Trees – The Secret Earner for Megacities

Who would have thought the trees could mean so much money for a Megacity! While they don’t necessarily generate a physical income, the work they do for the environment has a huge perceived value. From reducing air pollution and saving energy, to combatting the effects of climate change, urban trees are absolutely invaluable to the economy of a city.

Urban Trees

Each tree that is planted in a city is revered as a little monument of hope and joy. They are a stark contrast to the man-made structures that dominate the visual landscape of a big city.

Trees are incredibly soothing things. People are drawn to them for many reasons. They provide much needed shade in summer, they house cute and soul-lifting wildlife, they provide a welcome reminder of nature in a concrete jungle and they are beautiful whether they flower or not.

But urban trees do far more than add beauty and morale. They actually provide true value to a city. Recent research by the online journal Ecological Modelling has even put a number on the worth of urban trees. The going rate is somewhere in the region of $500,000,000 per year!

How Can A Bunch of Trees Be Worth $500,000,000?

Well for a start, trees provide their services without an hourly rate, without taking days off and without sick leave. They are the perfect workers as there are no overheads.

Trees help a city out with all sorts of expensive and vital services. These include…

  • Reduction of air pollution
  • Reduction of the need for stormwater runoff processing at expensive wastewater facilities
  • Reduction in energy costs for both heating and cooling buildings
  • Reduction of carbon emissions

The study examined the world’s 10 Megacities – Beijing, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Istanbul, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Moscow, Mumbai, and Tokyo – which house 10% of the world’s population. It calculated the $500,000,000 figure as an average amount across each of these cities for what it would actually cost to undertake the services that the trees provide for free.

What If We Did More?

So the question has to be asked, what if these cities (and other cities all over the world) planted more trees?

This isn’t a trick question. If more trees are planted in each city, then they can do more of this valuable work. That means more air purification, less carbon emissions, less energy consumption and more feel-good factor. Trees are some of Mother Nature’s hardest workers.

Thankfully city planners are beginning to realise the valuable work that trees can do. They are planning more and more green spaces as part of revitalised and revamped cities.

Not only do trees look good, they do good work too. Let’s encourage the inclusion of trees in urban spaces the world round!

 

 

Organic Food – What Is Worth Your Money and What Isn’t?

The trend for organic goods is certainly on the rise. Their marketing professes that the foods are fresher, taste better, are better for you, and are more nutritious. While this may be the case in some instances, the price tag will often be quite hefty to reflect these added benefits.

Putting it bluntly, organic foods are usually more expensive than their standard counterparts. So how do you know if they are worth the investment? Do the health benefits and sustainability really warrant a price tag that is sometimes double or triple other products. Let’s see shall we…

Is It Worth It?

Truthfully, some products are worth it and some really aren’t. There isn’t really a one size fits all formula to determine where you should expect to spend more either. You need to make a decision based on the perceived benefits for yourself. You need to buy based on your values.

If you want less chemicals in your food, a smaller carbon footprint from shorter trade routes and products fresh from the earth or farm, then organic could be for you.

The great news is that you don’t always have to pay the expensive price tags if you are willing to grow our own, or have a local market to attend.

What Constitutes Organic?

Organic is the process of producing produce without the interference of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. It also means that animals producing organic meat, eggs and dairy products must not have taken antibiotics or growth hormones.

You have to be very savvy when checking the labels of organic products, because not all products are created equally. Some will try to claim that their product is wholly organic, when only a percentage of it is. These generally display phrases like ‘made with organic products’, or ‘all natural’.

Some companies will deliberately try to market their product as organic to increase sales and the amount they can charge for it. So be very wary when you are making your product selection. Use trusted brands or local suppliers whose practices are transparent.

Is Organic Healthier?

On the face of it, organic foods should be healthier for you due to the way they have been produced. But, organic produce has no more nutritional value than non-organic produce. An orange still has the same amount of base nutrients whether it has been produced organically or not.

The key factor is organic foods have a much lower chance of containing contaminants like pesticides and chemicals. Therefore, they should be better for you.

Do It Yourself

The general rule is if you are not happy with what’s on a price tag, then you can do it yourself for cheaper. Eating organically is no exception.

