Acupressure points for healthy hair growth

Premature thinning of hair or excessive hair loss for whatever reason can be worrying and scary. Temporary hair thinning on the scalp is normal. This is because of the growth cycle of hair, that is, a large number of hair enters the ‘resting’ phase of the cycle at the same time causing hair shedding andsubsequent hair loss. The hair re-grows when it enters the growth phase.

Hair loss can also occur due to other factors as well. Your genes (from either parent), hormones, autoimmune diseases, stress, childbirth, illness, and even cosmetic procedures such as perming and dyeing can cause severe hair loss. Hair growth is restored once the condition is corrected, except of course where your genes are involved.

But what if you find your hair is shedding but not growing again? That is sure to cause panic. Hair experts will tell you that healthy diet, regular detoxifying, exercise, and hair massage can help stop hair loss and also help hair to regrow. However, sometimes even that is not enough. Topical minoxidil 2% solution or foam is the only currently approved FDA treatment for hair loss, especially alopecia. Studies have however shown that it stimulates hair growth in just about 60 percent of patients. Other ways to stimulate hair growth include iron and zinc supplements, applying China rose extract on the scalp, hot oil treatments, head massage with various herbs, homeopathic potions, ayruveda tonics, and acupuncture or acupressure.

Since one-size-doesn’t fit all, you may have to find the most suitable treatment that suits you through hit-and-trial. Here we talk about acupressure for stimulating hair growth.

Acupressure for stimulating hair growth

Acupressure is a form of alternative therapy where pressure is applied to specific points on the body to stimulate the flow of life energy or chi, so as to promote the body’s self-healing abilities. It is based on the concept that life energy, called chi or qi, flows in the pathways called the meridians. When the flow of chi is blocked, dis-ease occurs. Applying firm but gentle finger pressure to specific healing points on the body aids healing by promoting blood circulation, muscle relaxation, detoxifying and boosting the immune system.

So, if your hair loss is due to stress, illness, autoimmune disease, or hormonal imbalance, acupressure therapy may just be the right one for your hair regrowth. For best results get yourself treated for the condition and use acupressure as an adjunct to stimulate hair growth.

Let’s check out some of the acupressure points for hair growth.

Paihui point (GV20)

Paihui is located at the top of the head and is said to improve blood circulation in the head. The theory is improved blood circulation to the head stimulates healthy hair growth. So, applying finger pressure to this point every day once a day will improve blood circulation in the head and subsequently stimulate healthy hair growth.

To correctly locate the point, draw an imaginary line from the nose up till it crosses the extension top of the ear on either side.

Instead of finger pressure, you can also tie up 10 toothpicks with a rubber band and apply pressure with it on the Paihui. After applying pressure to Paihui for 2 to 3 minutes, follow it up with gentle but firm five finger pressure in the form of masssage to the whole head.

GV12 and GV14

Similarly, acupressure points GV12 and GV14 or governing vessel meridian 12 and 14 are also situated on the head.

GV 12 is located right below the spinous process of T3. This is a thoracic vertebrae in between the shoulder blades.

GV 14 is located right below the spinous process of C7. This cervical vertebrae has a large process that protrudes posteriorly toward the skin at the back of the neck. This spinous process can be easily seen and felt at the base of the neck.

LI1

LI1 acupressure point is located below the first lumbar vertebrae corresponding to the large intestine. You can also access it on your finger tip. Press a point that is 1mm next to the corner of the nail of the index finger on the thumb side.

Press the point for about 2-3 minutes once a day, every day.

LU6, LU7, LU9

All the three acupressure points are located on the Lung Meridian.

LU6 – This acupressure point is located on the inside of the forearm, 5 cun (width of your thumb at the knuckle) beneath the elbow crease and 7 cun above the wrist crease. Press firmly but gently on the muscle pit in the area for 2-3 minutes once a day, daily.

LU7 – You can find this acupressure point by crossing two thumbs, and then place index finger on inner arm; it points to LU7.

LU9 – This acupressure point is located in the wrist crease in front of the thumb, in front of the top groove.

B13

Place three fingers at the level of the scapula, between spine and shoulder blade, and press or rub vigorously. Repeat the process on the other side of the spine. This is especially effective for calming you down when you are stressed.

Apply finger pressure or massage as required for all the points given above every day for 2-3 minutes each. For acupressure to be effective remember to breathe in a relaxed way; try sensing what happens physically, and always repeat the process on the points on the other side as well. (Read: 7 ways acupressure can keep you healthy)

Photo source: Getty images

Source – Thehealthsite

Reference:

Harries, M., Sun, J., Paus, R. and King, L. (2010). Management of alopecia areata. BMJ, 341(jul23 1), pp.c3671-c3671.

Acupressure-diet.com, (2014). Hair Loss – Acupressure Diet -. [online] Available at: http:// www.acupressure-diet.com/diet/hair_loss.htm.

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Healthy pre-wedding diet to lose weight

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Your wedding day has to be one of the most special days in your life. With all eyes on you, you would want to ensure that you look nothing less than a damsel on your big day. However, a good figure and glowing skin cannot come to you in a day. You need to plan well in advance and follow a healthy lifestyle to look flawless on your D-day.  Here are some diet tips that will help you look radiant on your wedding day.

