● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●

AD| Taking a trip abroad is all about relaxing and enjoying yourself. There's simply no reason why you should let any of your existing medical conditions stop you from exploring the world. Having a medical condition doesn't need to make your travel plans stressful and overwhelming. Instead, it means you will probably need to allow extra time, extra precautions and extra preparation before you leave, to ensure all needs are accounted for.

Obviously, it's important that you research into your chosen travel destinations, as you want to choose the right place to meet your needs. For example, if you have mobility problems, you won't want to be climbing hills and mountains whilst on holiday. Whether you have any form of disability, suffer with a mental health issue or are currently suffering from an illness, there are a number of simple steps you can take to ensure your holiday plans aren't a total failure. Listed below are 4 tips to help you travel safely with a medical condition.

Firstly, for those who are currently taking prescribed medicines, it's essential that you carry your medication to cover the entirety of your trip. You will need to plan out in advance what medication you require, and ensure you order enough to cover your time away. It's important that you carry your medication in your hand luggage or handbag in case your hold luggage gets lost, or you need to access your medication straight away. You may even consider taking some extra medication in case of any travel delays or diversions.

In order to travel safely with medical conditions, it's vital that you take out the correct travel insurance that you require. You must make sure to declare your medical conditions or illnesses when you purchase it to make sure it's valid and up-to-date. This will ensure you are covered for any situations that might occur whilst you are travelling.

If you suffer from any type of cardiology or respiratory conditions, you may need to travel with oxygen to ensure your safety and medical needs are looked after. For those travelling, the use of oxygen has become a much easier experience, especially with the evolution and development of portable oxygen, with retailers such as The Oxygen Store making oxygen-based products widely available and suitable for all your travel needs. If your medical condition requires you to travel with oxygen, you’ll need to ensure you speak with your chosen travel provider or airline to make sure you are aware of what is and isn’t accepted whilst travelling. Also, if you know that you will require oxygen, make sure that you carry enough to cover your trip, and ensure you carry refills in case of any delays.

Another part of your travel planning is to make sure your medical paperwork is correct and current. It may also be worth making an appointment to visit your GP or doctor before you book your next holiday, so they can carry out any necessary tests to ensure you are fit to travel, have any vaccinations and give you copies of your documents. In advance, you can make copies of your documents and ensure you carry your medical paperwork with you at all times whilst you are away. This will help you stay organised, and prepared if anything happens whilst you are away.

What other safety travel tips do you use?

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AD| Have you recently had a wardrobe clear-out, and have found yourself with bags full of unwanted clothes? If the answer is yes, you may not know exactly what to do with these, but have you considered selling them online?

Our home, wardrobes, clothing rails and drawers are sometimes filled with clothing items that we are hanging on to and simple cannot to throw out. However, sometimes, it's a good option to declutter your home and sell your unwanted items online. You could also consider giving the clothing to charity, with items that no longer fit, doesn't fit your fashion style, or hasn’t been worn for a long period of time. If this is something you are currently considering, then here are 5 top tips for selling your unwanted clothing online.

When you are looking to sell your unwanted clothing online, the first thing you need to consider is what website you wish to use and feature your items on. There are such a variety of websites and apps designed to help you upload your items in seconds, and get selling with a few clicks. Websites such as Depop, eBay and Vinted are just a number of places that can help you sell your unwanted belongings, and start earning some money from this.

Making sure to have an in-depth description of the items that you are selling will ensure all the important details are in place for your potential customers. You will probably need to include details such as price, brand, size, condition, and measurements. This will help your customers completely understand exactly what they’re buying and will end up reducing the amount of questions asked you may be asked about the items for sale.

Another vital part of selling your unwanted clothes online and securing that final sale is by ensuring your photographs are clear and appropriate for the item in the listing. Consider using good, natural lighting to show off the item exactly how it is, without any filters. Also, ensure the background of your photographs is neat and tidy, consider using a plain background that clearly highlights your sale items.

When selling your unwanted items online, you may need to answer any queries or questions that your potential customers may have. It's significant that your customer service is both professional and friendly, and always aim for the quickest response times possible. This can often help you build a trustworthy and reputable relationship with your customers, and can help you secure repeat business.

When you've finally secured a sale, it's time to get your item prepped for shipping. This is where you will need to consider your use of packaging. When opting for packaging to use, it's a good option to select something more sustainable and eco-friendly to avoid having a damaging impact on the environment. You'll want to make sure your packaging choices are durable and strong, to ensure they arrive with the customer in the best condition possible. There are a wide selection of bespoke packaging options to choose from that can help you reduce your plastic use, minimise postal costs and give your customers a fabulous first impression of your products.

Have you sold any of your unwanted clothes online? What are your favourite websites and apps to use?

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AD| Are you looking at starting your own business, but unsure on what to do or where to start?