If you are willing to put in the effort then you can eat organically for hardly any money, you just have to grow it yourself. You should try and focus on the crops that are most treated with pesticides like apples, strawberries, grapes, spinach, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes.

Don’t make the mistake of contaminating your own crop though. When selecting garden care products, ensure that you choose ones that meet organic food production standards.

 

When it comes to deciding if the price tag on organic foods is worth it, knowledge is power. Know how to read the labels, if the information is legitimate and if you can grow a cheaper version at home.

What Is Etiquette And Why Is It Important?

The word etiquette conjures up images of young girls at a finishing school learning how to attract a husband. This often results in thoughts of them walking around with books on their heads and crossing their ankles as they fold their hands in their laps.

That is not etiquette at all!

While the word is old fashioned, the principle is still very relevant today. It stands for behaviour that is acceptable and polite in all public situations. That includes with your family, in a social situation and also in a professional capacity.

Good manners are essential for success in many areas of society. Let’s look at how to display them…

Family Etiquette

Yes, your family are forced to love you because of your blood ties, but wouldn’t you prefer that they actually liked you as well! Here are some examples of essential family etiquette:

  • Respect your family’s personal space – don’t get in their face or go through their belongings
  • Don’t interrupt them when they are talking
  • Be on time – that means for dinner, for meet ups and for getting out of the house
  • Use your manners – please and thank you go a very long way
  • Get your head out of your device during conversations and meal times
  • Chew with your mouth closed
  • Don’t yell or insult each other
  • Pick up after yourself – if you made the mess, you clean it. Those dishes are not going to wash themselves!
  • Be cautious of how you represent your family members on social media

Social Etiquette

Don’t be embarrassed by your public behaviour after the fact. After all, you want to get invited back to visit with friends and be able to go back to local establishments! Follow these basic rules:

  • Always be on time – your time is no more important than anyone else’s. If your friends can get there on time, then so can you
  • Be an engaged conversationalist – make eye contact, listen, respond appropriately, don’t interrupt and don’t be distracted by your phone
  • Give and receive compliments graciously
  • Don’t gossip about your friends – how would you feel if they were talking about you behind your back?
  • Help anyone that seems to be struggling – hold a door open, push their shopping cart, lift heavy things, or get things off a high shelf
  • Don’t attend anything when you are sick
  • Pay your own way, don’t expect your friends to cover the bill for you
  • Treat social media as an extension of your physical interactions – don’t change the way you behave just because you can hide behind a screen. Continue to be respectful, polite and gracious

Professional Etiquette

Earn respect from your co-workers by acting politely and like an actual human being! Your professional reputation is what will help you get promoted, or fired. Choose your actions carefully at work:

  • Arrive on time, ready to work and dressed appropriately
  • Give credit where credit is due – pass on compliments and gratitude and never claim work that isn’t your own
  • Support communal life – unjam the photocopier, fill up the empty coffee pot, don’t eat stinky food, don’t gossip about your colleagues, use your inside voice and don’t take things that aren’t yours
  • Keep your correspondence brief and to the point
  • Behave in an appropriate manner – don’t swear, don’t yell and use your manners
  • Decorate your workspace tastefully – don’t use anything offensive
  • When socialising outside of work, don’t do anything in front of your co-workers that you wouldn’t want repeated around the water cooler!

The biggest etiquette rule is to treat others the way that you would want to be treated. So, every time you are in a public situation, check how your actions are going to be received. If someone said or did the same thing to you, would you like it or not?

That will be your compass for how to behave respectfully.

6 Cleaning Tips For When You Have Allergies

Is your home a danger zone for your allergies? Do you constantly find yourself with itchy eyes, a runny nose and daily sneeze attacks? Then you need these super 6 cleaning tips…

1: Keep A Rolling Schedule Going

Set yourself up a schedule that will keep the cleaning tasks ticking over on a regular basis. You don’t have to clean your house from top to bottom every day, but doing a few cleaning tasks each day will keep on top of the dust.