A healthy diet needs to be on top of your priority list if you want glowing skin. You can follow these diet tips for a beautifully youthful skin.

• Eat loads of vegetables as they will support your skin’s elasticity and provide you with the antioxidants you need to kill the free radicals in your body. Also include freshly-cut fruits as your mid-day meal snack 2-3 times a day.


• Nuts such as almonds and walnuts will protect your skin against damage from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. Also include fish oil and almond oil in your diet as they tackle the dryness of the skin.


• Don’t forget to hydrate yourself as water will help you flush out toxins from your body. Make sure you drink at least 2-3 litres of water a day. Have one glass of water every 45 minutes to 1 hour. Besides water, you can also include other liquids such as coconut water, nimbu paani, vegetable juices, and buttermilk in your diet.


• Strictly avoid late night-outs before your wedding as it can swell the area surrounding your eyes and lead to the formation of dark circles.


• Cut down on caffeine, alcohol, sugar and dairy before your wedding as it can lead to pimples and acne. Drinking 2-3 cups of green tea a day is just sufficient.

 Diet tips to stay in shape

• Include more of complex carbohydrates in your diet like salads, vegetables, multi grain rotis, brown rice and the likes. Avoid processed food like refined wheat flour and its products such as breads, biscuits and bakery items.


• Sweets, cakes, chocolates, mithais, and fried foods are always a strict no when you are trying to lose weight. Once a while they can be considered but remember to have it in smaller portion sizes.


• Ensure one good source of protein in every meal that you consume. You can opt for egg whites, chicken, fish, low-fat milk and milk products, tofu, sprouts, dals, and pulses.


• Avoid or restrict ghee and butter as they are high in calories. Oil consumption should not exceed half a litre per person per month.

Tips to stay energised on your wedding

There is no one food which will predominantly boost your energy levels. One should keep all the above-mentioned basics in place and include a balance of carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fat in all meals.

Basically, the more colour and variety that you include the more antioxidants you get to fight that stress and keep you energised as well as glowing. Never skip any main or mid-meal no matter how anxious, excited, stressed or nervous you are.

Pre-wedding diet plan

• Ensure that you include a healthy breakfast to kick-start your day that can be a bowlful of oats or muesli with a glass of skimmed milk. You can also add a fruit and some boiled egg, egg white or omelette to your breakfast.


• Include whole grains such as brown rice or jowar, ragi, bajra roti at lunch along with a green, leafy and a regular vegetable. A pulse and some curd or buttermilk can also be added.


• Dinner could be a bowl of sauteed veggies with some grilled chicken, fish or tofu with a bowl of soup. You can also go for a multi-grain tuna or chicken sandwich with some yoghurt.


• In between meals, you could opt for yoghurt topped with dried berries, muesli snack bars, some nuts, vegetable juices and fruits.

Last but not the least, always remember to be happy and stay positive. Staying positive will increase your feel-good hormones and ensure more pumping of blood in turn resulting in a glowing skin.

Image source: Getty Images

 

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Maximize Your Facebook Reach

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Has the organic reach of your Facebook page dropped to nearly zero? It seems an unavoidable phenomenon in the evolution of Facebook.

According to Brian Boland from the ads product marketing team at Facebook, the decreased organic reach is related to the supply and demand theory. Since there’s a fixed amount of space in the user’s News Feed (demand), and innumerable posts (supply), not every post will make it into a user’s News Feed.

The News Feed is designed to show content that is relevant to the audience, rather than showing all possible content out there. Boland suggests, “it is important to publish content that teaches people something valuable, entertains them and makes them think creatively.” This is the reason Boland says that Facebook’s organic reach is more effective when you take advantage of paid media to meet your goal.

Many users have questioned the importance of having more people like their page. Boland explains that the value of more Facebook “likes” is that it makes your ads more effective. The process generates better auction prices for ads and increases your business’s credibility. Users respond more positively to ads from brands, especially those their friends have liked.

The good news is, Facebook is modifying its content ranking algorithm to position the best posts higher in News Feeds. Although Boland points out these algorithm changes are another reason for declined organic reach. Many have found this change improves user experience and enhances the quality of ads on Facebook. In a nutshell, Boland predicts that, as Facebook continues to grow, organic reach may continue to fall.

But that doesn’t spell the end of everything. There are still ways to maximize your reach on Facebook organically and make your posts more visible. Here are  some suggestions about how to maximize your Facebook exposure — without paying for it

Create Engaging Content

Create good, quality content that people actually want to see and increase engagement with your fans. Re-share old content that is highly beneficial to reach different audiences within a short span of time. Make sure the content is relevant to your audience.

Share Up-to-Date News and Trends

Facebook ‘likes’ are the most popular forms of user engagement. Comments and shares are also an important aspect of social engagement. It has been observed that comments and shares of post engagement increase by 16 percent year over year and 40 percent quarter over quarter. However, this is only possible when viewers see the latest news or content based on current trends. So experiment with new styles of content for your audience.