New businesses and start-up companies are popping up all the time, and it's probably taken them weeks, months, or even years to get to their launch date. It doesn't usually happen overnight! Starting your own business isn't always easy, as there are so many things to consider, that it can become extremely exhausting, confusing, and overwhelming.

However, don't get disheartened if things go wrong slightly, you just need to stay calm and think, in order to get things back on track. Absolutely anyone can start a business. You don't need to have a super impressive degree, qualifications, or a bank account with endless zeros. In fact, what you will need to begin with is a clear and simple structured plan, with realistic time frames, some funds to kickstart your business and plenty of research into your chosen path. If you're thinking about launching your own business in the near future, here are a list of 4 essential things to do before starting your new business that may just come in handy.

Before you even think about launching your new business, it's important to get a full understanding of your target audience. Your target audience is the specific group of people that you would expect to purchase your products or services, and this would be the group you would aim and focus your brand marketing efforts at. This is typically the key to the success of your business. Identifying your target audience can take a lot of time and research, but it is probably one of the most significant steps to creating your business.

One of the most vital and potentially difficult steps of starting a new business is choosing your business name. Selecting a business name can be a lengthy process, and you may go back and forth with ideas, but don't worry, it can take time. Ultimately, your business name will be what people remember, so you want to make sure it's memorable, catchy, and related to your products/services. Why not have a brainstorming session to help generate name ideas. Simply begin by writing down words or phrases that are associated with your business, and play around with the formation of these. You can also ask your friends and family, for feedback regarding your potential name choices before you take the plunge and register the name. Before you finally decide on your business name, it's essential to check to make sure it's available and not in use by someone else.

Another essential part of starting your own business is getting to grips with the financial aspect of it. This area of your new business can be extremely confusing, especially if you have no idea about accounts, finances, and numbers. It may be worth researching online and looking at getting yourself an accountant/financial advisors to help manage your finances, accounts, and taxes. There are plenty of companies available online, giving you all the advice you need with accounting for startups and new businesses. It may also be help to set up a business bank account and business insurance to ensure any business orders or transactions are kept separate from your personal account, and to allow you to keep your business accounting records organised for future reference.

Once all the plans have been made, and the financial side of your business has been accounted for, it's time to create your website and social media accounts. Your online website is typically what spreads the word about your brand/product, so it's important to have it designed and working exceptionally well. Having your own website for your business gives easy accessibility to customers, helps boost your credibility, increases your visibility to others, and makes you look incredibly professional. You could also design your own business cards for your company, in order to spread the word to your friends, family and potential customers about your new ventures.

Are you looking at launching your own small business? What other essential things should you consider before starting?

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AD| If you're looking at planning a UK staycation, maybe even a caravan/motorhome type holiday or just need some inspiration of lesser-known places to visit in the near future, look no further!

The UK is filled with an abundance of diverse little towns and pretty villages that are sometimes overlooked by the more popular and tourist focused larger locations. There are plenty of UK destinations with such diversity, rich history, breathtaking landscape and a long list of places to stay, things to see and do, there are plenty of options for all holidaymakers. And even better, booking your hotels and accommodation for the duration of your holiday is even more simple these days. With a few clicks, you can find your perfect accommodation, at the best price, with no hidden costs or fees with online websites such as eBooking. Here are 6 UK small town holiday destinations to consider for your next staycation.

If you're looking at taking a trip to south-east England, you may want to consider stopping off at Rye, East Sussex. From historic charms, local produce to sample, gorgeous outdoor spaces, and plenty of quirky antique stores, you'll simply be spoilt for choice. A few places of interest include, Rye Nature Reserve and Discovery Centre, Camber Sands, Rye Castle and even the local windmill. Whatever your tastes, Rye has it all.

If you're looking for a small and quiet, typical English seaside town, then Whitstable, Kent is a place to research. Whitstable is your standard coastal location, home to a thriving maritime industry. With its fresh seafood selection and annual oyster festival, Whitstable is a perfect location for all food lovers. For a more historic experience, a trip to Whitstable Castle might be on the cards.

Located within the Peak District, Bakewell, Derbyshire is the perfect, picturesque market town for a day trip, or weekend getaway. If you're looking for something adventurous and outdoors, Bakewell marks the start of the famous, family-friendly, Monsal Trail – a popular cycle and walking track boasting tons of wildlife, geology, industrial, and rail heritage. Plus, you can’t visit Bakewell without trying one of the famous Bakewell Puddings. It would be rude not to!

Located in the Cotswolds, Castle Combe, Wiltshire, has previously been known as “one of the prettiest villages” in England, and when you browse online at photographs, you can see exactly why. The village itself boasts so much medieval history, especially within the wool trade – it's like stepping back in time, as the area has barely changed in 500 years, in order to preserve its beauty. You may even recognise Castle Combe as the main backdrop for a number of period television and cinema dramas, as this village is home to a number of listed building.