List all of the cleaning tasks that need to be done, like vacuuming, dusting, wiping, washing and removing. Then enter them into a schedule so that each task is done on a regular basis and never gets left for too long

2: Love Your Vacuum

If you only have time for one cleaning task in a day, then make it vacuuming. Regularly vacuuming your home will keep the dust at bay, so the allergies will remain at bay too.

Vacuuming is far more efficient than sweeping as it removes the dust particles from your environment. Sweeping tends to push the dust around from one area to another. Ensure that you have an efficient vacuum cleaner that can pull things from the fibres of your carpet.

Top Tip: Vacuum your curtains too. These are a great place for dust and allergens to lurk.

3: Dust Weekly

The tops of bookcases, behind the fridge and decorative shelves are notorious for collecting dust. Use a microfibre cloth to wipe down these areas and all the other ones in your home once a week.

4: Change The Bed

Your sheets are a great collector of all things allergy related. Dust, pollen, dead skin and pet hair all collect here regularly. Washing your sheets once a week will prevent a buildup from occurring.

Your duvet and mattress are also culprits. Air your duvet inner on a weekly basis and wash it regularly. You should also vacuum your mattress often, and air it as well.

5: Dry The Bathroom

Dampness is a great breeding ground for mould and mildew, which can play havoc with your allergies. Make sure that you rid your bathroom of its dampness by opening the windows and airing it out every couple of days. You can also try an extractor fan or dehumidifier to remove any excess dampness.

Don’t leave wet towels or bathmats lurking around. Spread out the shower curtain so it can dry, then pull it to one side so the shower area gets some air into it. Wipe down the shower walls and floor after each shower too.

6: Declutter

Are there a bunch of things in your house that you just don’t use? If they are only used as a place to collect dust, then it is time to get rid of them. Sell them, donate them or give them to friends.

Try not to keep shelves of knickknacks around either. They are great places for dust to collect and will take forever to individually dust!

The Science of Vitamin C

Oh, you should keep your Vitamin C levels up. How many times have you heard this when you are feeling a little bit under the weather?

But why? Should you really keep your Vitamin C levels up, and how do you do that? Let’s have a look now…

What Is Vitamin C?

Vitamin C is a nutrient with antioxidant properties that helps to keep your body strong and healthy. Your body uses vitamin C to maintain bone and muscle health, as well as supporting blood vessels, the formation of collagen and also helps your body absorb iron.

So basically, you want this in your system! The recommended daily dosage of vitamin C is 200 milligrams (mg) a day.

How Can I Get My Daily Intake?

It is not necessary to take a vitamin C supplement if you maintain a healthy and balanced diet. There is no difference to the quality of vitamin C in food as opposed to what is present in supplements. It can be an idea to boost your intake with a supplement if you are feeling unwell though.

Foods that contain the most concentrated levels of vitamin C are…

  • Gold kiwifruits
  • Strawberries
  • Oranges
  • Blackcurrants
  • Honeydew Melon
  • Red Capsicum
  • Kumara
  • Broccoli
  • Red Cabbage

How Your Body Processes Vitamin C

Your body is very efficient at using the vitamin C present in your system. Your intestines absorb all the vitamin C from consumed foods and transport it out to your cells. Your kidneys will regulate the amount in your body. Every time blood passes through your kidneys, it picks up the vitamin C and distributes it out. However, your cells will reach a saturation point at around 100mg and will not be able to absorb any more. At that point, excess vitamin C ends up in your urine.

Because your body is effective at processing this vitamin, it is not recommended to have your entire 200mg allocation in one sitting. That is because you will be wasting some of the intake. Instead, spread it across 2 or more meals to ensure even distribution in your body.

Vitamin C And Illness

Vitamin C has long been associated as a treatment for the common cold. But, research on the effectiveness of vitamin C is patchy. There is no concrete proof that it can help cure a common cold. Studies have proven that a regular vitamin C intake can reduce the length of a cold, but it does little to prevent you from catching one.

For more severe illnesses, vitamin C certainly isn’t a cure, but it can help support your overall health. Because it is involved in so many processes and supports many areas of your body, it can help you fight illness by regenerating your muscles, keeping your bones strong and supporting the generation of new tissues.