Dig Deep Into Data

It is possible that status updates might work best for one business while videos and links may be the most effective for another. Dig into Google Analytics to see your Facebook website conversion for insights into what works best for you and determine the best time to post your content on Facebook. The Facebook Insights tab is the best place to see when your fans are online under the section “when your fans are online?” This gives you a clear picture of how many of your fans are online each hour or during specific days of the week. Ideally, when you have the most fans online, that’s the best time to post your content.

Increase the Frequency of Posting

Once you review your Facebook Insights, you will most likely notice that there’s really never a time when none of your fans are using Facebook. People tend to remain on Facebook for an average of 30-60 minutes. So if you post content only once a day, you can only reach fans who were on within that time frame. To reach more people, post content multiple times a day. Focus on the quality of your content and the preferences of your audience.

Understand the Facebook Algorithm

It’s necessary to understand the Facebook algorithm to understand what drives users, so you can determine how well you can affect engagement. EdgeRank does a constant calculation between users. To know what goes into the calculation you need to know the basics.

• The freshness of interaction: the more recently a customer has interacted with your page, the more likely your page will show up in their feed. More frequent posting with varying subjects gives users more chances to engage with your post.


• Type of interaction: there are different actions a user takes to affect EdgeRank. They can like your post, share your post, comment, click links and follow your page. Different kinds of content attract different forms of engagement.

Utilize Facebook Insights

With Facebook Insights, you are better equipped to see who your posts are reaching. Look at age, gender and location to make sure you are reaching the people you want to reach. Facebook Insights can reveal which content is working for the audience you are trying to target.

Story Bumping

Through story bumping, Facebook ensures that your audience sees content that is highly relevant, even if it’s a little bit older. For instance, when your friends like or comment on an old photo, it tends to rise to the top of your News Feed. With story bumping engaging content will be pushed to the top of a user’s News Feed. The more people engage with your content, the more people will see that engagement in their News Feed.

There is a feature related to story bumping called Last Actor. Facebook favors any page or person you interacted with you during your last 50 interactions.

Create a Fan Base

Creating good quality content frequently and consistently helps you create a fan base. The best way to hit the right target is to use Custom Audiences to target people who are not your current fans. Use Lookalike Audiences and Graph Search to find people who are similar to your fans and like specific pages and interests relevant to your niche.

Use the tactics above to maximize your Facebook reach and organically create your fan base.

Facebook Photo via Shutterstock

 

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First Phones Under the New Microsoft Lumia Brand Arrive

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The first two phones under the new Microsoft Lumia have arrived — Microsoft Lumia 535 and Lumia 535 Dual SIM.

Microsoft recently announced that it was replacing the former Nokia Lumia brand with its own Microsoft Lumia beginning with the company’s next Lumia phone release.

The name change follows Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia’s Devices and Services division — the phone and tablet part of the Finnish company’s business.That acquisition was announced in late 2013.

The devices come out this month and will be available in bright green, bright orange, white, dark grey, cyan and black.

But perhaps more important are the price and features:

• Both phones will run Windows 8.1


• Both will integrate apps for Skype, Office, OneDrive, OneNote, and Cortana — Microsoft digital online assistant


• Both will feature a wide angle 5 megapixel front facing camera


• Both will feature a large (960 x 540) 5-inch qHD display


• Both will run on a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and have 1GB of RAM, the Verge reports.

In fact the only real difference between the two devices is the addition of a second SIM card so personal and word data can be kept separate, an increasing trend these days.

Microsoft had been playing things close to the vest with its latest devices under the Microsoft Lumia brand.

Just prior to the release, the company teased consumers with a partial photo and the briefest information about the upcoming release date on its Nokia Conversations website.

The company was also promoting the hashtag #MoreLumia on social media to encourage chatter on the new smartphones.

Finally, the company released a video promoting the new smartphone but it reveals even less about the new devices. Get a glimpse below:

Cost of the new phones is expected to be between $130 and $137. And the devices are expected to be out sometime this month.

Microsoft has already re-branded many of the existing Nokia apps and is in the process of re-branding global and local Nokia websites and social channels.

Image: Microsoft

 

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Raising Capital Is About People, Not Money

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If you’re struggling to raise capital to fund your small business venture, it could be that you’re taking the wrong approach. It’s time to think people, not banks.

The recession has seen the world of small business loans become increasingly restrictive – and that’s a big problem. There are very few businesses, no matter how insanely high your margins are, that can survive without a sizable initial investment. Costs such as labor, equipment, premises, permits and regulations mount up quickly and it’s all too easy to run short of cash at a vital moment.

Without a solid understanding of how networking and relationships can affect business capital, businesses become dependent on hard-to-come-by bank loans and other short-term funding options. Even if (perhaps especially if) you haven’t even started opening a business yet, now is the time to start finding the people that can really make a difference to your chances of success.

Key Steps to Take

1. Approach Prior Successful Business Partners

If you’ve made money for another business person in the past, cultivate that powerful relationship for all it’s worth. Remember, this isn’t just about getting them to give you money (although that would be ideal – it’s always good to work with ‘known’ partners), it’s often about leveraging these contacts to build your network.

Approach these people first, in a structured, organized manner, and tell them about your business. Remind them of your past successful collaborations and ask them for advice on your business idea. Remember, a lot of successful people tend to have a lot of knowledge and an even bigger sense of self-worth, so asking for advice – not money – is a great way to get input on your concept and to massage their ego before asking for cash.