If you are thinking of visiting Wales anytime soon, maybe for a day trip or a long weekend, this is definitely a location worth visiting! Portmeirion, Wales, is a unique, coastal, tourist village that holds such charm and charisma, it truly feels like you're somewhere located in the Mediterranean. It would absolutely be an Instagram-lover's dream to visit here. With a number of coastal walks, secret coves, stunning beaches and unlimited amount of breathtaking views, if you’re a lover of fresh air and exploring nature, Portmeirion is undoubtedly for you!

Finally, if taking a trip to a more-traditional Scottish village is more your idea of a getaway, why not consider Killin, Loch Tay, Scotland. The village makes an excellent base for hikes and walks alongside the mountains, as it's extremely easy to navigate on foot. Killin is located close to the Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve, as well as the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. So this is a great holiday destination for those who want to have an adventure, as you can enjoy a lovely mix of wildlife spotting, outdoor activities and scenic walking.

Have you any holidays booked in the UK? What destinations have you been looking at visiting?

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GUEST POST | Have you ever felt gloomy, sad, and kind of depressed when the seasons change? Have you ever thought that there may be a reason for that?

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression related to changing the seasons. This occurs between the beginning of autumn and winter months for most people. If you've never experienced it, you probably know someone that has. It is one of the most common types of depression. But is it an actual thing, or are people using it as an excuse?

Let's Talk About Being SAD

In most cases, people fall under SAD's umbrella from October to April, in other more minor cases from April to September. Though a rare occasion, some people even experience it all year long. So that brings up the question of authenticity to this so-called depression.

Before that, let's point out the symptoms, which in most cases are:

— Feeling depressed for most of the day

— Losing interest in activities that were fun before that

— Bad sleep

— Less energy

— The overall feeling of lethargy

It may seem that some of these are just excuses to procrastinate and blame the “winter blues” for not wanting to go out of bed. But a further insight on the topic sheds a different light. Let's just put it this way – In more severe cases, there are even worse symptoms, such as finding it hard to concentrate and having suicidal thoughts.

What Can Cause Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Although there is no medical or professional conclusion on the actual cause, there are different opinions. Your biological clock, or circadian rhythm, may be involved. For example, the reduced sunlight in the autumn-winter months may interfere with a person's biological clock. Lack of sunlight may also cause a drop in serotonin levels, leading to depression. The changing of the seasons could affect the melatonin levels in the body that play a significant role in sleep patterns and mood.

A Couple Of Unpopular Opinions

One of the less popular opinions is that SAD may run in the family. Therefore, family members that have struggled with it could pass it on to the next generations, especially if the mother has struggled with SAD throughout pregnancy.

Having bipolar disease could play a significant role in the development of SAD.

Professionals don't place their chips on this theory because bipolar disease is, by itself, a clinical type of depression disease. Last but not least, statistically, SAD occurs in people that live far from the equator. This may be because of the longer summer days and decreased sunlight during the winter.

How To Treat It

Regardless of how severe your specific case is, you should never treat seasonal depression lightly, and you are best off finding means of treating SADness.

Here are some of the best ways to do so:

— Light therapy is the most famous treatment for SAD. It's a bright light that people get exposed to every day during the light-deprived months. A person sits in front of a big lit-up box that shines with 10,000 lux every day for 30–45 minutes early in the morning.

— Psychotherapy, also known as Cognitive behavioural therapy or “talk therapy,” is a type of therapy that helps people cope with difficult situations. This type of therapy is considered to be more efficient for long-term effects. Its main objectives are to maintain a sane and safe environment for the recipient and get him out of the house.

— Medication is a commonly used practice when it comes to any depression. However, people are divided on whether pills are the way to go when struggling with any depressive ignited disease. And the most obvious way to go – is vitamin D. Nutritional supplements of the vitamins could help improve the symptoms. Although some specialists find it inefficient, especially compared to the other three options, it is still considered a way to go.

To Wrap It Up

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD for short, is a depressive mood that coincides with every year. It's most common in people living above 30 degrees north and south (i.e., North America). The seasonal changes are the primary contributor to this phenomenon because with shorter days comes less sunlight, which can cause an imbalance in your brain chemicals like serotonin. But don't worry! You can do things to help alleviate these symptoms before they get worse.

Some helpful strategies include taking vitamins D3 and B12 daily, drinking more water throughout the day, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly. However, remember that the most powerful tool to deal with this is cognitive it! You can consciously DECIDE to be stronger than your environment, which happens once you realize that you don't HAVE TO follow the main sequence. Stay happy. Consciously.

Author Bio

Seriah Sargenton is a lifestyle and wellness blogger dedicated to helping people to learn how to live happier and healthier lives. She shares various self-care, self-love, wellness, mental health, and self-improvement tips and stories on her blog Riyah Speaks.

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