While it does not cure cancer or other severe illnesses, vitamin C can help keep your body strong. It is not a stand alone cure, but it can support other treatments and medications.

Your Actions Speak Louder Than How You Act

What do your actions say about your personality type? Well actually, they speak volumes when it comes to knowing who you are. Your personality is not just about labels like extrovert, introvert, thoughtful, or conscientious. It is far more than that. It is about your projections, not just a category.

Let’s explore this theory more…

Personality Types

There are certainly fixed personality traits that you will possess. These are your introvert, extrovert, thoughtfulness labels. But sometimes a situation will cause you act in a way that you would not normally.

For example, you are a business professional that spends most of your introverted days behind a computer screen, working your professional magic. But every now and then, you will have to get up in front of a large room of clients and act like an extrovert to successfully give a presentation.

Just because the situation requires you to act as an extrovert, does not mean that it is an automatic factor of your usual personality type.

Why Do We Act Out Of Character?

There are a number of reasons that you choose to project traits that are far removed from your usual behaviour. The two main ones are professionalism and necessity.

Let’s revisit the example of the introverted business professional. Let’s call her Jess.

When Jess makes a presentation her natural instinct is to hide under the desk and let someone else stand up the front. She can make killer slides and informative material, but the thought of presenting it makes her break out in a cold sweat.

So why does she get up there and act like she is a happy-go-lucky extrovert? Because she has to do it. If she presents her material in a shy and mouselike way then the clients are not going to engage or have confidence in her abilities. This jeopardises her professional reputation. So she plays her part as an ‘extrovert’.

Given the right motivation, we can override our natural tendencies. So how do you truly know who you are if it can be so easy to act out of character?

What Is Your True Character?

People can spend many years hunting for their true self, sometimes with destructive results. But the best way to discover who you are, is to examine your core. Not your actions on one day, or how you have to behave in certain situations, but your overall actions.

Examine your core projects – your profession, your relationships and your education.

Who you truly are rests on what you are doing, what you plan to do in the future and how successful you are at achieving that. Taking those steps and venturing forward is demonstrating your core principals.

It Doesn’t Matter Who You Are

Here is one final thought on personality types and the sometimes obsessive hunt for who you are.

It takes all sorts to make the world go around. Imagine the noise and competition if the whole world was packed with extroverts. But on the flipside, would any action ever be taken if everyone was an introvert? The world functions because there are different types of people. You will always need someone to lead, someone to follow, and someone to notice the things that many others won’t.

So regardless of how you need to act in certain situations, your underlying personality contributes to a well-functioning home, workplace, community, nation and world.

 

 

How To Squeeze Meditation Into Your Busy, Distracted Life

Life is so busy! It seems like every minute is accounted for. There is always something to do, somewhere you should be, or someone you should be with. So how on earth are you meant to get to that amazing zen place that meditation takes you to?

Mindfulness and meditation are proven factors that increase your health and wellbeing. For the best results, you should try and practice them every day. But who has time for that? I know I don’t have a spare half an hour lying around that I can meditate in!

The great thing about mindfulness is that it doesn’t have to be a stand alone activity. You can actually use some of the dead time in your day for mindfulness. Sound good? Let me tell you more…

Why Are Mindfulness And Meditation So Important?

Mindfulness and meditation are a calm and rejuvenating spot in your day. They use a therapeutic technique that allows you to focus on the present moment, acknowledging your body’s thoughts feelings and sensations while doing it.

Mindfulness not only teaches you to value the moments that you have, but it also has benefits for your mental function and overall health. Along with meditation, it has been proven to help…

  • Your relationships and how you interact with others
  • Reduce stress and inflammation
  • Decrease depression and anxiety
  • Improve focus
  • Build new brain cells
  • Improve your immunities to germs and disease

So let me guess, you definitely want to fit this into your day now right?

Why Do We Struggle To Fit It In?

Meditation usually requires you to sit still, silent and focused for an extended time period. That is a hard practice to adopt when your life involves rushing from one task to the next. Therefore, you don’t prioritise it as a good way to use your time.

You might also find it hard to sit uninfluenced by external stimulations like technology. So instead of trying to set aside 30mins for the often anxiety-inducing inward examination of mindfulness, start small.