Project confidence and have plenty of facts and figures ready to back up your claims that your business will be successful.

2. Identify Potential Investors in Your Area

You’re looking for people with money to spare who have expressed interest in your industry in the past. These people may have invested in some of your competitors or may have formerly owned a business in your industry. Find out who they are, make a list and approach each one. Contrary to the Silicon Valley image of investors pumping money into crazy billion-dollar schemes, most investors like to put their money in areas of which they have knowledge and in which they have a great deal of experience.

Note: this kind of knowledgeable investor is well-worth his weight in equity. It can be lonely and stressful building a new company, so this kind of informed support is vital.

3. Attend Trade Shows and Industry Events

Trade shows and other industry events are not just great places to find out about the latest trends. They are ideal places to network for investment. Investors will actively be on the look out for new players, so are more likely to be receptive to your pitch. It is, therefore, clearly to your advantage to attend as many such events as possible. Make sure, however, that you are organized prior to each event. Put together information packets that include your business card on top so that potential investors can easily see who you are, what you do and how to contact you.

Even better, do the ground work before the event. Use Twitter and LinkedIn to reach out to potential investors and arrange coffees and meetings at the event. Be bold but friendly – and ask for advice not money – and you’ll be amazed how many people are willing to share some of their time with you.

4. Ask for Referrals From Your Current Network

Get in the habit of closing every meeting with a request for another meeting with another key investor. At the end of a meeting with a contact, thank him or her for their time and request that the contact introduce you or set up a meeting with an investor they know who may also be interested in what you’re offering.

It is difficult to overstate the importance of this process. Given that most investors will only invest in a limited portfolio, people can love your idea without necessarily wanting to invest. Leverage that love to build your network.

5. Practice Your Elevator Pitch

In order to be successful, you’ll need to be able to pitch your business to investors using just a few words. Practice explaining who you are, what you do and why investors should be interested in your business in no more than 30 seconds. You can check out more advice on perfecting your elevator pitch here.

6. Manage Your Business Perception

It doesn’t matter how great your business is. It matters how great people think your business could be. Remember, a lot of investors aren’t interested in the finished article because their is less ‘upside’ money to be made. Your pitches should talk about current success but emphasize future potential. Come across as confident, professional and ambitious and you’ll make the right first impression.

Don’t focus just on money. Find out what motivates each of your key investors. For some, the possibility of financial dividends is exciting, but others want to invest in businesses that will make a positive impact on the world or bankroll new, innovative ideas. Learn ahead of time what each investor’s values are – and speak to those values in order to motivate him or her to invest.

Some Final Thoughts

Getting investors to put money into your business is challenging but doable – and a great option in today’s age of restricted access to bank loans.

Start networking early and focus on cultivating relationships rather than on meeting your investment goals. If you do that, there’s no stopping you.

Republished by permission. Original here.

Meeting Photo via Shutterstock

Source – Small Business Trends.

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7 Signs It's Time to Quit Your Job

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A hard day at the office can leave you cursing and swearing that you’ll take your talents elsewhere. Pressure looms, your boss nags, and you dread those Sunday nights leading up to a monotonous Monday morning.

But is your job truly terrible, or are you simply overreacting to typical, work-related stress and situations? Use these tips from career consultants to determine when you should turn in your two-week notice and head toward greener grass.

You should consider quitting if:

Your boss doesn’t have your back. 

Before doing anything drastic, have a conversation with your supervisors, says Ryan Kahn, a career coach and founder of The Hired Group. If it’s been a year and you’re not any closer to your dreams, share your hopes about your future at the company, your long-term career plans, and your worries or concerns. A supportive boss will reply, “We want to help you progress and move toward your goals,” says Kahn. And, they’ll back it up with actions that give you the chance to advance. Not following through is a deal-breaker. “Your direct supervisor often has a large impact on your own career,” says Julie Cohen, career and leadership coach and author of 7 Keys to Work-Life Balance. Constantly being passed on promotions may also be a sign that your employer isn’t your biggest fan, she says.

Literally anything sounds better than what you’re doing. 

When even your buddy’s lousy gig sounds more appealing than yours, then you need a change, says Kahn. Some people reach the point when they’d rather be doing anything other than their current job, he says. It’s a sign you’re obviously not happy and should start researching openings for something you actually see yourself doing, not just whatever comes along.

You’ve been slacking off. 

You’re usually a hard worker. You arrive early and leave late, but lately you have no motivation and are even doubting whether what you do matters. And your work shows it. When you start slacking, it could be a clue that you’re simply not interested, says Cohen. And you may be the type of person who needs a job that inspires you or that you find fun, she says. If you want your job to drive you, look at the work of other organizations. What do they do? What do they stand for? What’s the corporate culture? Perk up your performance by joining a group you can feel good about.

Your skills are going to waste.

Chances are, you’re a pro at something. But the skills you mastered may not be a part of your job, and that’s a problem. “Lean toward your strengths,” says Kahn. “You’ll be happier and more successful at work.” If you’re a natural leader, but your job largely involves working by yourself, you’re not going to shine at the workplace. If you’re an excellent writer, but you only write emails from 9 to 5, your abilities will be hidden. And if your current job responsibilities aren’t your strong suits, there’s probably a candidate out there who could do your job better. For security and satisfaction, seek work where your skills are showcased.

