forms. Take that up a notch by embarking on a wellness retreat in Queensland, Australia or perhaps another destination you’ve been dreaming of. Retreats like these not only help to motivate, but often they bring the chance to learn more about nutrition while enjoying all sorts of outdoor adventures too.