Sneak Mindfulness In

There are no rules that say you must practice mindfulness or meditation for an hour a day to make it effective. It is better to do small chunks here and there than none at all.

Embrace the basic principles throughout your day – focus on your breathing, let your thoughts flow without judgement, and live in the current moment. You don’t even need to find a zen, retreat-like place to do this. Do it in a traffic jam, when you are waiting in line, when you are on the bus or train, on your morning tea break, while you are walking the dog, or even while you are doing the dishes.

Fit these moments of mindfulness into your day where you can, 1 or 2 minutes here and there can be good practice for helping you work towards a longer mindfulness session. Just get used to working it into your routine now and you will begin to see the benefits.

Stay Natural

One last pointer is to stay offline when it comes to meditation and mindfulness. Yes, there are lots of apps out there that will help to transport you to a zen environment. But it seems somewhat ironic to turn to your device when you want to switch off and get in tune with your thoughts.

If you love apps, you don’t have to discount the meditation ones completely. One good way to use them is as an alternative to  checking Facebook or Instagram once or twice a week. You should rely on your own powers of concentration for your regular mindfulness routine.

 

Looking For An Insurance Agent? 5 Tips On How To Find The Perfect Match

A good insurance agent will not only save you valuable time, they’ll also save you precious dollars. The best insurance agents will be up to date with all the latest industry trends. They will also be concerned with your personal insurance needs and will be capable of explaining your options in an easily understood and accessible way. What’s more, top insurance agents are those that are independent of any one provider. This means that they will be impartial and are best placed to help you find the right policy for your circumstances.  And so if you are looking for that perfect insurance agent, here are five tips to make the selection process easier.

  1. Personal recommendations

A great starting point is a personal recommendation from a friend or colleague. Testimonials from people that you know are a great way to assess the services on offer and whether the insurance agent is a good match to your requirements.

  1. Research complaints

Just as important as word-of-mouth recommendations is the bad experiences of friends and family members. So make sure that you find out about bad as well as good recommendations.

In addition, you can do some online research into complaints about the insurance agent. Check out Facebook or Google Reviews and look up any representative bodies or government agencies that regulate or licence insurance providers. You may want to steer clear of any agents that have numerous complaints or a number of poor reviews.

  1. Interview the agents

Once you’ve drawn up a shortlist of potential agents, it’s a good idea to meet them in person. There’s no substitute for a face-to-face meeting when it comes to assessing their experience, expertise, knowledge and ability to communicate effectively. Draw up a list of questions that you can ask each agent so you can compare their service offerings.

In addition, you will want to engage an agent that you can trust and meeting them in person will help you to assess whether you feel comfortable working with them.

What’s more, insurance policies can be complicated and convoluted. A good insurance agent will be able to translate the key issues into layman’s terms so that the differences between policies and providers is clear. Meeting up with the potential insurance agent will give a good idea as to whether they can satisfy this requirement.

  1. Check out their credentials

Don’t take it for granted that the potential insurance agent is fully qualified and licensed. It’s always a good idea to double check on their credentials by asking to see their certification. That way you can have peace of mind as well as confidence that the agent is, indeed, qualified to help you.

  1. Look for an agent who can deal with your specific concerns

Sometimes insurance agents specialise in particular areas such as household, car, income protection or health. If you have specific needs, then it may be worth considering a specialist insurance agent. They will be able to give you the personalised, expert advice that you need.

The right insurance agent will take all the hassle out of finding the perfect insurance for you and could also save you valuable dollars. And so it’s well worth the investment of your time in selecting an agent that is a good fit for your needs.

 

Essential Skills We Can All Learn From Lawyers

There’s no doubt about it, lawyers are exceptionally good at certain tasks. In fact, there’s many a lesson we can learn from lawyers when it comes to developing our own skill set. Amongst other talents, they tend to have superior analytical abilities and critical thinking skills. And so without the need to head off to law school, what lessons can we learn from lawyers that would be useful in our own continuing professional development? In this article we identify five essential skills we can all learn from lawyers.