Your job isn’t useful anymore. 

A career is more than simply the thing that puts bread on the table and feeds the kids. Your position can propel you to new success. But you may have outgrown a job that once helped you gain new knowledge, develop new skills, or offer new experiences, says Lea McLeod, a corporate and career coach. Jobs are often temporary, and that’s okay. Evaluate if your post is still furthering you as a professional, she says. Is your current job prepping you for the future or are you now ready to level up? Once you’ve received what you need, it’s time to move on.

You’re bored. Really, really bored.

Many people think you either like or hate your job, but you don’t have to be in love with your work for it to be a good fit, says McLeod. You can be satisfied toiling somewhere you find kind of boring or that doesn’t challenge you if it affords you the opportunity to do other things that matter, says Cohen. Maybe your humdrum job is lucrative and gives you the funds to travel, retire early, and live comfortably. Or your 9-to-5 allows you extra time in the evening to volunteer, spend time with your family, or play in a band with your friends. If your work is boring with no benefits, sticking around isn’t worth it.

You’re less than 70 percent satisfied.

Things will never be perfect, but it’s crucial to have more positives than negatives on your pros-and-cons list, says McLeod. Write down all the qualities your ideal job would have, she says. Ask yourself questions like, “Do I want to work on my own or in a team? Do I want to work on big strategic assignments or on the small stuff?” Very few people have jobs that give them 90 percent of what they want. But if your current gig has 70 to 80 percent of the crucial qualities, you’re at a pretty solid place, says McLeod. Only checking off half of the items on your work wish list? Pursue a new position.

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The Best Way to Take Your Own Blood Pressure

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In a new study from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Greenville, researchers found that people who saw their doctors at least twice a year were more than three times as likely to keep their high blood pressure stable than those who made fewer appointments.

“Folks who have more office visits are more likely to be aware they have high blood pressure, more likely to be treated for it, and it’s more likely to be controlled when they are treated,” says study author Brent Egan, M.D. That’s because their docs can begin treatment and adjust meds as necessary during follow-up visits.

Blood pressure counts as high if it’s over 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). The first number is your systolic pressure–the pressure when your heart is pumping blood. The second number measures your diastolic pressure, which is when your heart is between beats.

If your blood pressure is out of whack–160/100 mm Hg or higher–you may need to see your doc every 2 weeks until it’s stabilized, or under 140/90. For mildly elevated cases where it’s close to controlled–say, 140-159/90-99 mm Hg–every month is fine, though you may be able to stretch it to every 2 if you fall in the low end of the range.

If your BP is well-controlled, you can wait every 3 or even 6 months, especially if you don’t have any other health problems.

It makes sense that seeing your doc helps you maintain a stable blood pressure. But you might not necessarily need a one-on-one with your M.D. to keep it that way. For some guys, self-monitoring blood pressure at home can be a way to track your BP readings without having to go into the office as frequently, says Dr. Egan.

Choosing the Best Device

First, you’ll want to pick an at-home monitor that makes the grade–which may be a little tricky: New research that will be presented at the American Society for Nephrology’s annual meeting this month found that 8 percent of at-home blood-pressure devices were inaccurate, meaning their systolic readings were off by more than 10 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). That could mean the difference between thinking you have a pre-hypertensive systolic reading of 135, and an actual hypertensive reading of 145–a significant jump.

The researchers tested whichever monitors patients were currently using at home, so some of the mistakes could have been due to wear and tear on older machines, says study author Swapnil Hiremat, M.D., M.P.H. Before you start logging your own readings, bring in your device to your doctor’s office so he can compare its readings to his tried-and-true method.

What should you buy in the first place? Dr. Egan recommends choosing a monitor that’s vetted by the Dabl Educational Trust and the European Society of Hypertension –check out the list at dableducational.org. And make it an upper-arm monitor, not a wrist one, which Dr. Egan says isn’t as accurate. You should be able to purchase an accurate BP monitor for around $50.

Taking the Right Reading 

Once you’ve got a good machine, make sure you test correctly: Put your feet on the floor and straighten your back with arms supported at heart level. Give yourself 5 minutes to rest quietly before slapping on the cuff.

Because blood pressure can fluctuate, it’s a good idea to take at least two readings each time and log all of the results, says Dr. Egan. Try to take readings in the morning, midday, and evening so you can see how your BP changes throughout the day.

So how often should you fire up the machine? If your blood pressure is moderately uncontrolled–i.e. it sometimes veers a little over 140/90 mm Hg–you should log your readings for one week out of every month. If your BP is borderline (systolic between 120 and 139 and diastolic between 80 and 89), check for one week out of every 3 months.

“People in that range are more likely to develop high blood pressure in the future, and even if they don’t, they’re still at a greater risk of heart attack or stroke,” says Dr. Egan. That’s why it’s important to maintain a healthy weight, eat right, and exercise regularly–as well as keep your doctor up-to-date on your BP.

So make sure you relay the info to your doc, either by emailing him your log (some apps create fancy graphs you can send off) or calling his office to report any deviations. Ask him when–and how often–he’d like you to check in.

One exception: If your BP skyrockets to 180/110 mm Hg or above, he’ll want to know right away, says Dr. Egan.

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redesign your organisation around excellent customer experience

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CX is bigger than your organisation

Clive began by looking at the example of ordering on Amazon.

The experience is fantastic on the Amazon website, with its well-known slick UX and experiences such as look-through for book purchases. Similarly, tracking a delivery once the order is made is lovely experience.

UPS gives updates on the location of one’s parcel and it’s pretty transparent and joyous for the customer. Even the delivery vans themselves are lovely hybrid electric ones.

However, when the parcel gets to your door and it doesn’t fit through the letter box, Clive ends up in Wimbledon Post Office if he’s not in to receive it.

That’s an experience for the customer and it demonstrates that CX is bigger than your organisation. It’s a lot of work to change the whole experience.

A model for the customer experience

Here’s a slide showing Clive’s representation of the customer experience, from choosing to joining, using to growing and hopefully staying.

Of course, parts of this experience differ wildly depending on the indsutry or company in question. A mobile telecoms company’s definition of staying might be preventing churn, whereas a charity might want to promote advocacy.

Click to enlarge

The problem with CX is people

..in that they differ so much.

In a financial context, let’s look at customers. Clive described the figure of Charles, an affluent young man that execs at the bank may think of as a younger version of themselves. However, look a little deeper and that might not be true.

Charles runs a workspace in Shoreditch, his service level expectations are more Soho House than Starbucks. He always flies Virgin Atlantic for the lounge service and he uses an iPhone and is heavily mobile centric.

If he’s happy to talk to his relationship manager at the bank, it’s over Skype, not having to go to a branch which he doesn’t like the look of.

So, Charles is one customer and there are many opportunities to serve him. The only problem is there are many other people, too, such as the Roberts family.

They order from Ocado, they like the experience of the Riverford veg box company, they are starting to use click and collect at their favourite shop, John Lewis, because they realise the advantages of making sure they pick up an item. Perhaps the Roberts’ are Samsung users and they probably use a tablet, too.

Lastly, there’s Bob and Marge. High level service to them is the local golf club, they read the telegraph, they still write letters and they go into their bank branch.

What’s the point here? Well, here’s that customer experience journey again, with channels and marketing tools mapped against it.

And below is how these respective customers might choose to experience Barclays. They will pick the touchpoints that bring them the most joy and this might be hard to predict.

Here are those choices mapped on to the same framework.

Internal departments can be disruptive

Organisations have departments, but mapping these on the customer experience framework, it isn’t immediately obvious how these departments can work together to engineer a great CX

Clive proposes a different model

And here it is. Four departments that span the experience. Let’s have a look in more detail.

What is the proposition?

‘Just working’ is a goal for some company’s services, perhaps mobile phone companies. But others aim higher, such as first direct who implemented 24 hour banking.

Setting this proposition is the first step. With customer service increasingly being delivered digitally, the question might be ‘what’s the digital equivalent of a smiling person?’

Sometimes people don’t know what they want

So you have to innovate. Barclays developed PingIt in eight months, looking at the success of mobile payments in Africa.

Researching, prototyping and co-creating is of course important and we’ll look at those shortly.

Touchpoints and brand

How do we deliver across touchpoints? How do they relate to each other? What context are they used in?

The brand is the toolset that links all together and allows all decisions to be made.

Research is invaluable..

Research is invaluable, though it must be done properly in the right context to avoid obfuscatory results. Clive gave the example of Phillips designing a new stereo and conducting a focus group to find out it big and brash colours were preferred or muted blacks and such.

The focus group said they loved the colour version, but when given an option to take one home with them they took the black one because the context (at home) dictated something less brash.

..Prototyping, too

The old Tube ticket machine had a button for every single station and it was eight years before the next development cycle could get rid of them. Without prototyping, disasters of customer experience will happen.

Listening to customers is key, as shown by Orange customers who set up their own website to help themselves solve broadband problems. Orange noticed in the end and began to answer questions via social media.

Co-creation can help achieve the vision

Customers now expect to be part of the design process, which is now a dialogue. This isn’t the same as having everyone design your product for you.

Clive’s advice is ‘shut up and hold the vision’ to avoid too many people sticking their oar in on the design process and ruining the resultant customer experience.

A great cx can be doing something just as it should be, or innovating afresh.

Everyone is a designer, so make sure that your customer experience doesn’t happen by mistake.

Marketing, redesign your organisation around excellent customer experienceBusiness, Marketing
redesign your organisation around excellent customer experience

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NASE Healthcare Reform Portal Staffs Online Experts

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The American healthcare system has undergone so many changes in the past few years, it can leave a small business owner’s head spinning. Most of that confusion revolves around the new Affordable Care Act, now in its second year.

The new healthcare law sets forth a perplexing set of timetables, mandates and healthcare options. With all the information out there, one organization is trying to give its members a new resource — online experts that can answer specific questions posed on its website 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The National Association of the Self-Employed (NASE) has created the new specialized NASE Health Care Reform portal on the organization’s main website to answer questions and provide members with advice tailored to both small and micro-business owners.