  1. Approach a problem from all angles

Lawyers are very good at analysing an issue and looking at a situation from a range of different perspectives. Applying this skill in your workplace enables you to identify and consider aspects which may not have been immediately obvious. And it also means that you are more likely to identify holistic solutions that will, therefore, be more effective and long lasting.

  1. Emotionally detached decision making

Putting aside personal interests or emotional reactions and instead focusing on real, provable facts is another key trait lawyers have in common. Feelings or emotions can prevent you from having that all-important objective and rational approach needed for effective decision making. And so, being more detached and less emotionally involved is a useful skill all of us can apply at work.

  1. The ability to argue both sides

It’s part and parcel of a lawyer’s job to be able to see both sides of an issue. This is important in the context of the workplace as it means that you understand there are two sides to every story and that there are valid points from both perspectives. As a result you’re more likely to listen to others, co-operatively problem solve and come to a solution by consensus.

  1. Question everything

Lawyers never accept things at face value. Everything has to be backed up by hard evidence and proof. They never just assume. And so applying this approach in the office will see you coming up with well-thought through and logical solutions that are backed up by data and hard facts.

  1. Always ask why

Business issues and problems are rarely black and white. Rather like an iceberg, there’s usually plenty going on below the surface. It’s essential that you tease out what those underlying concerns are as they can be just as important as the aspects that are staring you in the face. Follow the example of effective lawyers and always ask why. Asking why means that you’re not taking anything for granted.  And it will help you to fully understand how a situation has come about. As a result you’ll be in a better position to find an effective solution or make a good decision.

And so, learning from the example of lawyers could see you enhance your analytical abilities and critical thinking skills. And just like successful lawyers, you’ll be more effective and potent at your job as a result.

 

What Small Business Owners Need To Know About Technology

Are you one of those small business owners that thinks technology is just about getting the job done more quickly and effectively? Are you also of the opinion that simply investing in hardware or software is all you need to do to stay competitive? Well, it’s time to think again. Recent research from MIT suggests that the most successful businesses are those that have a strong leadership which actively promotes innovative technology and makes it an essential element of the corporate culture. So, if you’re one of those business owners that passively sits back and lets technology happen almost in spite of you, then it’s time to change your focus. You need to be far more proactive and strategic in your approach to technology. Here are three essential things you should be doing now to make sure your company can respond to the challenges of technology.

  1. Luddite or digital native?

Are you a Luddite or a digital native when it comes to new technology? Business owners need to recognise and finds ways to deal with the generation gap between older and younger employees. Digital natives, typically those aged under 35, are far more proficient and capable with their use of technology than older people. It’s the digital natives who are leading the way in organisations in terms of being innovative and creative in their application of technology. As a business owner, you need to recruit, encourage and support the digital natives to continue to deliver business efficiencies and better ways of working.

At the same time, you also need to find ways of encouraging older employees and managers to embrace technology and take full advantage of current and emerging trends. Too many people find themselves resistant to change and new ways of working and so it’s incumbent on business leaders to actively address this.

  1. Review traditional ways of working

There’s no doubt about it, office space is an expensive overhead for most small entreprises. As a business owner you need to ask yourself, is it necessary any more or is it even productive? You see, technology has made it possible for people to work in a variety of ways and in different locations. It may be that the best physical location for employees isn’t a central office any more. Perhaps it’s more efficient and productive for staff to be situated in a shared rental space near home or in a home office set up, or perhaps, if they’re out on the road a great deal, then a peripatetic model may be more appropriate.

  1. Maintain a clear oversight

Do you really know how technology is being utilised in your business? To be an effective technology leader, you really need to have a deep understanding of how it’s being applied in all areas of the business. In manufacturing companies, for example, this means being certain that the best technology is being used to make the supply chain as efficient as possible. Perhaps your business is more focused on sales in which case is technology being effectively and creatively utilised to connect with customers via, for example, social media? It’s up to the business owner to ensure that the corporate culture supports and encourages using technology to advance the company and that requires having a clear oversight.

The simple truth is that the technological revolution we are currently undergoing is as significant, if not more so, than the Industrial Revolution. And all business owners need to proactively lead the technological revolution in their own businesses if they want to be competitive and succeed.

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