At its thirty-fourth annual meeting, the NASE revealed the new portal on an “enhanced” NASE website. The portal offers resources and information available for NASE members and non-members to use. But NASE membership is necessary in order to get direct answers from the portal’s staff of online experts.

Vice President for Government Relations and Public Affairs for NASE Katie Vlietstra anticipates thousands of people will use the web portal looking for answers about the Affordable Care Act.

“Many of our members continue to have questions regarding the individual mandate and we believe this portal will provide another avenue to educate our members on the law and ensuring that they remain compliant,” Vlietstra told Small Business Trends in an email interview.

Vliesrtra says the new NASE Health Care Reform portal is distinguished from other online resources about the new healthcare law by providing a staff of experts with a variety of specialties to answer members’ questions.

“Our healthcare experts are a team of individuals with vast knowledge of both the Affordable Care Act and the tax and legal implications for ensuring you are meeting the minimum qualifications for health care coverage under the law. The team is comprised of attorneys, tax accountants, successful small business owners, and former health insurance brokers,” Vliestra explained.

At the organization’s annual meeting, NASE President and CEO Keith R. Hall explained:

“With open enrollment just around the corner for our nation’s health care system, our dedicated health care portal on our new website is designed for small business owners to navigate the health care market.”

The NASE says the new portal will give each member access to a professional that can provide guidance through the options under the new healthcare law. These professionals can help members find solutions specifically available to small business owners and their families.

The NASE is a non-profit member organization providing resources to the self-employed and micro-businesses across the U.S. The organization states that its mission is to provide “big business advantages” to what it says are its hundreds of thousands of  members.

Laptop Photo via Shutterstock

 

Marketing, NASE Healthcare Reform Portal Staffs Online ExpertsBusiness, Marketing
NASE Healthcare Reform Portal Staffs Online Experts

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Guide for Super-Hacks for Busy Bloggers

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As a blogger, you have a knack to find just one more task that needs to be done. Now.

Then there are times when you just don’t feel like doing that pesky little task – the more you think about it, the more you imagine the worst, and the more you procrastinate.

No matter what your situation, here are 15 productivity hacks that really work, well if you only try them.

And the best part? You don’t have to follow through each one – pick the ones that best resonate with you and run with it.

Sound good?

Let’s get hacking.

15 Quick and Easy Productivity Super-Hacks for Busy Bloggers

1. Use email templates

As a blogger, I receive a ton of email each day. Some are from readers thanking me for a post. Some even have a specific question that needs answering.

Depending on the type of email you receive, you can create templates so replying doesn’t take too much of your time.

For example, if I receive a “thank you” email, I acknowledge their reply with a simple two-sentence email.

If it’s a question-email, I flag it using Gmail’s red exclamation flag to answer at a set day in the week.

All my email is filtered to one Gmail address, so I don’t have to keep checking countless inboxes (and avoid those cPanel logins too!)

Last but not the least, if you write a lot of email templates, stick to the 5-sentence rule.

Why 5 sentences? According to Guy Kawasaki, less than five is usually too curt for a response, and more than five wastes time. I agree.

Of course, not all my emails are 5-sentence long. However for templates, that strategy works like a charm.

Oh and one more thing – try turning your email window off in order to focus better.

When I keep my Gmail tab open in the background, a notification pops up each time a new email arrives.

Bam… There goes my focus down the drain.

I’ve since decided to turn off any distracting windows and only kept important tabs open. Over time, it has saved me hours.

 

2. Create an editorial calendar

Unless you’re Seth Godin, there will be days when you don’t have anyting to say, or don’t have the time to come up with a stellar topic idea.

The solution? Create a simple editorial calendar so you’re never short of ideas. Old-school 2-column excel sheet will do. Or you can go fancy-pants and try an app like Gather Content.

If the idea of a calendar sounds too stifling, try keeping a log of ideas in your WordPress backend.

That’s what blogger Sarah Wilson does – at any point, she has about 20 draft posts ready to be used. When inspiration strikes, she creates a simple draft and works on them overtime until they are ready to launch. Neat, eh?

 

3. Re-post your evergreen content

You don’t have to produce epic content every time. Dig into your archives to find “evergreen” posts – the type that stay fresh and timeless from season to season.

Examples of an evergreen post:

• Long list posts


• Case-studies


• How-tos


• Collaborated posts


• Tutorials and guides

Since evergreen posts tend to be long, you can break them into smaller chunks and repurpose them as a PDF report, an audio freebie, or a Slideshare presentation.

Get creative and post new bite-sized, snackable content for your readers. This is especially a great hack for those slow days when you’re too busy to post on your blog or social media.

 

4. Automate sending out your content

Following up from the last hack, a smart strategy is to create a series of email autoresponders or teaser emails for your old blog posts.

That way, even if you don’t have anything new to say, you stay at the top of your readers’ minds and new subscribers on your list are fed with good content.

 

5. Take the shortcut to mobile-responsive

Did you know that 82% people use mobile phones to check emails these days? What’s more, 42% of your subscribers will delete your emails if they don’t show up well on their phones.

Bloggers, clearly it’s time to go mobile-responsive with your content.

But you don’t have to go on a template-designing spree or hire external help.

Email marketing service such as GetResponse offers ready-made one-click responsive templates, so you don’t have to worry about how your emails show up on a smartphone or tablet, therefore saving you a ton of time.

source: Get Response

 

6. Unsubscribe ruthlessly

I have a simple rule – if more than 30% of my incoming email is announcements and newsletters from other people’s lists, I go on an unsubscription spree.

Of course, with Gmail’s Promotions tab, life has become easier and I don’t have to necessarily do that any more.

But still, if you’re a lover of clean inbox and don’t read a lot of e-newsletters, try Unroll.me to unsubscribe a bazillion times faster.

 

7. Use If This Then That

IFTTT lets you “put the internet at work for you”. Basically, it’s an app to automate your online life.

You can set trigger events that are based on cause and effect relationship (if this, then that). The events + triggered actions together form IFTTT “recipes”.

As a recipe example, once you add a new article to read in Feedly, you also have it saved in your Dropbox folder.

IFTTT supports many “channels” such as Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Dropbox, Evernote, Bit.ly etc. that you can use in your recipes.

Source: IFTTT

8. Don’t be afraid to delegate

Back when I started as an entrepreneur and blogger, I wanted to do everything to perfection.

I thought no one else could do all those tiny tasks on my list better than I, because no one understands my business as much as I do.

Big mistake!

Turns out, there are people who want to help you. For example, if you hate composing and scheduling a month’s worth of Facebook posts, there’s someone out there who loves that and is a pro at it.

Fiverr and FancyHands are two places to find that “special” someone.

Remember, you can’t go at full speed 24/7. Decide which tasks really need your attention and which ones can be outsourced. That’s a sign of a real superman – after all, he needed a sidekick too, right?

 

9. Do a Pomodoro

You’ve probably heard of a Pomodoro. It’s a simple productivity technique where you work for 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break. Since you “only” have 25 minutes to work, your brain can focus 100% as it creates a sense of urgency.

I use the Pomodoro Productivity app which has some neat settings to increase or decrease break times and sound settings. It also nicely syncs with your Google calendar to get a visual warning when a Pomodoro overlaps with an appointment.

 

10. Try Awareness

Awareness is another free and unique app that will play a Tibetan bowl “ding” every hour. It’s a gentle reminder to take a 5-minute break and get off that chair.

11. Use Awesome Screenshot

If you’re like me, you want to take multiple screenshots for every post you write.

Awesome Screenshot is a super-helpful app that sits as a Chrome extension and can save you a ton of time.

 

12. Manage your stuff with Trello

I’ve only recently started using Trello, and kicking myself because I’m so late to discover it.

You can create Trello cards for your to-do tasks, ideas you want to implement or known issues to be solved. You can track progress of each one as you go.

You can also use it for your editorial calendar.

Here’s an example of a Trello in progress.

13. Slam multitasking

Because it doesn’t work. Period.

One study even showed multi-tasking led to a loss of productivity by 40% because participants had to keep switching between tasks.

 

14. Chew gum

This one’s a weirdo in the list, but chewing gum leads to alertness and reduces occupational stress too.

 

15. Eat a banana

According to UCLA, a banana is great brain food that brings 25 grams of glucose (optimum) to your blood stream. Glucose is great to keep that active, productive, switched on state when you need it the most. Go bananas!

 

 

Blog, Guide for Super-Hacks for Busy BloggersBlog, Blogging Tips
Guide for Super-Hacks for Busy Bloggers

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Amazing Google Offices

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Before tech giants start offering eyebrow-raising perks (like paying the costs for female employees to freeze their eggs), the great allure to working in places like Google were the salary, facilities and their awesome offices. Being a big part of the Web for 16 years, Google has amassed a reputation for its offices being the ideal workplace.

Employers have free reign to decorate their own workspaces as they like, but the overall look and design of the Google office varies from country to country. The office interior adopts design cues that jive well with local culture because what better way to reflect your workers’ diversity and at the same time make them feel at home, right?

For your viewing pleasure, here is what you are missing out from not being a Google employee in any of these 15 Google offices from all over the globe.

 

Toronto, Canada

(Image source: Izismile)

(Image source: Matthew Ingram)

(Image source: Matthew Ingram)

Los Angeles, California, US

(Image source: Google)

Munich, Germany

(Image source: rediff)

(Image source: DreamNFun)

Stockholm, Sweden

(Images source: Office Snapshots)

St Petersburg, Russia

(Images source: Office Snapshots)

Singapore

(Images source: Home and Decor)

Dublin, Ireland

(Images source: Office Snapshots)

Jakarta, Indonesia

(Images source: Google Indonesia)

Tel Aviv, Israel

(Images source: Office Snapshots)

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

(Images source: Office Snapshots)

Düsseldorf, Germany

(Images source: Office Snapshots)

Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, US

(Images source: Office Snapshots)

Milan, Italy

(Images source: Office Snapshots)

Haifa, Israel

(Images source: Office Snapshots)

Wrocław, Poland

(Image source: Office Snapshots)

More Google Offices »

 

Amazing Google Offices, Technology newsTechnical, Technology, Technology Trends
Amazing Google Offices

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